Proprioception is the sense of the relative position of body parts and movement, as detected by mechanoreceptors located in muscles, joints, and fascia throughout the body. Various attempts have been made to quantify this sensory function. Furthermore, its impairment has been documented in humans with viral infection that specifically damages proprioceptive neurons of the central nervous system. To test the proprioceptive acuity of high school athletes, we sought to establish a quantitative assessment of proprioception. In this study, we hypothesized that varsity-level athletes would have a superior sense of body positioning and thus perform better than non-varsity athletes, irrespective of sport. A novel approach was developed that utilizes two motor tasks of shoulder-arm positioning: arm placement at defined clock-face positions and random radial arm movement on an x,y plane. Using these quantitative methods, we provide a 'proprioceptive index' for each athlete as a measure of sensory integration and motor output. Participants were grouped by participation in sports: soccer, hockey, basketball, or dance. We found a significant correlation between dancers and their ability to precisely reproduce motor movements.


In this paper kernel estimates of the joint and conditional probability density functions are used to generate synthetic streamflow sequences. Streamflow is assumed to be a Markov process with time dependence characterized by a multivariate probability density function. Kernel methods are used to estimate this multivariate density function. Simulation proceeds by sequentially resampling from the conditional density function derived from the kernel estimate of the underlying multivariate probability density function. This is a nonparametric method for the synthesis of streamflow that is data‐driven and avoids prior assumptions as to the form of dependence (e.g., linear or nonlinear) and the form of the probability density functions (e.g., Gaussian). We show, using synthetic examples with known underlying models, that the nonparametric method presented is more flexible than the conventional models used in stochastic hydrology and is capable of reproducing both linear and nonlinear dependence. The effectiveness of this model is illustrated through its application to simulation of monthly streamflow from the Beaver River in Utah.


ABSTRACT Aim: Concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) with high-dose cisplatin is the standard treatment for patients with locally advanced unresectable head and neck carcinoma. However, improvement of survival outcomes and toxicities is still necessary. This phase II study was designed to assess the efficacy and safety of concurrent CRT with weekly low-dose cisplatin (CDDP) and docetaxel (DOC) in these patients. Methods: Patients with technically unresectable squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck were enrolled in the study between 2004 and 2011. Treatment consisted of conventional radiotherapy, total dose of 60-66Gy/30-33fractions, with weekly administration of CDDP (20mg/m2) and DOC (10mg/m2), total of 6 courses. Adjuvant chemotherapy of 2 courses of TPF (CDDP + DOC + 5-FU) was scheduled to prevent the disease progression after assessment of treatment response. Primary outcome was response rate and secondary outcomes were progression-free survival, overall survival, organ preservation and acute toxicity. This study was analyzed by intention-to-treat (ITT). Results: Thirty-one patients were recruited according to the Simon's two-stage design method. The median age was 62 years (range, 41-74) and the primary site was oropharynx; 11 (35%), hypopharynx; 18 (58%), larynx; 2 (7%). Twenty-four patients (77%) completed chemoradiotherapy as planned, and 9 patients (29%) completed adjuvant TPF chemotherapy. Thirty patients were evaluated for response without 1 early death before post-treatment assessment, and the response rates were CR, 10%; PR, 66.7%; SD, 6.7%; PD, 16.6%. At a median follow-up of 31 months (range, 4.5-113), the median time to progression and overall survival was 13.2 months (95% CI, 7.6-22.4) and 39.9 months (95% CI, 15.7-), respectively. The estimated overall survival with functional larynx at 3 years was 35.5% (95% CI, 20.9-53.4). The most common grade 3 or 4 adverse events during the treatment were lymphocytopenia (100%), mucositis (77%), pain (45%), hyponatremia (32%) and leukocytopenia (13%). Toxicities related to the kidney were minimal and no patients died due to the treatment. Conclusions: This CRT seems to be a very good option for patients with locally advanced unresectable head and neck carcinoma, with favorable survival data and acceptable toxicity. Disclosure: All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.


Making a web site usable is necessary for a web-page to be successful and for
users to be satisfied. Therefore, developing sites that are responsive to user
needs is critical for all site designers and managers. With the increasing growth
of e-learning and emphasis on higher education in our country, a good and
usable university web sites are required for this demand.
This project will focus at evaluating the usability characteristics of every first
page of our local universities. The concentration of this project is to identify
the proposed metrics and develop a prototype considering only the automated
usability characteristics based on the ISO 9126 standard. Therefore, a
prototype of 'U' tool is developed to serve this purpose


The perfect companion to Benchmarking for Competitive Advantage, this practical, hands-on, diagnostic guide gives you the 'how to' rather than the 'why?' of benchmarking. The Benchmarking Workout shows you how to implement a benchmarking programme and measure your company's performance in its business processes, quality processes and core competencies. Create an organization that your competitors have to benchmark against. Authors : Tony Bendell and Louise Boulter are both at Nottingham Trent University. Tony Bendell is East Midlands Electricity Professor of Quality Management and has written over 100 articles on quality and related management.


This study aims at presenting a numerical model for predicting grout flow and penetration length into the jointed rock mass using Universal Distinct Element Code (UDEC). The numerical model is validated using practical data and analytical method for grouting process. Input data for the modeling, including geomechanical parameters along with grout properties, were obtained from a case study. The effect of rock mass properties such as joint hydraulic aperture, spacing, trace length, orientation and grout properties as yield stress and water to cement, w/c ratio was considered on grout flow rate and penetration length. To illustrate the effect of aforementioned properties, models were constructed with dimensions of 40×20m. A vertical borehole with diameter of 60mm and 10m depth was drilled in a jointed rock media. The results were in a good agreement with analytical method. It was observed that by increasing joint hydraulic aperture, grouting flow increases using a power law function. The optimum grout penetration observed with joint sets intersection of 40°-60° as experienced in practice. With an increase in joint spacing grout penetration increases around borehole when spacing exceeds two meters it decreases, gradually.


This study aimed to isolate the G (+ve) and G(-ve) cocci from different clinical samples and study some virulence factors and virulence genes produced by them . In this study, (177) samples were collected from different clinical sources, including (49) blood samples, (43) urine samples, (30) pus swabs, (40) cervical swabs and (15) sputum samples from patients attending Ramadi Teaching Hospital for Maternity and Children, Ramadi Teaching Hospital in Ramadi in Al-Anbar province/Iraq during the period from 19/12/2018 to 12/5/2019, and (203) isolates were identified as Gram (+ve) and Gram (-ve) bacteria, then (166) Gram (+ve) and Gram (-ve) cocci were chosen as study samples. After diagnosis of the isolates, results of Gram staining showed that the highest number and percentage of Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria were from urine samples 48(28.9%) followed by blood samples 44(26.5%) then pus swab and cervical isolates 37(22.3%) and 23(13.9%) respectively, while the lowest number and percentage of isolates were from sputum 14(8.4%). Staphylococcus aureus showed the highest number and percentage of isolates 48(28.9%). For gram (-ve) cocci, only (10.4%) of Neisseria gonorrhea was isolated from urine samples and (14.2%) of Moraxella catarrhalis was isolated from sputum samples Regarding virulence factor production, the hemolysin producer isolates were the highest 103(62.04%), and results of hemolysin producing bacteria was S.aureus, S.hominis, S.haemolyticus, S.chromogenes, S.xylosu and S.warneri showed (100%) beta hemolysis, while only one isolate of the genus Micrococcus was beta-hemolytic all isolates of Streptococcus pyogenes and Streptococcus agalactiae showed (100%) beta hemolysis (β), whereas the isolates of Strept. pneumoniae, Aerococcus urinae and Aerococcus viridans showed (100%) partial or alpha (α) type hemolysis, and (8) isolates of E.faecalis showed complete hemolysis (β-haemolysis). All S. aureus isolates were (100%) gelatinase producers Kocuria kristinae was (100%) producer, all Strep. pyogenes, Strep. Agalactiae, Strep. Anginosus, Strep. Lc. lactis lactis and Strep.mitis isolates showed (100%) ability to produce this enzyme, The (24) isolates of the genus Enterococcus bacteria were (100%) able to produce the enzyme gelatinize, including (19) E.faecalis isolates and (5) E. faecium. As for the genus Gram (-ve) cocci, two isolates of Moraxella catarrhalis showed (100%) ability to produce the gelatinase enzyme. The number and percentage of urease enzyme producers were 49(29.51%), where 38(79.16%) of S.aureus isolates were able to produce it. Also, 3(17.64%) of S.hominis isolates were able to produce it, while only one isolate of S.lentus (20%) was able to produce it. Moreover, both S.xylosus and S.warneri isolates were (100%) urease-producers. From the total (166) isolates, 20(12.04%) isolates formed biofilms. E.faecalis bacteria was the most biofilm-producing isolate 9(47.36%), followed by S.aureus bacteria 3(6.25%) then European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine ISSN 2515-8260 Volume 07, Issue 09, 2020 536 S. lentus isolates (40%), while Kocuria rosea bacteria produced biofilm as 1(100%), Strep.pneumoniae and Strep.pyogenes produced as 1( 25%) for each isolate, and 1(50%) for Strep. anginosus isolate, whereas Strep.salivarius and Strep.mitis produced biofilm as 1(100%) isolate for each of them. Also (100%) of the virulence genes icaC, srtC, and Emm were detected in S.aureus, E.faecalis and Strep.pyogenes isolates, which produced strong, moderate and weak biofilm types by using the PCR technology.


Recent research has shown that adult attachment theory may be usefully applied to the organizational domain. Our aim in this study was to analyze the influence of attachment styles (secure, avoidant, and anxious) on employees' perceptions, attitudes, and intentions. Participants were nurses, working in a hospital in Italy. Models were tested in which the outcome variables were: turnover intentions, organizational citizenship behaviors, and burnout perceptions (exhaustion and cynicism). The mediational effect of affective organizational commitment was also evaluated. Results showed that attachment security was associated with lower levels of intentions to quit and lower levels of job burnout through the mediation of affective commitment. The secure style was also directly linked to helping behaviors in favor of supervisors and colleagues. Reliable relationships were also found for the avoidant style, which was associated with exhaustion and cynicism. The novelty of findings and usefulness of studying attachment in organizations are discussed.


Background: Reports on outcome after posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction often contain both isolated PCL and combined knee ligament injuries. This makes it difficult to conclude on the outcome after reconstruction of isolated PCL injuries. Purpose: To investigate the outcome after PCL reconstruction in patients with an isolated PCL injury and to compare this with the outcome of patients treated with reconstruction after isolated anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Seventy-one patients with an isolated PCL injury that was reconstructed surgically and who had registered in the Norwegian Knee Ligament Registry between 2004 and 2010 were included in this study. Patients with isolated ACL reconstructions (n = 9661) who had registered in the same period were included for comparison. Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) was used as the patient-reported outcome measure. Preoperative and 2-year postoperative KOOS scores were compared. Changes in KOOS score reported by the PCL patients were compared with changes reported by the ACL patients. Results: At the 2-year postoperative follow-up of the PCL-reconstructed patients, the patient-reported outcome was improved, measured by KOOS as follows: pain, 15.1 (95% CI, 8.5-21.8; P < .001); symptoms, 0.9 (95% CI, –6.6 to 8.3; P = .82); activities of daily living, 13.2 (95% CI, 6.6-13.9; P < .001); sports, 20.7 (95% CI, 11.8-29.4; P < .001); and quality of life, 26.6 (95% CI, 18.9-34.2; P < .001). According to the KOOS, the incremental improvements were similar for PCL and ACL patients. Time from injury to surgery was longer for the PCL patients compared with ACL patients (median, 21.5 vs 8.0 months; P < .001). Conclusion: Patients undergoing PCL reconstruction can expect the same improvements in KOOS score as patients undergoing ACL reconstruction. However, PCL patients start out with an inferior score on average and consequently end up at a lower score compared with ACL patients for all KOOS subscales.


There are numerous debates over the appropriate strategy now going on among the increasingly marginalized movements of the Filipino Left. The combined effects of political insignificance and deep internal disagreements are expressed in the increasing parochialization of left-wing discourse. Much passion has been invested in the fine doctrinal disagreements without addressing the contours of the larger reality - the huge structural, demographic, technological, and institutional changes sweeping the field of radical politics itself. As left wing forces become more preoccupied with disagreeing with each other, they lose touch of the larger constituencies and the broad social forces emerging in Philippine society today. More than the matter of strategy that preoccupies many Left-wing activists in the Philippines today, the crucial matter that ought to be addressed concerns the articulation of a progressive, credible social agenda for the future. This essay does not attempt to reach a resolution of the questions pertaining to the aforementioned that progressive and democratic movements in the Philippines and the rest of Southeast Asia must collectively deal with. At best, it attempts to construct these questions more adequately.


SUMMARY A pandemic influenza A(H1N1) 2009 outbreak in a summer school affected 117/276 (42%) students. Residential social contact was associated with risk of infection, and there was no evidence for transmission associated with the classroom setting. Although the summer school had new admissions each week, which provided susceptible students the outbreak was controlled using routine infection control measures (isolation of cases, basic hygiene measures and avoidance of particularly high-risk social events) and prompt treatment of cases. This was in the absence of chemoprophylaxis or vaccination and without altering the basic educational activities of the school. Modelling of the outbreak allowed estimation of the impact of interventions on transmission. These models and follow-up surveillance supported the effectiveness of routine infection control measures to stop the spread of influenza even in this high-risk setting for transmission.


This paper describes an improved concept for the mapping of tropical forest classes with ALOS AVNIR and ALOS PALSAR data. The improvement comes from a combination of a sample of very high resolution (VHR) satellite images with medium resolution wall-to-wall mapping in a statistical sampling framework. The approach developed makes it possible to obtain reliable information on mapping accuracy over the whole area of interest. A simulation study indicated that the sample of VHR images should be collected in a stratified manner using small (25 km) images. The VHR images should cover approximately one percent of the total area of interest, depending on the accuracy requirement. The recommended size of the reference plots (population units) that are selected within the VHR imagery is in the order of 50 m by 50 m. In a systematic selection the plots should be located at a distance of several hundred meters from each other. The forest variables were predicted with an unsupervised fuzzy classification method. The ALOS AVNIR-based forest/non-forest mapping accuracies varied between 68% and 97% of the areas of the VHR images. The corresponding ALOS PALSAR mapping accuracies were poorer. At AVNIR resolution, the area of natural forest was over-estimated, and the degree of disturbance underestimated in humid, heavily disturbed parts of the study area in Laos. The three predictions for the total forest fraction from VHR, AVNIR and PALSAR data over the area that was covered by the VHR images were 55.1%, 53.6%, and 52.8%, respectively.


The world has witnessed the creation of new democracies and the maturing of old ones. Yet, everywhere there is democracy, there is also political inequality. Voices of everyday folk struggle to be heard; often, they keep silent. Governments respond mostly to the influential and the already privileged. Our age of democracy, then, is the old age of inequality. This book builds on US scholarship on the topic of political inequality to understand its forms, causes and consequences around the world. Comprised of nine theoretical, methodological and empirical chapters, this path-creating edited collection contains original works by both established and young, up-and-coming social scientists, including those from Latin America, Eastern Europe, Greece and the US. Political Inequality in an Age of Democracy addresses the present and future of the concept of political inequality from multidisciplinary and cross-national perspectives.


A new type of complex tone that demonstrates pitch circularity is described. For such tones, the spectral envelope is trapezoidal on the coordinates of logarithmic frequency and logarithmic amplitude, and remains constant. The components of each tone form a major triad within each octave. The component frequencies were increased by steps of 1/10 octave from tone to tone, until the first tone was obtained again. According to our paired comparison experiments for pitch, which were analyzed using the multidimensional scaling technique, two kinds of pitch circularities appear. One group of subjects shows a pitch circularity corresponding to the exact spectral periodicity of an octave, and the other group a circularity corresponding to the roughly viewed spectral periodicity of 1/3 octave. The human ear seems to detect a global pitch movement when some spectral components move in the same direction by similar degrees on the logarithmic frequency dimension.


Although the Caribbean region relies heavily on its natural assets as sources of income, generally for tourism and in particular cases from agriculture and energy, environmental taxes in the region have been little studied. This paper therefore is intended to reflect the existing economic instruments in place for capturing the use (and abuse) of the regions environmental and natural resource assets to reflect the degree to which adopted actions have been effective. Data paucity has been highlighted as a major obstacle in permitting rigorous assessment; the report therefore draws on the available literature and experiences for guidelines. This final report presents an inventory of economic instruments with an emphasis on assessing the environmental taxes in seven Caribbean countries that are members of the Inter-American Development Bank: Belize, Bahamas, Barbados, Jamaica, Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.


Big data analysis has now become an integral part of many computational and statistical departments. Analysis of peta-byte scale of data is having an enhanced importance in the present day scenario. Big data manipulation is now considered as a key area of research in the field of data analytics and novel techniques are being evolved day by day. Thousands of transaction requests are being processed in every minute by different websites related to e-commerce, shopping carts and online banking. Here comes the need of network traffic and weblog analysis for which Hadoop comes as a suggested solution. It can efficiently process the Netflow data collected from routers, switches or even from website access logs at fixed intervals.


This book focuses on practical applications for using adult and embryonic stem cells in the pharmaceutical development process. It emphasizes new technologies to help overcome the bottlenecks in developing stem cells as therapeutic agents. A key reference for professionals working in stem cell science, it presents the general principles and methodologies in stem cell research and covers topics such as derivitization and characterization of stem cells, stem cell culture and maintenance, stem cell engineering, applications of high-throughput screening, and stem cell genetic modification with their use for drug delivery.


A model is described for positioning cones in the retina. Each cone has a circular disk of influence, and the disks are tightly packed outward from the center. This model has three parameters that can vary with eccentricity: the mean radius of the cone disk, the standard deviation of the cone disk radius, and the standard deviation of postpacking jitter. Estimates for these parameters out to 1.6 deg are found by using measurements reported by Hirsch and Hylton [Vision Res. 24, 347 (1985)] and Hirsch and Miller [J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 4, 1481 (1987)] of the positions of the cone inner segments of an adult macaque. The estimation is based on fitting measures of variation in local intercone distances, and the fit to these measures is good.


The role of nurses is to become a leader in their communities. One way to demonstrate their leadership is to organize prevention programs to improve the quality of life for Hispanic Americans. The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) diagnosed in Hispanic Americans is reported to be 12.1%, compared to 7.4% in non-Hispanic Caucasian Americans. This study was a non-experimental, educational intervention using pre- and post-test design held at a county health department. Following the educational intervention, a paired sample t-test showed overall positive acquisition of knowledge (p=0.038). From time 1 to time 2, gains were seen in knowledge about purchasing diabetic foods; importance of weight control; eating a high protein/low carb diet with fiber; impacts on kidneys, eyes, and sexual function; importance of regular check-ups with a healthcare provider; potential for stroke or other complications; and understanding risks for children developing diabetes whose parents are diabetic. Losses were seen in understanding the cause of diabetes, importance of physical activity, food preparation, and specific foods to eat. We recommend a personalized education intervention for Hispanic Americans understanding their own DM risks and modifiable behaviors.


This chapter describes the main impact evaluation methods, both experimental and quasi-experimental, and the statistical model underlying them. Some of the most important methodological advances to have recently been put forward in this field of research are presented. We focus not only on the need to pay particular attention to the accuracy of the estimated effects, but also on the requirement to replicate assessments, carried out by experimentation or quasi-experimentation, in order to distinguish false positives from proven effects.


Abstract The fabric of sedimentary rocks in lacustrine archives usually contains long and continuous proxy records of biological, chemical and physical parameters that can be used to study past environmental and climatic variability. Here we propose an innovative approach to sedimentary facies analysis based on a coupled geomicrobiological and sedimentological study using high-resolution microscopic techniques in combination with mineralogical analyses. We test the applicability of this approach on Lake Son Kul, a high alpine lake in central Tien Shan (Kyrgyzstan) by looking at the mineral fabric and microbial communities observed down to the nanoscale. The characterization of microbe–mineral interactions allows the origin of four carbonate minerals (e.g. aragonite, dolomite, Mg-calcite, calcite) to be determined as primary or diagenetic phases in Lake Son Kul. Aragonite was mainly of primary origin and is driven by biological activity in the epilimnion, whereas diagenetic minerals such as Mg-calcite, calcite, dolomite and pyrite were triggered by bacterial sulphate reduction and possibly by methanotrophic archaea. A new morphotype of aragonite (i.e. spherulite-like precursor) occurs in Unit IV (c. 7100–5000 cal. BP) associated with microbial mat structures. The latter enhanced the preservation of viral relics, which have not yet been reported in Holocene lacustrine sediments. This study advocates that microbe–mineral interactions screened down to the nanoscale (e.g. virus-like particles) can be used successfully for a comprehensive description of the fabric of laminated lake sediments. In this sense, they complement traditional facies sedimentology tools and offer valuable new insights into: (1) the study of microbial and viral biosignatures in Quaternary sediments; and (2) palaeoenvironmental reconstructions.


This review summarizes mutagenesis studies, emphasizing the use of bacteriophage T4 mutator and antimutator strains. Early genetic studies on T4 identified mutator and antimutator variants of DNA polymerase that, in turn, stimulated the development of model systems for the study of DNA polymerase fidelity in vitro. Later enzymatic studies using purified T4 mutator and antimutator polymerases were essential in elucidating mechanisms of base selection and exonuclease proofreading. In both cases, the base analogue 2-aminopurine (2AP) proved tremendously useful-first as a mutagen in vivo and then as a probe of DNA polymerase fidelity in vitro. Investigations into mechanisms of DNA polymerase fidelity inspired theoretical models that, in turn, called for kinetic and thermodynamic analyses. Thus, the field of DNA synthesis fidelity has grown from many directions: genetics, enzymology, kinetics, physical biochemistry, and thermodynamics, and today the interplay continues. The relative contributions of hydrogen bonding and base stacking to the accuracy of DNA synthesis are beginning to be deciphered. For the future, the main challenges lie in understanding the origins of mutational hot and cold spots.


Understanding the trophic interactions and the position of species within a foodweb is crucial if we want to understand the dynamics of marine communities and the impact individual components of the community have on trophic network compartments. Recent studies have indicated sharks and rays are important elements within foodwebs. In this study, we evaluated the ecological importance of sharks and rays in a subtropical ecosystem off the coast of southern Brazil by using topological analyses. We tested the hypotheses that some elasmobranchs can be considered key elements within the foodweb, and that large predators have topological importance (act as keystones), so that, when large predators are excluded, mesopredator elasmobranchs occupy higher topological positions. Our results indicate that Galeocerdo cuvier, Carcharhinus obscurus, Carcharias taurus, Sphyrna lewini and S. zygaena are species with large ecological function values and may exert a powerful influence over lower levels. These issues need to be considered by conservation and fishery management groups since it appears that ecosystem integrity may be compromised by reductions in the populations of large predators. Carcharhinus obscurus, S. zygaena and Zapteryx brevirostris were found to be the elasmobranchs with largest values of centrality, and can, therefore, be considered key elements in the topological structure.


The Earth's magnetic field is assumed to be a geocentric axial dipole (GAD) when averaged over sufficient time (105–106 years). Recent investigations of global paleosecular variation and time-averaged field behavior on million year timescales generally support a predominantly dipole field in the Northern Hemisphere, but unique field structures at high southern latitudes suggest the presence of a substantial ḡ2 quadrupolar component. Average paleointensity results from Antarctica are approximately half the value predicted by a GAD field; this behavior has not been sufficiently investigated because there is a paucity of absolute paleointensity data from the high latitudes of the Arctic and Antarctic, so no adequate comparisons have been made between the two regions. We collected glassy volcanic material from 129 subaerial and subglacial volcanic units in Iceland in order to provide a suitable intensity data set at high northern latitudes. Forty-four sites met our very strict specimen and site level selection criteria. Four Holocene sites have a median intensity value of 55.8 ± 15.6 μT (virtual axial dipole moment = 78.1±22.0 ZAm2), consistent with the present-day field. Thirty-seven sites are between 11 ka and 3.35 Ma with a median intensity of 33.1 ± 8.3 μT (47.0 ± 11.6 ZAm2). This median intensity is indistinguishable from some long-term global field strength estimates. Reevaluation of existing high-latitude data suggests a general agreement with our Iceland results, but there are still too few Antarctic sites to adequately compare Arctic and Antarctic field behaviors.


For Africans who survived the trans-Atlantic journey and were forced to disembark at one of the many ports along the coast of Britain's North American colonies, what lay before them was indeed a strange new land. Although forms of bondage had existed in West and Central Africa long before the trans Atlantic slave trade began, human beings were rarely the main commodity at the marketplace. Here in the modern world, the enslaved African was inspected, assessed, auctioned, bought, sold, bartered, and treated in any manner the owner saw fit. Slaves did not always cooperate. They fought and ran away, or made the business of commercial farming more difficult by not working efficiently. In spite of their condition and despite different ethnic backgrounds and languages, enslaved Africans forged a strong sense of community. The Africans learned the English language and made it their own. They learned Christianity and transformed it. Others held fast to Islam or combined their own spiritual beliefs with the faith of their masters. And all around them they heard talk of liberty and freedom, of the rights of man. Not surprisingly, many enslaved Africans embraced the idea of liberty as a fundamental right, and some even petitioned colonial administrators, insisting on that right. But the majority simply stole themselves and headed to Northern cities where slavery was less visible and where they might blend in more easily. Strange New Land explores the history of slavery and the struggle for freedom before the United States became a nation. Beginning with the colonization of North America, it documents the transformation of slavery from a brutal form of indentured servitude to a full-blown system of racial domination. More importantly, it surveys black social and cultural life, illustrating just how such a diverse group of people from the shores and hinterlands of West and Central Africa became a community in North America that survives and flourishes today.


Microinjection of purified simian virus 40 large-T-antigen protein or DNA encoding T antigen into serum-starved cells stimulates them to re-enter the cell cycle and progress through G1 into the S phase. Genetic analysis of T antigen indicated that neither its Rb/p107-binding activity nor its p53-binding activity is essential to induce DNA synthesis in CV1P cells. However, T antigens bearing missense mutations that inactivate either activity induced slower progression of the cells into the S phase than did wild-type T antigen. Inactivation of both activities resulted in a T antigen essentially unable to induce DNA synthesis. Missense mutations in either the DNA-binding region of the N terminus also impaired the ability of full-length T antigen to stimulate DNA synthesis in CV1P cells. The wild-type kinetics of cell cycle progression were restored by genetic complementation after coinjection of plasmid DNAs encoding different mutant T antigens or coinjection of purified mutant T-antigen proteins, suggesting that the four mitogenic functions of T antigen are independent. The maximal rate of induction of DNA synthesis in secondary primate cells and established rodent cell lines required the same four functions of T antigen. A model to explain how four independent activities could cooperate to stimulate cell cycle progression is presented.


Due to shared conceptions of the degeneracy of the modern era and a common distrust of mainstream narratives, New Age and conspiratorial milieus have often cross-fertilized. Conspiracy narratives can provide accounts of the types of corruption to be remedied by the advent of the next world age, and prophetic narratives of a new age can provide a teleological focus for the eventual success or defeat of the conspiracy. New Age interest in the millenarian significance of the Maya Long Count calendar took hold in the 1970s as an array of expectations for an approaching golden age around the year 2012. As such expectations became a more well-established commodity in countercultural circles, the associated dates were eventually incorporated into a variety of conspiracy narratives. Each innovator of 2012 conspiracism adapted this dating scheme into his or her own context in a manner that is exemplary of the improvisational style that Michael Barkun noticed to be prevalent in contemporary American conspiracy discourse; "2012" became utilized as a teleological trope which could be incorporated wherever such a temporal focus was desired.


Elderly population in India is at a disadvantageous position in comparison to other countries in matters of dedicated health facilities, health insurance, and geriatric specialist. Health issues of the elderly can be summarized as geriatric syndromes, cognitive decline, immobility, falls, and incontinence. These peculiar health characteristics of old age population can be better dealt with home health care, which is of recent origin in India and is limited to only metro cities in the private sector. Whereas home health care in the USA is present from over a century, in Europe it is present in most of the countries. This study presents the status of existing private home health care industry of India and advocates about the benefits of home health care for the elderly and supports that Indian policymaking bodies should incorporate home health care in its policy for improving access and quality of health care to elderly population.


Introduction Throughout its history, the United States has been a land of immense opportunities. For many, it is only a dream to live in a country where opportunity is just around the corner. While many individuals achieve their dream of living in the land of the free, some of them reside in the U.S. illegally. They secretly migrate to and reside in the United States, and American citizens are held liable for all of their shortcomings. The United States is a country of seemingly limitless prospects and possibilities, but there must be rules to ensure order and prosperity. To accomplish this, the federal government, in 1952, established the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The act, which has been amended many times since then, still serves as the basic framework for U.S. immigration law. In general, it provides a single comprehensive statue which governs immigration and naturalization policy in the United States. (1) There was very little opposition to the INA at the time of its adoption, but supporters of the act, both Democrats and Republicans, favored it for different reasons. (2) For Democrats, it made all races eligible for naturalization, thus eliminating race as a bar to immigration. They also supported the law because it eliminated discrimination between sexes with respect to immigration, afforded greater procedural safeguards to aliens subject to deportation, broadened the grounds for exclusion and deportation of aliens, and provided equal opportunities for immigrants in America? Many Republicans supported the law because it revised the quota system of the National Origins Act of 1924 and introduced a system of selected immigration by giving a quota preference to skilled aliens whose services were urgently needed in the United States, and to relatives of U.S. citizens and aliens. It also outlined procedures for adjusting the status of nonimmigrant aliens to permanent resident aliens, added significantly to the existing classes of nonimmigrant admission, and established a central index of all aliens in the United States for use by security and law enforcement agencies. (4) Unfortunately, this act and the "amnesties" for illegal immigrants were adopted partly because of the sheer number of "unauthorized" immigrants that continue to migrate into the United States. Today, there are over a million "illegal" immigrants who reap the benefits of free education, employment opportunities, and, most importantly, healthcare. Americans should not have to continue to suffer the impact of illegal immigrants' "extended vacations" in the United States. Amnesties: Encouraging Illegal Immigration Congress has adopted a series of amnesties that make it possible for illegal immigrants to live in America permanently. Such laws have helped to establish a system of federal rewards and aid for illegal immigrants, thus attracting even more aliens to the United States. According to the United States Census Bureau, 700,000 to 800,000 illegal immigrants settle in the United States annually; an estimated eight to eleven million illegal aliens currently reside in the country. In 2000, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) reported that the amnesties granted in 1986, a direct result of the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA), has contributed significantly to the increase in illegal immigration as immigrants enter the U.S. to join their newly legalized relatives. (5) Since the mid-1990s, IRCA has contributed to the adoption of several immigration amnesty laws. The first, Section 245(i) Amnesty of 1994, offers a de facto amnesty to two major groups of illegal aliens: (1) Those who entered the country illegally; and, (2) those who entered it legally through visas, but then violated the terms of their visa. The next law, Section 245(i) Extension Amnesty of 1997, was signed by President Bill Clinton twice as continuing resolutions to extend the September 30, 1997 expiration date of Section 245(i) through November 7, 1997. …


Historical district is an important element of city image content. Among the visual
elements of a historical district, the building facade is an important element in
representing the architectural features. Building facade is mostly the matter of
evaluation to portray the visual characteristics of an environment. Therefore, giving
attention and imposing sensitivity to the evaluation of building facades in a historical
district directly influence the historical images.
A historical area adjacent to Dataran Merdeka, located in Kuala Lumpur city, was
chosen as the study area. The issue is focussed on the lack of harmony among the
shapes, colours, decorations, and architectural styles of the historical building facades
which have influenced the historical images in the study area. This inconsistency is in
contrast with the Kuala Lumpur Structure Plan 2020 visions, which emphasizes on creating strong images for all the districts in Kuala Lumpur city. Thus, to deal with
the stated issue, the main objective of the study was to investigate the building
facades which represented the historical images of the study area based on the
public's evaluation. The second objective was to investigate the architectural
elements and characteristics which influence the public's evaluation of the historical
images of the building facades in the study area. The third objective was to identify
the visual elements which influence the historical images of the building facades in
the study area based on the public's evaluation. Finally, the research tried to explore
the urban elements which influence the historical images of the building facades in
the study area based on the public's evaluation.
A quantitative method was used to achieve the objectives of the study. In this line, a
questionnaire-based survey was chosen as a data collection instrument. The research
participants chosen were visitors who are familiar with the area, and willing to
answer the questions. Data analysis was carried out using both the content analysis
and inferential analysis.
The results suggested that the facades, with the highest mean scores, were considered
as strongly representing the historical images and these include harmonious arches,
columns, pilasters, ornament, and bright-coloured materials. Cleanliness, the use of
appropriately architectural details, legibility, coherence, and the harmonious
repetition of the elements were identified as the other factors which also improved the
historical images of the facades. Moreover, the results also denoted the architectural style, colour, shape and material of the facades as the architectural elements, and the
harmony between historical and modern buildings and street furniture as urban
elements which influenced the evaluations of the historical building facade images.
The findings of the study assist urban designers and planners to consider the
importance of people's evaluation of historical building facades.


Background and Purpose: Retirement is an important event in nurses' life. Preparation and planning are the essential necessities before nurses get retired. Healthcare leaders play an important role in preparing nurses for retirement. This study aims to explore the process by which nurses were prepared for retirem ent. Methods: The theory development method according to Walker and Avant was used to derive a model from the reviewed literature. Based on Walker and Avant's (2005) three-step method, retirement planning for the nurses has been conducted. The first step is to identify the key concepts for manufacturing and processing the theoretical basis, The second stage, the literature review is done to identify the factors related to the focal concepts and the nature of the framework's concept. In third stage of theory, the concepts and statements are organized generally concerning the study phenomenon. Results: Four categories were identified influencing nurses' preparation for retirement: "enjoying appropriate education", "prevention from financial strait", "appropri ate work conditions before retirement", and "reduced negative interactions". Conclusion: Prepare for retirement induced transfer to successful retirement. Understanding these factors can be used to aid nursing leaders to prepare nurses for retirement.


A revision of field data and new biostratigraphic analyses have highlighted that the lowest part of the Poggio Carnaio Sandstone Fm consists of greyish marls, formerly attributed to the Antognola Marl Fm, and that calcareous nannofossil assemblages from these marls as well as from the overlying turbiditic sandstones are characterized by some taxa first occurring in Tortonian. Moreover, the occurrence of Discoaster cf. berggrenii could suggest an age not older than late Tortonian for the studied succession. The Poggio Carnaio Sandstone Fm, therefore, from its base is not older than Tortonian and constitutes a thrust-top basin unconformable succession, deposited on sub-ligurian units.


While engineers and their patrons have always claimed that technology has advanced the common good, I intend to show that more often than not engineers have been mercenaries for those at the center of knowledge, power, and wealth. Engineers design technology that marginalizes certain types of knowledge, people, and culture in favor of those at the center. Far from being a common good, engineered systems have advanced social and environmental inequity by being designed using exploitative social, political, and economic methods. In response to the negative impacts of engineered systems, the mainstream engineering profession has committed in recent years to being much more socially and environmentally responsible. However, the discourse of responsibility adopted by the profession is narrow in scope as it does not recognize the context and process in which technology is designed. Seeking a different way, some engineering reformers are attempting to create different cultures in engineering, in which the technology designed by engineers not only minimizes damage but seeks to create more equity in our communities. These new cultures have been articulated as Humanitarian Engineering or Peace Engineering or Social Justice and Engineering. A key component of these cultures is the concern for the needs of the marginalized whether in communities far away i or close to us. While much has already been written about changing the education curriculum, little has been written about how engineers may design technology that values and advances knowledge, people, and culture at the margins. This thesis will theorize as to how engineers may design technology in a socially just manner by articulating an engineering design theory based on power and resistance. This design theory is then validated through discourse analysis of a contentious engineering project, the Site 41 landfill in northern Ontario. I show through the analysis of engineering design discourse at Site 41 that dominant power relations created structures of oppression that marginalized non-experts, Aboriginal communities, and the environment. Alternative design methods that resist these oppressive structures such as participatory, ecofeminist, deep ecological, and decolonized design are proposed as a way for engineers to have worked more justly at Site 41.


Genome Relationship Applied to Virus Taxonomy (GRAViTy) is a genetics-based tool that computes sequence relatedness between viruses. Composite generalized Jaccard (CGJ) distances combine measures of homology between encoded viral genes and similarities in genome organizational features (gene orders and orientations). This scoring framework effectively recapitulates the current, largely morphology and phenotypic-based, family-level classification of eukaryotic viruses. Eukaryotic virus families typically formed monophyletic groups with consistent CGJ distance cut-off dividing between and within family divergence ranges. In the current study, a parallel analysis of prokaryotic virus families revealed quite different sequence relationships, particularly those of tailed phage families (Siphoviridae, Myoviridae and Podoviridae), where members of the same family were generally far more divergent and often not detectably homologous to each other. Analysis of the 20 currently classified prokaryotic virus families indeed split them into 70 separate clusters of tailed phages genetically equivalent to family-level assignments of eukaryotic viruses. It further divided several bacterial (Sphaerolipoviridae, Tectiviridae) and archaeal (Lipothrixviridae) families. We also found that the subfamily-level groupings of tailed phages were generally more consistent with the family assignments of eukaryotic viruses, and this supports ongoing reclassifications, including Spounavirinae and Vi1virus taxa as new virus families. The current study applied a common benchmark with which to compare taxonomies of eukaryotic and prokaryotic viruses. The findings support the planned shift away from traditional morphology-based classifications of prokaryotic viruses towards a genome-based taxonomy. They demonstrate the feasibility of a unified taxonomy of viruses into which the vast body of metagenomic viral sequences may be consistently assigned.


Abstract: Ammonoid soft tissues are rarely preserved and such findings are of considerable interest. Extremely little is known about the structure of ammonoid siphuncle soft-parts. Until now indisputable fossilized siphuncle soft tissues were known only in a few ammonoid genera. This article describes phosphatized soft tissues inside the siphuncle tubes of the Upper Jurassic (upper Volgian) ammonite Kachpurites fulgens from Central Russia. Cross-sectional views of several Kachpurites siphuncles show a large blood vessel in the center surrounded by four smaller ones. In several specimens, the siphuncle epithelium is preserved. The size and arrangement of the blood vessels in Kachpurites is nearly identical to previously described blood vessels in the siphuncles of Recent Nautilus and the Permian prolecanitid ammonoid Akmilleria electraensis. This similarity indicates a remarkable conservatism of ammonoid siphuncles and provides grounds for the assumption that the last common ancestors of Ammonoidea and Nautilida also had the same structure of the siphuncle soft tissues.


This study investigated the potential of sawdust as a bio-adsorbent for the removal of different classes of antibiotics. Representatives of carbapenems (i.e. meropenem) and fluoroquinolones (i.e. ofloxacin) antibiotics were selected for the study, based on a priority list recently compiled by the World Health Organisation. The levels of contamination similar to those reported for polluted sites were simulated by dispersing antibiotics in water at room temperature. UV/Vis spectroscopy was deployed to determine the concentration of antibiotics in water. Sawdust was washed, dried and conditioned, before undergoing physio-chemical pre-treatments with different aqueous solutions of inorganic salts, acids and base to produce a modified form. Batch experiments were set-up for the adsorption studies of the antibiotics using both unmodified and modified forms of sawdust. Parameters such as contact time of sawdust with adsorbates and pH level of adsorbate solutions were also investigated to optimise the water treatment processes. It was found that both unmodified and modified sawdust adsorbents are capable to reduce the concentration of the antibiotics dispersed in water by more than 30%. Modified sawdust was characterised by greater uptake of meropenem and ofloxacin than unmodified sawdust. This may be attributed to the improved accessibility of functional groups in modified sawdust. Sawdust pre-treated with an acid was the most effective in adsorbing both antibiotics. The optimum contact times between the adsorbent and adsorbates were found to be 18 hrs for meropenem and 6 hrs for ofloxacin. The adsorption of meropenem and ofloxacin was found to be favourable in acidic condition of adsorbates. The surface charge of the sawdust and the electrostatic force between the adsorbent and the antibiotics in acidic condition may be responsible for the adsorption efficiency. These preliminary results indicate that sawdust potentially can serve as an alternative bio-adsorbent suitable for removing different classes of antibiotics from contaminated water.


The short-term, dose-response effects of methylphenidate hydrochloride were evaluated on academic and social classroom measures in 29 children with attention deficit disorder. In a double-blind, cross-over design with order randomized, children received a placebo for two weeks and three doses of methylphenidate hydrochloride (0.15 mg/kg, 0.3 mg/kg, and 0.6 mg/kg) for one week each. Dependent measures included the output and accuracy of performance in grade-appropriate reading comprehension workbooks and arithmetic problems, spelling word acquisition, and observations of disruptive and on-task behavior. Beneficial drug effects and linear dose-response curves on all dependent measures were found. The results suggest that beneficial methylphenidate effects on classroom behavior may be accompanied by enhanced academic achievement in some hyperactive children.


The design of porthole dies for aluminum extrusion processes is very complex. For the accurate design, fundamental knowledge about material flow is of major importance. To gain these information, numerical methods are increasingly utilized. The accuracy of the simulation results depends mainly on the precision of the used boundary conditions in the model. Therefore, visioplastic analyses of the material flow inside a porthole die are presented in this paper. A special modular tool concept was developed to prepare and visualize the material flow inside the process. The results of the experimental analysis were used for the verification of numerical results which were calculated with the commercial software codes Deform3D and HyperXtrude.


In terms of flood hazard, the presence of large wood (logs, trees, branches and roots) in rivers may aggravate the consequences of flood events. This material may affect infrastructures such as bridges, weirs, etc., especially those intersecting forested mountain rivers. Until recently, a widely accepted practice was to systematically remove wood debris from river channels as a preventive measure. However, studies have shown that this practice may be useless as the material is transported and deposited after each flood and may even not benefit the long term natural balance of the river ecosystem. Therefore, the presence of this woody material in rivers must be managed and included in flood hazard and risk analysis. In this paper we present a comprehensive methodological approach to study the role of large wood in rivers, with a focus on flood hazard. First, to understand the dynamics of wood recruitment, the contributing areas delivering wood to the streams have to be delineated and the recruitment mechanisms studied. Thus, an estimate can be obtained of the potential volume of deliverable wood. To analyse wood transport we present a numerical model, which allows simulates the behaviour of individual pieces of wood together with hydrodynamics. Finally, we analyse the impact of wood on the magnitude of flood events (in terms of water level, flow velocity or flooded areas), using as an example a flood which occurred in December 1997 in the Sierra de Gredos. The results allowed us to reproduce the wood deposit patterns during the event and to reconstruct the bridge blockage. This caused the upstream water level to rise by up to 2 meters and reduced the flow velocity, which favoured debris and sediment deposits. Consequently, the effects of flooding were equivalent to those of a greater magnitude event. This increase in the flood hazard has been numerically quantified.


Summary In a cross-sectional study, 31 dementia caregivers were compared to a group of 25 noncaregiving controls to evaluate whether the stress of being the primary caregiver of a person with dementia produces cognitive dysfunction. Cognitive differences were examined to evaluate the relationships between cognitive function and stress-related physiological and psychological measures to contribute information regarding its potential mechanism. The cognitive assessments were 2 measures of attention-executive function and 1 word list memory task. Physiological and self-rated stress-related measurements included cortisol, perceived stress, depression, self-efficacy, mindfulness, sleep quality, fatigue, and neuroticism. Caregivers performed worse than noncaregivers on the 2 attention tasks but not on the word list memory test. There was no interaction of caregiver status and age on cognitive performance. The caregivers and noncaregivers differed in morning salivary cortisol and most of the self-rated stress-related measures with the caregiver values reflecting greater stress. Of note, impaired sleep was the only potential mediator of the caregiver effect on cognitive performance in our small sample.


ABSTRACT India's National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), in the last 15 years, has evolved as the world's largest employer of the last resort. This social protection, specifically designed as a demand-driven automatic employment stabiliser to enable households to cope with livelihood shocks, offers 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in a financial year to all rural households. The budget for this unique legislative entitlement in a developing country was nearly doubled from US$8 billion in 2019–20 to $15 billion in 2020–21 to partially offset the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns. After the first pandemic wave, NREGA provided employment to 76 million households – more than a third of all rural Indian families. Even though women have consistently worked more than half the NREGA person-days annually, in the midst of the pandemic women's share of employment declined by 2 per cent in 2020–21. However, this may have been a temporary decrease due to the unprecedented mass reverse exodus of urban migrants to their rural villages. Still, state-level analysis in this research highlights the persistent under-utilisation of NREGA by women in the poorer states of the Indo-Gangetic plain. On the other hand, the southern states have higher participation of women due to a combination of factors including better human development outcomes, higher wages, and sometimes better child-care facilities at worksites, which are necessary nationwide remedies. In particular, in the state of Kerala the novel integration of the government-initiated Kudumbashree community self-help women's groups with NREGA has led to the feminisation of the programme. This convergence provides important insights on the significance of women's participation in the decentralised management of NREGA to dilute both gender-intensive and gender-exclusive barriers, which could be fruitfully replicated nationwide.


ABSTRACT Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) causes adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma and is associated with a variety of immune-mediated disorders. The role of four open reading frames (ORFs), located between env and the 3′ long terminal repeat of HTLV-1, in mediating disease is not entirely clear. By differential splicing, ORF II encodes two proteins, p13II and p30II, both of which have not been functionally defined. p13II localizes to mitochondria and may alter the configuration of the tubular network of this cellular organelle. p30II localizes to the nucleolus and shares homology with the transcription factors Oct-1 and -2, Pit-1, and POU-M1. Both p13II and p30II are dispensable for infection and immortalization of primary human and rabbit lymphocytes in vitro. To test the role of ORF II gene products in vivo, we inoculated rabbits with lethally irradiated cell lines expressing the wild-type molecular clone of HTLV-1 (ACH.1) or a clone containing selected mutations in ORF II (ACH.30/13.1). ACH.1-inoculated animals maintained higher HTLV-1-specific antibody titers than animals inoculated with ACH.30/13.1. Viral p19 antigen was transiently detected in ex vivo cultures of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from only two ACH.30/13.1-inoculated rabbits, while PBMC cultures from all ACH.1-inoculated rabbits routinely produced p19 antigen. In only three of six animals exposed to the ACH.p30II/p13IIclone could provirus be consistently PCR amplified from extracted PBMC DNA and quantitative competitive PCR showed the proviral loads in PBMC from ACH.p30II/p13II-infected rabbits to be dramatically lower than the proviral loads in rabbits exposed to ACH. Our data indicate selected mutations in pX ORF II diminish the ability of HTLV-1 to maintain high viral loads in vivo and suggest an important function for p13II and p30II in viral pathogenesis.


The 2004 election has been interpreted as a resounding victory for conservative values. Was it in fact a mandate? The present analysis examines recent electoral outcomes and the 2004 election with particular reference to economic and political fundamentals. It compares the results of the 2004 election with predictions using voting models. Additionally, it identifies the trends for different socioeconomic groups. It concludes that the Republican incumbent candidate in 2004 did significantly worse than would be predicted based on economic and political variables such as incumbency and economic performance.


Social protection has become a more important part of social service delivery in Tanzania over the last couple of decades. This paper analyses the politics behind the making and implementation of the Productive Social Safety Nets (PSSN), a cash transfer scheme that became part of a broader, existing scheme aimed at poverty reduction and rural development, TASAF I-III. We trace the interrelationship between the domestic policy process and the shifting influence of transnational ideas. We argue that the introduction of TASAF and later PSSN was strongly influenced by international trends, driven by a policy coalition of bureaucrats and development partners, but that it was sanctioned by the country's political elites, who at times used the programmes for electoral purposes. This happened for instance by influencing the scale and speed of PSSN's implementation prior to the national elections in 2015, despite a tradition of scepticism towards cash transfers within the ruling CCM party. Recently, President John Magufuli's more productivist ethos, emphasising the importance of work, poses a threat to the programmes' continuation. This may also reduce the targeting of the poorest of the poor, which constitutes a major element of PSSN as we know it.


Chronic high surface ozone (O_3) levels and the increasing sulfur oxides (SO_x = SO_2 + SO_4) ambient concentrations over South Coast (SC) and other areas of California (CA) are affected by both local emissions and long-range transport. In this paper, multi-scale tracer, full-chemistry and adjoint simulations using the STEM atmospheric chemistry model are conducted to assess the contribution of local emission sourcesto SC O_3 and to evaluate the impacts of transported sulfur and local emissions on the SC sulfur budgetduring the ARCTAS-CARB experiment period in 2008. Sensitivity simulations quantify contributions of biogenic and fire emissions to SC O_3 levels. California biogenic and fire emissions contribute 3–4 ppb to near-surface O_3 over SC, with larger contributions to other regions in CA. During a long-range transport event from Asia starting from 22 June, high SO_x levels (up to ~0.7 ppb of SO_2 and ~1.3 ppb of SO_4) is observed above ~6 km, but they did not affect CA surface air quality. The elevated SO_x observed at 1–4 km is estimated to enhance surface SO_x over SC by ~0.25 ppb (upper limit) on ~24 June. The near-surface SO_x levels over SC during the flight week are attributed mostly to local emissions. Two anthropogenic SO_x emission inventories (EIs) from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are compared and applied in 60 km and 12 km chemical transport simulations, and the results are compared withobservations. The CARB EI shows improvements over the National Emission Inventory (NEI) by EPA, but generally underestimates surface SC SO_x by about a factor of two. Adjoint sensitivity analysis indicated that SO_2 levels at 00:00 UTC (17:00 local time) at six SC surface sites were influenced by previous day maritime emissions over the ocean, the terrestrial emissions over nearby urban areas, and by transported SO_2 from the north through both terrestrial and maritime areas. Overall maritime emissions contribute 10–70% of SO2 and 20–60% fine SO_4 on-shore and over the most terrestrial areas, with contributions decreasing with in-land distance from the coast. Maritime emissions also modify the photochemical environment, shifting O_3 production over coastal SC to more VOC-limited conditions. These suggest an important role for shipping emission controls in reducing fine particle and O_3 concentrations in SC.


Although using image strip sum, an orthogonal Haar transform (OHT) pattern matching algorithm may have good performance, it requires three subtractions to calculate each Haar projection value on the sliding windows. By establishing a solid mathematical foundation for OHT, this paper based on the concept of image square sum, proposes a novel fast orthogonal Haar transform (FOHT) pattern matching algorithm, from which a Haar projection value can be obtained by only one subtraction. Thus, higher speed-ups can be achieved, while producing the same results with the full search pattern matching. A large number of experiments show that the speed-ups of FOHT are very competitive with OHT in most cases of matching one single pattern, and generally higher than OHT in all cases of matching multiple patterns, exceeding other high-level full search equivalent algorithms.


Near-field scanning can achieve nanoscale resolution while ultrashort pulse diagnostic tools can characterize femtosecond pulses. Yet currently it is still challenging to nonperturbatively characterize the near field of an ultrashort optical pulse with nanofemtoscale spatiotemporal resolution. To address this challenge, we propose to develop a nonlinear nanoprobe composed of a silica fiber taper, a nanowire, and nonlinear fluorescent spheres. Using such a nanoprobe, we also report proof-of-principle characterization of femtosecond optical pulse through interferometric autocorrelation measurement.


ESSAYS ON TWO IMPLICATIONS OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT (ACA) by Esmaeil Salem The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2016 Under the Supervision of Professor Scott J. Adams The main objective of my dissertation is to investigate some of the causal effects of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on U.S. healthcare system. After an overview about some of the new provisions enacted by the ACA and their components and timelines, effects of the ACA on immunization coverage for children under age of three and its impact on retention of the insureds receiving newly established rebates would be assessed. Chapter 2 evaluates changes in the up-to-date status of the nine vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for children aged 19 to 35 months following new provisions of the ACA that aimed to boost the coverage of the preventive services. By using a Difference-in-Difference identification strategy, I found that the ACA has significantly increased the number of up-to-date vaccines. In particular, it has boosted the up-to-date status for DTaP, Hepatitis A, and Varicella vaccines, especially for the states without universal or universal select programs prior to the ACA. While results show that families with lower income have utilized more benefits in the case of Varicella vaccine, parents with higher income and education have utilized more benefits in the case of the Hepatitis A vaccine. Also, the ACA has been more successful for Varicella vaccine in the states where non-religious exemptions were not permitted by law. Although the ACA might have been effective for these immunizations through eliminating the financial doubts for delays or refusals, since concerns about effectiveness and side effects of the vaccination have been reported as more important barriers, significant increases in the coverage should be seen as indirect information perceived by parents to address some of their non-price concerns. Chapter 3 investigates the changes in insureds' retention rates once new rebate regulations under the ACA came into effect in 2011. By new provisions, if insurer does not spend at least 80% of the premiums collected from Individual Medical (IM) policies on claims and healthcare quality improvements, the left over should be returned to the insureds in form of the rebate. According to the literature, subjective value of the windfalls –like this rebate– could be different depending on how the recipient looks at the windfall. A rebate or returned wealth has a higher subjective value for the recipient than a bonus, and will more likely work as forced savings that convinces insured to stay with current insurer. Private insurance data used in the study shows that rebates have actually worked as a conventional rebate rather than a bonus, and have significantly discouraged insureds from lapsing, especially in the markets with fewer rivals. Also, larger amounts of the rebate show stronger impact on retention.


This research analyzes the influence of network structure on household spatial patterns, as measured by activity spaces. The analysis uses street network and travel survey data from the Twin Cities and South Florida to compile measures of network structure. Statistical regression models test the relationship between network structure and travel. The results show that network design does influence travel, after controlling for other non-network based measures. Results from this analysis can be used to understand how changes in network can be used to bring about desired changes in travel behavior.


In 1979 Richard Statman proved, using proof-theory, that the purely implicational fragment of Intuitionistic Logic (M-imply) is PSPACE-complete. He showed a polynomially bounded translation from full Intuitionistic Propositional Logic into its implicational fragment. By the PSPACE-completeness of S4, proved by Ladner, and the Goedel translation from S4 into Intuitionistic Logic, the PSPACE- completeness of M-imply is drawn. The sub-formula principle for a deductive system for a logic L states that whenever F1,...,Fk proves A, there is a proof in which each formula occurrence is either a sub-formula of A or of some of Fi. In this work we extend Statman result and show that any propositional (possibly modal) structural logic satisfying a particular formulation of the sub-formula principle is in PSPACE. If the logic includes the minimal purely implicational logic then it is PSPACE-complete. As a consequence, EXPTIME-complete propositional logics, such as PDL and the common-knowledge epistemic logic with at least 2 agents satisfy this particular sub-formula principle, if and only if, PSPACE=EXPTIME. We also show how our technique can be used to prove that any finitely many-valued logic has the set of its tautologies in PSPACE.


Abstract. For ISPRS Technical Commission I (TC I), 76 submissions for the 2021 Congress edition of ISPRS Annals and ISPRS Archives were received. This included both full paper and abstract submissions from all over the world. Continuing the success of double blind paper reviewing in preparation of the 2016 Prague congress, the 2018 Karlsruhe symposium as well as the 2020 edition of the ISPRS congress, also this time, TC I organized a strict peer-reviewing process. This included double-blind reviewing for full papers as well as a two-stage evaluation of abstract submissions – first stage based on the submitted abstracts ("conditional acceptance"), and second stage after submission of the respective final papers.For the 2021 edition of the ISPRS congress, we received 32 full paper submissions and 46 abstract submissions, which underlines the trend towards full paper submissions compared to previous TC I events.17 full papers passed the double-blind peer-review process and were accepted for publication in the ISPRS Annals (acceptance rate 53%); none of the papers was reviewed by less than two reviewers; for the majority of full papers, three or four reviews were obtained. Abstract submissions and their respective final papers were reviewed by a team of professionals. In total, 28 papers were accepted to the ISPRS Archives.Strict peer-reviewing relies on many voluntary reviewers spending their time for reading and evaluating the submissions. We would like to express our thanks to our reviewing team – especially since they were again willing to contribute to the review process just after completion of the 2020 edition of the ISPRS congress.The manuscripts in both the ISPRS Annals and Archives cover a broad range of topics related to remote sensing platforms, technologies, systems and related methods and reflect the current trends in algorithmic research and developments in sensing and data acquisition methods. Noteworthy is that numerous contributions were again submitted to Intercommission WGs of TC I with TC II and TC IV, which underlines the continuing trend towards an integral approach to sensors, systems and methods in photogrammetry, remote sensing and mobile mapping.


One-shot decision making is required in situations in which we can evaluate a fixed number of solution candidates but do not have any possibility for further, adaptive sampling. Such settings are frequently encountered in neural network design, hyper-parameter optimization, and many simulation-based real-world optimization tasks, in which evaluations are costly and time sparse. It seems intuitive that well-distributed samples should be more meaningful in one-shot decision making settings than uniform or grid-based samples, since they show a better coverage of the decision space. In practice, quasi-random designs such as Latin Hypercube Samples and low-discrepancy point sets form indeed the state of the art, as confirmed by a number of recent studies and competitions. In this work we take a closer look into the correlation between the distribution of the quasi-random designs and their performance in one-shot decision making tasks, with the goal to investigate whether the assumed correlation between uniform distribution and performance can be confirmed. We study three different decision tasks: classic one-shot optimization (only the best sample matters), one-shot optimization with surrogates (allowing to use surrogate models for selecting a design that need not necessarily be one of the evaluated samples), and one-shot regression (i.e., function approximation, with minimization of mean squared error as objective). Our results confirm an advantage of low-discrepancy designs for all three settings. The overall correlation, however, is rather weak. We complement our study by evolving problem-specific samples that show significantly better performance for the regression task than the standard approaches based on low-discrepancy sequences, giving strong indication that significant performance gains over state-of-the-art one-shot sampling techniques are possible.


Industrial communication often has to work in an environment where other networks or radiation create different levels of interference for the data traffic. Additionally, industrial applications often demand predictable real-time performance of the network. One way of trying to utilise the available frequencies in an effective manner is to include cognitive functionality in the network. We present a medium access control protocol for a cognitive radio network, providing deterministic medium access for heterogeneous traffic and dynamic spectrum allocation. Spectrum sensing abilities in the nodes open up for the possibility of increasing successful data transmissions, and a real-time analysis framework provides upper-bounded medium access delay in order to guarantee timely treatment of hard real-time traffic.


Sodium montmorillonite (Na-MMT) was modified by alkyl ammonium ions by cation exchange process. The influence of long chain primary (octadecylammonium ion) and quaternary alkylammonium ions (cetyltrimethylammonium ions) on the clay structure was studied. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses show that the basal spacings of cetyltrimethylammonium-montmorillonite (CTA-MMT) and octadecylammonium-montmorillonite (ODA-MMT) increase from 12.78 A for Na-MMT to 19.76A and 29.83 A, respectively, after the organo-modification. The infrared spectra of CTA-MMT show the presence of the peaks at 2920 and 2850 cm-1 while ODA-MMT at 2928 cm-1 and 2854 cm-1, which correspond to the C-H asymmetric and symmetric stretching vibrations, respectively. This suggests that both cetyltrimethylammonium (CTA+) and octadecylammonium ions (ODA+) are sorbed into the silicate layers of Na-MMT. CHNS elemental analysis and density analysis showed that more ODA+ are intercalated in the Na-MMT layer when the initial concentration of the octadecylamine is increased. However the effect is not significant when the CTAB concentration is varied. ENR50/clay nanocomposites were prepared by melt and solution blendings by introducing various amounts of CTA-MMT and ODA-MMT. XRD analyses of the nanocomposites show that there are increments of basal spacing for ENR50/clay nanocomposites prepared by both methods. This indicates that ENR50 is successfully intercalated into the interlayer galleries of the organoclays. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that the nanocomposites are of intercalated type. The effect of CTA-MMT and ODA-MMT in the rubber matrix on the curing, crosslink density, mechanical properties and thermal stability were also studied. Vulcametric curves show that both ENR50/ODA-MMT and ENR50/CTA-MMT nanocomposites had shorter times than that of the ENR50/Na-MMT microcomposite. An increment of more than 2.5 times in the tensile strength and a highest crosslink density were observed in ENR50/ODA-MMT nanocomposite with 5 phr ODA-MMT content. High moduli were also observed in the compounds incorporated with CTA-MMT and ODA-MMT. ENR50/ODA-MMT nanocomposite with 15 phr of ODA-MMT content has the highest modulus and the lowest elongation at break. TGA studies reveal that ENR50/ODA-MMT nanocomposites with 10 and 15 phr ODA-MMT contents have the highest Tmax, which occurs at 415oC.


In a pilot study we aimed to assess needs for care (and gaps in service provision) in readmitted psychiatric patients. Semi-structured interviews using the Cardinal Needs Schedule were conducted, and case notes were examined. Most readmitted patients had many needs (clinical and social) that were not being met in the community. Psychological interventions were required to meet many of the clinical needs, while a broad range of interventions was required to meet social needs. There was a poor match between the needs identified by the Cardinal Needs Schedule and those identified at discharge planning.


Munich, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek clm. 14965b, copied in the early 12th century, consists of a treatise and lengthy tonary attributed to Frutolf of Michelsberg (d. 1103). With its ample list of mass and
 office chants, sequences, and processional antiphons, the tonary of the Munich MS has long been recognized as the most significant of its kind. A modern edition was produced by Coelestin Vivell in 1919.
 Because this edition is widely available, scholars have given little attention to one of the manuscript9s most striking features, namely its substantial use of St. Gall neumes and letter notation. Vivell
 based his edition of the tonary on the Munich MS but omitted most of its notation, believing it served no practical purpose. Although Urbanus Bomm discussed the notation in his study of modality and chant,
 no comprehensive study of it exists. In its scope and significance, the notation in the Munich tonary far exceeds the traditional roles of tonary notation. In addition to incipits and finals, the scribe
 notated internal passages of many chants. A close examination of these passages reveals that they were carefully chosen and that they correspond precisely to problematic points in the repertory. The passages
 singled out for notation pose either practical or theoretical difficulties, and the notation serves to clarify the scribe9s preferred solutions. Through comparison of the Munich tonary with a wide range
 of other sources, this essay illustrates the nature of these problems and the ways in which the notation clarifies them. The scribe emends traditional versions of melodies to present readings more compatible
 with modal theory, often reflecting the specific perspectives articulated in Frutolf9s theoretical writings. In effect, the tonary serves a dual role as a theoretical work and practical performance guide.
 It opens a window onto a vigorous discussion and debate that surrounded the chant tradition in the late 11th century and offers a remarkable witness to the interaction between theory and practice in the
 Middle Ages.


Objectives: Microtia is the most commonly seen congenital ear defect, and involves an auricular deformity either unilaterally or bilaterally. The aim of this study was to fabricate silicone prostheses for a child with bilateral microtia using an innovative technique. Methods: This method involved the construction of bilateral ear prostheses using clips, which were located within the layers of the silicone superstructure. Results: Surgical reconstruction was not indicated due to the patient's age; so prosthetic reconstruction was advised in this case. Discussion: Two prosthetic ears were manufactured, with one being attached using an adhesive method and the other by a self suspension method. The child and his parents were very satisfied by the cosmetic and aesthetic appearance of the prostheses fitted. This technique has been proven to be suitable for pediatric patients with microtia


Prior to the early 1900s, much of the artistic expression of African American writers and artists was strongly steeped in a Christian tradition. With the Harlem Renaissance (roughly 1917-1934), the paradigm shifted to some degree. An examination of several books and articles written during and about the Harlem Renaissance revealed that very few emphasized religion as a major theme of influence on Renaissance artists. This would suggest that African American intelligentsia in the first three decades of the twentieth century were free of the strong ties to church and Christianity that had been a lifeline to so many for so long. However, this writer suggests that, as part of an African American community deeply rooted in Christianity, writers and artists of the Harlem Renaissance period must have had some roots in and expression of that same experience. The major focus of this research, therefore, is to discover and document the extent to which Christianity influenced the Harlem Renaissance. The research is intended to answer the following questions concerning the relationship of Christianity to the Harlem Renaissance: 1. What was the historical and religious context of the Harlem Renaissance? 2. To what extent did Christianity influence the writers and artists of the Harlem Renaissance? 3. Did the tone of their artistry change greatly from the previous century? If so, what were the catalysts? 4. Three notable pre-twentieth-century African American writers apparently had been able to come to terms with Christianity. Were the Renaissance artists able to do it? Why or why not? 5. What made their views different? 6. What personal experiences did the Renaissance artists have with Christianity? 7. How was this Christian influence manifested in the literature? Methods used to accomplish this discovery will include library research covering historical studies of Christianity and literature in the African American community from the 1700s into the 1930s, autobiographical and biographical research of the Harlem Renaissance artists, and an analysis of selected works, concentrating on the poetry. The study will include a look at Christianity in the African American community at large, as well as other factors. Intellectual and literary pursuits during the early decades of the twentieth century were paralleled by growth and diversity in the African American church. It is the consciousness that gave impetus to both these movements that this writer will explore. This portion of the paper will address the views of important early twentieth century figures as well as factors that influenced the urban religious landscape. The next portion of the paper will highlight the individual Christian background and experiences of some of the artists with whose works the Renaissance is most closely identified. This study will address the artists' own perspectives, as told in their autobiographies and biographies. This study will include an overview of the works of select writers of the Harlem Renaissance period and provide an analysis of works relevant to this thesis. The discussion will focus on the underlying expression of certain themes derived from Christian Scripture, including the following: • God's relation to humans—Jesus as Savior, deliverer, judge, source of hope • Theme of equality (one God, one blood, one Spirit; no respect of persons) • Celebration of African beauty/self as created by God and made in His image • Christianity interwoven in the fabric of everyday life. This portion of the paper also will address the works of some artists who, rather than embracing Christianity, may have used it in their works as a point of departure, highlighting its challenges and shortcomings.


Fractured wells are frequently encountered in petroleum engineering. They can be hydraulically fractured wells to improve oil production or wells intersecting natural fractures. Due to the presence of the fractures, the flow behaviour and the pressure distribution in the vicinity of the fractured well are complex and the numerical modelling for this kind of well is complicated. There are no efficient numerical methods to simulate these wells, especially for the fractured horizontal or multi-lateral wells. In this paper, we discuss the new techniques for fractured well simulations using the reservoir simulator. A new method, which is based on the calculation of suitable numerical PI at the well blocks and of transmissibilities around the fractured wells according to the steady-state pressure distribution, is proposed for fractured well modelling. This method can provide satisfactory results with coarse grid simulations.


Walter Thiel developed the method that enables preservation of the body with natural colors in 1992. It consists in the application of an intravascular injection formula, and maintaining the corps submerged for a determinate period of time in the immersion solution in the pool. After immersion, it is possible to maintain the corps in a hermetically sealed container, thus avoiding dehydration outside the pool. The aim of this work was to review the Thiel method, searching all scientific articles describing this technique from its development point of view, and application in anatomy and morphology teaching, as well as in clinical and su rgic l practice. Most of these studies were carried out in Europe. We used PubMed, Ebsco and Embase databases with the terms "Thiel cadaver", "Thiel embalming", "Thiel embalming method" and we searched for papers that cited Thiel`s work. In comparison with methods commonly used with high concentrations of formaldehyde, this method lacks the emanation of noxious or irritating gases; gives the corps important passive joint mobility without stiffness; maintaining color, flexibility and tissue plasticity at a level e quivalent to that of a living body. Furthermore, it allows vascular repletion at the capillary level. All this makes for great advantage over the f rmalinfixed and fresh material. Its multiple uses are applicable in anatomy teaching and research; teaching for undergraduates (prose ction and dissection) and for training in surgical techniques for graduates and specialists (laparoscopies, arthroscopies, endoscopies).


This special section explores the various ways in which states of certainty and doubt are generated and sustained, focusing on what we call the 'infrastructures' that undergird, enable or develop alongside them. The articles in this collection build on the growing literature on these topics, notably the very extensive recent work on doubt, uncertainty and opacity, and they extend it further by directing attention not to the consequences of these states or people's responses to them, but instead to the various semiotic, material and social forms that make possible the assertion or recognition of certainty or doubt. We use the idea of 'infrastructure' as a heuristic device to explore these processes.


Simply put, military strategies derive from national strategies intended to achieve goals and conditions that satisfy national interests. Military strategies reflect capabilities vis-a-vis potential opponents, resource constraints, and desired end states. North Korea is no different; its military strategy is a reflection of Pyongyang's national goals. Military strategies also reflect what one might call "cultural rules of engagement"; i.e., they are based on the socially constructed views unique to the nation. (1) Pyongyang's Foremost National Goal Historically, Pyongyang's foremost goal has been the reunification of the Korean Peninsula on North Korean terms. The regime's constitution describes reunification as "the supreme national task," (2) and it remains a consistently pervasive theme in North Korean media. However, despite what the North Koreans have continued to tell us for the past five decades, outside observers and specialists differ greatly over exactly what North Korea's goals really are. Since at least the mid-1990s, there has been a widespread view among Korea observers that, because of severe economic decline, food shortages, and related problems, regime survival has replaced reunification as Pyongyang's most pressing objective. (3) Further, these observers argue, despite its rhetoric, North Korea realizes that reunification through conquest of South Korea is no longer possible. (4) There are also some who argue that the North Korean leadership has recognized the need to initiate substantial change in order to survive in the international community and is embarking on economic reform, reconciliation with South Korea, and reduction of military tensions. In addition to the goals of regime survival, reform, and reconciliation, there is another explanatory view of North Korea's foremost national goal that has been held by a minority of observers for several decades (and has been a consistent theme of North Korean media)--defense against foreign invasion by "imperialist aggressors and their lac key running dogs." (5) Adherents of this view believe that the North Korean leadership genuinely fears an attack by the United States and South Korea and maintains a strong military purely for defense. (6) President Bush's reference to the "axis of evil" in his January 2002 State of the Union address, announcement of plans to adopt a "pre-emptive" military strategy, and increasing numbers of statements by Administration officials about US intentions to employ military force to remove Iraq's Saddam Hussein from power have added support to the "defense" explanation. Some have also argued that enhancement of the military by Kim Jong II (7) serves primarily to strengthen his domestic political power base. While there is an obvious element of truth in this proposition, it is an oversimplification that distorts the true role of military strength in the regime. Others accept North Korea's word that reunification remains the primary goal and argue that Pyongyang's long-term strategy to dominate the peninsula by any means has not changed. They cite North Korea's continued focus of scarce resources to the military, (8) development of longer-range ballistic missiles, and the recent revelation by Pyongyang that it seeks a nuclear weapons capability9 as indications that reunification remains the foremost goal. The preponderance of evidence clearly supports the conclusion that reunification under the leadership of Kim Jong II, by whatever means, remains "the supreme national task." North Korean media rhetoric continues to extol reunification under Kim. A parallel but closely related theme is that of completing the socialist revolution. When North Korean leaders speak of achieving "socialist revolution in our country," they mean unification of the entire peninsula on their terms. (10) The Kim regime in North Korea considers the entire peninsula as constituting its sovereign territory. It does not recognize South Korea as being a separate nation, nor the government of South Korea as legitimate. …


In Russia, which for centuries has historically been one of the most brutal of monarchies in the world, which survived the Soviet era and the totalitarian regime, the role of the state and its influence on many processes can not be overestimated. The state in Russia continues to control many aspects of the non-state being. Whatever police and totalitarian the state is, civil society still is a part of it's foundation. As the state can not exist without civil society, and civil society is unthinkable without the state. The article presents the various meanings of the term «civil society». Difference between the concepts of «the people» and «nation» is analyzed, definition of each of these terms. The article lists the causes of anomie and removed the need for social responsibility is removed. The conclusion is that civil society is not just a collection of elements, or even just a system of interacting with each other and developing the elements, but also a part of the state in its broadest sense, and a part of the socio-political organization of state power. The role of social responsibility as a social phenomenon, which defines the limits of permissible activities of individuals, groups and organizations in society, and therefore - is an indicator of the possibility of self-regulation of society of their relationship is displayed. It is concluded that the freer and more intense will develop man, individuals, people of a particular state (as elements of the social system of the state), the faster it will develop (in some areas) to move to self-development and the formation of civil society institutions.


The public administration plays a vital role in running the affairs of governmental activities at the all levels of government. The efficiency of public personnel in respect of performance depends on the ways the public personnel are managed to be responsive in performing the respective jobs. The flight of human capital from the country not only affects the human resource development of the country but as well as overall development of the country. The brain drain is one of the critical issues faced by the public organization in Pakistan. The proposed strategic approach has been developed on the basis of Harvard HRM Model. Hence study focuses on issues of Human capital flight. The research study has tried to explore the causes of the brain drain situation and finally it has proposed strategic approach to overcome the brain drain situation in the Pakistan.


ABSTRACT The Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna (GBM) river system flows through five countries – Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, and Nepal – characterized by large population, limited land resources, and frequent floods and natural hazards. Although the GBM region is well endowed with water sources, this is one of the poorest regions in the world. Its economy and human and environmental health depend on water, and water is thus at the heart of sustainable development, economic growth, and poverty reduction. This paper examines the opportunities for, and potential socio-economic benefits of, water resource management in the GBM region in the face of changing climate. It argues that water can be an entry point for addressing challenges common to the region, particularly through multi-purpose river projects that store monsoon water, mitigate the effects of floods and droughts, augment dry season river flows, expand irrigation and navigation facilities, generate hydropower, and enhance energy and environmental security. The paper emphasizes the importance of effective regional cooperation in water management to achieve these benefits. Upstream–downstream interdependencies necessitate development of a shared river system in an integrated and collaborative manner.