In the first half of the nineteenth century, Saxony became an increasingly popular destination for American travelers. After first examining the forces behind the travel trends in order to provide historical context, this study analyzes American travelers' perceptions of Saxony as recorded in their travel writings, with particular emphasis on George and Anna Ticknor's journals from Europe. In doing so, it sheds light on aspects of Anglo-American leisure-class identity between 1800 and 1850. At the beginning of the nineteenth century, educated upper-class New Englanders had very little real knowledge of Germany and its people, and their only image of Saxony would likely have been in connection with Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation. What information these Anglo-Americans did have about the current literature and thought of Germany generally came via English-language magazines, often first published in Britain. But at the end of the Napoleonic Wars in 1815, travel to and within Europe began to be attractive, especially as word spread among American elites that Germany offered the best universities in the world. George Ticknor and a handful of other young New England aristocrats studied at Göttingen with such success and fame that it began a snowballing trend of American students flocking to German universities for the next century. Meanwhile, privileged Americans increasingly began to discover the attractions of Germany in other capacities as well, often as a part of a Grand Tour of Europe that served to enhance their status in society. Though Germany initially lagged far behind more familiar destinations like Great Britain, France, and Italy in popularity, by the middle of the nineteenth century, it was on the rise as a favorite destination for American travelers. When, in the process of traveling Germany, Americans discovered the small Kingdom of Saxony tucked away into the heart of the German Confederation, it quickly won their praise and by mid-century was becoming a beloved place to visit or even reside. Again, George Ticknor (with his family this time) was at the forefront of this trend, settling in Dresden for half a year in 1835-1836. Welcomed into the highest noble and royal societies of Saxony, the Ticknors (as Boston Brahmin taste-makers) were likely to have been major factors in fanning the flames of later American enthusiasm for Saxony. The perceptions that the Ticknors and other contemporary American travelers revealed about Germany--and Saxony in particular--reflected aspects of their own identities. For example, they admired the Saxon monarch and royal family. When they favorably compared the "liberal" Saxon court with the "despots" of other European countries, this indicated their American republican heritage. On the other hand, when they sided with the "paternally beneficent" government of the Saxon king against the "ingratitude" of the people, they underscored their own patrician background and authoritarian ideals. Meanwhile, they lauded the Saxon educational system and the enlightened state of the general population, showing the importance they placed on public education and responsibility. They raved about the cultural treasures in the museums of Dresden, because they appreciated cultivation, yet had little access to such quality collections in America. Their response to commercial Leipzig was ambivalent, but courtly and refined Dresden appealed to these aristocrats. Believing that the quality of the soil has a strong effect on the quality of a population, they adjusted their impressions of the complex Saxon/Prussian border regions to fit whatever stereotype they wanted to emphasize at the time: that of the enlightened but unjustly persecuted Saxon peasants or that of the miserable degraded Prussian boor. The observations reflected in early nineteenth-century American travel writings reveal that images of the "other" were fluid and depended on the viewer's own state of mind, background, and value system. In writing about their perceptions of other lands and peoples, these American travelers actually revealed a lot about themselves. What Americans Said About Saxony, And What This Says About Them: Interpreting Travel Writings Of The Ticknors And Other Privileged Americans, 1800-1850 


A kinetic model for batch alcoholic fermentations, such as those employed in winemaking, has been modified to calculate evaporative losses of ethanol. Computer generated solutions exhibit good agreement with reported experimental measurements. The model is used to illustrate the effects of inoculum level, sugar utilization, must temperature, non-isothermal conditions and cap temperature on evaporative ethanol losses. A master correlation is presented for estimation of losses under any combination of temperature and sugar utilization during entire, isothermal batch fermentations.


We explore the effect of post—fire microsites on seed and seedling distribution and hence their potential role in community restoration. A summer wildfire and control burn in a sclerophyll shrubland in mediterranean Australia produced mosaics of physically and chemically contrasting microsites of litter and sand. Most seeds (>75%) of all species released from the burnt canopies fell, or were redispersed by wind, into the litter patches after both fires. Data on microsite characteristics and wind exposure (fire intensity), height of fruits, time of release, and seed properties were required to interpret relative distribution between the litter and sand patches. Seeds remained equally viable (up to 100%) over summer—autumn in the litter and sand and had equally high rates and levels (up to 100%) of subsequent winter germination. However, seedlings were 2—3 times less likely to survive in the litter and survivors were 35% smaller than those in the sand by the end of the first summer. Banksia hookeriana was particularly vulnerable to microsite properties, whereas the needle—leaved Hakea polyathema showed only minor responses. Pre—summer thinning of seedlings in the litter increased survival of the remainder by 2 times and size of the survivors by 31%. The fire—sensitive, small—seeded B. hookeriana had 17 times more seeds in the backburn litter than the resprouting, larger—seeded B. attenuata, which more than compensated for its 3 times greater seedling mortality levels over the dry summer. Recruitment of species prone to density—dependent mortality in the litter was enhanced by the retention of some seeds in the sand where competition for water was minimal, as indicated by the 2.2 times greater stomal conductance of their seedlings in early summer.


A key obstacle to the development of large-scale, reliable Cloud Computing is the difficulty of timely compliance certification of business processes operating in rapidly changing Clouds. Standard audit procedures are hard to conduct for Cloud-based processes. ComCert is a novel, well-founded approach to enable automatic compliance certification of business process with regulatory requirements. Reliable Cloud Computing must provide control over business process compliance. The central task to this end is certifying business processes for their adherence to regulations. However, due to the dynamics of Clouds, current manual audits for compliance certification, such as SAS-70 or SAS-117, are hard to apply in this setting. This is at odds with the increased flexibility that Clouds offer and with which companies can adapt their business processes on demand. Consequently the lack of automated audit methods and the resulting risks of noncompliance [12] currently inhibit enterprises from outsourcing their tasks onto the Cloud and prevent the full realization of the economic potential of Cloud Computing. ComCert is a method of automated compliance certification of business processes. Intuitively, auditors use ComCert tool support to check Cloud-based processes for adherence to a large set of different compliance requirements. The analysis carried out by ComCert is able to detect vulnerabilities arising from the control-flow and dataflow perspectives, eg, whether all required activities are included and whether activities happen in the prescribed order. If the process is compliant, the approach generates evidence of correctness. If not, it provides counterexamples that identify violations of the compliance policies and indicate the vulnerable spots in the process. In doing so, ComCert complements and extends the research on business process verification, which has traditionally focused on checking the compatibility of communicating processes, ie absence of deadlocks and guarantee of service [14]. 2 R. Accorsi and L. Lowis ComCert employs Petri nets as a formal basis to decide on the policy adherence of business processes. Petri nets provide an expressive, notation-independent formalism to capture the semantics of business processes. Also, compliance requirements can be expressed as usage control policies [13], and Petri nets serve as formal representation of those policies [9]. Given the Petri net representation of both a process and the applicable policies, the compliance check through ComCert certification is reduced to a type of reachability problem in Petri nets. Put simply, the goal is to demonstrate that the process modelled in one Petri net (the "process net") satisfies the compliance requirements modelled in another Petri net (the "policy net"). Petri net reachability is a well-investigated problem for which efficient algorithms and, hence, tool support for automation exists. Since translations from standard process notations such as Business Process Modelling Notation and Business Process Execution Language into Petri nets exist [10], ComCert does not rely on a particular process notation for analysis, thereby being equally suitable for different Cloudproviders in a non-invasive manner. The use of Petri nets for the formalization of compliance requirements allows the circumscription of policy patterns. The refinement from regulations to policies can thus be captured in a formal and unambiguous, yet easily accessible way. Specifically, ComCert builds upon an extensive classification of compliance requirements drawn from major regulations such as the SarbanesOxley Act, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and the PATRIOT Act. The resultant classification consists of three classes, where each requirement either (1) requires certain activities to (not) be performed before or after other activities, (2) describes the mandatory flow of data between activities and (3) prescribes additional conditions on data, eg pseudonymization and retention. Petri nets formalize these classes as high-level patterns, thereby reducing the effort for the specification of requirements. For a particular application domain and regulation, concrete requirements are stepwise refined into instances of high-level patterns. With instantiated patterns, it is also possible to detect policy inconsistencies in an automated manner. If the policy nets contradict each other, the conflicts are flagged, eg, if a regulation requires the retention of data while a competing regulation demands its deletion. It is important to note that the compliance certificates regard only the process model and not the organizational [8] and technical layers [1–3]. General policies such as creating backups and logs, securing the network, raising the workforce's security awareness or having a security manageComCert: Compliance Certification 3 ment process with risk assessments are an integral part of security efforts, but they do not pertain to a specific process model. Regarding the certification of the system components and procedures, for example, the execution engine and virtualization issues, additional vulnerability analysis [11] and standard procedures as from COBIT and ISO 17799 would need to be considered. Case studies using ComCert show that the "push-button" compliance check is feasible for industrial business processes. Ongoing investigation focuses on extending the kinds of analysis that can be carried out with ComCert. In particular, we are experimenting with information flow analysis and control techniques for Petri nets to detect interferences between communicating processes [4–7]. These interferences denote further, more subtle but equally threatening design vulnerabilities that have not yet been considered in the certification of Cloud-based business processes. Taking stock, ComCert contributes to automating the compliance certification of processes in the Cloud and consequently, fosters wider Cloud deployment and the compliant implementation of Cloud-based business models.


This thesis investigates the teaching of mathematics at university level in London, and in particular by Augustus De Morgan (1806-1871) during his period as founder professor of mathematics at London University (later University College London) from 1828 to 1867. An examination of De Morgan's life and professorial career is followed by a review of changes in instruction at the college under his successors, together with a survey of higher mathematical tuition at other university-level institutions in the capital up to the turn of the twentieth century. Particular attention is paid to original teaching material and the set of students who later achieved distinction in mathematics and other disciplines.
A key feature of the research undertaken for this project has been its intensive use of previously unpublished archival documents, hitherto mostly unstudied. Consequently, much of the information which has been gleaned from these sources (such as De Morgan's lecture material, student notes and contemporary correspondence) has never appeared in print before. The data thus derived has been used in conjunction with publications from the period, as well as more recent works, to produce a contribution to the history of mathematical education which gives a more complete picture of how well nineteenth-century London was served for mathematical instruction than was previously available.
Previous studies of De Morgan have mainly concentrated on his work in algebra and logic, with little or no reference to his mathematical teaching, while published histories of relevant institutions (e. g. University College, University of London) are similarly localised, with few comparisons being drawn with other bodies, and almost no reference to mathematical tuition. By concentrating on the work of De Morgan as a teacher in the context of London mathematics, this thesis will attempt to fill these two important gaps in the literature.


Background subtraction is one of the most important parts in image and video processing field. There are some unnecessary parts during the image or video processing, and should be removed, because they lead to more execution time or required memory. Several subtraction methods have been presented for the time being, but find the best-suited method is an issue, which this study is going to address. Furthermore, each process needs to the specific subtraction technique, and knowing this issue helps researchers to achieve faster and higher performance in their research. This paper presents a comparative study of several existing background subtraction methods which have been investigated from simple background subtraction to more complex statistical techniques. The goal of this study is to provide a view of the strengths and drawbacks of the widely used methods. The methods are compared based on their memory requirement, the computational time and their robustness of different videos. Finally, a comparison between the existing methods has been employed with some factors like computational time or memory requirements. It is also hoped that this analysis helps researchers to address the difficulty of selecting the most convenient method for background subtraction.


General practitioners provide the most common access paint for psychological services for older adults. The system for funding for psychological services by the Australian Medicare system can provide treatment for psychological conditions, such as depression, among older adults. Estimates concerning the prevalence of depression among older adults vary widely depending on the diagnostic
criteria used, but effective treatment for depression among older adults still does not reach all cases. This is particularly true in regional Australia, where resources for general practitioners for the treatment of disorders common among older adults are less common than in urban centres. This prsliminary study identifies gaps in knowledge among general practitioners in northern Queensland
with regard to the differentiation of depression from dementia in older adults. This distinction is important because of the different treatments for the two conditions. Participants were 13 general practitioners in Ingham, Ayr and Townsville who completed a semi structured interview. All practices had from 30 to 60% of their patients over 65 years. Results indicated a need for more information on
both depression and dementia and relevant treatment options for both. Some practitioners use the screening measures of the Over 75 Health Check, but relatively little use was made of screening tests for either cognitive change or depression. Laboratory tests were used systematically. Only one practitioner had any training at all on the distinction of depression from dementia, but more had specific training in the identification and treatment of depression. There was a high level of interest in further training on the discrimination of depression from dementia. Other relevant issues included a Jack of time in their practices for more refined assessment, the need for continuing education credits for further training, and better access to relevant specialists. There was also a high degree of interest
in better interdisciplinary cooperation and for advanced training provided by specialist psychologists in screening for dementia and depression. Discussion focuses on options for improving access to psychological services for older adults In regional and rural Australia.


An integrated modeling approach was used in this study for energy planning and climate change mitigation assessment. The main objective of this study was to develop various green-house gas (GHG) mitigations scenarios in the energy demand and supply sectors for the state of Florida. The Long range energy alternative planning (LEAP) model was used in this study to examine the energy alternative and GHG emissions reduction scenarios for short and long term (2010-2050). One of the energy analysis and GHG mitigation scenarios was developed by taking into account the available renewable energy resources potential for power generation in the state of Florida. This will help to compare and analyze the GHG reduction measure against "Business As Usual" and 'State of Florida Policy" scenarios. Two master scenarios: "Electrification" and "Energy efficiency and Lifestyle" were developed through combination of various mitigation scenarios: technological changes and energy efficiency and conservation. The results show a net reduction of the energy demand and GHG emissions by adopting these two energy scenarios compared to the business as usual. Keywords—Integrated modeling, energy planning, climate change mitigation assessment, greenhouse gas emissions, renewable energy, energy efficiency.


The Marlborough Family Education Centre (MFEC) uses a specific multi-family group approach with families where children exhibit (primarily) conduct problems and function poorly in school. Research indicates that failure to intervene with these children carries great potential cost to both the family and society. Outcomes for 50 families receiving intervention from the MFEC were compared with a control group of 28 who had access to a range of interventions, but not the multi-family group approach pioneered by the MFEC. Data on child and family social, emotional and behavioural functioning were collected at the point of referral, and at 6 and 12 months. Parents of children receiving support from the MFEC reported statistically and clinically significant improvements in their children that were maintained at 12 months whereas there was no change in the control group. In addition, measures of family functioning were fairly stable for the MFEC group, while the control group showed significant deterioration over the same time period. Other results were not significant. These findings are interpreted within the context of early intervention. The methodological limitations of the study are considered and suggestions for future research are outlined.


Normal.dotm 0 0 1 302 1722 University of Victoria 14 3 2114 12.0 0 false 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false false Canadians today are much more aware of the negative impacts of missionization on Indigenous peoples than they were even ten years ago. However, one of the side-effects of this increased public awareness is an inverted white-washing -- a blanket labeling of all parties involved in the missionization project as uniformly "bad." More specifically, there is a clear silence on the 2nd wave of missionization, which occurred in the early 20th century. Myriad reasons exist for this silence: one could argue that this is yet another manifestation of the "pioneer complex" at large in historical study. The problem is also rooted in feelings of guilt and discomfort in the wake of revelations about national projects of cultural genocide directed against Indigenous peoples. The first wave of missionization in BC (1850-1890) occurred in the period of early Indigenous/non-Indigenous encounter. Distanced temporally from the present, predating entrenchment of the colonial order in BC, and untainted by the excesses of the residential school system, this can be seen as perhaps a "safer" period of study. By casting "Indians" as members of mythical, pre-contact times, the ethnographic research that took root at the end of this period has remained the foundation of ethnographical research on the Northwest Coast. Whatever the reasons for this silence, the impact on BC historiography is very real. If we choose not to investigate in a respectful and critical way the histories of the many individuals involved in missionary encounters, we risk becoming complicit in the implications of the story we choose not to tell. This paper will draw on the unpublished autobiography of Reverend Canon Stanley Higgs (1904-1983), missionary to Lytton, "the Indian Headquarters" of the Anglican mission in south central British Columbia, in the 1920s and 1930s, to argue for more detailed study of the lives and writings of BC missionaries in the twentieth century. This group offers new insights into a range of areas, most notably ethnography and the local dynamics of colonialism in British Columbia.


Convincingly breaking with the 'May Fourth' paradigm, Questions of Style argues a radically new way of understanding the relationship between New Literature and other styles of modern Chinese writing.


The clarity and usability of the graphical user interface is very important for the enjoyment of a digital game. Pixel art is an art style with low resolution consisting of a precise placing of pixels, the smallest unit of colour that a screen can display. Pixel art has the potential of being cheap, easy to make and nostalgic, but it takes some skill to handle. However the great weakness of pixel art is displaying letters, and small details with clarity. So is there a place for pixel art in modern games? This thesis will discuss how pixel art games could use their GUI and HUDs to create beautiful games without losing clarity. The aim of this study is to is to compare different games GUI in a systematic way and discuss whether the artists have succeeded in their design of the GUI to give the player a pleasant game experience. A second aim is to find a series of recommendations on how to build a GUI with the least possible intrusion on on a narrative driven game. The main question is how can the GUI be designed and drawn to fit a modern pixel art game without causing a distracting discord to the pixel art style?


Light-emitting diode (LED) road lighting has been widely implemented in recent years, but few studies have evaluated its performance after installation. This study investigated whether LED road lighting complies with minimum regulations in terms of traffic safety and whether improvements for energy efficiency are possible. Average road surface luminance ( L ), overall luminance uniformity ( U o ), longitudinal luminance uniformity ( U I ), power density ( P D ) and normalised power density ( P N ) were evaluated for 14 roads (seven designed for vehicular traffic and seven for pedestrians and bicycles). Energy savings were calculated as the percentage reduction to the minimum level of the existing lighting class or a lower lighting class and by applying a dimming schedule. The results showed that LED road lighting for vehicular traffic roads generally fulfilled the requirements, whereas that for pedestrian and bicycle roads generally corresponded to the lowest lighting class for L , and often did not meet the statutory requirements for U o and U I . By adapting lighting levels to the minimum requirement of the existing lighting class or by dropping to a lower lighting class, vehicular traffic roads could save 6%–35% on L to lighting class M5 and 23%–61% on L to lighting class M6. A dimming schedule could lead to energy savings of 49%. There is little potential for savings on pedestrian and bicycle roads, except by implementing a dimming schedule. Thus, in general, for vehicular, pedestrian and bicycle roads, a dimming schedule can save more energy than can be achieved in general by reducing lighting class. Furthermore, since a dimming schedule can be adjusted to traffic intensity, any potential risk of compromising traffic safety is minimised.


Determining protein function constitutes an exercise in integrating information derived from several heterogeneous high-throughput experiments. To utilize the information spread across multiple sources in a combined fashion, these data sources are transformed into kernels. Several protein function prediction methods follow a two-phased approach: they first optimize the weights on individual kernels to produce a composite kernel, and then train a classifier on the composite kernel. As such, these methods result in an optimal composite kernel, but not necessarily in an optimal classifier. On the other hand, some methods optimize the loss of binary classifiers, and learn weights for the different kernels iteratively. A protein has multiple functions, and each function can be viewed as a label. These methods solve the problem of optimizing weights on the input kernels for each of the labels. This is computationally expensive and ignores inter-label correlations.

In this paper, we propose a method called Protein Function Prediction by Integrating Multiple Kernels (ProMK). ProMK iteratively optimizes the phases of learning optimal weights and reducing the empirical loss of a multi-label classifier for each of the labels simultaneously, using a combined objective function. ProMK can assign larger weights to smooth kernels and downgrade the weights on noisy kernels. We evaluate the ability of ProMK to predict the function of proteins using several standard benchmarks. We show that our approach performs better than previously proposed protein function prediction approaches that integrate data from multiple networks, and multi-label multiple kernel learning methods.


This thesis tells the tale of a special group of healthcare 'customer service' workers called the
Patient Advice Liaison Service (PALS). It looks at how their job is designed and explores the impact
this has, on their wellbeing by using a mixed-method research design which includes one
quantitative and one qualitative study. The starting occupational level study is based on
quantitative data from 138 participants using a questionnaire that measures global wellbeing, job
satisfaction and psychosocial work conditions. A high incidence of strain is reported, statistically
higher than that of other customer service employees and more comparable to social workers.
Psychosocial conditions at work are revealed to be dire and in need of urgent action; and yet, the
same group of workers report satisfaction with their job. To further unwrap the complex lived
experience of PALS workers, an individual level study was conducted. Interpretative
phenomenological analysis was undertaken with nine participants. Four emergent themes affirm
that when it comes to their job, others just don't really get it, especially the extent of their
emotion work. Changing the NHS is compared to changing a super tanker's direction and
participants confess to having had a breaking point. Nevertheless, PALS staff declare that this is a
vocation and I wanna do it. Reflexive interpretations suggest that some customer service
employees actually engage in rather complex work that is not easily captured by the broad
'customer service' label. For individuals engaged in this type of relational work emotion work was
found to be both a source of distress and motivation. Comparisons between these healthcare
workers and other public sector relational workers are made and the new discourse of expertise
services is proposed. Theoretical and policy implications are discussed.


The following study examines Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) interwar surveillance, harassment and repression of the Communist Party of Canada (CPC), primarily in Toronto from RCMP "O" Division, but also extends the discussion to include features of counter-subversion operations elsewhere, particularly in southwestern Ontario. These counter-subversion operations traversed three periods of activity: the early years 1920-28: an interlude/ intelligence crisis which led to a debacle in 1931; and a period of reestablishing the intelligence network and an intensification of its countersubversion work from 1932 -1939. Each period in question was characterized by specific types of intelligence network 'organization' and 'operation'. -- My study of the rise, fall, and recovery of "'O" Division's core inter-war Toronto CPC intelligence network, examines the context in which the transformation took place linking it to the region's industrial and political order. I explain why intelligence networks, like the organizations they seek to infiltrate and the individuals whose activities they try to monitor, are anything but static and instead function as a part of the communities in which they live and face similar constraints. Intelligence networks expand and contract and shift both their investigative and operational focus. Their field investigations are malleable; their size, scope, and activities change for economic reasons and to meet both 'real' and 'perceived' threats. As local constructs intelligence networks are often best studied as a series of interactions established at the Divisional level. -- The expansion, contraction, and transformation of "O" Division's key Toronto intelligence network influenced the types and quality of the information they secured. How intelligence networks functioned and how effective they were reflected the extent to which intelligence personnel adapted. Through much of the inter-war period "O'' Division relied heavily upon the work of secret/ special agents. Sometimes, however, less obtrusive and more distant forms of surveillance activity best suited the needs of intelligence personnel. A great deal depended upon their abilities. Success was also dictated by many other factors such as the abilities of CPC stalwarts and their subsidiary organizations. Only by paying close attention to these issues can we gain a more complete and accurate historical record of Canada's intelligence past.


Seventeenth-century English jurist and legal historian John Selden integrated the three classic schools of jurisprudence - natural law theory, legal positivism, and historical jurisprudence. He defined natural law as a set of fundamental legal principles commanded by God for the creation of a just legal order. He defined positive laws as those rules and procedures created by a just legislature in accordance with both the principles of natural law and the needs of the particular community. And he defined legal history as the account of each community's legal tradition, which gave expression to natural law and provided limitations on the laws of any given sovereign, even the king himself. Selden's integrative jurisprudence offered a brilliant defense of the English common law tradition and a skillful interweaving of Jewish legal thought into the Western legal tradition. Selden drew on a robust theology of God: God the creator, who set nature in order and motion in accordance with natural laws; God the law-giver who commands all human creatures to follow the principles of natural law and natural rights; God the judge who called his people to "establish courts of justice" for the protection of justice and mercy in each community; God the covenant-keeper who called his chosen people of Israel to follow the particular commands of the Torah; and God the intellectus agens who guides each good person to self-evident truths, and guides each great legal tradition, most notably the common law, to ever greater approximation of divine justice.


Anthropogenic nutrient enrichment of aquatic ecosystems is prevalent and can have detrimental effects on biological condition. Many of these effects have been attributed directly or indirectly to changes in autotrophic processes. However, in detrital-based streams changes in course detrital stoichiometry and decomposition have been related to changes community structure and production at higher trophic levels highlighting the importance of considering the heterotrophic microbial responses to enrichment. Leaf litter stoichiometry, which is determined in part by the tree species source and the microbial communities that comprise the associated biofilm, is likely related to decomposition rates, but few studies examine these variables in combination across a nutrient concentration gradient. Dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) (0, 10, 25, 50, 75, 100, 250, 500, 1000, 2000 μg/L DIP) and litter type (sugar maple and post oak) were manipulated in a 210 day laboratory microcosm study to determine their effect on litter C:P and decomposition rates and to examine their effects on short duration measures of respiration and alkaline phosphatase activity (APA) taken on several dates spanning the decomposition process. I found that C:P declined and decomposition rates increased in a saturating relationship along the DIP gradient indicating P-limitation of decomposition at low DIP concentrations. Saturation values for maple and oak C:P and decomposition rates were 500 and 830 and 0.0085 + 0.0005 and 0.0029 + 0.0002, respectively. Litter C:P saturation DIP concentrations saturated at approximately 80 μg/L for both litter types, while decomposition rates saturated at less than 25 μg/L for both litter types. APA and respiration rates were not correlated, but positive correlations were found between C:P and APA on several days (range in r = 0.568-0.670, p<0.008). Positive correlations between respiration rates and decomposition across several days but explained little variation in decomposition rate (r<0.5) Maple tended to have greater APA and respiration relative to oak litter, though not always statistically. These results demonstrate that litter type and DIP concentration are both important factors affecting litter stoichiometry and quantity in detrital systems, but do not support the use of APA and respiration as instantaneous measures of limitation of decomposition in streams. I provide insight into the complexity of the dynamics of nutrient enrichment in stream, educating potential impacts of nutrient loading on aquatic ecosystems.


Hybridization involves generally genetic algorithm in a stage .Here instead of genetic algorithm, metaheuristics method Local search method, is applied as primary search routine, for tackling combinatorial search and optimization problems.The dispatching rule LPT is applied first, serving as a preprocessor. The local search methods are works on the iterative exploration of a solution space: at each iteration a local search algorithm start search from one solution to one of its neighbor. The method is analysis the job shop bench mark problems. The comparison of the performance measure is evaluated.


The Community Psychiatric Support Organization is a registered voluntary not for profit NGO in Uganda working to promote mental health by empowering the community to care for the mentally ill. Mental illness occurring in Uganda is often 'explored' or 'explained' from non-medical perspectives, including social, cultural, and/or religious belief systems. Over the last two years, the organization has conducted sixty six (66) live radio mental health education talks and twenty six (26) live television talk shows in an effort to reduce stigma towards mental illness. Such campaigns within developing contexts have not be examined extensively, although, in other sectors such as health promotion and disease prevention, it has been found to be highly successful. The retrospective document review of personal journaled materials related to the mental health messaging (radio and television) and responses between 2013 and 2015. These journals captured responses by callers, which were then analyzed using a content analysis methodology. Through this effort, it was recognized that there is an appetite of the public for necessary and appropriate information about mental health in their community. It has also shown the need to more efforts to share information and knowledge about mental health in a manner which reaches the public to reduce misperceptions and misinformation in a manner which is culturally appropriate and social acceptable. This is a major challenge in a context of development which faces various levels of literacy, embedded social/cultural beliefs, religious strengths, and a lack of resources to address mental illness.


This paper is a methodological contribution to emerging debates on the role of learning, particularly forward-looking (anticipatory) learning, as a key element for adaptation and resilience in the context of climate change. First, we describe two major challenges: understanding adaptation as a process and recognizing the inadequacy of existing learning tools, with a specific focus on high poverty contexts and complex livelihood-vulnerability risks. Then, the article examines learning processes from a dynamic systems perspective, comparing theoretical aspects and conceptual advances in resilience thinking and action research/learning (AR/AL). Particular attention is paid to learning loops (cycles), critical reflection, spaces for learning, and power. Finally, we outline a methodological framework to facilitate iterative learning processes and adaptive decision making in practice. We stress memory, monitoring of key drivers of change, scenario planning, and measuring anticipatory capacity as crucial ingredients. Our aim is to identify opportunities and obstacles for forward-looking learning processes at the intersection of climatic uncertainty and development challenges in Africa, with the overarching objective to enhance adaptation and resilient livelihood pathways, rather than learning by shock.


Law provides the framework whereby we resolve our all too frequent conflicts, making reference, as we do, to principles of our shared moral philosophy. With the wise application of this method, we can restrain tyranny and ensure fairness in our dealings.


In this article, we analyze how to evaluate fishery resource management under "ecological uncertainty". In this context, an e±cient policy consists of applying a di®erent exploitation rule depending on the state of the resource and we could say that the stock is always in transition, jumping from one steady state to another. First, we propose a method for calibrating the growth path of the resource such that observed dynamics of resource and captures are matched. Second, we apply the calibration procedure proposed in two di®erent fishing grounds: the European Anchovy (Division VIII) and the Southern Stock of Hake. Our results show that the role played by uncertainty is essential for the conclusions. For European Anchovy fishery (Division VIII) we find, in contrast with Del Valle et al. (2001), that this is not an overexploited fishing ground. However, we show that the Southern Stock of Hake is in a dangerous situation. In both cases our results are in accordance with ICES advice.


[1] Studying the spatial variability of aerosol properties in the vicinity of clouds is essential to our ability to determine aerosol direct and indirect effects on climate. In this paper, we describe aerosol observations collected near cloud edges by an airborne Sun photometer over dark ocean waters. Focusing on case studies of aerosol measurements near eight cloud edges within a dissipating stratiform cloud deck, we compare the airborne Sun photometer observations to retrievals of aerosol properties using the standard Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aerosol algorithm applied to 500-m-resolution MODIS spectral reflectances. We find a persistent, spectrally neutral increase in the Sun photometer–derived aerosol optical depth (AOD) of up to 10% (0.015) in the 2-km distances closest to the edges of several distinct clouds. At midvisible wavelengths, the MODIS AOD retrievals show similar increases toward cloud edges, although a larger increase in AOD is found in the MODIS along-scan direction. At short-wave infrared (SWIR) wavelengths (1240–2130 nm), the MODIS-derived AOD increases near cloud edges are of the order of 0.03 and as such three times as large as the Sun photometer–derived values. Hence, in contrast to recently discussed "bluing" of aerosols near cloud edges, i.e., a preferential apparent increase in the visible reflectances of clear-sky pixels due to 3-D radiative transfer effects in the vicinity of clouds, we find a "reddening" of aerosols in the MODIS 500-m-resolution aerosol retrievals near clouds. This "reddening" in our study can be traced to larger absolute increases in SWIR reflectances when compared to visible reflectances near clouds, which in turn seem to stem from larger electronic cross talk in the MODIS SWIR bands (5–7). We note that the lack of "bluing" in our MODIS observations is likely due to the small geometric and optical thicknesses of the clouds considered.


In this paper the authors describe the application of spatial choice models to microlevel intermetropolitan migration destination choice data from the US Public Use Microdata Samples (PUMS) for the period 1985–90. The metropolitan and the microlevel data facilitate an analysis incorporating well-defined geographic units and their respective attributes, as well as an analysis disaggregated by the personal factors of migrants. The PUMS files provide one of the richest sources of national-level migration micro data in terms of geographic resolution, the number of individual or household characteristics recorded, sample size, and availability. The focus of the modelling exercise is to examine the performance of competing-destinations migration models which are based on the assumption that migrants process spatial information hierarchically. To date the only empirical testing of such models has been undertaken with aggregate spatial flow data, so the PUMS data provide a unique opportunity to examine the behaviour of the competing destinations framework in more detail. The authors provide information on the determinants of intermetropolitan migration within the USA and on the validity of the theoretical foundations of the competing-destinations framework. Traditional spatial choice models are shown to be severely misspecified and the distance-decay parameter estimates from such models to be potentially biased in such a manner that they exhibit the well-known 'spatial structure' effect. This effect does not appear when the parameters are estimated from competing-destinations models.


Abstract The vascular flora of Crenshaw County, Alabama, was surveyed from 1987 to 2010. A total of 1171 taxa (species and hybrids) in 565 genera from 150 families are reported. Twenty-five taxa represented by herbarium specimens from Crenshaw County were not re-collected during this study. The Inventory List of Rare, Threatened and Endangered Plants, Animals and Natural Communities of Alabama as compiled by the Alabama Natural Heritage Program contains 23 of the species collected. Approximately 18 percent of the flora (213 species), are considered non-indigenous. Families with the largest number of taxa were Asteraceae (158), Poaceae (135), Fabaceae (87), Cyperaceae (61), Rosaceae (35) and Liliaceae (31).


This paper uses a dynamic general equilibrium optimizing two-country model to analyze how the formation of exchange rate expectations shapes the effects of monetary policy shocks in open economies. The model implies that the short-run output effects of permanent monetary policy shocks diminish if 'noise traders' in the foreign exchange market form regressive exchange rate expectations. If the influence of these noise traders is strong enough, a permanent expansionary monetary policy shock can result in a temporary decline of the output in the country in which it takes place. The output effects of temporary monetary policy shocks are magnified when noise traders form regressive exchange rate expectations.


From this paper's Preface, by Dr. Dimitri B. Papadimitriou, President: For a time, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) seemed to have learned from the mistakes of the past. Instead of taking good economic performance as a sign of incipient inflation, Chairman Alan Greenspan kept interest rates relatively low in the late 1990s, even as unemployment plummeted.Many commentators worried that the FOMC's unusually easy stance would usher in a period of runaway inflation, but inflation stayed in the 2 to 3 percent range. Now, with scant evidence of an inflationary threat, Greenspan and his committee seem intent on raising interest rates. Greenspan argues that the current anemic expansion is "self-sustaining" and no longer needs the support of low interest rates. In this new brief, Levy Institute Senior Scholar L. Randall Wray evaluates the Fed's concern about a coming inflation and its decision to begin raising interest rates. He begins with an examination of key market developments that might signal inflation.Most economists worry about inflation when labor markets begin to tighten and employees gain the bargaining power necessary to demand pay raises.Wray marshals an array of evidence demonstrating that workers can only wish for such conditions. The economy has created no net new jobs since the beginning of the current presidential term. To match the 64.4 percent proportion of adults who held jobs during the Clinton era, the economy would have to generate four million new positions. It is clear that the job market will not be a source of inflation any more than it was during the Clinton boom.


The gist of this article is the idea that the orthodox theory of economic crisis unduly reduces its subject to business crisis and that it is the outcome of the narrowness and limitedness of the individualistic economic approach to the problem, employed mostly by neoliberals and libertarians. As individualists (the individualistic camp) explicitly or implicitly identify economy with market, their perception of an economic crisis is reduced to business crisis, crisis of the production of private goods. However, the concept of economy is broader than that of the market; thus, an economic crisis cannot be reduced to a business crisis. In addition, the theory of economic crisis could be enriched by the concept of anti-economy, which does not fit the individualistic economic paradigm. Therefore, a correction of the theory of economic crisis is needed, and this correction should be done in a holistic cognitive framework. Holism opens the possibility (which doesn't automatically guarantee cognitive success) to look at the economic crisis through a wider lens, to perceive it as a whole. The shift from individualistic reductionism to holism allows us to see a correlation between cognitive crisis and crisis in real economy, and to introduce the concept of systemic crisis.


The Carpathian-Pannonian region is made up of the wide extensional Pannonian Basin surrounded by the Carpathian mountain belt. The Pannonian Basin formed in the Miocene by extension in a retro-wedge position while thrusting was still active at the Carpathian front. The Ukrainian region is an ideal area to reconstruct the relationship between the Pannonian Basin and the Carpathians, due to the relatively simple structural setting and to the progressive but neat transition between the two domains. This study uses low-temperature thermochronometry and vitrinite reflectance analysis to investigate the effect of the opening of the Pannonian Basin on the thermal and burial-exhumation histories of the Ukrainian Carpathians. The results show heating and burial maxima in the central units of the wedge (up to ~170 °C and 6 km, respectively), tapering out toward both the innermost and the outermost thrust sheets. Cooling and exhumation occurred by means of a first rapid stage between ca. 12 and 5 Ma (exhumation rates of up to ~1 mm/yr), followed by a slower stage from ca. 5 Ma to the present (exhumation rates within 0.5 mm/yr). Timing and spatial pattern of exhumation are compatible with post-thrusting erosion enhanced by isostatic uplift. The extent of exhumation progressively decreases toward the Pannonian Basin, characterized by a thinned crust. No further significant influence of the Pannonian Basin opening on the thermal and burial history of the Ukrainian Carpathians may be inferred based on our results, whereas the comparison of the tectonothermal evolution of the two domains suggests that they are both controlled by the same lithospheric processes.


In this article, I argue that political ecology has neglected examining the "hidden abodes" of industrial factory production. I suggest a visit to such sites can expand and deepen what counts as both ecology and politics in the field. Ecologically speaking, the industrial secondary sector is not only at the center of the overall "metabolism" between society and nature but also is central in producing many large-scale ecological problems like climate change. Politically, although much of political ecology focuses on marginalization, dispossession, and what I call "following the politics" (i.e., protest and resistance movements), industrial environments often entail uncontested power over massive flows of raw materials, energy, and waste. I suggest that political ecology analysis can use chains of explanation to make these industrial ecologies political. To illustrate the argument, I focus on a large industrial nitrogen fertilizer facility in southern Louisiana. In the empirical sections of this article, I examine its control over the highly politicized chemical compounds of natural gas (CH4), ammonia (NH3), and carbon dioxide (CO2). Although the industrial facility largely benefits from its access to and control over these substances, the politics of them is directed elsewhere along the commodity chain to naturalized areas more familiar to political ecologists (e.g., sites of natural gas extraction or agricultural application). I conclude by suggesting that making this kind of analysis political requires that we disseminate our analysis and critiques to broader publics.


Low interest rates are becoming a threat to the stability of the life insurance industry, especially in countries such as Germany, where products with relatively high guaranteed returns sold in the past still represent a prominent share of the total portfolio. This contribution aims to assess and quantify the effects of the current low interest rate phase on the balance sheet of a representative German life insurer, given the current asset allocation and the outstanding liabilities. To do this, we generate a stochastic term structure of interest rates as well as stock market returns to simulate investment returns of a stylised life insurance business portfolio in a multi-period setting. On the basis of empirically calibrated parameters, we can observe the evolution of the life insurers' balance sheet over time with a special focus on their solvency situation. To account for different scenarios and in order to check the robustness of our findings, we calibrate different capital market settings and different initial situations of capital endowment. Our results suggest that a prolonged period of low interest rates would markedly affect the solvency situation of life insurers, leading to a relatively high cumulative probability of default, especially for less capitalised companies. In addition, the new reform of the German life insurance regulation has a beneficial effect on the cumulative probability of default, as a direct consequence of the reduction of payouts to policyholders.


Turning 5 is a major milestone, whether one is talking about a child, a wedding anniversary, or a piece of legislation. As the Sarbanes-Oxley Act approaches age 5, it's appropriate to look back at how the Act has affected American businesses and also to look forward to assess future trends. After all, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act had the biggest impact on American business of any federal securities legislation since the New Deal. Understanding how Sarbanes-Oxley works and the demands it makes on corporations is especially critical for directors and managers of smaller public corporations. Until recently, the smallest public corporations have been partially insulated from the full costs of complying with the Act by Securities and Exchange Commission (Commission or SEC) rules deferring full application of SOX to such firms. The SEC has announced, however, that this limited regulatory relief will be coming to an end within the next two years. Accordingly, it appears that all public corporations will be required to fully comply Sarbanes-Oxley by 2008 at the latest. Managers and directors of small public corporations thus now face the same questions SOX has long posed for the largest companies: How do they comply with SOX? How does SOX affect relations within the firm? Should the company go private (a.k.a. "going dark") so as to avoid the need to comply with SOX. A practical guide to SOX basics thus could not be more timely. This is not a book for lawyers or accountants. I don't want you to get bogged down in legal or accounting technicalities. Rather, it is a non-technical, "plain English" guide for the managers and directors of the 13,000 or so thousand publicly held corporations subject to Sarbanes-Oxley, as well as the managers and directors of the thousands of large closely held corporations considering raising capital via an IPO, which would subject them to SOX, or otherwise facing market pressures to at least partially comply with SOX. The downloadable paper includes the Table of Comments and Chapter 1 of The Complete Guide to Sarbanes-Oxley.


REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY
To investigate upper respiratory tract function in horses, previously undergoing laryngoplasty (LP), using exercising video-endoscopy.

OBJECTIVES
To evaluate arytenoid abduction and stability, diagnose any concurrent upper airway problems, and correlate these with the owners' perception of success.

METHODS
Horses undergoing LP during a 6-year period at one hospital were initially included. Those available for re-examination were exercised for a duration and intensity considered maximal for their discipline using an over-ground endoscope. Resting and exercising laryngeal and pharyngeal videos were analysed blindly. Multivariable analysis was used to test associations between resting and exercising endoscopic variables, and also between endoscopic variables and owner questionnaire findings.

RESULTS
Forty-one horses were included and 78% had a form of upper airway collapse at exercise, with 41% having complex forms, despite 93% of owners reporting the surgery to have been beneficial. Horses with poor abduction (grades 4 or 5/5) were 6 times more likely to make respiratory noise compared with those with good (grades 2 or 3/5) abduction (P = 0.020; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.3-27.0), and those not having a ventriculectomy were 4.9 times more likely to produce respiratory noise post operatively (P = 0.048; 95% CI 1.0-23.9). Palatal dysfunction was observed in 24% of horses at rest, and 56% at exercise, with the diagnosis at rest and exercise significantly associated (P = 0.001). Increasing severity of pharyngeal lymphoid hyperplasia (prevalence 61%) was significantly associated with increasing arytenoid abduction (P = 0.01). Thirty-four per cent of horses had aryepiglottic fold collapse and 22% of horses had vocal fold collapse.

CONCLUSIONS
Many horses that had previously had LP were diagnosed with upper airway abnormalities, despite the procedure being considered as beneficial by most owners.

POTENTIAL RELEVANCE
When investigating cases of ongoing respiratory noise or poor performance following LP, exercising endoscopy must be considered. Continued respiratory noise may be associated with poor arytenoid abduction and not performing concurrent ventriculectomy.


Sepsis, a heterogeneous syndrome, is usually associated with uncontrolled body response to a systemic infection leading to dysregulated pro- and anti-inflammatory cascades.1 This, subsequently, leads to immune suppression, tissue damage, and organ failure. With time, the natural body compensation is lost and a state of shock, characterized by profound hypotension and abnormal cellular metabolism, ensues. Sepsis and septic shock are thus considered major challenges in critical care management due to the high rates of complications, including morbidity and mortality. Successful management of sepsis/septic shock necessitates implementation of urgent treatment measures targeting the underlying infection, as well as improving patient's hemodynamics.2 Treatment measures include administration of antimicrobials, vasoactive drugs, sedatives, analgesics, along with others with the aim of achieving effective, yet safe concentrations of different administered medications at the targeted site of action.3 However, this aim of efficient medication dosing attainment can be challenging in critically ill septic patients. The host response to sepsis is usually associated with tremendous changes of different physiological processes.3,4 Different studies have shown that such pathophysiological alterations were linked to dysregulations in both pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) properties of different administered medications and thus result in complicated drug dosing.3,4 Pharmacokinetics of a given therapy is usually linked to the administered dose and the corresponded changes of concentrations inside the body with time, whereas pharmacodynamics describes the resultant relation between the obtained drug concentration and its pharmacological effect. In-vivo efficacy of an administered medication is largely driven by its intrinsic PK and PD properties. Variations in PK/PD are not always universal or easily predictable, and different aspects can affect the overall discrepancies. Those aspects include disease, patient and drug related factors.5 For instance, the alterations of PK/PD properties seen with sepsis can be different from those seen with septic shock. A similar thing applies to the drug properties where the therapeutic concentrations of a lipophilic medication might be less prone to changes as compared to a hydrophilic therapy. Likewise, the co-existence of different conditions that influence overall medications' pharmacokinetics can complicate proper prediction of therapeutic concentrations. This is frequently encountered in critically ill patients presenting with sepsis/septic shock and requiring the use of renal replacement therapy (RRT), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), plasmapheresis, or even all in certain individuals. A deep understanding of various pathophysiologic changes seen in critically ill patients and their effects on the overall drug PK/PD is thus essential. This ensures that personalized dosing regimens are tailored to each patient to achieve an optimized therapy rather than using a "one size fits all" model of drug dosing. The implementation of personalized tailored therapy based on patient specific parameters, along with the utilization of therapeutic drug monitoring can successively give rise not only to improved clinical efficacy but also to decreased toxicity and antimicrobial resistance. Subsequently this would result in improved patient outcomes and survival.


Purpose Although post-void residual urine (PVR) is frequently utilized clinically in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), mainly because of its procedural simplicity, its role as a clinical prognostic factor, predictive of treatment goals, is still under much dispute. We investigated the predictive value of PVR for BPH-related clinical events including surgery, acute urinary retention (AUR), and admission following urinary tract infection (UTI). Methods From January to June of 2006, patients over 50 years of age who were diagnosed with BPH for the first time at the outpatient clinic and were then treated for at least 3 years with medications were enrolled in this study. The variables of patients who underwent surgical intervention for BPH, had occurrences of AUR, or required admission due to UTI (Group 1, n=43) were compared with those of patients who were maintained with medications only (Group 2, n=266). Results Group 1 had a significantly higher PVR, more severe symptoms, and a larger prostate at the time of the initial diagnosis in both the univariate and the multivariate analysis. In the 39 patients who underwent BPH-related surgery, although there was a significant change in Qmax at the time of surgery (mean, 13.1 months), PVR and the symptom score remained unchanged compared with the initial evaluation. In the receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis, the area under the curve of Group 1 was in the order of prostate volume (0.834), PVR (0.712), and symptom score (0.621). When redivided by arbitrarily selected PVR cutoffs of 50 mL, 100 mL, and 150 mL, the relative risk of clinical BPH progression was measured as 3.93, 2.61, and 2.11. Conclusions These data indicate that, in the symptomatic Korean population, increased PVR at baseline is a significant indicator of BPH-related clinical events along with increased symptom score or prostate volume.


A Wavelet Tree (WT) is a compact data structure which is used in order to perform various well defined operations directly on the compressed form of a file. Many algorithms that are based on WTs consider balanced binary trees as their shape. However, when non uniform repetitions occur in the underlying data, it may be better to use a Huffman structure, rather than a balanced tree, improving both storage and average processing time. We study distinct range queries and several related problems that may benefit from this change and present theoretical and empirical improvements in time and space complexities.


Population low-coverage whole-genome sequencing is rapidly emerging as a prominent approach for discovering genomic variation and genotyping a cohort. This approach combines substantially lower cost than full-coverage sequencing with whole-genome discovery of low-allele-frequency variants, to an extent that is not possible with array genotyping or exome sequencing. However, a challenging computational problem arises when attempting to discover variants and genotype the entire cohort. Variant discovery and genotyping are relatively straightforward on a single individual that has been sequenced at high coverage, because the inference decomposes into the independent genotyping of each genomic position for which a sufficient number of confidently mapped reads are available. However, in cases where low-coverage population data are given, the joint inference requires leveraging the complex linkage disequilibrium patterns in the cohort to compensate for sparse and missing data in each individual. The potentially massive computation time for such inference, as well as the missing data that confound low-frequency allele discovery, need to be overcome for this approach to become practical. Here, we present Reveel, a novel method for single nucleotide variant calling and genotyping of large cohorts that have been sequenced at low coverage. Reveel introduces a novel technique for leveraging linkage disequilibrium that deviates from previous Markov-based models. We evaluate Reveel's performance through extensive simulations as well as real data from the 1000 Genomes Project, and show that it achieves higher accuracy in low-frequency allele discovery and substantially lower computation cost than previous state-of-the-art methods.


Coeliac disease is precipitated in susceptible subjects by ingestion of wheat gluten or gluten related prolamins from some other cereals. The disease is strongly associated with certain HLA-DQ heterodimers, for example, DQ2 (DQ alpha 1*0501, beta 1*0201) in most patients and apparently DQ8 (DQ alpha 1*0301, beta 1*0302) in a small subset. Gluten specific T cell clones (TCC) from coeliac intestinal lesions were recently established and found to be mainly restricted by HLA-DQ2 or HLA-DQ8. Antigen induced production of cytokines was studied in 15 TCC from three patients, 10 being DQ2 and five DQ8 restricted. Cell culture supernatants were prepared by stimulation with gluten peptides in the presence of DQ2+ or DQ8+ Epstein-Barr virus transformed B cells as antigen presenting cells (APC). Supernatants were analysed for cytokines by bioassays, ELISA, and CELISA. Cellular cytokine mRNA was analysed semi-quantitatively by slot blotting and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). All TCC were found to secrete interferon (IFN) gamma, often at high concentrations (> 2000 U/ml); some secreted in addition interleukin (IL) 4, IL 5, IL 6, IL 10, tumour necrosis factor (TNF), and transforming growth factor (TGF) beta. The last TCC thus displayed a Th0-like cytokine pattern. However, other TCC produced IFN gamma and TNF but no IL 4, or IL 5, compatible with a Th1-like pattern. In conclusion, most DQ8 restricted TCC seemed to fit with a Th0 profile whereas the DQ2 restricted TCC secreted cytokines more compatible with a Th1 pattern. The TCC supernatants induced upregulation of HLA-DR and secretory component (poly-Ig receptor) in the colonic adenocarcinoma cell line HT-29.E10, most probably reflecting mainly the high IFN gamma concentrations. This cytokine, particularly in combination with TNF alpha, might be involved in several pathological features of the coeliac lesion. The characterised cytokine profiles thus support the notion that mucosal T cells activated in situ by gluten in a DQ restricted fashion play a central part in the pathogenesis of coeliac disease.


The current financial crisis has prompted a widespread critique of existing conventional economics and deep dissatisfaction with varying aspects regarding the economics profession including teaching techniques. Of course, these criticisms are not new (see Colander and Klamer, 1987; Krueger et al., 1991; Colander, 1998). A reform of teaching practices within economics needs to be pre-requisited on intellectual diversity and a curriculum that is characterised by both plurality and reflexive, critical skills. As an orientation, pluralism is essential for becoming a critical and reflexive thinker. This paper argues that although plurality can be perceived as a first step in achieving pluralism in economics, economists – both mainstream and heterodox – need to go beyond a plurality of perspectives in order to concentrate on developing critical and reflexive skills amongst their students.


We consider two-dimensional chiral, first-order conformal field theories governing maps from the Riemann sphere to the projective light cone inside Minkowski space – the natural setting for describing conformal field theories in two fewer dimensions. These theories have a SL(2) algebra of local bosonic constraints which can be supplemented by additional fermionic constraints depending on the matter content of the theory. By computing the BRST charge associated with gauge fixing these constraints, we find anomalies which vanish for specific target space dimensions. These critical dimensions coincide precisely with those for which (biadjoint) cubic scalar theory, gauge theory and gravity are classically conformally invariant. Furthermore, the BRST cohomology of each theory contains vertex operators for the full conformal multiplets of single field insertions in each of these space-time CFTs. We give a prescription for the computation of three-point functions, and compare our formalism with the scattering equations approach to on-shell amplitudes.


In this work a new procedure is presented for the simultaneous stabilization of linear time invariant SISO plants; evolutionary strategies and substitutions by polynomials and rational functions are used. The algorithm presented requires minimal computational resources for its execution. In addition, it is possible to work with some types of plants that could not be simultaneously stabilized until now, and there are many more of these than is described in the literature. The restrictions are minimal and the method can be extended with little difficulty to MIMO plants. Moreover, a mechanism of substitutions by polynomials and rational function is presented, and this mechanism preserves simultaneously stabilizable plants and their controllers. Several examples are given, showing the advantages of these procedures.


Direct compression of femtosecond optical pulses from a Ti:sapphire laser oscillator was realized with a cholesteric liquid crystal acting as a nonlinear 1D periodic Bragg grating. With a 6 μm thick sample, the pulse duration could be compressed from 100 to 48 fs. Coupled-mode equations for forward and backward waves were employed to simulate the dynamics therein, and good agreement between theory and experiment was obtained.


This study is based on the records of gestation and lactation periods of 17 bat species (Rousettus aegyptiacus, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, R. hipposideros, R. euryale, R. blasii, Myotis myotis, M. blythii, M. emarginatus, M. nattereri, M. mystacinus, M. capaccinii, Eptesicus serotinus, Pipistrellus pipistrellus, P. kuhlii, P. savii, Plecotus auritus, and Miniopterus schreibersii) caught from various localities in Turkey and of the development stages of embryos belonging to Myotis species. It was determined that the gestation period of some insectivorous bat species was generally May and June and following this period the lactation period was June and July in Turkey. In the fruit bat, Rousettus aegyptiacus, the gestation and lactation periods were May, July, August and September.


A price reversal pattern of ARV drugs was noted across lower and middle income countries in that the lower-income countries have higher prices relative to higher-income countries based on a 2008-2009 Summary Report by World Health Organization. The transaction costs affecting AVR drug pricing can be broadly classified into two kinds: One between the final users and the opinion/knowledge experts, and the other between the opinion/knowledge experts and the manufacturers. Economist's version of price discrimination needs to be modified by including transaction costs. Transaction costs also point to institution creditability factors that will affect NGO procurement.


This thesis examines the court proceeding that followed the infamous gunfight at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Arizona on October 26, 1881, and its likely outcome if prosecuted under modern jurisprudence. During a month-long proceeding, Wyatt, Virgil, and Morgan Earp, along with Wyatt's close friend John Henry "Doc" Holliday, stood accused of murder in the deaths of William "Billy" Clanton, Frank McLaury, and Tom McLaury. Justice of the Peace Wells Spicer, applying the laws of the Territory of Arizona, determined after an evidentiary proceeding that there was no cause to believe the Defendants guilty, stating unequivocally that the killing of Clanton and the McLaurys had been "fully justified." An analysis of the evidence, modern jurisprudence, and the influence of cultural and political factors on the original decision leads to the conclusion that the outcome might be different today.


Written for the beginning student as well as the experienced scholar, this introductory analysis of the origin and early development or the English common law provides and excellent grounding for the early study of legal history. Between 1154, when Henry II became king, and 1307, when Edward I died, the common law underwent spectacular growth. The author begins with a discussion of the relationship between the early rules of common law and the social order they serve during this period and concludes with an extended commentary on the durability and continued growth of the common law in modern times.


The aim of this article is to provide an account of the history of death duties and gift duty in New Zealand. This is worth doing for two main reasons. First, the story of these taxes' rise and demise constitutes a significant aspect of the country's fiscal and political history. It might even be said that the story of New Zealand's death duties is essentially the same story as the country's political history, but cut at a novel angle. More particularly, whilst there currently seems to be very little enthusiasm for the reintroduction of death duties in New Zealand (except, perhaps, as a necessary accompaniment to a capital gains tax), these taxes for many years enjoyed broad political support. Indeed, it was widely regarded as obvious that a significant part – perhaps as much as 50 percent or so – of every large estate ought to go to the state. There seems, then, to have been a profound change in popular attitudes.Secondly, the reform of the tax system is a process which, it seems safe to assume, will never be completed; even the system's basic structure seems perennially up for debate. It seems obvious that the process of tax reform might benefit from an awareness of what has gone before; yet the literature on the history of New Zealand's tax system remains incomplete. One of the aims of the article, therefore, is to make a contribution to the filling of one of the larger gaps in it. More particularly, there has been much discussion recently of the possibility that New Zealand should, like most of the rest of the developed world, introduce a tax on capital gains. If such a tax were to be introduced, it would be necessary, according to the view prevailing in most of the rest of the developed world, to support it with some form of death tax (or, at least, to structure the capital gains tax so as not to exempt inherited capital gains). But this aspect of the question seems to have received relatively little attention. If, however, there is to be a capital gains tax, and if it is to be accompanied by the reintroduction of a death tax, it might be useful to take into account the history of this form of taxation, as practised in this country.


Traditional methods of scholarly publishing and communication are ineffective in meeting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has demonstrated that, in times of need, the global research community can activate and pool its knowledge and resources to collaborate on solving problems. The use of innovative Web-based technologies, including open source software, data-sharing archives, open collaboration methods, and the liberation of thousands of relevant research articles from proprietary sources show us that the fundamental components of a fully open system are readily available, technologically efficient and cost-effective. If we are to achieve the SDGs by 2030, systematic reform and explicit adoption of open scholarship strategies at scale is necessary. We propose that the United Nations and parallel entities take a position of leadership by creating or funding an organisation or federated alliance of organisations to implement these reforms.


−− Rh, Ni and Rh-Ni catalysts were prepared by wet impregnation of La2O3. The Rh content was modified but the Ni loading was kept constant at 2 wt%. The solids were calcined at 823 K in air flow and were reduced at 973 K in flowing hydrogen. The activity, stability, and residue formation during the CO2 reforming of CH4, of all the catalysts were tested in a fixed-bed reactor. Those with low carbon deposition were used in a Pd-Ag membrane reactor. The Rh solids showed the highest activity at 823 K. In order to understand the Rh effect, the catalysts were characterized through XRD and TPR. No evidence of crystalline Ni phase through XRD was observed in either the calcined or used catalysts. On the other hand, both the TPR and XPS results suggest a significant metal-support interaction. The bimetallic solids presented higher carbon deposition. The carbonaceous species formed on stream were characterized through thermal analysis. At least two types of carbons were detected on the catalyst surface with different structural properties which did not affect the catalytic activity. A low carbon deposition was observed on Rh/La2O3 which exhibited a stable activity after 100 h on stream. The monometallic Rh solids were tested in the membrane reactor, varying the pressure drop across the Pd-Ag alloy. A significant increase in reactant conversions was obtained when the membrane reactor was used. Keywords−− Hydrogen, CO2 reforming, Ni-Rh Catalysts, Membrane reactor.


The multiagent systems have proved to be a useful tool in the design of solutions to problems of distributed nature. In a distributed system, it is possible that the data, the control actions or even both, be distributed. The concept of agent is a suitable notion for capturing situations where the global knowledge about the status of a system is complex or even impossible to acquire in a single entity. In automotive applications, there exist a great number of scenarios of distributed nature, such as the traffic coordination, routes load balancing problems, traffic negotiation among the infrastructure and cars, to men ‐ tion a few. Even more, the autonomous driving features of the new generation of cars will require the new methods of car to car communication, car to infrastructure negotia‐ tion, and even infrastructure to infrastructure communication. This chapter proposes the application of multiagent system techniques to some problems in the automotive field.


Models with a fixed structure are widely used in hydrological studies and operational applications. For various reasons, these models do not always perform well. As an alternative, flexible modelling approaches allow the identification and refinement of the model structure as part of the modelling process. In this study, twelve different conceptual model structures from the SUPERFLEX framework are compared with the fixed model structure GR4H, using a large set of 237 French catchments and discharge-based performance metrics. The results show that, in general, the flexible approach performs better than the fixed approach. However, the flexible approach has a higher chance of inconsistent results when calibrated on two different periods. When analysing the subset of 116 catchments where the two approaches produce consistent performance over multiple time periods, their average performance relative to each other is almost equivalent. From the point of view of developing a well-performing fixed model structure, the findings favour models with parallel reservoirs and a power function to describe the reservoir outflow. In general, conceptual hydrological models perform better on larger and/or wetter catchments than on smaller and/or drier catchments. The model structures performed poorly when there were large climatic differences between the calibration and validation periods, in catchments with flashy flows, and in catchments with unexplained variations in low flow measurements.


Traditionally, discussions of prosecutorial discretion focus on charging and plea bargaining decisions. But on occasions when new evidence casts doubt on a convicted defendant's guilt, questions of prosecutorial discretion take on comparatively greater importance. When there is an inadequate factual basis for criminal charges, a criminal trial will often (though not invariably) act as a corrective. In contrast, the legal process holds out little hope for wrongfully convicted defendants, especially in the absence of help from prosecutors. Commentators have written about psychological reasons why prosecutors might be unduly skeptical of post-conviction challenges, have identified institutional impediments to a fair response, and have proposed structural reform. But comparatively little attention has been given to the fundamental question of what we affirmatively expect prosecutors to do when new evidence comes their way suggesting that a convicted person may be innocent. This article explores that question. It maintains that even when not required to do so by a professional conduct rule, in exercising its discretion after obtaining a conviction, a prosecutor's office should investigate significant new evidence that suggests that the convicted defendant was innocent. When the office then concludes that the defendant was probably innocent, it should take measures, whether by supporting an application for judicial relief or by supporting a pardon application, to correct the apparent mistake. This article also explores questions regarding what investigative steps must be taken and by whom, drawing on examples of current practices both in the United States and abroad.


We believe that nonlinear fuzzy filtering techniques may be turned out to give better robustness performance than the existing linear methods of estimation (H/sup 2/ and H/sup /spl infin// filtering techniques), because of the fact that not only linear parameters (consequents), but also the nonlinear parameters (membership functions) attempt to identify the uncertain behavior of the unknown system. However, the fuzzy identification methods must be robust to data uncertainties and modeling errors to ensure that the fuzzy approximation of unknown system's behavior is optimal in some sense. This study presents a deterministic approach to the robust design of fuzzy models in the presence of unknown but finite uncertainties in the identification data. We consider online identification of an interpretable fuzzy model, based on the robust solution of a regularized least-squares fuzzy parameters estimation problem. The aim is to resolve the difficulties associated with the robust fuzzy identification method due to lack of a priori knowledge about upper bounds on the data uncertainties. The study derives an optimal level of regularization that should be provided to ensure the robustness of fuzzy identification strategy by achieving an upper bound on the value of energy gain from data uncertainties and modeling errors to the estimation errors. A time-domain feedback analysis of the proposed identification approach is carried out with emphasis on stability, robustness, and steady-state issues. The simulation studies are provided to show the superiority of the proposed fuzzy estimation over the classical estimation methods.


This bookpresents the current state of the art in computationalmodels for turbulent reacting flows, and analyzes carefully the strengths and weaknesses of the various techniques described. The focus is on formulation of practical models as opposed to numerical issues arising from their solution. A theoretical framework based on the one-point, one-time joint probability density function (PDF) is developed. It is shown that all commonly employed models for turbulent reacting flows can be formulated in terms of the joint PDF of the chemical species and enthalpy. Models based on direct closures for the chemical source term as well as transported PDF methods, are covered in detail. An introduction to the theory of turbulence and turbulent scalar transport is provided for completeness. The book is aimed at chemical, mechanical, and aerospace engineers in academia and industry, as well as developers of computational fluid dynamics codes for reacting flows.


In open-domain dialogue intelligent agents should exhibit the use of knowledge, however there are few convincing demonstrations of this to date. The most popular sequence to sequence models typically "generate and hope" generic utterances that can be memorized in the weights of the model when mapping from input utterance(s) to output, rather than employing recalled knowledge as context. Use of knowledge has so far proved difficult, in part because of the lack of a supervised learning benchmark task which exhibits knowledgeable open dialogue with clear grounding. To that end we collect and release a large dataset with conversations directly grounded with knowledge retrieved from Wikipedia. We then design architectures capable of retrieving knowledge, reading and conditioning on it, and finally generating natural responses. Our best performing dialogue models are able to conduct knowledgeable discussions on open-domain topics as evaluated by automatic metrics and human evaluations, while our new benchmark allows for measuring further improvements in this important research direction.


We study the problem of supervised linear dimensionality reduction, taking an information-theoretic viewpoint. The linear projection matrix is designed by maximizing the mutual information between the projected signal and the class label. By harnessing a recent theoretical result on the gradient of mutual information, the above optimization problem can be solved directly using gradient descent, without requiring simplification of the objective function. Theoretical analysis and empirical comparison are made between the proposed method and two closely related methods, and comparisons are also made with a method in which Renyi entropy is used to define the mutual information (in this case the gradient may be computed simply, under a special parameter setting). Relative to these alternative approaches, the proposed method achieves promising results on real datasets.


Irrational numbers can be assigned to physical entities based on iterative processes of geometric objects. It is likely that iterative round trips of vector signals include a geometric phase component. If so, this component will couple back to the round trip frequency or path length generating an non-linear feedback loop (i.e. induced by precession). In this paper such a quantum feedback mechanism is defined including generalized fine structure constants in accordance with the fundamental gravitomagnetic relation of spin-orbit coupling. Supported by measurements, the general relativistic and topological background allows to propose, that the deviation of the fine structure constant from 1/137 could be assigned to Berry's phase. The interpretation is straightforward: spacetime curvature effects can be greatly amplified by non-linear phase-locked feedback-loops adjusted to single-valued phase relationships in the quantum regime.


Simple Summary Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) is the standard treatment for early-stage triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Achieving pathological complete response (pCR) is considered an essential prognostic factor with favorable long-term outcomes. The administration of NACT regimens with platinum salts is associated with a higher pCR rate. However, with unclear treatment guidelines and at the expense of a higher incidence of adverse events. Identifying patients and circumstances in which the benefits of platinum NACT outweigh inconveniences is still an ongoing challenge. Considering early clinical response (ECR) after the initial standard NACT cycles together with other suitable predictors could be useful to decide about the administration of platinum salts in clinical practice. The results of this large single institutional retrospective study of consecutive patients showed the significant role of adding platinum salts in older patients with high-proliferative early responded tumors and persisted lymph nodes involvement regardless of BRCA1/2 status. Abstract Pathological complete response (pCR) achievement is undoubtedly the essential goal of neoadjuvant therapy for breast cancer, directly affecting survival endpoints. This retrospective study of 237 triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients with a median follow-up of 36 months evaluated the role of adding platinum salts into standard neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). After the initial four standard NACT cycles, early clinical response (ECR) was assessed and used to identify tumors and patients generally sensitive to NACT. BRCA1/2 mutation, smaller unifocal tumors, and Ki-67 ≥ 65% were independent predictors of ECR. The total pCR rate was 41%, the achievement of pCR was strongly associated with ECR (OR = 15.1, p < 0.001). According to multivariable analysis, the significant benefit of platinum NACT was observed in early responders ≥45 years, Ki-67 ≥ 65% and persisted lymph node involvement regardless of BRCA1/2 status. Early responders with pCR had a longer time to death (HR = 0.28, p < 0.001) and relapse (HR = 0.26, p < 0.001). The pCR was achieved in only 7% of non-responders. However, platinum salts favored non-responders' survival outcomes without statistical significance. Toxicity was significantly often observed in patients with platinum NACT (p = 0.003) but not for grade 3/4 (p = 0.155). These results based on real-world evidence point to the usability of ECR in NACT management, especially focusing on the benefit of platinum salts.


Previous studies showed that guanxi is important for research in Chinese management and business activity. However, the concepts and nature of this practice in the context of China are not yet clear, because guanxi has various related meanings in Chinese society. In addition, only a limited number of researchers have studied this topic in the workplace. This study has the aims to describe and examine this construct in Chinese joint ventures. A model that links the construct of trust in a supervisor with subordinate–supervisor guanxi, together with antecedents of trust in an organization is proposed. The proposed model considers it as an antecedent of trust in a supervisor; procedural justice and job security as antecedents of trust in an organization. It further compares how trust in a supervisor and trust in an an organization affect the turnover-intention of workers. A data set consisting of 292 employees in joint ventures in Southern China was used to test the hypotheses. The results of LISREL (a widely available software package) supported the proposed model. Trust in an organization was found to have a stronger effect on employees' turnover intention than trust in a supervisor. The role of subordinate–supervisor guanxi at work in Chinese joint venture is examined and discussed. The findings of the present study provide practical implications for managing Chinese employees in joint ventures.


Previous studies found that caffeine consumers acquired a liking for the flavour of novel caffeinated drinks when these drinks were consumed repeatedly in a caffeine-deprived, but not nondeprived, state. Expression of this acquired liking appeared acutely sensitive to current caffeine deprivation state, but the use of between-subjects designs confounded interpretation of those studies. The present study evaluated these findings further using a within-subject design, with one flavour paired with caffeine (CS +) and the second with the absence of caffeine (CS–). During four CS + and four CS– training days, 32 moderate caffeine consumers alternatively consumed a novel flavoured drink a CS + paired with caffeine and a CS– flavour paired with placebo. Participants evaluated both drinks before and after training in two motivational states: caffeine deprived and nondeprived. As predicted, pleasantness ratings for the caffeine-paired flavour increased overall. However, this acquired liking was only significant when tested in a caffeine-deprived state. These data are consistent with a conditioned-flavour preference model and imply that expression of acquired liking for a novel caffeinated flavour depends on the need for the effects of caffeine at the time when the drink is evaluated.


This study compares the effectiveness and classroom appropriateness of two correction strategies (reformulation and self-correction) for EFL writing with a school group of 16 Spanish learners of English. The study examines the reduction of errors in students' drafts through a writing-correction-rewriting task which includes: (i) a reformulation session in which learners received feedback in the form of a reformulated text and (ii) a self-correction session in which learners received no feedback. In both sessions students worked in pairs and had to report and explain their proposed corrections. Results show that whereas reformulation outperformed self-correction as regards error detection, both strategies had a positive effect on error reduction of those errors which had been previously reported. Also, learners failed to report errors beyond sentence level with both strategies. As regards classroom appropriateness, neither reformulation nor self-correction seemed fully successful and some variations to adapt them to regular teaching praxis are suggested.


This study report on the sociological research carried out in the Swedish context, within the transnational research project "Forms of exclusion and integration - A sociological analysis of the relationship of religious value systems upon the formation of a European identity" (in Germany, France, Italy, Greece and Sweden). The analysis is specifically oriented towards the roles different religious and humanitarian organisations play in contemporary multicultural society.A multidimensional and qualitative approach was used to analyse third sector organisations in Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmo, Umea and Karlstad.E Among the organisations chosen some are considered as more "traditional", others as more "innovative". Some are quite old, others quite new. All organisations though were engaged in a more outward manner in social voluntary work. A total number of 74 respondents were interviewed.The study gives some contextual facts about Sweden and a brief overview of some demographic, socio-economic and political characteristics with relevance for the existence and development of the welfare state. The study report on organisational issues as decision processes, recruitment, action space, networks and values. The major issue is to describe organisational attitudes towards the concept "European Identity" and identify the range and characteristics the local network these social voluntary organisations (NGO's or NPO's) are part of. Per Echeverri has a PhD in business administration and is working as a researcher in services marketing and organisational communication. Along with this he carry out some third sector research. His academic work is linked to Karlstad University, Service Research Center. E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com


In recent development of deformable electronics, it has been noticed that thin metal films often rupture at small tensile strains. Here we report experiments with Cu films deposited on polymeric substrates and show that the rupture strains of the metal films are sensitive to their adhesion to the substrates. Well-bonded Cu films can sustain strains up to 10% without appreciable cracks and up to 30% with discontinuous microcracks. By contrast, poorly bonded Cu films form channel cracks at strains about 2%. The cracks form by a mixture of strain localization and intergranular fracture. The films rupture at large strains when the localization is retarded by the adherent substrates.


The first edition of this new multi-authored publication entitled 'Migration Panorama' focuses on the consequences of the refugee and migration crisis on the Schengen area and the concept of a borderless union. Several external and EPC authors have contributed to building a comprehensive picture on the manifold challenges and possible consequences of maintaining and/or returning to internal border controls among Schengen countries. How does a signatory of the Schengen agreement see the current developments? What would be the impact of the reintroduction of physical borders on Europe's digital economy? In what way do the V4 countries envisage to solve the 'Schengen crisis'? How dangerous are the empty threats to expel Greece out of the Schengen area? What is the symbolic meaning of the Belgian border controls following the French decision to dismantle parts of the Calais 'jungle'? Is saving Schengen only a question of national sovereignty or a matter of shared European responsibility? All these questions and many others are tackled in this first issue of the 'Migration Panorama' produced by EPC' s Migration and Diversity Programme.


BACKGROUND
Neurotoxicity has been reported in about 5% of children treated with ifosfamide for tumors not involving the central nervous system. The entity of ifosfamide neurotoxicity can be of different degree, from very light and transient to fatal.

CASE REPORTS
All cases of ifosfamide neurotoxicity recorded at the Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Unit in the 15-year period between 1989 and 2003 are reported. Five cases of neurotoxicity occurring during or immediately after ifosfamide infusion were recorded in children with both solid tumors or leukemia. The drug was administered in different chemotherapeutic associations and dosages. Concomitant clinical conditions possibly playing a role as risk factors were the administration of other neurotoxic drugs, the presence of cerebral metastasis, a subclinical lysis syndrome, and altered respiratory function. Symptoms were transient in all cases and consisted in all but one of partial or generalized seizures. In four cases the treatment was continued, substituting ifosfamide with cyclophosphamide.

CONCLUSIONS
Particularly in patients presenting risk factors, we advise paying attention to the risk of ifosfamide neurotoxicity and rapidly suspending the drug administration to avoid irreparable damage to the central nervous system. Thereafter the treatment can be reassessed. If ifosfamide is considered the best option for the given case, it could be safely readministered in association with methylene blue or thiamine. If encephalopathy reappears, substitution of ifosfamide with cyclophosphamide could offer the same opportunities of cure to the patient.