Manual tuning of applications for heterogeneous parallel systems is tedious and complex. Optimizations are often not portable, and the whole process must be repeated when moving to a new system, or sometimes even to a di erent problem size. Pattern based parallel programming models were originally designed to provide programmers with an abstract layer, hiding tedious parallel boilerplate code, and allowing a focus on only application specific issues. However, the constrained algorithmic model associated with each pattern also enables the creation of pattern-specific optimization strategies. These can capture more complex variations than would be accessible by analysis of equivalent unstructured source code. These variations create complex optimization spaces. Machine learning o ers well established techniques for exploring such spaces. In this thesis we use machine learning to create autotuning strategies for heterogeneous parallel implementations of applications which follow the wavefront pattern. In a wavefront, computation starts from one corner of the problem grid and proceeds diagonally like a wave to the opposite corner in either two or three dimensions. Our framework partitions and optimizes the work created by these applications across systems comprising multicore CPUs and multiple GPU accelerators. The tuning opportunities for a wavefront include controlling the amount of computation to be o oaded onto GPU accelerators, choosing the number of CPU and GPU threads to process tasks, tiling for both CPU and GPU memory structures, and trading redundant halo computation against communication for multiple GPUs. Our exhaustive search of the problem space shows that these parameters are very sensitive to the combination of architecture, wavefront instance and problem size. We design and investigate a family of autotuning strategies, targeting single and multiple CPU + GPU systems, and both two and three dimensional wavefront instances. These yield an average of 87% of the performance found by o ine exhaustive search, with up to 99% in some cases.


Ynezidinium malloyi gen. nov., sp. nov. shows paratabulation details that indicate it belongs to the Family Gonyaulacaceae, subfamily Leptodiniodeae, but which, in combination, distinguish it from previously described genera. The paratabulation details include: (1) pentagonal sixth precingular (li) in contact with both fourth and first apicals (A and lu); (2) elongate and subparallel fourth and first apicals; (3) straight to slightly sigmoidal sulcal region; (4) lack of small intercalary (K) paraplates; and (5) Q/B preapical arrangement. Other species herein assigned to Ynezidinium include: Ynezidinium brevisulcatum (Michoux, 1985) comb. nov., Y. latolineatum (Yun, 1981) comb. nov., Y. pentahedrias (Damassa, 1979) comb. nov. and Y. waipawaense (Wilson, 1988) comb. nov.


Piled raft foundations are a geotechnical composite construction consisting of three elements: piles, raft and soil. In the design of piled rafts, the load is assumed to be shared between the piles and the raft. Therefore, this may improve the ultimate load capacity and reduce settlements in a very economic way as compared with the traditional foundation concepts. Due to the development of structures that use piled rafts as a foundation system, an extensive experimental study was performed by two different scale models with the same L/Dp (Embedment length to pile diameter ratio) and L/Br (Embedded length to raft width ratio Br) to achieve the scale effect and plane stress condition for the large scale model and plane strain condition for the small scale model. The load carrying capacity of the piles and raft have been studied and presented as load -settlement illustrations. From a comparison between the two models of the experimental work, it is found that the effect of scale cause an increase in carrying load of piled raft with increasing the number of piles. It was found that the percentage of the load carried by raft to the total applied load of the experimental model in the case of four piles with raft is ranged between 60.6 - 64.8 %.


ABSTRACT Salmonella enterica bla CTX-M-2 and blaCTX-M-9 plasmid backbones from isolates from Belgium and France were analyzed. The blaCTX-M-2-plasmids from both human and poultry isolates were related to the IncHI2 pAPEC-O1-R plasmid, previously identified in the United States in avian Escherichia coli strains; the blaCTX-M-9 plasmids were closely related to the IncHI2 R478 plasmid.


CROwd Simulation of Situated individuals represents a modern generation simulation as a (social) scientific tool for understanding crowd behaviour. The CROSS model represents individuals in a crowd as social-cognitive agents that are affected by their social and physical surroundings and produce behaviour and behaviour patterns. Understanding is sought by relating the intra- and inter-individual level levels of behaviour generation with behaviour pattern emergence at group level. The CROSS model advances crowd research by adding a description of behaviour at the cognitive (intra-individual) level as well as the use of simulation experiments to test theory. The CROSS model meets the need of crowd research for a theory that reflects the dynamic interplay between individuals and their environment as well as the need for a method that allows for testing.


Title of dissertation: DYNAMICS ON AND OF COMPLEX NETWORKS: FUNCTIONAL COMMUNITIES AND EPIDEMIC SPREADING Sanjeev Kumar Chauhan Doctor of Philosophy, 2012 Dissertation directed by: Professor Michelle Girvan Department of Physics The work presented in this thesis focusses on two topics: functional communities and epidemic spreading on dynamic networks. The first part of the thesis focuses on a functionally-based definition of community structure for complex networks. In particular, we consider networks whose function is enhanced by the ability to synchronize and/or by resilience to node failures. For networks whose functional performance is dependent on these processes, we propose a method that divides a given network into communities based on maximizing a function of the largest eigenvalues of the adjacency matrices of the resulting communities. We also explore the differences between the partitions obtained by our function-based method and the structure-based modularity approach. A major finding is that, in many cases, modularity-based partitions do almost as well as the function-based method in finding functional communities, even though modularity does not specifically incorporate consideration of function. We also discuss the spectral properties of the networks with community structure, relevant for the case of functional communities studied in this thesis. In the second part of the thesis, we study a discrete time SIR model on dynamic networks. In our dynamic network model, we consider the case where the nodes in the network change their links both in response to the disease and also due to social dynamics. We assume that the individuals trying to make new connections mix randomly, and, with a certain probability, we also allow for the formation of new susceptible-infected links. We find that increasing the social mixing dynamics inhibits the disease's ability to spread in certain cases. This occurs because susceptibles who randomly disconnect from infected individuals preferentially reconnect to other susceptibles, inhibiting the disease spread. Finally, we also extend our dynamic network model to take into account the case of hidden infection. Here we find that, as expected, the disease spreads more readily if there is an initial time period during which an individual is infectious but unaware of the infection. DYNAMICS ON AND OF COMPLEX NETWORKS: FUNCTIONAL COMMUNITIES AND EPIDEMIC SPREADING


Credit scoring has been regarded as a core appraisal tool of different institutions during the last few decades and has been widely investigated in different areas, such as finance and accounting. Different scoring techniques are being used in areas of classification and prediction, where statistical techniques have conventionally been used. Both sophisticated and traditional techniques, as well as performance evaluation criteria, are investigated in the literature. The principal aim of this paper, in general, is to carry out a comprehensive review of 214 articles/books/theses that involve credit scoring applications in various areas but in particular primarily in finance and banking. This paper also aims to investigate how credit scoring has developed in importance and to identify the key determinants in the construction of a scoring model, by means of a widespread review of different statistical techniques and performance evaluation criteria. Our review of literature revealed that there is no overall best statistical technique used in building scoring models and the best technique for all circumstances does not yet exist. Also, the applications of the scoring methodologies have been widely extended to include different areas, and this subsequently can help decision makers, particularly in banking, to predict their clients' behaviour. Finally, this paper also suggests a number of directions for future research. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


How to Design a Secure Multimedia Encryption Scheme The widespread use of image, audio, and video data makes media content protection increasingly necessary and urgent. For maximum safety, it is no longer sufficient to merely control access rights. In order to fully protect multimedia data from piracy or unauthorized use, it must be secured through encryption prior to its transmission or distribution. Multimedia Content Encryption: Techniques and Applications presents the latest research results in this dynamic field. Examines the Latest Encryption Techniques The book begins with the history of multimedia encryption and then examines general performance requirements of encryption and fundamental encrypting techniques. It discusses common techniques of complete, partial, and compression-combined encryption; as well as the more specialized forms, including perception, scalable, and commutative encryption. In addition, the author reviews watermarking and joint fingerprint embedding and decryption. Later chapters discuss typical attacks on multimedia encryption, as well as the principles for designing secure algorithms and various applications. An exploration of open issues, up-and-coming topics, and areas for further research rounds out the coverage. Shiguo Lian is the author or co-author of more than fifty peer-reviewed journal and conference articles covering topics of network security and multimedia content protection, including cryptography, secure P2P content sharing, digital rights management (DRM), encryption, watermarking, digital fingerprinting, and authentication. By following the techniques outlined in this book, users will be better able to protect the integrity of their multimedia data and develop greater confidence that their data will not be misappropriated.


This paper gives an overview on reconstruction strategies after the tsunami disaster in the coastal fishery industry at the pacific coast of northern Japan (Sanriku). First, some general characteristics of Sanriku and her fisheries are outlined, followed by an overview of damage. The second part focusses on fishery reconstruction strategies and efforts by Miyagi prefecture and Iwate prefecture, respectively. Finally, the implementation of Special Zones for Fishery Reconstruction in Miyagi prefecture is discussed. It is argued that Tokku are meant as a mid- and long-term measure implemented in Miyagi's reconstruction plans to tackle structural problems in the fishery sector (e.g. over-ageing) that were severe even before the 3/11 disaster struck.


Abstract
Osmolytes affect protein stability through direct interactions with a protein,
indirectly by perturbing the properties of the solvent water, and by a combination of
these. In this thesis the conformational stability of the colicin E9 immunity protein
(Im9) and Human serum albumin (HSA) were determined in the absence and presence
of osmolytes (trehalose, sucrose, and glycerol) and their effective hydrodynamic radii
measured in order to further explore the mechanism of stabilisation. Urea1/2, the
midpoint of the unfolding transition, and GH2O, the free energy of unfolding, were
measured in a urea-induced denaturation experiment and detected with fluorescence
spectroscopy, and hydrodynamic radii (Rh) were measured with pulsed-field gradient
NMR.
The unfolding curves of Im9 and HSA are shifted to higher urea concentration
so that Urea1/2 and GH2O increased, as the osmolyte concentration was increased
indicating that Im9 and HSA are more stable in the presence of osmolytes. The Rh of
Im9 and HSA increased in the presence of high concentration of trehalose and sucrose
but glycerol produced a reduction. My data support the view that trehalose and sucrose
act via a preferential hydration mechanism in which the water layer around the protein
increases because osmolytes are excluded from the protein surface. In contrast, glycerol
acts by interacting directly with the protein surface, and possibly by penetrating it,
which causes the protein to become more compact as its void volume is reduced. This
increase in compactness induces stabilisation.
In addition, HSA formulations were studied for their stability over 6 months
under various conditions using trehalose, sucrose and glycerol as stabilisers instead of
acetyltryptophan and sodium octanoate, which are used commercially. However,
measurements of HSA esterase-like activity and heme binding, and its aggregation state
with polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and DLS showed the osmolytes cannot
stabilize the protein under high storage temperatures.


Purpose
We want to share a true story with an happy end that occurred in a research Library at the University of Bologna. The lesson we learned is that to achieve an international standard for quality may be misunderstood; and that how to use statistics related to a single library may become a battle field if the two "players" - in this case, a research library and the Central Library System - look at it from different perspectives.

Design/methodology/approach
The advocacy strategy adopted by the library is based on a range of statistics to corroborate a wider meaning for "efficacy "and "efficiency". The user's point of view, satisfaction statements, observations and explored behavior – as known via the library quality system– are used, in parallel to the dimension of time in delivery services.

Findings
By means of the ISO 9001 quality system, the research library has been stimulated to measure different aspects of the library services, that could be of some interest if applied also at the Central Library System level. The reason behind the selection of such indicators is related to the main goal of the quality certification, that is to raise users' satisfaction.

Practical implications
The paper presents also an example of good practice. The central library system at the University of Ferrara has build a set of indicators that could meet the requirements of three different schemes, all of which were of great importance for the library system management: a) the ISO 9001 requirements; b) the university overall KPI (Key Performance Indicators) scheme, aiming at defining a set of indicators that could measure and supervise all the main processes in terms of efficiency and efficacy of offices/libraries as well as of the staff; c)the national context.

Originality/value
Very often small or medium sized libraries strive to demonstrate their usefulness, efficacy and efficiency. Very often the users perceptions of the library services are less taken in consideration than quantitative measures on services outputs. This paper is a good example of a "survival" strategy of success.


For aspiring global managers and organizations developing tomorrow's leaders, Working GlobeSmart delivers strategies for success on the global stage. Whether you are working in your company's foreign office or on a virtual team that spans the globe, this field guide can help you discover how competencies for crossing national or cultural boundaries add value.Rich in examples - from Italy to India, Turkey to Thailand - Working GlobeSmart bridges the gap between what we know about business success and what we know about differences in values, abilities and behavioral characteristics across various cultural dimensions. Global consultant Ernest Gundling provides the tools to transcend the limitations of local perspectives and bring out the links between communication and change, culture and commerce.With his unique GlobeSmart model, he shows how to develop cultural competencies at the organizational, group and interpersonal level, highlighting 12 key skills critical for success. Working GlobeSmart addresses issues of greatest concern to contemporary leaders - global teamwork, customer relations, change management, strategy and innovation - and demonstrates the power of the Global People Skills framework to bring vision and strategy to life, to create training and development programs for multicultural learners and to develop or participate effectively in a global team.


Thin layer green pea husk (pericarp) drying characteristics were evaluated in a laboratory scale tray dryer. The drying experiments were carried out at 65, 70, 75 and 80 °C. Mathematical models were tested to fit drying data of green pea husk. The drying process of green pea husk occurred mainly during a falling rate period except for a very short accelerating period at the beginning. Midilli-Kucuk model had the highest R2 and lowest Chi squared and RMSE values and therefore can be used to predict the drying behaviour. The average values of effective diffusivity ranged from 5.01 × 10−8 to 9.17 × 10−8 m2/s for drying green pea husk. The activation energy value was 31.55 kJ/mol for the whole falling rate period.


Abstract. The seasonal and interannual variability of transport times from the northern
midlatitude surface into the Southern Hemisphere is examined using
simulations of three idealized "age" tracers: an ideal age tracer
that yields the mean transit time from northern midlatitudes
and two tracers with uniform 50- and 5-day decay. For all tracers the largest
seasonal and interannual variability occurs near the surface within the
tropics and is generally closely coupled to movement of the Intertropical
Convergence Zone (ITCZ). There are, however, notable differences in
variability between the different tracers. The largest seasonal and
interannual variability in the mean age is generally confined to latitudes
spanning the ITCZ, with very weak variability in the southern
extratropics. In contrast, for tracers subject to spatially uniform exponential loss the peak
variability tends to be south of the ITCZ, and there is a smaller contrast
between tropical and extratropical variability. These differences in
variability occur because the distribution of transit times from northern
midlatitudes is very broad and tracers with more rapid loss are more sensitive to
changes in fast transit times than the mean age tracer. These simulations
suggest that the seasonal–interannual variability in the southern extratropics
of trace gases with predominantly NH midlatitude sources may differ
depending on the gases' chemical lifetimes.


Two dimensional (2D) materials decorated with noble metal nanoparticles (NPs) have attracted wide attention due to their appealing chemical and physical properties. Herein, we have developed a novel approach to controllable and selective decoration of silver NPs on atomic layered molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) by using one-step laser-induced defect engineering and photoreduction. By employing a focused micro-power laser beam, silver NPs can be rapidly (in seconds) anchored onto the irradiated area of MoS2 flakes, forming 0D/2D AgNPs@MoS2 heterostructures. The mechanism for silver growth on MoS2 flakes was based on laser-induced defect creation in a silver ion environment and silver nucleation on laser-excited MoS2 flake surfaces, as evidenced by a combination of techniques including Raman spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy and second-harmonic generation. We also found that the morphology and the growth rate of silver NPs are highly dependent on the layer thickness of MoS2 and the laser irradiation power; while the size and number density of silver NPs could be precisely controlled by varying the irradiation time as well as the silver ion concentration. Finally, AgNPs@MoS2 heterostructure micro-patterns have been successfully demonstrated via a programmed low-power laser scan, which shows great potential to be used as an efficient surface enhanced Raman scattering platform for chemical sensing.


We study the problem of how to optimize a cloud service provider's pricing policy so as to better compete with other providers. Different from previous work, we take both the evolution of the market and the competition between multiple cloud providers into consideration while optimizing the pricing strategy for the provider. Inspired by the real situations in today's cloud market, we consider a situation in which there is only one provider who actively optimizes his/her pricing policy, while other providers adopt a follow-up policy to match his/her price cut. To compute optimal pricing policy under the above settings, we decompose the optimization problem into two steps: (1) When the market finally becomes saturated, we use Q-learning, a method of reinforcement learning, to derive an optimal pricing policy for the stationary market; (2) Based on the optimal policy for the stationary market, we use backward induction to derive an optimal pricing policy for the situation of competition in an evolutionary market. Numerical simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed approach.


This paper tests the effect of pollution and peaks in pollution caused by companies on their market value and on the value of their competitors. Using the US TRI (Toxic Release Inventory) database of chemical toxic emissions, provided by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) to track SP500 firms' emissions from 1996 to 2007, we find that the market does not penalize firms that pollutes heavily (at least in the long run), and consumers do not punish polluting firms switching to competitors. Pollution peaks are associated with an increase in the market values of competitors in the year of the peak. Results suggest that the positive effect is driven by investors' overreaction and fear of possible consumer switch, loss of reputation and penalties for the polluting firm.


The effects of movement on academic performance and cognitive development is often underrated. Many theorists argue for the importance of movement to be recognized because there appears to be an elaborate interplay of brain and body. Brain research has shown that the brain is "plastic" in that it can adapt continuously, and its structure can be changed by certain kinds of stimulation, including movement. The body is a sensory-motor response system that causes the brain to organize itself. Movement is essential to learning and can be regarded as the door to learning. This article reports on a developmental movement programme which was established to determine whether movement would enhance the academic skills of Grade 1 learners. Four groups of learners were used in this research project. Learners were randomly selected for one of the following groups: the experimental, control, free-play or educational toys group. The results of the pre-testing and post-testing indicate that the learners of the experimental group showed a significant improvement in spatial development as well as in reading and mathematical skills, compared to the learners in the control group, free-play group and educational toys group. South African Journal for Research in Sport, Physical Education and Recreation Vol. 28(1) 2006: 29-42


African leaders recognise that development of the continent depends on higher education and research. To that effect, the Africa Union (AU) and New Economic Partnership for Africa Development (NEPAD) have recommended that 1per cent of GDP by each African state should be spent on Research and Experimental Development (R&D) in order to support peace, stability, better governance and economic growth. However, higher education provision in Africa is mainly for undergraduate students. Postgraduate provision, research and knowledge transfer remain largely under. In the case of Rwanda, Higher Education Policy is very clear that development of the higher education institutions forms the foundation for applying scientific and technology for development. Already in 2010 Rwanda higher education institutions have nearly 1,200 teaching staff with Masters degrees needing PhD training urgently. Training aboard is very costly and just a few can be trained over a long period and contributes to brain drain. Also the enrolment expansion at undergraduate level is imminent requiring massive increases in lecturers with PhD and Masters level qualifications. The National University of Rwanda plans to set‐up large scale PhD programs in 6 disciplines and 3 multidisciplinary themes. The aim is to train in an intensified, diversified and streamlined fashion, future lecturers and researchers who would contribute to filling the skills gaps in Rwanda HE Sector and R&D Institutions. By 2023, it is envisaged that 4,300 Masters, 1,500 PhD and 300 Post Doctoral students will be enrolled at NUR. It is planned that PhD student supervision will be done jointly between NUR staff and the most experienced staff from the external universities. PhD and Post‐doctoral students, local and external supervisors will write joint publications over 60 per cent focusing on solving Rwanda development problems. It is recommended that the government should invest in PhD training and Research from public expenditure and Rwanda Private sector.


The IEEE 802.11 WLAN legacy standard cannot provide QoS support for multimedia applications. Thus, considerable research efforts have been carried out to enhance QoS support for 802.11. Among them, 802.11e is the upcoming QoS-enhanced standard proposed by the IEEE working group. This article describes in detail the new QoS features of 802.11e based on the latest version of the standard draft. We investigate the performance of 802.11e through computer simulations. Using simple examples, we show the effectiveness of adaptive schemes under the 802.11e framework.


This handbook provides a comprehensive overview and holistic analysis of the intersection between tourism and popular culture. It examines current debates, questions and controversies of tourism in the wake of popular culture phenomena and explores the relationships between popular culture, globalization, tourism and mobility. In addition, it offers a cross-disciplinary, cutting edge review of the character of popular cultural production and consumption trends, analyzing their consequences for tourism, spatial strategies and destination competitiveness. The scope of the volume encompasses various expressions of popular culture such as cinema, TV shows, music, literature, sports and heritage. Featuring a mix of theoretical and empirical chapters, the handbook problematizes and conceptualizes the ties and clusters of popular cultural actors, thereby positioning tourism within the wider context of creative economies, cultural planning and multimodal technologies. Written by an international team of academics with expertise in a range of disciplines, this timely book will be of interest to researchers from a variety of subjects including tourism, events, geography, cultural studies, fandom research, political economy, business, media studies and technology.


RF MEMS switches have been successfully integrated with HEMT MMIC circuits on a GaAs substrate to construct a dual-path power amplifier at X-band. The amplifier uses two MEMS switches at the input to guide the RF signal between two paths. Each path provides single-stage amplification using different size HEMT devices, one with 80-/spl mu/m width and the other with 640-/spl mu/m. Depending on the required output power level, one of the two paths is selected to minimize the dc power consumption. Measurements showed the amplifier producing similar small signal gains of 13.2 and 11.5 dB at 10 GHz for the small and the large devices, respectively. The best PAE was 28.1 percent with 8.5 dBm of output power for the small device, and 15.3 percent with 14.6 dBm for the large device.


Stroke patients suffer from declined physical ability, and it is important to analyze rehabilitation intervention and clarify its effect on the motion of patients. In this study, the effect of intervention on the standing-up motion of stroke patients is investigated. First, the intervention timing of a physical therapist (PT) is analyzed quantitatively from the muscle activity of upper limbs during therapy. Next, the intervention effect is evaluated based on body kinematics and muscle synergy. In this study, twenty trials are conducted, in which the standing-up motion of hemiplegic patients (n=12) is measured with and without the intervention by a PT. The results show that PTs teach hemiplegic patients the timing of lifting their buttocks during standing-up motion. Furthermore, it has been found that this intervention could improve the standing-up motion, although stroke patients had inadequate muscle synergy structure. In particular, some patients had delayed activation of the synergy and they could only stood up after they moved their center of mass toward their feet. However, the intervention by PTs could induce earlier activation of the synergy. Moreover, the intervention could properly shorten the activation duration of muscle synergy for those who had unusually inappropriate longer activation of synergy. These results imply that disordered and inadequate muscle synergy structure can be improved by proper intervention, and this study contributes to the further development of new rehabilitation methodologies.


Hydropower represented in 1999 19% of the world electricity production and the absolute production is expected to grow considerably during the next 30 years. Francis turbines play a major role in the hydroelectric production due to their extended range of application. Due to the deregulated energy market, hydroelectric power plants are increasingly subjecting to off design operation, start-up and shutdown and new control strategies. Consequently, the operation of Francis turbine power plants leads to transients phenomena, risk of resonance or instabilities. The understanding of these propagation phenomena is therefore paramount. This work is a contribution to the hydroacoustic modelling of Francis turbine power plants for the investigation of the aforementioned problematic. The first part of the document presents the modelling of the dynamic behavior and the transient analysis of hydroelectric power plants. Therefore, the one-dimensional model of an elementary pipe is derived from the governing equations, i.e. momentum and continuity equations. The use of appropriate numerical schemes leads to a discrete model of the pipe consisting of a T-shaped equivalent electrical circuit. The accuracy in the frequency domain of the discrete model of the pipe is determined by comparison with the analytical solution of the governing equations. The modelling approach is extended to hydraulic components such as valve, surge tanks, surge shaft, air vessels, cavitation development, etc. Then, the modelling of the Francis, Pelton and Kaplan turbines for transient analysis purposes is presented. This modelling is based on the use of the static characteristic of the turbines. The hydraulic components models are implemented in the EPFL software SIMSEN developed for the simulation of electrical installations. After validation of the hydraulic models, transient phenomena in hydroelectric power plants are investigated. It appears that standard separate studies of either the hydraulic or of the electrical part are valid only for design purposes, while full hydroelectric models are necessary for the optimization of turbine speed governors. The second part of the document deals with the modelling and analysis of possible resonance or operating instabilities in Francis turbine power plants. The review of the excitation sources inherent to Francis turbine operations indicates that the draft tube and the rotor-stator interaction pressure fluctuations are of the major concern. As the modelling of part load pressure fluctuations induced by the cavitating vortex rope that develops in the draft tube at low frequencies is well established, the focus is put on higher frequency phenomena such as higher part load pressure fluctuations and rotorstator interactions or full load instabilities. Three hydroacoustic investigations are performed. (i) Pressure fluctuations identified experimentally at higher part load on a reduced scale model Francis turbine are investigated by means of hydroacoustic simulations and high speed flow visualizations. The resonance of the test rig due to the vortex rope excitation is pointed out by the simulation while the special motion and shape of the cavitating vortex rope at the resonance frequency is highlighted by the visualization. A description of the possible excitation mechanisms is proposed. (ii) A pressure and power surge measured on a 4 × 400 MW pumped-storage plant operating at full load is investigated. The modelling of the entire system, including the hydraulic circuit, the rotating inertias and the electrical installation provides an explanation of the phenomenon and the related conditions of apparition. A non-linear model of the full load vortex rope is established and qualitatively validated. (iii) The rotor-stator interactions (RSI) are studied in the case of a reduced scale pump-turbine model. An original modelling approach of this phenomenon based on the flow distribution between the stationnary and the rotating part is presented. The model provides the RSI pressure fluctuation patterns in the vaneless gap and enables to predict standing waves in the spiral case and adduction pipe. The proposed one-dimensional modelling approach enables the simulation, analysis and optimization of the dynamic behavior of hydroelectric power plants. The approach has proven its capability of simulating properly both transient and periodic phenomena. Such investigations can be undertaken at early stages of a project to assess the possible dynamic problems and to select appropriate solutions ensuring the safest and optimal operation of the facility.


Currently, there is considerable interest in the properties of semiconducting metal oxide nanoparticle substrates because of their utility in surface-enhanced Raman scattering, dye-sensitized solar cells, and photocatalysis. While the enhancement of Raman activities of molecules adsorbed on these nanoparticles is due to a large increase in the polarizability, because of charge transfer from the molecule to the semiconducting nanoparticle, little is known about the factors responsible for modulating the polarizability, particularly the influence of the solvent. Consequently, we have carried out Monte Carlo simulations of several hybrids to study the solvent effect on the dynamic polarizabilities and electronic spectra. Our results indicate that the presence of the solvent induces a shift and an increase in the polarization response that is dependent on the identity of the hybrid. The observed enhancement can be attributed to both the resonant character of the excitation and the participation of the solvent in the charge redistribution. The methodology employed in this work could be very valuable in both identifying and developing metal oxides as novel molecular sensors.


This document holds the purpose of portraying the progress of the Final Year Project PhotoPrompt. Found in the appendix of this document are the previous required documents that have been submitted along with updated information in the main document. The mobile market is constantly growing and smartphones are now standard in peoples lives. Facebook claims to have 350 million photos shared a day on it's platform not including Instagram uploads. Many of those are reposts, or self pictures and hold no real meaning. The idea behind PhotoPrompt is simple. Log in, check your prompt and go take the best picture you can of that prompt. Other users are the deciding factor of what is good or not. There is no metric or formula for a good photo, just practice. Using PhotoPrompt will provide you with inspiration to take photos that you normally wouldn't take and fill the world up with photos that actually mean something all while becoming a better photographer. I chose a hybrid web application because it allows anyone with a browser to access the site and engage in the functionality. No matter your operating system you will be able to use PhotoPrompt as long as you have access to a web browser.

The prompts themselves will range from a variety of things such as nature, buildings, traffic etc..all things that most people will be able to find. I think it will be interesting to see how so many people interpret the same topic and seeing the difference in photography style will urge people on to trying new methods or solutions to photography problems. With people taking photographs on smartphones everyday, and apps such as Instagram and Snapchat now engrained as parts of peoples daily routine, I think that mobile users with an interest in photography will be very interested in PhotoPrompt.


A standard liberal claim is that freedom of choice is not only instrumentally valuable but also intrinsically valuable, that is, valuable for its own sake. I argue that each one of five conditions should hold if freedom of choice is intrinsically valuable: First, if rational people may differ as to which option is the most preferred in an option set, the offered freedom of choice has some intrinsic value. Second, if an option set is expanded with an option that must be less preferred than the already available options by any rational person, the intrinsic value of the offered freedom of choice does not increase. Third, if an option set is expanded, the intrinsic value of the offered freedom of choice does not decrease. Fourth, if an option set has only one option, it does not offer any intrinsically good freedom of choice. And, fifth, the relation 'at least as good freedom of choice as' is transitive. The trouble is that there exists a counter-example to the conjunction of these conditions. Hence freedom of choice is not intrinsically valuable.


The haptic sensations one feels when interacting with physical objects create a rich and varied impression of the objects, allowing one to gather information about texture, shape, compressibility, and other physical characteristics. The human sense of touch excels at sensing and interpreting these haptic cues, even when the object is felt through an intermediary tool instead of directly with a bare finger. Dragging, pressing, and tapping a tool on the object allow you to sense the object's roughness, slipperiness, and hardness as a combination of vibrations and forces. Unfortunately, the richness of these interaction cues is missing from many virtual environments, leading to a less satisfying and less immersive experience than one encounters in the physical world. However, we can create the perceptual illusion of touching a real object by displaying the appropriate haptic signals during virtual interactions. This thesis presents methods for creating haptic models of textured surfaces from acceleration, force, and speed data recorded during physical interactions. The models are then used to synthesize haptic signals that are displayed to the user during rendering through vibrotactile and/or kinesthetic feedback. The haptic signals, which are a function of the interaction conditions and motions used during rendering, must respond realistically to the user's motions in the virtual environment. We conducted human subject studies to test how well our virtual surfaces capture the psychophysical dimensions humans perceive when exploring textured surfaces with a tool. Three haptic rendering systems were created for displaying virtual surfaces using these surface models. An initial system displayed virtual versions of textured surfaces on a tablet computer using models of the texture vibrations induced when dragging a tool across the real surfaces. An evaluation of the system showed that displaying the texture vibrations accurately captured the surface's roughness, but additional modeling and rendering considerations were needed to capture the full feel of the surface. Using these results, a second system was created for rendering a more complete three-dimensional version of the haptic surfaces including surface friction and event-based tapping transients in addition to the texture vibrations. An evaluation of this system showed that we have created the most realistic haptic surfaces to date. The force-feedback haptic device used in this system, however, was not without its limitations, including low surface stiffness and undesired inertia and friction. We developed an ungrounded haptic augmented reality system to overcome these limitations. This system allowed us to change the perceived texture and friction of a physical threedimensional object using the previously-developed haptic surface models. Degree Type Dissertation Degree Name Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Graduate Group Mechanical Engineering & Applied Mechanics This dissertation is available at ScholarlyCommons: http://repository.upenn.edu/edissertations/1674 First Advisor Katherine J. Kuchenbecker


A wide range of extracellular signals are transduced by G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs). When activated by ligands, GPCRs can activate associated heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide–binding proteins (G proteins), which in turn act on various effectors. Increasing evidence indicates that GPCRs also signal independently of heterotrimeric G proteins. Several GPCRs directly interact with Src-family kinases. Here, we discuss the evidence for direct interaction and activation of Src-family kinases by GPCRs and data that suggest that agonist dosage provides a mechanism by which GPCRs can switch between G protein–dependent and G protein–independent signaling.


The essay first examines several current state laws that prohibit profanity under certain circumstances. It then details a few recent cases in which individuals were convicted for uttering profanity. The next section explains how profanity can be a part of an unprotected category of speech, such as fighting words, true threats, or harassment. Finally, the essay examines whether such laws and cases comport with First Amendment principles.


The effects of streamwise convex curvature, recovery, and free-stream turbulence intensity on the turbulent transport of heat and momentum in a mature turbulent boundary layer are investigated. A special three-wire hot-wire probe developed for this purpose is described. Two cases with free-stream turbulence levels of 0.68 and 2.0 percent, taken in the same facility with moderate strength of curvature, δ/R = 0.03, are compared. Profiles of u′ v′ , t′ , u′ t′ , and v′ t′ are dramatically reduced within the curve, with asymptotic profiles being achieved quickly for the low TI case. Recovery occurs rapidly, with the profiles often overshooting flat-wall upstream values. Increased free-stream turbulence has the effect of increasing the profiles throughout the boundary layer on the flat developing wall. Profiles agreeing with the asymptotic profiles of the low TI case are observed by the end of the curve, however, illustrating the dominance of curvature over free-stream turbulence intensity. For the higher TI case, a reversal in the sign of u′ v′ in the outer half of the boundary layer is observed, leading to negative values of the turbulent Prandtl number in this region. This indicates a breakdown in Reynolds analogy.


High levels of the antioxidant enzyme, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), have been associated with improved outcomes following acute coronary syndromes (ACS), suggesting a protective role. How GPx levels are altered with coronary disease is not clearly established. This study examined GPx activity, protein, and mRNA levels in healthy controls, patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD), and patients with ACS. We studied 20 individuals from each of the healthy control, stable CAD, and ACS groups. GPx activity and protein levels, along with oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) were assayed in plasma. GPx mRNA levels from whole blood were quantified using real-time PCR. Levels of GPx activity in the plasma were higher in ACS (109±7.7 U/mL) compared with patients with stable CAD (95.2±16.4 U/mL, p<0.01) and healthy controls (87.6±8.3 U/mL, p<0.001). Plasma GPx protein levels were also elevated in ACS (21.6±9.5 µg/mL) compared with patients with stable CAD (16.5±2.8 µg/mL, p<0.05) and healthy controls (16.3±5.3 µg/mL, p<0.05). Levels of GPX1, GPX3, and GPX4 mRNA were significantly higher in the patients with ACS. Levels of oxLDL were also significantly higher in patients with ACS (61.9±22.2 U/L) than in patients with stable CAD (47.8±10.4 U/L, p<0.05) and healthy controls (48.9±11.9 U/L, p<0.05). Levels of oxLDL, GPx activity, protein, and mRNA are all significantly higher in patients with ACS compared with patients with stable CAD and healthy controls. These findings suggest that GPx may be upregulated in response to a change in oxidative stress during an ACS.


The dependency injection design pattern improves the configurability, testability, and maintainability of object-oriented applications by decoupling components from both the concrete implementations of their dependencies and the strategy employed to select those implementations. In recent years, a number of libraries have emerged that provide automated support for constructing and connecting dependency-injected objects. Our experience developing systems with these tools has led us to identify two shortcomings of existing dependency injection solutions: the mechanisms for specifying component implementations often make it difficult to write and configure systems of arbitrarily-composable components, and the toolkit implementations often provide limited capabilities for inspection and static analysis of the object graphs of dependency-injected systems. We present Grapht, an new dependency injection container for Java that addresses these issues by providing context-aware policy, allowing component implementation decisions to depend on where in the object graph a component is required, and using a design that allows for static analysis of configured object graphs. To achieve its objectives, Grapht is built on a mathematical representation of dependency injection and object graphs that facilitates static analysis and straightforward implementation, and forms a basis for further consideration of the capabilities of dependency injection. The mathematical representation includes context-aware policy that we show to be strictly more expressive than the qualified dependencies used in many current toolkits. We demonstrate the utility of our approach with a case study showing how Grapht has aided in the development of the LensKit recommender systems toolkit.


Chilisa presents the debate on the application of Euro-Western based research methodologies across cultures and the implication of this debate for an ethical research process. She argues that techniques of collecting data in former colonized countries are not always ethical and that the theories and subsequent volumes of literature are not favorable to these societies. Current ethical principles of informed consent are centered on Euro-western values of individualism that do not always apply in communities where collective decision making and community participation in decision making are valued. Within this context, questions arise, such as: What does it mean to be a responsible researcher in African contexts? Ethical issues arise in researching sacred indigenous knowledge using the Mazenge cult as an example. Is it ethical to gather information on a respondent through a third person where the cultural practices sanction the researcher against communicating directly with the key informant such as in the Mazenge cult?


A novel yet simple spectrochemical technique for analyzing liquid samples has been demonstrated, which is based on pulsed laser vaporization at sub-breakdown fluences, together with acoustic normalization for improved precision. By the use of ArF laser vaporization of NaCl solution as a test case, a dynamic range of three orders of magnitude was realized, and as little as 0.23 ppm of Na can be detected. Because of the high precision and small focal volume, the absolute detectability can be as low as 0.4 pg (20 fmol). ArF laser vaporization of KCl and BaCl2 was also investigated, and detection limits of 1.5 ppm and 130 ppm were established for K and Ba, respectively.


Rwanda still suffers from communicable diseases which frequently lead to epidemics. In addition to other health workforce needs, Rwanda also lacks a public health workforce that can operate multi-disease surveillance and response systems at the national and sub-national levels.In 2009 and 2010 the Rwanda Ministry of Health and its partners from the Government of Rwanda (GOR) as well as the United States (US) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the African Field Epidemiology Network, and other partners embarked on a series of activities to develop a public health workforce that would be trained to operate disease surveillance and response systems at the national and district levels. The Rwanda Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (RFELTP) is a 2-year public health leadership development training program that provides applied epidemiology and public health laboratory training while the trainees provide public health service to the Ministry of Health. RFELTP is hosted at the National University of Rwanda School of Public Health for the didactic training. RFELTP is funded by GOR, the US Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and the World Bank; it is managed by a multi-sectoral steering committee headed by the Minister of Health. The first RFELTP cohort has 15 residents who were recruited from key health programs in GOR. Over the first year of implementation, these 15 residents have conducted a variety of field investigations and responded to several outbreaks. RFELTP has also trained 145 frontline health workers through its two-week applied short courses. In the future, RFELTP plans to develop a veterinary track to address public health issues at the animal-human interface.


Optical fiber media have more reliability for optical fiber capable of delivering the data with a large capacity. Besides speed fiber optic data transfer media may reach 200.000 Mbps (200 Gbs), optical fiber communication systems inseparable from the influence of losses that affect the performance of optical fiber. Losses basically can be affect the Performance of an optical fiber communication system, but the size of the influence losses can be seen by conducting measurements performed that using Yokogawa OTDR AQ 7275 and compared with the results of standardized calculation using the power link budget calculation method. Based on the results of the comparison between the results of measurements and calculations it can be seen the performance of optical fibers. It can be done by performing measurements and calculations in the Pontianak-Sungai Raya link and link-GI GCC. Thus obtained cores with a value of large losses on the link GCC-GI located in the core 9 which has the value 31.261 dB losses which are at a distance 6.4957 km. Losses occurred due to losses macrobending so necessary improvement measures to establish the connection (splicing). Loss of value of measurement results and calculations of optical fiber communication systems from Pontianak-Sungai Raya link and link-GI GCC in PT.Telkom still in good shape and had a good Performance of the average, based on the measurement values are still below the value calculation. Keywords: Fiber Optics, Losses, Splicing, Power Link Budget


A new N-thiophosphorylated thiourea (1-pyrene)NHC(S)NHP(S)(OiPr)2 (HL) has been synthesized. The molecular structure of HL was elucidated by X-ray diffraction revealing a linear intramolecular hydrogen bond. Additionally, its crystal structure is stabilized by two intermolecular hydrogen bonds, which in turn leads to a centrosymmetric R22(8) dimer formation. These dimers are packed into polymeric chains through π⋯π stacking interactions between the pyrene rings. The reaction of the deprotonated HL with NiII leads to the NiII complex ([NiL2]). The crystal structure of [NiL2] exhibits a centrosymmetric homoleptic structure, where the NiII ion is coordinated in a square-planar fashion with the ligands arranged in a trans-N2S2 configuration. The pyreneNH protons in [NiL2] are involved in intramolecular hydrogen bonds of the pyreneN–H⋯SP type. Molecules of [NiL2] form π⋯π stacking interactions between the pyrene rings, yielding 1D polymeric chains similar to those observed in the structure of HL. These π⋯π stacked 1D polymeric chains are linked to each other through C–H⋯S and anagostic C–H⋯Ni interactions, yielding 2D sheets. Hirshfeld surface analysis showed that the structures of both HL and [NiL2] are highly dominated by H⋯H, H⋯C, H⋯S and C⋯C contacts and also characterized by H⋯O and H⋯N contacts. The molecular surfaces of HL and [NiL2] also contain O⋯S and H⋯Ni contacts, respectively. Both HL and [NiL2] were found to be emissive in CH2Cl2 solution, which is due to the concentration dependent emission of the pyrene monomer and excimer. It was established that the latter fluorescence is due to the intermolecular excimer formation. The DFT calculations allowed us to confirm the aggregation ability of the synthesized species in solution through the numerous non-covalent interactions C–H⋯S, C–H⋯Ni and C–H⋯π, which, in turn, might be responsible for the concentration dependent photophysical properties.


Abstract Calculations of potential sodium-cooled fast reactor fuel temperatures were performed to estimate the effects of increasing the outlet temperature of a given fast reactor design by increasing pin power, decreasing assembly flow, or increasing inlet temperature. Based upon experience in the United States, both metal and mixed oxide (MOX) fuel types are discussed in terms of potential performance effects created by the increased operating temperatures. Assembly outlet temperatures of 600, 650, and 700°C were used as goal temperatures. Fuel-cladding chemical interaction (FCCI) and fuel melting, as well as challenges to the mechanical integrity of the cladding material, were identified as the limiting phenomena. For example, starting with a recent 1000 MW(thermal) fast reactor design, raising the outlet temperature to 650°C through pin power increase raised the MOX centerline temperature to more than 3300°C and the metal fuel peak cladding temperature to more than 700°C. These exceeded limitations to fuel performance; fuel melting was limiting for MOX and FCCI for metal fuel. Both could be alleviated by design "fixes," such as using a barrier inside the cladding to minimize FCCI in the metal fuel, or using annular fuel in the case of MOX. Both would also require an advanced cladding material with improved stress rupture properties. Although some of these are costly, the benefits of having a high-temperature reactor that can support hydrogen production, or other missions requiring high process heat, may justify the extra costs.


Software vulnerabilities are program flaws that can be exploited by attackers to compromise the security of a software system. Although many approaches have been proposed to detect or prevent software attacks, software security incidents continue to occur every year. Security testing aims at detecting program vulnerabilities through a set of test cases and has shown to be effective to detect program vulnerabilities. The primary challenge is how to efficiently produce test cases that are highly effective in detecting vulnerabilities. This dissertation proposes trace-based security testing approaches towards addressing some fundamental challenges in security testing.
The first study is to use trace-based symbolic execution and satisfiability analysis to detect C program vulnerabilities. A security testing model is proposed to unify program states and security requirements into logical expressions. Specifically, program constraints (PC), i.e., all possible values of program variables at a given point in an execution, are derived from symbolic execution on the trace. Security constraints (SC), i.e., secure values of program variables at security critical points of the program, are derived from security knowledge. Both PC and SC are represented in first order logic. Therefore, the satisfiability of PC and the negation of SC indicates a program vulnerability. A tool named SecTAC has been developed and applied to test several open source C programs. Many known and unknown vulnerabilities have been detected.
The second study is a novel fuzzing approach that aims to test deep program semantics through the analysis of program execution trace. Intuitively, program execution trace reflects the semantics of program input data from the program's point of view. This study proposes a test case similarity metric to model the semantic similarity between well-formed input data and its mutations. Such similarity is used to direct a two-stage fuzzing process to produce more test cases that are more likely to explore deep program semantics. A prototype tool named SimFuzz is developed to test real programs, and the experimental result shows that deep program semantics can be extensively tested compared to traditional fuzzing approaches.
The third study is to utilize end user data for security testing as well as provide timely protection to end users. The idea is to monitor how program paths are explored by benign user data or malicious exploits. Once a new path is being explored, it is sent to testing site for security testing using trace-based security testing. Several techniques are proposed to make the system feasible in practice. First, tree-based bit tracing is proposed to reduce user site overhead and preserve user privacy. Second, conditional runtime monitor is proposed to ensure user security while reduce latency. Third, test decomposition is proposed to reduce space overhead. A prototype system named SecTOD has been developed and applied to test the Apache server program. The result shows that it is effective in terms of vulnerability detection and efficient in terms of computation and space overhead.
Overall, this dissertation proposes trace-based security testing and studies techniques to (1) reuse existing test cases for security testing (2) extensively test deep program semantics (3) utilize end user data for security testing as well as protect end user security. These studies show that trace-based security testing approach is a promising technique for security testing in terms of the effectiveness and efficiency.


Introduction: Studies show a need for trust between stakeholders in integrated services. However, few studies have investigated how trust develops between stakeholders on a micro-level. In a Danish intersectoral intervention for persons on sick leave due to common mental disorders, we explored why trust is needed and how trust is developed between micro-level stakeholders. Methodology: The qualitative study was based on 12 observations of interorganisational meetings, 16 interviews with service users, 24 interviews with health care professionals and employment consultants, and 8 interviews with supervisors. The analysis was guided by the theoretical concepts (dis-) trust, vulnerability and uncertainty. Results: Latent distrust between involved organisations, and vulnerabilities and uncertainties related to employment consultants' statutory power over service users caused a perceived need for interpersonal trust. Time to establish knowledgebased relationships, healthcare professionals' caring approach, and creating a feeling of sharing interests were compensating trust-building strategies that were often regarded as positive. Discussion and conclusion: Trust in personal relationships between stakeholders appeared to compensate for contextually shaped distrust, vulnerability and uncertainty. Identifying latent distrust, vulnerabilities, uncertainties, and power structures might be key to improving trust-building strategies in a specific context. The time-consuming process of trust-building between micro-level stakeholders should be supported structurally. CORRESPONDING AUTHOR: Rie Mandrup Poulsen The National Board of Social Services, Center for Data, Analysis and Methods, Edisonsvej 1, 5000 Odense C, Denmark firstname.lastname@example.com


Abstract This article documents the transformation of the American national hockey team from a poorly organized initiative into a powerful, partially state-sponsored operation, in the context of the broader geo-political tensions of the Cold War. Although the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) and Czechoslovakia are typically portrayed as dubious 'shamateurs', paid by their respective militaries to do little but play hockey year round, we argue that the USA engaged in similar activities, albeit on a smaller scale. When the USA won hockey gold at the 1960 Olympics, the American media framed the team's success as a colossal upset of the mighty, military-supported USSR. The evolution of the American team, however, was far more complicated than this simple underdog story suggests. In this article, we use historical newspapers, sporting magazines, and government documents to illustrate the American government's increasing commitment to international sporting success by examining the tumultuous USA national hockey program from the close of World War II (WWII) to the 1960 Olympics.


This thesis describes two separate research projects. The first one focused on the development of a new asymmetric synthetic methodology to construct isoprenoid moieties, which are present in a range of important bioactive natural products. Then the developed methodology was applied to the synthesis of several selected natural products, including a sex pheromone, fragrances, the side chain of zaragozic acid C, an intermediate of tuberculostearic acid, and the side chain of vitamin E. A purported natural product, with antibacterial and antifungal activities, (R)-2-methylheptyl isonicotinate, was also prepared. The second project focused on the preparation of a mycobacterial antigen, BbGLIIc, for evaluation of its immunological response.


I present new evidence on the effects of having a same-sex or same-race teacher on two salient outcomes: teacher expectations for postsecondary attainment and teacher recommendations for advanced courses. My identification strategy conditions on all subject-invariant student traits to provide causal estimates of the effects using data from the Educational Longitudinal Study of 2002. Across the full sample, there is little evidence of an effect of having a same-sex or a same-race teacher on expectations or recommendations. However, I find surprisingly large effects for Black students on teacher expectations. For these students, the effect of a same-race teacher on teacher expectations to complete more than high school is between 11 and 17 percentage points. This effect is at least 70% of the White–Black race gap in teacher expectations.


On December 16, 2005, The New York Times disclosed the existence of a secret electronic surveillance program being carried out by the National Security Agency (NSA) that involves government interception of the contents of international communications without obtaining warrants. The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (FISA), which was enacted following the Supreme Court's decision in United States v. United States District Court (1972) and the Church Committee's disclosure of improper NSA activities, created a comprehensive system regulating electronic surveillance for foreign intelligence purposes. Warrants are required when such surveillance takes place within the United States or when it targets United States persons (citizens or permanent residents) within the United States. FISA warrants are issued by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) upon a showing that there is probable cause to believe that the target is a foreign power or the agent of a foreign power. The Bush administration has been very successful so far in withholding from the public the details of the warrantless surveillance program, making a precise assessment of its legality very difficult. However, it appears that the core violation being committed is the targeting of international calls involving United States persons in the United States who appear to have had at least some contact with someone connected to al Qaeda, but where it is uncertain that the FISC would find that there is probable cause to believe that the potential target is an agent of a foreign power. FISA plainly requires a warrant in these situations. The Authorization for the Use of Military Force passed by Congress immediately after 9/11 cannot plausibly be taken to have provided statutory authorization for warrantless interceptions under these circumstances. Moreover, the Administration's claim that it has "inherent constitutional authority" to engage in warrantless surveillance flies in the face of Justice Jackson's concurrence in the Steel Seizure Case. The President's power at its lowest ebb here, because he is acting contrary to FISA.


Tourists are told that ravens at the Tower of London first had their wings clipped in the reign of Charles II, who heard an ancient prophesy that Britain would fall if they left. In fact, the tower ravens are entirely a Victorian institution. This paper examines their legend as an invented tradition, as fakelore, and as a modern myth. It finds that the tale has some authentic basis in legend, but commercial exploitation has prevented it from fully developing. The paper concludes by proposing a colony of ravens might be kept in the Tower without coercion, and they could be allowed to leave or return, thus always generating new stories.


The determinants of economic growth and development are hotly debated among economists. Financial crises and failed transition experiments have highlighted the fact that functioning institutions are fundamental to the goal of achieving economic growth. The growth literature has seen an abundance of empirical studies on the influence of institutions and the mechanisms by which institutions affect development. This CESifo volume provides a systematic overview of the current scholarship on the impact of institutions on growth. The contributors, all internationally prominent economists, consider theoretical and empirical relationships between institutions and growth. Concepts covered include "appropriate institutions" (the idea that different institutional arrangements are appropriate at different stages of economic development); liberalized credit markets; the influence of institutions on productivity; institutional and regulatory reforms in the OECD; how innovation and entrepreneurship influence growth (including an analysis of patent activity in the United States from 1790 to 1930); the endogeneity of institutions as seen in the recruitment of elites by higher education institutions; the effect of economic development on transitions to democracy; and technology adoption in agriculture.


Anti-streptococcal antibodies cross-reactive with N-acetyl-betaD-glucosamine (GlcNAc) and myosin are present in the sera of patients with rheumatic fever (RF). However, their role in tissue injury is not clear. In this study, we show that anti-GlcNAc/anti-myosin mAb 3.B6 from a rheumatic carditis patient was cytotoxic for human endothelial cell lines and reacted with human valvular endothelium and underlying basement membrane. Reactivity of mAb 3.B6 with the valve was inhibited by human cardiac myosin > laminin > GlcNAc. The mAb 3.B6 epitopes were localized in fragments of human cardiac myosin, including heavy meromyosin (HMM), the S1 subfragment, and two light meromyosin (LMM) peptides containing amino acid sequences KEALISSLTRGKLTYTQQ (LMM 1) and SERVQLLHSQNTSLINQK (LMM 33). A novel feature of mAb 3.B6 was its reactivity with the extracellular matrix protein laminin, which may explain its reactivity with the valve surface. A laminin A-chain peptide (HTQNT) that includes homology to LMM33 inhibited the reactivity of mAb 3.B6 with human valve. These data support the hypothesis that cross-reactive antibodies in rheumatic carditis cause injury at the endothelium and underlying matrix of the valve.


We find evidence that in the market for euro area sovereign credit risk, arbitrageurs engage in basis trades between credit default swap (CDS) and bond markets only when the CDS-bond basis exceeds a certain threshold. This threshold effect is likely to reflect costs that arbitrageurs face when implementing trading strategies, including transaction costs and costs associated with committing balance sheet space for such trades. Using a threshold vector error correction model, we endogenously estimate these unknown trading costs for basis trades in the market for euro area sovereign debt. During the euro sovereign credit crisis, we find very high transaction costs of around 190 basis points, compared to around 80 basis points before the crisis. Our results show, that even when markets in times of stress are liquid, the basis can widen as high market volatility makes arbitrage trades riskier, leading arbitrageurs to demand a higher compensation for increased risk. Our findings help explain the persistent non-zero CDS-bond basis in euro area sovereign debt markets and its increase during the last sovereign crisis.


Drinking water quality was investigated at source and corresponding point-of-use in 2 peri-urban areas receiving drinking water either by communal water tanker or by delivery directly from the distribution system to household-based groundtanks with taps. Water quality variables measured were heterotrophic bacteria, total coliforms, E. coli , conductivity, turbidity, pH, and total and residual chlorine. Water quality data were analysed together with an existing epidemiological database to investigate links between microbial quality of drinking water, household demographics, health outcomes, socio-economic status, hygiene and sanitation practices. Groundtank households had better quality drinking water than households using storage containers filled from communal tankers. Uncovered storage containers had the poorest microbial water quality among all storage containers. All stored water did not meet drinking water standards, although mains water did. Households with children under 5 years and using open-topped containers had the poorest water quality overall. Households with groundtanks had the best water quality at point-of-use, but did not have the lowest occurrence of health effects. Although groundtanks were supplied together with urine diversion (UD) toilets and hygiene education, groundtank households showed overall poorer hygiene practices than tanker-supplied households, and some groundtank households with UD toilets preferred to continue using open defecation. Households that practised open defecation had higher levels of E. coli in their drinking water and higher rates of adverse health outcomes. Poorer socio-economic standing and lower educational standard were associated with poorer water quality, poorer hygiene practices and higher rates of diarrhoea and vomiting. Keywords: drinking water; point of use; water quality; water quantity; hygiene; sanitation


We present an algorithm for reconstructing dense, geometrically consistent depth for all pixels in a monocular video. We leverage a conventional structure-from-motion reconstruction to establish geometric constraints on pixels in the video. Unlike the ad-hoc priors in classical reconstruction, we use a learning-based prior, i.e., a convolutional neural network trained for single-image depth estimation. At test time, we fine-tune this network to satisfy the geometric constraints of a particular input video, while retaining its ability to synthesize plausible depth details in parts of the video that are less constrained. We show through quantitative validation that our method achieves higher accuracy and a higher degree of geometric consistency than previous monocular reconstruction methods. Visually, our results appear more stable. Our algorithm is able to handle challenging hand-held captured input videos with a moderate degree of dynamic motion. The improved quality of the reconstruction enables several applications, such as scene reconstruction and advanced video-based visual effects.


The aim of this study was to determine the adequacy of prenatal care in pregnant women referring to health centers in Qom in 2016. The type of applied research and a descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was that data collection using a questionnaire consisting of four sections of pregnancy care characteristics (time of first care and number of care and calculation of care adequacy), demographic characteristics, midwifery and medical records, and factors preventing the correct receipt of prenatal care. The statistical population was 261 mothers who had referred to health centers in Qom in 2016 for prenatal care and stratified sampling method was used. Information about this study was analyzed using SPSS software. The results showed that 26.1% of pregnant women with insufficient care adequacy, 18.8% with moderate adequacy, 50.2% with adequate care and 5% with excessive adequacy of pregnancy care. Regarding the demographic characteristics of mothers, there was no significant difference between the adequacy of prenatal care for employed and housewives, Iranian and non-Iranian women, women living in rented houses and private homes. The adequacy of maternal antenatal care was not significantly related to any of the variables of midwifery and medical records. Only mothers with a history of natural childbirth had a higher rate of pregnancy adequacy than others. There was no significant difference between the adequacy of prenatal care and the factors that prevented this care.


Intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) play a crucial role in security sector reform and governance (SSR/G). In virtually all instances of recent and current SSR program delivery, IGOs have either led the SSR effort or supported the lead provided by other actors. How this role is played is of vital importance for the prospects of fostering durable security and development in a wide range of countries. This volume looks at a selection of organizations that have been in the forefront of SSR activity or that have the potential for significantly developing their SSR agendas in the future.


Background: Cytokines are important mediators of the inflammatory response in type 1 diabetes (T1D). We have previously observed pro-inflammatory cytokine profiles in children with islet autoimmunity. In the present study we examined the role of cytokine profiles as immunological biomarkers of T1D in a case-control study of 162 children at T1D onset and 164 community controls matched for age, sex and time. The diagnosis of T1D was based on presence of islet autoantibodies and clinical criteria. Methods: We measured 50 cytokines, chemokines and growth factors using the Millipore Cytokine Magnetic Bead Multiplex Assay. Heat maps and multivariate analyses were used assess how cytokine expression profiles may identify cases of T1D. Results: The levels of 30 cytokines, chemokines and growth factors were significantly different (p 2-fold higher in T1D cases: Interleukin (IL)1β, IL6, IL10, IL13, IL15, IL23; Soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)β, epidermal growth factor (EGF), transforming growth factor (TGF)α and thrombopoietin (TPO). Using principal component analyses, case and control samples separated into two distinct clusters with little overlap, suggesting that cytokine profiles can accurately classify cases and controls. This was supported by partial least squares analysis, which estimates classification accuracy to be above 95% with leave-one-out cross-validation. Partial least squares analysis also ranked the contribution of each cytokine to accurate classification, in which the top 10 cytokines/chemokines were chemokine C-C motif ligand (CCL)8, sCD40L, TNFβ, chemokine C-X-C motif (CXCL)1, CXCL10, IL1β, IL10, IL13, TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and EGF. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that cytokine expression profiles may be useful biomarkers for classifying patients with T1D and indicate involvement of multiple immunological pathways in progression to T1D. Validation of these results in other T1D populations is needed.


This memo describes the use of Forward Error Correction (FEC) codes to efficiently provide and/or augment reliability for one-to-many reliable data transport using IP multicast. One of the key properties of FEC codes in this context is the ability to use the same packets containing FEC data to simultaneously repair different packet loss patterns at multiple receivers. Different classes of FEC codes and some of their basic properties are described and terminology relevant to implementing FEC in a reliable multicast protocol is introduced. Examples are provided of possible abstract formats for packets carrying FEC.


The experience of the transition to parenthood in Spain in this edited volume is strongly influenced by the economic crisis, 2008-2014. The vast majority of the couples interviewed for this study spoke about the precariousness of the labour market, job insecurity and not being able to make ends meet on just one pay-check. When the interviewed Spanish parents-to-be added all the leaves they were entitled to – 16 weeks of maternity leave, two weeks of paternity leave, two to four weeks of breastfeeding leave and holiday leave – they ended up with approximately 6 months of paid leave. After that, in most cases, both parents had to return to paid work because of economic reasons. Despite most couples expressing reluctance to send under 1-year-olds to childcare centres, the interviewed parents-to-be planned to combine different kinds of care in the second half of the first year of their child's life. Mothers planned to take part-time parental leave while using childcare services and asking grandparents for help with the child during their paid work hours. Spanish ideals about good motherhood and fatherhood were still rather traditional. In the interviews, mothers were considered 'by nature' closer to the child and responsible for childcare. Yet, we also saw signs of the 'new fatherhood' ideal, constructed in opposition to previous generations of distanced fathers. Some men were willing to become very involved in childcare and planned to adapt their jobs. In addition, the economic crisis was mirrored in the emergence of a group of 'crisis dads', consisting of unemployed men who envisioned themselves as the main carer in response to not being able to be the main provider.


The juxtaposition of stone tools, charcoal and bones at Cuddie Springs has been used to support claims that people were butchering now-extinct animals, and grinding seeds about 30,000 BP. Statistical analysis of dates for the site shows significant sediment disturbance, and the anomalous presence of hair residues in the absence of bone collagen suggests that bones and stone tools are not the same age. We argue that the published studies on the Cuddie Springs claypan deposits do not show a stratified and undisturbed Late Pleistocene archaeological site, as proposed by the excavators, instead revealing a palimpsest of Late Holocene and European occupational debris superimposed on a much longer-term record of Quaternary landscape evolution. There is no reliable evidence that extinct Australian megafauna coexisted with people using seed-grinding technology at Cuddie Springs, nullifying the excavators' support for climate change models of extinction and dietary choice.


For a wearable robotic arm to autonomously assist a human, it has to be able to stabilize its end-effector in light of the human's independent activities. This paper presents a method for stabilizing the end-effector in planar assembly and pick-and-place tasks. Ideally, given an accurate positioning of the end effector and the wearable robot attachment point, human disturbances could be compensated by using a simple feedback control strategy. Realistically, system delays in both sensing and actuation suggest a predictive approach. In this work, we characterize the actuators of a wearable robotic arm and estimate these delays using linear models. We then consider the motion of the human arm as an autoregressive process to predict the deviation in the robot's base position at a time horizon equivalent to the estimated delay. Generating set points for the end-effector using this predictive model, we report reduced position errors of 19.4% (x) and 20.1% (y) compared to a feedback control strategy without prediction.


Ideas that the quality of parental nurturing and attachment in the first years of a child's life is formative, hard-wiring their brains for success or failure, are reflected in policy reports from across the political spectrum and in targeted services delivering early intervention. In this article we draw on our research into 'Brain science and early intervention', using reviews of key policy literature and interviews with influential advocates of early intervention and with early years practitioners, to critically assess the ramifications and implications of these claims. Rather than upholding the 'hopeful ethos' proffered by advocates of the progressive nature of brain science and early intervention, we show that brain claims are justifying gendered, raced and social inequalities, positioning poor mothers as architects of their children's deprivation.


The Islamic finance industry has witnessed a remarkable growth during the last decade. The total shari'ah compliant assets worldwide were estimated at US$700 billion in 2007 compared with US$150 billion in the mid 1990s. The industry is expected to continue its strong growth trend fuelled by increase in oil prices. One of the fastest-growing segments in Islamic finance is the Islamic insurance (takaful) industry which is expected to continue its strong growth rate in the future. This research concerns the Islamic insurance industry and particularly the asset management aspect. This research aims at exploring the investment portfolio compositions for takaful companies in both the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries (GCC) and Malaysia. The exploration was conducted for each type of fund under the takaful structure which are: shareholders, general and family funds. Moreover, the research aims to explore the gaps between actual and desired investment portfolio for takaful- operating companies for each of the above-mentioned funds. The research was conducted by using a multi-strategy research approach which is known as "triangulation". The study was confined to two geographical groups, namely the GCC and Malaysia. Eleven takaful companies in both regions were covered in the research, eight from the GCC and three from Malaysia. However, these companies represented 90% of the GCC market and 95% of the Malaysian market when the research conducted. The data were collected through emailed questionnaire survey followed by a mix of structured and unstructured interviews with individuals from the industry. The conclusion of the study pointed out that there is a divergence between takaful companies in the GCC and Malaysia in the actual investment portfolio composition. The main difference between takaful operating companies was observed in long term investment portfolio whereby the GCC companies invested mainly in equities and real estate while the Malaysian companies invested mainly in sukuk However, a convergence was noted in the desired investment portfolio composition in both regions and in particular toward investment in sukuk The convergence is expected once the primary and secondary markets for sukuk develops in the GCC and international regulatory framework is practiced.


Background: Salmonellosis is one of the most common food borne diseases in industrial and developing countries. In recent years, an increase in antimicrobial drug resistance, among non-typhoid Salmonella spp has been observed. Objectives: The aim of this study was to isolate and determine antibiotic resistance pattern in non-typhoid Salmonella spp. Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was done on 100 samples of chickens collected from 196 retail markets and was examined for the presence of Salmonella using standard bacteriological procedures and stereotyping kit. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by disk diffusion methods according to the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (CLSI). The data were analyzed by using the SPSS software version 18. Result: Forty- four percent of samples were contaminated with Salmonella infection and 56% didn't have any contamination. The stereotyping results showed that 34 of 44 isolates of Salmonella belonged to Salmonella infantis (79.5 %), one strain (2.3%) of group C and 8 strain (18.2%) of group D. However, all these strains were sensitive to Cefotaxime and Ciprofloxacin, and 100% were resistant to Nalidixic acid, Tetracyclin and Sterptomycin. The most common resistance pattern (34.1%) was towards six antibiotics, and 6.8% of strains were resistant to at least three antibiotics. Conclusion: High levels of resistance to antibiotics that are used commonly for human and poultry can be a warning for our community health and this information must be used to form important strategies for improvement of infection control.


We introduce Attention Free Transformer (AFT), an efficient variant of Transformers that eliminates the need for dot product self attention. In an AFT layer, the key and value are first combined with a set of learned position biases, the result of which is multiplied with the query in an element-wise fashion. This new operation has a memory complexity linear w.r.t. both the context size and the dimension of features, making it compatible to both large input and model sizes. We also introduce AFT-local and AFT-conv, two model variants that take advantage of the idea of locality and spatial weight sharing while maintaining global connectivity. We conduct extensive experiments on two autoregressive modeling tasks (CIFAR10 and Enwik8) as well as an image recognition task (ImageNet-1K classification). We show that AFT demonstrates competitive performance on all the benchmarks, while providing excellent efficiency at the same time.


Recently society is more and more concerned about various signs of discrimination. Discrimination means any restriction or exclusion of human rights preventing from involvement in favourite work activity, career building, study opportunities, acquisition of various goods and integration in the society. During the research, 1062 teachers from 287 schools were interviewed. The Article seeks to disclose possible trends of discrimination against the teachers of comprehensive schools. According to the research, the majority of teachers (78.1 percent) feel safe in school. Teachers who know what to expect from their employers in terms of work conditions or concessions feel safer, as well as specialists providing assistance, school heads, primary school and gymnasium teachers, persons without health problems and men. Teachers do not face discrimination on the grounds of race, age, nationality, social status, convictions, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, disability, belief, language, marital and family status, belonging to parties and public organisations. Pursuant to the research results, the absolute majority of respondents can speak openly on all subjects. Subjects least discussed by teachers include: sexual orientation, ethnic origin, convictions, social status and health. According to the majority of teachers they face discrimination when seeking higher qualification category during the attestation, better working conditions or when defending own social and economic interests. Women and persons not involved in political parties are more subject to discrimination regarding work conditions.


This paper aimed to contribute to the discussion about the role of net zero-energy buildings (ZEBs) or nearly ZEBs in future energy systems, from the perspective of the resulting import/export interaction with the surrounding energy grid (commonly named grid interaction (GI)). This investigation analyses three buildings with measured data at sub-hourly time resolution. The goal of this paper was to quantify the effect of using high-resolution data (one or a few minutes) versus hourly resolution in the GI analysis of buildings with an on-site generation system. A limited set of quantitative GI indicators have been selected: the generation multiple, the dimensioning rate and the connection capacity credit. Additionally, this paper presents graphical representations describing in an intuitive way the yearly or daily variation of the indicators. Some general trends have been identified and the usefulness of the selected indicators is demonstrated. Findings show conclusively that sub-hourly analysis will give more accurate information. Differences between peak values measured with hourly and sub-hourly time resolution can be significant. If detailed GI analysis at the individual building level is required, one should consider going for detailed sub-hourly analysis.


A series of glycoside-linked oligomeric 2,6-pyridylene−ethynylene (m-ethynylpyridine) compounds were prepared and studied for their intramolecular chiral induction. The primary structure of the oligomers, such as the lengths of ethynylpyridine moieties and linkers and the types of terminal groups and linked glycosides, was varied. From circular dichroism (CD) and 1H NMR analyses, it was found that the intramolecular hydrogen bonds between the glycoside and ethynylpyridine moieties induced the formation of higher-order, chiral helices of the oligomers. The sign and strength of CD signals for the helices were found to depend strongly on the length of ethynylpyridines and the types of terminal groups and glycosides. These results showed that the oligomers encode their higher-order structures in their primary structures.


This article proposes a theory of optimal public expenditure when unemployment is inefficient. The theory is based on a matching model. Optimal public expenditure deviates from the Samuelson rule to reduce the unemployment gap (the difference between current and efficient unemployment rates). Such optimal "stimulus spending" is described by a formula expressed with three sufficient statistics: the unemployment gap, the unemployment multiplier (the decrease in unemployment achieved by increasing public expenditure), and the elasticity of substitution between public and private consumption. When unemployment is inefficiently high and the multiplier is positive, the formula yields the following results. (1) Optimal stimulus spending is positive and increasing in the unemployment gap. (2) Optimal stimulus spending is zero for a zero multiplier, increasing in the multiplier for small multipliers, largest for a moderate multiplier, and decreasing in the multiplier beyond that. (3) Optimal stimulus spending is zero if extra public goods have no value, it becomes larger as the elasticity of substitution increases, and it completely fills the unemployment gap if extra public goods are as valuable as extra private goods.


In order for pervasive computing systems to be able to perform tasks which support us in everyday life without requiring attention from the users of the environment, they need to adapt themselves in response to context. This makes context-awareness in general, and context-aware adaptation in particular, an essential requirement for pervasive computing systems. Two of the features of context-awareness are: contextual reconfiguration and contextual adaptation in which applications adapt their behaviour in response to context. We combine both these features of context-awareness to provide a broad scope of adaptation and put forward a system, called Policy-Based Contextual Reconfiguration and Adaptation (PCRA) that provides runtime support for both.
The combination of both context-aware reconfiguration and context-aware adaptation provides a broad scope of adaptation and hence allows the development of diverse adaptive context-aware applications. However, another important issue is the choice of an effective means for developing, modifying and extending such applications. The main argument forming the basis of this thesis is that we advocate the use of a policy-based programming model and argue that it provides more effective means for developing, modifying and extending such applications.
This thesis addresses other important surrounding issues which are associated with adaptive context-aware applications. These include the management of invalid bindings and the provision of seamless caching support for remote services involved in bindings for improved performance. The bindings may become invalid due to failure conditions that can arise due to network problems or migration of software components, causing bindings between the application component and remote service to become invalid. We have integrated reconfiguration support to manage bindings, and seamless caching support for remote services in PCRA.
This thesis also describes the design and implementation of PCRA, which enables development of adaptive context-aware applications using policy specifications. Within PCRA, adaptive context-aware applications are modelled by specifying binding policies and adaptation policies. The use of policies within PCRA simplifies the development task because policies are expressed at a high-level of abstraction, and are expressed independently of each other. PCRA also allows the dynamic modification of applications since policies are independent units of execution and can be dynamically loaded and removed from the system. This is a powerful and useful capability as applications may evolve over time, i.e. the user needs and preferences may change, but re-starting is undesirable. We evaluate PCRA by comparing its features to other systems in the literature, and by performance measures.


East Africa's coastal states are attracting increasing attention from global economic powers, not only for the opportunities within these economies themselves, but also for the access they provide through transport corridors to landlocked states in the African hinterland. This engagement is reflected in broader regional economic programmes such as China's One Belt One Road Initiative and Japan and India's Asia Africa Growth Corridor. There are significant opportunities related to the development of trade and infrastructure within the East African Blue Economy, but this will require addressing trade imbalances and strengthening governance to ensure that investments contribute to inclusive and sustainable development.


Managers have widely embraced and adopted the Net Promoter metric, which noted loyalty consultant Frederick Reichheld advocates as the single most reliable indicator of firm growth compared with other loyalty metrics, such as customer satisfaction and retention. Recently, however, there has been considerable debate about whether this metric is truly superior. This article (1) employs longitudinal data from 21 firms and 15,500-plus interviews from the Norwegian Customer Satisfaction Barometer to replicate the analyses used in Net Promoter research and (2) compares Reichheld and colleagues' findings with the American Customer Satisfaction Index. Using industries Reichheld cites as exemplars of Net Promoter, the research fails to replicate his assertions regarding the "clear superiority" of Net Promoter compared with other measures in those industries.


The literature on dictator games has long debated whether inequality aversion or altruism is the motivation behind giving, but generally assumes the two preferences are mutually exclusive. This paper proposes an alternative theory suggesting subjects can express both altruism and inequality aversion. To test this theory a novel version of a three-player dictator game is introduced. The dictator chooses how to distribute a fixed endowment between two recipients, and is able to earn a private return based on the amount of inequality resulting from the allocation decision. To ensure inequality averse preferences can be separately identified from self-regarding behavior, the domain of decision environments is restricted to those in which the dictator receives the highest payout. Results show more than half of subjects express behavior in line with both altruism and inequality aversion. Furthermore, the results suggest the social preferences displayed can be influenced by the order of decision environments. The implications of these findings stress the importance of accounting for interactions between social preferences as well as a counterbalanced experimental design. JEL Code: C91, D31, D60