One of the many challenges faced in fatigue assessment today is determining the stress concentration factor 'SCF' associated with the dents, which are used with appropriate SN curves to determine the fatigue life. This historically has been determined empirically or by using finite element analysis. This paper presents finite element analysis on a parametric range of industry pipes (both offshore and onshore) to extract SCF data used for fatigue assessment. The parametric dataset focuses on the effects of pipe geometry, dent geometry, material properties and pressure cycling on the prediction of the fatigue life. This parametric dataset will eventually be used to develop an algorithm for fatigue prediction using an artificial neural network. Two types of indenters (Dome and Bar) are used to simulate circumferential and longitudinal dents. Four different dent depths ranging from 2% d/D to 10% d/D are also simulated to investigate the effect of dent geometry. Four different pipe grades (X42, X65, X80 and X100) are analysed to investigate the effect of pipe materials on dent fatigue. Similarly, eight pipes with different diameter to thickness ratio D/t ranging from 18-96 are analyzed to investigate the effect of pipe geometry. Stresses are computed at both 50% SMYS and 72% SMYS to investigate the effect of pressure variation. The results from this study indicate that longitudinal dents have higher stress concentrations compared to circumferential dents of similar dent depth. Results also indicate that the re-round dent depth (i.e. dent depth after pressurization) increases with increasing D/t and increasing dent depth. Similarly, the pipe material has a major effect on the fatigue life. Pipes with higher material strength have higher stress concentration compared to pipes with lower strength of similar dent depth. The stress concentration factors SCF associated with the dents are then computed.


Many tiny force sensors Several techniques can measure forces on biomolecules, but the need to connect the molecule to the macroscopic world often limits the rate at which data can be taken. Nickels et al. created large arrays of nanoscale force sensors by using DNA origami structures. Single-stranded DNA molecules of different lengths attached to the molecule of interest acted as entropic springs, with shorter strands exerting more force. The authors used their setup to study the bending of DNA induced by the TATA-binding protein. Science, this issue p. 305 A self-assembled molecular force clamp built from DNA enables highly parallelized force spectroscopy measurements. Forces in biological systems are typically investigated at the single-molecule level with atomic force microscopy or optical and magnetic tweezers, but these techniques suffer from limited data throughput and their requirement for a physical connection to the macroscopic world. We introduce a self-assembled nanoscopic force clamp built from DNA that operates autonomously and allows massive parallelization. Single-stranded DNA sections of an origami structure acted as entropic springs and exerted controlled tension in the low piconewton range on a molecular system, whose conformational transitions were monitored by single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer. We used the conformer switching of a Holliday junction as a benchmark and studied the TATA-binding protein–induced bending of a DNA duplex under tension. The observed suppression of bending above 10 piconewtons provides further evidence of mechanosensitivity in gene regulation.


Results from contrastive text linguistics are used to show how systematic differences between an L1 and an L2 can be applied to foreign language didactics for teaching textual skills in a methodical and efficient way. The language pair studied consists of Danish and French, which, belonging to two different language families, Germanic and Romance languages respectively, show many systematic differences in their fundamental structure - within lexicalisation, morphology, and syntax - that turn out to have a predictable impact on text structure. Thus, differences are found between Danish and French texts at the levels of referential coherence in different types of anaphoric expressions, of temporal coherence in different means for fore- and back-grounding events, and of structural coherence in different effects of framing via pre-posed adverbials, etc. Two e-learning programs, TeXtRay and NaviLire, are presented, which exploit such systematic differences between given language pairs in offering different types of navigation and visualisation exercises aimed at teaching textual skills needed at higher university education, such as reading and writing complex academic or specialised texts in a foreign language.


The paper investigates the effect of police presence on homicides at the municipality level in Brazil during the January 2010 to December 2014 period. For this purpose, occasional and illegal police strikes are considered as relevant shocks in a quasi-natural experiment. After controlling for different variables that explain heterogeneity across municipalities, it is possible to identify a sizeable effect accruing from police strikes on the occurrence of homicides. Despite a conservative analysis that involves temporal and spatial aggregation of variables, the evidence indicates that police strikes lead, on average, to a 16% increase in the homicide rate if one considers a broader sample of 3597 municipalities. The focus of the analysis for a large and heterogeneous country also partially may mitigate concerns for external validity that had been raised in the context of previous studies in the related literature.


Introduction It is fascinating to watch the spider at work building its web. One may often wonder where the spider obtains the silk material it uses. This material is a soluble silk protein solution formed inside the spider, which changes into an insoluble natural high-performance protein fiber outside the spider. Scientists have found that the primary constituents of the spider silk (biological material) are two simple amino acids, glycine and alanine. These biomaterials have attracted much interest from scientists, because it is feasible to produce the spider silk proteins. Our simple knowledge of the spider's dragline means that we can produce materials that have excellent mechanical properties and are biocompatible; that is, the body perceives the tissue or other material as non-foreign and accepts it as part of the body. We can also coat materials such as metals, plastics, ceramics, and composites with biocompatible materials. Although the use of this family of materials to repair the human body has been recorded for centuries, advances in the science of biomaterials have enabled doctors, more than ever before, to replace body parts that are nonfunctional (Agrawal, 1998). Typically, implantable materials are classified as polymers, ceramics, metals, and composites. Of these materials, the most widely used for implants are titanium, polyethelene, tricalcium phosphate, and hydroxyapatite (Johnston, et. al, 1999). When biomaterials are introduced to the human body, there are varieties of interactions with the new biological environment, especially with the material's contact with blood and tissue, which sometimes results in the body's rejection of such material. Metallic biomaterials, for example, are generally used for replacement of structural components of the human body where considerable strength or carrying weight is required, such as in most orthopedic implants (hip and knee joints). The metal sometimes corrodes or wears off, releasing metal ions and debris, which may have a toxic effect on tissue (Yamamoto, Honma & Sumita, 1997). One major challenge for biomaterial scientists is to study or understand the toxicity of the materials they use in order to eliminate complications that may arise as a result of toxic materials in the body systems. The Biomaterials Tissue and organ failure resulting from injury or other damage is a major health concern. Treatment options include transplantation, surgical repair, implanting artificial prostheses, and mechanical devices (Persidis, 1999). Biotechnology has allowed for alternative or complementary solutions to numerous health problems. Biotechnology is the use of biochemicals, cells, or parts of living organisms to make products or modify existing ones. The technology allows us to build or change the nature of materials so that they can be used inside the human body. The secret for our body's adapting to a foreign material is the ability of the material to be compatible to the human body and also support tissue growth. Biomaterials for implants have to display a wide range of adaptability to suit the various stages of the bio-integration process of any foreign material that is introduced into the human body. Biomaterials are substances other than food or drugs contained in therapeutic or diagnostic systems that are in contact with tissue or biological fluids, as replacement for soft and hard tissues, for example adhesives and dental materials (Peppas & Langer, 1994). The development of new tissue will rely on biomaterials that physically support tissue growth and stimulate specific cell functions. Such materials combined with inherent biological properties have been shown to improve the regeneration of several tissues including bone and nerve, which can specifically trigger desired cell responses (Collier, Camp, Hudson, & Schmidt, 2000). Sometimes it is necessary to combine materials in order to achieve this purpose (Wang, Khor & Cheang, 1998). …


When the cash-strapped Florida state legislature recently slashed funds for higher education for the third straight year, big across-the-board cuts spilled down through individual state university budgets. But at Florida State University (FSU)—one of the "big four" Florida state schools—the fiscal crisis has turned into a ravaging torrent for a few departments, most of them in the sciences. In the end, unlike at other universities, FSU administrators balanced their budget by firing many faculty members, including many tenured professors. That decimated the geological sciences, oceanography, and anthropology departments.


This paper reports on the realization of a type of micromachined retroreflecting sheeting material. The geometry presented has high reflection efficiency even at large incident angles, and it can be manufactured through polymer replication techniques. The paper consists of two parts: A theoretical section outlining the design parameters and their impact on the optical performance, and secondly, an experimental part comprising both manufacturing and optical evaluation for a candidate retroreflecting sheet material in traffic control devices. Experimental data show that the retroreflecting properties are promising. The retroreflector consists of a front layer of densely packed spherical microlenses, a back surface of densely packed spherical micromirrors, and a transparent spacer layer. The thickness of the spacer layer determines in part the optical characteristics of the retroreflector.


Classification in data mining is one of the well-known tasks that aim to construct a
classification model from a labelled input data set. Most classification models are
devoted to a static environment where the complete training data set is presented to the
classification algorithm. This data set is assumed to cover all information needed to
learn the pertinent concepts (rules and patterns) related to how to classify unseen
examples to predefined classes. However, in dynamic (non-stationary) domains, the set
of features (input data attributes) may change over time. For instance, some features
that are considered significant at time Ti might become useless or irrelevant at time Ti+j.
This situation results in a phenomena called Virtual Concept Drift. Yet, the set of
features that are dropped at time Ti+j might return to become significant again in the
future. Such a situation results in the so-called Cyclical Concept Drift, which is a direct
result of the frequently called catastrophic forgetting dilemma. Catastrophic forgetting
happens when the learning of new knowledge completely removes the previously
learned knowledge.
Phishing is a dynamic classification problem where a virtual concept drift might occur.
Yet, the virtual concept drift that occurs in phishing might be guided by some
malevolent intelligent agent rather than occurring naturally. One reason why phishers
keep changing the features combination when creating phishing websites might be that
they have the ability to interpret the anti-phishing tool and thus they pick a new set of
features that can circumvent it. However, besides the generalisation capability, fault
tolerance, and strong ability to learn, a Neural Network (NN) classification model is
considered as a black box. Hence, if someone has the skills to hack into the NN based
classification model, he might face difficulties to interpret and understand how the NN
processes the input data in order to produce the final decision (assign class value).
In this thesis, we investigate the problem of virtual concept drift by proposing a
framework that can keep pace with the continuous changes in the input features. The
proposed framework has been applied to phishing websites classification problem and
it shows competitive results with respect to various evaluation measures (Harmonic
Mean (F1-score), precision, accuracy, etc.) when compared to several other data mining
techniques. The framework creates an ensemble of classifiers (group of classifiers) and it
offers a balance between stability (maintaining previously learned knowledge) and
plasticity (learning knowledge from the newly offered training data set). Hence, the
framework can also handle the cyclical concept drift. The classifiers that constitute the
ensemble are created using an improved Self-Structuring Neural Networks algorithm
(SSNN). Traditionally, NN modelling techniques rely on trial and error, which is a
tedious and time-consuming process. The SSNN simplifies structuring NN classifiers
with minimum intervention from the user. The framework evaluates the ensemble
whenever a new data set chunk is collected. If the overall accuracy of the combined
results from the ensemble drops significantly, a new classifier is created using the SSNN
and added to the ensemble. Overall, the experimental results show that the proposed
framework affords a balance between stability and plasticity and can effectively handle
the virtual concept drift when applied to phishing websites classification problem. Most
of the chapters of this thesis have been subject to publication


Social impact investments represent a cultural revolution, as they offer the opportunity to pursue financial and social goals simultaneously. However, Social impact investing market configurations are not evolving equally across national contexts. Therefore, in different contexts, different actors may play the pivotal role to make social impact investments more attractive. The present work, by looking at the Italian context, applies a qualitative methodology to study Foundations of Banking Origin (FBOs). This is a specific category of foundation which is bound by law to work and expand the charity sector. It emerges that the role of these entities, inside the philanthropy system, should develop from "impact facilitators" to "impact generators" in promoting social initiatives. Furthermore, the work sustains the importance of introducing a social impact rating system as a formalized methodology to select and finance the worthiest social project. In this perspective, the definition of a clear social rating philosophy and its correct application in the rating system design and use is a necessary condition to increase the solidity of a social impact assessment model.


In this webtext, we share our experiences in a new media graduate course in which students played and experimented with littleBits (modular circuitry designed for easy invention). Students created three-dimensional objects and new media documentation about using littleBits. Modular three-dimensional objects, we argue, provide opportunities to introduce new media to students in ways that disrupt their conventional practices of invention; provide opportunities to explore rhetorical practice as play, failure, and risk-taking; refigure creation as remix and craft; and meet the goals of rhetoric, composition, and technical communication classes in creating rhetorical products that do things in the world.


This paper investigates the robust stability problem for dynamical neural networks in the presence of time delays and norm-bounded parameter uncertainties with respect to the class of non-decreasing, non-linear activation functions. By employing the Lyapunov stability and homeomorphism mapping theorems together, a new delay-independent sufficient condition is obtained for the existence, uniqueness and global asymptotic stability of the equilibrium point for the delayed uncertain neural networks. The condition obtained for robust stability establishes a matrix–norm relationship between the network parameters of the neural system, which can be easily verified by using properties of the class of the positive definite matrices. Some constructive numerical examples are presented to show the applicability of the obtained result and its advantages over the previously published corresponding literature results.


We exploit wide-field Ly α imaging with Subaru to probe the environment around TN J1338−1942, a powerful radio galaxy with a > 100 kpc Ly α halo at z = 4.11. We used a sample of Ly α emitters (LAEs) down to log (LLyα[ erg s−1]) ∼ 42.8 to measure the galaxy density around TN J1338−1942, compared to a control sample from a blank field taken with the same instrument. We found that TN J1338−1942 resides in a region with a peak overdensity of δLAE = 2.8 ± 0.5 on scales of 8 h− 1 Mpc (on the sky) and 112 h− 1 Mpc (line of sight) in comoving coordinates. Adjacent to this overdensity, we found a strong underdensity where virtually no LAEs are detected. We used a semi-analytical model of LAEs derived from the Millennium Simulation to compare our results with theoretical predictions. While the theoretical density distribution is consistent with the blank field, overdense regions such as that around TN J1338−1942 are very rare, with a number density of 6.4 × 10− 8 Mpc− 3 (comoving), corresponding to the densest <0.4 percentile at z ≃ 4.1. We also found that the Ly α luminosity function in the TN J1338−1942 field differs from that in the blank field: the number of bright LAEs (log (LLyα[ erg s− 1]) ≳ 43.3) is enhanced, while the number of fainter LAEs is relatively suppressed. These results suggest that some powerful radio galaxies associated with Ly α nebulae reside in extreme overdensities on ∼3–6 Mpc scales, where star formation and AGN activity may be enhanced via frequent galaxy mergers or high rates of gas accretion from the surroundings.


The year round visitation to Ningaloo Marine Park (NMP) of the coastal manta ray (Manta alfredi) has been investigated using the AATAMS acoustic tagging network. A total of 37 individuals were tagged with acoustic 'pingers', including 6 with depth tags. Over 10,000 detections were recorded along the length of the array over a three year period. Visitation patterns match photographic sighting data and confirm that manta ray visitation to NMP can be grouped into 3 broad categories, seasonal, roaming and resident. Seasonal aggregations of manta rays at NMP coincide with major reef spawning events which also attract other large planktivores such as the whaleshark. Roaming individuals largely comprise adult males, whilst true residency appears to be the domain of large breeding females. These females show strong fidelity to feeding and cleaning sites, where they interact on occasion with both roaming and seasonal individuals. Their occurrence at numerous small-scale spawning events and zooplankton blooms throughout their potential range indicates the importance of local knowledge. Such on-site knowledge may make resident manta rays key regulators of larval recruitment to the reef system and may play an important role in the reduction of potentially invasive species. The currently un-regulated and growing tourism industry appears to rely heavily on the frequent visitation to key areas of resident manta rays. Any avoidance of these high tourism areas by resident animals could be detrimental to both localized reef health and indeed the lucrative tourism industry of NMP. Acoustic tracking is proving invaluable in our understanding of habitat visitation and manta ray residency within NMP and will assist directly with future management of NMP.


As Malaysia continues towards its goal of Vision 2020, the youth of today move closer to becoming the first leaders of a fully developed Malaysia. Currently, however, youth's - the Muslim youth in particular - lifestyles are changing and there is great concern over the socially precarious
behaviours in which many young people are engaging. Though Islam and its rich history are evidence of the efficacy of religion in upwardly transforming human beings in any time or place, the current prevalence of a variety of social problems among Muslims has raised many questions in relation to the Islamic understanding and practice. As such, there is an urgent need to understand and assess the key areas of the religious commitment among the youth - also known as religiosity - and begin to explore in the what ways it might act in as an asset within the nation
building process. In response to this need, the Institute for Community and Peace Studies (PEKKA) at UPM, along with the researchers from UKM, undertook a two-and-a-half year IRPA initiative to develop the religiosity 'norms' for selected groups of Malaysian Muslim youth as a first step
toward understanding their religiosity in a broader context. Overall, the three-phase initiative aimed to: 1) define religiosity from the Islamic perspective; 2) develop a measurement instrument for assessing Islamic religiosity; and 3) obtain religiosity normed scores for the selected groups of Muslim youth. The current paper presents the Islamic religiosity model and instrument constructs, along with some initial findings that indicate relatively higher scores by the respondents on the Islamic Worldwide construct (Islamic understanding) than on the Religious Personality construct (application of Islamic teachings in everyday life). This research ultimately aims to inform policy makers and practitioners at all levels of youth work with the goal of developing interventions to enhance the aspects of the youth religiosity.


Dams strongly impair the fluvial environment by altering downstream flows. We analysed riverscapes downstream of three dams and hypothesized that different dam types in rivers with diverse history of land-use and land cover (LULC) change have significant riparian cover differences at diverse biogeomor- phic units (banks, riverbanks, islands). We performed a temporal comparison using pre-dam (1965) and post-dam (2013) high-resolution airborne imagery. A new approach was devised to correct the spatial offset between historical and contemporary imagery. Riparian vegetation and LULC (200 m-buffer) were mapped in three rivers of Portugal regulated by the dams Touvedo (run-of-river), Vilarinho das Furnas and Fronhas (storage reservoirs). Five landscape metrics, measures of shape complexity, area and edge effect of riparian patches were computed, including the Weighted Class Area, a metric developed to bet- ter interpret the landscape variation. Our findings provide support for the hypothesis of highly altered riverscapes in the post-dam period. For all case studies riparian patches are presently larger, but with less complex shapes and smaller edges. In the present study riparian patches encroach into the river channel, occupy more area and are larger at the two reservoir rivers than at the run-of-river setting. Riparian growth trajectory at the latter is mainly outwards from the active channel and non-vegetated areas in riverbanks and banks are significantly larger; likely due to the washing flows. Redundancy analyses indicated that riparian change was driven by both LULC (agricultural land abandonment and unmanaged forests) and hydrological alterations that jointly determine the structure and spatial trajec- tories of riparian expansion.


An extensive data set of the physical and chemical attributes of two modern hot springs in the Mammoth Hot Springs complex of Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, U.S.A., yields a strong correlation between travertine depositional facies and the temperature, pH, and flux of the hot-spring water from which the travertine precipitated. Because advection dominates in these hot-spring drainage systems, we quantify variability between and within springs in order to construct a hydrologic model that defines the primary flow path in the context of key macroscopic travertine accumulation patterns. This model, based on 343 in situ triplicate measurements, provides the basis for the use of travertine facies models to quantitatively reconstruct hot-spring aqueous temperature, pH, and flux solely from precipitated travertine. As an example reconstruction, we deduce that previously described Pleistocene apron and channel facies travertine quarry deposits from central Italy precipitated from hot-spring waters with a pH of 6.86 6 0.19 and a temperature of 65.4 6 3.6uC.


For over twenty years boron has been of interest to investigators confirming the safety and essentiality of the element in humans. Fruits, vegetables, nuts, and pulses are natural sources of boron in the diet which world wide averages about 1-3 mg daily for most adults. In boron-rich regions of Turkey drinking water sources with 29 mg boron/liter are consumed without harmful effects. The European Union established a safe drinking water standard of 1.0 mg boron/ litre a level difficult for some regions to achieve. Safe standards are difficult to establish due to limited information and widely varying boron concentrations in food and water, high exposures in boron-rich regions or occupational settings and voluntary intakes, for example, of boron containing products. Current research implicates boron as an essential nutrient in humans demonstrating healthful effects in cellular functions associated with osteoporosis, arthritis, inflammation and cancer. Proposed mechanisms of action implicate that boron, found in cells as boric acid, participates in important membrane functions and intracellular signaling cascades. Traditionally, biochemical mechanisms associated with health- fully beneficial effects are needed for nutrients to meet the criteria for essentiality in humans. While boron meets the traditional criteria to be determined essential in humans the research process has provided additional insight into essential- ity for boron insight that essentiality for trace elements may based on different criteria. The study of boron in living systems provides a more fundamentally important role by demonstrating functions for trace elements differing from those needed to confirm essentiality previously for carbon based compounds, i.e., carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and vitamins in human nutrition. To conclude, boron can be a model element to introduce a new field of study, "elementomics". Further studies from boron-rich areas are needed to determine essentiality, dietary requirements, metabolic functions, therapeutic applications, economic benefits and important public policies for boron, a biologically important trace element.


Labor relations during the run up to and duration of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in 1915 have been called the "Pax Panama Pacifica" thanks to unwritten agreements between fair planners and key labor unions in San Francisco. Fair planners intended to use the exposition to declare California's ascendance as an economic stronghold in the Pacific, but the staging of it involved work that was inexorably bound with local, domestic, class, race, and gender conflicts in the Progressive Era. This article looks at why avoiding labor strife was critical to fair organizers' objectives, and examines in particular the groups for whom the peace did not hold: unskilled workers, women, people of color, and foreign performers.


The understanding of the phenomenon leading to pancreatic β-cell mass regulation represents a critical step in the development of regenerative therapy for diabetic patients. Type 1 (T1D) and type 2 (T2D) diabetes are characterized by a near-absolute or a relative deficiency of β-cells numbers, respectively. In T1D, at the time of clinical diagnosis, approximately 60–80% of the insulin-producing cells have been destroyed (1). With the currently available treatments, patients with T1D and T2D develop severe long-term complications that clearly reduce their life expectancy (2–4). While insulin replacement continues to be the primary treatment, the need to establish a precise and physiological glucoregulation in order to avoid complications has led to multiple avenues of alternative interventions. Some studies fulfilled this requirement with allogenic transplantation of human islets or insulin-producing cells (5,6). Still under extensive study, the use of pig islets as an alternative source of insulin-producing cells for xenotransplantation seems to be promising and could represent the future of cell therapy for diabetes (7). Other studies have aimed at abrogating the cause of the disease (i.e., the autoimmunity leading to the destruction of β-cells in T1D) (8). Finally, others worked on the reestablishment of an adequate β-cell mass able to restore euglycemia through methods that promote β-cell preservation and/or regeneration in diabetic individuals (9– …


The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of culture - national, organisational, and regional - on the performance of strategic alliances (mergers, acquisitions, or joint ventures) in Eastern Europe. From a research perspective Eastern Europe is very much `virgin territory', in which the effect of Western European management techniques and processes should be uniquely detectable as few have previously existed. There are schools of thought that suggest that because of the years of Soviet domination there may be homogeneity of organisational cultures in the region, which will make the effect of national cultural differences easy to detect. Further, freedom from communism will result in the newly liberated economies exhibiting similar `emerging market' characteristics as the economies evolve, hence pointing towards some homogeneity of regional influences. Alternatively, many observers suggest that Eastern Europe, having been freed from Soviet domination, is re-establishing latent forms of free market systems that have been dormant during the Soviet era, and consequently the markets' development can be thought of as 'reemergence'. These issues of cultural differences and emerging market characteristics have not been previously researched at the organisational level in this environment. Hitherto international strategic alliances have largely been unsuccessful from the viewpoints of either management or investors. The reasons for this are thought to lie in the implementation phase of the management of the alliance, as it is now recognised that value can only be added after the deal or agreement has been signed. Within the implementation phase, cultural integration is thought to be the major challenge. Cultural integration may have different challenges in Eastern Europe because of the issues outlined above. An exploratory study based on inductive methods has established that there is nohomogeneity of organisational cultures in the region. The findings are in accordance with the small group of researchers who suggest that is the manner in which different cultures are managed, rather than the cultural differences themselves, which creates a basis for successful integration. Additionally, two factors, the effects of experience and reputation, not prominent in the management literature, are identified as important in the integration process. It is postulated that success in managing the integration process is a function of organisational capability as much as the adoption of a formulaic process based on best practice or theoretical considerations, and a model for assessing such capability is proposed. The findings suggest that the markets of Eastern Europe are following patterns of `reemergence' rather than `emergence', and the study questions whether in fact emerging markets display common characteristics which are observable at the level of the firm.


Searching in audio archives is potentially very useful, and good evaluations can guide development to realize that promise. However most current evaluation programs are technology-centric, rather than user-oriented and task-centric. This paper examines current and potential audio search needs and scenarios, and presents a sample set of thirty-two diverse audio search tasks to support more realistic evaluations.


This PhD thesis addresses three questions. First, to what extent was the EU's vision of 'active ageing' adopted in EU15 nations between 1995 and 2005? Second, what was the nature of policy reforms in these nations over this time period? Finally, which sub-groups within the older age cohort (here defined as between 50-74)1 were subject to active ageing policies in these countries? The methodology employed was cross-national policy analysis of EU15 nations' policies for employment and retirement, encompassing the retention and re-engagement of older individuals in the labour market. The policy areas included are unemployment benefits, active labour market policies, state pension ages, early retirement routes and incentives for the deferral of pension receipt, in line with the EU targets and guidelines regarding 'active ageing'. In addition, model biographies (divided according to age and contribution records) were employed to address the differential policy treatment of individuals within the older age cohort in terms of the various eligibility criteria and policy options available over the ten year period. The data indicates that though EU15 nations have made progress towards the EU policy prescriptions for active ageing, there is variation in a number of respects. First, nations differed in terms of their policy contexts, and as a result had lesser or greater distances to travel towards the EU vision of active ageing. Second, and related, these policy contexts to a degree directed subsequent national reforms and retrenchment, thus resulting in different policy approaches. Finally, at the micro-level, there is variation with regard to the policy treatment of individuals within the age cohort in EU15 nations. As a result, the active ageing policy logic is applied to older individuals differently. In terms of its contributions to knowledge, this thesis therefore provides more nuanced accounts of both the recommodification and reserve army of labour literatures. The recommodification of labour argument suggests that nations are moving away from decommodifying welfare arrangements to focus on the recommodification of labour yet the data demonstrate a great deal of variation in EU15 nations, in terms of their original policies for decommodification, their subsequent retrenchment and the type of policies introduced that recommodify labour. With regard to the reserve army of labour literature, the shift towards active ageing policies is part of a cyclical process whereby older workers are drawn into and ejected from the labour markets in periods of low and high unemployment respectively. The data however indicate that as the political economy of ageing literature suggests, ageing is not a homogenous experience and differential policy treatment within age cohorts maintains and exacerbates divergence at the micro level. Thus whilst the recommodification and reserve army of labour literatures suggest all individuals are being drawn into the labour market, the data emphasises differences at the micro level in terms of policy treatment, in line with the political economy of ageing literature


An All-in-One Resource for Using SAS and R to Carry out Common TasksProvides a path between languages that is easier than reading complete documentationSAS and R: Data Management, Statistical Analysis, and Graphics presents an easy way to learn how to perform an analytical task in both SAS and R, without having to navigate through the extensive, idiosyncratic, and sometimes unwieldy software documentation. The book covers many common tasks, such as data management, descriptive summaries, inferential procedures, regression analysis, and the creation of graphics, along with more complex applications.Takes an innovative, easy-to-understand, dictionary-like approachThrough the extensive indexing, cross-referencing, and worked examples in this text, users can directly find and implement the material they need. The book enables easier mobility between the two systems: SAS users can look up tasks in the SAS index and then find the associated R code while R users can benefit from the R index in a similar manner. Demonstrating the code in action and facilitating exploration, the authors present extensive example analyses that employ a single data set from the HELP study. They offer the data sets and code for download on the books website.


Mechanisms on regulatory coherence or good regulatory practices have emerged as one of the unique features of preferential trade agreements (PTAs) in the age of mega-regionalism. Led by the United States, for instance, the Trans-Pacific Partnership ('TPP'), now known as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership ('CPTPP') introduces a standalone chapter that focuses on the domestic rule-making process. Such design is unique for it goes beyond traditional output-oriented proxies by including a set of input-oriented elements that apply to the rulemaking process of each party, before a regulatory action is taken. These elements, like transparency, public consultation, regulatory impact assessment, inter-agency coordination and review, are in large part modelled on the American Administrative Procedure Act ('APA') and several executive orders with a view to 'rationalising' the administrative lawmaking process and to responding to the concerns about a regulatory state. For years, the US has been exporting this APA-style regulatory philosophy elsewhere: from the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development ('OECD') and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation ('APEC') to trade negotiations to which it is a party, including the above-mentioned TPP and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership ('TTIP'). Notwithstanding these efforts, however, there are hurdles for regulatory coherence to be further diffused as a new global norm since it goes beyond trade to involve complicated economic, social and political endowments of different trading partners. The role of another two major players, namely China and the European Union, is hence of particular significance in this context. This article seeks to sketch out the contour of the emerging regulatory coherence by mapping the trajectory of its historical development and offering a comprehensive survey of how China, European Union, and the United States have managed it across different contexts.


The aim of this paper is the presentation of present state and conditions for the future development of equestrianism in the Mazovia Region (Poland). Considered are potentials and the most important barriers, as well as the possibilities of lifting restrictions and objectives for the dissemination of sport and recreational equestrian. This is one of the thematic threads of research conducted by authors in the selected equestrian clubs in Warsaw and neighbouring communes (in 2008–2019). Theoretical and field (empirical) research on the present offer of equestrian clubs in urban (Warsaw) and suburban (neighbouring) communes was undertaken as part of the long-term and multi-staged statutory projects ds-144, ds-300, ds-316 financed by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education and carried out at the Joseph Pilsudski Academy of Physical Education. Some of the outcomes focused on the sports and recreational horse riding were subjects of the doctoral dissertation, successfully presented by Dr Natalia Łukasik: "Social and cultural conditions for the development of equestrianism in Warsaw and neighbouring communes" (supervisor: Anna PawlikowskaPiechotka). This article presents an outline of research assumptions, results based on the analysis of the research material and advanced synthetic conclusions.


restenosis remains a significant problem in coronary intervention. although stent migrations, collapses, and positioning difficulties remain serious issues, it is the problem of restenosis which is the most common long term problem in treating atherosclerotic coronary arteries with stents. although much attention has focused on biocompatibility, thrombosis and neointimal pathology, less attention has been given to matching stents to the inflation balloon, artery and occlusion size. balloons are typically sized 1–2 mm longer than endovascular stents, yet the effects of the degree of balloon overhang are unknown. In this study, a computational model capable of predicting balloon/stent/artery interactions and their effects on arterial stresses was developed to assess the effects of length mismatch on stent expansion characteristics and arterial stresses. results from this study indicate that maximum arterial stress at balloon contact is approximately proportional to the degree of balloon overhang. a 100% increase in balloon overhang results in a 4% increase in maximum endflare and a 39% change in the peak arterial stress. However, at the end of expansion, which is of the most clinical importance, the increase in maximum endflare is 2% and the increase in maximum arterial stress is 93% at the balloon point of contact and 45% at the point of contact with the far proximal and distal ends of the stent. When comparing the results of calcified and cellular plaque, a maximum endflare of about 55% was observed for both the calcified and cellular plaque cases during expansion. at the end of expansion the increase in maximum endflare was 10% for the cellular plaque and 40% of the calcified plaque. The peak equivalent stress seen by the artery was about 100% larger in the cellular case than in the calcified plaque case.


The efficiency of any metaheuristic algorithm largely depends on the way of balancing local intensive exploitation and global diverse exploration. Studies show that bat algorithm can provide a good balance between these two key components with superior efficiency. In this paper, we first review some commonly used metaheuristic algorithms, and then compare the performance of bat algorithm with the so-called intermittent search strategy. From simulations, we found that bat algorithm is better than the optimal intermittent search strategy. We also analyse the comparison results and their implications for higher dimensional optimization problems. In addition, we also apply bat algorithm in solving business optimization and engineering design problems.


In this paper we describe stochastic finite state model for named entity (NE) identification, based on explicit word-level -gram relations. NE categories are incorporated in the model as word attributes. We present an overview of the approach, describing how the extensible vocabulary model may be used for NE identification. We report development and evaluation results on a North American Broadcast News task. This approach resulted in average precision and recall scores of around 83% on hand transcribed data, and 73% on the SPRACH recogniser output. We also present an error analysis and a comparison of our approach with an alternative statistical approach.


This study is the first to estimate the empirical effects of minimum resale price maintenance (RPM) across a broad variety of products. We analyze conflicting theories using an exogenous state-level law change resulting from the 2007 Leegin Supreme Court decision. In states where RPM contracts are treated under the more relaxed rule-of-reason standard, prices increased. We estimate the welfare impact and find that, in aggregate, consumers are worse off in the rule-of-reason states. Though welfare decreased and prices increased, we find little support for the broad application of any particular theory.


Many Pacific island countries (PICs) report extraordinarily high rates of diabetes mellitus (Tukuitonga 2016). This disease contributes significantly to the dizzying regional and global increases in non-communicable diseases (NCDs). In the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) estimates that 12 per cent of persons aged 20–79 suffer diabetes, against a global average of circa 8.8 per cent (IDF 2017: 126, 41, 43). This In Brief highlights challenges shared with other PICs, especially those of climate change and problems with data, and presents certain FSM efforts to tackle diabetes in this context.


We studied the seasonal dynamics of the invasive ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi over its distribution range from Skagerrak into the Baltic Proper during 1 yr and related this to ambient physical and biological variables. The appearance of M. leidyi was sporadic in the Baltic Proper, with 60‐fold lower abundance than in the Skagerrak and Kattegat (mean 0.02 individual m−3 and 1.16 individual m−3, respectively). M. leidyi typically resided above the halocline (10‐20 m depth), except in the Baltic Proper where they were found deeper. Smaller size classes were underrepresented in the Baltic Proper, indicating failed reproduction or high mortality of the younger life stages. Ninety percent of the M. leidyi were observed at salinities of 22‐29 and 75% of the individuals in water masses warmer than 11°C, i.e., typical late summer to autumn temperatures. Results of a Generalized Additive Model (GAM) indicate that the spatio‐temporal distribution of M. leidyi might be explained by advection of M. leidyi from the Skagerrak and Kattegat area to the Baltic Proper. We conclude that the low salinity (< 9) of the Baltic Proper is likely to restrict successful reproduction and establishment of M. leidyi and that the advection of individuals from higher saline source areas sustained the observed Baltic Proper occurrence.


Designing energy-efficient cognitive radio transceivers requires joint optimization of medium access control and the physical layer implementation. In this paper we show an energy efficiency optimization strategy for IEEE 802.11n compliant transceivers in terms of energy consumed by the receiver per successfully received bit. To this end, we propose and explore several modifications of a conventional physical layer implementation, all of which target energy proportional behavior. The proposed modifications intentionally include operation modes and algorithm choices that are suboptimal with respect to throughput and error-rate performance. Yet, we show how (under ideal conditions) the rate adaptation at the medium access control layer can exploit these modifications to achieve superior energy efficiency that is 44% below that of a rate adaptation targeting only maximum goodput.


OBJECTIVE: This study analyzed the profile of dieticians who work for the National School Food Program and participated in training courses offered by the Schoolchildren's Food and Nutrition Collaborator Center of the Northeastern states in 2007. METHODS: This descriptive, exploratory study used nonprobability sampling to recruit 434 dieticians. Education, work experience, work, activities performed at National School Food Program and sociodemographic variables were analyzed. Pearson's chi square test was used to investigate possible associations between time working for National School Food Program and performed activities. RESULTS: Most participants were females (97.2%) aged 20 to 30 years (42.7%) and graduated more than ten years ago (40.2%). Most were also working only part time in the program (53.3%). The income of most dieticians ranged from 2-5 minimum salaries (64.1%). Most dieticians who frequently performed the analyzed activities had been in National School Food Program for 2-5 years (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: National School Food Program dieticians take on responsibilities that overlap with other areas of knowledge, especially education and administration. In parallel, despite the professional satisfaction, the participants were not very satisfied with their work conditions.


Norm Stamper, formerly chief of the Seattle Police Force and deputy chief of the San Diego Police Department, has written a story unlike any other. Part memoir, part polemic on the state of policing in America, Breaking Rank melds progressive politics with hard-boiled reportage in the tradition of Charles Bukowski and Elmore Leonard. With provocatively titled chapters like "Why White Cops Kill Black Men" and "Sexual Predators in Uniform," Stamper reveals a force that can be racist, corrupt, overly militaristic, and chauvinist, yet is also made up of brave and good men and women. He reflects upon what it is like to kill a man, why drugs should be decriminalized, the correct approach to prostitution and gun control, and how the force should be trained for the future. Stamper's prescriptions for change are both reasoned and challenging, but at no time does Breaking Rank become didactic it is a riveting story told from the perspective of one of America's top cops on the street.


This paper examines highly paid academics – or "top earners" – employed across universities in ten European countries based on a large-scale international survey data of the academic profession. It examines the relationships between salaries and academic behaviors and productivity, as well as the predictors of being an academic top earner. While in the Anglo-Saxon countries the university research mission traditionally pays off at an individual level, in Continental Europe it pays off only in combination with administrative and related duties. Seeking future financial rewards through research does not seem to be a viable strategy in Europe – but seeking satisfaction in research through solving research puzzles is also getting difficult, with the growing emphasis on "relevance" and "applicability" of research. Thus both the traditional "investment motivation" and "consumption motivation" for research are ever-harder to be followed, with policy implications. The primary data come from 8,466 usable cases. This paper examines change processes in Western Europe and in Poland (in a European context) and its main reference point is American higher education scholarship; it is, on the theoretical plane, the founder of the conceptual frameworks to study academic salaries, and, in practical terms, the US science systems heavily draws on European scientific talents.


Sudden death is a serious problem in farm animals. It may occur due to microbial or non-microbial causes. Non-microbial causes may occur sporadically due to internal hemorrhage, severe trauma, rupture of the gut. Farm animals subjected to stressful conditions are highly susceptible to microbial causes of sudden death. It may occur due to bacterial infection as C. chauvoei with spread of vegetative form, producing active toxin. C. tetani produce tetanospasmin which attack CNS causing deaths due to respiratory failure. C. botulinum infection end with complete loss of muscle tone. B. anthracis infection proceeds rapidly showing bleeding from the natural orifices after death. MRSA cause mortality in infected horses. S.equi infected horses show abscesses which obstruct breathing. Salmonella infection shows fever, bloody diarrhea, acute respiratory disease and deaths. Multifactorial diseases causing sudden death in newborn animals include colitis-X and calf scour. The impact of bacterial causes of sudden death in farm animals results in high economic losses due to costs of eradication, decontamination and vaccination programs. Accurate and rapid diagnosis of sudden death cases is essential for setting of control programs to improve animal husbandry. [Sherein I. Abd El-Moez; Nagwa S. Ata; Mona S. Zaki. Bacterial Causes of Sudden Death in Farm Animals. Life Sci J 2013;10(1):1188-1201] (ISSN: 1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite.com. 183


This article is a contribution to our understanding of a largely unexamined part of the history of the Gulag, the story of the children deported from Central and Eastern Europe before and after the Second World War. It suggests a few starting-points for an approach to the specific experience of children in deportation, its variety and late commemoration. It examines the specific forms of the recall and narration of childhood in the Gulag and the mark of these "displaced" years in adult life, particularly via the process whereby the experience is turned into a testimony. The research is based on the corpus of oral testimony collected by the authors and others in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe for the European Memories of the Gulag project.


This thesis is a total coverage survey of the municipal preschool management structure. In the late 90's the preschool in Sweden became the first step in the overall educational system. It became a pedagogical activity similar to school with respect to form and content. Although the focus was on education, political voices reclaimed the unique nature of preschool i.e. educare. It became a preschool in transition between its own tradition and modernization. The idea is that the educational management structure should support a pedagogical leadership that directs the pedagogical activity towards preschool objectives. The local authority sets the structure for management in pre-school; a municipality that in itself is an institution with its own goals and objectives. These objectives can place the municipalities in the cross pressure between their own objectives and the ones for preschool. The question in this respect is; How is the management structure formed and why? Is it a structure formed with the intention of creating educational management for the local preschool or are there other factors that guide the design? A framework based on the historical background of the preschools and theoretical terms such as steering, leading, management, pedagogical leadership, educational activity, etc. was constructed. Results are based on an online questionnaire survey. 180 municipalities out of 290 answered the questionnaire, which gives a response rate at 62 %. The response rate is evenly distributed across municipal categories, categories that the municipalities were aggregated into, formed by The Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions. The categories were handled as survey units, to support a part of the analysis and to allow a comparison between the municipalities by municipality size, both demographic and geographic. The material was analysed using the SPSS statistical program and compiled and reported with descriptive statistics. Descriptive statistics were used to demonstrate the material's characteristics and the central tendency.The results show that the municipalities' structure of management is varied. Different municipal categories do not change this varied picture of the management landscape significantly. Although the management structure varies regarding how many levels with formal titles and which positions and functions they should have, there is a consistency in which title that the formal leader for the preschool have. The municipalities primarily utilise a principalship with mixed responsibility for both preschool and school. In light of these results, do municipalities mould a structure for the educational management for the pedagogical activities in preschool? Yes and no: the municipalities do not form a structure for preschool alone. Results show that the municipalities' main purpose is not to create a line of management specifically for the preschool. The municipalities form a management structure for educational purposes dealing with an educational activity from preschool to elementary school. The new Education Act (2010:800), is a step toward distinguishing preschool leadership from school leadership and turns the leadership of preschools into a title solely for the position and function of preschool educational activities.


Plant root simulator (PRS) probes, a resin membrane technology, are increasingly used to measure soil nutrient availability in agricultural and nonagricultural systems. Like other resin technologies, the charged surface is meant to sorb nutrients until saturation; however, there is evidence that it acts as a dynamic exchanger in soils with low nutrient availability. This study compared the nutrient sorption dynamics of PRS probes during an 8-wk period in a young Andisol forest soil on the island of Hawaii with and without P fertilization. Resin bags, a more established technology, were used to measure nutrient availability as a comparison. The PRS probe sorption dynamics differed for the six nutrients measured. Except for NO 3, nutrient sorption appeared to reach equilibrium with the soil labile pools after 4 wk. Resin bags acted as an infinite sink for NH, 4 +, NO 3 -, and PO 4 3- and sorbed more than the PRS probes. Both technologies detected an increase in P availability due to fertilization. A comparison of nutrient availability from PRS probes and resin bags correlated poorly. Isolation of the PRS probes and resin bags from root activity did not improve measurements of labile nutrients. More research is required to understand the processes behind the apparent desorption of nutrients from the PRS probes in acidic forest soils. If used for a minimum of 4 wk, however, the PRS probes appear to provide an equilibrium measure of labile soil nutrients with high sensitivity to treatment differences.


Arguably the most beautifully decorated building in the United States, the Library of Congress building (recently renamed the Jefferson Building) is celebrating its one hundredth anniversary this year after an eighty million dollar restoration that returned it to its original state. Designed by John L. Smithmeyer and completed in 1897 at a cost of under seven million dollars, the building is enhanced by the art of over forty sculptors and painters whose ranks include such notables as Herbert Adams, Kenyon Cox, Edward Clark Potter, Louis Saint-Gaudens, and John Quincy Adams Ward. The planning and construction are detailed in John Y. Cole's essay, followed by discussions by Henry Hope Reed, Richard Murray, and Thomas P. Somma of the decorations, paintings, and sculptures. The volume concludes with a study of the restoration by Barbara Wolanin, a chronology, a glossary of architectural and decorative terms, and a biographical dictionary of all the artists, architects, and designers who worked on the building. Throughout, noted photographer Anne Day's color images enhance this splendid book.


When languages that are known to be in contact share features, it is often a simple conclusion that these must be due to contact-induced developments. However, such a conclusion needs to be substantiated with careful analysis of crosslinguistic data. This approach will be demonstrated with a case study of an innovation in the Lamunxin dialect of the Tungusic language Ėven. This dialect, which is under strong contact pressure from the Turkic language Sakha (Yakut), is developing a purpose clause marker out of a converb of the generic verb of speech which is structurally parallel to a Sakha purposive construction. Notwithstanding the crosslinguistic frequency of this construction, detailed analysis supports the role of contact in its development in Lamunxin Ėven.


Technology is changing the way we do business. It has made cross-border trade in goods and services easy. Capital is finding ways to profit from the law business. Lawyers strive to serve clients wherever they need help, including outside their jurisdiction of admission. These changes not only affect how American law firms work, they challenge our system for licensing and regulating lawyers. The traditional geocentric model for regulating the bar, based on physical place of practice, is unstable today because lawyers can practice physically in many places and (virtually) in every place, yet no place in particular.The next twenty years are likely to see greater transformation in how the American (and world) legal professions are organized and ply their services than was true for any comparable period in history. We have two choices. We can try to impede these forces in order to preserve a familiar and comfortable world that seems to be slipping away. Or we can decide that today's rules should adapt to accommodate and direct the forces at bay in order to preserve the values of the American bar, which include the efficient delivery of services at reasonable cost. This Article endorses the second goal and describes how we might seek to achieve it.


The Health Promotion Partnership, known as the Monterey County Employee Wellness Program, is committed to the development of programs, services and policy relating to healthy eating, physical activity, tobacco cessation, stress management, overall health, parenting, pregnancy, and breastfeeding. In Monterey County, over half all adults are overweight or obese. Food deserts coupled with lack of knowledge around health concerns that can develop from unhealthy foods, place residents and its employees at an increased risk to become overweight or obese. Some of the most severe consequences of being overweight or obese is the increased risk of developing chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, hypertension as well as some types of cancer. To tackle the growing concern of obesity and lack of healthy snacks and drinks sold in vending machines on county sites, the policy included healthy vending procedures in the new Healthy Food Policy. The project conducted an inventory of snacks and drinks items sold in vending machines at county sites and hosted a Healthy Snack Day tabling event at various county sites to promote the policy. Compared to the baseline, results from the snacks and drinks assessment of vending machine inventory revealed minimal improvement of healthy items. Findings from the survey conducted at the tabling event confirmed employee's high desire for healthy snack and drink vending products at work. It is recommended that the Wellness Program continue to offer support and guidance to the department with the authority to implement the Healthy Food Policy, as well as individual departments as they switch to healthy vending. An assessment of the vending inventory should be conducted per the policy's recommended schedule to document progress as the county works to achieve the purpose of the Healthy Food Policy.


The main body of this thesis consists of six appended papers.The papers are about the theory of the positive real interpolationwith McMillan degree constraint.In Paper A, a parameterization of the positive real residue interpolantswith McMillan degree constraint is given.For a given interpolation data and for each free parameter,a positive real interpolant, of which McMillan degree isequal to the McMillan degree of the maximum entropy interpolant, is obtained bysolving a nonlinear equation, which is homotopic to a nonlinear equation to determinethe maximum entropy interpolant.In Paper B,the state-space realization of the multivariable rational interpolant with bounded McMillan degreeis given by the block discrete-time Schwarz form.A characterization of the positive realness of the block discrete-time Schwarz form isgiven by a linear matrix inequality.In Paper C,a robust controller synthesis for the mismatch of delay in terms ofthe Nevanlinna-Pick interpolation is presented.In Paper D,a Smith predictor synthesis for unstable and minimum-phaseinput delay system and for a first orderunstable distributed delay system is given in terms of the Nevanlinna-Pick interpolation.In Paper E , we study an approximation of spectral density in termsof the generalized Kullback-Leibler distance minimization.For a given spectral density,we seek a spectraldensity by minimizingthe generalized Kullback-Leibler distance subject to a constraint onthe tangential second-orderstatistics.In Paper F, a property of Schur polynomial of real coefficientsand real Toeplitz matrix is given.Suppose that the vector of coefficients of a Schur polynomial annihilatesa Toeplitz matrix, then the Toeplitz matrix is in facta zero matrix.


We propose a computationally highly scalable online anomaly detection algorithm for time series, which achieves with no parameter tuning a specified false alarm rate while minimizing the miss rate. The proposed algorithm sequentially operates on a fast streaming temporal data, extracts the nominal attributes under possibly varying Markov statistics and then declares an anomaly when the observations are statistically sufficiently deviant. Regardless of whether the source is stationary or non-stationary, our algorithm is guaranteed to closely achieve the desired false alarm rates at negligible computational costs. In this regard, the proposed algorithm is highly novel and appropriate especially for big data applications. Through the presented simulations, we demonstrate that our algorithm outperforms its competitor, i.e., the Neyman-Pearson test that relies on the Monte Carlo trials, even in the case of strong non-stationarity.


Planar optical waveguides consisting of layers from different materials created at elevated temperatures usually exhibit substantial stresses. These stresses are caused by thermal-induced strains that originate from the bonding of the layers in addition to intrinsic strains. For the first time, the analytical form of thermal stress formula is derived for the waveguide glass layer of the silicon-based silica waveguide in bilayer structures by the thin-film approximation and under the strain compatibility and the force equilibrium conditions. These conditions address the composite nature of the waveguide glass layer containing the waveguide core layer and the cladding layers within the optical planar waveguide. The developed formula reveals that temperature parameter, material parameters, and structural parameters affect the distribution of the thermal stress. By applying the formula, we demonstrate that it is possible to achieve the thermal stress-free, and, hence, the stress-induced birefringence-free waveguide devices by proper waveguide designs.


The definitive version of this document can be found at http://www.blackwell-synergy.com This document was created using OCR technology, and may contain minor discrepancies from the published document.


Drawing on data collected during 14 months of ethnographic research in an Australian Coastal Hotel, the paper describes the management of service encounters. Hotel staff used meetings and training sessions to simulate service scenarios, hypothesizing `customer wants and needs'. In order to do this they constructed the image of an ideal `Guest', an image that was collectively evoked in order to shape the conduct of service encounters. We claim that these imaginary service encounters mean that the `creators' of this imaginary object become increasingly subjected to its demands. The object, `The Guest', attempts to dominate its creators. The traditional demarcation between subject and object is blurred, and perhaps reversed. Drawing on the neglected work of Günther Anders, the paper inquires into the status of this object and addresses the process of its production and consumption. It demonstrates how subjects and an (imaginary) object become entangled.


We describe a robust shooting algorithm to model backward-pumped Raman amplifiers. This algorithm uses a continuation method and a Jacobi weight in conjunction with the shooting algorithm. We compare this algorithm to the commonly used relaxation algorithm. We find that the shooting algorithm is more flexible, in that it can be applied to amplifiers in which one fixes the gain, in contrast to the standard relaxation algorithm, which can be applied only to two-point boundary-value problems. However, it is less efficient when applied to two-point boundary-value problems, in that it requires more computer time.


The aim of the paper is to disseminate the findings of an empirical study that has had over 600 adult respondents from more than 30 countries. One of the aims of the survey was to address some of the gaps left by previous research relating to historical games (games that represent a historical period, event or place in some way) as pedagogical tools. Previous research covers the use of historical games in formal education and institutions to complement formal curricula (e.g. Squire 2004), for example, playing a game set in World War 2 (WW2) while learning about WW2 in class (Fisher, 2011). The participants in these prior studies were adolescent students or those in Higher Education, and/or studying within a specific historical discipline (Houghton 2015). With the use of any visual media in formal education, the teacher is integral to the learning process (Bage, 1997), but their perceptions of the media's authenticity and their interest in the source material may bias the learner's approach to the content (Stoddard, 2012). The results of the current study make an original contribution to the field by identifying player practices and perspectives in relation to historical games within informal, situated contexts, i.e. without any formal teaching activities taking place or explicit learning goals specified. Furthermore, it includes only adult respondents where less than a quarter are students and over half have non-academic occupations, so in many ways it constitutes a study of the perceptions and practices of the wider general public in relation to historical games, rather than a sub-section of the population whose primary daily activity is to learn about history. In this way, the work might be considered to have much wider impact than these previous studies.
At the time of writing, the survey is still being fully analysed, but the findings arising from these data are important to the empirical study of player practices both in the field of historical game studies as well as games/learning/player-reception studies more generally.

As a whole, the findings from the survey will:

1. Outline players' understandings and perceptions of the history presented in historical games.
2. Explore players' motivations and practices in relation to historical games as well as with other media forms, social or otherwise.
3. Provide some initial understanding of the informal/incidental historical learning that occurs through digital games outside of formal contexts.
4. Summarise player perspectives of the digital game form, in comparison with other visual media.

For example, do players who report playing historical strategy games like Civilization V (Firaxis 2010) believe they are more valuable tools for learning about the past than historical action-adventure games such as Assassin's Creed 3 (Ubisoft 2012)? Do gamers play historical games with the explicit intention of discovering more about the past ("informal learning") or for entertainment alone, but believe they have learned something about history as a by-product of play ("incidental learning")? Does incidental learning via games produce informal learning in other media, such as books or documentaries? Is this relationship reciprocal, i.e. does incidental learning through historical drama produce informal learning with games, for example? The study also asks participants for specific examples of historical games that they perceive to be "authentic" (and conversely "inauthentic") and why, to try and ascertain what elements of historical games they feel contribute to their potential uses for learning, or for what reasons they should be criticised as pedagogical tools. Although it is important to ask these questions about the perceptions of the player, the history and the games, it is also important to find out about the contexts that players engage with them, i.e. do they play online with friends and/or with people they don't know? Do they play co-located, or alone? How likely are players to post to forums or social media in relation to the historical game? What is the content of such social, online interactions? The presentation will end by summarising the findings so far and discussing some of the limitations to this approach. We will also suggest how the results from the study in its entirety will contribute to original knowledge across multiple fields, and how they will be utilised going forward in the next phase of this research.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bage, G. 1997. "How Can We Teach History through Television?" Journal ofEducational Media 23 (2-3): 203–14.
Firaxis Games. 2010. Sid Meier's Civilization V. [PC Computer, Offline Game] 2K Games. Novatao, CA. USA.
Fisher, Stephanie. 2011. "Playing with World War II: A Small-Scale Study of Learning in Video Games." Loading... 5 (8): 71–89.
Houghton, Rob. 2015. "The Influence of Modern Media on Undergraduate Students of Medieval History." Paper presented at The Middle Ages in the Modern World Conference, Lincoln, June 29 - July 2.
Squire, Kurt D. 2004. "Replaying History." Unpublished PhD thesis. Indiana University, Bloomington.
Stoddard, J. 2012. "Film as a Thoughtful Medium for Teaching History." Learning, Media and Technology 37 (3): 271–88.
Ubisoft Montreal. 2012. Assassin's Creed III. [Xbox 360, Offline Game]. Ubisoft. Montreuil France.


We study the effect of electron beam irradiation on the bending modulus of multiwall carbon nanotubes grown by chemical vapor deposition. Atomic force microscopy observations of the nanotube deflection in the suspended-beam geometry suggest an internal, reversible stick-slip motion prior to irradiation, indicating presence of extended defects. Upon electron beam irradiation, nanotubes with an initial bending modulus exceeding 10 GPa initially get stiffer, before softening at high doses. Highly defective nanotubes with smaller initial bending moduli do not exhibit the initial reinforcement. These data are explained by ab initio molecular dynamics calculations suggesting a spontaneous cross-linking of neighboring nanotube walls at extended vacancy defects created by the electron beam, in agreement with electron microscopy observations. At low defect concentration, depending on the edge morphology, the covalent bonds between neighboring nanotube walls cause reinforcement by resisting relative motion of neighboring walls. At high concentration of defects that are present initially or induced by high electron beam dose, the structural integrity of the entire system suffers from increasing electron beam damage. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3493049]


In task-based language classes, teachers increasingly use interactive, peer-to-peer group orals to measure learners' communicative competence. This chapter examines the reliability and validity of placing learners into task-based ESL listening and speaking classes based on their performances during task-based, peer-to-peer, group oral interactions. ESL learners (n = 128) took a 30-item, listening and speaking self-assessment exam. The self-assessment scores were used to create groups of three to five learners who carried out two group-oral tasks. The listening test and group-oral test scores were used in a k-cluster analysis to place learners into seven classes. I conclude by suggesting how practitioners can employ interactive, group orals as part of placement testing and how they positively contribute to interactive and task-based learning.


Seventeenth-century Netherlands is a time and place that inspires our imagination. This maritime country conjures up images of windmills and dikes, picturesque farms, bustling cities, and harbors filled with ships returning home from far-away lands, their holds packed with spices. The small country enjoyed vibrant economic growth and a remarkably tolerant society that welcomed people of all religious backgrounds. The enormous legacy of this period of the Dutch republic, which artists, writers, and poets celebrated as its Golden Age, has enriched all our lives. As historians search for a fuller understanding of its unique character, they continually return to the central role of the family. Children are an essential part of the story, because how they were raised and taught, how they played, and what they ate and drank offer fundamental insights into Dutch lives. The images in the book are organized around eight themes: Infancy; St. Nicholas: Bringer of Sweets and Toys; Celebrations and Music; Toys and Games; Animals as Pets and Companions; Inventing Fun, Games, and Mischief; Shopping for Food Treats; and Winter Activities: Outdoors. A recipe chapter provides inspiration for cooking projects, allowing children to prepare tastes of the past. Through words and images, we learn that while some pleasures enjoyed by Dutch youngsters 400 years ago have changed, some have remained the same and are sources of fun and excitement for children today.


This study is part of an ongoing project on artificial insemination in ostriches. The physical output of neat semen from four ostrich males was investigated and the effect of reconstituting semen with: 1) seminal plasma of the same male (SPS); 2) seminal plasma of another male (SPD), and 3) Dulbecco's Modified Eagles Medium (DMEM). Semen was collected daily from one or two pairs of males using the dummy female method, each pair being replicated twice. Spermatozoa viability in neat semen, SPS, SPD and DMEM was assessed using nigrosin-eosin staining and the proportions of live normal, live abnormal and dead sperm were determined. Semen volume (mean ± SE) was 1.27 ± 0.13 mL, the concentration of spermatozoa 3.68 ± 0.17 x 10 /mL and the number of spermatozoa 4.92 ± 0.64 x 10 /ejaculate. Furthermore, the live normal, live abnormal and dead spermatozoa in the neat semen were 61.2 ± 4.5%, 21.2 ± 2.7% and 17.7 ± 4.3% respectively. The ejaculate volume and the number of dead spermatozoa were not affected by collection time. However, the number of live abnormal spermatozoa increased through the day causing a reduction in live normal spermatozoa. Furthermore, re-suspending spermatozoa in DMEM reduced the number of live normal (31.4 ± 4.6%) and live abnormal spermatozoa (11.0 ± 2.7%) and increased the number of dead spermatozoa (57.6 ± 4.4%). In contrast, numbers of live spermatozoa were higher when suspended in seminal plasma and similar in SPS (53.9 ± 4.6%) and SPD (50.7 ± 4.6%). These are the first crucial steps to determining the optimum semen collection time and to improving the viability of diluted spermatozoa.


Abstract Immunomodulatory agents for the treatment of certain oncologic disorders are rapidly moving from the research laboratory into clinical practice. These agents may not be void of potential neuropsychiatric sequelae. The following clinical report concerns a previously nondepressed patient with no history of psychiatric disorders who became depressed and killed himself while being treated with interleukin-2. It is important that consulting psychiatrists be sensitive to acute emotional changes in cancer patients taking immunomodulatory agents.


In this study the term "off-campus" users is used to describe distance learners and franchised students, studying away from main university campuses. Both these groups of students have grown considerably in the last decade due to a variety of social, economic and pedagogical flictors. It is incumbent upon university librarians, therefore, to design and implement
appropriate service models and delivery for these users to ensure that their experience of learning support provision is equitable with those of on-campus users and that the academic rigour of off-campus courses is maintained. During the last five years research into library usage patterns of both groups of users, and into the expectations of their course providers, has given university librarians extremely valuable information on which to base these distributed services. AX the same time service developments, particularly in the area of information technology, have placed libraries in a far better position than ever before to really serve these users effectively using both traditional and electronic means. As hybrid library services develop university libraries may now pursue access rather than holdings policies. Combinations of dedicated specialist services and partnerships both within higher education and with other sectors are presented as appropriate service models and two case studies of specialist services for distance learners and franchised students are described as examples of
good current practice. Bathers to developing effective services for off-campus users are also discussed. The study concludes by looking forward towards the millennium and urging university librarians to seize the opportunities which now present themselves to offer truly appropriate and equitable services to these users.


Abstract.
 There is a well-established discrepancy between paleontological and molecular data regarding the timing of the origin and diversification of placental mammals. Molecular estimates place interordinal diversification dates in the Cretaceous, while no unambiguous crown placental fossils have been found prior to the end-Cretaceous mass extinction. Here, the completeness of the eutherian fossil record through geological time is evaluated to assess the suggestion that a poor fossil record is largely responsible for the difference in estimates of placental origins. The completeness of fossil specimens was measured using the character completeness metric, which quantifies the completeness of fossil taxa as the percentage of phylogenetic characters available to be scored for any given taxon. Our data set comprised 33 published cladistic matrices representing 445 genera, of which 333 were coded at the species level. Therewas no significant difference in eutherian completeness across the Cretaceous/Paleogene (K/Pg) boundary. This suggests that the lack of placental mammal fossils in the Cretaceous is not due to a poor fossil record but more likely represents a genuine absence of placental mammals in the Cretaceous. This result supports the "explosivemodel" of early placental evolution, whereby placentalmammals originated around the time of the K/Pg boundary and diversified soon after. No correlation was found between the completeness pattern observed in this study and those of previous completeness studies on birds and sauropodomorph dinosaurs, suggesting that different factors affect the preservation of these groups. No correlations were found with various isotope proxy measures, but Akaike information criterion analysis found that eutherian character completeness metric scores were best explained by models involving the marine-carbonate strontium-isotope ratios (87Sr/86Sr), suggesting that tectonic activity might play a role in controlling the completeness of the eutherian fossil record.


Torque fluctuations due to magnetorotational turbulence in protoplanetary disks may greatly influence the migration patterns and survival probabilities of nascent planets. Provided that the turbulence is a stationary stochastic process with finite amplitude and correlation time, the resulting diffusive migration can be described with a Fokker-Planck equation, which we reduce to an advection-diffusion equation. We calibrate the coefficients with existing turbulent-disk simulations and mean-migration estimates and solve the equation both analytically and numerically. Diffusion tends to dominate over advection for planets of low mass and those in the outer regions of protoplanetary disks, whether they are described by the minimum mass solar nebula (MMSN) or by T Tauri alpha disks. Diffusion systematically reduces the lifetime of most planets, yet it allows a declining fraction of them to survive for extended periods of time at large radii. Mean planet lifetimes can even be formally infinite (e.g., in an infinite steady MMSN), although median lifetimes are always finite. Surviving planets may linger near specific radii where the combined effects of advection and diffusion are minimized or at large radii, depending on model specifics. The stochastic nature of migration in turbulent disks challenges deterministic planet formation scenarios and suggests instead that a wide variety of planetary outcomes are possible from similar initial conditions. This would contribute to the diversity of (extrasolar) planetary systems.


In the eukaryotic cell, the nuclear envelope separates the nucleoplasm from the cytoplasm. The nuclear pore complex (NPC) forms the conduit that regulates the exchange of macromolecules between these compartments. Import and export of protein and RNA through the NPCs are highly regulated and follow several different pathways. Messenger RNAs (mRNAs) are exported from the nucleus only after extensive processing and assembly into ribonucleoprotein particles (RNPs). Studies in yeast have identified many components involved in mRNA export. These include nuclear pore proteins, export receptors and components in the nucleus that couple formation of mRNPs with translocation through the pores. When I started my PhD work, I performed a synthetic lethal (sl) screen to investigate the role of Gle2 in mRNA export. Gle2 was a proposed to be an mRNA export factor. Thus, the aim has been to gain an understanding of the relationship between Gle2 and the Mex67-mediated mRNA export pathway. I could show that GLE2 is synthetic lethal with the mRNA export factors Sac3 and Mex67, with importins a and b, and with several nucleoporins, which are subunits of distinct subcomplexes of the NPC. This part of my studies indicated that the function of Gle2 is not restricted to nuclear export and suggested a more general role of Gle2 in bidirectional transport through the nuclear pore complexes. To investigate the Mex67-mediated mRNA export pathway, in the second part of my studies, I performed a synthetic lethal screen with SUB2, an intranuclear factor which in our lab was found to act in mRNA export. Initial work suggested that Sub2 was a splicing factor. The sl screen I performed revealed a genetic link between SUB2 and the THO complex, which is involved in transcription elongation. These data contributed to the identification of a novel conserved complex called TREX (transcription/export), formed by the export factors Sub2 and Yra1, a previously unknown factor, Tex1, and the THO complex. Thus, the TREX complex couples transcription elongation and mRNA export. To further characterize the TREX, I analyzed the genetic interactions of two components of the THO complex, THO2 and THP2. The import receptor MTR10 was found to be synthetic lethal with SUB2 and THP2. In addition, I found that Sub2-GFP and Thp2-GFP are mislocalized in MTR10 mutants, indicating a role of Mtr10 as import factor for components of the TREX complex. Furthermore, THO2 and THP2 are synthetic lethal with RRP6, a component of the exosome complex, which retains and eliminates improperly 3�-end processed mRNPs, suggesting a link between transcription elongation, and RNP quality control. Finally, I analyzed the TREX complex at the biochemical level. The TREX complex was purified using a variety of methods, including tandem affinity purification (TAP) and by gel filtration. Under stringent conditions, I could purify a stable core of the TREX complex, in which Sub2 and Yra1 were partly dissociated. In collaboration with the Bottcher lab (EMBL), I studied the morphology of this complex by electron microscopy (EM). The core of TREX shows a butterfly-like shape, with two-fold symmetry and a cleft in between the two winged arms. Under less stringent conditions, the TREX complex contains stoichiometric amounts of Sub2 and Yra1. Nevertheless, the complex mostly retains a butterfly-like morphology at the EM level. In conclusion, my studies identified new connections between mRNA export and protein import at the nuclear pore, and revealed that transcription, maturation and export of mRNAs are genetically and physically coupled.


Storage-based intrusion detection allows storage systems to watch for data modifications characteristic of system intrusions. This enables storage systems to spot several common intruder actions, such as adding backdoors, inserting Trojan horses, and tampering with audit logs. Further, an intrusion detection system (IDS) embedded in a storage device continues to operate even after client systems are compromised. This paper describes a number of specific warning signs visible at the storage interface. Examination of 18 real intrusion tools reveals that most (15) can be detected based on their changes to stored files. We describe and evaluate a prototype storage IDS, embedded in an NFS server, to demonstrate both feasibility and efficiency of storage-based intrusion detection. In particular, both the performance overhead and memory required (152KB for 4730 rules) are minimal.


By the year 1697, when William III ordered a census of deer, the animals were confined across England to parks and royal forests and forest laws were no longer a serious point of contention. As the deer disappeared across England, so the emphasis in both poaching and game preservation came to bear on smaller animals. And in 1671 a new era had begun when Parliament passed the Game Act. This Act regulated the hunting of game birds and hares and entrenched earlier class-reservation ideas by creating classes of formally qualified persons who were permitted to kill game. Nobody, if not qualified, was permitted to kill game - even on his own land.


The covariance matrix adaptation evolution strategy (CMA-ES) is arguably one of the most powerful real-valued derivative-free optimization algorithms, finding many applications in machine learning. The CMA-ES is a Monte Carlo method, sampling from a sequence of multi-variate Gaussian distributions. Given the function values at the sampled points, updating and storing the covariance matrix dominates the time and space complexity in each iteration of the algorithm. We propose a numerically stable quadratic-time covariance matrix update scheme with minimal memory requirements based on maintaining triangular Cholesky factors. This requires a modification of the cumulative step-size adaption (CSA) mechanism in the CMA-ES, in which we replace the inverse of the square root of the covariance matrix by the inverse of the triangular Cholesky factor. Because the triangular Cholesky factor changes smoothly with the matrix square root, this modification does not change the behavior of the CMA-ES in terms of required objective function evaluations as verified empirically. Thus, the described algorithm can and should replace the standard CMA-ES if updating and storing the covariance matrix matters.


This article discusses the role of the United States military lawyer in projecting a moral vision of the laws of war, rather than simply acting in a technical and purely lawyerly fashion. The article argues that it is essential that US military lawyers acting in laws of war matters, and especially acting in diplomacy related to laws of war treaties, be willing to project the moral vision which underlies US military interpretations of the laws of war, beyond pure legalism, in order to compete with the moral visions of the laws of war expressed by human rights and other nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) who, believing that they represent humanity in the abstract, rather than some set of parochially national interests, therefore believe that the interpretation, enunciation, evolution, and ownership of the laws of war properly belongs to NGOs and not to military establishments, and not to the US military establishment in particular. The article considers the cases of the Ottawa convention banning landmines, the International Criminal Court debates, and the treatment of detainees at Guantanamo to critique the failure of US military lawyers to assert a moral vision of the laws of war that goes beyond mere national interest or the interest of the United States as a client. It concludes with a call for US military lawyers and their institutional government client to find a role for military lawyers to express a moral vision based around the core concept of the protection of noncombatants, and move beyond mere legalism.


Staging Queer Feminisms by Sarah French analyses transgressive, queer and feminist performance in twenty-first-century Australia and demonstrates the ways in which this type of work has become theatrically celebrated. French reveals how this highly innovative performance critiques gender, racial and sexual identities within the larger sociopolitical context in a substantial scholarly critique of her own. Although the artists in this book initially developed work for audiences outside mainstream culture, they now feature prominently in national and international touring programs. This performance has become artistically as well as culturally significant. It is worth noting that this is the first book of scholarship directly encompassing Australian feminist performance for a decade.


Tetramethyladipic acid (TMAA), a starting monomer for several
technically important polymers (polyester resins and polyamide fibres) is
synthesised by direct carbon–carbon bond formation between the
saturated primary carbon atoms of pivalic acid (PA) using a
sonoelectrochemical Fenton process. Through controlled electrochemical
dissolution assisted by ultrasound radiation, Fe2+ ions are
produced in situ from metallic iron in the reaction mixture. The
effects of ultrasound with electrolysis, temperature, amount of substrate
present, reagent concentration, solution acidity and quantity of electric
charge have been examined. Under suitable conditions, the synthesis yield
based on initial PA present, hydrogen peroxide used and amount of iron
dissolved reached 34, 40 and 75%, respectively and less by-product was
observed. These results show significant improvement in terms of direct
cost savings by omission of separate preparation of a ferrous salt, fewer
side reactions during the dimerisation process, less waste, easier
purification; increased efficiency due to recycling of iron ions and
improved reactivity of fresh Fe2+ ions. All of these advantages
make this sonoelectrochemical approach a much more efficient and
environmentally cleaner option.


Smoking is the greatest avoidable cause of premature death in Britain today, particularly among the poorest people in society. Most smokers take up the habit during childhood, and the age at which children begin to smoke is falling over time. Although patterns of regular smoking are often established during the teenage years, rates of experimentation with cigarettes peak during preadolescence. Despite this, in the UK there has been little longitudinal research into the process of smoking uptake during preadolescence, and this research fills that significant gap. The Liverpool Longitudinal Study of Smoking (LLSS) is a unique longitudinal study that has tracked a cohort of approximately 250 children during their early years at primary school. This thesis continues and develops the LLSS by exploring the cohort's experiences of smoking during preadolescence in order to understand how children's early smoking careers develop between the ages of 9 and 11. Baseline quantitative and qualitative data collected at age 9 (in 1999) were compared with data collected at age 10 (in 2000) and at age 11 (in 2001) in order to identify key elements of change. These data were analysed longitudinally using a multiple case study approach that identified the individual trajectories of five children during preadolescence. A cross-case comparative method was then used to identify and explain the relationship between views, intentions and behaviour, and how these were shaped by the social context in which the children lived. The themes that emerged from the case studies were then explored and developed in the context of data generated by the whole cohort. Statistical analysis revealed that smoking by best friends, fathers and brothers, together with knowing someone with a smoking-related disease, at age 9 predicted smoking by age 11. The discourses that the children used to talk about smoking uptake emphasised the role of parents at age 9, but by age 11 the cohort suggested that friends were the key influence on smoking onset. Each year, anxiety about being bullied into smoking by older children also emerged as a key concern for this age group. In addition, the analysis revealed that preadolescents appropriate adult discourses around the use of smoking as a coping strategy. The use of these discourses was patterned by socioeconomic status. Children who lived in deprived areas suggested that both adults and children might smoke to counter stress and to relieve boredom. However, some of the girls living in relatively affluent areas perceived that adults smoke to control their weight. The study also considered the implications of these discourses for differential rates of smoking uptake at primary school. A key finding of this phase of the LLSS is that preadolescents construct smoking as an adult behaviour, and therefore some children smoke in order to negotiate status in anticipation of the transition to adolescence and as a strategy of resistance to the exercise of adult power. The reduction of rates of smoking among children and young people is central to the government's tobacco control strategy, and this research has significant implications for the development of both interventions and policy.