This study explores the memories of adolescent sexual experiences of female Basotho science teachers in order to understand the influence of such experiences on their approach and handling of sexuality, HIV and AIDS education. My argument is that Basotho teachers arc facing a challenge of integrating sexuality, HIV and AIDS education into their teaching largely because of their lived sexuality experiences, which have been shaped institutionally and through societal expectations. An eclectic theoretical approach, with emphasis on feminism and involving Dewey's philosophies of experience informed the study. A qualitative research design was used. Data was produced through one-on-one semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions and memory work with three participants. I was a participant-researcher and hence contributed my experiences to the study. Field notes and journal entries were used to supplement the data. The storied lives of the women teachers have been shared in their own words including the researcher's autobiography. The findings show that the adolescent sexual experiences of the women teachers have shaped their teacher selves within sexuality, HIV and AIDS classrooms. Some of their experiences have been educative while others have been mis-educative, and thus have led to some of the teachers not being able to handle sexuality education at all, while others only handle it partially. Several stumbling blocks have been identified that impede the effective facilitation of sexuality education in Lesotho classrooms. These include religion, traditional practices, lack of training and societal constructions of what is and is not permissible in schools. Challenging and disturbing these stumbling blocks and breaking the silence around sexuality issues among Basotho societies could be helpful in ensuring that 8asotho teachers gain the skill s necessary for them to facilitate the teaching of sexuality, HIV and AIDS education. Thus, Basotho children would be given the knowledge necessary for them to make informed decisions regarding their sexual behaviour.


Endothelium is considered as the largest endocrine organ of the human body. The biological functions of endothelium are numerous and may vary according to the size and distribution of the blood vessel. Endothelium serves and participates in highly active metabolic and regulatory function including control of primary hemostasis, platelet and leukocyte interaction with the vessel wall. Also, it interacts with the lipoprotein metabolism and presentation of histocompatibility antigens. These dynamic and intricate functions of endothelium are extremely vulnerable which forms the basis for many therapeutic goals to be achieved. A plethora of bioactive molecules have been produced by endothelium. Endothelial factors influence vascular tone, blood flow, clot deposition, clot lysis and selective phagocytic activity. Many protein growth factors, matrix supporting proteins and vasoactive substances have been produced by the endothelium. The functions of vascular endothelium are dynamic rather than fixed. Endothelial derived substances can be mutually antagonistic. Injury to the endothelium causes dysfunction. Immune complexes, lipids, angioplasty, germs, hypertension, shear stress, hypoxia, acidosis, smoking, aging, diabetes mellitus and surgery Inflict injury to the endothelium. Endothelial dysfunction Is a major cardiovascular factor implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, arterial thrombosis, pulmonary hypertension, myocardial infarction, stroke and deep vein thrombosis. New groups of salvaging drugs have been Introduced to overcome the consequences of endothelial dysfunction. Yet, the value of existing drug treatment cannot be condoned In conditions of endothelial dysfunction. Time Is right to embark on the drugs that modulate endothelial functions to control morbidity and mortality in various cardiovascular diseases. Hopefully, future research will offer us better drugs.


The role of dynamic programming as a means of examining the allocation and pricing problems in the theory of the firm is considered in this paper. The production relationships and equilibrium conditions as specified by neoclassical theory and linear programming are stated and dynamic programming formulations of each of these models are constructed and compared. It is demonstrated that dynamic programming adds nothing to established theory in these cases, providing simply an alternative means of computation which might be preferred for some empirical problems. It is concluded that some theoretical contribution may be possible by using dynamic programming to attack problems beyond the scope of conventional methods.


Abstract A design approach to sensor fault detection and isolation (FDI) of helical coil steam generator (HCSG) systems of the International Reactor Innovation Secure (IRIS) reactor is presented. In the design phase, a physical model is first developed to provide a realistic simulation and generate data characterizing the system dynamics. A subspace identification technique is then used to extract a low-order linear state-space model from the data. Finally, a robust dynamic parity space approach is utilized to design residual generators for FDI. This design approach is able to achieve fault isolation following a predetermined logic without the need to use data during fault conditions, which is an unrealistic assumption of many FDI approaches studied for nuclear power plants. The results of the HCSG application show that the approach is robust to not only measurement and process noises but also operation condition changes and has the capability of correct FDI during reactor power transients and during the propagation of sensor faults in a control loop.


Psychology for the Classroom: Constructivism and Social Learning provides a lively introduction to the much debated topics of talk and group collaboration in classrooms, and the development of interactive approaches to teaching. The authors provide a background to research in constructivist and social learning theory, offering a broad and practical analysis which focuses on contemporary issues and strategies, including the use of e-learning and multimedia. Throughout the book theory is linked with its practical implications for everyday teaching and learning and chapters incorporate: * the history of constructivist and social learning theory and key thinkers * pedagogical implications * practical strategies for the classroom * constructivist theory and e-learning. Case studies and vignettes demonstrating best practice are used throughout the text, illustrating how monitored collaboration between learners can result in an effective learning environment where targets are met. Essential reading for practising teachers and students, this book is a valuable guide for those looking for provide effective teaching and learning within a constructivist framework


The maintenance of homeostasis in the immune system is a complex process. The control of B cell numbers occurs at many different stages in the developmental pathway, and numerous factors are involved. In this thesis, certain aspects of FLT3L, BAFF-R and BAFF on B cells were analyzed. In the first part (chapter 3), the effect of increased availability of FLT3L on EPLMs, which have been found previously to be B cell progenitors, was investigated. Upon FLT3L administration in mice, the number of EPLMs increased in a dose-dependent manner, but the number of B cells decreased. This decrease was reversible as B cell numbers recovered after cessation of FLT3L treatment. In vitro studies revealed, that EPLMs from FLT3L treated mice had a reduction of about 20-fold in B-lineage potential, while the potential for the T cell lineage was only slightly reduced and myeloid potential was unchanged. Transplantation of EPLMs from FLT3L treated mice into lymphopenic hosts showed, that these cells are able to give rise to B and T cells, but not to myeloid cells. From these experiments we concluded, that FLT3L is able to increase the number of EPLMs, and that these progenitor cells can reconstitute B and T cell compartments in vivo. In the second part (chapter 4), novel sets of monoclonal antibodies specific for mouse BAFF-R or human BAFF are described. Among the anti-mBAFF-R antibodies, several different clones that were able to block the binding of ligand to BAFF-R could be identified. With the anti-hBAFF antibodies, a sensitive ELISA for the detection of hBAFF in human sera was developed. In the third part (chapter 5), the role of BAFF-R signaling in the in vivo maintenance of mature B cells was investigated with the use of the new monoclonal anti-mBAFF-R antibodies. We showed that 14 days following a single injection of a monoclonal antimBAFF-R antibody that prevents BAFF binding, both follicular and marginal zone B cell numbers were drastically reduced, whereas B-1 cells were not affected. Injection of control, isotype-matched but non-blocking anti-mBAFF-R monoclonal antibodies did not result in B cell depletion. We also showed that this depletion is neither due to antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity nor to complement-mediated lysis. Moreover, prevention of BAFF binding lead to a decrease in the size of the B cell follicles and to a strong impairment of T cell dependent humoral immune response. These results establish a central role for BAFF - BAFF-R signaling in the in vivo survival and maintenance of both follicular and marginal zone B cell pools. In the fourth part (chapter 6), the precise expression of BAFF-R on murine BM B cells was investigated with the use of the new monoclonal anti-mBAFF-R antibodies. We found that expression of BAFF-R is first detectable by flow cytometry on a fraction of CD19+ CD93+ CD23- bone marrow (BM) B cells. This BAFF-R+ BM B cell population showed higher levels of surface IgM expression and decreased recombination-activating gene 2 (RAG-2) transcripts than BAFF-R- immature B cells. When cultured in vitro, BAFF-R+ immature B cells did not undergo further B cell receptor rearrangement, while BAFF-R- immature B cells did. However, when cultured in the presence of an anti-kappa light chain antibody, BAFF-R+ immature B cells could be induced to undergo receptor editing and this correlated with the downregulation of both surface IgM and BAFF-R expression. Addition of BAFF did not inhibit this induced receptor editing. We concluded, that expression of BAFF-R can be used as a marker to identify immature B cells, which under normal conditions no longer undergo BCR editing, but can still be induced to do so by BCR engagement. In the last part (chapter 7), serum levels of hBAFF from patients with diseases connected with disturbed B cell homeostasis were analyzed. We found, that in a subset of patients with SLE, Sjogrens syndrome or autoimmune thyroid diseases, hBAFF levels were elevated. Also, hBAFF levels were elevated in most patients suffering from Hodgkin or non-Hodgkin lymphomas. In patients with chronic hepatitis C, hBAFF levels were elevated in a subgroup of patients. Furthermore, we found no correlation between hBAFF levels and anti-dsDNA autoantibody titers in SLE patients. In addition, hBAFF levels did not correlate with age or gender. Taken together, this analysis suggests, that hBAFF might be involved in the genesis and/or maintenance of autoimmune and chronic infectious diseases only in a subgroup of patients, while its role in B cell leukemias might be more pronounced.


Title of Thesis: Analysis of Nitrated Polycyclic Hydrocarbons, PAH-quinones and Related Compounds in Ambient Air Yalan Wang, Master of Science, 1987 Thesis Directed by: Dr. Arthur Greenberg, Professor of Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry Studies were conducted to characterized airborne particulate extractable organic matter (EOM) with respect to chemical composition and biological activity. It has been well established that the nitrated polycyclic hydrocarbons (nitro-PAH) are environmental contaminants. To identify nitro-PAH in ambient air sample, a technique was developed involving introduction of a reducer column into an reversephase high performance liquid chromatography (H1(2) system. Strong fluorescence signals were achieved from nitro-PAH and detected together with u.v. signals for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of nitro-PAH. 2-Nitrotriptycene was synthesized according to published procedures and used as an internal standard. By use of the above technique, 9nitroanthracene, 1-nitropyrene, 7-nitrobenz(a)anthracene, 6-nitrochrysene and 6-nitrobenzo(a)pyrene were detected in NBS diesel particulate sample. PAH-quinones may be formed from the appropriate PAH's by their photochemical oxidation in the atmosphere. In this study, an analytical method for the identification of PAH-quinones in airborne particulates was developed. The same HPLC system was employed as that for nitro-PAH. 3,6BaP-dione and 7,8-BaP-dione were identified in both CYC extract and DCM extract of an ambient air sample by using the analytical method developed. Since hydroxynitropyrenes have been identified as making a significant contribution to the mutagenicity of airborne particulate matter, this prompted us to investigate one such compound, 1-nitropyren-2-ol. This compound was synthesized according to published procedures. 1-Nitropyren2-ol was detected in one of the ambient air samples and in an NBS diesel particulate sample by using our reverse-phase HPLC system monitoring at 546 nm. To provide more data for estimating the photochemical products of 1-nitropyrene, the filters coated with 1nitropyrene were exposed either to sunlight or to u.v. light. The breakdown products were analyzed using HPLC. No 1-nitropyren-2-ol was found in the filters exposed in both ways. Further work is needed to identify the breakdown products.


Many new diplomatic thoughts are reflected in the report of 18th National Congress of Communist Party of China (CPC). They are shown in the following aspects: "following the path of peaceful development unswervingly" moves towards "continuing to promote the lofty cause of peace and development", which embodies China will undertake more international responsibilities; China will strive to establish a new type of great power relationship which is of long-term stability and sound growth with other developed countries"; China will support the expansion of developing countries' representation and voice in international affairs and remain to be a reliable friend and sincere partner of other developing countries forever"; China will take solid measures to promote public diplomacy and cultural diplomacy, and safeguard China's overseas legitimate rights and interests. The new thoughts above will set a new tone of diplomatic strategies as well as policies and point the direction of China's diplomatic future development.


Ordovician rocks of the Lachlan fold belt contain a continental-margin submarine fan that in its undeformed state has a minimum area of 1.2 x 10 6 km 2 , comparable to the size of the Bengal Fan. Cambrian and Ordovician mafic volcanic seamount chains in the Lachlan fold belt are analogous to the Ninetyeast Ridge and other seamounts associated with the Bengal Fan in the northeastern Indian Ocean. Basement of the Lachlan fold belt, by analogy with that of the Bengal Fan, may have been ocean floor with an overlying continental-rise prism that developed after the breakup of Laurentia and eastern Gondwana to form the ancestral Pacific Ocean in the latest Precambrian. The continental-rise prism was imbricated during Silurian-Devonian deformation to form the lower crust that provided source rocks for the Silurian to Carboniferous granites.


S-BAND GAN HIGH POWER AMPLIFIER DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION Muhammet Kavus.tu M.S. in Electrical and Electronics Engineering Advisor: Ekmel Özbay February 2019 High power RF Microwave amplifiers are becoming more important as the telecommunications, defense and aerospace industries' demands develop. GaN on SiC technology offers higher power and better form factors for these applications compared to GaAs. In addition, SiC provides better mechanical properties and thermal performance. Design, manufacturing and measurements of a S-Band Power Amplifier by using a GaN discrete bare die transistor are presented. GaN on SiC technology, fabrication process, amplifier fundamentals and design steps are explained in detail. PCB laminate properties, manufacturing, wire bonding and importance of heat management are explained. Design, tapeout, characterization of a fabricated HEMT and its packaging are also mentioned. Power amplifier's small-signal gain of 14.5 dB is measured at center frequency. 41.5 dBm RF power at P6dB is measured at 200 μs pulse width 10% duty cycle at 3 GHz, reaching a power density of 5.4 W/mm. Small-signal gain, IP3 measurements under different biases, AMAM and AM-PM distortions are also investigated in detail. EM simulations are performed in Keysight ADS design environment. Amplifier design is based on small-signal and loadpull measurements. De-embedding of fixture effects during HEMT characterization and their models are also investigated. Another hybrid amplifier design by using a packaged commercial GaN on SiC bare die power HEMT is also presented. Small-signal and power measurements are also offered.


The purpose of this study was to conduct an analysis of the financial operations of a selected school district in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador for the school year 1970-1971. -- Three phases comprised the design of the study: (1) anticipatory preparation, (2) procedural methodology, and (3) findings and analysis. More explicitly, anticipatory preparation involved the development of uniform terminology, the establishment of a performance-based expenditure classification system, and the determination of the accounting basis. The procedural methodology or unit costing entailed the determination of the following, before the chosen per pupil costs of specified areas could be estimated: (1) the period of time, (2) the appropriate pupil unit, (3) the areas to be included, (4) the proration basis, and (5) the actual or accrued costs. Findings and analysis involved: (1) the extrapolation of the major findings, and (2) the analysis of the findings and cost data to make comparisons, predict trends, and draw inferences. -- Data were obtained from the financial ledgers of the school district and from primary sources. The Faculty Workload Survey questionnaire provided data regarding the teaching staff in the district. Initial treatment of the data included prorating the costs to schools, and where possible, to subjects and program routes. Final treatment of the data involved the calculation of cost figures; namely, (1) the total operational costs in the district, (2) the cost per pupil in the district, (3) the cost per pupil in each school, (4) the cost per pupil in each subject, (5) the cost per pupil in each subject cluster, and (6) the cost per pupil in each grade level or program route. -- The total educational operational expenditures in the school district amounted to $1,763,164.28 which averaged an estimated per pupil cost of $327.48. Direct instructional salaries accounted for 58.4 per cent of this amount. -- It was found that there were significant differences among costs per Divisions, resulting primarily from differences in direct instructional costs. In Divisions I, II, and III the most expensive subject cluster was Language Arts, while in Division IV the most expensive subject cluster was Mathematics. The cost per pupil per Division increased steadily from Division I through to Division IV inclusive. In Division IV it was found that the cost of the General Diploma route was significantly more expensive than the Academic Matriculation route.


Abstract. Variety selection in perennial pasture crops involves identifying best varieties from data collected from multiple harvest times in field trials. For accurate selection, the statistical methods for analysing such data need to account for the spatial and temporal correlation typically present. This paper provides an approach for analysing multi-harvest data from variety selection trials in which there may be a large number of harvest times. Methods are presented for modelling the variety by harvest effects while accounting for the spatial and temporal correlation between observations. These methods provide an improvement in model fit compared to separate analyses for each harvest, and provide insight into variety by harvest interactions. The approach is illustrated using two traits from a lucerne variety selection trial. The proposed method provides variety predictions allowing for the natural sources of variation and correlation in multi-harvest data.


Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present a successful implementation of a comprehensive workload control (WLC) concept; and to describe the associated implementation process.

Design/methodology/approach

– Longitudinal action research using a contingency‐based approach to ensure alignment between the case company and the characteristics of the WLC approach; and the resulting expected improvements in performance. A set of 17 issues and responses from the literature is used as a checklist for implementing WLC.

Findings

– Performance improvements include: reduced lead times; significant improvement in lateness and tardiness; reduced costs; improved internal and external co‐ordination; and higher quality. The relevance of 15 of the 17 implementation issues is confirmed along with the same response as in previous research for ten issues and an improved response for five issues. In addition, three new issues are identified and addressed.

Research limitations/implications

– Dependability was a more important competitive priority in this company than speed; and, therefore, the ability of WLC to reduce lead times was not fully assessed.

Practical implications

– The importance of a contingency‐based approach to production planning and control is confirmed. Comprehensive WLC approaches are closely aligned with the high‐variety/low‐volume context of make‐to‐order (MTO) companies.

Originality/value

– This is the first paper that empirically demonstrates performance improvements resulting from WLC alongside a detailed discussion of the implementation process. Few examples of successful implementations have been published previously, and these tend to treat the implementation process as a "black box". Where more detail on the implementation process has been given in previous studies, evidence of effectiveness in practice was not provided.


This is the fourth of the Financial Markets Department's descriptions of Canadian financial industrial organization. The paper discusses the organization of the securities lending market in Canada. We outline key characteristics of securities lending contracts, participants in the securities lending market, the market infrastructures that support securities lending activities, and aggregated statistics describing the Canadian market. We also describe trading practices, risks and regulation relating to the securities lending market. A securities lending transaction is the collateralized and temporary transfer of ownership of a security for a fee. One party to the transaction lends securities and collects a fee for the loan. The other party borrows securities and pays the fee. The securities borrower secures the loan by pledging collateral, such as cash or other securities. The main participants in the Canadian securities lending market are banks, dealers, investment funds (e.g., pension funds, mutual funds) and custodian banks. Securities lending supports a variety of market activities and trading strategies; it can be used for market making, collateral transformation, speculation, hedging and arbitrage. Securities lending can generate and spread risks in the financial system because of the levered interconnections it creates among participants; these risks are mitigated and managed through a range of regulation.


Within the last decade a lack of evidence discourse (Nichols et al, 2010) has emerged raising issues around limited Monitoring and Evaluation (M and E) practice and capacity of Sport For Development (SFD) programmes to elicit change. Critics (Coalter, 2013; Harris and Adams, 2016) have argued that a deeper understanding of what works for whom and why (Pawson and Tilley, 1997) is required when evaluating SFD interventions. This thesis explored practitioner involvement in M and E, and drew upon a realist participatory M and E framework (delivered in two phases), developed to train student sport development practitioners (SSDPs) to make sense of how and why their SFD interventions worked.
The framework was evaluated at each phase, utilizing Realist Evaluation (RE) to ascertain if, how, and why the framework worked for SSDPs. The evaluation at phase one (involving interviews, blogs, and questionnaires) led to a series of context mechanism and outcome (CMO) configurations explaining how and why the framework worked for SSDPs. This led to refinements of the framework at phase two embedding Schula et al's (2016) collaborative principles of evaluation. Evaluation of phase two embedded Q factor analysis (Watts and Stenner, 2012), interviews and reflective blogs.
Findings emerged surrounding the value of RE for SSDPs. Schula et al's (2016) principles enabled practical and transformational characteristics to unfold for SSDPs within the framework. Four sub groups of practitioners emerged depicting how the framework worked. These sub groups were made up of 'travelling far in M and E competency', 'polished problem solvers', 'passive passengers', and 'proficient yet skeptical practitioners'. These were underpinned by holistic narratives demonstrating subjective views about the framework. A new compilation of CMO configurations informing refinements to the framework followed. In conclusion, participatory approaches of M and E can work with practitioners and should be embedded to enable application of RE.


We present a new approach for efficient exploration which leverages a low-dimensional encoding of the environment learned with a combination of model-based and model-free objectives. Our approach uses intrinsic rewards that are based on the distance of nearest neighbors in the low dimensional representational space to gauge novelty. We then leverage these intrinsic rewards for sample-efficient exploration with planning routines in representational space for hard exploration tasks with sparse rewards. One key element of our approach is the use of information theoretic principles to shape our representations in a way so that our novelty reward goes beyond pixel similarity. We test our approach on a number of maze tasks, as well as a control problem and show that our exploration approach is more sample-efficient compared to strong baselines.


OF DISSERTATION COUPLES AND WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY: EXPERIENCING SUCCESS Bariatric surgery, also known as weight loss surgery (WLS) is an intervention for individuals who are suffering from obesity and weight-related health complications which often accompany being 100 pounds or more overweight (Smith et al., 2011). Even though bariatric surgery has been shown to be a life-saving and life-enhancing operation, efforts to seek out surgery options, qualify and prepare for the procedure, recover from surgery, and then adapt new routines to support surgery are challenging not only for the patient, but also for the people with whom the patient spends the most time—their romantic partners (Applegate & Friedman, 2008; Bylund, Benzein, & Carina, 2013; Moore & Cooper, 2016; Sarwer, Dilks, & West-Smith, 2011). This dissertation was a means to explore relational, food, and WLS success experiences that take place within couples when at least one person has had bariatric surgery. Comparisons between life before, during, and after WLS were discussed with focused attention given to relationship dynamics and daily food routines (Bocchieri, Meana, & Fisher, 2002). The couple's definition of WLS success and the means by which they have been successful were launching points for more in-depth conversation. Data was generated through 2 interviews per couple (n = 11) with patients who met selection criteria for the study—committed long-term relationship and of the same residence for at least the past 5 years with at least 1 person having been successful with WLS. Success was defined by the WLS patient, however they had to be at least 2 years post-WLS, the critical time period where postoperative weight regain has been shown to occur, in order to participate (Magro et al., 2008; Ogden, Avenell, & Ellis, 2011; Pories et al., 2016). A thematic analysis with multiple rounds of coding was conducted after data saturation was met and couples indicated their agreeableness with results through a short, follow-up survey which also functioned as a form of member-checking. Overall, couples' relationship dynamics were characterized as secure and WLS gave them another way to give support, engage in teamwork, and ultimately become closer. Patients and spouses explained that they loved each other unconditionally, no matter what the patient weighed, and this had been the reality for their entire relationship. Thus, security was the theme for relationship dynamics with support, teamwork, and closer as subthemes. Spouses expressed their desire to help the WLS patient when it came to being open to change and then making necessary modifications in habits and lifestyle. The commitment to change happened before WLS and a mind-shift happened after WLS that enabled both people to adjust their thinking, consistently evaluate their routines, and continue to change their behaviors. As a result, commit and mind-shift were the themes and subsequent changes (diet, exercise, and mindsets) were the subthemes. A secure relationship and commitment to making "better choices" assisted the patient in experiencing WLS success and this meant that their spouse experienced success, too; "it's our success together." The theme for WLS success was follow-through and subthemes were results, comfort, happy, and freedom. Hope was also a by-product of success and it was the grand-theme of this study.


We present a meta-analysis of BigData research activity since 2009. Our purpose here is to present "tech mining" (bibliometric and text analyses of research publication abstract record sets) to provide a research landscape of who is doing what, where, and when. Our larger purpose is to help Forecast Innovation Pathways for big data & analytics over the coming decade. We download 7006 research publication abstracts from Web of Science resulting from a search algorithm devised to recall a high percentage of core BigData research and a moderate percentage of peripherally related research (fair recall). We find interesting engagement of different disciplines in Big Data over time. On a national level, the USA and China dominate these fundamental research publications to a striking degree. Mapping topics presents interesting evidence on what topics are emerging in this dynamic field.


We present methods to do fast online anomaly detection using scan statistics. Scan statistics have long been used to detect statistically significant bursts of events. We extend the scan statistics framework to handle many practical issues that occur in application: dealing with an unknown background rate of events, allowing for slow natural changes in background frequency, the inverse problem of finding an unusual lack of events, and setting the test parameters to maximize power. We demonstrate its use on real and synthetic data sets with comparison to other methods.


The significance of this study derives from the fact that the United States, with the support of the United Kingdom approached the IMO with new domestic legislation for the US maritime industry. This legislation, the MTSA, was to be introduced to regulate the maritime industry for fear that if the aviation industry has been compromised for acts of terror to be committed (11th September), it must be assumed that the maritime sector may be used by terrorists for the same ends It is an established fact that shipping is the oldest transport industry, in
existence long before the invention of aircraft. The modern maritime sector is the most highly regulated industry by the IMO and ILO, and has, to date, not been compromised by terrorists to launch an attack on any sovereign State.
The thesis addresses the violation of seafarer's human rights in post- 11th September 2001 (USA), and post-7th July 2005 (UK). The research identifies the problems that affect seafarers' rights, welfare and well-being which are embedded in the US Homeland Security Act, Patriot Act, and UK Home Office Anti-terrorism Act respectively. The most influential Resolution which gave the US and the UK the all clear to override international law is the United Nation's Security Council
Resolution (UNSCR) 1373. UNSCR 1373 is a mandatory order with no time limit, and it is not confined to a particular conflict but rather aimed at an undefined, yet expected, threat of global terrorism. The US and the UK declared seafarers potential terrorists in the immediate aftermath of 9/11. However, the importance of maintaining strong respect for human rights while ensuring national security was
missing in the content of the UNSCR 1373 after 9/11. The UNSCR 1373 paved the way for the US to introduce their domestic legislation,
MTSA, to the IMO which overrides seafarers' Treaties, Conventions, State sovereignty and freedom of movement. The thesis investigated the denial of seafarers' shore leave to seek welfare support as the central focus of the research to determine if a powerful State can override other sovereign States' domestic law without considering the effect it will have on the rights of people. The US and the UK are sovereign States where terrorists used aviation and terrestrial transport
objects to attack their infrastructures and kill civilians. However, both transport sectors have no common grounds with the maritime transport sector and yet seafarers are the group being victimised for the failings of the aviation and terrestrial transport industries. The author dentified the security Code which saw seafarers being declared as potential terrorists by the US and the UK. It has to be understood that there must be a proper balance struck between the needs of maritime security, and the protection of seafarers' rights to maintain the safety
and operations of the ship. The research demonstrated how the domestic legislations contained within the MTSA 2002, the HSA 2002 and the UKBA (Home Office) conflict with the ILO's Convention No.185 post- 11th September 2001 and 7th July 2005, hence delaying the ratification of the latter by the US and the UK.


The Supreme Court appears ready to limit extreme partisan gerrymanders. However, defining "extreme" is a challenging proposition, since individual states differ in their political geography and legal circumstances. Many measurement tools have emerged that probe the questions of whether a redistricting map is extreme, or violates the principle of partisan symmetry. Here we provide a framework for categorizing these tests. Our framework explains how measures should be interpreted and identifies which tests will be most effective, given the specific facts of a particular state. Broadly, the tests can be divided into two categories: those that identify inequality of opportunity, i.e. a systematic deprivation of one side's ability to elect representatives; and those that identify inequality of outcome, i.e. a durable distortion in the amount of representation. In each case, the baseline for comparison is what would occur under districting processes in which partisan interests are not the overriding consideration. A general thread is that of "significance testing," in which a district or statewide districting scheme can be defined as more extreme than the great majority of possibilities that could arise incidentally through a districting process driven by criteria other than extreme partisanship. Such tests are most often done with well-established classical statistical tests, but can also include recently-developed measures such as the efficiency gap. Many of these measures can be evaluated by a judge or clerk, with minimal need for reliance on expert witnesses. It is even now possible to evaluate, with mathematical rigor, whether a specific scheme is extreme relative to the virtually uncountable universe of possible maps. Taken together, these methods for detecting extremes comprise a statistical toolbox to address a wide variety of circumstances that may arise in the post-Whitford, post-Benisek environment.


OBJECTIVE: Large discrepancies exist in the literature regarding incidence and types of symptomatology in whiplash. This is because of the evolution of whiplash injury over the years with the advent of head rests and seat belts. Previous authors have regarded symptoms of dizziness as a result of brainstem or cerebellar injury or both. It has been difficult in those studies to ascribe a mechanism of injury, as patients with whiplash injury only have been grouped with those who have incurred mild traumatic brain injury as a result of a significant blow to the head. The authors saw the need to delineate patients who had suffered whiplash injury from those who also had suffered mild head injury, as defined in the rehabilitation-neurosurgical literature, to attempt to define differences in symptoms, abnormalities, and mechanisms of recovery in these two groups. STUDY DESIGN: The study design was a retrospective case review. SETTING: The study was conducted at a tertiary-quaternary referral clinic. PATIENTS: The records of 36 patients were reviewed. Nineteen of these patients suffered a whiplash-associated disorder and 17 suffered a mild head injury as well. These patients were referred for assessment of symptoms persisting for at least 2 years after their injury. Patients were excluded if they had not completed clinical assessment, including electronystagmography (ENG) and computerized dynamic posturography (CDP). INTERVENTIONS: A full history, otolaryngologic examination, including assessment of eye movements, corneal reflexes and gait, as well as an investigation, including ENG and CDP, and history taking and detailed recording of related complaints immediately before diagnostic work-up were performed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Symptoms reported by patients who had received either whiplash alone or whiplash plus mild head trauma as defined in the literature were measured. Patients were classified according to type of accident, type of injury suffered, and degree and nature of posturographic abnormalities. RESULTS: Patients often have similar complaints regardless of whether or not they had suffered a head injury. Although CDP showed abnormalities in both groups, standard ENG assessment, including caloric testing, showed abnormalities only in the head-injured group. The posturographic abnormalities also were analyzed in both groups, and it was found that there was a correlation between the type of posturographic abnormality and the type of injury suffered. Although ENG testing is done routinely, posturography is shown to be more sensitive in picking up abnormalities. In addition, the authors have shown that posturography can delineate the type of injury suffered by exhibiting the compensation strategy used as well as the efficacy of that compensation strategy. CONCLUSIONS: Because ENG abnormalities are limited to patients who have suffered a head injury, the inference is that these two groups of patients have suffered damage at different sites along the balance system pathways, but both of these lesions can lead to similar symptoms. Although the mechanisms of whiplash injury and how they affect the vestibular system are poorly understood, posturography testing is essential in inferring how a patient is recovering by measuring how and how well the patient is overcoming his or her deficit. This has important medical legal implications regarding legitimizing a patient's problem, prognostic factors, as well as rehabilitation plans, measures, and outcomes. Language: en


Philosophers of earlier ages have usually spent time in considering thenature of marital, and in general familial, duty. Paley devotes an entire book to those 'relative duties which result from the constitution of the sexes',1 a book notable on the one hand for its humanity and on the other for Paley's strange refusal to acknowledge that the evils for which he condemns any breach of pure monogamy are in large part the result of the fact that such breaches are generally condemned. In a society where an unmarried mother is ruined no decent male should put a woman in such danger: but why precisely should social feeling be so severe? Marriage, the monogamist would say, must be defended at all costs, for it is a centrally important institution of our society. Political community was, in the past, understood as emerging from or imposed upon families, or similar associations. The struggle to establish the state was a struggle against families, clans and clubs; the state, once established, rested upon the social institutions to which it gave legal backing.


The non-completion of primary school and educational attainment in general in Indonesia has been associated with an increased likelihood of being or remaining poor. In light of this, this paper considers the evolution of primary school non-completion using six rounds of the Indonesia Demographic and Health Survey covering the period 1991–2012. The paper presents new, consistent estimates of the evolution of the incidence of and total composition of, primary education non-completion in Indonesia over two decades by the characteristics of household heads. The paper argues that although such deprivations remain concentrated among households in rural areas and in households with heads not in work or employed in agriculture, counter-intuitively, as deprivations decline,there are growing and sizable proportions in urban and non-agriculture headed households meaning a policy focus largely on the 'traditional' characteristics of deprived households might risk missing substantial proportions of the remaining and likely future poor in Indonesia.


The processing of metallic materials through the application Thermomechanical Processing (TMP) has now become of major importance in the world research and industrial companies. A great attention is paid to study of mechanism TMP applied to different techniques and technological processes providing ultrafine-grained state of metal materials including submicro – and nanocrystalline ones. The main development in terms of obtaining bulk metallic materials received in the recent years, various schemes of TMP of metallic materials, which allows to realize the severe plastic deformation (SPD). The approach usually propose realization of large plastic strains, providing a well-developed fragmented substructure with the creation of high-angle misorientation between the fragments of the substructure. This paper discusses the physical fundamentals and various methods of thermomechanical processing, applied to single and multiphase steels and alloys ensuring the produce ultrafine-grained (UFG) metallic materials.


If you need help building web applications with the Lift framework, this cookbook provides scores of concise, ready-to-use code solutions. Youll find recipes for everything from setting up a coding environment to creating Rest web services and deploying your application to production. Built on top of the Scala Jvm programming language, Lift takes a differentyet ultimately easierapproach to development than Mvc frameworks such as Rails. Each recipe in this book includes a discussion of how and why each solution works, not only to help you complete the task at hand, but also to illustrate how Lift works.Set up an environment and run your first Lift application Generate Html, using Lifts View First approach Submit forms and work with form elements Build Rest web services with the frameworks RestHelper trait Take advantage of Lifts support for Ajax and Comet Get examples for modifying Lifts request pipeline Convert Scala classes into tables, rows, and columns in a relational database Send email, call Urls, and schedule tasks from your application Package and deploy your application to various hosted services


Using data from the 2003-14 American Time Use Survey (ATUS), this paper examines the relationship between the state unemployment rate and the time that opposite-sex couples with children spend on childcare activities, and how this varies by the socioeconomic status (SES), race, and ethnicity of the mothers and fathers. The time that mothers and fathers spend providing primary and secondary child caregiving, solo time with children, and any time spent as a family are considered. To explore the impact of macroeconomic conditions on the amount of time parents spend with children, the time-use data are combined with the state unemployment rate data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. The analysis finds that the time parents spend on child-caregiving activities or with their children varies with the unemployment rate in low-SES households, African-American households, and Hispanic households. Given that job losses were disproportionately high for workers with no college degree, African-Americans, and Hispanics during the Great Recession, the results suggest that the burden of household adjustment during the crisis fell disproportionately on the households most affected by the recession.


By 2016, approximately one half of American police agencies had adopted body-worn cameras (BWCs). Although a growing body of research has examined the impact of BWCs on outcomes such as use of force, complaints, and perceptions of police, few have considered how and why some agencies adopted BWCs, while others have not. With guidance from the diffusion of innovations paradigm, this study explores variation in BWC adoption by police agencies. Drawing on a survey administered to a national probability sample of 665 municipal police executives in the spring of 2018, we found agency size, region, and the demographic composition of municipalities were associated with BWC usage. We then examined executives' support for (or opposition to) legislation that would require BWC footage to be released publicly. Results suggest (a) a variety of environmental factors were associated with support and (b) the correlates of support varied across agencies of different sizes.


Introduction. The socio-economic development of Russia is characterized by the presence of inter-regional imbalances that lead to the destabilization of a single economic space, crisis phenomena and economic losses. Theoretical analysis. The article outlines the main ideas of some basic theories of the regional economy in terms of substantiating inter-regional disparities in socio-economic development. It is shown that these theories should underlie the understanding of a natural, insurmountable factor of disproportions of territorial development and social inequality existence, which is associated with competitive advantages, location of economic activity and forms of settlement in the economic space. It is proved that inter-regional disparities in socio-economic development lead to inefficient use of economic space and the formation of local markets in regions characterized by significant differences. Results. Appealing to the theoretical heritage of the regional economy in order to search for objective reasons and identify trends and uneven socio-economic development of regions in modern Russia will allow you to choose the right strategy for managing regional development and minimize the negative effects of interregional differentiation.


This study identifies and explains the key success factors of start-up and growth ventures receiving support by a sponsor organisation. Large amounts of money to develop entrepreneurs are channelled yearly to expand sponsor businesses. No guarantee exists that the selection process gives consistent results or that the key success factors are clearly identifiable before the support allocation takes place. The research investigated nineteen ventures associated with a specific sponsor. Entrepreneurs were interviewed based on their own specific venture, own perceptions of success factors, self-evaluated personal attributes, specific context and support services received. Although the key success factors varied, all the entrepreneurial ventures had fundamental similarities. That success is relative, and not attributable to one factor, but achieved through a range of elements are confirmed. The value of the study is the range of contributing factors to meaningfully allocate resources. It also directs training focuses that must support sponsor programs.


Theories of economic development as diverse as modernization, dependency, world-system, and market reform take a "critical factor" view. Proponents of each theory argue that countries fail to develop because of an obstacle to economic growth. We argue instead that neither a critical factor nor a single path leads to economic development; viable paths vary. Economic growth depends on linking a country's historically developed patterns of social organization to the opportunities of global markets. We formulate a sociological theory of cross-national comparative advantage including not only economic factor endowments but also institutionalized patterns of authority and organization. Such patterns legitimize certain actors and certain relationships among those actors, which facilitate development success in some activities but not in others. We illustrate this approach to understanding development outcomes with a comparative analysis of the difficult rise of the automobile assembly and components industries in South Korea, Taiwan, Spain, and Argentina.


INTRODUCTION Information technology (IT) has changed the way organizations manage their business processes, produce their products, deliver their services and communicate with (potential) customers (Brynjolfsson & Hitt, 2000). A key success factor in organizations is therefore an effective and efficient alignment of the way IT supports business strategies and processes. The necessity and desirability of aligning business needs and IT capabilities has been examined in numerous articles (Pyburn, 1983; Reich & Benbasat, 1996; Chan, Huff, Barclay, & Copeland, 1997; Luftman & Brier, 1999; Maes, Rijsenbrij, Truijens, & Goedvolk, 2000; Sabherwal & Chan, 2001) and its importance is well recognized (Cumps, Viaene, Dedene, & Vandenbulcke, 2006). The alignment of business and IT, however, continues to show up as a top concern for business and IT managers (Society of Information Management, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009). Some authors expect that "alignment is even more problematic in the idiosyncratic context of (higher) education" (Albrecht, Bender, Katz, Pirani, Salaway, Sitko, & Voloudakis, 2004). This expectation finds support in Luftman and Kempaiah's study (2007) in 197 organizations, which ranks education as the lowest scoring industry sector on alignment maturity. Given the opportunity that IT offers in teaching and learning (Gilbert, 1994; Geoghegan, 1994), this position should be worrying. This paper reports a study into business and IT alignment maturity in Dutch secondary vocational education and training organizations. As the role of IT in these organizations is expanding into the instructional applications, the need for cooperation between education and IT department is of growing importance. As part of the professionalization of the information function in these institutions, this study was conducted into the maturity of alignment between the educational organization and the IT department. In order to be able to outline a development path for a growth in maturity, the study both assessed the current or as-is level of alignment, as the desired, to-be level. The rest of this paper is structured as follows. After a brief introduction into the concept of business and IT alignment and the maturity assessment model, the related literature on alignment in educational institutions will be reviewed. Next, the context of the study will be set, by introducing the vocational and education training sector in the Netherlands and the results of the study will be presented. The paper will conclude by formulating some conclusions and suggestions for follow-up. BUSINESS AND IT ALIGNMENT Business and IT Alignment (BIA) can be defined as "Business & IT Alignment is the degree to which the IT applications, infrastructure and organization, the business strategy and processes enables and shapes, as well as the process to realize this." (Silvius, 2007). An influential conceptualization of BIA is that of Henderson and Venkatraman (1993). Their widespread framework of alignment, known as the Strategic Alignment Model (Figure 1), describes BIA along two dimensions. The dimension of strategic fit differentiates between external focus, directed towards the business environment, and internal focus, directed towards administrative structures. The other dimension of functional integration separates business and IT. Altogether, the model defines four domains that have been harmonized in order to achieve alignment. Each of these domains has its constituent components: scope, competencies, governance, infrastructure, processes and skills. [FIGURE 1 OMITTED] Despite of the apparent importance of aligning IT and business, the majority of publications is rather vague in terms of how to practice alignment (Maes et al. 2000). A frequently used framework (1) for measuring or developing alignment is Luftman's alignment maturity model (Luftman, 2000). …


This paper mainly discusses remote transmitting the rail vehicle data, which includes real-time data, fault and alarm information, maintenance records and so on, by 3G / GPRS, 4G, Beidou short message and many kinds of WLAN wireless transmission to a server on the ground. Meanwhile, it receives confirmation order, reply order and orders from the ground. This is the method realizing vehicle ground interaction. Through data acquisition, front-end processing, remote data transmission, ground integrated information processing system, data mining and diagnosis technology, this system provides the quality of the track vehicle data, which is the system diagnostic basis of a correct solution. It is possible to provide detailed data, fault prediction information and related reports of the quality of rail vehicles. The framework of health diagnosis system, design concepts and user interface, interpretation machine, knowledge base, reasoning machine, agenda, and the rule based expert diagnosis technology for the knowledge acquisition machine are all described in detail. Providing advanced platform methods for the realization of the prospective use of maintenance services, equipment life cycle cost reduction, the efficiency improvement of transport equipment, transport management improvement and other aspects.


: Many organizations still find it painful to implement an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. Although ERP projects are collaborative efforts that many separate organizations conduct, academic research has not investigated ERPs fully from this perspective. To identify the challenges in ERP development networks (EDNs), we carried out an interpretive empirical study by using grounded theory to analyze data. After identifying 10 EDN challenges and analyzing the associations between the challenges further, we constructed a model that explains the challenges in ERP development networks. Relationship conflicts (root causes) create or reinforce one or more operational problems (consequences). Changes in the EDN structure initiate or reinforce the other two types. Whereas the existing literature has discussed ERP challenges mainly separately, we offer a more profound explanation of how they emerge and interrelate. Our findings aid practitioners in recognizing and focusing on the root causes of challenges rather than firefighting consequences. The findings can provide useful insights into collaborative and dynamic environments where multiple organizations interact.


Abstract. The number of ecohydrological studies involving water stable isotope measurements has been increasing steadily due to technological (e.g., field-deployable laser spectroscopy and cheaper instruments) and methodological (i.e., tracer approaches or improvements in root water uptake models)
advances in recent years. This enables researchers from a broad scientific background to incorporate water-isotope-based methods into their studies. Several isotope effects are currently not fully understood but might be essential when investigating root water uptake depths of vegetation and
separating isotope processes in the soil–vegetation–atmosphere continuum. Different viewpoints exist on (i) extraction methods for soil and plant
water and methodological artifacts potentially introduced by them, (ii) the pools of water (mobile vs. immobile) measured with those methods, and (iii) spatial variability and temporal dynamics of the water isotope composition of different compartments in terrestrial ecosystems. In situ methods have been proposed as an innovative and necessary way to address these issues and are required in order to disentangle isotope
effects and take them into account when studying root water uptake depths of plants and for studying soil–plant–atmosphere interaction based on
water stable isotopes. Herein, we review the current status of in situ measurements of water stable isotopes in soils and plants, point out
current issues and highlight the potential for future research. Moreover, we put a strong focus and incorporate practical aspects into this review in
order to provide a guideline for researchers with limited previous experience with in situ methods. We also include a section on opportunities for
incorporating data obtained with described in situ methods into existing isotope-enabled ecohydrological models and provide examples illustrating
potential benefits of doing so. Finally, we propose an integrated methodology for measuring both soil and plant water isotopes in situ when
carrying out studies at the soil–vegetation–atmosphere continuum. Several authors have shown that reliable data can be generated in the field using
in situ methods for measuring the soil water isotope composition. For transpiration, reliable methods also exist but are not common in
ecohydrological field studies due to the required effort. Little attention has been paid to in situ xylem water isotope measurements. Research
needs to focus on improving and further developing those methods. There is a need for a consistent and combined (soils and plants) methodology for ecohydrological studies. Such systems should be designed and
adapted to the environment to be studied. We further conclude that many studies currently might not rely on in situ methods extensively because of
the technical difficulty and existing methodological uncertainties. Future research needs to aim on developing a simplified approach that provides a
reasonable trade-off between practicability and precision and accuracy.


The mission of the antitrust laws need to be clarified, and this article asserts that the best way to do this is to interpret and enforce these laws in terms of consumer choice. This reformulation is necessary due to uncertainty and instability that exists in the field. This article will 1. define the consumer choice approach to antitrust or competition law and show how it differs from other approaches; 2. show that the antitrust statutes and theories of violation embody a concern for optimal levels of consumer choice; 3. show that the antitrust case law embodies a concern for optimal levels of consumer choice; 4. present evidence of the new paradigm: United States v. Microsoft; 5. argue that non-price competition should become a higher priority for antitrust enforcement; 5. Discuss consumer choice and the media.


Simmonds et al. report that the secreted signaling ligand Wingless (encoded by the wg gene in Drosophila) shows apical polarization of the mRNA in Drosophila embryos. Analysis of the distribution of mRNA from a LacZ reporter construct identified two RNA localization elements in the wg 3′ untranslated region (UTR). Simmonds and co-workers substituted the 3′ UTR of wg to produce transcripts with uniform and basolateral localizations. WG signaling (based on the ability to rescue a wg mutant phenotype and enhance wg expression) was decreased in the fly embryos with uniformly distributed wg transcripts and was substantially impaired in the fly embryos with basolaterally distributed wg transcripts. Wilkie and Davis focus on the molecular mechanism of mRNA transport to the apical surface of Drosophila synctial embryos through analysis of the movement of uniformly, basolaterally, or apically localized endogenously expressed transcripts and injected mRNAs. Basal and uniformly distributed RNAs separate from apical RNAs when coinjected, whereas multiple coinjected apical targeted RNAs can accumulate in the same transport intermediates en route to the apical surface. Apical localization of injected and endogenously expressed transcripts could be disrupted by agents that destabilized microtubules or by treatments that interfered with the minus-end-directed motor dynein or its coactivator dynactin. Thus, apical localization depends on the microtubule cytoskeleton, and the mRNAs are linked and transported along this network through an interaction with the dynein-dynactin complex. A. J. Simmonds, G. dosSantos, I. Livne-Bar, H. M. Krause, Apical localization of wingless transcripts is required for Wingless signaling. Cell 105, 107-207 (2001). [Online Journal] G. S. Wilkie, I. Davis, Drosophila wingless and pair-rule transcripts localize apically by dynein-mediated transport of RNA particles. Cell 105, 209-219 (2001). [Online Journal]


Confocal Raman microscopy (CRM) mapping was used to investigate the microstructural arrangement and organic matrix distribution within the skeleton of the coral Porites lutea. Relative changes in the crystallographic orientation of crystals within the fibrous fan-system could be mapped, without the need to prepare thin sections, as required if this information is obtained by polarized light microscopy. Simultaneously, incremental growth lines can be visualized without the necessity of etching and hence alteration of sample surface. Using these methods two types of growth lines could be identified: one corresponds to the well-known incremental growth layers, whereas the second type of growth lines resemble denticle finger-like structures (most likely traces of former spines or skeletal surfaces). We hypothesize that these lines represent the outer skeletal surface before another growth cycle of elongation, infilling and thickening of skeletal areas continues. We show that CRM mapping with high spatial resolution can significantly improve our understanding of the micro-structural arrangement and growth patterns in coral skeletons.


Tagetes erectus (family: Asteraceae), commonly known as 'African marigold', is an ornamental plant widely distributed in India. The plant has been used in traditional medicines in India and elsewhere in the treatment of cold, bronchitis, rheumatism and inflammation. The flavonoid quercetin has been isolated from the methanol extract of the plant by column chromatography and identified by co-TLC, comparison of its melting point, UV, IR and NMR spectra. Quercetin content has been estimated as 1.22 (±0.26) % in the methanol extract of Tageteserectus whole plant based on HPTLC method using the solvent systemchloroform: methanol (8.5:1.5). The essential oil was isolated by hydrodistillation (oil yield 0.04% v/w) and 25 compounds comprising 93.9% of the constituents were identified by GC-MS analysis. Monoterpenoids Predominated the oil (78.5%), with piperitone as the major compound (40.1%) followed by terpinolene (12.7%) and limonene (12.0%). The in vitro antioxidant assays of the methanol extract showed moderate activity with IC50 values 109.45 (±1.22) μg/ml for DPPH radical scavenging assay and 201.53 (±4.48) μg/ml for superoxide scavenging assay and the marker compound quercetin showed IC50 values 26.40(±1.75) and 13.87 (±0.54) μg/ml respectively. Reducing power assay also showed moderate activity. Antibacterial activity of the methanol extract and the essential oil against gram positive and gram-negative bacteria were done using disc diffusion method. The essential oil showed remarkable activity against the tested organisms, while the extract showed only moderate activity.


Nereis falsa de Quatrefages, 1866 has been regarded as a cosmopolitan species, and several species described from different localities have been regarded as junior synonyms of N. falsa. The present study is an attempt to resolve the taxonomic confusion in N. falsa, which seems to contain several distinct species due to previous inappropriate synonymy, widely distributed in the Atlantic and eastern Pacific Oceans. For this purpose, the authors first propose the resurrection of the synonymy of N. falsa with Hediste diversicolor that was concluded during the 19th century but disregarded later. After the fixation of the identity of N. falsa sensu stricto, the authors re-evaluate the proper taxonomic status of species which have previously been confused with N. falsa. Type, topotype and non-type specimens were examined; most species are redescribed, and others are reinstated. Nereis splendida Grube, 1840 is a valid Mediterranean species, and a neotype is proposed; it includes the Mediterranean populations of what is currently regarded as N. falsa. Consequently, N. falsa is transferred to Hediste Malmgren, 1867, and some taxonomic comments are added for the latter genus and a key to species is also included. Nereis callaona Grube & Kröyer in Grube, 1857, N. marginata Grube & Örsted in Grube, 1857 and N. riisei Grube & Örsted in Grube, 1857 are restricted to tropical American shores and are all redescribed. Nereis pelagica lunulata Ehlers, 1901, formerly regarded as a junior synonym of N. falsa by Fauvel (1941), is redescribed and elevated in rank to species level. Nereis lucipeta Ehlers, 1908, formerly regarded as a junior synonym of N. splendida by Ehlers (1913) and of N. falsa by Fauvel (1919), is reinstated. Nereis occidentalis Hartman, 1945 is also redescribed. Furthermore, N. ambigua Treadwell, 1937, formerly regarded as a junior synonym of N. riisei by Monro (1933), deserves to be reinstated. Western Africa specimens recorded as N. falsa are newly described as N. mezianei sp. nov.


This project is concerned with exploring phenomena of the night through
combining printmaking and installation practices. I explore a phenomenology
of darkness via embodied vision. The embodied nature of vision implies
subjective experience and this is the key to re-activating a viewer's
relationship to the environment in darkness. I consider how perception
changes in the dark and the intermingling of the senses becomes more
apparent, precipitating a heightened suggestivity to nocturnal phenomena. I
have drawn on phenomenological ideas and methods and on my own
nocturnal experiences to reflect on aspects of the changing contemporary
night, creating a series of print-based installations that extend the possibilities
for sensory affect. I bring together installation strategies and the analogue
print as an embodiment of the tactile to assert the phenomenological.
The submitted work has developed through extensive experimentation that
draws together diverse methods for combining prints in installation
environments. I have explored strategies that locate the visual via embodied
processes, combining the physical mark making possibilities of the analogue
print with installation strategies. Using print processes I have collected a
range of marks derived from tactile interactions with forms. The printed marks
do not describe visual forms, rather they are fragments that signify a sensate
engagement with the unseen in the dark. The ability of print to reproduce
images in different states has facilitated possibilities for the construction and
fragmentation of imagery, as repeated forms alter and echo, generating
heightened effects. I configure these in ways that strategically focus on the
tactile, inviting an intimate and experiential engagement. The intent of the
project is to create a perceptual intervention, a break in habitual and everyday
modes of viewing.
In terms of theory, Merleau Ponty's discussions of phenomenological thought
provide key reference points for the project, in particular the idea that
experience at the moment of apprehension and prior to conceptual meaning
suggests new ways of understanding the relationship between self and the
world, one that relocates vision in the body. I have also drawn on the writings
of Jonathan Crary, who describes how an understanding of embodied vision
has emerged and discusses ways that contemporary perceptual experiences
are changing, and Paul Crowther, who considers the phenomenological
possibilities for artworks. Rosalind Krauss' critique of the optical has also
been significant as it locates several art practices that subvert the
disembodied optical; and I trace a series of connections with other artists who
have enlisted the bodily as a means of destabilising the visual.
The project is located within a field of contemporary artists who engage with
ideas about perception and darkness in relation to the environment and, in
particular, with artworks that deal with the concept of an embodied
relationship to darkness and utilise phenomenal strategies to engage viewers
on a sensory level. Rothko, Turrell, Morris, Eliassen and Kusama deal with
perceptual questions, creating immersive environments that engage in reflection on the world. Fernandez, Hofshi, Bitters, Seigel, Silveira and Pien
deal with perceptions of darkness in their works and develop strategies to
extend the sensory. While current installation practices often explore the
sensory possibilities of Lhe digilal, my installation positions the analogue print
to comment on the transition from the physical to the virtual worlds that we
increasingly inhabit.
The results of this project are shown in a dark, labyrinthine installation that
interrogates the realm of perception, as the viewer is invited to consider the
embodied nature of vision. Everyday modes of seeing are destabilised
through encounters with fragments of imagery that hover between form and
feeling, imagination and reality. This is suggestive of experiences of the night,
where not only tactile, aural and visual phenomena are experienced differently
but also images are conjured in the mind in response to nocturnal events.
This exploration of ideas and processes suggests a reading of the night which
points to the richness of sensuous engagement with the world, encouraging
the viewer to reconsider their own multi-sensory relationship to the world in
darkness.


The emergence of the WeChat has brought some new changes to people's ways of life and reading. Thanks to the WeChat Public Platform, many people from all walks of life have become We Media operators, creating their own brands and products. In a case study of WeChat Public Platform, this paper uses NLPIR, a tool for Chinese word segmentation, and SPSS, a data analysis software, to conduct an analysis of actual data captured by Web Spider about WeChat posts and the platform itself, exploring the effects of post content and platform attributes on users' reading and dissemination behaviors. Our regression analysis found that some content attributes, including parts of speech like adverb, punctuation marks such as question mark, and headline length and position, as well as platform attributes, such as the platform seniority, have significant impacts on page views; the genres of advertisement, joke and warning, among other content attributes, and follower count as a platform attribute, have a very significant effect on the dissemination index. This paper is helpful for operators to gain a better understanding of factors influencing the spread of information published by WeChat Official Accounts and providing valuable revelations on achieving fast and efficient dissemination of posts.


Over the past decade, markerless performance capture, through multiple synchronised cameras, has emerged as an alternative to traditional motion capture techniques, allowing the simultaneous acquisition of shape, motion and appearance. This technology is capable of capturing the subtle details of human motion, e.g. clothing, skin and hair dynamics, which cannot be achieved through current marker based capture techniques. Markerless performance capture has the potential to revolutionise digital content creation in many creative industries, but must overcome several hurdles before it can be seen as a practical mainstream technology. One limitation of the technology is the enormous size of the generated data. This thesis addresses issues surrounding compact appearance representation of virtual characters generated through markerless performance capture, optimisation of the underlying 3D geometry and delivery of interactive content over the internet.

Current approaches to multiple camera texture representation effectively reduce the storage requirements by discarding huge amounts of view dependent and dynamic appearance information. This information is important for reproducing the realism of the captured multiple view video. The first contribution of this thesis introduces a novel multiple layer texture representation (MLTR) for multiple view video. The MLTR preserves dynamic, view dependent appearance information by resampling the captured frames into a hierarchical set of texture maps ordered by surface visibility. The MLTR also enables computationally efficient view-dependent rendering by pre-computing visibility testing and reduces projective texturing to a simple texture lookup. The representation is quantitatively evaluated and shown to reduce the storage cost by > 90% without a significant effect on visual quality.

The second contribution outlines the ideal properties for the optimal representation of 4D video and takes steps in achieving this goal. Using the MLTR, spatial and temporal consistency is enforced using a Markov random field framework, allowing video compression algorithms to make further storage reductions through increased spatial and temporal redundancies. An optical flow-based multiple camera alignment method is also introduced to reduce visual artefacts, such as blurring and ghosting, that are caused by approximate
geometry and camera calibration errors. This results in clearer and sharper textures with a lower storage footprint.

In order to facilitate high quality free-viewpoint rendering, two shape optimisation methods are proposed. The first combines the strengths of the visual hull, multiple view stereo and temporally consistent geometry to match visually important features using a non-rigid iterative closest point method. The second is based on a bundle adjustment formulation which jointly refines shape and calibration. While, these methods achieve the objective of enhancing the geometry and/or camera calibration parameters, further research is required to improve the resulting shape.

Finally, it is shown how the methods developed in this thesis could be used to deliver interactive 4D video to consumers via a WebGL enabled internet browser, e.g. Firefox or Chrome. Existing methods for parametric motion graphs are adapted and combined with an efficient WebGL renderer to allow interactive 4D character delivery over the Internet. This demonstrates for the first time that 4D video has the potential to provide interactive content via the internet which opens this technology up to the widest possible audience.


Attempts to describe and define 'the role of the architect' or the notion of architecture 'itself', often inherit a displacement between the interests in processes and the interests in interpretations of, or preceptions for either the results as 'good quality' or for the practise as 'good conduct'. They tend to produce rigid models of the design-process, sociologically reducing explanations or mere ethical judgements. (Lawson, Cuff, Lundequist, Effekt:42) With this blurred and blurring difference as a point of departure, the interest in the competencies and strategies performed in the processes gets difficult conditions. The quests for the essences of either 'Architecture' or 'The Architect' will inevitable show, that both architects and architectures are multiple and heterogeneous, and that the processes that stabilize them are messy an unpredictable. The attempt in this article is to offer a suggestion for analytical practices that focus on the discursive manifold of 'strategies, manoeuvres, tactics and technologies' performed to produce, or obtain spaces and buildings with special or cultural relevant qualities. (Foucault:41) By acknowledging the discursive differences between practises, it becomes possible to ask questions like: in which ways do architects imagine, see and define distant objects that are meant to become buildings, and in which ways are the processes open for intervention? How do the building-to-become gets knowable, real? Are digital and parametric generations offering more designpossibilities or better participation than their analogue competitors?


With the noted intelligence failures prior to the September 11 attacks and the 2003 Iraq War, the US intelligence community has recognized the need to acquire new, outside expertise to mitigate against future intelligence breakdowns. This recent attention on intelligence outreach provides Science and Technology Studies (STS) scholars with an opportunity to consider the role they might play in these efforts, as well as the various opportunities and difficulties that can shape these relationships, and the types of knowledge that can be produced and known from engagements with these secret communities. This paper provides a reflection on how two STS scholars have attempted to intervene into intelligence and the lessons learned.


This thesis enquires how a rethinking of sight as the primary sense for experiencing dance performance can instigate new choreographies that embody the interplay between seen and unseen, described and not described, inside and outside, subject and object. By 'unseen' I mean invisible to the eye but potentially available to other senses or imaginative capacities. Choreography is a methodological and critical lens through which to explore relationships between description, translation and sensory perception in a range of performance engagements that invite multi-sensory attention.

The research is launched with implications arising from a consideration of audiodescription: the supposed neutrality of the speaker, the potential for cultural mismatches or power tensions in translation and the challenge of making spoken language more fully represent the body in performance. The thesis argues that rethinking ideas of description, from the beginning of a devising process, can lead to the production of choreographic work that does not privilege vision.

The research for this thesis has involved choreographic practice combined with writing. In this writing, the on-going narrative of my choreographic studio work has been deliberately interwoven with analysis and contextualisation of this practice. The different elements enacted in the studio and at the writing desk have continually interacted, back and forth, identifying in the process, appropriate objectives for successive phases. For example, the reflections stimulated at each phase of concurrent theoretical research and studio work have deepened my choreographic enquiries, while also identifying other points requiring further exploration. This exploration has been carried out during further practical choreographic experiments in the studio, triggering still further theoretical analysis, and so on. In this way, the dancer writing becomes, and interacts with, the writer dancing.

Sensory and kinaesthetic knowledge can build a more integrated and immersive sensual experience of dance as something to be not just observed but also engaged in. The intention is that insights from the research will inform strategies for original choreography expressed in performance.


THIS ARTICLE DISCUSSES THE complexities of social and cultural diversity as demonstrated by children in a Swedish multicultural preschool setting. An integrated theoretical model which holds contemporary child and childhood theories is developed. Our particular interest is in the cultural determinants underlying diversity at a structural as well as a practice level. Results show how diversity is both defused and maintained through planned activities. The 'social knowledge domain' is used as a concept for describing how social interactions between children confirm and construct common clusters of social knowledge about diversity with relevance for social life at preschool.


▪ Abstract Novel therapeutic strategies can be envisioned based on altering the expression level of target genes involved in cellular processes and disease progression; however, our ability to efficiently manipulate gene expression is limited. Non-viralbased gene therapy provides a relatively safe approach to increase or decrease the expression of a specific gene using DNA or antisense sequences; however, synthetic systems are required to direct plasmids and oligonucleotides to a specific tissue and to enhance cellular uptake and intracellular trafficking. Numerous materials are being developed that interact with DNA to enhance its properties (e.g. stability, charge density) and thus direct its biodistribution and facilitate cellular interactions. The development of synthetic delivery systems to manipulate gene expression efficiently is a powerful tool that will ultimately lead to novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of numerous disorders.


The security demands affiliated to cloud computing are of high priority, importance and of close attention. When it comes to security cloud-based services have to be used & managed at all possible levels of enterprise system. The main issue with commercial enterprise is that they do not want to store their sensitive data on commercial cloud due to lack of faith on third party entities, however things all together change when it comes to retail users because sensitivity and sensitivity of data varies from retail to cooperative user. Cloud users will have no control over the cloud storage servers used, and there is a built-in risk of information vulnerability to third parties in the cloud or to the cloud provider itself. This paper reviews the classical security services and requirement in an open environment and introduces a Trust Based framework for cloud security.


The behavior of $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-cristobalite under pure shear stresses is studied using an ab initio technique. The application of shear stress on the $a\text{\ensuremath{-}}b$ planes yields a two-dimensional layered monoclinic phase with ${C}_{2}$ space group via an orthorhombic phase having $C{222}_{1}$ symmetry. In the layered structure, each silicon atom is fourfold coordinated. On the other hand, shearing of $a\text{\ensuremath{-}}c$ and $b\text{\ensuremath{-}}c$ planes causes first a transformation into monoclinic phases within $P{2}_{1}$ symmetry and then structural failure. We also study the behavior of $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-cristobalite under the simultaneous application of shear stress and hydrostatic pressure. We consider six different loading conditions and find that the shear stresses have no influence on the densification mechanism until a first-order phase transformation occurs. On the other hand, the shear stresses play a significant role during the first-order phase transformation and result in the $Cmcm$, anataselike, and stishovite structures in our simulations. The phase transformation from $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-cristobalite to the $Cmcm$ structure is due to the shear deformation on the $a\text{\ensuremath{-}}b$ planes and proceeds via an orthorhombic intermediate phase having $C{222}_{1}$ symmetry.


Researchers test whether and how onymity, as opposed to anonymity, promotes cooperation in a social dilemma experiment. One of the most elusive scientific challenges for over 150 years has been to explain why cooperation survives despite being a seemingly inferior strategy from an evolutionary point of view. Over the years, various theoretical scenarios aimed at solving the evolutionary puzzle of cooperation have been proposed, eventually identifying several cooperation-promoting mechanisms: kin selection, direct reciprocity, indirect reciprocity, network reciprocity, and group selection. We report the results of repeated Prisoner's Dilemma experiments with anonymous and onymous pairwise interactions among individuals. We find that onymity significantly increases the frequency of cooperation and the median payoff per round relative to anonymity. Furthermore, we also show that the correlation between players' ranks and the usage of strategies (cooperation, defection, or punishment) underwent a fundamental shift, whereby more prosocial actions are rewarded with a better ranking under onymity. Our findings prove that reducing anonymity is a valid promoter of cooperation, leading to higher payoffs for cooperators and thus suppressing an incentive—anonymity—that would ultimately favor defection.


Theromphilic bacterial cultures of Bacillus species capable of producing antibiotic bacitracin were isolated from local habitats and were screened for the production of bacitracin. Culture No.39 gave the maximum yield of bacitgracin (37.2.1.U/mL) whereas rest of the cultures produced less quantity of bacitracin. It was identified as Bacillus licheniformis. The culture Bacillus l icheniformis 39 was mutated by both UV irradiation and NYG (N-methyl-N-nitro-nitrosoguanidine). The mutatedstrain was designated as Bacillus l.icheriformis M-39.

In submerged fermentation, 20 hours old vegetative inoculuim (5%v/v) gave the maximu yield of bacitracin when the culture was grown in medium containing L-glutamic acid, L-alanine, citric acid and inorganic salts. It was found that amino acids L-glutamic acid, L-alanine, the divalent metal ions (Mg, Fe and Mn) sodium dihydrogen phosphate were essential for bacitracin production whereas Na2So4 and CaCl2 were deleted from the medium as they decreased the bacitracin yield.

Carbohydrates in the form of sugars and starches were employed for the production of bacitracin. Among sugars glucose gave the maximum yield of anitibiotic and among starches, soluble starch was found best suited for bacitracin production. Glucose also proved as interfering carbon source so it gave maximum yield at 0.5% (w/v) concentration agter its complete consumption. Soluble starch was also used at slowly utilized carbon source in addition to glucose to fulfill the carbon needs of cultures after the depletion of glucose. Catablite repression of glucose was also studied in addition to the effect of various organic acids on the production of bacitracin and citric acid gave the maximum yield.

Organic and inorganic nitrogen sources were tried to enhance the yield of bactracin but they were found ineffective in the presence amino acids of the fermentation medium. Effect of bacitracin constituent amino acid, their stereoisomerism, and some other amino acids were studied on bacitracin production. L-leucine increased the bacitracin yield upto 72% on 1.0 g/l addition. Bacitracin yield was further increased to 15% when a combination of five other amino amino acids was used with L-leucine.

Inhibition of antibiotic bacitracin on its own production was studied. The inhibition increased upto 140 l.U/mL addition bacitracin in fermentation medium at the start of fermentation. The inhibition was due to the formation of chelating complex with divalent metal ions. The inhibitory effect of bacitracin was maximum with 6.0 mM concentration of Mn2+.

To economize the feasibility of the process agricultural by-products such as corn steep-liquor, soybean, corn, sunflower and cotton seed meals were tried in place of amino acids. The results obtained by using soybean meal were encouraging. The optima medium for the submerged fermentation of bacitracin contained soybean meal, glucose , starch, citric acid and mineral salts produced bacitracin 94.3 l.U.mL at the flask level.

The environmental factors such as incubation temperature, initial pH, aeration and agitation rates were also optimized. The optimum bacitgracin yield (156.4 l.U/mL) was obtained in 30 L fermenter with working volume 15 L at 37 C with initial pH of 7.0. The agitation and aeration rates were 250 rpm and 1.0 L/L/min respectively.

The production of bacitracin was also carried out by solid state fermentation by using soybean meal as solid substrate. The other agricultural by-products were also tried but did not give better yield than soybean meal. Carbohydrate and nitrogen sources were also found ineffective to increase the antibiotic yield.

Isolation of bacitracin from the fermented broth was carried out by its precipitation as metal salt by divalent metal ions. Zn2 was found the most suited for this purpose and it gave the maximum percentage recovery of 67.4% and antibiotic activity of 6.9 l.U/mL in the optimized conditions of temperature, pH and carrier quantity.


Background and Aim: 1, 2-Dimethylhydrazine (DMH) enhances lipid peroxidation rate by tumor mitochondria than normal tissue counterpart and causes many disorders in antioxidant system in live r. It also increases the level of enzymes that metabolize toxin in liver and colon. T he aim of this study was to evaluate the alteration of liver and its enzymes af ter DMH injection and evaluate protective effect of cell wall and cytoplasmic frac tions of Saccharomyces cereviseae enriched with selenium (Se) on these tissues. Methods: Forty eight female rats were prepared and acclimat ized to the laboratory conditions for two weeks, and all animals received 1, 2- dimethyl hydrazine chloride (40 mg/kg body weight) twice a week for 4 weeks except healthy control. At first colon carcinoma (aberrant crypt foci) conf irmed by light microscope. Then the changes resulting from injection of DMH on live r of animals in initial and advanced stages of colon cancer were examined. In addition, the protective effect of cell wall and cytoplasmic fractions of Selenium- enriched S. cerevisiae were investigated in two phases. First phase in initial stage and second phase in advanced stage of colon cancer were performed respectively. Forty weeks following the first DMH injection, all survived ani mals were sacrificed. Then, colon and liver removed and exsanguinated by heart puncture. For measuring the levels of enzymes (AST, ALT, and ALP), a commercial kit (Parsazmoon, Iran) and an autoanalyzer (BT 3000 Pluse, Italy) were use d. Results: The results showed that subcutaneous injection of DMH increased the ALT, AST, and ALP levels up to 78.5, 161.38, and 275.88 U/L compared to the control, respectively. Moreover, statistical analys is in both phases of experiment revealed that the enzyme levels were decreased in t he treated groups in comparison with the DMH-injected group, while the levels of these enzymes were lower in the control group. Conclusion: It should be concluded that administration of cell wall and cytoplasmic fraction prepared from Se-enriched S. cerevisiae could reduce the tissue damages in the livers DMH-injected rats. Thi s beneficial effect would warrant further study on the clinical application o f Se-enriched yeast.


The transfer of data without wires is one of the main handicaps on this time. Not only for commercial reasons, also for research and manufacturing. The wireless technology on multimedia streaming has to evolve as fast as the multimedia technology does. Multimedia technology is evolving in order to reach better quality for the user's screen, therefore it needs more capabilities requirements; as better screens, better encoders, better devices to reproduce them. If we add the multimedia and the wireless technology, the result is that we need a wireless channel which could support the bandwidth that the video encoder needs. The uncompressed video or High Definition multimedia has entered so fast on the commercial issues. The main problem with that is the large amount of disk space that it needs, therefore the high rate transmission that require for streaming. To stand up to this with the wireless technology, the IEEE has developed the standard 802.15.3c in order to reach the data rate needed to transport the multimedia data without need wires. This standard is based on personal area networks (WPAN), which are computer networks used for communications between computer devices; including telephones, smartphones and tablets. Typically, a wireless personal area network uses some technology that permits communication within about 10 meters - in other words, a very short range. One such technology is Bluetooth. The WPANs could serve to interconnect all the ordinary computing and communicating devices that many people have on their desk or carry with them today. It is in its infancy and is undergoing rapid development. Proposed operating frequencies are around 2.4 GHz in digital modes. This standard uses the extremely high frequency of 60 GHz, it is considered between the highest radio frequency bands, from 30 to 300 GHz above which electromagnetic radiation is considered to be low (or far) infrared light. On this frequency band the rates could be greater than 5 Gbps, against the 2.5 Gbps that the uncompressed 1080p video, it is a good solution. The 60 GHz band usually requires line of sight between transmitter and receiver, and the 802.15.3c standard specification ameliorates this limitation through the use of "beam forming" at the receiver and transmitter antennas to increase the signal's effective radiated power. iii The aim of this bachelor thesis is to build a simulator of the 802.15.3c MAC layer protocol, in order to study the ways of the standard to construct a piconet, the structure of the channel time and the different modes to transmit data that is implemented on it. First of all, there is a summary of the main process of the standard to reach communication between two devices and an explanation of the MAC frames used for it. After that, I am going to talk about how is working the simulator and the results of it. Finally, the document is finished with conclusions and future works on the simulator


Noncoding regulatory variants play an important role in the genetics of complex traits. Although quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping is a powerful approach to identify these variants, many genetic effects may remain unobserved when cells are sampled in only one of a large number of possible environments. Using a novel induced pluripotent stem cell-derived system, we mapped QTLs regulating chromatin accessibility and gene expression in macrophages in four conditions mimicking the interplay between interferon-gamma response and Salmonella infection. We found that approximately 50% of condition-specific effects on gene expression altered chromatin accessibility prior to stimulation. Furthermore, 6% of the chromatin accessibility QTLs regulated multiple neighbouring regions and these interactions were modulated by stimulation, occasionally producing condition-specific changes in gene expression. Profiling additional states also doubled the number of expression QTLs that could be confidently colocalised with disease associations. Thus, a substantial fraction of disease-associated variants may affect 'primed' regulatory elements in naive cells.


This paper presents a formal semantics of multicore architectures with private cache, shared memory, and instantaneous inter-core communications. The purpose of the semantics is to provide an operational understanding of how low-level read and write operations interact with caches and main memory. The semantics is based on an abstract model of cache coherence and allows formal reasoning over parallel programs that execute on any given number of cores. We prove correctness properties expressed as invariants for the preservation of program order, data-race free execution of low-level operations, and no access to stale data.


Submaximal step tests are often used for estimation of maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max) in humans. The validity of the Actiheart step test for VO2max estimation was not fully studied yet. Therefore, purpose of the study was to estimate VO2max using the Actiheart step test and to compare the data with measured VO2max in endurance trained athletes (ATH) and healthy non-athletes (CON).68 ATH (54% men, 28.0±5.4 yrs, 20.9±1.7 kg∙m-2) and 63 CON (46% men, 27.6±5.1 yrs, 22.1±1.7 kg∙m-2) performed the Actiheart step test and a spiroergometry for assessment of VO2max. In addition, resting metabolic rate (RMR; indirect calorimetry), maximum heart rate (HRmax; heart rate monitoring system during spiroergometry), and sleeping heart rate (SHR; Actiheart 6-day long term measurement) were determined. Validity of two different Actiheart software entry modes was assessed: (1) AHraw (estimated RMR [Schofield] and HRmax [Tanaka], SHR = 70 bpm) and (2) AHcomplete (measured RMR, HRmax, and SHR). Validity was investigated using linear regression (R2 and standard error of the estimate (SEE)) and repeated-measures ANOVA with a Bonferroni post-hoc correction. The level of significance was set to α=0.05.VO2max estimated by AHraw was significant related to measured VO2max in women CON (R2=0.22; p<0.05), whereas when VO2max was estimated by AHcomplete the relation was significant in women ATH and CON, and in men CON (R2=0.17-0.24; p<0.05). AHraw significantly underestimated VO2max in the total sample by 8% (51.4±10.2 vs. 55.9±7.6 ml∙kg-1∙min-1; p<0.0001), whereas no significant difference between AHcomplete and the criterion method was found (57.0±11.1 vs. 55.9±7.6 ml∙kg-1∙min-1; p=0.26).The Actiheart step test is an acceptable tool for the estimation of VO2max if an error within 8% can be tolerated. However, accuracy of the VO2max prediction is much improved when entering measured variables, such as RMR, SHR, and HRmax, into the software.