In April 2002 the International Monetary Fund introduced a sovereign bankruptcy proposal only to be rebuffed by the United States Treasury. Where the IMF wanted a mandatory bankruptcy regime, the Treasury wanted to solve distress problems with contractual devices. Sovereign bondholders and sovereign issuers themselves flatly rejected both proposals, even though they were nominally the beneficiaries of both proponents. This Article addresses and explains this bondholder reaction. In so doing, it takes a highly skeptical view of the IMF's proposal even as it shows that the incentive structure surrounding sovereign lending renders untenable the Treasury's contractarian proposal. The Article's analysis follows from a review and restatement of the economic learning on sovereign debt relationships. The IMF and the Treasury share the objective facilitating restructuring by substituting a regime of collective action for the prevailing practice of requiring unanimous bondholder consent to significant amendments of bond contracts. In so doing they follow a conventional wisdom respecting bond contracts under which standard unanimity provisions are inefficient and irrational. The Article shows that this dismissal of the unanimity requirement comes too quickly. Under our analysis of the problem the debtor distress, bondholders rationally may prefer to make compositions harder to conclude. There is no first best equilibrium bond contract; instead bondholders select from a menu of second best forms, making trade offs between unanimous action and collective action provisions in an imperfect world. One factor leading lenders to favor unanimous action is the need to self protect. In a world without a good faith backstop, creditors motivated by side deals can take advantage of majority rule to impose suboptimal compositions. Holding out is the only weapon available to the minority creditor. The Article argues that, given such side deals, a stable majoritarian regime cannot be achieved as a matter of free contract. Mandate will be necessary. It follows that the Treasury's contractarian approach is implausible absent a backstop regime of intercreditor good faith duties. The Article draws on the history of corporate reorganization prior to the enactment of the section 77B of the Bankruptcy Act of 1934 to show that courts have grappled with these questions before, intervening aggressively on equitable principles.


The performance of steel structures at elevated temperature is determined by many factors. This report describes the analytical investigation of a single span steel beam using the nonlinear finite element program, SAFIR. Four support conditions and additional axial spring were used to model structural elements with various level of axial and flexural restraint. Different fires were applied and the effect of the applied load, number of fire-exposed sides and location of the line of support were analysed in terms of the midspan deflection, bending moment distribution and axial force in the axially restraint beams. It was found that beams with axial restraint, especially those with rotational restraint are very sensitive to the stressstrain relationship of the steel at elevated temperatures. This research is intended to be a preliminary study leading to the detailed behaviour of complex steel frames such as those tested at Cardington. Some important aspects that could not be included in this project need further investigation in future research.


Abstract The isothermal equation of state (EoS) of phase E, Mg1.96(7)Fe0.072(5)Si1.04(5)H3.7(8)O6, has been determined using high-pressure single-crystal X-ray diffraction. A third-order Birch Murnaghan EoS fit to pressue-volume data collected from room pressure and temperature to 6.7 GPa reveals that phase E has the lowest bulk modulus, KT = 92.9(7) GPa, and highest pressure derivative of the bulk modulus, K' = 7.3(2), for any dense hydrous magnesium silicate (DHMS) yet measured. A parameterized third-order Birch-Murnaghan EoS was also fit to the unit-cell parameters which display significant curvature with increasing pressure. This analysis shows that the c-axis (Kc = 89.1(10) GPa) is 6% more compressible than the a-axis (Ka = 94.8(6) GPa), with little of the anisotropy commonly observed in other layered structures. The high K' is indicative of the similarity to layers of the brucite structure. The introduction of interlayer cation polyhedra to the structure serves to reduce both the anisotropy, by reducing the compressibility perpendicular to the sheets, and the ability to shear, by increasing the coherence between layers.


"Rising world prices for fuel and food represent a negative terms-of-trade shock for Mozambique. The impacts of these price increases are analyzed using various approaches. Detailed price data show that the world price increases are being transmitted to domestic prices. Short-run net benefit ratio analysis indicates that urban households and households in the southern region of the country are more vulnerable to food price increases. Rural households, particularly in the northern and central parts of Mozambique, often benefit because they sell more food goods than they consume (i.e., net seller). Long-term analysis using a computable general equilibrium model of Mozambique indicates that the fuel price shock dominates rising food prices from both macroeconomic and poverty perspectives. Here again, negative impacts are greater in urban areas than in rural areas. The importance of agricultural production response in general, and export response in particular, are highlighted in this discussion. Policy analysis reveals difficult trade-offs between short-run mitigation and long-run growth. Improved agricultural productivity has powerful positive impacts, but remains difficult to achieve and may not address the immediate impacts of higher prices. " from authors' abstract


GRAPE-X processor is an experimental processor chip designed to achieve extremely high performance per watt. It was made using TSMC's 28 nm technology, and has achieved 30 Gflops/W. This number is three times higher than the performance of best GPGPU cards announced so far, using the same 28 nm technology. The power consumption has been the main factor which limits the performance improvement of HPC systems. This is because of the break of the so-called CMOS scaling law. Until early 2000's, or when the design rule of the silicon device was larger than 130nm, shrinking the transistor size by a factor of two results in: for times more transistors, two times higher clock frequency, half the supply voltage, and the same power consumption. Thus, one could achieve 8x performance improvement. However, with transistors smaller than 130nm design rules, it has become difficult to reduce the supply voltage, resulting in only a factor-of-two performance improvement for the same power consumption. As a result, reduction in the power consumption of the processor, when it is fully in operation, has become the most important issue. In addition, it has also become important to achieve high parallel efficiency on relatively small-sized problems. With large parallel machines, high peak performance is realized, but that peak performance is in many cases not so useful, since it is achieved only for unrealistically large problems. For the problems of practical interest, the efficiencies of large scale parallel machines are sometimes surprisingly low. In order to achieve high performance-per-watt and high parallel efficiency on small problems, we developed a highly streamlined processor architecture. In order to reduce the communication overhead and improve parallel efficiency, we adopted an SIMD architecture. To reduce the power consumption, we adopted the distributed-memory-on-chip architecture, in which each of SIMD processor core has its own main memory. Based on the GRAPE-X architecture, an exa-flops (10^18 flops) system with the power consumption less than 50 MW will be possible in 2018-2019 time-frame. For many real applications including those in the cyber security area, which requires 10TB or less memory, a parallel system based on our GRAPE-X architecture will provide the highest parallel efficiency and the shortest time to the solution at the same time. Oral presentation is preferred


Ideal for undergraduate courses in criminology--especially those taught from a critical perspective--Criminology: A Sociological Approach, Fifth Edition, is a comprehensive yet highly accessible introduction to the study of crime and criminological theory. Authors Piers Beirne and James W. Messerschmidt present the topic from a sociological standpoint, emphasizing the social construction of crime and showing how crime relates to gender, class, race, and age. Providing students with a strong theoretical foundation, the book also addresses historical, feminist, and comparative perspectives and highlights the major types of crime and victimization patterns. The text is divided into three Parts: * Part I focuses on three questions: "What is crime?" "How can we measure how much crime there is in the United States?" and finally, "How can we compare rates of crime in different societies?" * Part II is a systematic guide to modern criminological theory and its historical development. * Part III examines specific types of crime, including property crime, interpersonal violence, white-collar crime, and political crime. Written in student-friendly language, Criminology uses abundant illustrations, examples, and case studies to elucidate key points. The text also offers many helpful learning aids, including chapter previews, lists of key terms, chapter reviews, questions for class discussion, and suggestions for further study. NEW TO THE FIFTH EDITION* Moves the theory chapters to earlier in the book, helping to better connect them with one another* Reorganizes the chapters on theory to showcase the self-contained, internally coherent nature of criminology--rather than criminology's place in the historical record* Adds examples throughout* Presents new and up-to-date empirical data in all sections* Discusses many new topics, including cultural criminology and green criminology* Covers numerous types of crime that were not discussed in previous editions (e.g., whiteness and crime, the rape-war connection, Ponzi schemes, domestic right-wing terrorism, and state- sanctioned torture)


Based on the detailed analysis of the reaction cross sections obtained using the finite range Glauber model, a systematic study of strong absorption radii is carried out. A simple phenomenological expression is proposed to calculate reaction cross sections directly using the average nucleon–nucleon cross section for a given target–projectile combination at given energy. Reliability of the
model expression is demonstrated through a variety of illustrative examples.


There are many cement replacement materials and one of them is zeolites. Zeolites are crystalline solids structures made of silicon, aluminum and oxygen that form a framework with cavities and channels inside where cations, water and/or small molecules may reside. In this study natural zeolite clinoptilolite was used. Clinoptilolite is the most popular natural zeolite mineral with the chemical formula (Na, K, Ca)23Al3(Al,Si)2Si13O3612H2O. The present paper shows the results of using ultrasound treated clinoptilolite as Portland cement replacement material. The duration of ultrasound treatment was 5 min, 10 min, and 20 min. Results showed that the XRD of ultrasound-treated clinoptilolite slightly differs in comparison to conventional clinoptilolite. The cement samples with 5% and 10% clinoptilolite substitute provide the strength increase, 30% significantly reduces the strength compared to control samples. The heat measurements of Portland cement paste hydration, containing clinoptilolite, showed that the clinoptilolite slightly increases the duration of hydration, but hydration temperature is lower than in the controls samples. The experimental results suggest that ultrasound-treated clinoptilolite positively influence cement hydration processes, consolidation kinetics, CSH formation; the mechanical strength of the samples is increased. Typical content of Portland cement substituting does not exceed 20% of mass of Portland cement in samples. Reducing the consumption of Portland cement with substituting it with ultrasound treated clinoptilolite is preferred for reasons of environmental protection. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.sace.11.2.12430


In this paper, we use cross-industry, cross-country panel data to test whether industry growth is positively affected by the interaction between the reaction of real short-term interest rates to the business cycle and industry-level measures of financial constraints. Financial constraints are measured, either by the extent to which an industry is prone to being "credit-constrained", or by the extent to which it is prone to being "liquidity-constrained". Our main findings are that: (i) the interaction between credit or liquidity constraints and the counter-cyclical real short-term interest rate has a positive, significant, and robust impact on the average annual growth rate of industry labor productivity; (ii) these interaction effects tend to be more significant in recessions than in expansions.


Abstract : Reactive systems are increasingly developed using high-level modeling tools. Such modeling tools may facilitate formal reasoning about concurrent programs, but provide little help when timing-related problems arise and deadlines are missed when running a real system. In these cases, the modeler has typically no information about timing properties and costly parts of the model; there is little or no guidance on how to improve the timing characteristics of the model. In this paper we propose a design methodology where interactive timing analysis is an integral part of the modeling process. This methodology concerns how to aggregate timing values in a user-friendly manner and how to define timing analysis requests. We also introduce and formalize a new timing analysis interface that is designed for communicating timing information between a high-level modeling tool and a lower-level timing analysis tool.


This paper describes the circuit design techniques used for the IBM S/390® Parallel Enterprise Server G4 microprocessor to achieve operation up to 400 MHz. A judicious choice of process technology and concurrent top-down and bottom-up design approaches reduced risk and shortened the design time. The use of timing-driven synthesis/placement methodologies improved design turnaround time and chip timing. The combined use of static, dynamic, and self-resetting CMOS (SRCMOS) circuits facilitated the balancing of design time and performance return. The use of robust PLL design, floorplanning, and clock distribution minimized clock skew. Innovative latch designs permitted performance optimization without adding risk. Microarchitecture optimization and circuit innovations improved the performance of timing-critical macros. Full custom array design with extensive use of SRCMOS circuit techniques resulted in an on-chip L1 cache having 2.0-ns cycle time.


This paper was originally prepared as part of the first stage of the research project, Alternative Trade Strategies and Employment. The project as a whole is focused upon identifying the relationships between alternative trade strategies -- export promotion and import substitution -- and growth in the demand for labor. The project has altogether three stages: (1) the preparatory stage, in which the theory underlying the relationship between trade strategy and employment was developed and a methodology for undertaking empirical research was formulated; (2) the second stage, in which project participants undertook the empirical research for individual countries and also for particular topics of special interest for the project as a whole, based upon the papers prepared in the first stage; and (3) a summing up, in which the results of the individual studies are analyzed in order to ascertain what insights into the trade-employment relation seem generally applicable. At the present time, the second stage of the project is nearing completion. This paper constituted one part of the first stage of the project: it spells out much of the basic methodology that underlies the individual country studies.


The coastal sand dunes (CSD) are unique and dynamic ecosystems between marine and terrestrial realms. They are the coastal armouring with bind of biota and sand grains. The coastal sand dune flora has ecological significance and socio-economic values. Thus the present study provides the Phytoresources of coastal sand dune flora with reference to ecological, economic and medicinal importance of each plant species. Altogether a total of 103 species belonging to 94 genera 37 families was recorded during November 2010 to December 2014. The survey has been done by adopting appropriate methodology by conducting direct interviews and information gained from native villagers of traditional base and Ayurvedic practitioners. As per distribution of sand dune flora is most abundant and richness in species composition at leeward dunes (37%) rather than hinterland dunes (28%), foredunes (18%) and marshy/saline areas (17%). In view of the greater ecological significance and socio-economic importance conservation management plans have been suggested for the protection, of this importance of sand dune flora of Visakhapatnam coast from natural and anthropogenic threats i.e. coastal erosion, cyclonic storms, developmental recreational projects.


R is a popular statistical programming language with a number of extensions that support data processing and machine learning tasks. However, interactive data analysis in R is usually limited as the R runtime is single threaded and can only process data sets that fit in a single machine's memory. We present SparkR, an R package that provides a frontend to Apache Spark and uses Spark's distributed computation engine to enable large scale data analysis from the R shell. We describe the main design goals of SparkR, discuss how the high-level DataFrame API enables scalable computation and present some of the key details of our implementation.


Since the behavioral revolution, political scientists have characteristically distinguished between American political thought on the one hand and the scientific study of American politics on the other. Although courses in American government – at least at the introductory level – typically start with the Constitution, most of the analysis proceeds without engaging the political thinking of political actors on its own terms. Political speech is seen to be immediately practical and inevitably partisan; the political scientist avoids such traps by examining interests and ambitions from a distance, determining identity by objective characteristics rather than expressed opinion, and treating opinion itself as data to be counted, not as emergent truth. But if politics is more than the aggregation of preferences and their strategic competition, as in practice everyone except the most cynical campaign operative assumes it is, then, however useful analysis of data might be in unmasking hidden intentions and discovering unintended consequences, political analysis is incomplete unless political thought is considered on its own terms. I propose a three-fold framework to analyze American political thought, distinguishing (a) arguments about constitutional rights and forms, (b) arguments about first principles, and (c) arguments that aim to build or advance party coalitions. Using this framework and applying it to one or two significant debates in American political history, I aim to show how such analysis extends (or perhaps calls into question) common findings of political science on some standard topic – for example, parties and interest groups, or federalism and public policy. Finally, I will consider the pedagogical implications through analysis of the corresponding chapter or chapters from a basic introductory textbook. Are citizens being well-formed by contemporary political analysis, or would they be better served by being introduced to American politics through the leading debates in the history of American political thought? Is there a way to integrate the two?


Guided by an expectancy-value model of achievement choice (Eccles et al., 1983; Wigfield & Eccles, 2000), the relationships among expectancy-related beliefs, subjective task values (importance, interest, and usefulness), and achievement outcomes (intention, engagement, and performance) were examined in a college-level beginning weight training class. A total of 156 students (73 males, 83 females) completed questionnaires assessing their expectancy-related beliefs, subjective task values, and intention for future participation. Their engagement was measured via self-recorded workout log entries in class, and their performance was determined by two skill tests. Results of the study supported the application of the expectancy-value model in the context of a college weight training class. Importance and interest were significant predictors of intention and engagement, whereas expectancy-related beliefs emerged as the only predictor of performance. Males reported higher scores on expectancy-related beliefs and performed better than females.


Abstract The equation of state of synthetic deuterated burtite, CaSn(OD)6, has been determined to 7.25 GPa at 298 K by synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction. Fitting to a third-order Birch-Murnaghan equation of state gives K0 = 44.7(9) GPa and K0ʹ = 5.3(4). A second-order fit gives K0 = 47.4(4) GPa. Within experimental error the two fits are indistinguishable over the pressure range studied. The decrease in the a parameter with pressure is smooth and no phase transitions were observed. Burtite is much more compressible (by a factor of three or four) than CaSnO3 and CdSnO3 perovskites, indicating that the absence of a cavity cation has a major effect upon the compressibility of the octahedral framework. Burtite is also markedly more compressible than the closely-related mineral stottite FeGe(OH)6 (K0 = 78 GPa). Their different compressibilities correlate with the relative compressibilities of stannate and germanate perovskites. Although different octahedral compressions are likely to be the primary reason for the different compressibilities of burtite and stottite, we also consider the possible secondary role of hydrogen-bonding topology in affecting the compressibilities of protonated octahedral frameworks. Burtite and stottite have different hydrogen-bonding topologies due to their different octahedral-tilt system. Burtite, space group Pn3̅ and tilt system a+a+a+, has a hydrogen-bonded network of linked four-membered rings of O-H...O linkages, whereas stottite, space group P42/n and tilt system a+a+c-, has <100> O-H...O crankshafts and isolated four-membered rings. These different hydrogen-bonded configurations lead to different bracing of the empty cavity sites by the O-H...O linkages and very different hydrogen-bonding connectivities in these two minerals that may also enhance the difference between their compressibilities.


We investigate the gain spectral characteristics in the course of saturation in a Raman-assisted fiber optical parametric amplifier (FOPA). It is experimentally observed that the saturated gain spectrum is modified with suppressed signal wavelength dependence as compared to a conventional FOPA. The gain at signal wavelengths on both farther and closer sides of the unsaturated gain peak from the pump saturates in a similar way. The modification of the saturated gain spectrum is explained by distributed nonlinear phase mismatch caused by the Raman effect.


The article presents a general survey of Lithuanian transport police activities in 1991-1996. Transport police was the smallest subdivision of Lithuanian police office - it numbered about 400-440 executives, i.e. 2.4 per cent of all office workers. Transport police performed the functions of the public and criminal police in the railways, sea and air transport objects; i.e. investigated and prevented crimes, and protected public order. The integral whole of transport police consisted of the six commissariats (i.e. of Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda, Siauliai, Sestokai and of the commissariat of the air ports) - and of the central transport police office. There was the improvement of all transport police activities indicators at the end of this period, because the level of crimes was markedly reduced, and the levels of police executives professional competence and intelligence were markedly raised. So, Lithuanian Transport Police is now the serious anticriminal strength, upholding the public order in the railways, sea and air transport objects.


Vertebrate females produce their full complement of oocytes during embryogenesis and, over time, these are either released (and fertilized or not) or undergo cell death. Oocyte death ultimately leads to sterility as the animals age and conditions that accelerate death of the eggs cause premature infertility. Nutt et al. used unfertilized Xenopus eggs and egg extracts that recapitulate many of the cell death events to investigate the molecular mechanisms that control oocyte survival. Caspase-2 was known to regulate mouse oocyte survival, and Nutt et al. show that caspase-2 activity is inhibited in Xenopus oocytes by NADPH, which is produced as a by-product of metabolic flux through the pentose-phosphate pathway. Addition of glucose-6-phosphate (G6P) or other intermediates in the pentose-phosphate pathway, but not the glycolytic pathway, inhibited activation of caspase-2 and caspase-3, cytochrome c release, and oocyte cell death. Inhibition of G6P dehydrogenase by dehydroisoandrosterone (DHEA), which inhibits the pentose-phosphate pathway, promoted oocyte cell death, increased the rate at which caspase activity rose in the egg extracts, and decreased the concentration of G6P and NADPH production. Addition of G6P or NADPH inhibited the binding of caspase-2 to its adaptor RAIDD [in a glutathione-S-transferase (GST) pull-down experiment]. Oligomerization of caspase-2 through interactions with adaptors, such as RAIDD, is essential for caspase-2 autocleavage and activation. G6P stimulated the phosphorylation of caspase-2, and pharmacological analysis, in vitro kinase assays, and extract depletion assays indicated that calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) was the responsible enzyme. Mutation of one of the two putative CaMKII phosphorylation sites in caspase-2 prevented the G6P- and NADPH-stimulated phosphorylation of caspase-2, and this mutant caspase-2 also promoted cell death of oocytes when its mRNA was injected into the oocytes. Thus, these results define a path from metabolic status through the pentose-phosphate pathway that controls oocyte cell survival in a process that relies on the phosphorylation state of caspase-2. Lipinski and Yuan discuss the implications of this research for understanding aging-related cell death. L. K. Nutt, S. S. Margolis, M. Jensen, C. E. Herman, W. G. Dunphy, J. C. Rathmell, S. Kornbluth, Metabolic regulation of oocyte cell death through the CaMKII-mediated phosphorylation of caspase-2. Cell 123, 89-103 (2005). [PubMed] M. M. Lipinski, J. Yuan, A cellular response to an internal energy crisis. Cell 123, 3-5 (2005). [PubMed]


Power MOSFETs have become the standard choice as the main switching device for low-voltage (<200 V) switchmode power-supply (SMPS) converter applications. However using manufacturers' datasheets to choose or size the correct device for a specific circuit topology is becoming increasingly difficult. The main criteria for MOSFET selection are the power loss associated with the MOSFET (related to the overall efficiency of the SMPS) and the power-dissipation capability of the MOSFET (related to the maximum junction temperature and thermal performance of the package). This application note focuses on the basic characteristics and understanding of the MOSFET.


"Finnegans Wake" is the most bookish of all books. John Bishop has described it as 'the single most intentionally crafted literary artefact that our culture has produced'. In its original format, however, the book has been beset by numerous imperfections occasioned by the confusion of its seventeen-year composition. Only today, by restoring to our view the author's intentions in a physical book designed, printed and bound to the highest standards of the printers' art, can the editors reveal in true detail James Joyce's fourth, and last, masterwork. This edition is the summation of thirty years' intense engagement by textual scholars Danis Rose and John O'Hanlon verifying, codifying, collating and clarifying the 20,000 pages of notes, drafts, typescripts and proofs comprising James Joyce's 'litters from aloft, like a waast wizzard all of whirlwords' (fw2, 14.16-17). The new reading text of "Finnegans Wake", typographically re-set for the first time in its publishing history, incorporates some 9000 minor yet crucial corrections and amendments, covering punctuation marks, font choice, spacing, misspellings, misplaced phrases and ruptured syntax. Although individually minor, these changes are nonetheless crucial in that they facilitate a smooth reading of the book's allusive density and essential fabric.


Road and rail networks are essential components of national infrastructures, underpinning the economy, and facilitating the mobility of goods and the human workforce. Earthwork slopes such as cuttings and embankments are primary components, and their reliability is of fundamental importance. However, instability and failure can occur, through processes such as landslides. Monitoring the condition of earthworks is a costly and continuous process for network operators, and currently, geospatial data is largely underutilised. The research presented here addresses this by combining airborne laser scanning and multispectral aerial imagery to develop a methodology for assessing landslide hazard. This is based on the extraction of key slope stability variables from the remotely sensed data. The methodology is implemented through numerical modelling, which is parameterised with the slope stability information, simulated climate conditions, and geotechnical properties. This allows determination of slope stability (expressed through the factor of safety) for a range of simulated scenarios. Regression analysis is then performed in order to develop a functional model relating slope stability to the input variables. The remotely sensed raster datasets are robustly re-sampled to two-dimensional cross-sections to facilitate meaningful interpretation of slope behaviour and mapping of landslide hazard. Results are stored in a geodatabase for spatial analysis within a GIS environment. For a test site located in England, UK, results have shown the utility of the approach in deriving practical hazard assessment information. Outcomes were compared to the network operator's hazard grading data, and show general agreement. The utility of the slope information was also assessed with respect to auto-population of slope geometry, and found to deliver significant improvements over the network operator's existing field-based approaches.


Monodisperse polyphenylene dendrimers up to the fourth generation were synthesized using a divergent growth protocol. By varying the core, dendrimers with dumbbell-, tetrahedral- and propeller-like structures were synthesized. Because of the high-density packing of benzene rings within their branches, these dendrimers are stiff and thus shape persistent. To obtain these dendrimers with a globular shape, a 4-fold (A4B) dendrimer building unit was introduced. In this case, monodisperse dendrimers are obtained only up to the second generation due to the significantly increased density of benzene rings within the structure. For structure elucidation methods, like MALDI−TOF mass spectrometry, NMR spectroscopy, GPC, VPO, TGA, and DSC were used. Dendrimers of the third and fourth generations were visualized by transmission electron microscopy.


Abstract This article presents the results of a survey among the members of the "Verein für Socialpolitik", the association of German speaking economists, containing questions on schools of thought, economic role models and policy issues. A probit analysis is used to identify to what extent ideological preferences or personal facts determine the respondent's opinion. Some of the questions were already asked a quarter of a century ago so that it is possible to track the changes in view among economists. One of the most important findings is that neoclassical economics has become more strongly accepted.


Innovation is an important element of strategic management (2003), and most product innovations involve cross-functional teams (Cooper and Kleinschmidt, 1994) who have some difficulty in developing a shared understanding of a particular innovation problem, which can often be characterised as a complex ill-structured problem (described as a task). This study uses an action research approach (Eden and Huxham, 1996) to explore how to develop a shared vocabulary and understanding of a task and then how to direct its growth and development. From a review of relevant literature, five dominant influencing factors emerged that impact on a team's capability to manage the task. These dominant influencing factors are the teams: shared cognition, creative processes, task relevant knowledge development, team role development and task tracking. These were used as the building blocks in an architectural innovation. The researchers experience in innovation projects in industry and with MBA students on smaller project re-enforced this literature review. An iterative action research process involving 160 interviews was then used to develop a new framework that positively impacted on these five dominant influencing factors in seven organisations. The seven companies selected were all at the early stage of exploring an ill-structured innovative opportunity, which formed the basis of the tasks for the various teams. These varied in their nature but all required architectural knowledge development in cross functional teams ranging from four to seven people. The framework uses as its building blocks existing established models and approaches from different disciplines.


Knitting techniques and machinery are extensively used for the production of textile products for garmet and industrial use. Knitting is also gaining importance for composite materials performing. Basically two principles are in use [1-3]. i) Weft knitting gives structures of for example traditional sweaters types suitable for structures taking impact loads. ii) Warp knitting gives the traditional tricot structures and the non crimped insert yarn DOS-fabrics extensively used for composite materials fabrication. In the knitting process do hooked needles pick up yarns and form closed loops. The stability of the loop formation depends on the bending of the fibres and type of friction on the needles during the different stages of the knitting process. The characteristics of static friction when the yarn is drawn by the needles into the machine, sliding friction in the loop formation and release after loop formation are of vital importance for the final product. The complexity of the yarn behaviour, the far from ideal mechanical and tribological behaviour of the fibres are mastered by many knitters. The history of knitting indicate the same kind of phenomena as indicated by the history of the steam engine: "Science owes more to the steam engine than the steam engine owes to science", lord Kelvin. The knitting process has however been modelled from first principles using models for friction of fibres on positively curved surfaces and simultaneous plastic deformation. A method and fixtures based on earlier work by Andersson et.al adopted for tests of the stress build up in fibres on knitting needles in order to study the knitting process in a tensile testing machine have been developed [3-5]. Monofilaments and high modulus multifilament yarns known for giving difficulties in knitting process have been studied with respect to : – Static friction – Bending radius of the fibre during the process – Adhesion to needle at the end contact – Sliding friction Plain knitted fabrics and symmetric spacer fabrics have been produced of monofilament and multifilament nylon, PET and aramides. Analysis of fabrics in compression is going on.


BACKGROUND
The prognostic value of the short-term blood pressure variability (BPV) from the 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) remains controversial. The present study aimed to investigate the long-term prognostic value of a high BPV in normotensive and hypertensive subjects from a community-based population.

METHODS
A cohort of 624 normotensive and 633 untreated hypertensive Taiwanese participants (overall 669 men, aged 30-79 years) with baseline ABPM and 20-year all-cause and cardiovascular mortality data was drawn from a community-based survey. BPV was assessed by the read-to-read average real variability of the 24-hour diastolic and systolic blood pressure (SBP) (ARVd and ARVs, respectively).

RESULTS
In Cox proportional hazards analysis, ARVd predicted cardiovascular mortality independently of office SBP (hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) per 1 SD: 1.31 (1.10-1.55), respectively, bivariate analysis), 24-hour SBP (HR: 1.19, 95% CI: 1.00-1.43), and conventional risk factors (age, sex, smoking, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and fasting blood glucose, HR: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.18-1.67). In subjects with hypertension, a high vs. low ARVd (median: 8.8mm Hg) significantly predicted cardiovascular mortality (HR: 2.11, 95% CI: 1.23-3.62 and HR: 2.04, 95% CI: 1.19-3.51, respectively), when the conventional risk factors plus office SBP or 24-hour SBP were accounted for, respectively. Similar but less significant results were obtained with ARVs. A high ARVd or ARVs did not significantly predict cardiovascular mortality in the normotensive subjects.

CONCLUSIONS
A high short-term BPV is significantly predictive of long-term cardiovascular mortality in untreated hypertensive but not normotensive community-based subjects, independently of office or 24-hour SBP.


Standard methods for photodiagnosis of solar urticaria are based in exposure of patient skin to different polychromatic UV and visible sources where minimal urticarial doses for different spectral bands (UVB and UVA) are established. Classical photodiagnosis devices are based in solar simulation and use of UVB and UVA enhanced fluorescent lamps. In case of visible US photodiagnosis, US patient skin is exposed for 15 min to a slight projector, provided with halogen lamp, at a distance of 15 cms and presence of erythema and/or wheals is determined as positive reaction. Slights projector is from several years almost out of market due to use of new projection digital technologies and new visible light emerging technologies are good candidates for their substitution as photodiagnosis tool. The objective of the present work is to analyze photodiagnosis of visible light solar urticaria with using a LED device in comparison to normal slight projector exposure protocol. A total of 30patients, from 8 different photodiagnosis units have participated in the study. Patients, with SU positive to visible light (with or without to UV radiation) following the standard photodiagnosis protocols were included in the study. Slight projector used in all photodiagnosis units were of similar characteristics and irradiance at 15 cm distance, as well as total dose of visible light after 15 min were calculated for each halogen lamp device. LED exposure was performed in parallel in a closed zone of the back of the patients. For LED photodiagnosis a prototype from University of Málaga (Spain) has been developed consisting in a black box provided with 4 holes of 12 mm diameter in which each hole white warm of a LEDof 1 W is emitted. Thus, each LEDs dose is controlled independently and the device allows establishing, as well as for UVB and UVA normal protocols a MUD also under visible light. In that case, maximal visible light dose is reached in less than 5 min compared to 15 min under exposure to slight projector. All patients were positive to LED warm visible light with presence of erythema and / or wheals in parallel to the exposure to the slight projector. A MUD to visible light has been established with significant variations between patients which reveals different grade to visible light sensibilization. In conclusion, a new technology of illumination based in LEDs can be used in photodiagnosis of SU.


In this study, dynamic behavior of a mooring line in a floating system is analyzed by probability approaches. In dynamics, most researches have shown the system model and environments by mathematical expression. We called this process as the forward dynamics. However, there is a limit to define the exact environments because of uncertainty. To consider uncertainty, we introduce the redundancy in flexible system, mooring line. For verifying the effectiveness and stability of the mooring line, criterion of axial breaking load of the mooring line is applied to joint reaction forces according to the various path of the mooring line. To cover the limits for defining the non-linearity of the environments, various responses of the mooring line along the redundancy that is used in Robotics, are derived by probability distribution. By using the Newton-Euler formulation, the inverse kinematics and the linear acceleration theorem to get joint displacements, velocities and accelerations, the joint reaction forces and moments are calculated and probability distribution of the mooring about stability and compatibility is investigated. Lastly, we simulate the flexible systems in various null motions, calculated each joint torque and force, and evaluated failure probabilities using the Monte-Carlo method.


As a promising non-precious catalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), which is known to contain highly active edge sites and an inert basal plane, has attracted extensive interest. More recently, its amorphous counterpart has been found to have a higher HER activity, making it important to explore the effect of crystallinity on the HER performance of monolayer MoS2. However, the posed technological challenges of preparing crystallinity tunable 2H–MoS2 monolayers hinder their further study. In this work, we report the successful synthesis of crystallinity-dependent MoS2 monolayers through liquid exfoliation of the corresponding crystallinity-controllable bulk precursors. Excellent cocatalytic performances of the proposed MoS2 monolayers for the photocatalytic HER were achieved and determined by their crystallinity. An apparent quantum efficiency as high as 71.6% can be achieved for the lowest crystalline monolayer MoS2 over cadmium sulfide under visible light irradiation at 420 nm. This work provides a facile way to synthesise crystallinity controllable MoS2 monolayers and elucidates that the HER activity can be further enhanced through crystallinity engineering, providing a new strategy to enhance the HER activity of monolayer MoS2.


Tag identification is an important tool in RFID systems with applications for monitoring and tracking. A RFID reader recognizes tags through communication over a shared wireless channel. When multiple tags transmit their IDs simultaneously, the tag-to-reader signals collide and this collision disturbs a reader's identification process. Therefore, tag collision arbitration for passive tags is a significant issue for fast identification. This paper presents two adaptive tag anticollision protocols: an Adaptive Query Splitting protocol (AQS), which is an improvement on the query tree protocol, and an Adaptive Binary Splitting protocol (ABS), which is based on the binary tree protocol and is a de facto standard for RFID anticollision protocols. To reduce collisions and identify tags efficiently, adaptive tag anticollision protocols use information obtained from the last process of tag identification. Our performance evaluation shows that AQS and ABS outperform other tree-based tag anticollision protocols.


A strange phenomenon of fire taking place at Arruhban area west Bahr-Al Najaf area in Iraq was noticed in 2010 and smoke continued many months; this phenomenon reappeared many years later. This site is part of Bahr-Al Najaf-Iraq NE Arabian plate, located in flat area near an archeological site of Christian temple called Tel Arruhban. To understand the causes for this fire in a non-residential area, field observations from repeated visits between 2010 and 2018 and on-site excavation operations were conducted. The results of analysis of soil samples, and on-site detection for gases and vapors showed that the phenomenon of burning and smoke generated at this site was due to external influences and that the presence of soil rich with organic materials helped to the existence of this phenomenon.


Futebol Nation by David Goldblatt - a thriling history of Brazil through its sporting passion. From the genius of Pele to corruption and civil unrest, no nation has so closely aligned its national identity with playing and watching football as Brazil. Football is regarded as a thing of joy, its yellow shirts a delightful amalgam of sport and art, entwined with its cultures of music and religion. This is true, but there is another side to the story too. The corruption of Brazil's football authorities is characteristic of its society as a whole; some of its biggest tournaments have recently been played amidst the largest protests Brazil has ever seen. From the acclaimed author of the classic football history The Ball is Round, this book is the whole story: the players, the fans, the corruption, the passion. It will be enjoyed by readers of I am the Secret Footballer, The Numbers Game, Why England Lose and fans of football around the world. David Goldblatt was born in London in 1965 and is a supporter of Tottenham Hotspurs and Bristol Rovers. He teaches sociology at Bristol University, reviews sports books for the TLS, and for some years wrote the Sporting Life column in Prospect magazine. "A tour de force of brilliant writing, historical colour and sporting vignette". (Observer on The Ball is Round).


A large number of lab-on-a-chip applications use fluorescence for quantifying biological entities. In such applications, incorporation of a stable on-chip fluorescent reference source would be highly desirable in order to compensate for instrumental parameter variations, like for example non-constant illumination intensity over time. In this study, we exploit Parylene C that is used as a bonding layer material in a microfluidic chip. We first show programming of intermediate Parylene C bonding layer fluorescence (iPBLF) and its characterization as a function of the ultraviolet (UV) dose and Parylene C thickness. This technique requires no additional steps in the fabrication of the microfluidic chip and the fluorescence reference zones can simply be incorporated by local exposure to UV light after fabrication. Next, we demonstrate a fluorescence-based analyte concentration and flow-rate measurement in a microfluidic channel, under changing experimental conditions of illumination intensity and taking different microscope objectives. Sensing is realized by analyzing programmed reference and channel images by straightforward data handling using an open-source image processing tool. We anticipate that the demonstrated method will be a key technique allowing low complexity and reliable quantitative fluorescent measurements, for example in point-of-care and mobile diagnostic applications, where intensity calibration can present a major challenge.


The objective of this work was to define criteria that could be applied to achieve faster, more economical, and accurate assessment of vector populations for control of dengue viruses. During 1989-1990, 1,349 premises were surveyed in Townsville, Charters Towers and Mingela/Ravenswood, Queensland, Australia. In each locality, 1.9-8.4% of premises contained three or more containers with Aedes aegypti immature forms and were designated as key premises. Comparison of surveys in Townsville from 1989 to 1990 indicated that positive premises (i.e., those with at least one container with Ae. aegypti present) were 3.22 times more likely to remain positive than negative houses to become positive the following year. The Ae. aegypti population in Townsville was seen to be totally associated with garden receptacles, discarded household items, and trash but one well and one rainwater tank were responsible for 28% of all immature forms recorded in the 1,349 premises inspected. These breeding sites of high productivity were designated as key containers. At Charters Towers, Mingela, and Ravenswood, rainwater tanks were seen as the most important key container because although they constituted 13-29% of positive containers, they supported 60-63% of the immature forms. This study demonstrates that there is a certain degree of stability with regard to positive premises and that some of these, or some container types, contribute disproportionately to the Ae. aegypti population. Control programs could be made more efficient if efforts were concentrated on these sites of key vector productivity.


Near-field radiative transfer (NFRT) refers to the energy transfer mechanism which takes place between media separated by distances comparable to or much smaller than the dominant wavelength of emission. NFRT is due to the contribution of evanescent waves and coherent nature of the energy transfer within nano-gaps, and can exceed Planck's blackbody limit. As researchers further investigate this phenomenon and start fabrication of custom-made platforms, advances in utilization of NFRT in energy harvesting applications move forward day by day. In designing and manufacturing such harvesting devices, chemical and physical properties of surfaces and wafers are important for development of effective solutions. In this work, we compare several III–V group compound semiconductor wafers (mainly GaAs, InSb, and InP) from fabrication point of view, in order to explore their possible use in future devices. The results presented here show that the type of dopant, wafer temperature, and gap size are very important factors as they affect the NFRT rates. GaAs, InSb, and InP wafers significantly enhance the near-field fluxes beyond the blackbody rates, and n-type InSb yields to the highest enhancement. For GaAs, p-type yielded a higher radiative flux compared to n-type GaAs, as oppose to n-type InSb outperforming its p-type and undoped counterparts. Furthermore, the possible use of n-InSb as the TPV cell at 550 K is discussed for effective energy harvesting. These findings can be useful for determination of the proper material type for emitting and non-emitting NFRT-based energy harvesting devices.


In 2009, a pilot project was initiated with support from the World Bank's water and sanitation program (WSP). This pilot aimed to leverage private sector resources and help poor households in rural areas access affordable, high-quality sanitation facilities from local businesses. In 2016, this project was scaled up with finance from the World Bank and the global partnership for results-based approaches (GPRBA), through the Bangladesh OBA sanitation microfinance Project. This report provides an overview of the use of microfinance in implementing a type of results-based financing to extend sanitation services. Microfinance (the provision of financial services to low-income people) has a long and successful history of reducing poverty in Bangladesh. However, it has only recently emerged as a viable avenue to facilitate increased access to finance for water and sanitation products and for the development of small-scale providers of water and sanitation products and services.


The accurate prediction of the temperatures of critical electronic parts at the package, board and system level is seriously hampered by the lack of reliable, standardized input data that characterize the thermal behaviour of these parts. The recently completed collaborative European project DELPHI has been concerned with the creation and experimental validation of thermal models (both detailed and compact) of a range of electronic parts, including mono-chip packages, heat sinks, electrolytic capacitors, transformers, and interfacing materials. The ultimate goal of the DELPHI project was to get component manufacturers to supply validated thermal models of their parts to end users by adopting the experimental techniques used to validate the detailed thermal conduction models of the parts, and the methods to generate compact models. Part II of this paper contains technical information on both experimental and numerical methods. In order to reduce design-cycle time and physical prototyping, equipment manufacturers need to ascertain the thermal performance of new systems at the earliest possible stage of the design process. Accurate, validated thermal models of the critical parts used in the design are needed to provide the thermal precision necessary to design out the functional and reliability failures that result from component overheating.


A significant increase in the level and volatility of many commodity prices over the past decade has led to a debate about what has driven these developments. A particular focus has been on the extent to which they have been driven by increased financial investment in commodity derivatives markets. This article examines the factors behind the increase in the level and volatility of commodity prices. The available evidence suggests that while financial investors can affect the short-run price dynamics for some commodities, the level and volatility of commodity prices appear to be primarily determined by fundamental factors.


Background: Physiotherapists play an inherent role in the multidisciplinary palliative care team. Existing knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and experiences influence their team participation in palliative care. Aims: The objective of this study was to assess the changes in knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and experiences among student physiotherapists who attended a palliative care training program. Settings and Design: Preliminary quasi-experimental study design, conducted at an academic institution. Materials and Methods: Fifty-two student physiotherapists of either gender (12 male, 40 female) of age (20.51±1.78 years) who attended a palliative care training program which comprised lectures and case examples of six-hours duration participated in this study. The study was performed after getting institutional approval and obtaining participants' written informed consent. The lecture content comprised WHO definition of palliative care, spiritual aspects of life, death and healing, principles, levels and models of palliative care, and role of physiotherapists in a palliative care team. The physical therapy in palliative care-knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and experiences scale (PTiPC-KABE Scale)- modified from palliative care attitudes scale were used for assessing the participants before and after the program. Statistical Analysis: Paired t-test and Wilcoxon signed rank test at 95% confidence interval using SPSS 11.5 for Windows. Results: Statistically significant differences (P<0.05) were noted for all four subscales- knowledge (7.84±4.61 points), attitudes (9.46±8.06 points), beliefs (4.88±3.29 points) and experiences (15.8±11.28 points) out of a total score of 104 points. Conclusions: The focus-group training program produced a significant positive change about palliative care in knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and experiences among student physiotherapists.


Abstract Hydrogen release behaviors from the 8Cr2W stainless steel (RAF/M) around RT are examined by using tritium tracer techniques, and trapping effects of bulk and surface are discussed. In the overall release, three different release stages are clearly distinguished giving three different diffusion coefficients and release amounts which indicate the existence of different kinds of trapping. In addition, the appreciable amount of hydrogen (tritium) is trapped on the surface and/or surface oxides of RAF/M, but they are hardly released and show no influence on the overall hydrogen release behavior. At very low hydrogen concentration, almost all hydrogen atoms are trapped at the deepest trapping site, probably M23C6, and the sites are easily saturated. With increasing the hydrogen concentration, the shallower trapping sites are occupied. Remaining hydrogen atoms seem to be in normal (interstitial) sites, whose amount increases with the square root of the hydrogen loading pressure, but they are still influenced by trapping with lattice imperfections and/or grain boundaries.


Scholars have neglected the privatization of the Internet, despite the obvious significance of the U.S. Government turning control over a powerful new communication medium to the private sector. This article provides a detailed historical study on the transition from a government sponsored backbone network to multiple commercially owned backbone networks. Next we document a number of problems that occurred during these privatizations. Not only have these problems led to a lack of competition in the backbone industry, but also the same types of problems are reoccurring in the ongoing privatization of Domain Name System (DNS). The three types of problems that occurred in both privatizations, and will likely occur again in future Internet privatizations, unless recognized, can be categorized as follows: problems with procedural fairness in the processes adopted by the government; the government's management of competition during the privatizations; and problems related to the management of the technological infrastructure. In response, we have developed a series of proposals to address existing problems and to prevent these problems from reoccurring in future privatizations. The specific proposals for the backbone industry are twofold. First, there must be an interconnection policy that ensures all networks non-discriminatory access to the Internet. Second, the government should support the development and use of standardized technologies, which contribute to interconnection, through a new Code-based technological interconnection policy. Such a policy is informed by a guiding principle that new technologies should not amplify network effects and should instead facilitate competition. Thus, we wish to place a discussion of network effects squarely within the discourse on Internet privatization. To increase competition for the ongoing privatization of the DNS, we have three main proposals. First and most importantly, the U.S. Government must ensure that ICANN is accountable to the Internet community as a whole and not just business interests. Second, the U.S. Government must ensure that there is more transparency and public input into ICANN's decision-making. Finally, it must be remembered that a privatization is a means to achieve desirable public purposes, such as the creation of competition, and not an end all by itself since privatization does not, in and of itself, guarantee competition in the relevant market. Without multiple competing firms, the proper use of interconnection agreements to counter network effects in the DNS, and fair treatment by ICANN, there will continue to be problems with the privatization of the DNS. In analyzing the privatizations of the Internet, our analysis is steeped in the theoretical construct of "Code." Throughout this work, we explained how Code could regulate behavior, for example, by affecting competition between backbone providers. However, Code all by itself cannot create competition; instead there must be put into place the requirement of policies that all parties shared common ground rules for all competitors. Thus our analysis shows that both Code and policies are necessary to bring competition to the Internet. Additionally, the privatizations have also highlighted two important roles for the government with respect to Code. First, government must be vigilant in ensuring Code is not implemented which is contrary to our societal interests, such as the maintenance of competition in the marketplace. Second, the government should consider encouraging or mandating the development of Code for vindicating certain societal interests, especially in those areas that the private sector has little interest in. The results of this study provide insights and evidence about the appropriate role of government in regulating the Internet. While most rulemaking on the Internet is conducted in a decentralized "bottom-up" manner, this approach has its limitations. Some of these limitations include the private sector acting as top-down rule makers; the limited mobility of most individuals to switch between different rule sets; the role of network effects; and how "bottom-up" rulemaking could be contrary to our society's values. Similarly, the history of the privatizations demonstrates the problems the government had with their use of "top-down" rulemaking. The overarching lesson is that both "top-down" and "bottom-up" modes of regulations have their limitations and problems.


Critical technologies from medicine to defense are highly dependent on advanced composite materials. Increasingly there is a greater demand for materials with expanded functionality. The state of the art includes a wide range of responsive composites capable of impressive structural feats such as externally triggered shape morphing. Here a different composite concept is presented, one in which a portion of the constituent materials feed off of ambient energy and dynamically couple to convert it to mechanical motion in a cooperative, biomimetic fashion. Using a recently developed self‐oscillating gel based on gelatin and the oscillating Belousov–Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction, a technique is demonstrated for producing continuous patterned heterogeneous BZ hydrogel composites capable of sustained autonomic function. The coupling between two adjacent reactive patches is demonstrated in an autonomic cantilever actuator which converts chemical energy into amplified mechanical motion. The design of heterogeneous BZ gels for motion using a basic finite element model is discussed. This work represents notable progress toward developing internally responsive, bio‐inspired composite materials for constructing modular autonomic morphing structures and devices.


The travel and dispersion of pollutants in the free atmosphere m ay be investigated by the direct measurement of the distributions of tracer materials such as water vapour, ozone and radioactive substances. Another method is to study the spread of pollutants from a constant point source or the expansion of large clusters, by using air trajectories found by tracking balloons or estimated from sequences of wind values obtained from synoptic charts. So far these latter techniques have usually only taken horizontal motions into account since the balloons are normally maintained at constant levels and the winds taken from the charts have been assumed to be geostrophic. In principle the effect of large (synoptic) scale vertical motions can be included by using the component wind fields given at the different time steps of a numerical forecast integration to construct suitable three-dimensional trajectories. A pilot study of this type at the 900, 700, 500 and 300 m bar pressure levels (90, 70, 50 and 30kN m ~2) using the results of a 24 h numerical forecast by the Meteorological Office's 10 level model is described. In the case studied the use of constant level trajectories gave horizontal dispersions (variances of the trajectory end points relative to their centre of gravity) which differed by only small amounts from those due to the three dimensional trajectories. The zonal variances exceeded the meridional variances by a small factor and both were 4 to 6 orders greater than those of the corresponding variances in the vertical. In each case for at least 12 to 18 h they were all roughly proportional to the square of the time after release (the 'short time' case). The large scale clusters rapidly distorted at rates which increased with their initial size and also with the deformation components of the wind field. At these scales deformation plays a major role in the apparent dispersion and the mean values of total deformation so obtained agreed satisfactorily with those calculated from a kinematic analysis of the horizontal wind field.


There has recently been public discussion of the rewards available to senior staff in English and Welsh charities. However, that discussion is usually based on examples of individual salaries, or on unrepresentative and small subsets of the charity population. To provide a robust and informed basis for debate, we have conducted analyses of evidence on the payment of high salaries (defined as the numbers of people paid above £60,000 p.a., a reporting threshold used by the Charity Commission) in: (a) a representative sample of c.10,000 English and Welsh charities, and (b) surveys of individuals regarding comparative salary levels in different sectors of the economy. Overall, survey data show that the proportion of staff in receipt of high salaries is lower than average in the third sector than in other sectors. Information from charity annual accounts is used to demonstrate which charities are more likely than others to pay such salaries, and to relate the likelihood of paying high salaries to charity characteristics (income, location and subsector). We show that the distribution of high pay in the charitable sector is largely a function of the size and complexity of organisations, and is generally unrelated to subsector or income mix. of high salaries


The study of graph structure has advanced in recent years with great strides: finite graphs can be described algebraically, enabling them to be constructed out of more basic elements. Separately the properties of graphs can be studied in a logical language called monadic second-order logic. In this book, these two features of graph structure are brought together for the first time in a presentation that unifies and synthesizes research over the last 25 years. The author not only provides a thorough description of the theory, but also details its applications, on the one hand to the construction of graph algorithms, and, on the other to the extension of formal language theory to finite graphs. Consequently the book will be of interest to graduate students and researchers in graph theory, finite model theory, formal language theory, and complexity theory.


Treebanks, such as the Penn Treebank, provide a basis for the automatic creation of broad coverage grammars. In the simplest case, rules can simply be 'read off' the parse-annotations of the corpus, producing either a simple or probabilistic context-free grammar. Such grammars, however, can be very large, presenting problems for the subsequent computational costs of parsing under the grammar. In this paper, we explore ways by which a treebank grammar can be reduced in size or 'compacted', which involve the use of two kinds of technique: (i) thresholding of rules by their number of occurrences; and (ii) a method of rule-parsing, which has both probabilistic and non-probabilistic variants. Our results show that by a combined use of these two techniques, a probabilistic context-free grammar can be reduced in size by 62% without any loss in parsing performance, and by 71% to give a gain in recall, but some loss in precision.


This paper develops and discusses two statistical aids that can be used by compensation specialists for determining the optimal number and width of pay grades. The aids assume that the point method of job evaluation has been used. The first aid is the adjusted ratio of the between-grade to within-grade sum of squared deviation of job evaluation points, similar to the Analysis of Variance F-ratio. This L-ratio attempts to estimate the optimal grouping of jobs such that the between paygrade variation is maximized, while the sum of withinpay grade variations is minimized. The second aid is the standard error of measurement of the job evaluation method. This tool helps explore the boundaries of the pay grades and provides information regarding the likelihood of misclassifying a job due to measurement error. It is suggested that the two aids could be used to help compensation specialists to choose objectively from among a number of alternative pay grade structures on top of other factors affecting pay grade determination.


Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a progressive disease that infects more than 185 million in‐ dividuals worldwide and is associated with persistence of viral replication and ongo‐ ing necroinflammation and fibrosis. To date 20% of patients chronically infected with HCV progress to cirrhosis. Epidemiological studies demonstrate that the incidence of HCV is not well known, because acute infection is generally asymptomatic. The glob‐ al prevalence is about 2.2% and there is a large degree of geographic variability. Be‐ fore the 2011, the gold standard of therapy for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) was based on the combination of pegylated Interferon (peg-IFN) and Ribavirin (RBV). However, several aspects related to safety profile limited their use in clinical practice. In the recent years, thanks to basic research on HCV structure and replicative cycle, it has been possible to develop direct acting antiviral drugs that have dramati‐ cally increased the viral clearance rate. Specifically, the advent of the triple therapy employing direct acting antivirals has dramatically increased the viral clearance rate, from less than 10%, with the initial regimen of IFN monotherapy, to more than 95% with the current therapy. Even though new medications for hepatitis C are effective disease modifiers and have the potential, in a long term perspective, to eradicate the pathology, the cost of new treatments are unlikely to be sustainable for the NHSs. The evidence documenting the effectiveness and tolerability of the new therapies for HCV and several pharmacoeconomic analysis, shows that despite the cost, the new treat‐ ments can be considered cost-effective in the long period. However, the health care systems are unable to compensate the height financial resources immediately needed for treating patients with the long terms savings that will be obtained from the eradi‐ cation of HCV. Indeed, new pharmaceutical policy and a global commitment is re‐ quired to improve strategies of treatment and price negotiation with pharmaceutical companies to move from a theoretical cost-effectiveness approach to a practical costsustainable reality.


Preliminary and permanent injunctions are routinely granted in trade secret cases without offending the First Amendment, and this is as it should be. In ordinary trade secret cases, injunctions merely require parties to abide by express or implicit agreements they have made, respect the confidences under which they acquired secrets, and refrain from wrongful conduct vis-a-vis the secrets. Occasionally, those who want to disclose trade secrets invoke the First Amendment as a defense to claims of trade secrecy misappropriation. Courts and commentators have taken varying positions on issues pertinent to these defenses, including whether trade secrecy law are categorically immune (or nearly so) from First Amendment scrutiny and whether preliminary injunctions forbidding disclosure of informational secrets should be considered prior restraints on speech. This article offers a set of principles for mediating the tensions that occasionally arise between trade secrets and the First Amendment. Part I seeks to explain why conflicts between trade secrecy law and the First Amendment have thus far been relatively rare. It discusses limiting principles of trade secrecy law that mediate most free-speech-related tensions likely to arise when someone wants to disclose information that another claims as a trade secret. Part II suggests that more conflicts between trade secret and First Amendment interests may occur, in part because of the increased use of mass-market licenses to keep information secret that would otherwise be lawful to acquire and disclose. It considers proposals to strengthen trade secret rights in response to threats to trade secrets posed by the global communications medium of the Internet. The stronger trade secret rights become, the more likely they are to come into conflict with First Amendment interests. Part III criticizes the California Supreme Court's decision in DVD CCA v. Bunner for, among other things, its implicit adoption of the categorical immunity theory and its reliance on DVD CCA's assertion of property rights in its secrets in rejecting Bunner's First Amendment defense. Part IV concludes that even though preliminary injunctions in informational trade secret cases are prior restraints, they are generally justified in ordinary cases. Yet the heavy presumption against prior restraints should apply to cases in which third parties who obtained the secret without wrongdoing seeks to disclose it publicly. Part IV considers a number of other First Amendment due process issues, such as whether the burden of proof in third-party disclosure cases should be higher than in the normal trade secret cases and whether appellate review of constitutionally relevant facts should be de novo when First Amendment defenses have been raised. Part IV proposes several principles to assist courts in grappling with First Amendment defenses in trade secrecy cases.


Peptides exhibit properties based on the amino acids present in the peptide and structure the peptide assumes in its environment. For example, peptides have been shown to be antimicrobial when they are amphipathic and in an a-helical shape. The mechanism for this antimicrobial activity is subject to dispute. One theory states that the peptides work by forming a "pore" through the cell membrane which causes a depolarization of the membrane and the cell lysis because of osmosis. Another theory states that the peptides merely compromise the integrity of the membrane by solubilizing the membrane. In order for the "pore" theory of lytic activity to occur, the peptides must arrange themselves in a discrete aggregated fashion. The goal of this research is to explore the nature of the aggregated state of designed peptides through the use of CD spectroscopy and fluorescent labeling. Several peptides were designed using a minimalist approach and were measured using CD spectroscopy to explore how the placement of leucines in the peptides cause a change in their propensity for aggregation. Using this information, the site for an incorporation of a fluorescently labeled peptide was chosen. The synthesis of the fluorescently labeled amino acid presented an opportunity to explore different types of glycine templates and to find a quicker method for making the amino acid in high yields. After the synthesis of the amino acid, it was incorporated into the peptides and CD and fluorescence studies were accomplished. The result shows the peptides, when aggregated, align themselves in an antiparallel fashion.


This Article explores the United States Supreme Court's role in furthering economic inequality. The Occupy Wall Street movement in 2011 not only highlighted growing income and wealth inequality in the United States, but also pointed the blame at governmental policies that favor business interests and the wealthy due to their outsized influence on politicians. Numerous economists and political scientists agree with this thesis. However, in focusing ire on the political branches and big business, these critiques have largely overlooked the role of the judiciary in fostering economic inequality. The Court's doctrine touches each of the major causes of economic inequality, which includes systemic failures of our educational system, a frayed social safety net, probusiness policies at the expense of consumers and employees, and the growing influence of money in politics. In each of these areas, the Court's deference to legislative judgments is highly selective and driven by a class-blind view of the law that presumes that market-based results are natural, inevitable, and beneficial. For instance, the Court rejects government attempts to voluntarily desegregate schools, while deferring to laws that create unequal financing for poor school districts. The end result is that poor children receive subpar educations, dooming many of them to the bottom of the economic spectrum. Similarly, the Court overturned Congress's attempt to rein in campaign financing, while upholding state voter identification laws that suppress the votes of the poor. These decisions distort the electoral process in favor of the wealthy. In short, the Court tends to defer to laws that create economic inequality, while striking down legislative attempts to level the playing field. While a popular conception of the Court is that it is designed to protect vulnerable minorities from majoritarian impulse, the Court, instead, is helping to protect a very powerful minority at the expense of the majority. This Article is one step toward understanding how law intertwines with politics and economics to create economic inequality.


Introduction: Depression has multifactorial characters including brain-behavioral disorders, alteration in cognitive psychomotor and emotional process. Millions of people are worldwide suffering from this illness. This disease happens in all ages of men and women. This research tries to introduce a traditional medication in comparison with common chemical antidepressant drugs. This experiment was designed to evaluate probably the antidepressant effect of Citrullus colocynthis fruit extraction. Materials and methods: Thirty-two male mice (Balb/c) was randomly divided to four groups (n=8 each). Animals adapted and treated to diazepam, imipramine, aqueous and hydro alcoholic extract of Citrullus colocynthis fruit. All administrations were done via intraperitoneal 0.2ml/animal. Plant material after grinding was extracted with ethanol and evaporated under reduced pressure. Tail suspension test was carried out to assay the antidepressant effect of plant extraction in animals. The test was carried on before, and as well as 30, 60 and 120 minutes after injections. Results: Our data indicated that after intraperitoneal administration of aqueous and ethanol extract, immobility duration exhibits statistically significant increase compared to agitation phase in all times after injection(P<0.05). Ethanol extract reduced statistically agitation time in 30, 60 and 120 min after injection compared to imipramine. Both aqueous and ethanol extract elevated immobility in minute 60(P<0.5). Conclusion: The present study suggested that Citrullus colocynthis extract could possess potential antidepressant and sedative effects which would be of therapeutic interest for using in the treatment of patients with depressive disorders. We suggest more research in this regard.


White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) populations can expand greatly in suburban areas where hunting is limited or prohibited. Incorporating a hunting program for management purposes is often unfeasible due to property parcelization and varying opinions on deer management within each community. We present the case of Hidden Valley Lake, Indiana (707 ha), whose deer population was effectively reduced by archery hunting within a dense human population. Prior to implementing a managed archery program, deer density estimates exceeded 60 deer/km 2 . After the first year of the managed archery hunt, where 230 deer (~36 deer/km 2 ) were removed, deer density estimates for Hidden Valley and the surrounding area were greatly reduced. After a second year of hunting, 300 deer had been removed, and harvest-to-effort ratios decreased dramatically from the first to the second year of the program. Our study suggests that a managed archery program within heavily populated suburban areas can lower deer densities quickly and effectively under the right circumstances. The ability to provide access for hunters, cooperation and flexibility of state regulations, resilient community leaders, and motivated local hunters are all necessary to reduce a localized deer population within a brief time period.


Abstract The Kenyan caecilian, Boulengerula taitanus inhabits a climate characterised by two distinct dry and wet seasons, and a single thermal minimum in June. It is oviparous with direct development and a remarkable dermatophagous maternal care, but the female reproductive cycle until now remains unknown. The purpose of this work was to complete the knowledge about the reproductive modes of this species, using anatomical and histological studies of the ovaries. Quantitative variations of follicle categories showed a continuous folliculogenesis. Yet, young corpora lutea were only detected between November and February during the short rain season and the short dry season, indicating ovulation occurred during these four months during the thermal maximum. Oestrogen and progesterone detection allowed determination of three reproductive periods during the year: preparation in September and October, ovulation from November until February and quiescence from March until August. So, the female reproductive cycle of B. taitanus appears to be annual and synchronised with testicular evolution. Because the ovulation was observed following the second peak of follicle production (beginning of June), temperature is supposed to be the main regulating factor of reproductive pattern in this caecilian.


Glacial refugia protected and promoted biodiversity during the Pleistocene, not only at a broader scale, but also for many endemics that contracted and expanded their ranges within refugial areas. Understanding the evolutionary history of refugial endemics is especially important in the case of endangered species to recognize the origins of their genetic structure and thus produce better informed conservation practices. The Iberian Peninsula is an important European glacial refugium, rich in endemics of conservation concern, including small mammals, such as the Cabrera vole (Microtus cabrerae). This near‐threatened rodent is characterized by an unusual suite of genetic, life history and ecological traits, being restricted to isolated geographic nuclei in fast‐disappearing Mediterranean subhumid herbaceous habitats. To reconstruct the evolutionary history of the Cabrera vole, we studied sequence variation at mitochondrial, autosomal and sex‐linked loci, using invasive and noninvasive samples. Despite low overall mitochondrial and nuclear nucleotide diversities, we observed two main well‐supported mitochondrial lineages, west and east. Phylogeographic modelling in the context of the Cabrera vole's detailed fossil record supports a demographic scenario of isolation of two populations during the Last Glacial Maximum from a single focus in the southern part of the Iberian Peninsula. In addition, our data suggest subsequent divergence within the east, and secondary contact and introgression of the expanding western population, during the late Holocene. This work emphasizes that refugial endemics may have a phylogeographic history as rich as that of more widespread species, and conservation of such endemics includes the preservation of that genetic legacy.


Digital banking through telephone, internet and mobile is becoming important for banks' service marketing, especially with the increase in digital device usage and customer demand for financial services. The changing dynamics of banking means that banks' performance is no longer solely dependent on branch sales. Capturing and retaining customers are vital for banks, and digital banking is becoming the tool of choice; however research on how it affects customer experience and UK banks' performance is still limited. This thesis focusses on determining the impact of digital banking services on customer experience and financial performance.
The research in the thesis uses a mixed methods approach, utilising bank financial reports, interviews and questionnaires to achieve important results and contribute to knowledge in practice, and in related services, marketing and e-commerce theories. The research adopted Regression, Structural Equation Modelling and Chi-Square analyses in quantitative research, while using Content Analysis in qualitative research. The research takes a broad approach in the investigation of digital banking, customer experience and bank financial performance. It has used qualitative and quantitative analysis techniques to produce, test and triangulate results to increase robustness.
The research demonstrates how digital banking enhances banks' profitability. It found that attributes such as perceived value, convenience, functional quality, service quality and digital banking innovation are important in improving customer experience, satisfaction and loyalty, and banks' financial performance. The insights from the three research perspectives have been integrated to develop a new Digital Banking Services, Customer Experience and Financial Performance Enhancement Framework (DiBCEFPEF). The results from the thesis have the potential to assist banks in the provision of services, and improve customer experience and financial performance, such as profitable growth and economic value-adds, through digital banking.


We introduce a framework so that communities can exchange reputation information about agents in environments where agents are migrating between communities. We view the acquisition of the reputation information as a purchase and focus on the design of a payment function to facilitate the payment for information in a way that motivates communities to truthfully report reputation information for agents. We prove that in our proposed framework, honesty is the optimal policy and demonstrate the value of using a payment-function approach for the exchange of reputation information about agents between communities in multiagent environments. Using our payment function, each community is strengthened: it is able to reason more effectively about which agents to accept and can enjoy agents that are motivated to contribute strongly to the benefit of the community.


Get to grips with the vision of Qlik Sense for next generation business intelligence and data discovery About This BookGet insider insight on Qlik Sense and its new approach to business intelligenceCreate your own Qlik Sense applications, and administer server architectureExplore practical demonstrations for utilizing Qlik Sense to discover data for sales, human resources, and moreWho This Book Is ForLearning Qlik Sense is for anyone seeking to understand and utilize the revolutionary new approach to business intelligence offered by Qlik Sense. Familiarity with the basics of business intelligence will be helpful when picking up this book, but not essential. In Detail The intuitive and powerful Qlik Sense analytics software allows anyone to engage in data discovery, to explore your data and find meaningful insights to empower your business. Qlik Sense lets you easily create personalized reports and visualizations, and reveal essential connections to show new opportunities from every angle.Written by members of the Qlik Sense team, Learning Qlik Sense is the official guide from Qlik to understanding and using their powerful new product. Benefit from the vision behind the development of Qlik Sense and get to grips with how Qlik Sense can empower you as a data discovery consumer. Learn how to create your own applications for Qlik Sense to customize it to meet your personal needs for business intelligence, and how to oversee and administer the Qlik Sense data architecture. Finally, explore utilizing Qlik Sense to uncover essential data, with practical examples on finding and visualizing intelligence for sales figures, human resources information, travel expense tracking, and demographic data discovery.


The Caribbean spiny lobster fishery is one of the most important industries in the economy of the Bahamas, and in turn it is one of the largest lobster industries in the world. The natural geography of the Bahamas makes its waters into a lobster haven that Bahamian fishermen have successfully exploited over the past few decades. In 2009, in order to safeguard the industry's future and earn a higher margin, the government and the lobster processors together sought sustainability certification for their product. However, they came up short. The international assessors deemed the data on the health of the lobster stocks to be too minimal, and the legal structures to protect the lobster from over-harvesting to be too weak. In response, the government, together with the World Wildlife Fund, set up a program called the Fishery Improvement Project to get the country's lobster industry on the right track. Under the auspices of the Fishery Improvement Project, the government, local and international NGOs, the processors, and the fishermen themselves are contributing to improving the availability of information on the lobster and to crafting new laws to control the industry. Despite successes in improved communication and stock assessments, there are many obstacles to be overcome: differences of opinion, the spread-out nature of the country, and the limited resources available to enforce the laws. Through interviews with fishermen, government officials, processors, and scientists, this thesis tells the story of how the Fishery Improvement Project began, what it has accomplished, and where the lobster and the humans who harvest them might go from here, when the program wraps up and the fishery reenters the sustainability certification process. Thesis Supervisor: Thomas Levenson Title: Professor and Director, Graduate Program in Science Writing


The behavioral, biochemical, histological, and electrophysiological effects of a basal forebrain injection of saporin, a ribosome- inactivating protein, coupled to a monoclonal antibody against the low- affinity NGF receptor (192 IgG) were investigated in adult rats. Within the basal forebrain region, the low-affinity NGF receptor is exclusively expressed by cholinergic neurons in the medial septal area, diagonal band, and nucleus basalis magnocellularis (NBM). The presence of this receptor upon these cells confers a degree of specificity to the 192 IgG-saporin that could not previously be achieved by previous lesioning techniques, such as excitatory amino acids. Rats with unilateral injections of different amounts of 192 IgG-saporin were prepared to determine the optimal conditions in order to produce a lesion restricted to the NBM that would not destroy cholinergic afferents to hippocampus or nearby regions. Electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings were taken from these lesioned rats before and during treatment with scopolamine (1 mg/kg, i.p.). Another group of rats received bilateral NBM injections of 192 IgG-saporin and were behaviorally tested using a rewarded, delayed-alternation task on a T- maze and a passive avoidance task. Finally, histological and biochemical investigations confirmed the effectiveness and specificity of the 192 IgG-saporin. The results showed that the 192 IgG-saporin did not destroy neurotensin, galanin, somatostatin, NADPH-diaphorase, or neuropeptide Y neurons within the NBM. Also, biomarkers of cholinergic function were significantly decreased throughout the neocortex and within the NBM, but not in the olfactory bulbs, hippocampus, or dorsal caudate nucleus. Intraperitoneal injections of scopolamine, but not NBM injections of 192 IgG-saporin, increased total power across all frequency bands; however, slow-wave frequencies showed a greater increase in power as compared to fast-wave frequencies. Acquisition, and performance of the delayed-alternation or passive avoidance tasks were not impaired by the lesions. These data confirm the effectiveness and specificity of this novel lesioning tool and suggest that selective loss of NBM cholinergic cells is not sufficient to impair performance in these behavioral tasks.


In 1986, a task force of banking academics organized and sponsored by the American Bankers Association convened to examine the banking industry and the efficacy of its regulatory system. The group was charged with reviewing the problems of ensuring the safety and soundness of the banking system and evaluating a number of policy options to improve the efficiency, performance, and safety of the system by changing the structure of the deposit insurance system and the bank regulatory and supervisory process. The results of the work of the task force were published by the MIT Press as the book, Perspectives on Safe and Sound Banking (Benston et al., 1986, the Report), which includes a set of principal options and recommendations. The purpose of this article is to assess the extent to which changes in public policy regarding depository institutions have been aligned with the recommendations of the Report. We find that, over the past 20 years, several legislative initiatives and changes in regulations and the bank supervisory process have been in keeping with the specific recommendations of the Report or with the analytic framework underlying the recommendations. At the same time, other recommendations in the Report have not been taken up and some proposals rejected in the Report have been put in place by legislative and regulatory initiatives. Overall, public policy and private sector initiatives appear to have contributed to safer and sounder banking and thrift sectors over the past 20 years. Consistent with what we see as the main theme of the Report, a likely contributing factor is the more appropriate alignment of incentive for risk-taking among larger depository institutions. Developments affecting risk-taking by depository institutions likely include higher capitalizations, greater risk exposure of private sector stakeholders more generally, improvements in risk management, and supervision and regulation that is focused on overall risk.


Despite the increasing attention to Islamic investment, the empirical studies on Islamic indices and/or funds are scarce. Due to increased monitoring costs, availability of a smaller investment universe, and restricted potential for diversification, it has been argued that unscreened benchmarks should outperform Islamic (ethical) investment. This paper examines the impact of the Shari[ah screening on the performance of FTSE Global Islamic index and Dow Jones Islamic Market Index (DJIMI) using a number of performance measurement techniques. We particularly examine whether returns earned by investors who purchases shares in the FTSE Global Islamic and DJIMI indices are significantly different from their indices counterparts, both in the short-run and long-run. In order to capture the impact of the changes in the economic conditions on the indices performance, we divide the sample period into bull and bear market periods. Our findings provide strong evidence to reject the assumption that shari[ah investing offer inferior investment performance compared to unscreened portfolios.


We present ground-based MDM Observatory V-band and Spitzer/InfraRed Array Camera 3.6-mu m-band photometric observations of the 72 representative galaxies of the SAURON survey. Galaxies in our sample probe the elliptical E, lenticular S0 and spiral Sa populations in the nearby Universe, both in field and cluster environments. We perform aperture photometry to derive homogeneous structural quantities. In combination with the SAURON stellar velocity dispersion measured within an effective radius (sigma(e)), this allows us to explore the location of our galaxies in the colour-magnitude, colour-sigma(e), Kormendy, Faber-Jackson and Fundamental Plane scaling relations. We investigate the dependence of these relations on our recent kinematical classification of early-type galaxies (i.e. slow/fast rotators) and the stellar populations. Slow rotator and fast rotator E/S0 galaxies do not populate distinct locations in the scaling relations, although slow rotators display a smaller intrinsic scatter. We find that Sa galaxies deviate from the colour-magnitude and colour-sigma(e) relations due to the presence of dust, while the E/S0 galaxies define tight relations. Surprisingly, extremely young objects do not display the bluest (V - [3.6]) colours in our sample, as is usually the case in optical colours. This can be understood in the context of the large contribution of thermally pulsing asymptotic giant branch stars to the infrared, even for young populations, resulting in a very tight (V - [3.6])-sigma(e) relation that in turn allows us to define a strong correlation between metallicity and se. Many Sa galaxies appear to follow the Fundamental Plane defined by E/S0 galaxies. Galaxies that appear offset from the relations correspond mostly to objects with extremely young populations, with signs of ongoing, extended star formation. We correct for this effect in the Fundamental Plane, by replacing luminosity with stellar mass using an estimate of the stellar mass-to-light ratio, so that all galaxies are part of a tight, single relation. The new estimated coefficients are consistent in both photometric bands and suggest that differences in stellar populations account for about half of the observed tilt with respect to the virial prediction. After these corrections, the slow rotator family shows almost no intrinsic scatter around the best-fitting Fundamental Plane. The use of a velocity dispersion within a small aperture (e. g. R-e/8) in the Fundamental Plane results in an increase of around 15 per cent in the intrinsic scatter and an average 10 per cent decrease in the tilt away from the virial relation.


The notion of reflection has featured strongly in Management Learning in recent years. While there is an important body of knowledge on how organizations can foster reflection-on-action, less seems to be known about how they can promote reflection-in-action. We suggest that reflection-in-action is closely linked to the phenomenon of mindfulness and we outline what existing research on mindfulness may teach us about understanding and organizing reflection-in-action. We believe that integrating the perspectives taken in these two streams of literature is important for a clear understanding of why some organizations seem to learn 'better' than others and why some initiatives to promote reflection and learning are more successful than others.