Since gas porosity is a major casting problem, it is of greatest importance to increase the knowledge about the foundry process in order to minimise the presence of gas porosity and thereby improving the casting quality. Gas porosity is generally considered to originate from gases precipitated during solidification of iron and from entrained gas picked up by the metal during the mould filling. Entrained gas can arise from air present in the mould cavity prior to casting, from steam produced by water in the green sand, from gases produced by metal-mould-core reactions, and from gases produced by the decomposition of coatings, binders, or sand additives in mould and cores. In the present project the levels of gas (hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen) in molten iron and how the concentrations are affected by the melting process and the mould filling have been investigated. In addition, it was examined how the gas evolution rate and gas volume vary for different mould and core materials.

It is concluded that the hydrogen concentration and the total amount of nitrogen and oxygen are mainly affected by the melting method. The hydrogen concentration is also sensitive to the dwell-time in ladles and furnaces and at least indirectly affected by temperature. The total amount of oxygen is insignificantly affected by temperature, while the dissolved amount of oxygen shows a strong relationship with temperature. The concentration of all three gases in the molten iron was found to be below the solubility limit, but the investigation revealed that hydrogen and nitrogen gas are absorbed during mould filling and in some cases raised to levels close to the maximal solubility concentration. It has been shown that the absorption of hydrogen and nitrogen during mould filling is favoured by turbulent mould filling, low permeability, and larger gas evolution from the mould and cores. Green sand evolves much more gas than chemical bonded sand, and the organic binders produce more gas than the inorganic binders. A large amount of the gas comes from the sand, and the type of sand affects the gas evolution. It has also been found that additives, coatings, iron temperature, and core geometry can affect both gas evolution rate and gas volume.


This paper utilizes the dynastic cycle framework proposed in (K. Saeed & Pavlov, 2008) to explain the role of dissent in universities. By combining the dissent expression framework (Kassing, 2011) and the dynastic cycle structure, we construct a generic model for dissent in organizations. The work is rooted in the literature of organizational communication, research and development, and higher education management. Using system dynamics methodology, we illustrate the dynamic interaction of composition, climate, and performance to simulate and explain how organizations evolve with regard to dissent. This model provides a platform for experimentation with different policy scenarios focusing on growth and productivity. The research suggests that as universities attempt to improve their performance through growth, despite initial short-term performance improvements, they are likely to devolve into low performance institutions with degraded management responsiveness and organizational productivity. Regardless of having high dissent tolerance, they could become dominated by high control and silence climates. When organizations invest in cultivating a dissent aware climate, and strive to improve their dissent processing capability, we suggest that the university and its members will be more productive and engaged.


In this article, I address two topics that are relevant to family pedagogy: sexual orientation and self-disclosure. I use my teaching experience to demonstrate how content and strategy--in this case, sexual orientation and self-disclosure--can be combined to teach students something important about themselves and about families. By including lesbian, gay, and bisexual perspectives in the classroom in general, and my own experience in particular, I advance my pedagogical aim of teaching more accurate knowledge about families. I illustrate my observations about disclosing sexual orientation with my experience as a teacher and a lesbian, discuss heterosexism and heterosexual privilege in family studies, share an entry from my teaching diary, and propose recommendations for instructors to use in making their teaching about families more inclusive of sexual orientation. In short, I examine how sexual orientation and self-disclosure are valuable components of impassioned teaching. I undertake this objective to incorporate more accurate knowledge about families with an awareness of potential controversy and risk. As an out lesbian, I relinquish the safety that the assumption of heterosexuality confers on people who do not disclose their sexual orientation (Freedman, 1990). People who are heterosexual are not presumed to have a sexual orientation. Although being a lesbian in the classroom when most students and colleagues are heterosexual makes me "other" in relation to them, being out also gives me some control over defining what sexual orientation means to me. Coming out enriches the subject matter of family studies, provides students with a positive frame of reference for authenticity, and exemplifies that one can have an academic career as an out gay person (Rothblum, 1993). By disclosing important aspects of my identity, I invite and model ways for students to understand their own experiences with social locations such as gender, race, class, and sexual orientation. Many students have said that our classroom is the first time they realized that they, too, had a sexual orientation. Students also learn to examine the privileges, opportunities, and oppressions that accompany their race, class, gender, age, sexual orientation, and physical ability, and gain understanding and respect for others with diverse experiences. SEXUAL ORIENTATION AS PART OF A TEACHER'S IDENTITY In my classes on family theories, methods, and diversity, a major instructional aim is to help students unsettle essentialist categories of social location, and to assist them in understanding the ways in which these identities and structures are social products. As an action-oriented teacher, I want to empower students to not just learn facts but to transform their ways of thinking about and acting upon differences (Allen & Baber, 1992b; Fonow & Cook, 1991). I do so primarily through conversations about personal experiences. I bring my full self into the classroom. When appropriate, I augment the textual material I ask students to read with examples from my own life, inviting students' intellectual and emotional involvement in the course. I share my passionate engagement with family studies to encourage students to learn about subjects that have been marginalized and misrepresented. One of the many topics I share is that I identify myself as a lesbian. I have been heterosexual, and there are lesbians, gay men, heterosexual women, heterosexual men, and bisexual people in my classes. There are also students with identities that I do not have a language inclusive enough to describe. Although some believe that sexual orientation is a fixed identity, I view sexual orientation, like gender, race, class, and age, as fluid and socially constructed (Golden, 1987; Phelan, 1993; Rust, 1993). Sexual orientation, like personality or the self, is not a fixed, unchanging quality, but a multivariable dynamic process that includes sexual behavior, fantasies, and attraction, as well as emotional and social preference, lifestyle choice, and self-identification (Klein, 1990). …


Abstract:Geomycology is the study of the roles of fungi in geological processes. The biogeochemical importance of fungi is significant in several areas, including nutrient and element cycling, rock, mineral and metal transformations, bioweathering and mycogenic biomineral formation. Such processes can occur in aquatic and terrestrial habitats, but it is the terrestrial environment where fungi probably have the greatest geochemical influence. Of special significance are the mutualistic relationships with phototrophic organisms: lichens (algae, cyanobacteria) and mycorrhizas (plants). Central to many geomycological processes are transformations of metals and minerals, and fungi possess many properties that effect changes in metal speciation, toxicity and mobility, as well as mineral formation or mineral dissolution or deterioration. Some fungal transformations have potential applications in environmental biotechnology, e.g. metal and radionuclide leaching, recovery, detoxification and bioremediation, and in the production or deposition of biominerals or metallic elements with catalytic or other properties. Metal and mineral transformations may also result in adverse effects when these processes result in spoilage and destruction of natural and synthetic materials, rock and mineral-based building materials (e.g. concrete), biocorrosion of metals, alloys and related substances, and adverse effects on radionuclide speciation, mobility and containment.


PDDL2.1 was designed to push the envelope of what planning algorithms can do, and it has succeeded. It adds two important features: durative actions, which take time (and may have continuous effects); and objective functions for measuring the quality of plans. The concept of durative actions is flawed; and the treatment of their semantics reveals too strong an attachment to the way many contemporary planners work. Future PDDL innovators should focus on producing a clean semantics for additions to the language, and let planner implementers worry about coupling their algorithms to problems expressed in the latest version of the language.


Proponents of proportional electoral rules often argue that majority rule depresses turnout and may lower welfare due to the (cid:147)tyranny of the majority(cid:148) problem. The present paper studies the impact of electoral rules on turnout and social welfare. We analyze a model of instrumental voting where citizens have private information over their individual cost of voting and over the alternative they prefer. The electoral rule used to select the winning alternative is a combination of majority rule and proportional rule. Results show that the above arguments against majority rule do not hold in this set up. Social welfare and turnout increase with the weight that the electoral rule gives to majority rule when the electorate is expected to be split, and they are independent of the electoral rule employed when the expected size of the minority group tends to zero. However, more proportional rules can increase turnout within the minority group. This e⁄ect is stronger the smaller the minority group. We then conclude that majority rule fosters overall turnout and increases social welfare, whereas proportional rule fosters the participation of minorities. Because the majority ought to prevail over the minority, must the majority have all the votes, the minority none? Is it necessary that the minority should not even be


In this paper, certain iterative substructuring methods with Lagrange multipliers are considered for elliptic problems in three dimensions. The algorithms belong to the family of dual{ primal FETI methods which have recently been introduced and analyzed successfully for elliptic problems in the plane. The family of algorithms for three dimensions is extended and a full analysis is provided for the new algorithms. Particular attention is paid to nding algorithms with a small primal subspace since that subspace represents the only global part of the dual{primal preconditioner. It is shown that the condition numbers of several of the dual{primal FETI methods can be bounded polylogarithmically as a function of the dimension of the individual subregion problems and that the bounds are otherwise independent of the number of subdomains, the mesh size, and jumps in the coeÆcients. These results closely parallel those for other successful iterative substructuring methods of primal as well as dual type.


The micro-macro paradox has been revived. Despite broadly positive evaluations at the micro and meso-levels, recent literature has turned decidedly pessimistic with respect to the ability of foreign aid to foster economic growth. Policy implications, such as the complete cessation of aid to Africa, are being drawn on the basis of fragile evidence. This paper first assesses the aid-growth literature with a focus on recent contributions. The aid-growth literature is then framed, for the first time, in terms of the Rubin Causal Model, applied at the macroeconomic level. Our results show that aid has a positive and statistically significant causal effect on growth over the long run with point estimates at levels suggested by growth theory. We conclude that aid remains an important tool for enhancing the development prospects of poor nations.


Resiliently bound ballast (RBB) is a new engineered material being developed as an alternative or supplement to conventional ballast for use in transit, passenger, and freight railways to improve mechanical behavior and control the modulus and damping when recycled tire waste material is used. RBB is a stable mixture of standard ballast stone and tire-derived aggregate (TDA) bound together with a purpose-designed resilient epoxy binder. Initial laboratory tests were conducted on specimens 6 in. (151 mm) and 10 in. (254 mm) in diameter of two mixes of RBB. Tests were conducted on fully bound (cemented) samples of ballast, TDA, and epoxy as well as individual particles with TDA bound to the individual ballast particles with the resilient epoxy binder. The tests included static triaxial compression tests and dynamic cyclic triaxial tests. Static tests indicated that the addition of the TDA and epoxy resulted in an increase in cohesive strength. The dynamic tests indicated changes in modulus and damping depending on the mixture of rock, TDA, and epoxy. One proposed use of RBB is to affix the RBB to the bottom of concrete ties to modify the interaction between the tie and the ballast material and improve ballast durability and modify resilience and damping. Box tests were conducted on a section of concrete tie with and without RBB attached. The tie with a section of rail attached was vertically loaded with a sinusoidal load to model repetitive axle loading. Observations indicated that the box test that used a concrete tie without RBB produced more ballast breakage compared with the test that used a concrete tie with RBB; however, more abrasion between particles occurred with the RBB-bound tie.


In the Cancun Adaptation Framework (CAF), the parties to the United Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) agreed "that adaptation is a challenge faced by all Parties, and that enhanced action and international cooperation is urgently required to enable and support the implementation of adaptation actions aimed at reducing vulnerability and building resilience in developing country Parties […]." Furthermore, the conference of the parties (COP) requests the developed countries to provide developing countries with additional finance, technology, and capacity-building. This paper argues that this decision tends to oversimplify matters because it seems to differentiate responsibilities for climate change adaptation according to differences in the contribution to anthropogenic climate change only. However, the differentiation of responsibilities for climate change adaptation is more complex than it first appears to be.
To show why the differentiation of responsibilities for climate change adaptation is more complex, this paper analyzes the aspects of responsibility as a fourfold concept. Someone (i. the subject of responsibility) is always responsible for something (ii. the object of responsibility), answerable to some institution (iii.), and held accountable to a norm (iv.). The paper argues, first, that the appropriate object of responsibility in climate change adaptation is the burdens to be shared for effective and efficient adaptation. Second, for such adaptation to occur, however, subjects of responsibility should not only be developed countries. If appropriate competence and decision-structures are given in developing countries, these countries should also be deemed responsible for their own adaptation. Third, the paper shows that those vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change should decide on their own what adaptation measures they wish to take. Fourth, the argument of this paper suggests that ability-to-pay principles are the most appropriate norms by which to blame countries for failing their responsibilities in climate change adaptation.


Chromomycin A3 and mithramycin are tricyclic antitumor compounds of aureolic acid class of polyketides, which are structurally related. Both polyketides differ in their glycosylation profiles and substitutions of sugars in their functional groups. Genetic organizations for the biosynthetic gene clusters of both polyketides were studied through antibiotics and secondary metabolite analysis shell and compared the genes involved in their polyketide and post-polyketide biosynthesis steps. Mauve application was also used for further visualization. 3D models of KSα gene for both polyketides along with two structurally similar polyketides of two different classes were also predicted and analyzed. Superimpositions of each model with template showed very low root-mean-square deviation values of 0.399 A for chromomycin and chlortetracycline, 0.191 A for mithramycin and polyketomycin, and 0.395 A for chromomycin and mithramycin, respectively. Very low root-mean-square deviation values proved that there are high similarities between each query and template. It was also found that mithramycin and polyketomycin (tetracyclic quinone) have better superimposition hence more structural similarities as compared to mithramycin and chromomycin A3 and these discrepancies strongly suggest the horizontal transfer of aromatic polyketide biosynthesis genes of aureolic acid class. The current study will surely help in better classification of different classes of bacterial type II polyketides in future using KSα domains.


Nonshareholder constituency statutes permit directors to consider the effects of their decisions on a variety of nonshareholder interests, such as employees, customers, suppliers, and local communities. Although highly controversial within the corporate law academy, such statutes are on the books in well over half the states and are likely to remain so for the foreseeable future. Because the statutes offer surprisingly little guidance to directors faced with corporate decisions or to courts faced with reviewing those decisions, however, courts urgently need a coherent interpretation of the statutes. But coherence alone is not enough; courts must also be faithful to the legislative intent behind the statutes. Courts cannot ignore the statutes, wish them away, or fairly interpret them as having no meaning or impact. This article therefore proposes an interpretation of nonshareholder constituency statutes that is faithful to the apparent legislative intent while also maintaining continuity with well-established principles of director fiduciary duties. The proposed approach distinguishes between two basic categories of director decisions: (i) operational issues, such as plant closings; and (ii) structural decisions, such as takeovers. The latter pose a much more serious conflict of interest for directors than do the former and therefore demand closer scrutiny. Accordingly, while arguing that director decisions with respect to operational matters should be conducted under the business judgment rule, the article argues that director decisions in the structural setting should be reviewed under a variant of the conditional business judgment rule developed by the Delaware supreme court in Unocal Corp. v. Mesa Petroleum Co.


We describe a new species of the aetosaur Desmatosuchus, D. chamaensis, from the Upper
Triassic Snyder quarry, Petrified Forest Formation of the Chinle Group, Chama basin of north-central New Mexico. D. chamaensis is also present in the Bull Canyon Formation of east-central New Mexico. D. chamaensis is distinguished from the type and only other species of Desmatosuchus, D. haplocerus, by
the presence of long recurved spikes on the dorsal scutes as well as small recurved spikes that are pyramidal in cross-section on the lateral scutes. Desmatosuchus is now a more robust index fossil, as D. haplocerus ranges from Otischalkian to earliest Revueltian, whereas D. chamaensis is an index fossil of the Revueltian. The evolution of D. haplocerus into the more spinous D. chamaensis is most parsimoniously
interpreted as anagenetic.


The Affordable Care Act (ACA) established health insurance marketplaces where consumers can buy individual coverage. Leveraging novel credit card and bank account micro-data, we identify new enrollees in the California marketplace and measure their health spending and premium payments. Following enrollment, we observe dramatic spikes in individuals' health care consumption. We also document widespread attrition, with more than half of all new enrollees dropping coverage before the end of the plan year. Enrollees who drop out re-time health spending to the months of insurance coverage. This drop-out behavior generates a new type of adverse selection: insurers face high costs relative to the premiums collected when they enroll strategic consumers. We show that the pattern of attrition undermines market stability and can drive insurers to exit, even absent differences in enrollees' underlying health risks. Further, using data on plan price increases, we show that insurers largely shift the costs of attrition to non-drop-out enrollees, whose inertia generates low price sensitivity. Our results suggest that campaigns to improve use of social insurance may be more efficient when they jointly target take-up and attrition.


Water resource systems have been an important part of resources and environment related research at IIASA since its inception. As demands for water increase relative to supply, the intensity and efficiency of water resources management must be developed further. This in turn requires an increase in the degree of detail and sophistication of the analysis, including economic, social and environmental evaluation of water resources development alternatives aided by application of mathematical modeling techniques, to generate inputs for planning, design, and operational decisions.

During the year of 1978 it was decided that parallel to the continuation of demand studies, an attempt would be made to integrate the results of our studies on water demands with water supply considerations. This new task was named "Regional Water Management" (Task 1, Resources and Environment Area).

The paper is part of a collaborative study on water resources problems in Western Skane, Sweden, pursued by IIASA in collaboration with the Swedish National Environment Protection Board and the University of Lund. The present paper looks at the agricultural demand for irrigation water. Irrigation is relatively new in the Skane region but is on the increase, making estimation of potential needs important.


Abstract A population of 400 patients, comprising 637 luxated permanent teeth was studied prospectively with respect to the development of pulp necrosis after luxation injuries. The patients were treated for traumatic dental injuries over a period of 10 years. While initial treatment was provided according to established treatment guidelines by the attending oral surgeon at the emergency room, follow-up examination and treatment was provided by one oral surgeon. It appeared that pulp necrosis occurred soon after injury, within 3 months after concussion, within the 1st yr after subluxation and extrusion, and might be diagnosed up to 2 yr after lateral- and intrusive luxation. While many factors, when considered one at a time, were found to have a significant or nearly significant died on the development of pulp necrosis (i.e. type of injury, age of patient, stage of root development, degree of dislocation, reduction/repositioning procedure, type of fixation, restorations in place at the lime of injury), a multivariate regression analysis revealed that when the type of injury (diagnosis) and stage of root development were taken into account, the effect of other factors was no longer significant. The risk of pulp necrosis increased with the extent of injury, i.e. concussion and subluxation represented the least risk, followed in ascending order by extrusive-, lateral-, and intrusive luxation. Moreover, teeth with completed root formal ion demonstrated a greater risk of pulp necrosis than teeth with incomplete root formation. No treatment effect could be demonstrated. However, as treatment was performed according to established guidelines, which might introduce bias, it would appear justified to conduct randomized clinical studies in order to determine the value of different forms of treatment (e.g. reduction and fixation of luxated teeth) to improve the prognosis with respect to the development of pulp necrosis after injury. In conclusion, the major factors influencing development of pulp necrosis after luxation injuries appear to be the extent of the initial injury to the pulp and periodontium, as reflected by the type of luxation, and the repair potential of the injured tooth, as reflected by the stage of root development.


By lucky but adequate accident, "the Middle Ages" have become plural in English. The millennium that separates the defi nitive demise of the Western Roman Empire from the discovery of the New World and the Reformation can hardly be understood as one homogeneous period under any point of view – and certainly not if we look at mathematics education. The earliest phase, lasting until c. 750 CE, is known as "the Dark Ages" – both because surviving sources for this period are rare and because this rarity refl ects a very low intensity of literate culture. During the ensuing "Central Middle Ages" (c. 750–1050, the epoch of Charlemagne and the Ottonian emperors), attempts at statal centralization led not only to creation of the cathedral school system but also to corresponding developments of monastic learning. The High (c. 1050–1300) and Late (c. 1300–1500) Middle Ages are characterized by the rise of city culture, which led to the emergence of the university system as well as to the appearance of institutionalized lay education – connected to but not identical with the Renaissance current. In principle we should also distinguish between partially or fully separate types of education – that of the Latin school and university tradition and those of various kinds of practitioners. Among the latter, however, only the education of Late Medieval merchant youth is well documented in sources – for that of craftsmen we have very little evidence.


In a typical CBC exercise, respondents are shown combinations of product features at different prices and are asked for their choices. Often, the prices respondents imply that they are willing to pay to obtain these features are unrealistically high. The purpose of this research is to test, in a field experiment, whether questions and tasks performed before a CBC exercise affect respondents' price sensitivity.
Morwitz et al. (2008, and Ulkumen et al. 2009) demonstrated that the use of survey questions early in the survey, using narrow (i.e., many scale points for responding) vs. broad (i.e., few scale points for responding) response scales had an influence on how respondents reacted to subsequent questions. In particular, they showed that when respondents were asked questions about products, they used more dimensions when they were later asked to evaluate the product if they previously answered a long series of unrelated questions using narrow instead of broad scales. We attempted to replicate their effect and test if it would occur in a different setting. We also tested whether this effect would still occur if a shorter list of questions was used for the manipulation. We incorporated a short series of questions that used narrow or broad response scales prior to the CBC exercise. We then examined the impact of this manipulation on respondents' tradeoff decisions in the CBC task. Our results showed that the shortened manipulation did impact respondent price elasticity, but that the direction of the effect was different from what we had first predicted.
We also studied the impact of several other manipulations on respondents' tradeoff decisions. These included a Build-Your-Own (BYO) exercise, alone and in combination with a budgeting session, a Van Westendorp pricing exercise, and a simulation of point of sale price comparisons. The BYO exercise was effective in increasing respondent price elasticity.
In addition, we compared the traditional CBC experiment to an Adaptive CBC (ACBC) experiment. Our results showed that ACBC was surprisingly effective in reducing the price premiums respondents placed on product features.


Let H be a real Hilbert space and A : D(A) ⊂ H → H be an unbounded, linear, self-adjoint, and maximal monotone operator. The aim of this thesis is to solve u′(t) + Au(t) = 0, when A is linear but not bounded. The classical theory of differential linear systems cannot be applied here because the exponential formula exp(tA) does not make sense, since A is not continuous. Here we assume A is maximal monotone on a real Hilbert space, then we use the Yosida approximation to solve. Also, we provide many results on regularity of solutions. To illustrate the basic theory of the thesis, we propose to solve the heat equation in L(Ω). In order to do that, we use many important properties from Sobolev spaces, Green's formula and Lax-Milgram's theorem.


This paper focuses on the price of nails since 1695 and the proximate source of changes in those prices. Why nails? They are a basic manufactured product whose form and quality have changed relatively little over the last three centuries, yet the process for producing them has changed dramatically. Accordingly, nails provide a useful prism through which to examine a wide range of economic and technological developments that touch on multiple areas of both micro- and macroeconomics. Several conclusions emerge. First, from the late 1700s to the mid-twentieth century, real nail prices fell by a factor of about 10 relative to overall consumer prices. These declines had important effects on downstream industries, most notably construction. Second, while declining materials prices contribute to reductions in nail prices, the largest proximate source of the decline during this period was multifactor productivity growth in nail manufacturing, highlighting the role of the specialization of labor and reorganization of production processes. Third, the share of nails in GDP dropped back from 0.4 percent of GDP in 1810—comparable to today's share of household purchases of personal computers—to a de minimis share more recently; accordingly, nails played a bigger role in American life in that earlier period. Finally, real nail prices have increased since the mid-twentieth century, reflecting in part an upturn in materials prices and a shift toward specialty nails in the wake of import competition, though the introduction of nail guns partly offset these increases for the price of installed nails.


ABSTRACT We investigated the distribution of the red algae assemblages along the depositional profile of the Attard carbonate ramp of Malta (Chattian). The Attard member is ascribed to the Lower Coralline Limestone Formation characterized by 4 members: Maghlaq, Attard, Xlendi and Il Mara. Coralline algae are present in the inner and middle ramp environments of the Attard member. Sporolithaceans and melobesioids dominate the inner ramp, while mastophoroids and peyssonneliaceans are subordinate. In the middle ramp the association of red algae is characterized by an increase of sporolithacenas and a decrease of melobesioids, mastophoroids and peyssonneliaceans. These assemblages are related to the depth gradient existing from the inner relatively shallow to the progressively deeper middle ramp. However, transportation of red algae down slope may have had an effect on the red algae associations. The shape, morphology and structure of rhodoliths in the inner ramp environment are indicative of high-energy conditions. Nevertheless localized sectors of inner ramp are characterized by morphologies typical of low energy probably related to the presence of areas colonized by seagrass. Rhodoliths from the middle ramp have characteristics of moderately highenergy. The presence of Sporolithon Heydrich and Lithoporelk (Foslie) Foslie indicates that the production of carbonate took place under tropical conditions. We suggest that the Mg/Ca ratios may had a control on the flourishing of coralline algae in the Oligocene carbonate factories situated in oligo- to mesotrophic conditions, whereas during Early to Middle Miocene times the trophic conditions were one of the main controlling factor.


This paper presents a novel hierarchical divided bit-line approach for reducing active power in SRAMs by reducing bit-line capacitance. Two or more 6T SRAM cells are combined together to divide the bit-line into several sub bit-lines. These sub bit-lines are again combined to form two or more levels of hierarchy. This division of bit-line into hierarchical sub bit-lines results in reduction of bit-line capacitance, which reduces active power and access time. Optimum values for number of levels of hierarchy and number of blocks combined at each level have been derived. Experimental results show that the observed parameters and estimated ones follow the same trend. It is shown that the reduction in bit-line capacitance reduces active power consumption by 50-60% and the access time by about 20% at the expense of approximately 5% increase in the number of transistors. This approach is further extended by incorporating the controlled voltage swing on bit-lines. This extension reduces the power consumption by another 20-30%.


The behavior of the solution to a two-layer wind-driven model in a multiply connected domain with bottom topography imitating the Southern Ocean is described. The abyssal layer of the model is forced by interfacial friction, crudely simulating the effect of eddies. The analysis of the low friction regime is based on the method of characteristics. It is found that characteristics in the upper layer are closed around Antarctica, while those in the lower layer are blocked by solid boundaries. The momentum input from wind in the upper layer is balanced by lateral and interfacial friction and by interfacial pressure drag. In the lower layer the momentum input from interfacial friction and interfacial pressure drag is balanced by topographic pressure drag. Thus, the total momentum input by the wind is balanced by upper-layer lateral friction and by topographic pressure drag. In most of the numerical experiments the circulations in the two layers appear to be decoupled. The decoupling can be explained by the JEBAR term, whose magnitude decreases as interfacial friction increases. The solution tends toward the barotropic one if the interfacial friction is large enough to render the JEBAR term to be no larger than the wind stress curl term in the potential vorticity equation. The change of regimes occurs when the value of the interfacial friction coefficient k equals k0 5 H1f0(Ly/Lx)(A/H0), where f0 is the mean value of the Coriolis parameter; Ly and Lx are the meridional and zonal domain dimensions; H0 and H1 are the mean depths of the ocean and of the upper layer; and A is the amplitude of topographic perturbations. Note that k0 does not depend on the strength of the wind stress. The magnitude of the total transport is found to depend crucially on the efficiency of the momentum transfer from the upper to the lower layer, that is, on the ratio k/«, where « is the lateral friction coefficient. If « and k are assumed to be proportional, the upper-layer transport and total transport vary as «25/6.


Summary
1.
The value of the dextrose tolerance test in various pathological conditions is briefly described.
2.
Abnormal carbohydrate metabolism in leprosy has been reported in literature.
3.
In the United States National Leprosarium, glycosuria is common among the inmates. Of the 327 cases repeatedly examined, 95 or 29 per cent have exhibited in one or more instances traces of sugar in the morning fasting urine.
4.
The method of the present investigation is briefly outlined.
5.
Excluding a diabetic case, 59 lepers with one normal control were subjected to the dextrose test, and data were carefully analyzed. In regard to race, sex, age, types of leprosy, duration and stages of the disease, they represented a fairly good cross section of the Colony.
6.
The average blood pressure in this group was 121.5 mm. systolic, and 82 mm. diastolic.
7.
The mean basal metabolic rate was +2.7.
8.
In the 59 cases, leprosy was complicated in 4 by nephritis, and in 2 by hyperthyroidism.
9.
The fasting blood sugar values of the 59 cases varied from 62 to 124 mgm. per 100 cc. of blood, averaging 88.5 mgm.
10.
By single examinations (Benedict), 10 or 17 per cent of the 59 patients presented a mild glycosuria in their morning fasting specimens.
11.
Following the ingestion of 100 grams of dextrose, the average blood sugar values were 137 mgm. per cent after thirty minutes, 129 mgm. after one hour, 111 mgm. after two hours, and 96 mgm. after three hours. The composite blood sugar curve made of these figures was considered normal.
12.
During the test, 34 or 58 per cent of the 59 patients showed glycosuria in single or multiple instances.
13.
Applying the rather rigid criteria of Wayson and his associates to our series of 59 cases, we found that 36 or 61 per cent exhibited one or more abnormalities chiefly in the high incidence of glycosuria (58 per cent), and to a less extent in the high blood sugar findings (27 per cent).
14.
In addition to the relatively high blood sugar curves in 27 per cent of the cases, it should be noted that on the other hand, 11 or 19 per cent of the 59 tests gave low, flat curves.
15.
The renal threshold of most of our cases was low.


The large system analysis of randomly spread MIMO DS-CDMA systems is provided. Correlated Rayleigh fading MIMO channels are assumed for all users. Linear multiuser detection with separate decoding and pilot-aided channel estimation are used. The results imply that with channel estimation, the performance can improve significantly as the correlation between the transmit antennas increases. No channel information at the transmitter is required, but the channel estimator needs knowlegde of the long term transmit correlation in advance. The numerical results demonstrate that in a 4 × 4 MIMO DS-CDMA system with two users per chip, high antenna correlation at the transmitter can double the ergodic spectral efficiency compared to the case of uncorrelated transmit antennas.


The History of the Kings of Britain is arguably the most influential text written in England in the Middle Ages. The work narrates a linear history of pre-Saxon Britain, from its founding by Trojan exiles to the loss of native British (Celtic) sovereignty in the face of Germanic invaders. Along the way, Geoffrey introduces readers to such familiar figures as King Lear, Cymbeline, Vortigern, the prophet Merlin, and a host of others. Most importantly, he provides the first birth-to-death account of the life of King Arthur. His focus on that king's reign sparked the vogue for Arthurian romance throughout medieval Europe that has continued into the twenty-first century. This new translation is the first in over forty years and the first to be based on the Bern manuscript, now considered the authoritative Latin text. It is accompanied by an introduction that highlights the significance of Geoffrey's work in his own day and focuses in particular on the ambiguous status of the text between history and fiction. Appendices include historical sources, early responses to the History, and other medieval writings on King Arthur and Merlin.


Shakespeare Survey is a yearbook of Shakespeare studies and productions. Since 1948, the Survey has published the best international scholarship in English and many of its essays have become classics of Shakespeare criticism. Each volume is devoted to a theme, or play, or group of plays; each also contains a section of reviews of that year's textual and critical studies and of the year's major British performances. The theme for Volume 67 is 'Shakespeare's Collaborative Work'. The complete set of Survey volumes is also available online at http://www.cambridge.org/online/shakespearesurvey. This fully searchable resource enables users to browse by author, essay and volume, search by play, theme and topic, and save and bookmark their results.... Download ebook, read file pdf Shakespeare Survey: Volume 67, Shakespeare's Collaborative Work


A new test data reduction technique called accumulator compression testng (ACT) is proposed. ACT is an extension of syndrome testing. It is shown that the enumeration of errors missed by ACT for a unit under test is equivalent to the number of restricted partitions of a number. Asymptotic results are obtained for independent and dependent error modes. Comparison is made between signature analysis (SA) and ACT. Theoretical results indicate that with ACT a better control over fault coverage can be obtained than with SA. Experimental results are supportive of this indication. Built-in self test for processor environments may be feasible with ACT. However, for general VLSI circuits the complexity of ACT may be a problem as an adder is necessary.


Probiotics are considered as living drugs that can reduce antibiotic consumption and increase human health development. Meanwhile, probiotics can adjust intestinal microflora, inhibiting the growth of pathogenic bacteria, antimicrobial agents, stimulate the immune system, balance of bile acids and ultimately inhibit the growth and reduce the number of harmful bacteria in the digestive system. Drug resistance in human pathogenic bacteria causes problems in the treatment of these diseases. In addition, wide distribution and prevalence of antibiotic resistance in pathogenic microbes has decreased the value of antibiotics. Drug resistance may develop in patients who are treated with long-term antibacterial therapy or may develop in the environment through the exposure of the bacteria to the bactericide used. In the current review, we aimed to delineate the associated problems of antibiotic resistance, the relationship between antibiotic consumption and low diversity of microbiome, the effect of antibiotics on Metagenics, the impact of probiotics as living therapeutic agents on epigenetic alterations and intestinal microbiome.


Democratic citizens confront a range of problems framed as "security" issues, in policy areas such as counterterrorism and migration control, which place substantial political pressure on democratic norms. We develop a normative theoretical framework for assessing whether and how policies that curtail democratic governance standards in the name of security can be justified as politically legitimate. To do so, we articulate a novel normative account of legitimacy, which integrates insights from both democratic and realist traditions of thought to illuminate the complementary contributions of democratic and security standards to political legitimacy. We further elaborate a framework for applying this theoretical account to political practice in the form of a policy-focused "security test" for legitimacy in democratic states. Finally, we explore how this test may be deployed to help resolve policy dilemmas in democratic practice, by examining its application to a case study of national policy on irregular boat arrivals in Australia and Canada. Through this analysis, we contribute to the development of both richer theoretical understandings of the complex modern value of political legitimacy, and clearer action-guiding principles for balancing competing demands of legitimacy within securitized democratic policy regimes.


Software Defined Network (SDN) is an emerging networking paradigm that has gained enormous attention from the industries as well as the research community. SDN decouples data plane and control plane. The direct programmability of the control plane allows us to develop routing algorithms, which can accommodate versatile requirements of diverse network applications. On another side, Quality-of-Service provisioning, traffic engineering, etc., require accurate traffic measurements because an up-to-date view of the network facilitates service providers to optimize network performance. Existing approaches of traffic measurements demand either additional resources or alteration to infrastructure. In this paper, we present a collection of lightweight mechanisms for obtaining real-time network information in SDN environment. In particular, our mechanisms aim to obtain per-flow and per-port traffic statistics, topology information, data transfer rate for each network link, etc. Since our approach exploits the built-in capabilities of OpenFlow protocol, it does not require any changes to the infrastructure. We also implemented our proposed mechanisms and developed Panorama, a graphical user interface for real-time presentation of the obtained information.


Research on video game usage has primarily focused on its violent content and how it predicts aggression in participants. Typically, most of these studies show that video games (VGs) cause individuals to become more aggressive and so VGs are theorized as a powerful medium for influencing behavior and cognition. Stereotypic presentations within media also influences behavior and cognition. Given that many VGs make use of stereotypes, particularly negative stereotypes related to gender, there is a need to investigate how VGs might reinforce and normalize the mistreatment of women in society. It was hypothesized that prior experience of playing violent video games (e.g., in person or online game play/messaging) might cause players of these games to accept the mistreatment of women. Specifically, participants were asked to rate how offensive they found screen shots of a series of sexist chat messages sent to female gamers to be. The analyses revealed that those who play violent video games, and scored high on benevolent sexism rated the sexist stimuli messages more amusing than others. In this study it was shown that high hostile sexists believed these messages to be amusing. It was also found that benevolent sexists also found the messages less amusing, a result consistent with prior research. Implications and future directions are also discussed. Degree Type Open Access Senior Honors Thesis Department Psychology First Advisor Rusty McIntyre Second Advisor Stephen D. Jefferson


By combining tissue engineering techniques with human-induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) technology, human-derived engineered cardiac tissues (ECTs) have been developed using several cell lineage compositions and 3-dimensional geometries. Although hiPSC ECTs are relatively immature compared with native adult heart tissues, they have promising potential as a platform technology for drug-screening and disease model- ing, and as grafts for hiPSC-based regenerative heart therapy. This chapter provides the focused overview of the current status of cardiac tissue engineering technology and its possible application.


Background: Hand and face transplantation has established itself as a clinical option for certain reconstructive problems. The purpose of this study was to carry out a rigorous statistical analysis of all hand and face transplantations to determine whether hand and/or face transplantation is the standard of care. Methods: Data from September of 1998 until March of 2014 on all hand and face transplantations in the world were obtained through publications, news articles, personal communications, and presentations. Data on solid organ transplantation were obtained from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients for comparison with the results of hand transplantation. Resampling and permutation statistical analysis was used to compare structured cohorts of hand, face, and solid organ transplantation. Results: Routine immunosuppression can achieve intermediate- to long-term graft survival in hand transplantation that is empirically superior to solid organ transplantation. Chronic rejection in hand transplantation is statistically significantly less than in solid organ transplantation. Renal failure in hand and face transplantation is empirically less than in solid organ transplantation. Bone marrow transplant with hand transplantation produces both statistically superior and statistically inferior results compared with hand transplantation without bone marrow. In hand transplantation, acute rejection does not seem to increase late allograft loss. The function of hand transplantation is statistically significantly superior to prosthesis yet inferior to hand replantation. Not all hand and face transplants have good results, yet those hand transplants completed within certain parameters obtain excellent results. Conclusions: Certain hand transplants arguably can be considered the standard of care. Face transplantation requires more time and patient numbers and a clearer definition of inclusion and exclusion criteria before standard of care assessment can be made.


Since 2005 Pitt Community College (PCC) has participated in Project IDEAL (Improving Distance Education for Adult Learners) which is a consortium of states working to develop effective and high-quality distance education programs for adult learners through joint research and practice. In the fall of 2012 to enhance Project IDEAL's programming PCC offered advanced ESL students an opportunity to enroll in SkillsTutor (ST) an online program of study by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. The initial assessment used for recruitment into the transition class was CASAS (Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment System). According to PCC ESL Coordinator Jan Fisher "Many of the advanced students are trying to transition from ESL to GED (General Education Development) …and there is a need for a transitional course to help these students cross that bridge so this year we offered SkillsTutor as an online class to our ESL students" (J. Fisher personal communication October 15 2012). To facilitate the transition from ESL to GED PCC also offered ESL students a choice between ST online-only and ST hybrid (online and 4 hour/week face-to-face class). The purpose of this research project was to determine the benefits of a face-to-face (F2F) support mathematics class for Project IDEAL PCC Advanced-level Adult ESL students enrolled ST and to answer the question: What is the potential for a F2F hybrid support mathematics class to benefit and facilitate learning for qualified students transitioning from ESL to GED? Answers came from researcher-generated questionnaires instructor observations and pre/post test results.


A variety of instruments have been developed to assess different dimensions of playing video games and its effects on cognitions, affect, and behaviors. The present study examined the psychometric properties of the Game Transfer Phenomena Scale (GTPS) that assesses nonvolitional phenomena experienced after playing video games (i.e., altered perceptions, automatic mental processes, and involuntary behaviors). A total of 1,736 gamers participated in an online survey used as the basis for the analysis. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed to confirm the factorial structure of the GTPS. The five-factor structure using the 20 indicators based on the analysis of gamers' self-reports fitted the data well. Population cross-validity was also achieved, and the positive associations between the session length and overall scores indicate the GTPS warranted criterion-related validity. Although the understanding of Game Transfer Phenomena is still in its infancy, the GTPS appears to be a valid and reliable instrument for assessing nonvolitional gaming-related phenomena. The GTPS can be used for understanding the phenomenology of post-effects of playing video games.


Deep learning with noisy labels is practically challenging, as the capacity of deep models is so high that they can totally memorize these noisy labels sooner or later during training. Nonetheless, recent studies on the memorization effects of deep neural networks show that they would first memorize training data of clean labels and then those of noisy labels. Therefore in this paper, we propose a new deep learning paradigm called Co-teaching for combating with noisy labels. Namely, we train two deep neural networks simultaneously, and let them teach each other given every mini-batch: firstly, each network feeds forward all data and selects some data of possibly clean labels; secondly, two networks communicate with each other what data in this mini-batch should be used for training; finally, each network back propagates the data selected by its peer network and updates itself. Empirical results on noisy versions of MNIST, CIFAR-10 and CIFAR-100 demonstrate that Co-teaching is much superior to the state-of-the-art methods in the robustness of trained deep models.


Many studies have been conducted to determine the conditions that contribute to the satisfactory outcome of decision-making processes in governance networks. In this article, we explore how the interaction of three such conditions – network complexity, network management, and stakeholder involvement – results in stakeholder satisfaction. We use fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis – a relatively new approach in public administration research – to systematically compare the decision-making processes and outcomes of 14 Dutch spatial planning projects. Our analysis points to three combinations that result in stakeholder satisfaction: network complexity combined with adaptive management; stakeholder involvement combined with adaptive management; and low complexity combined with both limited stakeholder involvement and closed network management.


Hydrated Magnesia has very poor cementitious properties in comparison with hydrated OPC, thus its use as a hydraulic binder compound as an OPC replacement material is not possible. Hydrated Magnesia possesses no or very low axial compressive properties, revealing its poor cementitious features. Magnesia in OPC is highly deleterious, as volumetric expansion takes place whilst Brucite transforms into Nesquehonite, and due to the facts that Magnesia possesses very little or no cementitious properties. Brucite can be easily synthesised with confidence in wet cure. Although it possesses very little binding properties, the observed compressive resistance at 3MPa is below the required 7MPa as a minimum to be considered as a binder compound. Whilst Brucite carbonates in the presence of moisture and CO2, cracks and fissures are developed in a self-induced expansion, which contributes to deterioration of the solid. Magnesium Silicate Hydrates have very little binding properties, thus they cannot be utilised as cementitious materials. Whilst MSH pastes develop a very low density porous structure, they significantly shrink, which also prohibits their use in applications where OPC excels. Reliance on Nesquehonite as a binder compound is not possible, due to the low levels of carbonation taking place. Magnesia on its own or in the presence of silicates in a hydrated or carbonated form is not a substance that can replace OPC on any levels in the absence of additives. However, it has been established that hydrated Magnesia in the presence of sulphates form a considerably strong cementitious media, which possesses similar characteristics to OPC in many aspects, with lower porosity, lower density and aesthetic features that may well be utilised in the construction sector as an OPC replacement product. The material blend for this can be produced at roughly 25% of heat and energy input required in comparison to OPC, considering raw material extraction and treatment using the dry method in a modern rotary kiln. This also means that the CO2 emissions produced in the manufacturing process is also reduced in line with the stated reduction. Both the hydration and carbonation processes of Magnesia and its by-products produce high heat levels, in chemical processes that drive off moisture contents in dry cure leaving behind a very porous structure. It has been observed that the rate of hydration of MgO is relatively fast, and that carbonation takes place to a limited extent only. Carbonation is limited in the wet phase, whilst prolonged carbonation in the solidified stage leads to micro-structural volumetric expansion taking place, which in turn leads to the deterioration of the solidified paste in time. Since the expected rate of carbonation is very low, it is safe to say that Nesquehonite as a binding compound is unreliably ii
synthesised, thus its use a binder material is restricted. It has been observed that MSH pastes develop an inconsistent structure, with large pores around the forming individual crystals. With the introduction of sulphates, the alkaline solution changes the role of water from reagent to median agent, since it appears that is no longer water causing the cure, but sulphates in some sort of alkali-sulphate reaction, where water contents are also locked away by the forming gel, making this a semi-hydraulic chemical reaction. From the DMA pictures it is clearly visible that MgO in hydration develops a very porous macro-structure. The SEM pictures highlight the inconsistency of the developing solid on a micro-structural level. Both the DMA and SEM pictures underpin the discussed physical properties, and provides suggestions on the reasons for the observed performance levels.
It is interesting to find that many claims unveiled in the literature review have no credibility at all, in particular to those claiming Magnesia can be used as an OPC replacement product in a manner similar to OPC is used. Magnesia cannot be used as a hydraulic binder compound on its own nor with silica additives, however, it may be a very promising alternative to OPC if used with sulphates as additives. The properties of the produced concrete and paste as a result is comparable and similar in many aspects to the OPC equivalent, hence it's potential on the mass markets as OPC replacement.
Magnesia based cement alternatives can provide a sustainable alternative to OPC.


Wind Turbines are rapidly becoming an economically viable source of renewable energy. Wind turbine reliability is a critical factor in the success of wind energy. In order to further improve the reliability of wind turbines, the designers have to better the mechanical, electric and electronic components. As recent wind turbines become larger, more complex and more flexible, advanced electronics become necessary to meet multiple objectives. In wind turbines, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) management has therefore emerged as a critical means of improving the reliability and operating life of the electronic equipment. It requires new methods and careful designs to ensure the reliable operation and excellent performance of the wind turbine. In the world, EMC Directives that regulate the electromagnetic compatibility of wind turbines like all equipment, give more responsibility to both manufacturers of wind turbine and operators in wind farms. In this paper, EMC assessments for a wind turbine are reviewed and discussed. Keywords— Wind turbine, electromagnetic compatibility, EMC directives


Summary

1
Abandoned agricultural (AA) fields are often invaded by exotic plants. This observation has been difficult to explain because agricultural practices change nearly every aspect of an ecosystem. Restoring native plants to AA fields is likely to require a prioritized understanding of the many mechanisms through which agriculture encourages exotic and discourages native plant growth.

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Using 660 experimental plots in three sites in Methow Valley, Washington, USA, we determined the relative role of neighbour removal, propagule addition, plant–soil feedback, soil disturbance and fungal restriction to explain why exotics cover 38% of the ground in AA fields and 3% of the ground in non-agricultural (NA) fields.

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After three growing seasons, neighbour removal improved exotic growth from 3% to 11% cover in NA fields but had no effect in AA fields. Propagule addition did not increase exotic growth above natural recruitment. Differences in soil history, a proxy for plant–soil feedback, explained an increase in exotic growth from 9% in NA fields to 39% in AA fields. Soil disturbance improved exotic growth from 9% to 16% cover in NA fields but had no effect in AA fields. Fungicide reduced exotic growth from 39% to 28% cover in AA soils but had no effect on exotic growth in NA soils. Native plant growth never differed by more than 5% cover among treatments.

4
Soil carbon, nitrogen (organic, inorganic and mineralization), phosphorus concentrations and fungal biomass were better associated with plant type (exotic or native) than agricultural history, suggesting that exotics facilitated their own growth by maintaining small beneficial fungal populations and fast nutrient cycling rates.

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Synthesis and application. Soil history was more important than neighbour removal in determining exotic and native plant distributions. Where exotics rely on plant–soil feedback or legacies of agricultural disturbance, native plant restoration may require soil-based management. In these cases, changing mycorrhizal fungal abundance, increasing soil pathogen loading and slowing nutrient cycling rates may help restore native plants to invaded fields.


The ACASIA process accounted for the way combinatory creativity unfolds and the ensuing Creative Sigmoid explained the accumulation of creations, both being nourished or impeded by a host of factors, most importantly, having access to the largest possible diversity in the information universe. How much of that information universe is available to the creator or audience is a matter of openness of perception and the level of tolerance to deviation. The current chapter discusses the relation between perception and creation: After all, all creators start out as creators of fiction because, previous to execution, their vision lingers in imagination. Creators deliberately seek to make fiction to expand the problem space and increase the opportunities for finding alternative solutions at the cost of 'truth telling.' Additionally, the creator is the first perceiver of his or her work while the audience serves as co-creator in delivering their interpretations. Epistemics of the Virtual is a theory explaining how a perceiver deals with fiction and the attribution of truth. It also shows how a perceiver becomes a creator once the understanding of novel comparisons turns into making novel combinations. Taken in unison, the output of ACASIA contributes to the development of the Creative Sigmoid, which in turn is inputted to Epistemics of the Virtual again, and so the cycle continues.


The six independent institutions established under Chapter 9 of the South African Constitution have been heavily criticised recently. One of the reasons that they are vulnerable to criticism is a lack of understanding of their role, both on the part of members of the institutions and the public. This article argues that they share two distinct roles: To provide a check on government and to contribute to the transformation of South African society. In fulfilling the checking role, they differ from the three branches of government as they have no power to block government action. Their effectiveness lies in their ability to provide an authoritative account of government action and to cooperate with government in the correction of problems. Their position as an intermediary between the public and government ensures that they can contribute to enhancing government accountability in ways that complement the role of the courts and Parliament. The explicit mandates of transformation and mobilization make the transformation role of the HRC, CGE and CRL Commission very clear. But, in different ways, the other three institutions, can also act proactively.  Finally the article argues that, despite mandates that overlap to some extent, the six institutions complement each other.  Their greatest challenges are the newness of democracy in South Africa, the immensity of the demands which the state is expected to meet and the political dominance of the governing party. Each of these factors puts pressure on the chapter 9 institutions and on democracy in South Africa.


Vertical partitioning is an effective way of improving performance in the database systems where a significant percentage of query processing time is spent on the full scans of relational tables. Vertical partitioning provides even more compelling performance gains when it is combined with the controlled replication of data in the environments where the processing of queries dominates the data manipulations. This paper proposes a new algorithm that finds a suboptimal vertical partitioning of relational tables under a constraint that certain level of redundancies is acceptable in a database. The algorithm is based on a new cost model, which precisely estimates I/O throughput as the total number of physical read/write database operations required to implement a given workload. The solution described in the paper transforms a schema of relational database into a partitioned one and decides which components of the original schema should be replicated as the separate partitions. The experiments conducted in this research and reported in the paper confirm the correctness of the cost model used by the vertical partitioning algorithm and demonstrate the expected performance gains from the partitioning.


The effect of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) inhibition on anaerobic treatment of synthetic wastewater was investigated using a UASB reactor. Sodium molybdate (Na2MoO4) was added, in order to inhibit H2S production. The COD influent was set around 5000 mg/l with HRT (hydraulic retention time) 0.5day. The COD removal, H2S concentration, methane yield and sulfate removal were investigated. The experimental results show that H2S was lower than 20 ppm, while the control of UASB reactor was demonstrated in the range of 900-1000, 3500-4200 and 5200-7800 ppm at a COD/SO4 ratio of 50, 20 and 15 respectively. However, the COD removal was over than 87.6% and methane yield was 50.5-63.7%. Sulfate removal in control was shown between 71.2-79.3% during reactor with added Na2MoO4 was lower than 24.44%. KeywordsUpflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB), Hydrogen sulfide, Sodium molybdate


Research has shown that students' interest in academics declines significantly with age, especially in the areas of math and science (Kahle et al., 1993; Wigfield, 1994; Wigfield & Eccles, 1992). One approach to combating this problem is by using new technologies to engage students who otherwise would not be interested in learning. In the AquaMOOSE project, 3D graphical technology is combined with a constructionist learning philosophy to create an environment where students can creatively explore new mathematical concepts.
The AquaMOOSE socio-technical system has been developed using an iterative design process. Three formal studies were conducted to assess the effectiveness of the system, as well as several smaller scale evaluations. The first study was conducted during a six-week summer program where students were able to use the AquaMOOSE system during their free time. The second study explored different learning issues in the context of a comparison-class study at a local high school where one section learned about polar coordinates using standard curriculum materials and an equivalent section learned the same material using a curriculum designed specifically around the AquaMOOSE system. The final study of the AquaMOOSE system was in an eight-week after-school program at a local high school where a balance between structure and creative freedom was explored.
In this thesis, the iterative design and evaluation of the AquaMOOSE socio-technical system is presented. Evidence from this process is used to suggest implications of using 3D technology and constructionist philosophy for teaching complex mathematical content. The findings presented address issues of using constructionist learning environments for complex content and the tradeoffs of using 3D technology for educational systems.


Using a human-capital perspective and the similarity-attraction paradigm, we examine the role of general and specific human capital in the decision policies of 114 Swedish loan officers in their assessments of small-business loan requests. We found that human capital characteristics had marginal impact on decision policy contingencies and that specific human capital had no significant influence on the probability of loan approval. However, we did find that the similarity between the loan officers' human capital and the applicants' human capital was a significant indicator of loan approval. The findings offer interesting insight into the heterogeneity of loan decision processes and outcomes and future research opportunities are suggested.


Objective: To investigate the stride pattern of different age groups of veteran runners in a marathon road race. Methods: This kinematic study investigated the stride pattern (stride length, stride period, velocity, stance time, and non-stance time) for 151 runners (78 men aged up to 75–80, 73 women aged up to 60–64) at the 7 mile point. Results: Significant declines for men with aging were found for mean stride length (from 2.4 m at age 40–49 to 2.0 m at age 60+), velocity, and non-stance time (p<0.05), whereas stride period changed little. The findings indicate that the lower velocities of older runners are associated with shorter strides whereas cadence changes little. However, when a statistical adjustment was made for the variation in runners' velocity, it was found that older runners did not have a significantly shorter stride length at any given velocity. Conclusion: Although a shorter stride is the mechanical route by which older runners lose velocity, the shorter stride may not be the fundamental cause of the velocity reduction with age. This has implications for researchers and coaches when investigating and training veteran distance runners.


Prior research investigating the relationships between immigrants' linguistic abilities in the target language of the host country and their settlement experiences has done so largely from the perspective of language proficiency. Instead of language proficiency per se, we investigated this relationship from the perspective of a competency-based measure. The Certificate in Spoken and Written English (CSWE) is one such competency-based measure currently used in the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) in Australia. We conducted an investigation to explore the strength of the relationships between CSWE level, employment and immigrant background (as socio-biographical information). Data were collected from 46 newly arrived adult immigrants enrolled in the AMEP over a 16-month period. The findings indicated that the use of a competency-based curriculum facilitated immigrants' attainment of employment but only when they first arrived in Australia. Over time the outcomes of a competency-based curriculum became less relevant to immigrant employability. At the later stages of residency, socio-biographical factors, such as immigrants' home country and educational experience, became strongly related to their ability to attain a job with little or no effect of competency-based curriculum.


Endothelial permeability has been extensively investigated in the context of pathologies such as cancer and also in studies of drug delivery from the circulation. Hypoxia is a critical regulator of endothelial cell (EC) behavior and affects the barrier function of endothelial linings, yet its role has been little studied. This paper reveals the effect of hypoxia on the permeability of an EC monolayer by cellular experiments using a microfluidic device and a conventional cell culture dish. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were seeded into one microfluidic channel, creating an EC monolayer on each vertical surface of a collagen gel confined to a central chamber. Oxygen tension was regulated to produce normoxic (21% O2) or hypoxic (3% O2) conditions by the supply of gas mixtures of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen at predefined ratios into channels fabricated into the device. Permeability of the EC monolayer quantified by analyzing diffusion of fluorescence-labelled dextrans into the collagen gel increases with barrier function loss by 6 hour hypoxic exposure, showing 11-fold and 4-fold increases for 70 kDa and 10 kDa dextrans, respectively, on average. Consistent with this, subsequent immunofluorescent staining and separate western blot analysis of HUVECs on a culture dish demonstrate loose cell-cell adhesion resulting from internalization of VE-cadherin under hypoxia. Thus, hypoxic stress increases endothelial permeability by altering cell-cell junction integrity.


Methicillin resistance is clinically important, because a single genetic element confers resistance to the β-lactam antibiotics, which include penicillins, cephalosporins and carbapenems. For the past 20 to 30 years, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains have been present in hospitals and have become a major cause of hospital-acquired infection. Comprehensive MRSA-control programmes, that include screening cultures to detect patients colonised with MRSA, use of contact precautions, appropriate hand hygiene and automatic alerts of readmission of colonised patients, have reported success in controlling or reducing transmission of MRSA and also reducing acquisition of MRSA in high-risk units in hospitals. Community-acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA) emerged worldwide in the late 1990s. Although such infections are rare at present, they usually affect young, previously healthy people and appear to be associated with increased risk of transmission, complications and hospitalisation.


Irene Bierman explores the complex relationship between alphabet and language as well as the ways the two elements are socially defined by time and place. She focuses her exploration on the Eastern Mediterranean in the sixth through twelfth centuries, notably Cairo's Fatimid dynasty of 969-1171. Examining the inscriptions on Fatimid architecture and textiles, Bierman offers insight into all elements of that society, from religion to the economy, and the enormous changes the dynasty underwent during that period. Bierman addresses fundamental issues of what buildings mean, how inscriptions affect that meaning, and the role of written messages and the ceremonies into which they are incorporated in service of propagandist goals. Her method and conclusions provide a pioneering model for studying public writing in other societies and offer powerful evidence to show that writing is a highly charged and deeply embedded social practice.


1062-4821 Copyr Current Opinion in Nephrology and Hypertension was launched in 1992. It is part of a successful series of review journals whose unique format is designed to provide a systematic and critical assessment of the literature as presented in the many primary journals. The field of nephrology and hypertension is divided into 12 sections that are each reviewed once a year. Each section is assigned a Section Editor, a leading authority in the area, who identifies the most important topics at that time. Here we are pleased to introduce the Section Editors for this issue.


Little is known about the price sensitivity of demand for home care of the disabled elderly. We partially fill this knowledge gap by using administrative data on the beneficiaries of the main French home care subsidy program in a department and exploiting interindividual variation in provider prices. We address the potential endogeneity of prices by taking advantage of the unequal spatial coverage of providers and instrumenting price by the number of municipalities served by a provider. We estimate a price elasticity of around -0.4 that is significantly different from both 0 and -1. This less than proportionate response of consumption to price has implications for the efficiency and redistributive impact of variation in the level of copayments in home care subsidy schemes.


Planning for sustainable water management in the arid region of the southwestern USA is challenging mostly due to only partial understanding of factors converging around water supply and demand. Some of the factors that prompt concern about the adequacy of water resources are: (a) a growing urban population seeking a range of services, including the need to preserve and enhance aquatic ecosystems; (b) dwindling water storage due to multi-year drought conditions; and (c) the prospect of human-induced climate changes and its consequences in the hydrologic system of the region. This study analyzes the potential for water saving in the Phoenix Active Management Area (AMA) of Central Arizona, which includes the city of Phoenix, one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the country. Based on an extensive literature review and secondary data analysis, this paper investigates multiple factors that place increasing strain on current water resources, and attempts to extend this analysis to 2025. Outdoor water use within the residential landscape is the most important factor that strains water resources in Phoenix AMA. Any gain in efficiency through agricultural water demand management would not only improve the availability of water for other uses in the AMA, but would facilitate adaptation of the agricultural system to climate and other ongoing changes.


The central nervous system (CNS) fails to regenerate after injury. A glial scar forms at the injury site, contributing to regenerative failure partly resulting from the chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) in the glial scar. The family of Rho GTPases, which includes Cdc42, Rac1, and RhoA, is involved in growth cone dynamics. Although the response of neural cells to the inactivation of Rho when contacting myelin‐related substrates, or CSPG, has been investigated, Rac1's and Cdc42's abilities to modulate CSPG‐dependent inhibition have yet to be explored. In this study, a stripe assay was utilized to examine the effects of modulating all three Rho GTPases on neurite extension across inhibitory CSPG lanes. Alternating laminin (LN) and CSPG lanes were created and NG108‐15 cells and E9 chick dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) were cultured on the lanes. By using the protein delivery agent Chariot, the neuronal response to exposure of constitutively active (CA) and dominant negative (DN) mutants of the Rho GTPases, along with the bacterial toxin C3, was determined by quantifying the percentage ratio of neurites crossing the CSPG lanes. CA‐Cdc42, CA‐Rac1, and C3 transferase significantly increased the number of neurites crossing into the CSPG lanes compared with the negative controls for both the NG108‐15 cells and the E9 chick DRGs. We also show that these mutant proteins require the delivery vehicle, Chariot, to enter the neurons and affect neurite extension. Therefore, activation of Cdc42 and Rac, as well as inhibition of Rho, helps overcome the CSPG‐dependent inhibition of neurite extension. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


Paddington Markets, located on the grounds of the Paddington Uniting Church every Saturday, are defined by their emphasis on the 'Natural', the 'Original', the 'Organic' and the 'Vintage', all designed to appeal to our sense of authenticity in regards to our own identity.  However, in an era of conflicting modern and postmodern ideas about the nature of reality and representation, identity is fast becoming a victim of uncertainty. So what does it mean to be an individual in today's society?  Is it ever possible to 'be yourself'?  Today, the struggle to find a unique identity is becoming increasingly pressing yet increasingly difficult.  Paddington Markets embodies the way in which the search for identity is undertaken through consumerism, through its emphasis on the 'authentic' qualities of its products. This article will examine the way in which modernism and postmodernism have shaped the way we conceptualise reality, representation, the subject and identity, and the ways in which consumerism has adapted to suit the changing ideas of these two traditions.  Through the theories of Baudrillard, Lyotard, Hall, Marx and with a little bit of help from Bon Jovi, the question of what identity means in a consumer society is explored through Paddington Markets.


Enabling the positioning of cellular handsets increases the safety level and at the same time opens exciting commercial opportunities for operators through providing location-based services. A major implementation obstacle, which prevents a wide deployment of cellular location techniques is the requirement of modifications of the existing network infrastructures and a need for the replacement of legacy terminals. Despite a significant amount of research on the mobile positioning problem, there are still unresolved aspects regarding applicable positioning solutions providing estimation accuracy sufficient for the majority of location-based services. Typically, the applicability of positioning technology in current networks and provided estimation accuracy yield for trade off. The aim of the research performed in the frame of this thesis is to propose networkand mobile-based location techniques for UMTS networks that do not require any changes on the network side or in the user terminals and at the same time provide a reasonable estimation performance. This thesis provides a comprehensive overview of cellular mobile positioning with emphasis on applicable, practical approaches to the problem. The research results are mainly focused on the presentation of novel positioning techniques, performance assessment of the proposed techniques and evaluation of the impact of radio network planning on positioning accuracy. Two applicable network-based positioning techniques (ECID+RTT and PCM) are proposed and evaluated. Consecutively, mobile-based location methods are presented that exploit signal strength measurements complemented by delay spread measurements or serving site information. Moreover, the thesis includes an extensive study on CID+RTT positioning. The performance of the proposed positioning methods is assessed through simulations and field measurements. In addition, this thesis introduces the influence of the topology planning process on the performance of the proposed positioning methods. The impact of capacity-oriented radio network planning on network-based positioning functionality and performance is evaluated in the context of numerous aspects of topology planning with emphasis on repeater deployment. The impact of the proposed network-based positioning on the network functionality and capacity is also studied.


Objective: To test the hypotheses that older community dwelling men taking non–enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs (NEIAEDs) and those taking enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs (EIAEDs) have increased rates of hip bone loss. Methods: We ascertained antiepileptic drug (AED) use (interviewer-administered questionnaire with verification of use by containers) and measured hip bone mineral density (BMD) (using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry) at baseline and an average of 4.6 years later in a cohort of 4,222 older community-dwelling men enrolled in the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men study. Men were categorized as nonusers (no AED use at either examination, n = 4060), NEIAED user (use of NEIAED only at either examination, n = 100), or EIAED user (use of EIAED only at either examination, n = 62). Results: After adjustment for multiple potential confounders (age, race, clinic site, health status, pain interfering with work or activity, physical activity, smoking status, alcohol use, total calcium intake, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, vitamin D supplement use, bisphosphonate use, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor use, inability to rise from a chair, body mass index, and baseline BMD), the average rate of decline in total hip BMD was −0.35%/year among nonusers compared with −0.53%/year among NEIAED users (p = 0.04) and −0.46%/year among EIAED users (p = 0.31). Multivariable adjusted rate of loss was −0.60%/year among men taking NEIAED at both examinations, −0.51%/year among men taking NEIAED at one examination only, and −0.35%/year among nonusers (p for trend = 0.03). Findings were similar at hip subregions. Conclusion: Use of non–enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs was independently associated with increased rates of hip bone loss in this cohort of older community-dwelling men.


Regularization technique has become a principled tool for statistics and machine learning research and practice. However, in most situations, these regularization terms are not well interpreted, especially on how they are related to the loss function and data. In this paper, we propose a robust minimax framework to interpret the relationship between data and regularization terms for a large class of loss functions. We show that various regularization terms are essentially corresponding to different distortions to the original data matrix. This minimax framework includes ridge regression, lasso, elastic net, fused lasso, group lasso, local coordinate coding, multiple kernel learning, etc., as special cases. Within this minimax framework, we further give mathematically exact definition for a novel representation called sparse grouping representation (SGR), and prove a set of sufficient conditions for generating such group level sparsity. Under these sufficient conditions, a large set of consistent regularization terms can be designed. This SGR is essentially different from group lasso in the way of using class or group information, and it outperforms group lasso when there appears group label noise. We also provide some generalization bounds in a classification setting.


The effects of spatial patterns on the sine-wave flicker sensitivity are explored with sharp and blurred edges, circular and rectilinear targets having various flickering and nonflickering areas, and gratings of various spatial frequencies with adjacent bars flickering in opposite phases. The results are consistent with pattern responses studied electro-physiologically by Spekreijse, Riggs, and others. Pattern effects (as opposed to area effects) are confined to frequencies below 10 Hz, and can be explained in terms of the temporal characteristics of lateral inhibition. Earlier differences between the flicker data of deLange and those of Kelly are resolved on this basis, and a response function is calculated for the cross-connecting filters of the inhibiting network.


By this article the author continues the analysis of the institute of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) in civil and commercial law. The conception of ADR institute, the reasons for this institute to emerge and prosper, the results and prospectives of its' legal and social adaptation in Europe were analysed in article "Alternative Resolution of CiIvil and Commercial Disputes" [1]. In the presented article the author, using the experience of applying ADR in the United States of America, countries of Europe, endeavours to discover the merits and demerits of resolving disputes in court and in alternative ways. The analysis provides a deeper look at the reasons for such merits and demerits to exist, also their legal evaluation and recommendations for the reglamentation of ADR institute. In the author's oppinion, the recognition of the merits and demerits of resolving disputes in court and in alternative ways enables to neutralize both negative features of ADR and litigation, which hinder to resolve arising disputes promptly and efficiently. The author believes that this can be reached by combining the proceses of ADR and litigation, also highlighing and using thoroughly the merits of one or another mechanism of dispute resolution. Highlighting of positive and negative features of the dispute resolution mechnisms also enables to take a glance on litigation in the perspective of all available dispute resolution alternatives. The knowledge of pluses and minuses of different ways of dispute resolution allows to realize that litigation is not the panacea from all the problems, i.e. is not the only way of handling the disputes. Such a knowledge broadens the conceptual frame of litigation, allows to choose reasonably and consciously the most suitable way of solving a particular dispute – litigation, arbitration, mediation, concillication or any other kind of ADR. Thus the article helps to perceive better theoretical grounds of ADR and its' practical application, also to see the litigation itself in the new light.


Turkey's policy-makers have historically aimed to position Turkey within the West by convincing the latter that Turkey meets the 'standards' of the West, that they 'are not barbarians'. This article aims to offer a gender analysis of Turkey's relations with the West by showing how 'devalorization' as feminization and hypermasculinization of the non-West becomes a source of insecurity for non-Western policy-makers. This gendered ontological insecurity is intensified when they face a military threat from a third party. The argument is that Turkey's policy-makers try to benefit from military crises in order to represent Turkey as a state meeting Western 'standards' of masculinity, and therefore to address its gendered 'devalorization'. The analysis aims to contribute to the literatures of postcolonial feminism and non-Western insecurities.


Bhushan Kumar, Abir Saraswat, BD Radotra, Tarun Narang Background Mondor's disease of the penis is usually a benign, self-limiting process of acute onset; associated with considerable psychological stress and sexual disharmony. Although it is not so uncommon, there have been few large studies. Methods A retrospective review of 37 patients with penile Mondor's disease over a period of 2002–2010 was done. Detailed history and clinical findings were recorded. Histopathological examination and staining with CD31 and CD34 monoclonal antibodies was also done in 17 patients. Patients were followed up to see the response to treatment and recurrences. The age of these patients ranged from 20–44 years. The patients presented with cord-like thickening on penis within 24–48 hours after a prolonged sexual act with or without an intercourse. Seventeen patients had history of one or more episodes of STDs at presentation or in the past. Histopathological specimens showed prominent vessels with plump endothelial cells and thickened blood vessel walls. Occasional vessel showed complete occlusion of its lumen. Doppler US done in 10 patients showed dorsal vein thrombosis without the flow signals in this area. Patients were treated with counselling, abstinence and paracetamol. Thirty patients had resolution of the swelling by 6–8 weeks with treatment only two patient required surgery. No recurrence or erectile dysfunction was noted in any of the patients in the follow up from 2 to 8 years. Conclusions Penile Mondor's disease has a favourable evolution and functional prognosis;although various etiologies have been proposed; trauma caused by sexual intercourse or masturbation is the main etiologic factor. Doppler US is a non invasive diagnostic modality helpful in both diagnosis and follow-up, however further analysis of Doppler US findings in a larger number of cases needs to be done to elucidate the hemodynamic changes in this not so rare entity.


Bank supervisors should provide publicly accessible, timely and consistent data on the banks under their jurisdiction. Such transparency increases democratic accountability and leads to greater market efficiency.

There is greater supervisory transparency in the United States compared to the member states of the European Union. The US supervisors publish data quarterly and update fairly detailed information on bank balance sheets within a week. By contrast, based on an attempt to locate similar data in every EU country, in only 11 member states is this data at least partially available from supervisors, and in no member state is the level of transparency as high as in the US.

Current and planned European Union requirements on bank transparency are either insufficient or could be easily sidestepped by supervisors. A banking union in Europe needs to include requirements for greater supervisory transparency.


Abstract This study shows that disturbance caused by cover-crop removal (CCR) in an organic olive orchard affects ground-spider populations. The effect of CCR on various organic olive-orchard plots was assessed by monitoring the abundance and diversity of ground-dwelling spiders. Covered plots in the organic olive orchard were compared with uncovered plots where the covers had been removed mechanically. CCR positively affected the most abundant spider species Zodarion styliferum (Simon) (Araneae: Zodariidae) as well as other species of running spiders belonging to the families Gnaphosidae and Lycosidae. Over time, the two types of plots did not significantly differ in diversity or dominance. Similarly, no differences were detected between the study plots in terms of the distribution of individuals when a cluster-similarity analysis was performed. This lack of difference in diversity might be due to the spatial scale used in the study or climatology. Because of their general effects, CCR profoundly changed the abundance of spiders in the olive orchard, but with no clear impact on spider diversity.


1.The last few years have seen an increased interest in the experimental study of seed dispersal by fish (ichthyochory). This paper reviews such experiments, aiming to determine what functional aspects of ichthyochory have been investigated, what experimental designs have been used and what the potential pitfalls are. 2.The process of seed dispersal by fish can be divided into six discrete stages, each with its own probability of occurrence and each individually quantifiable in seed feeding trials: (i) seed uptake, (ii) ingestion, (iii) retention time, (iv) survival, (v) germination probability and (vi) germination rate after gut passage. 3. Inter- and intraspecific variation in seed traits (e.g. size, coat hardness, coat morphology, colour, presence and chemical composition of fruit pulp) and characteristics of fish (e.g. gape width, jaw morphology, presence of teeth, length of the digestive tract and digestive capability) can significantly affect the probability of one or more of the six stages of ichthyochory, thereby affecting the probability and distance of seed dispersal by fish. 4. To date only seven studies, which together investigated a total of nine fish species and 25 plant species, have used feeding experiments to study one or more of these quantifiable stages in the ichthyochory process. There is a clear bias in the research questions towards assessing seed survival during passage through the gut and subsequent viability. Only a few studies focus on seed retention in the digestive tract and germination rate, and even fewer address seed ingestion. 5. There is also considerable variation in experimental design among studies: Some have used groups of fish, while others used fish that are individually housed; some have fed seeds to hungry fish, while others used sated fish; some studied germination of seeds dissected from the alimentary tract, rather than seeds recovered from the faeces. 6. I present a number of recommendations for a more standardised protocol for future experimental studies of zoochory in general, and ichthyochory in particular, and highlight areas of interest for future research.


Abstract. The efficient use of the limited energy resources is the key challenge in the design of wireless sensor networks. Due to the paramount importance of the energy conservation, all protocols for these networks have to be designed taking into account their energy consumption. When simulation is used to analyze the performance of any energy-aware algorithm, it is necessary to have the information about the energy drop in a sensor node. To this end, in this paper, we propose an energy dissipation model that describes the behavior of a sensor node in terms of energy consumption. In the evaluation of our model, we compare it with an Ideal model that represents the lower bound in terms of energy consumption. Based on the energy dissipation model proposed in this paper, more realistic results can be obtained when evaluating solutions for wireless sensor networks.


As protection of fundamental rights increasingly becomes a defining feature of modern constitutionalism, some countries debate over the opportunity to introduce systems of direct individual access to constitutional judges to increase protection of constitutional rights. Part I of the article provides a comparative overview of the systems of individual constitutional complaint adopted in Europe, focusing on their functioning, structure and admissibility requirements. Part II addresses possible benefits of the introduction of such a system in Italy. After describing the main features of the Italian system of judicial review, the article details proposals that, since 1947, have been presented to introduce a system of direct individual access to the Italian Constitutional Court. Finally, Part III offers reflections on the potential advantages that adoption of such complaint would bring to the Italian legal system, compared to the currently existing avenues of access to the Court.