After birth, the full-term ductus arteriosus actively constricts and undergoes extensive histologic changes that prevent subsequent reopening. These changes are thought to occur only if a region of intense hypoxia develops within the ductus wall after the initial active constriction. In preterm infants, indomethacin-induced constriction of the ductus is often transient and is followed by reopening. Prostaglandins and nitric oxide both play a role in inhibiting ductus closure in vitro. We hypothesized that combined inhibition of both prostaglandin and nitric oxide production (with indomethacin and N-nitro-l-arginine (L-NA), respectively) may be required to produce the degree of functional closure that is needed to cause intense hypoxia. We used preterm (0.67 gestation) newborn baboons that were mechanically ventilated for 6 d: 6 received indomethacin alone, 7 received indomethacin plus L-NA, and 16 received no treatment (control). Just before necropsy, only 25% of control ductus and 33% of indomethacin-treated ductus were closed on Doppler examination; in contrast, 100% of the indomethacin-plus-L-NA-treated ductus were closed. Control and indomethacin-treated baboons developed negligible-to-mild ductus hypoxia (EF5 technique). Similarly, there was minimal evidence of ductus remodeling. In contrast, indomethacin-plus-L-NA-treated baboons developed intense hypoxia in regions where the ductus was most constricted. The hypoxic muscle strongly expressed vascular endothelial growth factor, and proliferating luminal endothelial cells filled and occluded the lumen. In addition, cells in the most hypoxic regions were undergoing DNA fragmentation. In conclusion, preterm newborns are capable of remodeling their ductus, just like the full-term newborn, if they can reduce their luminal blood flow to a point that produces intense ductus wall hypoxia. Combined prostaglandin and nitric oxide inhibition may be necessary to produce permanent closure of the ductus and prevent reopening in preterm infants.


Speed limits in Queensland are set by the responsible road authority (either the Department of Transport and Main Roads or local government) according to strict speed limit guidelines. Speed limits aim to provide an efficient road network without compromising safety. A number of factors are considered when determining suitable speed limits for roads, including the number and configuration of traffic lanes; housing density and type of development; the amount of on-road parking; access to property arrangements; traffic signals and crash patterns. The Department of Transport and Main Roads conducted a public consultation process to inform a state-wide review of speed limits in 2013/14. A total of 3,365 submissions were received during the six week consultation period. These submissions, together with road crash data and road safety engineering information, were used to prioritise 100 roads for a complete speed limit review. This was a priority project for the Queensland Government that aimed to provide a credible speed limit system which is clear, consistent and easy for road users to understand and comply with. For the benefit of other jurisdictions considering undertaking a similar process, this paper describes the speed limit review process undertaken in Queensland. Particular focus is given to revising the speed limit setting guidelines; undertaking a large scale community consultation process; managing community and stakeholder expectations, including education about safe speed limit setting; and consulting and engaging with a myriad of stakeholders across the state such as local governments, the Queensland Police service and members of parliament.


Signal compression is an important problem encountered in many applications. Various techniques have been proposed over the years for adressing the problem. The focus of the dissertation is on signal representation and compression by the use of optimization theory, more shortest path methods.Several new signal compression algorithms are presented. They are based on the coding of line segments which are used to spproximate, and thereby represent, the signal. These segments are fit in a way that is optimal given some constraints on the solution. By formulating the compession problem as a graph theory problem, shortest path methods can be applied in order to yeild optimal compresson with respect to the given constraints.The approaches focused on in this dissertaion mainly have their origin in ECG comression and is often referred to as time domain compression methods. Coding by time domain methods is based on the idea of extracting a subset of significant signals samples to represent the signal. The key to a successful algoritm is a good rule for determining the most significant samples. Between any two succeeding samples in the extracted smaple set, different functions are applied in reconstruction of the signal. These functions are fitted in a wy that guaratees minimal reconstruction error under the gien constraints. Two main categories of compression schemes are developed:1. Interpolating methods, in which it is insisted on equality between the original and reconstructed signal at the points of extraction.2. Non-interpolating methods, where the inerpolatian restriction is released.Both first and second order polynomials are used in reconstruction of the signal. There is solso developed an approach were multiple error measures are applied within one compression algorithm. The approach of extracting the most significant smaples are further developed by measuring the samples in terms of the number of bits needed to encode such samples. This way we develop an approach which is optimal in the ratedistortion sense. Although the approaches developed are applicable to any type of signal, the focus of this dissertaion is on the compression of electrodiogram (ECG) signals and image contours, ECG signal compression has traditionally been


The activity was developed by members of Group B during the 2003 American Society for
Microbiology Undergraduate Microbiology Education Conference. Contributors are: Beth Gaydos,
Jonathan Kidd, Lucy Kluckhohn Jones, Donna Harrison Bennett, Pat Johnson, Hilda Merchant, Pamela
Huber, Diane Nurko Hilker, Sandra Horikami, and Gary Kaiser.
Students are shown photographs of a family dining at an open air market. The photographs are
captioned with personal information about the characters involved and the food and environment. The
students answer questions to assess the situation for potential spread of infectious disease
followed by a discussion of prevention methods and public health practices.


Introduction: Physical exercise in the fasting state has been a controversial topic; however, some studies have shown a greater loss of body fat and better glycemic control in those who participate in aerobic training when fasting. Aim: To evaluate the glycemic response after a session of moderate or vigorous physical exercise in young women in the state of fasting. Material and method: A randomized clinical trial was carried out. Twenty-six women (19 to 22 years old) were randomly assigned to two intervention groups. The first group was trained at an intensity of 70% of maximum heart rate (MHR) for 30 minutes, and the second group at an intensity of 90% MHR for 15 minutes. Height (cm), weight (Kg), body mass index (BMI), fat percentage, and maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max) during a stress test were evaluated. Blood glucose levels were checked before and after the exercise session of each group. Results: No significant changes were found in post-exercise blood glucose levels in any experimental group, and the existing differences were not statistically significant. Conclusions: Moderate or vigorous physical exercise during fasting did not show significant variations in blood glucose, which suggests that it is safe for healthy young women to train when fasting.


The paper builds upon the Agent Based-Stock Flow Consistent model presented in Caiani et al. (2015) to analyze the relationship between income and wealth inequality and economic development. For this sake, the original model has been amended under three main dimensions: first, the households sector has been subdivided into workmen, office workers, researchers, and executives which compete on segmented labor markets. Conversely, firms are now characterized by a hierarchical organization structure which determines, according to firms' output levels, their demand for each type of workers. Second, in order to account for the impact of income and wealth distribution on consumption patterns, different households classes - also representing different income groups - have diversified average propensities to consume and save. Finally, the model now embeds technological change in an evolutionary flavor, affecting labor productivity evolution in the consumption sector through product innovation in the capital sector, where firms invest in R&D and produce differentiated vintages of machineries. The model is then calibrated using realistic values for both income and wealth distribution across different income groups, and their average propensities to consume. Results of the simulation experiments suggest that more progressive tax schemes and labor market policies aiming to increase low and middle workers' coordination, and to support their wage levels, concur to foster economic development and to reduce inequality, though the latter seem to be more effective under both respects. The model thus provides some evidence in favor of a wage-led growth regime, where improvements of middle-low levels workers' conditions create positive systemic effects, which eventually trickle up also to high income-profit earners households.


Research to date has addressed that there is incompatibility (gap) between the skills of university
graduates and the labour market requirements in Egypt. The factors that affect this gap, as well
as HOW to bridge the gap, have not been surveyed in previous studies in Egypt. The purpose of
this research is to identify the key factors in the Egyptian higher education (HE) system which
affect the quality of the public universities, and to explore the changes that must be made by the
Egyptian HE Management (Ministry of HE) within the boundaries factors to achieve significant
and real improvements in the quality of the Egyptian HE system; thus the skills gap will then be
bridged and the mismatch between skills of the university graduates and the skills needed by
market will be decreased. This study develops a new model (system dynamics model) of the
factors that leads to the gap between the skills of the Egyptian university graduates and the
requirements of the labour market. Particular focus is on identification of the key structural
changes that need to be made to reduce this gap and their effects, using public Egyptian
universities as a case study. The initial influence diagram is built based on relationships identified by semi-structured
interviews with the administrative and academic staff members from various public universities
in Egypt; all these staff members have experience in the quality of the HE system. This initial
structure has been validated by using two groups of standard system dynamics tests, namely the
structural validation and behavioural validation tests and empirical tests using a group of
administrative and academic staff members with experience that exceeds 15 years in the HE
system. The model contains more than90 variables that are associated with the quality of Egyptian
HE system. PowerSim Studio 10 Academic® is used as system dynamics software to build a
stocks-and-flows diagram from the influence diagram. Many scenarios have been made to test the
effects of different variables in order to find the dominant variables. The model is simulated over
a five-year period from the academic year 2012-2013 till the academic year 2016-2017.As shown
in this study, there are seven key variables that influence the quality of the Egyptian HE system
and thus affect the skills gap. Some of these factors have instant and rapid effects, while others
take time for their effects to appear on the quality of services provided by Egyptian universities.
The increase of these variables leads to increase the quality of services provided by the Egyptian
universities. Therefore, this increase will lead to an uptake of the skills of graduates and then a
decrease of the skills gap. This achieves the compatibility between the skills of university
graduates and the requirements of the labour market in Egypt.


Given a nite but large set of objects described by a vector of features, only a small subset of which have been labeled as 'positive' with respect to a class of interest, we consider the problem of characterizing the positive class. We formalize this as the problem of learning a feature based score function that minimizes the p-value of a non parametric statistical hypothesis test. For linear score functions over the original feature space or over one of its kernelized versions, we provide a solution of this problem computed by a one-class SVM applied on a surrogate dataset obtained by sampling subsets of the overall set of objects and representing them by their average feature-vector shifted by the average feature-vector of the original sample of positive examples. We carry out experiments with this method on the prediction of targets of transcription factors in two dierent organisms, E. Coli and S. Cererevisiae. Our method extends enrichment analysis commonly carried out in Bioinformatics and its results outperform common solutions to this problem.


Europeans, especially, may be forgiven for assuming that planning history in the United States must be a limited subject and a frail intellectual endeavour. After all, urban regions there are noted neither for their age nor for the rigour and consistency with which they have been planned. However, since 1986, the continuing vitality of the Society for American City and Regional Planning History (SACRPH)1 has challenged sceptics and perhaps even surprised its own membership. Attendance at SACRPH's latest biennial conference, in Oakland, California from 15 to 18 October 2009 reached an all-time high of about 300.2 Those present supported, and required, eight concurrent paper sessions spread over two days. These were bookended by field trips, paralleled by an academic book display (with free coffee), and interspersed with lunchtime plenaries or panels, breakfast and evening meetings, corridor kibbitzing, and evening bull sessions in excellent local bars.3 On this evidence, planning history in the United States is very much alive and well. Its conferences have been the lifeblood of SACRPH, sustaining the organisation and indeed the field of study itself. Continuing a tradition established by a founder, Laurence Gerckens, they have always been stimulating, well-organised, eclectic and welcoming. The Oakland gathering was typical. Optional field trips included a food tour of the Oakland waterfront and tours of housing and housing projects in West Oakland (once home to the Black Panthers), of ethnic districts near the downtown, of Berkeley's architecture, San Francisco's urban renewal and of recent agricultural development (including vineyards) in Marin and Sonoma counties. (One vineyard - Ravenswood, if you must know - was a conference sponsor.) In between were squeezed plenary sessions on regional equity and San Francisco Bay Area planning initiatives; an end-of-term address by SACRPH president, Robin Bachin; 54 conference sessions that included roundtables on publishing and cultural sustainability; a dissertation workshop, and a poster session for undergraduate or Masters students; and a concluding awards ceremony and reception. Everything that I observed ran smoothly, while conversation hummed, notably at the three evening receptions, courtesy of excellent food and, on two occasions, complimentary drinks. The eclecticism of the conference, noted by President-elect Alison Isenberg in her introduction to Bachin's Presidential Address, was apparent in the fact that it attracts planners and preservationists, as well as urban historians, in significant numbers. To be sure, many of the planners were from the Bay Area, and spoke about local issues, while the historians came from across the United States and Canada.4 None the less, many sessions and one plenary brought the two groups together, and this did promote dialogue. In part, such exchange is possible because, despite the everyday pressures to focus upon the present and immediate future, some planners have a concern for the long-term implications of public intervention. In part it also reflects the fact that a high proportion of urban and planning historians - who in Oakland included a sprinkling of historical geographers like myself, as well as those employed to teach urban, architectural and planning history - have interests that are focused on the recent past, or upon the connections between past and present. Thus, for example, Lawrence Vale enumerated the parallels between the slum clearance programs of the 1930s-1950s era and the HOPE VI initiatives, which are meant to revitalise public housing, sometimes through demolition. In addition, a whole session, for example, was devoted to an historical assessment of recent policies of Smart Growth. The linkages between planners and historians were nicely exemplified at the concluding awards ceremony. The organisation's most prestigious award is the Gerckens prize. In Oakland the names of the two latest recipients were announced. …


During armed conflicts many casualties can be attributed to incidents involving vehicles and landmines. As a result mine protective features are now a pre-requisite on all armoured vehicles. Recent and current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have shown that there is a requirement for vehicles that not only provide suitable protection against explosive devices but are also lightweight so that they may travel off-road and avoid the major routes where these devices are usually planted. This project aims to address the following two topics in relation to mine protected vehicles. 1. Could composite materials be used to replace conventional steels for the blast deflector plates located on the belly of the vehicle, and 2. How effective and realistic is numerical analysis in predicting the material response of these blast deflectors. It also looks into the acquisition and support of new equipment into the armed services, where the equipment itself is but one small element of the system involved. The first topic has been addressed by conducting a number of experimental tests using third scale V-shaped hulls manufactured from steel and two types of composite, S2 glass and E glass. These experiments found that, on a weight-for-weight equivalency, the S2 glass was by far the superior material, with very little damage to the outside shape of the hull. The steel was significantly deformed after testing and the E glass, although also did not deform as such, did experience a severe amount of matrix cracking leading to significant loss of structural integrity in that the hull could be easily flexed by hand after the tests. One S2 glass hull was also subjected to a further two explosive tests and although the amount of delamination was severe at the base of the hull there was very little geometry lost to the outside of the shape. The numerical modelling work consisted of the modelling of the mine blast phenomenon in autodyn and comparisons with published experimental and numerical work, with the results in reasonably good agreement. The second part consisted of comparing flat S2 glass plates subjected to varying charge sizes both experimentally and numerically in order to validate the material model, with good agreement. The final stage involved using the validated material model and re-creating the tests done on the V-shaped hulls. The results here at first were not in agreement, but with development of the model and the limitations from the experimental data collection methods applied a model that, when viewed with the experimental results, gave a reasonable representation of the experimental work was created. The management section of the thesis considers previous equipment purchases and what went wrong during their implementation. The Through Life Capability Management model is assessed in relation to an all composite vehicle and identifies some key questions and areas of concern, such as how the management of the DLOD trade-off process should be conducted.


We investigate the entanglement spectra of topological insulators which manifest edge states on a lattice with spatial boundaries. In the physical energy spectrum, a subset of the edge states that intersect the Fermi level translates to discontinuities in the trace of the single-particle entanglement spectrum, which we call a `trace index'. We find that any free-fermion topological insulator that exhibits spectral flow has a non-vanishing trace index, which provides us with a new description of topological invariants. In addition, we identify the signatures of spectral flow in the single-particle and many-body entanglement spectrum; in the process we present new methods to extract topological invariants and establish a connection between entanglement and quantum Hall physics.


The thirteen case studies contained in this publication were commissioned by the research node of the Knowledge Network on Priority Public Health Conditions (PPHC-KN) a WHO-based interdepartmental working group associated with the WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health. The case studies describe a wealth of experiences with implementing public health programmes that intend to address social determinants and to have a great impact on health equity. They also document the real-life challenges in implementing such programmes including the challenges in scaling up managing policy changes managing intersectoral processes adjusting design and ensuring sustainability.


Attendance at any large conference is highly personal and every registrant has a unique experience. The value to the individual depends on which sessions they attend, whom they connect with and what outcomes eventuate from what they learn and the networking they do. The networking and feedback can be life changing as it was for me when I attended PCST in 1996 in Melbourne. PCST2014 was a successful conference that provided many options for delegates. This was my fifth PCST and I was glad to have made the long trip to Brazil. One of the most successful aspects of PCST2014 was the opportunity to hear voices that I had not heard at previous PCSTs. The opportunity to hear about interesting work and different perspectives is one of the main advantages of this large, diverse, international network. Some reflective presentations eloquently articulated the familiar but evolving framework of the science communication discipline. Some provocative presentations pushed me to consider new and different perspectives or methodologies. Some case study presentations illustrated that good science communication is happening around the world. All types are particularly useful to those of us at a crossroad in our career, considering where to invest our energy,


Developmental Counseling and Therapy (DCT). an integrative model for assessing client cognitive style and selecting interventions, has been presented as a meta-theory for increasing intentionality in mental health treatment planning.. To examine the usefulness of DCT for training and practice, student and professional counselors (N = 203) completed the Preferred Helping Styles Inventory. the Theoretical Orientation Profile Scale-Revised. and the Intervention Strategies Questionnaire. Intervention styles were related to both cognitive styles and theoretical orientations: intervention style use was predicted by cognitive style and intervention sale interests, Implications for mental health counselor training and practice are discussed.


Abstract. Forest inventories collect feature data manually on terrestrial field plots. Measuring large amounts of breast height diameters and tree positions is time consuming. Terrestrial laser scanning could be an additional instrument to collect precise and full inventory data in the 3D space. As a preliminary assumption single scan data is used to evaluate a minimal data acquisition scheme. To extract features like trees and diameter from the scanned point cloud, a simple geometric model world is defined in 3D. Trees are cylinder shapes vertically located on a plane. Using a RANSAC-based segmentation approach, cylinders are fitted iteratively in the point cloud. Several threshold parameters increase the robustness of the segmentation model and extract point clouds of single trees, which still contain branches and the tree crown. Fitting circles along the stem using point cloud slices allows to refine the effective diameter for customized heights. The cross section of a single tree point cloud covers only the semi circle towards the scan location, but is still contiguous enough to estimate diameters by using a robust circle fitting method.


Tele-immersion (TI) related technologies can change the way people interact and bridge the gap between the physical and digital worlds. However, while the technology itself advances, most developed platforms have complex setups and require large investments. In this work, a low-cost platform is introduced, integrating multiple TI-related advances. Focusing on ease of use and rapid deployment, a fast and fully automatic calibration method is proposed. The platform enables real-time 3D reconstruction of users and their placement into a pre-authored 3D environment. Moreover, interaction is achieved through the user's body posture, removing the need for additional equipment and enabling natural control while immersed. Developing a real-time TI platform requires the efficient integration of several multidisciplinary elements. An elegant, minimal solution to these challenges is proposed and validated in a prototype TI multiplayer game, SpaceWars.


Abstract Following the release of ENDF/B-VII.0 evaluations, an ACE-formatted continuous-energy neutron data library called ENDF70 for MCNP has been produced at Los Alamos National Laboratory. This new library contains data for 387 isotopes and three elements at five temperatures: 293.6, 600, 900, 1200, and 2500 K. It can be obtained as part of the MCNP5 1.50 release. The new library was created using ENDF/B-VII.0 neutron evaluations and primarily version 248 of NJOY99. A processing script was created that set up the input files for NJOY and employed checking codes to test the content of the processed data. A sample MCNP run was performed for each isotope and temperature, and cross sections for each isotope were plotted to make sure there were no major problems. The processed ACE libraries did not always pass all quality assurance tests. For example, energy-balance problems were identified for several evaluations having negative heating numbers or inconsistencies between total and partial heating. Similarly, some problems were found with unresolved resonance probability tables, resulting in probability tables being excluded from the final library for several materials. Certain evaluations were modified and reprocessed as a result of the quality assurance tests, and some data points in the final ACE files were changed because they were too small or had other problems. The new ENDF70 library provides MCNP users with the latest ENDF/B data available. This collection of data includes a larger range of isotopes and temperatures than previously released, which will be beneficial in numerous applications. The upgrades included as part of ENDF/B-VII.0 and, hence, ENDF70 should improve calculations.


According to the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, "water is life, sanitation is dignity." Water, as a human right, is essential to sustain life, development and the environment. In Mazibuko and Others v the City of Johannesburg and Others the fundamental right to have access to sufficient water and the right to human dignity were tested.


The purpose of this pilot study was to assess the effect of thermomechanical massage on human immune cell function. Immunological studies were performed on 10 healthy volunteers (average age: 24 years). Subjects were asked to lie on a thermomechanical massage device (TMD), for 20 minutes, twice a week, for a total of 8 weeks. Blood samples were collected before entry into the study and at the beginning of the 16th session. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated and were evaluated for immunophenotypic characteristics as well as for the functional parameters of T-lymphocytes (T cells) and natural killer (NK) cells. T cell proliferation was assessed by 3H-thymidine incorporation assay. NK cell mediated cytotoxicity was determined by a non-radioactive cytotoxicity assay kit using flow cytometry. Immunophenotyping of the peripheral blood lymphocytes showed increased percentages of T cells (CD3+), T cell subsets (CD4+ and CD8+), and NK cells (CD16+CD56+). Functional analysis revealed a significant increase in T cell proliferative response to PHA, a polyclonal T cell mitogen, and a significant increase in NK cell cytotoxicity following the use of TMD. We conclude that use of TMD twice a week may modulate immune function and may be beneficial in subjects with impaired immune function, such as aging individuals and HIV patients.


Canada's detention policies and practices are far less draconian than those of our neighbours. There are nevertheless concerns about the commitment to detain more people as a measure of security and deterrence, in part as the response to September 11. This article describes the situation of detention in Canada, making reference to new legislation passed in November 2001.


Background and purpose Depression is common after stroke and is often treated with antidepressant medications (AD). ADs have also been hypothesised to improve stroke recovery, although recent randomised trials were neutral. We investigated the patterns of in-hospital AD initiation after ischaemic stroke and association with clinical and readmission outcomes. Methods All Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries aged 65 or older hospitalised for ischaemic stroke in participating Get With The Guidelines-Stroke hospitals between April and December 2014 were eligible for this analysis. Outcome measures included days alive and not in a healthcare institution (home time), all-cause mortality and readmission within 1-year postdischarge. Propensity score (PS)-adjusted logistic regression models were used to evaluate the associations between AD use and each outcome measure. We also compared outcomes in patients prescribed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) AD versus those prescribed non-SSRI ADs. Results Of 21 805 AD naïve patients included in this analysis, 1835 (8.4%) were started on an AD at discharge. Patients started on an AD had higher rates of depression and prior ischaemic stroke, presented with higher admission National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score and were less likely to be discharged home. Similarly, patients started on an SSRI had lower rates of discharge to home. Adjusting for stroke severity, patients started on an AD had worse all-cause mortality, all-cause readmission, major adverse cardiac events, readmission for depression and decreased home-time. However, AD use was also associated with an increased risk for the sepsis, a falsification endpoint, suggesting the presence of residual confounding. Conclusions Patients with ischaemic stroke initiated on AD therapy are at increased risk of poor clinical outcomes and readmission even after PS adjustment, suggesting that poststroke depression requiring medication is a poor prognostic sign. Further research is needed to explore the reasons why depression is associated with worse outcome, and whether AD treatment modifies this risk or not.


Title of Dissertation: ELEMENTARY PRINCIPALS' PERCEPTIONS OF A LEADERHSIP DEVELOPMENT TRAINING PROGRAM Lisa Gaillard-Jones, Doctor of Education, 2014 Dissertation directed by: Professor Carol S. Parham Department of Counseling, Higher Education, and Special Education Research indicates that school leaders are crucial to improving instruction and raising student achievement (Council of Chief State School Officers, 2008). As such, educational reforms such as the No Child Left Behind Act (2001) and Race to the Top (2009) have sparked an accountability movement where principals are being held accountable for students' academic achievement and educational outcomes. The shift towards greater accountability has placed new attention on the ways principals are trained. Researchers have noted that organized professional development programs have not adequately prepared school principals to meet the priority demands of the 21 century (Hale & Moorman, 2003; Murphy, 1994). Murphy (1994) stated, "Traditional preparation programs – usually pre-service programs based in colleges or universities, that awarded certification and advanced degrees rarely concentrated on the leadership challenges that principals actually face in real schools" (p. 4). As a result, many school districts are seeking ways to develop leadership development training programs that will prepare principals for their job responsibilities as a school leader. In spite of the additional training principals receive, researchers suggests that there is an obvious gap between the readiness of administrators to be instructional leaders and the demands for accountability that school administrators face (Hale & Moorman, 2003). This quantitative study examined elementary school principals' perceptions of their leadership development training program. Guided by four research questions, the study examined principals' perceptions of their overall training and how well their training prepared them to deal with school and classroom practices that contribute to student achievement; to work with teachers and others to design and implement a system for continuous student achievement; and to provide necessary support to carry out sound school, curriculum, and instructional practices. Data for this study was collected by way of survey responses from a total of 46 elementary school principals. The results from the study revealed that more than half (58.7%) of participants perceived their training as excellent. While principals' perceived that their training adequately prepared them to work collaboratively in teams, set clear visions and goals, and to use data to improve students achievement, many respondents reported a lack of training in being informed and focused on student achievement. Principals also suggested that they were not effectively trained in finding effective ways to obtain support from central office or community members. ELEMENTARY PRINCIPALS' PERCEPTIONS OF A LEADERHSIP DEVELOPMENT


In this paper we identify two counteracting effects of credit access on productivity growth: on the one hand, better access to credit makes it easier for entrepreneurs to innovate; on the other hand, better credit access allows less efficient incumbent firms to remain longer on the market, thereby discouraging entry of new and potentially more efficient innovators. We first develop a simple model of firm dynamics and innovation-base growth with credit constraints, where the above two counteracting effects generate an inverted-U relationship between credit access and productivity growth. Then we test our theory on a comprehensive French manufacturing firm-level dataset. We first show evidence of an inverted-U relationship between credit constraints and productivity growth when we aggregate our data at sectoral level. We then move to firm-level analysis, and show that incumbent firms with easier access to credit experience higher productivity growth, but that they also experienced lower exit rates, particularly the least productive firms among them. To confirm our results, we exploit the 2012 Eurosystem's Additional Credit Claims (ACC) program as a quasiexperiment that generated exogenous extra supply of credits for a subset of incumbent firms.


Simplicial Nim, introduced by Ehrenborg and Steingrimsson, is a generalization of the classical two-player game of Nim. The heaps are placed on the vertices of a simplicial complex and a player's move may affect any number of piles provided that the corresponding vertices form a face of the complex. In this paper, we present properties of a complex that are equivalent to the $\cal P$-positions (winning positions for the second player) being closed under addition. We provide examples of such complexes and answer a number of open questions posed by Ehrenborg and Steingrimsson.


Rationale Cardiomyocyte cell death plays a causal role in heart failure therefore its inhibition poses a promising therapeutic approach. However, investment is undermined due to poor translation and cardiotoxicity. Here, we describe validation of a potential target; mitogen activated protein 4 kinase kinase kinase kinase (MAP4K4). Methodology/Results 4 weeks pressure overload (TAC; transverse aortic constriction) in alphaMyHC-MAP4K4 mice (cardiomyocyte-specific over-expression) induced apoptosis (3.60 %+1.01 TUNEL-positive cardiomyocytes, n=5, p<0.05 to wildtype (WT) littermates; 0.53 %+0.19, n=5). Peri-vascular fibrosis and upregulation of autophagy markers Beclin1 and LC3 (associated with heart failure) was evident only in TG-TAC mice (p<0.05 to WT-TAC). Systolic function assessed by pressure-volume loops (shams n=6, TAC-TG n=9, TAC-WT n=10) showed unaffected contractility and compliance in WT-TAC mice although relaxation was impaired (Tau, p<0.05). In contrast, TG-TAC mice had significantly impaired compliance (Emax, p<0.01), contractility (Ees-ESPVR, p<0.01) and relaxation (Tau, p<0.01). Inhibition of MAP4K4, by siRNA-mediated knockdown or pharmacologically (selective in-house novel compound; 5 out of 141 kinases inhibited) was cardioprotective in rat neonatal and human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes subjected to oxidative stress (H202) or C2-ceramide (measured by loss of membrane integrity, Caspase 3 activity, hypodiploid DNA). Conclusions MAP4K4 drives cardiomyocyte cell death and dysfunction, thus poses an attractive target in heart failure. Our novel compound, validated in human and mouse models, represents a start-point for further development with improved translational potential.


A fast start is considered to be crucial in skeleton with marginal gains in start performance perceived to make meaningful improvements to overall chances of success. Currently, knowledge surrounding the underlying determinants of start performance is sparse and training practices are based on limited scientific evidence. A series of investigations were conducted to advance this understanding. Initial observations revealed similarities between dry-land push-starts and those on ice tracks. However, the number of steps taken before loading was adjusted to seemingly accommodate unique track profiles and appeared to be influenced by physical capacity. Consequently, skeleton athletes completed multiple two day testing sessions (four physical tests and biochemical analyses) across two seasons, alongside dry land push track tests. Additionally, body composition was assessed either side of selected training and competition blocks. Three independent physical factors (countermovement jump, sprint and force-power characteristics) were identified as fundamental to a fast push start and a regression equation comprising these variables provided an accurate prediction of start ability (R^2 = 0.86). Testosterone appeared to influence push track performance and lean mass accrual, however, retrospective biochemical analyses were deemed to have limited utility in applied practice. Conversely, the importance of monitoring body composition, particularly across competition seasons, was apparent and dual energy X ray absorptiometry is an appropriate tool to detect meaningful changes. A continuous sled velocity measure confirmed the contribution of physical capabilities to both the distance and velocity attained before loading. Importantly, loading phase success appeared independent of physical ability, perhaps warranting specific loading technique training. Finally, a trade off between pre load velocity and load effectiveness was evident, and experimentally modifying loading distance provided a promising approach to improve performance in developing athletes. This thesis has informed skeleton training by identifying factors which contribute to performance, alongside approaches to thoroughly evaluate athlete progression and has introduced processes through which start performance can be enhanced.


CS 5301 (EEGR 5301) Professional and Technical Communication (3 semester hours) CS 5301 utilizes an integrated approach to writing and speaking for the technical professions. The advanced writing components of the course focus on writing professional quality technical documents such as proposals, memos, abstracts, reports, letters, emails, etc. The advanced oral communication components of the course focus on planning, developing, and delivering dynamic, informative and persuasive presentations. Advanced skills in effective teamwork, leadership, listening, multimedia and computer generated visual aids are also emphasized. Graduate students will have a successful communication experience working in a functional team environment using a real time, online learning environment. (3-0) Y


We study a society inside which two official languages, the majority language A and the minority language B, are in contact and compete for the same social functions. We propose a non-cooperative game to capture some features of this competitive situation. In the game, there are two types of players: the bilingual one who speaks both A and B and the monolingual one who speaks only A. The information about which type is each player is private. A real life situation captured by the game is that in many interactions bilingual players must decide under incomplete information about which language to use. One implication of this information structure is that while A satisfies the main properties of a public good, B does not. Another implication is that it may have dangerous consequences on the language diversity of the society. We show that in many equilibria bilingual players fail to coordinate in their preferred language and end up using the majority language A.


In this paper, we discuss the CP domain of embedded clauses in Spanish, specifically in the realm of que +embedded question constructions first discussed in Plann (1982). We argue for the existence of (at least) two distinct CP layers (following previous work by Lahiri 2002, Demonte & Fernandez-Soriano 2009, and Suner 1991, 1993). Following Suner (1991, 1993), we argue that there are two semantically distinct classes of embedded clauses, although we depart from her by claiming that the relevant distinction should be formulated in terms of referentiality. We claim that her 'true indirect questions' are just one case of a non-referential embedded CP (another being a non-referential sentential complement to a non-factive verb). Moreover, we provide evidence that this difference in referentiality corresponds to a structural difference as well: embedded referential CPs have less structure than non-referential embedded CPs. We also offer a classification of embedded clauses based on the presence or absence of an extra CP layer ( c P) and the presence or absence of a question operator. Finally, we suggest that the overt spell-out of the non-referential head in Spanish embedded clauses is conditioned by the presence of a particular speech-act operator. Keywords: Spanish; indirect questions; factive and non-factive complements; referentiality; CP layers


This article explores and extends one aspect of the research theories and methods defined by Lester-Irabinna Rigney (1999) as 'Indigenist research', namely, published sources. We view published sources broadly as incorporating poetry, life histories, community histories, creation stories, scholarly articles and books. This article seeks to operationalise Indigenist research in the context of the sources that are central to academic work and critically engage with how the ontologies that inform knowledges are valued in the academy. We aim to explore the relationships Aboriginal people create with the parts of their knowledges that have become translated into text. Whilst acknowledging that oral traditions and processes are fundamentally important, this article seeks to situate sources published by Aboriginal people as a key part of the 'contestation of knowledge' that lies at the heart of Indigenist research (Rigney 1999: 116). Our aim is to start the conversation about the issues that are raised in framing how primary and secondary sources might be constituted within Indigenist research. We are two Aboriginal scholars of the Palyku people, and one non-Indigenous scholar. Writing in this academic space requires openness, sharing and profound trust between collaborators, which we have had the privilege of developing together over many years.


Abstract. Cloud droplet number concentration (CDNC) is the key state
variable that moderates the relationship between aerosol and the radiative
forcing arising from aerosol–cloud interactions. Uncertainty related to the
effect of anthropogenic aerosol on cloud properties represents the largest
uncertainty in total anthropogenic radiative forcing. Here we show that
regionally averaged time series of the Moderate-Resolution Imaging
Spectroradiometer (MODIS) observed CDNC of low, liquid-topped clouds is
well predicted by the MERRA2 reanalysis near-surface sulfate mass concentration
over decadal timescales. A multiple linear regression between MERRA2
reanalyses masses of sulfate (SO 4) , black carbon (BC), organic carbon
(OC), sea salt (SS), and dust (DU) shows that CDNC across many different
regimes can be reproduced by a simple power-law fit to near-surface
SO 4 , with smaller contributions from BC, OC, SS, and DU. This confirms
previous work using a less sophisticated retrieval of CDNC on monthly timescales. The analysis is supported by an examination of remotely sensed sulfur
dioxide (SO 2) over maritime volcanoes and the east coasts of North
America and Asia, revealing that maritime CDNC responds to changes in
SO 2 as observed by the ozone monitoring instrument (OMI). This
investigation of aerosol reanalysis and top-down remote-sensing observations
reveals that emission controls in Asia and North America have decreased CDNC
in their maritime outflow on a decadal timescale.


A strong, sustained recovery will require the formation and growth of new scale companies. These companies, in turn, often require access to equity capital as they grow. Traditionally, this has best been accomplished by the floating of shares in an initial public offering (IPO). IPOs have been down substantially over the past decade. Many factors have been alleged to have contributed to this trend, among them, the higher regulatory cost of going and remaining public under the Sarbanes–Oxley Act (SOX) of 2002. But a far more important, and heretofore unrecognized, deterrent to growth company IPOs is the proliferation of new indexed securities - derivatives essentially. Initially, these products took the form of mutual funds; now they are increasingly represented as "exchange traded funds" or ETFs. We show here that ETFs are radically changing the markets, to the point where they, and not the trading of the underlying securities, are effectively setting the prices of stocks of smaller capitalization companies, or the potential new growth companies of the future. In the process, ETFs that once were an important low-cost way for investors to assemble diversified stock holdings are now undermining the traditional price discovery role of exchanges and, in turn, discouraging new companies from wanting to be listed on U.S. exchanges. That is not all. The proliferation of ETFs also poses unquantifiable but very real systemic risks of the kind that were manifested very briefly during the "Flash Crash" of May 6, 2010. Absent the ETF-related reforms we outline below in this summary, and in more detail in the text, we believe that other flash crashes or small capitalization company "melt ups," potentially much more severe than the one on May 6, are a virtual certainty. In setting forth our thesis, we rebut the currently popular critique of so-called "high frequency trading," or HFT: namely, that it contributed to the flash crash and continues to pose threats to market stability. Likewise, we demonstrate that the charges against algorithmic trading are without foundation. We reach several specific conclusions and offer several principal recommendations for the SEC in this paper. We urge the public, regulators, elected officials, and executive branch policy makers to give attention to the subjects we outline in this paper. In the process, we hope to shed some light on some very complicated but important topics that have a direct bearing not only on our capital markets and their performance, but also on the willingness of the new growth companies to go public and thus help power the sustained growth that our economy so sorely needs.


APIs aka application programming interfaces have been around as long as there have been software applications, but rapid digitalization of business environment has brought up a new topic of discussion: What is the business value of APIs? This study focuses on innovation and business potential of web APIs. The study reviews existing literature about APIs and introduces concepts including API value chain and different approaches to API strategy. The study also investigates critically the concept of "API Economy" and the relationship between APIs and some current technological trends like mobile computing, Internet of Things and open data. The study employs the theory of open innovation, which was originally conceived by Henry Chesbrough. The study aims to answer following research questions: 1. What kind of results has open innovation process produced for API providers? 2. What are the realized benefits of API for API provider? 3. What are the main challenges of API management and development? The empirical part of the study is qualitative case study, which uses semi-structured interviews as a primary data collection method. The study uses multiple case study approach and focuses on six Finnish API providers. The studied organizations include businesses as well as public organizations. The research findings show that API providers can speed up their product development by leveraging the creativity of third party developers, if they are able to offer them useful and valuable data, which developers can use to solve some practical problems. The results of open innovation (ie inbound open innovation) include applications for new platforms, applications for new use cases, client libraries and shared code, feature ideas and technical improvements. The realized benefits of API include also wider reach of service, business process automation and increased internal agility. The study shows that API providers may use API to foster open innovation, to scale up business, to reach new audiences and to improve internal IT architecture. In addition the study demonstrates that the theory of open innovation can be applied to the context of web APIs and that APIs can be used to open up innovation process of the organizations as the theory suggests.


The relationships among grapevine (Vitis vinifera) vigor variation and resulting fruit composition, fruit chemical analyses, wine chemical analyses, and sensory attributes were investigated. The study was conducted in a commercial vineyard consisting of the same clone, rootstock, age, and vineyard management practices. In 2003, vine vigor parameters were used to designate vigor zones within two vineyard sites to produce research wines. Similar winemaking practices were used. Descriptive sensory analysis and partial least squares (PLS) modeling was done on two-year-old wines. Wines and model extracts were analyzed by HPLC. Significant sensory attributes included earthy, chemical, heat, sweet, sour, bitter, and astringent. Astringency was the most important attribute used to differentiate the wines. Low vigor wines had much higher astringency than high vigor wines. Positively correlated variables included number of seeds per berry, fruit total tannin (mg/kg), and skin tannin (mg/kg), while total flavan-3-ol monomers per seed, total flavan-3-ol monomers per berry, fruit TA, and berry weight were negatively correlated with the sensory attributes. Interestingly, seed tannin was not an important variable in the model. There was a strong relationship between fruit total tannin and wine astringency, which was related to differences in skin rather than seed-derived tannin. There was a strong relationship between measured and predicted astringency.


Abstract An in-course experiment provided undergraduate public policy students with tangible experience in dealing with unfair, discriminatory, intrusive, and arbitrary policies and practices similar to those that legally exist in government. Students were subjected to in-course policies that gave preferential status and enhanced opportunities to some classmates while others were punished or handicapped. Each of the seemingly arbitrary conditions has parallels in U. S. legal, economic, and social systems. The experiment was designed to enhance student learning through an immersion in a simulated policy environment and to offer a personalized experience of dealing with unjust and arbitrary policies. Experimental and control group responses were analyzed with a grounded research approach. The authors found that the immersive environment led to deeper knowledge of the policy situation and an understanding of how to get involved in a policy area to effect change. This study illustrates potential applications for active learning, simulated empathy, and student empowerment.


A multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) radar system, unlike a standard phased-array radar, can choose freely the probing signals transmitted via its antennas to maximize the power around the locations of the targets of interest, or more generally to approximate a given transmit beampattern, and also to minimize the cross-correlation of the signals reflected back to the radar by the targets of interest. In this paper, we show how the above desirable features can be achieved by designing the covariance matrix of the probing signal vector transmitted by the radar. Moreover, in a numerical study, we show that the proper choice of the probing signals can significantly improve the performance of adaptive MIMO radar techniques. Additionally, we demonstrate the advantages of several MIMO transmit beampattern designs, including a beampattern matching design and a minimum sidelobe beampattern design, over their phased-array counterparts.


Objectives Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions—increased blood pressure, a high blood sugar level, abdominal fat accumulation and abnormal cholesterol levels—that occur together, increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Mitochondria play a central role in the energy metabolism. Mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to the pathogenesis of metabolic disorders. Abnormality in mitochondrial function is a leading cause for development of insulin resistance and is promoted, at least partly, through lipid accumulation in ectopic tissues, including liver and skeletal muscle. Many growth and transcription factors involved in the regulation of mitochondrial gene expression also contribute to the pathophysiology of obesity, insulin resistance and type-2 diabetes. The role of mitochondria as functional organelles, and the signaling molecules produced by them are critical in the regulation of cellular energy metabolism and homeostasis. MOTS-c (mitochondrial open reading frame of the 12S rRNA type-c) encoding a 16-amino-acid peptide is a recently identified peptide. The skeletal muscle appears to be the main target organ for MOTS-c and its cellular actions inhibit the folate cycle and its tethered de novo purine biosynthesis, leading to AMPK activation. MOTS-c increases glucose utilization, promotes insulin sensitivity and metabolic homeostasis through activation of AMPK dependent mechanisms in skeletal muscle. In rodent studies MOTS-c has been demonstrated to protect against insulin resistance induced by diet and ageing. However the role of MOTS-c in adipocytes is largely unknown. In this current study we aimed to study the effect of MOTS-c on adipocyte development and metabolism in cultured mouse adipocytes. Methods 3T3L1 cells were grown in DMEM media containing 10% FBS. Cells were stimulated with various concentrations of MOTS-c (100 nM to 50 μM) to study the effect of MOTS-c on cell viability. For differentiation pre-adipocytes were grown in differentiation induction medium containing dexamethasone, IBMX and insulin for two days. The media was replaced with medium containing insulin only for the next six days. About 60–70% differentiation was achieved by day 8. For treatment group pre-adipocytes were pre-treated with MOTS-c for 24 hours, and then differentiated into adipocytes for eight days. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to investigate the effect of MOTS-c on adipogenic genes expression:, Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma (PPARg), AP2, adiponectin and leptin in mouse 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes. Result MOTS-c treatment did not induce any significant changes in cell viability at 24h following treatment. Pretreatment with MOTS-c prior to induction of differentiation down regulated expression of adipogenic markers including leptin, adiponectin, PPARg and PPARg-coactivator 1-alpha (PGC1a) mRNA levels, compared to differentiated adipocyte controls. Conclusion Our primary result indicates that MOTS-c inhibits adipogenesis through down-regulation of multiple genes involved in development of adipocytes, and this inhibition could contribute to the reduced abdominal adiposity. Future studies are currently in progress to further assess the effects of MOTS-c on adipocytes lipolysis, glucose uptake, glucose transporter (GLUT) family and other insulin-signaling pathway protein including GSK3B, IGF1R, IGF2R, and PIK3K are needed to understand the role of MOTS-c in mouse 3T3-L1 adipocytes.


Introduction: Biochemical characterisation of the autocrine, paracrine and endocrine mediators of bone remodelling provides a scientific basis for the development of pharmaceuticals and autoantibodies which could induce a desired skeletal phenotype. The manipulation of bone remodelling in patients at risk for skeletal disease is gaining clinical momentum due to the benefits of maintaining quality of life rather than restoring the long-term dire consequences of skeletal catabolism.Methods: A narrative review of current literature pertaining to the modes of action of pharmaceuticals and autoantibodies which manipulate skeletal metabolism was performed.Results: Pharmaceuticals and autoantibodies which manipulate skeletal remodelling can be broadly divided into three categories: bone resorption inhibitors, bone formation stimulators and bone resorption and formation modulators. The mechanisms of action of these medications are briefly summarised and reference is made to the relevant pharmaceuticals and autoantibodies available.Level of evidence: Level 5


A cross-sectional study was conducted during period of February, 2015 to May, 2015 with the objective of Salmonella isolation from poultry farms in and around Modjo town and to determine antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of the isolates. Accordingly, at total of 205 samples in which 100 cloacal swabs, 75 fresh feces, 10 litter samples, 8 chicken feed samples, 8 poultry drinking water and 4 chicken handlers' hand swab samples were collected.31(15.12%) isolates were detected from 205 collected samples. The studied poultry farms had different prevalence rates but not statistically significant. The lowest prevalence was 5(10.64%) whereas the highest was 10 (20.00%). These isolates 11(11.00%), 14(18.67%), 4 (40.00%) and 2 (25.00%) were recovered from cloacal swabs, fresh feces, litter and poultry drinking water samples respectively. Of the 31 isolates, 21 (67.74%) were motile (contributes to zoonoses) while 10(32.26%) were non-motile. Thirty of 31 isolates were resistant to one or more of antibiotics. Of 30, 19 were multidrug resistant while 11 isolates were only resistant to tetracycline. One isolate was resistant to tetracycline and Kanamycin. Furthermore, 2, 5, 4, and 7 isolates were tetra-, penta-, hexa-, and heptaresistant, respectively. All the 31 isolates were susceptible to Ciprofloxacin and Gentamycin. 18 (94.73%) of multi-drug resistant (MDR) isolates were found resistant to five to seven different antimicrobials. According to this finding, Salmonella was isolated from different sample type, poultry growth stage, and breeds indicating its wider distribution. The detection of multi drug resistant 61.29% (19/31) isolates and 67.74% with likely of zoonotic potential indicated the salmonellosis could be an emerging poultry and public health problem. Therefore, further research is needed on major risk factors and molecular characterization for serotyping and genomic studies to have an idea about genes responsible for pathogenecity and drug resistance of the isolates of Salmonella.


This paper reviews the US and European experiences with regulatory oversight and the use of formal tools to analyze regulation. We conclude that the US and Europe have made some progress in improving regulatory analysis and oversight, but they can do much more. We offer six recommendations for improving the quality and transparency of regulatory oversight and analysis: three recommendations for the United States and three for Europe. For the US, we suggest that: 1) The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) apply its in-house expertise to evaluate the costs and benefits of regulations; 2) Congress pass a law requiring that all federal regulatory agencies submit annual cost and benefit estimates of major regulations to OMB; and 3) OMB issue a scorecard assessing the overall quality of regulation and ask the agencies to complete a scorecard for each major regulation. For Europe, we suggest that: 1) The European Union (EU) pass a directive specifying that the primary objective of regulation is to maximize net benefits; 2) The EU create a strong centralized regulatory oversight unit to help evaluate regulatory proposals; and 3) The EU, as well as each member state, create a structure that is balanced, which promotes efficient regulation and discourages inefficient or ineffective regulation. Copyright 2005, Oxford University Press.


This study aims to evaluate the role of surface treatments performed on plain carbon fiber posts, in relation to serrated carbon fiber posts, in the retention of the composite core. Fifty carbon fiber posts received surface treatments in order to verify their influence on the retention of the core material. An acrylic resin mold was developed in order to precisely fit the post, leaving a machined space to accommodate a self-curing composite resin. After the surface treatment, a primer was applied on the coronal portion of all posts, which were then dried. They were fitted to the mold and received a 3 mm composite core. All specimens were thermocycled and then stored in distilled water for a week. Tension test was performed at a speed of 0.5 mm/min until there was lack of adhesion or fracture of the core. The conclusions were: a) the values of retention related to aluminum oxide spray (group A), depth cutter diamond burs (group C) and posts with machined coronal portion (group D) were comparable to those of serrated posts (group E), although no statistically significant difference between these groups was found; b) the mean values of core retention in group B (medium grit diamond burs) were statistically lower than those of other groups.


We propose and analyze an algorithm for the robust construction of curved meshes in two and three dimensions. The meshes are made of curved simplexes. The algorithm starts from a mesh made of straight simplexes, and using a linear elasticity analogy applied on well‐chosen data, one can generate a curved mesh. Note that if the initial mesh has a boundary layer, this method allows to conserve it on the final mesh. This algorithm is used on several airfoils in two and three dimensions, including a turbulent M6 wing. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


A computational method for understanding and optimizing the properties of complex physical systems is presented using polymeric dispersants as an example. Concentrated suspensions are formulated with dispersants to tune rheological parameters, such as yield stress or viscosity, but their competing effects on solution and particle variables have made it impossible to design them based on our knowledge of the interplay of chemistry and function. Here, physical and statistical modeling are integrated into a hierarchical framework of machine learning that provides insight into sparse experimental datasets. A library of 10 polymers having similar molecular weight but incorporating different functional groups commonly found in aqueous dispersants was used as a training set in magnesium oxide slurries. The compositions of these polymers were the experimental variables that determined the complex system responses, but the method leverages knowledge of the constituent "single-physics" interactions that underlie the suspension properties. Integration of domain knowledge is shown to allow robust predictions based on orders of magnitude fewer samples in the training set compared with purely statistical methods that directly correlate dispersant chemistry with changes in rheological properties. Minimization of the resulting function for slurry yield stress resulted in the prediction of a novel dispersant that was synthesized and shown to impart similar reductions as a leading commercial dispersant but with a significantly different composition and molecular architecture.


The ability of modern power plant data acquisition systems to provide a continuous real-time data feed can be exploited to carry out interesting research studies. In the first part of this study, real-time data from a power plant is used to carry out a comprehensive heat balance calculation. The calculation involves application of the first law of thermodynamics to each powerhouse component. Stoichiometric combustion principles are applied to calculate emissions from fossil fuel consuming components. Exergy analysis is carried out for all components by the combined application of the first and second laws of thermodynamics. In the second part of this study, techniques from the field of System Identification and Linear Programming are brought together in finding thermoeconomically optimum plant operating conditions one step ahead in time. This is done by first using autoregressive models to make short-term predictions of plant inputs and outputs. Then, parameter estimation using recursive least squares is used to determine the relations between the predicted inputs and outputs. The estimated parameters are used in setting up a linear programming problem which is solved using the simplex method. The end result is knowledge of thermoeconomically optimum plant inputs and outputs one step ahead in time.Copyright © 2011 by ASME


Recently, we had reported a case of the first oriental artist to be influenced by Alzheimer's disease. In the report, a Chinese master of painting was diagnosed of AD and his painting style changed remarkably after he developed AD. The master used to be known for the realistic renderings of natural objects, such as flowers and birds. But his painting style changed remarkably after the AD. In fact, his artworks after the disease represented two series of topics, the natural objects such as flowers and birds and the scene series. In the previous report, we showed only the former series. However, we considered it more impressive for the scene series. Thus, we presented here the works of the latter.


Abstract Nitrate contamination in groundwater originates mainly from excessive use of fertilizers and uncontrolled discharge to land of incompletely-treated wastewater associated with agricultural activities. A systematic field investigation was carried out in a sub-catchment of Dianchi Lake, Kunming, Yunnan, China, into the hydrological, biological and geological processes of nitrogen transport and transformation in the aeration zone and aquifer system. In situ experiments showed that the quantity of NO3-N recharged into groundwater was related to fertilization. Nitrification and denitrification behaved quite differently but were affected by moisture content and Eh value. The vertical infiltration rate was controlled by the groundwater table and hydraulic conductivity of the soil. The existence of a zero-flux plane reflected the dynamics of water fluxes in the soil profile and Eh was measured in the aeration zone. In response to these factors, the nitrification rate was greatest in the top soil and reduced with the depth of soil; it was 6.53 mg/(kg·h) in the vegetated plot and 0.2–0.3 mg/(kg·h) in the unvegetated one. The denitrification rate in the unvegetated plot was 6.36 mg/(kg·h), and it was 2.79 mg/(kg·h) in the vegetated one.


I. INTRODUCTION Our republic consists of a national government and fifty state governments. Each has its own constitution as well as separate legislative, executive, and judicial branches. The powers and limitations of each government are established and defined by its constitution. Concomitantly, the judicial branch of each government is charged with interpreting its constitution as required in particular cases. These fundamental principles are central to any discussion of the propriety of "independent state constitutional interpretation," such as that found in the current issue of this law review. In light of these principles, it would seem self-evident that the judicial branch of each government should apply its own constitution and not that of another state in resolving cases with which it is presented. The logic of these simple propositions requires anyone who would question the propriety of a state court basing its decisions on its own constitution to initiate debate by first advancing arguments against such an enterprise. If each state government has a constitution and a judicial branch, why shouldn't a state court rely on its own constitution in deciding cases? Contrary to the criminal law maxim, the burden of proof in this instance is decidedly not on the state. Beginning from the premise that independent state constitutional interpretation is presumptively valid, this Article analyzes the major objections to such interpretation which have been raised by recent commentators. After presenting and critiquing each of these attacks, this Article concludes that the legitimacy of state constitutional jurisprudence emerges unscathed from the fracas. II. THE RESULT-ORIENTED NATURE OF STATE CONSTITUTIONAL ADJUDICATION Critics of independent state constitutional interpretation frequently charge that state courts rely on state, rather than federal, constitutional analysis merely because prevailing federal law does not dictate the results state courts desire to reach in particular cases.(1) To take a simple example, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1988 that the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution does not prohibit police from inspecting the contents of trash bags left on the curb outside a person's home.(2) Two years later, the Washington Supreme Court and the New Jersey Supreme Court, after duly noting the U.S. Supreme Court's contrary ruling under the Federal Constitution, both held that their respective state constitutions prohibited this police activity,(3) Critics argue that such decisions by state judges represent non-neutral interpretations of state constitutions, that are partisan reactions to federal constitutional rulings with which the judges disagree.(4) This criticism springs from an obvious source. In the late 1970s, Supreme Court Justice William J. Brennan Jr., disappointed with what he viewed as the Court's refusal to expand further its protection of individual rights under the Federal Constitution, called on "state courts to step into the breach" by safeguarding civil rights and liberties through interpretation of their own state constitutions.(5) More than two decades later, it is apparent that many state courts have accepted Brennan's invitation. State courts have now rendered hundreds of decisions which grant greater protection to individual rights under state constitutions than the Supreme Court has been willing to afford under the Federal Constitution.(6) It is no wonder, then, that many critics of state constitutional interpretation see in this trend nothing more than an effort to achieve through state law certain liberal political results which federal law does not compel.? In order to respond adequately to this criticism, it is important to review the process by which the U.S. Supreme Court became the nation's premier guardian of individual rights. The Constitution's Bill of Rights originally did not constrain the actions of state governments, but rather, operated only against the national sovereign. …


The Preamble and Chapter 1 This contribution is intended to be the first installment of a systematic interpretation of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 1996. Due to the foundational and repetitive reference in the text to values, regard must constantly be had to those values when this Constitution is interpreted. Even though the preamble does not contain positive norms, is an important interpretive source of the foundations of the Constitution. An important deviation from the preamble of the 1993 Constitution, is that the term Rechtsstaat ("constitutional state") is not employed. The introduction of this notion in South African law and its meaning in general is described. With reference to relevant dicta in recent constitutional cases, the Constitutional Principles in terms of which the 1996 Constitution was formulated and the text of the Constitution itself, it is argued that this is essentially a Rechtsstaat Constitution, but that the divergence in the range of constitutional values creates the danger of the constitutional state floundering in the waters of the social state. Section 1, being the foundational provision, is not unamendable, but it is very tightly entrenched. The most profound values of the Constitution are set out in this compact formulation. The question is inevitably raised whether, where values have to compete for precedence in concrete circumstances, a hierarchy of values must be construed. An analysis of section 1 in the context of other relevant provisions of the Constitution reveals that human dignity is the primary nuclear value of the Constitution, supported by equality and freedom. Democracy, supremacy of the Constitution and the rule of law are structural and procedural values of the Constitution subordinate to the nuclear values and non-racialism and non-sexism are derived values. How it is possible for a constitution to be superior law, as section 2 provides regarding the 1996 Constitution, is analysed against the background of the social contract theory. The weaknesses of this theory are exposed and it is argued that the force external to the Constitution that guarantees its primacy, is its practical legitimacy, i.e. sufficient support or acceptance of the authority of the Constitution by the citizenry. Section 2 is phrased in strong terms and means that no juridically relevant conduct, be it of a private or public law nature, can escape the test of constitutionality. In the interpretation of section 3 the nature of citizenship and nationality is analysed with reference to international authorities and definitions of these concepts are developed. The legal implications of citizenship in the context of the Constitution are set out and the historical context of citizenship having been used in pre-constitutional times as an instrument for creating separate ethnic states, is described. The current post modern tendency in places to devalue citizenship is contrasted with the importance being attached to the notion in South Africa in the context of nation building and the employment of expatriates. Regarding sections 4 and 5 the formal regulation of the national anthem and national flag is described. The national anthem may be amended by presidential proclamation, but changes to the national flag require an amendment of the Constitution. Section 6, which deals with the complex language matter, protects linguistic diversity rather than the status of any languages. The Constitutional Court has determined that, although no express provision to this effect exists, individuals are entitled to use the language of their choice in their dealings and communications with the government. The state is required to promote "the indigenous languages of our people." This is interpreted to include the nine official indigenous African languages, Afrikaans, Khoi, Nama and San. In the determination of language policies Municipal Councils are required to take the language usage and preferences of the inhabitants into account and in the national and provincial at least two official languages must be used. Essential facts regarding language usage, demographic distribution, etc. must be taken into consideration for the determination of a language policy to conform to the Constitution.


In soft substrate inter-tidal and shallow sub-tidal environments, blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) form raised beds of enhanced surface roughness. These beds are rarely homogeneous and may be fractal in spatial structure, or organised into patches or stripes. In any case, the presence of multiple boundaries between regions occupied by mussels and regions of bare substrate are a common aspect of mussel beds. This spatial structure is thought to enable a balance to be achieved between the opposing controls of stress protection and food limitation. Both of these controls are governed strongly by the interaction of the mussels' spatial distribution with hydrodynamics, about which little is known. We address this knowledge gap. Specifically, we studied the effects of mussel patch density (mussels per unit area) and incident mean flow speed on the flow fields over and downstream of mussel patches via laboratory flume experiments. Velocity profiles were measured at several along-flume locations in each run, from which several hydrodynamic parameters were calculated. We found that mussel density is a strong determinant of flow structure over and downstream of mussel patches. As the incident flow passes over a patch, its vertical profile adjusts to the new, raised and roughened bed conditions. A second such adjustment occurs as the flow leaves the patch and re-finds the downstream bed. Turbulent energy is generated primarily at these adjustments to new bed conditions, and was enhanced by increased mussel density to a greater-than-linearly-proportional extent. This implies that there is advantage to higher density patches, in that they increase turbulent energy, enabling food to be mixed downwards to the mussels to an extent greater than the increased amount of mussels, so the amount of food per mussel increases.


About the Author. Preface. Acknowledgements. 1. Introduction. Why the Children Act is different. Public and private child law. Background to the Act. The scheme and style of the Children Act. Amendments to the Act since 1989. Rules, regulations and orders made under the Act. The Children Act Guidance. The Children Act Advisory Committee. Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. 2. Parental responsibility. Parental responsibility: what it is and what it isn't. The initial allocation of parental responsibility. The acquisition of parental responsibility. The sharing of parental responsibility. The content of parental responsibility. The exercise of parental responsibility. The extinguishment of parental responsibility. The position of people who do not have parental responsibility. 3. Court orders in favour of parents. Introduction. Private law orders under the previous law. The scheme of Part II of the Children Act. When orders can be made. Contact orders. Residence orders. Prohibited steps orders. Specific issue orders. Supplementary conditions attached to orders. Family assistance orders. The exercise of the court's discretion. Procedure and evidence. Interim section 8 orders. Welfare reports. Separate representation of the child. Section 8 orders and divorce. The duration of section 8 orders. Preventing further litigation. 4. Court orders in favour of non-parents. The scope of the present chapter. Section 8 orders in favour of non-parents. Special rules for non-parents' applications. The effect of a section 8 order. Applications by children for section 8 orders. Applications after adoption. Applications by local authorities and voluntary organizations. Other aspects of non-parental applications for section 8 orders. Orders without applications. Special guardianship orders. 5. Local authority support for children and families. The scope of the present chapter. Children in need. The provision of services for children and families. Assessment of the needs of individual children. The general duty of the local authority: section 17(1). The specific duties and powers in Schedule 2. Assistance in kind and assistance in cash. Day care for the under-fives and supervision of schoolchildren. Charges for local authority services. Co-operation between authorities. Complaints. Part III in practice. Child protection and children in need. 6. Accommodating children under section 20. Accommodation as a support service. The powers and duties under section 20. The relationship with section 17 accommodation. The parental veto. Can the provision of accommodation be demanded? Does the child have a say? The position when accommodation is provided. Removal from accommodation. Help on leaving accommodation. The acquisition of control by the authority. The acquisition of control by individuals. 7. Compulsory intervention on child protection grounds. Introduction. The three stages of policy development. Section 47 child protection investigations. Enquiries before an investigation: the initial assessment. The relationship between section 47 and the children in need provisions. Investigations into alleged sexual abuse. Investigations during private law proceedings. Court-ordered investigations under section 37. 8. Emergency protection orders and child assessment orders. Introduction. The emergency protection order. The child assessment order. CAO or EPO?. 9. Police powers. The power of the police to act of their own motion. Police applications for emergency protection orders. Criminal investigations. The role of the police in assisting officials. Police involvement in the recovery of abducted or missing children. 10. Care orders. Introduction. Applicants for a care order. The children concerned. The grounds for a care order. When an application can be made. The discretion to apply for a care order. The processing of a care order application. The role of the court. The legal effect of a care order. The duration of a care order. The making of other orders on a care order application. Care order or supervision order? Care order or residence order? Interim care orders. Aftercare. 11. Supervision orders. Introduction. Matters on which the rules coincide with those governing care orders. The legal effect of a supervision order. Matters which may not be regulated by an order. The duration of a supervision order. Variation of the supervision order. Interim supervision orders. Obstruction of the social worker. Supervision order or care order? 12. Courts and appeals against court decisions. The concurrent jurisdiction principle. The subordinate provisions. Questions arising under the Human Rights Act 1998 A family court? Appeals against court decisions. 13. Welfare reports, children's guardians and CAFCASS. CAFCASS. Welfare reports. Children's guardians. Separate representation for children in private law cases. Referrals to CAFCASS by independent reviewing officers. In-court conciliation in private law cases. Post-contact order follow-up. 14. Wardship and the inherent jurisdiction of the High Court. Introduction. The inherent jurisdiction of the High Court. Public law cases: the effect of section 100. Private law cases. The decline of the inherent jurisdiction. 15. Adoption. Introduction. Non-agency adoptions. Agency adoptions. Making section 8 orders in adoption proceedings. Applications for section 8 orders following adoption. 16. Local authority foster carers. The statutory definition. The decision to use fostering. The Fostering Services Regulations 2002. The National Minimum Standards for Fostering Services. Foster carer recruitment. Limit on number of children. Complaints from foster carers. Applications for section 8 orders. Applications for an adoption order. Applications for special guardianship. Notes. Appendix: The Children Act 2004. Bibliography. Index.


The plight of the black athlete in United States professional and collegiate sports reflects a historical road burdened by strident discrimination, yielding assimilation and gleeful exploitation. As African American athletes began to be permitted to enter the lineups of storied professional sports clubs beginning in the 1950s, they did so only on the strict conditions placed upon them by the status quo white male dominated regime. Often the very terms of black athlete participation required a rigid commitment to - covering - racial identity and outright suppression of self. Once African American athletes burst onto the nation's consciousness in the forms of Jesse Owens, Jackie Robinson, Althea Gibson, Kenny Washington, Chuck Cooper, Bill Willis, Sweetwater Clifton, Marion Motley, Wilma Rudolph, and Muhammad Ali, white America responded in a way that can only be described as both terrified and enthralled. Tracing through the past 50 years, African Americans have been able to join and dominate the ranks of the players and entertainers in American sports, but have been resolutely denied admission as "decision makers." In 2008, African Americans while dominating the fields of play in number and talent, represent only a sliver of those in power. Scarcely a minority face can be found amongst U.S. professional team owners, or amongst collegiate presidents and athletic directors. Many powerful men and women have spoken out in connection with this dearth of minority representation amongst American sports power brokers, including spokespersons both sublime and unrestrained. One powerful man that could no longer abide the unconscionable deficiency of minority representation amongst American sports power brokers was Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr. Johnnie Cochran is widely considered the most prolific trial lawyer of his generation. Cochran, while notorious for his successful representation of Orenthal James Simpson in the murder trial of Nicole Simpson and Ron Goldman, deserves much greater notoriety for a career devoted to social justice, equality and contempt for racism and the status quo. In fact, one of Cochran's greatest achievements occurred at the twilight of his life and career. Following on the heels of his successful defense of O.J. Simpson in the criminal trial, Cochran returned to his legal roots of social justice and civil rights. What enfolded thereafter is a case study of the type of social change that can be orchestrated once a passionate individual reaches a state of influence and prestige that simply cannot be ignored. The day that Johnnie Cochran and class action plaintiffs' attorney Cyrus Mehri walked into National Football League Commissioner Paul Tagliabue's office, and demanded that Tagliabue lead a social movement in the NFL, is a day that should be remembered and hallowed in a career full of memorable days and hallowed victories. Cochran and Mehri 'encouraged' a professional sports league commissioner to do the right thing and what ensued from that interaction has become very nearly remarkable. The adoption and promulgation of the Rooney Rule ensued.


The article presents results of spectral analysis that has detected the presence of Kondratieff waves (their period equals approximately 52–53 years) in the world GDP dynamics for the 1870–2007 period. To estimate the statistical significance of the detected cycles a new methodology has been applied. The significance of K-waves in the analyzed data has turned out to be in the range between 4 and 5 per cent. Hence, this spectral analysis has supported the hypothesis of the presence of Kondratieff waves in the world GDP dynamics. In addition, the reduced spectra analysis has indicated a rather high (2–3%) significance of Juglar cycles (with a period of 7–9 years), as well as the one of Kitchin cycles (with a period of 3–4 years). Thus our spectral analysis has also supported the hypothesis of the presence of Juglar and Kitchin cycles in the world GDP dynamics. On the other hand, our analysis suggests that the Kuznets swing should be regarded as the third harmonic of the Kondratieff wave rather than as a separate independent cycle. This research suggests two interpretations of the current global economic crisis. On the one hand, the spectral analysis suggests rather optimistically that the current world economic crisis might mark not the beginning of the downswing phase of the 5th Kondratieff wave, but it may be interpreted as a temporary depression between two peaks of the upswing (whereas the next peak might even exceed the previous one). On the other hand, there also seems to be some evidence supporting another interpretation based on the assumption that the current world financial-economic crisis marks the beginning of the downswing phase of the 5th Kondratieff wave. The article also explores the world GDP dynamics before 1870 and finds that it does not appear possible to detect Kondratieff waves in the world GDP dynamics for the pre-1870 period, though for this period they appear to be detected for the GDP dynamics of the West. This suggests that in the pre-1870 epoch the Modern World System was not sufficiently integrated, and the World System core was not sufficiently strong yet – that is why the rhythm of the Western core's development was not quite felt on the world level. Only in the subsequent era the World System reached such a level of integration and its core acquired such strength that it appears possible to trace quite securely Kondratieff waves in the World GDP dynamics.


Integration Processes and Dual Citizenship When relations of citizenship are regulated, it is very important to assess new actual situations, as well as the latest needs of society and the state and to react to them adequately. It is important that the Law on Citizenship defines which persons are citizens of the Republic of Lithuania, and in what situations a citizen of the Republic of Lithuania may be also a citizen of another state, since citizenship is not only a formal legal category, but it is also always inseparably related with the issues of sovereignty, national identity, political order, and the rights and freedoms of persons. While regulating the citizenship relations from the restoration of the State of Lithuania in 1918, the view was upheld that, as a rule, a citizen of Lithuania may not also be a citizen of another state at the same time, and that dual citizenship was allowed only in individual cases established in the law. The development of legislative regulation of citizenship after the 1992 Constitution entered into effect shows that legislation gradually widened the circle of persons who were allowed to be citizens of the Republic of Lithuania and of another state at the same time. In 2006, when a legal dispute arose regarding the compliance of some provisions of the Law on Citizenship with the Constitution, the Law on Citizenship used to contain the legal regulation whereby the absolute majority of citizens of the Republic of Lithuania, regardless of where they lived - in Lithuania or another foreign state - were allowed to be citizens of another state at the same time as well. By its ruling of 13 November 2006, the Constitutional Court recognised such legal regulation as being in conflict with the Constitution. If the legislator were really committed to following the provision that dual citizenship may be a widespread phenomenon - and this would be so if, alongside the cases specified in the draft Law on Citizenship, one would provide that also the persons who left Lithuania after 11 March 1990 are allowed to have dual citizenship—it would be necessary to correspondingly amend the provisions of Article 12 of the Constitution. This can be done by referendum only. No matter how the legislative regulation of the relations of citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania will be amended in the future, one must pay heed to the provisions of the Constitution, including those which entrench equality of rights of all persons and non-discrimination on grounds of ethnicity.


For a long time, knowledge asymmetry has been attributed to uneven growth and development across countries. Today, when issues of access to safe and affordable drinking water are not only a national concern and cooperation across the world are pushing towards sustainable goals, web portals, publication of reports by institutions involved in international and national water technology and policy activities are facilitating knowledge exchange. These platforms have developed indicators to assess the water-related concerns and share best management practices, sustainable approaches and data, making knowledge accessible for all. Also, recently bibliometric and scientometric studies have developed tools to assess research in the area of the water sector. This webliography is an effort to produce a comprehensive list of activities undertaken by institutions participating in the knowledge creation and knowledge dissemination process in the area of water internationally as well as in India.


In this book the author gives a penetrating insight into the ways of spurious thinking and analytical reasoning among historians of the Malay Archipelago in their explanation and interpretation of historical events pertaining to the coming and spread of Islam in the Archipelago. He exposes errors and fallacies in their chronological framework and educated conjectures, their tainted assumptions on the religious and cultural effects of Islamization in indigenous history. In dealing with the Islamic past his critique of their empirical and inductive methods and weak logical analysis and rational estimation deserves due appreciation. In contradiction to what the historians assume as the facts of history the author demonstrates his own explanation and interpretation of the major issues and casts new light on many basic matters that have hitherto eluded inquiry.


ABSTRACT Alves, F.L., Sousa, L.P., Esteves, T.C., Oliveira, E.R., Antunes, I.C., Fernandes, M.L., Carvalho, L., Barroso, S., Pereira, M., 2014. Trend Change(s) in Coastal Management Plans: the integration of short and medium term perspectives in the spatial planning process. In: Green, A.N. and Cooper, J.A.G. (eds.), Proceedings 13th International Coastal Symposium (Durban, South Africa), Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 70, pp. 437–442, ISSN 0749-0208. Spatial planning can be seen as an interdisciplinary science that ensures sustainable development and land use, since it integrates policy, social, cultural, economic and environmental management issues. Marine and coastal spatial planning is particularly challenging due to their vulnerable, dynamic and complex nature and to the problems associated with sea level rise, erosion processes and land-use pressures in the coastal zone. Coastal erosion, flooding and shoreline retreat are serious problems along the coast of mainland Portugal. By using an innovative approach of coastal zone spatial planning, this study developed an Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan for the Portuguese central region (stretch Ovar - Marinha Grande), where alternative planning policies to the previous ones were suggested. The study revealed that socio-economic analysis and the identification and valuation of ecosystems services and land use need to be incorporated in spatial planning to support decision-making favouring sustainable development. According to these approaches the Coastal Plan was developed considering three environmental scenarios to respond to the coastal erosion trends, based on a development model for the coastal region. In addition, the scenarios consider the public investments constraints (national budget) expected in the next decade and the short and medium term of the Plan. This Plan is differentiated from the previous by attempting to lessen further coastal erosion through the integration of different jurisdictions, legislations and directive measures and applying them to the terrain. This strategy shows itself as relevant to promote further forward-thinking Plans for other Portuguese coastal areas.


Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common degenerative joint disease and affects millions of people worldwide. Signal pathways triggered by biomechanical stimuli play an important role in the initialization and progression of OA, via direct physical effects and inflammation factors. Diagnosis of OA is currently based on radiological and clinical findings, typically when the disease is at a late stage. In recent years, Raman spectroscopy has emerged as a suitable technique for the study of OA, providing useful information about the subtle molecular and biochemical changes that occur in joint tissues during the progression of the disease. Studies also show the great potential of Raman methods for the early detection of the disease. In this review, we present the advances in the assessment of OA by means of Raman spectroscopy.