Chlamydiae are obligate intracellular bacteria that replicate within a non‐acidified vacuole called an inclusion. Chlamydia psittaci (strain GPIC) produces a 39 kDa protein (IncA) that is localized to the inclusion membrane. While IncA is present as a single 39 kDa species in purified reticulate bodies, two additional higher Mr forms are found in C. psittaci‐infected cells. This finding suggested that IncA may be post‐translationally modified in the host cell. Here we present evidence that IncA is a serine/threonine phosphoprotein that is phosphorylated by host cell enzymes. This conclusion is supported by the following experimental findings: (i) treatment of infected cells with inhibitors of host cell phosphatases or kinases altered the electrophoretic migration pattern of IncA; (ii) treatment with calf intestinal alkaline phosphatase eliminated the multiple‐banding pattern of IncA, leaving only the protein band with the lowest relative molecular weight; and (iii) radioimmunoprecipitation of lysates of [32P]‐orthophosphate‐labelled infected HeLa cells with anti‐IncA antisera demonstrated that the two highest Mr IncA bands were phosphorylated. A vaccinia‐virus recombinant expressing incA was used to determine if HeLa cells can phosphorylate IncA in the absence of a chlamydial background. IncA in lysates of these cells migrated identically to that seen in C. psittaci‐infected cells, indicating the host cell was responsible for the phosphorylation of the protein. Microinjection of fluorescently labelled anti‐IncA antibodies into C. psittaci‐infected HeLa cells resulted in immunostaining of the outer face of the inclusion membrane. Collectively, these results demonstrate that IncA is phosphorylated by the host cell, and regions of IncA are exposed at the cytoplasmic face of the inclusion.


(This paper was presented at the Journal of Quality Technology Session at the 29th Annual Fall Technical Conference of the Chemical and Process Industries Division of the American Society for Quality Control and Section on Physical and Engineering Scien..


Abstract During 2003 and 2004 several African countries were affected by swarms of desert locust in what was the worst locust crisis in the region since 1987 – 89. Early warning systems developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) were in place and alerted the international donor community of the danger of a desert locust invasion from the onset of the outbreak. International response to the crisis was, however, slow, and control operations were late to be implemented. Consequently, desert locust populations increased rapidly and swarms invaded eleven countries in West Africa, severely disrupting agricultural production in areas already sensitive to food security. We review the circumstances that led to this situation, and we assess the feasibility of using seasonal rainfall predictions to forecast desert locust risk sooner in order to provide a longer lead-time to affected countries and the donor community. Such an approach would enable the necessary control operations to be financed and undertaken in time.


Some predictions of a phenomenological theory describing the behavior of photochromic glasses were tested by photoacoustic measurements. The induced steady-state absorption wasinvestigated under the influence of strong optical bleaching. A depth profile of the induced steady-state absorption coefficient was measured by varying the glass thickness and described theoretically. Optical measurements were related to simultaneously taken photoacoustical measurements.


This paper presents ongoing research towards an endoscopic surgery simulation system. Our specific application of interest is laparoscopic surgery. The goal is to conceive an endoscopic surgical training tool which allows to realistically simulate the interactions between one or several surgical instruments and the gastrointestinal organs in a virtual reality based environment. An artificial patient is being developed into which endoscopic surgical instruments can be inserted to operate upon virtual organs displayed on a video monitor. In order to achieve a faithful and precise simulation, not only a realistic graphical representation of the organic tissue and its behavior is needed, but also the forces and moments on the surgical instruments encountered during an operation are required to be simulated. The laparoscopic surgery simulator must therefore provide force feedback through the endoscopic instruments manipulated by the surgeon. This paper details the mechanical design of the force feedback mechanisms and addresses some of the technical challenges of this project.


Eutrophication of the Seine estuary and the Bay of Seine is a crucial environmental issue for the management of ecosystems and economic activities related to fisheries and tourism in the region. A large quantity of nutrients, especially nitrogen, is brought to the coastal zone by the Seine River, the main input into that area, but also by smaller rivers along the Normandy coast. This large delivery of nitrogen leads to an imbalance between nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and silica (Si), which affects the growth of planktonic organisms and can exacerbate the occurrence of harmful algal blooms (HABs). These events can be damaging for shellfish fisheries, an important economic resource for the region. The study describes a new modelling chain coupling a riverine and a marine model (the Seneque/Riverstrahler and the ECO-MARS3D, respectively), which allows us to explore the effects on the coast of 2 scenarios of watershed management. The first one, focused on an upgrade of wastewater treatment plants, decreases the P fluxes by 5 to 35 kg P km–2 yr–1 on average over the 2000 to 2006 period, depending on the watershed, and would reduce about 3-fold the concentration of dinoflagellates in the adjacent coastal zone. The second one explores a hypothetical scenario of generalisation of organic farming in all agricultural areas of the basin. Although this is not realistic, it shows the best theoretical results we can achieve. With this scenario, the N fluxes decrease by almost 50%, and the dinoflagellate blooms and thus possibly the Dinophysis spp. blooms are drastically reduced by a factor of 20 to 40. Nevertheless, diatoms, which are the main primary producers in the bay and sustain the marine food web, are not significantly affected by this drastic scenario.


Motion LoD (Level of Detail) is a preprocessing technique that generates multiple details of captured motion by eliminating joints. This LoD technique is applied to movie, game or VR environments for the purpose of improving speed of crowd animation. So far, replacement techniques such as 'impostor' and 'rigid body motion' are widely used on real-time crowd, since they dramatically improve speed of animation. However, our experiment shows that the number of joints has a greater effect on the animation speed than anticipated. To exploit this, we propose a new motion LoD technique that not only improves the speed but also preserves the quality of motion. Our approach lies in between impostor and skeletal animation, offering seamless motion details at run time. Joint-elimination priority of each captured motion is derived from joint importance, which is generated by the proposed posture error equation. Considering hierarchical depth and rotational variation of joint, our error equation measures posture difference successfully and allows finding key posture of the entire motion. This 'motion analysis' process contributes error reduction to the next 'motion simplification' stage, where multiple details of motion are regenerated by the proposed motion optimization. In order to reduce the burden of optimization, all the terms of the objective function - distance, string, and angle error - are defined by joint-position vectors. In this aspect, a constrained optimization problem is formulated in a quadratic form. Thus, a sequential quadratic programming (SQP), a nonlinear optimization method, is suitable for resolving this problem. As the result of our experiment, the proposed motion LoD technique improves the animation speed and visual quality of simplified motion. Moreover, our approach reduces the preprocessing time and automates the whole process of LoD generation.


In the Swedish migration system the municipalities play a crucial role since they have full autonomy to accept or decline refugees. This has created a considerable variation in numbers of immigrants among municipalities' and there is a large variation in local societies' willingness to receive refugees. In this study we focus on all the Swedish municipalities for a time span of several years and derive from economic, demographic, socio-cultural and explanatory factors that have been put forward in earlier research. Through quantitative analysis we can show how income, the unemployment rate, population and support for the right-wing party negatively vary with the willingness to receive refugees. Moreover, the distribution of income results in the opposite significant direction. These results, partly contradicting theory, show the importance of a nuanced and holistic theoretical base in further research.


Advanced generations of different transgenic lines of indica basmati rice (Basmati-370) expressing two unrelated Bt genes, cry1Ac and cry2A were evaluated for resistance to Yellow Stem Borer (YSB) and Rice Leaf Folder (RLF) under field conditions compared to control lines over three years (2003-2005). Homozygous lines were selected and analyzed for insect resistance, morphological, physiochemical properties and risk assessment studies. After artificial infestation of target insects, the transgenic plants showed significant resistance. Data were recorded in terms of dead hearts and white heads at vegetative and flowering stage respectively. Transgenic lines showed up to 100 and 96% resistance against yellow stem borer at vegetative and flowering stages, respectively. Natural damage of rice leaf folder was also observed during the year 2005. The transgenic plants were 98% more resistant as compared to untransformed control plants. Variations in some morphological characteristics, e.g., the average number of tillers, plant height and maturity were also observed. Transgenic lines produced 40% more grains than control plants. All these characteristics were stably inherited in advanced generations. The transgenic lines had no significant effect on non-target insects (insects belonging to orders other than Lepidoptera and Diptera) in field or under storage conditions. Chances of pollen-mediated gene flow were recorded at a rate of 0.14%.


The possibility that population III stars have reionized the Universe at redshifts greater than 6 has recently gained mo- mentum with WMAP polarization results. Here we analyse the role of early dust produced by these stars and ejected into the in- tergalactic medium. We show that this dust, heated by the radiation from the same population III stars, produces a submillimetre excess. The electromagnetic spectrum of this excess could account for a significant fraction of the FIRAS (Far Infrared Absolute Spectrophotometer) cosmic far infrared background above 700 micron. This spectrum, a primary anisotropy (∆T ) spectrum times the ν 2 dust emissivity law, peaking in the submillimetre domain around 750 micron, is generic and does not depend on other detailed dust properties. Arcminute-scale anisotropies, coming from inhomogeneities in this early dust, could be detected by future submillimetre experiments such as Planck HFI.


The question has been asked as to whether doctors attending sexual-offence victims have to notify sexual-offence suspects that their patients who were forced to have unprotected sexual intercourse are HIV-positive. It is submitted that the common law requires doctors to warn endangered third parties where such persons may suffer injury as a result of interactions with their patients, and that this applies to patients who have tested positive for HIV. The ethical rules of the Health Professions Council of South Africa also require doctors to breach the confidentiality rule against the consent of their patients who have tested HIV-positive, where the sexual partner of a patient is known, and after counselling such patients still refuse to allow disclosure – provided there is no risk of consequential harm to such patients. The dilemma of doctors treating HIV-positive patients is sometimes resolved where, in terms of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act No. 32 of 2007, a court order for the compulsory testing of the suspect has been obtained and the suspect knows his or her HIV status. Recommendations are made for what doctors should do in such cases.


UGI 4410 is an austenitic super duplex stainless steel with good strength and corrosion resistance. It is designed for applications requiring very good corrosion resistance in aggressive environments in the presence of chlorides, as well as good mechanical properties. This datasheet provides information on composition, physical properties, microstructure, tensile properties. It also includes information on corrosion and wear resistance as well as forming, machining, and joining. Filing Code: SS-1291. Producer or source: Schmolz + Bickenbach USA Inc..


Two phases of deformation are needed to describe the Cenozoic tectonic evolution of the Pahrump and Mesquite basins in the southern Great Basin and eastern Mojave Desert, United States. By interpreting seismic reflection and gravity observations along with bedrock and surficial mapping, we infer an extensional phase of basin formation followed by a transtensional phase, in this area straddling the border of southern Nevada and southeastern California. We reprocessed ∼220 line km of industry seismic reflection data from the Pahrump and Mesquite Valleys to emphasize reflections in the basin fill, and combined these results with analysis of gravity data. The seismic lines portray the complex geometry of the Stateline fault system, a major Neogene dextral strike-slip system that passes through these valleys, and provide evidence for multiple ages of faulting along structures that bound the Pahrump basin. Locally thick sequences of preextensional Tertiary sedimentary rocks are cut by large-offset, relatively high-angle normal faults that record a phase of extensional basin formation that preceded transtension. The existence of preextensional basins beneath the Pahrump and Mesquite Valleys bears on tectonic reconstruction of the region and suggests that tilted ranges blocks to the west of these valleys need not restore to positions immediately adjacent to the Spring Mountains to the east. Subsequent dextral offset on the Stateline fault system resulted in the formation of steep-sided basins, local arching and tectonic inversion, and the burial of earlier-formed normal faults with coarse clastic detritus. Gravity models that are constrained to match the basin architecture observed in the seismic lines require lateral variations in basin-fill and bedrock density, and they confirm that the Paleozoic outcrop of Black Butte, a topographic high separating the Pahrump and Mesquite Valleys, is unrooted to underlying bedrock.


Assimilation theories posit that cultural change is part and parcel of the assimilation process. That change can register in the symbols and practices that individuals invoke as part of an ethnic experience. But cultural change also includes the degree to which the mainstream takes up those symbols and practices as part of its composite culture. We develop a way to examine whether cuisine, an important component of ethnic culture, is part of the mainstream's composite culture and the contextual factors associated with the presence of ethnic cuisine in the composite culture. We begin with a comparison of 761,444 reviews of Mexican, Italian, Chinese, and American restaurants across the United States from Yelp!, an online customer review platform. We find that reviews of Mexican restaurants mention ethnicity and authenticity much more than reviews of Italian and American restaurants, but less than reviews of Chinese restaurants, suggesting intermediate mainstreaming of Mexican cuisine. We then examine Mexican restaurant reviews in the 82 largest U.S. core-based statistical areas (CBSAs) to uncover the contextual factors associated with Mexican cuisine's local mainstream presence. We find that Mexican food is less defined in ethnic terms in CBSAs with larger and more culturally distinct Mexican populations and at less-expensive restaurants. We argue that regional versions of the composite culture change as ethnic groups come to define a region demographically and culturally.


Rotary kilns are commonly used in industry, from limestone calcination to cement production and waste incineration, among other things. For more than a century, these kilns have been used and developed. In this paper computational fluid dynamics analysis (fluent) is used to simulate and analyse the rotary lime kiln plant. Modelling the combustion characteristics of a large-scale rotary kiln using CFD proved to be a difficult job. The study of rotary lime kiln process, transfer of the heat, and mechanical response of the structure can be applied under the same condition using joint simulation analysis based on FLUENT and ANSYS finite element software, making the simulation results of rotary lime kiln more related to realistic operating conditions. The effect of fuel on the temperature and radiative conditions in the flame is studied. Several fuels like Coal and biomass, as well as other fuels including heavy fuel oil, natural gas, coal gas and corex gas were investigated. After considering many factors like flame temperature, fuel composition, calorific value, environmental consideration we have finalized corex gas as the fuel for our experiment. The calculated approximation of calorific value for Corex gas is around 2000 kcal/N cum. cum.


The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District's Overflow Regulation System (ORS) project uses computer control of a wastewater collection system for the purpose of combined sewage overflow (CSO) regulation. The $120 million project requires a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) System to monitor and control pumping stations and sluice gates in the 197 square kilometer Bissell Point watershed. Design and construction contracts have been phased over ten years so portions of the project are complete and operational with the total project scheduled for completion in 1994. The St. Louis ORS project integrates existing flood protection and pollution abatement facilities to prevent dry weather sewage overflows. With 41 pumping stations and nearly 200 gates to monitor and control, the system could not be managed to eliminate dry weather overflows and maintain adequate flood protection capabilities without a computerized system that can provide real time control.


The article elicits the complex relationship that exists in many Asian societies between art, drama and religious ritual. Male circumcisions in West Java are often elaborated into extraordinary events, including hundreds of guests who take part in a common meal and enjoy different kinds of artistic performances. Sisingaan dancing is an art form developed to entertain guests during these rituals and the article demonstrates how the dance is weaved into a specific conceptual universe. The dance introduces the child to the adult world and dramatises certain cosmological principles of inclusion and exclusion. Central artefacts in the ritual are the wooden lions that are used as vehicles for the children to ride upon. These lions represent potentially destructive desires that are necessary to control in order to initiate a religious life. To understand the intrinsic meaning of the event, the analysis puts the significance of these wooden lions in the centre of attention.


Abstract. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) of high-resolution laboratory chamber aerosol mass spectra is applied for the first time, the results of which are consistent with molecular level MOVI-HRToF-CIMS aerosol-phase and CIMS gas-phase measurements. Secondary organic aerosol was generated by photooxidation of dodecane under low-NOx conditions in the Caltech environmental chamber. The PMF results exhibit three factors representing a combination of gas-particle partitioning, chemical conversion in the aerosol, and wall deposition. The slope of the measured high-resolution aerosol mass spectrometer (HR-ToF-AMS) composition data on a Van Krevelen diagram is consistent with that of other low-NOx alkane systems in the same O : C range. Elemental analysis of the PMF factor mass spectral profiles elucidates the combinations of functionality that contribute to the slope on the Van Krevelen diagram.


Analysis of spatial diversity, temporal diversity and coefficient of parentage (COP) were carried out along with measurements of agronomic and morphological traits to explain on-farm diversity of modern varieties or landraces of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. and Triticum durum L.) grown by farmers in Ethiopia. Farm level surveys showed low spatial diversity of wheat where only a few dominant varieties appeared to occupy a large proportion of wheat area. The five top wheat varieties were grown by 56% of the sample farmers and these varieties were planted on 80% of the total wheat area. The weighted average age of wheat varieties was high with an average of 13.8 years for bread wheat showing low temporal diversity or varietal replacement by farmers. The COP analysis showed that average and weighted diversity of bread wheat was 0.76 and 0.66, respectively variance component analysis showed significant variations for agronomic characters such as plant height, grain yield, and yield components (kernels spike-1, thousand seed weight) among modern varieties and/or landraces. The principal component analysis explained better the variation among varieties and landraces. Cluster analysis based on agro-morphological traits grouped modern varieties and landraces into separate clusters. The present study describes the diversity of wheat crop available on the farm using different indicators. The variation among modern varieties and landraces offered opportunities for using genotypes with desired agronomic characters in plant breeding to develop varieties suitable for different agro-ecological zones in the country.


Most plant species have a range of traits that deter herbivores. However, understanding of how different defences are related to one another is surprisingly weak. Many authors argue that defence traits trade off against one another, while others argue that they form coordinated defence syndromes. We collected a dataset of unprecedented taxonomic and geographic scope (261 species spanning 80 families, from 75 sites across the globe) to investigate relationships among four chemical and six physical defences. Five of the 45 pairwise correlations between defence traits were significant and three of these were tradeoffs. The relationship between species' overall chemical and physical defence levels was marginally nonsignificant (P = 0.08), and remained nonsignificant after accounting for phylogeny, growth form and abundance. Neither categorical principal component analysis (PCA) nor hierarchical cluster analysis supported the idea that species displayed defence syndromes. Our results do not support arguments for tradeoffs or for coordinated defence syndromes. Rather, plants display a range of combinations of defence traits. We suggest this lack of consistent defence syndromes may be adaptive, resulting from selective pressure to deploy a different combination of defences to coexisting species.


We present the results of the analysis of a sample of 17 low-luminosity (LX 10 42 erg s −1 ), radio-loud active galactic nuclei in massive galaxies. The sample is extracted from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey data base and it spans uniformly a wide range in optical [O III] emission line and radio luminosity, but within a narrow redshift range (0.05 < z < 0.11) and a narrow supermassive black hole mass range (∼10 8 M� ). For these sources we measured core X-ray emission with the Chandra X-ray Telescope and radio emission with the Very Large Array. Our main goal is to establish which emission component, if any, can be regarded as the most reliable accretion/jet-power estimator at these regimes. In order to do so, we studied the correlation between emission-line properties, radio luminosity, radio spectral slopes and X-ray luminosity, as well as more complex multivariate relations involving black hole mass, such as the Fundamental Plane of black hole activity. We find that 15 out of 17 sources of our sample can be classified as low-excitation galaxies (LEGs), and their observed properties suggest X-ray and radio emission to originate from the jet basis. We also find that X-ray emission does not appear to be affected by nuclear obscuration and can be used as a reliable jet-power estimator. More generally, X-ray, radio and optical emission appear to be related, although no tight correlation is found. In accordance with a number of recent studies of this class of objects, these findings may be explained by a lack of cold (molecular) gaseous structures in the innermost region of these massive galaxies.


What is so special about small media systems? The following article touches upon their structural peculiarities, arguing that the small states perspective in communication science is not limited to Western Europe: small production and sales markets, dependence on and the high penetration with foreign media make the operation of domestic media organizations in small states more difficult. In some countries, this problem is intensified by giant next-door neighbours sharing the same language. The main claim of this article is that size has an impact on media regulation as well. It is suggested that small states, in order to protect and promote media diversity, are inclined to an interventionist approach of media regulation. They may even revert to protectionist measures undermining the goal of media diversity.


Background: Expression of WRAP53 protein has oncogenic properties and it is up regulated in several types of tumors. Methods: We examined expression of WRAP53 protein in rectal cancers and analyzed its relationship to the response to preoperative radiotherapy and patient survival. The WRAP53 protein was examined by immunohistochemistry in normal mucosa, primary tumors and lymph node metastases from 143 rectal cancer patients participated in a Swedish clinical trial of preoperative radiotherapy. Results: Frequency of WRAP53 protein expression was increased in primary rectal cancer compared to the normal mucosa (p< 0.05). In non-radiotherapy group positive WRAP53 in primary tumors (p = 0.03, RR, 3.73, 95% CI, 1.1311.89) or metastases (p = 0.01, RR, 4.11, 95% CI, 1.25-13.14), was associated with poor prognosis independently of stages and differentiations. In radiotherapy group, positive WRAP53 in the metastasis correlated with better survival (p = 0.04). An interaction analysis showed that the correlations of WRAP53 with the prognostic significance with and without radiotherapy in the metastasis differed (p = 0.01). In the radiotherapy group, expression of WRAP53 in metastases gave a better outcome (p = 0.02, RR, 0.32, 95% CI, 0.13-0.84), and an interaction analysis showed significance between the two groups (p = 0.01). Conclusion: WRAP53 may be a new biomarker used to predict prognosis and to select suitable patients for preoperative radiotherapy.


Intelligent Co-Pilot Systems (ICPS) offer the next challenge to vehicle-highway automation. The key to ICPSs is the detection of moving objects (other vehicles) from the moving observer using a visual sensor. The aim of the work presented in this thesis was to design and implement a feature detection and tracking strategy that is capable of tracking image features independently, in parallel, and in real-time and to cluster/segment features utilising the inherent temporal information contained within feature trajectories. Most images contain areas that are of little or no interest to vision tasks. An attentive, data-driven, approach to feature detection and tracking is proposed which aims to increase the efficiency of feature detection and tracking by focusing attention onto relevant regions of the image likely to contain scene structure. This attentive algorithm lends itself naturally to parallelisation and results from a parallel implementation are presented. A scene may be segmented into independently moving objects based on the assumption that features belonging to the same object will move in an identical way in three dimensions (this assumes objects are rigid). A model for scene segmentation is proposed that uses information contained within feature trajectories to cluster, or group, features into independently moving objects. This information includes: image-plane position, time-to-collision of a feature with the image-plane, and the type of motion observed. The Multiple Model Adaptive Estimator (MMAE) algorithm is extended to cope with constituent filters with different states (MMAE2) in an attempt to accurately estimate the time-to-collision of a feature and provide a reliable idea of the type of motion observed (in the form of a model belief measure). Finally, poor state initialisation is identified as a likely prime cause for poor Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) performance (and hence poor MMAE2 performance) when using high order models. The idea of the neurofuzzy initialised EKF (NF-EKF) is introduced which attempts to reduce the time for an EKF to converge by improving the accuracy of the EKF's initial state estimates.


Kostis Tsiklitiras, Olympic champion in the standing long jump in 1912, died in 1913 at the young age of 25 years old. He was one of the rare Olympic victors in the sport of track and field of modern Greece. His dilapidated childhood home at Pylos/Messenia (Greece) was renovated after a long struggle of the Cultural Club of Pylos NAVARINO; the club fought for many years against the later owner, the National Bank of Greece. Today, visitors can witness the erected bronze victor statue in the garden of this residency, as with the custom for Olympic victors in antiquity. The history of the Tsiklitiras family is known up until his great-grandfather, who emigrated to the United States of America and returned in 1821 to participate in the Greek war of independence.


A new device is described with which screws of any length can be calibrated rapidly for both periodic and cumulative errors in terms of interference fringes. It can also be used to plot correction cams to remove fixed errors of translation or rotation, and to monitor the operation of an engine while ruling diffraction gratings or scales, correcting by automatic feedback differences between the actual carriage position and its proper position as shown by an optical interference field. This so-called "Commensurator," whose name arises from its function of overcoming the incommensurability of the wavelength of the light used for calibration and the lead of a screw with English or metric threads, consists principally of a screw drive system, eight-figure dials, and a generator, geared together in ratios that can be controlled to one part in 108. Fringes produced by a Michelson interferometer mounted on the ruling engine (or having one mirror moved by the nut of the screw being calibrated) are changed photoelectrically to a wave train that measures translation to within 0.1 micro-inch. A second wave train of almost identical average frequency is produced by the Commensurator generator to measure screw rotation, and the two trains are continuously compared by means of a phase-sensitive amplifier and motor to within 1/100 cycle or fringe. Any error in carriage translation appears as a lag or lead which produces a torque in the motor until synchronism is re-established by a relative shift of the two wave trains, and thus makes possible automatic plotting of the screw error curve on a moving chart. Corrections for changes in barometric pressure or in temperature can be introduced during operation. By means of this device the variations in lead of a screw having 14 inches of nut motion have been recorded to the nearest 0.2 micro-inch in eight hours. When the error signals of the Commensurator are fed back directly to the corrector mechanism of a ruling engine, transient as well as fixed errors of run and period can be automatically compensated for. If the fringe system is lost, it can be re-established from the Commensurator record, so that controlled ruling of gratings wider than any available coherent fringe-field appears possible. During any period in which fringe control is not exerted the engine operates in the orthodox manner.


Background Geography education typically appears in school curricula in a didactic or disciplinary manner. Yet, both the didactic and the disciplinary approach to geography education lack a serious engagement with society, politics, and power, or democratic theory. We suggest, from Dewey, that most students, the social studies, and indeed society are not well served by these approaches, particularly as we confront global challenges that demand geographic knowledge and insight. Purpose We propose that geography can and should reflect the interests of students and society and thus be what Dewey calls psychologized through a democratic vision of global citizenship education (GCE). Toward that end, we develop a typology of global education to identify those types most congruent with democratic citizenship (cosmopolitan, environmental, and critical justice) and those less congruent (disciplinary, neoliberal, and human relations). Drawing on our typology, we show how GCE can be a point of synthesis in practice, bringing together global education and reconstituted geographic knowledge. Research Design The method of this article is a secondary analysis of literature in democratic theory, global citizenship education, and geography education that synthesizes points of overlap. Conclusions Based on this analysis, we recommend that geography curriculum should be remade within a vision similar to GCE so that space and place can be socially understood.


In this article, the central or principal issue for consideration is the appropriate standard that should be adopted at common law for foresight of consequences at common law where death has arisen out of an unlawful joint enterprise and the complicity or otherwise of a secondary party is in issue. Although the discussion is focussed upon the common law, the same issues of principle and policy arise in relation to potential reforms of the 'common purpose' rule under the Criminal Codes.


Although model calibration should be always performed alongside model validation, this is rarely the case when deriving new ground‐motion prediction equations (GMPEs). Explanatory modeling (Shmueli, 2010) is often preferred to data‐driven predictive approaches, and the analysis of the residual distribution is generally used to support the model qualification. Following previous studies (Kuehn et al. , 2009; Scherbaum et al. , 2009), this work aims to again stress the importance of validation for assessing the predictive power of GMPEs and for avoiding, or at least limiting, data overfitting. Considering the strong‐motion data and models recently analyzed by Roselli et al. (2016), I exemplify the application of standard validation approaches based on predictive metrics (Akaike and Bayesian information criteria), resample techniques (cross validation and bootstrap), and validation against new data. The results confirm that GMPEs overfitting the calibration data have a limited predictive power, whereas, regarding validation against new data, the selection of the validation data set should take into account possible regional effects in the ground motion.


Background Since 1985, one-third of all US all-terrain vehicle (ATV)-related injuries and one-quarter of deaths involved victims <16 years of age. ATV safety education of youth could help reduce these tragedies. Objectives To assess the efficacy of the Safety Tips for ATV Riders (STARs) school-based programme targeting adolescents. Methods A survey was anonymously administered before and after the programme to determine demographics, knowledge and reported likelihood of using the information learned. Results Over 4600 students in 30 Iowa schools participated from November 2010 to April 2013. Initially, 52% knew most ATVs are designed for one rider, 25% knew the recommended vehicle size for their age range and 42% knew riding on Iowa's roads was legal only for agricultural purposes. After the programme, this increased to 92%, 82% and 76%, respectively (p<0.0001 in each case), with 61% of students correct on all three. Better preintervention scores were associated with being males, higher riding frequency and being from isolated rural communities. After the programme, 48% and 32% said they were likely/very likely versus unlikely/very unlikely to use the safety information learned, respectively; younger students, females and infrequent riders reported higher likelihoods. Conclusions STARs increased short-term ATV safety knowledge and almost half the participants reported they would use the safety information presented. Males and frequent riders seemed more resistant, but some groups that may be more vulnerable to potential ATV crash and injury appeared amenable to the training with higher increases in postprogramme scores and greater intention of improving safety behaviours.


The literature on educational technology frequently fails to acknowledge that the shift from face-to-face to online learning is intensely political and deeply entwined with the complexities of everyday life (Selwyn, 2013). In contrast, this paper adopts a critical stance, exploring processes of symbolic violence within online social learning networks. The shift online introduces what Bourdieu termed the 'hiatus' effect: taking learners into a novel situation, which presents them with different definitions of 'the possible, the impossible and the probable,' (Myles, 2010, p333). Change of this kind is potentially dangerous for a number of reasons. First, it can generate a mismatch between habitus and field, which provides a point of purchase upon which symbolic violence is able to operate. Second, learners carry into the field of academia, whether on or offline, the consequences of previous educational experiences, which have often been deeply problematic in ways that continue to impact on their participation. Third, the shift into an online medium means that communication may be compromised because it is disembodied; participants are stripped of the ability to convey meaning through non-verbal communication, which Butler (1993) identifies as a vital site of resistance. Fourth, the contributions of participants are eminently retrievable by others whom they cannot see, conferring a panopticonised character to participation, which further objectifies and disempowers them in the face of symbolic violence.

Drawing on data from participants in a larger study, I argue that this violence is traceable in the conversations that occur in a social network used as part of a vocational degree in a new University in the North of England. A frequent use of Bourdieu in this kind of study is to trace domination through an analysis of hierarchical field structures rather than the utterances of participants (Myles, 2010). However, interview data and participants' written reflections reveal anxieties about 'how to talk' in the online environment. Subsequent analysis of their online utterances reveal processes of allodoxia at work, in which they mimic or hyper-mimic dominant syntax. Alternatively, they fall silent in a kind of resigned passivity.

I conclude by arguing that the ostensibly democratising and empowering shift into social learning networks can, at least in some instances, serve to produce and reproduce inequality because online participation is vexed in ways that are particular to such environments.


1. The effect of extracellular volume expansion (ECVE) during water diuresis, and of water diuresis alone, on the formation of free water in man was compared. 2. ECVE reduced free water formation at any given rate of distal delivery compared with water diuresis. Thus, ECVE depresses distal sodium chloride reabsorption. 3. This attenuation of free water formation occurred both when urine flow (V/100 ml glomerular filtration rate) and distal chloride delivery [(Cwater + Ccl)/100 ml glomerular filtration rate] were used as the terms for distal delivery. 4. We suggest that the distal depression of sodium chloride reabsorption after ECVE is robably due to a direct inhibition of distal sodium chloride transport mechanisms, and not to the flooding of the diluting site by the poorly reabsorbable bicarbonate ion.


Susan Sontag (1933-2004) was one of America's first celebrity intellectuals. In the first biography to be published since her death, Daniel Schreiber portrays a glamorous woman full of contradictions and inner conflicts, whose life mirrored the cultural upheavals of her time. While known primarily as a cultural critic and novelist, Sontag was also a filmmaker, stage director, and dramatist. It was her status as a pop icon that was unusual for an American intellectual: she was filmed by Andy Warhol and Woody Allen, photographed by Annie Leibovitz and Diane Arbus, and her likeness adorned advertisements for Absolut vodka. Drawing on newly available sources, including interviews with Nadine Gordimer, Robert Wilson, and Sontag's son, David Rieff, as well as on myriad interviews given by Sontag and her extensive correspondence with her friend and publisher Roger Straus, Schreiber explores the roles that Sontag played in influencing American public cultural and political conversations.


This research paper begins and ends with a sincere and pragmatic question – how might consulting firms more effectively integrate their design and innovation units within their broader workforce? This researcher embarked upon this course of research in order to generate a series of recommendations that might relieve some of the tensions around workforce integration. These tensions, described to this researcher by those within the design and innovation units and by consultants within the primary line of business of a firm, led the researcher to ultimately believe that the challenge around workforce integration might be best understood through the divergent value-chains that the consulting firm and its design and innovation unit espoused. Grounded in a literature review and interviews with participants from both consulting firms and their recently acquired design and innovations units, this paper would provide the basis for a set of recommendations that might ultimately better align a consulting firm's value-chain with that of its design and innovation unit. This in turn would underpin the goal of this research paper, to provide a way forward for consulting firms to better integrate their recently acquired design and innovation workforces.


This is a case note on the Gambazzi decision of the European Court of Justice. Marco Gambazzi was excluded from English proceedings for non complying with interim measures. As a consequence, he was ordered to pay hundreds of millions of Euros without trial. This note discusses the two issues addressed by the Advocate General and the Court. The first is whether such "default" English judgments are to be characterized as such in the meaning of the European law of judgments and thus benefit from the Brussels Convention (as it was then). The second is whether such judgments are contrary to public policy for being the consequence of a debarment from defending and an exclusion of proceedings.


Recent advances in methods to increase network utilization have lead to the introduction of a relatively new method called Network Coding. Network Coding is a method that can reduce local congestion in a network by combining information sent over the network. It is commonly researched in the information theory field after it was first introduced by Ahlswede et al in 2000. Network Coding was proven in 2003, by Koetter & Medard to be the only way to achieve the throughput capacity defined by the Min cut Max flow theorem of Shannon. It was applied deterministically in wired networks and randomly in wireless networks. Random Network Coding however requires a lot of overhead and may cause possible delays in the network. We found that there is an open question as to determine where in a wireless network, Network Coding can be implemented. In this thesis we propose to find opportunities for the implementation of Network Coding, by searching for known deterministic Network Coding topologies in larger Networks. Because a known topology is used, we will then also know how Network Coding should be implemented. This method of finding opportunities for the implementation of Network Coding using topology can be combined with a routing algorithm to improve the utilization of a wireless network. We implemented our method on three different topologies and searched 1000 random networks for the presence of these topologies. We found that these topologies occurred frequently enough to make our method a viable method of finding opportunities for the implementation of Network Coding.


INDO12 is a 1/12 regional version of the NEMO physical ocean model covering the whole Indonesian EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone). It has been developed and is now running every week in the framework of the INDESO (Infrastructure Development of Space Oceanography) project implemented by the Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries. The initial hydrographic conditions as well as openboundary conditions are derived from the operational global ocean forecasting system at 1/4 operated by Mercator Océan. Atmospheric forcing fields (3-hourly ECMWF (European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecast) analyses) are used to force the regional model. INDO12 is also forced by tidal currents and elevations, and by the inverse barometer effect. The turbulent mixing induced by internal tides is taken into account through a specific parameterisation. In this study we evaluate the model skill through comparisons with various data sets including outputs of the parent model, climatologies, in situ temperature and salinity measurements, and satellite data. The biogeochemical model results assessment is presented in a companion paper (Gutknecht et al., 2015). The simulated and altimeter-derived Eddy Kinetic Energy fields display similar patterns and confirm that tides are a dominant forcing in the area. The volume transport of the Indonesian throughflow (ITF) is in good agreement with the INSTANT estimates while the transport through Luzon Strait is, on average, westward but probably too weak. Compared to satellite data, surface salinity and temperature fields display marked biases in the South China Sea. Significant water mass transformation occurs along the main routes of the ITF and compares well with observations. Vertical mixing is able to modify the South and North Pacific subtropical water-salinity maximum as seen in T –S diagrams. In spite of a few weaknesses, INDO12 proves to be able to provide a very realistic simulation of the ocean circulation and water mass transformation through the Indonesian Archipelago. Work is ongoing to reduce or eliminate the remaining problems in the second INDO12 version.


This article introduces an innovative approach to legal theory which the authors call "critical realism." The approach endeavors to integrate insights of social psychology, and affiliated social sciences, together with the methods of conventional economic analysis, as well as traditional methods of legal inquiry. Canvassing robust findings from across the behavioral sciences, the authors articulate a framework for thinking about human agency in legal analysis that the authors call "the situational character," a conception which is meant to provide a more scientifically grounded understanding of the sources of human behavior and decision-making then is provided by the "rational actor" model that has become so prominent in legal scholarship through the influence of the law and economics movement. The authors further explore the extend to which market-actors, such as corporations, have a stake in promoting to consumers and to policymakers the rational-actor model of human agency, even as market pressures are likely to lead such market-actors to understand and exploit the reality of the "situational character." The authors refer to such efforts on the part of market-actors as "deep capture," an extension of the conception of administrative "capture" long understood by public choice theorists. The authors review several historical episodes and scholarly debates through the innovative framework that their article provides, and suggest many avenues of future research and development of the framework.


Background: Public health information technology (PHIT) has the potential to improve the effective and efficient use of information in achieving public health objectives. Information technology maturity models have been extensively used in other domains to guide information technology assessment and planning, but an information technology maturity model tailored for public health departments has heretofore been unavailable. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop a Public Health Information Technology Maturity Index. Methods: An extensive literature review and content analysis was conducted of information system adoption, use, and maturity in general and in the public health systems and services research context in particular. Primary data were collected through staff interviews (61), staff observations (16), patient focus groups (3), and staff surveys (3) over the course of a multi-year technology implementation, including preand postimplementation of an electronic health record system at a large suburban public health department. Data were analyzed using qualitative and quantitative methods to extract potential categories for inclusion in the index. A Delphi exercise whose panelists included experts from state and local public health departments and national multi-stakeholder groups was conducted. Results: A Public Health Information Technology Maturity Index, questionnaire, and scoring guide were created. The Maturity Index consisted of four primary categories: Scale and Scope of PHIT Use; PHIT Quality; PHIT Human Capital, Policy and Resources; and, PHIT Community Infrastructure, along with fourteen subdimensions. Implications: The PHIT Maturity Index represents a practical approach to aid public health system stakeholders, notably health departments, in the evaluation of their information technology deployment decisions. As benchmark data become available, it will enable comparative assessment and possible linking of information technology maturity and multi-agency interoperability to population health outcomes.


Upper Triassic volcanic and sedimentary rocks of the Mamonia Complex in southwestern Cyprus are exposed in erosional windows through the post-Cretaceous cover, where the Mamonia Complex is tectonically imbricated with the Troodos and Akamas ophiolitic suites. Most of these Upper Triassic volcanic rocks have been considered to represent remnants of Triassic oceanic crust and its associated seamounts. New Nd and Pb isotopic data show that the whole Mamonia volcanic suite exhibits features of oceanic island basalts (OIB). Four rock types have been distinguished on the basis of the petrology and chemistry of the rocks. Volcanism began with the eruption of depleted olivine tholeiites (Type 1) and oceanic island tholeiites (Type 2) associated with deep basin siliceous and/or calcareous sediments. The tholeiites were followed by highly phyric alkali basalts (Type 3) interbedded with pelagic Halobia-bearing limestones or white reefal limestones. Strongly LREE-enriched trachytes (Type 4) were emplaced during the final stage of volcanic activity. Nd and Pb isotopic ratios suggest that tholeiites and mildly alkali basalts derived from partial melting of heterogeneous enriched mantle sources. Fractional crystallization alone cannot account for the derivation of trachytes from alkaline basalts. The trachytes could have been derived from the partial melting at depth of mafic material which shares with the alkali basalts similar trace element and isotopic compositions. This is corroborated by the rather similar isotopic compositions of the alkali basalts and trachytes. The correlations observed between incompatible elements (Nb, Th) and εNd and Pb isotopic initial ratios suggest that the Mamonia suite was derived from the mixing of a depleted mantle (DMM) and an enriched component of High μ (μ = 238U/204Pb, HIMU) type. Models using both Nd and Pb isotopic initial ratios suggest that the depleted tholeiites (Type 1) derived from a DMM source contaminated by an Enriched Mantle Type 2 component (EM2), and that the oceanic tholeiites (Type 2), alkali basalts (Type 3) and trachytes (Type 4) were derived from the mixing of the enriched mantle source of the depleted tholeiites with a HIMU component. None of the Mamonia volcanic rocks show evidence of crustal contamination. The Upper Triassic within-plate volcanism likely erupted in a small southerly Neotethyan basin, located north of the Eratosthenes seamount and likely floored by oceanic crust.


The present text investigates the singularities of family firms with respect to their control risk aversion, their financial performance and their valuation.
With regard to the control risk aversion the text probes a sample of 1215 privately held firms in Switzerland and finds lower leverage levels for family firms affected by undiversified investment, an insufficient separation of private and business wealth, ownership dispersion across siblings. In addition, the text refers to behavioral finance theory and shows that family managers display a strong aversion to control risk which is however influenced by reference points.
With regard to financial performance the analysis finds significantly lower returns on equity for family firms. The text reveals that family firms face peculiar agency problems which potentially hamper the evolvement of family firms through strategic and financial inertia, ineffective governance, misalignment of interests, and inefficient information processing. The study finds that family influence is not always a blessing or a curse. Whether family influence positively affects firm performance depends on the strength of family influence, the industry, the firm size and the active generation.
With regard to value and valuation the study probes a sample of 142 publicly traded family and nonfamily firms on the Swiss stock market. The outperformance of family firms can be partly explained by their transparent information setting measured by a lower variance in earnings per share which reduces analyst forecast dispersion which positively affects stock performance. In contrast to publicly quoted family firms an analysis of 958 privately owned family firms shows that entrepreneurs subjectively price not only monetary achievements, as cash flow, but also nonmonetary achievements as the age of the firm and their subjective happiness. These findings provide additional insight to entrepreneurial rationales if, as in most cases, a firm is not for sale but is rather intended to be handed over to a subsequent generation.


In the modern Bahamas and Caicos Banks, muddy tidal flats develop just in the lee side of the larger islands, very close to high-energy marginal areas. In these cases, sedimentary models are quite similar to the barrier-island ones and they show the contemporaneous presence of high and low-energy facies in the windward side of the bank. The importance of these models on the paleoenvironmental interpretation of the Mesozoic platforms of the Apennines are not yet fully evaluated and many facies descriptions are largely inspired to a model of carbonate platform attached to land masses, as the Florida Bay. Mesozoic platforms of the Apennines were instead isolated from the continental areas from the Lower Jurassic. In this case, the terms "inner" and "outer" platform, in order to define low and high energy facies, are deceptive because they contain an interpretation that attributes a wrong polarity to the platform. A right interpretation of the sedimentary environment of some muddy tidal facies allows to detect the presence of the couple "island and tidal flat" and to recognize the windward side of the platform. This result should provide basis to define the architecture of the carbonate bank, the trend of the dominant winds, the trend of the wind-driven currents and also it should justify the existence of some particular coarsening-upward cycles with high-energy sand flat facies overlying muddy tidal flat facies.


The widespread use of digital identities in our everyday life, along with the release of sensitive data on many online transactions, calls for Identity Management (IdM) solutions that are secure, privacy-aware, and compatible with new technologies, such as mobile and cloud computing. While there exist many secure IdM solutions for web applications, their adaptation in the mobile context is a new and open challenge. The majority of mobile IdM solutions currently used are based on proprietary protocols and their security analysis lacks standardization in the structure, definitions of notions and entities, and specific considerations to identify the attack surface that turns out to be quite different from well understood web scenarios. This makes a comparison among different solutions very complex or, in the worst case, misleading. To overcome these difficulties, we propose a novel methodology for the design and security assessment of mobile IdM solutions. The design space is characterized by the identification of: (i) national (e.g., SPID for Italy) and European (e.g., eIDAS) laws, regulations and guideline principles that are particularly relevant to digital identity and privacy; (ii) a list of security and usability requirements that are related to IdM solutions (e.g., single sign-on and multi-factor authentication); (iii) a set of implementation mechanisms that are relevant to authentication and authorization on mobile devices and simplify the satisfaction of the requirements in (ii). All the designed solutions use as blueprint a reference model resulting from a rational reconstruction of the mobile IdM solution adopted by Facebook and a study of the OAuth specification for native applications. Regarding the security assessment, our methodology supports
analyses ranging from semi-formal to formal. For the former, an IdM designer is required to specify the security relevant parts of the protocol using message sequence charts, the threat model and the security properties; these offer the starting point to argue whether the protocol satisfies the specified properties. For the latter, an IdM designer is required to specify the protocol flow, the attacker properties and the security properties using one of the available formal specification languages for the description of cryptographic and browser-based protocols, and verify the security property violations using an automated tool for protocol analysis. To validate our approach, we applied it to four different real-world scenarios that represent different functional and usability requirements:
1. TreC: a multi-factor authentication solution with a single sign-on experience for mobile e-Health applications.
2. Smart Community: a secure delegated access solution in the context of smart-cities.
3. DigiMat-Lab (Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato): a mobile multi-factor authentication solution that uses as second factor the Italian electronic identity card.
4. FIDES: an IdM solution that combines federation and cross-border aspects in the context of the European single digital market.
The custom designs obtained by applying our methodology in the four scenarios above show the generality and effectiveness of our methodology.
When using formal analysis, we have re-used the specification language and tools developed in the context of the AVANTSSAR EU-founded project.


This dissertation is devoted to the existence, regularity, stability and uniqueness of transition fronts in nonlocal bistable equations in time heterogeneous media. Instead of existence, we start our study with qualitative properties. We first show that any transition front must be regular in space and propagates to the right with a continuously differentiable interface location function; this is also true in space-time heterogeneous media. We then turn to the study of space nonincreasing transition fronts and prove various important properties such as uniform steepness, stability, uniform stability, exponential decaying estimates and so on. Moreover, we show that any transition front, after certain space shift, coincides with a space nonincreasing transition front, verifying the uniqueness, up to space shifts, of transition fronts, and hence, all transition fronts satisfy just mentioned qualitative properties. Also, we show that a transition front must be a periodic traveling wave in time periodic media and the asymptotic speeds of transition fronts exist in time uniquely ergodic media. Finally, we prove the existence of space nonincreasing transition fronts by constructing appropriate approximating front-like solutions with regularities; this is done under certain additional assumptions.


Considering the important role of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in tourism, a growing number of destination management organisations (DMOs) have been adopting more complex destination web-applications/websites to tourism destinations – destination management systems (DMSs). However, the concept of DMS is far from being consensual. The present study aims to clarify the concept of DMS by identifying the main differences between DMS and other DMO web-applications/websites regarding functionalities targeted at potential visitors of destinations. This study is carried out based on a comparison between DMS-specific and DMS-non-specific sources (papers and book chapters). The results suggest that the major difference between DMS and more traditional DMO websites relies in the transaction dimension. While DMS-non-specific reviewed sources tend to focus more on informational functionalities, DMS-specific studies clearly highlight transaction tools. The study highlights the need to develop DMS including a more varied range of transactional and communication/relationship functionalities.


This study was undertaken at the Botanical Garden of Biological Sciences Department, Kogi State University, Anyigba with the aim of assessing the systematic and phylogenetic relevance of leaf epidermal attributes in the 10 selected species of Fabaceae. Stomata, trichomes and epidermal cell attributes were taken from adaxial and abaxial leaf surfaces. Results obtained in this study revealed that all the 10 plant species considered possess hypo-amphistomatic leaf condition, paracytic stomata type, polygon and irregular shape epidermal cells(on the abaxial surface) which points to their common ancestry. All the analyzed leaf epidermal traits considered on the adaxial and abaxial surfaces showed significant variations among the 10 studied plant species which indicates that genetic diversity exists among members of Fabaceae for their delimitation. It was also observed that all the plants with tree habit considered in this study (i.e Delonix regia, Parkia biglobosa, Senna siamea, Daniella oliveri and Caesalpinia pulcherrima ) lack stomata on the adaxial surfaces which strongly suggest that absence of stomata on the adaxial surface may be peculiar to Legumes with such habit. Cluster analysis revealed 2 major clusters and 2 sub-clusters with the first cluster comprising only Senna siamea and Caesalpinia pulcherrima which confirms their close phylogenetic relationship. Variations in trichomes, stomata and epidermal attributes were obvious and could be used to resolve systematic and phylogenetic problems in this family. Int J Appl Sci Biotechnol, Vol 3(2): 301-307 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijasbt.v3i2.12733


Purpose – While the strategic management literature extols the virtues of engaging in strategic
planning for superior performance, how a dynamic strategic planning capability can be
developed remains underexplored; a knowledge void addressed by the paper through applying
knowledge-based theory.
Design/methodology/approach – A mail survey was sent to high technology firms randomly
sampled from the Kompass Directory of UK businesses. Firms were sampled at the SBU level,
given the focus on strategic planning capability.
Findings – An organization's strategic planning capability derives from extensive information
distribution and organizational memory. While learning values is non-significant, symbolic
information use degrades the development of a strategic planning capability.
Research implications – By investigating the contributory activities that lead to strategic
planning capability development, the findings establish how strategic planning materializes in
organizations. Further, the differential effects found for knowledge management activities on
strategic planning capability development extends empirical studies that suggest knowledge is
always a central tenet of strategic planning.
Practical implications – A set of key knowledge activities are identified that managers must
address for strategic planning capability development: strategic planning routines and values of
search, analysis, and assessment should be appropriately informed by investments in knowledge
dissemination and memory on a continual basis. Meanwhile, information misuse compromises
strategic planning capabilities and managers must protect against out-of-context or manipulated
information from infiltrating into organizational memory.
Originality/value – Despite the advent of the Knowledge-Based Theory and its core premise
that capabilities derive from knowledge management activities, little research has been
conducted into demonstrating the knowledge-based antecedents of a strategic planning
capability.


This article investigates the dynamics between the two major Orthodox political movements of the twentieth century – the religious Zionist movement Mizrahi and its non-Zionist opponent Agudat Yisrael – in the context of their tripartite relationship with the Zionist Organization. Due to its increased involvement in Palestinian affairs, the Agudah entered negotiations with the Zionists in the mid-1920s. These negotiations and the possibility of cooperation between Agudat Yisrael and the Zionist Organization threatened the position of the religious Zionists within the ZO. The resulting competition between the two Orthodox groups led to the refinement of party platforms and the crystallization of independent political camps.


Using original research and focusing on occupational ill-health in relation to women workers, this book presents a perspective for the analysis of both gender and work and work and ill-health. The author gives a critique of traditional theoretical accounts of gender relations, state intervention and industrial ill-health. The chapters examine the extent to which feminist activists got involved in debates about health and industrial work, and show how activists went beyond the concerns of suffrage.; The book presents a historical period which was marked by a change in the role of the state with respect to intervention in industrial conditions, and analyses the coincidence of this with three other significant developments: the growth of expertise in industrial disease; the employment of women in the factory to take on responsibilities in relation to other women; and changes in the direction of feminist activism. In light of this analysis, the author suggests that some theoretical approaches to both gender relations and health and safety requirements require modification.


In Europe the quality of national income statistics is less constrained by the capacity and resources devoted by national statistics offices to follow international best practice than is the case in many other parts of the world. In addition the members of the European Union have to meet the harmonised standards of national accounting set by Eurostat which are based on the United Nations System on National Accounts. However, despite recent modifications both these standards fail to adequately record the size of the informal economy.


We report on the generation of continuous-wave widely tunable light between 2360 and 2530 nm using difference-frequency generation with a pump tuned between 938 and 952 nm and a signal tuned between 1490 and 1590 nm in a type-II phase-matched monolithic semiconductor waveguide. The device internal conversion efficiency is estimated to be 0.29%  W(-1)  cm(-2). This design which uses a single-sided Bragg reflection waveguide has the potential for on-chip spectroscopy, as well as environmental monitoring applications, where a tunable source of coherent radiation tuned between 2 and 3 μm wavelength is desired.


ABSTRACT Toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems have been reported in the genomes of most bacterial species, and their role when located on the chromosome is still debated. TA systems are particularly abundant in the massive cassette arrays associated with chromosomal superintegrons (SI). Here, we describe the characterization of two superintegron cassettes encoding putative TA systems. The first is the phd-docSI system identified in Vibrio cholerae N16961. We determined its distribution in 36 V. cholerae strains and among five V. metschnikovii strains. We show that this cassette, which is in position 72 of the V. cholerae N16961 cassette array, is functional, carries its own promoter, and is expressed from this location. Interestingly, the phd-docSI system is unable to control its own expression, most likely due to the absence of any DNA-binding domain on the antitoxin. In addition, this SI system is able to cross talk with the canonical P1 phage system. The second cassette that we characterized is the ccdVfi cassette found in the V. fischeri superintegron. We demonstrate that CcdBVfi targets DNA-gyrase, as the canonical CcBF toxin, and that ccdVfi regulates its expression in a fashion similar to the ccdF operon of the conjugative plasmid F. We also establish that this cassette is functional and expressed in its chromosomal context in V. fischeri CIP 103206T. We tested its functional interactions with the ccdABF system and found that CcdAVfi is specific for its associated CcdBVfi and cannot prevent CcdBF toxicity. Based on these results, we discuss the possible biological functions of these TA systems in superintegrons.


For the first time ever, a vaginal gel has unequivocally blocked the transmission of HIV, it was reported online this week in Science and in a presentation at the 18th International AIDS Conference in Vienna. For the first time ever, a vaginal gel has unequivocally blocked the transmission of HIV. In a trial that involved nearly 900 South African women, those who received a vaginal gel that contains an anti-HIV drug had a 39% lower chance of becoming infected by the virus than those who received a placebo. As reported online this week in Science and in a presentation at the 18th International AIDS Conference in Vienna, of the 444 women who received a placebo gel, 60 became infected with HIV versus 38 infections in the 445 women who received the microbicide. The result was statistically significant, and no serious side effects occurred.


The Norton Edition of this widely praised collection brings the best writings in the humanities to a college audience. Each chapter presents a question or topic central to the human experience, among them "The Search for Perfection," "Are We Our Bodies?," "Vulnerability and Suffering," and "Human Dignity." To guide students as they read these influential works, every selection is prefaced by a concise headnote and thoughtful discussion questions. How shall we promote and protect human flourishing in a world of ever-emerging technologies? At what point should we limit our quest for physical and mental perfection? Drawing on the insights of great thinkers throughout the ages, Being Human: Core Readings in the Humanities can help give readers a solid understanding of what it means to be human, both in the past and into the future. College courses, from Humanities to Bioethics to Freshman Composition, will benefit from this important collection.


Using data samples collected with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider, we measure the Born cross section of e(+)e(-) -> p (p) over tilde at 12 center-of-mass energies from 2232.4 to 3671.0 MeV. The corresponding effective electromagnetic form factor of the proton is deduced under the assumption that the electric and magnetic form factors are equal (vertical bar G(E)vertical bar = vertical bar G(M)vertical bar). In addition, the ratio of electric to magnetic form factors, vertical bar G(E)/G(M)vertical bar, and vertical bar G(M)vertical bar are extracted by fitting the polar angle distribution of the proton for the data samples with larger statistics, namely at root s = 2232.4 and 2400.0 MeV and a combined sample at root s = 3050.0, 3060.0 and 3080.0 MeV, respectively. The measured cross sections are in agreement with recent results from BABAR, improving the overall uncertainty by about 30%. The vertical bar G(E)/G(M)vertical bar ratios are close to unity and consistent with BABAR results in the same q(2) region, which indicates the data are consistent with the assumption that vertical bar G(E)vertical bar = vertical bar G(M)vertical bar within uncertainties.


Research question: The paper investigated whether a possibility for improving eco – efficiency of BSEC member states exists. Motivation: BSEC member states are primarily oriented towards accomplishing various economic goals, and they are very successful in this area. On the other hand, sustainability issue is still one of major problems for these states, since all BSEC member states do not pay full attention to sustainable development. Also, there are no quality researches that provide deeper analysis of sustainability issues for BSEC member states and so the goal research was to explore if there exists any link between factors that have impact on eco – efficiency of BSEC member states in order to provide sustainable solutions for BSEC member states. Idea: The core idea of this paper was to empirically evaluate the relationship between some factors that have impact on eco – efficiency on BSEC member states, but also to test the implementation of Ehrlich and Holdren equation on the BSEC member states. Data: Analysis was conducted for all 12 BSEC member states using data from several databases such as: IEA, Trading Economics and World Bank. Time series for analyzed data starts in 1995 and ends in 2015. Tools: Statistical analysis of all collected data (descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, linear regression analysis and panel data analysis) was used to draw conclusions between the analyzed variables and check if they have statistical evaluation. Findings: The results showed that full implementation of Ehrlich and Holdren equation among the BSEC member states is not possible due to social aspect of equation. Analysis also suggest that gasoline prices, CO2 emissions and renewable resources should become vital part of future sustainable strategies for the BSEC member states, since all these variables have strong impact on eco – efficiency of the BSEC member states. Contribution: The paper expands existing research literature by providing detailed sustainable development analysis of the BSEC region, since there were no so many sustainability analysis of BSEC region like this in the past.


With the rapid development of computer and information technologies, medical imaging has become one of the major sources of information for therapy and research in medicine, biology and other fields. Along with the advancement of medical imaging techniques, computer-aided detection and diagnosis (CAD/CADx) has recently emerged to become one of the major research subjects within the area of diagnostic radiology and medical image analysis. This thesis presents two multi-level learning-based approaches for medical image understanding with applications of CAD/CADx. The so-called "multi-level learning strategy" relies on that supervised and unsupervised statistical learning techniques are utilized to hierarchically model and analyze the medical image content in a "bottom up" way. As the first approach, a learning-based algorithm for automatic medical image classification based on sparse aggregation of learned local appearance cues is proposed 1. The algorithm starts with a number of landmark detectors to collect local appearance cues throughout the image, which are subsequently verified by a group of learned sparse spatial configuration models. In most cases, a decision could already be made at this stage by simply aggregating the verified detections. For the remaining cases, an additional global appearance filtering step is employed to provide complementary information to make the final decision. This approach is evaluated on a largescale chest radiograph view identification task and a multi-class radiograph annotation task, demonstrating its improved performance in comparison with other state-of-the-art algorithms. It also achieves high accuracy and This work is done during the author's internship with Siemens Healthcare Inc., USA. robustness against images with severe diseases, imaging artifacts, occlusion, or missing data. As the second approach, a learning-based approach for automatic segmentation of ill-defined and spiculated mammographic masses is presented. The algorithm starts with statistical modeling of exemplar-based image patches. Then, the segmentation problem is regarded as a pixel-wise labeling problem on the produced mass class-conditional probability image, where mass candidates and clutters are extracted. A multi-scale steerable ridge detection algorithm is further employed to detect spiculations. Finally, a graph-cuts technique is employed to unify all outputs from previous steps to generate the final segmentation mask. The proposed method specifically tackles the challenge of inclusion of mass margin and associated extension for segmentation, which is considered to be a very difficult task for many conventional methods.


This article presents the findings from two studies that investigated the concept of whānau ora (family wellbeing): One examined the nature of resilience for Māori whānau and how resilience relates to whānau ora; while the second investigated the impact of the Working for Families policy on Māori families' perceptions of whānau ora. In each study, Māori were asked to define whānau ora for their family. The responses to the "whānau ora" definition question in each of the studies were separated out to derive a unique dataset of 46 whānau definitions of whānau ora. A secondary analysis of responses was undertaken specifically for this article and these were compared to the whānau ora outcome definition outlined in the Report of the Taskforce on Whānau-Centred Initiatives (Taskforce on Whānau-Centred Initiatives, 2010). The degree of concordance between the definitions of whānau ora expressed by Māori families and those espoused by the government's Taskforce is outlined. The article discusses the variability in understandings around whānau ora and the implications of our analysis for social service delivery and social policy development.


New representations of tree-structured data objects, using ideas from topological data analysis, enable improved statistical analyses of a population of brain artery trees. A number of representations of each data tree arise from persistence diagrams that quantify branching and looping of vessels at multiple scales. Novel approaches to the statistical analysis, through various summaries of the persistence diagrams, lead to heightened correlations with covariates such as age and sex, relative to earlier analyses of this data set. The correlation with age continues to be significant even after controlling for correlations from earlier significant summaries.


[1] By combining observations from satellite radar, body wave seismology and optical imagery, we have determined the fault segmentation and sequence of ruptures for the 2010 Mw 6.8 Yushu (China) earthquake. We have mapped the fault trace using displacements from SAR image matching, interferometric phase and coherence, and 2.5 m SPOT-5 satellite images. Modeling the event as an elastic dislocation with three segments fitted to the fault trace suggests that the southeast and northwest segments are near vertical, with the central segment dipping 70° to the southwest; slip occurs mainly in the upper 10 km, with a maximum slip of 1.5 m at a depth of 4 km on the southeastern segment. The maximum slip in the top 1 km (i.e., near surface) is up to 1.2 m, and inferred locations of significant surface rupture are consistent with displacements from SAR image matching and field observations. The radar interferograms show rupture over a distance of almost 80 km, much larger than initial seismological and field estimates of the length of the fault. Part of this difference can be attributed to slip on the northwestern segment of the fault being due to an Mw 6.1 aftershock two hours after the main event. The remaining difference can be explained by a non-uniform slip distribution with much of the moment release occurring at depths of less than 10 km. The rupture on the central and southeastern segments of the fault in the main shock propagated at a speed of 2.5 km/s southeastward toward the town of Yushu located at the end of this segment, accounting for the considerable building damage. Strain accumulation since the last earthquake on the fault segment beyond Yushu is equivalent to an Mw 6.5 earthquake.


Women account for 66% of the global workforce and earn 10% of the income. They produce 50% of the food globally and own 1% of the property. Besides, women represent the majority of the global poor, 70%, and it has been proven that ownership is one of the most effective means of improving their economic well-being. Therefore, promoting women economic opportunities and equal participation in the labor market is the right thing to do. But it is also good business. This reference note discusses the role that gender plays in labor market participation, access to finance, training and education, and other legal and social barriers. This document then goes on to describe policies and promising practices for promoting real economic opportunity for women.


This paper examines the constitutional morphogenesis of New England and New Zealand to determine the effects on their respective economic development—specifically in terms of economic complexity. New England had revolted against a dominion that limited the local autonomy of its colonies; alternatively, almost 200 years later, New Zealand abolished a quasi-federal provincial system in favour of a unitary state. Constitutional economics, through the works of its founding father, James Buchanan, is employed to explain the effects of these constitutional choices. The paper argues that empowering local government is the key to economic prosperity in a globalising world, where the role of the nation-state is increasingly marginalised. Nourishing local autonomy is important for constitutional aspirations.


Congenital urinary tract obstruction is a developmental anomaly which may persist after birth in new born calves. To determine the occurrence of congenital urinary obstructionand to evaluate tube cystostomy for the management of congenital urinary obstruction inneonatal calves two studies were conducted. A retrospective study was performed toobserve the occurrence of congenital urinary obstruction in neonatal ruminants fromJanuary 2005 to November 2014. Occurrence of congenital urinary obstruction inneonatal calves was also studied in respect to age, sex, breed and season. During theperiod of 10 years, a total of 42 cases of congenital urinary obstruction were recorded,which constituted an incidence of 2.0%. In this study, maximum incidence was recordedin bovine is 38 (90%). Maximum number of cases (45%) of congenital urinaryobstruction in ruminants was recorded from March to June, July to October andNovember to February as 19 (45%), 9 (22%) and 14 (33%) respectively. Among affectedanimals, 31 were cross breed (74%) and 11 were local breed (26%). Number of affectedmales was 29 (69%) clearly ahead than affected female 13 (31%). In another study, tubecystostomy with infusion set was performed in eleven neonatal calves aged 1-6 days oldand observed for 1 month. Among 11 calves, 2 died due to severe infection andsepticemia and 2 calves needed repeated operation. Seven calves got uneventful recoveryand the cured animal showed satisfactory results. Overall successful rate was 63.6%. Theresults revealed that tube cystostomy seemed to be an effective method. In addition, thisstudy will help not only veterinarian to make them aware about the occurrence ofcongenital urinary obstruction but also to solve the problem by saving the life of neonatalcalves.


Wheat-rye translocations involving 1RS and 2RL of rye are the most useful sources of genes for disease resistance in wheat breeding. Rye genes are known to control resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Wheat-rye translocations have been widely used by breeders all over the world because genes located on translocated chromosome arms or fragments from the rye genome can determine a number of useful traits in wheat, such as high yield, wide adaptation, diseases and pest resistance.
The wheat-rye translocation lines used in this study were derived from a cross between the Swedish bread wheat variety Topper and the line KR99-139 being homozygous for the two different wheat-rye translocations 1BL/1RS and 2RL/2BS. BC1F1 materials were obtained through one back-cross with either the line KR99-139 or the variety Topper. Thereafter, BC1F2 and BC1F3 were obtained by once and twice selfing. In the obtained material, it was thereafter possible to define four different possible homozygous translocation combinations. Thus, lines containing both 1RS and 2RL translocations, containing only 1RS or 2RL and without any translocation were identified.
For identification of the four possible homozygous wheat-rye translocation lines mentioned above, three different methods were used. First, lines of different types were characterized and isolated based on a phenotypical marker, i.e. if the plant showed red or green coleoptile colour. Plants with homozygous presence of 2RL were known to develop red coleoptile, as a gene for red coleoptile has been verified to be present at 2RL in these lines. The analyses of coleoptile colours were done in the BC1F2 (obtained from selfed BC1F1 lines determined by molecular markers at BAZ, Germany to be 1RS– –/2RL+–) and BC1F3 (obtained from the BC1F2 lines having a red coleoptile) wheat-rye translocation lines, where the variety Topper had been used for backcrossing. Moreover, the BC1F2 (obtained from selfed BC1F1 lines determined by molecular markers at BAZ, Germany to be 1RS++/2RL+–) wheat-rye translocation lines for which the KR99-139 line was used for backcrossing, was selfed, and analyses of coleoptile colours were done in the BC1F3 (on a representative sample of all combinations of presence and absence of 2RL). The results from the coleoptiles colour analyses generally showed that it was possible to distinguish lines having 2RL++ (red coleoptiles) and 2RL– – (green coleoptiles).
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Plants having 2RL+– were sometimes classified as having green and sometimes as having red coleoptiles. Therefore, if coleoptiles colour is going to be used for selection of lines with presence/absence of 2RL in homozygous form, at least two generations have to be analyzed and lines not segregating in either of the analyses can be judged as being homozygous as related to their coleoptiles colour. For identification of lines with presence of heterozygous 1RS+– and homozygous 2RL++ rye chromosome the Giemsa C-banding technique was used. The Giemsa C-banding techniques on the BC1F3 segregating population generally resulted in well-defined sharp, distinct bands in the wheat-rye translocation lines and both the rye chromosome arms, 1RS and 2RL were identified. Additionally, five microsatellite (SSR) markers SCM9, SCM39, SCM43, SCM69 and SCM75 were used for verification of the presence of 1RS and 2RL. Among the five SSR markers, SCM9 and SCM75 resulted in reliable amplification of expected products, 220 bp and 191 bp respectively. The line KR99-139 containing both 1RS and 2RL showed correct amplification products with both mentioned primers while the bread wheat variety Topper without any rye chromosome showed no amplification with both SSR primers pairs.
Resistance towards yellow rust and stem rust were evaluated through seedling resistance test in the greenhouse (Global Rust Reference Center, Denmark) to Puccinia striiformis, and adult plant resistance to Puccinia graminis, race Ug99 (TTKSK) in Njoro, Kenya. For the seedling resistance test, pathogenicity of 17 races/isolates of yellow rust was used. The BC1F3 which carries combination of 1RS++/2RL++, 1RS++/2RL+– and the KR99-139 were found to be highly resistant to some races/isolates whether the variety Topper was fully susceptible to all races/isolates. The results showed Yr9 to be one possible gene that could be responsible for the obtained yellow rust resistance. However, the results were not that clear so than not other possible genes could also be an alternative. For adult plant resistance towards Ug99, a total of 28 of the BC1F3 wheat-rye translocation lines and their parents were evaluated in the field of Njoro, Kenya. The results indicated that out of the 30 tested lines 20 were susceptible, 8 moderately susceptible to susceptible and in 2 lines the resistance to Ug99 was identified. The two BC1F3 wheat-rye translocation lines that were found to be resistant towards Ug99 were both being homozygous for 1RS++ and heterozygous for 2RL+–. Thus, these results indicated presence of several genes/QTLs controlling resistance indicating possible epistatic effects of the genes involved. The lines identified as resistant will be utilized in combination with Tajik germplasm
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to develop a mapping population for determining the underlying basis of resistance. To summarize results from the research outlined in this thesis indicate that wheat-rye translocation lines and used methods can be highly relevant for wheat breeding programs and further research.


China real estate has gained unprecedented rapid development with the accelerated process of market economic system. On the one hand, with the development of urbanization, the real estate boom has brought rapid growthto the national economy. But in order to solve the big problemsand pressures existing in the real estate market, there is new requirement for China real estate tax system as real estate tax system isthe most importantmeans that are frequently usedin the real estate regulation. The ability to pay principle originated in economics, whichplays a very good role on measures of tax system. Its basic significance is to levy taxesbased on the ability of the taxpayers. Its basic principle status in the property tax system in Chinais analyzed. In this study, it begins from the concept and theoretical basis of the real estate tax system and theability to pay principle, then analyzes the basic situation of the real estate tax system in China, discusses the existing problems in and development trend of China real estate tax system, and puts forwardsome countermeasures. The study also discusseshow to solve the current problems in China real estate tax system from the principles of how to use theability to pay principle. It also analyzes how to combine the real estate tax system and the ability to pay principle to makethe real estate tax system better meet the needsof the rapid development of China. Based on these contents, it also proposes some suggestionsfor the real estate tax reform in China.


For land cover classification and urban area analysis remote sensing techniques are gaining more importance. Numerous remote sensing techniques have been developed for analyzing the satellite images. The launch of Worldview-2 satellite with resolution of 0.5 m signaled the advent of high resolution satellite images. Such images offer an exciting possibility for feature extraction as well as complex land cover classification. The most suitable approach for analysis of high resolution satellite images is Object based Image Analysis (OBIA). OBIA is relatively new class of algorithm that have been developed to focus not only on the spectral properties of features but also spatial such as their shape, orientation, texture, contextual relation feature and so on. In this study, authors have used WV-2 image and classification is carried out with two approaches. First method is based on rule set approach where domain expert knowledge is represented in rules with Cognition network language whereas second approach is Nearest Neighbor (NN) classification. Accuracy of classification carried out with the help of confusion matrix which indicates that rule based classification is more accurate as compare to NN. However for complex land like urban area both approaches are suitable as compare to pixel based approach.


A result of the Bloch theory is that the eigenstates of an electron in a strictly periodic potential are extended and the corresponding energy levels form clustered energy bands separated by gaps. In the study reported here, a finite air‐filled tube with arbitrary mass density modulation which permits the inclusion of disorder in the study of the acoustic frequency bands is theoretically considered. Since the theoretical model is finite, direct comparisons can be made with the experiment. The baffled tube is excited with a sound source at one end. The source can deliver short pulses as well as harmonic oscillations. Both normal mode analysis (NMA) and pulse analysis (PA) have been used. The spectra obtained from both methods are compared with our theoretical prediction. For the tube with evenly spaced baffles, three passing frequency bands have been found. More interestingly, some localized resonant modes are discovered whose frequencies lie in the gaps. The wave functions of these modes are confined within a few sections of divided tube at both ends.


The title of this resercah is 'the influene of service quality to the consumen's satisfaction of Oto bus PO.Medali Mas Malang( Malang- Denpasar)"
The purpose of this research to know the influence of variables service's quality to the consumen's satisfaction of PO. Medali Mas and to know which variable from the service's quality that influence or maybe the most influence to the satisfaction of PO. Medali Mas.
Based on problem's pattern and basis for theory that said by the writer choose hypothesis of this research's problems (1).It is accused that variable of service's quality include direct evidence, realibility, energy listen carefully, empathy influence to the consumen's satisfaction PO. Medali Mas (2). It is accused variable of direct evidence influence to the consumen's satisfaction service PO.Medali Mas.
Analise's equipment that used on this research is logistic's regretion's analyse, Before it, the data is processed by using logistic's regretion is analysed first by using validity test and realibility test.

Based on Hypothesis test that done, obtained conclusion that all variables service quality influence to the consumen's satisfaction PO. Medali Mas is all variables are direct evidence, realibility, energy listen carefully, empathy so hypothesis I is received. Hypothesis II the most influence variable is direct evidence so hypothesis II that raised is received..


Here, is the definitive account of a dramatic and indeed pivotal moment in American history, a critical episode that transformed the civil rights movement in the early 1960s. Raymond Arsenault offers a meticulously researched and grippingly written account of the Freedom Rides, one of the most compelling chapters in the history of civil rights. Arsenault recounts how in 1961, emboldened by federal rulings that declared segregated transit unconstitutional, a group of volunteers - blacks and whites - traveled together from Washington DC through the Deep South, defying Jim Crow laws in buses and terminals, putting their bodies and their lives on the line for racial justice. The book paints a harrowing account of the outpouring of hatred and violence that greeted the Freedom Riders in Alabama and Mississippi. One bus was disabled by Ku Klux Klansmen, then firebombed. In Birmingham and Montgomery, mobs of white supremacists swarmed the bus stations and battered the riders with fists and clubs while local police refused to intervene. The mayhem in Montgomery was captured by news photographers, shocking the nation, and sparking a crisis in the Kennedy administration, which after some hesitation and much public outcry, came to the aid of the Freedom Riders. Arsenault brings the key actors in this historical drama vividly to life, with colorful portraits of the Kennedys, Jim Farmer, John Lewis, Diane Nash, Fred Shuttlesworth, and Martin Luther King, Jr. Their courage, their fears, and the agonizing choices made by all these individuals run through the story like an electric current. The saga of the Freedom Rides is an improbable, almost unbelievable story. In the course of six months, some four hundred and fifty Riders expanded the realm of the possible in American politics, redefining the limits of dissent and setting the stage in the years to come for the 1963 Birmingham demonstrations, Freedom Summer and the Selma-to-Montgomery March. With characters and plot lines rivaling those of the most imaginative fiction, this is a tale of heroic sacrifice and unexpected triumph.