Quantum mechanical electronic structure calculations are playing an increasingly useful role in many areas of mineralogy and geochemistry. This review introduces the density functional method for such calculations, gives an overview of the density functionals developed at the University of Minnesota, and summarizes selected applications using these density functionals that are relevant to mineralogy and geochemistry.

A key reason for the importance of computational methods in mineralogy is the ability to explore problems that cannot easily be studied in the laboratory. For example, it is very difficult to carry out laboratory studies under the real conditions of the Earth's mantle and core because the temperature of the Earth's core ranges up to 6000 K, and the pressure ranges up to 360 GPa. In the past decade, applications of quantum mechanical methods to understanding the properties of minerals and melts in the Earth's interior have become increasingly important (Warren and Ackland 1996; Oganov and Brodholt 2000; Stixrude and Peacor 2002; Brodholt and Vocadlo 2006; Gillan et al. 2006; Tsuchiya et al. 2006). Some specific examples of problems in solid-state geochemistry where electronic structure calculations can be particularly useful are phase equilibria (Tsuchiya et al. 2004; Lay et al. 2005; Schwegler et al. 2008), equations of state, elastic constants, bulk and shear moduli (Li et al. 2006), hydrogen, proton, and water diffusion in minerals (Sakamura et al. 2003; Belonoshko et al. 2004; Pohlmann et al. 2004), the character and structural properties of hydroxyl groups in minerals and structures of hydrous minerals (Winkler et al. 1994, 1995; Nobes et al. 2000; Brodholt and Refson 2000; Churakov et al. 2003; Walker et al. 2006; Ockwig et al. 2009), hydrolysis and dissolution mechanisms (Strandh et al. 1997, Criscenti et …


An unusual negative lightning flash was recorded at the Säntis Tower on June 15, 2012. The flash did not contain an initial continuous current typical of upward negative lightning, which is the most common type of event at the Säntis Tower. The flash contained four strokes, the last three of which were normal while the current associated with the first stroke resembled a Gaussian pulse with an unusually high peak value of 102.3 kA, a long risetime of 28.4 μs, and a pulsewidth of 53.8 μs, which was followed by an opposite polarity overshoot with a peak value of 8.5 kA. Our current records suggest the involvement of a long upward connecting positive leader in response to the approaching downward negative leader in the formation of this flash. Lightning location system (LLS) data indicate that a positive cloud-to-ground stroke occurred 1 ms prior to the first stroke of the flash. In this paper, we present a detailed description of the data associated with this event. Moreover, both a return stroke model and an M-component model are used to reproduce the far-field waveform of this bipolar stroke. The simulations result in a radiated electric field waveform that is similar to those of large bipolar events (LBEs) observed in winter thunderstorms in Japan. A sensitivity analysis of the used simulation models reveals that, by proper selection of the input parameters, all field waveform characteristics, except for the positive half-cycle width, can be made to fall in the range of LBE field characteristics reported in Japan.


Drought, growing populations, and potential conflict over water in the American Southwest have water authorities examining highly treated wastewater as an option to augment municipal supplies. Direct potable reuse (DPR) holds promise for improving sustainability and reliability of potable water supplies by generating high-quality drinking water from wastewater. Despite research demonstrating that DPR can be safe, one of the biggest hindrances to DPR is negative public perception. Attempts to implement some DPR project have failed, while others have proceeded quickly. Using insights from the literature and interviews with water managers, this study aims to: (1) examine existing community conditions related to water scarcity; (2) the mode of project introduction, characteristics of DPR education and outreach programs; (3) public trust in the agencies introducing and/or promoting the DPR project, (4) media attention given to the project; and (5) the system of governance formulating and executing the DPR project. While some scholars have focused on individual disgust at drinking purified wastewater as the explanation for opposition and in some cases rejection of DPR projects, the results from this study demonstrate that explanations for acceptance or rejection of DPR are more complicated. Findings suggests that attitudes toward water reuse are community specific and responsive to local context, which includes geography, geology, climate, perception of existing water quality, perception of water scarcity, public education and knowledge related to water, trust in individuals or entities introducing the project, media coverage, and governance.


. Lignocellulose material which consists of three main components, including cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, is known for its difficulty to be degraded using biological process using biological process. Cellulase has proven to catalyze the degradation of celullose by enzymatic hydrolysis. However, the addition of cellulase might affect leachate qualities that was generated from landfill. The aim of this research is to analyze the effect of cellulase addition on leachate qualities. Two 1.5 m-height bioreactors were provided for two different treatments including (1) leachate recirculation with cellulase addition (2) leachate recirculation only as control. The addition of cellulase at 15 x 106 U/tonne was resulting in lower concentration for COD (29,100 mg/L in cellulase addition and 31,900 mg/L in control), TS (17,800 mg/L and 22,100 mg/L, respectively), TDS (15,900 mg/L and 19,800 mg/L, respectively). This was likely caused by acceleration of hydrolysis using enzymatic process. However, BOD value higher when cellulase addition was conducted (16,100 and 11,600 mg/L, respectively) because the addition of cellulase supported formation of glucose, therefore escalated BOD value. pH value was increasing over time towards neutral, indicating landfill had been heading toward methanogenic phase. From the experiment, it can be concluded that addition of cellulase has impacts towards leachate qualities.


Variable speed pump-turbine units have become nowadays an interesting way to increase stability of electrical power networks due to their high level of operating flexibility. Different advantages offered by variable speed pump-turbine units for both pumping and generating modes can be pointed out by means of either reliable simulation models or benchmark test devices. This paper presents a benchmark test of 3.3 kVA of a variable speed unit for teaching purposes. The control strategies for the transformer section and for the machine section are described. Comparisons between simulated and test results performed on this low power system are presented for different cases of operation (SVC effect, reactive power compensation, flywheel effect).


Purpose: This study aimed to test a variety of naturally occurring, medicinal and potentially food-compatible herb and spice extracts for their antimicrobial potential against a group of food borne bacterial pathogens. Design/methodology/approach: A total of 5 herbs and spices (garlic, thyme, cinnamon, marjoram and clove) collected from different markets in Alexandria were tested using the broth dilution method for determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), disc diffusion method and synergy assay using the checkerboard method on four types of food borne bacterial isolates obtained from food samples referred to the Central Lab of the High Institute of Public Health (HIPH). Findings: All the selected aqueous plant extracts exhibited antibacterial activities against all tested organisms with varying degrees. Garlic extract showed the maximum activity with MIC values ranging from 18.75 to 37.5 mg/ml. Garlic extract also caused inhibition of all tested bacterial isolates using the disc diffusion method. Staphylococcus aureus and Shigella were the most susceptible to crude aqueous extracts. Originality/value: The use of herbs and spices can provide an adequate degree of protection against food borne pathogens in processed foods. 1


The role of film music should function as part of the narrative, collaborating with all other filmic aspects such as color editing, scriptwriting, acting, and directing to convey a narrative that engages and affects the audience. Over the course of history, film music has functioned in a variety of ways, from live bands to draw in theatregoers to the contemporary discussion of diegetic and non-diegetic music in film. Composer Danny Elfman emerges from an unusual background in rock n' roll, but, despite initial criticism and skepticism, has proven to be a seminal film composer whose scores demonstrate an intimate connection to the narrative. Through study of Elfman's scores to Pee-Wee's Big Adventure (Burton, 1985), Batman (Burton, 1989), Edward Scissorhands (Burton, 1990), and The Nightmare Before Christmas (Selick, 1993), Elfman's compositional tactics are evaluated in regards to their role in the narrative. A short film scored by the author is created and presented in conjunction with this thesis, demonstrating how the methodology discussed within the thesis can be applied.


Soil erosion problems in Malaysia have been recognized for a long time. However,
management of upland area that is more exposed to soil erosion and soil
degradation risk through introduction of different cropping systems is still largely
unknown. Consequently, the current knowledge of rates of soil loss on upland
slopes is very limited. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to evaluate the
effect of intercropping on soil structure attributes and soil erosion, and to evaluate
effect of slope position on structural attributes and soil erosion.
Two experiments of intercropping of banana and pineapple and intercropping of
immature rubber with banana and pineapple consisting of standard erosion plot and
on farm research respectively were carried out for 40 months. In the first
experiment, four standard erosion plots of slopes 9% and length 22.1 m were
prepared. Plot sizes were 22.1 x 2.5 m, 22.1 x 5.0 m, 22.1 x 5.0 m, and 22.1 x 2.5
m for bare plot, banana plot, banana-pineapple intercropped plot, and pineapple plot, respectively. In the second experiment a farmer's field of an area 11 ,250 m2
of intercropping was selected. The slope varied from 9-15%. Both experiments
focused on evaluating some soil properties that were closely related to soil
structure such as bulk density, soil aggregate stability, soil organic matter, runoff,
and soil loss. The effect of root biomass on the above properties was also
evaluated.


Abstract. Extensive biogeochemical transformation of organic matter takes place in the shallow continental shelf seas of Siberia. This, in combination with brine production from sea-ice formation, results in cold bottom waters with relatively high salinity and nutrient concentrations, as well as low oxygen and pH levels. Data from the SWERUS-C3 expedition with icebreaker Oden, from July to September 2014, show the distribution of such nutrient-rich, cold bottom waters along the continental margin from about 140 to 180° E. The water with maximum nutrient concentration, classically named the upper halocline, is absent over the Lomonosov Ridge at 140° E, while it appears in the Makarov Basin at 150° E and intensifies further eastwards. At the intercept between the Mendeleev Ridge and the East Siberian continental shelf slope, the nutrient maximum is still intense, but distributed across a larger depth interval. The nutrient-rich water is found here at salinities of up to ∼ 34.5, i.e. in the water classically named lower halocline. East of 170° E transient tracers show significantly less ventilated waters below about 150 m water depth. This likely results from a local isolation of waters over the Chukchi Abyssal Plain as the boundary current from the west is steered away from this area by the bathymetry of the Mendeleev Ridge. The water with salinities of ∼ 34.5 has high nutrients and low oxygen concentrations as well as low pH, typically indicating decay of organic matter. A deficit in nitrate relative to phosphate suggests that this process partly occurs under hypoxia. We conclude that the high nutrient water with salinity ∼ 34.5 are formed on the shelf slope in the Mendeleev Ridge region from interior basin water that is trapped for enough time to attain its signature through interaction with the sediment.


The fortune and the risk of a business venture depends on the future course of the economy. There is a strong demand for economic forecasts and scenarios that can be applied to planning and modeling. While there is an ongoing debate on modeling economic scenarios, the bootstrapping (or resampling) approach presented here has several advantages. As a non-parametric method, it directly relies on past market behaviors rather than debatable assumptions on models and parameters. Simultaneous dependencies between economic variables are automatically captured. Some aspects of the bootstrapping method require additional modeling: choice and ransformation of the economic variables, arbitrage-free consistency, heavy tails of distributions, serial dependence, trends and mean reversion. Results of a complete economic scenario generator are presented, tested and discussed.


This review paper has explored politeness in non-verbal form to come to hints for indicating the ideology. Politeness in non-verbal form is researched by reviewing verbal politeness theories through interpretive techniques, and then the data in form of interpreted hints based on the reviews are analyzed by employing a coding technique. The six non-verbal hints of politeness found out based on the theoretical reviews are silence for politeness, gestures for politeness, gifts for politeness, observance of norms, rules, and regulations for politeness, adjusted behavior for politeness, and performance for politeness. The hints expectedly provide a sufficient account for non-verbal politeness in interactions or communication between a speaker and a hearer. The findings also encourage promoting harmony among speakers of languages in non-verbal interactions or communication, especially in formal situations or in the general public. The hints are hopefully also worth considering in the context of English language teaching and learning across languages and cultures in the world.


Tracheobronchial injuries are well-recognized sequelae of massive blunt or penetrating injuries of the neck or chest especially from motor vehicle accidents, and rarely due to simple trauma. Tracheal laceration is more common in adults, since adult's trachea is relatively more unprotected compared to children. Bronchoscopy is fundamental for diagnosis. CT is useful in visualization the level of rupture. Herein, we report on an instance of a minor cervical trauma leading to isolated posterolateral tracheal wall laceration in a 46-year-old woman. We emphasize the importance of suspected tracheal injury, even with minimal trauma. We also review the literature on posterolateral tracheal wall laceration as an isolated feature after blunt cervical trauma in adults, the mechanism of membranous tracheal rupture, diagnostic features and management options.


After five decades of modeling oil price shocks, their causes and repercussions remain a question of considerable interest, both in the academic literature and the policy domain. This paper critically reviews the leading explanations of the underlying causes of oil price shocks since the 1970s. Specifically, it is intended to provide insights into the theoretical, methodological, and empirical milestones together with unresolved issues from both a historical and exploratory viewpoint. The paper also provides and discusses pathways to overcome some of the unresolved issues to aid future model formulations and policy prescriptions.


Social and cultural research has changed dramatically in the last few years in response to changing conceptions of the empirical, an intensification of interest in interdisciplinary work, and the growing need to communicate with diverse users and audiences. Methods texts, however, have not kept pace with these changes.

This volume provides a set of new approaches for the investigation of the contemporary world. Building on the increasing importance of methodologies that cut across disciplines, more than twenty expert authors explain the utility of 'devices' for social and cultural research – their essays cover such diverse devices as the list, the pattern, the event, the photograph, the tape recorder and the anecdote.

This fascinating collection stresses the open-endedness of the social world, and explores the ways in which each device requires the user to reflect critically on the value and status of contemporary ways of making knowledge. With a range of genres and styles of writing, each chapter presents the device as a hinge between theory and practice, ontology and epistemology, and explores whether and how methods can be inventive. The book will be a valuable resource for students and scholars of sociology and cultural studies.


Sweet is the breath of morn, her rising sweet, With charm of earliest birds ; pleasant the sun When first on this delightful land he spreads His orient beams, on herb, tree, fruit, and flower, Glistering with dew; fragrant the fertile earth After soft showers ; and sweet the coming on Of grateful evening mild, then silent night With this her solemn bird and this fair moon, And these the gems of heaven, her starry train : But neither breath of morn when she ascends With charm of earliest birds, nor rising sun On this delightful land, nor herb, fruit, flower, Glistering with dew, nor fragrance after showers, Nor grateful evening mild, nor silent night With this her solemn bird, nor walk by moon, Or glittering starlight without thee is sweet. (Paradise Lost TV. 641-56)


The study of two- dimensional (2D) materials is a rapidly growing area within nanomaterials research. However, the high equipment costs, which include the processing systems necessary for creating these materials, can be a barrier to entry for some researchers interested in studying these novel materials. Such process systems include those used for chemical vapor deposition, a preferred method for making these materials. To address this challenge, this article presents the first open-source design for an automated chemical vapor deposition system that can be built for less than a third of the cost for a comparable commercial system. The materials and directions for the system are divided by subsystems, which allows the system to be easily built, customized and upgraded, depending upon the needs of the user. We include the details for the specific hardware that will be needed, instructions for completing the build, and the software needed to automate the system. With a chemical vapor deposition system built as described, a variety of 2D nanomaterials and their heterostructures can be grown. Specifically, the experimental results clearly demonstrate the capability of this open-source design in producing high quality, 2D nanomaterials such as graphene and tungsten disulfide, which are at the forefront of research in emerging semiconductor devices, sensors, and energy storage applications.


What factors motivate our understanding of metaphoric statements about time? English exhibits two deictic space-time metaphors: the Moving Ego metaphor conceptualises the ego as moving forward through time , while the Moving Time metaphor conceptualises time as moving forward towards the ego (Clark , 1973). In addition to earlier research investigating spatial influences on temporal reasoning (e.g. , Boroditsky & Ramscar , 2002) , recent lines of research have provided evidence that a complex of factors , such as personality differences , event valence , lifestyle , and emotional experiences , may also influence people's perspectives on the movement of events in time—providing new insights on metaphor and its ability to reflect thought and feeling (e.g. , Duffy & Feist , 2014; Duffy , Feist & McCarthy , 2014; Margolies & Crawford , 2008; Richmond , Wilson & Zinken , 2012). Probing these findings further , two studies were conducted to investigate whether the interpretation of a temporally ambiguous question may arise from an interaction between the valence of the event and aspects of the personality (Experiment 1) and lifestyle (Experiment 2) of the comprehender. The findings we report on shed further light on the complex nature of temporal reasoning. While this involves conceptual metaphor , it also invokes more complex temporal frames of reference (t-FoRs) (Evans , 2013) , which are only partially subserved by space-to-time conceptual metaphors.


Next generation sequencing (NGS) has the potential to disrupt not only the accepted process of drug development but also the hurdles a drug manufacturer would be expected to face in securing formulary approval and a possible premium price for the new compound. The purpose of this commentary is to consider the role of NGS in this process, one which is characterized as a process of creative destruction, where adoption of NGS in personalized medicine sets in train a mechanism of incessant product and process review. A mechanism driven by continuing modifications and extensions to NGS platforms as our understanding of the role of mutations and mutation load in therapy choice expands. At the same time this mechanism has significant implications for the continued revision of treatment guidelines and their adoption of NGS as integral parts of the treatment pathway. There are, however, a number of unresolved issues which have to be addressed. These include the choice of NGS platform, barriers to integrating evidence to support NGS-based therapy choices in treatment guidelines, the implications of NGS for drug development and the modification or rejection of current trial structures, the integration of comorbid disease states and the standards that formulary committees should adopt to evaluate NGS claims. The overarching theme, however, is the need to invest in a robust and credible evidence base. While we are a long way from achieving this, the focus must be on putting claims for therapy choice forward that are credible, evaluable and replicable.

Type: Commentary


In 2017, the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) Collaboration succeeded in capturing the first direct image of the center of the M87 galaxy. The asymmetric ring morphology and size are consistent with theoretical expectations for a weakly accreting supermassive black hole of mass approximately 6.5 x 10^9 M_solar. The EHTC also partnered with several international facilities in space and on the ground, to arrange an extensive, quasi-simultaneous multi-wavelength campaign. This Letter presents the results and analysis of this campaign, as well as the multi-wavelength data as a legacy data repository. We captured M87 in a historically low state, and the core flux dominates over HST-1 at high energies, making it possible to combine core flux constraints with the more spatially precise very long baseline interferometry data. We present the most complete simultaneous multi-wavelength spectrum of the active nucleus to date, and discuss the complexity and caveats of combining data from different spatial scales into one broadband spectrum. We apply two heuristic, isotropic leptonic single-zone models to provide insight into the basic source properties, but conclude that a structured jet is necessary to explain M87's spectrum. We can exclude that the simultaneous gamma-ray emission is produced via inverse Compton emission in the same region producing the EHT mm-band emission, and further conclude that the gamma-rays can only be produced in the inner jets (inward of HST-1) if there are strongly particle-dominated regions. Direct synchrotron emission from accelerated protons and secondaries cannot yet be excluded.


The Plk (polo-like kinase) family is involved in cell-cycle machinery. Despite the possible overlapping involvement of Plk1 and Plk3 in cell-cycle distribution, the precise role of each Plk might be different. To investigate mechanisms that may differentiate their physiological roles, we compared the substrate specificities of Plk1 and Plk3 using synthetic peptides. Among these substrate peptides, topoisomerase IIalpha EKT(1342)DDE-containing synthetic peptide was strongly phosphorylated by Plk3 but not by Plk1. By modulating the topoisomerase IIalpha peptide, we identified residues at positions +1, +2 and +4 as determinants of differential substrate recognition between Plk1 and Plk3. Acidic residues at positions +2 and +4 appear to be a positive determinant for Plk3 but not Plk1. Variation at position +1 appears to be tolerated by Plk3, while a hydrophobic residue at +1 is critical for Plk1 activity. The direct phosphorylation of Thr(1342) of topoisomerase IIalpha by Plk3 was demonstrated with an in vitro kinase assay, and overexpression of Plk3 induced the phosphorylation of Thr(1342) in cellular topoisomerase IIalpha. Furthermore, the physical interaction between Plk3 and topoisomerase IIalpha was also demonstrated in cells in addition to phosphorylation. These data suggest that topoisomerase IIalpha is a novel physiological substrate for Plk3 and that Plk1 and Plk3 play different roles in cell-cycle regulation.


Background and Aim: Continuous improvement of organizational performance, develops a great force synergy. These forces can support the growth and development programs and create opportunities for organizational excellence. This study has aimed to evaluate and rank the selective units of military hospital. Methods: The data related to the selective units of the Hospital were collected from medical record unit. Then, efficient units were identified using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and finally the ranking of the units were accomplished using the Promethee method. Results: According to the results of this study, among the 21 units which were studied, only 6 units had an efficiency higher than 0.9. At the end, the ranking of the efficient hospital units were done using the Promethee method which were respectively as follows: unit of head and neck surgery for men, unit of obstetrics and gynecology, unit of heart for men, unit of general surgery for men, CCU and unit of head and neck surgery for women. Conclusion: The results show that most units of hospitals do not operate efficiently due to lack of efficient use of resources. Given the importance of hospitals in providing health care and also their high effect on the efficiency of the national health systems, using DEA to allow comparisons and ranking can be an important step for continuous improvements of hospital performance, particularly clinical departments.


Transmission in complete lightform is now realised with advancements in technology. These include new developments in fabricating the fiber carrier
medium, low loss fiber coupling devices, optical switching components for routing
lightwave trans mission; laser light sources and sensitive photonic detectors. The
in creasing speeds of new generation electronic microprocessors, is capable of
resolving the differences in processing and transmission speeds. Access to the
medium is regulate d by the medium access control protocol, that permits multiple
users to share limited transmission resources of the network. The double-layere dhierarchical all-optical network architecture is proposed, that consists of an upper
layer to inter connect sub-networks of the lower layer. The data packets are
differentiate d for the two layers . The architecture implements wavelength -space
trans mission of wavelength division multiplexed channels. The architecture affords spatial reuse of channels in the lower layer. A non-contentious token-passing
medium access protocol is utilised. The token-passing variant that uses one token to
provide access to multiple channels is introduced.
The performance of the arrayed transmitter of the access node is gauged to
determine the suitability of the architecture with the access protocol in supporting
multiple accesses. The transmitter can queue a number of data packets awaiting
transmission depending on the size of the buffer. Performance indication can be
obtained from probabilistic modelling of the changing event states of the
transmitter. Performance causal parameters which include the number of nodes,
channel allocation and buffer size are defined. The results from the probabilistic
models are then analysed and verified with simulation. The architecture provides an
inherent feature termed as the bypass that is capitalised to improve performance of
the lower layer. Performance indication shows that the architecture is capable of
supporting the two types of data packets effectively, and the access protocol is
suitable for its purpose. Performance indication of average packet delay improves
when the when the bypass feature is implemented. The probabilistic models are
found to provide a logical and systematic approach to study and gauge performance
of the token-passing access protocol. In conclusion, the double-layered hierarchical
AON architecture and the medium access protocol, together serve as a reference for
the study of similar scaleable network architectures and their performance.


The objective of the analysis presented is to outline and validate a methodology for the optimization of MV distribution network operation. Loss minimization, taking into account the protective scheme applied, reliability and voltage quality aspects, are attained. Loss minimization is achieved by the installation of shunt capacitors and reconfiguration of the network. Two different reconfiguration methods are applied and compared. Special attention is given to the impact of network reconfiguration on the protective scheme applied, as well as on network voltage quality and reliability. Loads are assumed to be time variable, following typical daily curves. A general optimization method, suitable for overhead and underground networks, is outlined and validated through applications.


Grizzly bears inhabit wilderness areas in the northwestern region of the lower forty-eight states, western Canada, and areas of Alaska. Because of the settlement of the west and loss of prime habitat, populations declined rapidly in the nineteenth century, and in 1975 federal action was taken to protect grizzlies under the Endangered Species Act. Since 1950 about 722 technical papers have been written on the grizzly bear. Major research has focused on ecology, conservation, reproductive biology, behavior, dietetics, anatomy, and physiology, among other topics. Due to geographic distribution of the species, much of the research has been carried out by authors and organizations in western regions of the United States and Canada where major grizzly populations exist. A significant number of technical papers appear in three key journals: Ursus, the Journal of Wildlife Management, and the Canadian Journal of Zoology. According to data in WorldCat, about 1,167 records, covering monographs and technical reports, contain information on grizzlies and present research findings. The bulk of monographs appeal mainly to a general audience. However, citation analysis reveals a core of highly cited technical papers, many written with an emphasis on special themes or topics, whereas others focus on the grizzly itself, all together advancing the science on this species.


This is a bachelor thesis within marketing that aims at finding how branding strategies is affected by the market it operates and how it influences the possibilities to create a global brand. This will be carried out by looking at branding strategies, global branding and branding on the emerging markets with comparison to mature markets. The authors will do this by conducting a case study where two companies will be studied, one from an emerging market and one from a mature market.The development of a case study came from the explanatory nature of the purpose and the decision was made to look into the lingerie industry since this is a market that is easily segmented and that uses branding. The authors used one company on each market that were in the lingerie industry and the companies that came to be investigated were Beijing Aimer Co Ltd. and Miss Mary of Sweden AB. The authors used theories of branding, empirical material from interviews as well as secondary information about the markets in order to conduct the study.The authors concluded that there are a number of different strategies a company has to consider for their brand: What market(s) to cover, pricing strategies, name strategies and extension strategies. All are combined and need to fit each other to have a good branding strategy. Then there are different conditions for companies on mature and emerging markets. In the emerging markets, branding is a relatively new concept and differentiation with the help of branding has been missing. A mature market, on the other hand, is often saturated of brands which make it hard for companies to stand out in the clutter. This can make it easier for a company to target a niche in the market.When globalising the brand, the companies also need to take other things into consideration. It is important to know the market the company wishes to reach and there can be images that stick from the country of origin of the brand, which also influences the globalisation of the brand and is different for mature and emerging markets.What the authors found from the empirical findings was that the companies are not as the theories would suggest and the Chinese company seems to be very aware of their brands. What the authors also found that both the companies were failing in their branding strate-gies, but in very different ways. Aimer, who desperately wants to create an international brand, is failing due to country of origin effects, while Miss Mary is failing in their segmentations strategy which makes them less resident to competitors in a mature and cluttered marketplace.


This book offers a concise, knowledgeable guide to the laws governing administrative agencies. In straightforward, readable prose, the authors not only summarize the dominant statutes and case law in the area, but also discuss informal administrative processes and the background realities of the regulatory state. Students can use the book as a complement to any major casebook, and practitioners will also find it an excellent brief introduction to this often confusing subject.


The effects of experimentally reduced total phosphorus concentrations (TP) from 2.4 to 0.6 µmol L−1 on plankton community in a shallow lake were evaluated from the proportion between dissolved reactive P (DRP), dissolved nonreactive P (DOP) and particulate organic P (POP), and the stoichiometry among particulate organic carbon (POC), nitrogen (PON), and POP. In both triple ratios, DRP:DOP:POP and POC:PON:POP, we used POP as a key component to indicate shifts between P fractions and between nutrients in particulate organic matter. The enhanced P accumulation by the planktonic assemblage by 14% at reduced P supply was achieved by two steps, in the first year mainly at the expense of DOP and in the second year by DRP. The evidence that this increase of %POP of TP reflects the adaptive P utilization of the organisms under low P supply was substantiated by significant relationships between P fractions and changes in the community. A higher %POP of TP was associated with higher specific alkaline phosphatase activity and with tighter coupling between producers and consumers respectively—that is, driven from both the nutrient‐producer and the producer‐consumer interface. A lowered %DOP of TP was significantly related to smaller overall loss rates for the carbon pool of bacteria and algae, whereas %DRP of TP was correlated to the decrease of the biomass of most organism groups. Stoichiometric shifts toward a P‐rich assemblage under low TP have been justified by compositional shifts from N‐rich cyanobacteria to P‐rich eukaryotic algae and bacteria. The shifts toward POP in both triple ratios strongly indicated that the plankton community acted as a sink for phosphorus under reduced total pool size.


We analyze the unbiased black-box complexities of jump functions with small, medium, and large sizes of the fitness plateau surrounding the optimal solution. Among other results, we show that when the jump size is , that is, when only a small constant fraction of the fitness values is visible, then the unbiased black-box complexities for arities 3 and higher are of the same order as those for the simple OneMax function. Even for the extreme jump function, in which all but the two fitness values and n are blanked out, polynomial time mutation-based (i.e., unary unbiased) black-box optimization algorithms exist. This is quite surprising given that for the extreme jump function almost the whole search space (all but a fraction) is a plateau of constant fitness. To prove these results, we introduce new tools for the analysis of unbiased black-box complexities, for example, selecting the new parent individual not only by comparing the fitnesses of the competing search points but also by taking into account the (empirical) expected fitnesses of their offspring.


Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) is a technique to synthesize a large antenna array using the motion of a small antenna. When it comes to remote sensing, mapping, and change detection, SAR has been shown to be a good candidate by its ability to penetrate moisture and vegetation, and the avilibility of phase information for precise interferometric measurements [1] [13].This study was motivated by the fact that satellite and high-altitude SAR has limited data availability in terms of temporal resolution and the cost of every measurement. It is believed that SAR systems mounted on smaller UAV or ground vehicles could provide a much better coverage of the target in time, and in di?erent geometry.We proposed a L-band SAR system based on Software-Defi?ned Radio to be mounted on automotive platform. Novel motion estimation and compensation, as well as autofocusing techniques were developed to aid the SAR signal processing under much more demanding environment - the instability of radar platforms. It is expected this research development could bring down the cost of SAR being used as a remote sensing solution, and allow SAR system to be mounted on much smaller platforms by overcoming the instability of the track using novel signal processing methods, and eventually making SAR measurement available in places and times that was previously impossible.


Manganese furnace dust collected in smelting of manganese alloys is in the form of a slurry containing oxides of manganese, iron, zinc and other metals, and organics. The water content of the sludge is in the range of 55-60 wt%. Average carbon content, measured by LECO analysis, which includes carbon in the organics and carbonates is 20 wt%. The dust contains (average) 33.4 wt% Mn and 1.3 wt% Zn (dry basis). Currently, manganese furnace dust is accumulated in large 'settling ponds'. Major factors preventing recycling of the manganese furnace dust to the ferroalloy furnace are handling, due to its high water and organics contents, and the long term accumulation of zinc in the furnaces, which can cause irregularities in their operation. Drying of manganese furnace dust and removing zinc from the dust are important steps to recycle the dust to the smelting furnaces. This paper presents results of drying tests of manganese dust under different conditions and zinc removal from dried dust in sintering experiments. The drying tests were conducted in a muffle furnace at 423 to 973 K in air. On the basis of drying tests, an empirical relationship correlating the moisture content and drying time with temperature and sample thickness was derived. Zinc oxide was reduced by organics in the furnace dust above 1073 K. The reduction rate increased with increasing temperature with almost complete zinc removal at 1373 K. The effects of sintering time, temperature, moisture content, gas atmosphere, gas flow rate, thickness of a sample, and addition of manganese ore to the dust on zinc removal in sintering experiments have been established.


THE MOST TRANSPARENT TREND in metropolitan areas is the decentralization of jobs and housing into the suburbs and beyond. Scholars blame sprawl for many things, ranging from car-generated air pollution to commute-induced social alienation. But what do we know about its effects on travel behavior? According to conventional wisdom, people are driving farther to work these days—but supporting evidence is thin. It's not clear whether homes and jobs are growing farther apart or closer, nor which industries and occupations are dispersing most or least. Here we tackle one key unanswered question: How does job sprawl affect average commute length?


The literature on built environment sustainability has grown dramatically in the past 10 years. Despite the proliferation of literature, there is still no consensus on how comprehensively and uniformly to define the concept of sustainability as it pertains to the built environment, nor is there consensus on what aspects of the built environment should be considered in evaluating the sustainability of a built facility. This paper, through an evaluation of selected sources from the sustainability literature, takes a first step in systematically identifying what parameters of both the built environment and the concept of sustainability are emphasised in the existing literature on the topic. The outcome is a set of parameters that can be used in future research to begin uniformly and comprehensively to define sustainability as it applies to built facilities, using techniques such as concept mapping, content analysis, dendograms, and other established research methods.


Outlines changes in Australian economic policies that have occurred in recent decades in response to growing economic globalisation. It considers microeconomic reforms in Australia and changes to its industry policy (including important changes in national competition policy) its financial reforms (exchange rate and banking reforms), its liberalisation of international trade and of foreign investment, both inward and outward. Furthermore, particular consideration is given to Australia's policies and its lobbying in relation to The World Trade Organisation (WTO), economic regionalism, and bilateralism. These policies provide further insights into the way that Australia has responded to growing economic globalisation.


This master thesis deals with the modeling the speaking style of a Radio DJ speaker. In the context of the radio DJ speaker we designed a corpus that represents how radio DJs use to present songs being played on a radio show. A professional speaker has been recorded reading these radio shows into two different expressive styles. Style dependant models are trained with the recorded data. These can then be used to generate the expression parameters (syllable duration, pitch and dynamics) for any message to synthesize. The system is then modified by adding contextual information which is taken into account to train the models. The system is evaluatued to show whether this modification of the models helps to improve the speaking style models.


Surface texture influences wear and tribological properties of manufactured parts, and it plays a critical role in end-user products. Therefore, quantifying the order or structure of a manufactured surface provides important information on the quality and life expectancy of the product. Although texture can be intentionally introduced to enhance aesthetics or to satisfy a design function, sometimes it is an inevitable byproduct of surface treatment processes such as Piezo Vibration Striking Treatment (PVST). Measures of order for surfaces have been characterized using statistical, spectral, and geometric approaches. For nearly hexagonal lattices, topological tools have also been used to measure the surface order. This paper explores utilizing tools from Topological Data Analysis for measuring surface texture. We compute measures of order based on optical digital microscope images of surfaces treated using PVST. These measures are applied to the grid obtained from estimating the centers of tool impacts, and they quantify the grid's deviations from the nominal one. Our results show that TDA provides a convenient framework for characterization of pattern type that bypasses some limitations of existing tools such as difficult manual processing of the data and the need for an expert user to analyze and interpret the surface images.


Cancer prevention has been identified as the most cost-effective strategy for cancer control. This should extend to all groups including women with intellectual disability, seeking to access breast cancer screening. The purpose of this study was to explore the role of healthcare professionals, such as primary healthcare staff (n= 8) and breast care staff (n= 10), on supporting women with intellectual disability to access breast screening in one region in the UK. A qualitative approach using focus groups and telephone interviews was adopted. Healthcare professionals identified that not only was it important that women with intellectual disability undergo regular breast screening but that they should have the same rights as other women to access breast screening services. While many varied risk factors for breast cancer in women with intellectual disability were noted, the level of cognitive functioning was clearly significant. Barriers to accessing breast screening included literacy problems, consent issues and physical health; practical barriers such as transport and timing of appointment; and barriers attributed to healthcare professionals, including staff attitude and lack of awareness and training. The participants identified the need to raise awareness and health promotion education not only for the women with intellectual disability but also for healthcare professionals, alongside developing more interdisciplinary practice.


Successful separation of independent sources using blind source separation (BSS) techniques requires estimating the number of independent sources in the mixture. Independent component analysis (ICA) is on of the widely used BSS techniques for source separation and identification in audio and bio signal processing. This paper has proposed the use of determinant of the global matrix of ICA as a measure of the number of independent and dependent sources in a mixture of signals. The paper reports experimental verification of the proposed technique where the values of the determinant are seen to be closely based on the number of dependent sources in the mixture.


We extend our earlier work, focusing on the links between capital account liberalization, legal and institutional development, and financial development, especially that in equity markets. In a panel data analysis encompassing 108 countries and twenty years ranging from 1980 to 2000, we explore several dimensions of the financial sector. First, we test whether financial openness can lead to equity market development when we control for the level of legal and institutional development. Then, we examine whether the opening of the goods sector is a precondition for financial opening. Finally, we investigate whether a well-developed banking sector is a precondition for financial liberalization to lead to equity market development and also whether bank and equity market development complements or substitutes. Our empirical results suggest that a higher level of financial openness contributes to the development of equity markets only if a threshold level of general legal systems and institutions is attained, which is more prevalent among emerging market countries. Among emerging market countries, a higher level of bureaucratic quality and law and order, as well as the lower levels of corruption, increases the effect of financial opening in fostering the development of equity markets. We also find that the finance-related legal/institutional variables do not enhance the effect of capital account opening as strongly as the general legal/institutional variables. In examining the issue of the sequencing, we find that the liberalization in cross-border goods transactions is found to be a precondition for capital account liberalization. Our findings also indicate that the development in the banking sector is a precondition for equity market development, and that the developments in these two types of financial markets have synergistic effects.


The principal contention of this paper is that the traditional approach to park management is inadequate to deal with the contemporary goals of protected areas, in particular, biodiversity conservation, cultural heritage management and the management of socio-economic development within parks. This is particularly true for parks in remote regions like Central Australia, where management on a broader scale is required. The benefits of park management embracing a regional approach to development and conservation are examined. This paper also identifies some serious restrictions to development. Parks rely heavily on abstract management plans, and do not have a transparent framework through which to set objectives and targets. These objectives would allow parks to evaluate their organisation's performance. Iconic landscape assets dominate the tourism economy in Central Australia. The number of different institutions managing parks has hampered the establishment of a valuation framework. This framework would allow regional resource allocation decisions to be assessed and parks' performances to be monitored. Proper assessment and monitoring would strengthen the case for additional park funding to pursue conservation and development responsibilities.


The new General Motors 2-Mode Hybrid transmission for full-size, full-utility SUVs integrates two electromechanical power-split operating modes with four fixed gear ratios and provides fuel savings from electric assist, regenerative braking and low-speed electric vehicle operation. A combination of two power-split modes reduces the amount of mechanical power that must be converted to electricity for continuously variable transmission operation. Four fixed gear ratios further improve power transmission capacity and efficiency for especially demanding maneuvers such as full acceleration, hill climbing, and towing. This paper explains the basics of electro-mechanical power-split transmissions, input-split and compound-split modes, and the addition of fixed gear ratios to these modes to create the 2-Mode Hybrid transmission for SUVs.


It covers what it is, who it is likely to affect, how it is diagnosed, including the pitfalls of the various diagnostic tests, the different and evolving forms of treatment, long term management of this often devastating chronic disease, and the crucial role of multidisciplinary management in optimizing clinical care of these patients who usually have multi-system diseases. It also covers the up new classification for both PH and PAH, and new drugs that have recently become available.


Contemporary undergraduates present challenges that are not fully addressed by the contemporary university learning environment. Ofparticular relevance to this project are the 'transition' issues that are common to many first year undergraduates progressing from the'shallow' learning environment of secondary level education to the 'deeper' learning environment of university education.'Failure to establish meaningful and effective transition for undergraduates can lead to academic underachievement. The importance of aidingstudents' transition into higher education is reinforced by appreciating that undergraduates are likely to arrive with learning strategies suitable to school and college life, which are less effective in university environments...'Vinson, D. et al. (2010) Investigating the relationship between student engagement and transition, Active Learning in Higher Education, 11 (13), p.131This project seeks to foster a considered, active engagement of the student cohort with research that informs their learning environment andenhances their learning experience, allowing the students to become co-creators of their curriculum.Aims:- Facilitate student engagement as co-creators in research and learning;- Actively engage students with learning that addresses the 'transition' issues that are common to first year undergraduates;- Develop a peer-reviewed curriculum development process that will involve both Architectural education and Architectural practice;- Enhance (employability skills and prospects) through embedding of considered 'employability skills' in the first year Architectural curriculum.


Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) may play a crucial role in solving the energy crisis because they are clean and energy efficient. Finding suitable cathode materials for SOFCs is key to facilitating their widespread use. Besides developing high performance materials, understanding the stability and intrinsic properties of a material is equally important. Herein, Ba0.95La0.05FeO3−δ (BLF) is studied combining molecular simulations and experiments on single crystal thin films. Lattice dynamics simulations are applied to study the stabilization of barium orthoferrate BaFeO3−δ upon doping with La3+. Simulation results reveal the defect energy for substituting one Ba2+ with La3+ in the cubic phase to be lower than that in the monoclinic phase, contributing to its stabilization. Analogous results are also found by doping the Ba site with Sm3+, Gd3+ and Y3+. In addition, the simulation results suggest that the charge compensation mechanism upon doping is filling oxygen vacancies and La3+ tends to trap the mobile oxygen anions. In turn, as the doping level increases the oxygen anion diffusivity decreases, as is also supported by molecular dynamics simulations. In light of this conclusion, single crystal thin films of La3+ slightly doped BaFeO3−δ, BLF, are grown on yttria-stabilized zirconia substrates using pulsed laser deposition. The polarization resistance of the dense film is 0.07 Ω cm2 at 700 °C in an ambient atmosphere, which is comparable to state-of-the-art Co-based materials.


The advancement of South America's agro-pastoral frontier has been widely linked to losses in biodiversity and tropical forests, with particular impacts on the Brazilian cerrado, the Atlantic Forest, and the Amazon. Here I consider an important, yet largely overlooked, driver of South America's soybean expansion, namely the devaluation of local currencies against the US dollar in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Much interest has emerged in recent years over the environmental implications of soybean production in Brazil, with evidence of both direct incursions into moist tropical forest by soybean producers and of potential indirect effects, via the displacement of existing ranching operations. In this research I utilize historical trends in soybean prices, exchange rates, and cropland dedicated to soybean production in Bolivia, Paraguay, and Brazil to estimate the impact of currency devaluations on area of production. The results suggest that approximately 80,000km2, or 31 percent of the current extent of soybean production in these countries, emerged as a supply area response to the devaluation of local currencies in the late 1990s. The results also indicate that the more recent depreciation of the dollar and appreciation of the Brazilian real have counteracted a recent rise in global soybean prices, in the process sparing an estimated nearly 90,000 km2 from new cropland, 40,000 km2 of this in the Amazon alone.


The thesis deals with the morphology and verb construction types of Kistaniniya which is a member of the south Ethio-Semitic sub-group. In Ethnologue it is referred to as Soddo. It is a morphologically complex SOV language. This thesis is organized into an introducing chapter and then in two parts. The first chapter provides general introduction to the Kistane people, the phonology and syllable structure of Kistaniniya. Part I, which contains Chapter 2 to Chapter 5, is devoted to describing the morphology of the language. Chapter 2 describes the morphology of nouns and pronouns. Nouns are morphologically inflected for number, gender, definiteness and case. New nouns can be formed by noun formation, noun derivation and compounding. Noun formation is a process of specifying a consonantal root with vowels to form a noun. On the other hand noun derivation uses derivational affixes attached to noun stems and/or words belonging to other lexical categories to derive new nouns. Chapter 3 examines the morphology of adjectives. It is shown that most of the members of the category adjectives are the result of adjective formation as opposed to derivation. Adjectives inflect for the grammatical features number, case and definiteness. Chapter 4 addresses the morphology of adpositions. The discussion covers prepositions, postpositions and circumposition. The prepositions comprise a closed class of five morphemes. Morphologically, postpositions can be simple or complex, and they are frequently used together with prepositions. All circumpositions have the locative morphemes tə-'to' and bə- 'from' as their part that precedes the nominal complement, and the second part that follows the nominal complement includes a list of words with nominal or verbal origin. Chapter 5 has 11 sections that address verb morphology. In addition to introductory information about the nature of Kistaniniya verbs provided in the introduction section of the chapter, types of verbs, verb formation and derivations, agreement marking, tense, aspect and aktionsarts, verbal negation, relativization, impersonal verbs, copulas and converbs are the major issues examined in the chapter. Part II consists of Chapters 6 and 7. Chapter 6 gives a detailed description of how the annotation and enumeration system Construction Labelling works. Chapter 7 examines Kistaniniya verb constructions using this system, and categorizes the construction according to their syntactic and semantic features. Finally, Chapter 8 summarizes the discussion and recapitulates the major findings.


The objective of this study is to update and compare the species composition,
distribution and abundance of dinoflagellate in the Straits of Malacca. The
samples were collected during the JICA- MASDEC Straits of Malacca Expedition
on board RIV K. K. Mersuji from November 23 to December 2, 1998 (northeast
monsoon season) and March 25 to April 4, 1999 (pre southwest monsoon season)
by using "Van Dorm" water sampler. A total of 78 dinoflagellate species from 21
genus, 13 families, and six orders under Division Pyrrophyta were observed and
identified. During the northeast monsoon, Peridiniales was the dominant order
accounting for 87.87% of the total dinoflagellate density, followed by
Dinophysiales (5.49%), Prorocentrales (2.98%), Noctilucales (1.85%),
Pyrocystales (1.45%) and Gymnodiniales (0.36%). Peridiniales also constitute
of an important group during the pre southwest monsoon with an average 71.84%
of the total dinoflagellate density, followed by Gymnodiniales (20.51%),
Dinophysiales (4.80%), Pyrocystales (1.40%), Prorocentrales (0.89%) and
Noctilucales (0.57%). In terms of numbers, the total density of dinoflagellates varied from 2.64 cells/l at Station 24 to 2.93 x 103 cells/l at Station 13 and 18.02
cells/l at Station 19 to 6.24 x 102 cells/1 at Station 14 during the northeast
monsoon season and the pre southwest monsoon season respectively. The middle
zone of the Malacca Straits showed the highest density of dinoflagellate compared
to the northern and southern zone for both monsoon seasons. During the northeast
monsoon, the density of dinoflagellate in the offshore stations was higher than in
the inshore stations. In contrast, the inshore stations of the Straits showed the
highest density of dinoflagellate compared to the offshore stations during the pre
southwest monsoon. Ceratium furca was the most dominant species in the Straits
of Malacca during the northeast monsoon (maximum cell density reached 2.87 x 103 cells/l at Station 13) and dominated dinoflagellate assemblages almost at all
stations. Gymnodinium simplex, Protoperidinium ovum and Ceratium furca were
the three most dominant species in the Straits of Malacca during the pre southwest
monsoon. ANOVA showed a significant difference (F = 21.05, p < 0.05 and F = 11.66, p < 0.05) in species diversity and species evenness between the northeast
monsoon and the pre southwest monsoon. However, there was no significant
difference (F = 2.34, p > 0.05) in species richness between the northeast
monsoon and the pre southwest monsoon.


Generalized Linear Bandits (GLBs), a natural extension of the stochastic linear bandits, has been popular and successful in recent years. However, existing GLBs scale poorly with the number of rounds and the number of arms, limiting their utility in practice. This paper proposes new, scalable solutions to the GLB problem in two respects. First, unlike existing GLBs, whose per-time-step space and time complexity grow at least linearly with time $t$, we propose a new algorithm that performs online computations to enjoy a constant space and time complexity. At its heart is a novel Generalized Linear extension of the Online-to-confidence-set Conversion (GLOC method) that takes \emph{any} online learning algorithm and turns it into a GLB algorithm. As a special case, we apply GLOC to the online Newton step algorithm, which results in a low-regret GLB algorithm with much lower time and memory complexity than prior work. Second, for the case where the number $N$ of arms is very large, we propose new algorithms in which each next arm is selected via an inner product search. Such methods can be implemented via hashing algorithms (i.e., "hash-amenable") and result in a time complexity sublinear in $N$. While a Thompson sampling extension of GLOC is hash-amenable, its regret bound for $d$-dimensional arm sets scales with $d^{3/2}$, whereas GLOC's regret bound scales with $d$. Towards closing this gap, we propose a new hash-amenable algorithm whose regret bound scales with $d^{5/4}$. Finally, we propose a fast approximate hash-key computation (inner product) with a better accuracy than the state-of-the-art, which can be of independent interest. We conclude the paper with preliminary experimental results confirming the merits of our methods.


Optical Projection Tomography (OPT) suffers from additive CCD detector noise. This paper investigates the nature of the CCD detector noise for an OPT setup. The CCD detector noise is found to be described well by an intensity dependent zero-mean Gaussian distribution. A method of reducing the effect of noise in fluorescence OPT reconstructions is discussed. The results of the noise reduction are demonstrated using both artificial scenes created with fluorescent microspheres and real auto-fluorescence OPT projections of the cuticle of the amphipod crustacean Parhyale hawaiensis.


Uniportal VATS is the newest development in thoracic surgery. Many thoracic surgeons are interested in learning this technique but are unsure as to how to best learn the uniportal approach. Wet lab courses in Coruña, Spain offer an excellent chance for surgeons to learn about and perform their initial attempts at this approach under the supervision of the inventor of this technique. This course offers a balanced framework consisting of didactic content, observation and a skills lab.


Title of dissertation: EFFECTS OF MODERATE CALORIE RESTRICTION ON OVARIAN FUNCTION AND DECLINE IN RHESUS MONKEYS Julie Mei-Fen Wu, Doctor of Philosophy, 2006 Dissertation directed by: Professor Mary Ann Ottinger Department of Animal and Avian Sciences Calorie restriction (CR) has long been heralded as the only proven nutritional intervention for life extension. Recent data demonstrated that moderate CR also extended reproductive lifespan in female rats. The objectives of this project were to: 1) analyze general hormonal changes that occur with aging and menopause and 2) evaluate the effects (whether beneficial or detrimental) of moderate (30%) CR on ovarian function and decline in rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta). Hormone analyses demonstrated elevated FSH and reduced INHB in Old monkeys, prior to menstrual cycle irregularity and alterations in E2 or P4. Our data are the first demonstration of this hormonal event occurring in monkeys. Furthermore, moderate CR did not impair normal ovarian function or aging. Evaluation of three clinically available tests: day 3 FSH, the Clomiphene Citrate Challenge Test (CCCT) and the Exogenous FSH Ovarian Reserve Test (EFORT), demonstrated that CCCT is efficacious in monkeys, especially with the use of E2 and INHB. As such, CCCT is the most cost effective and best predictor of ovarian response. Responses were similar between CON and CR. Oocytes from old short-term CON and CR monkeys were collected and fertilized with spermatozoa collected from normal males. Interestingly, CR appears to prolong ovarian responsiveness to exogenous gonadotropins and improve embryonic development in vitro in old female rhesus monkeys. Microarray analysis of gene expression was conducted in luteinizing granulosa cells. A subset of responsive genes were identified that will require validation by via real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). These data will provide insight into potential mechanisms of direct action of CR on the ovary. Therefore, the results of this study have provided evidence for the utility of the rhesus monkey as a model for human menopause. Additionally, moderate CR did not impair normal reproductive function or decline. We also confirmed the efficacy of the CCCT in rhesus monkeys and recommend its use as a diagnostic tool. Finally, CR improved ovarian response to exogenous gonadotropins and has beneficial effects on oocyte quality and subsequent embryo development. EFFECTS OF MODERATE CALORIE RESTRICTION ON OVARIAN FUNCTION AND DECLINE IN RHESUS MONKEYS


Every $n$-vertex graph has two vertices with the same degree (if $n\ge2$). In general, let rep$(G)$ be the maximum multiplicity of a vertex degree in $G$. An easy counting argument yields rep$(G)\ge n/(2d-2s+1)$, where $d$ is the average degree and $s$ is the minimum degree of $G$. Equality can hold when $2d$ is an integer, and the bound is approximately sharp in general, even when $G$ is restricted to be a tree, maximal outerplanar graph, planar triangulation, or claw-free graph. Among large claw-free graphs, repetition number $2$ is achievable, but if $G$ is an $n$-vertex line graph, then rep$(G)\ge{1\over4}n^{1/3}$. Among line graphs of trees, the minimum repetition number is $\Theta(n^{1/2})$. For line graphs of maximal outerplanar graphs, trees with perfect matchings, or triangulations with 2-factors, the lower bound is linear.


With the increasing use of sprinkler irrigation on vegetables and other intensively grown crops, has come a need to evaluate herbicide effects. Herbicidal activity is often stepped up under sprinkler irrigation. The degree of crop selectivity may be increased, or decreased, depending upon the herbicide, the soil, the weed species, and the vegetable crop. Sprinkler irrigation advantages have been demonstrated, particularly in areas with saline soils or drainage problems. However, along with increased stands and vigor generally associated with sprinkling, comes an increase in weed populations. And as the cost of hand weeding rises, chemical herbicides become more desirable to the grower. The early use of sprinklers to help germinate the crop and activate the herbicide, even though furrow irrigation is used subsequently, is another promising approach in growing vegetables and other row crops. These observations of recent field tests and commercial applications of herbicides to control weeds under sprinkler irrigation are not to be considered recommendations for use of the herbicides mentioned. For recommendations, refer to University of California Weed Control Recommendations, 1969, or contact local farm advisors.


The term "Software Chrestomaty" is defined as a collection of software systems meant to be useful in learning about or gaining insight into software languages, software technologies, software concepts, programming, and software engineering. 101companies software chrestomathy is a community project with the attributes of a Research 2.0 infrastructure for various stakeholders in software languages and technology communities. The core of 101companies combines a semantic wiki and confederated open source repositories. We designed and developed an integrated ontology-based knowledge base about software languages and technologies. The knowledge is created by the community of contributors and supported with a running example and structured documentation. The complete ecosystem is exposed by using Linked Data principles and equipped with the additional metadata about individual artifacts. Within the context of software chrestomathy we explored a new type of software architecture – linguistic architecture that is targeted on the language and technology relationships within a software product and based on the megamodels. Our approach to documentation of the software systems is highly structured and makes use of the concepts of the newly developed megamodeling language MegaL. We "connect" an emerging ontology with the megamodeling artifacts to raise the cognitive value of the linguistic architecture.


"The game begins the moment a person touches a console -- everything builds from that." (Quote by Shiguru Miyamoto; founder of Super Mario) This report contains a well-structured analysis of the main four Super Mario games that clearly states a difference in story, hardware, software development and design. The report is structured in sections for each game to better understand the concept of the Super Mario games. The report ends with comparisons of the games for a better view of the paradigm between them. The pictures and quotations in this report are referenced to the company that has copy write and Shiguru Miyamoto that is the founder of the character Super Mario.


Background: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation-induced consciousness (CPRIC) is a phenomenon that has been described in only a handful of case reports. In this study, we aimed to describe CPRIC in out-ofhospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients and determine its association with survival outcomes. Methods: Retrospective study of registry-based data from Victoria, Australia between January 2008 and December 2014. Adult OHCA patients treated by emergency medical services (EMS) were included. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the association between CPRIC and survival to hospital discharge. Results: There were 112 (0.7%) cases of CPRIC among 16,558 EMS attempted resuscitations, increasing in frequency from 0.3% in 2008 to 0.9% in 2014 (p = 0.004). Levels of consciousness consisted of spontaneous eye opening (20.5%), jaw tone (20.5%), speech (29.5%) and/or body movement (87.5%). CPRIC was independently associated with an increased odds of survival to hospital discharge in unwitnessed/bystander witnessed events (OR 2.09, 95% CI: 1.14, 3.81; p = 0.02) but not in EMS witnessed events (OR 0.98, 95% CI: 0.49, 1.96; p = 0.96). Forty-two (37.5%) patients with CPRIC received treatment with one or more of midazolam (35.7%), opiates (5.4%) or muscle relaxants (3.6%). When stratified by use of these medications, CPRIC in unwitnessed/bystander witnessed patients was associated with improved odds of survival to hospital discharge if medications were not given (OR 3.92, 95% CI: 1.66, 9.28; p = 0.002), but did not influence survival if these medications were given (OR 0.97, 95% CI: 0.37, 2.57; p = 0.97). Conclusion: Although CPRIC is uncommon, its occurrence is increasing and may be associated with improved outcomes. The appropriate management of CPRIC requires further evaluation.


In this paper, I read Sunanda Sikdar's memoir Doyamoyeer Katha ( Doyamoyee's Tale , 2008, Bengali) and study how an East Bengali immigrant woman presents her perceptions beyond the nationalistic history as well as the key motifs of Bengali refugee past. I examine the development of Doyamoyee's heterogeneous identity and emphasize the importance of revisiting stereotypical and canonical artworks produced by the immigrant bhadralok, through juxtaposing these works with non-bhadralok refugee experiences. The mainstream writings have emotionally used the Partition memory and repeatedly tinted everyday realities of rural East Bengal with identical cliches, whereas Sikdar's writings, as I argue, are based on the absence of typified emotive tropes. By understanding the category to which Doyamoyee belongs and studying her heretical perspectives, this paper demonstrates the difficulties of confining her identity into a fixed category of refugee-ness as belonging to the middle-class.


The number of supply chain risks has sharply risen due to climate change and the increasing complexity of the 21st century business network whose firms are exporting and importing articles worldwide. Nowadays, it is not enough to ensure an effective production plant; it is high time to guarantee the perfect performance of the whole supply chain. And that means, among other issues, an intense and close relationship between suppliers and customers.
This thesis addresses some of the small and medium enterprises' concerns by developing a new procedure: '4 in a row'. '4 in a row' is unpretentious, effective and carefully designed to be implemented taking into account its users constraints. '4 in a row' is the result of a deep literature review and a passionate interaction with supply chain experts. '4 in a row' is the main contribution of a project in which I started to think about one year ago: creating something valuable to improve the small and medium enterprise's supply chain.
The thesis starts with the introduction chapter and the literature review. Then, it follows the research approach chapter in which the motives of choosing a literature review and a semi-structured interview as the main study methods are reasoned. Chapter four summarises feedback from five different supply chain experts. The core of the thesis is in chapter 5: the design of a four-step procedure with the intuitive name of '4 in a row'. The first step of '4 in a row' is the adaptation of the tool to the needs of each firm; the second step is the identification and prioritization of supply chain risks through a Failure Mode and Effect Analysis; the third step contains potential mitigation actions in order to cope with the identified high-priority risks organized in two categories, 'Lean tools' and 'best practices'; and the fourth and last step is a benefit/cost analysis which aims to assess from an economical point of view which mitigation actions are worth to implement. The core of the thesis is followed, in chapter 6, by an evaluation of the performance of '4 in a row' in a real small company. Lastly, there is a critical discussion in what could have been done better and some natural indications about how to continue with further investigation.
I wholeheartedly expect to capture your attention through this 132-page thesis and 32.980 words mostly written in the awe-inspiring Denmark Technical University facilities. It might not be the longest thesis; however, I hope you will find this text easy-to-read and above all else, profitable and constructive.


Orientation: South African organisations are increasingly recognising the importance of attracting, developing and retaining top talent, especially management employees. Research purpose: In an attempt to help organisations with retaining talent, this study focused on career success and identified specific factors that influence the career success of managers in the South African work environment. Motivation for the study: Organisations need to establish favourable organisational conditions and human resource practices to retain their management employees. By identifying influential factors for the career success of managers, this research may help organisations to focus more accurately on their retention strategies for management employees. Research approach, design and method: The present study used a qualitative research design that followed an exploratory approach. A non-probability purposive sample of 24 senior management employees was selected from two financial institutions in South Africa. Qualitative data was collected by means of semi-structured interviews and the verbatim transcriptions were analysed by content analysis. Main findings: Managers identified various factors that impact on their career success. One can distinguish 'external' factors (e.g. political and economic climate and business environment) from 'internal' factors (e.g. individuals' personal attributes, skills and education). Practical/managerial implications: Individuals should focus on the internal contributing factors, whilst organisations should manage the external contributing factors more effectively. Contribution/value-add: Specific South African factors that influence the career success of managers should be included in future retention strategies. From the findings it is suggested that both the individuals and organisations can implement strategies to ensure career success and thereby help retain the top talent in organisations.


The hot filament chemical vapor deposition (HFCVD) technique is limited only by the size of the reactor and lends itself to be incorporated into continuous roll-to-roll industrial fabrication processes. We discuss the HFCVD reactor design and the interplay between the reactor parameters, such as filament and substrate temperatures, filament- to-substrate distance, and total pressure. Special attention is given to the large-area synthesis of bilayer graphene on copper, which is successfully grown by HFCVD with transmittance greater than 90% in the visible region and no gaps. We also discuss the HFCVD synthesis of carbon nanotubes, microcrystalline diamond, and nanocrystal‐ line diamond.


In (Part I), it was stated that red beds, conglomerates and salt were considered azoic and problematic rocks, but Paleopalynology and Inorganic Geochemistry proved to be useful for placing them in time and space. In the early last century, in Mexican NE region, only three Mesozoic red bed units were differentiated, dated as Late Triassic to Late Jurassic. It was important stratigraphically to place them properly as they were considered to be the basement of the marine petroliferous sequence in some Mexican Gulf of Mexico sub-basins. Palynostratigraphic studies since 1969, and Xray analyses since 1989 allowed to place, in time and space, the Cahuasas, Huizachal, La Joya, and La Boca red bed units, outcropping at the Huizachal-Peregrina and Huayacocotla anticlinoria and, recently, the Rosario, Conglomerado-Prieto and Cuarcítica-Cualac units at the Tlaxiaco Anticlinorium. In this (Part II) it is described the method used for reconstructing the paleogeographic distribution of these red beds. Their correlation permitted to place the Liassic units as deposited in a halfgraben connected to an Epicontinental Sinemurian Sea. This sea, during the Middle Jurassic, was invaded by the Tethysian waters through the Hispanic Corridor formed across the new Gulf of Mexico, which was originated by a hot spot with a triple junction.


The improvements of molecular beam epitaxy have reached a state where the deposition of material layers on an atomic length scale is possible. State-of-theart x-ray and electron beam lithography allows horizontal patterning on a nanometer scale. These technologies have given rise to a new class of devices that operate on quantum mechanical principles. QUEST (Quantum Electron Semiconductor Transport) simulates electron quantum transport at high bias through semiconductor heterostructures. Large cross-section and one-dimensional quantum devices can be analyzed including effects due to dissipation and charging. The simulation is limited to steady-state transport in a single conduction band. The analysis is based on the non-equilibrium Green's function approach of Keldysh, Kadanoff, and Baym. Electron-phonon interactions are treated in the self-consistent first Born approximation and electron charging effects are built in via a self-consistent electro-static potential. Quantum interference is naturally built into the Green's functions. The user's manual includes a tutorial that guides the new user through several examples of electron transport through resonant tunneling diodes. The examples include elastic scattering, inelastic scattering by acoustic phonons, inelastic scattering by optical phonons, intrinsic bistability due to charge accumulation and effects due to transverse modes. The user's manual also includes a reference guide meant for the more experienced user who needs to look up parameter definitions. (118 pages, 39 figures, 1 table, 12 index pages)


E It is either a way of lending additional support to the family finances or merely a full business to cater for one's own economic survival and that of other significant others. This study sought to find out the key coping strategies adopted by female entrepreneurs in the face of constant demands from the family and work domains. It further sought to find out the type of work family conflict experienced by female entrepreneurs. The implications for national development are further discussed. Data collection involved the administering of questionnaires to some female entrepreneurs (n=32) whose businesses are in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. The questionnaires had close-ended and open-ended questions and statements. Findings indicate that no significant difference exists in the experience of work-to-family conflict and family-to-work conflict among female entrepreneurs. Requiring from them the coping strategies they use in managing the arising role conflicts, respondents noted that they set targets and deadlines; follow a time schedule; work within individual capacity; and employ support from family and house helps. These strategies have resulted in: working harder and remaining focused; using time effectively and efficiently; ensuring continuity of business; increase in sales; and decrease in workload. Respondents noted that in line with national development, the balance of work and family roles allow for maximum concentration on work, which also increases productivity and sales, thereby improving Ghana's GDP. Additionally, once the business thrives, it can expand and employ more people to work for economic gains. Insightfully, having quality time for the family as a result of the balance helps to raise responsible children who then become responsible citizens for the good of the country.


Abstract The North Qilian orogenic belt records the transition from Ordovician marine back-arc basin to Early Devonian terrestrial molasse basin as the Central Qilian Block was sutured to the North China Craton. The detrital framework and geochemical composition of Lower Silurian sedimentary rocks within the North Qilian Belt record the provenance, tectonic setting, and a variety of sedimentary processes that operated during transport from source to sink. The petrological and geochemical characteristics of sandstones, siltstones, and shales in the western segment of the North Qilian Belt indicate a generally low degree of chemical weathering of source area(s) and limited sorting prior to deposition. These characteristics suggest an active tectonic setting. In contrast, samples studied from the eastern part of the North Qilian Belt indicate low to moderate chemical weathering and low to moderate hydraulic sorting. Such characteristics imply a more stable tectonic setting. Geochemical data including Eu/Eu*, Ti/Nb, Th/Sc, and Co/Th ratios suggest contrasting source regions for the western and eastern segments of the North Qilian Belt. Sources in the west included basement rocks of the Central Qilian Block and the North China Craton. In addition, western sources may have included mafic rocks located within the North Qilian arc. In contrast, data derived from eastern samples suggest a felsic provenance that probably formed part of the basement complex in the Central Qilian Block and the North China Craton. Overall, detrital and geochemical data, combined with the regional geology, suggest a foreland basin setting that formed during collision of the Central Qilian Block with the North China Craton.


We present a mathematical model for the phenomenon of wind-up (Mendell, 1966, Exper. Neur. 16,316-22) which occurs in many neurons. We concentrate on its occurrence in the substantia gelatinosa of the dorsal horns of the spinal cord, where it is connected with certain pathological and nonpathological pain states. The model is a development of the model by Britton & Skevington (1989, J. Theor. Biol. 137, 91-105) for Melzack & Wall's gate control theory of pain (1965, Science, New York, 150, 971-9; 1982, The Challenge of Pain, Penguin: Harmondsworth), modified to take account of more recent information. Its variables are the electric potentials of various cells in the midbrain and the spinal cord. Britton & Skevington's original model simulated many of the phenomena observed in acute pain in humans, but not the wind-up mechanism. This is not surprising, since this model did not include the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors that are now recognized as being crucial to the phenomenon. Here we rectify this omission, and obtain good agreement between the model and experimental data on wind-up. The positive feedback that NMDA receptors exhibit is shown to be the essential feature in producing wind-up. As an independent test of the model we simulate a completely different experimental set-up, and obtain good qualitative agreement with data there. Finally, we present a prediction of the model that has yet to be tested experimentally.


In this book John Weaver argues for a radical reversal in thinking about the church and the world. He urges us to stop looking from the 'inside-out,' and to let God's activity in society and human lives outside the church make an impact upon worship and Christian teaching. The direction must be 'outside-in.' He believes that it is 'time for the church to stop playing games' and aims to provide ways in which church members can relate their faith to their actual daily work and to the tough and sometimes brutal world in which they spend their lives.

In this guide for congregational leaders he thus sets out a method for exploring experience, and for moving through reflection to action. Through the use of small-group discussion which follows an 'action-reflection' model, he believes that people will see the relevance of the stories in the Bible to the stories of their own lives, and make their own connections. As each person's experience is expressed and valued, and is placed alongside an understanding of scripture, church tradition and sociological analysis, it becomes possible for all church members to make a practical response.


In Revolution in Higher Education , Georgia Tech Professor Richard DeMillo contrasts the rapid innovations made in online learning by a small band of interested, outside-of-academia adventurers with the slow progress made within the ivory tower. DeMillo follows innovators with now-familiar names and projects like Coursera and Udacity through their startup phases, describing motives and methods, with an insider's view at their effects on college learning. Then, after a thorough lesson in the history of the academy, DeMillo argues that adherence to academic tradition will not save higher education. In fact, he says, only flexibility and speed can help colleges and universities meet the challenges of today and the inevitable disintegration of higher education as we know it of tomorrow.


Media, Mars and Metamorphosis is the title of a remarkable open access e-book by Jeremy Hoyle. Hoyle is a former student, and at times zealous disciple, of Francis Fukuyama. His work echoes and extends the concerns Fukuyama expressed in Our Posthuman Future for the status of human nature in the era of biotechnology and for the rights of the individual in a threatened liberal democracy. 1 Like Fukuyama, Hoyle considers himself to be a social philosopher, and he too is something of a populist. He has sought out three of the most recent and controversial experiments in biotechnology in order to dramatise his concerns, and each promises (or threatens) to change the meaning of human life. Hoyle has chosen open access publishing because, as Gary Hall points out in Digitize This Book!, it has the potential to reach a very wide audience while garnering feedback and creating a market for a subsequent paper publication: 'the main priority of most academics is to have their research read by as many people as possible, in the hope, not only of receiving greater levels of feedback and recognition for their work, and thus an enhanced reputation, but also of having the biggest possible impact on future research, and perhaps even society' (Hall, 2008: 46). However, the impact of Hoyle's first draft was not quite what he had hoped for, and, indeed, expected. Of the three people he interviewed in connection with the experiments, two are currently suing him for defamation of character, and the third is still consulting her lawyer. On the advice of his lawyer, Hoyle has temporarily withdrawn the manuscript and its associated links – including a podcast, blog and short film on YouTube – from the web. Although he has sought to remove all evidence of his book, and although it was only posted for a brief period, I was able to read it, and can therefore offer the summary that follows.


The Generalized Phase Contrast (GPC) method of optical 3D manipulation has previously been used for controlled spatial manipulation of live biological specimen in real-time. These biological experiments were carried out over a time-span of several hours while an operator intermittently optimized the optical system. Here we present GPC-based optical micromanipulation in a microfluidic system where trapping experiments are computer-automated and thereby capable of running with only limited supervision. The system is able to dynamically detect living yeast cells using a computer-interfaced CCD camera, and respond to this by instantly creating traps at positions of the spotted cells streaming at flow velocities that would be difficult for a human operator to handle. With the added ability to control flow rates, experiments were also carried out to confirm the theoretically predicted axially dependent lateral stiffness of GPC-based optical traps.


Re-engineering of transcriptional networks regulating secondary cell wall formation may allow the improvement of plant biomass in widely grown plantation crops such as Eucalyptus. However, there is currently a scarcity of freely available standardized biological parts (e.g., Phytobricks) compatible with Type IIS assembly approaches from forest trees, and there is a need to accelerate transcriptional network inference in nonmodel biomass crops. Here we describe the design and synthesis of a versatile three-panel biological parts collection of 221 secondary cell wall-related Eucalyptus grandis transcription factor coding sequences and 65 promoters that are compatible with GATEWAY, Golden Gate, MoClo, and GoldenBraid DNA assembly methods and generally conform to accepted Phytobrick syntaxes. This freely available resource is intended to accelerate synthetic biology applications in multiple plant biomass crops and enable reconstruction of secondary cell wall transcriptional networks using high-throughput assays such as DNA affinity purification sequencing (DAP-seq) and enhanced yeast one-hybrid (eY1H) screening.


Using three-dimensional seismic and well data from the northern North Sea, we describe a large (10 km 3 ) body of sand and interpret it as extrusive. To our knowledge, this is the world9s largest such sandbody. It would bury Manhattan, New York (60 km 2 ), under 160 m of sand, or the whole of London, UK (1579 km 2 ), under 6 m of sand. This sand vented to the seafloor, when it was more than 500 m deep, during the Pleistocene glacial period. The sandbody (1) covers an area of more than 260 km 2 , (2) is up to 125 m thick, (3) fills low areas around mounds, which formed when underlying sand injectites lifted the overburden, (4) wedges out, away from a central thick zone, (5) is locally absent along irregular ditches, 20 km long and up to 50 m deep, which overlie feeders on the flanks of the mounds, and (6) consists of fine-grained to medium-grained, sub-rounded to rounded grains. We compare the distribution of the sand with the results of scaled physical experiments. In our interpretation, high fluid pressure fractured the regional Hordaland Group seal in the study area, so that fluidized sand moved rapidly to the seafloor through fissures on the flanks of underlying mounds, mixed with seawater, and formed lateral gravity currents. These transported the sand as much as 8 km away from the blow-out fissures and formed extruded sand sheets. Large extrusive sands represent a new type of economically interesting reservoir.


ABSTRACT Background Tuberculosis (TB) and HIV are major public health problems in Botswana. In the face of growing TB notification rates, a low cure rate, human resource constraints and poor accessibility to health facilities, Botswana Ministry of Health decided to offer home-based directly observed treatment (DOT) using community volunteers. Objectives The aim of this study was to assess the outcomes of home-based directly observed treatment (HB-DOT) versus facility-based, directly observed treatment (FB-DOT) in the Kweneng West subdistrict in Botswana and to explore the acceptability of HB-DOT among TB patients, community volunteers and health workers. Method A quantitative, observational study using routinely collected TB data from 405 TB patients was conducted and combined with 20 qualitative in-depth interviews. Results The overall cure rate for smear-positive pulmonary TB patients was 78.5%. Treatment outcomes were not statistically different between FB-DOT and HB-DOT. Contact tracing was significantly better in FB-DOT patients. Interviews revealed advantages and disadvantages for both FB and HB options and that flexibility in the choice or mix of options was important. A number of suggestions were made by the interviewees to improve the HB-DOT programme. Conclusion HB-DOT is at least as good as FB-DOT in terms of the treatment outcomes, but attention must be given to contact tracing. HB-DOT offers some patients the flexibility they need to adhere to TB treatment and community volunteers may be strengthened by ongoing training and support from health workers, financial incentives and provision of basic equipment.


Shark nets have been set off the beaches of KwaZulu–Natal, South Africa, since 1952 to reduce the risk of shark attack. The nets fish in fixed localities 400 m from shore and both directly affect local shark populations and act as fisheries-independent monitoring devices. Reliable catch information at the species level was available for the period 1978–2003. Trends in catch rate and size were used to assess the population status of 14 commonly caught shark species. In addition, a demographic modelling approach was used in conjunction with the catch information to assess the potential effect of the nets on populations. Catch rates of four species (Carcharhinus leucas, C. limbatus, Sphyrna lewini and S. mokarran) showed a significant decline, as did the mean or median length of three species (Carcharhinus amboinensis, C. limbatus and female Carcharodon carcharias). For three species that showed declining catch rates or length the potential effect of the shark nets was assessed to be low, suggesting that other sources of catch were responsible for the declining status. The potential effect of the shark nets was assessed to be high for two species (Carcharhinus obscurus and Carcharias taurus, neither of which showed declines in catch rate or length), because of very low intrinsic rates of population increase.


Edible Alchemy is part of the multi disciplinary cultural project 'The Resilients' funded by the EU Culture Programme. The Resilients imagine possible futures and prototype them as artistic experiments in living and working environments. In 2011 a group of creative practitioners started the Resilients project to collect, create, share and support resilient creative practices that we believe are needed to thrive in uncertain, turbulent times. Each EU partner developed a series of events recorded on the Resilients website and online handbook. The project led by Carole Collet at Central Saint Martins explored the materiality of resilience with artist collaborator Bart Vandeput. Edible Alchemy explores the narrative of two traditional plants exploited in Europe, flax and aronia, to develop a design case study. The objective was to embed principles of resilience in the design process, and to explore how we can continuously adapt and reinvent the use of a given material over time. In a context where natural resources are increasingly becoming scarce and valuable due to over exploitation of soil and increasing world population, the ultimate aim is to demonstrate how we can reinvent the purpose of a material to adapt it to a new context or function. The final Edible Alchemy Aperolab staged a 'table landscape' where everything was made of either flax (linen) or aronia. Whilst visitors were invited to make edible photovoltaic tapas, an extreme adaptation of the use of aronia (based on a recipe developed by Bart Vandeput), Collet presented a collection of tableware made from novel linen composite. Such composites had been used in the industrial sector but had never to this date been developed for tableware. Guest exhibition designer Kieren Jones also produced the tables made from flax boards.

The project was subsequently invited to be presented at the STRP festival in The Netherlands. It was also showcased in 'Hotel Resilients' in Brussels with the Resilients partners.

The Resilient EU partners were: FoAM, Belgium; Central Saint Martins, UK; Nadine, Belgium; Performing Pictures, Sweden; Projekt ATOL, Slovenia; and Time's Up, Austria.