Ultra scale-down (USD) approach is a powerful tool to predict large-scale process performance by using very small amounts of material. A new USD membrane tool for mimicking large scale crossflow filtration (CFF) would allow preliminary evaluation to be conducted at the early stages of process development to give an indication of the processability of the biomaterials, and provide crucial data for identifying optimal operating parameters with lower development cost. This thesis reports the development of an ultra scale-down shear device, method for USD mimicking, method for large scale performance prediction as well as method of verification based on an industrial relevant and complex feed material, E. coli lysate containing antibody fragment (Fab'). The Pellicon 2 labscale system (Millipore Corporation, Bedford, MA) is used as the benchmark for the mimic evaluation which can readily be scaled to small pilot or industrial scale.
Large scale CFF was attempted to be scaled down with a rotating disc filter in recycle mode previously. However, the volume of feed material required cannot be reduced effectively, and the resulting loading ratio of the feed volume to the membrane area was large, which led to long experimental time. In addition, the operating conditions such as transmembrane pressure were hard to maintain due to the small size of membrane and the inaccurate monitor of the permeate flow, hence the accurate operation at USD cannot be achieved. A new mimicking method has overcome these difficulties. Adopted from the pulsed sample injection technique by Ghosh and Cui (2000), the rotating disc filter has been modified by building in inserts to allow the flexibility of the chamber volume, so that a large volume reduction can be achieved and only 1.5 mL of processing material is required for each diafiltration experiment. The USD mimicking method uses the modified rotating disc filter operated in dead-end mode, processing material is prefilled in the shear chamber and only buffer is pumped in through inlet port. The new set-up is much simpler and accurate control of operating conditions has been achieved.
As the establishment of shear rate correlation between USD and labscale is essential, a specific correlation between shear rate on membrane surface and disc rotating speed for USD has been generated by CFD simulations with high accuracy and validated by Laser Doppler Velocimetry. The correlation between wall shear rate on the membrane and the inlet flow rate in labscale cassette is based on the developed analytical models, which can be readily modified and used for membrane cartridge systems of different designs and scales.
Flux model regarding TMP and shear rate has been established using USD mimicking method based on E. coli lysate. Recognising the difference of system configuration between USD and large scale, e.g., the existing of screen on both side of the membrane in cassette, a new flux prediction method is developed firstly to accurately calibrate the system resistance in large scale CFF with water flux tests, and secondly to predict large scale performance accurately with USD model inputs. The important benefit is that the method allows accurate predictions with a simple procedure, so it can be widely applied.
The transmission prediction method has also been developed based on mass balance technique. It has been found that the transmembrane pressure and shear rate do not show significant impact on the transmission of antibody fragment, but the ionic strength of the solution has strong influence on the observed transmission. Predicted transmission data agrees well with the experimental results of a labscale diafiltration.


Split testing is a popular practise to compare and evaluate design elements of web-sites. In this report, it is explored how split testing can be employed to test features of motion-based online games. This is done by applying theory taken from split testing of common web-pages and translating it to work with games. A pilot test is conducted on the newly developed game Phaseformer to evaluate two interaction techniques. With only 105 test participants, the results from the pilot test show with high statistical power that one variant provides the player with a higher level of control over the game than the other.


Vaccines have saved more lives than any other single medical advance. Yet today only four companies make vaccines, and there is a growing crisis in vaccine availability. Why has this happened? This remarkable book recounts for the first time a devastating episode in 1955 at Cutter Laboratories in Berkeley, California, thathas led many pharmaceutical companies to abandon vaccine manufacture. Drawing on interviews with public health officials, pharmaceutical company executives, attorneys, Cutter employees, and victims of the vaccine, as well as on previously unavailable archives, Dr. Paul Offit offers a full account of the Cutter disaster. He describes the nation's relief when the polio vaccine was developed by Jonas Salk in 1955, the production of the vaccine at industrial facilities such as the one operated by Cutter, and the tragedy that occurred when 200,000 people were inadvertently injected with live virulent polio virus: 70,000 became ill, 200 were permanently paralyzed, and 10 died. Dr. Offit also explores how, as a consequence of the tragedy, one jury's verdict set in motion events that eventually suppressed the production of vaccines already licensed and deterred the development of new vaccines that hold the promise of preventing other fatal diseases.


ABSTRACT In response to my book's finding that there is a tradeoff between two apparently desirable traits—a propensity to participate in politics, on the one hand, and to expose oneself to disagreeable political ideas, on the other—symposium participants suggest a number of reasons why this tradeoff should not trouble participatory democratic theorists. One argument is that electoral advocacy (the type of participation I measure) is not an important form of participation anyway, so we are better off without it. However, those people who do not vote also tend not to participate in politics in other ways, so electoral advocacy is the lowest possible bar for defining participation. Partisans are also more likely to be well informed and to offer coherent reasons for their political preferences. A second argument suggests that deliberative theorists have somewhat contradictory views of social influence, encouraging it in the context of deliberative encounters but perceiving it as pernicious when members of political parties influence their members. A third response is to posit a division of labor between closed-minded partisan advocates and open-minded people who are exposed to cross-cutting debate. However, it is difficult to see how the benefits of cross-cutting exposure will be conveyed to the advocates who participate in meaningful ways.


Abstract Hemihedrite from the Florence Lead-Silver mine in Pinal County, Arizona, USAwas first described and assigned the ideal chemical formula Pb10Zn(CrO4)6(SiO4)2F2, based upon a variety of chemical and crystalstructure analyses. The primary methods used to determine the fluorine content for hemihedrite were colorimetry, which resulted in values of F that were too high and inconsistent with the structural data, and infrared (IR) spectroscopic analysis that failed to detect OH or H2O. Our reinvestigation using electron microprobe analysis of the type material, and additional samples from the type locality, the Rat Tail claim, Arizona, and Nevada, reveals the absence of fluorine, while the presence of OH is confirmed by Raman spectroscopy. These findings suggest that the colorimetric determination of fluorine in the original description of hemihedrite probably misidentified F due to the interferences from PO4 and SO4, both found in our chemical analyses. As a consequence of these results, the study presented here proposes a redefinition of the chemical composition of hemihedrite to the ideal chemical formula Pb10Zn(CrO4)6(SiO4)2(OH)2. Hemihedrite is isotypic with iranite with substitution of Zn for Cu, and raygrantite with substitution of Cr for S. Structural data from a sample fromthe Rat Tail claim, Arizona, indicate that hemihedrite is triclinic in space group P1, a = 9.4891(7), b = 11.4242(8), c = 10.8155(7) Å, α = 120.368(2)°, β = 92.017(3)°, γ = 55.857(2)°, V = 784.88(9) Å3, Z = 1, consistent with previous investigations. The structure was refined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data to R1 = 0.022 for 5705 unique observed reflections, and the ideal chemical formula Pb10Zn(CrO4)6(SiO4)2(OH)2 was assumed during the refinement. Electron microprobe analyses of this sample yielded the empirical chemical formula Pb10.05(Zn0.91Mg0.02)Σ = 0.93(Cr5.98S0.01P0.01)Σ = 6.00 Si1.97O34H2.16 based on 34 O atoms and six (Cr + S + P) per unit cell.


This publication offers an overview of REDD+ strategy in Mozambique through a synthesis of the current knowledge about the causes of forest carbon changes, a review of the legal and institutional context, and a description of the current political process of REDD+. The objective of the study is to collate data and relevant information, and to offer a preliminary analysis of the fundamental aspects that can help promote efficiency, efficacy, and equity in REDD+ policy. Specifically, this study concludes that some of the major problems for REDD+ in Mozambique are the lack of data about deforestation and forest degradation, institutional weakness (regarding monitoring and propriety rights), and gaps in human and technical capacity to fulfil demands associated with REDD+. Therefore, efficient results will depend on the degree to which REDD+ policies are oriented toward real mitigation of the sources of forest carbon changes. In Mozambique, REDD+ policy tends to originate outside the timber sector. The cost-effectiveness of the results will depend on identifying and addressing the fundamental causes of forest carbon changes through more viable REDD+ policy options; government capacity to respond to REDD+ demands, especially at the sub-national level; the capacity of civil society and other institutions; and the strength of the institutional framework. The degree of success of equitable outcomes and the generation of co-benefits will depend on the inclusion and appropriateness of the processes at the national level; if those who support REDD+ costs are also being compensated; and on the general definition of carbon rights and environmental services.


In competition law, market power requirements are often articulated in terms of market shares. The use of market share thresholds, however, conflates two distinct questions: (1) How much market power exists in a given situation? (2) How much market power should the law require? As a consequence, neither question is answered, or even directly illuminated. Furthermore, because market shares are not themselves measures of market power but instead merely a factor that bears on its magnitude in a given setting, they are inapt answers to both inquiries. Their use involves a category mistake. The identified problems are illustrated by unpacking Learned Hand's famous pronouncement in Alcoa of the market shares required for the offense of monopolization, but the core defects characterize all market share declarations.


The paper tries to understand precisely how the food safety regulations applied by the industrialized countries have an effect on Indias export of processed food to these markets. It also examines the information deficiencies of Indian firms about international food safety standards, which influence their current performance. In the light of these objectives the paper tests a few hypotheses using primary data. This has been carried out by estimating gravity model using three-dimensional statistics. Our results show that India stood to loose around 156 per cent of actual exports because of higher stringent food safe regulations in select developed countries. It also proves that foreign collaborators provide better information about the prevailing food safety regulations and how to meet those obligations.


We evaluate the effectiveness of legislation in reducing the negative impacts of beachfront lighting on sea turtle nesting activity, one of the main threats to the species. To this end we construct a time varying index of ordinance effectiveness across Florida counties and combine this with loggerhead nesting data to create a panel data set covering a twenty‐six year period. Our econometric findings show that such legislation can significantly increase nesting activity, where current levels of protection result in an additional 34%. Using our estimates within a calibrated population model we also demonstrate that legislation can reduce the time to the animals' extinction. Finally, when considering estimates of local willingness to pay for sea turtle preservation, we show that alternatively raising sea turtles in captivity under a head start program may be prohibitively expensive.


Within the context of Artificial Life the question about the role of modularity has turned out to be crucial, especially with regard to the problem of evolvability. In order to be able to observe the development of modular structure, appropriate modularity measures are important. We introduce a continuous measure based on information theory which can characterize the coupling among subsystems in a search problem. In order to illustrate the concepts developed, they are applied to a very simple and intuitive set of combinatorial problems similar to scenarios used in the seminal work by Simon (1969). It is shown that this measure is closely related to the classification of search problems in terms of Separability, Non-Decomposability and Modular Interdependency as introduced in (Watson and Pollack, 2005).


Although core structures are often used in reinforced concrete buildings as members providing lateral strength and stiffness, experimental and numerical studies on their inelastic behavior are scarce. In an experimental program recently completed at the ETH Zurich, two U-shaped walls were subjected to a bi-directional quasi-static cyclic loading regime. In this article, inelastic wide-column models for these two test units are developed. The wide-column analogy was chosen because it combines the merits of representing the U-shaped wall as a three-dimensional structure with inelastic properties while still being relatively simple and easy to set up when compared to shell or solid element models. It is therefore a tool which is not only available to researchers but also to design engineers. The article commences with the analysis of wide-column models that have been built according to recommendations found in the literature. Since these recommendations had been derived from analyzes of elastic systems, they are then revisited in a sensitivity study in which the effects of different modeling assumptions on the inelastic behavior of wide-column models are investigated. Finally, comparing the numerical results with the experimental evidence from the tests, the article concludes with practical recommendations for setting up wide-column models of U-shaped walls subjected to large inelastic deformations.


In recent decades, the nature of cities has been indebted to a set of territorial factors and integrated and multi-layered connections between their constructive factors. However, now a significant part of this nature has been reduced to the presence or absence of signs, functions, and bodies. One of the results of these changes is the increasing formation of functionalist centers such as shopping centers; centers that are introduced as a platform for consumerist events. Evidence suggests that a cultural change has occurred in the function of shopping centers that has led to the emergence of new kinds of cultural consumption and thus, physical changes in these centers. Therefore, by selecting three shopping centers, the present study, based on the attitude obtained from the literature of the related studies, compares the considered indicators in them. This study is applied descriptive-analytical research, in which theoretical data are collected using library research method, and the field data are collected by observation and using questionnaires. After studying the theoretical literature on cultural consumption, 21 criteria are extracted to examine case studies in terms of 10 physical factors. Also, the information required to investigate the samples is obtained by using purposeful observation and completing 300 questionnaires by the clients, and then, processed using data mining technique in IBM SPSS Modeler software. The study results suggest that the proposed hypothesis on the impact of physical factors on consumption patterns in many cases can explain the process of changes. Also, it seems that shopping centers are part of the temporary culture of people who spend their time there; and the spaces in them are not only parts of consumption, but also are consumed themselves.


Recently, the emerging Web-Services technology has provided a new and excellent solution to the data integration among heterogeneous systems. A Web-Services-based e-diagnostics framework (WSDF) is proposed. It can achieve the automation of diagnostic processes and diagnostics information integration for semiconductor equipment. First, the system framework and the system component model are designed. Then, the object-oriented analysis and design of system components are accomplished. In particular, for the purpose of code reuse, several common functions, such as simple object access protocol communication, universal description discovery and integration registration, security mechanism, data exchange mechanism, and local database access, are built into a generic component called Web-Service agent. By inheriting the Web-service agent, other system components can be constructed and have these common functions. In addition, a unified authentication-service mechanism and a safe network connection are also designed in the framework. WSDF is intended to support the e-diagnostics functions defined by International SEMATECH. It is believed that WSDF can be applied to construct e-diagnostics systems for the semiconductor manufacturing industry.


A large portion of the Bird's Head Peninsula of NW New Guinea is an inlier that reveals the pre-Cenozoic geological history of the northern margin of eastern Gondwana. The peninsula is dominated by a regional basement high exposing Gondwanan ('Australian') Palaeozoic metasediments intruded by Palaeozoic and Mesozoic granitoids. Here, we present the first comprehensive study of these granitoids, including field and petrographic descriptions, bulk rock geochemistry, and U-Pb zircon age data. We further revise and update previous subdivisions of granitoids in the area. Most granitoids were emplaced as small to mediumscale intrusions during two episodes in the Devonian-Carboniferous and the Late Permian-Triassic, separated by a period of apparent magmatic quiescence. The oldest rocks went unrecognised until this study, likely due to the younger intrusive events resetting the K¬-Ar isotopic system used in previous studies. Most of the Palaeozoic and Mesozoic granitoids are peraluminous and in large parts derived from partial melts of the country rock. This is corroborated by local migmatites and country rock xenoliths. Although rare, the metaluminous and mafic rocks show that partial melts of mantle-derived material played a minor role in granitoid petrogenesis, especially during the Permian-Triassic. The DevonianCarboniferous granitoids and associated volcanics are locally restricted, whereas the Permian-Triassic intrusions are found across NW New Guinea and further afield. The latter were likely part of an extensive active continental margin above a subduction system spanning the length of what is now New Guinea and likely extending southward through eastern Australia and Antarctica. ABSTRACT 1 A large portion of the Bird's Head Peninsula of NW New Guinea is an inlier that reveals the pre-Cenozoic 2 geological history of the northern margin of eastern Gondwana. The peninsula is dominated by a regional 3 basement high exposing Gondwanan ('Australian') Palaeozoic metasediments intruded by Palaeozoic and 4 Mesozoic granitoids. Here, we present the first comprehensive study of these granitoids, including field 5 and petrographic descriptions, bulk rock geochemistry, and U–Pb zircon age data. We further revise and 6 update previous subdivisions of granitoids in the area. Most granitoids were emplaced as small to 7 medium-scale intrusions during two episodes in the Devonian–Carboniferous and the Late Permian– 8 Triassic, separated by a period of apparent magmatic quiescence. The oldest rocks went unrecognised 9 until this study, likely due to the younger intrusive events resetting the K–Ar isotopic system used in 10 previous studies. Most of the Palaeozoic and Mesozoic granitoids are peraluminous and in large parts 11 derived from partial melts of the country rock. This is corroborated by local migmatites and country rock 12 xenoliths. Although rare, the metaluminous and mafic rocks show that partial melts of mantle-derived 13 material played a minor role in granitoid petrogenesis, especially during the Permian–Triassic. The 14 Devonian–Carboniferous granitoids and associated volcanics are locally restricted, whereas the Permian– 15 Triassic intrusions are found across NW New Guinea and further afield. The latter were likely part of an 16 extensive active continental margin above a subduction system spanning the length of what is now New 17 Guinea and likely extending southward through eastern Australia and Antarctica. 18 *Abstract Click here to download Abstract: Abstract.docx1 A large portion of the Bird's Head Peninsula of NW New Guinea is an inlier that reveals the pre-Cenozoic 2 geological history of the northern margin of eastern Gondwana. The peninsula is dominated by a regional 3 basement high exposing Gondwanan ('Australian') Palaeozoic metasediments intruded by Palaeozoic and 4 Mesozoic granitoids. Here, we present the first comprehensive study of these granitoids, including field 5 and petrographic descriptions, bulk rock geochemistry, and U–Pb zircon age data. We further revise and 6 update previous subdivisions of granitoids in the area. Most granitoids were emplaced as small to 7 medium-scale intrusions during two episodes in the Devonian–Carboniferous and the Late Permian– 8 Triassic, separated by a period of apparent magmatic quiescence. The oldest rocks went unrecognised 9 until this study, likely due to the younger intrusive events resetting the K–Ar isotopic system used in 10 previous studies. Most of the Palaeozoic and Mesozoic granitoids are peraluminous and in large parts 11 derived from partial melts of the country rock. This is corroborated by local migmatites and country rock 12 xenoliths. Although rare, the metaluminous and mafic rocks show that partial melts of mantle-derived 13 material played a minor role in granitoid petrogenesis, especially during the Permian–Triassic. The 14 Devonian–Carboniferous granitoids and associated volcanics are locally restricted, whereas the Permian– 15 Triassic intrusions are found across NW New Guinea and further afield. The latter were likely part of an 16 extensive active continental margin above a subduction system spanning the length of what is now New 17 Guinea and likely extending southward through eastern Australia and Antarctica. 18 *Abstract Click here to download Abstract: Abstract.docx


The outcome of a research project carried out by CEPS and the Economics and Foreign Policy Forum (EFPF) of Istanbul, this book examines in detail the challenges and opportunities that would arise with Turkey's full membership of the European Union. The authors, consisting of both Turkish and West European experts, address such controversial issues as Turkey's cost to Europe, the potential for economic convergence and the implications of Turkish membership for the future of Europe. The authors also identify the areas where a closer cooperation between Turkey and the EU in advance of full membership would be advantageous for both parties. They focus with this aim on a set of measures ranging from 'virtual membership' in certain policy areas to more specific transition policies. In short, this book gives a clear picture about the nature of the topics and the issues that would dominate full membership negotiations with Turkey.


This thesis is concerned with the role of formal schooling in the production of human capital over the lifecycle. While many studies have documented an associated between education and cognitive outcomes, less is known about the extent this association is causal---or the nature of the underlying mechanisms driving any effect. Chapter 1 examines the causal effect of additional secondary schooling on cognitive function in later life, using new methods in causal mediation analysis to explore the role of occupation choice as a key channel. The findings reveal robust evidence that basic education leads to improved working memory, but detect little support for effects on verbal fluency or numeric abilities. Staying in school for an additional year increases the probability of entering a higher status occupation, and an analysis of mechanisms finds that up to about one-fifth of schooling's effect on cognitive outcomes can be explained by occupation choice. However, the estimates are too imprecise to yield firm conclusions. Chapters 2 and 3 are situated in the school choice literature. The promise of school choice is to allow parental preference to influence which school their child attends, weakening the link between residential location and school quality. However, choice is typically constrained---and markets for schools are no exception. Popular schools tend to be oversubscribed, and inevitably many families miss out on a place at their preferred school. Chapter 2 traces the consequences of missing out on a place at a preferred secondary school in England, focusing on long run outcomes, including high-stakes examination results. The analyses do not find evidence that failing to gain a place at a preferred school leads to poorer academic outcomes---but those who miss out are more likely to engage in risky behaviours, drop out of secondary school, and have poorer mental health in adulthood. Finally, Chapter 3 assesses the effects of missing out on a place at a preferred primary school, on cognitive and non-cognitive skill development and parental responses. Little evidence is revealed for a detrimental effect on skill development, but compared with those who get into their preferred school, parents whose child misses out on a place are more likely to invest in private tutoring and exam preparation for selective schools.


This paper explores the relationship between narrative inclusion and the notion of equality from the perspective of the theory of deliberative democracy. It is based on the assumption that taking into account the diversity of discursive competences influences the constructed justifications constituting the source of legitimacy of political decisions. Moving beyond a purely argumentative discourse towards emphasising pluralism provides a significant enough modification of the theory to claim that it constitutes a separate model of deliberation. At the starting point, the role and purpose of narrative is presented, as well as the conditions under which it can be incorporated into deliberative processes. Then, consideration is given to the transformation of the category of equality that is brought about by introducing narrative to the framework of subject inclusion. The shift in meaning from unconditional equality to equalisation of opportunities is also addressed, in both procedural and substantive terms. Finally, the paper outlines the possible practical problems and risks that the inclusion of narrative in deliberation may raise.


Informed by almost two decades of dialogue, research and teaching, this book refutes the mistaken premise that Zen Buddhism is more suited to people who lived all those years ago, or at least live all those miles away. Pivotal to this work is recognition that Buddhism is a mind culture. To appreciate that one is not in control of ones own mind is alarming indeed, but it is our perceptions of real and imagined threats that generate our anxieties, not an objective appraisal of the situation. Beginning with the annotated 'ox path' pictures, the gradual development of the wayward mind away from aimless wandering and towards Buddhahood is depicted and examined. Ever mindful of the legacy of India, the life and teaching of Sakyamuni Buddha are revisited as are the scriptures themselves. At every point, this book presents Zen Buddhism, not as some esoteric mystery cult, accessible only to the eastern mind, but in an animated, meaningful manner that demonstrates its purpose and function in todays world.


Electric power system networks are facing major challenges because of the rapid increase in penetration of distributed energy resources (DERs). Reliability evaluation plays an important role in system analysis, design, upgrades, and operations, especially in bulk power systems. The research presented in this thesis focuses on the evaluation of the composite system reliability under steady state conditions, and also goes a step further towards assessing operational risks in real-time system operations using direct probabilistic analysis techniques. The thesis also examines the reliability and risk improvements that are accrued from penetration of DERs into the power system.

The challenge of using analytical methods in reliability evaluation of composite power systems is the large computational burden involved, to examine all the possible outage events. This thesis presents the mathematical foundations, evaluation procedures, and reliability indices associated with composite power system reliability evaluation using the minimal cut set calculations. The objective of this approach is to evaluate reliability and risk indices for the system and for every load bus in the system. The performance of the system under outage condition of generators, transmission lines, or both, is examined by conducting an appropriate power flow study. An optimal power flow (OPF) is solved to find the system minimal cut sets which are then used to evaluate reliability and operational risk. DER units are incorporated to investigate the enhancement in system reliability and operational risk. The concepts and developed model are illustrated by application to the 24-bus IEEE Reliability Test System.


Although military music was among the most widespread forms of music making during the nineteenth-century, it has been almost totally overlooked by music historians. Music & the British Military in the Long Nineteenth Century however, shows that military bands reached far beyond the official ceremonial duties they are often primarily associated with and had a significant impact on wider spheres of musical and cultural life. Beginning with a discussion of the place of the military in civilian and social life, authors Trevor Herbert and Helen Barlow plot the story of military music from its sponsorship by military officers to its role as an expression of imperial force, which it took on by the end of the nineteenth century. Herbert and Barlow organize their study around three themes: the use of military status to extend musical patronage by the officer class; the influence of the military on the civilian music establishments; and an incremental movement towards central control of military music making by governments throughout the world. In so doing, they show that military music impacted everything from the configuration of the music profession in the major metropolitan centers, to the development of wind instruments throughout the century, to the emergence of organized amateur music making. A much needed addition to the scholarship on nineteenth century music, Music & the British Military in the Long Nineteenth Century is an essential reference for music, cultural and military historians, the social history of music and nineteenth century studies.


In an increasingly connected and technologically dependent world, new areas of vulnerability are emerging. This article explores the unique challenges of maritime cyber security in order to better understand the issues with securing vessels at sea, together with the shore based infrastructure supporting this industry. In particular, this article explores the cyber-attacks possible on maritime-related systems for navigation, propulsion, and cargo-related functions. The authors illustrate the potential severity of the problem by providing several scenarios to demonstrate the attacks possible once a vessel has been compromised and their attendant consequences.


In this paper we analyze the incidence of the VAT and its effects on the income distribution. To identify these effects, we rely on two tax reforms undertaken in Mexico that increased the VAT rate for a group of cities and left the rest unaffected. We compare the inflation rate of the affected cities with the exempted cities before and after the law changed. We find that the effect on prices is limited and conclude that the burden of the tax is indeed shared between producers and consumers. Regarding welfare, we find that the VAT is progressive in both absolute and relative terms to the overall expenditure. Finally, we show that an identical change in the VAT rate when inflation is high and persistent doubles its pass-through to inflation and its welfare loss for the average household.


We cast policy gradient methods as the repeated application of two operators: a policy improvement operator $\mathcal{I}$, which maps any policy $\pi$ to a better one $\mathcal{I}\pi$, and a projection operator $\mathcal{P}$, which finds the best approximation of $\mathcal{I}\pi$ in the set of realizable policies. We use this framework to introduce operator-based versions of traditional policy gradient methods such as REINFORCE and PPO, which leads to a better understanding of their original counterparts. We also use the understanding we develop of the role of $\mathcal{I}$ and $\mathcal{P}$ to propose a new global lower bound of the expected return. This new perspective allows us to further bridge the gap between policy-based and value-based methods, showing how REINFORCE and the Bellman optimality operator, for example, can be seen as two sides of the same coin.


With the increasing concerns on energy issues, the development of renewable energy sources is becoming more and more attractive. A new kind of wind-PV hybrid generated system that comprises of wind and photovoltaic generation subsystems as input to a cascaded H-bridge multilevel inverter is developed in this paper. In conventional methods the inverter with solar and wind energy sources are used. In this method a seven level multilevel inverter with wind–PV hybrid generation system as input are proposed for application to remote and isolated areas. The wind and the solar light are captured in greatest degree, as well as the multilevel inverter using pulse width modulation technique is adopted. The objectives of this hybrid system are, to satisfy the load power demand and, presence of high number of output levels in inverter to maintain the dc output voltage level of the inverter to produce a nearly sinusoidal output. This reduces harmonics in inverter output voltage. This paper discusses about the control of seven-level H-bridge cascaded multilevel inverter with Fast Fourier Transform analysis in inverter output voltage through simulation. The simulated wind-PV system consists of an AC-to-DC boost converter, aDC-to-AC nverter, a photovoltaic module, and wind module. Its shown by the simulations that a multilevel inverter utilizing renewable resource has lower Total Harmonics Distortion in output voltage. In this paper comparison of conventional inverter and proposed seven level cascaded H-bridge multilevel inverter using solar and wind energy sources are presented.


We investigated the ecological importance of Pacific herring Clupea pallasii spawning activity to wintering waterbird numbers in Tomales Bay, California, USA. Time-series analyses were used to assess the potential dependence of future waterbird abundances on current changes in herring spawning biomass, independent of underlying trends or other dynamics in waterbird numbers or herring activity. Forecasts of winter waterbird abundance were significantly improved by considering the lagged effects of changes in herring spawning biomass. Impulse-response functions provided strong evidence that the dynamics of winter waterbird abundances include 'echoes' of response over time to any unusual pulse of herring activity, with carryover effects leading to sustained increases in waterbird species' abundances over multiple years, and increases in the abundance of all waterbird species (combined) over the subsequent 3 winters. Increases in waterbird abundance consistent with variance-prone responses to the pulsed availability of prey were sustained by periods of conditional variance-aversion associated with subsequent declines in herring spawning biomass to expected long-term levels. Annual spawning activity was highly variable, and when the availability of roe was relatively high, the potential consumption of herring eggs could account for up to 64% of the collective energy needs of waterbirds (all species combined) over the 90 d herring season (mean ± SE = 20 ± 3.6%). Several waterbird species shifted their bay distributions in response to herring spawning events within 2 d; however, some species that did not concentrate in spawning areas exhibited sustained annual increases in bay-wide winter abundance in response to increased herring spawning biomass.


This editorial introduction orients the reader to current public debates and the state of research with regard to the intersection of linguistic diversity and social inclusion in contemporary Australia. These are characterised by a persistent lack of attention to the consequences of linguistic diversity for our social organisation. The editorial introduction serves to frame the five original research articles that comprise this special issue and identifies the key challenges that linguistic diversity presents for a fair and just social order. These challenges run as red threads through all the articles in this issue and include the persistent monolingual mindset which results in a pervasive language blindness and an inability to even identify language as an obstacle to inclusion. Furthermore, where language is recognised as an obstacle to inclusion this usually takes the form of assuming that an individual suffers from a lack of English language proficiency. Improving English language proficiency is then prescribed as a panacea for inclusion. However, on close examination that belief in itself can constitute a form of exclusion with detrimental effects both on language learning and equal opportunity.


Purpose of review This review describes the current state of anemia management with erythropoietin (EPO)-stimulating agents and iron supplementation in both chronic kidney disease and dialysis patients, with a focus on novel therapies. Recent findings We review the benefits and risks of EPO-stimulating agents, focusing on health-related quality of life and the uncertainties regarding optimal iron utilization in patients with kidney disease. We discuss novel therapies for iron supplementation including iron-based phosphate binders and dialysate iron delivery as well as alternatives to EPO-stimulating agents including hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitors. Summary Individualization of hemoglobin targets using EPO-stimulating agents and iron supplementation may be considered in younger, healthier patients with kidney disease to improve health-related quality of life. Optimal iron utilization in kidney disease patients is unclear, but novel iron base phosphate binders and dialysate iron delivery may play a role in intravenous iron avoidance and its potential complications. Phase 3 randomized controlled trials of hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitors are ongoing and are promising new alternatives to EPO-stimulating agents and their known adverse effects.


A topological structure is introduced that seems likely to provide a complete topological characterization of compact symplectic manifolds. The article begins with a leisurely introduction to symplectic manifolds from a topological viewpoint. It then focuses on Thurston's construction of a symplectic structure on the total space of a fiber bundle. This is generalized to a technique for putting a symplectic structure on the domain of a J-holomorphic map. A topological structure called a hyperpencil on a compact 2n-manifold is then defined; this is motivated by the special case of a linear system of curves on an algebraic manifold, and it generalizes the notion of a Lefschetz pencil on a 4-manifold (although the critical points of a hyperpencil can be much more complicated). A deformation class of hyperpencils determines an isotopy class of symplectic forms, via the above generalization of Thurston's construction. This correspondence seems to be essentially an inverse to the technique of Donaldson and Auroux for constructing linear systems on symplectic manifolds. The likely end result is that any symplectic form whose cohomology class is rational should be realized up to scale by a hyperpencil. This would topologically characterize symplectic manifolds as being those smooth manifolds admitting hyperpencils, and put a dense subset of all symplectic forms on a manifold (up to scale and isotopy) in bijective correspondence with the set of all hyperpencils on it modulo a suitable equivalence relation.


The emerging vehicular ad-hoc networks (VANETs) offer a variety of applications and new potential markets related to safety, convenience and entertainment, however, they suffer from a number of challenges not shared so deeply by other types of existing networks, particularly, in terms of mobility of nodes, and end-to-end quality of service (QoS) provision. Although several existing works in the literature have attempted to provide efficient protocols at different layers targeted mostly for safety applications, there remain many barriers to be overcome in order to constrain the widespread use of such networks for non-safety applications, specifically, for video streaming: 1) impact of high speed mobility of nodes on end-to-end QoS provision; 2) cross-layer protocol design while keeping low computational complexity; 3) considering customer-oriented QoS metrics in the design of protocols; and 4) maintaining seamless single-hop and multi-hop connection between the destination vehicle and the road side unit (RSU) while network is moving. This thesis addresses each of the above limitations in design of cross-layer protocols for video streaming application. 1) An adaptive MAC retransmission limit selection scheme is proposed to improve the performance of IEEE 802.11p standard MAC protocol for video streaming applications over VANETs. A multi-objective optimization framework, which jointly minimizes the probability of playback freezes and start-up delay of the streamed video at the destination vehicle by tuning the MAC retransmission limit with respect to channel statistics as well as packet transmission rate, is applied at road side unit (RSU). Two-hop transmission is applied in zones in which the destination vehicle is not within the transmission range of any RSU. In the multi-hop scenario, we discuss the computation of access probability used in the MAC adaptation scheme and propose a cross-layer path selection scheme; 2) We take advantage of similarity between multihop urban VANETs in dense traffic conditions and mesh connected networks. First, we investigate an application-centric routing scheme for video streaming over mesh connected overlays. Next, we introduce the challenges of urban VANETs compared to mesh iii networks and extend the proposed scheme in mesh network into a protocol for urban VANETs. A classification-based method is proposed to select an optimal path for video streaming over multi-hop mesh networks. The novelty is to translate the path selection over multi-hop networks to a standard classification problem. The classification is based on minimizing average video packet distortion at the receiving nodes. The classifiers are trained offline using a vast collection of video sequences and wireless channel conditions in order to yield optimal performance during real time path selection. Our method substantially reduces the complexity of conventional exhaustive optimization methods and results in high quality (low distortion). Next, we propose an application-centric routing scheme for real-time video transmission over urban multi-hop vehicular ad-hoc network (VANET) scenarios. Queuing based mobility model, spatial traffic distribution and probability of connectivity for sparse and dense VANET scenarios are taken into consideration in designing the routing protocol. Numerical results demonstrate the gain achieved by the proposed routing scheme versus geographic greedy forwarding in terms of video frame distortion and streaming start-up delay in several urban communication scenarios for various vehicle entrance rate and traffic densities; and 3) finally, the proposed quality-driven routing scheme for delivering video streams is combined with a novel IP management scheme. The routing scheme aims to optimize the visual quality of the transmitted video frames by minimizing the distortion, the start-up delay, and the frequency of the streaming freezes. As the destination vehicle is in motion, it is unrealistic to assume that the vehicle will remain connected to the same access router (AR) for the whole trip. Mobile IP management schemes can benefit from the proposed multi-hop routing protocol in order to adapt proxy mobile IPv6 (PMIPv6) for multi-hop VANET for video streaming applications. The proposed cross-layer protocols can significantly improve the video streaming quality in terms of the number of streaming freezes and start-up delay over VANETs while achieving low computational complexity by using pattern classification methods for optimization.


This article presents analysed data from the first year of the Rural Teacher Education Project (RTEP 2007–2009) with a view to illustrating how a generative theory of rurality as education research was developed, and for which ends it might be utilised. The article suggests that data from projects in rural communities, which take the rural as context, need to interrogate the role and purpose of education in such contexts in relation to notions of social and professional identity. I argue for the application of a social theory in which the rural is linked to the possibilities of identity and interaction in terms of the quality of teacher education and the quality of education in rural communities. The theory accounts for the ability of people (in this case teachers) to sustain themselves in space and time – both as subjects and agents able to resist or transform the environment, depending on resources available. It also illuminates the reality, or otherwise, of subjectivities and perceptions in our collective imaginary concerning education and the transformation project in South Africa.


Proceedings of the Structures Congress 2014, held in Boston, Massachusetts, April 3-5, 2014. Sponsored by the Structural Engineering Institute of ASCE. Structures Congress 2014 contains 250 papers on subjects that are redefining structural engineering in the areas of bridges, transportation structures, and buildings, as well as advances in research. Topics include: progressive and disproportionate collapse; blast and impact; disaster mitigation; risk resilience and reliability; structural optimization and monitoring; concrete, wood, masonry,and steel building materials; and structural engineering education, professional practice, and business. This collection will be of interest to all structural engineers and related professionals.


This book presents a critical view of international law as an argumentative practice that aims to 'depoliticise' international relations. Drawing from a range of materials, Koskenniemi demonstrates how international law becomes vulnerable to the contrasting criticisms of being either an irrelevant moralist Utopia or a manipulable facade for State interests. He examines the conflicts inherent in international law - sources, sovereignty, 'custom' and 'world order' - and shows how legal discourse about such subjects can be described in terms of a small number of argumentative rules. This book was originally published in English in Finland in 1989 and though it quickly became a classic, it has been out of print for some years. In 2006, Cambridge was proud to reissue this seminal text, together with a freshly written Epilogue in which the author both responds to critiques of the original work, and reflects on the effect and significance of his 'deconstructive' approach today.


System Dependence Graph (SDG) is a graph representation which shows dependencies among statements / expressions in a design. In this paper, we propose a new HW/SW co-design methodology based on SDG. In our method, any combination of C / C++ / SpecC descriptions is acceptable as input designs so that design functions can be specified flexibly. First, the input descriptions are analyzed and verified with static but partially dynamic program checking methods by traversing SDG. With those methods, large descriptions can be processed. Next, those designs are divided into HW and SW parts. In this step, SDGs are fully utilized to insert parallelism into the designs, and it enables flexible HW/SW partitioning. The HW parts are further optimized and then converted into RTL descriptions by existing behavioral synthesis tools. Finally, the generated RTL descriptions together with the SW parts are compared to the original descriptions in order to make sure that they are logically equivalent. Also, designer- specified properties may be model checked with these final design descriptions. Such formal verifications can be realized by translating those descriptions into Finite State Machine (FSM) type representations and existing formal verifiers. We show two case studies with practical examples to demonstrate the usefulness of our approach.


The next generation of government officials, business leaders and members of civil society likely will draw from the current pool of law school students. These students often lack a foundation of the theoretical and analytical tools necessary to understand law's interplay with government. This highlights the importance of public choice analysis. By framing issues through a public choice lens, these students will learn the dynamics of effective decision-making within various institutional settings. Filling the void of how to explain the decision-making process of institutional actors in legal settings is Public Choice Concepts and Applications in Law by Maxwell Stearns and Todd Zywicki. Because of its analytic depth, Public Choice Concepts is likely to be recognized as the leading work on the subject for some time. Stearns and Zywicki's contribution to public choice scholarship is important and compelling. Part I of this review addresses common misperceptions about public choice, provides a descriptive summary of the book, explains its important implications, and suggests some limitations. Part II takes issue with Stearns and Zywicki on one important ground - their failure to adequately consider public choice issues in an international context. This Part describes how an understanding of public choice can offer insights into international antitrust.


This paper provides a review of the recent institutional changes observed in the water sector in Chile. This review is then used to reflect the Chilean experience in the light of the results concerning institutional change found in existing literature on both institutional economics in general and water institutional economics in particular. These results relate to factors explaining institutional change and the role of endogenous institutional features, such as path dependency and institutional linkages during the reform process. Against a brief description of the main features of the water sector in Chile, the paper provides an overview of Chilean water management institutions and the reforms process ongoing since the 1980s. The factors that motivated institutional changes in Chile's water management include ideology, transactions costs, interest-group behavior and path dependency. While the already observed institutional changes, such as the transferable water rights, water markets and urban water reforms, are all significant, further reforms are delayed by the deliberate legislative process required for changes as a result of the 1980 Constitution. Future water reforms in Chile, therefore, depend on a very difficult process of political reforms needed to change the 1980 Constitution and the 1981 Water Code.


This article presents the findings of a study of the resolution of motions to dismiss securities fraud lawsuits since the passage of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act in 1995. Our sample consists of decisions on motions to dismiss in securities class actions by district and appellate courts in the Second and Ninth Circuits for cases filed after the passage of the Reform Act to the end of 2001. These circuits are the leading circuits for the filing of securities class actions and are generally recognized as representing two ends of the securities class action spectrum. Post-PSLRA, the Second Circuit applies the least restrictive pleading standard to securities claims and the Ninth Circuit applies the most restrictive. We find some evidence that the Ninth Circuit's post-PSLRA reputation as being a tougher venue in which to win securities fraud class actions is born out by a significantly higher dismissal rate. The differences between the two circuits are also reflected in factors that correlate with dismissal. For example, allegations of violations of accounting principles other than revenue recognition correlate negatively with dismissal in the Second Circuit. This coefficient, however, is insignificant in our regressions for the Ninth Circuit. Allegations of revenue recognition violations are insignificant in both circuits, whether or not the issuer has been forced to restate those revenues. The circuits part ways on other factors as well: the Second Circuit is significantly less likely to dismiss cases with allegations of false forward-looking statements, a surprising result given the stringent standards for such statements imposed by the PSLRA. The Ninth Circuit is significantly less likely to dismiss complaints with allegations of '33 Act violations and the Second Circuit is more likely to dismiss cases brought by the Milberg Weiss firm. When it comes to insider trading, however, the two circuits are both skeptical and the allegations correlate with dismissal in both circuits.


The research reported here shows that a magnetic flux density B far in excess of the magnetic remanence B/sub R/ of a permanent magnet material can be achieved by arranging permanent magnets in the form of hollow cylindrical shells (magic rings), or hollow spherical shells (magic spheres) with additional modifications. In this paper, we report on three additional modifications to enhance the magnetic flux density in the pole gap, i) by changing the cross sectional shape of the permanent magnet array into an ellipse instead of a circle, ii) by including a high remanence flux concentrator close to the air gap and iii) by surrounding the magnet array with a soft magnetic shell which acts as a flux return path. In this way flux densities in excess of 3 Tesla can be achieved in a 23.5 mm/sup 2//spl times/15.2 mm pole gap using NdFeB magnets with remanence of only 1.2 Tesla. The enhanced magnetic flux density can be used for magnetic refrigeration systems, which require sources of magnetic field typically above 1.5 Tesla.


Since the Founding, Supreme Court justices have enjoyed life tenure. This helps insulate the justices from political pressures, but it also results in unpredictable deaths and strategic retirements determining the timing of Court vacancies. In order to regularize the appointment process, a number of academics and policymakers have put forward detailed term limits proposals. However, many of these proposals have been silent on many key design decisions and there has been almost no empirical work assessing the impact that term limits would have on the composition of the Supreme Court.

This Article provides a framework for designing a complete term limits proposal and develops an empirical strategy to assess the effects of instituting term limits. The framework we introduce outlines the key design features that any term limits proposal must make, including frequently overlooked decisions like what the default would be if there is Senate inaction on a president's nominee. The empirical strategy we develop uses simulations to assess how term limits proposals would have shaped the Court if they had been in place over the last 80 years of American history. These simulations enable comparative assessments of term limit proposals relative to each other and to the historical status quo of life tenure.

Using these simulations, we are able to isolate the design features of existing proposals that produce significant differences in the composition of the Supreme Court. For instance, proposals that commence appointing term-limited justices immediately could complete the transition in just 16 years, but proposals that wait until after the sitting justices leave the Court to appoint term limited justices would take an average of 52 years to complete the transition. Our results also reveal that term limits are likely to produce dramatic changes in the ideological composition of the Court. Most significantly, the Supreme Court had extreme ideological imbalance for 60 percent of the time since President Franklin Roosevelt's effort to pack the Court, but any of the major term limit proposals would have reduced the amount of time with extreme imbalance by almost half.


This article investigates a change in the structuring of work time, using a natural experiment to test whether participation in a corporate initiative (Results Only Work Environment; ROWE) predicts corresponding changes in health-related outcomes. Drawing on job strain and stress process models, we theorize greater schedule control and reduced work-family conflict as key mechanisms linking this initiative with health outcomes. Longitudinal survey data from 659 employees at a corporate headquarters shows that ROWE predicts changes in health-related behaviors, including almost an extra hour of sleep on work nights. Increasing employees' schedule control and reducing their work-family conflict are key mechanisms linking the ROWE innovation with changes in employees' health behaviors; they also predict changes in well-being measures, providing indirect links between ROWE and well-being. This study demonstrates that organizational changes in the structuring of time can promote employee wellness, particularly in terms of prevention behaviors.


Chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) is a marked complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and multiple organs can be affected by cGVHD-induced inflammation and fibrosis. In clinical settings, immunosuppressive agents have been the last resort to treat cGVHD. However, it has been only partially effective for cGVHD. Hence, efficacious treatment of cGVHD is eagerly awaited. Our previous work suggested that oxidative stress was elevated in cGVHD-disordered lacrimal glands and that epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) was implicated in fibrosis caused by ocular cGVHD. In addition, our recent article demonstrated that thioredoxin interaction protein (TXNIP) and transcription factor nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-𝛋B) were associated with the development of cGVHD. After our search for effective drugs, we chose tranilast to combat systemic cGVHD. Tranilast is known to (1) act as an inhibitor of the inflammatory molecules TXNIP and NF-κB and (2) exert anti-fibrotic, anti-EMT and anti-oxidative effects. To investigate the effectiveness of tranilast for cGVHD, we used an MHC-compatible, multiple minor histocompatibility antigen-mismatched murine model of cGVHD. Tranilast or a solvent-vehicle were orally given to the allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (allo-BMT) recipients from the day before allo-BMT (Day-1) to Day 27 after allo-BMT. Their cGVHD-vulnerable organs were collected Day 28 after allo-BMT and analyzed by using various methods such as histology, immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting. As indicated by our results, tranilast alleviated cGVHD-elicited inflammation and fibrosis by suppressing the expression and/or activation of TXNIP and NF-κB and preventing EMT. Taken together, although this strategy may not be a complete cure for cGVHD, tranilast could be a promising medication to ameliorate cGVHD-triggered disabling symptoms.


Because local weather conditions in moderate climates are changing constantly, heat transfer specifications of substrate and vegetation in vegetated green roofs also change accordingly. Nevertheless, it is assumed that vegetated green roofs can have a positive effect on the thermal performance of construction in winter conditions. Is there proof from scientific research and field testing for this assumption? To answer this question, research is conducted with the main research question: Which parameters defining thermal performance for vegetated green-roof construction for a moderate winter climate like that in the Netherlands can be determined from existing literature, and how do these parameters influence thermal performance? Literature research was executed on monitoring and testing of thermal specifications of vegetated green roofs. Models with physical parameters on vegetated green roofs were studied and compared. The first goal was to make a list of all physical parameters and corresponding variables valid in the Dutch moderate-winter climate. None of the models that were found in the literature seemed to cover all physical processes. These models use parameters and variables to calculate the overall u-value of substrate and vegetation. Nevertheless, one nearly complete model was used for a sensitivity test on variables. Maximum and minimum values of variables were calculated in the model to determine the influence on the outcome in terms of u-value. From this analysis, a distinction could be made between variables influencing the u-value strongly and other variables influencing the outcome weakly. The modelling showed that three variables were influencing the model calculations moderately strongly and therefore the thermal performance of the vegetated green-roof substrate and vegetation. These variables are not consistent with parameters modeling or calculating u-value in constructions. This finding means that contribution to thermal insulation by extensive vegetated green-roof substrate and vegetation in terms of u-value would be negligible. Only a small theoretical contribution to thermal insulation can be argued from weak variables. To be sure about this small theoretical contribution to the u-value of the roof construction, this u-value was used as input for energy-use calculations for residential buildings. These calculations show that such a small increase of the u-value leads to no visible reduction in energy use for heating in winter conditions. The contribution is negligible compared to the influence of the u-value from extra insulation under the roof. For vegetated green roofs in such moderate winter climates as in the Netherlands, additional u-value will have to be proven specifically, because the modelling shows that, in general, no contribution to thermal insulation can be expected.


Many important signal processing techniques such as Spatial Smoothing, Forward Backward Averaging and Root-MUSIC, rely on antenna arrays with specific and precise structures. Arrays with such ideal structures, such as a centro-hermitian structure, are often hard to build in practice. Array interpolation is used to enable the usage of these techniques with imperfect (not having a centro-hermitian structure) arrays. Most interpolation methods rely on methods based on least squares (LS) to map the output of a perfect virtual array based on the real array. In this work, the usage of Multivariate Adaptive Regression Splines (MARS) is proposed instead of the traditional LS to interpolate arrays with responses largely different from the ideal.


Freight Transport Time (FTT) is an important resource for manufacturing companies, firstly as a cost driver of logistics processes and secondly as a key factor of customer satisfaction. Yet, there is a lot of controversy between researchers regarding the strength of the link between changes in transport time and business performance and the methods used to measure this effect. In this context, the aim of this paper is to estimate the effect that changes in freight transport time have on the economic performance of transport consuming manufacturing companies. With the use of System Dynamics Modelling a simulation model is built identifying the role of FTT in the internal supply chain of a Make to Stock manufacturer. Changes in FTT are introduced in the system affecting the production materials inventory replenishment time and the delivery to consumer time. Simulation results suggest that the effect of FTT changes depend highly on the structure of the company's decision making process. Through the development and simulation of several scenarios it is evident that information feedback about changes in FTT if interpreted and processed by different decision rules and strategies can lead to different results allowing companies to fruitfully - or not - reap the benefits of improved FTT.


Many countries use substantial public funds to subsidize reductions in negative externalities. However, such subsidies create asymmetric incentives because increases in externalities remain unpriced. This paper examines implications of such asymmetric subsidy incentives by using a regression discontinuity design in California's electricity rebate program that provided a financial reward for energy conservation. Using household-level panel data from administrative records, I find precisely-estimated zero causal effects in coastal areas. In contrast, the incentive produced a 5% consumption reduction in inland areas. Income and climate conditions significantly drive the heterogeneity. Asymmetric subsidy structures weaken incentives because consumers far from the rebate target show little response. The overall program cost is 17.5 cents per kWh reduction and $390 per ton of carbon dioxide reduction, which is unlikely to be cost-effective for a reasonable range of the social marginal cost of electricity.


Abstract. We present results from snow-on and snow-off airborne-scanning LiDAR measurements over a 53 km2 area in the southern Sierra Nevada. We found that snow depth as a function of elevation increased approximately 15 cm per 100 m, until reaching an elevation of 3300 m, where depth sharply decreased at a rate of 48 cm per 100 m. Departures from the 15 cm per 100 m trend, based on 1 m elevation-band means of regression residuals, showed slightly less steep increases below 2050 m; steeper increases between 2050 and 3300 m; and less steep increases above 3300 m. Although the study area is partly forested, only measurements in open areas were used. Below approximately 2050 m elevation, ablation and rainfall are the primary causes of departure from the orographic trend. From 2050 to 3300 m, greater snow depths than predicted were found on the steeper terrain of the northwest and the less steep northeast-facing slopes, suggesting that ablation, aspect, slope and wind redistribution all play a role in local snow-depth variability. At elevations above 3300 m, orographic processes mask the effect of wind deposition when averaging over large areas. Also, terrain in this basin becomes less steep above 3300 m. This suggests a reduction in precipitation from upslope lifting and/or the exhaustion of precipitable water from ascending air masses. Our results suggest a cumulative precipitation lapse rate for the 2100–3300 m range of about 6 cm per 100 m elevation for the accumulation period of 3 December 2009 to 23 March 2010. This is a higher gradient than the widely used PRISM (Parameter-elevation Relationships on Independent Slopes Model) precipitation products, but similar to that from reconstruction of snowmelt amounts from satellite snow-cover data. Our findings provide a unique characterization of the consistent, steep average increase in precipitation with elevation in snow-dominated terrain, using high-resolution, highly accurate data and highlighs the importance of solar radiation, wind redistribution and mid-winter melt with regard to snow distribution.


This paper drew upon a recent book (Rethinking Education in the Age of Technology) to summarize a number of prospects and challenges arising from the appropriation of digital technology into learning and educational practice. Tensions between traditional models of schooling and the affordances of digital media were noted, while the promise of these technologies for shaping a new system of education was reviewed. It was argued that new technology brings radical opportunities but also significant challenges. The urgency of seeking a coherent model for the future of education in a technological age was stressed.


In China, the emergence of WeChat—a comprehensive mobile application—has introduced millions of older adults to the digital world. This study conceptualizes the use of WeChat among Chinese older adults from the theoretical framework of alternative media. Based on four focus group discussions in Shanghai, China, with 35 individuals aged 50 years or older, the study found that WeChat exposes many Chinese older adults—for the first time—to a large amount of controversial information and viewpoints that are critical of the official discourse; it also enables some of them to participate in civic life online. The research also reveals a number of constraints such as Internet censorship and WeChat's profit-driven environment, which to a large extent limit the potential of the mobile application to facilitate alternative communication among this group of people.


It is argued that signed communication systems differ from spoken ones in having not one but two structured systems of representation. In addition to the linguistic mode (which is shared with spoken communication, and which appears to be fundamentally identical across spoken and signed modalities), signers also command distinctive, formal systems of schematic visual representation. These are the forms of signing known as classifier predicates. For the past two decades, signed classifier predicates have been modeled as linguistic. However, the basic formal units of such signing, the combination of these units, and their breakdown, all differ both from patterns seen in other signed forms that have long been recognized as linguistic, and from the classic patterns of language in general. Classifier predicates continue to be modeled as linguistic mostly on the basis of assumptions about alternatives, specifically about the form and acquisition of systems of visual-spatial representation. These assumptions are shown to be incorrect. Signed classifiers are shown to correspond in many respects not merely to visual representation, but to a particular strategy of depiction known as schematic visual representation. This is the mode of depiction that appears to be most natural for both children and adults to master, and that is commonly seen in drawing. There is thus strong evidence that in signed language classifiers we have what, from the point of view of traditional (spoken-language based) linguistics, is a qualitatively new communication mode: formal, structured systems of visual representation that exist side-by-side with linguistic modalities, within the total signed communication system.


ABSTRACT Courtship and copulation constitute crucial elements of avian reproduction and fitness. Despite the potential impact of environmental perturbations and long-term climate change on avian reproduction, few studies provide quantitative information on courtship and copulation behaviors and their responses to proximate environmental factors. We provide the first quantitative description of courtship and copulation behavior in Glaucous-winged Gulls (Larus glaucescens), an important indicator species of marine environmental quality in North America's Pacific Northwest. Male and female Glaucous-winged Gulls exhibited similar frequencies of most pre- and post-mount behaviors, which closely resemble those used by other larids. Mounts were more frequent than expected during the pre-egg-laying and egg-laying stages of the breeding season and less frequent than expected during the incubation stage. In 2008, numbers of successful copulations vs. unsuccessful copulations, numbers of cloacal contacts per successful copulation, and copulation duration did not differ by reproductive stage. In 2012, copulation duration increased with day of the year and decreased with wind speed, and the number of cloacal contacts per copulation decreased with wind speed. The odds of paired head toss increased with tide height and decreased with solar elevation. The odds of female courtship beg increased with the number of days from its peak occurrence, and also with solar elevation, tide height, and Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) disturbances. Mount interval, the time from the start of one mount in the study area to that of another, was positively related to time of day, barometric pressure, and solar elevation but was negatively related to solar radiation and colony occupancy. Both the temporal and spatial occurrence of copulation were socially facilitated by the behavior of neighboring birds in the colony. Our results suggest that changes in environmental variables due to climate change could affect reproductive behaviors and reproductive success in this species.


In vertebrates, haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) maintain the blood system throughout life. HSCs are believed to arise during embryogenesis from haemogenic endothelial cells (HECs) that undergo an endothelial-to-haematopoietic transition (EHT). Here, in order to trace the progeny of the embryonic ECs in zebrafish, an inducible CreERT2-LoxP system was used. Following short-term induction of the Cre recombinase during early embryonic stages, Cre reporter gene expression was observed in early larval haematopoietic cells (HCs). At adult stages, PCR revealed the presence of the recombined Cre reporter gene in HCs, demonstrating that adult HCs had originated from embryonic ECs. In zebrafish, HECs of the ventral wall of the dorsal aorta (vDA) are thought to form HCs by basal epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (bEMT), a process that depends on the transcription factor Runx1. Here, making use of the recently identified gfi1aaqmc551Gt line, confocal microscopy showed that qmc551: GFP+ cells were HECs. While most GFP+ cells underwent bEMT, some displayed a novel type of apical departure. In runx1morphants, bEMT was abrogated and most GFP+ HECs remained in the vDA. Apical departure, however, was still observed in the absence of Runx1, suggesting a fundamental difference in the underlying mechanism.While gfi1aa expression was lost in vDA HECs of qmc551 homozygous embryos, EHT of GFP+ HECs was completely unaffected. Up regulation of its paralogue Gfi1ab suggested functional redundancy. To study this redundancy, the CRISPR/Cas9 system was used to mutate the gfi1ab gene. Here, the mutant gfi1ab alleles qmc552 and qmc553 were identified. Both alleles, as well as a third allele sh320 that was generated by a collaborator, encode truncated, most likely non-functional proteins. Initial data on gfi1aaand gfi1ab double mutant embryos showed a defect in definitive haematopoiesis. Whether HECs were affected and blocked in their ability to undergo EHT remains to be determined.


This research was undertaken to determine the effect of phytoplasma associated diseases on Stylosanthes spp. and clarify the relationship between the "little leaf' and "reversion" disease syndromes. Preliminary surveys of Stylosanthes stands in Queensland (Qld) and the Northern Territory (NT) identified the phytoplasmas pigeon pea little leaf (PLL), sweet potato little leaf variant V4 (SPLL-V4) and stylosanthes little leaf (StLL) in association with a wide range of symptoms such as leaf size reduction, side shoot proliferation and floral deformation. In addition to these three pathogens, the phytoplasma vigna little leaf (ViLL) was also detected in one sample from the NT but was never identified in samples from Qld. Genetic studies of the ribosomal operons of these phytoplasmas found that StLL was unique, having ribosomal operons both with and without the characteristic tRNAlle gene within the 16S-23S intergenic spacer region. The combination and severity of symptoms expressed by plants with stylosanthes little leaf disease was highly variable making it difficult to correlate symptom type with phytoplasma strain. As a result no pathogen specific disease description could be made. Instead the term stylosanthes little leaf (SLL) disease was adopted to refer to all phytoplasma associated diseases of this host. The most accurate indicator of SLL disease was found to be reduction in leaf size (little leaf) which usually occurred in association with side shoot proliferation. Further studies of the floral symptoms expressed by diseased plants showed that particular types of floral deformation could be associated (p = 0.1) with specific phytoplasma strains. Namely, phyllody was associated with PLL, while virescence was often associated with SPLL-V4. This finding was not used to formulate a pathogen specific symptom description because of the seasonal nature of this symptom and the small size of stylo flowers which makes the accurate identification of different types of floral deformation problematic. To determine the susceptibility of members of the genus Stylosanthes to SLL disease 23 varieties were surveyed for phytoplasma associated symptoms over the 1999 growing season. Included in this trial was Stylosanthes scabra cvv Seca, Siran, and Fitzroy, S. guianensis var. guianensis cv Cook, S. hamata cvv Amiga and Verano and "Stylosanthes seabrana" cvv Unica and Primar, as well as seven unreleased cultivars from a CSIRO anthracnose resistance breeding program, and four unreleased introduced lines. Except S. hamata cv. Verano and "Stylosanthes seabrana" cv. Unica, all taxa were found to be susceptible to SLL disease, although the S. scabra varieties were found to have the highest disease incidence, with many varieties having significantly higher levels of disease than that of the original introductions from which they were derived. To study the spatial and temporal dynamics of SLL disease 2500 S. scabra cv. Seca plants were studied over two seasons (1999 & 2000). The incidence of SLL disease differed considerably between seasons, with a total of 15.4% of plants in 1999 being found positive for the SLL phytoplasmas (PLL, SPLL-V4 and StLL), while 40.4% were phytoplasma positive in 2000. The impact of these pathogens on the longevity of infected plants was minimal, with only 1.1% and 4.3% of diseased plants dying in the 1999 and 2000 seasons, respectively. Of the diseased plants that did die, those affected by mixed infections of StLL with either PLL or SPLL-V4 were more likely to die than those affected by any of the phytoplasma strains on their own. Comparisons of the increase in each phytoplasma strain over the two seasons indicated that the 1999 and 2000 epidemics progressed quite differently. In both years spatial analysis was used to identify clusters of diseased plants within the trial. Spatiotemporal analysis of these clusters indicated that they did not expand over time, suggesting that spread of disease from one diseased plant to adjacent plants was uncommon which is consistent with the transmission of SLL disease by a mobile aerial vector. To determine the effect of SLL disease and the time of infection on seed yield, both diseased and asymptomatic Seca plants were harvested at the end of the 1999 and 2000 seasons. Plants that first showed symptoms after flowering for less than 30 days did not produce significant amounts of seed. Yield continued to be low until plants had flowered for at least 60 days before symptom expression, after which yield was extremely variable but within the range of that observed for individual asymptomatic plants. The small number of fatalities due to SLL and the minimal effect this disease has on seed yield means that, except in unusual circumstances, SLL is unlikely to adversely effect the productivity of commercial seed crops in north Queensland.


Conservation and management of passerines has largely focused on habitat manipulation or restoration because the natural communities on which these birds depend have been destroyed and fragmented. However, productivity is another important aspect of avian conservation, and nest predation can be a large source of nesting mortality for passerines. Recent studies using video surveillance to identify nest predators allow researchers to start evaluating what methods could be used to mitigate nest predation to help passerines of conservation concern. From recent studies, we identified latitudinal and habitat-related patterns in the importance of predator groups that depredate passerine nests. We then reviewed how knowledge of specific nest predators can benefit conservation of bird species of concern. Mammals were the dominant predator group in northern grasslands. Snakes were the dominant predator group in southern habitats. Fire ants were only a nest predator in southern latitudes. Differences in the importance of predator species or groups were likely the result of both their geographic patterns of distribution and habitat preferences. Some direct and indirect predator control measures developed for waterfowl management potentially could be used to benefit passerine productivity. We reviewed three examples—cowbirds, snakes in shrublands, and ground squirrels in grasslands—to illustrate how different predator control strategies may be needed in different situations. Mitigation of passerine nest predation will need to be based on knowledge of predator communities to be effective. This requires large samples of predation events with identified predators; video technology is essential for this task.


International Humanitarian Law: A Comprehensive Introduction is an introductory handbook that aims to promote and strengthen knowledge of international humanitarian law (IHL) among academics, weapon-bearers, humanitarian workers and media professionals. It presents contemporary issues related to IHL in an accessible and practical style, and in line with the ICRC's reading of the law. That, plus its distinctive format – combining "In a nutshell", "To go further" and thematic textboxes –make it the ideal everyday companion for anyone approaching IHL for the first time and curious about conflict-related matters, as well as for military and humanitarian personnel seeking useful guidance on a vast array of topics. BOOKS AND ARTICLES


ABSTRACT The flaws of the 20th century–type development 'mega–projects' in the circumpolar North prompt Arctic regions actively to search for alternative strategies of regional development that break away from resource–dependency and reconcile local (traditional) societies with the realities of post–Fordism and globalisation. This paper presents a study that focuses on the notion of creative capital (CC) and assesses its ability to foster economic development in Alaska. The findings suggest that some characteristics of the CC observed in Alaskan communities are similar to those found in southern regions, whereas others are distinct (but similar to those in the Canadian North). In Alaska, the synergy between cultural economy, entrepreneurship and leadership appear to be more important in characterising creative capacities than formal education. The geographical distribution of the CC is uneven and heavily clustered in economically, geographically and politically privileged northern urban centres. However, some remote regions also demonstrate considerable levels of creative potential, in particular associated with the aboriginal cultural capital (artists, crafters, etc.). A number of Alaskan regions, creative 'hot spots', could become places that can benefit from alternative strategies of regional development based on CC, knowledge–based and cultural economies.


The existing literature on income mobility comparisons is strongly characterized by contrasting results and empirical puzzles. In this paper we focus on the role of the equivalizing transformation for the definition of complete mobility orderings. Two crucial considerations are involved. First, we suggest that a separating line should be drawn between measuring intra-generational income mobility and measuring socially relevant effects of intra-generational income mobility. Secondly, we observe that some of the normative issues entailed in the definition of efficient mobility indices should be opportunely revisited once the equivalizing transformation has been implemented, not before. In this scenario, the use of equivalent adults seems to be the more normatively efficient solution whenever income mobility orderings are investigated over heterogeneous societies. In particular, this result seems to be supported by the empirical investigation over eight countries and five waves (ECHP – PSID), that is, most of detected empirical puzzles in the existing literature disappear when the reference income unit consists of the equivalent adult.


Surgical treatment of early stage lung cancer offers the best chance of long-term survival,
either on its own, or as part of multi-modality treatment. However, the potential for future
recurrence of cancer is a realistic concern and increases strongly by cancer stage. Research
findings around information needs of patients with cancer are complex and contradictory
and few studies have included patients with early stage lung cancer.
This study explores communication regarding risk of recurrence following lung cancer
surgery using a qualitative multiple case study approach. Purposive sampling identified
twelve cases centred on patients with a range of lung cancer stages and management plans.
Case studies began at first post-surgical consultation and continued for six months after
surgery. Patient participants followed two distinct treatment pathways after surgery, either
straight into long-term follow-up, or to see an oncologist to discuss adjuvant treatment.
Data collection included audio recordings of consultations, in-depth interviews with patients
and their associated professionals, and collection of documentary evidence. Data were
analysed using a Framework approach, with latent themes developed at a higher level using
Thematic Analysis techniques.
This multi-perspectival dataset gave rich, longitudinal insights into communication around
recurrence risk following lung cancer surgery. Three overarching themes were developed:
'Predicting the Future', 'Maintaining hope' and 'Hope Dances'. Fundamentally different
conceptions of long-term outcome were seen amongst patient and professional
participants. Discussion of recurrence risk was generally minimised during observed
consultations. However, patients with more favourable prognoses tended to have more
explicit discussions around the subject. Patients and professionals shared an imperative to
maintain patient hope, which powerfully determined how potential recurrence was
discussed. Participants engaged in active strategies to support hope, which included tacit
co-construction of hope for the future. Findings are considered in terms of the clinical
communication implications, supporting patients after treatment finishes and the need for
further research.


This chapter explores the crucial role of relational emotions in children's language learning and argues for an intersubjective theory of language development. To demonstrate the need for this approach, first a review of different classical theories of language acquisition as well as of more recent emergentist approaches is given. From this it is obvious that in all discussions about the opposition or the interplay between nature, nurture and culture and therefore the primary motives for children's language development, no prominent theory explicitly focuses on the importance of emotions in language or in prelinguistic and linguistic development. Only in the interactionist and psychoanalytic models do we find implicit concepts about affective influences on language constitution. In response to this lack, evidence is given for the semiogenetic power of emotions from recent semiolinguistic and neuropsychological research, both of which employ the concept of 'intersubjectivity'. The findings from these two fields of investigation are summarized in an application to children's semiolinguistic development. Four major milestones of affect and meaning attunement in the child's trajectory from emotional regulation of interpersonal contact and cooperation to cognitive mastery of experience in the intersubjective construction of signs are described. The chapter concludes with an outline of the concept of 'Relational Language Therapy' – a therapeutic approach to language learning, which views as central the emotion-based influence of a 'Significant Other' in both parental and professional support of children's semiolinguistic development. Finally as a vision for future theorizing, these paradigm shifts are taken to pave the way for fully incorporating the concept of intersubjectivity into linguistic theory and its various fields of application. Keywords: relational emotions; neurobiology of early communication; infant intersubjectivity; sign development; language development; meaning-attunement; mirror-mechanisms; Relational Language Therapy


Understanding future tree species migration is challenging due to the unprecedented rate of climate change combined with the presence of human barriers that may limit or impede species movement. Projected changes in climatic conditions outpace migration rates, and more realistic rates of range expansion are needed to make sound environmental policies. In this paper, we develop a modeling approach that takes into account both the geographic changes in the area suitable for the growth and reproduction of tree species, as well as limits imposed geographically on their potential migration using remotely-sensed land cover information. To do so, we combined a physiologically-based decision tree model with a remotely-sensed-derived diffusion-dispersal model to identify the most likely direction of future migration for 15 native tree species in the Pacific Northwest Region of North America, as well as the degree that landscape fragmentation might limit movement. Although projected changes in climate through to 2080 are likely to create favorable environments for range expansion of the 15 tree species by 65% on average, by limiting the potential movement by previously published migration rates and landscape fragmentation, range expansion will likely be 50%–90% of the potential. The hybrid modeling approach using distribution modeling and remotely-sensed data fills a gap between naive and more complex approaches to take into account major impediments on the potential migration of native tree species.


At last, Ruth Sidranksy's groundbreaking book "In Silence: Growing Up Hearing in a Deaf World" is back in print. Her account of growing up as the hearing daughter of deaf Jewish parents in the Bronx and Brooklyn during the 1930s and 1940s reveals the challenges deaf people faced during the Depression and afterward. Inside her family's apartment, Sidransky knew a warm, secure place. She recalls her earliest memories of seeing words fall from her parents' hands. She remembers her father entertaining the family endlessly with his stories, and her mother's story of tying a red ribbon to herself and her infant daughter to know when she needed anything in the night. Outside the apartment, the cacophonous hearing world greeted Sidransky's family with stark stares of curiosity as though they were "freaks." Always upbeat, her proud father still found it hard to earn a living. When Sidransky started school, she was placed in a class for special needs children until the prinicipal realized that she could hear and speak. Sidransky portrays her family with deep affection and honesty, and her frank account provides a living narrative of the Deaf experience in pre- and post-World War II America. "In Silence" has become an invaluable chronicle of a special time and place that will affect all who read it for years to come.


Abstract In this study, we analyze the trade linkages between the United Kingdom (UK), Finland, and the European Union (EU). We calculate the value-added content of trade through complex global value chains (GVCs), which may involve numerous production stages and third countries. Our results show that the importance of the UK as a trading partner for Finland has decreased during the last 15 years, and the tendency has been stronger than that between the UK and other EU countries, on average. We compare the importance of the UK to that of other countries by extracting the total amount of the Finnish value added that is generated in the value chains involving individual countries. Through this comparison, we find that the UK ranks as the sixth most important country. We further decompose the total value added into components that quantify the value added that is generated through direct trade with the UK and the indirect trade that is channeled through third countries. We find that roughly one third of the total value added is generated through indirect trade and two thirds through direct trade. Our analysis also suggests that one fifth of both the Finnish and EU value-added trade to the UK passes through the UK to other countries. The main destination countries are the United States (US), Germany, and France.