The world over people love butterflies but few understand much more about them than their physical beauty. Butterflies of Australia offers a unique guide to help identify the nearly 400 species to which our continent plays host but with its focus on living butterflies, it is much more than an identification guide. Within its pages is a concise but broad, non-technical introduction to butterfly biology, history, ecology, evolution and conservation. Hundreds of meticulous illustrations show adult butterflies in life, flying or perched, among the plants and animals of their natural habitat, while others document the Australian butterfly species, with beautiful diagnostic half-wing illustrations of pinned specimens. It also explains and illustrates much of the known behaviour and ecology of Australian butterflies, and in so doing meets the needs of both the butterfly watcher and general nature lover. Butterflies of Australia presents a remarkable blend of natural history, science and art. With a copy as guide the reader can appreciate the charm and purpose underlying butterflies' far from frivolous lives.


One-dimensional semiconductor nanostructures have been studied in great depth over the past number of decades as potential building blocks in electronic, thermoelectric, optoelectronic, photovoltaic and battery devices. Silicon has been the material of choice in several industries, in particular the semiconductor industry, for the last few decades due to its stable oxide and well documented properties. Recently however, Ge has been proposed as a candidate to replace Si in microelectronic devices due to its high charge carrier mobilities. A number of various 'bottom-up' synthetic methodologies have been employed to grow Ge nanowires, including chemical vapour deposition, thermal evaporation, template methods, supercritical fluid synthesis, molecular beam epitaxy and solution phase synthesis. These bottom-up methods afford the opportunity to produce commercial scale quantities of nanowires with controllable lengths, diameters and crystal structure. An understanding of the vapour–liquid–solid (VLS) and vapour–solid–solid (VSS) mechanism by which most Ge nanowires are produced, is key to controlling their growth rate, aspect ratio and morphology. This article highlights the various bottom-up growth methods that have been used to synthesise Ge nanowires over the past 5–6 years, with particular emphasis on the Au/Ge eutectic system and the VLS mechanism. Thermodynamic and kinetic models used to describe Ge nanowire growth and morphology control will also be discussed in detail.


A new edition for Paper 2, World History Topic 11: Causes and effects of 20th century wars The renowned IB Diploma History series, combining compelling narratives with academic rigor. An authoritative and engaging narrative, with the widest variety of sources at this level, helping students to develop their knowledge and analytical skills. This second edition of Access to History for the IB Diploma: Causes, practices and effects of wars provides: - Reliable, clear and in-depth narrative from topic experts - Analysis of the historiography surrounding key debates - Dedicated exam practice with model answers and practice questions - TOK support and Historical Investigation questions to help with all aspects of the Diploma


The electrical and dielectric properties of three series of glasses, xHfO2-(40 - x)Fe2O3-60P2O5, 0 ≤ x ≤ 8 mol%, xCeO2-(40 - x)Fe2O3-60P2O5, 0 ≤ x ≤ 8 mol%, and xHfO2-(38 - x)Fe2O3-2B2O3-60P2O5 2 ≤ x ≤ 6 mol%, have been investigated by impedance spectroscopy over a wide frequency and temperature range. As expected, these glasses exhibit polaronic conductivity which strongly depends on the fraction of ferrous ions, Fe2+/Fetot. Following a detailed discussion on the DC conductivity, we use the MIGRATION concept to model their conductivity spectra. It is found that in each series of glasses, the shape of the conductivity isotherms remains the same indicating that the time-temperature superposition principle is satisfied and that the mechanism of conductivity is the same. Returning to a model-free scaling procedure, namely Summerfield scaling, it is found that while conductivity isotherms for each composition yield a master curve, we need to suitably shift individual master curves on the frequency axis to generate a super-master curve. We examine the dependence of the DC conductivity and the shift factors on the number density of charge carriers. Next, using the fact that the dielectric strength of relaxation for each isotherm is well-defined in these systems, we scale the conductivity isotherms using the Sidebottom scaling procedure. This procedure yields a super-master curve, implying that length scales for polaronic transport also change with composition. Further, using the scaling features of permittivity spectra, we extract in a straightforward way the characteristic spatial extent of localized hopping of polarons and find that it decreases with increasing number density of charge carriers. The magnitude of these values obtained from permittivity spectra lies in the same range as those for the polaron radius calculated using the equation proposed by Bogomolov and Mirilin.


This study explores the links of implementing customer-centric green supply chain management (GSCM) with its antecedent factors (i.e. customer pressure) and performance outcomes (i.e. operational performance and customer satisfaction). Data for this study were obtained through a survey of 126 automobile manufacturers in China. Results suggest that customer pressure has a positive effect on the implementation of customer-centric GSCM, which, in turn, leads to multiple operational performance improvements (i.e. flexibility, delivery, quality and cost). While production flexibility and cost appear to have no significant impact on customer satisfaction, product quality and delivery are significantly and positively associated with customer satisfaction. On the practical front, this paper provides guidelines for managers in implementing customer-centric GSCM to respond to customer pressures and improve firm performance, and for policy-makers to encourage partner-focused GSCM efforts in environmental policy. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment


Objective To explore factors that potentially impact external validation performance while developing and validating a prognostic model for hospital admissions (HAs) in complex older general practice patients. Study design and setting Using individual participant data from four cluster-randomised trials conducted in the Netherlands and Germany, we used logistic regression to develop a prognostic model to predict all-cause HAs within a 6-month follow-up period. A stratified intercept was used to account for heterogeneity in baseline risk between the studies. The model was validated both internally and by using internal-external cross-validation (IECV). Results Prior HAs, physical components of the health-related quality of life comorbidity index, and medication-related variables were used in the final model. While achieving moderate discriminatory performance, internal bootstrap validation revealed a pronounced risk of overfitting. The results of the IECV, in which calibration was highly variable even after accounting for between-study heterogeneity, agreed with this finding. Heterogeneity was equally reflected in differing baseline risk, predictor effects and absolute risk predictions. Conclusions Predictor effect heterogeneity and differing baseline risk can explain the limited external performance of HA prediction models. With such drivers known, model adjustments in external validation settings (eg, intercept recalibration, complete updating) can be applied more purposefully. Trial registration number PROSPERO id: CRD42018088129.


For the first time, the brief nine year history of SS Allach Porcelain (1936-1945), the infamous nazi run porcelain factory, is presented in this new two volume reference. Explored in detail is the fascinating array of sculptures made by Allach, and also the historical significance as to why each category of porcelain was established. Close-up views of figures show the skilled artistry of some of Germanys greatest sculptors, potterers and painters including Theodor Karner, Ottmar Obermaier and Richard Forster. And why this little known porcelain factory named Allach may be considered the producer of some of the finest porcelain the world has seen to this day. This two volume reference is the result of many years of painstaking research and collecting. No expense was spared to bring the facts to all Allach Porcelain collectors and porcelain aficionados alike. The books feature over 600 photographs, including many never before seen porcelain figures, and comprehensive text.


This special issue grew out of an advanced seminar on Cultural Studies that I guest-taught at the National University of Singapore in 2018, where there has been a long-time engagement with interdisciplinary teaching and learning in the field of Cultural Studies through NUS's Asian Research Institute (and more recently through the university's Department of Communication and New Media). The essays collected here represent a collection of sincere efforts to reframe political and ethical crises through a unified framework that can be called juris-cultural studies of law and rights. By "juris-cultural," I refer to a genre of critical cultural analysis that investigates the mutually constitutive nature of law and culture, through dissecting "law as culture" in which cultural signifying practices are traceable to the presence or absence of legal norms, as well as through "culture as law" in which the contested meanings of cultural communities, their practices and politics, can shape or even dictate social norms and regulations. It is both a political language and a method that avoids separating law and culture but confronts their uneasy entanglements. The essays are united by a common critical method of combining critical legal theory with a cultural critique of law. Each essay centers on a particular court case, and performs critical reading of the legal logics and reasoning alongside a broader attention to social and cultural ideologies and power relations that overdetermine the outcome of the court judgment. The insights produced by such a method will hopefully present to readers an innovative approach adequate to the task of bringing the problems of rights, legal subjectivities, and critical justice squarely to the doorsteps of Cultural Studies.


As work situations become more complex, virtual reality has proven to be advantageous for the emerging needs in risk-management training. However, building perfectly realistic simulations of the technical systems is not enough to address complex coactivity situations, where human factors play an important part. There is a need for virtual environments that would put trainees into varied ecological situations, inducing knowledge and competencies that would be put into practice in genuine work situations. The V3S project was proposed to build a generic framework for tailor-made virtual environments that can adapt to different application cases, technological configurations, or pedagogical strategies. This framework relies on the integration of multiple explicit models (domain, activity, and risk model). In order to build ecologically valid virtual environments, these models represent not only the prescribed activity, but the situated knowledge of operators about their tasks, including deviations from the procedures. These models are used both to monitor learners' actions, detecting errors and compromises; and also to generate virtual characters' behaviors, subject to erroneous actions. Moreover, dynamic situated feedback allows for progressive learning scenarios, adapting the complexity of the situations to the learner's activity and level. Evaluations have shown a high satisfaction level and encouraging usability measures. In future work, we propose to extend the possibilities of the simulation through the creation and monitoring of adaptive scenarios, adjusting the behavior of virtual characters able to assist or disrupt the user.1


Pie charts and their variants are prevalent in business settings and many other uses, even if they are not popular with the academic community. In a recent study, we found that contrary to general belief, there is no clear evidence that these charts are read based on the central angle. Instead, area and arc length appear to be at least equally important.

In this paper, we build on that study to test several pie chart variations that are popular in information graphics: exploded pie chart, pie with larger slice, elliptical pie, and square pie (in addition to a regular pie chart used as the baseline). We find that even variants that do not distort central angle cause greater error than regular pie charts. Charts that distort the shape show the highest error. Many of our predictions based on the previous study's results are borne out by this study's findings.


Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives License 4.0 (CCBY-NC-ND), where it is permissible to download and share the work provided it is properly cited. The work cannot be changed in any way or used commercially without permission from the journal.


This paper explores the use of natural language processing (NLP) tools and their utility for learner language analyses
 through a comparison of automatic linguistic annotation against a gold standard produced by humans. While there are a number of automated
 annotation tools for English currently available, little research is available on the accuracy of these tools when annotating learner data.
 We compare the performance of three linguistic annotation tools (a tagger and two parsers) on academic writing in English produced by
 learners (both L1 and L2 English speakers). We focus on lexico-grammatical patterns, including both phrasal and clausal features, since
 these are frequently investigated in applied linguistics studies. Our results report both precision and recall of annotation output for
 argumentative texts in English across four L1s: Arabic, Chinese, English, and Korean. We close with a discussion of the benefits and
 drawbacks of using automatic tools to annotate learner language.


The Peshitta is the Syriac translation of the Old Testament made on the basis of the Hebrew text during the second century CE. Much like the Greek translations of the Old Testament, this document is an important source for our knowledge of the text of the Old Testament. Its language is also of great interest to linguists. Moreover, as Bible of the Syriac Churches it is used in sermons, commentaries, poetry, prayers, and hymns. Many terms specific to the spirituality of the Syriac Churches have their origins in this ancient and reliable version of the Old Testament. The present edition, published by the Peshitta Institute in Leiden on behalf of the International Organization for the Study of the Old Testament, is the first scholarly one of this text. It presents the evidence of all known ancient manuscripts and gives full introductions to the individual books. This volume contains Canticles or Odes, Prayer of Manasseh, Apocryphal psalms, Psalms of Solomon, Tobit, and I(3) Esdras.


The Global Integrated Sustainability Model (GISMO), developed at the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL), is a platform for analysing the complexity of sustainable development and human well-being with regards to the three sustainability domains: People, Planet, and Profit (PPP). The economic structure of the GISMO1.0 model is the International Futures model, developed at the University of Denver. To better address price behaviour in the model, the Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model DART, developed by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, was included in the GISMO framework and integrated with the International Futures model. The DART model is tuned to the needs of the GISMO project, and is further referred to as DART-PBL. This report provides an overview of the main changes and additions to the original DART model. The changes and additions include: 1) region and sector aggregation compatible with the GISMO framework; 2) human capital accumulation based on demographics, educational attainment and health level to better address human well-being; 3) introduction of a Linear Expenditure System to distinguish between basic and luxury consumption; 4) adjusted savings to take into account different saving patterns of a changing population structure; 5) heterogenic land prices linked with the IMAGE framework to address land scarcity and environmental impacts; and 6) partial labour mobility between agricultural and non-agricultural sectors, to assess changes in income distribution.


Narrowing or blockage in the coronary arteries supplying blood to the heart muscle manifest as symptoms like chest discomfort or pain and shortness of breath. Symptomatic patients are screened for blocked arteries using coronary angiograms. However, an angiogram provides approximate degree of obstruction. Further, we need to check the significance of obstruction to decide the need for intervention. Interventions like stenting or surgery will depend upon the degree of obstruction and functional impairment.This is evaluated by procedures like measurement of Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR).FFR is the ratio of pressure distal to the stenosis to the pressure proximal to the stenosis.FFR is measured using a specialized probe inserted through a catheter tube, and the technique is expensive.In this study, we propose a workflow to calculate FFR in a non-invasive manner using CFD simulations, and validate it by comparing the results with data from patients.


edited by Shmuel Feiner and David Sorkin. London: The Littman Library of Jewish Civilization, 2001. 260 pp. $59.50. Eleven scholars of history and literature present in this volume their perspective on the Jewish Enlightenment movement in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, known as Haskalah (1770s-1890s). The Enlightened Jews (maskilim) were intellectuals who wanted to bring liberalism and rationalism to Jewish life, and the studies in this volume include fine points about major and minor maskilim. Some of the contributors emphasize the links between Haskalah and tradition, the old and the new, the modern and the traditional, the enlightened and the Orthodox, rather than the clash between them. The glossary (pp. 221-223) caters to the non-expert in the field of Jewish Studies and to a reader who is unfamiliar with the Hebrew terminology, and includes terminology such as "aggadah," "derush," "halakhah," and "Pirkei avot." In their introduction the editors suggest that Enlightenment studies should be deflated, that the milieu of the movers of the movement should be studied, and that there were "varieties" of Enlightenment. Five of the participants have academic titles in history, three of them in Hebrew Literature, two in Jewish Studies and one in theology. Six out of the eleven contributors are Israeli scholars. I will first present the articles written by contributors in literature: Shmuel Werses, Tova Cohen, and Yehuda Friedlander. Shmuel Werses, an Emeritus Professor of Hebrew Literature at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a central figure in the research of Haskalah, wrote "Portrait of a Maskil as a Young Man." Werses presents the cost of the attraction of young Jews to the Haskalah. The young maskil collided with his teachers, spiritual leaders, parents, and in-laws. Tova Cohen, a Professor at Bar-Ilan University, in "Reality and its Refraction in Descriptions of Women in Haskalah Fiction," argues that men wrote the Haskalah literature for men, and, influenced by literary conventions, they either idealized or harshly criticized women in this literature. The position of Yehuda Friedlander, a Professor of Hebrew Literature at Bar-Ilan University (and its former rector), in the chapter entitled "The Straggle of the Mitnagedim and Maskilim against Hasidism: Rabbi Jacob Emden and Judah Leib Mieses," is that in their attack against their Hasidic "enemy," the maskilim exploited the works of rabbis who opposed Hasidism beginning with the last third of the eighteenth century. The enlightened Judah Leib Mieses of Galicia used Rabbi Emden's anti-Hasidic work in his satires. The first article in this volume, "The Early Haskalah," is written by David Sorkin and the last one, "Towards a Historical Definition of the Haskalah," by Shmuel Feiner, both of them editors of the volume. David Sorkin, a Professor of Jewish Studies and Senior Fellow in the University of Wisconsin, Madison, views the first sixty years of the eighteenth century as an "early Haskalah" rather than an anticipation of it. The intellectual figures of that time strove for a curriculum that could encompass the culture of the time and at the same time pursue the revival of the study of Hebrew, of biblical exegesis, and of philosophy written in Hebrew. Shmuel Feiner, Professor of Jewish History at Bar-Ilan University, presents the ideology, history, and centers of the Haskalah, the portrait of a maskil, and the maskilim's self-image in considering themselves as part of a voluntary, redeeming avant-guard movement. …


While entering into a deep confrontation with the West in the context of the Ukrainian crisis, Russia has sought to uphold its international profile by upgrading its strategic partnership with China and adding new economic content to it, first of all in energy deals. At the same time, Moscow is aware of the risks related to becoming a minor partner to powerful China and to diminishing its ability to make its own contributions to forming the global agenda. One way of avoiding too much dependence on Chinese patronage would be to retain and cultivate the traditional ties with Vietnam and perhaps even play a pacifying role in the oscillating Chinese-Vietnamese tensions. Russian energy companies are exploring opportunities for further advancing offshore oil and gas projects in the South China Sea, although the profitability of these projects remains rather low. Russia has delivered two out of six contracted Kilo class submarines to Vietnam, but its role as the main provider of weapons may now be challenged by the USA and Japan. The prospects for maintaining or expanding Russia's security and energy connections with Vietnam is thus a demanding topic for analysis, which may throw light also on the all-important trilateral relationship between China, the USA and Japan.


Loud or aversive noise is a key factor that may stress animals in zoological institutions. Many zoos host concerts in their grounds, and this practice is likely to expose resident animals to loud noises. Few studies have explored the effect of concerts and events on animals in zoological institutions. Here, the behaviour of two Domestic dogs Canis lupus familiaris at Taronga Zoo, Sydney, Australia, was compared between evenings with and without concerts. Behaviours such as whining, shaking, panting and destructive behaviour, thought to reflect fear or anxiety, occurred at low levels. Hiding can also be linked to fear and anxiety but is less easy to identify; for example, time spent in kennels could be considered hiding or resting. To examine this, the proportion of time the dogs spent inside their kennels was compared between evenings with concerts and those without. No difference was found between the two conditions. This indicates that dogs were probably resting rather than 'hiding' inside their kennels; as this behaviour made up similar proportions of evenings with and without concerts. No behaviours that may be linked to anxiety caused by concerts were identified. More comprehensive research will be carried out to explore the effect on resident animals of concerts and events held at zoological institutions.


The temporal persistence and geographical prevalence of corruption in the world have provoked a vast amount of research into its causes. Low civil service remuneration, especially in less developed nations, is believed to be an important contributing factor to corruption. The assumption is that when salaries are low but expectations for service remains high, government officials may demand more compensation from informal or even illegal channels than what is officially sanctioned; hence, corruption arises. Accordingly, increased pay level is assumed to be effective in deterring corruption. Using China as a case, we argue that the relationship between civil service pay and corruption is not as simple as suggested. The empirical evidence gathered from China casts doubt on the assumed connection between the two to debunk the myth that increasing civil service pay contributes to the control of corruption. The article also presents the policy implications of the above analysis for human resource management and civil service governance.


A monograph identifying the full spectrum of actionable Alzheimer's Disease (AD) contributing factors has been published recently.[1] Elimination of these actionable contributing factors offers the promise of 1) potentially preventing and reversing AD in selected cases, and 2) dramatically lowering AD healthcare costs by circumventing the need for a) expensive high technology AD diagnostics and treatments and b) expensive extended maintenance and care of individuals with AD. The advanced text mining/information retrieval methodology used to identify the AD contributing factors may be of interest to professionals in the areas of text mining, information retrieval, literature-based discovery, text analytics, and big data, while the medical/biomedical findings may be of interest to AD researchers and clinicians, as well as health policy professionals and decision-makers.


The Web of Things (WoT) promises to dramatically boost the potentiality of interconnecting smart and physical devices over the Internet as it not only enhances ergonomics and productivity of the Internet of Things (IoT), but it also introduces new capabilities for device interoperation and data aggregation and analysis. These advances pose the challenge of preserving data security and privacy (S&P), as well as the reliability of the overall infrastructure. Deploying existing S&P solutions and technologies in the WoT is not straightforward because of its potential vastness, its intrinsic inhomogeneity and the wide variety of involved entities and interests. In such scenario, every choice comes from a non-trivial trade-off among different aspects including security, availability and legal issues. In this paper, we investigate the nature of this trade-off, pointing out the different kinds of S&P issues and surveying some of the available solutions. In addition, we discuss the major issues raised while securing an existing WoT infrastructure.


AIM
Matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) has been shown to be a potential biomarker for outcome prediction after neuron damage. This study investigated whether MMP-9 could be used for outcome prediction after traumatic brain injury (TBI).

MATERIAL AND METHODS
For the TBI group, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was collected at different days after surgery from 6 head injury patients who had received surgical intervention with external ventricular drainage insertion. CSF collected from non-TBI patients (N=85) diagnosed with isolated hydrocephalus by a ventricular puncture during a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt surgery was used as control.

RESULTS
The mean concentration of MMP-9 in the CSF of 85 non-TBI patients was determined to be 1.172 ± 0.859 ng/mL. We found that the CSF MMP-9 concentration from TBI patients was elevated immediately after head injury with a median of 1.926 ng/mL (range, 0.673 to 24.990). Despite an early increase in the concentration of MMP-9, levels decreased within 72 hrs and nearly reached the normal range. Nevertheless, the concentration of MMP-9 was negatively correlated with the Glasgow Coma Scale (γ = - 0.337, p = 0.013).

CONCLUSION
MMP-9 concentration in the CSF of TBI patients correlated with neurological outcome and may represent an early indicator for the prognosis of this condition.


The existence of inertial steady currents that separate from a coast and meander afterward is investigated. By integrating the zonal momentum equation over a suitable area, it is shown that retroflecting currents cannot be steady in a reduced gravity or in a barotropic model of the ocean. Even friction cannot negate this conclusion. Previous literature on this subject, notably the discrepancy between several articles by Nof and Pichevin on the unsteadiness of retroflecting currents and steady solutions presented in other papers, is critically discussed. For more general separating current systems, a local analysis of the zonal momentum balance shows that given a coastal current with a specific zonal momentum structure, an inertial, steady, separating current is unlikely, and the only analytical solution provided in the literature is shown to be inconsistent. In a basin-wide view of these separating current systems, a scaling analysis reveals that steady separation is impossible when the interior flow is nondissipative (e.g., linear Sverdrup-like). These findings point to the possibility that a large part of the variability in the world's oceans is due to the separation process rather than to instability of a free jet.


"Moral hazard" is a term familiar in economics and business ethics that illuminates why rational parties sometimes choose decisions with bad moral outcomes without necessarily intending to behave selfishly or immorally. The term is not generally used in medical ethics. Decision makers such as parents and physicians generally do not use the concept or the word in evaluating ethical dilemmas. They may not even be aware of the precise nature of the moral hazard problem they are experiencing, beyond a general concern for the patient's seemingly excessive burden. This article brings the language and logic of moral hazard to pediatrics. The concept reminds us that decision makers in this context are often not the primary party affected by their decisions. It appraises the full scope of risk at issue when decision makers decide on behalf of others and leads us to separate, respect, and prioritize the interests of affected parties.


The frequency of natural disasters, especially storms and floods, has been increasing globally over the last several decades. Developing countries are especially vulnerable to such disasters but are often the least capable of coping with the associated impacts because of their limited adaptive capacity. Despite the increased interest in strengthening institutional capacity, it remains a challenge for many developing countries. Institutional capacity for disaster management and risk reduction can be built through various mechanisms. One key approach is via the agriculture sector, where climate-resilient agriculture has become an effective tool for adapting to climate change and developing resilience in the long run – resulting in increased capacity for disaster management and risk reduction at the system, institutional, and individual levels. This paper presents the experiences of four countries, which we have evaluated to develop an institutional strengthening framework.


Bio-based polyurethane (PU) spray foam insulation was prepared with soy polyol. The effects of adding wood fiber and water on the thermal and mechanical properties of the insulations were studied. The decomposition temperature (Td) of the foams increased with fiber reinforcement due to a higher degree of crosslinking. Alternatively, different fiber length contributed to different crosslinking. In addition, the neat foams, which didn't contain wood fibers, had exceptional thermal stability with the increase of the amount of H2O by forming more stable polyurea adducts. In addition, PU spray foam blown with a larger content of H2O had higher compressive strength by forming a stiffer phase. Still, PU spray foam reinforced with fiber also had superior compressive strength due to the fiber framing into the foam struts. The effect of the fiber length on the compressive strength was evaluated. The degree of complex networks was influenced by the fiber length. However, the tensile strength was weakened with the addition of wood fiber.


We establish and quantify correlations among the molecular structures, interaction forces, and physical processes associated with light-responsive self-assembled surfactant monolayers or bilayers at interfaces. Using the surface forces apparatus (SFA), the interaction forces between adsorbed monolayers and bilayers of an azobenzene-functionalized surfactant can be drastically and controllably altered by light-induced conversion of trans and cis molecular conformations. These reversible conformation changes affect significantly the shape of the molecules, especially in the hydrophobic region, which induces dramatic transformations of molecular packing in self-assembled structures, causing corresponding modulation of electrostatic double layer, steric hydration, and hydrophobic interactions. For bilayers, the isomerization from trans to cis exposes more hydrophobic groups, making the cis bilayers more hydrophobic, which lowers the activation energy barrier for (hemi)fusion. A quantitative and general model is derived for the interaction potential of charged bilayers that includes the electrostatic double-layer force of the Derjaguin–Landau–Verwey–Overbeek theory, attractive hydrophobic interactions, and repulsive steric-hydration forces. The model quantitatively accounts for the elastic strains, deformations, long-range forces, energy maxima, adhesion minima, as well as the instability (when it exists) as two bilayers breakthrough and (hemi)fuse. These results have several important implications, including quantitative and qualitative understanding of the hydrophobic interaction, which is furthermore shown to be a nonadditive interaction.


In the pentose phosphate pathway, carbohydrates such as glucose and ribose are degraded with production of reductive power and energy. Another important function is to produce essential pentoses, such as ribose 5-phosphate, which later can be used in biosynthesis of nucleic acids and cofactors. This thesis presents structural and functional studies on three enzymes involved in ribose metabolism in Escherichia coli. Ribokinase is an enzyme that phosphorylates ribose in the presence of ATP and magnesium, as the first step of exogenous ribose metabolism. Two important aspects of ribokinase function, not previously known, have been elucidated. Ribokinase was shown to be activated by monovalent cations, specifically potassium. Structural analysis of the monovalent ion binding site indicates that the ion has a structural rather than catalytic role; a mode of activation involving a conformational change has been suggested. Product inhibition studies suggest that ATP is the first substrate to bind the enzyme. Independent Kd measurements with the ATP analogue AMP-PCP support this. The results presented here will have implications for several enzymes in the protein family to which ribokinase belongs, in particular the medically interesting enzyme adenosine kinase. Ribose 5-phosphate isomerases convert ribose 5-phosphate into ribulose 5-phosphate or vice versa. Structural studies on the two genetically distinct isomerases in E. coli have shown them to be fundamentally different in many aspects, including active site architecture. However, a kinetic study has demonstrated both enzymes to be efficient in terms of catalysis. Sequence searches of completed genomes show ribose 5-phosphate isomerase B to be the sole isomerase in many bacteria, although ribose 5-phosphate isomerase A is a nearly universal enzyme. All genomes contain at least one of the two enzymes. These results confirm that both enzymes must be independently capable of supporting ribose metabolism, a fact that had not previously been established.


Background According to studies by the National Kidney Foundation and Food and Drug Administration, 30% and 40% declines in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) could be used as surrogate endpoints of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). However, the benefits of using these endpoints in diabetic patients remain unclear. Methods This cohort study comprised Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes; those with repeated serum creatinine measurements during a baseline period of 2 years (n = 1868) or 3 years (n = 2001) were enrolled. Subsequent risks of ESRD following eGFR declines were assessed. Results In the 2-year baseline analysis, the cumulative prevalence of −20%, −30%, −40%, and −53% changes in eGFR were 23.9%, 11.1%, 6.8%, and 3.7%, respectively. There were 133 cases (7.1%) of subsequent ESRD during a median follow-up period of 6.5 years. In the 3-year baseline analysis, the corresponding proportions were 28.1%, 14.0%, 7.7%, and 3.9%, respectively, with 110 participants (5.5%) reaching ESRD during a median follow-up period of 5.5 years. The adjusted hazard ratios of subsequent ESRD following −53%, −40%, −30%, and −20% changes in eGFR during the 2-year baseline period were 22.9 (11.1–47.3), 12.8 (6.9–23.7), 8.2 (4.3–15.5), and 3.9 (2.2–7.0), respectively when compared with the no changes in eGFR. In the 3-year baseline analysis, the corresponding risks were 29.7 (10.8–81.9), 18.4 (7.6–44.7), 12.8 (5.2–32.2), and 5.4 (2.3–12.8), respectively. In the subgroup analysis, similar trends were observed in patients with macroalbuminuria at baseline. Conclusions Declines in eGFR were strongly associated with subsequent risk of ESRD in Japanese type 2 diabetic patients. In addition to 30% and 40% declines, a 20% decline in eGFR over 2 years could be considered as a candidate surrogate endpoint of ESRD in diabetic kidney disease.


In response to nutria-linked degradation of much of its coastal wetlands, Louisiana established the Coastwide Nutria Control Program (CNCP) in January 2002. CNCP instituted, among other things, an "economic incentive payment" of $4.00 per delivered nutria tail from registered participants in the program. To examine whether this bounty has had an impact on nutria harvest and whether alternative bounty levels can, in general, generate additional harvesting activities, we developed a bioeconomic supply model that relates Louisiana's annual nutria harvests to a suite of economic and environmental factors. Results suggested that the annual nutria harvest is responsive to both the price received per animal and costs. Results also suggested that the nutria harvest has increased as a result of the bounty, but that the initial bounty of $4.00 per tail may be insufficient to achieve the state's goal of harvesting 400,000 animals per year but that a bounty equal to $5.00 per tail would likely achieve the stated goal.


There are economic incentives to extend service of CANDU nuclear reactors in Ontario because of their reputation for safety and reliability. Ageing pressure tubes made of zirconium alloys are vulnerable to failure by Delayed Hydride Cracking, which limits the amount of hydrogen, stress, and temperature history permitted during operation. Recreating reactor end-of-life conditions for testing purposes requires a method of adding hydrogen quantitatively into zirconium alloys without modifying irradiation damage. The thesis demonstrates a promising mechanical hydriding technique that is suitable for adding hydrogen beyond the solubility limit into irradiated zirconium alloys at 200 °C within hours. Predictions are 99 % accurate with a precision of 3 % based on mass-balance. The technique can be used to map the Zirconium-Hydride phase system. Results attributed to the delta solvus have been measured and agree with reported values.


The International Monetary Fund (IMF, or the Fund) has undergone a number of significant policy changes and reforms in the wake of the global financial crisis. Most notably, in December 2015, the United States approved long-delayed legislation to increase the representation of developing countries in the Fund's governance structure. The vital progress on quota shares has finally allowed for a resumption of wider and increasingly critical discussion of the strategic role of the IMF in the post-crisis world. This paper aims to relaunch the debate by assessing the recent reforms and changes, identifying areas where progress is still needed and proposing solutions. Our findings suggest that, while much has been accomplished by the Fund's management and staff since the global crisis, there is still a pressing need for member countries to push for further reforms if the IMF is to remain a relevant player in the rapidly evolving global economic and financial system. Emerging-market economies remain under-represented at the Fund and continue to perceive the IMF as biased against them, undermining the influence of its advice, despite the increase in their quota share and changes to improve the quality, efficiency and even-handedness of the IMF's surveillance and lending. In advanced economies, where the Fund has traditionally had little traction on national policies, the institution faces the challenge of managing and communicating its independence in programs involving large shareholders. We propose reforms aimed at improving country representation, granting the IMF real operational independence and enhancing its catalytic role.


Introduction: Mahuwa i.e., Madhuca longifolia (Koen.) Macbr. Var. latifolia (Roxb) A. Cheval belongs to family Sapotaceae. The local people and aboriginals use the oil extracted from the seeds for cooking purposes. The powdered seed has several therapeutic uses too. Recently seed oil is used as biodiesel. Although seeds and oil are in use; deliberate attempt to study them has lacked. Methods: Pharmacognosy can be the first step in deciding the status of a plant organ as a crude medicine. Hence comprehensive Pharmacognosy of Mahuwa seed was carried out by macroscopy, microscopy, histochemistry, powder study, proximate analysis and preliminary phytochemical studies. Results: The present study provides the microscopic diagnostic characters such as presence of sclerides, oil ducts, crystals etc in seed. Physicochemical studies revealed total ash (0.65%), acid insoluble ash (0.5%), water soluble ash (5.95%), alcohol soluble extractive (23.04%) water soluble extractive (17.76%) and chloroform extractive (12.3%). Histochemistry and Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of saponnins, terpenoids, anthraquinone glycoside, cardiac glycoside etc. Conclusion: These studies will help in establishing the pharmacopeial standards for the said drug.


Our understanding of atmospheric scattering phenomena has increased through the combined developments of new electro-optical instrumentation, theoretical solutions for complex model atmospheres, and large computers enabling computation of such solutions. Earth satellites permit external, planetwide observations of our atmosphere, while spacecraft permit detailed measurements of the scattering by other planetary atmospheres. Some recent results are: elucidation of the effects of ozone absorption and high-altitude aerosol scattering on twilight colors and polarization; identification of a cloudbow on Venus and consequent deduction of the cloud particle shape, size distribution, and refractive index; and, the interpretation of Rayleigh scattering on Jupiter in terms of cloud-top topography.


Cyclical fluctuations in state spending on higher education, combined with a persistent decline in the priority attached to higher education in state budgets, have produced serious financial problems at public universities. The results, which include rapid increases in tuition and difficulties in maintaining educational quality, are unlikely to be reversed any time soon. The
 authors
 of this Policy Forum urge public universities and state governments to find ways to smooth spending patterns over the cycle and to make sure that people who can least afford to pay are insulated from tuition increases.


Data are reported on 453 synthetic compounds which were tested in the CCNSC primary screens. Almost all of the compounds were tested in Sarcoma 180, Carcinoma 755, Leukemia 1210, and KB cells in culture; some tests were also carried out in Friend virus leukemia. Data are reported only on compounds which have not demonstrated sufficient activity in these systems to warrant further investigation.


Empress Frederick of Germany (1841-1901) is known first and foremost as the liberal consort of Emperor Frederick, who died after a reign of only 99 days in 1888. A vast majority of her biographers believe that she converted her husband into a supporter of British-style liberalism, and that his premature death effectively ended prospects for liberal development in Germany. Yet historians have consistently overlooked her work to advance women's causes, which left a far more tangible legacy than her involvement in politics. The essay discusses reasons why she embraced women's causes and attempts to reassess her legacy. It also invites a critique of how political and social historians have viewed her accomplishments.


The goal of this study was to evaluate post-thermal stress cell survival in canine prostatic epithelial and stromal cells. Epithelial and stromal cells isolated from canine prostate were exposed to thermal stress using a water bath. Post-thermal stress cell viability was measured by flow cytometry and analyzed using FlowJo software. An ongoing analysis also measures Heat Shock Protein expression for the same stress protocols.Copyright © 2008 by ASME


The reaction of various phenols with benzoyl chloride afforded the derivatives of phenyl benzoate that subsequently underwent Fries rearrangement. The obtained 2-hydroxybenzophenone analogues were combined with linear aliphatic triamines, which afforded pentadentate Schiff base ligands. Moreover, nine new iron(III) complexes with the general formula [Fe(Ln)X] (where, Ln is the dianion of the pentadentate Schiff base ligand, N,N′-bis((2-hydroxy-5-methylphenyl)phenyl)methylidene-1,5-diamino-3-azapentane = H2L1, N,N′-bis((2-hydroxy-3,5-dimethylphenyl)phenyl)methylidene-1,5-diamino-3-azapentane = H2L2, N,N′-bis((2-hydroxy-5-chlorophenyl)phenyl)methylidene-1,5-diamino-3-azapentane = H2L3, N,N′-bis((2-hydroxy-4-methylphenyl)phenyl)methylidene-1,5-diamino-3-azapentane = H2L4, N,N′-bis((2-hydroxy-5-bromophenyl)phenyl)methylidene-1,7-diamino-4-azaheptane = H2L5, N,N′-bis((2-hydroxy-5-bromophenyl)phenyl)methylidene-1,7-diamino-4-methyl-4-azaheptane = H2L6 and X is the chlorido, azido or isocyanato terminal ligand) were synthesized and characterized via elemental analysis, and IR and UV-VIS spectroscopy; in addition, the crystal structures of all the complexes were determined by X-ray diffraction. Magnetic investigation reveals high spin state behaviour in all the reported compounds. DFT calculations and analysis of the magnetic functions allowed to extract absolute values of the zero field splitting parameters and exchange coupling constants.


This document reports on innovative options for mainstreaming adaptation in developing countries with pro-active financing instruments that hedge risks from climate-related disasters. It examines recent experience with insurance and other risk-financing instruments in developing countries, informed by experience in developed countries, to provide insights on the effectiveness of insurance for reducing economic insecurity. Insurance and other risk-financing strategies are viewed in the overall context of risk management, including the prevention of losses as well as financing the recovery process. Specific examples of publicprivate insurance programs for households/businesses, farms and governments are described, including their limitations, especially in light of recent post-Katrina experience in the US and the recent financial crisis. By examining the costs, benefits and risks of public-private risk-financing programs, insights are provided on the effectiveness of insurance as a mechanism for providing economic security to vulnerable communities and governments.

The document goes beyond suggesting options for development organizations, IFIs and donors for revamping disaster aid to include pre-disaster financing instruments. In addition, we examine the case for insurance mechanisms as part of the post-Kyoto adaptation regime. The Bali Action Plan specifically calls for "consideration of risk sharing and transfer mechanisms, such as insurance" as a means to address loss and damage in developing countries particularly vulnerable to climate change. We address two fundamental questions: whether climate insurance programs should be part of an international adaptation strategy, and if so, how? Our discussion suggests that there is a promising and legitimate role for insurance mechanisms in an adaptation regime. We draw this conclusion in full recognition that insurance is not appropriate in all contexts, and that it must be viewed as only part of a comprehensive risk-management program. The challenge then becomes how developed countries can provide support to promote sustainable, affordable and incentive-compatible insurance programs for vulnerable households, small- to medium-size enterprises (SMEs) and governments, without crowding out private sector involvement. In meeting this challenge, this paper concludes by presenting a proposal for a two-pillar (prevention and insurance) international risk-management strategy, as part of an adaptation regime a proposal that has recently been put forward by the Munich Climate Insurance Initiative (MCII).

This work builds on ADAM Deliverable A.2.6., Report on identified developing country regions for study of novel development assistance options, and characterization of risk profile, as well as on an ADAM expert workshop on Insurance Instruments for Adaptation to Climate Risks, organized jointly by the IIASA, Munich Re, the German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ) and The World Bank, which took place at IIASA in Laxenburg, Austria, on Sept. 24-5, 2007. The workshop provided a forum for participants from the climate-change, development and donor communities, NGOs, academics and insurers to share ideas and experiences with insurance-related instruments as a strategy for adapting to climate variability and change. This exploratory meeting identified opportunities and constraints for supporting risk pooling and transfer in the developing world both within and outside the post-Kyoto process.


Nations have two methods of increasing their security: building arms and forming alliances. Both methods present different political costs that must be incurred to raise security. Building arms requires shifting economic resources to the military. Forming alliances requires abandoning interests that conflict with those of the ally. Each of these strategies produces domestic opposition. A nation's response to a threat to its security must weigh the relative attractiveness of arms versus allies, both in terms of their effects on internal politics and on their external benefits. Three cases are examined in the light of this argument. The response of Austria and France to the unification of Germany in the 1860s is the central case. Theories of alliance formation based on neorealism and the offense-defense balance predict that Austria and France should have allied against the mutual threat of Prussia. This article argues that they did not form an alliance because arming separately presented lower political costs. World Wars I and II likewise are analyzed from the perspective of the argument above.


Visual attention can be biased by value salience and cause maladaptive behaviors. Here we test whether the distractor with value salience can be effectively suppressed by selection of a target that categorically conflicts with it (i.e., steep vs. shallow in orientation). In Experiment 1, we trained observers to associate high and low reward with two steep bars (±30° from the vertical). Before and after the training, we tested the reward effect using a visual search task where steep was defined as the categorical feature of the target or distractor. The search display consisted of eight bars tilted to the same direction (left or right). The target (e.g., 30°) and distractor (e.g., 60°) bars were two singletons presented along the diagonal line, among six 45° tilted bars around the fixation. Observers were asked to look for the steep (and ignore the shallow) bar or look for the shallow (and ignore the steep) bar in separate blocks. The results showed significantly larger improvement in search RT for item associated with high reward than low reward (p< 0.05). Notably, this facilitation was evident when the reward-associated items were either to be detected (search for steep block) or ignored (search for shallow block), indicating the reward influences on target selection and distractor suppression, respectively. In Experiment 2, we confirmed that the suppression effect (p< 0.05) was unaffected by factors such as stimulus type (use Gabor pattern), presentation time, target-distractor distance (1 or 3 intervening items), and training category (associate the shallow with reward). These findings suggest that distractor inhibition in visual search can be facilitated by value salience. Meeting abstract presented at VSS 2015.


You're a beginner who wants to design a state-of-the-art family web site. You've just started a new job, and you need to learn Dreamweaver fast. Or maybe you're a professional who's been using another program but is now switching to Macromedia's leading web design tool. Learning Dreamweaver 8 gets you up to speed, quickly and efficiently. Straightforwardly practical, with speed as the by-word, this hands-on guide focuses on the best practices for constructing both interactive and static web sites. While explaining core concepts clearly and thoroughly, so that beginners have a solid conceptural and technical foundation, it cuts through the clutter that might slow down a beginner tackling a subject as vast as web design and a tool as robust as Dreamweaver. Dreamweaver 8 Design and Construction emphasizes learning by doing, with short, task-oriented chapters that demonstrate theory by presenting design solutions and explaining the principles that make them work. Plenty of screen shots, illustrations, and sample layouts accompany rapid prototyping techniques for site production. Marc Campbell has been building web sites since 1997-for everything from comic book fan communities to state government portals and e-commerce applications. A Macromedia Certified Dreamweaver Developer and beta tester, he has taught web design to students at all levels and has written eight books on the subject. Sidebars in Dreamweaver 8 Design and Construction allow readers to decide how deeply they want to delve into the subject. "Best Bets" offer bottom-line recommendations for those who want to skip the general discussion, while "Behind the Scenes" sidebars provide more in-depth looks at particular topics for those who want more detail. Absolute beginner or faux debutante, you'll learn proven procedures for quickly building Dreamweaver sites.


The uplift associated with the peripheral bulge engendered by sediment loads such as the Amazon Fan may provide a potential tectonic feedback mechanism that affects both coastal and fluvial depositional processes. For example, topographic and geologic maps of the Brazilian margin document the existence of a drainage divide affecting coastal river networks that is spatially coincident with the location of the peripheral bulge predicted by our flexural modeling of the fan load. While regions in close proximity to the fan load are depressed, regions farther from the load are lifted (i.e., peripheral bulge) by ∼25-50 m, which is sufficient to cause subaerial exposure of large portions of the shelf and modification of existing fluvial drainage networks. Furthermore, our modeling results suggest that the development of the peripheral bulge may have deflected the sediment-laden waters of the Amazon River progressively southward through time. This prediction is consistent with the existence of canyons off the Amapa coast north of the present-day Amazon canyon and with the distribution of Amazon Fan sediments, both of which suggest that the proto-Amazon River delivered sediment farther north along the coast. However, changing the location of sediment input into a basin also changes the shape of the cumulative sediment load and thus the resultant deformation. This feedback between sediment loading and the peripheral bulge uplift modifies the spatial and temporal history of sediment delivery to the margin and provides a viable way to change base level without having to invoke glacial eustasy. The efficiency of this feedback is dependent on the flexural wavelength and thus the strength of the lithosphere at the time of loading and the relative position of the sediment load with respect to the continental margin.


Admixture mapping (also known as "mapping by admixture linkage disequilibrium," or MALD) has been proposed as an efficient approach to localizing disease-causing variants that differ in frequency (because of either drift or selection) between two historically separated populations. Near a disease gene, patient populations descended from the recent mixing of two or more ethnic groups should have an increased probability of inheriting the alleles derived from the ethnic group that carries more disease-susceptibility alleles. The central attraction of admixture mapping is that, since gene flow has occurred recently in modern populations (e.g., in African and Hispanic Americans in the past 20 generations), it is expected that admixture-generated linkage disequilibrium should extend for many centimorgans. High-resolution marker sets are now becoming available to test this approach, but progress will require (a). computational methods to infer ancestral origin at each point in the genome and (b). empirical characterization of the general properties of linkage disequilibrium due to admixture. Here we describe statistical methods to estimate the ancestral origin of a locus on the basis of the composite genotypes of linked markers, and we show that this approach accurately estimates states of ancestral origin along the genome. We apply this approach to show that strong admixture linkage disequilibrium extends, on average, for 17 cM in African Americans. Finally, we present power calculations under varying models of disease risk, sample size, and proportions of ancestry. Studying approximately 2500 markers in approximately 2500 patients should provide power to detect many regions contributing to common disease. A particularly important result is that the power of an admixture mapping study to detect a locus will be nearly the same for a wide range of mixture scenarios: the mixture proportion should be 10%-90% from both ancestral populations.


Concrete is good in compression but week in tension that is, concrete is a brittle material. So, in order to improve the tensile properties, short fibers are used. Effects of steel fibers on flexural performance of reinforced concrete (RC) beams are the main objectives of this study. The hooked-end steel fibers with the dimensions of 0.75 mm in diameter, 50 mm in length and with the aspect ratio of 67 were used in this study. Initially the optimum percentage addition of steel fibers in concrete was determined. In order to accomplish this task, several concrete prisms and cubes with the same mix proportioning of concrete and different volume fractions of steel fiber (0.5 %, 1%, 1.5 %, and 2 %) were prepared. Then, by determining the flexural and compressive strength of samples, it was concluded that the optimum volume fraction was 1 % ( 78.5???? ??3). In the next step,the flexural behavior of RC beams with the addition of steel fibers with lower and higher compressive strength of concrete was considered. The study was conducted on two types of concrete with different grades of 30 and 50. For each grade of concrete, two beams were cast which steel fiber was included in one of the beams, with the addition of 1% volume fraction, and the other beam was considered as control beam. The overall dimensions of the beams were 170 mm in height, 120 mm in width, and 2400 mm in length. The beams were tested under four-point loading test. The results showed that addition of steel fibers in concrete increases the first crackingload, ultimate load, stiffness and ductility of the concrete beams. Furthermore, the addition of steel fibers has more effect on the properties of RC beams with higher concrete grade compared to lower grade.


The system efficiency and throughput of most architectures are critically dependent on the ability of the memory subsystem to satisfy data operand accesses. This ability is in turn dependent on the distribution or layout of the data relative to the access of the data by the executing code. Page faults, cache misses, truncated vectors, global communication, for example, are expensive but common symptoms of data and access misalignment.
Compiler optimization, traditionally synonymous with code optimization, has addressed the issue of efficient data access by manipulating the code to better access the data under a fixed, default distribution. This approach is restrictive, and often suboptimal. Data optimization, or data-layout optimization, is presented as an integral part of compiler optimization.
For scalar data, a good compile-time approximation of the "reference string," or sequence of data accesses, is advanced for the purpose of distributing the data. However, the optimal distribution of the scalar data for such, or any, reference string is proved NP-complete. A methodology and a polynomial algorithm for an approximate solution are developed. Experiments with representative, but scaled, scientific programs and execution environments display a reduction in cache misses up to two orders in magnitude.
For array data, compile-time predictions of the patterns in which the data is accessed by programs in scalar and array languages are examined. For arbitrary computations in an array language, the determination of the optimal layout of the data is proved to be NP-complete. Polynomial techniques for the approximate solutions to the optimal layout of arrays in both languages, scalar and array, are outlined.
The general applicability of the techniques, in terms of environments other than hierarchical memories, and in terms of interdependence with code manipulations, is discussed. New code optimizations inspired by the data distribution techniques are motivated. The prudence of compiler- over user-optimized data distribution is argued.


The purpose of this study was to examine some of the gaps in the research around the use of online surveys in teacher preparation settings by exploring the attitudes toward technology and online evaluations, as well as predictors of user assessment of online data collection methodology, among 222 College Supervisors and Cooperating Teachers. Research questions centered around the status of and relationships among College Supervisor/Cooperating Teacher demographic variables, level of computer experience, computer proficiency, attitude toward technology, perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, facilitating conditions, and overall assessment of online student teacher evaluations. Findings indicated that Cooperating Teachers experienced far fewer technological difficulties and found online evaluation to be much easier and more useful. They also had a more positive overall assessment of online evaluation. Among all study subjects, attitude toward technology, perceived ease of use, and perceived usefulness explained 74% of the variance in their overall assessment of online evaluation. Recommendations regarding the implementation of online evaluation in student teaching settings are offered.


The traditional hierarchical structure of cellular networks has led to
deployment models which are heavily centralized. Mobility management
with centralized mobility anchoring in existing hierarchical mobile
networks is quite prone to suboptimal routing and issues related to
scalability. Centralized functions present a single point of failure,
and inevitably introduce longer delays and higher signaling loads for
network operations related to mobility management. To make matters
worse, there are numerous variants of Mobile IP in addition to other
protocols standardized outside the IETF, making it much more difficult
to create economical and interoperable solutions. In this document we
examine the problems of centralized mobility management and identify
requirements for distributed and dynamic mobility management.


The chromatin remodeling complex SWI/SNF is an important epigenetic regulator that includes one Brm or BRG1 molecule as catalytic subunit. Brm and BRG1 do not function identically, so this complex can regulate gene expression either positively or negatively, depending on the promoter to which it is recruited. Notably, Brm attenuation due to posttranscription suppression occurs often in human tumor cells, in which this event contributes to their oncogenic potential. Here, we report that the 3'-untranslated region of Brm mRNA has two sites that are efficiently targeted by the microRNAs miR-199a-5p and -3p, revealing a novel mechanism for modulation of Brm-type SWI/SNF activity. Computational mapping of the putative promoter region of miR-199a-2 (miPPR-199a-2) has defined it as the major contributing genetic locus for miR-199a-5p and-3p production in these tumor cell lines. We validated this predicted region by direct promoter analysis to confirm that Egr1 is a strong positive regulator of the miR-199a-2 gene. Importantly, we also showed that Egr1, miR-199a-5p, and miR-199a-3p are expressed at high levels in Brm-deficient tumor cell lines but only marginally in Brm-expressing tumor cells. Finally, we also obtained evidence that Brm negatively regulates Egr1. Together, our results reveal that miR-199a and Brm form a double-negative feedback loop through Egr1, leading to the generation of these two distinct cell types during carcinogenesis. This mechanism may offer a partial explanation for why miR-199a-5p and -3p have been reported to be either upregulated or downregulated in a variety of tumors.


Aspiring authors of SCIENCE papers successfully run the gauntlet of our reviewers and editors only a small fraction of the time. In some of the more competitive fields, only about 10% of submitted papers are published. As a result, many ask us what distinguishes an accepted paper from the often excellent work we feel we cannot publish. Our "Information for Contributors" (see SCIENCE, 5 January 1996; on the World Wide Web, the address is http://science-mag.aaas.org/science/) describes the review process generally, but authors seeking more details about the characteristics of desirable papers may find "novel concepts of interdisciplinary interest" and "novelty and general significance" to be ambiguous criteria. Inevitably, given the keen competition for our pages and the generally excellent quality of submittals, some subjective elements influence the acceptance of manuscripts. Those elements reflect the opinions of the reviewers, of members of the Board of Reviewing Editors, and of SCIENCE editors. As we begin the new year, a few guidelines taken from the views of reviewers and editors may illuminate some of the fuzzy logic behind our decisions. A SCIENCE paper should be exciting and thought-provoking. Risk-taking must be balanced against technical perfection, as pioneering work cannot always be the most complete. Rather than being a "nail in the coffin" of a well-researched area, a SCIENCE paper preferably opens up new avenues of research. Some papers are chosen because they present innovative ideas in a field that has been quiet; others, because they merge previously divergent fields. Perhaps the majority make the grade not by being groundbreakers, but by presenting solid progress made near the cutting edge of research in a field that is currently very active. The latter papers are tricky because if we are to maintain a balance of topics in the journal, our standards for the evaluation of such papers must evolve as rapidly as the fields themselves. We are essentially greedy - we want to publish the best research in all fields, but in a way that will make the achievements understandable to our general readership. The best SCIENCE papers capture the interest of a wide audience with observations that provide new insight into the natural or theoretical world. Given our strict space limitations, SCIENCE Reports must be explicit and concise or have sufficient breadth and depth to qualify as Research Articles. Ideally, a SCIENCE paper challenges experts in a field by questioning current theories. In more slowly moving fields, a landmark paper might overturn existing concepts or achieve a long-sought theoretical goal (such as validation of the Bose-Einstein condensation state) or a particularly complex synthesis. The best SCIENCE papers have such broad interdisciplinary impact that they merit attention by the entire scientifically minded community (for example, the discovery of master control genes, such as the Drosophila eyeless mutation). Papers that combine two previously unrelated areas of science, thus changing the way a problem is seen, are especially interesting. Often the most appealing papers, regardless of their field, fit into no neat category. Health-related issues, for instance, raise many different kinds of questions: How important to the general public is the discovery of a disease-causing gene or a treatment for that disease? Is the approach novel or the problem extremely serious? Will the treatment change medical practice or public policy? Obviously, a SCIENCE paper must also meet the usual requirements for publication of any scientific paper. Results should clearly justify conclusions, and the research should be conducted with all controls that are necessary to establish the technical validity of the findings. In some fields in which our editors have professional experience, an early inquiry might help shape a paper or avoid misdirected effort. In almost all cases, our international Board of Reviewing Editors helps us choose the most expert reviewers to judge for technical and interpretive excellence. Consequently, SCIENCE reserves the right to refuse reconsideration of unmodified manuscripts, unless the reviews are technically inaccurate. From Molière, we learn that "There is no reward so delightful, no pleasure so exquisite, as having one's work known and acclaimed by those whose applause confers honor." Authors who recognize that SCIENCE provides such an audience may now have a better appreciation of what we think we want. We look forward to receiving the papers you consider to be your best.


Aim: For full-fledged diagnostics and prognosis of the course of odontogenic infectious diseases, we should have information about main pathogenetically significant factors of species and adaptive immunity, and we also need to take into account the characteristics of etiological agents. The aim of the research: To reveal the main factors of the complicated course of odontogenic pyoinflammatory diseases of the maxillofacial area. Results: The most significant indicators, which were studied in this research, during expectancy of course of the odontogenic pyoinflammatory diseases of the maxillofacial area are as follows: (a) Low level of intracellular production of radicals; (b) low level of antioxidant capacity of blood plasma of patients on the second day of hospitalization; (c) high level of cytokines of the proinflammatory group (interleukin-1β [IL-1β], IL-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-α]) and low level of IL-10 in the blood plasma of patients during first day of hospitalization, which remaining for 7–10 days against the background of the ongoing therapy; (d) low concentration of TNF-α in the blood plasma of patients with acute odontogenic osteomyelitis on the first day of hospitalization; (e) a considerable proportion of strictly anaerobic pathogens as a part of the mixed microflora of a purulent discharge. Conclusions: The most significant risk factors for accidents in odontogenic pyoinflammatory diseases include such as disturbance of effector properties of leukocytes, imbalance of mediator regulation of inflammation, and predominance of strictly anaerobic microflora.


For more than a decade managers, academics, educators and politicians have indicated that innovation is the key to our future. As a result, we find a plethora of innovation initiatives around the world, from university curricula to the mission statements of banks. This push to innovate is a direct result of the recent economic downturn as well as from an ever more competitive, connected and dynamic world. In order to remain relevant in such a world, emphasis is given to generating new ideas that may lead to new products and services. Despite these initiatives, evidence indicates that investment in innovation does not correlate with success. Although the goal of innovation is clear, the processes whereby that goal may be accomplished are varied and not entirely understood. The motivation of this thesis, therefore, is to gain a better understanding of some of those innovation processes. In recent years, a growing number of firms, organizations and governments have adopted an approach to innovation that is referred to as "Design Thinking". They use the term to describe the process by which a multifunctional team tackles a problem by exploring the underlying needs of the people most affected by that problem—whether that be customers, users, etc.—then, based on these observations, defines the root cause or key elements of the problem and finally attempts to resolve it through an active cycle of ideating, prototyping and testing potential solutions. While the process itself is well defined and understood, its implementation and use by managers in the context of innovation management calls for further exploration. With this objective, I first conducted research within academic literature, followed by an ethnographic study focused on the use of Design Thinking by both large firms and entrepreneurial teams. The first paper of this dissertation examines the different elements in the Design Thinking process within the context of management research. The goal of the first conceptual article is thus to establish the common ground among diverse subfields of research in management upon which future research in Design Thinking may build. The second paper of this dissertation aims to uncover how large firms use Design Thinking as an approach to innovation. Based upon direct observation and interview data we find evidence of links between Design Thinking and Absorptive Capacity. We therefore propose that Design Thinking may be a helpful tool for firms who wish to innovate by an increase in their Absorptive Capacity. The third and final paper of this dissertation aims to understand the effects of Design Thinking on the venture creation process. This work is based on ethnographic research conducted at Stanford University wherein twelve teams participated in an accelerator program that uses a Design Thinking approach with the goal of creating and launching new ventures. Building on Dynamic Capabilities literature, this research finds that the teams with greater capability to iterate their venture concept through repeated cycles of attachment and detachment relative to their proposed products or services tend to be more successful.


The present study investigates the seasonal variation in fish abundance, fish biomass, reproductive status and population structure of four dominant benthic fish species, Salaria pavo, Pomatoschistus marmoratus, Gobius cobitis and Gobius niger, in the shallow and littoral areas of the Mar Menor coastal lagoon. In addition, the seasonal habitat associations of each species were studied by assessing environmental variables related to the habitat structure: submerged vegetation cover, submerged vegetation density, water depth and substrate composition. The temporal variations in fish density, standing stock and size frequency distributions of these species can largely be attributed to the seasonality of their breeding and juvenile recruitment periods. Moreover, habitat associations for these species were similar to those obtained in other Mediterranean and Atlantic coastal lagoons.


Traditional water security evaluation methods usually use a unified weight to compose index values, which cannot fully reflect the weight preferences of each of the assessor objects themselves. A regional competitive water resources security evaluation model based on the restrictions of the Nash equilibrium as a binding condition of the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method was established to get a competitive weight. Using a genetic algorithm optimization method to iteratively solve this model, the process of competition and coordination among regional water resources security evaluation objects can be simulated. Each evaluation object can then be given a competitive weight that maximizes its own advantages while the other evaluation objects are also given consideration. The competitive evaluation model was used to evaluate water resources security in 11 administrative regions in the Shanxi province of China. The evaluation results show that the new method can simulate the coordinated process of the advantages of each region and are more reasonable than traditional evaluation methods.


Outward migration has been an important phenomenon for countries in Latin American and the Caribbean (LAC), particularly those in Central America and the Caribbean. This paper examines recent trends in outward migration from and remittances to LAC, as well as their costs and benefits. For the home country, the negative impact from emigration on labor resources and productivity seems to outweigh growth gains from remittances, notably for the Caribbean. However, given emigration, remittance flows play key financing and stabilizing roles in Central America and the Caribbean. They facilitate private consumption smoothing, support financial sector stability and fiscal revenues, and help reduce poverty and inequality, without strong evidence for harmful competitiveness effects through shifts in the real exchange rate.


The fracture mechanics parameters are used in different applications to formulae the classic criteria of failure as well as in computational models to analyze the concrete structures and other brittle materials. The parameters are determined using the specimens with notches. The study for assessing the influence of the notch curvature in specimen on fracture mechanics parameters, e.g. critical stress intensity factor, critical crack tip opening displacement and fracture energy, was performed on cement mortar as a typical quasi-brittle material. The U-shaped notches with a depth of 30 mm were formed during molding the specimens. The radius of notch curvature was changed in the range from 0.15 mm to 30.0 mm. The results obtained demonstrated that the notch curvature radius has a significant effect on the level of maximum stress and the parameters describing the cement composite resistance to cracking. Therefore, the experimental determination of the fracture characteristics requires a strict definition of the test conditions.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.sace.15.2.15376


We formalize and extend the contribution model of Clark and Schaefer (1987, 1989) so that it can be represented computationally; we then present a method for combining the turns of two individual agents into one incrementally determined, coherent representation of the processes of dialog. This representation is intended to approximate what a participant might represent about the dialog so far, for the immediate purpose of referring, making contextual inferences, and repairing problems of understanding, as well as for the longer term purpose of storing the products of dialog in memory. Such an approach, we argue, is necessary for enabling a computer-based partner to converse in a way that seems natural to a human partner.


This chapter provides a historical overview of the American influence on Israel's jurisprudence of freedom of expression from the 1950s to the first decade of the twenty first century. The chapter uses the format of decades, presenting representative cases for each decade, to record the process by which Israeli judges incorporated and sometimes rejected themes from the U.S. jurisprudence of freedom of expression. In the course of discussing the jurisprudential themes the chapter also highlights the historical context in which the cases were decided, from the war in Korea and McCarthyism in the 1950s, to the process of globalization which dominated the first decade of the twenty first century. The chapter asserts that over the decades the Israeli understanding of freedom of expression has matured so that today the appearance of U.S. law is invoked primarily for rhetorical purposes. In contrast to the 1950s, contemporary Israeli courts have enough authentic jurisprudence to guide them in their decisional law.


Can one reduce the size of a graph without significantly altering its basic properties? The graph reduction problem is hereby approached from the perspective of restricted spectral approximation, a modification of the spectral similarity measure used for graph sparsification. This choice is motivated by the observation that restricted approximation carries strong spectral and cut guarantees, and that it implies approximation results for unsupervised learning problems relying on spectral embeddings.
The paper then focuses on coarsening---the most common type of graph reduction. Sufficient conditions are derived for a small graph to approximate a larger one in the sense of restricted similarity. These findings give rise to nearly-linear algorithms that, compared to both standard and advanced graph reduction methods, find coarse graphs of improved quality, often by a large margin, without sacrificing speed.


We present the three-dimensional (3D) growth of polypyrrole (PPy) microstructures with high aspect ratios (HAR) by a localized electropolymerization. The radicals formed by an oxidation of Py monomer is localized on the targeting area due to a confinement of electric field, forming a PPy structure. We found that a reversal point at which the relative field strengths of Ec (center of the grown structure) and Ee (edge) are reversed is a critical factor in determining the growth characteristic of the 3D PPy structure. A porous structure with open and closed pores is produced below the reversal point by the hydrogen bubble trapping in a gap between the microelectrode and the grown structure. Above the reversal point, a structure with dense and uniform features is obtained by a steady supply of monomer in the gap without bubble trapping.


This paper examines how the extraction of home equity, including but not limited to equity extracted through reverse mortgages, affects credit outcomes of senior households. We use data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York/Equifax Consumer Credit Panel, supplemented with our unique credit panel dataset of reverse mortgage borrowers. We track credit outcomes for seniors who extracted equity through cash-out refinancing, home equity lines of credit or home equity loans between 2008 and 2011, and a random sample of nonextractors. We estimate differences-in-differences by extraction channel using individual, fixed-effects panel regression. We find that seniors extracting equity through reverse mortgages have greater reductions in consumer debt, and are less likely to become delinquent or foreclose three years post origination relative to other extractors and nonextractors. These effects are greater among households who experienced a credit shock within the two years prior to loan origination. To help isolate the effect of the extraction channel on credit outcomes, we re-estimate our models with a matched sample of consumers at the time of extraction. We find that otherwise similar HECM borrowers have larger reductions in credit card debt post-extraction than other equity borrowers and non-borrowers, with no significant difference in the rates of delinquency on non-housing debt post extraction. For HECM borrowers, we find that increased initial withdrawal and increased monthly cash flow contribute to the reduction in credit card debt.


The two main lineages of T cells to emerge from the thymus are distinguished by the T cell receptors that they carry, either αβ or γδ, which confer distinctive functional properties on each cell type. Within the thymus, the development of the two lineages has been thought to occur independently. Silva-Santos et al. (see the Perspective by Rothenberg) now show that the features peculiar to γδ T cells are not generated autonomously but are conferred directly on the cells by their immature αβ thymic counterparts. This process required signaling via a pathway already known to be essential for lymphoid organogenesis and generating effective immune responses. Thus, the developmental interaction between two lineages of T cells imparts fundamental features on one of the cell types. B. Silva-Santos, D. J. Pennington, A. C. Hayday, Lymphotoxin-mediated regulation of γδ cell differentiation by αβ T cell progenitors. Science 307, 925-928 (2005). [Abstract] [Full Text] E. V. Rothenberg, Thymic regulation--hidden in plain sight. Science 307, 858-859 (2005). [Summary] [Full Text]


Information regarding the propagation dynamics of intramural electrical wavefronts in the 3D volume of the ventricles is critical in gaining a better understanding of normal and pathological cardiac function. However, investigation into such phenomena using cardiac modelling has so far been impaired due to limitations in the structural details included in current cardiac computational models. Here, we describe the technological pipeline required for the construction of realistic, highly-detailed and personalised whole ventricular models directly from high-resolution MR images and their use within a reliable, fully tested cardiac simulation software (Chaste). Simulations of cardiac propagation in the structurally-detailed model are presented that reveal the importance of complex structural geometry, fibre orientation, blood vessels and other heterogeneities in propagation of activation wavefronts through the ventricular volume. The tools and techniques presented in this study are expected to be key in the development and application of the next generation of cardiac models.


Abstract: Bolivia under the MAS government of Evo Morales (2006–present) has offered weak protection for liberal rights, politicized the courts, and threatened opponents and the press. While some scholars have characterized Bolivia as nondemocratic, it is best described as "democratic with an adjective"—one that exhibits delegative features, like the dominance of a personalistic leadership and weak horizontal accountability. However, unlike the classic cases of "delegative democracy," those features are not linked to "deactivation" of subordinate groups, but rather to continued levels of social organization, expanded opportunities for citizen input through channels of representation and contestation, and greater governmental responsiveness to those groups. This has led to important shifts in domestic power relations.


A Word about Gates
Alleys (snickets, ginnels, backways) are particularly common in British industrial
cities and were originally designed to allow access to the rear of properties by
coalmen and refuse collectors. Although many alleys are no longer used for their
original purpose, they are still useful to allow residents to access the rear of their
properties without walking through their house. This can be particularly helpful when
gardening or carrying out DIY.
Alley-gating involves the installation of lockable gates across these alleys,
preventing access to the alley for those without a key. Although predominantly a
crime reduction measure, alley-gating has the potential to do more than reduce
crime; it can increase community confidence, improve the aesthetic appearance of an
area, re-invigorate schemes such as Residents' Associations and Neighbourhood
Watch and reduce levels of worry and fear about crime and anti-social behaviour.
Although it has the potential to achieve more than crime reduction, it should be
stressed that alley-gating is a crime reduction measure, which is targeted at alleys
which are experiencing high levels of crime and anti-social behaviour, or are being
used to facilitate crime and disorder. It is not designed to limit freedom or constrain
legitimate access.
Although alley-gating does involve the installation of lockable gates, it is important
that readers do not confuse alley-gating with gated communities. Alley-gating
simply closes off the rear or side of properties for those without legitimate access. It
does not create a closed community and people can still access the rest of the
neighbourhood without using the alley. Alley-gates are rarely installed in alleys
which are currently used as through routes, and where this is the case, detailed
consideration is given towards the impact on existing users. Although gated
communities involve the use of similar security measures, they are very different.
Gated communities involve closing whole neighbourhoods to non-residents
immediately creating a 'them' and 'us'. In gated communities non-residents are
excluded from large spaces which had previously been public open spaces simply
because they do not live within the community.


This paper examines the extent and consequences of Downward Nominal Wage Rigidity (DNWR) using administrative worker-firm linked data from the Longitudinal Employer Household Dynamics (LEHD) program for a large representative U.S. state. Prior to the Great Recession, only 7-8% of job stayers are paid the same nominal hourly wage rate as one year earlier - substantially less than previously found in survey-based data - and about 20% of job stayers experience a wage cut. During the Great Recession, the incidence of wage cuts increases to 30%, followed by a large rise in the proportion of wage freezes to 16% as the economy recovers. Total earnings of job stayers exhibit even fewer zero changes and a larger incidence of reductions than hourly wage rates, due to systematic variations in hours worked. The results are consistent with concurrent findings in the literature that reductions in base pay are exceedingly rare but that firms use different forms of non-base pay and variations in hours worked to flexibilize labor cost. We then exploit the worker-firm link of the LEHD and find that during the Great Recession, firms with indicators of DNWR reduced employment by about 1.2% more per year. This negative effect is driven by significantly lower hiring rates and persists into the recovery. Our results suggest that despite the relatively large incidence of wage cuts in the aggregate, DNWR has sizable allocative consequences.


"...splendid and innovative ethnography ...highly topical, well written, intellectually highly interesting, and often avant-garde ...sophisticated and honest discussions ..." * Joanna Overing, London School of Economics The Arakmbut are an indigenous people who live in the Madre de Dios region of thesoutheastern Peruvian rain forest. Since their first encounters with missionaries in the 1950s,they have shown resilience and a determination to affirm their identity in the face of many difficulties. During the last fifteen years, Arakmbut survival has been under threat from a goldrush that has attracted hundreds of colonists onto their territories. This trilogy of books traces the ways in which the Arakmbut overcome the dangers that surround them: their mythology and cultural strength; their social flexibility; and their capacity to incorporate non-indigenous concepts and activities into their defence strategies. Each area is punctuated by the constant presence of the invisible spirit, which provides a seamless theme connecting the books to each other. Following the Arakmbuts' recommendation, the author uses their three greatest myths to introduce social, cultural and historical aspects of their lives. He ends with a discussion of the relationship between myth and history showing how the Arakmbut recreate their myths at the dramatic moments of their history.


Part of the testing process for athletic footwear is exposing the shoes to realistic wear conditions; this can be in the form of user trials or, as is becoming more common place, the use of mechanical test devices. However, current mechanical test devices tend to be somewhat simplistic and fail to expose the footwear to the realistic loading environment. Thus, the aim of this thesis was to investigate the potential of using an off the shelf 6 Degrees-of-Freedom industrial robot to emulate the ground contact phase of human gait. This was achieved through addressing four research questions.

The first research question aimed to outline the biomechanical features that were to be emulated and what their typical values were. Kinematics and kinetics of the real human gait were then collected, for use in programming the robot and evaluating its outputted movements. This was complemented by a comprehensive review of relevant literature.

Previous investigations had highlighted the need for understanding of the robot s capabilities. This was taken further and input parameters such as level of robotic smoothing, programme velocity and the number of three dimensional co-ordinate points used were found to have an effect on the output kinematics of the robot. These features were also found to be part of the accompanying programme software (RoboGuide). Despite this, the differences were not identical and it was concluded that the software could only have a limited use in supporting the wider thesis aim.

Prior to emulation, there was a need for robot set-up and its environment to be optimised. A new robot end-effector, with improved biofidelity, was developed which incorporated a new way of generating the robot motion that intended to aid kinetic and kinematic emulation. Further to this, analysis on robot movements in various locations identified the optimal location for the ground contact phase to be achieved.

Using all of the gathered knowledge the robot was programmed to complete a footstrike for human walking using two types of programming method. When the robot is programmed directly with the human kinematic data the emulation of the footstrike is relatively poor; ground contact time is too long with an increased footprint size and poor ground reaction force profiles replication. Using a rotation about a fixed point on the footform led to improved, although not complete, emulation of the human gait parameters.

The developed system has been shown to improve on previous work at Loughborough University and is also comparable with what is being used in industry and developed within academia. The concept remains in the early phases but the current study indicates that future work can move the robot further towards being able to produce a more biofidelic emulation that can be used in the footwear testing industry.


Much postmodern rhetoric, suggests Karsten Harries, can be understood as a symptom of our civilization's discontent, born of regret that we are no longer able to experience our world as a cosmos that assigns us our place. But dissatisfaction with the modern world may also spring from a conviction that modernism has failed to confront the challenge of an inevitably open future. Such conviction has frequently led to a critique of modernity's founding heroes. Challenging that critique, Harries insists that modernity is supported by nothing other than human freedom.But more important to Harries is to show how modernist self-assertion is shadowed by nihilism and what it might mean to step out of that shadow. Looking at a small number of medieval and Renaissance texts, as well as some paintings, he uncovers the threshold that separates the modern from the premodern world. At the same time, he illuminates that other, more questionable threshold, between the modern and the postmodern.Two spirits preside over the book: Alberti, the Renaissance author on art and architecture, whose passionate interest in perspective and point of view offers a key to modernity; and Nicolaus Cusanus, the fifteenth-century cardinal, whose work shows that such interest cannot be divorced from speculations on the infinity of God. The title Infinity and Perspective connects the two to each other and to the shape of modernity.


Concepts of wild land have recreational, ecological and cultural dimensions, and place varying emphasis on physical landscape attributes and the perceptions of users. In Scotland, national and NGO policies show reasonable consistency in interpreting and defining 'wild land', emphasising the (perception of) lack of current human influence as a key criterion. This research used semi-structured interviews with key individuals and a questionnaire survey of land managers to evaluate concepts and perceptions of wild land in Scotland. Recognising that the conceptual and spatial definition of wild land is a key issue, a new typology is proposed. Weaknesses in the policy framework, as well as key potential threats to, and opportunities associated with, wild landscapes are identified. Management initiatives are fitted to the typology and divided into four management themes. Key recommendations are: (i) that national policy for wild landscapes needs to incorporate criteria, which recognise the multiple values deriving from such areas; and (ii) that future research should combine user group preferences with physical attribute information in determining what constitutes wild landscapes.