This paper considers robust estimation of moment condition models with time series data. Researchers frequently use moment condition models in dynamic econometric analysis. They are particularly useful when one wishes to avoid fully parameterizing the dynamics in the data. It is nevertheless desirable to use an estimation method that is robust against deviations from the model assumptions. For example, measurement errors can contaminate observations and thereby lead to such deviations. This is an important issue for time series data: in addition to conventional sources of mismeasurement, it is known that an inappropriate treatment of seasonality can cause serially correlated measurement errors. Eciency is also a critical issue since time series sample sizes are often limited. This paper addresses these problems. Our estimator has three features: (i) it achieves an asymptotic optimal robust property, (ii) it treats time series dependence nonparametrically by a data blocking technique, and (iii) it is asymptotically as ecient as the optimally weighted GMM if indeed the model assumptions hold. A small scale simulation experiment suggests that our estimator performs favorably compared to other estimators including GMM, thereby supporting our theoretical ndings.


We present several philosophical ideas emerging from the studies of complex systems. We make a brief introduction to the basic concepts of complex systems, for then defining "abstraction levels". These are useful for representing regularities in nature. We define absolute being (observer independent, infinite) and relative being (observer dependent, finite), and notice the differences between them. We draw issues on relative causality and absolute causality among abstraction levels. We also make reflections on determinism. We reject the search for any absolute truth (because of their infinity), and prom ote the idea that all comprehensible truths are relative, since they were created in finite contexts. This leads us to suggest to search the less-incompleteness of ideas and contexts instead of their truths.


This thesis presents a case study that investigates a large Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack and how it affected speed tests observed by the crowd-based speed test application Bredbandskollen. Furthermore, the thesis also investigates the possibility of using crowd-based speed tests as a method to detect a DDoS attack. This method has very low overhead which makes it an interesting complement to other methods. This thesis also shows that there was a significant deviation in the number of measurements during the DDoS attack considered in the case study compared to the year average. Furthermore, the measurements of the peak day of the attack had a higher average download speed than the year average. Whereas the higher download speed observation at first may appear non-intuitive, we briefly discuss potential explanations and how such positive anomalies could potentially be used to detect attacks. Detecting DDoS attacks early can lead to earlier recognition of network problems which can aid Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in maintaining the availability of their networks.


According to previous research, pupils and students regard genetics as a very difficult subject. They find it abstract, and the use of many concepts at several different levels in the same textbook makes it difficult for them to understand. Teaching methods and ways of working have been criticised as part of the problem. The aim of this study is to summarise previous research on pupils' knowledge of genetics and on teaching methods in genetics, to analyse curricula and textbooks in school genetics, and to test a group of Finland-Swedish secondary-school students' understanding of the basic concepts and processes in genetics, and their opinion about genetics. The test of concepts was carried out as a multiple-choice test, completed by an open question concerning the best way(s) to learn genetics as judged by the students. The results indicated that the majority of students did not regard either genetics or the textbook as difficult; yet they lacked their own unquestionable knowledge about basic concepts and processes. There was no correlation between the test results and the way(s) the students experienced genetics, neither between the test results and the way(s) in which the students felt that they learned genetics best. More than half of the students emphasised the role of the teacher, i.e. lecturing, as the best way to learn genetics. The need and alternative ways to develop the teaching of genetics are discussed.


Privacy by Design, a globally accepted framework for personal data management and privacy protection, advances the view that privacy cannot be assured solely by compliance with regulatory frameworks but must become an organisation's default mode of operation. We are proposing a similar template for the research ethics review process. The Research Ethics by Design framework involves research ethics committees engaging researchers during the design phase of the proposal so that ethical considerations may be directly embedded in the science as opposed to being viewed as addendums after the fact. This collaborative research design proposal results in the establishment of a culture of ethical research rather than research with ethical oversight. Both researchers and research ethics committees come to view the review process as one in which individual protection and collective benefit co-exist in a doubly-enabling positive-sum manner.


The structure of the new ternary amorphous nitride Si3B3N7, synthesised from the single source precursor TADB [(trichlorosilyl)aminodichloroborane], has been investigated by means of X-ray diffraction using high energy synchrotron radiation and by neutron diffraction using the isotopic contrast technique on nitrogen. The X-ray results have been compared with results from electron diffraction experiments, confirming the trigonal planar coordination of boron (RBN = 1.4 A, ZBN = 2.8, ZNB = 1.2) by nitrogen and the tetrahedral coordination of silicon (RSiN = 1.7 A, ZSiN = 3.8, ZNSi = 1.6) by nitrogen. The neutron contrast technique was applied in order to obtain detailed information about the nitrogen environment. From the total pair correlation functions the N–N distances within the boron and silicon coordination polyhedra could be extracted [RNN(B) = 2.5 A, RNN(Si) = 2.8 A]. In addition, the difference function shows two distinct maxima at ca. 3.8 and 4.3 A in the third coordination sphere resulting from Si–N or B–N pairs connected via three bonds. If at least two of these are B–N bonds a contribution to the first peak results, while the second maximum is matched if at least two Si–N bonds are involved.


With the advancement of VANET Different algorithms and architectures has been proposed for sharing information among each other in VANET environment. This paper presents the performance comparison study of information sharing in vehicular ad-hoc network using Hovering Information, Floating Content, AutoCast and Position Based Gossiping based on one performance matrix. The performance was analyzed based on memory usage, delivery cost, bandwidth usage and number of irrelevant packets received by each node. To achieve the best results all protocols have been simulated using the similar simulation settings. We have performed experiments on different traffic model in order to observe the behavior of protocols in different traffic situations.


The global financial crisis has refocused attention on the sustainability of economic processes and the competitiveness of the economy. It has become obvious that lasting growth is not possible without balance and competitiveness. Accordingly, after having taken the most needed crisis management actions, Hungary has achieved a complete turn-around in terms of its economic policy, which, by breaking away from previous dichotomy, has aligned macro-financial balance and real economy-related growth. The structural adjustments and stabilisation prepared the ground for mutually reinforcing competitiveness reforms, as a competitive Hungarian economy represents a competitive labour market and human resources, a competitive corporate sector, a competitive state and a competitive financial and banking system all at the same time. A monograph entitled Competitiveness and Growth published by the National Bank of Hungary may serve as a common thread for the required transformations, which envisages the need for improving the balance between production factors and value creation capabilities, so that Hungary might step on a new path leading to balanced status, and might escape the middle income trap. The societal utilisation of the monograph is clearly marked by the fact that by the beginning of 2017 actual actions have been taken in the case of many proposals mentioned in the paper.


As nations throughout the world emerge from periods of human rights abuses, systematic oppression, and collective violence, truth commissions have become indispensable to political transition. Such commissions are established as temporary bodies to investigate human rights violations and patterns of violence that occurred over a specified period of time. Their goal is to document conflict-to recover the truth-as a first step toward healing. Of the truth commissions to date, the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) has most effectively captured public attention throughout the world and provided the model for succeeding bodies. Although other truth commissions had preceded its establishment, the TRC had a far more expansive mandate: to go beyond truth-finding to promote national unity and reconciliation, to facilitate the granting of amnesty to those who made full factual disclosure, to restore the human and civil dignity of victims by providing them an opportunity to tell their own stories, and to make recommendations to the president on measures to prevent future human rights violations. Truth and Reconciliation in South Africa provides a comprehensive evaluation of the TRC process and its impact on South African society. Based on a six-year study, the volume draws on an analysis of the victim hearings, amnesty hearings, institutional hearings, public opinion survey data, and extensive interviews with a range of TRC staff, people who worked with the commission, and members of different communities affected by the TRC. Truth and Reconciliation in South Africa raises fundamental questions about the TRC, indeed about all truth commissions, their abilities to realize the mandates assigned to them, and particularly to achieve the difficult balance between truth-finding and reconciliation.


Identifying a reliable path in uncertain environments is essential for designing reliable off-road autonomous ground vehicles (AGV) considering post-design operations. This paper presents a novel bio-inspired approach for model-based multi-vehicle mission planning under uncertainty for off-road AGVs subjected to mobility reliability constraints in dynamic environments. A physics-based vehicle dynamics simulation model is first employed to predict vehicle mobility (i.e., maximum attainable speed) for any given terrain and soil conditions. Based on physics-based simulations, the vehicle state mobility reliability in operation is then analyzed using an adaptive surrogate modeling method to overcome the computational challenges in mobility reliability analysis by adaptively constructing a surrogate. Subsequently, a bio-inspired approach called Physarum-based algorithm is used in conjunction with a navigation mesh to identify an optimal path satisfying a specific mobility reliability requirement. The developed Physarum-based framework is applied to reliability-based path planning for both a single-vehicle and multiple-vehicle scenarios. A case study is used to demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed methods and algorithms. The results show that the proposed framework can effectively identify optimal paths for both scenarios of a single and multiple vehicles. The required computational time is less than the widely used Dijkstra-based method.


The absolute and relative differences in amide I and amide II band intensities of albumin, β-lactoglobulin, and myoglobin as measured by attenuated total reflection infrared (ATR-IR) spectrometry, transmission of aqueous solutions, and KBr disks and diffuse reflectance (DR) spectrometry are compared. The amide I/II intensity ratios of the proteins sampled by ATR, DR, and transmission spectrometry of KBr disks were similar and were significantly different from the intensity ratios of the proteins in solution. The absolute amide II band intensity of dissolved proteins did not vary significantly with changes in pH. The difference in amide I/II intensity ratios between solution and adsorbed proteins was attributed to differences in secondary and possible tertiary structure. The thickness of each protein film was estimated with the use of the absorptivities calculated from the amide II band intensities of the KBr disk spectra. pH had a significant influence on the thickness of the adsorbed films. Differences in film thickness were attributed to a difference in the orientation of the protein molecules at the surface of the germanium internal reflection element.


Background:The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between haplotype-tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the Aurora Kinase A (AURKA) gene and prostate cancer outcomes in patients with clinically localized prostate cancer.
Methods:Four intronic haplotype-tagging SNPs within the AURKA gene were individually selected and examined in regard to their influence on clinical outcomes in 212 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy as first-line treatment. Haplotype-tagging SNPs were selected using the ABI SNP Browser to cover SNPs with an r2 of 0.90 or greater in the AURKA gene with a minor allele frequency of at least 0.25.
Results:In our study, a log-rank univariate analysis was performed to identify significant associations between probability of recurrence-free survival or disease-free survival and known prognostic indicators as well as AURKAgenotypes. The prognostic indicators Gleason grade, surgical margin, extracapsular extension, and disease stage were associated with recurrence-free survival (all p<0.001). Only Gleason grade was associated with disease-free survival (p<0.001). No associations were found for the SNPs rs1468055, rs8117896, rs2064863, and rs1468056analyzed for either RFS (p=0.7213, p=0.5140, p=0.0714, p=0.4731, respectively) or DFS (p=0.3282, p=0.1909, p=0.4111, p=0.5014, respectively).
Conclusions:This study demonstrates no evidence for intronic AURKA SNPs in predicting recurrence-free survival in patients with prostate cancer.


Assessment of reproductive status in animals generally depends on monitoring hormone concentrations in plasma, but blood sampling often involves significant stress to the subject. Monitoring steroid profiles by assaying excreted steroids in urine and/or fecal samples is non-invasive, but does pose some problems.There are, however, only two published reports of the application of fecal steroid monitoring to reptiles. We compare the profile of fecal T with that for plasma T through the reproductive cycle of blotched blue-tongued lizards, and also examine the relative proportions of conjugated and free T in feces. Testosterone was detected in all samples assayed, and fecal T concentrations ranged from ~ 500 ng g-1 to ~1500 ng g-1 dry feces. Plasma hormone cycles were not reported, but the patterns of variation in fecal T concentrations appeared to show some correlation with reproductive activity. In contrast, our results suggest that there is an inverse relationship between concentrations of T in feces and in plasma of male blue-tongued skinks, with fecal T concentrations being highest during the non-breeding season, when plasma T levels are low. Our results suggest, therefore, that assay of fecal T concentrations may not be useful for assessing reproductive status in blue-tongued lizards because of the lack of correlation between T concentrations in feces and plasma.


Low temperature synthesis of one-dimensional (1D) zinc oxide (ZnO) under different experimental conditions is presented. The anisotropic growth characteristics of nanostructures aided by cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) and hydrazine hydrate as the surfactant and reducing agent, respectively, under low temperature are investigated. The size and shape dependent structural properties of as-prepared 1D structures of ZnO are characterized using X-ray diffraction and electron microscopic techniques. Rod-like ZnO nanoparticles with significant control over the size and shape anisotropy has been observed with distinct surface morphologies. The width and length of the nanorods were significantly controlled while preserving the morphology of the nanocrystallites. Aspect ratio as high as 10 has been obtained for ZnO nanostructures assisted by CTAB and hydrazine hydrate, with excellent shape anisotropy facilitated by low temperature growth conditions. The analysis of optical-phonon peak shifts in ZnO nanorods using Raman scattering was performed to investigate the structural composition of nanorods. Adsorption and desorption isotherms are recorded to investigate specific-surface area of the ZnO nanopowders. The thermal stability and the residual chemical species of the samples are investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The antimicrobial activity of synthesized ZnO nanstructures against Gram positive and negative bacterium is evaluated.


In Communes and Workers' Control in Venezuela: Building 21st Century Socialism from Below Dario Azzellini offers an account of the Bolivarian Revolution from below with extensive empirical examples and original voices from movements, communal councils, communes and workers.


Abstract The geographic distribution of coyotes (Canis latrans) has dramatically expanded since 1900, spreading across much of North America in a period when most other mammal species have been declining. Although this considerable expansion has been well documented at the state/provincial scale, continent-wide descriptions of coyote spread have portrayed conflicting distributions for coyotes prior to the 1900s, with popularly referenced anecdotal accounts showing them restricted to the great plains, and more obscure, but data-rich accounts suggesting they ranged across the arid west. To provide a scientifically credible map of the coyote's historical range (10,000–300 BP) and describe their range expansion from 1900 to 2016, we synthesized archaeological and fossil records, museum specimens, peer-reviewed reports, and records from wildlife management agencies. Museum specimens confirm that coyotes have been present in the arid west and California throughout the Holocene, well before European colonization. Their range in the late 1800s was undistinguishable from earlier periods, and matched the distribution of non-forest habitat in the region. Coyote expansion began around 1900 as they moved north into taiga forests, east into deciduous forests, west into costal temperate rain forests, and south into tropical rainforests. Forest fragmentation and the extirpation of larger predators probably enabled these expansions. In addition, hybridization with wolves (C. lupus, C. lycaon, and/or C. rufus) and/or domestic dogs has been documented in the east, and suspected in the south. Our detailed account of the original range of coyotes and their subsequent expansion provides the core description of a large scale ecological experiment that can help us better understand the predator-prey interactions, as well as evolution through hybridization.


This interdisciplinary study sheds light on the communal creative process of music and discusses the process of music change in Bumba-meu-Boi, and provides an example of exo-semantic analysis in the quest for the truth of this folk drama. It argues that Bumba-meu-Boi sheds light on 18the-century Brazil, and reveals existing levels of interaction between classes (master-slave, oppressor-oppressed) on sugar cane plantations and mills. A sociologist perspective demonstrates that the structure of the Bumba-meu-Boi reflects a similar network of relations as they exist in communities where it is performed. The study contains a glossary, comprehensive bibliography and a reproduction of the entire play.


The chemical composition of glacial till is a product of parent rocks, glacial and post-glacial processes and reflects the geogenic variation of chemical elements. Contrasting chemical composition of rock types together with spatial variation in distribution patterns of metals in the fine fraction of till in southeastern Sweden assists in the identification of the signatures reflecting parent rocks in glacial till samples. The spatial patterns of Cu, Co, Ni, Pb, V and Zn in 1411 till samples were presented by point symbol maps, followed by the extraction of multi-element associations by employing principal component analysis (PCA) and interactive high-dimensional visualization. The most influential multi-element spatial patterns in till data could be separated using either the numerical (PCA) or the visual approach. However, more information was extracted by combining the two techniques. In addition, interactive visualization provided an objective presentation of complex information in sparse lithogeochemical data. The study resulted in new knowledge about the natural variation of the levels of six elements in till, and a graphical presentation to convey information about and compare multi-element geochemical signatures.


Abstract Why are some Latin American states plagued by persistent policy volatility while the policies of others remain relatively stable? This article explores the political economy of natural resource rents and policy volatility across Latin America. It argues that, all else equal, resource rents will create incentives for political leaders, which will result in repeated episodes of policy volatility. This effect, however, will depend on the structure of political institutions. Where political institutions fail to provide a forum for intertemporal exchange among political actors, natural resource rents will result in increased levels of policy volatility. Alternatively, where political institutions facilitate agreement among actors, resource rents will be conducive to policy stability. This argument is tested on a measure of policy volatility for 18 Latin American economies between 1993 and 2008. The statistical tests provide support for the argument.


This study was conducted to develop and validate the height–diameter at breast height (DBH) models for the three Pinus and one Larix species in South Korea using the six widely used nonlinear growth functions. The data collected from the 5th National Forest Inventory (NFI) of South Korea from the 2007 to 2008 measurement dataset were used in this study. A total of 11,693 total height and diameter measurements of the trees were used and split into two datasets. Of the dataset 80% was used for the initial parameters estimation of the six models, whereas the remaining 20% were applied to the model validation. On the other hand, the combined dataset (100%) was used for the final model fitting. The performance of the developed models was evaluated and ranked using the coefficient of determination (R2), root mean square error (RMSE), mean difference (MD) and absolute mean difference (AMD). The results showed that the R2 of all six models for the four species ranged from 0.93 to 0.96. The lowest RMSE was 2.351 whereas the highest was 3.309. On the other hand, the overall MD ranged from −0.006 m to 0.044 m whereas the AMD ranged from 1.855 m to 2.626 m. Based on these four criteria, all six models were able to determine the height–DBH relationship and fitted the data well. The Modified Logistic and Korf/Lundqvist performed best compared with the other models using rank analysis. The equations developed for predicting the total height were used for the biomass estimation. With the exception of the Schnute model, all models provided similar results for all species, particularly for trees with less than 50 cm.


ABSTRACT The Museums since institution has been boarded from diverse disciplines. The Economy, or more indeed the Economy Applied to the Culture has made of the museums objects susceptible to be studied with the instruments of the economic analysis, giving rise to the appearance of a denominated area Economy of the Museums. Nevertheless, the Management Accounting has not shown greater interest in the subject Museum as institution of study, even though the notion of museum like guardian of the public patrimony to dice passage to the conception of the museum like business, with highly commercial products and an approach more centred in the visitor who in the collections. The present article must like objective display some peculiarities of the museums management, in special derived in the definition from the mission of the museum and the conflict of existing interests around the diverse involved agents, or the state like supplier of bottoms, the community, the visitor, the directors, in addition of those who contribute in the process of creation of value in the market of art like the artists, curators, collectors, critical, commissioners and other experts. One concludes that the design and implementation of tools for the control of management, agreed to each institution and consolidating the different perspective from all the involved agents, will contribute to the institution that creates it, a fundamental tool for the monitoring of his management and the attainment of his objectives. KEY WORDS: Museum; Management; Mission; Conflicts: main-agent; Management Accounting.


Two phenomena characterized the housing market in the 1970s: a somewhat-disguised surge toward home ownership and a well-publicized sharp increase in the real price of housing. These movements were partially reversed in the first half of the 1980s. In the "standard view", the 1970s changes are attributed to an interaction of the tax system and rising inflation. Given the disinflation of the 1980s, this explanation also seems consistent with the reversals in ownership and real prices. Recent work challenges the standard view. Inflation is said to disfavor home ownership, and real house prices are said to be determined largely by supply (cost), not demand, factors. This paper considers the data on home ownership and real house prices and evaluates the standard view vis-a-vis its challengers. Data from the 1980s suggest that other factors (probably rising income for ownership and negative construction productivity growth for real prices) were responsible for at least half of the 1970s increase in ownership and real price.


Recent milestones in equilibrium computation, such as the success of Libratus, show that it is possible to compute strong solutions to two-player zero-sum games in theory and practice. This is not the case for games with more than two players, which remain one of the main open challenges in computational game theory. This paper focuses on zero-sum games where a team of players faces an opponent, as is the case, for example, in Bridge, collusion in poker, and many non-recreational applications such as war, where the colluders do not have time or means of communicating during battle, collusion in bidding, where communication during the auction is illegal, and coordinated swindling in public. The possibility for the team members to communicate before game play—that is, coordinate their strategies ex ante—makes the use of behavioral strategies unsatisfactory. The reasons for this are closely related to the fact that the team can be represented as a single player with imperfect recall. We propose a new game representation, the realization form, that generalizes the sequence form but can also be applied to imperfect-recall games. Then, we use it to derive an auxiliary game that is equivalent to the original one. It provides a sound way to map the problem of finding an optimal ex-ante-correlated strategy for the team to the well-understood Nash equilibrium-finding problem in a (larger) two-player zero-sum perfect-recall game. By reasoning over the auxiliary game, we devise an anytime algorithm, fictitious team-play, that is guaranteed to converge to an optimal coordinated strategy for the team against an optimal opponent, and that is dramatically faster than the prior state-of-the-art algorithm for this problem.


BACKGROUND: CD4 lymphocyte counts are used to monitor immune status in HIV disease. An understanding of the variability of CD4 counts which occurs in the absence of HIV infection is essential to their interpretation. The sources and degree of such variability have not been extensively studied. OBJECTIVES: To establish reference ranges for CD4 counts in HIV-seronegative women and heterosexual men attending a genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic, and to identify possible differences according to gender and cigarette smoking and, in women, any effect of the menstrual cycle, oral contraceptive use and cigarette smoking. DESIGN: Female and heterosexual male patients attending a GUM clinic and requesting an HIV-antibody test were recruited prospectively. Results from an earlier study of CD4 counts in homosexual men were available for comparison. METHODS: Lymphocyte subpopulation analysis on whole blood by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The absolute CD4 count and percentage of CD4 cells (CD4%) were significantly higher in women (n = 195) than heterosexual men (n = 91) [difference between the means 111 x 106/1 (95% CI 41, 180) and 3.1% (1.30, 4.88)]. The absolute CD4 count and CD4% were also significantly higher in smokers (n = 143) than non-smokers (n = 140) [difference 143 (79, 207) and 2.1% (0.43, 3.81)]. Reference ranges for absolute CD4 counts (geometric mean +/- 2SD) were calculated on log transformed data as follows; female smokers 490-1610, female non-smokers 430-1350, heterosexual male smokers 380-1600, heterosexual male non-smokers 330-1280. Among other variables examined, combined oral contraceptive pill use was associated with a trend towards a lower absolute CD4 count. Changes were seen in CD4% with the menstrual cycle. CD4 counts and CD4% did not differ significantly between heterosexual men and homosexual men (n = 45). CONCLUSION: There is a significant gender and smoking effect on CD4 counts. The effects of oral contraceptive use and the menstrual cycle warrant further investigation.


Abstract Any language will have a range of predicates that specify three core participants (e.g. 'put', 'show', 'give'), and will conventionally provide a range of constructional types for the expression of these three participants in a structured single-clause or single-sentence event description. This article examines the clausal encoding of three-participant events in Lao, a Tai language of Southeast Asia. There is no possibility in Lao for expression of three full arguments in the core of a single-verb clause (although it is possible to have a third argument in a noncore slot, marked as oblique with a prepositionlike element). Available alternatives include extraposing an argument using a topic-comment construction, incorporating an argument into the verb phrase, and ellipsing one or more contextually retrievable arguments. A more common strategy is verb serialization, for example, where a threeplace verb (e.g. 'put') is assisted by an additional verb (typically a verb of handling such as 'carry') that provides a slot for the theme argument (e.g. the transferred object in a putting scene). The event construal encoded by this type of structure decomposes the event into a first stage in which the agent comes into control over a theme, and a second in which the agent performs a controlled action (e.g. of transfer) with respect to that theme and a goal (and/or source). The particular set of strategies that Lao offers for encoding three-participant events — notably, topic-comment strategy, ellipsis strategy, serial verb strategy — conform with (and are presumably motivated by) the general typological profile of the language. The typological features of Lao are typical for the mainland Southeast Asia area (isolating, topic-prominent, verb-serializing, widespread nominal ellipsis).


Multi-sided platform markets have two or more different groups of customers that businesses have to get and keep on board to succeed. These industries range from dating clubs (men and women), to video game consoles (game developers and users), to payment cards (cardholders and merchants), to operating system software (application developers and users). They include some of the most important industries in the economy. A survey of businesses in these industries shows that multi-sided platform businesses devise entry strategies to get multiple sides of the market on board and devise pricing, product, and other competitive strategies to keep multiple customer groups on a common platform that internalizes externalities across members of these groups.


The responses of a random sample of consumers to the use of bovine somatotrophin (BST) in milk production were elicited using a stated preference methodology. A multinomial logit model of consumer choice was developed and tested to analyse consumers' choices of milk with varying characteristics of fat content, price, freshness and BST treatment. Welfare calculations for a representative consumer indicate welfare losses with the introduction of BST which are not fully offset by preferred milk attributes such as reduced price or increased freshness levels. Welfare losses were slightly less for a male than a female consumer and were less for consumers with higher levels of income and education. Losses were greatest when a representative consumer was denied the option of choosing not to purchase milk. There was a small welfare gain when the representative consumer was offered a full range of "BST" and "non-BST" milks. The results suggest that making appropriately labelled "BST-free" milk available to consumers could decrease consumer welfare losses associated with the introduction of BST in Canada.


Variation in mitochondrial and microsatellite DNA was used to define the genetic structure of hartebeest populations straddling a transition zone between two morphotypes (Alcelaphus buselaphus cokei and A. b. lelwel) in Kenya. Previous analyses of mtDNA from hartebeest populations across Africa supported the refugium hypothesis; that present day hartebeest morphotypes diverged in allopatry, due to climatic changes. In this analysis of morphologically distinct populations in close geographical proximity, majority of genetic variation was found within populations, with relatively little distinction, and varying levels of subdivision, among populations. Patterns of shared alleles, and reduced tendency for mtDNA haplotypes to cluster phylogenetically according to morphotype, depicted gene flow between populations. There was sharp disparity between apparently seamless genetic transition between populations and marked disjunction in gross morphology over short distances (<100km). Hartebeest in the transitional zone between A. b. lelwel and A. b. cokei, including populations in Ruma, Meru National Parks and Laikipia, are the only remaining examples, each genetically and morphologically different from the other, of what appears to be resumed contact between two lineages that diverged in allopatry. Our results underscore the importance of using genetic and morphological information to explicitly define evolutionary processes as targets for conservation in Africa.


Predicting labor shortages is of great importance for planning education and training of the nation's present and future labor force. Malcolm Cohen has developed an innovative approach to measuring labor shortages. Originally sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, his work is presented here, updated for 1994. If labor market information can be used to determine actual and potential labor shortages, individuals will be able to make more informed career choices and the government will be able to more economically process aliens' applications for labor certification. However the problem of identifying shortages has been a slippery one for economists, because labor shortages cannot be measured directly in the way wages can be. Cohen develops a theoretical model of labor shortages and provides an efficient and accurate method of determining labor shortages, using labor market information. Actual indicators are developed for 193 occupational groups, covering all civilian occupations. Seven indicators, such as unemployment rate, are used to measure labor shortages at the national level. In addition, a chapter also deals with local market information. This book will be of interest to any professional concerned to predict career opportunities in their field. It will also be valuable to economics students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, as well as to sociologists, social workers, and educational planners. Malcolm S. Cohen is Director, Institute of Labor and Industrial Relations, University of Michigan.


The University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire's McIntyre Library promotes the library and its services in various ways.  Over the past few years, the library has used inexpensive, quick-to-develop marketing tools to establish positive relationships with its students, faculty, and staff.  This paper describes two promotional programs by detailing how each was carried out, the costs involved, and how the intended audience received it.  By incorporating nontraditional promotional ideas into its marketing campaigns, the library has earned its reputation as a fun, inviting place on campus.


Abstract Purpose: To evaluate the relationship between skin autofluorescence (SAF), which reflects the accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), and the severity of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: Sixty-seven eyes of 67 patients with type 2 diabetes were enrolled. Sixty-seven age-matched non-diabetic subjects served as controls. Diabetic patients were classified by the severity of their DR: no DR (NDR), non-proliferative DR (NPDR), and proliferative DR (PDR). SAF was measured with an autofluorescence reader. Results: SAF in the diabetes patients was significantly higher than in the controls (median 2.5 (interquartile range 2.3–2.7) and 1.8 (1.6–2.3) arbitrary unit (AU), respectively, p < 0.001). There was a statistically significant increase in SAF along with the increasing severity of DR (from NDR to NPDR: p = 0.034; NPDR to PDR: p < 0.01). Logistic regression analysis revealed that SAF (OR, 17.2; p < 0.05) was an independent factor indicating the presence of PDR. Conclusions: SAF has an independent relationship with PDR in patients with type 2 diabetes. SAF measurement with an autofluorescence reader is a non-invasive way to assess the risk of DR. SAF may, therefore, be a surrogate marker candidate for the non-invasive evaluation of DR.


Urbanization affects the stream system of a watershed. Increased urbanization alters the land cover and surface characteristics, the stream channel characteristics, and pollutant load of a stream system by increasing the amount of impervious surface. Once rural, forest, or wetland areas are changed to streets, highways, parking lots, sidewalks, and building rooftops. This results in large volumes of runoff being generated for an intense storm over a relatively short time period. As a result, sensitive ecosystems are likely to be damaged by increased urbanization. Projecting the impact of land use changes on a watershed scale often requires the use of remote sensing data to derive the required inputs on land cover and the related amount of impervious surface. Such forecasts are then used to devise alternative land use and stormwater control policies. One critical question that arises then is the impact of land use/land cover (LULC) mapping error on the resulting hydrologic model projections. In this research, we developed a methodology to assess those impacts. The Hydrologic Engineering CenterHydrologic Modeling System (HEC-HMS) model was used to estimate the peak hydrograph for a baseline land use condition and then used to estimate the impact of LULC mapping accuracy levels on those forecasts. The Big Darby Creek Watershed located near Columbus, Ohio, which is experiencing increased urbanization, was selected to map LULC, calibrate a hydrologic model, and assess the hydrologic change due to LULC mapping error. The resulting analysis showed that modest changes in land cover classification did not produce significant impacts on the hydrologic modeling results in rural basins. However, the hydrologic changes are noticeable in urbanizing watersheds. The framework developed in this paper can be used for future modeling efforts to understand the hydrological impact of LULC change in a watershed at a large scale.


Group contests are ubiquitous. Some examples include warfare between countries, competition between political parties, team-incentives within firms, group sports, and rent-seeking. In order to succeed, members of the same group have incentives to cooperate with each other by expending individual efforts. However, since effort is costly, each member also has an incentive to abstain from expending any effort and instead free-ride on the efforts of other members. Contest theory shows that the intensity of competition between groups and the amount of free-riding within groups depend on the group size, sharing rule, group impact function, contest success function, and heterogeneity of players. We review experimental studies testing these theoretical predictions. Almost all studies of behavior in group contests find significant over-expenditure of effort relative to the theory. We discuss potential explanations for such over-expenditure, including the utility of winning, bounded rationality, relative payoff maximization, parochial altruism, and social identity. Despite over-expenditure, most studies find support for the comparative statics predictions of the theory (with the exception of the "group size paradox"). Finally, studies show that there are effective mechanisms that can promote within-group cooperation and conflict resolution mechanisms that can de-escalate and potentially eliminate between-group conflict.


It is elusive how the skull-enclosed brain enables spatio-temporal multimodal developmental learning. By multimodal, we mean that the system has at least two sensory modalities, e.g., visual and auditory in our experiments. By spatio-temporal, we mean that the behavior from the system depends not only on the spatial pattern in the current sensory inputs, but also those of the recent past. Traditional machine learning requires humans to train every module using hand-transcribed data, using handcrafted symbols among modules, and hand-link modules internally. Such a system is limited by a static set of symbols and static module performance. A key characteristic of developmental learning is that the "brain" is "skull-closed" after birth - not directly manipulatable by the system designer - so that the system can continue to learn incrementally without the need for reprogramming. In this paper, we propose an architecture for multimodal developmental learning - parallel modality pathways all situate between a sensory end and the motor end. Motor signals are not only used as output behaviors, but also as part of input to all the related pathways. For example, the proposed developmental learning does not use silence as cut points for speech processing or motion static points as key frames for visual processing.


Rubella is a viral infection. If it occurs during pregnancy, it's responsible for serious fetal problems. Thus identification and vaccination of sensitive women is very important. This study was done for identification of protective rubella antibody titer (≥15mIU/ml) in 410 women of maternity hospitals in Kerman city. They were selected among who referred to maternity hospitals in Kerman. Randomized blood samples were collected and evaluated for rubella virus antibodies by ELISA method. Data analysis was done by chi-square test, Fisher exact test and student t-test. Protective rubella antibody titer was positive in 94.6% and negative in only 5.4%. Negative antibody titer in working wives (11.5%) was more than housewives (4.3%) (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in presence of antibody in regard with age, job, resident place, history of vaccination against rubella and history of rubella infection in herself or her family. Despite of high percent of immunity against rubella among women, it seems protection against it, is not enough. Therefor national vaccination plan was recommended for young women and adults which are not pregnant, or have no plan for getting pregnant 3 months after vaccination, and those who have low immunity against rubella.


The Workshop on the Applications of Precarious Rocks and Related Fragile Geological Features to U.S. National Hazard Maps met on the University of Nevada campus in Reno (UNR), Nevada, on 4–5 October 2010. The goal of this workshop was to develop recommendations to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) on the use of precariously balanced rocks and related fragile geological features to improve the national seismic hazard maps (NSHM). The context of the workshop is the growing realization that it is essential to regard hazard maps as the calculated output of hazard models that should be tested, and that fragile geological features provide the only data to validate the predictions of these models at low probabilities.

A fragile geological feature (FGF) was defined as a feature that might be easily destroyed by strong earthquake ground motions and is mechanically simple enough to allow for analysis of the ground motions that might cause it to be destroyed. For testing the prediction of a seismic hazard model, an FGF must also have been in essentially the present geometry for enough time to constrain past ground motions. A precariously balanced rock (PBR) is the type example of an FGF. A PBR is a rock that is balanced on, but not mechanically attached to, its pedestal, and it has a high ratio of height to width of the contact with the pedestal, so that it is easily toppled. Brune and Whitney (1992) and Brune (1996) suggested that PBRs might serve as low-resolution seismoscopes to put upper bounds on ground motions over the lifetime of the rock. FGFs were recognized by Hanks et al. (2006) for their critical contribution to evaluation of extreme ground motions at Yucca Mountain. Because PBRs have been studied more than other FGFs, most attention at the workshop focused on their distribution …


Growing evidence indicates that sphingosine-1-P (S1P) upregulates glutamate secretion in hippocampal neurons. However, the molecular mechanisms through which S1P enhances excitatory activity remain largely undefined. The aim of this study was to identify presynaptic targets of S1P action controlling exocytosis. Confocal analysis of rat hippocampal neurons showed that S1P applied at nanomolar concentration alters the distribution of Synapsin I (SynI), a presynaptic phosphoprotein that controls the availability of synaptic vesicles for exocytosis. S1P induced SynI relocation to extrasynaptic regions of mature neurons, as well as SynI dispersion from synaptic vesicle clusters present at axonal growth cones of developing neurons. S1P-induced SynI relocation occurred in a Ca2+-independent but ERK-dependent manner, likely through the activation of S1P3 receptors, as it was prevented by the S1P3 receptor selective antagonist CAY1044 and in neurons in which S1P3 receptor was silenced. Our recent evidence indicates that microvesicles (MVs) released by microglia enhance the metabolism of endogenous sphingolipids in neurons and stimulate excitatory transmission. We therefore investigated whether MVs affect SynI distribution and whether endogenous S1P could be involved in the process. Analysis of SynI immunoreactivity showed that exposure to microglial MVs induces SynI mobilization at presynaptic sites and growth cones, whereas the use of inhibitors of sphingolipid cascade identified S1P as the sphingolipid mediating SynI redistribution. Our data represent the first demonstration that S1P induces SynI mobilization from synapses, thereby indicating the phosphoprotein as a novel target through which S1P controls exocytosis. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Growing evidence indicates that the bioactive lipid sphingosine and its metabolite sphingosine-1-P (S1P) stimulate excitatory transmission. While it has been recently clarified that sphingosine influences directly the exocytotic machinery by activating the synaptic vesicle protein VAMP2 to form SNARE fusion complexes, the molecular mechanism by which S1P promotes neurotransmission remained largely undefined. In this study, we identify Synapsin I, a presynaptic phosphoprotein involved in the control of availability of synaptic vesicles for exocytosis, as the key target of S1P action. In addition, we provide evidence that S1P can be produced at mature axon terminals as well as at immature growth cones in response to microglia-derived signals, which may be important to stabilize nascent synapses and to restore or potentiate transmission.


Latent fingerprint identification is of critical importance to law enforcement agencies in identifying suspects: Latent fingerprints are inadvertent impressions left by fingers on surfaces of objects. While tremendous progress has been made in plain and rolled fingerprint matching, latent fingerprint matching continues to be a difficult problem. Poor quality of ridge impressions, small finger area, and large nonlinear distortion are the main difficulties in latent fingerprint matching compared to plain or rolled fingerprint matching. We propose a system for matching latent fingerprints found at crime scenes to rolled fingerprints enrolled in law enforcement databases. In addition to minutiae, we also use extended features, including singularity, ridge quality map, ridge flow map, ridge wavelength map, and skeleton. We tested our system by matching 258 latents in the NIST SD27 database against a background database of 29,257 rolled fingerprints obtained by combining the NIST SD4, SD14, and SD27 databases. The minutiae-based baseline rank-1 identification rate of 34.9 percent was improved to 74 percent when extended features were used. In order to evaluate the relative importance of each extended feature, these features were incrementally used in the order of their cost in marking by latent experts. The experimental results indicate that singularity, ridge quality map, and ridge flow map are the most effective features in improving the matching accuracy.


ABSTRACT: Despite variations worldwide and within the U.S. population, median age at menarche has remained relatively stable—between 12 years and 13 years—across well-nourished populations in developed countries. Environmental factors, including socioeconomic conditions, nutrition, and access to preventive health care, may influence the timing and progression of puberty. A number of medical conditions can cause abnormal uterine bleeding, characterized by unpredictable timing and variable amount of flow. Clinicians should educate girls and their caretakers (eg, parents or guardians) about what to expect of a first menstrual period and the range for normal cycle length of subsequent menses. Identification of abnormal menstrual patterns in adolescence may improve early identification of potential health concerns for adulthood. It is important for clinicians to have an understanding of the menstrual patterns of adolescent girls, the ability to differentiate between normal and abnormal menstruation, and the skill to know how to evaluate the adolescent girl patient. By including an evaluation of the menstrual cycle as an additional vital sign, clinicians reinforce its importance in assessing overall health status for patients and caretakers.


In this paper, we present a semi-automatic approach to efficiently and robustly recover the characteristic feature curves of a given free-form surface. The technique supports a sketch-based interface where the user just has to roughly sketch the location of a feature by drawing a stroke directly on the input mesh. The system then snaps this initial curve to the correct position based on a graph-cut optimization scheme that takes various surface properties into account. Additional position constraints can be placed and modified manually which allows for an interactive feature curve editing functionality. We demonstrate the usefulness of our technique by applying it to a practical problem scenario in reverse engineering. Here, we consider the problem of generating a statistical (PCA) shape model for car bodies. The crucial step is to establish proper feature correspondences between a large number of input models. Due to the significant shape variation, fully automatic techniques are doomed to failure. With our simple and effective feature curve recovery tool, we can quickly sketch a set of characteristic features on each input model which establishes the correspondence to a pre-defined template mesh and thus allows us to generate the shape model. Finally, we can use the feature curves and the shape model to implement an intuitive modeling metaphor to explore the shape space spanned by the input models.


Abstract. The variability of the Atlantic meridional overturing circulation (AMOC) strength is investigated in control experiments and in transient simulations of up to the last millennium using the low-resolution Community Climate System Model version 3. In the transient simulations the AMOC exhibits enhanced low-frequency variability that is mainly caused by infrequent transitions between two semi-stable circulation states which amount to a 10 percent change of the maximum overturning. One transition is also found in a control experiment, but the time-varying external forcing significantly increases the probability of the occurrence of such events though not having a direct, linear impact on the AMOC. The transition from a high to a low AMOC state starts with a reduction of the convection in the Labrador and Irminger Seas and goes along with a changed barotropic circulation of both gyres in the North Atlantic and a gradual strengthening of the convection in the Greenland-Iceland-Norwegian (GIN) Seas. In contrast, the transition from a weak to a strong overturning is induced by decreased mixing in the GIN Seas. As a consequence of the transition, regional sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies are found in the midlatitude North Atlantic and in the convection regions with an amplitude of up to 3 K. The atmospheric response to the SST forcing associated with the transition indicates a significant impact on the Scandinavian surface air temperature (SAT) in the order of 1 K. Thus, the changes of the ocean circulation make a major contribution to the Scandinavian SAT variability in the last millennium.


Transatlantic Economic Relations (TER) was neglected by politicians for much of the twentieth century as international security issues took priority. Since the end of the Cold War, however, and as economic issues have come to prominence TER has assumed increasing importance and yet is largely overlooked in academic discussion. This report places TER in its historical context and demonstrates how the political agenda and institutional setup are both largely dysfunctional. Viewed through the prism of industrial relations and drawing on some real life examples from both sides of the Atlantic, it argues that the social dimension is a challenge central to the future development of the relationship and proposes institutional innovations which could also be replicated in other areas: for instance in support of environmental concerns. Presenting some guiding principles for transatlantic trade, this paper recommends the creation of a new secretariat to act as a permanent contact point and providing a variety of practical functions essential to making TER work.


Referring image segmentation aims at localizing all pixels of the visual objects described by a natural language sentence. Previous works learn to straightforwardly align the sentence embedding and pixel-level embedding for highlighting the referred objects, but ignore the semantic consistency of pixels within the same object, leading to incomplete masks and localization errors in predictions. To tackle this problem, we propose CoupAlign, a simple yet effective multi-level visual-semantic alignment method, to couple sentence-mask alignment with word-pixel alignment to enforce object mask constraint for achieving more accurate localization and segmentation. Specifically, the Word-Pixel Alignment (WPA) module performs early fusion of linguistic and pixel-level features in intermediate layers of the vision and language encoders. Based on the word-pixel aligned embedding, a set of mask proposals are generated to hypothesize possible objects. Then in the Sentence-Mask Alignment (SMA) module, the masks are weighted by the sentence embedding to localize the referred object, and finally projected back to aggregate the pixels for the target. To further enhance the learning of the two alignment modules, an auxiliary loss is designed to contrast the foreground and background pixels. By hierarchically aligning pixels and masks with linguistic features, our CoupAlign captures the pixel coherence at both visual and semantic levels, thus generating more accurate predictions. Extensive experiments on popular datasets (e.g., RefCOCO and G-Ref) show that our method achieves consistent improvements over state-of-the-art methods, e.g., about 2% oIoU increase on the validation and testing set of RefCOCO. Especially, CoupAlign has remarkable ability in distinguishing the target from multiple objects of the same class.


A combination of social surveys and direct field observations was used to identify and determine the abundance status of chewing stick botanicals in the tree zones of Ekiti State, Nigeria. Voucher specimens of the botanicals identified by the respondents were collected, identified and relevant information on them were documented. The relative abundance of the identified species was determined based on their accessibility when required. Thus species were classified into two groups, abundant species and scarce species. A total of 49 species belonging to 26 families were identified as being used for dental and oral health care in the study area and the various similarity measurements revealed that similar plant species were used in the three zones of the study area. Most of these species were indigenous species, the introduced species constituted 18% of the total number of the species used. Only 31% of the botanicals were cultivated in the study area and these species were cultivated mainly for other uses apart from the production of chewing sticks. The relative abundance test revealed that 34 of the species could be described as being abundant while 15 species (31 %) of the species were scarce. The major sources of these scarce species were the forests which were located far from the household areas. Chewing sticks acceptability tests conducted among the urban dwellers in the study area revealed that the use of chewing sticks cut across gender, age, educational and economic strata. However, the use of chewing sticks among the urban dwellers was governed by species availability rather than preference. Strategies that would enhance the conservation of the chewing sticks botanicals were proposed.


An empirical study was carried out at Ericsson Telecom AB to investigate the relationship between several design metrics and the number of function test failure reports associated with software modules. A tool, ERIMET, was developed to analyze the design documents automatically. Preliminary results from the study of 130 modules showed that: based on fault and design data one can satisfactorily build, before coding has started, a prediction model for identifying the most fault-prone modules. The data analyzed show that 20 percent of the most fault-prone modules account for 60 percent of all faults. The prediction model built in this paper would have identified 20 percent of the modules accounting for 47 percent of all faults. At least four design measures can alternatively be used as predictors with equivalent performance. The size (with respect to the number of lines of code) used in a previous prediction model was not significantly better than these four measures. The Alberg diagram introduced in this paper offers a way of assessing a predictor based on historical data, which is a valuable complement to linear regression when prediction data is ordinal. Applying the method described in this paper makes it possible to use measures at the design phase to predict the most fault-prone modules.


How is material behavior at the macro scale influenced by its properties and structure at the micro and meso-scales? How do heterogeneities influence the properties and the response of a material? How does nonlinear coupling of electro-thermo-mechanical properties influence the behavior of a ferroelectric material? How can design at the micro-scale be exploited to obtain selective response? These questions have been topics of significant interest in the materials and mechanics community. Recently, new materials like multifunctional composites and metamaterials have been developed, targeted at selective applications. These materials find applications in areas like energy harvesting, damage mitigation, biomedical devices, and various aerospace applications. The current thesis explores these questions with two major thrusts: (i) internal reflects of shocks in composite media and (ii) shocks in ferroelectric media. Under the application of high-pressure, high strain rate loading, such as during high velocity impact, shock waves are generated in the material. They can cause the material to achieve very high stress states, and if transmitted without mitigation, can lead to failure of key components. An important question here is 'Can we design materials which can successfully mitigate damage due to shocks?' In a heterogeneous material, like a layered composite, the traveling waves undergo scattering due to internal reflections. In order to understand internal reflections, an idealized problem that focuses on nonlinear shocks and ignores less important elastic waves was formulated and studied in detail. The problem is studied by classifying all possible interactions in the material and then solving corresponding Riemann problems. Using dynamic programming tools, a new algorithm is designed that uses these solutions to generate a complete picture of the impact process. Different laminate designs are explored to study optimal design, by varying individual layer properties and their arrangement. Phenomena like spallation and delamination are also investigated. Upon high strain rate loading, ferroelectric materials like lead zirconate titanate (PZT) undergo ferroelectric to anti-ferroelectric phase transition leading to large pulsed current output. These materials have thus found applications as pulsed power generators. The problem of shock induced depolarization and the associated electro-thermo-mechanical coupling of ferroelectric materials is studied in this thesis using theoretical and numerical methods. A large deformation dynamic analysis of such materials is conducted to study phase boundary propagation in the medium. The presence of high electrical fields can lead to formation of charges in the material, such as surface charge on the phase boundary. Using conservation laws and the second law of thermodynamics, a set of governing equations are formulated that dictate the phase boundary propagation in isothermal and adiabatic environments. Due to the possibility of surface charges on the phase boundary, the curvature of the phase boundary starts to play a role in the driving force acting on the phase boundary. The equations of motion and driving force see the contribution of nonlinear electro-thermomechanical coupling in the material. Using the equations derived, a canonical problem of impact on a ferroelectric material is studied. A new finite-volume, front-tracking method is developed to solve these equations. Finally, results from numerical simulations are compared to the experimental results.


This paper introduces the terminal erosion problem which usually occurs down drift of coast protection works, an important aspect of coast protection which is often overlooked. To provide the background to this problem, the formation, replenishment and function of a natural shingle beach is discussed m relation to coast protection. The value of groynes in stabilising the foreshore, the use of artificial beach replenishment, and the effect on the long shore regime following the introduction of a sea wall, are discussed m outline with typical examples. Terminal erosion is described in more detail, with reference to its cause, and illustrated by examples taken around the coast of the British Isles. Suggestions are made for the investigation of the terminal problem, design considerations are discussed, and terminal groynes and various types of terminal works described. Particular reference is made to the permeable type of terminal section. Finally the paper is illustrated by examples of terminal works which have been constructed at two sites m this country. The foreshore conditions and exposure are described, together with the details of the sea wall and groynes, and the details of the terminal works at each site.


Abstract The indexes used in retrospect in estimating one-half genetic value (daughter superiority) of progeny of 541 Holstein matings contracted by Eastern Artificial Insemination Cooperative were determined. A set of information on relatives to be complete would include records of paternal sisters, the dam, paternal sisters of the dam, maternal sisters, maternal grandam, and maternal sisters of the dam. The average index of daughter superiority for the 541 progeny was between 406 and 455 kg of milk, depending on which combination of relatives was used. Paternal sisters accounted for 45 to 50% of the total daughter superiority. Records of maternal relatives, particularly records of the grandam and the dam, generally received too much emphasis relative to theoretical weights. The overemphasis on the dam's records may be due to the greater opportunity for selection of dams than for selection of sires. Efficiency of the indexes actually used in retrospect was computed as the ratio of the average correlation between the retrospective index and the true daughter superiority to average correlation between the index, using theoretical weights and true daughter superiority. The most efficient index in retrospect used records of paternal sisters, the dam, and paternal sisters of the dam, but was only 84% as efficient as the theoretically best index.


ABSTRACT In classical Cell Biology, fundamental cellular processes are revealed empirically, one experiment at a time. While this approach has been enormously fruitful, our understanding of cells is far from complete. In fact, the more we know, the more keenly we perceive our ignorance of the profoundly complex and dynamic molecular systems that underlie cell structure and function. Thus, it has become apparent to many cell biologists that experimentation alone is unlikely to yield major new paradigms, and that empiricism must be combined with theory and computational approaches to yield major new discoveries. To facilitate those discoveries, three workshops will convene annually for one day in three successive summers (2017–2019) to promote the use of computational modeling by cell biologists currently unconvinced of its utility or unsure how to apply it. The first of these workshops was held at the University of Illinois, Chicago in July 2017. Organized to facilitate interactions between traditional cell biologists and computational modelers, it provided a unique educational opportunity: a primer on how cell biologists with little or no relevant experience can incorporate computational modeling into their research. Here, we report on the workshop and describe how it addressed key issues that cell biologists face when considering modeling including: (1) Is my project appropriate for modeling? (2) What kind of data do I need to model my process? (3) How do I find a modeler to help me in integrating modeling approaches into my work? And, perhaps most importantly, (4) why should I bother?


This manuscript provides optimization guarantees, generalization bounds, and statistical consistency results for AdaBoost variants which replace the exponential loss with the logistic and similar losses (specifically, twice differentiable convex losses which are Lipschitz and tend to zero on one side).
The heart of the analysis is to show that, in lieu of explicit regularization and constraints, the structure of the problem is fairly rigidly controlled by the source distribution itself. The first control of this type is in the separable case, where a distribution-dependent relaxed weak learning rate induces speedy convergence with high probability over any sample. Otherwise, in the nonseparable case, the convex surrogate risk itself exhibits distribution-dependent levels of curvature, and consequently the algorithm's output has small norm with high probability.


Borel determinacy states that if G(T;X) is a game and X is Borel, then G(T;X) is determined. Proved by Martin in 1975, Borel determinacy is a theorem of ZFC set theory, and is, in fact, the best determinacy result in ZFC. However, the proof uses sets of high set theoretic type (N1 many power sets of ω). Friedman proved in 1971 that these sets are necessary by showing that the Axiom of Replacement is necessary for any proof of Borel Determinacy. To prove this, Friedman produces a model of ZC and a Borel set of Turing degrees that neither contains nor omits a cone; so by another theorem of Martin, Borel Determinacy is not a theorem of ZC. This paper contains three main sections: Martin's proof of Borel Determinacy; a simpler example of Friedman's result, namely, (in ZFC) a coanalytic set of Turing degrees that neither contains nor omits a cone; and finally, the Friedman result.


RosenBerg, Nancy D. Does Learning Style Instruction Hernandez, Pamela M, Have a Positive Effect on Academic Achievement in the First Grade? 1995. Thesis Adviser: Dr. Stanley Urban, Seminar in Learning Disabilities. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of learning style instruction when implemented in a typical first grade classroom setting, The study was designed to determine if the use of several learning style methodologies would produce an increase in academic achievement. Two regular first grade classes were used as the Study and Control Groups. Each student in the Study Group, was surveyed to discover possible learning styles present within the group. For approximately six months, the Study Group received instruction which was modified, wherever possible, to allow for each student's individual needs. During this period, the Control Group received typical instruction with no allowances being made for individual learning styles. At the conclusion, both the Study and Control Groups were assessed to determine their current academic levels. The mean scores from each group were compared to determine if a significant difference existed between them. Through the use of comparative scores, the Study Group's results revealed a significant increase on only one subtest. Therefore, the implementation of learning styles instruction in a regular education first grade classroom did not demonstrate a significant increase in academic achievement when compared to a similar first grade class receiving typical instuction.


The Mendip Hills are one of the most geologically varied areas in the country with a wealth of important geological sites and a
wide variety of rock types, landscapes and wildlife habitats condensed into a small area. This makes the Mendips one of the best
areas in the country to appreciate the relationship between geology, landscape and biodiversity.
Large numbers of people visit the Mendip Hills each year to visit its famous caves and gorges, to participate in a range of outdoor
activities, and to appreciate the landscape. The region is also an important source of aggregate, which causes a conflict of interest
between conservation bodies, planners, and the quarrying industry, but which has created many superb geological exposures,
some of these are now important nature reserves.
There is often a great deal of published information on the geology, geomorphology and natural history of areas of high scenic
value or geological interest such as the Mendips, but there is often a significant gap between the basic geological information
commonly accessible to tourists and locals, and the more specialist academic literature. The British Geological Survey is currently
producing a new series of user-friendly maps and guidebooks to fill this gap and to promote geotourism in several regions across
the country. For the Mendip Hills, this is being done through an Aggregates Levy funded project to create two 1:25,000 scale
geological maps each accompanied by guidebook and an open access website. This more user-friendly approach to geological
maps will hopefully make geology more accessible to local people and visitors alike and promote geotourism in the region.


In Belgium, the activity rate for almost all age segments is below the average for the three neighbouring countries. Even within the 25-to-54 year-old group, where labour market participation is at its highest, there is a wide individual distribution, notably by gender and level of education. The article also quantifies the manpower reserve for the country's three Regions.


The turbellarian-like, radula-lacking Rhodope has been a mystery to taxonomists for over 160 years and was considered a specialized off-shoot of either opisthobranch or pulmonate Euthyneura. Occasionally reported from intertidal waters and sand habitats from all continents, most species of these minute slugs are poorly known and characterized mainly by differences in pigmentation. To understand the evolution of heterobranch microslugs, we established a morphological dataset for Rhodope by describing a new species found in the temperate waters of southern Australia. To set a standard for rhodopids, all major organ systems of R. rousei n. sp. are reconstructed three-dimensionally from series of semithin sections using the software Amira. Microanatomy confirms the loss of many general gastropod features such as foot, cephalic tentacles, shell, radula, mantle cavity, gill and heart. Excretory and digestive systems are heavily modified, with free rhogocytes in the presumed position of the heart, and a secondary buccal bulb replacing the function of the vestigial pharynx. Structural details of the monaulic but hermaphroditic genital system suggest cutaneous fertilization via spermatophores formed in specialized glands. The highly concentrated central nervous system is compared to those of other species of the genus and targets of all detectable nerves are summarized. These characters are compared with adaptations shown by other interstitial gastropods.


Background: Bacterial sepsis is one of the common causes of morbidity and mortality in patients admitted to any tertiary care hospital. Early diagnosis of bacterial sepsis is a challenge to the clinician and the laboratory. Blood culture is the gold standard for the diagnosis of bacterial sepsis. Isolating the bacteria and determining its antibiotic susceptibility takes a minimum of 48 hours. There is a constant search for biochemical markers which might rapidly indicate bacterial sepsis. Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic role of procalcitonin in bacterial sepsis. Subject and methods: Procalcitonin (PCT) levels were determined in 136 patients admitted to the hospital with symptoms of sepsis. PCT was measured in serum samples obtained from the patients at the same time when blood was drawn for culture. Results: Out of the 136 patients clinically diagnosed with sepsis, 14 patients had a positive blood culture (10.3%). Procalcitonin levels of >0.5 ng/ml was considered as positive. Out of the 14 patients with a positive blood culture, 12 had PCT levels greater than 0.5 ng/ml. ROC analysis revealed maximum sensitivity of 64% and a specificity of 65% with a PCT value of 3.25 ng/ml. The mean PCT values in survivors were lower when compared to PCT values in non survivors. Conclusion: Markers for rapid diagnosis of sepsis is required to institute rapid and appropriate management. Procalcitonin level is one such promising target marker for early diagnosis of sepsis.


This study examines the impact of institutional directors on the level of corporate social responsibility disclosure (CSRD) in the Jordanian banks.A comprehensive CSR checklist, consisting of 100 items, is designed to collect the data from 147 observations from 2004 to 2013.The descriptive analysis shows, relatively, a low level of CSRD with a mean of 46%. In addition, institutional directors occupy 46.4% of the banks' board seats. The analysis shows that 11% of the institutional directors are serving as CEOs, 22.5% are independent institutional directors and 65.5% are non-independent non-executive directors.Results from multiple regression analysis show that institutional directors, has a negative and non-significant impact on the level of CSRD.However, we break down the institutional directors to two groups based on their status; institutional independent directors and institutional non-independent non-executive directors.The results show that the two groups have positive significant impacts on the level of CSRD.Then, the institutional CEO (CEO institutional-affiliated) is analyzed and it has a significant negative impact.Regarding the control variables, bank age and leverage significantly and positively enhance the CSRD while board size and profitability (ROA) are insignificantly related to CSRD.


BACKGROUND
Spatial resolution in cardiac activation maps based on voltage measurement is limited by far-field interference. Precise characterization of electrical sources would resolve this limitation; however, practical charge-based cardiac mapping has not been achieved.

METHODS
A prototype algorithm, developed from first principles of electrostatic field theory, derives charge density (CD) as a spatial representation of the true sources of the cardiac field. The algorithm processes multiple, simultaneous, noncontact voltage measurements within the cardiac chamber to inversely derive the global distribution of CD sources across the endocardial surface.

RESULTS
Comparison of CD to an established computer-simulated model of atrial conduction demonstrated feasibility in terms of spatial, temporal, and morphologic metrics. Inverse reconstruction matched simulation with median spatial errors of 1.73 mm and 2.41 mm for CD and voltage, respectively. Median temporal error was less than 0.96 ms and morphologic correlation was greater than 0.90 for both CD and voltage. Activation patterns observed in human atrial flutter reproduced those established through contact maps, with a 4-fold improvement in resolution noted for CD over voltage. Global activation maps (charge density-based) are reported in atrial fibrillation with confirmed reduction of far-field interference. Arrhythmia cycle-length slowing and termination achieved through ablation of critical points demonstrated in the maps indicates both mechanistic and pathophysiological relevance.

CONCLUSION
Global maps of cardiac activation based on CD enable classification of conduction patterns and localized nonpulmonary vein therapeutic targets in atrial fibrillation. The measurement capabilities of the approach have roles spanning deep phenotyping to therapeutic application.

TRIAL REGISTRATION
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01875614.

FUNDING
The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Translational Research Program at Royal Papworth Hospital and Acutus Medical.


Gender inequality damages the physical and mental health of millions of girls and women across the globe, and of boys and men, despite the many tangible benefits it gives men through resources, power, authority, and control. Because of the numbers of people involved, and the magnitude of the problems, taking action to improve gender equity in health, and to address women's rights to health, is one of the most direct and potent ways to reduce health inequities and ensure effective use of health resources. Deepening, and consistently implementing, human rights instruments can be a powerful mechanism to motivate and mobilize governments, individuals, and, especially, women themselves.


The inhibition effect of castor bark powder obtained from Ricinus communis on AISI 1020 carbon steel in acidic media (HCl 0.5 mol.L-1) has been studied by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), polarization curves, scanning vibrating electrode technique (SVET) and weight loss measurements. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were employed as characterization techniques. The EIS and gravimetric results showed that the inhibitory efficiency increases with inhibitor concentration achieving 83%. Polarization curves indicated that the castor bark powder acts as mixed inhibitor. The adsorption of the powder components on the metal surface follows the Langmuir isotherm. The FTIR analyses indicate the presence of C, N and O heteroatoms, incorporated in functional groups mainly related to the presence of carboxylic acids as ricinoleic acid, which could be responsible for the inhibitory properties of the powder. SEM analyses showed that the corrosion process was retarded in the presence of inhibitor in the electrolyte, which was confirmed by SVET measurements. Therefore, the results indicate that castor bark powder has potential to be a corrosion inhibitor for carbon steel in acidic media.


We assess the contribution of economic and financial factors in the determination of euro area
corporate bond spreads over the period 2001-2015. The proposed multi-market, no-arbitrage affine term structure model is based on the methodology proposed by Dewachter, Iania, Lyrio, and Perea (2015). We model jointly the 'risk-free curve', measured by overnight index swap (OIS) rates, and the corporate yield curves for two rating classes (A and BBB). The model includes four spanned and six unspanned factors. We find that, in general, both economic (real activity and inflation) and financial factors (proxying risk aversion, flight to liquidity and general financial market stress) play a significant role in the determination of the spanned factors and hence in the dynamics of the risk-free yield curve and corporate bond spreads. Across the risk-free OIS curve, macroeconomic and financial factors are each responsible on average for explaining 30 and 65 percent of yield variation, respectively. For A-and BBB-rated corporate debt, the selected financial variables explain on average 50 percent of the variation in corporate spreads during the last decade.


Previous field and pot experiments showed that the sole application of the bio-extract did not increase plant dry weight and yield. However, application of bio-extract (BE) with organic fertilizers increased plant dry weight (leaf, stem and yield). It has been hypothesized that the bio-extract may act as a direct source of beneficial microorganisms or/and substrates to stimulate soil microbial activities in decomposing organic fertilizer and to release nutrients to plants. The objectives of this pot experiments were to investigate the roles of live microorganisms and/or chemical constituents of bio-extract combined with or without compost on microbial biomass and crop growth.

Autoclave treatment on the bio-extract showed that the living microorganisms contained in the bio-extract were not significant source of microorganisms responsible for decomposing organic fertilizer in the soil. There were no significant differences in microbial C and N in the soils treated with either original or autoclaved bio-extracts in the short term (8 days). Bio-extract after autoclaving could still enhance crop growth (top dry weight) when being combined with municipal compost. Moreover, cowpea treated with original, autoclaved or artificial (only soluble C and N) bio-extracts did not show significant difference in top dry weight.

Our studies suggest that some substrates, such as soluble organic acids, amino acids, in the bio-extract might play some important roles to stimulate soil microbial activities and enhance crop growth.


In the 1990s, Hal Foster observed that ethnographic or politicized art practices were diverging from a neo-avant-gardiste precedent: an investment in the remobilization of historic experimentations such as those performed by the members of Dada. I argue in this article that, more recently, the artists Kenneth Goldsmith, Carl Michael von Hausswolff, Karl Holmqvist, Jutta Koether and Eline McGeorge were testing Foster's assessment of the 'ethnographic turn' and also what he refers to as the 'archival impulse' by reintroducing, from a curatorial standpoint, the potential of postmodernist breaks with linear thinking. Specifically, the collective considered the years Kurt Schwitters spent in exile as an inhabitable site and not an art historical narrative in need of retelling. Rather than seeking to explain paradigmatic shifts in the formal qualities of Dadaist assemblages through distanced reproduction, they embarked on an artists' residency that would allow them to critically engage with the concept of Merz in idiosyncratic and ephemeral ways. I suggest that this allowed them to successfully arrive at what Foster calls a 'productive tension', evidenced in the subsequent installation of their group exhibition 27 Senses at Chisenhale Gallery in London, 2010.


We use the global LINKAGE model to assess the impact of trade and support policies in agriculture on income, trade, and output patterns. We provide order-of-magnitude estimates of the impacts of policy changes rather than point estimates. Two sets of simulations are used to identify key drivers in the results. One set decomposes the aggregate results by looking at the impacts of partial reforms, regionally and across instruments, to identify the relative contribution to global gains of reforms in industrialized and developing countries and of border protection versus domestic support. The second set responds to critics of trade reform (inflated gains for developing countries, no transition costs for industrial country farmers, uncertain supply response in developing countries). Reform of agriculture and food provides 70 percent of the global gains from merchandise trade reform of $385 billion. The global gains are shared equally among industrial and developing countries. Developing countries gain more as a share of initial income, and income gains occur in developing country agriculture, reducing poverty. Both groups of countries gain more from their own reforms than from the other group's reforms. Productivity and supply assumptions affect impact assessment, but their influence is small and does not alter the main aggregate findings. Trade elasticities, however, are key in determining the overall level of the income gains. Higher elasticities dampen terms-of-trade effects and increase trade and real income gains more than proportionally and the converse is true for smaller elasticities. These effects can be very large for individual countries.


Asparagopsis taxiformis is a rhodophycean species composed of six genetic lineages, one of which is considered a relevant invasive component of the Mediterranean flora. In the present study we describe seasonal changes of the structure and biomass of the native community associated to Asparagopsis taxiformis in Granada (Southern Spain). Native community was represented by 18 Rhodophyta, 3 Chlorophyta and 4 Ochrophyta species. Biomass was dominated by A. taxiformis and Halopteris filicina . While in January A. taxiformis accounted for only 16% of the community biomass, an explosive dominance was observed only two months later, representing more than 90% of the algal biomass. Furthermore, low and generally stable values of species richness, Shannon's diversity index and evenness were recorded during the study period. Given that A. taxiformis gametophytes are present year round, they are likely to pose a constant stress to native community development. This survey provides baseline information of macroalgal community structure useful for further studies to assess the true impact of the invasive lineage of A. taxiformis .


Horizontal cells of the perch retina were studied with morphological and physiological techniques. Three types of cone horizontal cells were observed in Golgi preparations and they were called HI, H2, and H3 type cells, according to their morphological characteristics. Analysis of cone-horizontal cell contacts,, revealed that HI cells contact red sensitive twin cones and green sensitive single cones, H2 cells contact red sensitive twin cones exclusively, and H3 cells contact exclusively green sensitive single cones. Inter connections of cones by basal processes were also examined; single cone basal processes were found to contact twin cone pedicles, and twin cone basal processes to contact other twin cone pedicles. The spectral sensitivity and spatial organization of horizontal cells were analysed by intracellular recordings. Two types of horizontal cell responses were observed; L-type responses that hyper polarized to light stimuli of all wavelengths, and R/G C-type responses that depolarized to red and hyperpolarized to green stimuli. Correlation of anatomical and morphological results suggests that HI and H2 cells generate L-type responses, and H3 cells generate R/G C-type responses. The R/G cells are hyperpolarized by signals from the green (P5352) sensitive cones and depolarized by a far red (650-670 nm) mechanism. Compared with the red cone pigment (P6I52), the L-type horizontal cell spectral sensitivity curve is narrow and with maximum (650 nm) displaced towards the red end of the spectrum (a pseudopigment spectral sensitivity curve), suggesting that an antagonistic interaction occurs between the two cone types, generating the horizontal cell spectral sensitivity function.


Sea state information is needed for many applications, ranging from safety at sea and on the coast, for which real time data are essential, to planning and design needs for infrastructure that require long time series. The definition of the wave climate and its possible evolution requires high resolution data, and knowledge on possible drift in the observing system. Sea state is also an important climate variable that enters in air-sea fluxes parameterizations. Finally, sea state patterns can reveal the intensity of storms and associated climate patterns at large scales, and the intensity of currents at small scales. A synthesis of user requirements leads to requests for spatial resolution at kilometer scales, and estimations of trends of a few centimeters per decade. Such requirements cannot be met by observations alone in the foreseeable future, and numerical wave models can be combined with in situ and remote sensing data to achieve the required resolution. As today's models are far from perfect, observations are critical in providing forcing data, namely winds, currents and ice, and validation data, in particular for frequency and direction information, and extreme wave heights. In situ and satellite observations are particularly critical for the correction and calibration of significant wave heights to ensure the stability of model time series. A number of developments are underway for extending the capabilities of satellites and in situ observing systems. These include the generalization of directional measurements, an easier exchange of moored buoy data, the measurement of waves on drifting buoys, the evolution of satellite altimeter technology, and the measurement of directional wave spectra from satellite radar instruments. For each of these observing systems, the stability of the data is a very important issue. The combination of the different data sources, including numerical models, can help better fulfill the needs of users.


Most protein in sub-Saharan Africa comes from animal sources, a significant proportion of this from wild species or bushmeat. Availability of protein sources to human populations in Africa has not been studied before, perhaps because most population centres are too large for data collection to be practicable. Assessment of the availability and consumption of animal protein within the city of Malabo (c. 60 000 inhabitants), Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea, included estimation of the annual animal protein supply to the city from daily counts of small livestock meats (goat, pork, lamb, duck, chicken), beef, fish and bushmeat (December 2003–March 2004) in the city's central market and other selling points, and the animal protein consumption per adult male equivalent (AME) derived from a sample of around 200 households to explore influence of household income on consumption of different protein sources. Current animal protein production (bushmeat, small livestock meats, beef and fish) in Bioko, and potential production needed to supply adequate amounts of protein to the people of Malabo in the future were calculated. Annually around 2100 t of meat/fish (460 t of animal protein) was available, of which only 7% was produced on the island. Consumption patterns indicated that larger-sized households purchased more meat, but protein intake per AME fell significantly with household size. Income was positively correlated with volume of small livestock meats consumed per household, but negatively related with bushmeat eaten. Income did not influence beef or fish consumption per household. Although the island is capable of producing more alternative meats, it cannot sustain itself on local production and will therefore continue to be dependent on importing a large proportion of meat (and protein). There is no dependency on bushmeat species, but current rates of wild species use can still have a dramatic impact on wildlife populations on the island if left unabated. Alternative ways of ensuring sufficient protein supply for the Malabo population are crucial for wildlife conservation, and curbing consumption of bushmeat species is of highest conservation priority now.


Up the ante on yourFirePOWER with Advanced FireSIGHT Administrationexam prep Securing Cisco Networks with Sourcefire IPS Study Guide, Exam 500-285,provides 100% coverage of theFirePOWER with Advanced FireSIGHT Administrationexam objectives. With clear and concise information regarding crucialnext-generation networksecurity topics, this comprehensive guide includes practical examples and insights drawn from real-world experience, exam highlights, and end of chapter reviews. Learn key exam topics and powerful features of the CiscoFirePOWER Services, including FireSIGHTManagement Center, in-depth event analysis, IPS tuning and configuration, and snort rules language. Gain access to Sybex's superior online learning environment that includes practice questions, flashcards, and interactive glossary of terms. Use and configurenext-generationCisco FirePOWERservices, including application control, firewall, and routing and switching capabilities Understand how to accurately tune your systems to improve performance and network intelligence while leveraging powerful tools for more efficient event analysis Complete hands-on labs to reinforce key concepts and prepare you for the practical applications portion of the examination Access Sybex's online interactive learning environment and test bank, which includes an assessment test, chapter tests, bonus practice exam questions, electronic flashcards, and a searchable glossary Securing Cisco Networks with Sourcefire IPS Study Guide, Exam 500-285 provides you with the information you need to prepare for theFirePOWER with Advanced FireSIGHT Administrationexamination.


[About the book]

Bands structured around western wind instruments are among the most widespread instrumental ensembles in the world. Although these ensembles draw upon European military traditions that spread globally through colonialism, militarism and missionary work, local musicians have adapted the brass band prototype to their home settings, and today these ensembles are found in religious processions and funerals, military manoeuvres and parades, and popular music genres throughout the world. Based on their expertise in ethnographic and archival research, the contributors to this volume present a series of essays that examine wind band cultures from a range of disciplinary perspectives, allowing for a comparison of band cultures across geographic and historical fields. The themes addressed encompass the military heritage of band cultures; local appropriations of the military prototype; links between bands and their local communities; the spheres of local band activities and the modes of sociability within them; and the role of bands in trajectories toward professional musicianship.

This book will appeal to readers with an interest in ethnomusicology, colonial and post-colonial studies, community music practices, as well as anyone who has played with or listened to their local band.