Some weather extremes are the result of atmospheric blocking, which can be responsible for the stagnation of weather patterns. These large-scale quasi-stationary mid-latitude flow regimes can result in significant temperature and precipitation anomalies over the regions that the blocking event impacts or in the upstream and downstream regions.

 The ability to predict periods of anomalous weather conditions due to atmospheric blocking is a major problem for medium-range forecasting. Analyzing the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) Ensemble 500-hPa pressure level heights (240 hrs.) ten-day forecasts, and using the University of Missouri blocking archive to identify blocking events, the forecasted onset, duration, and intensity of model blocking events are compared to observed blocks.

 The observed blocking events were identified using the University of Missouri blocking archive. Comparing these differences using four Northern Hemisphere case studies occurring over a one-year period across the Northern Hemisphere has shown the continued need for improvement in the duration and intensity of blocking events. Additionally, a comparison of the block intensity to a diagnostic known as the Integrated Regional Enstrophy (IRE) was performed in order to determine if there is a correlation between IRE and these quantities.

 Having a better understanding of block persistence and their associated anomalies can help society prepare for the damage they can cause.


Brefeldin A (BFA) has a dramatic effect on the morphology of the Golgi apparatus and induces a rapid redistribution of Golgi proteins into the ER (Lippincott-Schwartz, J., L. C. Yuan, J. S. Bonifacino, and R. D. Klausner. 1989. Cell. 56:801-813). To date, no evidence that BFA affects the morphology of the trans-Golgi network (TGN) has been presented. We describe the results of experiments, using a polyclonal antiserum to a TGN specific integral membrane protein (TGN38) (Luzio, J.P., B. Brake, G. Banting, K. E. Howell, P. Braghetta, and K. K. Stanley. 1990. Biochem. J. 270:97-102), which demonstrate that incubation of cells with BFA does induce morphological changes to the TGN. However, rather than redistributing to the ER, the majority of the TGN collapses around the microtubule organizing center (MTOC). The effect of BFA upon the TGN is (a) independent of protein synthesis, (b) fully reversible (c) microtubule dependent (as shown in nocodazole- treated cells), and (d) relies upon the hydrolysis of GTP (as shown by performing experiments in the presence of GTP gamma S). ATP depletion reduces the ability of BFA to induce a redistribution of Golgi proteins into the ER; however, it has no effect upon the BFA-induced relocalizations of the TGN. These data confirm that the TGN is an organelle which is independent of the Golgi, and suggest a dynamic interaction between the TGN and microtubules which is centered around the MTOC.


This article evaluates Herbert A. Simon's contribution to organization theory, placing special emphasis on the criterion of bounded rationality. Simon's criticism of the orthodox version of organizational bureaucracy is interpreted and his analysis is extended to institutional economics. One of Simon's main achievements in organizational theory consisted of analytically evaluating the psychology of individual and collective behaviour, thereby opening up the way for future investigation by D. Kahneman and T. Schelling.


The majority of studies on environmental change focus on the response of single species and neglect fundamental biotic interactions, such as mutualism, competition, predation, and parasitism, which complicate patterns of species persistence. Under global warming, disruption of community interactions can arise when species differ in their sensitivity to rising temperature, leading to mismatched phenologies and/or dispersal patterns. To study species persistence under global climate change, it is critical to consider the ecology and evolution of multispecies interactions; however, the sheer number of potential interactions makes a full study of all interactions unfeasible. One mechanistic approach to solving the problem of complicated community context to global change is to (i) define strategy groups of species based on life‐history traits, trophic position, or location in the ecosystem, (ii) identify species involved in key interactions within these groups, and (iii) determine from the interactions of these key species which traits to study in order to understand the response to global warming. We review the importance of multispecies interactions looking at two trait categories: thermal sensitivity of metabolic rate and associated life‐history traits and dispersal traits of species. A survey of published literature shows pronounced and consistent differences among trophic groups in thermal sensitivity of life‐history traits and in dispersal distances. Our approach increases the feasibility of unraveling such a large and diverse set of community interactions, with the ultimate goal of improving our understanding of community responses to global warming.


With the increasing global concern on negative environmental effect from the transportation sector, conventional automobile technologies will not be viable for much longer. Countries like the EU and China have introduced emission related regulations which are stricter than ever. This has compelled automotive manufacturer to turn to Electric Vehicles (EV) as the most effective solution to this issue. There are mainly two types of EV, namely Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) and Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV). Both has its own strength and shortcomings, BEV with zero emission but limited range while HEV has better range at the expense of higher emission. Extended Range Electric Vehicle (EREV) provides a midpoint between these options. This option provides the best of both worlds by allowing users to switch between both systems depending on the vehicle's operating condition. This paper aims to presents a variety of Range Extender (RE) configurations based on its working principle and type of fuel used. Internal combustion engine, fuel cell, and microturbine are what RE is commonly powered by. The advantages and disadvantages are evaluated and compared to determine the optimal option. It was concluded that depending on fuel availability, space, and efficiency requirement, each configuration has its own merit.


A robust computational framework is presented for the risk-neutral valuation of capital guarantees written on discretely-reallocated portfolios following the Constant Proportion Portfolio Insurance (CPPI) strategy. Aiming to address the (arguably more realistic) cases where analytical results are unavailable, this framework accommodates risky-asset jumps, volatility surfaces, borrowing restrictions, nonuniform reallocation schedules and autonomous CPPI floor trajectories. The two-asset state space representation developed herein facilitates visualising the CPPI strategy, which in turn provides insight into grid design and interpolation. It is demonstrated that given a deterministic process for the risk-free rate, the pricing problem can be cast as solving cascading systems of 1D partial integro-differential equations (PIDEs). This formulation's stability and monotonicity are studied. In addition to making more sense financially, the limited borrowing variant of the CPPI strategy is found to be better suited than the classical (unlimited borrowing) counterpart for bounded-domain calculations. Consequently, it is demonstrated how the unlimited borrowing problem can be approximated by imposing an artificial borrowing limit. For implementation validation, analytical solutions to special cases are derived. Numerical tests are presented to demonstrate the versatility of this framework.


The question of whether distant law should apply to online publishers has taken on new immediacy because of a new European Union (EU) privacy law, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The GDPR is a sea-change in EU privacy law, and companies operating outside of the borders of Europe are grappling with whether this stringent new regulation will apply to them. Under pre-GDPR law, publishers outside of the EU could structure their activities to avoid EU jurisdiction. The GDPR, however, aspires to a broad jurisdictional reach, and it is intended to cover any in the world with an online presence that markets "goods or services" to Europeans or "monitors the behavior" of EU data subjects. Just because the GDPR aspires to this jurisdictional breadth, however, does not mean that it is permissible. Longstanding rules of public international law must be satisfied before regulatory agencies and courts can exercise extraterritorial jurisdiction. This article analyzes those principles and concludes that non-EU publishers will have persuasive arguments against the jurisdiction of EU regulatory authorities and courts to enter orders against them, and a strong argument against the enforcement of such orders or subsequent fines.


Overall aim, to stimulate critical reflection on the benefits and pitfalls of international teaching, is it cross culturally appropriate and what is it's sustainability in the current financial and political climate?'

'Globally there exists inequality in nursing education provision. In many countries following initial qualification there is little if any opportunity for nurses to benefit from continuing professional development (CPD). This ultimately can lead to stagnation and ritualistic nursing based upon nursing knowledge that is now outdated. Whilst the WHO document 'Scaling Up, Saving Lives (Global Health Workforce Alliance 2008) focuses upon initial training little is mentioned about CPD provision, however, the International Council of Nursing sees this as a fundamental right of all nurses (ICN 2001) The 'push-pull' effect of higher salaries and better working conditions abroad often mean that vitally needed staff are lost to the country that trained them due to a lack of further development opportunities.

For those unable to travel abroad, visits from nurse educators and other health care professionals can provide much needed updates. But this is costly in both resources and time and many now question if finances are best used in ways which environmentally also can be seen as detrimental. There is a fear that these visits only perpetuate 'paternalistic' attitudes and reflect an unspoken 'we know best' attitude. A better way to share knowledge and experiences could be by the many new technologies such as on line discussion forums and virtual tutorials. However, beneficial as these maybe can they ever really replace the interaction that occurs between two or more individuals in a shared face to face interaction? This paper aims to discuss such issues as the authors share their experiences of teaching overseas in a variety of countries and positions.'

Three intended outcomes:
• to recognise some of the benefits and potential pitfalls of teaching international
• to identify the need for cultural safety to ensure any teaching is culturally appropriate
• to understand how international education can be sustainable


Recent work used Jane Fonda as a metaphor and pivot for an enquiry into the psychology of the construction of sel. The invitation from The Fine Arts Society and the 'What Duchamp taught me' exhibition led to a logical research enquiry to Whistler, who had lived in the building, in the room I used, he became the ready-made. Whistlers contribution to art history is undoubted but what struck a chord for me was the contribution he perhaps missed to 'real' history. Like Jane Fonda ( although born 97 years apart) Whistler came from all-American lineage, from immigration, Manifest Destiny, Revolution and Civil War. There was a Whistler and a Fonda present at all the major events of American History. Whistler's Grandfather fought in the Revolution and was a Fort Architect of some renown, establishing such bases as Fort Dearborn ( Modern day Chicago). His Father was caught between the Revolution and the Civil war so was not in combat, but his West Point engineer training saw him as a major contributor to the technology of the trains and railways moving West across the lands of the Native Americans in History's biggest genocide. Whistler followed his father to West Point, held in high esteem by Robert Lee, the famed General of the Confederate army of the South. But Whistler opted out, while brothers and cousins lined up for the Confederacy. The parallels with the Fonda's begin with immigration, there's from the Netherlands not Ireland. Also fighting the British for revolution, and in the civil war. But the Fonda's ( the town of Fonda is in NY) lined up for the Union. Henry Fonda has played every role from the first generation immigrant of his ancestors, in Drums along the Mohawk, to a Civil War General ( just after the war) in Fort Apache. Fonda joined the army in WW2, and went on to play roles in war films, while daughter Jane picked up Vietnam in movies like 'coming home' and most infamously for real during her period of left wing extremism. She was a Che quoting ( 'revolution is love') anti-Nixon Black panther, who ran out of money supporting her causes. The 'Workout' project was a sideline to raise cash for these issues, it went on to be the greatest selling video of all time as the medium evolved. Never before had 'rewind' and 're-play' been seen of use. This was the historical tipping point for the historical analogue media and the contemporary 'on-demand'


Under the Internal Revenue Code, certain nonprofit organizations are granted exemption from federal income tax ("tax-exemption"). Most tax-exemption rationales assume tax-exemption is a subsidy for organizations such as charities that provide some underprovided good or service. These theories assume there should be a tax on the income of nonprofit organizations but provide no justification for this assumption. This article contributes to the literature by examining the corporate income tax rationales as a proxy for why we might tax nonprofit organizations. The primary two theories hold that the corporate tax is imposed to: (1) tax shareholders ("shareholder theory"), and (2) regulate corporate manager control over large sources of wealth ("regulatory theory"). The shareholder theory supports the basic tax-exemption organizational structure preventing the distribution of earnings to private shareholders. However, the shareholder theory does not support tax-exemption for mutual benefit organizations such as business leagues because their members are arguably the equivalent of shareholders. The regulatory theory highlights that exempting an organization from income tax removes a regulatory regime. As a result of tax-exemption, organizations become subject to another regulatory regime with some federal oversight of political activity and self-dealing transactions. This article makes some tentative steps towards determining when that substitution of a regulatory regime might be appropriate. The article concludes the regulatory regime imposed on charitable organizations is sufficient to substitute for the regulatory role of the corporate income tax, but concludes that the regulatory regime for mutual benefits is lacking. This article submits it is time to revamp our tax-exempt structure for mutual benefit tax-exempt organizations.


Glucokinase (ATP:d-glucose-6-phosphotransferase), expressed exclusively in liver and pancreatic islet β-cells, catalyzes the first step of glycolysis and acts as glucose sensor and metabolic signal generator in these tissues. The enzyme plays a key role in glucose homeostasis and as such is an excellent candidate for inherited defects predisposing to non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). A compound-imperfect dinucleotide (CA)n repeat element was found ∼10-kb 3′ of the human glucokinase gene on chromosome 7p, which revealed polymorphism with alleles differing in size by 2–15 nucleotides in unrelated individuals. A polymerase chain reaction assay was developed, and genomic DNA from 275 biologically unrelated American black individuals was typed for glucokinase alleles. The differences in allelic frequencies between individuals with NIDDM and nondiabetic individuals were compared. After typing 112 diabetic and 163 nondiabetic subjects, we found five different-sized alleles, with Z defined as the most common allele, Z + 2, Z + 4, Z + 10, and Z − 15. The Z allele was more common in nondiabetic subjects than in diabetic patients (60.4 vs. 49.6%, P = 0.012). The Z + 4 allele was more common in diabetic patients than in nondiabetic subjects (20.1 vs. 12.0%, P = 0.009). After adjusting for age, sex, and body mass index, the Z + 4 allele continued to have a positive association with NIDDM (P = 0.0018), and the Z allele had a negative association with NIDDM (P = 0.0334). The Z + 4 allele, transmitted as an autosomal dominant trait, appeared to be the most significant one at this locus. No difference was found in the clinical characteristics between the diabetic patients with or without the Z + 4 allele, after adjusting for multiple comparisons. These results indicate that the dinucleotide (CA)n repeat polymorphism at the glucokinase locus is a genetic marker for NIDDM in American blacks. We estimate that the presence of at least one Z + 4 allele increases the odds of NIDDM in this racial group by 2.85 times for the same age, sex, and body mass index combination.


America owes its origins to Europe and is unthinkable without Europe, but there has always been a strand of American thinking which has downplayed the connection and wished to assert the exceptionalism of the American experience and the need for America to keep Europe at a distance to involve contamination from its old, corrupt power politics. Europeans were fascinated by the new world unfolding in America, which contrasted so sharply with their own, yet was so intimately related to it. At the same time they regarded America as for the most part a novice and outsider in world politics. Recently roles have been reversed, with many Europeans condemning America as a new Empire, while many Americans accuse Europe of refusing to share the burdens and make the hard choices needed for global leadership. The idea of the West which for four decades united Western Europe under American leadership after 1945 has been undermined. Different current meanings of the 'West' are explored through recent arguments about the nature of the relationship between Europe and America, focusing on narratives of security, modernity and ideology. A number of possible scenarios for the future of this relationship are then outlined.


Abstract. It is well known that generalized conjugate gradient (cg) methods, fulfilling a minimization property in the whole spanned Krylov space, cannot be formulated with short recurrences for nonsymmetric system matrices. Here, Krylov subspace methods are proposed that do fulfill a minimization property and can be implemented as short recurrence method at the same time. These properties are achieved by a generalization of the cg concept. The convergence and the geometric behavior of these methods are investigated. Practical applications show that first realizations of these methods are already competitive with commonly used techniques such as smoothed biconjugate gradients or QMR. Better results seem to be possible by further improvements of the techniques. However, the purpose of this paper is not to propagate a special method, but to stimulate research and development of new iterative linear solvers.


As universities seek to find private contributions from the community, they must tum to an obvious source of income that has been under-asked and undercultivated-women. Historically, women have not provided sacrificial gifts, primarily because they have not been financially or psychologically prepared to do so. Today, however, several forces-education and career choices, business acumen, charitable giving attitudes, wealth and life expectancy-converge to make this the opportune time to solicit women for major gifts. Yet it is not enough to recognize this fact. Universities must create new models of fend-raising strategies that appeal to women. In doing so, universities must also consider generational differences that significantly affect women's decisions to give.


We report results from an automated method to identify lensed quasars from the Dark Energy Survey using a PSF-difference-based algorithm aimed at identifying close-separation lens candidates. The PSF-difference algorithm utilizes the difference between PSF magnitude and model magnitude, as well as image segmentation, to deblend and identify close-separation candidates. In total, the algorithms identified 156 final lens candidates and also identified a number of known lensed quasars within the DES footprint, indicating that the method described in this paper is effective in identifying candidate lensed quasars. Efforts to obtain follow-up observations for confirmation of the final candidates are ongoing, and constraints on cosmological parameters will be discussed in future papers.


The Federal Reserve is the most powerful central bank in the world. Without its central bank, the American economy would be subject to devastating fluctuations and instability. In maintaining this stability, The Fed dictates interest rates and designs bailouts without the usual checks and balances that pervade US policy making. Most commentators treat the Fed as an impartial referee exercising its independence to advance the best interests of America. Wrong. Lawrence Jacobs and Desmond King's Fed Power is the first sustained examination of the Fed as a potent institution in its own right and an engine for producing concealed advantages for a privileged few. The authors trace the Fed's historic development from the fiery tug-of-war over monetary policy during the 19th century to its current position as a powerful cog in the "big government" machine with unparalleled capacity and autonomy to intervene in private markets. Jacobs and King dissect how the Fed's programs during the Great Recession funneled enormous sums to a select few in the finance industry while leaving Main Street businesses adrift and millions of homeowners underwater. Far from serving the national interest, the Fed increased economic inequality in America and further enriched the "one percent." America is heading into the next financial crisis without an effective central bank. 'End the Fed' is a popular slogan that not only voices the people's displeasure with the Fed's favoritism, but also speaks to a national feeling of the Fed's illegitimacy. Lacking a powerful and capable central bank is a roadmap to mass unemployment and impoverishment. Jacobs and King present an energetic reform agenda to build an accountable central bank in America to ensure the economy remains stable and prosperous.


Certificate of need (CON) programs were conceived approximately fifty years ago as supply constraint mechanisms for health care services, in an environment that is essentially unrecognizable today. Every aspect of the health care landscape has changed dramatically, particularly in the years since the enactment of the Affordable Care Act. The historical rationales in support of CON programs have been vigorously questioned by scholars across disciplines, roundly criticized by the federal government, and largely disproven by research. Yet the status quo persists, with 36 states retaining CON laws, due in large part to a combination of entrenched interests and political inertia that prevents either repeal or significant modification. Still, proponents of a more efficient health care model need not lose hope. Kentucky was widely recognized as among the most successful states in its implementation of the Affordable Care Act. As part of its implementation efforts, the Commonwealth reformed its CON program to reward health care providers who embrace rather than resist the changes occasioned by health care reform. While the eventual impact of Kentucky's CON modernization cannot yet be known, these reforms may offer insights for additional states as they consider whether and how to reform their own CON programs. Indeed, rather than being an historic relic that must be tolerated in the absence of political will for change, it may be possible for a modernized CON program to serve as an additional regulatory tool for states seeking to nudge their health care providers into fuller engagement in the post-Affordable Care Act health care landscape.


In a multicore system, several CPUs frequently require access to a shared memory. If this access is required to be time-predictable to enable worst-case execution time (WCET) analysis of tasks, a form of TDMA based bus arbitration is usually used. A global TDMA schedule controls when each CPU may make use of the bus. This schedule is normally static. It has been suggested that the TDMA schedule could be specialized to reduce the WCET for particular tasks. In this paper, we show that there is a hard limit to the potential of this technique within a general-purpose system. We simulate singlepath tasks running within a multitask, multicore system and apply TDMA slot scheduling on the memory access traces. For medium numbers of CPU cores and low memory latencies, CPU utilization can be improved by up to 25%, but as more cores are used and memory latency increases, the bus gets saturated and the difference between a specialized schedule and a generic schedule disappears.


ABSTRACT Availability and safety of food ranks among the basic requirements for human beings. The importance of the food producing sector, inclusive of feed manufacturing, demands a high level of regulation and control. This paper will present and discuss the relationships in the triangle of legislation, the background of hazards with a biological nature, and opportunities for monitoring methods, most notable for prion-based diseases as primary issue. The European Union legislation for prevention of prion-based diseases since 2000 is presented and discussed. The definitions and circumscriptions of groups of species will be analysed in the view biological classification and evolutionary relationships. The state of the art of monitoring methods is presented and discussed. Methods based on visual markers (microscopy), DNA-based methods (PCR), protein-based methods (ELISA, mass spectroscopy, proteomics), near infrared oriented methods and combinations thereof are being evaluated. It is argued that the use in legislation of non-homogeneous groups of species in a biological sense will hamper the optimal design of monitoring methods. Proper definitions are considered to act as bridges between legal demands and suitable analytical methods for effective monitoring. Definitions including specified groups of species instead of single species are more effective for monitoring in a range of cases. Besides the desire of precise circumscription of animal groups targeted by legislation, processed products need well defined definitions as well. Most notable examples are blood versus blood products, and hydrolysis of several types of material. The WISE principle for harmonising the design of legislation and of analytical methods is discussed. This principle includes the elements Witful (reasonable legal principles), Indicative (clear limits between prohibition and authorisation), Societal demands (public health, environment, economy), and Enforceable (presence of suited monitoring methods) in order to promote a balanced effort for reaching the desired level of safety in the food production chain. Graphical Abstract


Black currant (Ribes nigrum L.) plants of eight varieties were grown either through black plastic mulch or in bare soil and with the area between the rows cultivated or sodded with red fescue (Festuca rubra L.). Over 6 years, black plastic mulch increased yields by 26% over no mulch and cultivation between the rows increased yield by 32% compared to sod. The effect of both treatments was additive, cultivation and black plastic increased yield by 68% over grass and no black plastic. Growers are recommended to plant black currants through black plastic and avoid using sod between the rows.


ASEAN has established mutual recognition arrangements (MRAs) on eight professional services. This paper assesses the progress of these arrangements' paying special attention to the (i) regional and national implementation, (ii) national regulatory changes, and (iii) utilization of these frameworks and actual movement of these professionals in the region. MRAs on Architectural and Engineering Services have made steady progress, including the setting up of regional registration systems. This, however, has not resulted in a large-scale movement of these professionals for many reasons, such as existence of alternative legal schemes and small additional benefits of ASEAN MRAs. The ASEAN MRA on Nursing Services, without a regional registration system, has facilitated movement of nurses in only a few countries. Meanwhile, further efforts in advancing initiatives closely related to the movement of people are being made: ASEAN Agreement on the Movement of Natural Persons, ASEAN MRA on Accountancy Services, ASEAN MRA on Tourism Professionals, and the ASEAN Qualifications Reference Framework


Paradoxically, Japan provides massive amounts of development aid to China, despite Japan's clear perception of China as a prime competitor in the Asia-Pacific region.

This clearly written and comprehensive volume provides an overview of the way Japan's aid to China has developed since 1979. It explains the shifts that have taken place in Japan's China policy in the 1990s against the background of international changes and domestic changes in both countries, and offers new insights into the way Japanese aid policy making functions, thereby providing an alternative view of Japanese policy making that might be applied to other areas. Through a series of case studies, it shows Japan's increasing willingness to use development aid to China for strategic goals and explains a significant shift of priority project areas of Japan's China aid in the 1990s, from industrial infrastructure to socio-environmental infrastructure.

The book argues that, contrary to the widely held view that Japan's aid to China is given for reasons of commercial self-interest, the objectives are much more complex and dynamic. Using original material, Takamine shows how policy making power within the Japanese government has shifted in recent years away from officials in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to politicians in the Liberal Democratic Party


Central to this practice-based investigation is the concept that the iPad has the potential to provide the appropriate tools and resources required to create a body of new and original artworks. I suggest that the iPad enables the artist to re-define the concept of an artist's studio and facilitates a move away from the traditional studio towards a new virtual studio. This investigation considers the affordances of the iPad in engendering new ways of visualising intimate, private, domestic and public space, through filmmaking, photography, and digital drawing and painting.

The practice-based element of this doctorate is interwoven with an investigation of relevant critical theory and is presented as a descriptive analysis of my virtual studio. The research explores the contemporary methodologies of arts-based research; autoethnography and visual and digital ethnography. My contribution to knowledge is that the iPad is a virtual studio that enables myself and other artists to create new modes of creative practice.

I have examined and analysed the historical technological contexts that form the foundations for the emergence of a new means of artistic production. I have also addressed questions around machine replicability and the role of new media in shaping the cultural landscape.

An autonomous case study reflects on the emergence of new ethical codes of practice in relation to new media iPad art and considers the role of digital integrity within new Fine Art digital practices. It investigates the emergence of innovative online digital artistic communities who use the iPad as the main tool for the creation of iPad art and then access social networking platforms for its dissemination. It further researches a blog of female peers to consider the duality of the iPad as a complementary toolkit to traditional media.


Introduction: The use of cartilage as a grafting material has been advocated in cases where there is a high risk of graft failure, such as subtotal perforations, adhesive processes, and residual defects after primary tympanoplasties. The purpose of this study was to compare the graft acceptance rates and auditory outcomes of cartilage tympanoplasty operations using a palisade technique with those of primary tympanoplasty using temporalis fascia in a homogenous group of patients. Study Design: Prospective study. Materials and Methods: The study population included 54 patients who were operated on in two groups (palisade technique and temporalis fascia technique) with each group containing 27 patients. Patients with pure subtotal perforations (perforation of >50% of the whole tympanic membrane [TM] area), an intact ossicular chain, at least 1 month dry period, and normal middle ear mucosa were included in the study. Grafts acceptance rates and pre and postoperative audiograms were compared. The follow-up time was 6 months. Results: Graft acceptance was achieved in all patients (100%) in the palisade cartilage tympanoplasty group and in 25 patients (92.5%) in the temporalis fascia group. This difference was not statistically significant ( P = 0.15). Comparison of the increases in mean speech reception threshold, air-bone gap, and pure-tone average scores between both techniques showed no significant changes. Conclusion: Our experience with the palisade cartilage technique demonstrates that subtotal or total perforation at high risk for graft failure can be treated efficiently, and that a durable and resistant reconstruction of the TM with reasonable auditory function can be achieved.


This chapter focuses on tetracycline-responsive regulatory system of the Bacteroides conjugative transposons. If a Bacteroides strain carrying a conjugative transposon is exposed to tetracycline, the frequency with which the conjugative transposon is transferred increases by at least 1,000-fold. The Bacteroides conjugative transposons not only transfer themselves from a donor to a recipient cell but are also capable of mobilizing coresident plasmids and excising and mobilizing unlinked elements called nonreplicating bacteroides units (NBUs). Insertional disruption of rteA or rteB abolishes element self-transfer of the conjugative transposon, mobilization of coresident plasmids, and excision-circularization and mobilization of NBUs. Two obvious candidates for genes that might be controlled by RteC are the mobilization gene(s) of the conjugative transposon, which nick the element's own oriT and initiate transfer, and the genes involved in excision. At first, RteC was assumed to be a transcriptional activator, although there was no evidence that RteC binds DNA nor was any DNA binding motif apparent in the deduced amino acid sequence of RteC. The regulatory machinery of the Bacteroides conjugative transposons is turning out to be much more complex than expected. It is important to bear in mind the fact that transfer of tetQ would not have been detected if tetracycline had not been incorporated in the medium used to grow the donors. Thus, some chromosomally encoded genes that appear to be nontransmissible could actually be carried on a conjugal element, whose transfer functions must be stimulated by some inducer not normally included in the medium.


On 22 May 2015, the Supreme Court of Appeal ("SCA") handed down a judgment in the matter of Lodhi 5 Properties Investments Cc v Firstrand Bank Limited [2015] 3 All SA 32 (SCA). This judgement considered whether the prohibition against the charging of interest on loan in terms of Islamic law (Shariah law) may be a defence for a claim for mora interest in term of a loan agreement. This note critically discusses the judgement in light of the approach adopted by the SCA with regard to addressing dispute arising from a contract that has Islamic law as a governing law. As this is the first case that came before the SCA in South Africa, this note critically analyses how this court discussed the applicable principles of Islamic law as applicable to the dispute between the parties. In particular, it questions the court's assertion that a claim for mora interest has nothing to do with and is not affected by the Shariah law's prohibition against payment of interest on a loan debt. It also looks at the SCA's approach (as a common law court) with regard to the enforcement of Islamic banking law principles. This judgement raises important issues regarding the enforceability of Islamic finance law and therefore merits discussion, in light of the continuing growth and expansion of Islamic banking and finance law in South Africa.


There is strong scientific evidence that the average temperature of the earth's surface is rising and this may be
attribute to increased concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2
), and other greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere
as released by burning fossil fuels. One of the chief sources of greenhouse gases is burning of fossil fuels. Biogas from
biomass appears to have potential as an alternative energy source, which is potentially rich in biomass resources.
In the present study, current literature is reviewed regarding the ecological, social, cultural and economic impacts
of biogas technology. In this communication an attempt has been made to give an overview of present and future use
of biomass as an industrial feedstock for production of fuels, chemicals and other materials. However, to be truly
competitive in an open market situation, higher value products are required.


In this thesis, the structure, thermal diffusivity and dielectric constant of Ba1-xSrxTiO3 and Ca1-xSrxTiO3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) ceramics were investigated. The samples were prepared using solid-state reaction technique with a sintering temperature at 1200 °C. From XRD analysis, the BaTiO3 structure obtained was tetragonal and then transformed to cubic; whilst, CaTiO3 structure changed from orthorhombic to cubic with an intermediate tetragonal phase as the amount of Sr ions increased. Surface morphology studies showed that the grain size decreased with increasing Sr ions in both Ba1-xSrxTiO3 and Ca1-xSrxTiO3 systems.
Photoflash technique was used to determine the thermal diffusivity of BaTiO3, CaTiO3 and SrTiO3 at room temperature. The effect of substitution Sr ions on the thermal diffusivity of Ba1-xSrxTiO3 and Ca1-xSrxTiO3 was also investigated. It was found that increasing Sr ions in Ba1-xSrxTiO3 samples reduced the thermal diffusivity value from 11.302 × 10-3 cm2/s to 6.467 × 10-3 cm2/s and accompanying by a decrease in density. Similarly, the thermal diffusivity values of Ca1-xSrxTiO3 system decreased from 13.11 × 10-3 cm2/s to 6.467 × 10-3 cm2/s as its density increased. For thermal diffusivity measurement at higher temperature, laser flash technique was used. It was noticed that the thermal diffusivity of Ba1-xSrxTiO3 and Ca1-xSrxTiO3 decreased with increasing temperature from room temperature to 150 °C.
The dielectric properties of BaTiO3, CaTiO3 and SrTiO3 were investigated at various temperatures from 25 to 150 °C using AC impedance analyzer. Increasing Sr ions in BaTiO3 reduced the dielectric constant from 709 to 246 at frequency 106 Hz at room temperature. On the other hand, increasing Sr ions in CaTiO3 raised the dielectric constant from 106 to 246, and the highest value was found at x = 0.2. The dielectric constant of Ba1-xSrxTiO3 decreased with increasing temperature. The highest dielectric constant value was recorded for Ba1-xSrxTiO3 system where x = 0 and 0.1 at phase change temperatures, 125 °C and 100 °C respectively.


We describe a monadic interface to low-level hardware features that is a suitable basis for building operating systems in Haskell. The interface includes primitives for controlling memory management hardware, user-mode process execution, and low-level device I/O. The interface enforces memory safety in nearly all circumstances. Its behavior is specified in part by formal assertions written in a programming logic called P-Logic. The interface has been implemented on bare IA32 hardware using the Glasgow Haskell Compiler (GHC) runtime system. We show how a variety of simple O/S kernels can be constructed on top of the interface, including a simple separation kernel and a demonstration system in which the kernel, window system, and all device drivers are written in Haskell.


The new environment and the strategic management it calls for have changed the relationship between the organisation and its stakeholders to the effect that companies have to take into account the interests of all the stakeholders. This will imply an adequate satisfaction for each stakeholder, and lead to the corresponding generation of value for the firm. The long term survival of the firm requires to carry out a balance between inducements and contributions of all the stakeholders. 1. The new and extended environment of the firm Strategic performance is the essential principle that must govern a company in a highly competitive market. In the business environment, the last decades have been characterised by permanent mutation, a tendency that will continue in the future. Among the reasons for this transformation, information technology and globalisation are the most important. These constitute the essential motors of the permanent advance that is affecting the whole of society, and to face up to them business has been forced to react, because they imply a complete change in its system of government. Traditionally, a percentage was simply added to the cost price to determine the sale price of a product. Now, however, the sale price, to a much greater extent imposed by the market, must be, more than ever, competitive. This necessitates the progressive search for and application of new and more efficient managerial techniques, and methods of planning and mensuration of business performance. These require essential information for the taking of strategic decisions. When the manager decides to act in a certain way, it is understood that he makes this decision after a reasoned calculation of the implications and repercussions that may be generated in connection with the goods for which he is responsible. The present business scene has changed the relationship between the organisation and its stakeholders 1. Thus, all the stakeholders should be considered by the company, because shareholders will not continue investing in a firm that does not satisfy their expectations in respect of dividends or capital gains. Employees will not develop their activities and knowledge, neither will they make the required effort to design and to negotiate the different processes of the organisation, unless this gives an answer to their desires and relative demands of satisfaction in their work. Customers will not buy products that do not respond to their desires, needs or price, quality and service demands. Suppliers will not continue providing their knowledge, abilities and resources to the company that does not facilitate them the opportunity to obtain a reasonable profit. Lastly, communities will not tolerate companies that do not satisfy their legal duties and do not guarantee a sustained development. In consequence, it is necessary to keep in mind the relationships with all the stakeholders, because management choice is a function of stakeholders' influences (Brenner and Cochran, 1991) and favourable stakeholder relationships generate long term competitive advantages for the firm, and for society as well (Post et al., 2002). This implies to carry out a balance among the different stakeholders. 2. The Stakeholder Theory as a model of management Unprecedented levels of environmental turbulence and change took place in the 1970's (e.g. oil crisis, hyperinflation). In this context appeared the stakeholder theory 2 as a new global vision of the company. However, the idea upon which it was based was not entirely new, since the term 'stakeholder' had already been used in the pioneering work at Stanford Research Institute in the 1960's. Nevertheless, there are authors that go back to decades previous to this; Preston (1990) understands that the theory was born during the Great Depression, when the General Electric Company identified four major stakeholder groups: shareholders, employees, customers and the general public. …


The assembly process of the human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) is driven by the viral polyprotein Gag. Fluorescence imaging of Gag protein fusions is widely performed and has revealed important information on viral assembly. Gag fusion proteins are commonly co-transfected with an unlabeled form of Gag to prevent labeling artifacts such as morphological defects and decreased infectivity. Although viral assembly is widely studied on individual cells, the efficiency of the co-transfection rescue has never been tested at the single cell level. Here, we first develop a methodology to quantify levels of unlabeled to labeled Gag in single cells using a fluorescent reporter protein for unlabeled Gag and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy. Using super-resolution imaging based on photoactivated localization microscopy (PALM) combined with molecular counting we then study the nanoscale morphology of Gag clusters as a function of unlabeled to labeled Gag ratios in single cells. We show that for a given co-transfection ratio, individual cells express a wide range of protein ratios, necessitating a quantitative read-out for the expression of unlabeled Gag. Further, we show that monomerically labeled Gag assembles into membrane-bound clusters that are morphologically indistinguishable from mixtures of unlabeled and labeled Gag.


Context: Postoperative sore throat (POST) is a frequent and undesirable complication after general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation. Various pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods with variable success rate are used for attenuating POST. However, no single drug has been universally accepted. Aims: To compare the effect of betamethasone gel, ketamine gargles and intravenous dexamethasone on the incidence and severity of POST. Settings and Design: Prospective randomized controlled single-blinded trial conducted at a tertiary care centre. Materials and Methods: A total of 100 patients of age 18 to 70 yr, ASA class I and II, scheduled for elective surgeries under general anaesthesia were included and divided randomly in betamethasone, dexamethasone, ketamine and control groups. Endotracheal tubes were lubricated with 0.05% betamethasone gel in betamethasone group, 0.2 mg/kg of dexamethasone was administered intravenously before induction of anaesthesia in dexamethasone group, 40 mg of ketamine gargles mixed with 30 ml of saline was given 5 minutes prior to induction in ketamine group. In the control group, none of the above agents were used. During the 24 hr after the operation, we noted the occurrence and severity of POST, cough and hoarseness. Statistical Analysis Used: The demographic data, surgical time and intubation among the groups were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance. Incidence and severity of POST, cough and hoarseness of voice among the groups were analyzed utilizing Chi-square test. Results: Incidence of POST at one hour was found to be significantly less in betamethasone group (16%) and dexamethasone group (20%) in comparison to the control group (48%). The incidence of POST at 4 hours and 24 hours were found to be comparable. The frequency of hoarseness and cough at 1 hour, 4 hour and 24 hours were similar in all the groups. Conclusions: Prophylactic betamethasone gel application and intravenous dexamethasone administration before induction of anaesthesia resulted in clinically important and statistically significant decreases in the incidence of POST only in early postoperative period.


The present article examines the reinvention of journalism and its business models fromthe perspective of Finnish newsrooms. In the light of the study, the role of the liquidmodern journalist may be evolving towards that of the liquid journalist economist. Ajournalist economist easily combines the journalistic ideals of public service, autonomyand objectivity with those of product development, marketing and advertisement.


Two categories of dendrites exist: those in which the shape is mainly determined by crystal structure, and those where this is not the case, the material being amorphous or ultra-finely crystalline. Only dendrites of the second category are dealt with in this paper, and especially those found in the Solnhofen Limestone of southern Germany. These dendrites consist either of Mn- or Fe-(hydr)oxides. Two classes occur: (1) fissure dendrites, limited to joints and bedding plane fissures, etc.; (2) internal dendrites, branching in three dimensions, and penetrating from dendrites or other Mn-or Fe-accumulations on joint surfaces or bedding planes into the non-fissured rock. Both types form by deposition in pores, not wider than a few μm, thus constituting ramified systems of host rock, cemented by Mn- or Fe-material. The first generation of Mn-dendrites in the Solnhofen Limestone evolves in two steps: (1) manganiferous solutions, derived from residual loams and alluvial deposits overlying the limestone, penetrate into joints, and from there into bedding plane fissures and unfissured rock; (2) from these solutions solid dendrite material is deposited. The precipitation starts from older deposits of the same composition: specks, lumps, crusts etc., or from newly generated nuclei. In this way either 'tree'- or 'star'-shaped dendrites are produced. 'Tree'-shaped dendrites on bedding planes, starting from joints, grow in directions away from these joints, the material being supplied from the opposite directions. Once formed, renewed supply of Mn-material results in thickening and broadening of stems and branches, the 'texture' thereby becoming coarser, but the total size remaining unchanged.The first formation of Fe-dendrites takes place in the same manner, but their further growth is more complicated. The branching of these dendrites is due to the circumstance that diffusion of the components of the solution is limited to a system of micropores. This inhibits the production of 'massive', round patches around the points of origin, because the average distances to be covered by the ions, molecules or sol particles before they are fixed on the growing deposits, are much smaller for branched shapes. Most dendrites are the result of repeated deposition. The transportation of Mn and Fe to the fissures or other sites of precipitation probably occurs chiefly as dissolved chelates. In most cases the precipitation itself may be due to a rise in pH as a consequence of dissolution of CaCO3.


In computer networks and social networks, the betweenness centrality of a node measures the amount of information passing through the node when all pairs are conducting shortest-path exchanges. In this paper, we introduce a strategic network-formation game based on the betweenness centrality. In this game, nodes are selfish players, each of which has some budget to build connections. The goal of each player is to fully utilize her budget to strategically build connections so that her betweenness centrality is as large as possible. We refer to this game as the bounded budget betweenness centrality game or the B 3 C game. We present both theoretical and experimental results about this game. Theoretically, we show that a general B 3 C game may not have any nontransient Nash equilibrium and it is in fact NP-hard to determine whether nontransient Nash equilibria exist. Experimentally, we studied the family of uniform B 3 C games, in which there is an equal amount of information exchange between every pair of nodes, every connection has the same construction cost and every node has enough budget to build k connections. We have discovered several interesting Nash equilibria when k = 2. Our experiments have also inspired us to establish some theoretical results about uniform B 3 C games. For example, we show that, when k is a variable, it is NP-hard to compute a best response of a node in uniform B 3 C games; we also prove that a family of symmetric graphs called Abelian Cayley graphs cannot be Nash equilibria for k = 2 when the graph is large enough, but there is a unique nontransient Nash equilibrium when k = 1. We conjecture, based on our experiments, that every uniform B 3 C game has a Nash equilibrium, and more strongly, has a Nash equilibrium that is Eulerian.


A model for determining the potential and actual evapotranspiration from agricultural crops is presented. The model requires only a limited number of meteorological variables, i.e. global radiation, air temperature and precipitation. The vegetation is characterized by the crop surface area and the efficient root depth. The soil is characterized by the root zone capacity. The model simulates evaporation of intercepted water, evaporation from the soil surface and transpiration from plants. The evapotranspiration pressure (potential evapotranspiration) is divided between crop and soil by use of Beer9s law.


The evidence base for diaphragmatic breathing (DB) as an adjunctive treatment modality for persons with COPD is questionable. This article reviews the literature regarding the efficacy of DB in persons with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and reports on the beneficial and detrimental effects of DB in persons with COPD. Diaphragmatic breathing has been described as breathing predominantly with the diaphragm while minimizing the action of accessory muscles that may assist with inspiration. No single or combined patient characteristic has been identified consistently to help predict which person with COPD may benefit from DB. However, it has been suggested that persons with moderate to severe COPD and marked hyperinflation of the lungs without adequate diaphragmatic movement and increase in tidal volume during DB may be poor candidates for instruction in DB. Conversely, persons with COPD who have elevated respiratory rates, low tidal volumes that increase during DB, and abnormal arterial blood gases with adequate diaphragmatic movement may benefit from DB. Identification of an abdominal paradoxical breathing pattern and worsening dyspnea and fatigue during or after DB are criteria to modify or terminate DB. Persons with COPD demonstrating an abdominal paradox during DB may benefit from a more upright body position or trunk flexion. Several methods to examine diaphragmatic movement and the potential for success with DB will be discussed. Future research is needed to better identify which patients may benefit from DB.


Seismic reflection profiles of many accretionary prisms, including the Oregon prism, exhibit high-amplitude, reversed-polarity reflections from the decollement and other thrusts. It has been suggested that these reflectors image fault zones with enhanced fluid content due to dilation by very high fluid pressure. We present measurements of velocity as a function of effective stress on samples of the Oregon frontal thrust that show that velocity decreases by up to 15% as fluid pressure rises from hydrostatic to lithostatic conditions, under constant confining stress, in fault zone and wall rock alike. Synthetic seismic modeling shows that the frontal-thrust reflector at this location is the result of a thin low-velocity zone in the plane of the fault, 100-300 m/s slower than the walls. Combining models with experimental results, we conclude that fluid pressure of 86% to 98% of lithostatic stress reduces velocity enough to generate the reflections.


Improvements in European agriculture are framed in the literature as arising from an Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System with innovations provided by others for farmers to adopt. The motivators for farmers who invent useful products for themselves, without outside involvement, are not well understood in such developed countries. These inventions, often shared with other farmers rather than introduced to the market, arise from a process of user innovation (von Hippel, 2005). This thesis examines Irish farmers' motivators in the creation and subsequent sharing or commercialisation of farming artefacts. Their motivators are conceptualised from a sociological perspective, using Bourdieu's theory of capitals (1986). Employing a multi-perspective research design, methods include a content analysis of 210 inventions, semi-structured interviews with key informants from innovation support organisations, and in-depth interviews with farmer-inventors. The findings indicate that most farmer-inventors get great personal satisfaction from problem-solving and, being generally without higher education, use their tacit knowledge to create inventions that increase efficiency as a means to improve family farm viability. Despite efficiency usually indicating skilful farming, Irish farmer-inventors are frequently derided by other farmers who deem their inventing to be culturally inappropriate. Farmer-inventors with entrepreneurial intentions, willing to withstand such hostility, face financial and temporal constraints, while the help offered by innovation support organisations is often inadequate. As a result, some inventions with commercial potential may never reach the market. Farmer-inventors who share their knowledge and inventions in social learning networks, similar to communities of practice, accrue social capital that leads to the emergence of a shared farmer-inventor identity. This thesis contributes to knowledge about user innovation in developed country agriculture by offering deeper understandings of farmer-inventors' social, cultural, and economic processes. It proposes farmers to be an underappreciated source of knowledge and inventions, which offer low cost farm-level solutions to support family farm resilience.


Narrative identity is "the internalized, evolving story of the self that each person crafts to provide his or her life with a sense of purpose and unity" (Adler, 2012, p. 367). This identity is distinct from the broad dispositional traits and the characteristic adaptations for contextualized behaviors. It provides the self with a sense of purpose, meaning, and unity across time and situations (McAdams & Olson, 2010). Researchers have developed ways of measuring innovative moments (IMs), or shifts in narrative identity that occur in psychotherapy. Researchers have also explored narrative identity processing as it seems to occur across the lifespan. This study used qualitative reflective learning methods in an attempt to describe some of the narrative identity processes that may be supported during clinical training in graduate psychology programs. Eight narratives, collected from novice clinicians, revealed innovative moments occurring secondary to clinical training. Primary themes include (a) performance, (b) cultural and racial identity, and (c) emotionality, relatedness, and presence. Implications are discussed. The occurrence of these IMs, their themes, and the implications for clinical training warrant further research and exploration. Running head: NARRATIVE IDENTITY AND CLINICAL TRAINING iv


The free surface flow Integrated Constructed Wetlands (ICW) concept explicitly combines the objectives of cleansing and managing water flow from farmyards with that of integrating the wetland infrastructure into the landscape and enhancing its biological diversity. This leads to system robustness and sustainability. Hydraulic dissipation, vegetation interception, and evapotranspiration create an additional freeboard at the outlet of each wetland segment and at the point of discharge, thus enhancing hydraulic residence time and cleansing capacity during hydraulic fluxes. The principal design criteria leading to adequate effluent water quality (i.e., molybdate reactive phosphorus less than 1 mg/1) from ICW are that the wetland area needs to be sized by a factor of at least 1.3 times the farmyard area and the aspect ratio for the individual wetland segments (i.e., approximately four cells) needs to be less than 1:2.2 (width to length). Within a year of ICW commissioning, approximately 75% of farmyard runoff was intercepted, leading to improvements in the receiving surface waters of the catchment. Most of the recorded phosphate concentrations after ICW treatment agreed with the Irish Urban Wastewater Treatment Regulation 2001, which can be used as a benchmark to assess ICW treatment performance and which is usually applied unofficially to ICW even if it may appear to be too stringent. A case study of 13 ICW systems suggested that phosphorus exported from an ICW system was similar to the typical background concentrations of phosphorus export rates from land to water.


This essay seeks to fill a scholarly and judicial void by proposing a First Amendment test that courts should apply when prosecutors seek to introduce defendants' speech as character evidence. Under this constitutional character evidence test, assuming that the defendant can prove that his words are protected under the First Amendment, the prosecution would have to do more than simply satisfy the rules of evidence; it would also have to prove that application of the rules of evidence to the defendant's words is narrowly tailored to advance a compelling state interest.


A field experiment is conducted at Thi-Qar Province in AL-Shatra District located about 30 Km North AL-Nassiria City to study the response of three wheat Cultivars Triticum  aestivum L. to Growth regulators during 2014-2015 growing Season. The Cultivars are Latifia , AL-Rasheed and Iba 99. The growth regulators are Alga600, Atonik and Azomin32%. Factorial experiment in R.C.B.D.  with three replicates is used . The results showed that Iba 99  Cultivar gives the highest plant height , Spikes/m2 and grain yield , with a means 80.83 cm , 272.25 spike/m2 and 3.06 Ton/h) Respectively . Azomin32%  growth regulator gives the highest grain /spike , 1000 grain weight and grain yield , with a means 66.00 seed/spike ,43.55 gm , 272.33 spike/m2  respectively. In addition the interaction between Iba 99 Cultivar  and Azomin32% growth regulator gives the highest Leaf Area , number of grain/spike and grain yield with means 45.10 cm2 , 70.00 grain/spike and 3.16 ton/ha respectively.The combination treatment Iba 99 with Atonik growth regulator gives the highest number of spike/m2  with a mean 279.66 spike/m2  . In the other hand, the same cultivar with Atonik and Azomin32% gives the highest mean of grain yield with a amount 3.16 ton/ha.


Mediation is a dispute resolution process where agents reach a mutually acceptable agreement among prominent proposals. This paper provides a natural way of coming to this agreement in bankruptcy problems. The central fact is that such problems can be faced from two different (focal) points of view: awards and losses. Given this views, we assume that agents decide a group of principles on which the distribution of the available resources should be based. Next we define a double recursive process by the application of both a lower and an upper bound on awards. Finally, we obtain that this process concludes at the midpoint between the two focal rules. By applying the result to some possible sets of principles we retrieve the average of old and well known bankruptcy rules.


OF DISSERTATION ATTITUDES TOWARD CORPORAL PUNISHMENT: THE EFFECTS OF SEX, ETHNICITY, MILITARY CULTURE, AND RELIGION Nearly 19 out of every 20 parents with 3or 4-year-old children report spanking their child within the past year, and in schools spanking is a legal form of discipline in 19 states (nearly a quarter-million students received corporal punishment at school at least once during the 2006–2007 academic year). Although corporal punishment is a widely accepted form of child discipline in the United States, little is known about differences concerning attitudes toward the use of corporal punishment among subcultures within the United States. To address this gap, three studies were designed to examine attitudes toward corporal punishment in a few distinct subgroups that may show a propensity or aversion to spanking relative to the general public. Specifically, these studies were conducted using a panel of 420 active duty military personnel, a simple random sample of 1,357 undergraduate college students at a major research university, and a general population sample of 732 people obtained via Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk). A 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 factorial vignette design was used to examine whether sex, ethnicity or race, education, parental status, religion, religiosity, and culture affect attitudes toward corporal punishment, and whether the effects of those factors varies across subgroups. Binary logistic regression models were constructed to assess the effect that the contextual variables had on respondents' support for the use of corporal punishment, as well as whether the respondents would use corporal punishment on their own child given the same scenario. Descriptive statistics, cross-tabulations, and content analysis was also used to examine in greater detail how attitudes toward corporal punishment vary according to religion and religiosity. Overall, 73.6 % of active duty military respondents indicated that the use corporal punishment in the vignette was appropriate, and 52.4% indicated that they would use corporal punishment on their own child given the same situation presented in the vignette. There was not a statistically significant difference between males and females in the sample, χ2 (2, N = 420) = 3.15, p = .207. In addition, those who read about a mother or a military parent were roughly 2.5 times more likely to say it was appropriate to spank the child than non-military parents and fathers respectively. When comparing the military, college student, and general population samples in the second study results show military respondents (73.6%) indicated that the use corporal punishment in the vignette was appropriate at a statistically significant, higher rate than the general population (42.8%), and college students (40.1 %), χ2 (2, N = 2,485) = 110.05, p = < .001. Similarly, 52.4% of military respondents indicated they would spank their own child given the same scenario at a statistically significant higher rate than general population (28.7%), and college students (32.4%), χ2 (2, N = 2,485) = 71.12, p = < .001.In the third study, descriptive statistics indicate attitudes toward corporal punishment vary according to religion and religiosity, as well as between active duty military personnel and civilians but that religion and religiosity do not statistically enhance the prediction of attitudes toward corporal punishment after accounting for several respondent characteristics. Open-ended rationales provided by respondents provide insight and directions for family life educators wishing to intervene with military and religious individuals (i.e., two groups with relatively high endorsement of corporal punishment).


AIMS
Axitinib is a potent and selective second generation inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors 1, 2 and 3 approved for second line treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma. The objectives of this analysis were to assess plasma pharmacokinetics and identify covariates that may explain variability in axitinib disposition following single dose administration in healthy volunteers.

METHODS
Plasma concentration-time data from 337 healthy volunteers in 10 phase I studies were analyzed, using non-linear mixed effects modelling (nonmem) to estimate population pharmacokinetic parameters and evaluate relationships between parameters and food, formulation, demographic factors, measures of renal and hepatic function and metabolic genotypes (UGT1A1*28 and CYP2C19).

RESULTS
A two compartment structural model with first order absorption and lag time best described axitinib pharmacokinetics. Population estimates for systemic clearance (CL), central volume of distribution (Vc ), absorption rate constant (ka ) and absolute bioavailability (F) were 17.0 l h(-1) , 45.3 l, 0.523 h(-1) and 46.5%, respectively. With axitinib Form IV, ka and F increased in the fasted state by 207% and 33.8%, respectively. For Form XLI (marketed formulation), F was 15% lower compared with Form IV. CL was not significantly influenced by any of the covariates studied. Body weight significantly affected Vc , but the effect was within the estimated interindividual variability for Vc .

CONCLUSIONS
The analysis established a model that adequately characterizes axitinib pharmacokinetics in healthy volunteers. Vc was found to increase with body weight. However, no change in plasma exposures is expected with change in body weight; hence no dose adjustment is warranted.


We prove uniqueness of $g$-measures for $g$-functions satisfying quadratic summability of variations. Our result is in contrast to the situation of, \eg, the one-dimensional Ising model with long-range interactions, since $\ell_1$-summability of variations is required for general potentials. We illustrate this difference with some examples. To prove our main result we use a product martingale argument. We also give conditions for uniqueness of general $G$-measures, \ie, the case for general potentials, based on our investigation of the probabilistic case involving $g$-functions.


To the Editor: The article by Cole et al about primary care patients' willingness to participate in comprehensive weight loss programs is progressive in addressing a major health problem, yet some areas need improvement. One objective of this study was to determine patient characteristics associated with willingness to participate in these programs. The investigators failed to include 2 important factors in their survey: income and educational level. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (1) among Mexican American and non-Hispanic black men, those with higher incomes are more likely to be obese than those with lower incomes, (2) women with higher incomes are less likely to be obese than women with lower incomes, and (3) women with college degrees are less likely to be obese than women with lower educational levels. Another issue is the single delivery method of the survey, that is, article format. Investigators may have lost a population of patients who may not be able to read or write well (eg, less educated people, older adults) as a result of the lack of assistance in reading the survey. They also may have lost those who are more technologically advanced. Also, clinical staff offered the surveys to patients, which may have made patients feel obliged to take the survey. Some patients may have felt that the quality of their clinical care would be affected by not participating in the clinic-offered survey. Next, the investigators aimed to identify potential facilitators and barriers to participation in comprehensive weight loss programs, but identified only the facilitators. They asked patients to mark the top 3 of 8 listed potential factors, yet these factors were all positive and did not identify barriers to participation. In the discussion, the investigators explained that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act requires insurance companies to provide coverage for obesity treatment. This study included participants who were overweight, obese, and extremely obese. Yet, the sample included participants who were considered "at risk" but not obese. Therefore, this group should be excluded from the analysis in order for the results to pertain to patients who qualify for obesity treatment. While this article was an advancement in the understanding of primary care patients' willingness to participate in comprehensive weight loss programs, all associated factors in the health outcomes were not assessed. These factors are necessary to tailor parsimonious and appropriate comprehensive weight loss programs for primary care patients. Denny Fe Garcia Agana, MPH Department of Epidemiology University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions H. James Free Center for Primary Care Education & Innovation University of Florida College of Medicine Department of Community Health and Family Medicine University of Florida College of Medicine Gainesville, FL email@example.com


STUDY OBJECTIVES
We used a sequence-learning task to assess whether: 1. The time interval between awakening and training equally affects the rate of acquisition of sequence order, a declarative component, and the kinematic optimization process, an implicit component; 2. Sleep enhances the retention of both these aspects of sequence learning.

DESIGN
For aim 1, we compare the acquisition rate of a new motor sequence in a group trained in the morning and another in the evening. For aim 2., we tested retention of the same motor sequence twelve hours later, either without sleep (normal day activity or a night of sleep deprivation) or with interposed sleep (afternoon napping or regular full night sleep).

SETTING
Training and Testing were performed in a controlled laboratory setting.

PARTICIPANTS
Thirty-six right-handed normal subjects (age range 18-24 years; 16 women).

RESULTS
During the training, acquisition rate of the sequence order was significantly higher in the AM-trained than in the PM-trained group, without differences in the kinematic optimization processes. Both declarative and implicit learning indices were significantly higher in the subjects tested after sleep compared to those tested without interposed sleep.

CONCLUSION
The best time for fast and efficient acquisition of new declarative material is the morning, while the kinematic aspects of skill acquisition are not sensitive to the time of day. However, better retention of both declarative material and motor skills requires two conditions: a period of post-training sleep and the achievement of performance saturation during training.


This paper considers the construction and experience of racisms among a sample of primary school children in Ireland during a period of intensive immigration. Placing children's voices at the centre of the analysis, it explores how children's constructions draw upon discourses of 'norm' and 'other' in relation to national identity and cultural belonging. Constructions of minority ethnic groups are located within a context that defines what it is to be Irish, such constructions carrying with them assumptions related not only to skin colour but also to lifestyle, language, and religious belief. Drawing on key concepts related to power, social identities and child cultures, the findings highlight the significance of ethnic identity to children's negotiations around inclusion and exclusion in their peer groups. Name‐calling in general, and racist name‐calling in particular, was shown to be an important tool used by some children in the assertion of their status with one another. The sensitivity displayed by the majority ethnic children to skin colour only, in their discussions around racism, highlights the salience of colour to many of these children's typification of themselves as white Irish, and of many black migrant children especially as 'other'. It also indicates, however, the limited understanding these majority ethnic children had of racism in contrast to their minority ethnic peers (including Irish Traveller children), all of whom were able to recount their own experiences of being racially abused for colour and/or culturally‐based differences. The need for teachers to be sensitive to the dynamics of children's social world is stressed, as is the importance of developing clear procedures for the monitoring and tackling of racist incidents in schools.


: This article highlights the study on the determination of differential heat, isotherm, thermokinetics and entropy of water, carbon dioxide, normal heptane, benzene, methanol, ethanol adsorption on ZSM-5 zeolites, using adsorption-calorimetric method at a temperature of 303 K. The type and number of formed ion-molecular complexes, as well, the mechanism of adsorption of the studied molecules were ascertained. In the zeolite structure, thermokinetics of adsorption and the discovery of the migration laws of exchange cations are considered the adsorption energy of gases and vapors in a flawless zeolite. From the beginning to the saturation, the adsorption isotherm was described by the two- and three-term mathematical equations of STMP.


The effects of environmental factors on variations of dissolved oxygen (DO) saturation was assessed in 2 estuaries (Bilbao and Urdaibai) in the Bay of Biscay with contrasting hydrography and anthropogenic impact, for the period 1997 to 2006, using generalised additive models (GAMs) and generalised additive mixed models (GAMMs). Spatial and temporal variations in DO saturation and the current severity and extent of hypoxia were higher in the culturally eutrophicated and stratified Bilbao estuary. Seasonal patterns of DO saturation and the hierarchy of factors controlling them differed both between estuaries and between salinity zones. In the inner Bilbao estuary, the main factor explaining DO-saturation variations was temperature, with a dominant effect on oxygen consumption processes. In contrast, in the outer Bilbao estuary, the main factor explaining DO-saturation variations was chloro- phyll a, suggesting that the effect of oxygen production through photosynthesis was stronger than that of oxygen consumption. In the inner Urdaibai estuary, both a negative relationship with temperature and a positive relationship with chlorophyll a were detected. The outer Urdaibai estuary showed strong water-column mixing and very high tidal flushing, and ventilation processes were more important than oxygen production or consumption processes. River discharge affected DO saturation only at the inner waters, but when the effects of several variables on DO-saturation variability were tested in an additive model, river discharge was excluded from the models. The effects of temperature-dependent processes on DO-saturation dynamics decreased from the inner to the outer zones of both estuaries.


The problem of quantum key distribution security in channels with large losses is still open. Quasi-single-photon sources of quantum states with losses in the quantum communication channel open up the possibility of attacking with unambiguous state discrimination (USD) measurements, resulting in a loss of privacy. In this letter, the problem is solved by counting the classic reference pulses. Conservation of the number of counts of intense coherent pulses makes it impossible to conduct USD measurements. Moreover, the losses in the communication channel are considered to be unknown in advance and are subject to change throughout the series parcels. Unlike other protocols, differential phase shift (Inoue et al 2002 Phys. Rev. Lett. 89 037902, Inoue et al 2003 Phys. Rev. A 68 022317, Takesue et al 2007 Nat. Photon. 1 343, Wen et al 2009 Phys. Rev. Lett. 103 170503) and coherent one way (Stucki et al 2005 Appl. Phys. Lett. 87 194108, Branciard et al 2005 Appl. Phys. Lett. 87 194108, Branciard et al 2008 New J. Phys. 10 013031, Stucki et al 2008 Opt. Express 17 13326), the simplicity of the protocol makes it possible to carry out a complete analysis of its security.


OBJECTIVE
To perform a meta-analysis of trials randomizing patients with colon cancer to laparoscopically assisted or open colectomy to enhance the power in determining whether laparoscopic colectomy for cancer is oncologically safe.

DATA SOURCES
The databases of the Barcelona, Clinical Outcomes of Surgical Therapy (COST), Colon Cancer Laparoscopic or Open Resection (COLOR), and Conventional vs Laparoscopic-Assisted Surgery in Patients With Colorectal Cancer (CLASICC) trials were the data sources for the study.

STUDY SELECTION
Patients who had at least 3 years of complete follow-up data were selected.

DATA EXTRACTION
Patients who had undergone curative surgery before March 1, 2000, were studied. Three-year disease-free survival and overall survival were the primary outcomes of this analysis.

DATA SYNTHESIS
Of 1765 patients, 229 were excluded, leaving 796 patients in the laparoscopically assisted arm and 740 patients in the open arm for analysis. Three-year disease-free survival rates in the laparoscopically assisted and open arms were 75.8% and 75.3%, respectively (95% confidence interval [CI] of the difference, -5% to 4%). The associated common hazard ratio (laparoscopically assisted vs open surgery with adjustment for sex, age, and stage) was 0.99 (95% CI, 0.80-1.22; P = .92). The 3-year overall survival rate after laparoscopic surgery was 82.2% and after open surgery was 83.5% (95% CI of the difference, -3% to 5%). The associated hazard ratio was 1.07 (95% CI, 0.83-1.37; P = .61). Disease-free and overall survival rates for stages I, II, and III evaluated separately did not differ between the 2 treatments.

CONCLUSION
Laparoscopically assisted colectomy for cancer is oncologically safe.


Allan and Barbara Pease are the world's foremost experts in personal relationships. Their books, seminars and TV programmes have made them household names from Australia to the UK and from the USA to Japan. In their follow-up to the multi-million selling WHY MEN DON'T LISTEN AND WOMEN CAN'T READ MAPS, Allan and Barbara use the same combination of startling observation of people's actions towards one another, humour and practical advice to teach the reader more about what men and women want from relationships, and how to get it.


In this hilarious sequel from Raymond Briggs, author of The Snowman and inspiration for The Snowman and Snowdog, a still rather grumpy Father Christmas decides to go on holiday. No-one needs a holiday more than Father Christmas, but where can such a well-known and easily recognized person go? Father Christmas sets off in search of his ideal holiday spot! France, Scotland and Las Vegas are his chosen destinations, but as Father Christmas discovers - there's nowhere like home.


ADEROLU, Ademola Zaid, Eustace. A. IYAYI and Abiodun A. ONILUDE, 2007. Changes in nutritional value of rice husk during Trichoderma viride degradation. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 13: 583-589 Possible improvement in nutritional status of rice husk using Trichoderma viride a fungus was investigated over a period of 40 days. Proximate composition was significantly (P<0.05) improved with microbial treatment except the ether extract, which fell on day 40. With the mineral content of the biodegraded samples, both the calcium and sodium contents rose, the only exception being the potassium content, which fell below that of the undegraded sample. Biodegradation also resulted in improvement in the energy content of the treated samples when compared to the untreated but no regular pattern was observed over the period studied. Significant reduction in the cell wall content of the rice husk was observed as the period of degradation increases. The least value for NDF and ADF was obtained on Day 40 while the least value for hemicelluloses was obtained by the 30th day.


In recent research, metric learning methods have attracted increasing interests in machine learning community and have been applied to many applications. However, the existing metric learning methods usually use a fixed L2-norm to measure the distance between pairwise data samples in the projection space, which cannot provide an effective mechanism to automatically remove the noise that exist in data samples. To address this issue, we propose a new robust formulation of metric learning. Our new model constructs a projection from higher dimensional Grassmann manifold into the one in a relative low-dimensional with more discriminative capability, where the errors between sample points are considered as an MLE (maximum likelihood estimation)-like estimator. An efficient iteratively reweighted algorithm is derived to solve the proposed metric learning model. More importantly, we establish the generalization bounds for the proposed algorithm by utilizing the techniques of U-statistics. Experiments on six benchmark datasets clearly show that the proposed method achieves consistent improvements in discrimination accuracy, in comparison to state-of-the-art methods.


I. INTRODUCTION The creation of the culture of judicial independence has been a combined process of national and international developments. The process consists of a cycle of normative and conceptual impact of national law on international law and later, of international law on national law. In the cycle's first phase, which began in 1701 with England's enactment of the Act of Settlement,1 judicial independence was conceived domestically. In die second phase, which began shordy thereafter, this domestic development crossed national boundaries and impacted the thinking of scholars and political leaders in the international community. It brought about the formulation of established principles of judicial independence on the transnational levels, both regional and global. In the third phase, in which we find ourselves today, the international law of judicial independence begins to impact the domestic laws of nations with significant and even dramatic results. The impact of international law on judicial independence has been influenced by international human rights treaties that contain principles on fair procedure and the right to be tried before an impartial and independent tribunal.2 International standards of judicial independence have made significant contributions to local rules, which have been reinforced by international jurisprudence.3 Some of the most influential international standards were drafted by professional nongovernmental and intergovernmental organizations. One recent example is the Mt. Scopus International Standards on Judicial Independence ("Mt. Scopus Standards").4 Conceived in 2007, when an international group of legal academics and professional jurists developed the vision of revised minimum standards on judicial independence, the document was finalized in 2008. The development of the Mt. Scopus Standards was necessitated by the absence of a modern, thorough revision of standards for both national and international judges. This dearth was problematic. In order for standards to remain relevant and to continue as cornerstones for the substantive protection of human rights and a healthy economic state, it was critical that they be contemporary. The Mt. Scopus Standards are based on a number of sources: The Burgh House Prindples on the Independence of the International Judiciary,5 the International Bar Association's Code of Minimum Standards of 'Judicial Independence ("IBA Standards"),6 the Tokyo Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary in the Lawasia Region J Universal Declaration on the Independence of Justice,8 Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary,9 and the Revised Draft of Proposed New Canon to American Bar Association's Model Code of Judicial Conduct.10 Principles of independence in the judiciary are essential for ensuring the rule of law, protecting human rights, and securing the continued preservation and development of democratic societies. As such, these international standards have had a positive impact on the creation of a culture of judicial independence as an established and accepted system of conceptual principles. These principles are essential for ensuring the rule of law, protecting human rights, and securing the continued preservation and development of democratic societies. Vic Toews, Canada's former Minister of Justice and Attorney General, succinctly explained: It goes without saying that the rule of law requires a robust and independent judiciary. An effective judicial system inhibits both the state and private parties from acting arbitrarily. This helps promote social stability, progress and prosperity. An independent judiciary is necessary to provide definitive judgments on the interpretation of the law and how it is applied to particular disputes.11 I was privileged to help guide the creation of one of the earlier set of standards of judicial independence, the IBA Standards, adopted and confirmed at the 1982 IBA convention in New Delhi. …


Uptake and loss of water by six lichen species from the Argentine Islands, Antarctic Peninsula, were studied in their natural habitat and in laboratory studies. Under field conditions, during a period of rain, uptake of moisture ranged from 15% d w h−1 for Usnea antarctica to almost 90% for Mastodia tesselata. Loss rates after the rain ceased were lower than the uptake rates and ranged from 8.5% d w.h−1 in Umbilicaria decussata to 38.8% in M. tesselata. A comparison of thalli of M. tesselata from the shoreline with thalli collected further inland showed significant differences in maximum water content and in rates of water loss and uptake between thalli from these sites, which could be ascribed to the presence of salt in the thalli of M. tesselata from the shore. Thallus samples of Usnea antarctica collected from an exposed site showed lower uptake rates and higher loss rates of water than samples collected from a more sheltered site. Under laboratory conditions the maximum moisture content ranged from 67% in Usnea antarctica to 391% in M. tesselata. Exposed to an atmosphere of c. 40% relative humidity and c. 15°C, lichen thalli lost their water during the first hour of the experiment at rates ranging from 34% of the maximum moisture content in Umbilicaria propagulifera to 70% in U. decussata. Rates of water loss diminished with time, and after 4–6 hours equilibrium was reached, with water contents of 14–16% of thallus dry weight. The microclimate is the driving force for the thallus water regime. Specific differences in rates of water loss and water uptake depend on the morphology and anatomy of the lichen thalli. The results of the laboratory experiments agree with those from the field study. However, local differences in microclimatic or other environmental factors can be responsible for significant differences in the water regime of thalli of the same species, a result which can only be obtained from field studies.


Tree mortality rates are increasing within tropical rainforests as a result of global environmental change. When trees die, gaps are created in forest canopies and carbon is transferred from the living to deadwood pools. However, little is known about the effect of tree‐fall canopy gaps on the activity of decomposer communities and the rate of deadwood decay in forests. This means that the accuracy of regional and global carbon budgets is uncertain, especially given ongoing changes to the structure of rainforest ecosystems. Therefore, to determine the effect of canopy openings on wood decay rates and regional carbon flux, we carried out the first assessment of deadwood mass loss within canopy gaps in old‐growth rainforest. We used replicated canopy gaps paired with closed canopy sites in combination with macroinvertebrate accessible and inaccessible woodblocks to experimentally partition the relative contribution of microbes vs. termites to decomposition within contrasting understorey conditions. We show that over a 12 month period, wood mass loss increased by 63% in canopy gaps compared with closed canopy sites and that this increase was driven by termites. Using LiDAR data to quantify the proportion of canopy openings in the study region, we modelled the effect of observed changes in decomposition within gaps on regional carbon flux. Overall, we estimate that this accelerated decomposition increases regional wood decay rate by up to 18.2%, corresponding to a flux increase of 0.27 Mg C ha−1 year−1 that is not currently accounted for in regional carbon budgets. These results provide the first insights into how small‐scale disturbances in rainforests can generate hotspots for decomposer activity and carbon fluxes. In doing so, we show that including canopy gap dynamics and their impacts on wood decomposition in forest ecosystems can help improve the predictive accuracy of the carbon cycle in land surface models.


Recommender systems have achieved great success in recent years, and matrix approximation (MA) is one of the most popular techniques for collaborative filtering (CF) based recommendation. However, a major issue is that MA methods perform poorly at detecting strong localized associations among closely related users and items. Recently, some MA-based CF methods adopt clustering methods to discover meaningful user-item subgroups and perform ensemble on different clusterings to improve the recommendation accuracy. However, ensemble learning suffers from lower efficiency due to the increased overall computation overhead. In this paper, we propose GLOMA, a new clustering-based matrix approximation method, which can embed global information in local matrix approximation models to improve recommendation accuracy. In GLOMA, a MA model is first trained on the entire data to capture global information. The global MA model is then utilized to guide the training of cluster-based local MA models, such that the local models can detect strong localized associations shared within clusters and at the same time preserve global associations shared among all users/items. Evaluation results using MovieLens and Netflix datasets demonstrate that, by integrating global information in local models, GLOMA can outperform five state-of-the-art MA-based CF methods in recommendation accuracy while achieving descent efficiency.


Perlmutter (1970) argued that the indefinite article is categorically different from the definite article and proposed that it is a clitic version of the numeral "one". But there are, as Perlmutter himself pointed out, instances of "a" as well as of "one" that don't seem to have the semantics of the numeral. Hence a divorce of "a" (and of "one") from "numeral"-hood is called for. Furthermore, there are instances of what looks like the indefinite article (e.g., German "ein" or its Dutch, etc. counterpart) which occur in contexts from which the indefinite article is supposed to be excluded: with plural nouns, with non-count nouns, in definite noun phrases, etc. This state of affairs was addressed by Bennis et al. (1998), and others since, by reference to a so-called 'spurious article,' homophonous with the traditional indefinite article "een/ein". The goal of the present paper is twofold: First of all, I argue that German "ein" is not always an `indefinite article,' and, pursuing the idea that there is only one "ein", it is hence never an `indefinite article.' Secondly, I explore some consequences for the structural representation of certain function words which contain "ein" as one of their components, in particular "kein" as well as its English counterpart "no". The discussion promotes a strongly non-lexicalist view, advocating a syntactic derivation of function words, including movement. This working paper is available in University of Pennsylvania Working Papers in Linguistics: https://repository.upenn.edu/pwpl/vol18/iss1/19 The indefinite article – Indefinite? – Article?


A leader's most important job is to communicate. Every day, whether in a meeting or a presentation, a water-cooler conversation or a formal speech, his or her ability to craft and deliver a clear message, one the audience will believe, is the tipping point between forgettable and transformational. The Leader's Guide to Speaking with Presence is a concise tool kit containing more than 100 practical tips for creating and communicating meaningful messages with presence and authority. Readers will discover how to: • Present their ideas clearly and provide context
 • Radiate confidence and put the audience at ease
 • Refine their delivery
 • Use stories to inform, involve, and inspire
 • Leverage the energy of any room
 • Convey optimism tempered with reality to gain buy-in
 • Turn PowerPoint presentations into performances
 • And more
 To be truly effective, a leader's words need to ring true, and his or her delivery needs to be authentic. This handy little guide helps readers achieve the kind of genuine presence that leads to lasting trust and quantifiable influence.


Time consistency problems can arise when environmental taxes are employed to encourage firms to take irreversible abatement decisions. Setting a high carbon tax, for instance, would induce firms to invest in low-carbon technology, yet once investment has occurred the government can then reduce the carbon tax to better achieve other objectives; lower energy prices, redistribution, and electoral success. The resulting time inconsistency discourages firms from investing in the first place. We propose an institutional solution to this problem, adapted from the monetary policy literature; the commitment outcome can be achieved through delegation to an 'environmental policymaker', akin to a conservative central banker. participants at Oxford for useful feedback and ideas. The usual disclaimer applies.


The genus Thymus consists of about 350 species of perennial, aromatic herbs and subshrubs native to Europe and North Africa. Various types of thyme are used all over the globe as condiments, ornamentals and sources of essential oil. Thyme oil (distilled from its leaves) is among the world's top ten essential oils, displaying antibacterial, antimycotic, antioxidative, food preservative and mammalian age-delaying properties. Because of the wide variety of its applications, the demand for thyme oil is growing; hence thyme commands an important place in an expanding world market. Commercial supply of thyme originates mainly from European countries, but recently this increased demand has lead to new winter-hardy, high yield cultivars being developed for commercial cultivation in Canada and North America.This comprehensive volume covers all aspects of the biology, cultivation, pharmacology, chemistry and industrial processing of the genus Thymus. It is the most up to date overview of current knowledge in thyme use, and will be an invaluable reference source to those interested in medicinal plants, natural products, pharmacy, pharmacognosy and agronomy.