The central purpose of this paper has been to provide a conceptual model that is capable of supporting the development of appropriate early childhood practices for the 21st Century. A strong consensus has emerged regarding the importance of devel- oping Communication, Collaboration and Creativity during the early years. The paper argues that these three principles are related to each other very closely at the level of theory and in some of the very best early childhood education practice. It is argued that, at the level of practice; creativity, communication, and collaboration are all combined in 'sustained shared thinking', which has been identified as a particularly effective pedagogic strategy in the qualitative case studies conducted to support the longitudinal study Effective Provision of Pre-School Education in England (Siraj- Blatchford and Sylva, 2004). These 'three Cs' (Communication, Collaboration and Creativity) are also explicitly prioritised in each of the five international models of early childhood education (ECE) identified in the 2004 Starting Strong: Curricula and Pedagogies in Early Childhood Education and Care Report (OECD, 2004). But it is extremely important to recognise that the pedagogic form that 'Sustained Shared Thinking' takes with children under age two is quite different from that most appro- priate for three to five year olds when, in their socio-dramatic play, young children are quite naturally separating objects and actions from their meanings in the real world and giving them new meanings. By around age five, children's powers of ex- pression and abstraction may also be enhanced when they are encouraged to commu- nicate these creative representations in the play room (van Oers, 1999). The paper concludes by identifying some key principles to be applied in developing effective 'Pedagogic Progression' in nurseries and kindergartens that often cater for a broad age range of young children. These were illustrated at the PECERA conference with con- crete examples of practice drawn from popular training materials


This paper presents a new method for estimating normals on unorganized point clouds that preserves sharp features. It is based on a robust version of the Randomized Hough Transform (RHT). We consider the filled Hough transform accumulator as an image of the discrete probability distribution of possible normals. The normals we estimate corresponds to the maximum of this distribution. We use a fixed-size accumulator for speed, statistical exploration bounds for robustness, and randomized accumulators to prevent discretization effects. We also propose various sampling strategies to deal with anisotropy, as produced by laser scans due to differences of incidence. Our experiments show that our approach offers an ideal compromise between precision, speed, and robustness: it is at least as precise and noise-resistant as state-of-the-art methods that preserve sharp features, while being almost an order of magnitude faster. Besides, it can handle anisotropy with minor speed and precision losses.


ABSTRACT Following a host of high-profile scandals, the political influence of platform companies (the global corporations that that operate online 'platforms' such as Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube, and many other online services) is slowly being re-evaluated. Amidst growing calls to regulate these companies and make them more democratically accountable, and a host of policy interventions that are actively being pursued in Europe and beyond, a better understanding of how platform practices, policies, and affordances (in effect, how platforms govern) interact with the external political forces trying to shape those practices and policies is needed. Building on digital media and communication scholarship as well as governance literature from political science and international relations, the aim of this article is to map an interdisciplinary research agenda for platform governance, a concept intended to capture the layers of governance relationships structuring interactions between key parties in today's platform society, including platform companies, users, advertisers, governments, and other political actors.


This report explores detecting inter-turn short circuit (ITSC) faults in surface permanent magnet synchronous machines (SPMSM). ITSC faults are caused by electrical insulation failures in the stator windings and can lead to shorts to ground and even fires. This report proposes methods for detecting these faults using a moving horizon observer (MHO) to reduce the chance of electrical shocks and fires. Specifically, this report constructs a MHO for ITSC fault detection in SPMSM. ITSC fault tolerant control is investigated for a 2004 Toyota Prius hybrid vehicle having a traction SPMSM. Once the supervisory-level powertrain power flow control becomes aware of the presence of a fault and its degree from the MHO, the control (i) reduces the maximum possible vehicle speed to ensure SPMSM thermal constraints are not violated and (ii) switches to a traction motor input-output power efficiency appropriate for the degree of fault. These steps are taken during a fault rather than shutting down the traction motor to provide a "limp home" capability. The traction motor cannot simply be turned off because its rotation is not independent of drive wheel rotation. The control is demonstrated by simulating the Prius over a 40 s drive velocity profile with faults levels of 0.5%, 1%, 2%, and 5% detected at the midpoint of the profile. For comparison, the Prius is also simulated without a traction motor fault. Results show that the control reduced vehicle velocity upon detection of a fault to appropriate safe values. Further, the challenges of ITSC fault tolerant control for heavy hybrid vehicles are examined. This work is partially supported by the Department of Energy, Award No. DE-EE0005568. The authors would like to acknowledge the support of Greg Shaver and the Hoosier Heavy Hybrid Center of Excellence. S. Johnson, R. DeCarlo, and S. Pekarek are with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Purdue University, 610 Purdue Mall, West Lafayette, IN 47907 (email: email@example.com, firstname.lastname@example.com, email@example.com). R. Meyer is with the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Western Michigan University, 1903 West Michigan Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI 49008 (email: firstname.lastname@example.com).


Reactive astrocytosis develops in many neurologic diseases including epilepsy. Astrocytotic contributions to pathophysiology are poorly understood. Studies examining this are confounded by comorbidities accompanying reactive astrocytosis. We found that high-titer AAV-eGFP astrocyte transduction induced reactive astrocytosis without altering the intrinsic properties or anatomy of neighboring neurons. We used selective astrocytosis induction to examine consequences on synaptic transmission in mouse CA1 pyramidal neurons. Neurons near eGFP-labeled reactive astrocytes exhibited reduction in inhibitory, but not excitatory synaptic currents. This IPSC erosion resulted from failure of the astrocytic glutamate-glutamine cycle. Reactive astrocytes downregulated expression of glutamine synthetase. Blockade of this enzyme normally induces rapid synaptic GABA depletion. In astrocytotic regions, residual inhibition lost sensitivity to glutamine synthetase blockade, while exogenous glutamine administration enhanced IPSCs. Astrocytosis-mediated deficits in inhibition triggered glutamine-reversible hyperexcitability in hippocampal circuits. Reactive astrocytosis may thus generate local synaptic perturbations, leading to broader functional deficits associated with neurologic disease.


We derive an unbiased estimator for expectations over discrete random variables based on sampling without replacement, which reduces variance as it avoids duplicate samples. We show that our estimator can be derived as the Rao-Blackwellization of three different estimators. Combining our estimator with REINFORCE, we obtain a policy gradient estimator and we reduce its variance using a built-in control variate which is obtained without additional model evaluations. The resulting estimator is closely related to other gradient estimators. Experiments with a toy problem, a categorical Variational Auto-Encoder and a structured prediction problem show that our estimator is the only estimator that is consistently among the best estimators in both high and low entropy settings.


As our dependence on IT systems increases, evaluating the dependability of critical IT systems becomes more important. One of the main challenges in software reliability engineering is the sensitivity of software systems to a changing usage. This is especially important for systems that are critical in the aftermath of a crisis and for which reliability is the most important aspect of dependability. The crisis might change the usage of the system, and this could have a negative effect on the reliability. Because crisis situations are typically rare events, both the reliability and the criticality of IT systems after a crisis situation are hard to predict. The first part of this thesis focuses on the analysis of the sensitivity of the reliability of IT systems to changes in their usage. With the help of statistical methods the effects of changing usage profiles, modelled through the use of Markov models, can be examined. After a theoretical derivation of the properties of different models for the usage of software systems, the results were validated by applying the models to the data collected from the logfiles of a webserver. Swedish municipalities also depend more and more on IT systems for their daily work. Because of their important role in the relief coordination after a crisis, the dependability of their IT systems during these emergency situations is especially critical. The evaluation of this dependability requires the combination of two kinds of information: how critically needed the IT systems are in the aftermath of a crisis and how trustworthy the critical systems are. To avoid that a failing IT system disturbs the relief work, risk and vulnerability analyses need to take into account the dependability of critical IT systems. This way, municipalities can make sure that the relief work is not critically dependent on systems that are not sufficiently reliable. The second part of this thesis describes a case study on how two Swedish municipalities deal with these issues. The study focuses especially on the division of responsibilities in the municipalities and on their current methods. The study shows that today there is much room for improvement, especially in the communication between IT personnel and emergency managers. The main goal of these case studies is to form a basis for the development of practical methods that can assist Swedish municipalities in evaluating the dependability of their IT systems and integration of this information in their emergency planning in the near future. (Less)


More recently the food industry, the agricultural community, and now consumers have shown a growing interest in the so-called functional foods. Interesting area of functional foods and one that has reached the grocery shelf is that of components classified as probiotics and prebiotics.
The aim of the present work is to develop dry constituent of foods having probiotic and/or prebiotic effects.
These products are obtained by using lactic fermentation of foods substrates, as cereals or skim milk.
Fermentation of selected substrates has been performed using a microrganism where performances was pointed out and optimized in lab scale tests. This particular strain has shown a good growth performances for several substrates with bacterial concentration much higher than that requested for lives of probiotic standards.
The lab-scale protocol has been tested using a fermenter (30 L), pointing out critical points related, essentially, to solid handling and supplying to the fermentation vessel.
Experimental tests show the need of performing the fermentation using a suitable protocol able to lower the concentration of undesired microorganisms (i.e. cocci, aerobic) leading to avoided organic acid.
Preliminary tests of dehydration of the fermented products have been performed on a pilot scale spray drying.


Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder caused by insufficient production of endogenous insulin, with or without resistance to insulin action, resulting in hyperglycaemia. In type 1 diabetes mellitus, there is a failure in production of insulin as a result of destruction of the cells of the pancreas, and patients require treatment with insulin whereas type 2 diabetes can be characterised by defects in both insulin action (i.e. insulin resistance) and insulin secretion, and is associated with elevated basal hepatic glucose production.  Glipizide is a second-generation sulfonylurea that can acutely lower the blood glucose level in humans by stimulating the release of insulin from the pancreas and is typically prescribed to treat type II diabetes. Different formulations were prepared by varying the concentration of HPMC used as polymers. The effect of varying concentration of hydrophilic polymers (HPMC 5cps and 15 cps) was studied on the release pattern of glipizide. Sustained release glipizide matrix tablets were prepared by wet granulation and compression of hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose (5 cps and 15 cps), drug and other excipients mixture. The promising formulation was compared with the marketed sample of suatained release glynase in terms of release pattern. The release rate of a glipizide from matrix tablet was decreased with increasing the concentration as well as viscosity polymer. This might be probably due to increased swelling and reduced erosion rate of matrix tablet. The formulation 13 (F13) showed the similar result as marketed sample of sustained release glynase tablets in terms of release rate. Key Words: Glipizide, Hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), Viscosity grades


SUMMARY This paper describes the performance of (or damage to) ceilings in buildings during the 22 nd February 2011 Christchurch earthquake and the subsequent aftershocks. In buildings that suffered severe structural damage, ceilings and other non-structural components (rather expectedly) failed, but even in buildings with little damage to their structural systems, ceilings were found to be severely damaged. The extent of ceiling damage, where the ceilings were subject to severe shaking, depended on the type of the ceiling system, the size and weight of the ceilings and the interaction of ceilings with other elements. The varieties and extent of observed ceiling damage are discussed in this paper with the help of photographs taken after the earthquake.


The Fujitsu Digital Annealer is designed to solve fully connected quadratic unconstrained binary optimization (QUBO) problems. It is implemented on application-specific CMOS hardware and currently solves problems of up to 1024 variables. The Digital Annealer's algorithm is currently based on simulated annealing; however, it differs from it in its utilization of an efficient parallel-trial scheme and a dynamic escape mechanism. In addition, the Digital Annealer exploits the massive parallelization that custom application-specific CMOS hardware allows. We compare the performance of the Digital Annealer to simulated annealing and parallel tempering with isoenergetic cluster moves on two-dimensional and fully connected spin-glass problems with bimodal and Gaussian couplings. These represent the respective limits of sparse versus dense problems, as well as high-degeneracy versus low-degeneracy problems. Our results show that the Digital Annealer currently exhibits a time-to-solution speedup of roughly two orders of magnitude for fully connected spin-glass problems with bimodal or Gaussian couplings, over the single-core implementations of simulated annealing and parallel tempering Monte Carlo used in this study. The Digital Annealer does not appear to exhibit a speedup for sparse two-dimensional spin-glass problems, which we explain on theoretical grounds. We also benchmarked an early implementation of the Parallel Tempering Digital Annealer. Our results suggest an improved scaling over the other algorithms for fully connected problems of average difficulty with bimodal disorder. The next generation of the Digital Annealer is expected to be able to solve fully connected problems up to 8192 variables in size. This would enable the study of fundamental physics problems and industrial applications that were previously inaccessible using standard computing hardware or special-purpose quantum annealing machines.


Fructose presents a highly attractive substrate for future biorefineries for production of biofuels as well as bulk and fine chemicals. Starting from cellulose, fructose is available via hydrolysis to glucose followed by isomerization. Despite commercial production of high-fructose corn syrup, efficient strategies for a combined chemo-catalytic isomerization and fructose separation are missing. This contribution describes a three-step approach combining the isomerization of glucose into fructose with recovery of the product. The first step covers isomerization of glucose into fructose using water as a solvent and soluble Na2HPO4 + NaH2PO4 as a catalyst. Na2HPO4 + NaH2PO4 exhibits catalytic activity under mild reaction conditions at pH 7.5. The specific-base-catalyzed isomerization proceeds via the formation of an enediol anion. The yield of fructose obtained using phosphates under batch conditions reaches 30%. The second step relates to recovery of fructose by selective anionic extraction due to complexation with ortho-hydroxymethyl phenylboronic acid (HMPBA). Under optimized conditions, up to 72% of fructose can be extracted from a glucose–fructose mixture with 76% selectivity. Fructose is extracted as a mixture of complexes with HMPBA exhibiting 1-to-1 stoichiometry. Formulae of two complexes were proposed, namely β-fructofuranoside esterified at C2 and C3 positions and an ester of β-fructopyranoside at C1 and C2. After extraction, the aqueous phase containing phosphate and the remaining glucose can be recycled. In the third step, fructose can be back-extracted from the organic phase with an acidic solution. This extraction-assisted isomerization strategy significantly improves the yield of fructose reaching up to 51%.


This thesis investigated the possibility of developing a new version of the Differential Evolution (DE) algorithm that does not require explicit tuning of any of its evolutionary
parameters. Similar to other types of canonical evolutionary algorithms, DE requires the user to manually hand-tune the Crossover Rate (Cr), Scaling Factor (F) and Number of Population (NP) using preliminary test runs prior to conducting the actual evolutionary optimization process. The main objective of this thesis is thus to design, implement and test different versions of DE which either uses a self-adaptive or fixed approach to determining these evolutionary parameters. To achieve this main objective, firstly, a standardized 3-Parents DE (3PDE) algorithm is implemented and tested against the original 4-Parents DE (4PDE). Next, the thesis investigates the removal of the first two evolutionary parameters, Cr and F, from the explicit
hand-tuning requirement. A series of experiments are conducted involving self-adaptive Cr and F individually and in combination. Lastly, the thesis investigates the self-adaptation of NP using two different methodologies, which are absolute and relative encodings, to determine which is favorable. To analyze and compare the performances of the proposed algorithms, a suite of 20 well-known numerical
optimization benchmark test functions were used. Each experimental setup for each test function was repeated for 50 times using different seeds for statistical significance. A total of 7000 evolutionary runs were conducted in this thesis. The results are compared based firstly on the average solution quality in terms of optimization precision and secondly its convergence properties. In addition, statistical testing using two-tailed t-tests are performed at the end of each experimental phase to ascertain the significance of the findings. From the empirical investigations and statistical analysis conducted. a new DE algorithm employing self-adaptation of F and relative self-adaptation of NP with a fixed Cr (3PDE-SAF-Rel) yielded the best outcome in terms of removing the explicit hand-tuning of evolutionary parameters in DE. Moreover, this new DE algorithm not only performed comparably against the original DE but in fact outperformed DE very significantly in 7 of the 20 test functions in terms of average solution quality and 8 of the 20 test functions in terms of convergence as explained in last objective in this thesis.


''Big data'' has become a major force of innovation across enterprises of all sizes. New platforms with increasingly more features for managing big datasets are being announced almost on a weekly basis. Yet, there is currently a lack of any means of comparability among such platforms. While the performance of traditional database systems is well understood and measured by long-established institutions such as the Transaction Processing Performance Council (TCP), there is neither a clear definition of the performance of big data systems nor a generally agreed upon metric for comparing these systems. In this article, we describe a community-based effort for defining a big data benchmark. Over the past year, a Big Data Benchmarking Community has become established in order to fill this void. The effort focuses on defining an end-to-end application-layer benchmark for measuring the performance of big data applications, with the ability to easily adapt the benchmark specification to evolving challenges in the big data space. This article describes the efforts that have been undertaken thus far toward the definition of a BigData Top100 List. While highlighting the major technical as well as organizational challenges, through this article, we also solicit community input into this process.


In this letter, a feedforward system is developed for control of a quasi-continuous-wave (CW) chirped source. The goal of this study is to improve the uniformity of the temporal profile of a quasi-CW chirped laser source. The chirped spectrum input to the system is dynamically flattened using a feedforward scheme having bandwidth in excess of 1 GHz, resulting in more than three times reduction on the contrast of the input spectrum. A uniform chirped spectrum laser source can be used in time-stretched photonic analog-to-digital conversion, as part of laser radar system, or for optical coherence tomography.


Parasitism of lepidopteran larvae by braconid wasps has significant effects on host hemolymph proteins and the physiology of the host insect. In this study the post-parasitism effects of a gregarious idiobiont ectoparasitoid ( Bracon hebetor) on hemolymph plasma proteins in the final instar larvae of the host ( Ephestia kuehniella) were investigated. Hemolymph plasma proteins were analyzed using spectrophotometry and sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Total quantity of plasma proteins in the host's hemolymph decreased slightly 24 and 48 h after parasitization; however, SDS-PAGE analysis showed that the quantity of 12 proteins decreased, whereas that of 5 proteins increased in concentration in the hemolymph of parasitized host larvae 24 and 48 h post-parasitism. Therefore, we conclude that host regulation of E. kuehniella by B. hebetor involves only quantitative changes in host plasma proteins and does not lead to upregulation of novel proteins.


Problem statement: Understanding on computer program is a complex cognitive activity. It is ability and also a difficult task especially for novice programmer. The object-oriented languages has widely used in education and industry recently. In programming it is important to have such software which can aid programmers or students to code the program. But, available program understanding systems using the plan based approach usually are developed for non-object-oriented programming languages. Reviewed from the available system also showed that none of the plan formalisms used is for an object-oriented language. Specifically, problem arises when the existing system is not usable for teaching programming purposes. Program understanding system with plan for object-oriented does not exist was the main reason why this research is being carried out. Approach: Method used on developed the program understanding system named CONCEIVER++ is Unified Approach (UA). The process involved from UA for developing and testing the system is iterative development and continuous testing. The process must be iterate and reiterate until satisfied with the system. In order to test the quality assurance of the system is by choosing the black box testing strategies. Results: The object-oriented program understanding system has been successfully implemented. The implementation is tested with an example of Java programming code. The binary search tree for control flow graph and linked list for plan has been generated. Results of understanding the meaning or semantic of the program codes also has been produced. The black box testing had shows that all statements of line of code of the example program have been recognized and the correctness output has been checked. Conclusion: The understanding module of CONCEIVER++, which are code/CFG processor, plan processor and recognition engine has been tested. All line of codes (or nodes) has been recognized and got correct meaning using the developed module.


We have developed a new Bayesian approach to retrieve oceanic rain rate from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Microwave Imager (TMI), with an emphasis on typhoon cases in the West Pacific. Retrieved rain rates are validated with measurements of rain gauges located on Japanese islands. To demonstrate improvement, retrievals are also compared with those from the TRMM/Precipitation Radar (PR), the Goddard Profiling Algorithm (GPROF), and a multi-channel linear regression statistical method (MLRS). We have found that qualitatively, all methods retrieved similar horizontal distributions in terms of locations of eyes and rain bands of typhoons. Quantitatively, our new Bayesian retrievals have the best linearity and the smallest root mean square (RMS) error against rain gauge data for 16 typhoon overpasses in 2004. The correlation coefficient and RMS of our retrievals are 0.95 and ~2 mm hr-1, respectively. In particular, at heavy rain rates, our Bayesian retrievals outperform those retrieved from GPROF and MLRS. Overall, the new Bayesian approach accurately retrieves surface rain rate for typhoon cases. Accurate rain rate estimates from this method can be assimilated in models to improve forecast and prevent potential damages in Taiwan during typhoon seasons.


DEVELOPING AN EFFECTIVE SMALL GROUP MINISTRY AT SALEM BAPTIST CHURCH, SALEM, KENTUCKY Mark Allen Combs, D.Min. Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Adam Greenway This project set out to establish an effective small group ministry at Salem Baptist Church in Salem Kentucky. Chapter 1 provides the context of the project, the goals of the project and the rationale behind the project. Chapter 2 establishes a biblical and theological defense for the theme of community found throughout Scripture. The theme of community begins within the Trinity and is seen as God forms a people who love him and want to live with him for all eternity. Chapter 3 lists several characteristics of an effective small group leader. The characteristics are essential for small group leaders who hope to lead their groups toward experiencing genuine community. Chapter 4 describes the project in detail. Each step of the project is discussed. Chapter 5 provide reflection on the project along with several suggestions for those who want to establish an effective small group ministry in their context.


Abstract. High density airborne point cloud data has become an important means for modelling and maintenance of a power line corridor. Since, the amount of data in a dense point cloud is huge even in a small area, an automatic detection of pylons in the corridor can be a prerequisite for efficient and effective extraction of wires in a subsequent step. However, the existing solutions mostly overlook this important requirement by processing the whole data into one go, which nonetheless will hinder their applications to large areas. This paper presents a new pylon detection technique from point cloud data. First, the input point cloud is divided into ground and nonground points. The non-ground points within a specific low height region are used to generate a pylon mask, where pylons are found stand-alone, not connected with any wires. The candidate pylons are obtained using a connected component analysis in the mask, followed by a removal of trees by comparing area, shape and symmetry properties of trees and pylons. Finally, the parallelism property of wires with the line connecting pair of candidate pylons is exploited to remove trees that have the same area and shape properties as pylons. Experimental results show that the proposed technique provides a high pylon detection rate in terms of completeness (100 %) and correctness (100 %).


The vegetative and reproductive anatomy of the grapevine is discussed with emphasis on recent interpretations based on scanning electron microscopy. The terminology of flowering in Vitis is defined and a developmental code, comprising Stages 0 to 11, is proposed for the events leading to formation of flowers. In brief, flowering in the grapevine involves three main steps: 1) Formation of Anlagen or uncommitted primordia (Stages 0 to 1); 2) Differentiation of Anlagen to form inflorescence primordia (Stages 2 to 7); and 3) Differentiation of flowers (Stages 8 to 11). The literature on the factors that influence flowering in grapes is reviewed under three major headings: 1) Biochemical changes in apices during inflorescence primordia formation; 2) Effects of environmental factors, including temperature, light intensity, photoperiod, water stress and mineral nutrition and 3) Role of phytohormones.

Anlagen develop into inflorescences, tendrils or shoots depending on the environment and hormonal factors. A hypothetical scheme for the hormonal control of Anlagen, tendril and inflorescence formation is proposed. It is suggested that flowering in grapes is controlled by the gibberellin:cytokinin balance. Formation of the inflorescence axis (the Anlage) is gibberellin controlled, but subsequent differentiation into flowers is regulated by cytokinin.


Light is attenuated by materials present in the water column by scattering and absorption. The knowledge of light attenuation and its contributing factors influencing visibility/turbidity is unknown in Singapore waters. This MSc thesis consists of field measurement, laboratory experiment and numerical modelling in 3 parts; parameterisation of light attenuation coefficient? K?_d, numerical modelling of underwater light field and visibility. The objectives of this thesis are; a) to determine the dynamics of optical properties in Singapore waters, b) to investigate factors contributing to light attenuation in Singapore waters and c) to model underwater light field and visibility using Hydrolight and Delft3D WAQ. This first part addresses the dynamics of light attenuation (in relation to low/high tide), the spectral nature of optically significant constituents (water, CDOM, phytoplankton and sediment) as well as the effects of particle size distribution (PSD) to light scattering. For PSD with a higher slope j in N(D) = ?KD?^(-j), the d50 ranges from 7.11 to 9.90 ?m in Singapore Strait representing sediment dominated environment. Higher TSS during low tide is advection dominated while lower TSS during high tide is suspension dominated. Relative contributions of CDOM, chlorophyll and sediment to light attenuation coefficient? K?_d is 1.4 – 6.5 % (average of 3.3 %), 1.3 – 62 % (average of 24 %) and 31.3 – 95.2 % (average of 70 %) respectively. Four (4) empirical equations to predict ? K?_d was developed depending on its optical and physical characteristics. Underwater light field modelling shows that light attenuation depend mostly on the concentration of optically significant constituents and only weakly dependent on light structure, cloud cover and fluorescence. The modelled ? K?_d from Hydrolight ranges from 1.2 to 2.3 m-1 with lower ? K?_d in chlorophyll dominated waters while the empirical estimations underestimate K_(d(PAR)) compared to the modelled ? K?_d from Hydrolight. The modelled Secchi depth, S_d ranges from 0.6 – 1.4m corresponding to euphotic depth z_eu of 2.0 – 3.8 m with deeper z_eu for chlorophyll dominated waters. The modelled visibility is generally lowest during Northeast (NE) followed by Southwest (SW) monsoon and Inter monsoon (IM) period with evidence of spatial homogeneity for all monsoons. The visibility model reproduces the recorded? S?_d reasonably well except for Johor Strait and sheltered areas in WCP due to the fact that some processes are not unaccounted in the model. The ? K?_d variation coincides with SSC variation with no phase difference; the visibility is lowest during spring low tide and highest during neap high tide. Convective interaction between the diurnal and semidiurnal components is important in offshore locations while the non-linearity of tidal propagation contributes in the shallow water of Johor estuary. The residual turbidity in Singapore waters is due to tides (semi diurnal and diurnal spring neap interactions) and non-tides (monsoonal effect) in approximately equal magnitude during monsoons. The results from this thesis are applicable in coastal engineering, ecological and remote sensing.


Washington was rarely isolated from the world during his eventful life. His diary for 1751-52 relates a voyage to Barbados when he was nineteen. The next two accounts concern the early phases of the French and Indian War, in which Washington commanded a Virginia regiment. By the 1760s when Washington's diaries resume, he considered himself retired from public life, but George III was on the British throne and in the American colonies the process of unrest was beginning that would ultimately place Washington in command of a revolutionary army.Even as he traveled to Philadelphia in 1787 to chair the Constitutional Convention, however, and later as president, Washington's first love remained his plantation, Mount Vernon. In his diary, he religiously recorded the changing methods of farming he employed there and the pleasures of riding and hunting. Rich in material from this private sphere, "The Diaries of George Washington" offer historians and anyone interested in Washington a closer view of the first president in this bicentennial year of his death.


This article, inspired by the activities surrounding the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, examines both the development and potential of human rights initiatives in sports. Following a general discussion of the development and status of human rights, we turn specifically to the issue of human rights in sports, both in terms of the human rights of athletes and in terms of a more basic right to participate in sport and physical activity. We provide examples of campaigns against racism and apartheid, for gender equity and for athletes' rights; and we consider examples of some current strategic campaigns for children's and workers' rights in relation to sport and physical activity, and against the attack on public support of sport and physical activity. We conclude with some suggestions for carrying out campaigns for human rights in sport.


Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by its progression of motor-related symptoms such as tremors, rigidity, slowness of movement, and difficulty with walking and balance. Comorbid conditions in PD individuals include insulin resistance (IR) and narcolepsy-like sleep patterns. The intersecting sleep symptoms of both conditions include excessive daytime sleepiness, hallucinations, insomnia, and falling into REM sleep more quickly than an average person. Understanding of the biological basis and relationship of these comorbid disorders with PD may help with early detection and intervention strategies to improve quality of life. Methods: In this study, an integrative genomics and systems biology approach was used to analyze gene expression patterns associated with PD, IR, and narcolepsy in order to identify genes and pathways that may shed light on how these disorders are interrelated. A correlation analysis with known genes associated with these disorders (LRRK2, HLA-DQB1, and HCRT) was used to query microarray data corresponding to brain regions known to be involved in PD and narcolepsy. This includes the hypothalamus, dorsal thalamus, pons, and subcoeruleus nucleus. Risk factor genes for PD, IR, and narcolepsy were also incorporated into the analysis. Results: The PD and narcolepsy signaling networks are connected through insulin and immune system pathways. Important genes and pathways that link PD, narcolepsy, and IR are CACNA1C, CAMK1D, BHLHE41, HMGB1, and AGE-RAGE. Conclusions: We have identified the genetic signatures that link PD with its comorbid disorders, narcolepsy and insulin resistance, from the convergence and intersection of dopaminergic, insulin, and immune system related signaling pathways. These findings may aid in the design of early intervention strategies and treatment regimes for non-motor symptoms in PD patients as well as individuals with diabetes and narcolepsy.


The purpose of this study was to determine the information security awareness and behaviors that faculty and staff report. A sample of 321 participants consisting of 164 faculty and 157 staff members from a public, state university located in the Southeastern United States. The results indicate that overall, faculty and staff had high to moderate levels of information security awareness and behaviors. An independent samples t-test found that there was no significant difference in security awareness, but there were four behaviors differences between faculty and staff. Participants that reported higher levels of security policy awareness demonstrated significantly more secure behaviors in ten of the 18 items measured. Given these findings, comprehensive security awareness training will be essential for institutions of higher education as a means of minimizing threats to information technology resources.


This paper investigates the role of green hydrogen energy system in reducing petroleum-based global unrest. For this purpose, in terms of the policy parameters, the followings are discussed: 1) the main factors accelerating petroleum-based global energy imbalance and the negative effects resulting from the petroleum-based global unrest, 2) possible advantages of green hydrogen energy system, 3) the key driving forces and their roles for green hydrogen-based global stability, 4) qualitative evaluation of the effects of petroleum and green hydrogen consumption on some global issues. Consequently, it can be said that green hydrogen energy system will be a key tool to minimise petroleum-based global unrest and to improve the green hydrogen-based global stability. Thus, it is suggested that green hydrogen energy system should be gradually encouraged by governmental bodies and other authorities for improving and ensuring the green hydrogen-based global stability and sustainability.


The second International Conference on Networking and Computing (ICNC) on November 30December 2, 2011, in Osaka, Japan, – aims to provide a timely forum for exchange and discussion of the latest research findings in all aspects of networking and computing including parallel and distributed systems, architectures, and applications. Also, five workshops, 3rd Workshop on Ultra Performance and Dependable Acceleration Systems (UPDAS), 3rd International Workshop on Parallel and Distributed Algorithms and Applications (PDAA), 2nd International Workshop on Advances in Networking and Computing (WANC), International Workshop on Challenges on Massively Parallel Processors (CMPP), and International Workshop on Networking, Computing, Systems, and Software (NCSS) were held in conjunction with ICNC. The program committee has encouraged the authors of selected papers including the workshops to submit full-versions of their manuscripts to the International Journal on Networking and Computing (IJNC) after the conference. After a thorough reviewing process, with extensive discussions, four articles on various topics have been selected for publication on the IJNC special issue on ICNC. On behalf of the ICNC, we would like to express our appreciation for the large efforts of reviewers who reviewed papers submitted to the special issue. Likewise, we thank all the authors for submitting their excellent manuscripts to this special issue. We also express our sincere thanks to the editorial board of the International Journal on Networking and Computing, in particular, to the Editor-inchief Professor Koji Nakano. This special issue would not have been possible without his support.


Qatar has a high potential to develop renewable energy generating systems spatially through solar and wind-based technologies. Although, substantial initiatives have been undertaken in Qatar to reduce the high per capita emissions of the Greenhouse Gases (GHG), solar and wind-based energy generation can also significantly contribute to the mitigation of climate change. The mean Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI) of Qatar is about 2008 kWh/m2/y, which is suitable to develop solar power systems, knowing that 1800 kWh/m2/y is enough to establish Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plants. Although, the cost factor for developing the solar based power generation systems is about twice the gas based power generation, it generates environmental friendly energy along with keeping the limited gas resources. Moreover, being aware that 3 m/s is the critical wind speed to generate power, Qatar experiences wind speed over the critical speed in almost 80% of time that is a great potential to develop wind-based energy systems. In terms of economic feasibility, the minimum requirement of number for full load hours is 1400 while the number for Qatar is higher than the critical value. Furthermore, establishing wind power plant is cheaper than the gas-based one in off-shore locations even though the power generation is lower. This paper explains a methodology to determine the most suitable sites for developing the solar and wind-based power plants in order to maximize the efficiency of power generation using remote sensing and GIS. Analyses are carried out on two sets of spatial data derived from a recent Landsat 8 image such as land cover, urban and built-up areas, roads, water sources, and constraints, along with bands 10 and 11 (thermal bands) of same sensor for the year 2014, a DEM (Digital Elevation Model) derived from SRTM V2 (Shuttle Radar Topography Mission) to generate slope, aspect, and solar maps, and wind data obtained from Qatar meteorology department. The data are used to conduct two parallel Multi-Criteria Evaluation (MCE) techniques based on each objective of development (solar, and wind power plant development) through the following stages: (1) data preparation and standardization using categorical data rescaling, and fuzzy set membership function, (2) Logistic Regression-based analysis to determine suitability of each pixel for desired objective of development. The analysis produces two distinct suitability maps such that each one addresses suitable areas to establish solar, and wind power plants. The obtained suitability maps then are processed under a multi-objective land allocation model to allocate the areas that show the highest potential to develop both solar and wind-based power generation. Results show that the off-shore suitable sites for both objectives are mainly distributed in the north and north-west regions of Qatar.


Abstract Deportation has traditionally been seen as a secondary instrument of migration control, one used by liberal democratic states relatively infrequently and with some trepidation. This secondary status has been assured by the fact that deportation is both a complicated and a controversial power. It is complicated because tracking individuals down and returning them home are time-consuming and resource-intense activities; it is controversial because deportation is a cruel power, one that sometimes seems incompatible with respect for human rights. In the light of these constraints, how can one explain the fact that since 2000 the United Kingdom has radically increased the number of failed asylum seekers deported from its territory? I argue in the article that this increase has been achieved through a conscious and careful process of policy innovation that has enabled state officials to engage in large-scale expulsions without directly violating liberal norms.


Jumbo Dome, a prominent landmark on the north side of the Alaska Range, is a small body of intrusive andesite surrounded by schist and by poorly consolidated sediments of Tertiary age. Frost-moved rubbles, consisting of coarse andesite blocks, almost completely mantle the dome and have advanced outward from it across a gently sloping terrain for distances as much as 11/4 miles. Several different periods of rubble development are recognized, based on the amount of vegetal covering of the deposits, the preservation of their surface forms, and their degree of erosion by fluvial processes. The rubbles are not now moving and are believed to have originated under the influence of an arctic climate in a manner analogous to rock glaciers. The difference in altitude between presently moving rock glaciers in this region and the rubble deposits of Jumbo Dome corresponds to the difference in altitude between present ice-filled cirques and the lowest cirques of the Wisconsin stage of glaciation. Reasons are given for believing that fluvial weathering and destruction of rock glaciers represent climates at least as mild as the present. On this basis five separate glacial episodes, separated by interglacial and interstadial epochs, are recognized.


Both small-scale human societies and personal social networks have a characteristic hierarchical structure with successively inclusive layers of 15, 50, 150, 500, and 1,500 individuals. It has been suggested that these values represent a set of natural social attractors, or "sweet spots," in organizational terms. We exploited the new phenomenon of permanent (i.e., residential) campsites to ask whether these values are present in the size distribution of the numbers of residents in these naturally small-scale communities. In two separate data sets of different grain, we find consistent evidence for sites with 50, 150, 500, and maybe 1,500 residents. We infer that these reflect numerical sizes at which communities may in some way be socially optimal. Our data do not allow us to say why this pattern emerges, but the consistency of the results and the fact that the predetermined sizes of permanent campsites adhere to this pattern suggest that it may arise from the limits on the number of relationships that make an effective community.


This work examines the numerous complex issues facing practitioners preparing for, and presenting a case in, the Companies Court. It analyzes the origin and jurisdiction of the court, proceedings under the Companies Act 1985, company administration and investigative powers, and includes an up-to-date survey of the practice of the court in areas such as company director's disqualifications and insolvency proceedings. Appendices include relevant statutory provisions, as well as rules and practice directions relating to the Companies Court practice. The book was written by a highly qualified team of barristers with extensive experience in the practice of this specialist court.


Two trials were conducted to evaluate roughage levels in whole shelled-corn finishing diets and to compare use of self-feeders to a total mixed ration in a whole corn program. In trial 1, steers were fed whole corn diets alone or with 4 or 8% roughage or a rolled corn diet with 8% roughage. Increasing the roughage level increased dry matter in take, feed required per unit of gain, and carcass weight and finish, and reduced the incidence of liver abscesses. Despite better feed efficiency and lower costs of gain, reducing the dietary roughage level reduced profitability because of lighter slaughter weights. In trial 2, feeding 4% vs no roughage in a whole-corn finishing program increased dry matter intake and tended to increase rate of gain by finishing heifers. No performance benefit resulted from feeding a total mixed ration vs using self-feeders and providing chopped hay in a feed bunk. Feeding very little or no roughage in whole corn diets can improve feed efficiency and reduce cost of gain. However, these advantages


Abstract : This module, which is directed specifically to software engineers, discusses the writing process in the context of software engineering. Its focus is on the basic problem-solving activities that underlie effective writing, many of which are similar to those underlying software development. The module draws on related work in a number of disciplines, including rhetorical theory, discourse analysis, linguistics, and document design. It suggests techniques for becoming an effective writer and offers criteria for evaluating writing. Keywords: Programming & writing documentation.


Incentives for the development of renewable energy have increasingly become an instrument of climate policy, that is, as a means to reduce GHG emissions. This research analyzes the German experience in promoting renewable energy over the past decade to identify the ex post cost of reducing CO2 emissions through the promotion of renewable energy, specifically, wind and solar. To this propose, we calculated the annual CO2 abatement cost for the years 2006-2010 as the ratio of the net cost over the CO2 emission reductions resulting from the use of renewable energy. The net cost is the sum of the costs and cost savings due to the injection of renewable energy into the electric power system. Results show that CO2 abatement cost of wind are relatively low, of the order of tens of Euro per tonne of CO2, while CO2 abatement cost of solar are very high, of the order of hundreds of Euro per tonne of CO2. CO2 abatement cost has changed considerably over the years due to variations of fossil fuels prices, carbon price and the amount of generated renewable energy.


Evolution of the 7Li abundance in the convection zone of the Sun during different stages of its life time is considered to explain its low photospheric value in comparison with that of the solar system meteorites. Lithium is intensively and transiently burned in the early stages of evolution (pre-main sequence, pMS) when the radiative core arises, and then the Li abundance only slowly decreases during the main sequence (MS). We study the rates of lithium burning during these two stages. In a model of the Sun, computed ignoring pMS and without extra-convective mixing (overshooting) at the base of the convection zone, the lithium abundance does not decrease significantly during the MS life time of 4.6 Gyr. Analysis of helioseismic inversions together with post-model computations of chemical composition indicates the presence of the overshooting region and restricts its thickness. It is estimated to be approximately half of the local pressure scale height 0.5Hp) which corresponds to 3.8 % of the solar radius. Introducing this extra region does not noticeably deplete lithium during the MS stage. In contrast, at the pMS stage, an overshooting region with a value of approximately 0.18Hp is enough to produce the observed lithium depletion. If we conclude that the dominant lithium burning takes place during the pMS stage, the dispersion of the lithium abundance in solar twins is explained by different physical conditions, primarily during the early stage of evolution before the MS.


This MA thesis focuses on the work of one of the most influential and authoritative theologians of the early Church: St Gregory of Nyssa (†396). My topic of research consists in the relationship between language and theology, as it shaped in Gregory's polemical works against the radical Arians, in particular against Eunomius of Cyzicus (†395).The first chapter tackles the historical side of the controversy and provides the chronology of the dogmatic disputes on the dogma of Trinity following the Council of Nicaea (325). The second chapters illustrate the conflict being at stake between two theological methodologies: Gregory's grammar of thought is scriptural, whereas Eunomius' theology is much more philosophical and inflexible in its terms. Eunomius claimed that one can know God by his essence in the concept of 'ingenerate'. On the contrary, for Gregory of Nyssa, God 'is above all names'. For him, language and sexuality are realitites of the post-lapsarian world, which made human mind opaque and the exercise of interpretation indispensable. Gregory included also the episode of Babel in the genealogy of our linguistic finitude. The third and the fourth chapters focus on the relationship between language and theological knowledge in St Gregory's third book Contra Eunomium. All words used in human language - including Eunomius' concept of agennetos – have complementary meanings, since no one can describe the essence of an object or of any part of reality. On this basis, Gregory develops his 'theory of relativity' of names, which can never befit God's majesty and glory. In the last chapter, under the heading 'Pragmatics of Language', I investigate the immediate consequences of Gregory's 'theory of relativity'. Speech is treated as a sphere, which resembles the creative power of the hypostatic Word. Therefore, rhetoric becomes the perfect tool for his pastoral concern in doing theology. By choosing rhetoric, Gregory is free to start his theological argument from anywhere, since theology is a discourse about God's redemptive economy. In conclusion, I try to emphasise the actuality of Gregory's theory of names and its importance for the contemporary debates in the Church on thorny issues as Trinitarian theology or gender. I also evaluate Gregory of Nyssa's self-consistency in positive terms.


Question

Climate change processes could influence the dynamics of biotic interactions such as plant competition, especially in response to disturbance phenomena such as invasional processes. Are competitive effects of native species on an invader mediated by water availability?

Location

Glasshouse facility, New South Wales, Australia.

Methods

We constructed competitive hierarchies for a representative suite of species from coastal dune communities that have been invaded by the Asteraceae shrub, bitou (Chrysanthemoides monilifera subsp. rotundata). We used a comparative phytometer approach, where the invader species was grown with or without a suite of native species in glasshouse trials. This was used to construct competition hierarchies under two water stress conditions: non-droughted and droughted. The treatments were designed to simulate current and potential future water availability respectively.

Results

We found that the invader experienced fewer competitive effects from some native species under water stress, particularly with regard to below-ground biomass effects. Native species were often poor competitors with the invader, despite their adaptation to periodic water stress in native coastal environments. Of the native species with significant competitive effects on the invader, functionally similar shrub species were the most effective competitors, as expressed in below-ground biomass. The relative position of species in the hierarchy was consistent across water treatments based on below-ground bitou biomass, but was contingent on water treatment when based on above-ground bitou biomass.

Conclusions

The competitive effects of native species on an invader are affected by water stress. While the direction of response to water stress is species-specific, many species have small competitive effects on the invader under droughted conditions. This could allow an increase in invader dominance with climate change.


The influence of Brillouin slow light on distributed Brillouin fiber sensors is studied. We demonstrate Brillouin slow light for a 1.2 ns pulse with peak power from 3.3 to 56.2 mW at the depletion of the pump power from 1.3 mW to 83.2 mW in conventional optical fibers (SMF-28). Our experimental results show that when the depletion of the pump power is not negligible (pump and probe powers are comparable, which is the optimized distributed Brillouin fiber sensor regime), for a given pump power the Brillouin gain and delay time of a pulse decrease when the pulse peak power increases in a long length (≥10 km) sensing fiber. The strong depletion of the pump beam resulting from the strong interaction between pump and probe in the fiber provides accurate local temperature and strain information at high spatial resolution. Our study reveals that for a nanosecond pulse at low pump power, the spatial resolution error caused by pulse delay for a distributed Brillouin fiber sensor with centimeter spatial resolution is less than 5% of the pulse length, which is within experimental uncertainty.


Abstract. We present the first eddy covariance flux measurements of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) using a proton-transfer-reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometer (PTR-TOF-MS) above a ponderosa pine forest in Colorado, USA. The high mass resolution of the PTR-TOF-MS enabled the identification of chemical sum formulas. During a 30 day measurement period in August and September 2010, 649 different ion mass peaks were detected in the ambient air mass spectrum (including primary ions and mass calibration compounds). Eddy covariance with the vertical wind speed was calculated for all ion mass peaks. On a typical day, 17 ion mass peaks, including protonated parent compounds, their fragments and isotopes as well as VOC-H + -water clusters, showed a significant flux with daytime average emissions above a reliable flux threshold of 0.1 mg compound m −2 h −1 . These ion mass peaks could be assigned to seven compound classes. The main flux contributions during daytime (10:00–18:00 LT) are attributed to the sum of 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol (MBO) and isoprene (50%), methanol (12%), the sum of acetic acid and glycolaldehyde (10%) and the sum of monoterpenes (10%). The total MBO + isoprene flux was composed of 10% isoprene and 90% MBO. There was good agreement between the light- and temperature dependency of the sum of MBO and isoprene observed for this work and those of earlier studies. The above canopy flux measurements of the sum of MBO and isoprene and the sum of monoterpenes were compared to emissions calculated using the Model of Emissions of Gases and Aerosols from Nature (MEGAN 2.1). The best agreement between MEGAN 2.1 and measurements was reached using emission factors determined from site-specific leaf cuvette measurements. While the modeled and measured MBO + isoprene fluxes agree well, the emissions of the sum of monoterpenes is underestimated by MEGAN 2.1. This is expected as some factors impacting monoterpene emissions, such as physical damage of needles and branches due to storms, are not included in MEGAN 2.1. After a severe hailstorm event, 22 ion mass peaks (attributed to six compound classes plus some unknown compounds) showed an elevated flux for the two following days. The sum of monoterpene emissions was 4–23 times higher compared to emissions prior to the hailstorm while MBO emissions remained unchanged. The monoterpene emission (in mg compound m −2 ) during this measurement period is underestimated by 40% if the effect of this disturbance source is not considered.


The European Union (EU) is a conglomerate of more than 500 million people, 19.2% (approximately 100 million) of whom are older adults (1). The ageing population is triggering dramatic demographic, epidemiological, and anthropological changes, highlighting the importance of active and healthy ageing (AHA). In Europe, the most common household type is single occupancy (33.4% of the total number of households) (2). This household type also recorded the highest increase from 2005 to 2015 (3). These findings highlight several questions from both an individual and public perspective. Who will take care of the current generation as we become older? What types of health and social organisations should we develop to preserve the quality of life of an ageing population and sustain our health care systems over the medium and long term? Supporting AHA is one answer to these questions: an AHA population is a resource that benefits all of society. Maintaining a healthy ageing population may also lower demands for health care services. In addition, in many cases, older adults in good health are able to support their fellow generation and represent a strength dedicated to the common well-being.


This study uses qualitative research interviews and a survey to quantify and analyse business models at online newspapers in the UK. Senior editors and executives reported that news websites rely on advertising income to a greater extent than their print counterparts. Despite this, British news sites continue to charge users for some content, although to a varying degree. The fact that online editions still contribute barely a tenth of total revenues explains this experimental approach towards business strategy. Although paid-for content has mostly failed as a mechanism for the online news business in the past, changes in technology and net culture may mean that it is becoming an option again. The authors examine what content is being charged for and why, and investigate: how the 12 newspapers studied are balancing the need to develop additional revenue streams with the demand for traffic in a buoyant advertising market; the extent to which cannibalisation of the print parent is still a concern; the complementary benefits of developing digital products; strategies towards archived content; the value of columnist content to online users; the success of digital editions and email alerts; the potential of mobile services; and the rapidly developing number of online services and commercial partnerships hosted by newspapers on the Web.


It is often argued that managed fund performance has not shown the ability to outperform acceptable investment benchmarks. Managers with relatively high turnover, reflecting their attempts to time the market or to emphasize the relative value of individual securities, are generally regarded as increasing costs with no direct investor benefit. In contrast, this article shows that, under reasonable assumptions regarding manager skill and transaction costs, increased turnover may result in, and be very necessary condition for, high levels of performance relative to the benchmark. In addition, an explicit relationship between skill, turnover, and return is established, and a manager performance ratio is developed that indicates how effectively turnover is utilized.


Blogs can be analysed as a tool for information, identity, and building and maintaining relationships. This study examines the phenomenon of "daddy blogs" and aims to identify the construction of masculinity and fatherhood in these blogs. The paper presents results of the qualitative research on the most popular parental blogs, written by men from Poland, United  Kingdom, and  Turkey (three from each country). Study sample contains 90 blog posts, which have been analysed qualitatively using  MAXQDA  Software. As the result of the study, three common patterns of constructing/expressing manhood and fatherhood have been found. Firstly, manhood and fatherhood are presented in the wider, social context. In the blog posts, the role of a father in society, as well as gender norms are negotiated. Secondly, fatherhood is presented in the relations to children and duties regarding bringing them up, with visible differences in describing father – daughter and father – son relations. The authors often write about health, children's development, psychology, bullying and cyber-bullying, which can be understood as motivation to share information rather than just express themselves. Lastly, manhood and fatherhood are presented from the perspective of an individual, which is mostly expressed in texts about self-development, happiness and wellbeing. The most common motives in these categories were: the role of a family and relationships in life, life-work balance, time management, and spending quality time with family. These three perspectives complement each other, creating a complex construction of a man and a father, balancing between traditional and modern roles.


Film exhibition during the 1940s followed the double-bill model, pairing prestige 'A' pictures with shorter, cheaper 'B' movies. A continual demand for cost-effective product meant that serial-style programmers became a favourite of both Hollywood studios and their audiences; short instalments of an ongoing story, or standalone narratives with recurring characters, story arcs, and stars. 'The Falcon' series was a staple of the RKO Radio Pictures roster during the first half of the forties, following its debonair investigator across thirteen high-drama, all-action, romance-filled instalments. This paper discusses the role of music in the mystery-adventure serial, demonstrating the ways in which it prefigures gender and genre conventions in the soundtracks of both classical-era crime films and more recent multimedia franchises. Drawing on materials from the RKO archive at UCLA allows the partial reconstruction of scoring practices and personnel in the studio's music department – a mixture of contract composers and freelance musicians who carefully balanced economics and aesthetics. The tight budgets of B serials make them an ideal vehicle to trace the effect of these organisational practices on studio output, situating textual analysis of The Falcon's adventures within a close reading of their industrial and commercial context.


Cervical spine injuries are common in road trauma and resultant damage can be noted through imaging or replicated in biomechanical studies, all of which have limitations. This study provides a unique and important opportunity to correlate pre-hospital cervical spine treatment with detailed post-mortem cervical spine dissection. Twenty-five of 159 victims of fatal road trauma occurring in a five-month period were treated by ambulance and hospital staff. Cervical injury was sustained by 15 of the victims; injury involved all structures in the cervical spine. The greatest incidence of injury was to the upper cervical motion segments with intramuscular haemorrhage (especially at C1-2) the most frequently seen. Treatment was divided into pre-hospital and hospital care. The primary mode of pre-hospital treatment for cervical trauma was the Vertebrace extrication collar, a specialised cervical collar. The Vertebrace was used in 88 per cent of victims while supplementary supports were employed in 79 per cent of cases. Only 56 per cent of patients underwent cervical x-rays during hospital treatment and a number of these films unsatisfactorily visualised the spine. No correlation between age, gender, blood alcohol, road user or crash characteristics and injury was ascertained, but this may have been due to the sample size and indicates the need for further study in this area. Conference held at Duxton Hotel Perth 5-6 November 2009


Crime is the product of an interaction between the person and the setting. Understanding crime has been the focus of researchers in both design and social fields for a few decades. The empirical research within the design field on the issue of crime has mainly focused on site-specific and situational features of a place. In the past decade, a considerable body of design research begun to devote to the relationship between the occurrence of criminal events and spatial configuration, which is a significant factor in human behavior. More recently, there has been developing a method for analyzing space in an urban environment, capturing its quality as being comprehensible and easily navigable named Space Syntax. Urban design researchers have employed space syntax technique to analyze the geographic distribution of crime due to spatial and socio-demographic factors that could influence crime patterns. In this paper, using descriptive and content analysis research, we first demonstrate the position of crime in both traditional social sciences and place-oriented theories. Finally, a configurational approach will be introduced as an analytical method in urban design, which is based on the theoretical foundations, analytical methods and modeling techniques of space syntax.


The Russian legitimation formula contains the arguments the Russian leadership advanced to promote its state-building project between 1991 and 2000. The period of investigation coincides with Yeltsin's presidency. The focus is on how the legitimation rhetoric was adjusted both to changing circumstances over time and to three main audiences: the Russian domestic population, the Russian domestic elites and the international community. In order to analyse the contents of the legitimation formula a framework was developed which divided the different arguments used by the Russian leadership into six main categories (democratic, national, charismatic, eudaemonic, external and negative arguments). The material selected for analysis had to relate to basic features of statehood. Firstly, how did the Russian leadership seek to legitimate the new borders of the Russian Federation. Secondly, how did it legitimate the new constitution of 1993 and the way the constitution was introduced. Finally, the arguments used to introduce, abolish and remodel state rituals and symbols were examined. The main conclusion is that the Russian leadership did not change its core legitimation rhetoric over time or across audiences. Democratic arguments, centring on elections and a popular mandate as prerequisites for legitimate authority, dominated the legitimation formula both over time and for all the main audiences. Instead, the Russian leadership used subtle nuances and historic references to adapt its legitimation formula to changing circumstances over time and to the expectations of different audiences. Overall, the absence of national arguments was striking, as was the strong tendency to rely on negative arguments. The threat of Russian disintegration and civil war was frequently invoked, which suggests that the Russian leadership perceived this as a resounding argument among all the audiences it directed its legitimation formula at.


These four last prose fictions by Samuel Beckett were originally published individually, and their composition spanned the final decade of his life. In "Company" a solitary hearer lying in blackness calls up images from the far-off past. "Ill Seen Ill Said" meditates upon an old woman living out her last days alone in an isolated snow-bound cottage, watched over by twelve mysterious sentinels. In "Worstward Ho", a breathless speaker unravels the sense of things, acting out the unending injunction to 'Try again. Fail again. Fail better.' And "Stirrings Still", published in the "Guardian" a few months before Beckett's death in 1989, is the last prose work and testament of 'this great soothsayer of the age, and of the aged' (Christopher Ricks). The present edition includes several short prose texts ("Heard in the Dark" I & II, "One Evening", "The Way", and, "Ceiling") which represent work in progress or works ancillary to the composition of these late masterpieces.


Within the framework of the EMCA - Earthquake Model Central Asia - project, the cities of Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) and Dushanbe (Tajikistan) were selected for building monitoring using measurements of seismic noise to obtain the dynamical properties of the buildings. Eight buildings of different construction types, date of construction and building height, both, Soviet-era and recently constructed buildings, were instrumented for a period of a few hours. In this study, an overview of the experiment is given, including a short description of each monitored building's structure and the performed installation. Preliminary results for a representative Soviet-era residential building in Dushanbe are presented. Modal analysis is performed using the Frequency Domain Decomposition (FDD) method to estimate the natural frequencies and the mode shapes. The wave propagation velocities in the two directions along the building axes are determined by an interferometric approach. Although the experimental set-up was not the optimal, valuable information about the dynamical characteristics of the buildings were still obtained.


The studies of free radicals in melanin and the human melanoma malignum cells by an X-band (9.3 GHz) electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy were presented. The original results were compared with those published earlier. The aim of this work was application of the advanced spectral analysis to determine free radical properties in melanin biopolymers obtained from different melanotic tumor cells and free radicals existing in the human melanoma cells. Magnetic spin-lattice interactions in melanin samples were tested. The evolution of lineshape of tumor cells with increasing of microwave power was determined to confirm their complex free radical system. The useful shape parameters were proposed. The shape of melanotic tumor cells was analyzed. EPR spec- tra of free radicals in the melanin isolated from different tumor cells measured in the wide range of microwave power were analyzed. The melanins were obtained from the control tumor cells and the cells cultured with the several antitumor substances. The use-fulness of the electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy was confirmed.


Sea ice algal biomass in the eastern Antarctic zone was assessed using
measurements and observations. This assessment was entered into a simple model,
using remote sensing data to estimate habitat extent, to make an estimate of total sea
ice algal biomass in the region.
The late spring (2000) algal biomass and species composition in the bottom
and surface communities in pack ice floes in East Antarctica (105-115°E) is
described. Ice cores and surface ice samples were taken, and a simple ship based
observation technique to estimate algal biomass is evaluated and assessed. Measured
values of biomass compared well with observed values. The bottom algal biomass
was between 0.66 to 28.05 mg Chl a m-2 , and highly variable across the bottom of ice
floes. Surface ice algal biomass was less than the bottom and was heavily influenced
by floe edge effects.
Remote sensing data, viewed in GIS software, was used to calculate the ice
thickness distribution and the habitat extent of each ice type across the entire study
area (30-150°E). This information was used, together with measurements of the
distribution of algal biomass within the ice column, to estimate total algal biomass.
The total sea ice algal biomass in this region was estimated to be 7.81 Tg C on 20
November 2000, 80% of which was in the bottom community. Extrapolating this
result to December based on a conservative ice algal growth rate resulted in a
maximum standing algal crop of 8.51 Tg C, 95% of which was in pack ice, and 80%
was in the pack ice bottom community. This is —14% of the Antarctic ice algal
biomass. These results suggest that bottom communities are far more important in the
East Antarctic region than they have previously been assessed to be.


Chk1 is a critical effector of DNA damage checkpoints necessary for the maintenance of chromosome integrity during cell cycle progression. Here we report, that Chk1 co-localized with the nucleolar marker, fibrillarin in response to radiation-induced DNA damage in human cells. Interestingly, in vitro studies using GST pull down assays identified the dual-specificity serine/threonine nucleolar phosphatase Cdc14B as a Chk1 substrate. Furthermore, Chk1, but not a kinase-dead Chk1 control, was shown to phosphorylate Cdc14B using an in vitro kinase assay. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments using exogenous Cdc14B transfected into human cells confirmed the interaction of Cdc14B and Chk1 during cell cycle. In addition, reduction of Chk1 levels via siRNA or UCN-01 treatment demonstrated that Chk1 activation following DNA damage was required for Cdc14B export from the nucleolus. These studies have revealed a novel interplay between Chk1 kinase and Cdc14B phosphatase involving radiation-induced nucleolar shuttling to facilitate error-free cell cycle progression and prevent genomic instability.


Titanium and its alloys have been used extensively in the last few decades as materials for orthopedic and dental implants and other medical devices due to their high strength, low modulus, and high corrosion resistance in biological media. Besides other important material features, the corrosion parameters and corrosion products are responsible for limiting the biocompatibility of metallic materials, and can produce undesirable reactions in implant-adjacent and/or more distant tissues. Electrochemical corrosion behaviors of novel beta titanium alloys, Ti4.7Mo-4.5Fe, Ti-3Mo-0.5Fe and Ti-2Mo-0.5Fe were investigated in naturally aerated Ringer's solution at room temperature compared with currently used biomedical titanium alloy, Ti-6Al-4V. Very low current densities were obtained from the potentiodynamic polarization curves, indicating a passive behavior for all the studied alloys. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopic (EIS) studies showed high impedance values for all samples indicating an improvement in corrosion resistance of the spontaneous oxide layer. The fitting data obtained suggests a single passive layer form on the virgin surfaces of the alloys. The EIS results exhibited capacitive behavior (high corrosion resistance) with phase angles close to -80°C and high impedance values at low and medium frequencies, which are indicative of the formation of a highly stable film on these alloys in the test solution. The new present alloys are promising metallic biomaterials for the future, owing to their very low elastic modulus and good corrosion resistance capabilities.


Abstract * Knowledge transfer and learning within non-equity strategic alliances is an under-researched area. Based on interview data, this paper studies knowledge transfer, replication and learning in contractual joint ventures (CJVs), a major form of foreign investment in China. * Using a quasi-hierarchical organization structure, CJVs replicated part of their Hong Kong parent's know-how, which depended on local Chinese managers' learning intent and learning ability. Hong Kong partners also learned from managing the CJV and operating in China's local environment. Key Results * The paper identified collective learning (as opposed to competitive learning) between the CJV's Hong Kong and Chinese managers, which was largely built upon character and process-based trust. Introduction Strategic alliances and organizational learning have been a focal point of recent international business research. Research on organizational learning has been diffuse, focusing both on internal knowledge creation (Tripsas/Gevetti 2000, Holbrook et al. 2000) and learning by independent firms in mergers and acquisitions (Bresman/Birkingshaw/Nobel 1999), joint ventures (Inkpen/Beamish 1997) and non-equity alliances (Simonin 1999). The emerging literature on alliance learning has studied the process of knowledge transfer and replication from different perspectives, including how knowledge is transferred between alliance partners (Appleyard 1996), how knowledge is acquired from the parents by the JV itself (Lyles/Salk 1996) and how knowledge about alliance cooperation per se (i.e. collective learning) develops new competencies and impacts on collaborative outcomes (Doz 1996, Simonin 1999). Despite this growing research on how strategic alliances work and alliance partners learn, Simonin (1999) found the area empirically under-researched. According to Inkpen (2000), part of the problem has been the absence of a clear focus on any one particular type of alliance. Analyzing contractual joint ventures (CJVs), the dominant non-equity alliance form in China, this paper provides an empirical study of how partners transfer knowledge and learn in one type of alliance form. Alliances, including non-equity alliances, are alternatives to firms for structuring international production (Casson 1979, 1990). CJVs in China are a complex type of non-equity cooperative alliance, with many of the attributes of subcontracting. It refers to a relational arrangement where the Chinese and foreign partners work together on a range of projects, which are often vaguely specified and involve no equity stake (Casson/Zheng 1992). Unlike wholly foreign-owned enterprises (WFOEs), CJVs resemble equity joint ventures (EJVs) with the joint subsidiary separate from both parents. However, unlike EJVs, most CJVs do not have an independent legal status. Operational control and profit share are negotiated between the parties and are flexible over time, which contrasts with EJVs where control and rights to profits are based on predetermined, fixed equity shares. In legal terms, CJVs can be likened to a quasi-partnership, whereas EJVs represent corporations with a legal personality (Easson 1989, Plasschaert 1993). Until the mid-1980s, CJVs generated more investment than EJVs or WFOEs, the other two major forms of foreign invested enterprises (FIEs), in China (China Statistical Yearbook 1987-2001). While the relative share of CJVs in foreign investment in China declined from the late 1980s, they still account for 30 percent of investment in Guangdong (Guangdong Statistical Yearbook 1987-2001), the province adjoining Hong Kong. The foreign party of a CJV is most commonly a small-to-medium sized Hong Kong manufacturing firm and the Chinese side is usually a township and village enterprise (TVE). TVEs are collectively owned rural enterprises that are encouraged by township and village governments as an important channel to achieve industrialization in rural areas (Chen 1998). …


On driven neural assemblies: synchrony, chaos and entropy. Guillaume Lajoie Chair of the Supervisory Committee: Professor Dr Eric Shea-Brown Applied Mathematics In this dissertation, I address mathematical problems arising from the field of theoretical neuroscience that share a common theme: temporally driven neural networks treated as perturbed, coupled nonlinear dynamical systems. Guided by this theme, I present projects falling in two main categories. The first relates to synchrony, or lack thereof, in neural populations receiving a common input. This is intimately linked to studies of neural pathologies such as Parkinson's disease and their treatments via neuroprosthetics. Here, synchronous dynamics within certain neural nuclei disrupt normal brain functions and electrical stimulation can restore them. How do these networks synchronize? How can we break this synchrony with (global) input stimulation? I use a variety of tools such as geometric perturbation theory, discrete dynamical systems and numerical simulations to approach these questions. The second set of projects is motivated by neural coding, or the ability of neural networks to encode information from a stimulus that drives their dynamics. Encoding of a signal by a dynamical system strongly depends on its reliability: the ability of a system to reproduce similar output, given the same stimulus, on many trials where initial conditions change. Many large networks such as the ones found in cortex are believed to be chaotic and hence highly sensitive to small changes in initial state. How does such chaos influence the reliability of spikes in large driven networks? What are the implications of the resulting unreliability on the neural coding of stimuli? I use mathematical techniques from random dynamical systems and information theory, along with large-scale numerical simulations, to address these questions for large networks of spiking neurons.


A clinical strain of Acinetobacter baumannii (strain Ab41) that was resistant to all beta-lactam antibiotics tested except ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, ceftizoxime, and imipenem produced three beta-lactamases: a presumptive chromosomal cephalosporinase, a TEM-1-like beta-lactamase (pI 5.4), and a novel OXA-derived beta-lactamase named OXA-21 (pI 7.0). The gene encoding OXA-21 was located in an integron. The nucleotide sequence showed three mutations compared with the sequence of OXA-3, with two being silent; the nonsilent mutation generated a substitution of Ile-217 to Met.


Introduction: The National Physical Activity Guidelines for Australians recommend a minimum of 30 minutes of physical activity most days of the week to maintain good health. The American College of Sports Medicine suggests Pilates may be an effective mode of physical activity, however there is limited evidence to support the efficacy of Pilates for a range of its commercially claimed benefits. Methods: In this observational cohort study, healthy adults (4 males and 14 females), who had not participated in Pilates exercise prior to the study, completed 12 weeks of studio and/or mat based Pilates classes once per week and were compared to age matched controls. Before and after the 12 week intervention, participants completed a dual energy X-Ray absorptometry scan to assess body composition and bone mineral density; completed the 5 stage Sahrmann Core Stability assessment; were assessed for joint mobility at the shoulder, cervical and lumbar spine, hip and ankle using a goniometer; had their lower limb strength assessed through heel raises and isokinetic dynamometry; and their energy expenditure and energy intake monitored utilising the SenseWearTM Armband Mini and a five day food record. Results: There were no significant differences identified between the groups (Pilates and control) at baseline in relation to demographics (age, weight, height) and all aforementioned physiological characteristics, with the exception of cervical neck flexion. After the 12 week intervention, positive changes in core stability as identified through the Sahrmann core stability test among Pilates participants was evident though not statistically significant. Pilates group mean change 0.78 ±1.30AU, control group mean change -0.33 ± 1.11AU (p = 0.070). No other meaningful differences were identified. Conclusions: Though 12 weeks of Pilates completed once per week may be effective for enhancing core stability, it did not appear to elicit positive outcomes for range of motion, body composition and foot


This paper studies multi-agent optimal contracting with cost synergies. We model synergies as the extent to which effort by one agent reduces his colleague's marginal cost of effort. An agent's pay and effort depend on the synergies he exerts, the synergies his colleagues exert on him and, surprisingly, the synergies his colleagues exert on each other. It may be optimal to "over-work" and "over-incentivize" a synergistic agent, due to the spillover effect on his colleagues. This result can rationalize the high pay differential between CEOs and divisional managers. An increase in the synergy between two particular agents can lead to a third agent being endogenously excluded from the team, even if his own synergy is unchanged. This result has implications for optimal team composition and firm boundaries.


In the proteomic mass spectrometry field, peptide and protein identification can be classified into two categories: database search that relies on existing peptide and protein databases and de novo sequencing with no prior knowledge. There are many unknown protein sequences in nature, especially those proteins that play an vital role in drug development pipelines, such as monoclonal antibodies and venoms. To sequence these unknown proteins, de novo sequencing is a necessity. There have been standard algorithms for de novo sequencing a short peptide from its tandem mass spectrum (MS/MS). However, the de novo sequencing of a whole protein is still in its infancy. The most promising method is to digest the protein into overlapping short peptides with different enzymes. After each peptide is de novo sequenced with MS/MS, these overlapping peptides are then assembled together either manually or with a computer algorithm. Such an automated assembly algorithm becomes the main purpose of this thesis. Compared to the DNA sequence assembly counterpart, the main challenges are the high error rates and the short sequence length of each de novo peptide. To meet these challenges, novel scoring methods and algorithms are proposed and a software program is developed. The program is tested on a standard data set and demonstrates superior performance when compared to the state-of-the-art.


'Sustainable development' is a widely used, but less practised, complex term. Using the idea of 'Viability Loops' (VL) based on a System Dynamics (SD) approach and considering sustainability as an ideal for development efforts, this paper argues that sustainable development should be considered as an unending process rather than a state. Thus, a systemic framework is proposed to 'monitor' systems for sustainable development, rather than 'measuring' their sustainability. Then, it is shown that a set of theoretically anticipated VL, in the form of a market-technology balancing mechanism, do not function in practice owing to a lack and/or distortion of information.


SUMMARY Indonesia is undergoing major policy changes, seeking to expand social forestry designations from less than 1% (1.1 million hectares) to over 10% (12.7 million hectares) of the Forest Estate. Expanding designations is at once a landmark reform and a call for caution, raising questions about policy intentions, and practical concerns about legal, technical, and implementation mechanisms. Social forestry literature highlights three key tenets, namely efforts that: confer rights to local communities, support livelihoods, and achieve conservation outcomes. This paper examines social forestry implementation from a cross-section of sites in South Sulawesi by reflecting on sustained action research between 2012–2016. The approach critically juxtaposes social forestry policy intent with implementation at three different sites. Findings indicate social forestry implementation suffers from historically problematic state enclosures and flawed land administration processes, entrenched politicaleconomic interests among local actors, and lack of institutional engagement beyond the permitting process. Shortcuts to addressing entrenched conflict will only heighten tensions or further marginalize the most vulnerable, without guarantees to conservation outcomes.


The influence of natural cross linking by glycosaminoglycan (GAG) on the structure of collagen in animal tissue is not well understood. Neither is the effect of synthetic cross linking on collagen structure well understood in glutaraldehyde treated collagenous tissue for medical implants and commercial leather. Bovine pericardium was treated with chondroitinase ABC to remove natural cross links or treated with glutaraldehyde to form synthetic cross links. The collagen fibril alignment was measured using synchrotron based small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and supported by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and histology. The alignment of the collagen fibrils is affected by the treatment. Untreated pericardium has an orientation index (OI) of 0.19 (0.06); the chondroitinase ABC treated material is similar with an OI of 0.21 (0.08); and the glutaraldehyde treated material is less aligned with an OI of 0.12 (0.05). This difference in alignment is also qualitatively observed in atomic force microscopy images. Crimp is not noticeably affected by treatment. It is proposed that glutaraldehyde cross linking functions to bind the collagen fibrils in a network of mixed orientation tending towards isotropic, whereas natural GAG cross links do not constrain the structure to quite such an extent.


In the context of liberalization in the public utility sectors, performance criteria have mainly focused on efficiency and effectiveness. However, the realization that restructuring based on the latter criteria has not been consistently successful in the water sector calls for a need to establish additional standards to measure performance of water governance. With increasing involvement of private actors in the provision of water services, which may bypass democratic institutions, legitimacy is becoming a central concern in water governance. We thus propose to add legitimacy to efficiency and effectiveness and to use these as three overarching criteria for measuring the performance of governance in a public utility sector like water. To make these criteria empirically measureable, this paper elaborates their analytic foundations via two theories of new institutionalism: governance theory and new institutional economics. By deriving input from such political and economic theories, we aim to create a comprehensive analytical framework through which the performance of water governance can be evaluated in terms of legitimacy, efficiency and effectiveness. While this paper does not include an empirical analysis, we nevertheless refer to empirical examples of the transformation of water governance in the Western European context in order to make our argumentation empirically plausible.


This chapter describes the implementation on field programmable gate array (FPGA) of a turbo decoder for 3GPP long-term evolution (LTE) standard, respectively, for IEEE 802.16-based WiMAX systems. We initially present the serial decoding architectures for the two systems. The same approach is used; although for WiMAX the scheme implements a duo-binary code, while for LTE a binary code is included. The proposed LTE serial decoding scheme is adapted for parallel transformation. Then, considering the LTE high throughput requirements, a parallel decoding solution is proposed. Considering a parallelization with N = 2 p levels, the parallel approach reduces the decoding latency N times versus the serial decoding one. For parallel approach the decoding performance suffers a small degradation, but we propose a solution that almost eliminates this degradation, by performing an overlapped data block split. Moreover, considering the native properties of the LTE quadratic permutation polynomial (QPP) interleaver, we propose a simplified parallel decoder architecture. The novelty of this scheme is that only one interleaver module is used, no matter the value of N, by introducing an even-odd merge sorting network. We propose for it a recursive approach that uses only comparators and subtractors.


The bioconversion of a local lignocellulosic material, i.e, oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) was studied in 250 ml Erlenmeyer flasks and locally designed rotary drum and tray cabinet bioreactors. The aim of this study is to utilize the OPEFB for the production of cellulolytic enzymes and sugars, as it offers an enormous economic potential for the bioconversion of agro-industrial residues generally regarded as waste. Bioconversion profiles suggest that the cellulolytic enzymes production from OPEFB in solid substrate fermentation (SSF) was better when using mono culture than co-culture condition with locally isolated fungal strains (Aspergillus niger EB4 and Trichoderma sp EB5). A. niger EB4 produced the highest cellulolytic enzymes activity (FPase 4.3 U/g, CMCase 8.2 U/g, β-glucosidase 19.1 U/g) at day 7 fermentation with carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) as pre-culture cellulase inducer. Soluble protein and reducing sugars were determined to evaluate fungal growth and substrate uptake in the SSF by the fungal strains. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed the capability of these local fungal strains in mono and co-culture conditions for OPEFB degradation. The bioconversion of pre-treated OPEFB for cellulolytic enzymes production by A. niger EB4 was successfully achieved in tray cabinet bioreactor (static condition, without forced aeration) which mimicked SSF conditions in flasks experiment. It is possible to obtain 3.2 ± 0.26, 6.3 ± 0.38, 19.0 ± 0.85 U/g enzyme activity of FPase, CMCase, and β-glucosidase respectively after 6 days fermentation. The extracted crude enzyme from tray cabinet bioreactor experiment was partially purified using ammonium sulphate precipitation. The results showed that protein fraction at 80% ammonium sulphate saturation had managed to precipitate the cellulolytic enzymes with recoveries of 8.1% (2.1 fold), 7.7% (2.0 fold) and 5.8% (1.5 fold) for β-glucosidase, CMCase and FPase respectively. The molecular weights of precipitated cellulolytic enzymes were estimated to be 67 and 120 kDa using SDS-PAGE analysis. The results of saccharification for 5% (w/v) pre-treated OPEFB using enzymatic hydrolysis suggest that the reducing sugars production was significantly affected by the concentration of enzymes and its purity. The use of precipitated cellullases at 3% (v/v) enzyme concentration (6 ml/g substrate) of A.niger EB4 successfully hydrolyze pre-treated OPEFB to produce 7.7 g/l of reducing sugars which corresponds to 27.8% conversion (55.3% cellulose fraction). Due to its rich organic nature, OPEFB can serve as a potential and feasible substrate for microbial process in the production of value added products such as cellulolytic enzymes and sugars.