Over the last decades, many experimental methods have been developed and improved to measure thermophysical properties of matter. This chapter gives an overview over the most common techniques to obtain thermal conductivity λ as a function of temperature T. These methods can be divided into steady state and transient methods. At the Institute of Experimental Physics at Graz University of Technology, an ohmic pulse-heating apparatus was installed in the 1980s, and has been further improved over the years, which allows the investigation of thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity for the end of the solid phase and especially for the liquid phase of metals and alloys. This apparatus will be described in more detail. To determine thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity with the ohmic pulse-heating method, the Wiedemann-Franz law is used. There are electronic as well as lattice contributions to thermal conductivity. As the materials examined at Graz University of Technology, are mostly in the liquid phase, the lattice contribution to thermal conductivity is negligibly small in most cases. Uncertainties for thermal conductivity for aluminum have been estimated ±6% in the solid phase and ±5% in the liquid phase.


This paper addresses the problem of feedback invariance in geometric control theory by overviewing a framework that is inherently feedback-invariant. Crucial to the coherence of the method are suitable topologies on spaces of vector fields. The formulation also makes reference to the theory of presheaves and sheaves. While the work is addressed squarely at a fundamental problem of control theory, the technical background for the methods expounded upon are sometimes very complex. For this reason, the intent of the paper is to be expository, rather than technical.


We show how to efficiently compute the derivative (when it exists) of the solution map of log-log convex programs (LLCPs). These are nonconvex, nonsmooth optimization problems with positive variables that become convex when the variables, objective functions, and constraint functions are replaced with their logs. We focus specifically on LLCPs generated by disciplined geometric programming, a grammar consisting of a set of atomic functions with known log-log curvature and a composition rule for combining them. We represent a parametrized LLCP as the composition of a smooth transformation of parameters, a convex optimization problem, and an exponential transformation of the convex optimization problem's solution. The derivative of this composition can be computed efficiently, using recently developed methods for differentiating through convex optimization problems. We implement our method in CVXPY, a Python-embedded modeling language and rewriting system for convex optimization. In just a few lines of code, a user can specify a parametrized LLCP, solve it, and evaluate the derivative or its adjoint at a vector. This makes it possible to conduct sensitivity analyses of solutions, given perturbations to the parameters, and to compute the gradient of a function of the solution with respect to the parameters. We use the adjoint of the derivative to implement differentiable log-log convex optimization layers in PyTorch and TensorFlow. Finally, we present applications to designing queuing systems and fitting structured prediction models.


mHIS Essay explores one of the least discussed but most 1 intriguing clauses of the United States Constitution. When closely parsed, the words of the Article II Opinion Clause yield rich insights into the scope, limits, and nature of the American Presidency, with implications both timely and timeless. In a nutshell, the Opinion Clause was designed to clarify the role of a new and distinctly American idea of a President, who would be measurably less than an English-style King, but measurably more than an English-style Prime Minister. Unlike a King, the American President could not compel judicial and legislative leaders to serve as his Privy Council; and unlike a Prime Minister, a President would not merely stand as first among equals in an Executive Cabinet. With the Opinion Clause, the Framers rejected a committee-style Executive Branch in favor of a unitary and accountable President, standing under law, yet over Cabinet officers.1


Candida glabrata is the second most frequent cause of local and systemic human candidiasis and infections with this species are difficult to treat because of frequent azole resistance. C. glabrata infections have high mortality rates in immunocompromised patients. During pathogenesis, the cell wall is of particular importance, because it holds key functions such as adhesion and countering of immune defenses.
Next to the structural proteins of the Cwp1-family, Ecm33 and Pst1 have been identified as the most abundant GPI-anchored proteins in the cell wall, but their functions are largely unclear. In C. albicans and S. cerevisiae, the ECM33 deletion mutants show partially overlapping phenotypes suggesting defects in cell wall assembly. Therefore, gene disruption and complementation experiments were conducted on these genes in C. glabrata.
The results of these experiments show that, similar to C. albicans and S. cerevisiae, the C. glabrata ∆ecm33 and ∆pst1/∆ecm33 mutants are susceptible to most cell wall perturbing agents. The mutants have a more negatively charged cell wall surface and release Cwp1 protein and β-1,6-glucan containing material to the environment. Most importantly, as a consequence the mutants lose some adherence capacities, which is of particular interest in terms of C. glabrata pathogenicity. With the notable exceptions of the adherence phenotype and the surface charge, the phenotypes are rescued by introduction of ScECM33 and CaEMC33. In contrast, the phenotypes could not be compensated in the ∆ecm33 mutant of C. glabrata by overexpression of the remaining members of the C. glabrata ECM33-family (CgPST1, CgSPS2 and CgSPS22). However, we can not rule out that this is due to technical limitations of the experimental approaches. From the overall phenotypic data, we can propose that Ecm33 probably is involved in the linkage of β-1,6-glucan to the cell wall. If β-1,6-glucan is lost, so is its carrier function for effector proteins, resulting in the observed phenotypes. The generated phenotypic data also enabled to develope different hypothetical models for the biological function of Ecm33 in C. glabrata and the functional analyses performed so far indicate that CgEcm33 might be a lectin. These analyses now make it possible to further characterize the biological role of this very abundant cell wall protein, for example using comprehensive binding assays, glycochip experiments and proteomic work on the cell wall and secreted proteomes of the generated mutants. The improved understanding of the cell wall in C. glabrata will enable to characterize pathogenicity in this organism and potentially develop new antifungal therapy.


To improve understanding of population structure, ecosystem relationships and predictive models of human impact in cetaceans and other marine megafauna, we developed geneGIS, a suite of GIS tools and a customized Arc Marine data model to facilitate visual exploration and spatial analyses of individual‐based records from DNA profiles and photo‐identification records. We used the open source programming language Python 2.7 and ArcGIS 10.1 software to create a user‐friendly, menu‐driven toolbar linked to a Python Toolbox containing customized geoprocessing scripts. For ease of sharing and installation, we compiled the geneGIS program into an ArcGIS Python Add‐In, freely available for download from the website http://genegis.org. We used the Lord‐Castillo et al. (2009) Arc Marine data model customization as the starting point for our work and retained nine key base Arc Marine classes. We demonstrate the utility of geneGIS using an integrated database of more than 18,000 records of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in the North Pacific collected during the Structure of Populations, Levels of Abundance and Status of Humpback Whales in the North Pacific (SPLASH) program. These records represent more than 8,000 naturally marked individuals and 2,700 associated DNA profiles, including 10 biparentally inherited microsatellite loci, maternally inherited mitochondrial DNA, and genetic sex.


This study examines the effect of corporate governance reform and board structure on
the value relevance of equity book value and earnings by employing the Ohlson (1995)
Valuation Model and based on the methodology developed by Davis-Friday et al.
(2006). The sample consists of Main Board companies listed on Bursa Malaysia from
1999 to 2001 in order to investigate the effect during and post the issuance of the
Malaysian Code on Corporate Governance (MCCG) as a measure of corporate
governance reform. This thesis argues that following the issuance of the Code,
companies are better governed and therefore, improves the value relevance of equity
book value and earnings reported in the financial statements. Further, if companies
comply with the recommendation for best practices contained in the Code, it will be
reflected in the increase in the value relevance of equity book value and earnings. The
findings generally indicate that equity book value and earnings are value relevant in
assisting investors to value firms' equity. Findings of this study, nonetheless, show that
the regulatory change experienced by the country did not have an impact on the
valuation of equity book value and earnings. Similarly, board composition is found to be
statistically insignificant in explaining the association between equity book value and
earnings with the firms' value. This, thus, suggests that most of the Malaysian
companies may not have met the intended purpose of MCCG, but merely conformed to
the minimum requirement. In contrast, mixed results for leadership structure were found
where the value relevance of equity book value increase whilst the value relevance of
earnings decrease when companies practice duality structure in 2000. It, therefore,
implies that the role of CEO and Chairman of the board should be separated in order to
improve the value relevance of earnings. In summary, the findings of this study provide
evidence that the equity book value and earnings reported in the financial statement is
value relevant in valuing Malaysian firms' equity. More importantly, the
recommendation by the MCCG to practice unitary leadership structure is deemed vital in
improving the value relevance of earnings in Malaysia and hence must be implemented
fully.


A comprehensive understanding of the effects of free radicals on the ignition properties of practical fuel is critical for the performance of hypersonic vehicles. In this study, the free radical effects of H, CH3, and C2H5 on the ignition delay times of methane/air mixtures at dosages of 10−7 - 10−2 (mole fraction) were systemically analyzed via kinetic analysis with two detailed mechanisms (i.e., AramcoMech 2.0 and USC MECH II). Results showed that the addition of free radicals mainly promoted the ignition process at low temperature (800 K). While the addition of molecule H2 mainly improved the ignition process at high temperature (1250 K). When the additional fractions of free radicals were less than 10-3, promoting effects of the three kinds of free radicals were the same. Differences appeared only when the contents were higher than 10-2. Further kinetic analyses indicated that the addition of free radicals could change the critical reactions during the ignition process of methane/air mixtures. The ignition delay times were reduced by increasing the generation rate of OH radical and heat release rate with the addition of free radicals, while the overall output of OH and flame temperature were not affected by the free radicals.


"Beyond the walls is a battle cry that mobilizes . . . The walls that surround us, protect us, and embrace us can also inhibit movement, limit understanding, restrict engagement, and diminish our relevance in the wider world. I realized that my walls, and the walls of leaders everywhere, were not only the walls of current policy, practice, procedure, and assumption but also the walls of the past--safe, familiar, and secure. This recognition was just the first of several as we worked through a process to take ourselves and our organizations beyond the walls to new levels of performance and positive changes in the lives of people."--from the Introduction by Frances HesselbeinIn Leading Beyond the Walls, twenty-nine great thinkers examine leaders adept at establishing partnerships, alliances, and networks both within and outside their organizations. They address the challenge of leading in an age when the old rules and conventional boundaries no longer exist. Peter F. Drucker, Stephen R. Covey, Peter M. Senge, Jim Collins, Noel Tichy, Regina E. Herzlinger, C.K. Prahalad, and Sally Helgesen are among those who explore new ways of building relationships, new approaches to strategy and marketing, new models of employee relations, and other innovations. Their essays herald a new world where success comes to those willing to move beyond the walls of tradition and inertia.To read the first chapter from this book, click here.


This article poses the problem of public consultation in developing countries and applies a solution in Ghana as a test case. It describes the theoretical rationale for deliberative consultation with random samples, describes specific criteria for success, and then assesses an application under the challenging conditions of a developing country. It builds on notions of "deliberative democracy," and shows how they can be practically realized in an African context through "Deliberative Polling" (DP). The challenge is that the context is one of the poorest parts of one of the poorest countries in Africa. Rather than consulting just stakeholders, or self-selected populations, or using conventional surveys, DP's have the advantage of consulting random samples with deliberation in depth in confidential surveys so that the opinion changes can be evaluated at the individual level, free of social pressures for consensus. Is this practical in this context? A DP was conducted in Tamale, Ghana on issues of water, sanitation, hygiene and food security. Criteria for success for DPs that have been applied in highly developed countries are discussed and then applied in Ghana under challenging conditions.


The aim of this report was to describe a case of hypomania after deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN DBS) in a Parkinson's disease (PD) patient. 59-year-old man with a 15-year history of PD underwent bilateral implantation of electrodes to the STN. Immediately after surgery, his motor function was markedly improved and his mood was elevated to hypomania. Fusion images of the preoperative MRI and postoperative CT scan showed that the electrodes were located in the medial portion of the STN. In this case, behavioral mood change was related to the deep brain stimulation. Moreover, the anatomical location and the functional alteration of the STN after the DBS surgery might be related to the regulatory system of the associative and limbic cortico-subcortical circuits.


In order to study the reaction of 15 cucumber cultivars to the root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne javanica, after nematode purification on the tomato cultivar Rutgers, with the help of morphological characters and species-specific primers the nematode species was identified. Experiment was conducted on the basis of completely randomized design in the greenhouse conditions using sterile soil. In resistance assessment of different cucumber cultivars to this nematode, the growth factors of the host plants and nematode reproduction were used with different methods. Results showed that all the greenhouse cultivars used in this experiment were susceptible to M. javanica and only two local cultivars from Isfahan (Chambar and Dastgerdi) recognized as tolerant. Also the amount of vitamin C, Calcium and Potassium minerals as well as leaf area index decreased in infected plants.


Technology and Environment is one of a series of publications designed to bring national attention to issues of the greatest importance in engineering and technology during the 25th year of the National Academy of Engineering. A "paradox of technology" is that it can be both the source of environmental damage and our best hope for repairing such damage today and avoiding it in the future. Technology and Environment addresses this paradox and the blind spot it creates in our understanding of environmental crises. The book considers the proximate causes of environmental damage--machines, factories, cities, and so on--in a larger societal context, from which the will to devise and implement solutions must arise. It helps explain the depth and difficulty of such issues as global warming and hazardous wastes but also demonstrates the potential of technological innovation to have a constructive impact on the planet. With a range of data and examples, the authors cover such topics as the "industrial metabolism" of production and consumption, the environmental consequences of the information era, and design of environmentally compatible technologies.


Alexithymia has been linked to reduced emotional awareness and increased aggression. One line of evidence suggests that authoritarian parenting contributes to the development of alexithymia. To elucidate the relationship between experienced parenting style, alexithymia and aggression the Parental Authority Questionnaire, the Toronto Alexithymia Scale and the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire were administered to a group of emerging adults. Current findings show a positive relationship between: i) authoritarian parenting style and alexithymia, ii) alexithymia and aggression, iii) authoritarian parenting style and aggression. This study also found that paternal authoritarian parenting predicted alexithymia and aggression when controlling for maternal authoritarian style, but not the other way round. In addition, alexithymia mediated the relationship between paternal authoritarian parenting and aggression when controlling for maternal authoritarian style suggesting that elevated alexithymia which is likely to be a consequence of authoritarian parenting, especially when it is practiced by a father, contributes to increased aggression in adulthood.


The Common toad Bufo bufo (Linneaus, 1758) was found for the first time in Sardinia in 2016 during herpetological surveys. The species appears to be well established in the finding area. Many adults and juveniles, tadpoles at different developmental stages, and eggs have been found during repeated monitoring. In order to infer the geographic origin of the Sardinian population, we amplified two mitochondrial markers ( 16S , cytb ) and compared sequences with those available for the species across its natural range. We also screened samples for the presence of Bd pathogen to assess the risk of infection mediated by the species in the area. Results suggest that Sardinian individuals are genetically close to the Central Italian populations, although they show a unique distinct haplotype. Though the species should be considered allochthonous to the Island, further molecular and ecological data are urgently needed to assess the genetic structure and the possible impact on the local fauna, which is largely composed by endemic taxa. Particularly, possible interactions with other native amphibians like the green toad Bufo balearicus (Boettger, 1880), also present in the area, should be investigated, both in terms of competition for breeding sites and genetic pollution, as these species are already known to hybridize in the wild.


I-Introduction In spite of its outstanding scientific potential, APL is up to now ignored or scarcely exploited by research workers. During 15 years as the head of the Magnetic Resonance Laboratory of the Nuclear Research Center at Saclay, the author has extensively used APL in his works [1-3] and continues to promote its scientific applications. The Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ( MRS) includes two main branches, the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance ( NMR ) and the Electron Spin Resonance ( ESR) also called Electron Paramagnetic Resonance ( EPR). The NMR is a priviledged method for the identification and conformational analysis of organic and biological molecules and is well known for its medical application, the Magnetic Resonance Imaging. The ESR/EPR which is the main subject of this topics, is the specific method for studying paramagnetic molecules i.e. molecules possessing at least one unpaired electron, namely the free radicals resulting from the breaking of a chemical bond, triplet fundamental (e.g. the oxygen of air) or lowest excited states and some metal coordination complexes. Most of these species are very reactive and are initiators or intermediates in a large number of chemical and biological processes : oxidation, combustion, polymerization, radiation damaging, photosynthesis etc... An important application common to the NMR and ESR is the molecular dynamics which provides thorough information on some physical properties of condensed matter.


1. 5 per cent sheep blood agar is a selective medium for beta hemolytic streptococci in throat cultures since sheep blood inhibits the growth of bacillus X (H. hemolyticus) and B. parainfluenzae hemolyticus. The growth of H. influenzae is also inhibited by sheep blood. 2. The inhibitory action of sheep blood resides in the erythrocytes and is thermolabile. Disruption of the cell by laking has no effect upon the inhibitor. 3. The bloods of animals closely related to the sheep, such as the goat and the cow, have a similar inhibitory action on the growth of hemolytic and non-hemolytic members of the influenza group, while human blood contains a similar but less powerful inhibitor for these organisms. 4. Members of the influenza group grow well on unheated rodent blood: rabbit, guinea pig, and rat. 5. These organisms also grow fairly well on unheated horse blood.


This study was conducted to observe the association between antioxidant enzyme activity, free iron content and lipid oxidation of Korean native chicken (KNC) meat during refrigerated storage. Four lines of KNC (Yeonsan ogye, Hyunin black, Hoengseong yakdak and Hwangbong) were raised under similar conditions. A total of 16 roosters were randomly sampled and slaughtered at the age of 12 mon. The breast and thigh meats were stored aerobically for 10 d at 4℃. Although thigh meat had higher antioxidant enzyme activity, it was more susceptible to lipid oxidation and released more iron during storage than breast meat. Aerobic refrigerated storage for 10 d significantly decreased the activity of antioxidant enzymes and increased the amount of free iron and malondialdehyde. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were negatively correlated with lipid oxidation, whereas that of catalase was not. The amount of free iron was positively associated with lipid oxidation. We concluded that chicken line did not affect strongly on antioxidant enzyme activity and lipid oxidation in breast meat of KNC. However, the thigh meat of Hwangbong and Hyunin black had higher SOD and GSH-Px activity, respectively, and lower malondialdehyde contents than that of other chickens. SOD, GSH-Px and free iron play significant roles in meat lipid oxidation during refrigerated storage.


This thesis is about interest rate modelling with applications in pricing and risk management of interest rate derivatives and portfolios.
The first part of the thesis is developed within the random field framework suggested by Kennedy (1994). The framework is rich enough to be used for both pricing and risk management, but we believe its real value lies in the latter. Our main objective is to construct infinite-factor Gaussian field models that can fit the sample covariance matrices observed in the market. This task has not previously been addressed by the work on field methodology. We develop three methodologies for constructing strictly positive definite covariance functions, characterising infinite-factor Gaussian fields. We test all three constructions on the sample covariance and correlation matrices obtained from US and Japanese bond market data. The empirical and numerical tests suggest that these classes of field models present very satisfactory solutions to the posed problem. The models we develop make the random field methodology a much more practical tool. They allow calibration of field models to key market information, namely the covariation of the yields.
The second part of the thesis deals with pricing kernel (potential) models ofthe term structure. These were first introduced by Constantinides (1992), but were subsequently overshadowed by the market models, which were developed by Miltersen et al. (1997), and Brace et al. (1997), and are very popular among the practitioners. Our objective is to construct a class of arbitrage-free term structure models that enjoy the same ease of calibration as the market models, but do not suffer from non-Markov evolution as is the case with the market models. We develop a class of models the within pricing kernel framework. I.e., we model the pricing kernel
directly, and not a particular interest rate or a set of rates. The construction of the kernel is explicitly linked to the calibrating set of instruments. Thus, once the kernel is constructed it will price correctly the chosen set of instruments, and have a low-dimensional Markov structure. We test our model on yield, at-the-money cap, caplet implied volatility surface, and swaption data. We achieve a very good quality of fit.


Towards Large Scale Summarization Janara Christensen Chair of the Supervisory Committee: Professor Mausam Computer Science and Engineering As the Internet grows and information is increasingly available, it is more and more difficult to understand what is most important without becoming overwhelmed by details. We need systems which can organize this information and present it in a coherent fashion. These systems should also be flexible, enabling the user to tailor the results to his or her own needs. Current solutions such as summarization are static and lack coherent organization. Even structured solutions such as timelines are inflexible. These problems become increasingly important as the size of the information grows. I propose a new approach to scaling up summarization called hierarchical summarization, which emphasizes organization and flexibility. In a hierarchical summary, the top level gives the most general overview of the information, and each subsequent level gives more detail. Hierarchical summarization allows the user to understand at a high level the most important information, and then explore what is most interesting to him or her without being overwhelmed by information. In this work, I formalize the characteristics necessary for good hierarchical summaries and provide algorithms to generate them. I perform user studies which demonstrate the value of hierarchical summaries over competing methods on datasets much larger than used for traditional summarization.


Cystic changes are common in both neoplastic and non-neoplastic kidney diseases. The most important diagnostic consideration is to rule out cystic neoplasms and hereditary polycystic kidney disease for patient management. Localized cystic disease of the kidney is a rare, nongenetic and nonprogressive cystic disease that may mimic cystic neoplasms or hereditary polycystic disease. However, reports in the literature on its pathologic characteristics are scarce, and most surgical pathologists are unfamiliar with this entity. We report the clinicopathologic characteristics of 9 such cases that mimicked renal neoplasms and were treated surgically. Nine patients, including 5 men and 4 women, had a mean age of 33.3 years (range, 18 to 56 y) at diagnosis. Two patients presented with gross hematuria. In the remaining 7 patients, localized cystic disease was discovered incidentally. None had a personal history of cystic disease of the kidney or other organs or a family history of cystic renal disease. On imaging studies, solitary multilocular cystic lesions were identified in all patients with a mean size of 2.9 cm (range, 0.8 to 6 cm). Of 7 patients with documented Bosniak classification, 4 lesions were class III, and 3 lesions were class II. Follow-up was available in 5 patients, with a mean follow-up time of 14.6 months (range, 5 to 31 mo). No cysts were observed in the ipsilateral and contralateral kidneys during follow-up. Partial and total nephrectomy was performed in 8 and 1 patient, respectively. Grossly, the cystic lesions were not discrete and merged imperceptibly with the adjacent renal parenchyma without a discrete margin or capsule. Microscopically, cystic lesions involved renal papillae in all cases, and the cystic space was continuous with dilated collecting ducts. Cysts were lined with cuboidal or flat epithelial cells identical to those lining the collecting ducts. Significant inflammation was absent. The surrounding renal parenchyma was normal. With this study, we hope to raise awareness among surgical pathologists of this rare cystic lesion in order to avoid potential misdiagnosis of this lesion as a cystic neoplasm or hereditary polycystic disease. We also presented a diagnostic algorithm for working up the renal cystic lesions.


Natural Killer Cells explains the importance of killer cells and how they are produced. It mentions that the most likely explanation for killer cell production is that they serve as a complementary system for T cells as a primary defense against viruses. However, these cells defend against certain viruses only, such as herpes viruses and influenza viruses. The book also explains the primary functions of killer cells, and it discusses how these cells help recognize damaged tissues, limit further damage to tissues, and regenerate damaged tissues. It discusses how these cells mature and develop, and it covers the different isolation, culture, and propagation methods of these cells. Furthermore, it focuses on the different killer cells that are present in various parts of the human body. The book concludes by explaining that natural killer cells are utilized for clinical therapy of malignancies, and that they have led to positive outcomes in the field of biology and medicine. - Provides a broad, detailed coverage of the biology and interactions of NK cells for students, fellows, scientists, and practitioners - Includes figures, histologic sections, and illustrations of the ontogeny of NK cells - Companion website includes full-color image database


Security is among the most important constraints in the implementation of electronic voting because, to date, commercially available technology does not provide a completely secure e-transaction environment. In this paper, we explore the issue of security of e-voting procedures, given the established limitations of technology. We examine security in the context of the increased complexity of multiple-channel voting, provided by a multiplicity of agents involved in the administration of e-elections. As previously suggested, security in e-voting has two aspects, the technical and the procedural one. In the course of interviews and observations conducted during the 2003 UK local government legally binding e-voting pilots we have identified several procedural security gaps and related procedural security measures. After defining the norms of procedural security in e-voting, we adopt an existing framework of e-voting security objectives and use it as an analytical tool to indicate the importance of the procedural aspect of security. In concluding we extend the use of procedural aspect of security. In concluding we extend the use of procedural security measures to the need for transparency in electronic voting and the development of trust and public confidence towards the newly introduced voting practices.


SHADOWS, SPECTERS, SHARDS: MAKING HISTORY IN AVANT-GARDE FILM Jeffrey Skoller. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2005, 264 pp. Jeffrey Skoller's Shadows, Specters, Shards: Making History in Avant-Garde Film is a detailed, highly theorized examination of a range of avant-garde film practices from the 1970s to the present. The book takes as its central concern the various ways the medium of film can generate multiple, alternative perspectives on history. In addition, avant-garde film's tendency to foreground the role of spectatorship and to resist conventional techniques of cinematic narration requires the viewer to participate in the creation of meaning. Skoller shows how film's unique capacity to manipulate time and space, combined with the specific materiality of the medium, lends itself superbly to the project of revisioning history, not as narrative but in highly fragmentary, experiential, and, in some cases, virtual and speculative ways. In this sense, the films he analyzes may be situated in the context of a more general attempt to revise not only the ways history may be represented, but the wider project of reclaiming histories that have been "forgotten" or buried by traditional forms of historiography. Through detailed analysis of films, Skoller, who is also a filmmaker, manages to show theory and practice working in concert. In addition, he sees the frequently self-reflexive filmmakers he discusses as "historiographers of their own practice" who take part in the process of reflecting on the history of the medium and the way it has impacted on the representation of history for more than a century (xxxi). The majority of examples he provides resist the temptation to narrate history, opting instead for fragmentary, nonlinear, associative, and allegorical modes of expression, bringing into being a "cine-poetics of history" (xxxvi). Taking Walter Benjamin's conception of dialectical historical materialism as his central theoretical trope, Skoller focuses on the idea that the past is not simply past, distant and closed off; it continues to resonate in the present. The past is an important and vital force that shapes our lives, so it is necessary to become aware of history in the present. The materiality of film and its immediate appeal to the spectator provides the opportunity for engaged interactions with the past not provided, as Skoller argues, by the majority of Hollywood representations of history, "in which the implications of the events depicted have little bearing on the present viewing of the films" (xxxv). In his introduction, Skoller discusses two main tendencies of avant-garde film practice that emerged in the context of 1960s and 1970s political modernism: the neo-Brechtian school associated with European art cinema, and the structural-materialist filmmaking that took root predominantly in North America and Britain. Skoller argues that the filmmakers at the center of his study, while deeply concerned with the materiality of the film medium-light, movement, and duration-succeed in revitalizing both avant-gardes by foregrounding the "material and formal processes" of film at the same time as they "take up historical and social issues" (xxviii). Following his well theorized but perhaps overlong introduction, Skoller structures the book thematically into five chapters and a coda. Each chapter begins with a theoretical framing discussion and then moves to analyses of specific films. Chapter 1, "Shards: Allegory as Historical Procedure," draws primarily on Walter Benjamin's conceptions of historiography and allegory, with reference also to Proust, Samuel Beckett, and Gilles Deleuze, in order to discuss the work of several filmmakers: Ernie Gehr's Eureka (1974), Yervant Gianikian and Angela Ricci's Dal polo all'equatore (1986), and Craig Baldwin's Tribulation 99: Alien Anomalies under America (1991). Although vastly different in content and approach, all of these films are concerned with the uses and manipulations of found film footage. …


Abstract The current status of the mechanical design of the remote steering electron cyclotron resonance heating upper port launching system for ITER is presented. Although an alternative front steering launcher has now been selected as the reference design for ITER, the development of a remote steering launcher continues so that it can be used as a backup solution and as a candidate for DEMO. Since earlier proposals of a remote steering launcher could not fulfill the design criteria with respect to physics performance and because a number of engineering issues remained that have proven to be very difficult to solve, a change was applied to its layout. By increasing the length of the square waveguides that form the heart of the remote steering design, the layout of the optics could be further optimized so that the performance could be improved, while a number of engineering issues could be solved. This paper provides a brief description of the previous design followed by the modifications taken in the optical design to improve the physics performance by reducing the beam size at the resonance location. A first indication is given that the expected reduction of beam size at the resonance location is more than 30%, relative to earlier designs.


It is investigated whether canonical suppression associated with the exact conservation of an U(1)-charge can be reproduced correctly by current transport models. Therefore a pion-gas having a volume-limited cross section for kaon production and annihilation is simulated within two different transport prescriptions for realizing the inelastic collisions. It is found that both models can indeed dynamically account for the canonical suppression in the yields of rare strange particles.


This study examines the volatilization behavior of binary nonaqueous phase liquid (NAPL) mixtures consisting of styrene, and toluene or tetrachloroethylene (PCE). Residual NAPL saturations were emplaced in unsaturated (residual water saturation) soil columns packed with Wagner 50‐80 sand. Initial column effluent concentrations were measured for the NAPL mixtures at several pore gas phase velocities. Rate‐limited volatilization occurred at higher gas phase pore velocities, and mass transfer coefficients could be reasonably predicted with a correlation developed from single component NAPL volatilization data. Long‐term volatilization studies for the binary NAPL mixtures were also conducted. The effluent concentrations for both NAPL components were observed to be initially proportional to their mole fractions. After the more volatile component became depleted, a rapid drop in the effluent concentration of this component was accompanied by an increase in the mole fraction and effluent concentration of the remaining constituent to near saturated values until the free phase NAPL was volatilized. The final stage of removal was associated with a dramatic decrease in effluent concentration, attributed to reduction in the gas‐NAPL interfacial area, followed by low concentration tailing. The tailing and subsequent flow interruption behavior are likely a consequence of rate‐limited desorption. Equilibrium and rate‐limited simulations of the long‐term volatilization experiments did not provide a satisfactory description of the data. A simulation that included a fixed concentration gradient and fitted activity coefficients provided a better characterization of the volatilization data. Various potential explanations for this "fixed gradient" volatilization behavior were considered, but additional research is needed to test these hypotheses.


In the fall of 2002, Kenosha, WI, area police officers, firefighters and sheriff's deputies embarked on a joint effort to create a musical association of public safety personnel to supplement the existing honor guards. The result is the Kenosha Area Pipes and Drums Association. (K.A.P.& D.A.) This association was formed in the interest of honoring those who risk their lives serving the public, preserving cultural heritage and enriching the community. We are recognized by the IRS as a not-for-profit (501c3) organization. Bagpipe and drum bands are a long-standing tradition of the protective services. This tradition has been preserved for many generations by law enforcement and fire personnel who understand its importance. Bagpipes offer a unique listening experience, whether it be the mournful, inspiring sound of Amazing Grace performed by a solo piper or a stirring march played by a full pipe and drum band. Over the years, police and fire pipe and drum bands have been used for public relations, cultural preservation and honoring those who have made the supreme sacrifice in the performance of their duties. Today, the pipe and drum corps is symbolic of fire and police services all over the world. Forming the Kenosha Area Pipes and Drums Association has been a challenge. There are many obstacles to overcome, not the least of which is learning to play the pipes and drums. There are also substantial costs involved (see our donations page). We have been working hard to meet the challenges we face, both organizational and musical and are making great progress. KAP and DA pipers have been performing at functions since mid-2003. Our hope is that we will be performing at more and more civic and cultural events and other functions to share this great tradition in the future.


Abstract Purpose: There is a great concern regarding the possible adverse effects of electromagnetic radiation (EMR). This study investigated the effects of EMR induced by Wi-Fi (2.45 GHz) on insulin secretion and antioxidant redox systems in the rat pancreas. Materials and methods: Adult male Sprague–Dawley rats in the weight range of 230–260 g were divided into control, sham, Wi-Fi exposed groups. After long-term exposure (4 h/day for 45 days) to Wi-Fi EMR, plasma levels of glucose and insulin during intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test were measured. Islet insulin secretion and content, lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant status in pancreas of rats were determined. Results: Our data showed that the weight gain in the WI-FI exposed group was significantly lower than the control group (p < .05). Wi-Fi (2.45 GHz)-exposed group showed hyperglycemia. Plasma insulin level and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion from pancreatic islet were significantly reduced in the Wi-Fi-exposed group. EMR emitted from Wi-Fi caused a significant increase in lipid peroxidation and a significant decrease in GSH level, SOD, and GPx activities of the pancreas. Conclusions: These data showed that EMR of Wi-Fi leads to hyperglycemia, increased oxidative stress, and impaired insulin secretion in the rat pancreatic islets.


Tangible objects on capacitive multi-touch surfaces are usually only detected while the user is touching them. When the user lets go of such a tangible, the system cannot distinguish whether the user just released the tangible, or picked it up and removed it from the surface. We introduce PERCs, persistent capacitive tangibles that "know" whether they are currently on a capacitive touch surface or not. This is achieved by adding a small field sensor to the tangible to detect the touch screen's own, weak electromagnetic touch detection probing signal. Thus, unlike previous designs, PERCs do not get filtered out over time by the adaptive signal filters of the touch screen. We provide a technical overview of the theory be- hind PERCs and our prototype construction, and we evaluate detection rates, timing performance, and positional and angular accuracy for PERCs on a variety of unmodified, commercially available multi-touch devices.Through their affordable circuitry and high accuracy, PERCs open up the potential for a variety of new applications that use tangibles on today's ubiquitous multi-touch devices.


Objective: To determine contemporary management practices for BTAI among trauma and vascular surgeons.
Methods: A survey of EAST, AAST and SVS membership regarding BTAI care was conducted.
Results: 404 respondents included trauma (52.5%), vascular (42.6%) and other specialty providers (4.5%) primarily from North American (90.6%) academic teaching institutions (71.0%) / ACS Level I trauma centers (58.9%). Most respondents managed 1-5 BTAI annually (71.6%). Preferred diagnostic modality was CTA (99.8%), after which respondents stated they preferred to utilize personal knowledge of the literature and experience (50.5%), the SVS guidelines (27.4%) or institution specific guidelines (12.8%) to guide subsequent management. Respondents primarily agreed on the treatment of intimal tears (SVS G1) with medical management. For intramural hematoma (SVS G2), management choice was divided between medical (46.6%) and TEVAR (46.3%). Both groups defined TEVAR as treatment of choice for hemodynamically stable patients with pseudoanuerysm (SVS G3) (93.5%) and rupture (SVS G4) (82.2%), although more trauma surgeons preferred open repair (20.4%) than vascular counterparts (4.1%) in stable G4 patients. Preferred medical management goals varied between MAP (37.3%) and SBP (62.3%) targets. Preferences also varied in adjuncts for open repair [Left heart bypass 56.5%; Clamp and Sew 46.1%; CSF drainage 48.5%] and TEVAR [percutaneous puncture for arterial access 58.4%; open vascular exposure 65.5%, IVUS 36.1%, CSF drainage 28.9%]. Outpatient follow-up timing (2 weeks 37.0%, 1 month 37.2%) and initial type (clinical exam 36.6%, CTA 48.3%) also varied.
Conclusions: Survey of trauma and vascular surgeons illustrates controversy regarding SVS G2 treatment, surgical adjuncts and follow-up. Additional study is required to identify optimal BTAI management.


Simply the easiest way to start using a Windows PCIf you want a show me how, dont tell me why approach to learning how to use a computer, this is the book for you. Large, full-color screen shots and numbered, step-by-step instructions show you how to get up and running with Windows and the latest hardware add-ons, the Internet, and popular software applications. Learn all the basics plus how to use Office 2010, protect your computer from viruses, sync up mobile devices, and much more.Designed for people who learn best visually, this full-color guide covers basic information for beginning computer users, including how to use Windows 7, multimedia applications, wireless devices, and the InternetUses large screen shots and step-by-step instructions to make learning fast and easyCovers Office 2010, multimedia management, virus protection, popular software applications, common peripherals, and basic securityShows how to integrate the latest wireless technologies and sync mobile devicesVisual learners will find this colorful guide shows exactly what to expect at every step and makes learning to use a PC easier than ever before.


The theory of stationary stochastic processes in several dimensions
has been investigated to provide a general model which may be applied to
various problems which involve unknown functions of several variables.
In particular, when values of the function are known only at a finite set
of points, treating the unknown function as a realisation of a stationary
stochastic process leads to an interpolating function which reproduces the
values exactly at the given points. With suitable choice of auto-correlation
for the model, the interpolating function may also he shown to be continuous
in all its derivatives everywhere. A few parameters only need to be found
for the interpolator, and these may be estimated from the given data.
One problem tackled using such an interpolator is that of automatic
contouring of functions of two variables from arbitrarily scattered data
points. A "two-stage" model was developed, which incorporates a long-range "trend" component as well as a shorter-range "residual" term. This leads
to a contouring algorithm which gives good results with difficult data.
The second area of application is that of optimisation, particularly of
objective functions which are expensive to compute. Since the interpolator
gives an estimate of the derivatives with little work, it is simple to
optimise it using conventional techniques, and to re-evaluate the true
function at the apparent optimum point. An iterative algorithm along these
lines gives good results with test functions, especially with fuactions of
more than two variables. A program has been developed whicj incorporates
both the optimisation and contouring applications into a single peckage.
Finally, the theory of excursions of a stationary process above a
fixed level has been applied to the problem of modelling the occurrence
of oilfields, with special reference to their spatial distribution and
tendency to cluster. An intuitively reasonable model with few parameters
has been developed and applied to North Sea data, with interesting results.


Sand glass deposits was located in the mid of the Western Desert of Iraq. It is situated within Rutba Formation (Ceno-manian). Ancient traditional mining method is still used in exploitation the unconsolidated white glass sand from glass sand quarry. The overburden thickness ranges from 2 to 4 m in average. Termite hills were observed around the glass sand quarry extending far from the quarry area. Termites could burrows down and penetrate the sand glass bringing it up to the surface. The depth of penetration reaches more than 35 m. The field observation of the white color of termite hills which are built up by sand glass gave a good indicator for the hidden subsurface deposit and it appears to be a surface signature for finding glass sand directly under the termite hills. The scattered white hills of glass sand on the surface with high content of SiO2, concordant Zr/Hf and Th/U ratios and heavy mineral distribution in both of quarry and termite hills provide a strong evidence of that those termite hills could be an effective tool for exploring subsurface hidden glass sand up to 35 m depth.


The water vapor scaling (WVS) method involves an atmospheric correction algorithm for thermal infrared (TIR) multispectral data, designed mainly for the five TIR spectral bands of the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) on the Terra satellite. First, this method is improved for better applicability to ASTER/TIR imagery. The major improvement is the determination of a water vapor scaling factor on a band-by-band basis, which can reduce most of the errors induced by various factors such as algorithm assumptions. Next, the WVS method is validated by assessing the surface temperature and emissivity retrieved for a global-based simulation model (416 448 conditions), 183 ASTER scenes selected globally, and ASTER scenes from two test sites, Hawaii Island and Tokyo Bay. In situ lake surface temperatures measured in 13 vicarious calibration experiments, Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer sea surface temperature products, and a climatic lake temperature are also used in validation. All the results indicate that although the ASTER/TIR standard atmospheric correction algorithm performs less well in humid conditions, the WVS method will provide more accurate retrieval of surface temperature and emissivity in most conditions including notably humid conditions. The expected root mean square error is about 0.6 K in temperature. Since the WVS method will be degraded by errors in gray pixel selection and cloud detection, these processing steps should be applied accurately.


By 2050, two-thirds of the world's population will live in cities, and the greatest growth in urban populations will take place in the least developed countries. This presents many governments with considerable challenges related to urban governance and the provision of services and opportunities to a burgeoning urban population. Among the concerns is that large youth bulges in urban centers could be a source of political instability and violence. Here, we assess this claim empirically using newly collected data on city-level urban social disorder, ranging from non-violent actions, such as demonstrations and strikes, to violent political actions, such as riots, terrorism, and armed conflict. The dataset covers 55 major cities in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa for 1960-2006. The study also utilizes a new United Nations Population Division dataset on urban populations by age and sex. The study further considers factors that could condition the effect of age structure, in particular the level of informal employment, economic growth, education, and gender imbalances. The analysis finds that large male youth bulges aged 15-24 are not generally associated with increased risks of either violent or non-violent social disturbance. Furthermore, the proxy measures of"youth exclusion"do not seem to increase the risk that large urban male youth bulges are associated with either form of disturbance. However, several other factors that may be associated with higher levels of youth exclusion - notably absence of democratic institutions, low economic growth, and low levels of secondary educational attainment - are significantly and robustly associated with increasing levels of urban social disturbance.


SAKA, J. O., A. O. K. ADESEHINWA and M. K. AJALA, 2010. Incidence of African swine fever (ASF) disease and its associated implications on pig production in Lagos state, Nigeria. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 16: 80-90 Recent outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) disease of pig had threatened pig production in Nigeria in the midst of hitherto growing importance in urban and peri-urban pig farming. Using data collected from a survey of 247 pig farms selected by multi-stage sampling technique in Lagos State where the disease had been reported, this study revealed that the disease ravaged about 88% of the farms with mortality rate estimated as 79.2% of the initial stock size with animals killed across different age categories. Estimated monetary value of the loss was estimated as N485, 853.91. The incidence of the disease has resulted in total close down of about 83% of the pig farms who have not restocked their farm after the epidemic. The cultural practices of the farmers centered round sharing of labourers, implements and means of transportation for inputs and animals while foundation stock are sourced from neigbouring farms. All these were perceived as significant contributors to the spread of the disease in the area. There is thus the need for adequate sensitization of farmers on integrated methods for preventing the reoccurrence of the disease.


Tufas bearing plant macroremains are uncommon in the Causses Basin (southern France). Here, we report a
new fossiliferous tufa deposits at Mende, in Lozere. This palaeontological site is the first Quaternary tufa from the
northern part of the Causses Basin that yields such an abundance of plant macroremains. The radiocarbon dating shows
that these Holocene deposits are related to the Atlantic period. Geomorphology and mineralogy show that the
plant-bearing deposit is a calcareous tufa only composed by calcite, deposited near to an outlet of cool water, linked to
the karstic hydrological system of the Causse de Mende. The flora exposed in this article is dominated by angiosperms.
Leaves and reproductive structures were assigned to Acer platanoides, Corylus sp., Hedera sp., Salix cf. cinerea, and
Tilia cordata. This new palaeobotanical data complements our scarcely knowledge of the Atlantic floras from the Causses
Basin. During the Atlantic period, and in the northern part of the basin, whereas Pinus-dominated forests and oak
groves were probably well-developed, valleys were locally inhabited by diversified wet angiosperm-dominated forests.


To evaluate the state of ecosystems in Mauritania, rainfall time series and a GIMMSNDVI (global inventory modeling and mapping study-normalized difference vegetation index) data set were used for analysis of rainfall and NDVI trends and their relationships in different ecological zones. Linear regression analysis and the non-parametric Mann-Kendall test were applied to detect NDVI and rainfall trends. In addition, the interannual NDVI coefficient of variation (CV) was used to demarcate the borders of the Mauritanian Sahel, and used as an index for land degradation. The results of both parametric and non-parametric methods confirmed the presence of increasing rainfall trends in different ecological zones, except for the Saharan and coastal zones. However, NDVI time series were positive at east Sahel and southeast Senegal River zone. As concluded from trends of rainfall and NDVI, and from CV analysis, the west Mauritanian Sahel and zones west of the Senegal River were characterized by low performance and presence of degradation, while the east Sahel zone, the zone to the southeast of the Senegal River, and patchy areas in the west Sahel exhibited very good land performance and greenness during 1983–2003. The actual borders of Mauritanian Sahel rangeland approximate to the 200 mm isohyet and 0.20 mean NDVI. Land degradation in the Mauritania Sahel can be attributed principally to human activities, and the recent greenness to the increase in rainfall.


To date, the vast majority of global and domestic Pumped Storage Hydro (PSH) development has focused on the construction of large (generally greater than 300MW), site-customized plants. The viability of alternative design paradigms for PSH technologies has been actively discussed in industry and the research community, but no reliable determinations on the viability of these concepts have been made. Of particular interest is the development of smaller, distributed PSH systems incorporating elements of modular design to drive down cost and increase the ease of implementation. Small modular PSH could present a significant avenue to cost-competitiveness through direct cost reductions (requiring R&D) and by avoiding many of the major barriers facing large conventional designs such as access to capital, the long, uncertain licensing process, and the suppression of market prices (and subsequently revenues) caused by adding utility-scale storage to grid. These distributed modular units would typically serve large commercial and industrial loads in regions with adequate topography; examples include large industrial facilities, national laboratories, and data centers. However, the cost and design dynamics of this new form of PSH development are not known, and it is ultimately unclear whether the benefits of modularization are sufficient to outweigh the economies of scale inherent in utility scale development, or prove superior to alternative distributed-storage technologies (i.e. batteries). This research fills portions of this knowledge gap by evaluating the technical feasibility and economic viability of modularizing the design of PSH. Determining feasibility involves both an evaluation of the technology strategies for modularization, and the market realities facing alternative PSH designs, including the size, geography, and power market distribution of potential locations, and the production economies of scale necessary to reach economic viability. Equipment vendor expertise is utilized to evaluate modularized implementations of PSH components and subsystems to address technical viability. Various configurations and their costperformance tradeoffs will be explored, including standardized reversible Francis units, as well as "off-the-shelf" applications of industrial pumps. Additional future research will attempt to address civil works cost reductions, including the application of alternative materials (e.g., carbon fiber) to the penstock and manufactured reservoirs. To systematically explore the cost-performance tradeoffs of modularization, the initial analysis, reported in this paper, focuses on a reference case for the potential development of small modular PSH at an abandoned coal mine, with existing upper and lower reservoirs, operating as a closed loop. A subsequent analysis is planned to evaluate and revise a reconnaissance study (HDR 2011a) for the potential development of a m-PSH project to balance Oak Ridge National Laboratory's (ORNL) operational and supercomputing loads (peak of 25 MW, variability of 10+ MW). Analysis support from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and


MAY 2017 IZA DP No. 10813 Taxing Childcare: Effects on Childcare Choices, Family Labor Supply and Children* Previous studies report a range of estimates for the response of female labor supply and childcare attendance to childcare prices. We shed new light on these questions using a policy reform that raises the price of public daycare. After the reform, children are 8 percentage points less likely to attend public daycare which implies a compensated price elasticity of -0.6. There is little labor supply response in the full sample, though declines for vulnerable subgroups. Spillover effects on older siblings and fertility decisions show that the policy affects the whole household, not just targeted family members. JEL Classification: J13, J22, J18


A novel behavior based locomotion controller (BBLC) capable of adapting to unknown disturbances is presented. The proposed controller implements a behavior based control architecture by subdividing the walking control into several task-space controllers such as swing leg control and center of gravity (COG) position control. For each task-space controller, a number of behaviors, which plan the reference task-space trajectories, are designed based on existing stabilizing controllers or strategies inspired by human walking biomechanics. A Q-learning algorithm is used to classify which behavior combinations can compensate for specific disturbances. The controller is implemented on a planar biped simulation with push type disturbances applied on flat and sloped terrain. The results show that stabilization strategies, capable of compensating for these disturbances emerge from the combination of different task level behaviors, without a priori knowledge of the nature of the disturbances.


We have developed a fast, reliable and robust code to analyze size distributions and morphological properties of nanostructures. A segmentation algorithm, based on watershed transformation, has been implemented and tested. We have used consistent definitions to quantify the sphericity, roundness and roughness, which critically modify the physicochemical properties at the nanoscale. Finally, our approach has been applied to some example systems. We demonstrate that our code can be applied to guide the synthesis of nanoparticles, to distinguish dead from living bacteria and also to predict the reactivity of nanoparticles used for environmental remediation.


A systematic study has been carried out concerning ground water in faults and fractures in a granite rock and the results are compared with those of uniaxial testing of granite specimens in rock mechanic laboratories. Dikes of diabase intersect the granite and indicate the plane of deformation syntectonic to the dikes. A collection of the tectonic data from the granite is statistically treated and the tectonic picture of the area fits very well into the deformation plane, indicated by the intrusion (Jotnian). The faults and fractures of the granite are, according to their position in relation to the plane of deformation, hypothetically interpreted as tension and shear faults. The faults in shear position are supposed to be tight and have very little ground water. The tension faults, on the other hand, are supposed to be open and to be capable of a high yield of ground water. This hypothesis is tested by core-drillings, percussion drillings and test pumping.


[1] A transect of four sites drilled by Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Expedition 311 provides an ideal data set to investigate the distribution of gas hydrates across the northern Cascadia convergent margin. We quantify gas hydrate saturation (fraction of pore space occupied by gas hydrate) in a joint interpretation of pore water chlorinity data and downhole logs of porosity and electrical resistivity. The estimated saturation profiles define a gas hydrate occurrence zone (GHOZ), the depth interval where gas hydrates are actually found. In three of the Expedition 311 transect sites (U1326, U1325, and U1327), the top of the GHOZ systematically deepens moving landward of the deformation front of the Cascadia accretionary wedge. The farthest site from the deformation front (U1329) shows no clear evidence of gas hydrates. We apply a simple diagenetic model to explain the observed landward deepening of the GHOZ. The model computes the methane concentration in the pore fluid for a given in situ bacterial methane production, sedimentation rate, and fluid advection velocity. Model results show that lower rates of sedimentation or fluid advection result in slower increases in methane concentration with depth and deeper tops of the GHOZ. Sedimentation rates in the Expedition 311 sites decrease landward, and fluid advection rates due to the dewatering of the accretionary wedge are expected to decrease moving landward of the deformation front as well. A combination of these two mechanisms can explain the deepening of the top of the GHOZ observed in the Expedition 311 transect sites.


One of the most contentious issues surrounding the new International Criminal Court (ICC) is what role the Security Council should play in prosecuting the crime of aggression. Some contend that under the U.N. Charter, the Security Council must determine the existence of an act of aggression as a precondition to any prosecution for the crime of aggression. I argue in this article that the U.N. Charter permits ICC prosecutions for the crime of aggression where the Security Council has not previously determined the existence of an act of aggression. In Part II of this article, I argue that exclusive determination schemes - those in which a Security Council determination of aggression is a precondition to prosecution for the crime of aggression - are in tension with several important Charter-based principles. Such schemes erode the sovereign equality of states, push the Security Council into an inappropriate judicial role, and even threaten the Security Council's core Article 39 power to determine the existence of aggression in the context of its own decisions. In Part III, I respond to the argument that Article 39 of the U.N. Charter nevertheless mandates an exclusive determination scheme. Article 39 does disable all bodies but the Security Council from determining aggression as a way of triggering the Security Council's own responsibility and power to suppress aggression. However, Article 39 cannot be interpreted to disable all bodies but the Security Council from determining aggression outside the context of the Security Council's suppression of aggression. There are several situations in which the Charter provides for the determination of aggression by some body other than the Security Council; Article 39 itself indicates that the Security Council cannot be expected to determine the existence of stale aggression; and the ICJ has in the past determined the existence vel non of aggression, by way of determining the existence vel non of an "armed attack" under Article 51 of the Charter. In Part IV, I offer some of my own proposals, based on the analysis previously given. I advocate a scheme in which the ICC seeks an advisory opinion from the ICJ in aggression cases, but in which failure to obtain such an opinion does not prevent further proceedings. I also propose additional powers for the Security Council in aggression cases, going beyond the Security Council's power to suspend ICC proceedings under ICC Article 16. Unfortunately, it may be politically impossible to incorporate into the ICC Statute an independent scheme that leaves the five permanent members of the Security Council with no power to block prosecutions for the crime of aggression. There might have to be some compromise to protect the political interests of the permanent members. Against that eventuality, I offer a compromise proposal in which aggression cases can proceed through preliminary stages without Security Council approval, but in which Council approval is required before there can be a trial. Finally, I make an obvious proposal for resolving the legal issue over the exclusivity of the Security Council's power to determine aggression: That issue should be resolved by the ICJ in an advisory opinion.


Inquiry into learning to teach pronunciation is a growing area within the second language teacher education research paradigm. To what extent this learning process extends into instructors' early years of teaching pronunciation has yet to be explored. This article is a response to this need by exploring the 3.5-year trajectory of five teachers learning to teach English pronunciation. The study was conducted in two phases. In Phase 1, preand post-course questionnaires, weekly observations of the lectures, focus groups interviews, final post-course interviews, and the participants' final assessment task were triangulated to examine the development of participants' cognitions during a 13-week graduate course on pronunciation pedagogy, which featured an innovative haptic approach to pronunciation teaching. In Phase 2, carried out three years after the participants had completed the course and been teaching for approximately two years, narrative frames were used to elicit the teachers' current practices and cognitions about pronunciation. Findings showed notable development in participants' cognitions occurring at the end of the course. Due to the influence of various contextual factors, this upward progression then tapered off as the instructors began teaching; nonetheless, a gradual overall increase in participants' learning trajectory was clearly evident over the span of 3.5 years. The non-linear development of participants' cognitions and practices warrants future inquiry.


Lipid overload and adipocyte dysfunction are key to the development of insulin resistance and can be induced by a high-fat diet. CD1d-restricted invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells have been proposed as mediators between lipid overload and insulin resistance, but recent studies found decreased iNKT cell numbers and marginal effects of iNKT cell depletion on insulin resistance under high-fat diet conditions. Here, we focused on the role of iNKT cells under normal conditions. We showed that iNKT cell–deficient mice on a low-fat diet, considered a normal diet for mice, displayed a distinctive insulin resistance phenotype without overt adipose tissue inflammation. Insulin resistance was characterized by adipocyte dysfunction, including adipocyte hypertrophy, increased leptin, and decreased adiponectin levels. The lack of liver abnormalities in CD1d-null mice together with the enrichment of CD1d-restricted iNKT cells in both mouse and human adipose tissue indicated a specific role for adipose tissue–resident iNKT cells in the development of insulin resistance. Strikingly, iNKT cell function was directly modulated by adipocytes, which acted as lipid antigen-presenting cells in a CD1d-mediated fashion. Based on these findings, we propose that, especially under low-fat diet conditions, adipose tissue–resident iNKT cells maintain healthy adipose tissue through direct interplay with adipocytes and prevent insulin resistance.


Body and World is the definitive edition of a book that shouldnow take its place as a major contribution to contemporary existentialphenomenology. Samuel Todes goes beyond Martin Heidegger and MauriceMerleau-Ponty in his description of how independent physical natureand experience are united in our bodily action. His account allows himto preserve the authority of experience while avoiding the tendencytoward idealism that threatens both Heidegger and Merleau-Ponty.Todes emphasizes the complex structure of the human body;front/back asymmetry, the need to balance in a gravitational field, and so forth;and the role that structure plays in producing the spatiotemporal field of experience and in making possible objective knowledge of the objects in it. He shows that perception involves nonconceptual, but nonetheless objective forms of judgment. One can think of Body and World as fleshing out Merleau-Ponty's project while presciently relating it to the current interest in embodiment, not only in philosophy but also in psychology, linguistics, cognitive science, artificial intelligence, neuroscience, and anthropology. Todes's work opens new ways of thinking about problems such as the relation of perception to thought and the possibility of knowing an independent reality;problems that have occupied philosophers since Kant and still concern analytic and continental philosophy.


OBJECTIVE: to discuss which elements, according to literature, are responsible for phenotypic discordance in monozygotic twins. METHODS: the data from a pair of female monozygotic twins were gathered. These data included their age at the time of the diagnosis, type of curve, Cobb angle of the deformity at the time of the initial consultation, dates of the start of treatment and the last follow-up, the apex of the curve and Cobb angle measured from radiological images in lateral view. RESULTS: child I: major lumbar curve to the left, with a Cobb angle of 17° between T11 and L4, and a thoracic curve to the right, with an angle of 14° between T5 and T11. The apices were at the L1-L2 disc and at the T8 vertebra, respectively. One year after the first consultation, there had been significant progression of the deformity, with the lumbar curve of 24° (T11-L4) and the thoracic curve of 23° (T5-T11). Child II: small thoracolumbar deformity to the right, which was confirmed radiographically with a Cobb angle of 18° between T9 and L3. The apex was located at the T12 vertebra. One year later, it was observed that the curve had increased, and the Cobb angle had become 40°. CONCLUSION: notwithstanding the evidence for a genetic origin for the development of scoliosis, it is accepted that other factors influence its manifestation and progression. In literature, the development of this disease has been explained in terms of the structural tissue deficiencies found in specific syndromes and conditions, asymmetrical growth of limbs and trunk, changes in sagittal configuration of the spine and factors relating to the environment, such as nutrition.


Performance of query processing functions in a DBMS can be affected by many factors, including the hardware platform, data distributions, predicate parameters, compilation method, algorithmic variations and the interactions between these. Given that there are often different function implementations possible, there is a latent performance diversity which represents both a threat to performance robustness if ignored (as is usual now) and an opportunity to increase the performance if one would be able to use the best performing implementation in each situation. Micro Adaptivity, proposed here, is a framework that keeps many alternative function implementations (flavors) in a system. It uses a learning algorithm to choose the most promising flavor potentially at each function call, guided by the actual costs observed so far. We argue that Micro Adaptivity both increases performance robustness, and saves development time spent in finding and tuning heuristics and cost model thresholds in query optimization. In this paper, we (i) characterize a number of factors that cause performance diversity between primitive flavors, (ii) describe an e-greedy learning algorithm that casts the flavor selection into a multi-armed bandit problem, and (iii) describe the software framework for Micro Adaptivity that we implemented in the Vectorwise system. We provide micro-benchmarks, and an overall evaluation on TPC-H, showing consistent improvements.


To aim to inductively clarify the
professional identity of occupational therapists who work in a clinical
setting, the researchers interviewed the 22 occupational therapists who had a
minimum of 5 years or more of practice in the field. The professional identities
of the practicing occupational therapists were constructed by the following
two core categories: "harmonizing with a client's life and the characteristic
of a client's disability", and "giving clients sovereignties as a mission of
the occupational therapists". The occupational therapist can carry the role of
coordinator in an interdisciplinary team for the clients with disability by understanding
them. This is achieved based on the core category called "giving clients
sovereignties as a mission of the occupational therapists". Furthermore, in
order to achieve the clients' sovereignties, the occupational therapist can be
an operational unit by planning practical strategies and practicing them
based on the core category called "harmonizing with a client's life and the
characteristic of a client's disability". The fact is often difficult for
these clients that they are concerned with how he/she lived actively. It is
through unique ways of contributing for the clients in a team of professionals
that the occupational therapists try to understand the clients not as "patients"
but as "human beings", and try to harmonize with their life and the characteristics
of their disability, then try to support and empower them to reach a stage in
which they have the sovereignties of their lives.


TURGAY, O. and Y. ESEN, 2015. Antioxidant, total phenolic and antimicrobial characteristics of some species. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 21: 498–503 The total phenolic content, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Zingiber officinale L. (Rosc) (Ginger), Menta pulegium L. (Pennyroyal), Erica manipuliflora Salisb. (Heather), Pimenta dioica L. (Allspice), Thymus serpyllum L. (Breckland Thyme), Syzygium aromaticum L. (Clove) from Turkey were investigated. All of the samples were used as flavoring and marinated agent. The amount of total phenolics ranged from 42 to 560 mg GAE/g of extract. The antioxidant activity based on the DPPH IC 50 assay of the samples varied from 136.6 to 300.1 mg/ml. The antimicrobial activities of ethanol, methanol, acetone and ethyl acetate extracts of six plant species were also studied in vitro against Candida albicans ATCC 10231, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 15753, Salmonella typhimurium ATCC 13311, Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633, Escherichia coli ATCC 8739 by the agar diffusion method. Erica manipuliflora extracts showed no inhibition zone and the other spice sample extracts showed various antimicrobial activities (7-14 mm/20 µl inhibition zone) against the microorganisms tested.


There is widespread and growing mistrust of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in the United Kingdom (UK). In response to what can be seen as the progressive 'folk deviling' of the ECtHR in the UK, the aim of this chapter is to explore how beliefs about the ECtHR are created and sustained. To achieve this aim, the chapter focuses attention on beliefs about the ECtHR that are expressed by members of the UK Parliament. Through an analysis of parliamentary debates, the chapter examines how parliamentarians discursively represent their beliefs about the ECtHR and how these beliefs come to achieve degrees of collective acceptance among MPs and Lords. As the analysis of parliamentary debates shows, the ECtHR is often depicted as a biased institution that poses a risk to the human rights of large sections of the UK population. If it is accepted that parliamentary discourse has an influence on wider public perceptions and opinions, then the beliefs expressed by parliamentarians that are outlined in this chapter should be of concern to anyone with an interest in encouraging a balanced and informed understanding of the ECtHR among the population of the UK.


ABSTRACT In the Mediterranean Sea, the north-east Atlantic seaweed Saccorhiza polyschides (Lightfoot) Batters is uncommon. The only permanent populations are located in the Alboran Sea near the Strait of Gibraltar and the Strait of Messina (Italy). In contrast, since the early 19th century, several sightings, on ship's hulls or in harbours, reflect the dispersal of propagules which failed to establish in the Mediterranean. Here we report a new sighting of Saccorhiza polyschides, near the port of Jijel, Algeria. This first new record in the Mediterranean for more than a century indicates that the dispersal of propagules continues today. In addition, because of its spectacular size and ease of its observation, it sheds light on the expansion routes of a species at the limit of their current range area.


Objectives Canonical Wnt signalling has recently emerged as a key mediator of fibroblast activation and tissue fibrosis in systemic sclerosis. Here, we investigated tankyrases as novel molecular targets for inhibition of canonical Wnt signalling in fibrotic diseases. Methods The antifibrotic effects of the tankyrase inhibitor XAV-939 or of siRNA-mediated knockdown of tankyrases were evaluated in the mouse models of bleomycin-induced dermal fibrosis and in experimental fibrosis induced by adenoviral overexpression of a constitutively active TGF-β receptor I (Ad-TBRI). Results Inactivation of tankyrases prevented the activation of canonical Wnt signalling in experimental fibrosis and reduced the nuclear accumulation of β-catenin and the mRNA levels of the target gene c-myc. Treatment with XAV-939 or siRNA-mediated knockdown of tankyrases in the skin effectively reduced bleomycin-induced dermal thickening, differentiation of resting fibroblasts into myofibroblasts and accumulation of collagen. Potent antifibrotic effects were also observed in Ad-TBRI driven skin fibrosis. Inhibition of tankyrases was not limited by local or systemic toxicity. Conclusions Inactivation of tankyrases effectively abrogated the activation of canonical Wnt signalling and demonstrated potent antifibrotic effects in well-tolerated doses. Thus, tankyrases might be candidates for targeted therapies in fibrotic diseases.


Decision-making involves choosing between one ore more alternatives, to achieve one or more goals. To support this process, there are decision support systems that employ different approaches, supporting groups or not. Generally, however, these systems do not have great flexibility; their users have to follow pre- established decision methods. This paper, after exposing some decision-making processes, describes a system, LaSca (from Large Scale), to support decisions in large-scale groups. This system, besides allowing effective achievement of the benefits of deciding in large groups through the proper structuring of the group, also allows its users to define themselves how this structuring will happen, based or not in the existing theories on the subject. So, in addition to facilitate the decision-making process, LaSca also allows its users to decide how to decide.


The threshold chloride concentrations for solid 316LN stainless steel, 316L stainless steel clad, 2101 LDX duplex stainless steel, MMFX-2 (Fe-9%Cr), and carbon steel (ASTM A615) rebars were investigated through laboratory tests in saturated Ca(OH)2 + NaCl solutions. (1) The chloride threshold for carbon steel was found to be less than a Clˉ/OHˉ molar ratio of 1, which was consistent with the literature. Solid 316LN stainless steel rebar in a pickled condition was found to have a much higher chloride threshold (i.e., threshold Clˉ/OHˉ ratio > 20) than carbon steel (0.25 < Clˉ/OHˉ- < 0.34). Pickled 2101 LDX (UNS S32101) had a chloride threshold Clˉ/OHˉ ratio of 9.7 and un-aged pickled MMFX-2 (Fe-9.3% Cr) had a chloride threshold Clˉ/OHˉ ratio of 4.9. 316L stainless steel clad rebar possessed a chloride threshold Clˉ/OHˉ ratio of 4.9 with intact cladding. (2) Surface preparation, duration of period exposed to a passivating condition in Ca(OH)2 solution prior to introduction of chloride, and presence of cladding defects all affected the threshold chloride concentration obtained. For instance, the presence of mill scale on any of the corrosion-resistant materials reduced the chloride threshold to approximately that of carbon steel. Therefore, pickling is highly recommended in any reinforcement substitute. The chloride threshold for 316L clad rebar was also highly dependent on any defects that exposed the carbon steel core. It was similar to solid stainless steel when intact and when defective, it was similar to that of carbon steel rebar. (3) The model-predicted extension of time until corrosion initiation in concrete could extend to 100 years or more in a pickled condition by using rebar materials such as 316L or 316LN stainless steel with a higher corrosion resistance. (4) Corrosion propagation studies indicated that while radial propagation might be similar on all materials once local corrosion was initiated, lateral spread of corrosion would be limited on clad and solid stainless steels. This finding has significant engineering ramifications as the depth of penetration of corrosion of stainless steel reinforcement would in this case have to be far more extensive in order to damage overlying concrete by oxide wedging. (5) Lastly, corrosion products were found to be either similar on all materials or, if different, to possess similar molar volumes alleviating concerns that oxide wedging could be worse on new candidate rebar materials. These findings indicate the total corrosion lifetime, given by the time until initiation and the time of propagation until concrete damage, can be improved to well over 100 years by using pickled stainless steel. The Virginia Transportation Research Council (VTRC) should investigate use of highly alloyed stainless steel in metropolitan applications where access for repair and maintenance is limited.


Synopsis Mining engineers frequently encounter complex design problems for which the critical components of the design are difficult to quantify or compare. Teams of people typically work on these designs and human perceptions and judgments play a strong role. To assist with this process, the analytical hierarchical process (AHP) as a decisionmaking tool is described in this paper. Although the technique is used in many other disciplines, it is currently not widely used in mining engineering in South Africa. To use the AHP process, the problem should be treated as a hierarchy that defines the goal, the alternatives to reach it, and the criteria for evaluation of these alternatives. Pairwise comparisons are conducted on the criteria of the hierarchy to establish priorities. The value of the technique is that it is simple to test for consistency amongst the pairwise comparisons to ensure that the answer obtained is better than that provided by a random selection. To illustrate the technique, the use of a backfill support system in a platinum mining project was investigated. Ten design parameters, which will be impacted by the use of backfill, were identified and weighted according to their relative importance. The result of the AHP evaluation was that the use of a backfill support system should be preferred to a conventional support system at the mine.


Over the past three decades, the "human capital" of the employed black workforce has increased enormously. In 1979, only one-in-ten (10.4 percent) black workers had a four-year college degree or more. By 2011, more than one in four (26.2 percent) had a college education or more. Over the same period, the share of black workers with less than a high school degree fell from almost one-third (31.6 percent) to only about one in 20 (5.3 percent). The black workforce has also grown considerably older. In 1979, the median employed black worker was 33 years old; today, the median is 39. Economists expect that increases in education and work experience will increase workers' productivity and translate into higher compensation. But, the share of black workers in a "good job" – one that pays at least $19 per hour (in inflation-adjusted 2011 dollars), has employer-provided health insurance, and an employer-sponsored retirement plan – has actually declined. This paper looks at this trend and policies that would have a large, positive impact on the quality of jobs for black workers.


1. Many species are adapted to landscapes with characteristic dynamics generated by ongoing habitat destruction and creation. Climate change and human land use, however, may change the dynamics of these landscapes. Studies have repeatedly shown that many species are not able to cope with such changes in landscape dynamics. Conservation policies must, therefore, explicitly address this threat. The way in which management should be modified when formerly static landscapes become dynamic or when landscape dynamics change is unclear. 2. Using an analytical formula for the rapid assessment of metapopulation lifetime in dynamic landscapes, we investigate if and how changes in one landscape attribute may be compensated by changes in another attribute to maintain species viability. We study such trade-offs considering both spatial (number, connectivity of patches) and temporal (patch destruction and creation rates) landscape attributes. 3. We show that increasing patch destruction can be compensated to a certain extent by improvements in other spatial and/or temporal landscape attributes. Focusing on trade-offs between management options reveals two key factors essential for management decisions: First, the trade-offs are generally nonlinear irrespective of considering spatial or temporal landscape attributes. Secondly, species can be grouped according to their response to particular management options. 4. Synthesis and applications. We demonstrate the usefulness of an analytical formula for calculating trade-offs between landscape attributes for a variety of landscapes and species. Two practical and robust management recommendations can be derived: (i) The nonlinearity of trade-offs implies that the effectiveness of conservation measures depends explicitly on the current level of landscape attributes. It must, therefore, be taken into account in conservation decision making. In particular, the existing level of patch turnover is decisive: if it is already high, improvements in other landscape attributes are ineffective in maintaining species viability. Thus, monitoring the current level of landscape attributes is indispensable for effective biodiversity conservation. (ii) Compensation of increased patch destruction by increased patch creation is only suitable for species with high dispersal propensity adapted to variable environments (aside from habitat patch turnover). This implies that conservation policies which rely on such compensation, like offsetting and conservation banking, are feasible only for this type of species.


Th is study is a historico-contemporary descriptive analysis - or critical reflection - into anti-corruption efforts and activities employed in the DSD, with a specific focus on social grants. The attempt is to highlight the department as a sector where corruption problems in the delivery of social grants are now being systematically addressed. In particular, it focuses on understanding how the national department identified the corruption problem, and how it involved corruption agencies like the SIU and other law enforcement agencies in dealing with it. It also includes a focus on the establishment of new agencies - including the SASSA - and an explanation of how these new systems are being put in place.


Gas barrier coatings based on single or multiple layers of metals, oxides or nitrides are widely used on polymer substrates in applications ranging from food packaging to organic displays and solar cells. These coatings exhibit a residual permeability resulting from process-induced defects, which moreover control their mechanical integrity. A major challenge is therefore, to produce a high barrier coating, which can withstand high strain values (typically 4-5%) without loosing its barrier properties. The objective of the research work is to develop hybrid organic-inorganic gas-barrier materials based on organosilane-SiOx layered coatings on poly(ethyleneterephthalate) (PET) substrates. Attention is paid to the defect-healing mechanisms resulting from the polymerization of thermally- and UV-curable organosilane molecules on the defective silica coating, and corresponding improvements in barrier and mechanical performance. To achieve accurate analysis of the properties of such nanosized coatings, and in addition to standard analytical methods, two novel techniques are used in the study, namely reactive ion etching (RIE) to analyze the defect population, and permeation tests under tensile loading to determine the critical strain for loss of barrier performance. The oxygen transmission rate (OTR), defect density and critical strain of untreated, 50 nm thick SiOx coating are 1.8 cm3/(m2.day.bar), 560 mm-2 and 1.8%, respectively. The critical strain for 10 nm thick coatings is 4.0%. The interactions and interphase formation between thermally-curable organosilanes and hydrated silica surface is investigated with particularly taking into account the presence of different amine groups and the pH of the silanes. The permeability and defect density of the silane-silica hybrid coating on PET are reduced up to threefold compared to that of the untreated SiOx/PET film, at solution concentrations as low as 1%wt., irrespective of the pH. This concentration level leads to a dense silane monolayer crosslinked to the silica surface, which is hydrothermally stable. Higher concentrations lead to polysilanol layers, which only marginally contribute to the reduction in OTR. The activation energy for oxygen transport of the uncoated PET and SiOx/PET films is found to be equal to ca. 33 kJ/mol for both materials, and increases to 51 kJ/mol and 57 kJ/mol for neutral silane and basic silane treated SiOx/PET films, respectively. The critical strain for loss of barrier performance is improved by a factor of two, only in case of basic pH. All these results demonstrate the defect healing action of SiOx by silane. In addition to siliconalkoxy functional groups, a higher pH (provided by amine function) is the key factor for the combined improvement of barrier and mechanical properties of hybrid silane-silica coatings on PET. Outstanding combination of property improvement is achieved with UV-curable silanes at concentration in solution as low as 2 wt%. In addition to their ultra-fast processing, these molecules enable more than a two-fold improvement in barrier properties, and a remarkable increase of the critical strain, to more than 5% depending on the conversion level. The latter is analyzed using a nth order kinetic model including an Arrhenius dependence of temperature, with activation energy equal to 13 and 32 kJ/mol for the two types of silanes studied, and a power law dependence of UV intensity, with exponent equal to 0.65 for both silanes. Time-intensity-transformation diagrams are compiled to scale up the present results towards high production rate requirements. A model of the permeation behavior of the hybrid coatings is finally developed to understand the influence of the silane on the intrinsic permeability of the oxide network and on the defect population. It is concluded that the defects contribute to 2/3 of the total permeation, the remaining transport occurring through the disordered structure of the oxide. A correlation is moreover identified between the pH of the silane and the permeability of the hybrid silane-silica network. This thesis work identifies the key factors to produce gas barrier coatings on polymers based on silane-silica nanolayers with very high strain to failure and at a very high processing rate of several hundred meters per minute. These hybrid coatings present clear potential beyond food packaging applications, especially for environmental protection of emerging organic-electronic devices including flexible organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) and solar cells.


The lateral line systems of aquatic amphibians and all chondrichthyan and osteichthyan fish present a similar array of mechanoreceptors. However, electroreceptors, the second major component of the lateral line system, have clearly undergone more significant evolutionary change. Chondrichthyans and non-neopterygian fish possess primitive ampullary organ electroreceptors, whereas significantly different 'new' ampullary organs and tuberous electroreceptors are found in a few groups of teleosts (mormyrids, gymnotids and some catfish). The pairing of mechano- and electroreceptors in the lateral line system, as well as the morphologically and physiologically distinct electroreceptors of teleosts have inspired several recent studies on the origin and evolution of the lateral line receptors. We described the development of the lateral line system in sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus platorynchus) as part of an outgroup analysis of lateral line development in three taxa: vertebrates that have both mechanoreceptive neuromasts and primitive electroreceptors; neopterygian fish that only have mechanoreceptors; and teleosts that have re-evolved new electroreceptors. Development in Scaphirhynchus was consistent with previously studied taxa in that the lateral line system developed from a series of six dorsolateral placodes. Interestingly, we found that the octaval placode was bound rostrally and caudally by large placodal fields, out of which the six lateral line placodes arose. This finding supports recent suggestions for a common placodal primordium for all placodes. Each of the six placodes gave rise to the lateral line nerves before elongating into sensory ridges, which contained neuromast primordia. The ampullary organ fields of Scaphirhynchus arose from the lateral zones of the anterodorsal, anteroventral, otic and supratemporal sensory ridges, which is also consistent with recently studied taxa. Comparisons of the lateral line system of Scaphirhynchus and close relatives, Acipenser and Polyodon, indicate that variation in some aspects of lateral line receptor numbers and distribution are related to changes in head morphology and feeding strategy, whereas other changes, such as a reduction in receptor number without a change in placode field size, indicate changes in placode development.