The synergistic effect of metal soaps (zinc stearate and calcium stearate) and/or natural zeolite (clinoptilolite) on PVC thermal stability was investigated. For this purpose, PVC plastisol was prepared by mixing poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) and dioctyl phthalate (DOP) and stabilized with different amounts of metal soaps and zeolite. Kinetic studies of dehydrochlorination at 140 and 160°C were done for unstabilized and stabilized PVC plastigels using 763 PVC Thermomat equipment. The stabilizing effect of zeolite on the increase in the induction period of the sample was considered to result from the absorption of HCl, a property that was thought to reduce the autocatalytic effect of HCl evolved at the initial stages of dehydrochlorination. Since the induction time of the sample having 0.53% of zinc stearate and 0.53% of zeolite was higher than those of the PVC plastigels having only zinc stearate or zeolite, the synergistic effect on thermal stability was observed at low levels of these additives. J. VINYL. ADDIT. TECHNOL., 11:47–56, 2005. © 2005 Society of Plastics Engineers


We consider the problem of detecting and quantifying the periodic component of a function given noise-corrupted observations of a limited number of input/output tuples. Our approach is based on Gaussian process regression which provides a flexible non-parametric framework for modelling periodic data. We introduce a novel decomposition of the covariance function as the sum of periodic and aperiodic kernels. This decomposition allows for the creation of sub-models which capture the periodic nature of the signal and its complement. To quantify the periodicity of the signal, we derive a periodicity ratio which reflects the uncertainty in the fitted sub-models. Although the method can be applied to many kernels, we give a special emphasis to the Mat\'ern family, from the expression of the reproducing kernel Hilbert space inner product to the implementation of the associated periodic kernels in a Gaussian process toolkit. The proposed method is illustrated by considering the detection of periodically expressed genes in the arabidopsis genome.


The atomic commit problem lies at the heart of distributed database systems. The problem consists for a set of processes (database nodes) to agree on whether to commit or abort a transaction (agreement property). The commit decision can only be taken if all processes are initially willing to commit the transaction, and this decision must be taken if all processes are willing to commit and there is no failure (validity property). An atomic commit protocol is said to be non-blocking if every correct process (a database node that does not fail) eventually reaches a decision (commit or abort) even if there are failures elsewhere in the distributed database system (termination property). Surprisingly, despite the importance of the atomic commit problem, little is known about its complexity. In this paper, we present, for the first time, a systematic study on the time and message complexity of the problem. We measure complexity in the executions that are considered the most frequent in practice, i.e., failure-free, with all processes willing to commit. In other words, we measure how fast a transaction can commit. Through our systematic study, we close many open questions like the complexity of synchronous non-blocking atomic commit. We also present optimal protocols which may be of independent interest. In particular, we present an effective protocol which solves what we call indulgent atomic commit that tolerates practical distributed database systems which are synchronous ``most of the time''.


The security of immobiliser and Remote Keyless Entry systems has been extensively studied over many years. Passive Keyless Entry and Start systems, which are currently deployed in luxury vehicles, have not received much attention besides relay attacks. In this work we fully reverse engineer a Passive Keyless Entry and Start system and perform a thorough analysis of its security.Our research reveals several security weaknesses. Specifically, we document the use of an inadequate proprietary cipher using 40-bit keys, the lack of mutual authentication in the challenge-response protocol, no firmware readout protection features enabled and the absence of security partitioning.In order to validate our findings, we implement a full proof of concept attack allowing us to clone a Tesla Model S key fob in a matter of seconds with low cost commercial off the shelf equipment. Our findings most likely apply to other manufacturers of luxury vehicles including McLaren, Karma and Triumph motorcycles as they all use the same system developed by Pektron.


Abstract It has been shown that the critical power (CP) in cycling estimated using a novel 3-min all-out protocol is reliable and closely matches the CP derived from conventional procedures. The purpose of this study was to assess the predictive validity of the all-out test CP estimate. We hypothesised that the all-out test CP would be significantly correlated with 16.1-km road time-trial (TT) performance and more strongly correlated with performance than the gas exchange threshold (GET), respiratory compensation point (RCP) and V̇O2 max. Ten club-level male cyclists (mean±SD: age 33.8±8.2 y, body mass 73.8±4.3 kg, V̇O2 max 60±4 ml·kg−1·min−1) performed a 10-mile road TT, a ramp incremental test to exhaustion, and two 3-min all-out tests, the first of which served as familiarisation. The 16.1-km TT performance (27.1±1.2 min) was significantly correlated with the CP (309±34 W; r=−0.83, P<0.01) and total work done during the all-out test (70.9±6.5 kJ; r=−0.86, P<0.01), the ramp incremental test peak power (433±30 W; r=−0.75, P<0.05) and the RCP (315±29 W; r=−0.68, P<0.05), but not with GET (151±32 W; r=−0.21) or the V̇O2 max (4.41±0.25 L·min−1; r=−0.60). These data provide evidence for the predictive validity and practical performance relevance of the 3-min all-out test. The 3-min all-out test CP may represent a useful addition to the battery of tests employed by applied sport physiologists or coaches to track fitness and predict performance in atheletes.


Hypothyroidism has been reported rarely as the cause of rhabdomyolysis in adults and children. We present here a non-compliant adolescent with a diagnosis of hypothyroidism who developed rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure with no additional predisposing factor. A 13-year-old girl with a previous history of hypothyroidism due to thyroid hypoplasia presented with generalized myalgia, malaise, vomiting, and oliguria lasting for three days. Neurological examination revealed bilateral marked weakness and tenderness of muscles of both lower and upper extremities. Urine had bloody appearance and urine analysis showed blood reaction with dipstick test, but there were no erythrocytes on microscopic examination. Serum creatine phosphokinase and myoglobin levels were elevated. Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were high, and free thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) levels were low, compatible with uncontrolled hypothyroidism. Renal function tests showed acute renal failure. Other causes of rhabdomyolysis such as muscular trauma, drugs, toxins, infections, vigorous exercise, and electrolyte abnormalities were excluded. Hemodialysis was administered for 24 sessions. After L-thyroxine therapy, thyroid function tests normalized, muscle strength improved, serum muscle enzyme levels returned to normal levels, and renal function tests recovered. One must be aware that rhabdomyolysis may develop in a non-compliant patient with hypothyroidism.


In contrast to the myriad of empirical work on food demand in other countries, very few studies have considered zero expenditures on some food groups. Those which have attempted have been based on techniques which result in endogeneity and inefficient estimates which in turn may misinform policy calibration. Improving on methodological flaw of previous studies, the present study censors zero expenditures in the first stage using simulation based maximum likelihood multivariate probit. In the second stage, Quadratic Almost Ideal Demand System which allows for a more realistic assumption of curvature in Engels curve is estimated. In turn, food expenditure and price elasticities are derived. In view of the high expenditure elasticities, considering a policy option that would enhance rural consumer income is desirable, since it will result in high consumption thereby providing more incentives for food production.


This book is the first comprehensive study of postwar antisemitism in the Netherlands. It focuses on the way stereotypes are passed on from one decade to the next, as reflected in public debates, the mass media, protests and commemorations, and everyday interactions. The Holocaust, Israel and 'the Jew' explores the ways in which old stories and phrases relating to 'the stereotypical Jew' are recycled and modified for new uses, linking the antisemitism of the early postwar years to its enduring manifestations in today's world.
 The Dutch case is interesting because of the apparent contrast between the Netherlands' famous tradition of tolerance and the large numbers of Jews who were deported and murdered in the Second World War. The book sheds light on the dark side of this so-called 'Dutch paradox,' in manifestations of aversion and guilt after 1945. In this context, the abusive taunt 'They forgot to gas you' can be seen as the first radical expression of postwar antisemitism as well as an indication of how the Holocaust came to be turned against the Jews. The identification of 'the Jew' with the gas chamber spread from the streets to football stadiums, and from verbal abuse to pamphlet and protest. The slogan 'Hamas, Hamas all the Jews to the gas' indicates that Israel became a second marker of postwar antisemitism.
 The chapters cover themes including soccer-related antisemitism, Jewish responses, philosemitism, antisemitism in Dutch-Moroccan and Dutch- Turkish communities, contentious acts of remembrance, the neo-Nazi tradition, and the legacy of Theo van Gogh. The book concludes with a lengthy epilogue on 'the Jew' in the politics of the radical right, the attacks in Paris in 2015, and the refugee crisis. The stereotype of 'the Jew' appears to be transferable to other minorities.


Net zero energy buildings (NZEBs) have been widely considered to be an effective solution to the increasing energy and environmental problems. Most conventional design methods for NZEB systems are based on deterministic data/information and have not systematically considered the significant uncertainty impacts. Consequently, the conventional design methods lead to popular oversized problems in practice. Meanwhile, NZEB system design methods need to consider customers' actual performance preferences but few existing methods can take account of them. Therefore, this study proposes a multi-criteria system design optimization for NZEBs under uncertainties. In the study, three performance criteria are used to evaluate the overall NZEB system performance based on user-defined weighted factors. Case studies are conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. Keywords-net zero energy building; multi-criteria; system sizing; uncertainties; monte carlo simulation


A large measure of the durability of the Huguenot movement was derived from then- general political assemblies. The assembly held at Montauban in 1579 was the first attended by a deputy north of the Loire; after the final and twenty-second general assembly at La Rochelle in 1622, only localised gatherings were held. This thesis argues that the assemblies were primarily a corps: their principal purpose was both to oversee the implementation of the edicts of pacification and to mobilize resources if peace broke down. Essentially based on the available manuscript sources, many of them unexplored, this thesis approaches the general assemblies as an institution. The first two chapters highlight the process of convocation of the general assemblies and the manner in which political representation (both within the assemblies and to the monarchy) took place. The third chapter principally explores the relationship between the general assemblies and the chambers created for Huguenots in the parlements from 1576. The assemblies supported these chambers as a means of obtaining implementation of the edicts of pacification. In the fourth chapter, the apparently conflicting attitudes of the general assemblies to property and civil rights are addressed. For instance, while the assemblies regulated the taking of lay and ecclesiastical property, revenue from these sources was often reinvested to support ministers, schools and charitable purposes. The fifth and sixth chapters examine the provisions for war made by the general assemblies and their attempts to ensure the adequate financing of Huguenot troops. The assemblies always stated that they acted in self-defence; a primary concern was the need to ensure the protection of local civilian populations. The monarchy allowed the assemblies to organise levies for the repayment of debts owed to mercenary troops and provided for the maintenance of Huguenot garrison troops from royal revenue. This thesis concludes that while the general assemblies worked as a corps, they never received letters of corporation from the monarchy; they remained ad hoc, susceptible to events and to the manipulation of public opinion through wellaimed pamphlet literature.


In model-based, or semantic, coding, parameters describing the nonrigid motion of objects, e.g., the mimics of a face, are of crucial interest. The facial animation parameters (FAPs) specified in MPEG-4 compose a very rich set of such parameters, allowing a wide range of facial motion. However, the FAPs are typically correlated and also constrained in their motion due to the physiology of the human face. We seek here to utilize this spatial correlation to achieve efficient compression. As it does not introduce any interframe delay, the method is suitable for interactive applications, e.g., videophone and interactive video, where low delay is a vital issue.


Heart failure is considered as a life-threatening epidemic disorder affecting about 26 million world's population and associated with considerable morbidity, mortality and healthcare expenses. Despite the availability of a range of advanced treatments and sophisticated therapies the prevalence of heart failure represents a herculean challenge. To address the challenge, the current investigation was conducted by evaluating the efficacy of Heart Failure Reversal Therapy (HFRT) in reducing left ventricular distress by assessing N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels in congestive heart failure (CHF) patients. Total 76 CHF patients with NYHA Class II and III were screened from March to May 2017 and 15 CHF patients with NT-proBNP = 300-1500 pg/ml were selected for the study. NT-proBNP is measured as a marker, the value of which increases with an increase in severity of CHF. The study therapy, HFRT comprises of traditional procedure of panchkarma that includes snehana (external oleation), swedana (passive heat therapy), hrudaydhara (concoction dripping treatment) and basti (medicated enema) was administered twice daily for 7 days. Post-HFRT, ARJ kadha was administered for next 12 weeks follow-up. NT-proBNP levels were measured after a follow-up period of 90 days along with some other parameters like BMI, VO 2peak (evaluated by cardiac stress test with modified Bruce protocol) and weight. The findings of the investigation revealed significant reduction in NT-proBNP levels (42.46%, p = 0.009), weight (4.82%, p = 0.0007) and BMI (3.67%, p = 0.034) at the end of the follow-up period. The study also yielded significant improvements in VO 2peak (50.96%, p = 0.004). The overall results suggest that HFRT can possibly be explored as add-on therapy or a feasible alternative for the effective management of CHF.


The economic impact of some future biological nitrogen fixation technologies are estimated using AGSIM, a dynamic, partial equilibrium, econometric model of the U.S. agricultural sector. Five separate scenarios were modeled: (1) legumes fix more nitrogen, (2) legumes fix more nitrogen with an increase in legumes yields of 10 percent, (3) nitrogen fertilization requirements on all crops are reduced 50 percent with no yield changes, (4) total elimination of nitrogen fertilization and (5) total elimination of nitrogen fertilization and non-legume yields decrease 10 percent. Results indicate that biological nitrogen fixation technologies have a high value to society. Increasing the efficiency of legumes to fix nitrogen may have an annual benefit of $1,067 million while decreasing nitrogen fertilization by 1,706 thousand tons. Total elimination of nitrogen fertilization of the crops has an annual benefit of $4,484 million.


Multitask learning has shown promising performance in many applications and many multitask models have been proposed. In order to identify an effective multitask model for a given multitask problem, we propose a learning framework called learning to multitask (L2MT). To achieve the goal, L2MT exploits historical multitask experience which is organized as a training set consists of several tuples, each of which contains a multitask problem with multiple tasks, a multitask model, and the relative test error. Based on such training set, L2MT first uses a proposed layerwise graph neural network to learn task embeddings for all the tasks in a multitask problem and then learns an estimation function to estimate the relative test error based on task embeddings and the representation of the multitask model based on a unified formulation. Given a new multitask problem, the estimation function is used to identify a suitable multitask model. Experiments on benchmark datasets show the effectiveness of the proposed L2MT framework.


Previous studies have looked at the absence and need for orbital public transport corridors in the Greater Dublin Area [1]. This current paper outlines recent evidence which demonstrates that demand for such orbital services exists. Recent travel survey data indicates that demand exists in Dublin for both orbital and "networked" trips. In surveys of public transport users on two public transport corridors in the Greater Dublin Area, 27% of people transferred either from or to another public transport service as part of their journey. Overall this appears a very significant level of passenger transfer within an urban transport market where traditionally transferability is thought of as being low or negligible. This suggests that there is an existing demand for orbital and directional trips (those which involve a transfer) within the Greater Dublin Area. Both surveys were taken across contrasting areas of the city. The evidence for transfer demand is corroborated by the census and by household travel data collected by the NTA, both of which indicate a clear and significant demand for orbital trips. No matching or supporting high level of service corridors currently exist to support these. The Dublin City Council Core Strategy also suggests the implementation of an orbital network and this should, in a normal planning framework, lead transport strategy. Orbital High Quality Bus Corridors have been proposed for Dublin in the past but never implemented. Orbital routes are often considered a costly idea that is unpopular with transport users. Yet many cities provide them in a successful, often revenue-generating context. Cities that support successful orbital services take a Network Effect approach to service design where high quality transferability is paramount. Local and international evidence suggests that orbital QBCs can be a success if implemented with a high level of service. The benefits of implementing orbital high quality corridors goes beyond serving immediate trip demand and can help to create an effective city-wide transport network.


Over the last three years, projects that address the relationships between carbon and forests have moved from the sidelines of international climate action to center field. Forestry's recent advancements are the product of decades of ongoing collaboration among market and environmental experts seeking to strike an ideal balance between forestry projects' market risks and shared benefits. Market dynamics in 2011 demonstrated that these efforts have never been more pivotal, or complex, as forest carbon projects mature – and find themselves positioned squarely in the midst of some of today's most challenging policy debates. This year, a record number of forest project developers and secondary market suppliers from around the world shared data about their projects and transactions. This third annual State of the Forest Carbon Markets tracks, reports, and analyzes trends in these responses. This information is primarily based on data collected from respondents to Ecosystem Marketplace's 2011 forest carbon project developer's survey, combined with data from the 2012 State of the Voluntary Carbon Markets report. The data and analysis that follow cover forest carbon activity in compliance carbon markets – including the Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (NZ ETS), the New South Wales Greenhouse Gas Reduction Scheme (NSW GGAS) and British Columbia's (BC) Carbon Neutral Government directive – as well as voluntary carbon markets including voluntary Over-the-Counter (OTC) market and country-specific voluntary programs worldwide. In total, we captured responses from 140 project developers or project proponents in the primary forest carbon market and 35 suppliers in the secondary market. Respondents represented 215 individual forest carbon projects, half of which transacted credits in 2011 – totaling 451 projects analyzed in all survey years.


We describe a set of tools for analyzing, visualizing, and assessing architectural/construction progress with unordered photo collections and 3D building models. With our interface, a user guides the registration of the model in one of the images, and our system automatically computes the alignment for the rest of the photos using a novel Structure-from-Motion (SfM) technique; images with nearby viewpoints are also brought into alignment with each other. After aligning the photo(s) and model(s), our system allows a user, such as a project manager or facility owner, to explore the construction site seamlessly in time, monitor the progress of construction, assess errors and deviations, and create photorealistic architectural visualizations. These interactions are facilitated by automatic reasoning performed by our system: static and dynamic occlusions are removed automatically, rendering information is collected, and semantic selection tools help guide user input. We also demonstrate that our user-assisted SfM method outperforms existing techniques on both real-world construction data and established multi-view datasets.


OBJECTIVE
To measure the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension, obesity, and related risk factors in major cities in Bolivia.

METHODS
A population-based survey was conducted in four Bolivian cities: La Paz, El Alto, Santa Cruz, and Cochabamba. The total sample size was chosen to be 2,948 persons. The overall response rate was 86%, with the rate varying somewhat among the four cities. DM was diagnosed through an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) 2 hours after an overload of 75 grams of glucose, using World Health Organization criteria.

RESULTS
The overall prevalence of DM in the four urban areas combined was 7.2% (95% confidence interval (CI): 6.2%-8.3%) and of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) was 7.8%. A total of 73.1% (95% CI: 65.0%-81.0%) of those previously diagnosed with DM and 73.7% (95% CI: 61.0%-86.4%) of newly diagnosed cases were overweight, according to measurements of body mass index. Hypertension was found in 36.5% (95% CI: 27.6%-45.5%) of known diabetics and in 36.6% (95% CI: 23.0%-50.1%) of newly diagnosed cases, compared to only 15.9% (95% CI: 14.3%-17.5%) among people without DM. The disease was most common among older persons and those with little education.

CONCLUSIONS
Diabetes is a genuine public health problem in Bolivia. Further, the high prevalence of IGT that was found suggests that diabetes prevalence will increase in the near future in the country unless prevention strategies are implemented.


The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) advocates an ecosystem approach to environmental management, and spells out the principles in its Appendix 1. However, applying these principles can sometimes be less than straightforward. This book tells the story of an ecosystem approach to the rehabilitation of the lower delta of the Senegal River in Mauritania, in and around Diawling National Park. Its main objective is to provide practitioners with a "feel" for what the approach can entail in the real-life setting of a remote corner of the Sahel, where people's livelihoods are inextricably tied to the productivity of their delta.


About the book:
The EGPA Yearbook provides an overall view of current scientific discussion concerning networks, particularly the governing of networks in European public administration. More than 30 presentations by researchers and practitioners of public administration in different European countries guarantee that the wide range of topics related to network governance, information technology, and also to other special issues of administrative and managerial reforms related to the subject is fully covered. The Yearbook deals with two main topics centred on governing and developing networks. In the first part, issues are related to different interpretations of networks involved in social policy reforms, administration-citizen-relationships, reforming governance models, public-private relations, also including health care, local governance and professional policy networks. In the second part networks are discussed from the perspective of information technology. Among several presentations, the authors analyse challenges and applications of new technology in public administration, ICT-networks in social networks, and also reforms and improvements of new technology. The accent is on how IT is bringing new patterns into the public administration of different countries. The Yearbook demonstrates that a discussion of networks is a rather new and fresh way of thinking about the role of public sector authorities in society, reforms of hierarchical structures in public agencies and e-governance applications at all levels of government.


This research focuses on the ways in which teaching assistants are deployed to support learning in secondary schools and investigates the effect of the different deployment approaches used. Much of the previous policy and research literature conceptualises the relationship between the teacher, teaching assistant and learner as tripartite and hierarchical - a three-way relationship in which the teacher has the major responsibility for promoting learning. Key debates in the literature include whether teaching assistants make a positive contribution to learning, represent good value for money or have an impact on educational attainment. The lack of consensus provided the impetus for this case study which contributes further to the debate.

In this case study, the theorisation of the teaching assistant's role is grounded in the constructivist theories of Vygotsky and Bruner and, to a lesser extent, of Piaget. The role is also considered in the light of the theories of Bandura, Malaguzzi, Black & William and James et al. In the classroom this means that the learning is not only focused on what the teaching assistant does to support learners but also how learning is supported through the use of specific approaches. The study suggests that some models of deployment allow teaching assistants more scope to work in particular ways which offer more opportunities for learning.

Methodologically, the research takes the form of an exploratory case study. The study was completed within the defined boundaries of three schools and seven lessons. Unlike previous studies which have taken predominantly quantitative approaches and provide a focus on the measurement of learners' attainment, this case study takes a wholly qualitative approach in order to focus closely on the interaction between teachers, teaching assistants and supported learners and how particular models of deployment support learning.

The case study involved six teachers, seven teaching assistants and fourteen learners from three state comprehensive schools, located in one local authority. Different deployment models were observed. These included the more typical model where teaching assistants were deployed to support individuals, pairs or groups of learners within the classroom or to work in a different location with a small group of learners withdrawn from the class. Also observed was a higher level teaching assistant team teaching with a teacher in the classroom and a ordinary level teaching assistant deployed in managing a learning support facility and working independently from the teacher.

Data were collected through a four stage approach that began with joint semi-structured interviews with pairs of teaching assistants and teachers. Joint interviews were followed by lesson observations. Following this, teachers and teaching assistants were interviewed separately in order to obtain their individual perceptions of the learning of supported learners in the lesson. Lastly, group interviews were conducted with supported learners to obtain their views on the support they had received. The different data sources were examined using four perspectives to identify the various ways in which teaching assistants were being deployed and how these supported learning.

The case study provided a range of qualitative data from which it was possible to explore the complexities of the relationships between teachers, teaching assistants, and learners and to identify models of teaching assistant deployment which allow them to contribute more fully to learning. The study also highlighted the importance of building professional relationships. It concluded that the lack of planning between teachers and teaching assistants, the unavailability of training for teachers on managing the work of teaching assistants and for teaching assistants on supporting learners, all have a negative effect on support for learning. The learners suggested that they appreciated the academic and pastoral help they were given while also being able to provide examples where learning was over-supported and, therefore, detrimental to intellectual independence. The study, therefore, has implications at different levels - for example, for policy makers and institutions who determine roles, models of deployment and the training and management of teaching assistants when they are working both inside and outside of the classroom.


Al Mirqab Al Jadeed Street, with its unique mix of land use and geographical location, has become one of the most densely populated streets in Doha City, the capital of Qatar. Over the past few years, many establishments and transitional developments, such as various services, commercial malls, and the like, have altered Al Mirqab Al Jadeed's urban characteristics. Moreover, this rapid development has overtaken urban spaces, leaving no place for green areas or proper urban furniture—and thus resulting in human social decay. This shortage of green areas has discouraged and diminished the quality of outdoor activity (whether in terms of walkability or social interaction) in the street, thereby affecting the quality of living, human health, social fabric, and surrounding neighborhoods. This research study investigates existing urban components (soft and hard) as well as green areas (pocket gardens, shading elements, footpaths, etc.) in the streets, considering their influence on human behavior from a social and environmental point of view. In doing so, it engages with issues of social sustainability and urban design in the context of local neighborhoods. A literature review was conducted of topics having to do with sustainable development (social sustainability) and principles of urban design, exploring the body of knowledge about sustainable development. Accordingly, site observation and analysis, together with in-depth interviews, have been adopted as the main research methods, so to highlight the street urban fabric while simultaneously enhancing quality of life and social interactions in Al Mirqab Al Jadeed Street. The findings of this study elucidate the connection between social sustainability and urban design standards, shedding light on the effect of built forms on user behavior and thereby contributing to the body of knowledge about socially sustainable development and urban design. In doing so, they support the application of theoretical knowledge on a practical level and in real-world scenarios.


A growing gap between technology use and technology understanding in a consumer society creates a need to educate the general public about manufacturingÐthe backbone of a strong economy. This paper describes development of a museum exhibit: a visitor-centred informal education experience highlighting the principles of modern manufacturing. The exhibit architecture reflects three principal engineering activities involved in creating consumer products: product design, manufacturing and marketing/business. It explains how these fields interrelate using as an example a well understood productÐa customizable pen. Each activity is implemented via two complementary components: an interactive computer game and a physical display environment, which complement each other. The results of an observational study and analysis of the data gathered through a data collection mechanism built into the game are also provided, suggesting a successful achievement of initial design goals.


Background: Several studies have shown association of fatty acids with type 2 diabetes (T2D), as well as metformin effects on blood glucose concentrations through affecting lipid metabolism. Objectives: Since the exact therapeutic mechanism of metformin is not clear, in this study we investigated effects of different doses of metformin on serum fatty acids in rats with T2D. Materials and Methods: Twenty-five adult albino male Wistar rats were divided into the following groups: Healthy, untreated T2D, and T2D rats receiving metformin for 4 weeks with doses of 100, 150, and 200 mg/kg/d. Serum insulin and triglyceride (TG) were measured using commercial kits. Serum total lipids were extracted by the Bligh-Dyer method and then compositions of fatty acids were evaluated using gas chromatograph. Results: Monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) levels in T2D rats were lower than those in healthy rats (P < 0.05). We also observed that diabetic rats treated with 100 or 150 mg/kg/d of metformin had higher levels of arachidonic acid and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in comparison with the healthy group (P < 0.05). Moreover, the T2D+Met (150 mg/kg) group showed increased levels of MUFA compared with the T2D group. Such a difference was seen in levels of arachidonic acid between the T2D+Met 100 mg/ kg group and untreated T2D group. In the group treated with high doses of metformin (200 mg/kg/d), levels of palmitic acid, palmitoleic acid, and saturated fatty acid (SFA) were higher and levels of oleic acid, linoleic acid, arachidonic acid, MUFA, PUFA, and also SFA/UFA ratio were lower compared with other metformin treated and untreated groups (P < .05). In untreated T2D group, there were positive correlations between glucose levels and linoleic acid and PUFA levels (r = 0.707, P = .049 and r = 0.726, P = .041 respectively). Arachidonic acid levels were positively correlated with glucose levels in T2D rats treated with 100 mg/kg/d of metformin (r = 0.969, P = .031). Conclusions: Our study showed that different doses of metformin could have different effects on serum levels of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, as 200 mg/kg/d of metformin could increase and decrease saturated and unsaturated fatty acids respectively, while lower doses increased unsaturated fatty acids, particularly arachidonic acid.


Complex dielectric permittivity and magnetic permeability of several commercially available nanoferrites have been studied over a broad microwave and millimeter wave frequency range. Nano-sized barium, strontium, copper, zinc, nickel substituted iron oxide powders with different lattice structures are investigated. A transmission-reflection based in-waveguide technique that employs a vector network analyzer was used to determine the scattering parameters for each sample in two microwave bands (18-40 GHz). A free space quasi-optical spectrometer energized by backward wave oscillators was used to acquire the transmittance spectra in the millimeter wave frequency range (30-120 GHz). Relatively broad and sharp ferromagnetic resonance of hexagonal barium ferrite and strontium ferrite are observed in millimeter wave frequency range. The ferromagnetic resonance peak for nano-sized hexagonal ferrite powder material moves to lower frequencies compared to micro-sized and solid hexagonal ferrites. An X-ray diffraction measurement is performed on these hexagonal ferrites to understand the magnetic behavior and the structure.


ABSTRACT In the early autumn of 2018, a virus as contagious as it is deadly, carried by wild boars (Sus scrofa Linnaeus, 1758) with the probable involvement of humans, crossed the Belgian border. African swine fever, which only affects suidae, is rapidly spreading in the forests of Gauma. The boar, whose status has gradually shifted from a regional emblem to a symbol of hunting abuses, finds itself abruptly transformed into a sanitary threat needing to be eliminated. The wild swine can contaminate its domestic cousin, the farmed pig (Sus domesticus Erxleben, 1777). Therefore, the spread of the virus would jeopardise the fragile Belgian pig farming sector concentrated in the north of the country. This is the start of a crisis that will last for more than 24 months; the infected forest is zoned and then isolated for the purpose of sanitisation, while "biosecurity" and "white zone" become the only watchwords. Mass destruction measures for wild boars are imposed by the administration and its experts through new so-called "sanitary rituals". To achieve a rapid "return to normal", hunters – mostly local ones – are enlisted in the name of their hunting skills, which, although they are usually contested by a part of Belgian society and media, are considered essential in this case. This event brings us to an exploration of the practices actors are attached to and forced to renounce to in the name of good crisis management. On-the-ground realities as related by field men bear witness to the unease felt in the face of the "dirty work" asked of them, while the upheaval of coexistence reveals ethical, tradition- and identity-related questions already existing before the crisis.


In Decolonizing Cultures in the Pacific, Susan Y. Najita proposes that the traumatic history of contact and colonization has become a crucial means by which indigenous peoples of Oceania are reclaiming their cultures, languages, ways of knowing, and political independence. In particular, she examines how contemporary writers from Hawai'i, Samoa, and Aotearoa/New Zealand remember, re-tell, and deploy this violent history in their work. As Pacific peoples negotiate their paths towards sovereignty and chart their postcolonial futures, these writers play an invaluable role in invoking and commenting upon the various uses of the histories of colonial resistance, allowing themselves and their readers to imagine new futures by exorcising the past. Decolonizing Cultures in the Pacific is a valuable addition to the fields of Pacific and Postcolonial Studies and also contributes to struggles for cultural decolonization in Oceania: contemporary writers' critical engagement with colonialism and indigenous culture, Najita argues, provides a powerful tool for navigating a decolonized future.


The catastrophic gravitational collapse of the Old Cone of Volcan Parinacota produced a 6 km 3 debris avalanche that traveled ∼22 km and covered more than 150 km 2 . The Upper Lauca drainage, a broad high-altitude basin in the Chilean Altiplano, was permanently altered by the collapse. Although the eruptive history of Parinacota before and after the debris avalanche is well known from petrologic and geochronologic studies, previous age limits on the debris avalanche (based on multiple chronometers) span ca. 8–20 ka. New cosmogenic surface-exposure ages from boulders atop the deposit are based on a regionally calibrated production rate of in situ 10 Be and indicate that the avalanche occurred at 8.8 ± 0.5 ka. These data demonstrate that cosmogenic 10 Be surface-exposure dating can be successfully applied to quartz-bearing, volcanic debris avalanche deposits, and that this method offers a distinct advantage over 14 C chronologies that provide only minimum or maximum age limits. The 8.8 ka exposure age for the debris avalanche (1) agrees with 14 C age limits of paleosol material incorporated in the debris avalanche, (2) requires a voluminous initial phase of postcollapse volcanism with an eruptive rate exceeding that of recent cone-building episodes at most continental arc volcanoes, and (3) suggests that volcano collapse did not result in the formation of Lago Chungara, but instead led to a major expansion of a preexisting closed basin.


The Erie doctrine governs, among other things, when a federal court sitting in diversity jurisdiction may use a federal procedure that differs from the procedure that would be used in state court. Displacing the state procedure with the federal procedure (or not) may impact the substantive objectives of either state or federal law, but the current Erie doctrine provides little guidance. This article argues that the Erie doctrine is best understood as governing a choice of enforcement defaults. As argued below, the primary function of civil liability is to protect a substantive entitlement to avoid the legal violation, either directly through specific performance remedies or through deterrence. Accordingly, procedures in federal and state court can be understood as default procedures to enforce this substantive entitlement, and these defaults are often abrogated by contract or through legislation. Understood in this way, the Erie doctrine governs when a federal court may abrogate a state enforcement default with a federal one. This article then uses the existing literature on default rules to argue that the Erie doctrine should itself use default rules to force information from both state and federal governments about the relationship of default procedures to substantive policies. In this way federal courts can make better choices between enforcement defaults.


With the goal of enhancing knowledge and skills related to cross-cultural aging, a linked service learning project was implemented through a partnership with an elderly community center in Hong Kong. The project linked Semester at Sea (SAS) study abroad students with gerontology students at Colorado State University through collaborative service learning activities. SAS students served as English tutors to older adults in Hong Kong. Gerontology students helped SAS students prepare for their service learning activity by creating instructional materials specifi c to aging in Hong Kong. The project evaluation demonstrated that all groups benefi ted from their involvement. SAS students reported positive cognitive and attitudinal outcomes, gerontology students believed their support of study abroad students enhanced their own learning of course content, and the Hong Kong elders reported positive benefi ts from their interactions with American students.


The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) was initially identified as a receptor that bound 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and related environmental toxicants; however, there is increasing evidence that the AHR is an important new drug target for treating multiple diseases including breast cancer. Treatment of estrogen receptor (ER)-negative MDA-MB-231 and BT474 breast cancer cells with TCDD or the selective AHR modulator 6-methyl-1,3,-trichlorodibenzofuran (MCDF) inhibited breast cancer cell invasion in a Boyden chamber assay. These results were similar to those previously reported for the antimetastic microRNA-335 (miR-335). Both TCDD and MCDF induced miR-335 in MDA-MB-231 and BT474 cells and this was accompanied by downregulation of SOX4, a miR-335-regulated (inhibited) gene. The effects of TCDD and MCDF on miR-335 and SOX4 expression and interactions of miR-335 with the 3′-UTR target sequence in the SOX4 gene were all inhibited in cells transfected with an oligonucleotide (iAHR) that knocks down the AHR, thus confirming AHR-miR-335 interactions. MCDF (40 mg/kg/d) also inhibited lung metastasis of MDA-MB-231 cells in a tail vein injection model, showing that the AHR is a potential new target for treating patients with ER-negative breast cancer, a disease where treatment options and their effectiveness are limited. Mol Cancer Ther; 11(1); 108–18. ©2011 AACR.


Title of dissertation: MEASUREMENT OF THE COSMIC-RAY PROTON SPECTRUM FROM 54 GEV TO 9.5 TEV WITH THE FERMI LARGE AREA TELESCOPE David M. Green, Doctor of Philosophy, 2016 Dissertation directed by: Dr. Elizabeth A. Hays NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Cosmic rays are a near-isotropic continuous flux of energetic particles of extraterrestrial origin. First discovered in 1912, cosmic rays span over 10 decades of energy and originate from Galactic and extragalactic sources. The Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope observations have recently confirmed supernova remnants (SNR) as a source class for Galactic cosmic-ray protons. Additionally, recent measurements made by AMS-02 of the cosmic-ray proton spectrum to 1.8 TeV in kinetic energy have shown an unexpected spectral break at 415±117 GeV with a primary spectral index of −2.794±0.006 and a secondary spectral index of −2.702±0.047. The Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT), one of two instruments on Fermi, has an ideal energy range for confirming a spectral break and extending a space-based cosmic-ray proton spectrum measurement to overlap with higher energy balloon-borne measurements. In this thesis, I present the measurement of the cosmic-ray proton spectrum from 54 GeV to 9.5 TeV with the Fermi -LAT. Using the LAT's anti-coincidence detector and tracker as two independent measures of charge, I estimated a residual contamination in our proton data set of less than 5% primarily from cosmic-ray electrons and positrons. The LAT calorimeter provides an energy estimation of the electromagnetic fraction of an induced cosmic-ray proton shower. I use the charge and energy measurements to build instrument response functions, such as acceptance and response for the LAT, and measure cosmic-ray proton flux. I estimate the systematic uncertainties associated with the acceptance and the energy measurement. Using a broken power-law spectrum, I find a primary spectral index of −2.80 ± 0.03, a secondary spectral index of −2.60 ± 0.04, and an energy break of 467 ± 144 GeV. I discuss possible astrophysical and cosmic-ray physics interpretations for the observed spectral break. Measurement of the cosmic-ray proton spectrum from 54 GeV to 9.5 TeV with the Fermi Large Area Telescope


Eutrophication increases primary production and changes the relative abundance, taxonomic composition and spatial distribution of primary producers within an aquatic ecosystem. The changes in composition and location of resources alter the distribution and flow of energy and biomass throughout the food web. Changes in productivity also alter the physico-chemical environment, which has further effects on the biota. Such ecological changes influence the direction and strength of natural and sexual selection experienced by populations. Besides altering selection, they can also erode the habitat gradients and/or behavioural mechanisms that maintain ecological separation and reproductive isolation among species. Consequently, eutrophication of lakes commonly results in reduced ecological specialization as well as genetic and phenotypic homogenization among lakes and among niches within lakes. We argue that the associated loss in functional diversity and niche differentiation may lead to decreased carrying capacity and lower resource-use efficiency by consumers. We show that in central European whitefish species radiations, the functional diversity affected by eutrophication-induced speciation reversal correlates with community-wide trophic transfer efficiency (fisheries yield per unit phosphorus). We take this as an example of how evolutionary dynamics driven by anthropogenic environmental change can have lasting effects on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. This article is part of the themed issue 'Human influences on evolution, and the ecological and societal consequences'.


A key issue in the renewal of the inflation-control agreement is the question of the appropriate level of the inflation target. Many observers have raised concerns that with the reduction in the neutral rate, and the experience of the recent financial crisis, the effective lower bound (ELB) is more likely to be binding in the future if inflation targets remain at 2 per cent. This has led some to argue that the inflation target should be raised to reduce the incidence of ELB episodes. Much of this debate has assumed that the ELB is close to, but not below, zero. Recently, however, a number of central banks have introduced negative policy interest rates. This paper outlines the concerns associated with negative interest rates, provides an overview of the international experience so far with negative policy rates and sets out some general observations based on this experience. It then discusses how low policy interest rates might be able to go in these economies, and offers some considerations for the renewal of the inflation-control agreement.


In a globalised world economy where capital is highly mobile governments are eager to attract foreign investors by lowering their corporate tax rates. EU countries have been particularly active in this respect given that capital can move freely across EU member states´ borders thanks to reforms removing major obstacles to cross-border investments. Multinationals are therefore in a good position to exploit the tax loopholes associated with the complexity and multiplicity of tax regimes in the EU. As a result tax revenues and tax levels might be distorted and a closer coordination of tax rate setting might be warranted. In this paper we quantify the macroeconomic consequences of changing corporate tax rates depending on a given EU country specific situation, in particular in terms of economic size and tax level and structure, and we investigate the possible case for a closer coordination of corporate tax policies in the EU. We use a computable general equilibrium (CGE) model reflecting countries´ heterogeneity to assess the economic impact of corporate tax changes and the possible economic impacts of uncoordinated and coordinated tax policy reforms in the EU. The aim of this paper is to contribute to the ongoing debate about the desirability, modality and likely impact of alternative policy solutions to the challenges posed by tax competition and aggressive tax planning. We find that corporate income tax rates can generate substantial responses within the implementing country as well as beyond its own borders depending on the country size. Harmonisation of CIT rates would involve winners and losers and it may have costs for the EU and as such, may be best pursued gradually and as part of a broader package of corporate tax reform on tax bases and government transfers.


One of the main merits offered by multiphase machines is their high fault-tolerant capability. Literature has demonstrated that the performance of multiphase induction machines under fault conditions is affected by the employed stator winding connection. In open-loop controlled five-phase machines, the star connection is favorable under healthy conditions while the pentagon connection is favorable and yields a lower derating factor under the open phase condition. In this paper, a new combined star/pentagon single layer winding layout that combines the advantages of both star and pentagon connections is proposed for a five-phase induction machine. Although the proposed winding is intrinsically an asymmetrical ten-phase machine, the proposed connection allows for only five-phase terminals. Moreover, the proposed winding not only yields better flux distribution compared to a conventional single layer winding, but also provides a complete cancellation of the third-order harmonic flux component caused by the induced third sequence currents due to the saturation effect and/or under unbalanced operation. Hence, the machine losses are decreased, which improves the overall machine efficiency. For the healthy case, the machine is similar to a conventional star connected five-phase machine. However, with one phase open, the proposed connection results in a lower derating factor compared to conventional connections for both open-loop and optimal current control techniques. A 1-kW prototype machine is used for experimental verification.


As global temperatures rise, variation in annual climate is also changing, with unknown consequences for forest biomes. Growing forests have the ability to capture atmospheric CO2 and thereby slow rising CO2 concentrations. Forests' ongoing ability to sequester C depends on how tree communities respond to changes in climate variation. Much of what we know about tree and forest response to climate variation comes from tree‐ring records. Yet typical tree‐ring datasets and models do not capture the diversity of climate responses that exist within and among trees and species. We address this issue using a model that estimates individual tree response to climate variables while accounting for variation in individuals' size, age, competitive status, and spatially structured latent covariates. Our model allows for inference about variance within and among species. We quantify how variables influence aboveground biomass growth of individual trees from a representative sample of 15 northern or southern tree species growing in a transition zone between boreal and temperate biomes. Individual trees varied in their growth response to fluctuating mean annual temperature and summer moisture stress. The variation among individuals within a species was wider than mean differences among species. The effects of mean temperature and summer moisture stress interacted, such that warm years produced positive responses to summer moisture availability and cool years produced negative responses. As climate models project significant increases in annual temperatures, growth of species like Acer saccharum, Quercus rubra, and Picea glauca will vary more in response to summer moisture stress than in the past. The magnitude of biomass growth variation in response to annual climate was 92–95% smaller than responses to tree size and age. This means that measuring or predicting the physical structure of current and future forests could tell us more about future C dynamics than growth responses related to climate change alone.


The transmission properties of a one-dimensional photonic crystal containing uniaxial indefinite metamaterial are investigated using the transfer matrix method. It is shown that the photonic bandgaps of the structure strongly depend on the orientation of the optical axis of the indefinite metamaterial. The results show that it is possible to obtain the Brewster condition for both TE and TM polarizations. This condition noticeably affects the profiles of the electromagnetic field inside the one-dimensional periodic structure.


Despite its importance, relatively little is known about the relationship between the structure, function, and evolution of proteins, particularly in land plant species. We have developed a database with predicted protein domains for five plant proteomes (http://pfp.bio.nyu.edu) and used both protein structural fold recognition and de novo Rosetta-based protein structure prediction to predict protein structure for Arabidopsis and rice proteins. Based on sequence similarity, we have identified ∼15,000 orthologous/paralogous protein family clusters among these species and used codon-based models to predict positive selection in protein evolution within 175 of these sequence clusters. Our results show that codons that display positive selection appear to be less frequent in helical and strand regions and are overrepresented in amino acid residues that are associated with a change in protein secondary structure. Like in other organisms, disordered protein regions also appear to have more selected sites. Structural information provides new functional insights into specific plant proteins and allows us to map positively selected amino acid sites onto protein structures and view these sites in a structural and functional context.


Objective: The object of the present study is to advance our understanding of the cognitive profile of Rett syndrome (RTT), an X-linked neurodevelopmental disorder caused by mutations in the MECP2 gene. We focus on sustained attention, which plays a critical role in driving cognitive growth, and use an innovative, gaze-based task that minimizes demands on the limited verbal and motor abilities associated with RTT. Method: The task required the ability to sustain attention on a visual target (a butterfly) while inhibiting a prepotent response to look to moving distractors (trees and clouds) presented in the peripheral visual field. The sample included children with RTT (N = 32) and their typically developing (TD) counterparts (N = 32), aged 2–12 years. Results: Our findings revealed that children with RTT had more difficulty sustaining attention (with the TD group averaging 60% looking at the butterfly vs. only 25% for the RTT group). Furthermore, RTT was associated with difficulties in 3 fundamental factors influencing sustained attention: engagement, distractibility, and reengagement. The RTT group was slower to engage, more distractible, and slower to reengage. Conclusion: Our findings identify a fundamental disruption to sustained attention in RTT, determine factors related to this impairment, and pinpoint cognitive areas that could serve as markers for evaluating the effectiveness of pharmacological and behavioral interventions.


Wireless mesh networks are a promising area for the deployment of new wireless communication and networking technologies. In this paper, we address the problem of enabling effective peer-to-peer resource sharing in this type of networks. In particular, we consider the well-known Chord protocol for resource sharing in wired networks and the recently proposed MeshChord specialization for wireless mesh networks, and compare their performance under various network settings for what concerns total generated traffic and load balancing. Both iterative and recursive key lookup implementation in Chord/MeshChord are considered in our extensive performance evaluation. The results confirm superiority of MeshChord with respect to Chord, and show that recursive key lookup is to be preferred when considering communication overhead, while similar degree of load unbalancing is observed. However, recursive lookup implementation reduces the efficacy of MeshChord cross-layer design with respect to the original Chord algorithm. MeshChord has also the advantage of reducing load unbalancing with respect to Chord, although a moderate degree of load unbalancing is still observed, leaving room for further improvement of the MeshChord design.


Recent improvements in mapping of global population distribution makes it possible to estimate the number and distribution of people near coasts with greater accuracy than previously possible, and hence consider the potential exposure of these populations to coastal hazards. In this paper, we combine the updated Gridded Population of the World (GPW2) population distribution estimate for 1990 and lighted settlement imagery with a global digital elevation model (DEM) and a high resolution vector coastline. This produces bivariate distributions of population, lighted settlements and land area as functions of elevation and coastal proximity. The near-coastal population within 100 km of a shoreline and 100 m of sea level was estimated as 1.2 X 10(9) people with average densities nearly 3 times higher than the global average density. Within the near coastal-zone, the average population density diminishes more rapidly with elevation than with distance, while the opposite is true of lighted settlements. Lighted settlements are concentrated within 5 km of coastlines worldwide, whereas average population densities are higher at elevations below 20 m throughout the 100 km width of the near-coastal zone. Presently most of the near-coastal population live in relatively densely-populated rural areas and small to medium cities, rather than in large cities. A range of improvements are required to define a better baseline and scenarios for policy analysis. Improving the resolution of the underlying population data is a priority.


Abstract This essay assesses the reasons for the so far minimal reception of Pierre Rosanvallon's writings in the English-speaking world. Some of the factors suggested include his resistance to a liberal triumphalism that framed the Anglo-American presentation of the larger body of thought to which he contributed and his focus on hexagonal French history, especially in the nineteenth century. The essay closes with a comparison of the reception of his approach with that of Thomas Piketty's recent bestseller on a similar topic. Keywords: Pierre Rosanvallon, Claude Lefort, Mark Lilla, liberalism, democracy ----- Bibliographie: Moyn, Samuel: Coals to Newcastle? On the Anglo-American Reception of Pierre Rosanvallon, ZPTh, 1-2016, S. 7-16. https://doi.org/10.3224/zpth.v7i1.03


A low CD4/CD8 ratio in elderly HIV-uninfected adults is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. A subset of HIV-infected adults receiving effective antiretroviral therapy (ART) fails to normalize this ratio, even after they achieve normal CD4+ T cell counts. The immunologic and clinical characteristics of this clinical phenotype remain undefined. Using data from four distinct clinical cohorts and three clinical trials, we show that a low CD4/CD8 ratio in HIV-infected adults during otherwise effective ART (after CD4 count recovery above 500 cells/mm3) is associated with a number of immunological abnormalities, including a skewed T cell phenotype from naïve toward terminally differentiated CD8+ T cells, higher levels of CD8+ T cell activation (HLADR+CD38+) and senescence (CD28− and CD57+CD28−), and higher kynurenine/tryptophan ratio. Changes in the peripheral CD4/CD8 ratio are also reflective of changes in gut mucosa, but not in lymph nodes. In a longitudinal study, individuals who initiated ART within six months of infection had greater CD4/CD8 ratio increase compared to later initiators (>2 years). After controlling for age, gender, ART duration, nadir and CD4 count, the CD4/CD8 ratio predicted increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Hence, a persistently low CD4/CD8 ratio during otherwise effective ART is associated with increased innate and adaptive immune activation, an immunosenescent phenotype, and higher risk of morbidity/mortality. This ratio may prove useful in monitoring response to ART and could identify a unique subset of individuals needed of novel therapeutic interventions.


THE ROLE OF ETHGENDER IDENTITY IN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GENDERED RACISM AND ACTIVISM AMONG BLACK WOMEN Maha Baalbaki Marquette University, 2020 Black women face a unique intersectional form of discrimination, termed gendered racism (Essed, 1991). The purpose of this study was to determine whether experiences with gendered racism predict activism among Black women and to explore the roles of emotions and identity in this relationship. An online, national sample of 112 Black women provided self-reports of frequency of experiences with overt and covert forms of gendered racism and associated emotional responses, ethgender identity centrality, and activism. Results revealed that experiences with covert gendered racism predicted activism. Emotional responses to gendered racism were not found to predict activism. Ethgender identity was found to play a mediating role in the relationship between gendered racism and activism. Study limitations along with practical implications and directions for future research are discussed.


Taking into account the difference between the ancient and modern (even
 postmodern) understandings of corruption, I am curious to explore why the
 bond linking corruption and sex seems so obvious. I have no intention of
 investigating both phenomena in the context of any moral category. What
 then did Flaubert have on his mind when he wrote that Rodolphe "treated Emma
 quite sans facon. He made of her something supple and corrupt." What
 underpins the irresistible attraction between corruption and sex? Why is it
 impossible to eradicate corruption and repress sex and perceive them as
 solely functional strategies of generation and reproduction? This short
 outline follows certain philosophical remarks of Luce Irigaray and her
 thematization of the sexual difference in the demarcation of generation and
 corruption.


Background: In December 2019, in Wuhan, China; a new coronavirus emerged that had not been previously identified in humans. Hence is crucial to characterize the infection risk among infected health care workers (HCWs), being responsible for secondary transmission to patients, and others. Objectives: The current study aimed to assess the disease burden among the front-line warriors and efficiently planned the preventive and management strategies for such infections. Methods: HCWs with clinical suspicion of COVID-19 infection, who reported to Fever Clinic for possible diagnosis by Truenat testing, were enrolled through a self-reporting Risk Assessment form. An oropharyngeal swab was subjected to Truenat testing based on the principle of Real time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results: Doctors comprised 60% of our HCWs. Eighty-three percent of the HCWs under study reported either the presence of BCG scar or gave a history of BCG immunization at birth. The maximum number of HCWs (29.16%) took Hydroxychloroquine prophylaxis for four weeks. Seventy-four percent of the HCWs affirmed the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) at the time of exposure. The most common mode of infection reported was the exposure to COVID-19 patients. Fever was the most common reported symptom. Truenat was positive in 9 of 100 HCWs who were tested, giving an infection rate of 9%. Conclusion: The study provides insights into the burden of COVID-19 infection among HCWs, and guides us to evaluate and plan our preventive measures and management strategies for such infections.


The process of pharmaceutical formulation is constantly evolving as many new active compounds are being discovered in order to overcome the challenges associated with producing viable dosage forms to reach the target tissues by these compounds. Perhaps, the most important property for a drug to be effectively formulated into a dosage form is adequate miscibility and solubility which may be in an organic solvent vehicle but is mainly in water. Water solubility along with solubility in the body fluids is critical from the point of view of achieving the desired levels of the drug in the body for effective therapy against a disease condition. Since antiquity, active pharmaceutical compounds have been extracted from various natural sources such as plants and animals. In plants, compounds have been extracted from seeds, leaves, roots and fruits of the plant. The compounds resveratrol and quercetin belong to a class of compounds called polyphenols that have shown activity against a few disease conditions. These compounds have very low aqueous solubility and bioavailability and for achieving efficient therapeutic activity, may have to be formulated into more soluble and bioavailable dosage forms. Hot-melt extrusion is a novel technique that has been explored for pharmaceutical manufacturing in recent years. Applied on a large scale in the plastics industry, hotmelt extrusion has been employed in improving the solubility of poorly soluble compounds by producing an amorphous solid solution of the drug in a medium such as an edible or erodible biocompatible polymer. It involves few processing steps and has a few advantages over other formulation methods used for pharmaceutical processing of poorly soluble active compounds. It was hypothesized that hot-melt extrusion would assist in improving the solubility and bioavailability upon oral delivery of the polyphenols in a viable dosage form. The polymer employed for the study was a novel polymeric solubilizer, Soluplus®. The study involved hot-melt extrusion of resveratrol and quercetin separately with Soluplus®, described in Chapter 1, and analysis of the mixtures thus produced by using analytical techniques such as high performance liquid chromatography, differential scanning calorimetry and Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy. Additionally, studies to determine the improvement in solubility and miscibility were conducted on the hot-melt extruded and physical mixtures of resveratrol and quercetin with Soluplus® and the properties of the mixtures upon formulation as films for topical delivery and formulation as tablets were studied. The dissolution characteristics of the hot-melt extruded mixture of resveratrol and Soluplus® were studied and compared to the dissolution characteristics of the corresponding physical mixture of resveratrol and Soluplus®. Lastly, the effect of forced degradation on the mixtures was studied and analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. The methodology employed for this study has been described in Chapter 3. From the results and interpretations described in Chapter 4, it is observed that the hot-melt extruded mixtures of resveratrol and quercetin with Soluplus® might form stable, amorphous solid mixtures of the polyphenol in the polymer which was determined using differential scanning calorimetry. The high performance liquid chromatography analysis and the Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy technique perhaps indicate that the content remains uniform even though different proportions of the active polyphenol were used with the polymer and that there is an intimate chemical interaction that may result in changes within the active polyphenol causing a change in the functional group characteristics of the polyphenols upon extrusion with Soluplus® as was observed through the Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy technique. The formulation of the mixtures of resveratrol and quercetin with Soluplus® as films for topical delivery failed due to unstable films being produced and re-crystallization of the active polyphenol upon drying of the films. Tablet formulations of the hot-melt extruded and physical mixtures of both resveratrol and quercetin were produced and properties of the tablets were assessed. The tablets produced by the hot-melt extruded mixtures of quercetin were harder, less friable and had suitable disintegration times as compared to the tablets produced from the hotmelt extruded mixtures of resveratrol. From the dissolution studies performed, it is perhaps observed that a smaller particle size of the hot-melt extruded mixture of resveratrol and Soluplus® has a faster release rate as compared to the larger particle size fractions of the hot-melt extruded mixture of resveratrol and Soluplus®. Lastly, the forced degradation studies might indicate that the hot-melt extruded mixtures of resveratrol and quercetin with Soluplus® undergo degradation at elevated temperature conditions and perhaps, there is loss of the active polyphenols from the mixtures as a result.


This paper analyses social representations of youths on their main problems and how they deal with them. Data were collected in 39 interviews with residents in Duque de Caxias, of both genders, aged between 13 and 22 years old. The analysis shows that the representation of the problems are make clear in opposition to their projects of life, which are structured around economic and affective stability. The interviewed youths consider that they themselves must overcome the main obstacles to their projects. For that, they need support from parents and friends, who represent at the same time the major source of support, however, a significant concern when they are not able to correspond to the youths' expectations.


Objective: Women treated for Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN) grade 2 or 3 are at increased risk of CIN and cervical cancer. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is effective in preventing CIN in women who are not infected by HPV. Some studies suggested that vaccination may reduce the risk of CIN2 or 3 in women treated for CIN. A working group including all Italian scientific societies involved in tackling cervical cancer developed a recommendation on vaccination against HPV for women treated for CIN2 or CIN3. Data sources, methods of study selection: The group conducted a systematic review of the literature published from January 2006 to May 2019. Evidence on safety outcomes was retrieved by a recent Cochrane Review on vaccination in the general population. To develop the final recommendation, evidences were appraised and integrated by a Panel of Experts using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) Evidence to Decision framework. Tabulation, integration and results: Six eligible studies were included. Four were RCTs and two were cohort studies, with different timing of vaccination. An additional study, published in October 2019, was taken into consideration after external review. A reduction of 70% CIN2+ in the treatment group was estimated; the vaccine was considered safe. Conclusion: The working group recommends the use of HPV vaccination in women treated for CIN2 or 3. The strong recommendation is based on large estimated desirable effects and trivial anticipated undesirable effects (moderate certainty of evidence), negligible costs and savings (no studies included), and a positive judgment in terms of feasibility, acceptability, and impact on equity. Keywords


Lifetime records of 122,679 cows from 7557 herds, obtained from Mid States Dairy Records Processing Center (Ames, IA), were used to determine net income and net income for the planning horizon. With a planning horizon of five lactations for each cow, the estimated profit from the replacements was credited to each cow not surviving until fifth calving. Net income was defined as lifetime income minus costs. Net income for the planning horizon was defined as net income plus profit from replacements within the planning horizon. Income was from the sale of milk, calves, and culled cows. Costs were included for heifer rearing, feed, labor, and breeding. Longer herd life yielded greater profit for net income and net income for the planning horizon. The rate of increase in profit for longer herd life was reduced for net income for the planning horizon, which accounts for profit from cows replacing a culled cow compared with profit from net income. The relative economic value (phenotypic standard deviation basis) of production to herd life was 0.18:1 for net income and 0.46:1 for net income for the planning horizon. The relative value for herd life was overestimated by about 2.5 times when profit from replacements was not considered. Values for production relative to herd life increased for high milk prices and low feed prices. Lower prices for culled cows in combination with high prices for milk and feed increased the relative economic value of production.


Abstract Water and nutrient application using three irrigation systems, namely daily drip irrigation, pulsing drip irrigation and micro irrigation were studied with respect to photosynthetic efficiency, water use efficiency and leaf water relations in 'Brookfield Gala' apple trees during 2004/5 and 2005/6 in the Western Cape Province, South Africa. The amount of water used per irrigation strategy was 5254 m3 ha−1 yr−1 and 5661 m3 ha−1 yr−1 for the micro irrigation; 3429 m3 ha−1 yr−1 and 39260 m3 ha−1 yr−1 for the daily drip and 3429 m3 ha−1 yr−1 and 4047 m3 ha−1 yr−1 for the pulsing drip for 2004/5 and 2005/6 seasons respectively. Trees were budded on either M793 or M7 root-stocks and planted in blocks using a split-plot experimental design with irrigation as the main effect and root-stock as the sub-plot. Maximum light-saturated net CO2 assimilation rate (Amax) was consistently higher under pulsing drip irrigation (this system applies water several times during the day creating an even shorter frequency cycle than the normal daily drip) compared to micro irrigation (applies water once to twice a week and uses sprinklers that spray water in a circle resulting in wetting a continuous strip within the drip row) but, occasionally, significantly higher than daily drip irrigation (applies water on a daily basis creating a shorter cycle compared to micro sprinkler system). The maximum rate of electron transport (Jmax) showed similar trends to Amax during 2004/5, but not during 2005/6. Amax peaked during midmorning (10h00) with a steady decline thereafter in all treatments, but with significantly lower rates under micro irrigation. Stomatal conductance (gs) declined steadily throughout the morning, with higher gs under the drip based systems compared to the micro system. The implications are that, irrigation application should be given early in the morning to sustain stomatal conductance and maximise CO2 assimilation rates during the period between 08h00 to 12h00. Results indicate higher photosynthetic capacity and water use efficiency under both drip-based irrigation systems compared to micro irrigation. Differences in photosynthetic capacity were related to both stomatal and non-stomatal responses.


The solid waste management scenario in the recent years has shifted towards a more sustainable approach. This paper brings in to focus the waste management methods that can be adopted using Bangalore as case study, in order to achieve economic viability and explores the sustainable options that conserves both natural and man-made resources and averts ecological risks. Bangalore, the Garden City of India with a population of 6 million is facing the daunting task of handling 3613 tonnes of municipal solid waste per day. Added to this are the constraints that are faced by the authorities such as poor political back up, inadequate infrastructure, insufficient funds and lack of public support. Attempts have been made to clear wastes by door to door collection method, introduction of push carts, which separate biodegradable wastes from non biodegradable wastes, deployment of auto tippers to clear slum wastes etc. under the guidance of Bangalore Agenda Task Force (government appointed body) and Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (city municipal corporation). Integrated waste management system is proposed as an option, which include collection, transport and processing of wastes in an environmentally sound way. The methods to overcome constraints in waste management and the future plans and actions that will bring about a significant change in the current waste management practices are also discussed in the paper.


1 ABSTRACT The Christina River Basin drains 565 square miles (mi2) in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware. Water from the basin is used for recreation, drinkingwater supply, and to support aquatic life. The Christina River Basin includes the major subbasins of Brandywine Creek, White Clay Creek, and Red Clay Creek. The White Clay Creek is the second largest of the subbasins and drains an area of 108 mi2. Water quality in some parts of the Christina River Basin is impaired and does not support designated uses of the streams. A multi-agency water-quality management strategy included a modeling component to evaluate the effects of point and nonpoint-source contributions of nutrients and suspended sediment on stream water quality. To assist in non point-source evaluation, four independent models, one for each of the three major subbasins and for the Christina River, were developed and calibrated using the model code Hydrological Simulation Program— Fortran (HSPF). Water-quality data for model calibration were collected in each of the four main subbasins and in smaller subbasins predominantly covered by one land use following a nonpoint-source monitoring plan. Under this plan, stormflow and baseflow samples were collected during 1998 at two sites in the White Clay Creek subbasin and at nine sites in the other subbasins. The HSPF model for the White Clay Creek Basin simulates streamflow, suspended sediment, and the nutrients, nitrogen and phosphorus. In addition, the model simulates water temperature, dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand, and plankton as secondary objectives needed to support the sediment and nutrient simulations. For the model, the basin was subdivided into 17 reaches draining areas that ranged from 1.37 to 13 mi2. Ten different pervious land uses and two impervious land uses were selected for simulation. Land-use areas were determined from 1995 land-use data. The predominant land uses in the White Clay Creek Basin are agricultural, forested, residential, and urban. The hydrologic component of the model was run at an hourly time step and primarily calibrated using streamflow data from two U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) streamflow-measurement stations for the period of October 1, 1994, through October 29, 1998. Additional calibration was done using data from two other USGS streamflow-measurement stations with periods of record shorter than the calibration period. Daily precipitation data from two National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) gages and hourly precipitation and other meteorological data for one NOAA gage were used for model input. The difference between simulated and observed streamflow volume ranged from -0.9 to 1.8 percent for the 4-year period at the two calibration sites with 4-year records. Annual differences between observed and simulated streamflow generally were greater than the overall error. For example, at a site near the bottom of the basin (drainage area of 89.1 mi2), annual differences between observed and simulated streamflow ranged from -5.8 to 14.4 percent and the overall error for the 4-year period was -0.9 percent. Calibration errors for 36 storm periods at the two calibration sites for total volume, low-flowrecession rate, 50-percent lowest flows, 10-percent highest flows, and storm peaks were within the recommended criteria of 20 percent or less. Much of the error in simulating storm events on an hourly time step can be attributed to uncertainty in the hourly rainfall data. The water-quality component of the model was calibrated using data collected by the USGS and state agencies at three USGS streamflow-measurement stations with variable water-quality monitoring periods ending October 1998. Because of availability, monitoring data for suspended-solids concentrations were used as surrogates for suspended-sediment concentrations, although suspended solids may underestimate suspended sediment and affect apparent accuracy of the suspended-sediment simulation. Comparison of observed to simulated loads for up to five storms in 1998 at each of the two nonpoint-source monitoring sites in the White Clay Creek Basin indicate that simulation error is commonly as large as an order of magnitude for suspended sediment and nutrients. The simulation error tends to be smaller for dissolved nutrients than for particulate nutrients. Errors of 40 percent or less for monthly or annual values indicate a fair to good waterquality calibration according to recommended criteria, SIMULATION OF STREAMFLOW AND WATER QUALITY IN THE WHITE CLAY CREEK SUBBASIN OF THE CHRISTINA RIVER BASIN, PENNSYLVANIA AND DELAWARE, 1994-98 By Lisa A. Senior and Edward H. Koerkle


Abstract Inequality, bi-polarization and polarization are related but distinct concepts aiming at analysing the income distribution. This paper first recalls the main differences between these three notions of inequality, bipolarization and polarization and then suggests using the socalled Shapley decomposition to show that the various income sources have a different impact on these three types of indicators. Our empirical investigation, based on 2008 data for Luxembourg, shows in fact that, in the case of the so-called zero income Shapley decomposition, inequality in Luxembourg is strongly related to income from capital while bipolarization is mainly due to the distribution of income from work and polarization to that of the income from work and transfers.


Note: this Renascence Editions text was transcribed by Richard Bear, July 2001, from the 1926 W.W. Greg edition of the 1625 masque. Any errors that have crept into the transcription are the fault of the present publisher. The text is in the public domain. Content unique to this presentation is copyright © 2001 the editor and The University of Oregon. For nonprofit and educational uses only. Send comments and corrections to the Publisher.


The dictator game is a well-known task measuring prosocial preferences, in which one person divides a fixed amount of windfall money with a recipient. A key factor in real-world transfers of wealth is the concept of property ownership and consequently the related acts of giving and taking. Using a variation of the traditional dictator game ( N = 256), we examined whether individual differences under different game frames corresponded with prosocial personality traits from the Big Five (politeness, compassion) and HEXACO (Honesty-Humility, Emotionality, eXtraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Openness to Experience) (honesty-humility, agreeableness) models. In the Big Five model, the effects of prosocial personality traits were generally stronger and more consistent for taking than for giving, in line with a "do-no-harm" explanation, whereby prosocial individuals felt less entitled to and less willing to infringe on the endowments of others. In contrast, HEXACO honesty-humility predicted allocations across both frames, consistent with its broad association with fair-mindedness, and providing further evidence of its role in allocations of wealth more generally. These findings highlight the utility of integrating personality psychology with behavioral economics, in which the discriminant validity across prosocial traits can shed light on the distinct motivations underpinning social decisions.


The moral status of the corporation is a foundational issue in business ethics. A long-running debate has considered whether a corporation can be considered a moral agent in its own right, akin to an individual human agent. As Moore (1999, p. 330) comments, the views are 'essentially twofold and diametrically opposed'. Some think corporations are moral agents, while others disagree.

As befits such a long-running and important debate, several review articles have been produced (e.g. Danley, 1999), in addition to the literature reviews that precede any attempts at novel analysis. Moore's (1999) review covers most, if not all, of the many significant papers on this topic over the years, considering the principal arguments on both sides of the debate. As he notes, the debate on the moral status of the corporation can be seen as a particular case regarding collective responsibility – an issue that has been extensively discussed in the general philosophy literature, where concerns have included attribution of blame to particular races or nation states.

In this chapter, rather than revisiting the business ethics literature and reviewing it anew, I take a step back and undertake a review of the philosophical literature on collective responsibility. This is not to imply that previous business ethicists have not also referred to the philosophical literature. However, in reviewing that literature I wish to bring out a particular issue that I regard as having been ignored or under-played by previous authors – namely, the distribution of blame. I pay particular attention to the work of Sverdlik (1987) who, like most other protagonists in the debate within the philosophical literature, is concerned with the general nature of collective responsibility rather than its particular application in relation to business corporations.

The term 'collective responsibility' clearly involves two elements. As in the literature on collective responsibility, the element on which I wish to focus in this paper is 'collective'. However, I will first make a few points about 'responsibility', with the principal aim not of finding some essentialist definition but of ensuring that it is sufficiently clear for the purposes of this chapter how I am using the term. Given the tenor of the debate on corporations, I am particularly interested in blame and its relationship to responsibility and obligation.


Background: Fusions of dioxygenase and CBMs have been predicted in cellulolytic microbes. Results: SACTE_2871 is unique two-domain enzyme that reacts with caffeoyl-CoA and shows preferential binding to synthetic lignins. Conclusion: SACTE_2871 is an intradiol dioxygenase that is targeted to growing surfaces of lignin. Significance: SACTE_2871 can destroy precursors needed by the plant for de novo lignin biosynthesis as part of its natural wounding response. Streptomyces sp. SirexAA-E is a highly cellulolytic bacterium isolated from an insect/microbe symbiotic community. When grown on lignin-containing biomass, it secretes SACTE_2871, an aromatic ring dioxygenase domain fused to a family 5/12 carbohydrate-binding module (CBM 5/12). Here we present structural and catalytic studies of this novel fusion enzyme, thus providing insight into its function. The dioxygenase domain has the core β-sandwich fold typical of this enzyme family but lacks a dimerization domain observed in other intradiol dioxygenases. Consequently, the x-ray structure shows that the enzyme is monomeric and the Fe(III)-containing active site is exposed to solvent in a shallow depression on a planar surface. Purified SACTE_2871 catalyzes the O2-dependent intradiol cleavage of catechyl compounds from lignin biosynthetic pathways, but not their methylated derivatives. Binding studies show that SACTE_2871 binds synthetic lignin polymers and chitin through the interactions of the CBM 5/12 domain, representing a new binding specificity for this fold-family. Based on its unique structural features and functional properties, we propose that SACTE_2871 contributes to the invasive nature of the insect/microbial community by destroying precursors needed by the plant for de novo lignin biosynthesis as part of its natural wounding response.


This study describe the procedure of extraction and spectroscopic analysis of Hesperidin, a naturally occurring citrus flavanone glycoside from leaves peel of three different citrus species, mandarin (C.reticulata),Clementine( C.clementina), sweet orange (C. sinensis). Hesperidin was isolated from orange peel by extracting the dry peel with petroleum ether. Spectroscopic analysis (UV, IR and NMR) confirms the structure and extent of purity of extracted Hesperidin. An improved procedure for the conversion of Hesperidin into high-purity, crystalline Hesperetin is reported.


Confronted with the decreasing effectiveness of classic marketing communications, event-marketing has become an increasingly popular alternative for marketers in dealing with a changing marketing environment. Event-marketing is defined as the creation of 3-dimensional, interactive brand-related hyperrealities for consumers by staging marketing-events, which would result in an emotional attachment to the brand. However, as a pull strategy within marketing communications, successful event-marketing strategies require a thorough understanding of why consumers are motivated to voluntarily participate in those marketing-events. To narrow this information gap, this research, based on a thorough literature review, has developed a conceptual model suggesting that consumers' motivations to participate in marketing-events are determined by their predispositional involvement either in the event-object, the event-content, event-marketing or the expected social interaction at the event. Thus, the main contribution is to the involvement and experiential consumption literature.


Job characteristics can affect worker turnover through their effect on utility and through their effect on outside job opportunities. The aim of this study is to identify and estimate the roles of these two channels separately. Our method exploits information on job changes, and relies on an augmented sample selection correction. To illustrate our approach, we use an exhaustive register of Dutch primary school teachers and show a detailed picture of preferences for school characteristics. We also find that the dependence between current and outside job attributes can affect turnover and thus the allocation of teachers across schools.


John Hugh Westcott was a leader in the revolution of the subject of automatic control that took place in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Appointed to a lectureship in the early 1950s, he rapidly created, and inspired, a group that successfully bridged the transition from classical to 'modern' control theory. He supported this activity via a large number of research grants garnered from industry by his persuasive advocacy of the benefits to be gained from modern developments. To encourage transfer of these developments to industry and elsewhere, he motivated and directed several large research projects in areas such as the cold rolling of steel and the control of the UK economy.


In independent component analysis (ICA) it is often assumed that the p components of the observation vector are linear combinations of p underlying independent components. Two scatter matrices having the so called independence property can then be used to recover the independent components. The assumption of (exactly) p independent components is however often criticized, and several alternative and more realistic models have been suggested. One of these models is the independent subspace model where it is assumed that the p-variate observed vectors are based on k independent subvectors of lengths p1, ..., pk, p1+...+pk = p. In independent subspace analysis (ISA) the aim is to recover these subvectors. In this paper we describe a solution to ISA which is based on the use of three scatter matrices with the independent block property.


Two Chinese pine (Pinus tabulaeformis) tree-ring width chronologies up to 375 years long were used to reconstruct rainfall from February to early July for the Wu Dangzhao region and from February to mid-July for the La Madong region, Inner Mongolia, China. The predictor variables account for 44.3% and 42.7% of the variance in precipitation, respectively. Both historical records and two other tree-ring based precipitation reconstructions from the environmentally sensitive zone (the northern Helan Mountain range and Baiyinaobao) confirm our results. After applying a 10-year moving average, the trends of four tree-ring based precipitation reconstructions vary synchronously. Periods with below-normal precipitation occurred during the 1720s–1730s, 1740s–1750s, 1790s, early 1810s, late 1830s–1860s, 1880s–1910s, late 1920s–1930s and after the late 1960s–early 1970s. Periods with above-normal precipitation occurred in the 1760s to early 1770s, 1820s to early 1830s, 1870s–1880s, early 1920s, 1940s to early 1960s, and 1990s. The late 1920s period was the most severe drought over a broad area in north China in the last 375 years. In contrast, the wettest period was in the late 1990s.


It is pointed out that by approximating the impulse response of a linear time-invariant stable system by a finite sum of given exponentials, the problem of estimating the transfer function is considerably simplified. The author shows how the complexity can be reduced further by using orthogonalized exponentials. The analysis is based on the result that the corresponding normal equations will then have a Toeplitz structure. The z-transform of orthogonalized exponentials corresponds to discrete Kautz functions, which generalize discrete Laguerre functions to the several, possibly complex, poles case. Hence, by appropriate choice of time constants Kautz models give low-order useful approximations of many systems of interest. In particular, resonant systems can be well approximated using Kautz models with complex poles. Several basic results on transfer function estimation are extended to discrete Kautz models.<<ETX>>


The Transformer architecture is widely used in natural language processing. Despite its success, the design principle of the Transformer remains elusive. In this paper, we provide a novel perspective towards understanding the architecture: we show that the Transformer can be mathematically interpreted as a numerical Ordinary Differential Equation (ODE) solver for a convection-diffusion equation in a multi-particle dynamic system. In particular, how words in a sentence are abstracted into contexts by passing through the layers of the Transformer can be interpreted as approximating multiple particles' movement in the space using the Lie-Trotter splitting scheme and the Euler's method. Given this ODE's perspective, the rich literature of numerical analysis can be brought to guide us in designing effective structures beyond the Transformer. As an example, we propose to replace the Lie-Trotter splitting scheme by the Strang-Marchuk splitting scheme, a scheme that is more commonly used and with much lower local truncation errors. The Strang-Marchuk splitting scheme suggests that the self-attention and position-wise feed-forward network (FFN) sub-layers should not be treated equally. Instead, in each layer, two position-wise FFN sub-layers should be used, and the self-attention sub-layer is placed in between. This leads to a brand new architecture. Such an FFN-attention-FFN layer is "Macaron-like", and thus we call the network with this new architecture the Macaron Net. Through extensive experiments, we show that the Macaron Net is superior to the Transformer on both supervised and unsupervised learning tasks. The reproducible codes and pretrained models can be found at this https URL