An evaluation of Festinger's theory of cognitive dissonance (1957) reveals deficiencies in its basic definition and the explanatory power of the "consistency-motivational" postulate. A radically different approach to attitude dynamics is proposed which focussed attention on the processes of appraisal and reappraisal, and on the psychological matrix within which these processes operate.
An alternative explanation of dissonance reduction is linked with the postulated operation of processes that both conserve the organisation of the psychological matrix and, when transactions with the environment occur, enable a controlled modification of it to occur. The basic explanatory postulate, which is one of the efficient operation of these processes allows dissonance theory to be extended to pre-decision appraisal and to the prediction of decisions. Experimental evidence supports the derived decision theory.
Three modes of appraisal are postulated, each of which may result in the arousal of dissonance. One mode is considered to be appraisal with respect to the status quo configurations of experimental evaluations and another to he appraisal with respect to the future orientation of current intentions and identifications; dissonances that become arroused in theme modes are regarded as emotive. The throd mode is regarded as involving the recognition of discrepancies between beliefs or expectations and corresponding actualities, or between the individual's opinions and those advocated by another; dissonance aroused in this mode is held to be cognitive. A replication of an experiment by Rosenberg and Abelson (1960) provides strong evidence of the interaction between modes of dissonance under the simultaneous operation of the three modes, but only partial support for the "balance" model.
The present formulation integrates and relates features of the "social judgement" (Sherif et el, 1965), the "balance" (Rosenberg and Abelson, 1960) and the "congruity" (Osgood and Tannenbaum, 1955) approaches. New definitions allow quantitative estimates of dissonance to be ascertained.


Acoustic overstimulation produces many anatomical, biochemical and physiological changes in the inner ear. However, the changes in gene expression that underlie these biological changes are poorly understood. Our approach to investigating this problem is to use gene microarrays to measure the changes in gene expression in the chinchilla inner ear following a 3 h or 6 h noise exposure (95 dB SPL, 707-1414 Hz). This noise exposure causes a temporary threshold shift (~40 dB) and a temporary reduction in distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE), but no permanent hearing loss or hair cell loss. Here, we present data showing (1) the suitability of mouse and human complementary DNA (cDNA) clones for detecting chinchilla cochlear gene transcripts, and (2) the change in cochlear gene transcripts in noise exposed chinchillas. Chinchilla cochlear transcript probes exhibited strong and discrete signals on both mouse and human cDNA filter arrays. Since the strongest hybridization occurred with mouse clones, mouse cDNA microarrays were used to study noise-induced changes in gene expression. Chinchilla cDNA probes were differentially labelled with Cy3 (control) or Cy5 (noise exposed) by random primed synthesis, hybridized to 8750 mouse cDNAs arrayed on microscope slides and analysed by laser fluorescent microscopy. Several classes of genes exhibited time-dependent up regulation of transcription, including those involved in protein synthesis, metabolism, cytoskeletal proteins, and calcium binding proteins. The results are discussed in relationship to previous studies showing noise-induced changes in structural proteins, calcium binding proteins, metabolic enzymes and membrane bound vesicles.


Purpose

The purpose of this study is to develop and test a comprehensive model for the outcomes of internal brand management (IBM), linking it to brand citizenship behavior (BCB) and intention to stay (IS) through job satisfaction (JS) and brand commitment (BC).

Design/methodology/approach

A comprehensive literature review is undertaken to develop the proposed model. The sample consists of three separate cases, a financial services firm, a multinational telecommunications company, both based in South Africa, and a regional grocery chain operating in the USA. Useable samples of 154, 96 and 241 were achieved for the three cases, respectively. In all cases, the majority of the respondents were customer contact employees.

Findings

The structural models showed some surprising results, the major one being that brand proselytization is not a component of BCB. Despite using the same instrument, the levers that drive IBM were different in each of the three cases and different from previous studies.

Research limitations/implications

The results of this research indicate that IBM and BCB are contextual. This implies that a universal instrument to measure these constructs has yet to be developed, representing an interesting avenue for future research.

Practical implications

Regarding employees as internal customers and including them in various marketing initiatives and brand-orientated human resource practices (recruitment, induction and training) are key to a successful IBM program.

Originality/value

A comprehensive model for the outcomes of IBM was developed and tested, linking it to BCB and IS through JS and BC. It is the first time that research has been conducted with customer contact employees only.


Nanocrystalline TiO2 electrodes were prepared using binder-free TiO2 paste on conductive ITO-PEN substrates by the doctor-blade method at significantly low temperature (140 °C), and the electrodes were further processed under different compressions (10–60 MPa) in order to improve interparticle connections and adhesion between the nanoparticles and the ITO-PEN substrate. TiO2 electrodes compressed at 30 and 40 MPa had relatively less cracks with low crack width. Electrode compressed at 30 MPa showed the highest internal surface area. Electrode prepared at this compression showed the best dye-sensitized solar cell (DSC) performance with Voc of 805 mV, Jsc of 9.24 mA cm–2, and an overall efficiency of 4.39%. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) studies of the sandwiched cells employing bare nanocrystalline TiO2 electrode and Pt counter electrode in I–/I3– electrolyte showed that electrode compression significantly influences the stability of the cells. EIS data suggested that degradation/corrosion processes may take place on ITO-PEN for sandwiched cells made by TiO2 electrodes compressed at all pressures. Thirty and 40 MPa compressions showed a minor degradation of ITO. The recombination dynamics at the TiO2/electrolyte interface were influenced by the changes in the nanostructured electrode internal surface area, changes in electron transport properties (due to improved sintering), and possible degradation/corrosion of ITO-PEN. Open-circuit voltage decay (OCVD) measurements showed that the DSC made by the 30 MPa compressed TiO2 electrode had the highest decay time, indicating low recombination properties, which is in a good agreement with other data.


Background: The purpose of the study was to evaluate and to compare the shear bond strength (SBS), adhesive remnant index, and surface roughness of the samples bonded after etching with phosphoric acid and erbium, chromium-doped: Yttrium scandium-gallium-garnet (Er, Cr: YSGG) laser. Materials and Methods: In the present analytical/descriptive study, 90 premolars extracted for orthodontic purposes were used, out of which 75 were randomly divided into five groups where five different methods were used to prepare the enamel for bonding; etching with 37% phosphoric acid for 15 s, irradiation with Er, Cr: YSGG laser at 1 watt for 10 s and 20 s, and irradiation with Er, Cr: YSGG laser at 1.5 watt for 10 s and 20 s. Following this, metal brackets were bonded with Transbond XT. Brackets were debonded 24 h, later and SBS were measured, and adhesive remnant index scores were measured. The remaining 15 teeth were used for surface evaluation of these five groups using three-dimensional optical profiler. The results of the SBS testing, adhesive remnant index) scores, and surface roughness values were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance and Tukey honestly significant difference tests with a significant level at 0.05. Results: The difference in bond strength between the laser (1.5 W/20 s) and conventional acid etching was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). For acid etch tech, it was 10.48 Mpa and Laser etch at 1.5 W/20 s 10.46 Mpa bond strength attained by the other groups (1 W/10 Hz, 1 W/20 Hz, and 1.5 W/10 Hz) was significantly less than acid etched, and laser etched (1.5 W/20 Hz) groups with P > 0.05. The surface roughness was found to be similar between the laser- (1.5 W/20 s) and acid-etched groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Irradiation with 1.5 W/20 s Er, Cr: YSGG laser produced bond strength comparable to acid etching.


Most graph kernels are an instance of the class of $\mathcal{R}$-Convolution kernels, which measure the similarity of objects by comparing their substructures. Despite their empirical success, most graph kernels use a naive aggregation of the final set of substructures, usually a sum or average, thereby potentially discarding valuable information about the distribution of individual components. Furthermore, only a limited instance of these approaches can be extended to continuously attributed graphs. We propose a novel method that relies on the Wasserstein distance between the node feature vector distributions of two graphs, which allows to find subtler differences in data sets by considering graphs as high-dimensional objects, rather than simple means. We further propose a Weisfeiler-Lehman inspired embedding scheme for graphs with continuous node attributes and weighted edges, enhance it with the computed Wasserstein distance, and thus improve the state-of-the-art prediction performance on several graph classification tasks.


Multiphase variable-speed drives, supplied from two-level voltage-source inverters (VSIs), are nowadays considered for various industrial applications. Depending on the drive structure and/or the motor design, the VSI is required to generate either sinusoidal voltages or voltages that contain a certain number of sinusoidal components (ldquomultifrequency output voltagesrdquo). The existing space vector pulsewidth-modulation (SVPWM) schemes are based on selection of (n-1) active space vectors (for odd phase numbers) within a switching period and they yield either sinusoidal voltage or sinusoidal fundamental voltage in combination with a limited amount of other harmonic terms. This paper develops a SVPWM scheme, which enables multifrequency output voltage generation with arbitrary values of various sinusoidal components in the output voltage. The method is based on initial selection of (n-1)2/2 active space vectors within a switching period, instead of the common (n-1) active vectors. By properly arranging the sequence of the vector application, it is possible to provide an automatic postreduction of the number of applied active vectors to (n-1), thus maintaining the same switching frequency as with the existing schemes while simultaneously avoiding the limiting on the generated sinusoidal output voltage components. Theoretical considerations are detailed using a five-phase VSI. The experimental verification is provided using a five-phase two-motor series-connected induction motor drive, supplied from a custom-designed five-phase DSP-controlled VSI.


An empirically supported proposal for synthesizing multiple approaches to the study of the mind in the past. In The Foundations of Cognitive Archaeology, Marc Abramiuk proposes a multidisciplinary basis for the study of the mind in the past, arguing that archaeology and the cognitive sciences have much to offer one another. Abramiuk draws on relevant topics from philosophy, biological anthropology, cognitive psychology, cognitive anthropology, and archaeology to establish theoretically founded and empirically substantiated principles of a discipline that integrates different approaches to mind-related archaeological research. Abramiuk discusses the two ways that archaeologists have traditionally viewed the human mind: as a universal or as a relative interface with the environment. He argues that neither view by itself can satisfactorily serve as a basis for gleaning insight into all aspects of the mind in the past and, therefore, the mind is more appropriately studied using multiple approaches. He explains the rationale for using these approaches in mind-related archaeological research, reviewing the literature in both cognitive psychology and cognitive anthropology on human memory, perception, and reasoning. Drawing on archaeological and genetic evidence, Abramiuk investigates the evolution of the mind through the Upper Paleolithic era-when the ancient mind became functionally comparable to the modern human mind. Finally, Abramiuk offers a model for the establishment of a discipline dealing with the study of the mind in the past that integrates all the approaches discussed.


As far as scenic ruins go, the Pittsburgh metropolitan area sets a high standard. The natural beauty of the Monongahela Valley and the built legacy of deindustrialization make gorgeous scenery out of blue-collar defeat. Beauty is no compensation for lost jobs though. The old steel towns of this region have been imploding for decades. No place has lost a greater share of its population than Braddock, Pennsylvania, just outside Pittsburgh. This ravaged, near-empty stretch of abandoned homes, storefronts, and buildings was once a storied cornerstone of the industrial age. After losing 90 percent of its peak population, today it looks more like the nightmare at the end of the American DreamThis article can also be found at the Monthly Review website, where most recent articles are published in full.Click here to purchase a PDF version of this article at the Monthly Review website.


Species vary in the ease with which they can solve apparently similar problems. For instance, problems will be interpreted differently by different species due to differences such as how they process the world or their ecology. The latter is the focus of the ecological approach to cognition, which posits that ecology influences decision-making such that each species performs better on tasks that are naturally relevant to them. In a previous work, my colleagues and I compared the performance of cleaner fish and nonhuman primates, which differ substantially in brain size and ecology, on a dichotomous choice task derived from the cleaner fish ecology. In the task, subjects chose between two different plates, each containing a same food; if they chose the food from plate A, they could then choose the food from plate B as well, whereas if they chose B first, A was no longer available. Fish were better than primates at solving this task, emphasizing the role of ecology in shaping one species' decision-making. For my dissertation project, I explored possible explanations for the primates' poor performance in the task. In a first series of studies, I investigated the possibility that species differed in the task because of differences in the capacity to recognize the relevant cues (i.e. the plate design), to solve it. I thus repeated the task with fish and nonhuman primates, using variations designed to be more salient to primates. In a first experiment, the foods were different colors, whereas in a second experiment, they were hidden to avoid the prepotent response. In a second series of studies, I tested monkeys in a computerized paradigm that differed from the plate task by removing interaction with the human experimenter, which may be distracting, and providing a more standardized testing environment. Finally, in a last study, I investigated one possible cognitive limitation to the primates in the plate task, the failure to use backwards induction to solve it. These studies allowed me to investigate the role of ecology in species' decision-making, a perspective that is often neglected in studies of cognition. INDEX WORDS: Ecology, Cognition, Decision-making, Dichotomous choice task, Fish,


Why do walls marking national boundaries proliferate amid widespread proclamations of global connectedness and despite anticipation of a world without borders? Why are barricades built of concrete, steel, and barbed wire when threats to the nation today are so often miniaturized, vaporous, clandestine, dispersed, or networked? In Walled States, Waning Sovereignty, Wendy Brown considers the recent spate of wall building in contrast to the erosion of nation-state sovereignty. Drawing on classical and contemporary political theories of state sovereignty in order to understand how state power and national identity persist amid its decline, Brown considers both the need of the state for legitimacy and the popular desires that incite the contemporary building of walls. The new walls -- dividing Texas from Mexico, Israel from Palestine, South Africa from Zimbabwe -- consecrate the broken boundaries they would seem to contest and signify the ungovernability of a range of forces unleashed by globalization. Yet these same walls often amount to little more than theatrical props, frequently breached, and blur the distinction between law and lawlessness that they are intended to represent. But if today's walls fail to resolve the conflicts between globalization and national identity, they nonetheless project a stark image of sovereign power. Walls, Brown argues, address human desires for containment and protection in a world increasingly without these provisions. Walls respond to the wish for horizons even as horizons are vanquished.


Many countries have large unsealed road networks which are essential for business efficiency, social connectedness, and community safety. These roads are maintained at considerable cost mainly through blading and re-gravelling. The latter is a major component of the maintenance and is determined by gravel loss. Gravel loss prediction models can be used to assess the effect of different wearing courses, which provides useful input into the design and management of unsealed roads. This paper reviews the origins, input parameters, and output of four available gravel loss prediction models, namely, the Transport and Road Research, HDM-4, Australian, and South African models. It was found that the predictive accuracy of the models is in general low and they predict very different gravel loss results. There is also a lack of integration between the design and maintenance, leading to the wearing course properties recommended for design not being directly linked to gravel loss. These findings led to further analysis of the models and the development of re-gravelling frequencies based on traffic, climate (annual rainfall), and material property (plastic factor), which can be used in the selection of the appropriate wearing course material and in the determination of re-gravelling budgets. This presents a simplified approach to the use of existing gravel loss prediction models in the design and management of unsealed roads which mitigates some of the shortcomings in the use of uncalibrated models.


Increasingly competitive global markets and accelerating technological changes have increased the need for people to contact via electronic medium to have daily updates, the people those who could not able to meet face to face every day. Those who contact via electronic medium i.e. Virtual Team, are having number of benefit but to achieve these potential benefits, however, leaders need to overcome liabilities inherent in the lack of direct contact among team members and managers. Team members may not naturally know how to interact effectively across space and time. By this paper author try to throw some lights on the challenges that virtual team faces and try to elaborate what is needed for Virtual Team.


While soil mechanics has been the dominant interest of Civil Engineers since Karl Terzaghi's recognition of the principle of effective stress, rock mechanics is becoming increasingly important. One only need look at the largest of constructed facilities for a demonstration of the role of rock mechanics in Civil Engineering. All of the world's tallest buildings and longest span bridges are founded on rock. Nuclear waste will be stored in rock at depths of 600m. The world's largest storm water collection facilities in Chicago and a similar system in Milwaukee are tunneled through limestone. Many of the last segments of the interstate system involve rock excavation as in Glenwood Canyon, Colorado. The world's largest existing or planned dams are (or will be) founded on rock. Protective structures for defensive nuclear weapons such as deep-based MX missiles will be built in rock. Rock mass behavior, which for engineering purposes can be described by its strength deformability and hydraulic conductivity, is controlled by the combined behavior of the continuous (intact) rock and the weaknesses (discontinuities). The discontinuities rupture the continuity of intact rock and are planes of smaller resistance and larger deformability and hydraulic conductivity. Since all rock masses are intersected by discontinuities (both as large as shear zones and as small as crystal-sized fractures) no volume of rock is without them. This volume represents an effort by the Geotechnical Engineering Division to collate the diverse rock mechanics in the division. The volume is divided into three sections: computer modeling of underground openings; probabilistic slope stability; and fracture of intact rock.


Abstract Previous research suggests that utilitarian decisions to moral dilemmas often stem from analytic, controlled cognitive processes. Furthermore, processing disfluency can trigger analytic thinking and improve performance on tasks that require logic and cognitive reflection. In the present study we investigated how processing fluency affects the readiness with which people give utilitarian responses to both personal and impersonal dilemmas. Participants were presented in two different experimental blocks with dilemmas written in both easy- (fluent) and hard-to-read (disfluent) fonts. We expected that dilemmas written in a disfluent font would be associated with more utilitarian responses. Results supported this prediction, albeit only when the disfluent dilemmas appeared first, showing that participants endorsed more utilitarian actions in the disfluent condition than in the fluent condition across dilemma types. These data suggest that increasing processing disfluency by manipulating the font affects decisions in the moral domain.


New 2nd edition features step-by-step skill instruction, and practice-focused exercises. Developed by a distinguished editorial board, the Perinatal Continuing Education Program (PCEP) is a comprehensive, self-paced education program in four volumes.

The PCEP workbooks have been significantly revised and brought up-to-date with leading-edge procedures and techniques. The revised volumes are filled with clear explanations, step-by-step skill instruction, and practice-focused exercises. They offer time- saving, low-cost solutions for self-paced learning or as adjuncts to instructor-led skills training.

New 2nd edition features 6 units dealing with complex neonatal therapies, such as assisted ventilation, as well as a unit regarding Continuing Care for at-risk babies and those with special problems, following intensive care.

Contents include:

Unit 1: Direct Blood Pressure Measurement

Skill Unit: Transducer Blood Pressure Monitoring

Unit 2: Exchange, Reduction, and Direct Transfusions

Skill Unit: Exchange Tranfusions

Unit 3: Continuous Positive Airway Pressure

Skill Unit: Delivery of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure

Unit 4: Assisted Ventilation With Mechanical Ventilators

Skill Unit: Endotracheal Tubes

Unit 5: Surfactant Therapy

Skill Unit: Surfactant Administration

Unit 6: Continuing Care for At-Risk Babies

Subsection: Babies With Special Problems

Pretest Answer Key

Index


The 38-km-diameter Richat Dome, in central Mauritania, has been widely regarded as a possible astrobleme. Our field examination of the structure and subsequent petrographic study of the critical rock types failed to reveal a single feature attributable to shock processes. We, therefore, dismiss an impact origin for this structure. It must, instead, be endogenic. The same conclusion applies to the much smaller, associated, Semsiyat Dome.


A multivariate Hawkes process enables self- and cross-excitations through a triggering matrix that behaves like an asymmetrical covariance structure, characterizing pairwise interactions between the event types. Full-rank estimation of all interactions is often infeasible in empirical settings. Models that specialize on a spatiotemporal application alleviate this obstacle by exploiting spatial locality, allowing the dyadic relationships between events to depend only on separation in time and relative distances in real Euclidean space. Here we generalize this framework to any multivariate Hawkes process, and harness it as a vessel for embedding arbitrary event types in a hidden metric space. Specifically, we propose a Hidden Hawkes Geometry (HHG) model to uncover the hidden geometry between event excitations in a multivariate point process. The low dimensionality of the embedding regularizes the structure of the inferred interactions. We develop a number of estimators and validate the model by conducting several experiments. In particular, we investigate regional infectivity dynamics of COVID-19 in an early South Korean record and recent Los Angeles confirmed cases. By additionally performing synthetic experiments on short records as well as explorations into options markets and the Ebola epidemic, we demonstrate that learning the embedding alongside a point process uncovers salient interactions in a broad range of applications.


The aim of the study was to determine cadmium influence on the lead phytotoxicity to spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). The seedlings of H. vulgare were treated with single Pb (ranging from 0.1 to 100 mg l-1) and Pb mixture with Cd. Plant biomass production, physiological response, induction of oxidative damage and metals accumulation in roots and shoots were evaluated. Single Pb and under the presence of cadmium impaired the growth of H. vulgare, altered the content of photosynthetic pigments and induced lipid peroxidation. The addition of Cd to the Pb treatments has led to additive or synergistic effects on H. vulgare shoot and root dry weight, oxidative damage and increased bioaccumulation. The interactive effect of these metals on the content of photosynthetic pigments was concentration range dependent. Additivity was detected when H. vulgare were exposed to low concentrations of Cd and Pb and high concentrations of these metals had lower than additive effect.


Objectives: We sought to determine the effect of reaming on 1-year 36-item short-form general health survey (SF-36) and short musculoskeletal function assessment (SMFA) scores from the Study to Prospectively Evaluate Reamed Intramedullary Nails in patients with Tibial Fractures. Design: Prospective randomized controlled trial.1319 patients were randomized to reamed or unreamed nails. Fractures were categorized as open or closed. Setting: Twenty-nine academic and community health centers across the US, Canada, and the Netherlands. Patients/Participants: One thousand three hundred and nineteen skeletally mature patients with closed and open diaphyseal tibia fractures. Intervention: Reamed versus unreamed tibial nails. Main Outcome Measurements: SF-36 and the SMFA. Outcomes were obtained during the initial hospitalization to reflect preinjury status, and again at the 2-week, 3-month, 6-month, and 1-year follow-up. Repeated measures analyses were performed with P < 0.05 considered significant. Results: There were no differences between the reamed and unreamed groups at 12 months for either the SF-36 physical component score [42.9 vs. 43.4, P = 0.54, 95% Confidence Interval for the difference (CI) −2.1 to 1.1] or the SMFA dysfunction index (18.0 vs. 17.6, P = 0.79. 95% CI, –2.2 to 2.9). At one year, functional outcomes were significantly below baseline for the SF-36 physical componentf score, SMFA dysfunction index, and SMFA bothersome index (P < 0.001). Time and fracture type were significantly associated with functional outcome. Conclusions: Reaming does not affect functional outcomes after intramedullary nailing for tibial shaft fractures. Patients with open fractures have worse functional outcomes than those with a closed injury. Patients do not reach their baseline function by 1 year after surgery. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level I. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.


Addition of Ti and Zr to high-pressure (HP) synthesized MgB2 results in an increase of critical current density of the material due to the absorption of impurity hydrogen coming most likely from the materials of a high-pressure cell. The results of the studies of structure, critical current density, trapped field and mechanical characteristics are discussed. High-pressure synthesized MgB2 (with Ti additions) blocks were for the first time used in a SC electromotor at 20 K and demonstrated the efficiency similar to that of MT-YBCO bulk (at the same working temperature).


Alumina coatings have been deposited on AA 6082 T6 aluminium alloy (table 1) using a novel technique based on a Fluidized Bed (FB). Custom made FB system consisted of a fluidization column, 1.2 m in height with a square cross section of 400 mm made from stainless steel, a section for air flux homogenization and a porous plate distributor. The air feed was provided by a blower. A flow meter, a hygrometer and a thermocouple set were also used to monitor the process and to assure optimal environmental conditions (Q = 650 m3/h, T = 20 degrees C, RH = 40%). Aluminum substrates were mounted on a rotating shaft (Rotating speed = 1 Hz). Four samples have been prepared with processing times ranging from thirty minutes to four hours (table 2) in order to understand the effect of process time on the tribological and corrosion resistant properties. Processing times were chosen on the basis of mass growth preliminary tests. The corrosion behaviour of the A12O3 coatings was investigated in NaCl solution (3% and 0.5%). by means of Open Circuit Potential (O.C.P), Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS), Localized Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (LEIS) and Electrochemical Noise Analysis (ENA). Blank corrosion tests were performed on uncoated substrate. FB process allowed to coat aluminium alloy substrates with a tough and well-adherent A12O3 coating as evidenced by microindentation and scratch tests. Figure 1 shows OCP trend for samples 2 and 4. A 20 mV decreasing was detected after 6 days of immersion and it may be presumably connected to the onset of a corrosion attack. Very similar trends were detected for all samples. EIS spectra, evaluated by the use of equivalent circuits, evidenced an increasing of charge transfer resistance (Rct) with immersion time, as shown in figure 2 for sample 2. Figure 3 reports a comparison between the Rct trend of sample 2 and 4 that showed the best and the worst behaviour of all samples. Rct values for the blank test are also reported. The slight increase in Rct observed at the end of tests, is given by the occlusion of the pores by corrosion products. LEIS is a new electrochemical technique that, using a 5 electrodes configuration and a motorized probe, permits to acquire impedance maps of coating surface, able to reveal local degradation events. Figures 4 reports impedance maps of sample 3 at two different immersion times. Maps evidenced the presence of a defect on coating (Fig. 4 a) and followed by the onset of a pit (Fig. 4 b). The analysis of noise acquisition confirmed the findings of EIS and LEIS. Figures 5 report the potential standard deviation (sigma(0)) trend of samples 1 and 4. Sample 1 showed strong fluctuations representative of a transient stage at the beginning of test. The further reduction of fluctuation amplitude indicates a good behavior of the sample. Sample 4 confirmed the poor corrosion resistance features. ENA permitted to discriminate three stages (Fig. 5b). The first stage takes place in the first 10 days of test and is due to the permeation of solution through pore coating. During the second stage, between 10th and 15th day the onset of a pitting attack occurred. The third stage from 15th day until the end of test a pit propagation took place. Current Power Spectral Density (PSD) obtained by the Maximum Entropy Method (MEM) confirmed the occurrence of a pit attack (Fig. 6 e 7). FB allowed the preparation of tough and adherent A12O3 coatings. EIS and LEIM demonstrated the best corrosion resistant performances were obtained with process time of 60 min (sample 2).


Few prior studies have examined degree of fidelity between raters' assessments of oral performances and objectively observable prosodic indices of accentedness. Prosodic indices of accentedness quantify trait-relevant variance, whereas rater background variables represent trait-irrelevant variance. The present study, therefore, investigated the extent to which raters' background characteristics and instrumentally measured prosodic indices of speakers' accentedness jointly influenced the rating of oral performances. Seventy U.S. undergraduate students rated the speaking and teaching proficiency of 11 international teaching assistants (ITAs). Using the PRAAT computer program, 5 min of continuous speech from each of the ITAs were instrumentally analyzed for a number of indices of speech rate, pausing, stress, and intonation. Dependent variables were undergraduates' ratings of ITA oral proficiency and instuctional competence. Rater background variables such as the listener's native speaker status and experience as a language tutor explained 7–9% of the variance in oral performance ratings, whereas 18–19% was attributable to the prosody variables. These findings suggest that U.S. undergraduates are sensitive to trait-relevant indicators of ITA oral proficiency. At the same time, their speech evaluations are subject to substantial bias based on their own backgrounds.


With American independence came the freedom to sail anywhere in the world under a new flag. During the years between the Treaty of Paris and the Treaty of Wangxi, Americans first voyaged past the Cape of Good Hope, reaching the ports of Algiers and the bazaars of Arabia, the markets of India and the beaches of Sumatra, the villages of Cochin, China, and the factories of Canton. Their South Seas voyages of commerce and discovery introduced the infant nation to the world and the world to what the Chinese, Turks, and others dubbed the "new people." Drawing on private journals, letters, ships' logs, memoirs, and newspaper accounts, True Yankees traces America's earliest encounters on a global stage through the exhilarating experiences of five Yankee seafarers. Merchant Samuel Shaw spent a decade scouring the marts of China and India for goods that would captivate the imaginations of his countrymen. Mariner Amasa Delano toured much of the Pacific hunting seals. Explorer Edmund Fanning circumnavigated the globe, touching at various Pacific and Indian Ocean ports of call. In 1829, twenty-year-old Harriett Low reluctantly accompanied her merchant uncle and ailing aunt to Macao, where she recorded trenchant observations of expatriate life. And sea captain Robert Bennet Forbes' last sojourn in Canton coincided with the eruption of the First Opium War. How did these bold voyagers approach and do business with the people in the region, whose physical appearance, practices, and culture seemed so strange? And how did native men and women - not to mention the European traders who were in direct competition with the Americans - regard these upstarts who had fought off British rule? The accounts of these adventurous travelers reveal how they and hundreds of other mariners and expatriates influenced the ways in which Americans defined themselves, thereby creating a genuinely brash national character - the "true Yankee." Readers who love history and stories of exploration on the high seas will devour this gripping tale.


Understanding those factors critical to predicting public response is crucial to our ability to model the consequences of a terrorist strike in an urban area. Sixteen hypothetical damage scenarios were systematically varied according to non-terrorism vs. terrorism, explosions vs. infectious disease releases, terrorists' motives as demands to release prisoners vs. solely to instill fear, non-terrorists' motives as nonintentional vs. intentional (criminal), victims as government officials vs. tourists, non-terrorist incidents as involving no negligence vs. negligence, terrorist acts as non-suicidal vs. suicidal, and number of casualties (0, 15, 495). The setting was a local theme park. Students at a university in San Diego County were randomly assigned to different scenario conditions. For these scenarios, they were asked to address a number of questions regarding their perceptions and likely behaviors during and following an accident or terrorist strike. Results from regression modeling and Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) indicated that terrorism and the mechanism used were most influential followed by the presence of suicide or negligence, motive, and victim. Number of casualties made little difference once these other factors were accounted for. To forecast community response, a system dynamics model was introduced that incorporated the study's survey findings. This model simulated the immediate and mid-term diffusion of fear in a community for different types of accidental and terrorist events. These findings should prove useful to those wishing to predict public response to a variety of different contingencies involving terrorism.


We have studied the polarization and ellipticity of high-order harmonics from nitrogen molecules using the time-dependent density functional theory. The results of our numerical calculations are in excellent agreement with the data of recent experiments. The theoretical analysis of our results reveals that at least three contributions, namely those from the HOMO, the HOMO-1, and the HOMO-2 orbitals, contribute to the observed high harmonic spectra. Furthermore, we confirm that a proper account of the distribution of the alignment in the molecular ensemble is necessary to obtain agreement with the experimental data.


Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) can be used to mass produce surrogates of human tissues, enabling new advances in drug screening, disease modeling, and cell therapy. Recent developments in clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9 genome editing technology use homology‐directed repair (HDR) to efficiently generate custom hiPSC lines harboring a variety of genomic insertions and deletions. Thus, hiPSCs that encode an endogenous protein fused to a fluorescent reporter protein can be rapidly created by employing CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, enhancing HDR efficiency and optimizing homology arm length. These fluorescently tagged hiPSCs can be used to visualize protein function and dynamics in real time as cells proliferate and differentiate. Given that nearly any intracellular protein can be fluorescently tagged, this system serves as a powerful tool to facilitate new discoveries across many biological disciplines. In this unit, we present protocols for the design, generation, and monoclonal expansion of genetically customized hiPSCs encoding fluorescently tagged endogenous proteins. © 2018 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.


An 8-year-old girl is brought to the emergency department by her mother with a complaint of 5 days of worsening constipation and rectal bleeding. For the past week, the girl has had small stools 3 or 4 times a day and crampy abdominal pain. Yesterday, her stools were streaked with a small amount of blood. The mother notes that her daughter spends up to an hour in the bathroom with each bowel movement. In addition, the mother remarks that the girl has a rash in the rectal area and along the inner thighs.


It is currently acknowledged that events constitute an integral part of the metaphysicsand semantic machinery for interpreting natural language utterances(Davidson 1967, 1980). Most research into event semantics since Davidsonand Parsons (Parsons 1990) has focused on questions relating to either aspectualclassifications (Akstionsarten) or temporal semantics. One area that hasreceived far less attention is the issue of event localization, that is, the problemof spatially situating events. In this paper, I discuss the procedures for identifyingwhere events, as expressed in natural language, are located in space. Aspectsof the semantics of event localization have been recently proposed, includingthe notion of the "shape" of a movement (Eschenbach et al. 1999; Zwarts 2006),as well as treating movement verbs as "path creation" predicates (Pustejovskyand Moszkowicz 2011). In this paper, I build on these and some additionalobservations to outline a more general semantics of event localization. I thenoutline a procedure that extends the path metaphor used for motion predicates,distinguishing between the event locus and the spatial aspect of an event. In theprocess, I discuss how localization is supervenient upon the participants in theevents, but not as straightforwardly as one might expect.


This paper studies the fact that 37 percent of the internal migrants in China do not sign a labor contract with their employers, as revealed in a nationwide survey. These contract-free jobs pay lower hourly wages, require longer weekly work hours, and provide less insurance or on-the-job training than regular jobs with contracts. We find that the co-villager networks play an important role in a migrant's decision on whether to accept such insecure and irregular jobs. By employing a comprehensive nationwide survey in 2011 in the spatial autoregressive logit model, we show that the common behavior of not signing contracts in the covillager network increases the probability that a migrant accepts a contract-free job. We provide three possible explanations on how networks influence migrants' contract decisions: job referral mechanism, limited information on contract benefits, and the "mini labor union" formed among co-villagers, which substitutes for a formal contract. In the sub-sample analysis, we also find that the effects are larger for migrants whose jobs were introduced by their co-villagers, male migrants, migrants with rural Hukou, short-term migrants, and less educated migrants. The heterogeneous effects for migrants of different employer types, industries, and home provinces provide policy implications. JEL No. O15, R12, J14


Our objective was to identify seasonal and annual survival rates, in the context of habitat and other environmental conditions, necessary to identify ultimate causes of proximate mortality for white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in the central Black Hills. From 1993 to 1996, we monitored radiocollared female (n=73) white-tailed deer in the central Black Hills of South Dakota and Wyoming. Natural mortality (i.e., from coyotes [Canus latrans], dogs, malnutrition, sickness, and unknown causes) (n=44, 71%) was the primary cause of female mortality, followed by harvest (n=14, 22.6%) and accidental causes (i.e., road kill and drowning) (n=4, 6.5%). More females died in spring (n=33, 53.2%) than in fall (n=14, 22.6%), winter (n=9, 14.5%), or summer (n=6, 9.7%). For the entire study period (1993-1996), survival rate for female white-tailed deer was 10.4%. Annual survival rates of females ranged from 50.3 to 62.1% and were similar among years (P=0.743). Intraseasonal survival rates for females differed between winter (P=0.003) and spring (P=0.014), whereas summer (P=0.073) and fall (P=0.404) were similar. High spring mortality of females was related to poor forage conditions on winter range and limited escape cover throughout the central Black Hills. We recommend the use of management techniques that promote overstory and understory plant diversity, such as aspen (Populus tremuloides) regeneration and prescribed burns, to improve the habitat in this region.


Abstract. Seasonal forecast is being promoted as one of the climate services given to the public and decision makers also in the extra-tropics. However seasonal forecast is a scientific challenge. Rapid changes in climate and the socio-economic environment in the past 30 years introduce even a bigger challenge for the end-users of seasonal forecasts based on the past 30 years. Decision makers should relay on a forecast only if they fully understand the forecast skill and the forecast will not be a completely erroneous.Therefore, the percentage of forecasts for above normal condition that realized to be below normal conditions and vice versa is measured straightforwardly by the "Fiasco score". To overcome the climate and socio-economic environment changes an attempt to relate the next seasonal forecast to the previous season forecast and observed values was tested.The findings indicate that ECMWF system-4 seasonal forecast skill for June-July-August (JJA) temperatures for the marine tropics is very promising as indicated by all the skill scores, including using the previous JJA forecast as the base for the next JJA season. However for the boreal summer temperatures forecast over land, the main source of the model predictability originates from the warming trend along the hindcast period. Over the Middle East and Mongolia removing the temperature trend eliminated the high forecast skill. Evaluation of the ability of the next season forecast to predict the changes relative to the previous year's season has shown a positive skill in some areas compared to the traditional 30 years based climatology after both forecasts and observed data were de-trend.


This paper presents a first exercise comparing the cost of climate change stemming from integrated assessment models using reduced-form climate change damage functions with that performed by a CGE model. Furthermore, it investigates the role of market driven adaptation, which CGE models explicitly capture through their endogenous price setting mechanism, in determining these estimates. It is shown that world GDP losses computed by the CGE model are not significantly different from that used by some wellestablished hard-linked integrated assessment models when they consider the same impact categories. Specifically, the major driver of impacts is the modelling of catastrophic outcomes. Then, rigidities in market adjustments, differently said, in market-driven adaptation, are introduced. This is done restricting the elasticity of input substitution in the production function, the substitutability of domestic and imported inputs, and finally sectoral workforce mobility. We demonstrate that notwithstanding these frictions do increase the cost of climate change impacts they do not change substantively neither the qualitative nor the quantitative picture.


Designed for students of applied linguistics and second language acquisition on research training courses, practising language teachers, and those in training, this combination textbook/workbook is a set or recommended textbook on more than a hundred undergraduate and postgraduate courses worldwide. Now in its second edition , it remains the only book to provide specific advice and support to those wishing to learn a methodical approach to the critical analysis of a research paper. It seeks to answer a current need in the literature for a set of procedures that can be applied to the independent reading of quantitative research. Innovative features of the workbook include awareness-raising reading tasks and guided exercises to help develop and practise the critical skills required to appraise papers independently. Through informed and constructive appraisal of others' work, readers themselves are shown how to become more research literate, to discover new areas for investigation, and to organise and present their own work more effectively for publication and peer evaluation. This revised second edition sees a closer integration of the text-and workbook and a number of additions to the text itself, as well as further guided and unguided research appraisal exercises.


This project defends the thesis that the tradition of Deep Ecology offers a practice of education which would foster ecologically sustainable communities. This thesis addresses the problem that nearly all current forms of educational theory and practice, because they are rooted firmly within epistemologies which are infected by the anthropocentric error, foster the destruction of Creation. However, the goal of creating an education system which would foster a more ecologically sustainable relationship between human and non-human aspects of creation cannot simply involve the discovery or creation of a new foundational philosophy. Rather, this quest must be a hermeneutical task which would allow a simultaneous transformation of cultures. While Deep Ecology offers valuable insights into our current ecological crisis through its critique of anthropocentrism, Deep Ecology is not currently understood in a fashion which makes the hermeneutical task of transformation possible. Therefore, I argue that Deep Ecology should be understood as a MacIntyrian tradition complete with practices, specific types of virtue, and narrative genres. This new understanding of Deep Ecology allows the educational researcher to discern theories and practices of education which would foster ecologically sustainable communities. I conclude this project with an investigation of two extant educational programs, Rediscovery and David Orr's Ecological Literacy, which suggests that both are versions of Deep Ecological education.


Morphemes combined with the Arabic noun exhibit many puzzling properties, still unaccounted for in the literature. This book proposes a new, unified explanation, analyzing these morphemes as copulae, with the constructions in which they occur as instances of predication


The paper studies the two period incomplete markets model where assets are claims on state contingent commodity bundles and there are no bounds on portfolio trading. The important results on the existence of equilibrium in this model assume that there is a finite number of commodities traded in each spot market and that preferences are given by smooth utility functions. With these assumptions an equilibrium exists outside an "exceptional" set of assets structures and initial endowments. The present paper extends these results by allowing for general infinite dimensional commodity spaces in each spot market. These include all the important commodity spaces studied in the literature on the existence of Walrasian equilibrium—in each spot market the consumption sets are the positive cone of an arbitrary locally solid Riesz space or of an ordered topological vector space with order unit or of a locally solid Riesz space with quasi-interior point. The paper establishes that even with our very general commodity spaces there exists an equilibrium for a "very" dense set of assets structures. Our approach is in the main convex analytic and the results do not require that preferences be smooth or complete or transitive. The concepts and techniques studied in this paper have important finite as well as infinite dimensional applications.


The primary purpose of this study is to demonstrate that the most consistent themes in the selected novels are love and happiness. The novels are: Bonjour tristesse, 1954; Un certain sourire, 1956; La chamade, 1965; Les merveilleux nuages, 1961; Un profil perdu, 1974; Aimez-vous Brahms, 1959; Le garde du coeur, 1968; and De guerre lasse, 1985. Sagan challanges her heroines, and her readers, to find happiness. Each of the heroines handles the individual search for love and happiness in her own specific way. Throughout the novels, love represents pain and suffering as Sagan describes the emptiness of life in modern society. Her works show the futility of love in a world preoccupied by superficial things.


We consider a model of price competition in a duopoly with product differentiation and network effects. The value of a good for a consumer is the sum of a common and an idiosyncratic component. The first captures the vertical dimension of quality, the second captures horizontal differentiation. Each consumer privately observes his own value for each good but cannot separate the common and the idiosyncratic component. Therefore, he has incomplete information about the value of the goods for the other consumers. After firms announce prices, consumers choose simultaneously which network to join, facing a coordination problem. In the efficient allocation, both networks are active and the firm with the highest expected quality has the largest market share. To characterize the equilibrium allocation, we derive necessary and sufficient conditions for uniqueness of the equilibrium of the coordination game played by consumers for given prices. The equilibrium allocation differs from the efficient one for two reasons. First, the equilibrium allocation of consumers to the networks is too balanced, since consumers fail to internalize network externalities. Second, if access to the networks is priced by strategic firms, then the product with the highest expected quality is also the most expensive. This further reduces the asymmetry between market shares and therefore social welfare.


From the Publisher:
Network Performance Baselining focuses on the real world implementation of network baselining principles and shows how to measure and rate a network's performance. It includes chapters that give a real "How To" approach for standard baseline methodologies along with actual steps and processes to perform network baseline measurements. It explains the proper way to document and build a baseline report. Incuded is an extensive chapter on case studies of actual Network Baselines that Mr. Nassar and LAN Scope has preformed and a "To the Point" brief review on techniques of baselining all major LAN and WAN topologies such as Ethernet, Token Ring, ATM, Frame Relay, WANs, FDDI. Also, a "Technique Reference" will be provided on the baseline and evaluation of all major network protocols such as Windows NT, Netware, TCP/IP, DecNet, Banyan, SNA and standard IBM suite protocols.


Value Management (VM) is an organised effort directed at analyzing the functions
of systems, supplies, equipments and facilities, for the purpose of achieving the
required functions at lowest overall cost, consistent with requirements for performance,
including reliability, delivery, maintainability and human factors. This
structured method can also be successfully used to define the scope of a project. In
the UK, the awareness of the tremendous potential and benefits of applying VM to
construction projects has made some clients eager to apply this technique to their
projects. There are, however, a number of problems which inhibit the use of this
advanced technique in the construction industry. Qualified VM specialists, for
instance, are very scarce within the industry, it is often difficult to find them to
undertake proper VM studies. This research therefore aimed at exploring the
feasibility of building a Knowledge-Based System (KBS) to facilitate VM implementations
in the design stages of a construction project. A demonstration system has been
successfully developed to illustrate the facilities which would be available to potential
users in a fully developed system. A method of allocating project cost against
functions of the project specified by the clients has been developed, which could
expedite the processes of clarifying clients' brief and ensuring good value for money
by cutting unnecessary costs and enhancing required functions. The research has also
explored how KBSs can be effectively applied to "open-ended" decision-making
problems in which new options may be generated during each session with the
system, i.e. the study considered the possibility of letting users extend and customise
the knowledge base. The system has been described as a "satisfactory and very
promising system" by the UK industrial specialists.


We measured the phase and amplitude error distributions in InP-based arrayed-waveguide grating (AWG) multi/demultiplexers using Fourier transform spectroscopy with interferogram restoration. The interferogram restoration was used to reduce the effect of the group-velocity dispersion of the waveguide. It was based on a wavenumber scale transformation or a dispersion balance between two arms in the interferometer. We derived a criterion for choosing the appropriate restoration method by estimating the worst-case measurement error in the presence of second order dispersion. After selecting a method using the derived criterion, we obtained isolated fringe patterns, from which we were able to obtain the phase and amplitude distributions in 50 and 200 GHz AWGs. Using the obtained distributions, we examined the origin of the crosstalk and chromatic dispersion in InP-based AWGs. The results revealed that the main origin is phase error as found with SiO/sub 2/-based AWGs.


Abstract Extensive roof greenery is one of the ways to reduce the extent and impact of urban heat islands. A prerequisite is the correct design and operation of both the structural and vegetation part of a roof. If adequate maintenance, especially irrigation of the greenery, cannot be ensured, the use of extensive roof greenery can also be counterproductive. The case study to be presented deals with problems of a flat roof with extensive greenery above an underground garage under Central European climate conditions. Infrequent irrigation leads to extremely high temperatures of the substrate in the summer and makes the purpose of this roof pointless. The contribution analyzes the reason for the failure of the vegetation part of the roof, which was claimed to be maintenance-free, points out fire safety issues, and suggests improvements that might be considered in similar cases. At the present time, which is marked by the climate change crisis, there is great societal pressure to build green roofs. However, if it is not possible to ensure their perfect functionality, it is perhaps better to use classically proven types of roofs, but with greater reflectivity of the top layer surface.


The incidence of de novo development of esophageal varices (EV) in patients with compensated liver cirrhosis has been determined by few studies in the short term and never in the long term. The aims of the present study were to determine the incidence and the risk factors associated with the development of EV and to assess whether antiviral treatment and achievement of sustained virologic response (SVR) may prevent de novo EV development in patients with HCV‐induced cirrhosis. We studied 218 patients with compensated EV‐free, HCV‐induced cirrhosis consecutively enrolled between 1989 and 1992 at three referral centers in Milan, Italy. Endoscopic surveillance was performed at 3‐year intervals according to international guidelines. SVR was defined as undetectable serum HCV‐RNA 24 weeks after treatment discontinuation. During a median follow‐up of 11.4 years, 149/218 (68%) patients received antiviral treatment and 34 (22.8%) achieved SVR. None of the SVR patients developed EV compared with 22 (31.8%) of the 69 untreated subjects (P < 0.0001) and 45 (39.1%) of the 115 non‐SVR patients (P < 0.0001). On multivariate analysis, HCV genotype 1b (hazard ratio [HR] 2.40; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.17‐4.90) and baseline model for end‐stage liver disease (MELD) score (HR 1.20; 95% CI 1.07‐1.35 for 1 point increase) were independent predictors of EV. Conclusion: In the long term, the achievement of SVR prevents the development of EV in patients with compensated HCV‐induced cirrhosis. Therefore, in these patients, endoscopic surveillance can be safely delayed or avoided. Genotype 1b infection and MELD score identify the subset of patients at higher risk of EV development who need tailored endoscopic surveillance. Hepatology 2010


Coal Seam Gas (CSG) activities have mobilised new political coalitions across the traditional left/right political divide in the eastern Australian states. Through the charting of these activities we propose the concept of 'networked energy citizenship' to capture the tensions between fossil fuel capital and the rural and urban alliances that form in response to a range of concerns and unexpected connections. These include bubbling rivers, pipelines routes and new duties thrust upon landholders. We emphasise the advantages of analysing online data around energy issues as part of traditional qualitative data gathering. This article reports empirical findings from a custom database of tweets around CSG issues and theorises the politics of knowledge at stake in this challenge to state-appointed expertise. We apply the Economic Sociology concepts of 'bridging' and 'brokering', to analyse the distinctive structure of the online issue networks around CSG; however, we remain wary of claims of predictive power which tend to gloss the material conditions and political character of these networks. For this reason, online expressions of concern around unconventional gas should be understood as 'events' implicated in a wider set of economic, political and techno-scientific processes.


The H2O Southern Galactic Plane Survey (HOPS) has mapped 100 deg2 of the Galactic plane for water masers and thermal molecular line emission using the 22 m Mopra telescope. We describe the automated spectral-line fitting pipelines used to determine the properties of emission detected in HOPS data cubes, and use these to derive the physical and kinematic properties of gas in the survey. A combination of the angular resolution, sensitivity, velocity resolution and high critical density of lines targeted make the HOPS data cubes ideally suited to finding precursor clouds to the most massive and dense stellar clusters in the Galaxy. We compile a list of the most massive HOPS ammonia regions and investigate whether any may be young massive cluster progenitor gas clouds. HOPS is also ideally suited to trace the flows of dense gas in the Galactic Centre. We find the kinematic structure of gas within the inner 500 pc of the Galaxy is consistent with recent predictions for the dynamical evolution of gas flows in the centre of the Milky Way. We confirm a recent finding that the dense gas in the inner 100 pc has an oscillatory kinematic structure with characteristic length-scale of 20 pc, and also identify similar oscillatory kinematic structure in the gas at radii larger than 100 pc. Finally, we make all of the above fits and the remaining HOPS data cubes across the 100 deg2 of the survey available to the community.


This article analyses the reforms put into effect in the mid-1990s with the aim of setting in motion a process of profound changes in pre-school, basic and secondary education in Chile, the main changes made, and some of the achievements and difficulties of this process as seen at the present day. It begins by describing the initial context of the reforms, in which, as the objectives of full coverage of the educational system had been largely achieved, the new objective addressed was to improve the quality of education with equity. It also makes reference to the institutional changes which had taken place in the organization of education: the consolidation of the system of subsidies and the transfer of educational establishments to the municipalities in the 1980s, and the change in teachers' working conditions in the 1990s. It then summarizes the main initiatives taken to improve education in the 1990s. The central part of the article deals with the four main pillars of the educational reform process: programmes to improve and modernize teaching methods; the professional development of teachers and the incentives offered for this; the reform of educational curricula, and the introduction of full-day rather than half-day classes. It concludes with an appraisal of the achievements made and the difficulties encountered; among the first are the high priority given to education within the increased allocation of public and private resources, the emphasis on equity in the measures taken to improve education, and the continuity of the policies followed throughout the 1990s; among the second are the relatively poor results still obtained by most pupils and the learning gap that those results imply.


The success of a Decision Support System (DSS) can be influenced by many complex and intertwined factors which are often not clearly understood. This research investigates one such factor, that of the tools and techniques used by system analysts to assist them in the development of a successful DSS. By using a combination of quantitative and qualitative techniques it was firstly determined what tools and techniques were used by system analysts during DSS analysis activities, and second it was determined how and why system analysts used these tools and techniques. The outcome of this research is a series of findings that would assist not only a novice, but also a more experienced, systems analyst to more effectively determine the user requirements during DSS analysis activities.


In Dutch, adpositional arguments and adjuncts which are semantically close to the verb easily form pronominal adverbs made up of an adverb like er 'there' or daar 'there' and an adposition (e.g., erin [there.in], daarop [there.on]). Such a semantically close relation typically exists between the verb and objects or adjuncts of direction and place: direction and place narrowly delimit the type of action or situation described by the verb. Moreover, even though there is a wide range of adpositions that can follow the verb to express direction or place, the choice of the adposition is dependent on the verb meaning. This justifies the easiness with which objects and adjuncts of direction and place pronominalize. Pronominal adverbs corresponding to objects of direction and place differ, however, from those corresponding to adjuncts of direction and place, in that the former are more likely to occur as separate forms. The explanatory motivation, it is shown in this paper, is that the adposition (i.e., the second part) of a pronominal adverb of an object of direction or place needs to immediately precede the verbal end group, in accordance with the inherence principle.


Near real-time continuous monitoring systems have been proposed as a promising approach for enhancing drinking water utilities detect and respond efficiently to threats on water distribution systems. Water quality sensors are aimed at revealing contamination intrusions, while hydraulic pressure and flow sensors are utilized for estimating the hydraulic system state. To date optimization models for placing sensors in water distribution systems are targeting separately water quality and hydraulic sensor network goals. Deploying two independent sensor networks within one distribution system is expensive to install and maintain. It might thus be beneficial to consider mutual sensor locations having dual hydraulic and water quality monitoring capabilities (i.e. sensor nodes which collect both hydraulic and water quality data at the same locations). In this study a multi-objective sensor network placement model for conjunctive monitoring of hydraulic and water quality data is developed and demonstrated using the multi-objective non-dominated sorted genetic algorithm NSGA II methodology. Two water distribution systems of increasing complexity are explored showing tradeoffs between hydraulic and water quality sensor location objectives. The proposed method provides a new tool for sensor placements.


In the scholarly community, the concept of complexity is typically associated with science. However, the consumer view on complexity is different. To understand the conceptual structure of complexity, the author analyzed self-declared interests harvested from complexity-related blogs in LiveJournal. The author arranged the interests into a semantic network, based on their similarity of use. The network has a modular structure and consists of four clusters linked with four aspects of complexity: Science, Philosophy, Art and Soul. Apparently laypersons perceive complexity not only as a scientific phenomenon but also as an intricacy associated with creativity, search for wisdom, and a potentially painful soul search.


The TEEM 2018 Conference was held in Salamanca (Spain) from October 24 to October 26, 2018. The Doctoral Consortium track was organized as a poster session. This is the poster corresponding to the paper "Utilizing technological ecosystems to support graduate students in their practicum experiences". This article (which form part of a doctoral thesis) explores mentoring that uses 21st century technologies and its implications for learning. The paper outlines how mentoring, enabled by technology, supports the growth of students and their social, academic and practical dimensions through the creation of informal partnerships with mentors. Additionally, it describes how online mentoring assists learners on their path towards an academic practicum semester and which components of online mentoring they need to apply. Given this educational and social context, a mentoring program may improve the skills of future professionals in the field of marketing by improving and stimulating the acquisition of transversal competencies with the support of other specialists and students in the same field of training. The program is intended for students of the fifth and sixth semester of the Marketing Program of the University of Manizales (Colombia). To do this, we propose a pre-post, quasi-experimental study linking different instruments for collection of information using quantitative and qualitative methods. Furthermore, this ongoing mentoring program in its various forms is attractive to the educational field as well as to corporate businesses that have acknowledged the potential import and efficiency of online mentoring programs. When the study is applied, its characteristics, responsibilities and practices will be also discussed, highlighting the analysis, design, development and evaluation to improve the process.


Roadway Safety Analysis Methodology Samuel Thomas Mineer Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, BYU Master of Science The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) Traffic and Safety Division continues to advance the safety of the state roadway network through network screening and decision making tools. In an effort to aid UDOT in meeting this goal, the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Brigham Young University (BYU) has worked with the Statistics Department in developing analysis tools for highway safety, specifically the Utah Crash Prediction Model (UCPM) and the Utah Crash Severity Model (UCSM). Additional tools and methodologies, such as the "Hot Spot Identification and Analysis," have been created to summarize the roadway characteristics, crash data, and possible countermeasures of roadway segments with safety problems. This research focuses on the creation of a three part "Roadway Safety Analysis" methodology, which applies and automates the cumulative work of recently completed highway safety research conducted for UDOT. The first part is to prepare the roadway data and crash data for the statistical analysis. The second part is to perform the network screening statistical analysis; rank the segments by state, UDOT Region, and county; and select segments of interest. The third part is to compile and publish the Roadway Safety Analysis reports for the selected segments of interest. These parts are accomplished using the automation tools and graphical user interfaces (GUIs), which are documented in three respective volumes of user manuals. The automation tools and GUIs were developed with checks and processes to allow the Roadway Safety Analysis methodology to be completed with new, updated roadway and crash datasets. The Roadway Safety Analysis methodology allows future iterations of the UCPM and UCSM analysis and compilation of the Roadway Safety Analysis reports to be conducted in a user friendly environment. A series of critical data columns were identified to communicate the need for data consistency for future iterations of this safety research. An example of the entire process of the Roadway Safety Analysis methodology is given to illustrate how the three parts tie together. The overall process has automated data processing tasks, which saves time and resources for the analyst to investigate possible safety measures for segments of interest. Recommendations for future highway safety research are given, including continued development of the Roadway Safety Analysis methodology, an analysis of intersections and horizontal curves, the implementation of the Roadway Safety Analysis methodology to other states, and the advancement of safety countermeasures and geospatial tools for highway safety research.


The analysis of Proxima Centauri's radial velocities recently led Anglada-Escudé et al. to claim the presence of a low-mass planet orbiting the Sun's nearest star once every 11.2 days. Although the a priori probability that Proxima b transits its parent star is just 1.5%, the potential impact of such a discovery would be considerable. Independent of recent radial velocity efforts, we observed Proxima Centauri for 12.5 days in 2014 and 31 days in 2015 with the Microwave and Oscillations of Stars space telescope. We report here that we cannot make a compelling case that Proxima b transits in our precise photometric time series. Imposing an informative prior on the period and phase, we do detect a candidate signal with the expected depth. However, perturbing the phase prior across 100 evenly spaced intervals reveals one strong false positive and one weaker instance. We estimate a false-positive rate of at least a few percent and a much higher false-negative rate of 20%–40%, likely caused by the very high flare rate of Proxima Centauri. Comparing our candidate signal to HATSouth ground-based photometry reveals that the signal is somewhat, but not conclusively, disfavored (1σ–2σ), leading us to argue that the signal is most likely spurious. We expect that infrared photometric follow-up could more conclusively test the existence of this candidate signal, owing to the suppression of flare activity and the impressive infrared brightness of the parent star.


Systematic reviews have provided some insight into the impact of interprofessional collaborative practice on patient outcomes. Despite strong interest in interprofessional collaborative practice, relatively little is known about its impact in primary care settings. This scoping literature review describes the essential elements of an interprofessional primary care practice and explores what is known about its impact on patient care including clinical, humanistic, and economic outcomes. We completed a review of the literature examining the breadth of knowledge related to interprofessional collaborative practice in primary care settings. A search was conducted to identify studies based on predefined criteria. A total of 51 studies met the criteria. A total of 27 studies reported a significantly positive clinical outcome with the interprofessional collaborative practice model, 27 studies reported no difference, and one study reported negative outcome in mortality. A total of 15 studies reported a significantly positive humanistic outcome. There was little to no difference in economic outcomes. This study provides new insights for future research that examines the impact of interprofessional primary care practice.


Interpreted languages are widely used due to ease to use, portability, and safety. On the other hand, interpretation imposes a significance overhead. Just-in- Time (JIT) compilation is a popular approach to improving the runtime performance of languages such as Java. We compare the performance of a JIT compiler with a traditional compiler and with an emulator. We show that the compilation overhead from using JIT is negligible, and that the JIT compiler achieves better overall performance, suggesting the case for aggresive compilation in JIT compilers.


To clarify the role of proteases and protease inhibitors in the initiation and execution of endothelial cell movement, we observed the effect of several protease inhibitors on the polarization and locomotor responses of an endothelial cell monolayer subjected to experimental wounding. We found that the thiol protease inhibitor, E-64 (L-transepoxysuccinyl-leucylamido-[4-guanidino]butane) stimulated both cellular processes. The stimulatory effect of E-64 on the polarization response of cells to wounding required a preincubation period of at least 1 hr, calcium-calmodulin interaction, protein kinase C activation, and was blocked by cyclic AMP analogs. The chemokinetic action of E-64 appears to be unique among the protease inhibitors tested and may represent a novel role for this cysteine protease inhibitor or its endogenous counterpart in the modulation of cell locomotion.


Observations and geochemical data provide insight into the paleohydrology influencing development of Mississippi Valley-type deposits in southeast Missouri and provide clarification and justification of flow paths in light of proposals of fault hydrodynamics versus a continuous aquifer model. Faults are recognized as pathways for, as well as horizontal barriers to, fluid flow in a hydrologically compartmentalized region. These relations also indicate that at least two geochemically distinct fluids mineralized Late Cambrian hosts and that these fluids had a similar history of progressive undersaturation with respect to galena.An overview of the synthesis indicates that one of the fluids may have originated in the Reelfoot rift, whereas the other evolved in a recharge area stretching along the Ouachita front and exploited the Reelfoot rift. Northwest-striking faults in the Precambrian basement acted as channels of discharge for flow out of or through the Reelfoot rift. Fluid movement along these pathways was rapid and allowed fluids to reach ore hosts during a migration interval related to the late Paleozoic Ouachita orogeny. Vertical circulation along faults and fracture systems introduced fluids into the existing Paleozoic section. Dispersion into the Lamotte Sandstone, resulting from relative permeability differences between discordant subvertical faults and the adjoining quartzarenite, was restricted to a northwest-trending, fault-bounded corridor and was concentrated at the base of the Bonneterre Formation. Continued vertical movement of fluids maintained fracture networks as vertical pathways, during the period that circulation localized Mississippi Valley-type deposits in the Late Cambrian section.


Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases causing irreversible optic nerve damage. This review presents 4 elements of future glaucoma treatment strategies: baroprotection, vasoprotection, neuroprotection and gene therapy. New baroprotection includes compounds that alter the actin cytoskeleton (rho-kinase inhibitors, latrunculin, cytochalasin), new drugs that enhance aqueous outflow via the trabecular meshwork (statins, steroid antagonists) and via the uveoscleral route (EP2 agonists, 5-HT2 agonists), as well as new classes of components that suppress aqueous humor formation (cannabinoids). Vasoprotection includes blocking reperfusion injury (NOS-2 inhibitors, endothelin blockers, MMP-9 inhibitors). Concerning neuroprotection antiamyloids antibodies, erythropoietin and caspase inhibitors are discussed. Gene therapy may target various effectors: the trabecular meshwork (cytoskeleton regulatory proteins, miocyllin, MMPs), the ciliary body epithelium (genes modifying aqueous humor production, neuropeptides), the ciliary body cells (MMPs, genes of local PGs biosynthesis, ciliary muscle relaxants), the retinal ganglion cells (neurotrophin genes, anti-apoptotic genes), Müller cells (neurotrophins, GLAST) and conjunctiva (gene of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase, inhibitor p21). Experimental studies on the graft mesenchymal stem cells and mature retinal cells to replace the dead retinal ganglion cells are advanced. Immunotherapy, offering a vaccination, providing protection against loss of retinal ganglion cells, has been investigated.


Two novel chiral ionic liquids S-(+)-2-3-dihydroxy-N, N, N-tributyl-propanaminiumtriflate and 1-(2-propoxy)-3-methylimdazolium-borohydride have been prepared using conventional metathesis reaction. These ionic liquids have been subjected to solution cast method followed by ultrasonication to obtain the corresponding ionic liquid gel polymer electrolytes with poly (vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropene) (PVDF-HFP), free-standing, rubbery, dimensionally stable films with a high degree of transparency have been obtained. Thermo-gravimetric analysis confirms that the intermediate solvent, acetone used for mixing PVDF-HFP polymer with ionic liquid is completely evaporated after gelation and drying process. Further thermal properties have been analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry. Scanning electron microscopy micrographs show the different surface morphology of the gel electrolytes according to nature of the ionic liquid. The structural information has been extracted by X-ray diffraction. The ionic conductivities of both polymer-ionic liquid blends are in the order of 10 -3 to 10 -5 S cm -1 . Electrochemical stability window of these polymer electrolytes ranges from 4.0 to 5.0 V. Various physicochemical properties and fast ion conduction in the gel polymer membranes show their promising characteristics as electrolytes in different ionic devices.


This paper discusses the new demands that are placed on tools and methods used in industrial product development due to the transformation of industrial companies from hardware producers to function providers, including some effects on collaborative engineering. Traditionally, manufacturing industry focuses on providing excellent goods, i.e. hardware. Services occur on an aftermarket, as an add-on to the developed hardware. By supplying functions, companies can gain control of the aftermarket. The responsibility and availability of the functions provided by hardware remains with the function provider as well as the responsibility for maintenance and spare parts. This approach, a new business mode, is a response to a necessity for business-to-business collaboration to gain economy––of-scale partnerships in the extended enterprise and ultimately to be able to develop competitive offers [1] [2]. Hence, the shift in view is a move towards providing functions, taking a lifecycle commitment for the hardware as well as optimizing the availability of its function in the customers'' system. The redirection from hardware development to a process where development of functions is in focus is hereafter referred to as Functional Product Development.


Judicial activism does not have an agreed definition. However, two major groups of definitions can be identified. One can be viewed as emerging from a jurisprudential vantage point, the other from a political science or theory of the state viewpoint. The jurisprudential gateway offers a non-relational definition of judicial activism - examining to which extent courts allow themselves leeway, freedom and discretion in interpreting existing norms (constitutional and legislative and indeed common law ones) and to what degree the courts allow themselves departures from previous rulings - the degree of changes in the law the source of which are the courts. The political science gateway adopts a relational definition to judicial activism, focusing on the role of courts in shaping collective decision-making in society relative to the role of the other branches of government - the legislature and the executive - and in relation to the public opinion. The Israeli judiciary is portrayed by scholars as one of the most activist judiciaries in the world, according to both grand definitions of judicial activism. The aim of the paper is to describe the manifestations and forms of judicial activism in Israel in various fields of law - public law and private law - and to analyze the sources of this activism. Among the sources of judicial activism in Israel on which the paper elaborate are: the system of government in Israel, the nature of the legal system as a mixed one, the court structure and especially the public law enforcement procedure, the process of judicial selection and the immense impact of the legal and judicial philosophy of the retired President of the Israeli Supreme Court - Aharon Barak. Some of the examples of judicial activism which are dealt with in the paper are the courts' involvement in matters of security, the war against terrorism and the Occupied Territories, judicial review of the legislation and administration without constitution empowerment, judicial made bill of rights and purposive and broad interpretation of private law legislation in the areas of contract, torts and unjust enrichment. The paper concludes with analysis of the recent public debate and reaction to increasing judicial activism in Israel. The Israeli example seems to support the Madisonian argument that the right structure of government, and more specifically the right division of powers, can be sufficient to nourish a liberal democracy, even against a lack of an entrenched bill of rights. However, it argues that such division ought to be entrenched in a formal constitution. Otherwise, changing and difficult circumstances, combined with irrational political forces, can undermine a vital foundation on which the future success of the democratic process rests.


This paper investigates the underpricing and long-run performance of Initial Public Offerings (IPOs), using a unique sample consisting of 54 British, French and Swedish property companies, which became publicly listed during the period 1984-1999. Similar to common stock IPOs, the European property share IPOs in our sample outperformed the benchmark on the first day of trading, on average with 2.55%. However, these property share IPOs tend to underperform their benchmark over the twelve-month period subsequent to the initial offering. We also examine explanatory factors such as issue size, the degree of debt financing, ex-ante uncertainty, and the underlying property types of the companies involved. The results are in line with those previously found for common stocks.


Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a grade IV astrocytoma and the most common form of malignant brain tumor in adults. GBM remains one of the most fatal and least successfully treated solid tumors: current therapies provide a median survival of 12–15 months after diagnosis, due to the high recurrence rate. Glioma Stem Cells (GSCs) are believed to be the real driving force of tumor initiation, progression and relapse. Therefore, better therapeutic strategies GSCs-targeted are needed. Resveratrol is a polyphenolic phytoalexin found in fruits and vegetables displaying pleiotropic health benefits. Many studies have highlighted its chemo-preventive and chemotherapeutic activities in a wide range of solid tumors. In this work, we analyzed the effects of Resveratrol exposure on cell viability, proliferation and motility in seven GSC lines isolated from GBM patients. For the first time in our knowledge, we investigated Resveratrol impact on Wnt signaling pathway in GSCs, evaluating the expression of seven Wnt signaling pathway-related genes and the protein levels of c-Myc and β-catenin. Finally, we analyzed Twist1 and Snail1 protein levels, two pivotal activators of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) program. Results showed that although response to Resveratrol exposure was highly heterogeneous among GSC lines, generally it was able to inhibit cell proliferation, increase cell mortality, and strongly decrease cell motility, modulating the Wnt signaling pathway and the EMT activators. Treatment with Resveratrol may represent a new interesting therapeutic approach, in order to affect GSCs proliferation and motility, even if further investigations are needed to deeply understand the GSCs heterogeneous response.


In this paper we describe an experiment investigating the ability of participants to identify multiple, concurrently playing structured sounds, called earcons. Several different sets of earcons were compared, one "state of the art" set based on the guidelines of Brewster [1], and other sets of earcons modified to take account of auditory scene analysis principles. The effect of the number of concurrently playing earcons on identification was also investigated, with instances of 1, 2, 3 and 4 concurrently playing earcons tested. Overall, performance was low, with less than two earcons being successfully identified in any condition. However it was found that both staggering the onset times of each earcon, as well as presenting each earcon with a unique timbre, had a significantly positive effect on identification.


Legal research technology has changed dramatically in the last fifteen years, and it is time for law school legal research programs to catch up. Students entering law school are increasingly less comfortable with using print materials, and at the same time, electronic search technology is no longer modeled on a print-based system. Current legal research pedagogy, developed in the context of a print-based research environment, is waning in utility and may soon be moot. In order to give law students the skills to conduct effective legal research, and to adapt those skills to future technological development, we need to rethink how we teach and assess legal research.This article argues that we should make information literacy the foundation of legal research instruction. By reframing the goal of legal research instruction as increasing the information literacy (specifically, the legal information literacy) of our students, we will be able to leverage the research skills they already possess and instill in them skills that are transferable to the legal research tools of tomorrow. The article first traces the history of how legal research is taught and introduces the idea of information literacy as a new way of thinking about legal research instruction. It then presents the results of our survey of incoming law students' research training, habits, practices, and beliefs. Finally, it discusses how the theory of information literacy and our survey results can be used to rethink the way legal research is taught. With this in mind, we can begin to develop methods of research instruction that result in an increased level of legal information literacy, no matter the students' starting points.


Peda is one of fermented fish product without further drying process, so it still classified as an intermediate moisture food where the fermentation process is still exist. The objective of research was to know the influence of salt concentration on peda spontaneous fermentation process. The treatment was immersion on salt concentrations (30%, 40%and 50%) with two salting phase. Parameters which observed were pH, water activity (aw), total viable count (TVC), lactic acid bacteria count (LAB) and salt content during 0, 6, and 14 days of fermentation. The changes of raw material and its chemical composition were also analyzed include moisture, ash, protein and lipid, while total volatile basic (TVB) and trimethylamine (TMA) were observed at the end product a long with the sensory test. During the fermentation process, the value of pH, aw, salt content and log TVC decreased, while the BAL total log increased. The proximate analyses showed that the moisture and protein on raw material were 73.91% and 22.01% respectively which higher with the product 52.71-53.94% for moisture and 20.15-21.54% for protein, while ash and lipid raw material were 3,22% and 0,22% respectively which lower from its product 1.25-1.37% for ash dan 15.96-16.90% for lipid. The content of TVB (18.42-16.78mg/ 100 gr) and TMA (3.35-2.23 mg/ 100 gr) of peda were decrease while increasing the salt content (30-50%). The sensory test indicated no significant different result in between all treatments. Therefore, the determination of selected product was based on the result of sensory test eg. 30% salt. Keywords: chub mackerel, fermenstation, peda, Rastrelliger sp


Radiolabelled antagonistic bombesin analogues are successfully used for targeting of gastrin-releasing peptide receptors (GRPR) that are overexpressed in prostate cancer. Internalization of antagonistic bombesin analogues is slow. We hypothesized that the use of a non-residualizing radioiodine label might not affect the tumour uptake but would reduce the retention in normal organs, where radiopharmaceutical would be internalized. To test this hypothesis, tyrosine was conjugated via diethylene glycol linker to N-terminus of an antagonistic bombesin analogue RM26 to form Tyr-PEG2-RM26. [111In]In-DOTA-PEG2-RM26 was used as a control with a residualizing label. Tyr-PEG2-RM26 was labelled with 125I with 95% radiochemical purity and retained binding specificity to GRPR. The IC50 values for Tyr-PEG2-RM26 and DOTA-PEG2-RM26 were 1.7 ± 0.3 nM and 3.3 ± 0.5 nM, respectively. The cellular processing of [125I]I-Tyr-PEG2-RM26 by PC-3 cells showed unusually fast internalization. Biodistribution showed that uptake in pancreas and tumour was GRPR-specific for both radioconjugates. Blood clearance of [125I]I-Tyr-PEG2-RM26 was appreciably slower and activity accumulation in all organs was significantly higher than for [111In]In-DOTA-PEG2-RM26. Tumor uptake of [111In]In-DOTA-PEG2-RM26 was significantly higher than for [125I]I-Tyr-PEG2-RM26, resulting in higher tumour-to-organ ratio for [111In]In-DOTA-PEG2-RM26 at studied time points. Incorporation of amino acids with hydrophilic side-chains next to tyrosine might overcome the problems associated with the use of tyrosine as a prosthetic group for radioiodination.


Is a firm's ability to export an important determinant of environmental performance? To answer this question, we construct a unique micro dataset that merged two rich firm-level datasets for China for 2007. When combining this new dataset with well-received empirical specifications, we found that both export status and export intensity are associated with lower sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions intensity. In addition to the traditional OLS estimation, we verified this association by using the propensity score matching method. Our findings show that the baseline result still holds. In short, exporters are more environmentally friendly than non-exporters, which is in line with previous evidence reported for developed economies. We further discuss mechanisms that explain the observed pattern and show that exporters realize higher abatement efforts compared to non-exporters. This study complements the literature in terms of providing China's micro evidence on SO2 abatement efforts. It also serves as a first step toward a better understanding of the impact of trade on the environment, especially in developing countries.


Starting Out with Alice: A Visual Introduction to Programming presents a fun and motivational way for novice programmers to learn the basic tenets of programming. Using Alice, an innovative and increasingly popular teaching tool, readers from a variety of backgrounds create virtual programming worlds of animations and computer games. In the successful style of Tony Gaddis texts, useful examples and detail-oriented explanations allow students to become comfortable with fundamental concepts of programming without dealing with frustrating syntax errors and complex design techniques. With the knowledge acquired using Alice, students gain confidence in their skills to transition into Java or other programming languages.


Keeping in pace with the increasing importance of commerce conducted over the Web, several e-commerce websites now provide admirable facilities for helping consumers decide what product to buy and where to buy it. However, since the prices of durable and high-tech products generally fall over time, a buyer of such products is often faced with a dilemma: Should she buy the product now or wait for cheaper prices?
 We present the design and implementation of Prodcast, an experimental system whose goal is to help consumers decide when to buy a product. The system makes use of forecasts of future prices based on price histories of the products, incorporating features such as sales volume, seasonality, and competition in making its recommendation. We describe techniques that are well-suited for this task and present a comprehensive evaluation of their relative merits using retail sales data for electronic products. Our back-testing of the system indicates that the system is capable of helping consumers time their purchase, resulting in significant savings to them.


Abstract. We describe here the development and evaluation of an Earth system model suitable for centennial-scale climate prediction. The principal new components added to the physical climate model are the terrestrial and ocean ecosystems and gas-phase tropospheric chemistry, along with their coupled interactions. The individual Earth system components are described briefly and the relevant interactions between the components are explained. Because the multiple interactions could lead to unstable feedbacks, we go through a careful process of model spin up to ensure that all components are stable and the interactions balanced. This spun-up configuration is evaluated against observed data for the Earth system components and is generally found to perform very satisfactorily. The reason for the evaluation phase is that the model is to be used for the core climate simulations carried out by the Met Office Hadley Centre for the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5), so it is essential that addition of the extra complexity does not detract substantially from its climate performance. Localised changes in some specific meteorological variables can be identified, but the impacts on the overall simulation of present day climate are slight. This model is proving valuable both for climate predictions, and for investigating the strengths of biogeochemical feedbacks.