Fast moving technologies have caused high-tech components to have shortened life cycles, rendering them obsolete quickly. Technology obsolescence creates significant problems for product sectors that use components that are only available for a short period of time for manufacture and maintenance of long field-life systems. Technology obsolescence can make design changes of systems prohibitively expensive, and results in high life cycle costs of systems. While the impact and pervasiveness of obsolescence problems are growing, existing tools and solutions are lacking the needed information and knowledge to do much more than focus on reactively managing obsolescence. Current methods and tools are limited by data conflicts and data inexplicitness, incompleteness, and inconsistency. In response to the drawbacks of current tools, comprehensive knowledge representation that allows information sharing, reuse, and collaboration on obsolescence issues across different organizations is required. Further, decision making tools that can support proactive and strategic obsolescence management are needed. The purpose of this research is to establish an ontology-based knowledge representation scheme for information sharing, reuse, and collaboration on obsolescence issues, and develop decision making models to support proactive and strategic management for overall cost savings in managing obsolescence. Three primary aspects of this research are investigated. First, ontologies for obsolescence knowledge representation are developed in a systematic way with the use of UML diagrams. The generality of the developed ontology is demonstrated with distinct examples. Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages (DMSMS) obsolescence provides the basis for this study. Second, an ontology-based hybrid approach for integrating heterogeneous data resources in existing obsolescence management tools is proposed. Third, decision support models are developed and formalized, and include the obsolescence forecasting method for proactively managing obsolescence, and the mathematical models to determine the optimal design refresh plan to minimize the product life cycle cost for strategic obsolescence management. Finally, the design of the obsolescence management information system is provided along with a system evaluation methodology. Ultimately, the research contributes to the field of knowledge representation as well as design for managing product obsolescence.


The high volatility of rates of returns on bonds during the 1980s received a great deal of attention because it is readily acknowledged that bond return volatility is critical to the analysis and management of bonds. Yet there has been no detailed analysis of bond market volatility for the pre–1980 period that would allow the experience during the 1980s and the 1990s to be put into perspective. The authors analyze the changing volatility of the government bond market over the past 50 years and examine how these changes compare to the well–documented volatility changes for the stock market. A comparison of Treasury bond market volatility to stock market volatility indicates that the volatility for these two markets has differed dramatically over time. The difference in volatility is confirmed by an analysis of the systematic risk of bonds versus stocks and the moving correlations between bonds and stock over time. In both instances, the pattern indicates a very cyclical series with wide ranges, but also a positive trend. An analysis of the time series properties of bond and stock volatility likewise indicates significant differences.


Many algorithms for constrained clustering have been developed in the literature that aim to balance vector quantization requirements of cluster prototypes against the discrete satisfaction requirements of constraint (must-link or cannot-link) sets. A significant amount of research has been devoted to designing new algorithms for constrained clustering and understanding when constraints help clustering. However, no method exists to systematically characterize solution sets as constraints are gently introduced and how to assist practitioners in choosing a sweet spot between vector quantization and constraint satisfaction. A homotopy method is presented that can smoothly track solutions from unconstrained to constrained formulations of clustering. Beginning the homotopy zero curve tracking where the solution is (fairly) well-understood, the curve can then be tracked into regions where there is only a qualitative understanding of the solution set, finding multiple local solutions along the way. Experiments demonstrate how the new homotopy method helps identify better tradeoffs and reveals insight into the structure of solution sets not obtainable using pointwise exploration of parameters.


This study aimed to investigate the effects of calibration sample size and item bank size on examinee ability estimation in computerized adaptive testing (CAT). For this purpose, a 500-item bank pre-calibrated using the three-parameter logistic model with 10,000 examinees was simulated. Calibration samples of varying sizes (150, 250, 350, 500, 750, 1,000, 2,000, 3,000, and 5,000) were selected from the parent sample, and item banks that represented small (100) and medium size (200 and 300) banks were drawn from the 500-item bank. Items in these banks were recalibrated using the drawn samples, and their estimated parameters were used in post-hoc simulations to re-estimate ability parameters for the simulated 10,000 examinees. The findings showed that ability estimates in CAT are robust against fluctuations in item parameter estimation and that accurate ability parameter estimates can be obtained with a calibration sample of 150 examinees. Moreover, a 200-item bank pre-calibrated with as few as 150 examinees can be used for some purposes in CAT as long as it has sufficient information at targeted ability levels.


Abstract: A number of physicochemical conditions such different concentration of glucose, sucrose, potassium nitrate, ammonium nitrate, calcium chloride and temperatures were tested to optimize growth and production of tropane alkaloids from Datura stramonium (Solanaceae) plants. Cell suspension from semi-clear calli of leave explants developed in MS medium containing kinetin (0.5 mg L(-1)) and NAA (2 mg L(-1)) hormones was used to measure biomass and total alkaloids and comparison of treatments. The results showed that 30 and 40 g L(-1) glucose led to the highest level of alkaloids and biomass productions, respectively. 20 and 40 g L(-1) sucrose concentrations resulted in order the most rates of alkaloids and biomass productions. The results showed that increasing of nitrate concentration led to the reduction of the alkaloids. The best concentration of potassium nitrate for the production of tropane alkaloids and biomass were in order 9.4 and 3.76 mM. Also it was evinced that the optimized concentration of ammonium nitrate for alkaloids production was 10.3 mM and for the biomass was 41.22 mM. The best concentration of calcium chloride for growth and production of the alkaloids was 7.92 mM. Testing different temperature specified that the best condition for production of the alkaloids was 20 degrees C whereas it was 25 degrees C for biomass production. The results of this study could be recommended to farmers involved in production of D. stramonium for tropain alkaloids at industrial and semi-industrial scales.


We consider linear precoding in the downlink of a multiuser multiple-input-single-output (MISO) overlay cognitive radio (CR) network, wherein a primary base station (PBS) and a cognitive base station (CBS) share the same frequency band to transmit to a number of primary users (PUs) and secondary users. Conventionally, linear precoding techniques in a CR network aim to limit or completely cancel interference to the PUs while achieving maximum downlink throughput of the CR system. In this paper, we investigate novel adaptive linear precoding techniques at the CBS to exploit the interference to the primary and secondary systems, instead of its cancellation, by exploring the potential of making use of interference energy when the interference between the two systems is mutually constructive on an instantaneous basis. By doing so, the received signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is enhanced by the signal energy gleaned from the constructive interference. In this direction, constructive-interference-based adaptive linear precoding techniques are proposed for the CR network, assuming a simple zero-forcing precoder at the PBS and noncausal knowledge of the primary message at the CBS. The presented analysis and simulations show that the proposed precoding techniques outperform conventional techniques, as the CR transmission actively enhances the performance of the PUs through constructive interference while achieving significant throughput for its own transmission.


Design and development of vertically-suspended water pumps requires good understanding of the rotor system characteristics with water-lubricated rubber bearings (WLRB). This paper presents a newly-built experimental device to simulate rotor systems with WLRBs, and some initial results on experimental identification of dynamic stiffness coefficients of a long WLRB. In experiments, unbalanced mass response of a rotor system is used to determine the experimental dynamic stiffness of WLRB. The unbalanced mass response of the system is modeled by the Distributed Transfer Function Method (DTFM). Unlike traditional methods in which standard pointwise bearing models are used, the DTFM–based modeling treats a long WLRB as a viscoelastic foundation. The rubber bearing dynamic stiffness coefficients are investigated in three different cases: the rotating system carrying one disk, two disks, and three disks. The experimental results show that the WLRB dynamic stiffness coefficients increase parabolically with increasing rotating speed. In addition, the predicted natural frequencies of the rotor system by the DTFM are within eight percent of experimental results.


Author(s): Fischer, Marc; Jeong, Seongeun; Newman, Sally; Zhang, Jingsong | Abstract: California has committed to an ambitious plan to reduce statewide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 through Assembly Bill 32 (AB-32), which requires accurate accounting of emissions for effective mitigation planning and verification of future emission reductions. Atmospheric GHG measurements from networks of towers can be combined with existing knowledge of emissions in a statistical inverse model -- weighing existing knowledge with the new observations -- to more accurately quantify GHG emissions. This study quantifies major anthropogenic GHGs including fossil fuel CO2 (ffCO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions within California with a Bayesian inverse modeling framework, using atmospheric observations from an expanded GHG measurement network across California over multiple years. We first assess uncertainties in the transport model predictions using a combination of meteorological and carbon monoxide (CO) measurements. Comparison of predicted and measured CO mixing ratios at the four towers during June 2013 – May 2014 yields near-unity slopes (predicted vs. measured) for the majority of sites and seasons, suggesting that the model simulations are sufficient to estimate emissions of CO and likely other GHGs across California to within 10%. The results of this study indicate that ffCO2 emissions from central California are within 6% of the prior estimate (i.e., the estimate based on existing knowledge before measured data are taken into account), and that in the South Coast Air Basin (SoCAB) ffCO2 emissions are within 11% of the prior estimate for that region. Combining results from the two regions (i.e., central California and SoCAB), ffCO2 emissions are consistent to within approximately 10% of the prior estimate. Summing estimated CH4 emissions across all air basins (i.e., subregions) of California, posterior results (i.e., results after the relevant atmospheric observation is taken into account) suggest that state annual anthropogenic CH4 emissions are higher (1.2 - 1.8 times) than the anthropogenic emission in California Air Resources Board's (CARB) current GHG inventory. The estimated CH4 emissions drop to 1.0 - 1.6 times the CARB inventory if results are corrected for the median CH4 emissions assuming the 10% model bias in CO is applicable to CH4. The CH4 emissions from the Central Valley and major urban regions (SoCAB and San Francisco Bay Area, SFBA) account for 58% and 26 % of the total posterior emissions, respectively. This study combined with other studies suggests the livestock sector is the major contributor to the state total CH4 emissions, in agreement with CARB's GHG inventory. Using N2O measurements from six sites across California, state annual anthropogenic N2O emissions are estimated to be higher (1.5 – 2.5 times) than the current CARB inventory. The estimated N2O emissions drop to 1.3 - 2.3 times the CARB inventory if corrected for the median N2O emissions assuming the 10% model bias in CO is applicable to N2O. This study's results reinforce the understanding that a large portion of the increase in global atmospheric N2O can be attributed to the use of fertilizer, and agricultural activities are likely a significant source of anthropogenic N2O emissions in California, as currently reflected in CARB's N2O inventory. The results also indicate that seasonal variations in California's N2O emissions relative to the annual average are likely smaller than for interior portions (e.g., Midwestern US) of the continental US, consistent with milder climate of California. In summary, while the ffCO2 emissions, which account for the majority of the total GHG emission in California, are not clearly distinguishable from the state inventory in central and southern California, CH4 and N2O emissions appear to be higher than current inventory estimates.


Background: Although many studies conducted among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations may help to advance medical science and lead to improvements in health and health care, historically few have endeavored to share their findings, benefits, and/or expected outcomes with the communities in which they are conducted. This perceived lack of responsiveness has contributed to a perception in some AI/AN communities that researchers are disrespectful and may not make community needs a priority.Objectives: In the context of a study assessing the care received by AI/AN men with incident elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, this paper describes our experience building collaborative relationships, planning, conducting analyses, and disseminating findings with four AI/AN communities.Methods: We established formal partnerships with three Northern Plains AI communities and one AN tribal health organization, convened a 12-member Community Advisory Board (CAB), and obtained study approvals from all necessary tribal and institutional review bodies before implementing our study. A menu of options for study implementation was given to key collaborators at each site. CAB members and collaborating tribes contributed to each phase of the study. After data analysis, results were shared with tribal and institutional leaders.Lessons Learned: Face-to-face communication, flexibility, and adaptability, as well as clearly defined, respectful roles contributed to the success of the study on the part of both the researchers and community partners.Conclusions: This study demonstrates the importance and feasibility of forging collaborative relationships with AI/AN community leaders in regions of Alaska and the Northern Plains in cancer control initiatives for AI/AN men.


CuO/GDC composite powder with 50 wt% of CuO was prepared by surface modification of ~60 nm GDC powder with Cu precursors. Since copper oxide melts at lower temperature than GDC sintering temperature, fabrication procedure was modified by inducing infiltration of molten copper oxide via capillary force and then followed by heat treatment at ~1000 °C . Surface modification was carried out with a MgO sol to suppress agglomeration of GDC. Such prepared Cu/GDC cermets showed uniform microstructure and excellent electric conductivity of ~6000 S/cm for the Cu/GDC cermet and ~10000 S/cm for the modified one at 800°C.


The Internet represents the immaterial dimension of existence, which complements and acts in continuity with the material dimension rather than being an alternative to it. Immaterial relationships are mediated by the on-line platforms that have developed rapidly and with little control largely because the European e-Commerce Directive of 2000 exempted them from liability. On-line platforms are now determining factors in the use of the Internet, and become not only the principal means of interacting with the immaterial dimension, but also the most important interfaces for the material dimension. However, they are not neutral: as a matter of fact, the ways in which on-line platforms are conceived and user experiences are shaped are capable of orienting and modifying user behaviours. And that is not all because the platforms are designed to produce the effects of lock-in (which make it very difficult for users to abandon an adopted service) and the absence of interoperability, as the laws governing intellectual property rights are used to assure their closure in various ways. The widely deregulated and rapid immaterial dimension is often characterised by increasing returns that tend to give rise to global monopolies and oligopolies which, in a few years, have created (and are still creating) positions of dominance in intermediating the services of the material dimension without any of the guarantees or restrictions foreseen for their predecessors. They are replacing local intermediaries operating in the material dimension with multinational intermediaries operating in the immaterial dimension: in other words, allowing the presence of gatekeepers in the immaterial dimension is leading to a loss of governance of a large part of the material dimension. In order to defend the market (and, with it, public rights), the present gatekeepers should be subject to specific pro-competitive regulation and the entry of the new gatekeepers wanted by those (who would like to eliminate the neutrality the Internet) should be prevented. It is therefore to be hoped that ex ante provisions are introduced in order to protect the rights of consumers and economic operators who are currently only protected ex post. Europe, in its dimension as a market of consumers, should decide whether to accept the status quo or intervene in order to ensure a different future.


This report examines the scope of homelessness in New England and the potential role of subsidized housing in alleviating homelessness in the region. The report finds that the number of sheltered homeless families in Massachusetts and Vermont is on the rise, driving an increase in measured homelessness in New England. The authors consider three theories for the cause of the increase: the interaction of national market forces and area-specific shelter policies, area-specific market forces, and challenges in accurately measuring the homeless population. The research also explores the extent to which increased affordable housing can decrease neighborhood homelessness in moderately poor areas, focusing on the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) as a source of subsidized housing. The authors find that local increases in subsidized housing are likely to reduce neighborhood homelessness, especially in New England.


BACKGROUND: Four-meter gait speed (4MGS) has been associated with functional capacity and overall mortality in elderly patients, and may easily be translated to daily practice. We evaluated the association of 4MGS with meaningful outcomes. METHODS: In 70 subjects we conducted the 4MGS, 6-min walk test (6MWT), objectively measured physical activity, and assessed dyspnea, quality of life, and self-efficacy for walking and routine physical activity. 4MGS was measured in 3 separate time epochs during the 6MWT, to explore 4MGS variability. RESULTS: Diagnoses included COPD (51.4%), interstitial lung disease (38.6%), and other pulmonary conditions (10%). The mean ± SD values were: 4MGS 0.85 ± 0.21 m/s, 6-min walk distance (6MWD) 305 ± 115 m, and physical activity level 1.28 ± 0.17, which is consistent with severe physical inactivity. The gait speeds within the time epochs 1–2, 3–4, and 5–6 min during the 6MWT were not significantly different: 1.01 ± 0.29 m/s, 0.98 ± 0.31 m/s, and 1.00 ± 0.31 m/s, respectively. 4MGS had a significant correlation with 6MWD (r = 0.70, P < .001). 6MWD was the dominant variable for predicting 4MGS. Other significant predictors of 4MGS included dyspnea, self-efficacy, quality of life, and objectively measured physical activity. CONCLUSIONS: 4MGS is significantly and independently associated with 6MWD, and may serve as a reasonable simple surrogate for 6MWD in subjects with chronic lung disease. Gait speed was remarkably stable throughout the 6MWT, which supports the validity of an abbreviated walk test such as 4MGS.


The Testament of Gideon Mack is James Robertson's acclaimed novel exploring faith and belief. For Gideon Mack, faithless minister, unfaithful husband and troubled soul, the existence of God, let alone the Devil, is no more credible than that of ghosts or fairies. Until the day he falls into a gorge and is rescued by someone who might just be Satan himself. Mack's testament - a compelling blend of memoir, legend, history, and, quite probably, madness - recounts one man's emotional crisis, disappearance, resurrection and death. It also transports you into an utterly mesmerizing exploration of the very nature of belief. "Fascinating, extraordinary, strange, rich". (Sunday Telegraph). "Overwhelmingly compassionate and thought-provoking. Demands another read". (Irvine Welsh, Guardian). "Hugely enjoyable, very funny, deeply refreshing ...its touch of devilry makes it even more of a joy". (Herald). "Fabulous ...a work of the highest literary quality". (Scotland on Sunday). "Astonishingly accomplished, utterly compelling from start to finish ...could well be the best novel published anywhere this year". (Big Issue). "James Robertson is a brilliant novelist. It's a long time since I read a novel in which the contemporary notions of faith and belief were so frankly tested". (Ali Smith). James Robertson is the author of the novels The Fanatic, Joseph Knight, The Testament of Gideon Mack, And the Land Lay Still and The Professor of Truth. The Testament of Gideon Mack was longlisted for the 2006 Man Booker Prize, picked by Richard and Judy's Book Club, and shortlisted for the Saltire Book of the Year award, and And the Land Lay Still was the winner of the Saltire Book of the Year Award 2010.


Background: Denial of having a chronic condition, poor knowledge of the disease process and lack of adherence to standard treatment are often considered to be important factors that increase morbidity in asthma. We evaluated the effect of standard treatment guidelines and asthma education programme on asthma control among patients enrolled from a referral health facility of Delhi in India. Methods: Fifty patients who visited the health facility first time for treatment of asthma were enrolled after confirming the diagnosis of asthma by symptoms and reversible spirometry. Patients were interviewed at baseline using three researcher-administered questionnaires - quality of asthma management questionnaire, asthma control questionnaire (ACQ) and asthma knowledge questionnaire (AKQ). All patients were given pharmacotherapy according to standard treatment guidelines. In addition, every alternate patient was also given a face-to-face educational intervention. Patients were followed up at 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks. The ACQ was used at each visit, and AKQ was reassessed at the twelfth week. The paired t test was used to detect significant changes in various domains of asthma control. Results: The knowledge of asthma among patients and the care provided by previous health-care providers were found to be poor at baseline assessment. The application of standard treatment guidelines improved asthma control by the second week and the changes became significant by the fourth week, which persisted till the twelfth week (p <0.0001). Educational intervention led to improvements in knowledge in several domains. Improvements in asthma symptoms began earlier among those who had additional educational intervention. Conclusions: Standard treatment guidelines and asthma education improved asthma control.


In order to increasing competitiveness of international tourism and attracting more tourists, gambling-related tourism is one of the plans which are executed by many developed countries. The Taiwan? Legislative Yuan passed an amendment Act No.10-2 to the Off-Shore Island Development in January 2009 which allows off-shore islands to build casinos as a part of an international tourist resort area. Its facilities should also include international tour hotels, amusement facilities, international convention and exhibition centers, shopping malls, and other tourism-related services. In July 2012, Mazu area was passed the development of Casino Industry by referendum. In Taiwan, lottery and arcade games have been implemented for several years. After the amendment has passed, there would be more non-government organizations and schools introducing game training courses. As a nature of school education, the game training should play its missionary function of conveying the truth, passing on the knowledge, and clarifying the doubts.  Based on the outreach program which provided by National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism, The pre-test questionnaires took place between June and November 2009, and 90 questionnaires were recycled. After deducting the invalid questionnaires, 84 were valid, and the effective rate was 93.9%. For post-test questionnaires, 88 questionnaires were valid, and the effective rate was 97.8%. The study was expected to detect and analyze whether the perception of gaming activities (such as lottery tickets, events, table games, and electro-mechanical arcade games) and the traditional concept of gambling would be changed through education.  Results of this study can be followed up and evaluated by school education units in the creation of game-related courses.


Simulation of modern battlefield scenarios on consumer PC:s deal with a number of limitations, many of them related to the limited performance of a normal PC compared to workstations and servers. Specifically, the visualization of realistic large scale outdoor environments is problematic because of the large amount of data required to describe its contents. This becomes especially problematic in simulations of fast moving vehicles such as aircrafts, where one needs to maintain high frame rates while having high visual detail for orientation and targeting. This thesis proposes a method of generating realistic outdoor environments from actual geological data and then rendering it efficiently using an improved level of detail algorithm within a proprietary battle simulation framework. We also show how to integrate an open source Flight Dynamics Model (FDM) into the simulation framework for future hybrid simulations involving aircrafts.


: Performance-based optimization of energy dissipation devices in structures necessitates massive and repetitive dynamic analyses. In the endurance time method known as a rather fast dynamic analysis procedure, structures are subjected to intensifying dynamic excitations and their response at multiple intensity levels is estimated by a minimal number of analyses. So, this method significantly reduces computational endeavors. In this paper, the endurance time method is employed to determine the optimal placement of viscous dampers in a weak structure to achieve the desired performance at various hazard levels, simultaneously. The viscous damper is one of the energy dissipation systems which can dissipate a large amount of seismic input energy to the structure. To this end, hysteretic energy compatible endurance time excitation functions are used and the validity of the results is investigated by comparing them with the results obtained from a suite of ground motions. To optimize the placement of the dampers, the genetic algorithm is used. The damping coefficients of the dampers are considered as design variables in the optimization procedure and determined in such a way that the sum of them has a minimum value. The behavior of the weak structure before and after rehabilitation is also investigated using endurance time and nonlinear time history analysis procedures in different hazard levels.


In this paper we examine the controversy surrounding the Serenity Now bombs a World of Warcraft funeral video. This video depicts a group of players in World of Warcraft attacking a group of enemy players as they gather for the in-game funeral of a woman who had recently passed away. We argue that this historical controversy and the ongoing debate surrounding it is a form of "boundary-work" though which players are negotiating the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate online gaming practices. This boundary work involves three strands of demarcations. It has ethical, ontological and aesthetical filaments. The fact that the disputes played out through these entangled filaments haven't been resolved seven years after the incident indicates that the spaces and boundaries of online interaction remain uncertain and contested. Thus, this paper speaks directly to the themes of appropriation, resistance, and how people negotiate acceptable and unacceptable uses of the internet.


A detailed study of the trimethylsilylethynyl moiety, –CCSiMe3 (TMSE), as an anchoring group in metal|molecule|metal junctions, using a combination of experiment and density functional theory is presented. It is shown that the TMSE anchoring group provides improved control over the molecule–substrate arrangement within metal|molecule|metal junctions, with the steric bulk of the methyl groups limiting the number of highly transmissive binding sites at the electrode surface, resulting in a single sharp peak in the conductance histograms recorded by both the in situ break junction and I(s) STM techniques. As a consequence of the low accessibility of the TMSE group to surface binding configurations of measurable conductance, only about 10% of gold break junction formation cycles result in the clear formation of molecular junctions in the experimental histograms. The DFT-computed transmission characteristics of junctions formed from the TMSE-contacted oligo(phenylene)ethynylene (OPE)-based molecules described here are dominated by tunneling effects through the highest-occupied molecular orbitals (HOMOs). This gives rise to similar conductance characteristics in these TMSE-contacted systems as found in low conductance-type junctions based on comparably structured OPE-derivatives with amine-contacts that also conduct through HOMO-based channels.


For many generations the Northern Arapaho people thrived over a vast area of the North American Plains and Rocky Mountains. For more than a century they have lived on the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming. The reservation, the fourth largest in the country, is surrounded by vast rural lands and has been largely ignored by outsiders. As a result, the Northern Arapahos have been in some ways more isolated from mainstream American society than most Native groups. In The Four Hills of Life Jeffrey D. Anderson masterfully draws together many different aspects of the Northern Arapahos' world-myth, language, art, ritual, identity, and history-to offer a compelling picture of a culture that has endured and changed over time. Arapaho culture is seen dynamically through the ways that members of the community in the past and present experience their unique world in everyday life. Anderson shows that Northern Arapaho unity and identity from the nineteenth century through today are derived less from political centralization than from a shared system of ritual practices. The heart of this system is a complex of rituals called the beyoowu'u ("all the lodges"), which includes the Offerings Lodge, now more commonly known as the Sun Dance-a ritual still central to Northern Arapaho life. According to Anderson, the beyoowu'u and other life transition ceremonies work together to mold time and experience for the Arapahos, a life movement that also helps create social identities and transmit vital cultural knowledge. Anderson also offers an in-depth study of the problems that Euro-American society continues to impose on reservation life and the empowered responses of the Northern Arapahos to these problems.


It is well established that wetlands under certain circumstances improve water quality. There is a limited literature on the long-term effects of using freshwater wetlands for stormwater storage and nonpoint pollution control. Much of this literature pertains to the use of wetlands for sewage effluent treatment. Some work has been done utilizing natural or artificial wetlands for flood control and/or water quality management. Water quality improvements from these studies show promise, but their direct application to the Pacific Northwest is limited. Some researchers believe the characteristics of wastewater and urban runoff are similar enough that some findings in the wastewater literature may be analogous to stormwater systems. These findings can be confirmed by careful studies in the Northwest to help fill the gaps in present knowledge. This paper summarizes wetlands water quality improvement principles from the literature, and areas of greatest uncertainty regarding the use of wetlands for urban stormwater management.


We reconfirm the presence of value premium in emerging markets. Using the Brazil–Turkey–India–China (BTIC) grouping during a period of substantial economic growth and stock market development , we attribute the premium to the investment patterns of glamour firms. We conjecture based on empirical evidence that glamour firms hoard cash, which delays undertaking of growth options, especially in poor economic conditions. Whilst this helps to mitigate business risk, it lowers market valuations and drives down expected returns. Our evidence supports arguments that the value premium is explained by economic fundamentals rather than a risk factor that is common to all firms.


It is no secret that the African regional human rights system has severely underperformed its mandate and has not met the expectations of the people of the continent. The time of hushed criticisms of the weaknesses of the institutions, mechanisms and structures is long gone. Moreover, the African Charter system has routinely been subjected to stringent criticism due to its apparent inability to improve the situation. However, Africans need and deserve well-functioning institutions. It is within this context that the African Union (AU) is heralded as offering some hope, since it has as its distinct purpose the integration of `political, economic and human rights priorities'.


The pancreas plays a central role in metabolism. The exocrine pancreas, composed of ductal and acinar cells, secretes and delivers digestive enzymes into the duodenum where they contribute to food digestion. The endocrine pancreas, constituted by the islets of Langerhans, secretes hormones in the blood to control glucose levels. In particular, insulin is the hormone produced by β-cells that instructs the peripheral tissues to uptake circulating glucose. Diabetes mellitus is a heterogeneous disease characterized by deregulated glucose homeostasis due to an impaired insulin function. The advancements in clinical practice have made of diabetes a chronic, instead of a lethal, disease; yet no definitive cure is available. Beta-cell transplantation offers promising results, especially for type 1 diabetes where β-cells are selectively eliminated by an autoimmune attack. Unfortunately its application suffers from the scarcity of transplantable pancreas/islets from cadaveric donors. Human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) or induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) would constitute unlimited sources of transplantable β-cells, but the available differentiation protocols are not yet optimal, especially with regards to the numbers and the functionality of the generated β-cells. It is anticipated that a stepwise protocol would succeed in generating mature β-cells in vitro if it is capable of fully mimicking the embryonic development of these cells. Many aspects of pancreatic organogenesis have been elucidated and could serve as a guide for driving the commitment to β-cells. Unfortunately, pancreatic progenitors in vitro do not behave as in the intricate context of an embryo. This severely limits both the understanding of pancreatic development at the single-cell level and our ability in manipulating the process. The aim of our work was to develop in vitro methodologies to sustain pancreatic progenitor culture and expansion and to establish conditions to manipulate their progeny. To this aim, we combined an informed approach based on developmental biology and an empirical one. We first observed that pancreatic epithelial explants from embryonic day 10.5 mice could be cultured in presence of Matrigel™ and exogenous FGFs even in the absence of the mesenchyme that normally surrounds the epithelium. Notably, the removal of mesenchyme did not affect the endocrine commitment pattern of pancreatic progenitors. We then defined culture conditions allowing for the expansion of dissociated embryonic pancreatic progenitors in a three-dimensional Matrigel™-based environment. Under these conditions, progenitors proliferated and self-organized to generate pancreatic organoids containing both progenitors and differentiated cells, mostly exocrine, after 7 days of culture. When grafted into recipient pancreatic explants, the cultured progenitors contributed to the three epithelial pancreatic lineages (ductal, endocrine, acinar), integrating seamlessly into the endogenous cellular network. Thus, cultured progenitors retained their potential to differentiate into endocrine cells, but expressed it only in the appropriate niche. Subsequent removal of single components from the culture system led to the identification of some essential requirements for the maintenance/expansion of dissociated pancreatic progenitors, such as a strong FGF signaling and the Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) inhibitor Y-27632. In addition to this, we observed that only small clusters of pancreatic progenitors, but not single cells, were able to generate pancreatic organoids, suggesting a pivotal role for intercellular signaling in progenitor maintenance and expansion. By manipulating the components of the medium, we could affect fate commitment. In particular, the removal of FGF1 increased the yield of endocrine cells generated in vitro. In our search for a full control over the in vitro niche, we explored chemically defined matrices to replace Matrigel™. We showed that pancreatic progenitors could be cultured on laminin-functionalized hydrogels, although less efficiently than in Matrigel™. Moreover, differentiation into exocrine and endocrine cells occurred spontaneously under these conditions. By comparing Matrigel™, hydrogel microwells and two-dimensional culture systems, we uncovered the importance of a tridimensional architecture for pancreatic progenitor maintenance. We showed that pancreatic progenitors lost their identity as they flattened onto 2D surfaces, whereas 3D culture systems maintained the epithelial character of pancreatic progenitors and allowed the acquisition of apical polarization. To conclude, our work provides the first detailed characterization of in vitro culture systems for expansion and manipulation of dissociated embryonic pancreatic progenitors. Further implementation will hopefully allow the establishment of a fully-defined in vitro niche for developing pancreas with potential fundamental implications for the expansion of ES-derived pancreatic progenitors and their differentiation into functional β-cells.


The weaning period is a time when children are at risk of developing iron deficiency anaemia. The COMA Report (Department of Health, 1994) recommends dietary and nutritional information be available for the first two years of life. The main aim of this research was to provide information regarding quality and provision of dietary iron, zinc and copper for this period, the effect these had on biochemical and haematological markers, growth and development. The study also aimed to identify the role red meat has in providing dietary iron in comparison to white meat and non-meat diets. 193 subjects were recruited from within Surrey, Hampshire and London boroughs of Chiswick, Brentford and Houslow. Subjects were allocated to one of five dietary groups dependent on the type and amount of meats consumed. Dietary assessment, using 7-day weighed records, and anthropometric measurements were undertaken at four monthly intervals, biochemical and haematological measurements were assessed on three occasions. Psychomotor assessment was completed at 20 months of age. Analysis of dietary intake results showed significant differences for a range of nutrients (energy, protein, and folate) at different ages and within different dietary groups. Whilst no significant differences for zinc intakes were seen between dietary groups, iron intakes in the mixed meat groups and the non-meat groups were significantly different from 16 months of age onwards. Copper intakes at 24 months were highly significantly different between non-meat and mixed meat groups. Anthropometric results highlighted differences in weight growth velocities and z-scores between birth and 4 months of age within mixed meat groups and Ponderal Index scores were significantly different at 8 months of age within mixed meat groups. No statistically significant difference in haematology, biochemistry parameters or psychomotor development was identified between groups. This study has provided detailed information on the dietary intakes of children under 2 years of age. This study has not identified that inclusion of meat in the diet leads to enhanced iron status or reduction in the incidence of IDA in children under 2 years old. No negative effect on growth and psychomotor development was seen at 20 months of age in children who consumed no meat in their diet.


Qualitative research is a key form of research in education; the findings of such projects frequently play a central role in shaping policy and practice. First time qualitative researchers require clear and practical guidance from the outset. However, given the diversity of both subject matter and methodological approaches encompassed by qualitative research, such guidance is not always easily come by. Qualitative Educational Research in Action: Doing and Reflecting is a collection of ten first-hand accounts by educational researchers of qualitative inquiries they carried out. The subjects are diverse, taking in school restructuring, policy analysis, critical literacy, phenomenology and the student teacher relationship. Each chapter outlines the research question investigated and provides an overview of the project's findings, before going on to describe how each researcher approached the challenges of their particular inquiry. The researchers reflect upon the unexpected turns qualitative research can take and the way such projects can move through different theoretical and methodological positions, often ending up significantly removed from the original premise, but all the more valuable for that. Anyone conducting qualitative research in education will be heartened and inspired by this collection, and will also find in it invaluable guidance on dealing effectively with the idiosyncrasies and pitfalls of qualitative research - guidance that is all the more valuable for coming from those who have themselves navigated similar difficulties. [Book Synopsis]


It is shown that parameter estimates in a regression with a logarithmic time trend are not invariant to the choice of the starting point of that time trend. Possible solutions to this problem are discussed and applied to data from a recent article in this Review where a logarithmic time trend was included. It is suggested that the appropriate course is either to estimate the starting date directly or to adopt a functional form invariant to the choice of starting date.


The term "food first" has been widely accepted as the preferred strategy within sport nutrition, although there is no agreed definition of this and often limited consideration of the implications. We propose that food first should mean "where practically possible, nutrient provision should come from whole foods and drinks rather than from isolated food components or dietary supplements." There are many reasons to commend a food first strategy, including the risk of supplement contamination resulting in anti-doping violations. However, a few supplements can enhance health and/or performance, and therefore a food only approach could be inappropriate. We propose six reasons why a food only approach may not always be optimal for athletes: (a) some nutrients are difficult to obtain in sufficient quantities in the diet, or may require excessive energy intake and/or consumption of other nutrients; (b) some nutrients are abundant only in foods athletes do not eat/like; (c) the nutrient content of some foods with established ergogenic benefits is highly variable; (d) concentrated doses of some nutrients are required to correct deficiencies and/or promote immune tolerance; (e) some foods may be difficult to consume immediately before, during or immediately after exercise; and (f) tested supplements could help where there are concerns about food hygiene or contamination. In these situations, it is acceptable for the athlete to consider sports supplements providing that a comprehensive risk minimization strategy is implemented. As a consequence, it is important to stress that the correct terminology should be "food first but not always food only."


Due to the topicality of the problem of timely revealing the factors that influence the financial standing of a power selling enterprise and the degree of its influence the authors propose a methodology of financial monitoring to control not only the current financial standing, but the financial and material flows of a power selling company. The goal of the article is to work out the methodology of the financial monitoring of power sale enterprises. This methodology allows assessing the company development and can practically assist managers to take timely and adequate managerial decisions or to correct target parameters of the company financial development.


In the Piedmont of North Carolina, a traditionally water‐rich region, reservoirs that serve over 1 million people are under increasing pressure due to naturally occurring droughts and increasing land development. Innovative development approaches aim to maintain hydrologic conditions of the undisturbed landscape, but are based on insufficient target information. This study uses the hydrologic landscape concept to evaluate reference hydrology in small headwater catchments surrounding Falls Lake, a reservoir serving Raleigh and the greater Triangle area. Researchers collected one year of detailed data on water balance components, including precipitation, evapotranspiration, streamflow, and shallow subsurface storage from two headwater catchments representative of two hydrologic landscapes defined by differences in soils and topographic characteristics. The two catchments are similar in size and lie within the same physiographic region, and during the study period they showed similar water balances of 26‐30% Q, −4 to 5% ΔS, 59‐65% evapotranspiration, and 9‐10% G. However, the steeper, more elevated catchment exhibited perennial streamflow and nongrowing season runoff ratios (Q/P) of 33%, whereas the flat, low‐lying stream was drier during the growing season and exhibited Q/P ratios of 52% during the nongrowing season. A hydrologic landscape defined by topography and soil characteristics helps characterize local‐scale reference hydrology and may contribute to better land management decisions.


Sarah Ensor went to Chigwell Primary School and then Loughton School for Girls in Essex from 1966-71. She was interviewed for the Project and discussed the contents of the books, her school reports and the school timetable in the interview. Her 'Castles' project is nicely illustrated and very neatly written. Her history exercise books give a good impression of the typical curriculum in a girls' grammar school in the 1970s and the manner of teaching - they consist entirely of notes dictated in class. The curriculum started with ancient civilisations, then moved to the Crusades and the Renaissance, followed by the Tudors and Stuarts (unusually this is the earliest period of English history in the books). The O level course covered both English (sic) and European history from 1815-1939, including, memorably for Sarah, the persecution of the Jews and concentration camps of the Nazi period.


I am a proponent of the view that the rule is constitutionally based and is an individual remedy for the violation of that person's Fourth Amendment rights. Both sides of the exclusionary rule debate regarding whether it is a mere tool to enforce deterrence or whether it is an individual right-based remedy have weighty authority and supporters. In my view, the constitutionally-based argument is persuasive: in constitutional law, there can be no right without a remedy. Subsidiary arguments reinforce that view. Those include the absence of any rational or empirical justification for the rule if based on deterrence theory, the lack of authority of the Court to apply the rule to the states absent a constitutional basis, and the coherence of justification of exceptions to the rule's application if constitutionally based, unlike the ad hoc deterrence rationale, which is a mere substitute for each justice's subjective assessment as to whether to apply the sanction. In this essay, I make several additional points. First, there are no articulate proponents on the current Court who embrace Weeks's view that the rule is constitutionally based. Also, the evolution of the basis of the rule in the states is particularly convoluted, based on the influence of Supreme Court developments over the decades. However, in reaction to the high Court's rejection of a constitutional basis for the rule in recent decades, there have developed some spokespersons for the Weeks rationale – albeit grounding that view on independent state constitutional grounds. Finally, although we are reaching the nadir in the current United States Supreme Court regarding the justification for – and application of – the exclusionary rule, it may simply be another moment in time.


Experiments have been carried out to quantify the mixing induced by the interaction of a weak shock wave with a cylindrical volume of a gas (helium) that is lighter than its surroundings (air). In these experiments a round laminar jet was used to produce the light-gas cylinder, and planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) , utilizing a fluorescent tracer (biacetyl) mixed with the helium, was used to visualize the flow. These techniques provide a higher quality of flow visualization than that obtained in previous investigations. In addition, the PLIF technique could be used for the measurement of species concentration. The distortion of the helium cylinder produced by the passing shock wave was found to be similar to that displayed by images from previous experimental and computational investigations. The downstream displacement of several points on the boundary of the light-gas cylinder are measured and agree reasonably well with the results of earlier experimental and theoretical studies as well. Because the mixing process causes the helium originally contained within the cylinder to be dispersed into the surrounding air, the PLIF image area inside the contour at one half the maximum concentration of the fluorescent tracer decreases as the two gases mixed. The change in this area is used as a measure of the mixing rate, and it is found that the time rate of change of this area divided by the area of the initial jet is approximately -0.7 x lo3 s-l.


The development of business models for eBusiness is helpful in allowing researchers and practitioners to organise their thoughts about different eBusiness options. However, it can be argued that many of the business models for eBusiness are static in nature and only provide a historical view. Indeed, these models are of limited value in providing guidance as to how to link the broad strategic concept with the detail of the required business processes in the operating eBusiness. This paper draws upon the emergent knowledge of eBusiness models together with traditional strategy theory to provide a simple integrating framework for the evaluation and assessment of business models for eBusiness. The framework allows for the simultaneous reflection of both topdown and bottom-up perspectives. That is, an entrepreneurial view based on the identification of a market need or business opportunity triggering the search for appropriate delivery mechanisms. In contrast, a technical view which builds up from an internal review of business process and ICT resources and capabilities which could suggest new electronically-based business options. Moreover, the paper provides a simple framework for the evaluation of possible business processes and business solutions.


WE HEAR and see the terms "high risk," "at risk," and "risk factor" frequently these days, and most of the time they appear in combination with the terms "African American," "minority," or "low income." They often come up in discussions of educational failure, functional illiteracy, unskilled workers, the unemployed, the homeless, delinquency, and criminality. The frequent association of these words has produced a situation in which "risk" is a veritable synonym for minority racial identification, particularly African American, and "at risk" is a presumed personal attribute of African American children. Many people, including the educators whose job it is to teach these children, make this assumption. Very few think about the possibility that "risk" can be an attribute of an environment. In fact, the concept of "risk" is derived from the field of epidemiology, in which the original quest was the identification of pathogens in environments where diseases prevailed. The starting point for this article is a call to put to rest the specter of African American children as "at risk," as budding disasters. I challenge educators to look closely at the environment created by the schooling process to which African American children are subjected as an important source of risk for the poor developmental outcomes that many of these children suffer. I focus on presecondary schooling because I think that most people believe that young children are clearly more dependent on the adults around them than on themselves to determine the characteristics of the setting in which they are compelled to spend time. There is less agreement about this situation for older youths. I focus on African American children rather than all minority children because there is more research on risk factors for this group. I will address the question posed in the title of this article by reviewing research from several fields of study that I think educators should ponder. African American children are more segregated in the schools they attend than any other racial or ethnic group.1 In spite of federal initiatives undertaken in the 1960s to enforce desegregation as decreed by the 1954 Brown decision, African Americans of all income backgrounds are schooled in highly segregated settings, largely because of residential segregation. The extensiveness of this segregation has led demographers to conclude that a system of "American apartheid" exists, with the result of diminished educational opportunities for African Americans of all socioeconomic levels.2 However, one important legacy of the federal effort to end segregation is a collection of data on school systems under pressure to desegregate. Close scrutiny of these data can provide profiles of the schooling experience of African American children, as three political scientists have shown. Kenneth Meier, Joseph Stewart, and Robert England studied data submitted to the federal Office for Civil Rights for the period 1971 through 1986.3 The data covered all medium- and large-sized school districts with 1% or more African American enrollment. The researchers examined a number of aspects of schooling in terms of race, including several indicators of how students were treated, such as disciplinary and grouping practices. They found that African Americans had higher rates of assignment to classes for the mentally retarded than did European Americans and lower rates of assignment to classes for the gifted, as most educators know. African Americans were also suspended and expelled more frequently, as most educators know but infrequently discuss. However, the researchers also found higher rates of corporal punishment for African Americans, which is a fact that many educators and most members of the general public may not know. Specifically, they found that African Americans & relative to their numbers in the general student population & were overrepresented by from 74% to 86% among those to whom corporal punishment was administered, depending on the year in the period covered by their analyses. …


INTRODUCTION
Porphyromonas gingivalis is an important periodontopathic bacterium that is strongly associated with periodontal disease and is part of human dental plaque. Periodontal disease results from the interaction of the host with bacterial products, and T-cell-derived cytokines remain critical in the immunoregulation of periodontal disease.

METHODS
The aim of this study was to examine the role of T helper type 1 [interleukin-12p40 (IL-12p40), interferon-gamma, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)] and type 2 (IL-4, IL-10) cytokines in the immune response to a subcutaneous challenge with P. gingivalis using a well-established murine abscess model, in genetically modified cytokine-specific knockout mice.

RESULTS
IL-12p40(-/-) mice exhibited more advanced tissue destruction and a reduced inflammatory cell infiltrate after subcutaneous P. gingivalis challenge. Deficiency of IL-4 or IL-10 did not result in increased susceptibility to P. gingivalis-mediated tissue destruction. Furthermore, TNF deficiency appeared to reduce local tissue destruction. Interestingly, serum-specific antibodies suggested a strong T helper type 2 response.

CONCLUSION
The results of our study indicate an important role for IL-12 in a primary P. gingivalis subcutaneous challenge.


Background and purpose: Nowadays High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) as non-ionizing radiation is used for cancer treatment. Ultrasound beams when crossing the border of two environments are refracted causing decrease in the beam focusing within a tumor. Also, it may induce damage to normal tissues. In this study, we evaluated the focal depth shift induced by ultrasonic beam refraction. Materials and methods: At first, the level of shift caused by the difference in two specific tissues were calculated for one element of transducer. Then it extended to all of the transducer elements and total shift was calculated. Designed algorithms were implemented in MATLAB. Also, HIFU simulator was used according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations to simulate HIFU therapy. Results: The results showed that beam refraction caused by different velocity shifted the focal point. Therefore, an algorithm was proposed for controlling the focal depth and was tested on four models with two layers of tissue. Results showed that using the proposed algorithm corrected much of the focal point shift. Also, it was noted that a part of this shift was caused by absorption of the beam in tissues. Conclusion: Not controlling the focal point shift can induce damage to normal tissues. Therefore, using computational algorithms significantly corrected the focal point shift and lead to increasing safety and having adequate control in HIFU therapy. © 2016, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved.


Abstract. The behaviour and characteristics of the marine component of sea breeze cells have received little attention relative to their onshore counterparts. Yet there is a growing interest and dependence on the offshore wind climate from, for example, a wind energy perspective. Using idealized model experiments, we investigate the sea breeze circulation at scales which approximate to those of the southern North Sea, a region of major ongoing offshore wind farm development. We also contrast the scales and characteristics of the pure and the little known corkscrew and backdoor sea breeze types, where the type is pre-defined by the orientation of the synoptic scale flow relative to the shoreline. We find, crucially, that pure sea breezes, in contrast to corkscrew and backdoor types, can lead to substantial wind speed reductions offshore and that the addition of a second eastern coastline emphasises this effect through generation of offshore "calm zones". The offshore extent of all sea breeze types is found to be sensitive to both the influence of Coriolis acceleration and to the boundary layer scheme selected. These extents range, for example for a pure sea breeze produced in a 2 m s−1 offshore gradient wind, from 0 km to 21 km between the Mellor-Yamada-Nakanishi-Niino and the Yonsei State University schemes respectively. The corkscrew type restricts the development of a backdoor sea breeze on the opposite coast and is also capable of traversing a 100 km offshore domain even under high along-shore gradient wind speed (>15 m s−1) conditions. Realistic variations in sea surface skin temperature and initializing vertical thermodynamic profile do not significantly alter the resulting circulation, though the strengths of the simulated sea breezes are modulated if the effective land-sea thermal contrast is altered. We highlight how sea breeze impacts on circulation need to be considered in order to improve the accuracy of both assessments of the offshore wind energy climate and forecasts of wind energy output.


Summary

1
The stage-specific responses of eruptive populations to ecosystem alterations have received little attention, despite the relevance of the issue for conservation biology and pest management. This study examined the hypothesis that forest thinning treatments affect the outbreak cycles of Neodiprion abietis, a sawfly defoliator.

2
The densities of eggs, early instar larvae, late-instar larvae, cocoons and adults of N. abietis were monitored during an outbreak in a thinned and an adjacent untreated stand at each of three sites in western Newfoundland, Canada.

3
The amplitude of population fluctuations was greater in thinned than in adjacent untreated stands at certain points in the increasing or peaking stages of N. abietis outbreaks for all life stages sampled. However, the timing and magnitude of differences in fluctuations attributed to thinning varied among the life stages of N. abietis.

4
The largest difference between stand types occurred in the generation preceding peak egg density, when adult densities were three times higher in thinned than untreated stands. Conversely, only moderate differences in egg density between stand types were observed in the following generation. Combined with the observation that the modes of population fluctuations occurred earlier in thinned stands, this suggests that adult dispersal resulted in a redistribution of eggs between thinned and untreated stands.

5
Synthesis and applications. To our knowledge, this is the first study to show that silvicultural practices involving a reduction in forest stand density may alter the outbreak cycles of an eruptive population, potentially increasing the severity of outbreaks in treated, as well as in adjacent untreated, stands. Hence, this study emphasizes the need to consider proactively the potential impact of silvicultural practices on species such as N. abietis, which are most abundant in low-density stands. This field study also demonstrates that the response to ecosystem alteration of an outbreak population can vary with the different life stages of the studied organism, indicating that the detection of the impact of ecosystem alterations on a population can depend on the life stage sampled.


Temperature profiles measurements are performed daily (00:00 UT) in Dumont d'Urville (66°40' S, 140°01' E) by Meteo-France, using standard radiosondes, since the International Geophysical Year in 1957. Yet, due to a 16 years data gap between 1963 and 1978, the entire dataset is only used for a qualitative overview. Only the most recent series, between 1979 and 2008, is used to investigate the inter-annual stratospheric temperatures variability. Over Dumont d'Urville, at the edge of the vortex, the annual mean temperature cooling of about 1 K/decade at 20 km is the result of the cooling trends between 0.5 and 1.4 K/decade, in summer and autumn and a warming of about 1.1 K/decade in spring. These values are consistent with values obtained using data from inner vortex stations, but with smaller amplitude. No statistically significant trend is detected in winter. We propose here the first attempt to link stratospheric temperature trends to Polar Stratospheric Cloud (PSC) trends in Antarctica based on the only continuous 20 years database of PSC lidar detection. Despite the absence of mean temperature trend during winter, the occurrence of temperatures below the NAT threshold between 1989 and 2008 reveals a significant trend of about +6%/decade. The PSCs occurrences frequency exhibits a concomitant trend of about +3%/decade, although not statistically significant. Yet, this is consistent with results obtained in the Northern Hemisphere. Such a possible positive trend in PSC occurrence has to be further explored to be confirmed or invalidated. If confirmed, this PSC trend is likely to have strong impacts, both on ozone recovery and climate evolution in Antarctica. The study also reveals the importance of trends on extreme temperatures, and not only on mean temperatures.


This short paper is the extended part of Ghouri, et al. (2011) study. This paper presents the finding about the owners of restaurant and catering businesses marketing practices. This study showed their mindset about the marketing practices. The findings suggest that owners of restaurants and catering businesses practicing advertising and pricing better as compare to overall results of previous study Ghouri et al. (2011). As owner are the whole and soul of the business and can visualize the business and its activities from the top, so he/ she taking right decision regarding advertising and pricing activities of marketing. Overall marketing practices as perspective of owners are very influential on performance which indicated the owners' will and believe about the marketing practices.


Accurate system modeling and identification gain importance as tasks executed by autonomously acting unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) get more complex and demanding. This paper presents a Bayesian filter approach to online and continuously identify the system parameters, sensor suite calibration states, and vehicle navigation states in a holistic framework. Previous work only tackles subsets of the overall state vector during dedicated phases (e.g., motionless, online during flight, post-processing). These works often introduce the artificial so-called body frame forcing assumptions on system states, such as the inertia matrix's principal axes orientation. Our approach estimates the entire state vector in the (usually not precisely known) center of mass, eliminating several assumptions caused by the artificially introduced body frame in other work. Since our approach also estimates geometric states such as the rotor and sensor placements, no hand-made measures to the unknown center of mass are required – the system is fully self-calibrating. A detailed discussion on the system's observability reveals additionally required (different) measurements for a theoretical and a real N -arm multicopter. We show that easy and precise hand-measurable quantities in real applications can provide the required information. Statistically relevant simulations in Gazebo/RotorS providing ground truth for all states yet having realistic physics validate all our findings.


We present medium-resolution near-infrared (NIR) spectra, covering 1.1–3.4 μm, of the normal Type Ia supernova (SN Ia) SN 2014J in M82 obtained with the FLITECAM instrument on board Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) between 17 and 26 days after maximum B light. Our 2.8–3.4 μm spectra may be the first ∼3 μm spectra of an SN Ia ever published. The spectra spanning the 1.5–2.7 μm range are characterized by a strong emission feature at ∼1.77 μm with a FWHM of ∼11,000–13,000 km s−1. We compare the observed FLITECAM spectra to the recent non-LTE delayed detonation models of Dessart et al. and find that the models agree with the spectra remarkably well in the 1.5–2.7 μm wavelength range. Based on this comparison we identify the ∼1.77 μm emission peak as a blend of permitted lines of Co ii. Other features seen in the 2.0–2.5 μm spectra are also identified as emission from permitted transitions of Co ii. However, the models are not as successful at reproducing the spectra in the 1.1–1.4 μm range or between 2.8 and 3.4 μm. These observations demonstrate the promise of SOFIA, which allows access to wavelength regions inaccessible from the ground, and serve to draw attention to the usefulness of the regions between the standard ground-based NIR passbands for constraining SN models.


In many applications, a finite mixture is a natural model, but it can be difficult to choose an appropriate number of components. To circumvent this choice, investigators are increasingly turning to Dirichlet process mixtures (DPMs), and Pitman-Yor process mixtures (PYMs), more generally. While these models may be well-suited for Bayesian density estimation, many investigators are using them for inferences about the number of components, by considering the posterior on the number of components represented in the observed data. We show that this posterior is not consistent --- that is, on data from a finite mixture, it does not concentrate at the true number of components. This result applies to a large class of nonparametric mixtures, including DPMs and PYMs, over a wide variety of families of component distributions, including essentially all discrete families, as well as continuous exponential families satisfying mild regularity conditions (such as multivariate Gaussians).


RNA interference (RNAi) is an important biological process that ultimately leads to suppression of gene expression. Activators of RNAi are typically small interfering RNAs (siRNA) and microRNAs (miRNA) that offer considerable therapeutic potnetial. However, a major obstacle to take these these molecules to the clinic is the absence of safe and reliable means for their specific delivery to target cells. In this regard, a highly promising class of molecules is represented by nucleic acid aptamers. These are short, structured, single-stranded RNAs or DNAs oligonucleotides that, by binding with high specificity to target molecules, provide high affinity ligands and potential antagonists of disease-associated proteins. Further, because of the high binding specificity, aptamers represent a powerful tool for the selective delivery of therapeutic cargos, including mi/siRNAs, chemotherapeutics, toxins and nanoparticles to cancer cells or tissues, thus potentially increasing the efficacy of a given therapy as well as reducing toxicity. In this review, we will focus on recent advances in the field of aptamer-mediated mi/siRNA delivery, discussing their potential and challenges in cancer therapy.


This paper attempts to examine whether DSE, an emerging and less developed market, is efficient in weak-form or not. In order to do that, this paper employs daily share closing price index of DSEX (DSE Broad Index) for the period of 30th January, 2013 to 31st July 2019. The efficiency is verified by analyzing descriptive statistics, one parametric test (Auto Correlation test) and two non-parametric tests (Runs Test and Kolmogorov-Smirnov Goodness of Fit Test) using the software Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). All the tests are conducted on market return series that has been calculated from the daily closing price index of DSEX. The findings from descriptive statistics show that the data set is not normally distributed. Also, from Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, it has been found that daily price index of DSEX does not fit by normal or uniform distribution. The result of the runs test reveals that share price of the DSEX does not support random walk hypothesis (RWH). Again, autocorrelation test has been applied for 16 lag periods. The results show little indication in support of random walk hypothesis. Therefore, this paper concludes that daily closing price index of DSEX does not follow a random walk and thus, rejects the RWH, meaning that, DSE Broad Index is not efficient in weak form. Hence, DSEX does not reflect the rational and appropriate prices of the stocks. Thus, it can be said that investors operating in DSEX can forecast subsequent prices by using historical price data or information and therefore; they can generate excessive return using investment strategies.


This paper introduces a contract-driven resource management process and supporting middleware framework. We aim at supporting mobile computing tasks as they appear in the areas of Ambient Intelligence (AmI). As available resources in AmI environments fluctuate frequently, the resource usage of AmI tasks must be extremely flexible. The presented component based methodology permits an optimal flexibility in resource distribution and allocation through the use of resource contracts. User tasks specify their QoS needs in parameterized contract propositions that are used as the basis for a negotiation process. Once a contract has been validated and signed by the middleware, it can be monitored. The supporting decision logic is built around a Java-based expert system. Negotiation and monitoring rules detect misbehaving tasks and environmental changes. Renegotiations result in task adaptations or more drastic measures, such as partial task relocation.


Though often produced with a propagandist aim, many an early modern bird's-eye view can be seen as a contradictory cultural product. For example, the Spanish views commissioned by the Habsburg rulers did not contribute to buttressing the system they were meant to dignify. Instead, the views of Anton van den Wyngaerde in the 1560s and those reproduced in the Civitates orbis terrarum (1578-1612) both reflect and construct a sense of local pride in the context of a totalitarian state aspiring to uniformity and social control.The vindication of fragmentation against the state's notion of unity is only one of the paradoxes embedded in the production of bird's-eye views. The fact that the views highlight royal palaces, the houses of the nobility, and church buildings does not disguise the fact that there is no all-embracing concept of urban planning that would render those cities ideal in the eye of the beholder. Moreover, the different angles of vision and the presence of the draftsmen also convey an idea of h...


A total of ninety-six (96) weaner rabbits (Chinchilla and New Zealand White crossbred) were use for this study and were divided into forty-eight (48) per generation. These fortyeight weaner rabbits were further divided into three replicates of four males (12) and four females each (12) housed in cage (24) and deep litter system (24).This experiment was carried out for two generations to determine the effect of generation interval, housing systems and sex on the haematological and serum profile of rabbits. Data obtained were analyzed using Analysis of Variance test in a 2x2x2 factorial arrangement. The study showed that Packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cells (RBC) and haemoglobin (HB) were not significant in both generations while higher significant(p<0.05) values of albumin were observed in first generation and white blood cells (WBC), globulin, aspartate amino transferase (AST) and alanine amino transferase (ALT) were significantly higher in the second generation. Sex had no significant (p>0.05) effect on most of the biochemical parameters studied except for RBC and glucose which had 4.12 x1012/L and 69.23 mg/dl, for males and 3. 8 x1012/L and 78.78mg/dl for females, respectively in the second generation. In addition, the AST and ALT values were also higher in the females than in the males in the first generation but with no significant (p>0.05) difference. Housing system result showed that WBC (6.29 x109/L) and glucose (78.35 mg/dl) of rabbits were significantly (p<0.05) increased in the cage and deep litter system, respectively in the first generation while total serum protein, albumin and globulin were significantly (p<0.05) higher in rabbits housed in the deep litter system in the second generation. Higher values were recorded for AST and ALT in the deep litter system than the cage system in both generations except that the values of ALT were within the same range for both housing systems in the second generation. This study clearly indicated that both housing systems support rabbit production without any negative influence on the immune status of the rabbit.


We study the following problem related to pricing over time. Assume there is a collection of bidders, each of whom is interested in buying a copy of an item of which there is an unlimited supply. Every bidder is associated with a time interval over which the bidder will consider buying a copy of the item, and a maximum value the bidder is willing to pay for the item. On every time unit the seller sets a price for the item. The seller's goal is to set the prices so as to maximize revenue from the sale of copies of items over the time period.
 In the first model considered we assume that all bidders are impatient, that is, bidders buy the item at the first time unit within their bid interval that they can afford the price. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work that considers this model. In the offline setting we assume that the seller knows the bids of all the bidders in advance. In the online setting we assume that at each time unit the seller only knows the values of the bids that have arrived before or at that time unit. We give a polynomial time offline algorithm and prove upper and lower bounds on the competitiveness of deterministic and randomized online algorithms, compared with the optimal offline solution. The gap between the upper and lower bounds is quadratic.
 We also consider the envy free model in which bidders are sold the item at the minimum price during their bid interval, as long as it is not over their limit value. We prove tight bounds on the competitiveness of deterministic online algorithms for this model, and upper and lower bounds on the competitiveness of randomized algorithms with quadratic gap. The lower bounds for the randomized case in both models uses a novel general technique.


Abstract The vertebrate assemblage from the Early Cretaceous non-marine Xinlong Formation of the Napai Basin, in the south-western part of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (southern China), is reviewed. The assemblage includes chondrichthyans (at least six species of hybodont sharks including Hybodus, Thaiodus, Heteroptychodus and Acrorhizodus), actinopterygians (Halecomorphi and Ginglymodi), turtles (the adocid Shachemys and the carettochelyid Kizylkumemys), crocodilians (cf. Theriosuchus) and dinosaurs (the sauropods Fusuisaurus and Liubangosaurus, carcharodontosaurid and spinosaurid theropods, iguanodontians and a possible psittacosaurid). This assemblage shows many similarities to those from non-marine formations of the Khorat Group of north-eastern Thailand. It seems to be particularly close to that from the Khok Kruat Formation, considered as Aptian in age, as shown especially by sharks and turtles and by the presence of iguanodontians. An Aptian age is therefore proposed for the Xinlong Formation. A study of the stable oxygen and carbon isotope compositions of reptile apatite suggests that this part of South China experienced subtropical arid conditions during the deposition of the Xinlong Formation. In its composition, the vertebrate fauna from the Xinlong Formation seems to be more similar to coeval faunas from SE Asia than to assemblages from northern China (including the Jehol Biota). Although this may partly reflect different depositional and taphonomic environments (fluvial for the Xinlong Formation versus lacustrine for the Jehol Biota) it seems likely that, during Early Cretaceous time, southern China and SE Asia were part of a distinct zoogeographical province, different from that corresponding to northern China. This may be the result of both climatic differences (with relatively cool climates in northern China versus a subtropical climate in the south) and geographical barriers such as mountain chains.


Simulation is the approach most adopted to evaluate Vehicular Ad hoc Network (VANET) and Delay-Tolerant Network (DTN) solutions. Furthermore, the results' reliability depends fundamentally on mobility models used to represent the real network topology with high fidelity. Usually, simulation tools use mobility traces to build the corresponding network topology based on existing contacts established between mobile nodes. However, the traces' quality, in terms of spatial and temporal granularity, is a key factor that affects directly the network topology and, consequently, the evaluation results. In this work, we show that highly adopted existing real vehicular mobility traces present gaps, and propose a solution to fill those gaps, leading to more fine-grained traces. We propose and evaluate a cluster-based solution using clustering algorithms to fill the gaps. We apply our solution to calibrate three existing, widely adopted taxi traces. The results reveal that indeed the gaps lead to network topologies that differ from reality, affecting directly the performance of the evaluation results. To contribute to the research community, the calibrated traces are publicly available to other researchers that can adopt them to improve their evaluation results.


Forced harvesting of organs from prisoners of conscience in China has been "substantial," says an interim judgment of an independent "people's tribunal" set up to determine whether the country's transplantation practices breached international criminal law.

The former English judge Geoffrey Nice QC, the tribunal's chair, said after a three day evidence gathering session, "We, the tribunal members, are all certain, unanimously, beyond reasonable doubt, that in China forced organ harvesting from prisoners of conscience has been practised for a substantial period of time, involving a very substantial number of victims . . . by state organised or approved organisations or individuals."

The tribunal found that the practices breached the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, including articles 3 (right to life), 6 (recognition as a person before the law), 7 (equality before the law), 9 (not to be subject to arbitrary arrest), 10 (full equality to a fair and public …


The thin ZnO films were deposited using the successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method. The morphology, structure and composition of the thin ZnO films were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The optical properties of the thin ZnO layers, which were deposited onto glass substrates, were investigated using ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometry (UV/Vis).
 It was found that the optical properties of the ZnO films depend on the composition of anionic precursor solutions, which were used for deposition of the ZnO layers. Moreover, the highest band gap energy of 3.86 eV was obtained for the ZnO layer when the 0.026 mol l–1 Na2B4O7 + 0.002 mol l–1 KMnO4 solution was used as the anionic precursor solution for the deposition of ZnO layers.


Investigation of coarse (>2 mm) heavy-mineral concentrates from the White Hills Gravel near St Arnaud in western Victoria provides new evidence for the age and provenance of this widespread palaeoplacer formation. A prominent zircon – sapphire – spinel assemblage is characteristic of Cenozoic basaltic-derived gemfields in eastern Australia, while a single diamond shows similar features to others found in alluvial deposits in northeastern Victoria and New South Wales. Dating of two suites of zircons by fission track and U – Pb (SHRIMP) methods gave overlapping ages between 67.4 ± 5.2 and 74.5 ± 6.3 Ma, indicating a maximum age of Late Cretaceous for the formation. Another suite of minerals includes tourmaline (schorl – dravite), andalusite, rutile and anatase, which are probably locally derived from contact metamorphic aureoles in Cambro-Ordovician basement metapelites intruded by Early Devonian granites. U – Pb dating of rutile grains by laser ablation ICPMS gave an age of 393 ± 10 Ma, confirming an Early Devonian age for the regional granites and associated contact metamorphism. Other phases present include pseudorutile, metamorphic corundum of various types, maghemite and hematite, which have more equivocal source rocks. A model to explain the diverse sources of these minerals invokes recycling and mixing of the far-travelled basalt-derived suite with the less mature, locally derived metamorphic suite. Some minerals have probably been recycled from Mesozoic gravels through Early Cenozoic (Paleocene – Eocene) drainage systems during various episodes of weathering, ferruginisation and erosion. Comparison between heavy-mineral assemblages in occurrences of the White Hills Gravel may allow distinction between depositional models advocating either separate drainage networks or coalescing sheets. Such assemblages may also provide evidence for the present-day divide in the Western Uplands being the youngest expression of an old (Late Mesozoic – Early Cenozoic) stable divide separating north- and south-flowing streams or a much younger feature (ca 10 Ma) which disrupted mainly south-flowing drainage.


An epidemic of obesity has been developing in virtually all OECD countries over the last 30 years. Existing evidence provides strong suggestions that such epidemic has affected certain social groups more than others. In particular, education appears to be associated with a lower likelihood of obesity, especially among women. A range of analyses of health survey data from Australia, Canada, England and Korea were undertaken with the aim of exploring the relationship between education and obesity. The findings of these analyses show a broadly linear relationship between the number of years spent in full-time education and the probability of obesity, with most educated individuals displaying lower rates of the condition (the only exception being men in Korea). This suggests that marginal returns to education, in terms of reduction in obesity rates, are approximately constant throughout the education spectrum. The findings obtained confirm that the education gradient in obesity is stronger in women than in men. Differences between genders are minor in Australia and Canada, more pronounced in England and major in Korea. The causal nature of the link between education and obesity has not yet been proven with certainty; however, using data from France we were able to ascertain that the direction of causality appears to run mostly from education to obesity, as the strength of the association is only minimally affected when accounting for reduced educational opportunities for those who are obese in young age. Most of the effect of education on obesity is direct. Small components of the overall effect of education on obesity are mediated by an improved socio-economic status linked to higher levels of education, and by a higher level of education of other family members, associated with an individual's own level of education. The positive effect of education on obesity is likely to be determined by at least three factors: (a) greater access to health-related information and improved ability to handle such information; (b) clearer perception of the risks associated with lifestyle choices; and, (c) improved self-control and consistency of preferences over time. However, it is not just the absolute level of education achieved by an individual that matters, but also how such level of education compares with that of the individual's peers. The higher the individual's education relative to his or her peers', the lower is the probability of the individual being obese.


A growing range of public, private and civic organisations, from Unicef through Nesta to NHS, now run units known as "innovation labs". The hopeful assumption they share is that labs, by building on openness among other features, can generate promising solutions to grand challenges of systemic nature. Despite their seeming proliferation and popularisation, the underlying innovation principles embodied by labs have, however, received scant academic attention. This is a missed opportunity, because innovation labs appear to leverage openness for radical innovation in an unusual fashion. Indeed, in this exploratory paper we draw on original interview data and online self-descriptions to illustrate that, beyond convening "uncommon partners" across organisational boundaries, labs apply the principle of openness throughout the innovation process, including the experimentation and development phases. While the emergence of labs clearly forms part of a broader trend towards openness, we show how it transcends established conceptualisations of open innovation (Chesbrough, 2006), open science (David, 1998) or open government (Janssen et al., 2012).


A self-locking foldable mechanism enables a robotic arm to be folded flat and to maintain high stiffness when deployed. A foldable arm is one of the practical applications of folding. It can help mobile robots and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) overcome access issues by allowing them to reach into confined spaces. The origami-inspired design enables a foldable structure to be lightweight, compact, and scalable while maintaining its kinematic behavior. However, the lack of structural stiffness has been a major limitation in the practical use of origami-inspired designs. Resolving this obstacle without losing the inherent advantages of origami is a challenge. We propose a solution by implementing a simple stiffening mechanism that uses an origami principle of perpendicular folding. The simplicity of the stiffening mechanism enables an actuation system to drive shape and stiffness changes with only a single electric motor. Our results show that this design was effective for a foldable arm and allowed a UAV to perform a variety of tasks in a confined space.


Ruminal biohydrogenation (BH) corresponds to a microbial reduction of dietary unsaturated fatty acid. The linoleic acid (C18:2) BH is divided into three steps: first an isomerisation into conjugated linoleic acids (CLA), then a reduction producing mainly trans-octadecenoic acids (trans-C18:1), and a final reduction producing stearic acid (C18:0). Isomerisations of CLA and trans-C18:1 can lead to a number of positional and geometrical isomers. The control of BH reactions is of interest for researchers because BH directly affects the composition of fatty acids of milk and meat. In order to better understand C18:2 BH and its variations, the development of an enzymatic approach is necessary to ascertain if the action of modulators affects the bacterial enzyme activity or ruminal bacteria. The aim of this study was to investigate the C18:2 BH capacity of ruminal content after inactivation of bacteria by chloramphenicol (Cm), an inhibitor of protein synthesis in prokaryotes. The BH of C18:2 produced mainly cis9,trans11-CLA and trans10,cis12-CLA, and trans11-C18:1 and trans10-C18:1 isomers, as previously described (Jouany et al., 2007). The increase in cis12-C18:1 came from reduction of trans10,cis12-CLA, that of trans6+7+8-C18:1 from the reduction of minor CLA isomers not quantified in this study, like trans8,trans10-CLA (Shingfield et al., 2008). The trans11 pathway was rapid: the cis9,trans11-CLA production was maximal at about 1h of incubation while trans11-C18:1 accumulated throughout incubation. On the other hand, trans10 pathway was slow: trans10,cis12-CLA regularly increased during incubation, so that it was more abundant than cis9,trans11-CLA after 3h incubation, and trans10-C18:1 only began to increase after 2h of incubation. The amount of C18:0 began to increase in the media when trans11-C18:1 concentration was over 0.05 mg/mL. Such evolution of fatty acids involved in C18:2 BH was similar to that reported in vitro with living ruminal microorganisms by Harfoot et al. (1973) and Jouany et al. (2007). So, this enzymatic approach using Cm could be an interesting and valid method to study C18:2 BH, however 3h of incubation were not sufficient to study the final reduction.


Lubricity is a key property of hydrophilic-coated urinary catheter surfaces. In vitro tests are commonly employed for evaluation of surface properties in the development of novel catheter coating technologies; however, their value in predicting the more subjective feeling of lubricity requires validation. We herein perform a range of in vitro assessments and human organoleptic studies to characterise surface properties of developmental hydrophilic coating formulations, including water wettability, coefficient of friction, dry-out kinetics and lubricity. Significant reductions of up to 40% in the contact angles and coefficient of friction values of the novel coating formulations in comparison with the control poly(vinylpyrrolidone)-coated surfaces were demonstrated during quantitative laboratory assessments. In contrast, no significant differences in the more subjective feeling of lubricity between the novel formulations and the control-coated surfaces were observed when formulations were haptically assessed by the techniques described herein. This study, importantly, highlights the need for optimisation of in vitro and human haptic assessments to more reliably predict patient preferences.


The digital era and online education offers new possibilities for distributing higher education to non-traditional students, for instance full-working participants. This article describes experiences based on six years' experience from an online course designed for non-traditional students. An on-line course in statistics, designed for attracting non-traditional students is used as a case. It is shown that the characteristics of the participants are completely different in comparison to traditional campus students. These differences may be rewarding for teachers and may offer interesting pedagogical opportunities.


We experimentally prove the existence of the theoretically predicted breaking size-segregation wave within a binary granular avalanche. This complex structure involves the recirculation of particles through a pattern of shocks and rarefaction waves, and causes large particles to accumulate at the avalanche front and small particles in the tail.Using the non-intrusive imaging technique of refractive-index matching we study particle-size segregation inside the flow (but) far from the sidewall on an inclined moving-bed channel. In this configuration the bottom layers of the flow are dragged upslope while upper layers are avalanching downslope due to gravity; effectively, the flow remains stationary in the reference frame of the observer. This allows us to time-average discrete particle positions in the steady-state flow and arrive at a continuous particle concentration. The measured particle concentration and particle trajectories match qualitatively with the theoretical predictions.


Thanks to the debate on the so called ォreservation wage paradoxサ, it is fairly well known that job seekers in Southern Italy report, on average, higher reservation wages than in Central and Northern Italy, despite much higher unemployment in the South. It is less well known, however, that upon entering a job, Southern job seekers accept wages that are significantly lower than their own wage expectations as well as lower than the wages accepted by their counterparts in Central and Northern regions. According to the European Community Household Panel, the entry wage of 81% of those Southern workers who have found employment in the eight-year period covered by the survey is lower than the reservation threshold indicated in the latest survey interview. The median value of the reduction of entry wages with respect to reservation wages is 40% on an hourly basis for the Southern group of unemployed who found a job while the corresponding figure for the Centre-North is only 14%. In this article we revisit the debate on the role of wage expectations in influencing unemployment and its regional distribution by documenting North-South disparities in entry wages as well as in reservation wages. We show that not only is the regional disparity in entry wages larger than in reservation wages but also that this finding persists after controlling for statistical selection and the time elapsed between the survey interview and actual entrance into employment.