Sustained efforts have been devoted to understanding schizophrenia and related disorders. This dissertation is inspired from two conceptually important problems in schizophrenia research and we overcome statistical challenges inherent in solving these problems.

Basic neurobiological studies have unveiled distinct subtypes of schizophrenia. Moreover, genetic evidence shows certain core features are shared between schizophrenia and other disorders. It is of scientific interest to examine similarities in the profiles of subtypes in different disorders, which may help to develop novel therapeutic approaches. To address this challenge, we develop a statistical framework to assess whether or not clusters identified from independent populations exhibit commonalities. As an initial step, we formulate our hypotheses by borrowing the concept of bioequivalence under a finite normal mixture framework. We then propose testing procedures for univariate data based on the idea of two one-sided test (TOST) that has been used in the analysis of pharmaceutical bioequivalence trials. In an attempt to boost power, we propose to use a methodology based on bootstrap confidence intervals.

Neurocognitive research studies functional brain networks aiming to improve the understanding of the cognitive deficits in subjects with schizophrenia. One important problem in the inference for brain connectivity networks concerns partitioning of functionally distinct brain regions. The brain segmentation problem can be viewed conceptually as a community detection problem in network analysis. The stochastic block model (SBM) and its variants are popular models used in community detection for network data. In this research, we propose a feature adjusted stochastic block model (FASBM) to capture the impact of node features on the network links as well as to detect the residual community structure beyond that explained by the node features. The proposed model can accommodate multiple node features and estimate the form of feature impacts from the data. Moreover, unlike many existing algorithms that are limited to binary-valued interactions, the proposed FASBM model and inference approaches are easily applied to relational data that generates from any exponential family distribution. We illustrate the methods on simulated networks and on three real world networks: a brain network, an US air-transportation network and a friendship network.


The U.S. health care system is one of the most expensive health care systems in the world, yet it is not as efficient as it is expected. Studies have shown that the use of expensive imaging procedures, such as CT scans, was significantly increasing for the past few years. However, the increased number of CT scans may not help to improve quality of care. No studies are conducted on investigate geographic variation on CT scan usage rate. This research is the first one to examine CT scan usage rate among counties and to examine variation caused by patient and hospital characteristics. We used the 2007 HCUP-SID database provided data for the research. GIS graph was used to illustrate geographic variation on CT scan usage in New York State. Contingency tables were developed to evaluate to what extent patient and hospital characteristics contribute to the variation. A logistic regression model was built to control the variation caused by patient and hospital characteristics in order to find variation contributed by other potential factors such as availability of CT scanners and radiologists. Significant geographic variation of CT scan usage rate in the county level of New York State was found. Patient demographics, insurance status and medical conditions as well as hospital bed size and teaching status were contributing factors to the variation. After controlling these factors, significant geographic variation was still found. It indicates that other potential reasons would influence the technology use.


As the Web is becoming a medium widely used as a preferential channel for critical information exchange, business, and e-commerce, it is necessary to enable differentiated service (DiffServ) mechanisms not only at the network but also at the Web server level. We present a new service differentiation mechanism (arrival-related dynamic partitioning) for cluster-based network servers. We demonstrate by simulation that it can guarantee that customers with higher priority classes receive better service than ones with lower priority classes and achieve the basic goals with service differentiation, especially when the system is heavily loaded with not enough server resources to allocate. An admission control mechanism is also provided to prevent a Web site from being overwhelmed by excessive user requests.


Purpose: This study aimed at conducting a systematic review in health professions education of determinants, mediators and outcomes of students' motivation to engage in academic activities based on the self-determination theory's perspective. Methods: A search was conducted across databases (MEDLINE, CINHAL, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and ERIC databases), hand-search of relevant journals, grey literature, and published research profile of key authors. Quantitative and qualitative studies were included if they reported research in health professions education focused on determinants, mediators, and/or outcomes of motivation from the self-determination and if meeting the quality criteria. Results: A total of 17 studies met the inclusion and quality criteria. Articles retrieved came from diverse locations and mainly from medical education and to a lesser extent from psychology and dental education. Intrapersonal (gender and personality traits) and interpersonal determinants (academic conditions and lifestyle, qualitative method of selection, feedback, and an autonomy supportive learning climate) have been reported to have a positive influence on students' motivation to engage in academic activities. No studies were found that tested mediation effects between determinants and students' motivation. In turn, students' self-determined motivation has been found to be positively associated with different cognitive, affective, and behavioural outcomes. Conclusion: This study has found that generally, motivation could be enhanced by changes in the educational environment and by an early detection of students' characteristics. Doing so may support future health practitioners' self-determined motivation and positively influence how they process information and their emotions and how they approach their learning activities.


Stop-and-frisk, a crime prevention tactic that allows a police officer to stop a person based on "reasonable suspicion" of criminal activity and frisk based on reasonable suspicion that the person is armed and dangerous, has been a contentious police practice since first approved by the Supreme Court in 1968. In Floyd v. City of New York, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York ruled that New York City's stop-and-frisk practices violate both the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments. Professors David Rudovsky and Lawrence Rosenthal debate the constitutionality of stop-and-frisk in New York City in light of Floyd and Judge Shira A. Scheindlin's controversial removal from the case. Professor Rudovsky argues that Floyd shows the important role of data and statistical analysis in assessing the constitutionality of stop-and-frisk procedures. He contends that empirical evidence regarding both the factors for and outcomes of stops and frisks in New York demonstrates that either the legal standard is too permissive or police-stop documentation is not truthful. In response, Professor Rosenthal argues that Judge Scheindlin erred in failing to consider evidence of stop-and-frisk's efficacy — evidence indicating that the NYPD's stops are based on reasonable suspicion, a standard considerably less demanding than "preponderance of the evidence." Additionally, Rosenthal argues that Judge Scheindlin should have considered differential offending by race or other potentially nondiscriminatory explanations for the higher stop rates of minorities.


The Strawberry Bank Lagerstätte provides a rich insight into Early Jurassic marine vertebrate life, revealing exquisite anatomical detail of marine reptiles and large pachycormid fishes thanks to exceptional preservation, and especially the uncrushed, 3D nature of the fossils. The site documents a fauna of Early Jurassic nektonic marine animals (five species of fishes, one species of marine crocodilian, two species of ichthyosaurs, cephalopods and crustaceans), but also over 20 species of insects. Unlike other fossil sites of similar age, the 3D preservation at Strawberry Bank provides unique evidence on palatal and braincase structures in the fishes and reptiles. The age of the site is important, documenting a marine ecosystem during recovery from the end-Triassic mass extinction, but also exactly coincident with the height of the Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event, a further time of turmoil in evolution.


Two new assemblages (farms Christina and Moorfield) of plant fossils belonging to the Glossopterid flora are described from the northeastern part of the Main Karoo basin, within the Late Permian Normandien Formation, Beaufort Group, Karoo Supergroup. The Normandien Formation comprises three sandstone members (lower Frankfort, Rooinek, upper Schoondraai) each overlain by an argillaceous interval. Two informal plant fossil assemblage zones are distinguished in the field: a "Christina assemblage zone" defined by Morphotype Pnc1, Morphotype Pnc2, Morphotype Pnc3 and Morphotype Pnc7, between the Frankfort and Rooinek sandstones; a younger "Moorfield assemblage zone" between the Rooinek and Schoondraai sandstones, defined by Morphotype Pnm1 , Morphotype Pnm2, Morphotype Pnm3, Rigbya arberioides and Sphenophyllum speciosum. These two proposed plant fossil assemblage zones enable subdivision of the Dicynodon therapod assemblage zone coincident with the Normandien Formation, and the two plant fossil zones have been successfully mapped out over a large area.


Big data, surveillance, crisis management. Three largely different and richly researched fields, however, the interplay amongst these three domains is rarely addressed. In this enlightening title, the link between these three fields is explored in a consequential order through a variety of contributions and series of unique and international case studies. Indeed, whilst considering crisis management as an "umbrella term" that covers a number of crises and ways of managing them, the reader will also explore the collection of "big data" by governmental crisis organisations. However, this volume also addresses the unintended consequences of using such data. In particular, through the lens of surveillance, one will also investigate how the use and abuse of big data can easily lead to monitoring and controlling the behaviour of people affected by crises. Thus, the reader will ultimately join the authors in their debate of how big data in crisis management needs to be examined as a political process involving questions of power and transparency. An enlightening and highly topical volume, Big Data, Surveillance and Crisis Management will appeal to postgraduate students and postdoctoral researchers interested in fields including Sociology and Surveillance Studies, Disaster and Crisis Management, Media Studies, Governmentality, Organisation Theory and Information Society Studies.


The reconstruction of large ice masses in the past is a crucial element for current climate models as correct input
and base line parameter as well as for the implementation of associated ice sheet dynamics. For a long time,
the ice sheet extent of the Greenland Ice Sheet (GIS) was reconstructed mainly on the basis of terrestrial work.
Accordingly, the outer limit of the GIS during the Late Glacial Maximum (LGM) was placed close to the current
coastline. Advances in our understanding on the dynamic behaviour of the GIS,especially offshore NE-Greenland,
came from hydro-acoustic surveys which indicated a much larger extent of GIS during the LGM. Here, we present
hydro-acoustic data acquired with RV "Polarstern" from fjord systems to the shelf edge of NE-Greenland, including
the first hydro-acoustic data of Dijmphna and Hekla Sunds. We found morphological evidence for fast-flowing ice
filling the fjords, extending onto the shelf as ice stream and reaching the shelf break. Mega-scale glacial lineation,
recessional moraines and grounding line wedges document a highly dynamic behaviour of this Westwind Ice
Stream of the GIS on NE-Greenland. The ice advance was followed by a rapid retreat to a mid-shelf position where
the ice margin repeatedly deposited sets of recessional moraines. A second rapid retreat, probably accompanied
by a lift-off of the ice followed and placed the ice margin at the mouth of Dijphna Sund. A last retreat established
the modern ice margin in the area. Post-glacial sedimentation was affected by mud diapirism, neo-tectonic activity
and submarine mass-wasting inside Dijphna and Hekla Sunds.


For pt.I see ibid., p.78-83 (1997). The results of the evaluation of a new type of digital filter are presented in this paper. The filter theory is outlined in part I of the paper. The new filter results from the application of a special window to the coefficients of the traditional Fourier, cosine and sine algorithms. It is compared in the paper with the Fourier, cosine and sine filters in terms of steady-state and transient responses. Extensive time-domain simulations are performed to evaluate the filter transient behavior. The new filter is shown to be more accurate than the Fourier filter for window lengths equal or greater than 3 cycles of the fundamental frequency. It retains its accuracy even for window lengths being different from multiples of one cycle. The new filter is suitable for phasor computation for the fault location and measuring functions required in digital distance relays and fault recorders.


Fibromyalgia (FM) is a syndrome characterized by chronic pain without known peripheral causes. Previously, we have reported dysfunctional pain inhibitory mechanisms for FM patients during pain administration. In this study we employed a seed correlation analysis, independent component analysis (ICA), and an analysis of fractional amplitude of low frequency fluctuations (fALFF) to study differences between a cohort of female FM patients and an age- and sex-matched healthy control group during a resting-state condition. FM patients showed decreased connectivity between thalamus and premotor areas, between the right insula and primary sensorimotor areas, and between supramarginal and prefrontal areas. Individual sensitivity to painful pressure was associated with increased connectivity between pain-related regions (e.g., insula and thalamus) and midline regions of the default mode network (including posterior cingulate cortex and medial prefrontal cortex) among patients and controls. However, neither ICA nor fALFF revealed any group differences. Our findings suggest that abnormal connectivity patterns between pain-related regions and the remaining brain during rest reflect an impaired central mechanism of pain modulation in FM. Weaker coupling between pain regions and prefrontal- and sensorimotor areas might indicate a less efficient system level control of pain circuits. Moreover, our results show that multiple, complementary analytical approaches are valuable for obtaining a more comprehensive characterization of deviant resting-state activity. In conclusion, our findings show that FM primarily is associated with decreased connectivity, for example, between several pain-related areas and sensorimotor regions, which could reflect a deficiency in pain regulation.


This volume of the Publications of the Texas Folklore Society "contains a sample of the research that members of the Society were doing at the turn of the millennium as represented at the 1998, 1999, and 2000 meetings." The volume covers "a wide variety of contemporary and historical topics," including baby lore, stories about notable women, stories about food and cooking, information about the Model T Ford, and more (inside front cover). The index begins on page 339.


The distribution of unrestricted municipal aid has been a major policy concern in many states. Using Massachusetts as a case study, this paper examines the extent to which unrestricted municipal aid is responsive to the variation in the underlying fiscal health of municipalities. The paper uses a measure of "municipal gap"—based on local economic and social characteristics outside the direct control of local officials—to indicate the underlying fiscal health of cities and towns. The analysis finds large disparities in municipal gaps among Massachusetts cities and towns, and that those disparities have increased in recent years. However, unrestricted municipal aid has not been highly correlated with municipal gaps. This pattern is partly due to large ad hoc cuts in state aid over the past 20 years. This paper suggests that the state consider adopting a gap-based formula that provides more aid to communities facing larger municipal gaps. Policymakers should carefully readjust policy parameters in the formula over time to maintain the political feasibility of the approach. The gap-based framework and policy suggestions are potentially applicable to other states.


Dissipative (nonequilibrium) assembly powered by chemical fuels has great potential for the creation of new adaptive chemical systems. However, while molecular assembly at equilibrium is routinely used to prepare complex architectures from polyfunctional monomers, species formed out of equilibrium have, to this point, been structurally very simple. In most examples the fuel simply effects the formation of a single transient covalent bond. Here, we show that chemical fuels can assemble bifunctional components into macrocycles containing multiple transient bonds. Specifically, dicarboxylic acids give aqueous dianhydride macrocycles on treatment with a carbodiimide. The macrocycle is assembled efficiently as a consequence of both fuel-dependent and -independent mechanisms: it undergoes slower decomposition, building up as the fuel recycles the components, and is a favored product of the dynamic exchange of the anhydride bonds. These results create new possibilities for generating structurally sophisticated out-of-equilibrium species.


To our readers: With deep regrets, we inform that the article Pain in systemic sclerosis (DOI: https:// doi.org/10.4081/reumatismo.2014.764), which has been published in Reumatismo (2014; 66(1): 44-47), contains verbatim text plagiarized from another paper. The manuscript must be considered as retracted.On behalf of the Editorial Board of Reumatismo, I apologize to the Author of the manuscript whose text was plagiarized by Stisi et al. that this was not picked up in the peer review process. I also apologize to the affected journal for the violation of copyright due to plagiarism. Reumatismo is uncompromising in its commitment to scientific integrity. When credible evidence of misconduct is brought to our attention, our commitment to the scientific record and to our readership requires immediate notification. Reumatismo is increasingly employing sophisticated software to detect plagiarism. Other journals use similar tools. Authors should be aware that most journals routinely employ plagiarism detection software, and that any plagiarism is likely to be detected.Marco A. CimminoEditor-in-ChiefReumatismo.


The strength, shape, and ultimately seismic behavior of many thin-skinned fold and thrust belts, including marine accretionary wedges, are strongly controlled by large-scale faults that develop from weak, clay-rich sedimentary horizons (decollements). The increase of temperature with depth along clay-rich faults promotes the so-called smectite-illite transition, which may influence the fault strength, fluid distribution, and possibly the onset of seismicity. Here we report on the frictional properties of intact fault rocks retrieved from two large decollements, which were exhumed from depths above and below the smectite-illite transition. We find that all tested rocks are characterized by very low friction (μ = 0.17–0.26), velocity-strengthening behavior, and low rates of frictional healing, suggesting long-term fault weakness. Combining our experimental results with the critical taper theory, we computed the effective friction, F , of megathrusts beneath several accretionary wedges around the world; the result was extremely low (0.03 < F < 0.14), and in agreement with other independent estimates. Our analysis indicates a long-term weakness that can explain the shape of several tectonic wedges worldwide without invoking diffuse near-lithostatic fluid overpressures.


Abstract: The stability behavior of low immersion helical end milling processes is investigated in this paper. Low radial immersion milling operations involve interrupted cutting which induces chatter vibration under certain cutting conditions. Time Finite Element Analysis (TFEA) is suggested for an approximate solution for delayed differential equations encountered during interrupted milling. An improved TFEA is proposed which includes the effects of helix angle variations on cutting force, cutting time and specific cutting force coefficients. For this purpose, five different cases were distinguished for engagement limits of the cutting edges. It has been observed that an increase in the helix angle improves the stability limit of the process. This is related to the flip bifurcation lobes that start to separate from the main lobes and shape isolated unstable islands. By further increasing the helix angle, unstable islands will vanish.


The present study was undertaken to investigate the development of imagery among dancers. To effectively extend the results presented in Part I, the main topics emerging from the interviews in that study were investigated quantitatively. Participants were 250 female (n = 218) and male (n = 27) dancers from various dance types and ranging from recreational to professional in standard. Dancers perceived their images to have improved both in quantity and quality across their years in dance, with qualitative changes including improved complexity, control, structure, deliberation, and sensory involvement. Several differences existed between experience levels. In particular, higher-level dancers reported having been encouraged to image more frequently and being given more metaphorical images in classes more often than lower-level dancers, both when they first started dancing and at present. Altogether, the study might have implications for dance teachers as well as for dancers and researchers.


Introduction The 1960s are memorable for many reasons, including the emergence of the women's rights movement, which gained full momentum during that era. (1) Notwithstanding the years since then, and notwithstanding the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibited employment discrimination based on sex, there still exists a gender gap in higher education. It has been well-documented that women are underrepresented in the ranks of university faculty, and even more underrepresented in the class of tenured professors. (2) In this stratified professional community, tenured faculty as a group are accorded the most prestige and their status results in a level of job security that is almost the equivalent of a life appointment. As such, there are qualitative differences between one's status as a tenured professor as compared to one who holds only a tenure-track position or one whose status is that of a lecturer or contract instructor. This paper asks a basic question and offers a proposal. The question posed is what, if anything, might be done to increase the parity between female and male faculty members. (3) The proposal for consideration is that we seek a structure different than that which currently exists, a structure that serves to preserve the benefits of tenure without also having the potential collateral effect of disadvantaging women. This paper will start by reviewing the nature of tenure and the tenure process. It will then describe and evaluate other means by which women might gain parity, particularly focusing on the current status of the anti-discrimination statutes as they apply to the tenure decision and concluding that the laws inadequately protect women, and for that matter, minorities in general. Finally, it will envision how the environment might change for women if a different structure for university faculty existed. This article asks the question might tenure, or more accurately the tenure process, disadvantage women in higher education such that women would fare better in an environment in which a different process were utilized. The Nature of Tenure and the Tenure Process Academic tenure sets college and university professors apart in significant ways from professionals in other fields. Tenure is described as a formal assurance that no professor retained beyond a specific probationary period who meets the criteria set out by her college or university can be dismissed without adequate cause. (4) While technically a tenured instructor does not have a guarantee of lifetime employment, (5) that tends to be the practical result for the vast majority of tenured professors. (6) Contrast the status of a tenured professor with that of virtually any other professional. Barring an enforceable contract, that employee is an employee at-will. Stated in its most simple iteration, employment at-will means that unless an employer and employee are bound by a contract, either is free to terminate the employment for any reason or no reason at all. From the employer's perspective, it is not required to have cause to terminate an employee. There have been many encroachments on the concept, (7) but essentially, the employee has little job security. When viewed in this light, academic tenure, while long-recognized and accepted, is actually a fairly radical idea: it results in a status that is not available to the vast majority of other American workers. (8) Even those who are parties to employment contracts generally have contracts of a defined duration, as opposed to the open-ended duration of a tenured position. Nonetheless, tenure is widely considered necessary given the unique mission of colleges and universities, namely to educate and to discover new knowledge. The idea is that tenure protects the academic freedom necessary to engage in the search for knowledge, unfettered by concerns of termination or discipline for unpopular research or ideas. Tenure facilitates the pursuit of disinterested scholarship and teaching, which is reviewed by one's peers, free of threat to the individual. …


Whistle‐blowing is an important mechanism of corporate governance. We show that whistle‐blowing has negative effects on productive efficiency by undermining the incentives within a corporate hierarchy. In our model, a top manager intends to overreport earnings; a division manager may have evidence about the intended overreporting. We show that the division manager is more likely to have such evidence when the performance of his own division is low. Top management may offer a bribe to prevent the manager from blowing the whistle. This provides the division manager with an additional payoff when his division's output is low. Therefore, potential whistle‐blowing undermines the division manager's incentives to exert effort, which results in a less efficient outcome.


Throughout the imperial era, defensive walls surrounded Chinese cities. Although most city walls have vanished, the cities have survived. We analyze a sample of nearly 300 prefectural-level cities in China, among which about half historically had city walls. We document that cities that had walls in late imperial China have higher population and employment density today, despite the fact that their walls have long gone. Using data from various sources, we test several possible explanations of this fact, including (1) walled cities have a well-defined historical core that helps hold economic activity close to the city center today; (2) walled cities today tend to have different industry compositions that are less conducive to decentralization; (3) walled cities are situated in regions where the local geographies make it less desirable to build out; (4) walled cities have more compact shapes that facilitate high density development; and (5) walled cities are located in regions where rural land is more valuable today and discourages urban sprawl. We find that historically walled cities still have higher density after taking into account all of these factors, which we interpret as evidence of economic persistence.


This paper examines the effect of lifelong learning on men's employment and wages. Using data from the British Household Panel Survey, a variant of the mover-stayer model is developed in which hourly wages are either taken from a stationary distribution (movers) or are closely related to the hourly wage one year earlier (stayers). Mover-stayer status is not observed and we therefore model wages using an endogenous switching regression, extended to take account of non-random selection into employment. The model is estimated by maximum likelihood, using generalised residuals to correct for possible endogeneity of lifelong learning decisions. The results show modest effects significant at a 10% level for men who undertake life-long learning without upgrading their educational status and more powerful and significant effects for those who do upgrade their status. For the latter, the influence of lifelong learning on employment prospects is an important influence on the overall return. JEL Codes: C33, C35, I20, J24, J31, J63


Objective Normal cut-off values for left atrial (LA) size and function may be altered by aging and ethnic differences. No age-related reference values for LA volumetric measurements or LA strain exist in Africans. We aimed to establish normal age-appropriate values of LA size and function in black Africans. Additionally, we studied the correlation between age, LA strain and volumetric parameters. Methods In this prospective, cross-sectional study of 120 individuals (mean age 38.7 ± 12.8 years, 50% men), subjects were classified into four age groups: 18–29, 30–39, 40–49 and 50–70 years. LA volumes were measured by biplane Simpson's method, and Philips QLAB 9 (Amsterdam, The Netherlands) speckle-tracking software was used to measure LA peak strain in the reservoir (ƐR) and contractile phase (ƐCT). Results No significant differences in the maximum and minimum LAVi were noted among the four age categories (P = 0.1, P = 0.2). LA volumetric function assessment showed no difference in reservoir function between age groups (P > 0.05), conduit function decreased with advancing age (r = −0.3, P < 0.001) and booster function displayed a significant increase with age (LA active emptying volume index, P = 0.001). There was a significant decrease in LA ƐR (P < 0.0001) in the older age groups, whereas ƐCT remained unchanged (P = 0.27). Conclusion Age-related changes in LA reservoir, conduit and contractile function in black Africans are similar to those observed in other populations, as was the trend of declining ƐR with advancing age. The preservation of ƐCT with increasing age requires further analysis.


Given the uncertainties associated with orexin A and obesity, the present study was conducted to identify the effect of endurance training and HIIT on orexin A and lipid Profile in obese adolescent boys. For this purpose, 35 healthy, inactive and obese boys (aged mean 15.5±0.69 years, BMI percentile equal to or higher than 95% and BMI 28.72±2.20 kg/m2) were divided into three equal groups, control, HIIT and endurance training groups in a semi-experimental, randomized and double-blind design. HIIT and endurance training groups participated high intensity interval and endurance running in eight weeks, three days per week. Orexin A, LDL, HDL, TG, TC Plasma levels and WHR, BF%, BMI and VO2max were measured before and 48 hours after the last session of training. Data as mean ± SD using repeated measure ANOVA was analyzed at α ≤ 0.05. Training was caused significant lower of triglycerides and anthropometric parameters such as body fat percentage, body mass index and waist to hip ratio (P < 0.05). But, significant differences were not observed in orexin A, total cholesterol, LDL and HDL plasma levels, in control and experimental groups (P > 0.05). Therefore, endurance training is more effective than HIIT in improvement of obese adolescent boy's body composition and HIIT is more effective than endurance training to reduce triglycerides. However, changes that may not be in line with changes occurring in orexin A. Thus, it is recommended to repeat like this study in multitimes training with control of sleep, nutrition, puberty changes.


The stories of these conflicts, with their scores of killings, torture, reprisals and long lasting bitterness are told concisely in this book. "Easter 1916" - features the rebellion which took place in Ireland 90 years ago was arguably the most momentous event in this country's history. "The War of Independence" - features the guerrilla war, characterised by marvellous courage and miserable cruelty. "The Civil War" - features few episodes in Irish history are as poignant, bloody and unnecessary. This book traces the causes, events and consequences of these events. It will help a peaceful generation for which the bloody birth of modern Ireland's ancient history, to gain a better understanding of the essence of their nation.


Snowmelt is an important source of runoff in high mountain catchments. Snowmelt modelling for alpine regions remains challenging with scarce gauges. This study simulates the snowmelt in the Karuxung River catchment in the south Tibetan Plateau using an altitude zone based temperature‐index model, calibrates the snow cover area and runoff simulation during 2003–2005 and validates the model performance via snow cover area and runoff simulation in 2006. In the snowmelt and runoff modelling, temperature and precipitation are the two most important inputs. Relevant parameters, such as critical snow fall temperature, temperature lapse rate and precipitation gradient, determine the form and amount of precipitation and distribution of temperature and precipitation in hydrological modelling of the sparsely gauged catchment. Sensitivity analyses show that accurate estimation of these parameters would greatly help in improving the snowmelt simulation accuracy, better describing the snow‐hydrological behaviours and dealing with the data scarcity at higher elevations. Specifically, correlation between the critical snow fall temperature and relative humidity and seasonal patterns of both the temperature lapse rate and the precipitation gradient should be considered in the modelling studies when precipitation form is not logged and meteorological observations are only available at low elevation. More accurate simulation of runoff involving snowmelt, glacier melt and rainfall runoff will improve our understanding of hydrological processes and help assess runoff impacts from a changing climate in high mountain catchments. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


Despite the volatility and unpredictability North Korea has come to symbolize in international diplomacy and security issues, it represents only half of the potential danger on the Korean peninsula. In a notable departure from its past role as guarantor of stability on the Korean peninsula, the United States has, under the stewardship of the Bush administration, come to be regarded as, at best, an obstacle to peace and security, and at worst a potential trigger for hostility. The most immediate result of this shift on the Korean peninsula has been the US failure to undertake an effective policy formulation process, which has manifested itself (on both sides of the 38th parallel) in more reactive and convulsive responses to challenges from the North Korean regime. Without such understanding there is little hope of advancing discussions or resolving North Korea's nuclear program. Fundamental to understanding North Korea's endgame is realizing that its nuclear weapons program, while menacing, is unlikely to be used offensively without major provocation; it functions as a tool of its diplomacy-missile diplomacy-to ensure survival of the regime. Working closely with South Korea, the United States must ensure that any potential resolution reached on North Korea's nuclear program does not undermine its longer-term objectives for securing broader peace and security on the Korean peninsula. Ideally, any resolution brokered over the North's nuclear weapons program will provide a synergistic effect in addressing the conventional war threat posed by North Korea on the Korean peninsula. In short, the United States must undertake constructive engagement. Steadfast unwillingness to engage with North Korea only provides more fodder for the regime to stall any action, and, as part of its endgame, makes U.S. behavior the issue. the issue, which is part of its endgame.


This paper contains a proposal of joint educational programs with undergraduate degree in business computing for the importance of a strong background in this area, enabling effective performance of highly trained personnel in decision-making in organizations. The methodology is based on the system approach which provides the overall guidance for the study of educational phenomena as an integral reality formed by components that fulfill certain functions and maintain stable forms of interaction. The main results show the necessary considerations assume for higher education institutions to achieve the objectives and targets, which harmoniously link the academic, administrative, social and productive.


Research and tests have revealed repeatedly that reading in primary schools in South Africa is in a shambles. Therefore, it is essential that teachers, especially Grade 1 teachers, should be consulted about the teaching of reading because it is at this level that reading is taught formally for the first time. This article aims to describe the teaching of reading in Grade 1 and the teachers' classroom practice for enhancing the teaching of reading and addressing reading problems.
This research project is based on quantitative and qualitative data obtained from Grade 1 teachers across South Africa. The quantitative data provided information about the teachers' training; the number of learners in the class; the availability of reading materials; and the language of learning and teaching. The qualitative data provided feedback about the problems that some young learners face in learning to read and what some teachers do to address these problems. The research project provided an array of Grade 1 classroom reading situations, including best reading practices of the teachers.
From the research it became evident that the majority of the teachers who came from functional schools were well trained and that they used a combination of the whole word and the phonics approach to teach reading. There was, however, a group of teachers who did not make use of the language experience approach and the Teaching Handwriting Reading and Spelling Skills (THRASS) programme. The research also revealed excellent reading practices to enhance the teaching of reading and to address reading problems. Some teachers also reported on the way in which they attend to the reading of learners who are not taught in their home language.
Recommendations about the use of all reading methods, the language of learning and teaching, the use of websites for children's literature, parental involvement and perceptual training are made. The possibility of a newsletter or a website for the teaching of reading is also mentioned.


King Lear is a towering drama of personal and national tragedy. This accessible introduction offers a springboard into the play, taking a hands-on, performance-based approach, exploring the challenges and the rewards it presents to actors, audiences and students. Springboard Shakespeare: King Lear has a three-part structure: whether you're watching or reading, Ben Crystal takes you through exactly what you need to know Before, During and After the play. He combines a genuine passion and understanding of Shakespeare with his experience as an actor, giving the reader a clear route to thinking about, understanding and enjoying King Lear.


The Blattid fauna of Celebes, the Moluccas, and New Guinea, a region which from a zoogeographical point of view forms an important area of transition, is still insufficiently known. Moreover the literature on the Blattids of this region is scattered in various papers which made it desirable to give a general survey of the hitherto known species of the group from Celebes, the Moluccas, and New Guinea. The present paper deals with the material of Blattidae from the region mentioned above contained in the Leiden and in the Amsterdam museums. I am indebted to Prof. Dr. H. Boschma and Dr. H. C. Blote of the Rijksmuseum van Natuurlijke Historie at Leiden, and to Prof. Dr. L. F. de Beaufort and Mr. J. B. Corporaal of the Zoological Museum at Amsterdam for placing the material at my disposal. Further I should like to express my thanks to the board of Greshoff's Rumphiusfonds for a grant which enabled me to carry out the investigations. As far as concerns our knowledge of the Blattidae in the region dealt with in the present paper, Celebes is the best known although the number of known species probably represents a part only of the existing forms. Hanitsch (1933) already came to this conclusion as he could state that few species only were caught by more than one collector. A survey of the most important collections from the region, with the names of the collectors and the authors who reported upon the material may be given here. Basler Naturhistorisches Museum, collectors P. and F. Sarasin (18931896 and 1902-1903), author R. Hanitsch. University Museum Oxford, collector A. R. Wallace (1856-1859), author F. Walker (1868) ; collector W. Doherty (1896), author R. Shelford


Manuscript Pelliot chinois 3720 (hereafter: P.3720) at the Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF) is a Chinese scroll from the Dunhuang 敦煌 cave library discovered at the beginning of the 20th century.x It is a collation of different texts, including appointment decrees, religious poetry, a funerary inscription, a short record of the history of the Mogao caves 莫高窟, etc. The texts come from distinct sources, and some had been written at different times by different persons as separate manuscripts, before they were all joined together into a single scroll. Thus the manuscript is also a composite object physically, consisting of separate pieces of paper glued together sometime during the 10th century. While the individual texts have been successfully used by scholars as primary sources for information about the history of Dunhuang and the cave complex at Mogao, it is clear that in order to fully understand the motivation behind the creation of the scroll, the arrangement of the individual components (i.e. sheets of paper) and texts must also be examined. A remarkable aspect of the arrangement is that some of the texts are dated and the dates range from 851 to 938, with an 87-year gap between the earliest and latest ones. The present study is an attempt to enhance our understanding of the date, authorship and composition of this manuscript, and at the same time also shed light on the practice of creating such composite scrolls in medieval China.


Title of Dissertation: THE ORIGIN AND PEDOGENIC HISTORY OF QUATERNARY SILTS ON THE DELMARVA PENINSULA IN MARYLAND John S. Wah, Doctor of Philosophy, 2003 Dissertation directed by: Professor Martin C. Rabenhorst Department of Natural Resource Sciences Soils formed in Quaternary age silts are widespread on the Delmarva Peninsula in Maryland. The origin, mode of transportation and deposition, and age of the sediments in which these soils formed have long been debated and are important to understanding climate change and to investigations of the prehistory of the Delmarva. This study was undertaken in an effort to resolve the issue of the origin of parent sediments, to examine the pedogenic history of the soils, and to gain insight into the paleoclimate of the region. Thirty nine profiles were described and sampled in two north-south transects on the upland and the broad terrace along the Chesapeake Bay on Maryland's Eastern Shore. Laboratory analyses included determination of particle size distribution, determination of Zr, Ti, Ca, and K contents of coarse silts, mineralogical analysis, and the examination of biogenic opal. The silty mantle overlying sands ranged in thickness from 150 cm to less than 50 cm, with considerable variation across the study area. Textures of this mantle were silt loam and silty clay loam with 53 to 94 percent clay-free silt and a mean clayfree particle size of 41 μm. The Zr content of the silts was uniform within profiles and across the study area while that of Ti, Ca, and K varied. Mineralogy of the silts was homogeneous across the study area. There were no features diagnostic of either fluvial/estuarine or eolian processes in the silt deposit. Minimal coarse fragments and no stratification were observed. Low chroma matrix colors of soils reflected modern drainage conditions rather than a reducing depositional environment. Pedological development argued for relatively young soils (< 30,000 years) and archaeological materials from surface horizons buried by the silts dated the onset of deposition to the end of the Pleistocene (approximately 10,500 C years BP). The youthfulness of the silts precluded them from having been deposited during the Sangamon transgression, which occurred no more recently than 82,000 years BP, and proved unequivocally that the silts are loess. Buried paleosols were indicative of the landscape stability prior to loess deposition while phytoliths reflected a climate shift. THE ORIGIN AND PEDOGENIC HISTORY OF QUATERNARY SILTS ON THE DELMARVA PENINSULA IN MARYLAND


The inter-firm technology transfers (TT) through international joint ventures (IJVs), among others, have significantly contributed to a higher degree of local innovation performance/capabilities, technological capabilities, competitive advantage, organizational learning effectiveness, productivity, technological development of local industry, and the economic growth of the host country. Since the focus of inter-firm TT in developing countries has shifted to degree of technology transfer, organizations in developing countries are attempting to assess not only the significant role of technology transfer in strengthening their corporate and human resource performance but also the influence of other critical variables such as MNCs' size, age of JVs (JVAGE), country of origin, and MNC's type of industries that could significantly moderate the relationship. The main objective of this paper is to empirically examine the moderating effect of age of JV (old vs. young JVs) on the relationships between degree of inter-firm technology transfer and two dimensions of local firms' performance: corporate and human resource performances. Using the moderated multiple regression (MMR) analysis, the theoretical models and hypotheses in this study were tested based on empirical data gathered from 128 joint venture companies registered with the Registrar of Companies of Malaysia (ROC). The results revealed that age of JV has significantly affected the relationships between degrees of technology transfer and both dimensions of local firms' performance; where the relationships were found stronger for old JVs as compared to young JVs. The study has bridged the literature gaps in such that it offers empirical evidence and new insights on the significant moderating effects of age of JVs in the relationships between degree of inter-firm technology transfer and local firms' performance using the Malaysian sample.


The impact of submarine hydrothermal systems on organic carbon in the ocean—one of the largest fixed carbon reservoirs on Earth—could be profound. Yet, different vent sites show diverse fluid chemical compositions and the subsequent biological responses. Observations from various vent sites are to evaluate hydrothermal systems' impact on the ocean carbon cycle. A response cruise in May 2009 to an on‐going submarine eruption at West Mata Volcano, northeast Lau Basin, provided an opportunity to quantify the organic matter production in a back‐arc spreading hydrothermal system. Hydrothermal vent fluids contained elevated dissolved organic carbon, particulate organic carbon (POC), and particulate nitrogen (PN) relative to background seawater. The δ13C‐POC values for suspended particles in the diffuse vent fluids (−15.5‰ and −12.3‰) are distinct from those in background seawater (−23 ± 1‰), indicative of unique carbon synthesis pathways of the vent microbes from the seawater counterparts. The first dissolved organic nitrogen concentrations reported for diffuse vents were similar to or higher than those for background seawater. Enhanced nitrogen fixation and denitrification removed 37%–89% of the total dissolved nitrogen in the recharging background seawater in the hydrothermal vent flow paths. The hydrothermal plume samples were enriched in POC and PN, indicating enhanced biological production. The total "dark" organic carbon production within the plume matches the thermodynamic prediction based on available reducing chemical substances supplied to the plume. This research combines the measured organic carbon contents with thermodynamic modeled results and demonstrates the importance of hydrothermal activities on the water column carbon production in the deep ocean.


In animal communication, sexually selected signals have been shown to often signal individual attributes such as motivation or quality. Birdsong is among the best studied signalling systems, and song traits vary substantially among individuals. The question remains if variation in signalling also reflects more general and consistent individual characteristics. Such consistent individual differences in behaviour that are relatively stable over time and contexts are referred to as personality or behavioural syndromes. Here, we studied the relation between singing and explorative behaviour, a well-studied personality trait, using great tits (Parus major) under standardized aviary conditions. The results show that singing activity measured as the number of songs sung in spring prior to breeding correlated with male but not with female explorative behaviour. In contrast, song repertoire was not related to explorative behaviour but varied over the day. The link between explorative and singing behaviour suggests that sexually selected signals are more than signals of quality but can also reflect other intrinsic behavioural characteristics such as personality traits.


If the United States were to adopt a policy to phase out nuclear generation, as has happened recently in other developed countries, what would the environmental and energy-mix implications be? Based on alternative scenarios of nuclear exit that consider the influence of potential policies to limit greenhouse gas emissions, a model of the US and global economy indicates that, under current policy, a US nuclear exit would increase carbon dioxide emissions, and likely raise electricity prices and reduce gross domestic product by relatively small amounts. Those economic impacts would be increased by additional measures to limit carbon dioxide emissions.


Our objective was to test the short-term efficacy and feasibility of two stress-reduction approaches for the treatment of hypertension in older African Americans, focusing on subgroup analysis by sex and by high and low risk on six measures of hypertension risk: psychosocial stress, obesity, alcohol use, physical inactivity, dietary sodium-potassium ratio, and a composite measure. The study involved a follow-up subgroup analysis of a 3-month randomized, controlled, single-blind trial conducted in a primary care, inner-city health center. Subjects were 127 African American men and women, aged 55 to 85 years, with diastolic pressure of 90 to 104 mm Hg and systolic pressure less than or equal to 179 mm Hg. Of these, 16 did not complete follow-up blood pressure measurements. Mental and physical stress-reduction approaches-the Transcendental Meditation technique and progressive muscle relaxation, respectively-were compared with a life-style modification education control and with each other. Both systolic and diastolic pressures changed from baseline to follow-up for both sexes and for high and low risk level (defined by median split) on the six measures of hypertension risk. Compared with education control subjects, women practicing the Transcendental Meditation technique showed adjusted declines in systolic (10.4 mm Hg, P < .01) and diastolic (5.9 mm Hg, P < .01) pressures. Men in this treatment group also declined in both systolic (12.7 mm Hg, P < .01) and diastolic (8.1 mm Hg, P < .001) pressures compared with control subjects. Women practicing muscle relaxation did not show a significant decrease compared with control subjects, and men declined significantly in diastolic pressure only (6.2 mm Hg, P < .01). For the measure of psychosocial stress, both the high and low risk subgroups using the Transcendental Meditation technique declined in systolic (high risk, P = .0003; low, P = .06) and diastolic (high risk, P = .001; low, P = .008) pressures compared with control subjects, whereas for muscle relaxation, blood pressure dropped significantly only in the high risk subgroup and only for systolic pressure (P = .03) compared with control subjects. For each of the other five risk measures, Transcendental Meditation subjects in both the high and low risk groups declined significantly in systolic and diastolic pressures compared with control subjects. Effects of stress reduction on blood pressure were found to generalize to both sexes and diverse risk factor subgroups and were significantly greater in the Transcendental Meditation treatment group. These effects (along with high compliance) even in individuals with multiple risk factors for hypertension clearly warrant longer-term investigation in this and other populations.


The interpretation of the gravity field in the 2D and 3D space
requires an accurate Bouguer gravity anomaly map. This
requirement is of particular importance, when different
techniques, instrumentation and data processing methods have
been used in different parts of the area of interest. This
paper presents the Bouguer gravity anomaly map of the
CELEBRATION 2000 countries (Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary,
Poland and Slovak Republic) and reports on the calculation of
Bouguer gravity data. The gravity map will serve as basis for
2D and 3D modeling of the gravity field in the CELEBRATION 2000
region (45-54 deg. latitude and 12-24 deg. longitude). To avoid
truncation problems in the following quantitative
interpretation, the map area consists of both the CELEBRATION
2000 countries and adjacent areas. Due to different average
station density of gravity measurements in the countries
(Austria - 1 station/9 km2, Czech Republic - 1 station/2.6 km2,
Hungary - 4 stations/km2, Poland - 2.74 stations/km2 and Slovak
Republic 5 stations/km2) the gravity data were interpolated to
grids by using different spacing and projection in each
country. In the entire CELEBRATION area the average station
density is approximately 2.4 stations/km2 and the gravity data
set contains more than 1 620 000 measurement points.
Additionally, the most important regional gravity anomaly
patterns of the map are presented.


We consider the problem of model compression for deep neural networks (DNNs) in the challenging one-shot/post-training setting, in which we are given an accurate trained model, and must compress it without any retraining, based only on a small amount of calibration input data. This problem has become popular in view of the emerging software and hardware support for executing models compressed via pruning and/or quantization with speedup, and well-performing solutions have been proposed independently for both compression approaches. In this paper, we introduce a new compression framework which covers both weight pruning and quantization in a unified setting, is time- and space-efficient, and considerably improves upon the practical performance of existing post-training methods. At the technical level, our approach is based on an exact and efficient realization of the classical Optimal Brain Surgeon (OBS) framework of [LeCun, Denker, and Solla, 1990] extended to also cover weight quantization at the scale of modern DNNs. From the practical perspective, our experimental results show that it can improve significantly upon the compression-accuracy trade-offs of existing post-training methods, and that it can enable the accurate compound application of both pruning and quantization in a post-training setting.


The objectives of this study were (i) to determine the effects of Mexican weeping pine (Pinus patula Schelde. ex Schltdl and Cham) and wild lemon grass (Cymbopogon spp.) mulches and time of their application on yield and quality of organically grown tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), (ii) to investigate the effect of pine and wild lemon grass mulch on pests and beneficial arthropods under organic production of tomato and sweet pepper, and (iii) to examine the decomposition rate and chemical products of pine and wild lemon grass. Tomato cv. 'Tanya' and sweet pepper cv. 'California Wonder' were grown organically at Lushoto and Ubiri wards in Lushoto district, Tanga region, North-Eastern Tanzania. The experiment was laid out in a Randomised Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications and repeated for three seasons. The treatments were pine mulch applied 3 days after transplanting (PI), and 21 days after transplanting (PA), grass mulch applied 3 days after transplanting (GI), and 21 days after transplanting (GA) and two unmulched controls weeded and unweeded.
Dry pine and wild lemon grass materials were used in compost making, each mixed with forest soil, cow manure, green grass and water. Laboratory analysis was done later on at Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) Soil Science laboratories to determine the chemical composition of the composts. Data collected included the number of leaves per plant, plant height, fruit yield, number of fruits per plant, fruit size, marketable and unmarketable fruit weight. Beneficial arthropods were also collected using pitfall traps for the three seasons. In each treatment and location, data on numbers and dry weight of weeds, disease incidences and insect pests were also collected. The time taken for compost to mature and their chemical composition in the period of three and twelve months of composting were recorded. The analysed parameters included organic carbon (OC), total Nitrogen (TN), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), and manganese (Mn). Data were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) at P≤ 0.05 and where applicable Post Hoc. Tukey's (HSD) test was used to compare means. Data analysis was done using R Statistical Package (AGRICOLAE Version 1.2.1). Results showed that both types of mulch had positive influence on yield and quality components regardless of the time of mulch application. Among the three seasons, the highest yields were obtained during the wet and cold season (April – August, 2013). Mulching with either pine or wild lemon grass did not affect the number of trapped arthropods while across the seasons, numbers of arthropods increased significantly (P ≤0.05). In weed control, results revealed that pine and wild lemon grass mulch had similar (P≤0.05) effect as weeding. Laboratory analysis of compost containing pine and wild lemon grass containing compost showed significant changes in OC, TN, Na, Fe and Mn between three and twelve months of composting. In conclusion, application of both pine and wild lemon grass mulch brings higher yields of tomato and sweet pepper than hand weeded practice. Both types of mulch lasted throughout the production period without need replenishment. Types of mulch and time of application did not have a significant influence on yield, weed control, insect and disease attacks instead the presence of mulch reduced numbers of weeds, increased numbers of beneficial arthropods, yield and quality of tomato and sweet pepper. Pine and wild lemon grass containing compost released nutrients as early as three months after heaping. It is therefore recommended, that pine and wild lemon grass can be used as organic mulch three to 21 days after transplanting tomato and sweet pepper seedlings but using pine and wild lemon grass containing compost requires further investigation. It is further recommended for future scholars to also focus on studying beneficial arthropods and their relationship with insect pests where pine and wild lemon grass are used as mulch.


Currently, there is increasing interest in developing 'beyond lithium' battery technologies to augment, or in certain situations replace, lithium ion batteries (LIBs). Room temperature sodium ion batteries (NIBs) offer an attractive combination of low cost and plentiful constituents and a wide range of phases, structures and stoichiometries available for optimisation. Sodium layered oxides are considered to be promising candidates as cathode materials, due to their flexibility and versatility, as well as their intrinsically fast structural diffusion of Na ions which leads to enhanced rate capability. In particular, sodium manganese based layered oxides (generally NaxMn1−y−zMyTMzO2, where TM represents one or more transition metals, and M consists of one or more non-transition metals) are a key family of materials, in part due to the relatively low cost and environmentally friendly nature of the manganese, and consequently are worthy of a detailed investigation. Examination of these systems, particularly in terms of stoichiometry and phase, has shown that significant advances have been made recently, both in terms of understanding the mechanisms behind electrochemical performance, and in terms of refining these to produce improved materials. The goal of this review is to present the current developments in sodium manganese based layered oxides (particularly with respect to electrochemical performance, physical properties and manganese content), to discuss the current state of this field of research and to draw conclusions regarding where future investigations may be most fruitfully directed.


Abstract For almost 50 years specially trained dogs have been used in clinical and family settings to facilitate how children with autism engage in social interaction and participate in everyday activities. Yet little theoretical grounding and empirical study of this socioclinical phenomenon has been offered by social science. This article draws on interdisciplinary scholarship to situate the study of the therapeutic use of dogs for children and teens with autism. Two case studies of service and therapy dogs' mediating social engagement of children with autism in relationships, interactions, and activities illustrate how dogs support children's communication, their experience of emotional connection with others, and their participation in everyday life. Theorizing this process enriches approaches to sociality in psychological anthropology. [animal-assisted therapy, autism, engagement, sociality, intersubjectivity]


Charcoal and wood fuel supply energy needs in both urban and rural communities in the world. In the Philippines, charcoal is used in both commercial and residential in the provinces of Southern Tagalog the National Capital Region (NCR). However, charcoal-making is also one of the main threats to the natural resources and environment in the Philippines. Thus, there is a need to develop a sustainable charcoal production process that could meet the demand without decreasing forest and tree cover. This paper describ present charcoal production practices of households and their willingness to adopt sustainable charcoal practices. It surveyed 85 active charcoal producers in the municipality of Mulanay, Quezon Province, Philippines, to elicit response and document the local practice. An ordered logit model was used to analyse factors that could influence willingness to adopt sustainable charcoal practices.Despite the unprofitable and inefficient charcoal practices, the present practice continues. Under the scenario of increased profits realized through minimum capital requirement, respondents were willing to develop and adopt sustainable practice of charcoal production.


The thesis describes the participation of women as witnesses and members of British government committees of inquiry during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It examines this participation both from the point of view of the women concerned and of the administrations which appointed them. It seeks to establish that such committee work was a form of political activity for individual women; and, by indicating the extent of the organisations and networks which linked these and similar women, demonstrates the existence of a small group of women working within the political elite who collaborated in the shaping of certain aspects of public policy during this time. The thesis also considers the institutional implications of women's membership of committees by examining governmental and civil service attitudes to their appointments. It attempts to uncover how and why women were chosen, and argues that women's committee participation was instrumental in the formation of ideas about women's political work. In committees women became established as an interest group to be represented in the same way and in much the same proportions as other class or professional groupings. They thus achieved representation through interest rather than through equity, which contributed to enduring precedents for their subsequent political roles after they were granted the franchise. I examine the work of women on committees as the committee form itself evolved to incorporate them and other groups from within and outside the elite social classes, providing a means by which the political nation could expand through slight changes in existing forms. Appointment to an advisory committee is not commonly seen as political representation, but during the proliferation of such committees through the nineteenth century, it offered a means of participation in political life for some of those denied direct representation through the franchise. In Britain women began to be appointed to such committees some thirty years before they were granted a limited franchise in 1918. Through the committee form women were offered a representative voice in a growing but clearly delimited range of issues that were deemed to concern them, broadly within education, social welfare, and employment. However, their achievements were limited both by their confinement to such issues, and by their consistently low numbers on committees. The thesis concludes that women's committee participation was fixed at almost the same time as it began, and that the period of women's most decisive involvement with this form was during the years between about 1908 and the early 1920s.


: Does information dissemination among beneficiaries of welfare programmes mitigate their implementation failures? We present experimental evidence in the context of a rural public works programme in India, where we assess the impact of an intervention that involves dissemination of publicly available micro-level data on last mile delays in payment and programme uptake, along with a set of intermediate outcomes. The findings point to a substantial reduction in last mile payment delays along with improvements in awareness of basic provisions of the programme and process mechanisms while indicating a limited effect on uptake. However, we find a considerable increase in uptake in the subsequent period, which is potentially indicative of an 'encouragement' effect through the reduction in last mile delays. A comparatively higher impact on payment delay was found for deprived communities. The findings lay a platform for an innovative information campaign that can be used by government and civil society organizations as part of transparency measures to improve efficiency.


Fully updated and revised, the second edition of Integrative Nursing is a complete roadmap to holistic patient care, providing a step-by-step guide to assess and clinically treat conditions through a variety of combined methodologies including traditional and alternative therapies with all aspects of lifestyle. This text identifies both the skills and theoretical frameworks for interprofessional systems leaders to consider and implement integrative healthcare strategies within institutions, including several case studies involving practical nursing-led initiatives. This volume covers the foundations of the field; the most effective ways to optimize wellbeing; principles of symptom management for many common disorders like sleep, anxiety, pain, and cognitive impairment; the application of integrative nursing techniques in a variety of clinical settings and among a diverse patient population; and integrative practices around the world and how they impact planetary health. The academic rigor of the text is balanced by practical and relevant content that can be readily implemented into practice for both established professionals as well as students enrolled in undergraduate or graduate nursing programs. Integrative health and medicine is defined as healing-oriented care that takes account of the whole person (body, mind, and spirit) as well as all aspects of lifestyle; it emphasizes the therapeutic relationship and makes use of appropriate therapies, both conventional and alternative. Series editor Andrew Weil, MD, is Professor and Director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona. Dr. Weil's program was the first such academic program in the U.S., and its stated goal is "to combine the best ideas and practices of conventional and alternative medicine into cost effective treatments without embracing alternative practices uncritically."


Urban flooding and thermal stress have become key issues for many cities around the world. With the continuing effects of climate change, these two issues will become more acute and will add to the serious problems already experienced in dense urban areas. Therefore, the sectors of public health and disaster management are in the need of tools that can assess the vulnerability to floods and thermal stress. The present paper deals with the combination of innovative tools to address this challenge. Three cities in different climatic regions with various urban contexts have been selected as the pilot areas to demonstrate these tools. These cities are Tainan (Taiwan), Ayutthaya (Thailand) and Groningen (Netherlands). For these cities, flood maps and heat stress maps were developed and used for the comparison analysis. The flood maps produced indicate vulnerable low-lying areas, whereas thermal stress maps indicate open, unshaded areas where high Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET) values (thermal comfort) can be expected. The work to date indicates the potential of combining two different kinds of maps to identify and analyse the problem areas. These maps could be further improved and used by urban planners and other stakeholders to assess the resilience and well-being of cities. The work presented shows that the combined analysis of such maps also has a strong potential to be used for the analysis of other challenges in urban dense areas such as air and water pollution, immobility and noise disturbance.


Mandatory helmet legislation (MHL) was introduced in New Zealand (NZ) in January 1994. Previous studies have shown a significant reduction in cycling head injury associated with MHL; however, one analysis has suggested a diminishing return in head injury reduction with increased helmet wearing rates. The aim of this study is to critically assess the validity of methods and conclusions from studies evaluating the effect of MHL on head injury in NZ. We emphasise the importance of accurately and objectively presenting data and the need for a proper subsequent analysis for valid inference. This plays a paramount role in the communication of research findings as they heavily influence the public perception of road safety and the effectiveness of policy interventions.


ed/indexed in: Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport is an SCI (Science Citation Information) and SSCI (Social Science Citation Information) journal. It is also abstracted/indexed in Biological Abstracts, Current


Abstract One of the most crucial steps in the life cycle of a retrovirus is the integration of the viral DNA (vDNA) copy of the RNA genome into the genome of an infected host cell. Integration provides for efficient viral gene expression as well as for the segregation of viral genomes to daughter cells upon cell division. Some integrated viruses are not well expressed, and cells latently infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) can resist the action of potent antiretroviral drugs and remain dormant for decades. Intensive research has been dedicated to understanding the catalytic mechanism of integration, as well as the viral and cellular determinants that influence integration site distribution throughout the host genome. In this review, we summarize the evolution of techniques that have been used to recover and map retroviral integration sites, from the early days that first indicated that integration could occur in multiple cellular DNA locations, to current technologies that map upwards of millions of unique integration sites from single in vitro integration reactions or cell culture infections. We further review important insights gained from the use of such mapping techniques, including the monitoring of cell clonal expansion in patients treated with retrovirus-based gene therapy vectors, or patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) on suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART). These insights span from integrase (IN) enzyme sequence preferences within target DNA (tDNA) at the sites of integration, to the roles of host cellular proteins in mediating global integration distribution, to the potential relationship between genomic location of vDNA integration site and retroviral latency.


Abstract. One hundred N2O flux measurements were made from an area of intensively managed grazed grassland in central Scotland using a high-resolution dynamic chamber method. The field contained a variety of features from which N2O fluxes were measured including a manure heap, patches of decaying grass silage, and areas of increased sheep activity. Individual fluxes varied significantly across the field varying from 2 to 79 000 μg N2O-N m−2 h−1. Soil samples were collected at 55 locations to investigate relationships between soil properties and N2O flux. Fluxes of N2O correlated strongly with soil NO3- concentrations. Distribution of NO3− and the high spatial variability of N2O flux across the field are shown to be linked to the distribution of waste from grazing animals and the resultant reactive nitrogen compounds in the soil which are made available for microbiological processes. Features within the field such as shaded areas and manure heaps contained significantly higher available nitrogen than the rest of the field. Although these features only represented 1.1% of the area of the field, they contributed to over 55% of the total estimated daily N2O flux.


Stabilization of an actively mode-locked fiber laser in the frequency-doubling rational-harmonic mode-locking regime is demonstrated experimentally for the first time to the authors' knowledge. The stabilization is achieved by a method based on minimization of the average optical power at the second output of a dual-output Mach-Zehnder modulator used as a mode locker. This method produces long-term stable operation of the laser with ~35-dB suppression of the pulse-to-pulse amplitude fluctuation caused by rational-harmonic frequency doubling.


There remains one major obstacle to realizing the goals of containing costs and protecting access. Decrying the conduct of managed care plans has become a popular pastime. So it may come as a surprise to many to learn that both the Clinton administration and the Congress wish to expand Medicare enrollment in managed care plans. To policy makers tom between the need to contain costs and the need to protect access to services, increased enrollment in-and competition among-health plans serving Medicare enrollees holds out the tantalizing possibility of furthering both goals. There is, however, a major obstacle to realizing these benefits-the problem of risk selection. Experts agree that this problem must be addressed in order for beneficial competition between health plans to develop and in order for the Medicare program to save money. What is risk selection? Favorable risk selection occurs when people who are disproportionately healthier than average join a health plan (and conversely, for unfavorable selection). If rates are not adjusted to compensate, risk selection costs Medicare money and may cause sicker Medicare enrollees problems with access to care. Policy makers have attempted to address the problem of risk selection by paying health plans risk-adjusted rates, under which plans with sicker enrollees would receive more. However, current risk adjustment methods do not prevent risk selection. Furthermore, paying plans a fixed sum irrespective ofthe services they render offers a financial incentive to provide less care. PROSPECTS FOR COMPETITION Medicare at-risk HMOs are paid a fixed amount per beneficiary enrolled per month. They are, therefore, at risk for any costs that exceed this amount and they profit if their costs fall below this fixed amount. Most private employers pay HMOs in a similar manner. Medicare cost HMOs, on the other hand, are reimbursed according to the cost they incur in caring for beneficiaries. Enrollment in Medicare at-risk HMOs is growing rapidly. Between December 1993 and March 1997 enrollment more than doubled, and annual enrollment growth now stands at 35 percent per year. Approximately 12 percent of Medicare beneficiaries are now in at-risk HMOs (Physician Payment Review Commission, 1997). But because these enrollees tend to be younger and Medicare pays less for younger enrollees, the share of dollars going to at-risk HMOs is only around 6 percent. Health plans are showing greater interest in applying for Medicare risk contracts: About 5o percent of HMOs nationally have risk contracts or have applied for them, and others have plans to do so (Zarabozo, Taylor, and Hicks, 1996; Physician Payment Review Commission, 1997). Thus, the prospects for greater competition among health plans, which could theoretically lower costs and improve access, are good. These trends are likely to continue as a result of the Balanced Budget Act of I997 (BBA), which for the first time allows provider-sponsored plans to accept risk contracts. The BBA also creates two new choices for Medicare beneficiaries: private fee-for-service (indemnity) plans that can pay providers of health services more than the Medicare fee schedule and recoup the excess by charging higher premiums, and Medical Savings Account plans, which are indemnity plans with a high deductible.' The BBA dubs at-risk HMOs, including physiciansponsored HMOs, private fee-for-service plans, and Medical Savings Accounts, "Medicare+ Choice" plans. In theory, all of these plans will compete with each other and with the traditional Medicare program for enrollees. Our comments about risk selection, although couched in terms of HMOs, apply also to the private fee-for-service and Medical Savings Account plans. RISK SELECTION AND RISK ADJUSTMENT Almost all observers agree that the Medicare HMO program needs better risk-adjusted payments than those currently used. Traditionally the risk-adjusted payment rates, called the adjusted average per capita cost (AAPCC), paid atrisk Medicare HMOs 95 percent of what it cost to care for beneficiaries in the traditional Medicare program who lived in the same county. …


To obtain experimental evidence on the therapeutic efficacy of essential oils in aromatherapy for inflammatory diseases, we examined the effects of geranium oil on carrageenan-induced and collagen II-induced inflammation in mice, to assess acute and chronic anti-inflammatory activities of the oil. Single intraperitoneal injection of 5 μL of geranium oil clearly suppressed the carrageenan-induced footpaw edema and increase in tissue myeloperoxidase activity, and repeated administration of the oil suppressed collagen-induced arthritis. These results revealed that geranium oil suppressed both acute and chronic inflammatory responses in mice.


We analyze a suite of 33 cosmological simulations of the evolution of Milky-Way-mass galaxies in low-density environments. Our sample spans a broad range of Hubble types at z = 0, from nearly bulgeless disks to bulge-dominated galaxies. Despite the fact that a large fraction of the bulge is typically in place by z ∼ 1, we find no significant correlation between the morphology at z = 1 and at z = 0. The z = 1 progenitors of disk galaxies span a range of morphologies, including smooth disks, unstable disks, interacting galaxies, and bulge-dominated systems. By z ∼ 0.5, spiral arms and bars are largely in place and the progenitor morphology is correlated with the final morphology. We next focus on late-type galaxies with a bulge-to-total ratio (B/T) <0.3 at z = 0. These show a correlation between B/T at z = 0 and the mass ratio of the largest merger at z < 2, as well as with the gas accretion rate at z > 1. We find that the galaxies with the lowest B/T tend to have a quiet baryon input history, with no major mergers at z < 2, and with a low and constant gas accretion rate that keeps a stable angular-momentum direction. More violent merger or gas accretion histories lead to galaxies with more prominent bulges. Most disk galaxies have a bulge Sérsic index n ⩽ 2. The galaxies with the highest bulge Sérsic index tend to have histories of intense gas accretion and disk instability rather than active mergers.


ICRP Publication 66 that had adopted a new approach to estimate dose to lungs and an extrathoracic region based on a revised human respiratory tract model was considered by the authors to address some aspects related to application of ICRP 66 in radiation safety practices. Comparison of committed equivalent doses received to the lungs following acute inhalation of plutonium-239 aerosols with different solubility and particle size calculated as per previous ICRP 30 approach (averaging of energy imparted by radiation to the organ over the mass of the organ) and new ICRP 66 concept (detriment-weighted dose resulting from irradiation of specific cells at risk in the lung) showed that these dose estimates are disparate. At the same time, ICRP 66 approach, being more biologically reasonable, still requires additional studies to validate risk apportionment among tissues in the lungs. Because ICRP 66 for the first time introduced a method to calculate internal radiation dose to the extrathoracic region, equivalent dose to this region following acute inhalation of different plutonium-239 aerosols was assessed in comparison with equivalent dose to the lungs. The relative contribution of the extrathoracic region to the effective dose turned out to be significant.


Factfinders in civil cases must often make a constellation of decisions, such as assigning responsibility and blame, making compensation and (sometimes) giving out punishment. These decisions are likely to evoke numerous social and moral concerns and, therefore, inevitably implicate a variety of instrumental and symbolic goals. We argue that descriptions of legal decision making that fail to consider the psychological interplay among these different goals are likely to come up short in their efforts to explicate the ways in which jurors and other factfinders make decisions in civil cases. Instead, we suggest that decision making in civil cases can profitably be thought of as a process by which decision makers attempt to maximally satisfy a wide variety of goals in parallel. In contrast to many traditional legal and economic portrayals of legal decision making which posit that decision makers can pursue single motives as instructed, we argue that jurors and other finders-of-fact deciding civil cases ought to be thought of as pursuing many different goals simultaneously. We briefly describes many of the goals that may underlie decision making in civil cases and introduces a set of basic goal management principles that define how these goals interrelate. We next describe social psychological research that suggests that legal decision makers may be motivated to pursue a variety of goals in addition to the traditional goals of determining fault, compensating plaintiffs, and deterring defendants. Different motives for distributing resources, value expressive goals and a need to restore the proper relative moral balance between the parties may all play a role in civil decision making. Finally, we propose that decision makers may attempt to simultaneously satisfy these multiple goals through a process of parallel constraint satisfaction.


Abstract. Analyses have been undertaken of the spatial and temporal trends and drivers of the distributions of ground-level O3 concentrations associated with potential impacts on human health and vegetation using measurements at the two UK European Monitoring and Evaluation Program (EMEP) supersites of Harwell and Auchencorth. These two sites provide representation of rural O3 over the wider geographic areas of south-east England and northern UK respectively. The O3 exposures associated with health and vegetation impacts were quantified respectively by the SOMO10 and SOMO35 metrics and by the flux-based PODY metrics for wheat, potato, beech and Scots pine. Statistical analyses of measured O3 and NOx concentrations were supplemented by analyses of meteorological data and NOx emissions along air-mass back trajectories. The findings highlight the differing responses of impact metrics to the decreasing contribution of regional O3 episodes in determining O3 concentrations at Harwell between 1990 and 2013, associated with European NOx emission reductions. An improvement in human health-relevant O3 exposure observed when calculated by SOMO35, which decreased significantly, was not observed when quantified by SOMO10. The decrease in SOMO35 is driven by decreases in regionally produced O3 which makes a larger contribution to SOMO35 than to SOMO10. For the O3 vegetation impacts at Harwell, no significant trend was observed for the PODY metrics of the four species, in contrast to the decreasing trend in vegetation-relevant O3 exposure perceived when calculated using the crop AOT40 metric. The decreases in regional O3 production have not decreased PODY as climatic and plant conditions reduced stomatal conductance and uptake of O3 during regional O3 production. Ozone concentrations at Auchencorth (2007–2013) were more influenced by hemispheric background concentrations than at Harwell. For health-related O3 exposures this resulted in lower SOMO35 but similar SOMO10 compared with Harwell; for vegetation PODY values, this resulted in greater impacts at Auchencorth for vegetation types with lower exceedance ("Y") thresholds and longer growing seasons (i.e. beech and Scots pine). Additionally, during periods influenced by regional O3 production, a greater prevalence of plant conditions which enhance O3 uptake (such as higher soil water potential) at Auchencorth compared to Harwell resulted in exacerbation of vegetation impacts at Auchencorth, despite being further from O3 precursor emission sources. These analyses indicate that quantifications of future improvement in health-relevant O3 exposure achievable from pan-European O3 mitigation strategies are highly dependent on the choice of O3 concentration cut-off threshold, and reduction in potential health impact associated with more modest O3 concentrations requires reductions in O3 precursors on a larger (hemispheric) spatial scale. Additionally, while further reduction in regional O3 is more likely to decrease O3 vegetation impacts within the spatial domain of Auchencorth compared to Harwell, larger reductions in vegetation impact could be achieved across the UK from reduction of hemispheric background O3 concentrations.


A differential agar medium for the identification of Ureaplasma urealyticum in primary cultures of clinical specimens is described. The differential medium (no. A7) is specific for the identification of U. urealyticum and other members of the genus Ureaplasma. Large-colony, classical Mycoplasma and Acholeplasma species and Proteus L colonies are unreactive on this differential medium. The medium incorporates the biochemical principle of the direct spot test for urease in colonies of Ureaplasma and contains added urea and a sensitive indicator of ammonia, manganous sulfate. Ureaplasma colonies on this medium are identified as dark golden-brown or rich deep-brown colonies, in sharp contrast to the light background of the medium, when viewed by direct transmitted illumination under the low power of the microscope.


Durotaxis has been emerging as a novel technique for manipulating directional motion of nanoscale particles. Two-dimensional materials with low surface friction, such as hexagonal boron nitride (hBN), are well-suited to serve as a platform for solid–solid transportations or manipulations. Here we employ molecular dynamics simulations to explore the feasibility of utilizing a stiffness gradient on a large hBN substrate to control the motion of a small hBN or graphene nanoflake on it. Our attempts to systematically investigate the mechanism of durotaxis-induced transportation are centered on the fundamental driving mechanism of the motion and the quantitative effect of significant parameters such as stiffness gradient, substrate temperature, and material of the nanoflake on its motion. Simulation results have demonstrated that, while the stiffness gradient plays a pivotal role in the evolution of the motion of the nanoflake on the substrate surface, the temperature of the substrate greatly influences the behavior of the nanoflake as well. There is no significant difference in directional motion between hBN and graphene nanoflakes on the hBN substrate. An interesting relation between the effective driving force and the stiffness gradient has been quantitatively captured by employing steered molecular dynamics. These findings will provide fundamental insights into the motion of nanodevices on a solid surface due to durotaxis, and will offer a novel view for manipulating directional motion of nanoscale particles on a solid surface.


In this paper, I use an example from the history of philosophy to show how independently defining each side of a pair of contrary predicates is apt to lead to contradiction. In the Euthyphro, piety is defined as that which is loved by some of the gods while impiety is defined as that which is hated by some of the gods. Socrates points out that since the gods harbor contrary sentiments, some things are both pious and impious. But "pious" and "impious" are contrary predicates; they cannot simultaneously characterize the same thing. Euthyphro changes his definition, but the problem of recognizing emotional ambivalence is only side-stepped. I go on to show how contemporary philosophers run into a similar problem. According to Prinz, something is good if and only if we harbor positive sentiments towards it and bad if and only if we harbor negative sentiments towards it. Thus, if we are ambivalent towards something (if we harbor both positive and negative sentiments towards it), then it is both good and bad. Like "pious" and "impious", "good" and "bad" are contraries. Next, according to the fitting-attitude theory first elaborated by Brentano and favored by contemporary meta-ethicists like Blackburn, Brandt, Ewing, Garcia, Gibbard, McDowell, and Wiggins, something is good if and only if it is a fitting (appropriate) object of approbation, and something is bad if and only if it is a fitting (appropriate) object of disapprobation. I argue that moral ambivalence is sometimes appropriate, i.e., that the correct response to some things is to both love and hate them. Hence, according to the fitting-attitudes theory, some things are both good and bad. I conclude by discussing a variety of ways in which the problem of ambivalence may be solved, suggesting that attitudes of approbation and disapprobation be further individuated by the reasons for them.


Detailed pathophysiological manifestations of early disease in the context of prediabetes are poorly understood. This study aimed to evaluate the extent of early signs of cardiovascular complications affecting multiple organs in individuals with prediabetes. Subjects without prior history of stroke, coronary or peripheral artery disease were enrolled in a case-control study nested within the Cooperative Health Research in the Region of Augsburg (KORA) FF4 cohort and underwent comprehensive MR imaging assessment to characterize cerebral, (white matter lesions, microbleeds), cardiovascular (carotid plaque, left ventricular function and myocardial late gadolinium enhancement [LGE]), and metabolic parameters (hepatic proton-density-fat-fraction [PDFF] and subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue). Among 400 subjects who underwent MRI, 103 subjects had prediabetes and 54 established diabetes. Subjects with prediabetes had an increased risk for carotid plaque and adverse functional cardiac parameters, including reduced early diastolic filling rates as well as a higher prevalence of LGE as compared to healthy controls. In addition, people with prediabetes had significantly elevated levels of PDFF and total and visceral adipose tissue. Thus, subjects with prediabetes show early signs of subclinical disease that include vascular, cardiac, and metabolic changes as measured by whole-body MRI after adjusting for cardiometabolic risk factors.


Local community-level water management is crucial for rural development in the poorest parts of the world, in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Local cooperative institutions have been successful in water management in some cases, but there are numerous cases of failure. The paper draws upon the relevant lessons from the theoretical literature on cooperation in game theory, both in economics and evolutionary biology. Then it goes into the evidence from field studies by anthropologists and others on the conditions for success or failure of local cooperation. This points to some additional insights which the theoretical models are yet too constricted to incorporate.


Since the introduction of steroid eluting electrodes, the incidence of an early massive rise in the capture threshold that either exceeds or threatens to exceed the programmed output of the pacemaker has declined but has not totally disappeared1 If a persistent or massive threshold rise is encountered in the days to months post-implant, one consideration is microinstability of the lead. In this setting, there may be a change in the morphology of the pacemaker evoked depolarization on the ECG or a change in the physical location of the lead as assessed with a chest x-ray. Another marker is fluctuations in the capture threshold on repeated assessments at the same office or clinic visit. The options for this problem include an operative procedure to reposition or replace the lead or to closely observe the patient hoping that the lead settles into a secure location. Another potential totally reversible cause is the introduction of an new medication or herb. If the possible explanations for threshold increase cited above have been excluded and the high capture threshold is believed to be due to lead maturation, increasing the output or possible lead replacement or repositioning have been the usual options.