A sensor constellation capable of determining the location and detailed concentration distribution of chemical warfare agent simulant clouds has been developed and demonstrated on government test ranges. The constellation is based on the use of standoff passive multispectral infrared imaging sensors to make column density measurements through the chemical cloud from two or more locations around its periphery. A computed tomography inversion method is employed to produce a 3D concentration profile of the cloud from the 2D line density measurements. We discuss the theoretical basis of the approach and present results of recent field experiments where controlled releases of chemical warfare agent simulants were simultaneously viewed by three chemical imaging sensors. Systematic investigations of the algorithm using synthetic data indicate that for complex functions, 3D reconstruction errors are less than 20% even in the case of a limited three-sensor measurement network. Field data results demonstrate the capability of the constellation to determine 3D concentration profiles that account for ~?86%? of the total known mass of material released.


In garnetiferous micaschists occurring at the northern termination of the Moravian domain, metabasites were found containing relics of eclogite-facies assemblages. In these rocks, minimum pressure conditions of 13 kbar at temperatures of 625–655 °C were followed by decompression to amphibolite-facies conditions. Surrounding metapelites contain Fe-rich chloritoid and Fe-rich staurolite preserved as inclusions in garnet porphyroblasts indicating early PT conditions of 570 °C at pressures of 6–7 kbar. The matrix assemblage shows an increase of temperature and pressure to about 615 °C at 6.5–9 kbar. The PT paths of both metapelite and amphibolitized eclogite are suggested to converge at the peak temperature conditions of the metasediments. The PT evolution of the eclogitic sample and of the surrounding metapelites is different from the PT history of the same rocks occurring in the Moldanubian domain but similar to that of the Moravian metasediments. Thus, the presence of eclogite-facies metamorphism at the eastern margin of the Bohemian massif suggests early subduction and subsequent collision of the Brunovistulian foreland with the internal Variscan orogenic root domain.


OF DISSERTATION THE IMPACT OF BIOFUEL POLICIES ON OVERSHOOTING OF AGRICULTURAL PRICES The Federal Reserve has increased nominal interest rates since early 2016. It is expected that commodity prices will drop in response to this monetary intervention. The overshooting hypothesis explains that commodity prices are more flexible than manufacturing prices and therefore are more volatile. In this situation, it is expected that agricultural commodities decline significantly (i.e., overshoot) and gradually return to their long-run equilibrium. This adjustment behavior has implications for income stability and financial viability of farmers. This research contributes to the overshooting literature by including the energy sector in the overshooting model. The interlinks between energy and other sectors in the economy as well as the vast resource allocation to biofuel production in recent decades demand more attention to the impact of energy on the dynamic adjustment path of relative prices' reaction to monetary shocks. We assume energy prices have independent adjustment path and include the links between the energy and agricultural sectors through biofuel production in our model. Our theoretical model shows that by including energy prices in the model, agricultural prices and the exchange rate overshoot less than the prediction of prior studies. This happens because we expect that flexible energy prices share the burden of the shock with other flexible prices in the model. We also describe how an increasing share of biofuels in the total fuel consumption will reduce the flexibility of energy prices. In our empirical analysis, we use monthly data from January 1975 to December 2017 for three producer price indexes (i.e., agricultural commodities, energy, and industrial goods), exchange rates, and money supply to test the overshooting hypothesis. We found the series to be nonstationary and cointegrated of the order one, I(1). Thus, we estimated a vector error correction model to identify the short run adjustment parameters while maintaining the long-run relationships between the variables. We identify and control for three possible structural breaks in the data that coincide with two economic crises and the biofuel production era. We also estimated the empirical model using a sub-sample from January 1975 to March 1999 and compared the results with the findings in previous studies. Our empirical results confirm the theoretical expectation that agricultural commodities adjust faster than manufacturing prices. The analysis of the impulse response functions shows that after a money supply shock, agricultural prices were the most responsive, followed by energy prices and exchange rates. In both full sample and the subsample, the volatility of prices and exchange rates happen during the first 5 to 10 months. The sluggish adjustment of manufacturing prices was evident from the corresponding impulse response functions. The empirical evidence rejects the long-run money neutrality, consistent with the findings of previous empirical studies. Compared to previous models, our empirical model shows that including energy prices will reduce the extent to which agricultural commodities overshoot. Therefore we expect the disturbances to the farm income variability, in response to monetary policy, to be less than what prior model would have estimated. In this regard, energy prices are a stabilizing factor in this model. We find that increased share of biofuel from total fuel consumption would positively affect the overshooting of agricultural prices. So, higher biofuel mandates could reduce the flexibility of the energy prices and therefore have an adverse effect on the farm price stability.


SOMMARIO: 1. Ateismo religioso e valori - 2. Ateismo moderato, neo-ateismo e ateismo religioso - 3. Alcune considerazioni su indipendenza e inevitabilita dei valori - 4. Conclusioni. Dworkin's Atheistic Religion and the Divinization of Value ABSTRACT: This essay critically discusses some of the central ideas of Ronald Dworkin's last book, Religion Without God. In particular, it will be argued that the idea of "religion without God" is not a form of atheism, as Dworkin claims, but a pure religious attitude in which the idea of "theistic entity" of traditional religion is replaced by a new and not less problematic entity, the idea of "value".


Strut-and-Tie Model (STM) can be used to model the flow of compression within a concrete strut. Concrete struts are formed in various shapes such as prismatic or bottle-shaped. In order to study the behavior of concrete struts, a series of simple tests were performed. Eighteen reinforced concrete isolated struts with compressive strength of 65 MPa were tested up failure under point loading in the plane of specimens. The tested specimens were reinforced by various reinforcement layouts. The behavior of tested beams was investigated. Observations were made on transverse displacement, primary cracking and ultimate failure load and distribution of strain on the face of tested panels. Based on these observations, the geometry of the concrete struts was examined. a new model to analysis of concrete struts was proposed based on modified compression field theory (MCFT). A database of 44 tested specimens was compiled to evaluate the proposed model. The results indicate that using the ACI and CSA codes expressions regarding the amount of minimum required reinforcement in a strut produces conservative but erratic results when compared with the test data. Conversely, the new proposed model presents a more accurate prediction for the strength of 44 tested struts.


The thesis is devoted to applications of the anti de Sitter/Conformal field theory correspondence (AdS/CFT, also called holography) to various problems in different areas of theoretical physics.

We make use of AdS/CFT to get insights into the physics of superconductors, quark-gluon plasma, and to study properties of quantum field theories on non-causal backgrounds.

In the first part of the thesis we construct a holographic model of a Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer-like superconductor and demonstrate that the Cooper instability of Fermi-liquids can be naturally described in holographic terms. We show that both the superconducting phase and the BEC/BCS crossover appear naturally.

In the second part we address the problem of quark-gluon plasma formation in heavy ion collisions. We study the effect of finite chemical potential on this process and calculate physical properties of the resulting deconfined state.

The third part is dedicated to study of evolution of a quantum system with violated causality. Using AdS/CFT we can map the complicated and poorly defined non-causal quantum dynamics onto a classical spacetime with closed timelike curves. Doing that we have derived the Green's function of the QFT and demonstrated that evolution of a quantum system can be consistent and non-pathological even at broken causality.


Lockouts are not directly regulated in the labour laws of Lithuania, though, actually, they are equal to the forbidden actions undertaken by the employer in case of a Strike that are set out in the Law of Collective Disputes Regulation. Due to a complicated procedure of a Strike declare aimed at a separate enterprise, strikes are quite a rare phenomenon in Lithuania which does not provoke the possibility of a retaliatory defensive measure – the lockout. On the ground of the Europe Social Charter and ILO conventions the Industrialists Confederation of Lithuania and one of the trade union federations put forward the initiative to include the rule providing for the possibility of the lockout into the draft Labour Code. However, it is not balanced with other rules of solving collective labour disputes and is still in the process of codification. Using regulations of other countries and foreign scientific works, the article presents the analyses of legal nature of the lockout, some of its conceptions, the peculiarities of international legal regulation, illegal forms of strikes linked with legal consequences of the lockout; different attitudes of employees, employers and trade unions towards the lockout are also examined. The emphasis is put on the experience of Labour courts of Germany that can be useful solving the problem of the lockout legalization, especially in the countries that are in transition to market economy, including Lithuania.


In recent years, a new approach has been developed for verifying security protocols with the aim of combining the benefits of symbolic attackers and the benefits of unconditional soundness: the technique of the computationally complete symbolic attacker of Bana and Comon (BC) [8]. In this article, we argue that the real breakthrough of this technique is the recent introduction of its version for indistinguishability [9], because, with the extensions we introduce here, for the first time, there is a computationally sound symbolic technique that is syntactically strikingly simple, to which translating standard computational security notions is a straightforward matter, and that can be effectively used for verification of not only equivalence properties but trace properties of protocols as well. We first fully develop the core elements of this newer version by introducing several new axioms. We illustrate the power and the diverse use of the introduced axioms on simple examples first. We introduce an axiom expressing the Decisional Diffie-Hellman property. We analyze the Diffie-Hellman key exchange, both in its simplest form and an authenticated version as well. We provide computationally sound verification of real-or-random secrecy of the Diffie-Hellman key exchange protocol for multiple sessions, without any restrictions on the computational implementation other than the DDH assumption. We also show authentication for a simplified version of the station-to-station protocol using UF-CMA assumption for digital signatures. Finally, we axiomatize IND-CPA, IND-CCA1, and IND-CCA2 security properties and illustrate their usage. We have formalized the axiomatic system in an interactive theorem prover, Coq, and have machine-checked the proofs of various auxiliary theorems and security properties of Diffie-Hellman and station-to-station protocol.


MICHAEL R. W. DAWSON Understanding Cognitive Science Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishers Inc., 1998, 351 pages (ISBN 0-631-20895-X, C$52.85, Softcover) Reviewed by SIU L. CHOW In this book, the mind is an information processor. It is studied as a physical symbol system (which is a special case of the Universal Turing Machine, UTM) in the classical approach, but as a network of connections (a la neural connections in the brain) in the connectionist approach. The first theme of the book is the necessity and sufficiency of the tri-level criteria for assessing the success of cognitive science, the three criteria being (a) a clear delineation of what the cognitive problems are, (b) an account of the transition of knowledge-states in the course of solving cognitive problems, and (c) a description of the physical device that implement the changes in knowledge-states. The second theme is that the differences between the classical and connectionist approaches are more apparent than real because both approaches have the potential to satisfy the trilevel hypothesis. It is argued that any satisfactory account of the mind as an information processor must give satisfactory descriptions at the computational (semantic), procedural (algorithmic), and physical (implemental) levels. A computational description of the machine serves to delineate the domain pertinent to cognitive science. Both approaches satisfy the first criterion because all cognitive scientists agree on what "information" means. The steps used in solving cognitive problems (e.g., a chess game) must be made explicit in the procedural description. The classical approach is superior to the connectionist approach because explicit, mechanical, step-by-step problem-solving rules can be identified for the UTM, whereas the connectionist often cannot describe how a successful network achieves its feats. The implementation description provides details of the medium in which the processing procedures are realized. It is in the form of a serial UTM in which there is a sharp separation of data and processes. In the connectionist approach, processing is implemented in a brain-like network in which data are distributed throughout the network whose multiple processors work in parallel. Moreover, the network can learn to solve problems without applying rules by virtue of its hidden units and back-propagation, error-correction capability. However, a brief assessment of the tri-level hypothesis sets in high relief why cognitive science has little or nothing to do with the human mind. Consider the necessity of giving a description of the physical properties of the information processor (i.e., the implementation description). There is no self-evident reason why knowing the material of which a gadget is built is essential to understanding how (or why) it works. In other words, the implementation description plays no role in understanding the problem-solving machine. It is a thesis of the tri-level hypothesis that an understanding of the mind requires knowing the processing steps that solve cognitive problems (i.e., having a computation description). There are many examples that highlight the success of cognitive science in this regard. Be that as it may, the computation description is debatable for different reasons for the classical and the connectionist accounts. Computation is achieved in the UTM by carrying out mechanical algorithms that are devised analytically (hence, called "analytic algorithms"). The issue of validation arises because analytic algorithms are not observable. The validation criterion used is Pylyshyn's (1984) strong equivalence, which subsumes Newell and Simon's (1972) sufficiency criterion. Specifically, an analytic algorithm is validated when it matches the human subject's protocol algorithm (viz., the sufficiency criterion) in exactly the same way (viz., the strong equivalence criterion). This criterion presupposes that the protocol algorithm is veridical. …


What common thread links these events of the summer of 1997: the British handover of Hong Kong to China, the tragic auto accident that killed Princess Diana in Paris, and the failure of the U.S. president's appointment for ambassador to Mexico? Each reflects the pervasive tentacles of substance abuse in our society. Hong Kong and its territories came under Western control as a direct result of the 19th-century Opium Wars, waged by Britain to force China to allow importation of opium. Fatal car accidents involving drivers under the influence of alcohol are an all-too-frequent occurrence, despite much public awareness of the dangers of drunk driving. Perceptions of a too-soft philosophical position on marijuana use at least momentarily diverted the U.S. ship of state. These three examples of the daily misfortunes and calamities associated with recreational use and abuse of and dependence on legal and illegal drugs reveal a problem with global dimensions and highly complex legal, moral, economic and health ramifications, both public and personal.

Despite growing investments of federal and state funds in controlling the supply of illegal drugs (amounting to at least twice the total annual U.S. expenditure on biomedical research), all price indicators suggest that supplies have not been constrained. Estimates of illicit drug use suggest undiminished numbers of hard-core users and growing numbers of inexperienced youthful abusers, for whom even the tobacco and alcohol products used by adults are illegal. According to a 1994 report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the annual cost to society of alcohol abuse is nearly $100 billion; Dupont and Voth[*][1] have estimated the annual social costs of tobacco use at $65 billion, with more than half a million deaths annually attributable to alcohol and tobacco use. Substance abuse is unquestionably a major societal problem, which has so far resisted any single approach to reducing drug use, drug supplies, or the multiple adverse consequences of drug use. Lest that conclusion be interpreted as an indication that efforts to control supply have failed, one can only wonder what the costs in carnage and dollars would be without those efforts.

Science is not alone in recognizing the enormity and complexity of this problem. The extensive coverage in the public and scientific presses[†][2] reflects the great variety of opinions about what should be done and the factual bases for those opinions. This special issue, coordinated with the help of Senior Editor Katrina Kelner, presents a series of articles designed to inform a broader scientific examination of substance abuse and its problems, as well as the scientific opportunities it presents. Nestler and Aghajanian ([p. 58][3]) consider the molecular and cellular changes occurring in the brains of experimental animals made dependent on opiates or cocaine; in those animals, lasting changes in specific signal transduction systems led to altered behavioral consequences of the affected circuits. Koob and Le Moal ([p. 52][4]) examine these behavioral consequences in terms of their biochemical substrates as being both adaptive and potentially maladaptive, in an escalating spiral of progressive obsession with drug-seeking and -taking, sensitized by interactions between vulnerability factors such as stress and genetics. O'Brien ([p. 66][5]) examines treatments presently available for different drugs of abuse after user detoxification, in order to compare successful long-term treatment options and investigate what is needed to reduce harmful consequences to drug users and those close to them. Nesse and Berridge ([p. 63][6]) reflect on the evolutionary implications of mechanisms rooted in the fundamental design of the human nervous system that can hold the brain hostage to drugs of abuse. Their analysis suggests possible strategies for prevention, treatment, and future public policy. MacCoun and Reuter ([p. 47][7]) examine the policies used to confront substance abuse in other countries and the degree to which the lessons learned may or may not inform the United States' problems; their in-depth analysis of the Dutch policy of de facto legalization of cannabis suggests the difficulties of predicting the consequences of significant drug policy actions, including their effects on drug use. Lastly, Leshner (p. [45][8]) considers the intersection of the behavioral, social, and pharmacological aspects of the chronic relapsing disease of the nervous system called "addiction," and seeks health and social policy strategies to help diminish the costs to society of substance abuse. We look forward to your reactions.

 [1]: #fn-1
 [2]: #fn-2
 [3]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.278.5335.58
 [4]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.278.5335.52
 [5]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.278.5335.66
 [6]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.278.5335.63
 [7]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.278.5335.47
 [8]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.278.5335.45


The primary energy consumption in buildings in developed countries accounts for about 40% of whole uses. Therefore, a large number of regulations have been promulgated by the European Union concerning energy saving issues; in particular, Directive 2002/91/EC has been issued regarding the energy performance of buildings and its Recast Directive 2010/31/EU, promoting the Nearly Zero Energy Building targets, introducing stricter parameters with regards to this specific aim. Furthermore, the latter Directive asks Member States to include, within their national plans, measures aimed at supporting public authorities becoming early adopters of building energy efficiency improvements. At the same time, public authorities should implement effective examples of use of energy efficiency criteria in public buildings. Furthermore, the energy consumption of buildings depends significantly on the criteria used for the indoor environment, as well as, the building's design and use, as clearly indicated in the EN 15251 standard. Recent studies have shown that the costs of a poor indoor environment on the employer, building owners and society, on the whole, are often considerably higher than the cost of the energy used within the same building. In this context, school buildings play a key role. They should have high levels of indoor environmental performance. In the present paper, the authors analyse the comfort conditions in a school in Palermo (Italy) in order to draw attention to the building's design weaknesses. The analyses have highlighted that the requirements for indoor environmental quality and for energy efficiency may be controversial at times. It finally emerges that energy refurbishment actions will have to start from the requirements of indoor environmental quality.


The history of museums in South Africa dates back to 1825 when the South African
Museum (SAM) was established in Cape Town. Initially museums in South Africa were
established for science and local history was seen as peripheral. Nevertheless, this began
to change during the early 1920s as artifacts of historical nature gained popularity, saving
them from historical oblivion in museums. Museums themselves broadened their role to
become major centres of both scientific and historical knowledge.
When museums started to include historical artifacts, they entered a terrain which was
influenced by a racist ideology of segregation and then apartheid. Thus, they became
centres of political discourse and mirrors of the white domination in South Africa. From
the 1920s museums served to propagate certain myths which was based on the subjugation
of Africans by white settlers. Museums played a pivotal role in entrenching ideas of white
settlement in Natal as a triumph over barbarism, savage and heathenism. Exhibitions
within the museums reflected certain identities at the expense of others. It was not until the
1980s that the political scenario forced museums to examine their role and adapt to the
new order. This marked the beginning of a new dispensation in the politics and poetics of
museum displaying. During the 1990s issues of representation in museums became
popular. Historians were among those who became interested in the question of how to
represent the South African a turbulent past in a post apartheid South Africa. This era was
characterized by new displays which are more accommodative and represent diverse
population groups of South Africa.
Exhibitions in museums always involve political ramifications and ideas within
exhibitions draw reference to the powerful groups in the making of political and social
discourse. During the post- apartheid era, KwaZulu-Natal museums reflect new identities
which are based on non-racialism and interaction of diverse people of the province. They
no longer serve as reference point for white domination and educational programmes are
more multidimensional and appeal to all sectors of our society. The thesis adopted in this
piece of work is that museums are political institutions and reflect the political identities of
the society that they live. They cannot be divorced from their time and circumstances.


The growth of GeTe thin films on a Si(111)-(√3 × √3)R30°-Sb surface is reported. At growth onset, the rapid formation of fully relaxed crystalline GeTe(0001)-(1 × 1) is observed. During growth, a GeTe(0001)-(√3 × √3)R30° surface reconstruction is also detected. Indeed, density functional theory (DFT) simulations indicate that the reconstructed GeTe(0001)-(√3 × √3)R30° structure is energetically competing with the GeTe(0001)-(1 × 1) reconstruction. The out-of-plane α-GeTe ||Si and in-plane α-GeTe ||Si epitaxial relationships are confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Suppression of rotational twist and reduction of twinned domains are achieved. The formation of rotational domains in GeTe grown on Si(111)-(7 × 7) is explained by domain matched coincidence lattice formation with the Si(111)-(1 × 1) surface. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) images show the coalescence of well-oriented islands with subnanometer roughness on their top part. van der Pauw measurements are performed to verify the...


This paper investigates the relationship between poverty and migration with the 64th round household level data on employment and unemployment and migration particulars in India collected from the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) in 2007-08. The paper examines whether out-migration of rural workers is a gainful option to reduce poverty. By applying the logit model, the study also investigates the effect of rural urban migration on poverty among the in-migrant households living in urban areas in the probabilistic sense. The study explores probable reasons behind migration, either temporary or permanent, in urban locations. It is observed that lack of education, pressure of big family size, small landholding and inadequate agricultural income push rural workers to out-migrate to the cities in search of jobs.


The detection and monitoring of surface water and its extent are critical for understanding floodwater hazards. Flooding and undermining caused by surface water flow can result in damage to critical infrastructure and changes in ecosystems. Along major transportation corridors, such as railways, even small bodies of water can pose significant hazards resulting in eroded or washed out tracks. In this study, heterogeneous data from synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite missions, optical satellite-based imagery and airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR) were fused for surface water detection. Each dataset was independently classified for surface water and then fused classification models of the three datasets were created. A multi-level decision tree was developed to create an optimal water mask by minimizing the differences between models originating from single datasets. Results show a water classification uncertainty of 4–9% using the final fused models compared to 17–23% uncertainty using single polarization SAR. Of note is the use of a high resolution LiDAR digital elevation model (DEM) to remove shadow and layover effects in the SAR observations, which reduces overestimation of surface water with growing vegetation. Overall, the results highlight the advantages of fusing multiple heterogeneous remote sensing techniques to detect surface water in a predominantly natural landscape.


The question as to whether geophysical data from habitats can be used to predict the occurrence of benthic biodiversity is becoming more important with the increase in Marine Protected Areas as tools for marine conservation. To help answer this question and to better understand the relationship between sediment, geomorphology and benthos, we conducted a multibeam sonar survey over two areas in the northern Great Barrier Reef - Gulf of Papua region. Multivariate statistical analyses (cluster, multi-dimensional scaling and BIO-ENV procedure) of the physical and biological datasets from both areas, determined that the geophysical variables, slope and gravel percentage, were the best predictors for megabenthos assemblage patterns. In conjunction with Geographic Information System (GIS) models of the geomorphology and bathymetry, these geophysical variables were used to derive the spatial boundaries of benthic habitats for each study area. We applied a hierarchical method of benthic habitat mapping to the Secondary Biotope and Biological Facies levels at the site (<10 km) scale. The combination of substrate type, sedimentary dynamics and physical processes related to near-seabed currents appear to be a dominant control on the benthic communities in the northern Great Barrier Reef - Gulf of Papua region. These results add confidence to the use of geophysical data from seabed habitats, such as geology, sediment and morphology, as predictors for benthos distribution and thus provide a basis for marine reserve selection.


A positive linear relationship between salinity and fluorescent dissolved organic matter (FDOM) was observed on several occasions along the West Florida shelf at salinities greater than 36.5. This represents a departure from the typical inverse relationship between FDOM and salinity observed in most coastal regions caused by the mixing of riverine FDOM with clear oceanic water. Three‐dimensional excitation‐emission matrices showed that the high‐salinity, high‐FDOM water had blue‐shifted spectra characteristic of autochthonous, marine FDOM, with peak M concentrations eight times higher than previously reported for seawater. The blue‐shifted fluorescence endmember at high salinity was clearly distinguishable from a photobleached FDOM endmember. A high‐resolution time series collected in a shallow embayment with significant Gulf of Mexico influence supplemented cruise data and provided a possible mechanism for the formation of high‐salinity, high‐FDOM water. During a dry period of spring tides, high‐salinity, high‐FDOM water was exported at ebb tide and lower‐salinity, low‐FDOM water was imported during flood tide. During neap tide, FDOM and salinity demonstrated no evidence of either export or dilution from incoming seawater. After a significant rain event, a more typical inverse relationship between salinity and FDOM was observed. Production of FDOM‐rich water in shallow embayments has not been observed previously. This is likely an important source of organic matter and dispersion of this material may explain observations of a high‐salinity, high‐FDOM water in adjacent coastal regions.


Many neutraceuticals are not very popular but they are having great potential to produce certain pharmacological properties. Study of evidence based scientific reportingÂ's can become the foundation for further research keeping in view of the Phytochemical constituents and their pharmacological responses. Luffa acutangula is one such plant which has not grabbed considerable attention. This article was designed with an intention to provide complete review of its Pharmacognostic details, Phytochemical constituents and Pharmacological activities.


Rapidly decelerating sediment-laden flows typically emplace confined sedimentary deposits. In the fluvial environment, when sediment-laden rivers reach lakes the decelerating flow emplaces a subaerial delta with distinctive topset, foreset, and bottomset deposits. In the submarine environment, turbidity currents undergoing rapid deceleration commonly emplace sedimentary wedges (i.e., deposits thinning in the downstream direction). Froude-supercritical turbidity currents have an intrinsic self-regulating mechanism for deceleration, in that the faster they flow, the more they incorporate ambient sea water through mixing at their interface. In addition, special topographic configurations, such as the entrance into a zone of much lower slope and/or lateral confinement, or the passage into a confined minibasin, may trigger sudden flow deceleration by forcing a transition to subcritical flow through an internal hydraulic jump. The present paper and its companion present experiments on a generic configuration aimed at studying the emplacement of wedge-shaped sedimentary deposits by continuous supercritical density currents. The deceleration is achieved both by natural entrainment of ambient water and by the presence of an obstructing barrier downstream. Lightweight plastic sediment was used as an analog for sand, and was transported mostly as bedload, but with some suspension, by a saline underflow. The saline underflow served as a surrogate for a turbidity current driven by fine mud that does not easily settle out. The companion paper is focused on the flow patterns associated with the decelerating current. The present paper focuses on the depositional sequences. The decelerating supercritical flows produced a wedge with a distinct pattern of aggradation and progradation. In addition, a foreset-like structure is attributed to the presence of an internal hydraulic jump forced by the downstream barrier. Although they do not reproduce any specific field-scale setting, the experiments are deemed a good generic model for several wedge-shaped submarine deposits in various settings, from slope aprons to deposits in minibasins or on the external flanks of channel levees. The paper also documents the regimes of bedforms associated with the diverse flow regions. It provides the first evidence for the formation of trains of the upstream-migrating sediment waves known as cyclic steps, similar to those commonly observed on channel levees and also along the thalwegs of some steep canyons. In addition, the experiments provide convincing evidence for the formation of downstream-migrating antidunes as well.


This paper presents some methods to extract additional information from voltage dip recordings, beyond residual voltage and duration. Additionally it discusses some issues related to the massive amount of data obtained from modern measurements that, is referred to as Big Data. The paper proposes some Deep Learning based algorithms as good candidates to extract complex features from big data as a step towards additional information. The applications of the information include predicting individual equipment performance, fault type and location, protection operation, and overall load behavior. Individual equipment and overall load include production as well as consumption.


Many books that challenge religious belief from a sceptical point of view take a combative tone that is almost guaranteed to alienate believers or they present complex philosophical or scientific arguments that fail to reach the average reader. Journalist Guy P Harrison argues that this is an ineffective way of encouraging people to develop critical thinking about religion. In this unique approach to scepticism regarding God, Harrison concisely presents fifty commonly heard reasons people often give for believing in a God and then he raises legitimate questions regarding these reasons, showing in each case that there is much room for doubt.Whether you're a believer, a complete sceptic, or somewhere in between, you'll find Harrison's review of traditional and more recent arguments for the existence of God refreshing, approachable, and enlightening. From religion as the foundation of morality to the authority of sacred books, the compelling religious testimony of influential people, near-death experiences, arguments from "Intelligent Design", and much more, Harrison respectfully describes each rationale for belief and then politely shows the deficiencies that any good sceptic would point out.As a journalist who has travelled widely and interviewed many highly accomplished people, quite a number of whom are believers, Harrison appreciates the variety of belief and the ways in which people seek to make religion compatible with scientific thought. Nonetheless, he shows that, despite the prevalence of belief in God or religious belief in intelligent people, in the end there are no unassailable reasons for believing in a God. For sceptics looking for appealing ways to approach their believing friends or believers who are not afraid to consider a sceptical challenge, Harrison's book makes for very stimulating reading.


Wetlands hold a principal position in storing food for primary producers, so they are not able to bear the pressure. The slightest disturbance, hence, may harm wetlands and cause detrimental effects. The present study aims at monitoring heavy metals and evaluation of the sediment quality index of Shadegan wetland in Iran. Thus, a sampling of surface sediments of the wetland was performed at ten stations with three replications; after the preparation of samples with aqua regia, the concentrations of heavy metals were measured by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The quantification of sediment pollution using the contamination factor, contamination degree, pollution load index, ecological risk assessment index, and ecological toxicity of heavy metals in the region were all carried out. The results of Cf and Cd showed that the degree of zinc and copper contamination is low; however, the degree of lead contamination is moderate. Moreover, the obtained PLI was less than 1 indicating a lack of sediments contamination with heavy metals. The RI was less than 150 indicating a low risk of contamination. In addition, comparing the concentrations of elements with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Sediment Quality Guidelines showed slightly toxic and non-toxic sediments, respectively. Finally, based on a mixture of effect range median, all sediment samples are placed in the first category with less than 12% toxicity probability.


The use of phosphite at concentrations of 2 and 4g a.i.1L proved to be successful in controlling the spread of Phytophthora cinnamomi within different vegetation communities at Anglesea (Alcoa lease area) and Tidal River (Wilson's Promontory National Park). At nine sites, phosphite was sprayed to runoff with a Solo® 422 motorised backpack sprayer with 2L125m' quadrat. Using aerial and ground photography, quadrats were monitored over a two-year period to determine changes in species abundance due to the pathogen. There was a significant difference (p<0.05) between the proportions of healthy Xanthorrhoea australis in phosphite sprayed quadrats (2 and 4g a.i.1L with 0.5% surfactant) compared to those sprayed with a control (water and 0.5% surfactant, water only). Vegetation in quadrats where P. cinnamomi was present was protected by phosphite for 2 years (4g a.i.IL) and 12 months (2g a.i.IL). However, vegetation in quadrats where the pathogen was present died where phosphite was not sprayed. Phosphite provided protection for X australis, Isopogon ceratophyllus and Monotoca scoparia (3 species highly susceptible to P. cinnamoml). From the results of this research we recommend the use of phosphite in susceptible vegetation communities with 4g a.i'!L phosphite to assist with already existing management strategies for the protection of Victorian heathlands and forests from P. cinnamomi.


Distributed multimedia presentation, involving different media objects on different servers, must strictly follow its defined temporal scenario. Out of synchronization is a fundamental problem in case of distributed multimedia. In this paper, we introduce a distributed QoS handler, whose aim is to distribute the QoS adaptation tasks among all the servers holding the media object. In this case, the client is considerably freed from the QoS-related tasks and it focuses only on playing the received, adapted media objects and notifying the end of their presentation to the concerned servers. This will lead to a better load balance for playing a distributed multimedia application, where the tasks of applying QoS rules and playing the objects are better distributed among the playing client and the media object servers.


In this study we use model output from a range of coupled climate models, as well as, focused AGCM experiments to support the hypothesis that in a warmer climate increased moisture availability will cause a warming of the Polar Regions through increased dynamical heat transports. Projections of climate change due to increased greenhouse gases predict significant warming of the Polar Regions. This change in polar temperatures has been primarily attributed to ice‐albedo feedbacks. However, in this study we show that in our AGCM experiments the temporal and spatial coherence between developing extratropical cyclones and latent heat release causes a greater than 2°C warming of the poles.


Over the last decade creative industries, such as film and fashion, have become increasingly commonplace items on economic development agendas at urban, regional, and national scales. A sizeable academic literature has emerged to document this 'creative turn' in economic policy. The existing literature often locates the widespread adoption of creative industry policies within either a capitalist system that increasingly demands creativity if accumulation is to be secured or a series of powerful travelling policy discourses which impose themselves on local landscapes irrespective of fit. These explanations are, however, rarely substantiated empirically to show how, in very material ways, capitalism or travelling policy discourses make demands of a particular locality. In this thesis, Actor- Network Theory (ANT) is used to argue for a less 'determined' approach to the study of creative industries in economic development: the assumptions about macro phenomena structuring the local are put aside in order to tell the story of one situated case of creative industries-based economic development. The specific case that is examined is the film industry of Aotearoa/New Zealand. In the period from 1999 to 2005, the Aotearoa/New Zealand film industry went from being almost entirely absent from economic development policy to playing a central role. The thesis draws on extensive documentary analysis and 58 interviews to construct a description of the practices, devices, techniques, and knowledges that were deployed to constitute, shape, contest, and stabilise the role of the film industry within economic development. What emerges from this description is that contingency and opportunism, rather than capitalist demands or global travelling policy discourses, are key to explaining the prioritisation of the film industry. This suggests that ANT makes visible political processes that often remain hidden from view but are crucial to understanding the way that power is made and politics is done.


BACKGROUND
The Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire is the most widely used upper extremity-specific health-status measure. The DASH score often demonstrates greater variability than would be expected on the basis of objective pathology. This variability may be related to psychosocial factors. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the correlation between the DASH score and psychological factors for specific diagnoses with relatively limited variation in objective pathology.

METHODS
Two hundred and thirty-five patients with a single, common, discrete hand problem known to have limited variations in objective pathology completed the DASH questionnaire, the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Revised (EPQ-R) to assess neuroticism, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression (CES-D) scale to quantify depressive symptoms, and the Pain Anxiety Symptoms Scale (PASS). Forty-five patients had carpal tunnel syndrome, forty-four had de Quervain tenosynovitis, forty-eight had lateral elbow pain, and seventy-one had a single trigger finger. In addition, twenty-seven patients were evaluated six weeks after a nonoperatively treated fracture of the distal part of the radius. Relationships between psychosocial factors and the DASH score were determined.

RESULTS
A significant positive correlation between the DASH score and depression was noted for all diagnoses (r = 0.38 to 0.52; p < 0.01 for all). The DASH score also correlated with pain anxiety for four of the five diagnoses (carpal tunnel syndrome, r = 0.40; de Quervain tendinitis, r = 0.46; lateral elbow pain, r = 0.42; and trigger finger, r = 0.24) (p < 0.05 for all). The DASH score was not correlated with neuroticism for any diagnosis. There was a highly significant effect of depression (as measured with the CES-D score) on the DASH score for all diagnoses. Both the CES-D score (F = 62.68, p < 0.0001) and gender (F = 11.36, p < 0.001) were independent predictors of the DASH score.

CONCLUSIONS
Self-reported upper extremity-specific health status as measured with the DASH score correlates with depression and pain anxiety but not neuroticism. These data support the contention that psychosocial factors have a strong influence on health-status measures.


Testing is the process of evaluating a system or its components with the intent to find whether it satisfies the specified requirements or not. In simple words, testing is executing a system in order to identify any gaps, errors, or missing requirements in contrary to the actual requirements. According to ANSI/IEEE 1059 standard, Testing can be defined as-A process of analyzing a software item to detect the differences between existing and required conditions thatisdefects/errors/bugs and to evaluate the features of the software item. It depends on the process and the associated stakeholders of the projects. In the IT industry, large companies have a team with responsibilities to evaluate the developed software in context of the given requirements. Moreover, developers also conduct testing which is called Unit Testing. In most cases, the following professionals are involved in testing a system within their respective capacities: Software Tester Software Developer Project Lead/Manager End User Different companies have different designations for people who test the software on the basis of their experience and knowledge such as Software Tester, Software Quality Assurance Engineer, QA Analyst, etc. It is not possible to test the software at any time during its cycle. The next two sections state when testing should be started and when to end it during the SDLC. An early start to testing reduces the cost and time to rework and produce error-free software that is delivered to the client. However in Software Development Life Cycle SDLC, testing can be started from the Requirements Gathering phase and continued till the deployment of the software. It also depends on the development model that is being used. For example, in the Waterfall model, formal testing is conducted in the testing phase; but in the incremental model, testing is performed at the end of every increment/iteration and the whole application is tested at the end. Testing is done in different forms at every phase of SDLC: During the requirement gathering phase, the analysis and verification of requirements are also considered as testing. Reviewing the design in the design phase with the intent to improve the design is also considered as testing. Testing performed by a developer on completion of the code is also categorized as testing. It is difficult to determine when to stop testing, as testing is a never-ending process and no one can claim that a software is 100% tested. The following aspects are to be …


The inhibitory action of tea (Camellia sinensis) and tea components against cancer formation has been demonstrated in different animal models involving different organ sites in many laboratories. The possible preventive activity of tea against cancer in humans, however, is not clear. A critical question is whether the information obtained from animal studies is applicable to humans because of possible species differences or the difference in the quantity of tea used in animal studies and that consumed by humans. This article will discuss the results from animal studies and possible cancer inhibitory mechanisms that might be applicable to human cancer prevention. To provide a basis for more quantitative analyses of the effect of tea on carcinogenesis, the levels of tea polyphenols in blood, urine and tissue samples have been analyzed, and the pharmacokinetic properties of tea polyphenols studied. Studies with cell lines have demonstrated that tea polyphenols affect signal transduction pathways, inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis, but the effective concentrations are usually much higher than those observed in blood and tissues. More mechanistic studies in these areas will help us to understand the inhibitory action of tea against carcinogenesis and provide background for evaluating the effects of tea consumption on human carcinogenesis.


The Korean innovation system is in many ways highly developed and has helped to underpin Korea's rapid industrialisation. However, long-standing policy emphases on manufacturing and large firms are today in question. Structural problems - such as the relatively weak innovation performance of SMEs, a lagging services sector and limited domestic job creation among the industrial conglomerates - have led to a shift in policy priorities. This shift is crystallised in the current government's Creative Economy Strategy, which entails a far-reaching set of measures aimed at fostering cutting-edge innovation and consolidating a knowledge-based economy increasingly driven by high-value services. This review addresses Korea's industry and technology policies and institutions, and provides policy recommendations


The liver has a critical role in the metabolism, digestion, detoxification and elimination of substances from the body. The liver diseases are most prevalent and produce Reactive oxygen species which may lead to further progression of disease. This study is done to compare the oxidative stress parameters in hepatitis B virus infected patients and alcoholic hepatitis patients. The study was conducted in 3 groups with 50 individuals in each. First group comprised of normal healthy individuals, second group consisted alcoholic hepatitis patients and a third group made up of hepatitis B patients. When compared to controls, Erythrocyte MDA was significantly high and erythrocyte GSH was significantly low in both the groups of cases where as Plasma Ascorbic Acid levels were low along with Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Catalase activities in both the groups of patients. When compared between alcoholic and hepatitis B patients, except superoxide dismutase and ascorbic acid, MDA, GSH and Catalase showed no significance. The liver enzymes were also significantly raised in both forms of Hepatitis, when compared to the controls. The AST/ALT ratio was reversed (>1) in Alcoholic Hepatitis patients as compared to Hepatitis B patients and normal individuals (<1). There was a significant correlation seen on comparison between oxidative stress parameters and liver enzymes in both chemically and biologically induced hepatitis. It is suggested that GSH, MDA in erythrocyte, SOD, Catalase and Plasma Ascorbic Acid can be made an effective tool in assessing the progression of the liver disease for timely intervention.


Diphosphonylated diazaheterocyclic compounds were synthesized in a one-step reaction by using dimethyl trimethylsilyl phosphite (DMPTMS) under acidic conditions. The reaction of DMPTMS with 1,5-naphthyridine yielded the corresponding diphosphonylated product through a tandem 1,4-1,2 addition under microwave conditions. This tandem 1,4-1,2 addition was also evaluated for other substrates, namely, 1,10-phenanthroline, 1,7-phenanthroline and 4,7-phenanthroline. Reactions under reflux and microwave conditions were compared. 1,5-Naphthyridine and the phenanthroline derived substrates are less reactive than previously investi-gated quinolines. The experimental trends in reactivity were rationalized by means of theoretical calculations. The intrinsic properties, such as aromaticity and proton affinities, showed distinct differences for the various substrates. Furthermore, the calculated free energies of activation for the rate-determining step of the tandem addition reaction enabled us to rationalize the differences in product yields. Both the theoretical and the experimental results show the substantial influence of the position of the nitrogen atoms in the (poly) aromatic compounds on the reaction outcome.


The supply of sentang (Azadirachta excelsa) seeds is limited due to the
irregularity of flowering and fruiting and the difficulty of storing seeds for a long
period. Therefore, this study examined the possibility of raising planting stock of
sentang using cuttings. It involved determination of coppiceability at different
stump heights (30, 60 and 100 cm), followed by rooting of these coppices. Also
seedlings of two different ages were included in the rooting experiment. Factors
such as cutting positions (terminal, middle and basal), as well as different
hormonal treatments (control; IBA 50 µg, 100 µg, 150 µg; NAA 100 µg, 150 µg; Seradix 2; and their combinations between IBA 100 µg and NAA 50 µg) were
included in this experiment.
Results indicated that 60 cm stumps gave the best survival percentage
(96.9%) with the best coppiceability in terms of sprout number production (9).
However, the best coppiceability in terms of shoot length (39.6 cm) and diameter
(0.7 cm) was recorded in the 100 cm stumps. Generally, terminal position was
found to be the best cutting position for both plant sources (coppices and seedlings)
for survival and rooting percentages. Hormonal application gave a significant
effect at P ≤ 0.05 on rootability of cuttings. The highest rooting ability (73.3%)
was obtained from terminal cuttings of 23 month-old from FRIM seedlings when
treated with 100 µg IBA. In contrast, survival percentages of only 20% and 50%
were obtained from terminal cuttings of 34 month-old seedlings and 4 month-old
coppices treated with Seradix 2 respectively. In addition, the 3 week-old coppice
cuttings were also tried to further determine whether rootability could be improved
and results indicated that single-node coppice cuttings from 30 cm stumps gave an
80% survival, followed by the 60 and 100 cm stumps which recorded similar
survival percentages of 47%. Generally, the rooting ability recorded was relatively low i.e. 36%, 18%
and 11 % from 30, 60 and 100 cm stumps respectively.


The Energy transition is the pathway towards the decarbonisation of the energy system. Transformation of the European energy sector requires urgent action on a pan-European scale, and while a global energy transition is underway, further research actions and incentives for innovation are needed to deliver the smart grids concept and the RES integration under energy efficiency. For this reason, synergy work on national, regional and European level are pivotal in the development work of the Energy transition. Prerequisites for a smooth transition are: A solid R&I network for all countries, analytical knowledge of the R&I status, systematic information to all EU countries equally on how investments in smart grids can be beneficial and the means on how they achieve that. PANTERA aims to address at the same time all prerequisites and thus facilitate the synergy work in Europe by developing a multi-dimensional platform of pan-European status and influence, capable of leveraging coherence and trust as a pull towards enhanced R&I in energy systems centered around an integrated grid active and responsive.


Age-related changes in vision (such as decline in visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, temporal resolution, spatial resolution and visual motion processing) and cognition (such as slowing of the information processing system) are a factor of normal, healthy ageing. This thesis investigated the application of attentional modulation during perceptual tasks involving temporal order judgement and motion discrimination. The main aim was to discover if there are any differences in the ways that young and older adults utilise attentional resources. When provided with training to use attentional cues, young and older adults showed enhanced performance during temporal order discrimination. Age differences were identified in the way that the two age groups utilised attentional resources, where older adults used the cues at lower levels of task difficulty compared to young adults. Age differences in attentional modulation were supported by fMRI results which indicated that older adults were utilising a different cortical network to that of young adults to modulate sensory processing in motion specific regions both when attention was focused on the prevailing task, and when attention was divided between two tasks concurrently.


Demands on lower fuel consumption, reduced pollution, increased operating times, etc. force the automotive industry to constantly improve the performance of critical machine elements. In this development various carbon based coatings have proven very promising, mainly because of their low friction and high wear resistance in dry sliding contacts. The contact conditions can be very different in various machine element applications, e.g. both rolling and sliding contacts. Additionally, most contacts are usually lubricated. Hence, other properties of the coating may be required in order to obtain low friction and wear, as for instance a beneficial running-in ability. In lubricated contacts the very high wear resistance of carbon coatings can cause fatigue damage resulting in delamination of the coating, especially when deposited on rough substrates. In rolling contacts the fatigue damage can be reduced simply by using smoother surfaces, but the thickness of both the coating and the interlayer also has a strong influence on fatigue damage.In lubricated sliding contact tests it was found that the running-in ability could be improved by modifying the coating and/or by using an appropriate surface preparation prior to coating deposition. An increased Cr-content in the top-layer of the carbon coating reduced the friction due to the formation of a stable tribo-layer on the uncoated counter body. An even further reduced friction could be obtained by employing a fine wet-blasting of the substrate giving sharp surface asperities. The friction reduction is thought to be a result of a transition towards a higher degree of full film lubrication, due to a very fine smoothening process of both the coating and the counter body during the running-in process.


Shifting climatic regimes can increase or decrease the frequency of extreme hydrologic events (e.g., high and low streamflows) causing large societal and environmental impacts. The impacts are numerous and include human health and safety, the destruction of infrastructure, water resources, nutrient and sediment transport, and within stream ecological health. It is unclear how the hydrology of a given region will shift in response to climate change. This is especially the case in areas that are seasonally snow covered as the interplay of changing temperature, precipitation, and resulting snowpack can lead to an increased risk of flood or drought. This research aimed to understand the ways temperature and precipitation are changing using general circulation models and observed weather station data in the northeastern United States. With the knowledge that general circulation models do not accurately represent precipitation statistics and trends from the historical period, a large network of climate stations was utilized to further investigate shifts in precipitation. A hydrology model was utilized for further study of regional hydrology. The model used was the Regional Hydro-Ecologic Simulation System, which was calibrated to snow coverage and streamflow for a historical time period. The hydrology model was used to investigate the relationship of snow and streamflow in a changing climate. We characterized climate change and related impacts in the northeastern United States and estimated a decrease in snowfall of 50% and the number of days below freezing by 45 days by the end of the century. We also showed that precipitation is not only becoming more intense: but it is also more persistent – a finding that may have significant hydrological implications including increased flood risk throughout the year. The 95 th percentile of daily precipitation has increased by 0.5 mm per day per decade, while the probability of successive days with precipitation increased by 0.6 percent per decade. We also explored the role of snowpack in a changing climate. We found that temperature plays a larger role than precipitation in shifting hydrologic regime, because the warming-induced reduction of snowpack reduced the maximum flows more than the increasing precipitation increased the maximum flows. However, because of the increasing intensity and persistence of precipitation, instantaneous peak flows occurring outside of the snowmelt season will likely continue to increase during all times of the year. We shed light on the complexity of the modes of climate change and the interactions that increases in temperature and precipitation can have on the hydrology of a region.


"One aspect of a country's greatness," writes a Yale historian of modern China, "is surely its capacity to attract and retain the attention of others." By this standard China must rank among the most important and interesting of contemporary societies, perhaps second only to the United States. Paradoxically, China is also among the least well known. And the cultural and geographical region of which China formed the historic centre, what we now call east Asia or more broadly the Asia-Pacific, is still largely terra incognita to western students of international affairs. Even foreigners posted in China for some considerable period, a category of expert once known collectively in Britain and North America as "old China hands," have been the first to acknowledge how little they know of a country so ancient and vast, so unique and multifaceted. Above all China is acknowledged by those who know it best to be utterly unpredictable in its politics. In the words of an old Chinese proverb much quoted by the old China hands of an earlier day, "The Yellow River may change its course/But its waters will always be muddy."'Today, China's course seems clear enough: to make itself the equal of the modern west through its self-proclaimed "peaceful rise" to great power status. By concentrating on economic growth over the past generation, China's leaders have transformed a longtime economic backwater into one of the world's leading trading states. With its system of political economy resolutely dirigiste in the east Asian mould, China has amassed enough wealth and raw productive potential to make its clout felt throughout the developing world and among the leading industrial countries.This deliberate buildup of economic strength has been systematically translated over the past several years into far-reaching diplomatic and political influence, so that China now increasingly commands the world's political attention. In Canada, the Globe and Mail of 23 October 2004 devoted its entire Saturday edition to the rise of China, with enormous front-page headlines in Mandarin as well as English. One year later, Canada's newspaper of record repeated the exercise in a special issue called, "China rising 2." Moreover, Canada's prime minister of the day rarely gives a speech on foreign affairs without invoking the rise of China. In France, Le Monde Diplomatique, in a comprehensive survey of China's vigorous, worldwide diplomatic initiatives, including its oil diplomacy, informed its readership that "China upsets the global order." In the US, the Washington power elites debate whether China should be viewed as an economic, political, and military "threat" to American hegemony. On the academic wing of the American establishment, eminent political scientists argue whether the rise of China to great power status, with that country's growing military strength, implies that China will inevitably follow the imperial German model of military power leading ineluctably to aggression and World War. China, dearly, is on our minds.2Exactly why we should be so obsessed with China at this particular moment, when China's power is largely futuristic, and America's power, whether rising or declining, is present for all to see, would make a fascinating study in the psychology of international relations. But it is the welcome burden of contributors to this section of the International Journal to discuss the lessons of history rather than the insights of psychology, and China's international relations abound with lessons from the past.THE STRUCTURE OF POWER IN EAST ASIA AND THE PACIFIC: RETROSPECT AND PROSPECTTo appreciate those lessons and their bearing on current policy, it is essential to locate China in its unique historical and geographical setting. Analogies and parallels drawn from the international relations of the North Atlantic world, or from social science theory, are more often misleading than not. Western-style diplomacy, which was invented in the city-states of the Italian Renaissance, had no parallel in traditional China. …


BACKGROUND
Sickle cell disease is a genetic haemoglobin disorder, which can cause severe pain, significant end-organ damage, pulmonary complications, and premature death. Sickle cell disease is one of the most common severe monogenic disorders in the world, due to the inheritance of two abnormal haemoglobin (beta globin) genes. The two most common chronic chest complications due to sickle cell disease are pulmonary hypertension and chronic sickle lung disease. These complications can lead to morbidity (such as reduced exercise tolerance) and increased mortality.This is an update of a Cochrane review first published in 2011 and updated in 2014.

OBJECTIVES
We wanted to determine whether trials involving people with sickle cell disease that compare regular long-term blood transfusion regimens with standard care, hydroxycarbamide (hydroxyurea) any other drug treatment show differences in the following: mortality associated with chronic chest complications; severity of established chronic chest complications; development and progression of chronic chest complications; serious adverse events.

SEARCH METHODS
We searched the Cochrane Cystic Fibrosis and Genetic Disorders Group's Haemoglobinopathies Trials Register. Date of the last search: 25 April 2016.We also searched for randomised controlled trials in the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library, Issue 1, 26 January 2016), MEDLINE (from 1946), Embase (from 1974), CINAHL (from 1937), the Transfusion Evidence Library (from 1950), and ongoing trial databases to 26 January 2016.

SELECTION CRITERIA
We included randomised controlled trials of people of any age with one of four common sickle cell disease genotypes, i.e. Hb SS, Sß(0), SC, or Sß(+) that compared regular red blood cell transfusion regimens (either simple or exchange transfusions) to hydroxycarbamide, any other drug treatment, or to standard care that were aimed at reducing the development or progression of chronic chest complications (chronic sickle lung and pulmonary hypertension).

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
We used the standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane.

MAIN RESULTS
No studies matching the selection criteria were found.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
There is a need for randomised controlled trials looking at the role of long-term transfusion therapy in pulmonary hypertension and chronic sickle lung disease. Due to the chronic nature of the conditions, such trials should aim to use a combination of objective and subjective measures to assess participants repeatedly before and after the intervention.


This paper adds to earlier reviews by the author of the changing roles and identities of contemporary professional staff in UK higher education (Whitchurch, 2004; 2006a; 2006b), and builds on a categorisation of professional staff identities as having bounded, cross-boundary, and unbounded characteristics (Whitchurch, 2008, forthcoming). Drawing on a study of fifty-four professional managers in the United Kingdom, Australia and the United States, it describes a further category of blended professionals, who have mixed backgrounds and portfolios, comprising elements of both professional and academic activity. The paper goes on to introduce the concept of third space as an emergent territory between academic and professional domains, which is colonised primarily by less bounded forms of professional. The implications of these developments for institutions and for individuals are considered, and some international comparisons drawn. Finally, it is suggested that third space working may be indicative of future trends in professional identities, which may increasingly coalesce with those of academic colleagues who undertake project- and managementoriented roles, so that new forms of third space professional are likely to continue to emerge.


Biological invasions and their impacts are likely to increase with the expansion of global commerce, making the need to identify key drivers and regulators of invasion perhaps greater than ever. One of the most enduring, and tested, hypotheses for explaining invasions is the "biotic resistance hypothesis." Broadly, this hypothesis states that communities having greater biodiversity have fewer unfilled niches, making them less invasible. Using data from 46,071 Forest Inventory and Analysis plots located across the forests of the Eastern United States, we tested for associations between native trees and invasive plants that would suggest the presence of biotic resistance. For both invasive species richness and cover, we determined: 1) if accounting for the spatial heterogeneity nested within a large geographic area improves models of biotic resistance, 2) if the direction, magnitude, and spatial variability of associations pertaining to biotic resistance differ based on how biotic resistance is measured, and 3) if the direction and magnitude of associations pertaining to biotic resistance vary with either scale or location. These determinations will provide clarity regarding the role of biotic resistance in regulating invasion patterns across large geographic areas. We found that accounting for heterogeneity allowed for better models of biotic resistance, and that both invasion measures were negatively associated with native tree biomass and evolutionary diversity, but positively associated with native tree species richness. A few sub-regions, however, exhibited opposite associations. Association size tended to be greatest for evolutionary diversity. Strong negative associations were aggregated within and near the Appalachian Mountains. Finally, association size and direction were affected by both scale and location, although location seemed more influential. As forests and the services they provide are increasingly harmed by invasive plants, particularly in our study region, the findings of this investigation will have implications for both invasive species management and policy.


This is the final project report for US National Science Foundation Grant No. ESI-9730438. The Assessing-to-Learn (A2L) project sought to develop quality formative assessment materials for teaching high school physics and to advance understanding and practice of formative assessment in the teaching of high school science. As originally proposed, the A2L project goal was to create prototype formative assessment materials for use with high school physics curricula. These materials were to be designed with the aim of integrating assessment and instruction, and to be compatible with classroom communication technology. The A2L materials were to serve four educational functions: (1) promote learning (rather than grade student performance), (2) support integrated and flexible use of knowledge across a wide range of problem contexts, (3) provide teachers with a more continuous assessment of students' conceptual understanding and learning progress, and (4) engage a broader cross section of students in classroom learning activities and stimulate greater participation in small group and class-wide discussions. The A2L materials were to be prototypes: quality examples of formative assessment activities for teachers, who would eventually develop their own formative assessment items tailored to their curriculum and the needs of their students.


Cultural landscape represents different meanings such as the interaction between people and the environment, evolution through time, cultural tangible and intangible values and vernacular traditions. The term "culture" represents people's relationship with their inhabited environment to gain a livelihood and presence of tangible or intangible values. These values are the common notion between cultural landscapes and cultural properties. This research aims to study one of the registered sites of Iran's cultural heritage, the Qazvin's Traditional Gardens with the cultural landscape approach; The research hypothesis is to discover common notions between cultural landscape and the Gardens such as evidences of mutual relationship between the Qazvinians and the natural environment of the region and management of water resources throughout history which will be investigated by referring to national and international documents. For example, the inhabitants as the gardeners have used the annual flood of seasonal rivers and have implemented a special irrigation system for the Gardens named floating agriculture in the submerged area once a year. The Garden trees such as pistachio, almond, apricot and grape are resistant to harsh weather and have produced precious fruits throughout history. Two major characteristics of the Gardens, that means historic continuity and vernacular characteristics can categorize them under "continuing landscape" or "vernacular historic landscape" according to the upper level classifications. The major contribution of the research is an analysis of the Garden's features or elements according to the documents of WHC or NPS. These multifaceted features are studied specifically in three categories of natural resources, plantation, and ecological systems; built environment consisting of spatial organization, circulation paths, irrigation systems and objects and structures; and human factors and management systems of traditional gardening. These wisely interconnected features are evidences of mutual interaction between people and the environment. As a paper in the field of architecture the research has studied physical elements such as land patterns, spatial organization, structures, site furnishings and objects in more detail. Conclusively, the research shows an integrated interrelated relationship between elements of the cultural landscape of Qazvin's Traditional Gardens. The research emphasizes on a comprehensive approach toward preservation of different interconnected built and natural elements of the Gardens and human factors to ensure a sustainable relationship between people, environment and economy of Qazvin's city over the centuries. This work is an applied research with descriptive and analytic method of information gathering and retrieval. Its data type is qualitative.


Abstract. The earliest known drawing of sunspots appears in The Chronicle of John of Worcester, which was compiled in the first half of the twelfth century. In this medieval chronicle, the Latin text describing the sunspots is accompanied by a colourful drawing, albeit idealised, which shows the apparent positions and sizes of two sunspots on the solar disk. The date of this observation of sunspots from Worcester, England is firmly established as AD 1128 December 8. Assuming that the drawing was prepared fairly carefully, the angular diameters of the two sunspots are at least about 3 arcmin and 2 arcmin in the northern and southern hemispheres, respectively. Similarly, the heliographic latitudes of both sunspots are within the approximate range of 25°–35°. About five days after this observation of sunspots on the solar disk, on the night of AD 1128 December 13, a red auroral display was observed from Songdo, Korea (the modern city of Kaesong). This auroral observation was recorded in the Koryo-sa, the official Korean chronicle of the period. In addition, five Chinese and five Korean descriptions of auroral displays were recorded in various East-Asian histories between the middle of AD 1127 and the middle of AD 1129. The ten oriental auroral records in this particular interval correspond to six distinct auroral events, which provide evidence for recurrent, though possibly intermittent, auroral activity on a timescale almost exactly equal to the synodic-solar-rotation period (approximately 27 days). The six distinct auroral events were apparently associated with two series of recurrent geomagnetic storms, both of which were sufficiently intense to produce mid-latitude auroral displays in East Asia. These ancient solar and auroral observations are interpreted in terms of present-day understanding of solar-terrestrial physics. Con-temporary ground-based and satellite measurements during the last few decades have indicated that recurrent geomagnetic storms are usually a feature of the declining phase of the solar cycle. In addition, the strength of such recurrent geomagnetic storms has been classified as moderate rather than intense. The recurrent geomagnetic storms occurring during the interval AD 1127–1129 must have been sufficiently intense to produce mid-latitude auroral displays over China and Korea, some of which appeared or extended south of the observing site. This last statement remains true even after proper allowance is made for the fact that during the twelfth century, the north geomagnetic pole was probably situated at the usual high geographic latitude, but in the same geographic longitude range as East Asia. Therefore, it may be inferred that the two series of intense recurrent geomagnetic storms occurred near a medieval maximum in the "eleven-year" solar cycle. Moreover, the overall level of solar activity appears to have been especially high at the end of the second decade of the twelfth century. b>Key words. Magnetospheric physics (auroral phenomena; storms and substorms) – Solar physics, astrophysics and astronomy (photosphere and chromosphere)


Polyether polyurethane anionomers are prepared using poly(tetramethylene oxide) of molecular weight 2000 as soft segments, 4,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) as diisocyanate, dimethylolpropionic acid (DMPA) as chain extender, and two ionization agents, triethylamine (TEA) and N-ethyl diethanolamine (EDEA). Properties of the films cast from solution are studied by infra-red spectroscopy, dynamic mechanical analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, wide-angle X-ray diffraction, tensile-elongation testing, transmission electron microscopy and gel-permeation chromatography. In the unionized film, soft segment crystallites are not present. Ionization creates soft segment crystallites and produces increased cohesion in the hard domains, which leads to an increase in both tensile strength and elongation at break. The tensile strength of the two systems studied increases with increasing the ionic potential. The morphology of the films shows that the hard domains are dispersed in the soft domains and that the size of the hard domains increases greatly after ionization. The TEA system has larger hard domains than the EDEA system. After annealing, the unionized film has improved ordering in the soft domains and enhanced tensile strength, but annealing provides no appreciable effect on the ordering of soft and hard domains and mechanical properties for the ionized films.


The MALRAD activity was intended to provide an exercise activity with respect to gamma ray spectrometric response to malevolent situations involving radioactive sources. Such situations can often be characterised by high activity sources in difficult contexts where the response is by necessity conducted with less than optimal instrumentation. Seven scenarios were developed based on previous incidents where possible and gamma spectral data and other information was disseminated to participants who were given one week to respond to each scenario with as much information as possible. In total 14 individual laboratories responded. The majority of laboratories were in a position to satisfactorily identify sources where single sources were used in situations with no complicating factors. For those scenarios involving heavy shielding som difficulties were encountered due to distortion of the spectrum from that which would normally be viewed as characteristic for the isotope in question. Special nuclear materials such as reprocessed enriched uranium and weapons grade plutonium provided different challenges and there were indications in the reponses from participants of unfamiliarity with these materials.


Large numbers of students tend to experience failure and dropout in their first year at university. The fundamental aim of this research was to explore protective factors that could foster resilience amongst first year students. It is hoped that resilience research can give young adults the skills and support to survive academic challenges with the help of the university. This study undertook to determine resilience traits that could contribute to academic success. Students who enrolled at the University of the Western Cape for the first time during the year 2003 participated in this study.


Preface. Acknowledgments. 1 General Considerations. 1.1 Introduction. 1.2 Definitions. 1.3 Interference mechanisms. 1.4 Examples. 1.5 Discussion. References. 2 The Electromagnetic Environment. 2.1 Introduction. 2.2 Natural Noise. 2.3 Man-Made Noise. 2.4 CW and Transient Sources. 2.5 Characteristic Parameters of Authorized Radiators. 2.6 Noise Emission Intensity. 2.7 Home Environment. 2.8 Discussion of Noise Sources. 2.9 Subject Matter of the Book. References. 3 Fundamentals of Fields and Waves. 3.1 Introduction. 3.2 Basic Parameters. 3.3 Time Dependent Relations. 3.3.1 Continuity of Current and Conservation of Charge. 3.3.2 Faraday's Law. 3.3.3 Ampere's Circuital Law. 3.3.4 Lorentz Force Law. 3.3.5 Maxwell's Equations. 3.3.6 Historical Commt:nts on Maxwell's Equations. 3.3.7 Media Considerations. 3.3.8 Boundary Conditions. 3.3.9 Energy Flow and Poynting's Theorem. 3.3.10 Uniqueness Theorem. 3.4 Harmonically Oscillating Fields. 3.4.1 Introduction. 3.4.2 Phasors. 3.4.3 Time Harmonic Relations. 3.4.4 Complex Permittivity. 3.4.5 Boundary Conditions Again. 3.4.6 Notes on the Solution. 3.4.7 The Complex Poynting Theorem. 3.5 The Wave Equation. 3.5.1 Time Dependent Case. 3.5.2 Time Hannonic Case. 3.6 Uniform Plane Waves. 3.6.1 General Considerations. 3.6.2 Energy Considerations. 3.6.3 Group Velocity. 3.6.4 Summary. 3.6.5 General Representation of TEM Waves. 3.6.6 Plane Waves in Lossy Media. 3.6.7 Skin Effect. 3.6.8 Polarization of Plane Waves. 3.7 Reflection and Refraction (Transmission) of Plane Waves. 3.7.1 Normal Incidence on a Plane Interface. 3.7.2 Oblique Incidence. References. Problems. 4 Signal Waveform and Spectral Analysis. 4.1 Introduction. 4.2 Classification of Signals. 4.3 Energy Signals. 4.3.1 Definitions. 4.3.2 A Rectangular Pulse. 4.4 Power Signals. 4.4.1 Periodic Signals. 4.4.2 Trapezoidal Waveform. 4.5 Examples of Some Signals. References. Problems. 5 Transmission Lines. 5.1 Introduction. 5.2 Basic Discussion. 5.3 Transverse Electromagnetic (TEM) Transmission Lines. 5.4 Telegrapher's Equations: Quasi-Lumped Circuit Model. 5.5 Wave Equations. 5.6 Frequency Domain Analysis. 5.6.1 General Solution. 5.6.2 Further Discussion of Propagation Constant and Characteristic Impedance. 5.6.3 Voltage, Current, and Impedance Relations. 5.7 Line Parameters. 5.7.1 Coaxial Line. 5.7.2 Parallel Wire Line. 5.7.3 Parallel Plate Line. 5.7.4 Circular Wire above a Ground Plane. 5.7.5 Microstrip Line. 5.7.6 Stripline. 5.7.7 Comments. 5.8 Transients on Transmission Lines. 5.8.1 Initial and Final (Steady State) Values. 5.8.2 Transient Values. 5.9 Measurements. 5.9.1 Slotted Line Measurements. 5.9.2 Network Analyzer Measurement. References. Problems. 6 Antennas and Radiation. 6.1 Introduction. 6.2 Potential Functions. 6.3 Radiation from a Short Current Element. 6.3.1 Complete Fields. 6.3.2 Near Zone and Far Zone Considerations. 6.3.3 Near Zone and Far Zone Fields. 6.3.4 Radiated Power and Radiation Pattern. 6.3.5 Wave Impedance. 6.4 Radiation from a Small Loop of Current. 6.4.1 Complete Fields. 6.4.2 Far Zone Fields. 6.4.3 Radiated Power. 6.4.4 Wave Impedance. 6.5 Fundamental Antenna Pal-ameters. 6.5.1 Radiation Intensity. 6.5.2 Directivity and Gain. 6.6 Far Fields of Arbitrary Current Distributions. 6.6.1 The Radiation Vector and the Far Fields. 6.6.2 Vector Effective Length of an Antenna. 6.6.3 Summary. 6.7 Linear Antennas. 6.7.1 Center-Fed Linear Antenna. 6.7.2 Far Fields of a Dipole of Length. 6.7.3 Radiated Power and Directivity. 6.7.4 Cosine, Sine, and Modified Cosine Integrals. 6.7.5 The Half-Wave Dipole. 6.8 Near Field and Far Field Regions. 6.8.1 Basic Assumptions. 6.8.2 Point or Small Sources. 6.8.3 Extended Sources. 6.8.4 Definitions of Various Regions. 6.8.5 Specific Values of the Region Boundaries. 6.9 Equivalent Circuits of Antennas. 6.9.1 Transmitting Antenna. 6.9.2 Receiving Antennas. 6.9.3 Equivalent Area. 6.10 Antenna Arrays. 6.10.1 General Considerations. 6.10.2 A Two-Element Array. 6.1 1 Antennas Above Ground. 6.1 1.1 Ground and Ground Plane. 6.1 1.2 Image Theory. 6.11.3 Images of Electric Current Elements above Perfect Ground. 6.1 1.4 Dipoles above Ground. 6.1 1.5 Monopole Antennas. 6.12 Biconical Antenna. 6.12.1 Biconical Transmission Line. 6.12.2 Finite Biconical Antenna. References. Problems. 7 Behavior of Circuit Components. 7.1 Introduction. 7.2 The Series RLC Circuit. 7.3 Definitions of Lumped Circuit Paranleters R, L, and C. 7.3.1 Circuit Theory Description. 7.3.2 Field Theory Description. 7.4 Round Wires. 7.4.1 Resistance. 7.4.2 Internal Inductance. 7.5 External Inductance of Round Wire Configurations. 7.5.1 General Relations. 7.5.2 Circular Loops. 7.6 Inductance of Straight Wires. 7.6.1 Partial Inductance. 7.6.2 Inductance of a Closed Rectangular Loop. 7.7 Other Configurations. 7.7.1 Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Lines. 7.7.2 Microstrip, Strip, and Coplanar Lines. 7.8 Behavior of Circuit Elements. 7.8.1 Bode Plots. 7.8.2 Resistors. 7.8.3 Capacitors. 7.8.4 Inductors. References. Problems. 8 Radiated Emissions and Susceptibility. 8.1 Introduction. 8.2 Main Requirements. 8.3 Emissions from Linear Elements. 8.4 Two Parallel Currents. 8.4.1 Introduction. 8.4.2 Two Parallel Currents. 8.5 Transmission Line Models for Susceptibility. 8.5.1 Introduction. 8.5.2 Voltage Induced on the Two-Wire Transmission Line . References. 9 Electromagnetic Shielding. 9.1 Introduction. 9.2 Definitions. 9.3 Shielding Effectiveness. 9.3.1 Introduction. 9.3.2 SE Expressions for Computation. 9.4 Shielding Effectiveness: Near Field llluniination. 9.4.1 Electric and Magnetic Sources. 9.4.2 SE Expressions: Near Zone Considerations. 9.5 Discussion. 9.5.1 Far Zone Fields. 9.5.2 Near Zone Fields. References. 10 Coupling between Devices. 10.1 Introduction. 10.2 Capacitive (Electric) Coupling. 10.3 Magnetic (Inductive) Coupling. 10.3.1 Some Basic Concepts. 10.3.2 Shielding of the Receptor Conductor References. 11 Electrostatic Discharge (ESD). 1 1.1 Introduction. 11.2 Accumulation of Static Charge on Bodies. 1 1.3 Charging and Charge Separation. 1 1.4 Human Body as Source of ESD. 1 1.5 ESD Waveforms. 1 1.6 Human Body Circuit Model. 1 1.7 ESD Generator and ESD Test. References. 12 EMC Standards. 12.1 Introduction. 12.2 Current US Standards. 12.2.1 Introduction. 12.2.2 FCC Radiated Emission Limits for Digital Devices. 12.2.3 FCC Conducted Emission Limits for Digital Devices. 12.3 EMIIEMC Standards: Non-US Countries. 12.3.1 CISPR Standards. 12.3.2 European Norms. References. 13 Measurements of Emission. 13.1 Introduction. 13.2 General. 13.3 Radiated Emissions. 13.3.1 Introduction. 13.3.2 Receiver. 13.3.3 Antennas. 13.3.4 Some Results. 13.4 Conducted Emissions. 13.4.1 Introduction. 13.4.2 Noise on Power Supply Lines. 13.4.3 Transients on Power Supply Lines. 13.4.4 Conducted Emissions from a DUT. 13.4.5 Some Results. References. Appendix A: Vectors and Vector Analysis. A. 1 Introduction. A.2 Definitions of Scalar and Vector Fields. A.2.1 Scalar Fields. A.2.2 Vector Fields. A.3 Vector Algebra. A.3.1 Definitions. A.3.2 Addition and Subtraction of Vectors. A.3.3 Multiplication of a Vector by a Scalar Quantity. A.3.4 Unit Vectors. A.3.5 Vector Displacement and Components of a Vector. A.4 Vector Surface Element. A.5 Product of Vectors. A.5.1 Dot Product of Two Vectors. A.5.2 The Cross Product of Two Vectors. A.5.3 Product of Three Vectors. A.6 Coordinate Systems. A.6.1 Three Basic Coordinate Systems. A.6.2 Space Variables and Base Vectors. A.7 Elementary Differential Relations. A.7.1 Rectangular System. A.7.2 Cylindrical and Spherical Systems. A.8 Transformation of Unit Vectors. A.9 Vector Calculus. A.9.1 Time Derivative of Vector A. A.9.2 Space Derivatives of a Vector A. A.9.3 Gradient of a Scalar Function. A.9.4 Flux of a Vector. A.9.5 Divergence of a Vector A. A.9.6 Curl of a Vector Function. A. 10 The Laplacian V2 = V V. A. 1 1 Comments on Notation. A. 12 Some Useful Relations. A.12.1 Vector Algebra. A. 12.2 Vector Identities. A. 12.3 Integral Relations. References. Problems. Appendix B: Frequency Band Designations. Appendix C: Constitutive Relations. Index.


The evolution of mobile is reshaping the future of communication in the digital age. This report identifies emerging patterns of mobile communication and the factors that are shaping its future, including its societal implications. This analysis is used to speculate on alternative scenarios for the future of mobile communication and key developments on which these futures depend. The analyses of trends, and the emerging scenarios they support, are based on a critical overview of existing literature, empirical data on mobile adoption and use, and interviews with experts in mobile and related technologies, communication, and information services. While this review is limited, both with respect to the data available and the range of interviews conducted, it suggests fruitful directions for further research on the future of one of the most important areas of innovation in our digital world.


Abstract The ABBN-93 299-group cross-section library is used as a source of neutron data for criticality calculations with the MMK-KENO Monte Carlo criticality code. Validation of criticality calculations is performed using the data presented in the "International Handbook of Evaluated Criticality Safety Benchmark Experiments." This paper contains a description of a validation method based on statistical analysis of discrepancies between calculated and benchmark-model keff's and the results of this validation for different types of experiments. Another validation method using a well-known procedure of group cross-section adjustment based on the maximum likelihood method (generalized least-squares method) and results of the validation for water-moderated highly enriched uranium homogeneous critical systems using selected experiments of the HEU-SOL-THERM type are also presented.


Following our initial discovery of blue luminescence in the spectrum of the Red Rectangle (RR) and its identification as fluorescence by small three- to four-ringed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) molecules, we report on the spatial correlation between the blue luminescence and the 3.3 μm emission, commonly attributed to small, neutral PAH molecules, and on the newly derived UV/optical attenuation curve for the central source of the RR, HD 44179. Both results provide strong additional evidence for the presence of small PAH molecules with masses of less than 250 amu in the RR, which supports the attribution of the blue luminescence to fluorescence by the same molecules. We contrast the excellent spatial correlation of the two former emissions with the distinctly different spatial distribution of the extended red emission and of the dust-scattered light within the RR. The UV/optical attenuation curve of the central star is unlike any interstellar extinction curve and is interpreted as resulting from circumstellar opacity alone. Major contributions to this opacity are absorptions in broad bands in the mid-UV, contributing to the electronic excitation of the luminescing PAH molecules, and a sharp ionization discontinuity near 7.5 eV in the far-UV, which places a sharp upper limit on the masses of the PAH molecules that are responsible for this absorption. The strength of the far-UV absorption leads to an abundance of PAH molecules of 10-5 relative to hydrogen in the RR. Such small PAHs are perhaps unique to the environment in the RR, where they are shielded from harsh radiation by the dense circumstellar disk.


This is the classic Usborne sticker word book, with busy scenes illustrated with warmth and humour by Stephen Cartwright. Each scene is accompanied by labelled stickers of objects to talk about, search for and match together. This is an exciting talk-about book for the very young, a stimulating picture word book for pre-readers and a lively source of ideas and spellings for first writers. It is also useful for learning English, and students can listen to all the words read by a native British speaker at the Usborne Quicklinks Website. This new edition of a best-seller will delight children as they learn their first words. Completely revised and presented in a new, larger format, Stephen Cartwright's humorous illustrations will entertain children and adults alike. Friendly scenes encourage the direct association of words with objects and reinforce known words.


This research study focuses on impacts of globalisation and the awareness of Higher Education policy Reform HEPR on the Information and Communications Technology for public universities using the University of Tripoli (UoT). The aim of this study therefore is to explore the impact of globalisation and the awareness of implementation of HEPR on the use of ICT in Libyan public Universities (LPUs). This is an important subject since the Libyan state has begun to ensure that ICT is adopted and used in University education. It has undertaken this course of action in order to improve the role of public universities and to further the movement towards sustainable development. This study was designed to contribute to the research development and improvement of ICT adoption in Libyan Higher Education. The main contribution of this study is to provide information on how to make full use of ICT in LPUs and to determine to what extent these universities adopt and us.

Given the nature of this research a qualitative content analysis was adopted to collect and analyse the data and present the findings which gathered via sixteen semi-structured interviews, that were conducted with forty-four graduate students, ten academic staff from UoT and six Higher Education Officials from Ministry of Higher education and Scientific Research (MoHESR) .

The findings of this study indicated that the globalisation and the awareness of implementation of HEPR are the most important factors for the adoption and use of ICT by the participants, and globalisation together with HEPR seems gradually to be changing impact and driving adoption, and use of new ICT among LPUs. It is changing the very fundamentals of learning and teaching. The findings also show that the rapid pace of globalisation and the increase level of the awareness of implementation HEPR, which has a significant potential to motivate participants, may lead to increased adoption and the effective use of ICT in LPUs.

Based on the findings, this study offers the following recommendations that can be used to improve and support the adoption and use of ICT tools in the LPUs. These included supporting graduate students, and academic staff in developing their knowledge and skills in using ICT tools, providing a continuous professional development for them in ICT, the need to create a policy in higher education to guide the use of ICT tools in higher education and supporting universities to build their ICT resources and infrastructure. These will help graduate students and academic staff to effectively integrate ICT tools into teaching learning and administrative it also recommended that future research should be conducted with larger samples across different levels of education or with other organisations and other time periods.


Image-based 3D atlases have been proven to be very useful in biological and medical research. They serve as spatial reference systems that enable researchers to integrate experimental data in a spatially coherent way and thus to relate diverse data from different experiments. Typically such atlases consist of tissue-separating surfaces. The next step are 4D atlases that provide insight into temporal development and spatio- temporal relationships. Such atlases are based on time series of 3D images and related 3D models. We present work on temporal interpolation between such 3D atlases. Due to the morphogenesis of tissues during biological development, the topology of the non-manifold surfaces may vary between subsequent time steps. For animation therefore a smooth morphing between non-manifold surfaces with different topology is needed.