BACKGROUND
Current and comprehensive information on the epidemiology of DSM-IV 12-month and lifetime drug use disorders in the United States has not been available.

OBJECTIVES
To present detailed information on drug abuse and dependence prevalence, correlates, and comorbidity with other Axis I and II disorders.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS
Face-to-face interviews using the Alcohol Use Disorder and Associated Disabilities Interview Schedule of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism in a large representative sample of US adults (N=43093).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Twelve-month and lifetime prevalence of drug abuse and dependence and the associated correlates, treatment rates, disability, and comorbidity with other Axis I and II disorders.

RESULTS
Prevalences of 12-month and lifetime drug abuse (1.4% and 7.7%, respectively) exceeded rates of drug dependence (0.6% and 2.6%, respectively). Rates of abuse and dependence were generally greater among men, Native Americans, respondents aged 18 to 44 years, those of lower socioeconomic status, those residing in the West, and those who were never married or widowed, separated, or divorced (all P<.05). Associations of drug use disorders with other substance use disorders and antisocial personality disorder were diminished but remained strong when we controlled for psychiatric disorders. Dependence associations with most mood disorders and generalized anxiety disorder also remained significant. Lifetime treatment- or help-seeking behavior was uncommon (8.1%, abuse; 37.9%, dependence) and was not associated with sociodemographic characteristics but was associated with psychiatric comorbidity.

CONCLUSIONS
Most individuals with drug use disorders have never been treated, and treatment disparities exist among those at high risk, despite substantial disability and comorbidity. Comorbidity of drug use disorders with other substance use disorders and antisocial personality disorder, as well as dependence with mood disorders and generalized anxiety disorder, appears to be due in part to unique factors underlying each pair of these disorders studied. The persistence of low treatment rates despite the availability of effective treatments indicates the need for vigorous educational efforts for the public and professionals.


The practice of parent-initiated school choice in China is characterized by the involvement of substantial amounts of money, various forms of capital, the explicit government policy of banning the practice in words but accommodating it in deeds. This research investigates the school choice situation in three middle schools in Nanning, China. Drawing on Bourdieu's theory of the forms of capital and cultural and social reproduction and Brown's Positional Conflict Theory, this thesis argues that the use of cultural, social and economic capital is widespread in the school choice process. With more capital of various types available, middle class families are at a competitive advantage compared to their working class counterparts in the current struggle to gain a place in a good school. The resources of the former families enable their children to gain more cultural capital through extracurricular enrichment activities, exercise more social capital through existing guanxi1 networks and focus more economic capital with which to pay large sums for choice fees, all of which result in the greater chances of entering a desired school. The change of the school admission policy since the mid-1990s from universal entrance examination for junior middle schools to the present school place assignment by proximity has resulted in an unintentional shift from meritocracy to "parentocracy"2. School choice effectively closes out opportunities for quality education for working class families, because they lack the cultural, social and economic capital that is necessary to "work the system". As a result, school choice tends to insure the intergenerational transmission of existing social classes and to decrease the possibility of upward mobility for the next generation. 1 A network of contacts which an individual may draw upon to secure resources or advantage in the course of social life (see 4.1.2 for detail). 2 See Brown (1990).


The use of fluoride in the treatment of osteoporosis is complicated by concerns about the integrity of the newly formed bone, as well as the fact that not all patients respond to the drug. In an attempt to broaden insight into the varied skeletal response to fluoride exposure, we studied (clinical, dietary analysis, radiology, biochemistry and genetic markers) all 114 permanent inhabitants of an endemic fluorosis area. Unequivocal radiological evidence of osteofluorosis was present in 26% of subjects, while 48% had normal skeletal radiological results and 4% were found to be osteopenic. Twenty-two per cent were unclassifiable. Individuals with fluorosis were older and predominantly male. Although musculoskeletal symptoms occurred more frequently in patients with osteofluorosis, these subjects did not have an increased fracture prevalence and were, in fact, found to have a higher metacarpal as well as femoral cortical bone mass. In subjects with osteofluorosis, the average fluoride intake and residency in the area were similar to those of unaffected Kenhardt individuals, implying that there are causative factors other than fluoride exposure. Moreover, renal excretion of fluoride was comparable, as was the average energy, protein, mineral and alcohol intake. Mean serum calcium, phosphate, alkaline phosphatase, parathyroid hormone, calcitonin and 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were unremarkable and similar in subjects with and without osteofluorosis. However, a family tree analysis of the population revealed that 4 very closely related subjects had osteopenia, which suggests that a genetic predisposition may at least partially explain why the skeletal response to fluoride is not determined by fluoride exposure alone.


PURPOSE
Conventional calculation methods of patient release criteria for compliance with NRC regulations are based on the assumption that both patient and bystander are each a single point in space. This study was intended to assess the patient-specific external radiation exposure to a bystander interacting with the patient following radionuclide therapy with 131I.

METHODS
131I-sodium iodide treatment for hyperthyroidism and thyroid cancer and 131I-tositumomab treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were considered. 131I distribution provided by the patient SPECT image was rendered on the SPECT-fused CT images. The CT images were then imported to a Monte Carlo based simulation code, MCNPX 2.7, as a source phantom. For a target phantom, we employed the adult male hybrid phantom developed at the University of Florida and National Cancer Institute. A single orientation - patient and a bystander facing one another at 1.0 m - was considered. S factors (dose per unit cumulative activity (A)) for each organ in a bystander was obtained from the MC calculations and effective dose (EDE) per A was calculated based on tissue-weighted individual organ doses. The results were compared with the calculations using UF/NCI adult hybrid source/target phantoms and the revised adult ORNL stylized source/target phantoms.

RESULTS
EDE per A of the stylized phantom was 1.5% higher than that of the hybrid phantom for uniform source localization in the thyroid. However, EDE per A of the hybrid phantom was 20% less than that of stylized phantoms for a torso source. The difference is attributed to the realistic shape of the frontal body comparing to the simple ellipsoidal trunk of the stylized phantom.

CONCLUSIONS
Based on the realistic hybrid phantoms and accurate MC radiation transport calculation tools, patient specific dosimetry for a bystander is feasible. S factors will be calculated using the patient CT image with 131I bio-distributions and hybrid phantoms.


Abstract. In the sector of Geographic Information (GI) there is a gap between the education and training currently being offered by European universities and the knowledge and skills required by enterprises and public authorities. New forms of collaboration based on innovative methods are needed to cope with the challenges derived from the fast technological developments in the geospatial and ICT field. This paper presents the approach and the first findings of the EU Erasmus+ project giCASES – Creating a University-Enterprise Alliance for a Spatially Enabled Society (2016–2018) which addresses this challenge by introducing new methods for case-based and collaborative learning, and for the co-creation, management and sharing of knowledge between universities and enterprises. The aim of the project is to develop new training material and create innovative, multi-disciplinary learning processes based on real-world case studies (case-based learning). The paper focuses on the methodological approach developed during the first half of the project, and presents the 6 case studies where this approach will be tested during the second half. Despite the diversity of application domains (indoor mapping, environmental hazards, e-Government, utility networks, energy saving policies, and forestry), the case studies are all relevant to open source software and FOSS4G technologies will play a key role in their implementation, thus demonstrating their matureness and flexibility not only as GI teaching tools at the universities, but also as powerful means to develop innovative new services at the companies.


The salary survey was conducted from 16 to 23 September 2010 with the support of the Association for Learning Technology (ALT) by ALT member, Dr. Rich Ranker, at Lancaster University. The purpose of the survey was to determine: 1) The salary ranges of those who report themselves to be managers of learning technology organisations in HE and FE in the UK; and 2) The factors affecting the salary of LT Managers. The survey was initially constructed by the author but, upon consultation, modified, implemented in the web-based survey tool Survey Monkey, and distributed by ALT, with ALT's assurance that it would protect the identity of the participants. A copy of the request for participation was also distributed by the Heads of eLearning Forum (HeLF). The target population was managers of learning technology units in FE and HE institutions in the UK. The survey consisted of 12 questions and received a total of 75 responses.


This paper is the first part of a three series paper that provides a comprehensive review of the existing models of land development process. In each of the papers the characteristics of these models are presented and evaluated critically in relation to their clarity, applicability and theoretical underpinnings. This will bring together from various sources the principal approaches in the analysis of development activity and also provides a platform to discuss the key components and the implication of the process.
Most importantly the review provides some guidelines for the rejection and adoption of a particular methodology as a basis for undertaking research. In this first paper, it is suggested that the equilibrium models, which are based on the neo-classical parameters of demand and supply,
in terms of undertaking research are set-up at a level of abstraction. The problem is that it is difficult to substantiate precisely between the actual investigate events and the affecting structural forces. On the other hand, although the event-sequence models focus on the potential
blockages to develop activity, they lack the specification of actors and interests, and so provide little help in explaining why a development process takes the form that it does in a particular case.


Eukaryotes such as higher plants have evolved to produce a diverse range of low-molecular-weight compounds known as secondary metabolites or phytochemicals, that can be used as food and feed additives, flavours, fragrances, cosmetics, agrochemicals and pharmaceuticals. The chemical diversity of plants is more complex than any chemical library made by humans, and the plant kingdom therefore represents an enormous reservoir of valuable molecules just waiting to be discovered. There are approximately 298,000 species of higher plants, less than 10% of which have been chemically characterized to any extent. The majority of plant species are found in tropical rain forests. Extracts and infusions containing natural products from plants have historically been a major source of pharmaceutical ingredients, often comprising mixtures of several bioactive compounds with complex synergistic effects. The first secondary metabolite isolated from plants was morphine (over 200 years ago) and many other natural compounds have since become important pharmaceuticals in modern society. It is often difficult to find synthetic substitutes with the same efficacy and specificity as natural compounds. Consequently, molecules derived from plants make up a sizeable proportion of current high-value drugs, and also provide many new lead compounds for industrial applications. Many companies are undergoing a renaissance in their interest in plant-derived compounds, especially the pharmaceutical industry looking for new drugs, and the cosmetics industry which uses plant extracts, oils and even plant cell cultures in some products. The high structural diversity and complexity of secondary metabolites still pose technical challenges for a phytochemist since the chemical characteristics of the plant compounds vary to a very high degree, for example in the degree of polarity and solubility. Typically such compounds accumulate at low levels in plant tissues and production is strongly correlated to specific vegetative stages. Thus the process of finding, extracting, isolating and purifying these phytochemicals is time-consuming and can be a daunting and challenging task. Further many plants that produce high-value secondary metabolites are difficult to cultivate or are endangered because of over-harvesting and deforestation activities. However, the last decade has seen tremendous development in technology and the birth of new, innovative methods that are now accessible for use by the current generation of researchers. In some cases, what was impossible to do then has become almost routine now. Armed with these new advantages and strength, the continuous
exploration of plant biodiversity, using novel and innovative bioassays to evaluate natural compounds for their beneficial effects, is therefore of great scientific, medical and bioeconomic importance. In this inaugural lecture, some highlights of my journey and discoveries made, together with my colleagues and students that
I have worked with over the last 15 years of natural products research, will be presented. Our research endeavours which began with a mainly reductionist perpective, in accordance with the then popular drug discovery approaches used by big pharmas and academic laboratories all over the world, has now mellowed into a more holistic approach, utilizing 'omics' technologies. Sample size and loss of biological activity due to the reductionist approach of disturbing the inherent synergism of a plant metabolome, has always been a delimiting factor in phytochemistry studies. We believe that systems biology, in particular metabolomics/metabonomics, holds greater promise in our efforts to gain a deeper understanding of a plant metabolome's effects on a disease state or on other biological perturbations.


The present report presents, partly, the collected VTI research on the "functional properties" of pedestrian and bicycle roads, and partly a survey of what has been done in this field outside of VTI. The term "functional property" has been interpreted in a broad sense, and basically everything connected with bicycle roads and bicycle traffic is included in the VTI literature review, which is the major part of the report. The operating environment analysis is made on the basis of the discussions from a seminar held at VTI, December 12, 2005, and complemented with literature reviews. The possibilities to build an instrumented vehicle for measuring bicycle roads, and the relevant properties of an evenness index, were discussed at the seminar. In the literature review, the research of VTI has been divided into five parts: traffic safety, maintenance and operation, mode choice, measurement of cycle flow, and the umbrella part "others". The research concerning traffic safety dominates, both at VTI and elsewhere. One of the conclusions from the project is that VTI should try to get funding to develop a measuring vehicle for cycleway surfaces. There is also a need to develop the unreliable methods used today (elastic tube and induction coil) to count bicycle traffic.


Summary Goals: The goal of this project was to determine the impact of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and berry maturity on the color of Syrah rosé wines through fermentation and accelerated aging. This project also set out to determine the best method for measuring potential color of rosé wines by measuring anthocyanin bound to SO2. Key Findings: Acetaldehyde was found to be the most suitable reagent for reacting with SO2 bound to anthocyanin and releasing "potential color" of rosé wines. Color in rosé wines was affected by fruit maturity and decreased during fermentation. SO2 treatment had no impact on rosé color by the end of fermentation. During aging, absorbance at 520 nm increased over time and was affected by fruit maturity and SO2 treatment. Final absorbance at 520 nm after eight weeks of accelerated aging was accurately predicted by a reaction with acetaldehyde prior to aging. When analyzed with tristimulus color measurements, fruit maturity and SO2 content affected visual intensity of red and yellow hue over time. Impact and Significance: This study provides winemakers with tools to measure apparent and potential color in rosé wines. In both 22 and 24 Brix fruit, wines retained only 38 and 27%, respectively, of the initial color by the end of fermentation. The level of SO2 added to wine had no impact on postfermentation color, but levels of SO2 added prior to aging did impact long-term color. The potential for a rosé wine to darken over time was influenced by how much color the wine initially had, and SO2 concentrations had a larger impact on color development in wines with more color initially.


ABSTRACT

Objective: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common neurodevelopmental disorder in childhood, however few studies have investigated epileptic seizures and electroencephalographic abnormalities in children with ADHD. The aim of this study was to explore the occurrence of epileptiform discharges in children with ADHD.

Method: We enrolled children with ADHD who visited the neurology clinic of our hospital between January 2014 and June 2016, all of whom met the DSM-V criteria and underwent awake and sleep electroencephalography examinations. We excluded those with histories of intellectual disabilities, epilepsy, congenital anomalies and substance abuse. None of the patients had a history of seizures before the examination.

Results: A total of 121 patients were included (93 males, 28 females, mean age 6.9±2.5 years), of whom 28 (23.1%) had electroencephalographic abnormalities, including three (10.7%) with generalized epileptiform discharges and 25 (89.3%) with focal epileptiform discharges. The focal epileptiform discharges were most prevalent from the rolandic area (15/25), followed by the parietal area (5/25), frontal area (4/25) and occipital area (1/25). Fourteen (50%) of the 28 patients had abnormal electroencephalographic findings only during sleep recordings.

Conclusions: Electroencephalographic focal abnormalities were found in 23.1% of our patients, of which 50% appeared only during sleep recordings. We suggest that sleep and awake electroencephalography recordings should be part of the routine assessment of children with ADHD regardless of whether or not they have overt seizures or other neurological conditions. In patients who do not respond well to traditional ADHD drugs, treatment for paroxysmal electroencephalographic abnormalities may be considered.


Qigong (CHEE-GUNG) has swept America as the newest approach to healing and was on the rise in China until the recent Falun gong crackdowns. This 2,500-year-old form of traditional Chinese medicine claims that the human body has channels (meridians) through which flows a substance known as Qi. While internal Qigong is essentially a relaxation and meditation technique, external Qigong is an alleged form of energy radiation emitted from the fingertips of 'masters.' Practitioners of this form of Qigong claim that they can heal serious diseases such as hypertension, glaucoma, asthma, ulcers, and even cancer.This remarkable book, written by a group of Chinese scientists, discusses the nature and practice of Qigong and its various manifestations. They give special attention to the many pseudoscientific claims made for external Qigong and uncover a good deal of deception practised by charlatans in the name of medicine. Exposed are such alleged Qigong practices as: clairvoyance, telepathy, weightlessness, energy discharge, energy-impregnated language (Qigong prescriptions), and much more.


Increasingly disabled and elderly people with mobility problems want to live autonomously in their home environment. They are motivated to use robotic aids to perform tasks by themselves, avoiding permanent nurse or family assistant supervision. They must find means to rehabilitate their abilities to perform daily life activities (DLAs), such as eating, shaving, or drinking. These means may be provided by robotic aids that incorporate possibilities and methods to accomplish common tasks, aiding the user in recovery of partial or complete autonomy. Results are highly conditioned by the system's usability and potential. The developed portable assistive robot ASIBOT helps users perform most of these tasks in common living environments. Minimum adaptations are needed to provide the robot with mobility throughout the environment. The robot can autonomously climb from one surface to another, fixing itself to the best place to perform each task. When the robot is attached to its wheelchair, it can move along with it as a bundle. This paper presents the work performed with the ASIBOT in the area of rehabilitation robotics. First, a brief description of the ASIBOT system is given. A description of tests that have been performed with the robot and several impaired users is given. Insight into how these experiences have influenced our research efforts, especially, in home environments, is also included. A description of the test bed that has been developed to continue research on performing DLAs by the use of robotic aids, a kitchen environment, is given. Relevant conclusions are also included.


Background and aim: Different approaches can be followed for the early identifying and supporting of children with mentally ill parents. One is to get into contact with the children via the parents in the adult mental health care settings. To explore this strategy further, information on the prevalence of both mental disorders and the usage of mental health benefits in Tyrol are analysed. Method: Data on the prevalence of mental disorders in Tyrol are based on a review of published literature. For analysing the characteristics of mental health benefit uptake, administrative data from the Tyrolean health insurance (TGKK), which covers 80% of the Tyrolean population, are analysed using descriptive statistical analysis methods.
The administrative data cover benefits that are (co-)funded by the TGKK including: a) mental health services (hospital inpatient and day care, outpatient psychiatrist services, psychotherapy, inpatient rehabilitation, psychological services); b) medication and c) sick-leave due to a mental health problem. Results: Robust epidemiological data for Tyrol are lacking. Based on mental health service uptake in 2011 it was estimated that 3% of the Austrian population suffers from severe mental disorder which would roughly affect 22,500 persons in Tyrol. Overall, almost 86,000 TGKK-insured patients received at least one type of mental health benefit in 2017. This represents 14.5% of all insured. Five percent of patients were younger than 19 years, almost 60% were between 19 and 64 years old and the remainder was older than 64 years. Two third of recipients were females.
In patients who are potential parents of dependent children (age group 19-64 years old), the vast majority (80%) were prescribed medication and half of the patients received medication only. A quarter had contacted an outpatient psychiatrist and 13% received psychotherapy. Five percent were treated in psychiatric inpatient or day care. The most frequently occurring ICD-10 diagnoses were F1, F4 and F3. The median length of hospital stay was 15 days.
The overall number of benefit recipients has risen between 2012 and 2017; however the percentage of insured persons who received benefits remained almost stable. More persons had contact with outpatient psychiatrists, received psychotherapy or were on sick leave in 2017 compared to 2012, while those who received inpatient or day care decreased. The number of patients who were prescribed medication rose between 2012 and 1014 and has slightly decreased since then. Discussion: While we know little on the prevalence of mental disorders in Tyrol, benefit uptake data show that 15% of the insured population received some TGKK-funded mental health benefit. In terms of frequency, medication plays the most important role, while services are utilised less often. The fact that most patients were prescribed medication means that most parents may be reached via general practitioners (almost 90% of psychotropic drugs are prescribed by general practitioners). In contrast, only 5% may be reached on a psychiatric hospital ward. The latter are, however, the most severely ill who may have a greater need for support for themselves and their children.
Limitations of the study are that the data cover only a part of all mental health services available in Tyrol (e.g. information on hospital outpatient care or psychosocial services is lacking) and only 80% of the population. The analysis does not allow conclusions on the prevalence of mental disorders because many people with mental health problems do not seek professional support in mental health care. Administrative data have some limitations regarding the validity of the information on diagnoses. Conclusion: The proportion of mentally ill parents that one may be able to reach via adult mental health care differs considerably according to the setting chosen. Additionally, severity and type of illness differ by setting. Each setting involves different organisational challenges for implementing and evaluating support. Administrative data are a useful piece of information for assisting planning but cannot replace robust epidemiological data.


Many methods exist for attempting to quantify passenger satisfaction. Perceptions of satisfaction are typically considered qualitative in nature, which has led to the development of many different methods to represent most holistically the emotions in a quantitative manner. The objective of this analysis centers on attempting to reconcile the differences between the various passenger studies that have been conducted through a review of methodological approaches from such studies. There was a special focus placed upon the differences in results between the response-based Airline Passenger Survey and the Airline Quality Rating, which is compiled using data gathered from airline statistics. Finally, this research led to the identification of manners by which the reviewed studies and methods can be improved to produce more accurate and closely aligned results using an internal purpose-built survey and processing methodology. Airline Passenger Satisfaction Methodology 3


The treehopper subfamily Membracinae (Insecta: Hemiptera: Membracidae) comprises the majority of genera and species diversity in the New World tropics. These treehoppers exhibit a wide range of social behaviors, making them an excellent group for studying patterns of social evolution in insects. However, to date the tribal and generic relationships have remained unclear. We reconstructed the phylogeny of the Membracinae using a combined mitochondrial (COI, COII, tRNA-Leu, and 12S) and nuclear (Wg) gene data set. A total of 2608 aligned nucleotide sites were obtained for 112 species, representing 25 of 38 currently recognized genera and all four tribes. A strict consensus of five equally parsimonious trees recovered the subfamily and three of its four tribes. The majority rule consensus tree derived from the Bayesian analyses based on the GTR+I+G and mixed-models recovered many clades shared with the parsimony trees and is identical to the single best tree inferred from maximum likelihood analysis, aside from the rearrangement of one node. A comparison of mitochondrial and nuclear genes indicated that Wg provided higher consistency index (CI), data decisiveness (DD), partitioned Bremer support (PBS) than any of the mitochondrial genes analyzed. The combined mitochondrial and nuclear DNA provide strong support for the monophyly of the subfamily and three of its four tribes (Aconophorini, Hoplophorionini, and Hypsoprorini). Membracini is paraphyletic with respect to Hoplophorionini and contains two lineages, the Membracini sensu strictu and the newly resurrected tribe Bolbonotini. Our analyses show that there is a strong phylogenetic component to the evolution of maternal care. Given the widespread occurrence of maternal care within the subfamily, this trait is estimated to have < or = 3 origins, two reversals, and one loss. Our results suggest that the evolution of maternal care in insects may not be as evolutionarily labile as previously thought.


Different thin films samples made of SnO2, F:SnO2, Pd: SnO2 and and co-doped Pd-F: SnO2 were deposited at a substrate temperature of 450oC using optimized doping concentrations of F and Pd, thereafter the samples were annealed and passivated in a tube furnace at 450oC. Optical and electrical methods were used in characterizing the thin film samples: The band gap energy for all samples was extracted from optical data using a proprietary software, Scout™ 98. The calculated band gap energy were found to be 4.1135eV for Pd:SnO2 and 3.8014eV for F:SnO2 being the highest and the lowest calculated band gap energies, respectively. The wide band gap energy has been attributed to the incorporation of Pd ions in crystal lattice of SnO2 thin film for Pd:SnO2 while for F:SnO2 has been due to incorporation of F- ions in the crystal lattice of SnO2 which gives rise to donor levels in the SnO2 band gap. This causes the conduction band to lengthen resulting to a reduction in the band gap energy value. The electrical resistivity was done by measuring the sheet resistance of the SnO2, Pd:SnO2, F:SnO2 and Pd-F:SnO2 thin films. The undoped SnO2 thin film had the highest sheet resistivity of 0.5992 Ωcm while F:SnO2 had the lowest sheet resistivity of 0.0075 Ωcm. The low resistivity of F:SnO2 results from substitution incorporation of F- ions in the crystal lattice of SnO2 thin films, instead of O- ions which lead to an increase in free carrier concentration. The Pd-F:SnO2 gas sensor device was tested for CO2 gas sensing ability using a lab assembled gas sensing unit. The performance of the gas sensor device was observed that: the as prepared device was more sensitive to CO2 gas than those subjected to annealing and passivation. The decrease in the sensitivity of the annealed Pd-F: SnO2 gas sensor is attributed to decrease in grain boundary potential resulting from grain growth. This causes a decrement in adsorption properties of CO- and O- species by the annealed Pd-F: SnO2 thin film. The sensitivity of passivated Pd-F: SnO2 gas sensor was found to be the lowest. The low sensitivity is due to the effects of nitration and decrement in grain boundary potential resulting from grain growth, nevertheless, the sensitivity of the passivated Pd-F: SnO2 thin film was found to be within the range for gas sensing applications.


Learn how to create more challenging and dynamic games with AI and Artificial Life in Video Games. AI, or artificial intelligence, builds better games by directing behaviors inside the games that make them more difficult, while artificial life, or A-Life, adds unpredictability of play and a more lifelike environment to games. This book examines easy and inexpensive methods for implementing AI and A-Life in any video game to not only model behavior in the game but also create tools, generate code, and test the game during development. After introducing the basics of AI and A-Life to use as building blocks, the book delves into more advanced methods and examines possible future uses and techniques. Youll learn how AI can be built up in a game by layering behavioral models on static data to produce behavior that is both intelligent and unpredictable. Examples of several A-Life enhancements in games are presented, and youll investigate the potential pitfalls of using AI and how to troubleshoot, apply A-Life to your own games, test A-Life itself and test virtually using A-Life, implement AI and A-Life in a multiplayer environment, and more. Written for the current and next-generation game developer, AI and Artificial Life in Video Games is a great reference for both game programmers and game designers.


Topology optimization is presently used in most diverse scientific, technologic and industrial areas, including biomechanics. Bone remodelling models and structural optimization has mutually provided inspiration for new developments in biomechanics and biomedicine. Considering that bone has the ability to adapt its internal structure to mechanical loading (Wolff's law and Roux's paradigm), it is possible to model the behaviour of the bone structure by the use of a topology optimization methodology whose optimization variables can be the relative densities and the orthotropic directions. In this work, the internal bone adaptation of a proximal femur is considered. The bone-remodelling scheme is numerically described by a time-dependent evolutionary procedure with anisotropic material parameters. The remodelling rate equation is obtained from the structural optimization task of maximizing the stiffness subject to a biological cost associated with metabolic maintenance of bone tissue in time. The situation of multiple load conditions is considered for a three-dimensional finite element model of the proximal femur. The bone density distribution of a real femur is used as the initial design for the onset of the remodelling mechanism. Examples of bone adaptation resulting from load changes are presented. The three-dimensional finite element model of the proximal femur with initial bone density distribution was adapted to implant a cementless stem. A remeshing technique is used to assign the bone relative density distribution to the new geometry and mesh. The time adaptation of the bone is assessed considering contact with friction at the bone-stem interface. Results of bone density evolution and osteointegration distribution are obtained.


Climate change mitigation research is fundamentally motivated by the preservation of human lives and the environmental conditions which enable them. However, the field has to date rather superficial in its appreciation of theoretical claims in well‐being thought, with deep implications for the framing of mitigation priorities, policies, and research. Major strands of well‐being thought are hedonic well‐being—typically referred to as happiness or subjective well‐being—and eudaimonic well‐being, which includes theories of human needs, capabilities, and multidimensional poverty. Aspects of each can be found in political and procedural accounts such as the Sustainable Development Goals. Situating these concepts within the challenges of addressing climate change, the choice of approach is highly consequential for: (1) understanding inter‐ and intra‐generational equity; (2) defining appropriate mitigation strategies; and (3) conceptualizing the socio‐technical provisioning systems that convert biophysical resources into well‐being outcomes. Eudaimonic approaches emphasize the importance of consumption thresholds, beyond which dimensions of well‐being become satiated. Related strands of well‐being and mitigation research suggest constraining consumption to within minimum and maximum consumption levels, inviting normative discussions on the social benefits, climate impacts, and political challenges associated with a given form of provisioning. The question of how current socio‐technical provisioning systems can be shifted towards low‐carbon, well‐being enhancing forms constitutes a new frontier in mitigation research, involving not just technological change and economic incentives, but wide‐ranging social, institutional, and cultural shifts. WIREs Clim Change 2017, 8:e485. doi: 10.1002/wcc.485


The study investigated the stomach contents of Macrobrachium vollenhovenii from the commercial artisanal catches in Epe Lagoon in Lagos, southwest Nigeria from July to October 2008 and April to May 2009. The stomach analysis was carried out using frequency of occurrence and numeric methods. It was observed that the prawn fed on a variety of plankton species, which included chlorophyta, euglenophyta, xantophyta, chrysophyta, cladocera, copepoda, protozoa, dinoflagellate, diatoms, insect parts and unidentified food items, with chlorophyta and diatoms forming the most important food items. Chlorophyta constituted 32.00% by number and 83.62% by occurrence, diatoms constituted 31.55% by number and 65.09% by occurrence. Amongst the chlorophyta, Cosmarium granatum was the most preferred, constituting 7.93% by number and 17.67% by occurrence, followed by Ankistrodemus falcatus with 7.57% by number and 16.38% by occurrence, respectively. The least eaten food item was insect parts. The results indicated that M. vollenhovenii can be considered as an omnivorous detritivore.


We show the performance derived from simulations of a single-conjugated adaptive optics (SCAO) system for an ELT using the pyramid wavefront sensor (hereafter PWFS). The main objective of this work is to obtain the parameters which optimize the Strehl and characterize the system. Adopting K as the science band, we verify that the overall performance tends to be poorer as the sensing wavelength becomes shorter (as we probed K, J and R bands), the loop gain optimal range is dependent on the singular-value decomposition (SVD) truncation threshold used to build the command matrix, and that a "natural" modulation for the PWFS (i.e. zero modulation) produces in general poorer results when compared to modulated cases, being this especially true for the R-sensing band. Also more modulation is needed as one goes to shorter wavelengths. Comparisons between a scaled-down version of the simulations and those for a 42m telescope are performed. The atmospheric model adopted was always a von Karman with r0=0.13m@500nm and outer-scale L0=25m. The telescope pupil had a central obstruction of 28% and no spiders. The NGS was put on-axis, and di raction between pyramid imaged pupils taken into account.


Seismic assessment of structures is a public safety issue that nowadays still encompasses several uncertainties. In seismic engineering two types of parameter uncertainties need to be distinguished [1]. The first type arises from the random nature of the seismic action, while the second type is internal and it is related to the uncertainties of the structural parameters. As a result, the structural dynamic response is also uncertain. In this regard, it is mandatory to estimate the effect of these uncertainties on the structural dynamic response.
In the framework of the conventional structural analysis procedures, the internal uncertainties can be modelled as random variables or processes with a probability distribution function representing the distribution of the measured values. The probabilistic models lead to the evaluation of the random response of the structural systems considered. In the current literature there are four main strategies to evaluate the response of structural systems with random uncertainties, they are: (i) the Monte Carlo simulation method (ii) the perturbation methods, (iii) the stochastic finite element method [2,3]; (iv) the orthogonal series expansion method [2,4].

However in several structural problems, despite the success of the above probabilistic analysis, data on structural parameters are often absent or not sufficient to define the effective joint probability densities of the random variables or functions involved. In practice, only the bounds or the amplitude of uncertain parameters are often known. Therefore, to avoid invalid results, coherently the uncertainties should be modelled on the basis of alternative non-probabilistic conceptual frameworks.

In this paper, in the framework of the interval analysis [5], a method for evaluating the upper and lower bounds of the structural response of buildings with uncertain-but-bounded masses subject to deterministic and stochastic ground motion acceleration is proposed. The procedure requires the definition of a unique structural model so reducing the number analyses to be performed. Numerical results demonstrate the very good accuracy of the proposed procedure for all the cases considered.


"High food prices from 2007 through mid-2008 had serious implications for food and nutrition security, macroeconomic stability, and political security. The unfolding global financial crisis and economic slowdown have now pushed food prices to lower levels. Yet the financial crunch has also decreased the availability of capital at a time when accelerated investment in agriculture is urgently needed. The food and financial crises will have strong and long-lasting effects on emerging economies and poor people. A synchronized response is needed to ease the burden on the poor and allow agriculture to face new challenges and respond to new opportunities. Three sets of complementary policy actions should be taken: (1) promote pro-poor agricultural growth, (2) reduce market volatility, and (3) expand social protection and child nutrition action. Agriculture requires strategic investment action, and the food-insecure poor need a bailout now." from Text


Disk-based storage is becoming increasingly problematic in meeting the needs of large-scale cloud applications. Recently RAM-based storage is proposed by aggregating the RAM of thousands of commodity servers in data center networks (DCN). These studies focus on improving performance with low latency RPC and fast failure recovery. RAM-based storage brings great DCN-related challenges, e.g., false server failure detection due to network problems, traffic congestion during failure recovery, and ToR switch failure handling.

This paper presents RAMCube, a DCN-oriented design for RAM-based key-value store based on the BCube network [9]. RAMCube exploits the properties of BCube to restrict all failure detection and recovery traffic within one-hop neighborhood, and leverages BCube's multiple paths to handle switch failures. Prototype implementation demonstrates that RAMCube is promising to achieve high performance I/O and fast failure recovery in large-scale DCNs.


Bima Field, offshore northwest Java, is a sizeable reservoir containing reserves of approximately 700 MM bbls OOIP with a 50 BCF gas cap. At present only the northern 1/3 of the field is developed, with 7 platforms and 54 producing wells, of which 20 are horizontal. The field has multiple drive mechanisms and high viscosity oil (21 cp), resulting in rapid GOR and water-cut increase after 3 years of production. The high stakes (both reserves and facility investments) and the reservoir's complexities, make an effective reservoir management scheme critical. For this reason an integrated geological, geophysical and engineering description was carried out to provide a 3-D Reservoir Simulation Model to evaluate development options. Geologically, the Oligo-Miocene age Batu Raja Limestone was deposited on the Seribu Platform, a basement-controlled, fault- bounded structure. The Upper Batu Raja carbonate build-up is thickest on the structurally highest parts of the platform where the rock comprises a series of "cleaning upwards" cycles (muddy deposits overlain by progressively more grain-rich sediments). A Lower Miocene drop in sea-level caused subaerial exposure of much of the platform and leaching by meteoric fluids. This diagenetic event resulted in contrasts in the reservoir quality (porosity, permeability, fluid saturations) at various intervals of the Upper Batu Raja. Based on these dissimilarities, the reservoir was zoned into 6 model layers. Once zonation was established, well logs could be calibrated to whole and sidewall core. A dense grid of seismic data were used to map the Batu Raja structure. From these data, color seismic inversion sections were produced and calibrated to the well logs. The calibrated seismic data were then used to map the top of structure, the carbonate build-up's edges, the total thickness of the Upper Batu Raja (needed to control aquifer size in the model) and the thickness of the main pay zone (layers 1-3). Engineering reservoir description began with a detailed compilation of capillary pressure, relative permeability, production and DST data. The 3-D simulation model required special treatments, including varying the GOC depths to honor separate gas cap closures; making permeability pressure dependent in poorly-consolidated zones; and setting up horizontal well completion treatments. Results suggest that water injection into the oil rim and gas cap is an effective approach toward maximizing recoveries and minimizing gas cap resaturation. However, waterflood reserves are sensitive to injection timing. The synergistic approach of geological, engineering and geophysical input into the Bima reservoir study has had impact by delivering a reservoir management tool that can evaluate future development expansion and possible gas sales. The simulation model can also track fluid migration during the field's producing life. The geological/geophysical model led to an enhanced understanding of Batu Raja depositional and diagenetic processes that has potential in regional exploration strategies.


In this article I would like to discuss certain of the more common VAT-related errors made by medical practitioners and which I come across when checking clients' VAT returns. The consequences of submitting incorrect VAT returns are severe, as SARS is entitled to charge a 10% penalty as well as interest on any underpayment of VAT. Therefore should you be doing your VAT calculation consistently incorrectly the cumulative penalties and interest chargeable by the SARS could add up to many thousands of rands.


Backgrand: For patients with long segment of tracheal stenosis, resection and replacement is necessary. Tracheal reconstruction associated with complications such as stenosis, insufficiency of blood supply and surgical complication. Methods: In this study, we prepared collagen-chitosan scaffold and sheep's decellularized trachea plus culture medium with nanocup contain growth factors for chondrocyte and fibroblast-epithelial cell culture in rotary bioreactor. After attachment of cells, engineered trachea put into the omentum. Peritoneal stem cell interact with the epithelial and chondrocytes with attendance of growth factors released from nanocup. The bioengineered trachea with omental pedicle transposed from behind the sternum and transplanted in the position of resected trachea. In third experiment, we introduce the in situ tracheal repair technique with injectable matrix for reconstruction of long-segmental stenosis of trachea in a 29-year-old woman. Results: Severe tortuosity in the first experiment and mild stenosis was seen in the second experiment. In third experiment, normal shape in tracheal diameter was seen at injection sites. The interior portion of the trachea at virtual computed tomography (CT) scan and bronchoscopy were similarity to normal after four month fallowing up of injection. Conclusions: Severe tortuosity, mild stenosis in whole length of trachea in this study and disadvantage of trachea transplantation include open surgery, fatal consequences of anastomosis leakage, and rupture besides large mediastinal vessels; hence, we decided to introduce the novel in situ tracheal repair technique. Injectable bioresorbable scaffolds may be used as a temporary scaffolding for transplanted cells and thereby allow the cells to secrete extracellular matrix of their own to enable, in the long term, a complete and natural tissue replacement.


: Natural products with medicinal value are gaining importance in clinical research as they provide better alternatives, owing to lesser side-effects and low cost than conventional synthetic drugs. Among the vast library of important medicinal plants, Guduchi is immensely valuable in terms of therapeutics and global trade. Scattered information exploring therapeutic potential of Guduchi is accessible and there is need to assemble it. Therefore, an effort is made to assemble the scattered information in prehistoric texts, Brihatrayi, Nighantu and other Ayurvedic treatises along with ethno-botanical and modern evidences highlighting the role of Guduchi in therapeutics. Citations relevant to topic were screened.


Borrower Experiences with Subprime Mortgage Loans in Gwinnett County, Georgia by Terence L. Palmer MBA, SUNYIT Utica/Rome, 2003 BS, SUNYIT Utica/Rome, 2000 Doctoral Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Business Administration Walden University February 2015 Abstract When purchasing a home, buyer considerations include price of the home, credit rating, mortgage type, and lending agency. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the loan options successful business leaders consider when shifting loan lending from prime mortgage loans to subprime mortgage loans. Systems theory formed the conceptual framework for the study. A purposive sample of 20 participants from Gwinnett County, Georgia completed semistructured interviews and described their personal experiences. Data analysis incorporated van Kaam's technique to code and cluster information into topics. The following themes emerged from the analysis indicating what these business leaders considered when they established subprime mortgage loans: (a) creditable subprime mortgage lending, (b) preferred subprime mortgage type, (c) length of the approval process, (d) pressures and limited options, and (e) the benefits of a subprime mortgage. The findings indicated these creditworthy subprime borrowers received better loans options. Findings also showed that subprime mortgage borrowers preferred fixed rate mortgages, creditworthiness determined the extent of their subprime process, the number of first time homebuyers increased, and mortgage borrowers with credit problems preferred subprime mortgage loans. The information from this study could assist mortgage borrowers looking for loan options and mortgage lenders looking to build stronger relationships with the borrowers and communities they serve. Implications for positive social change include the possibility to lower foreclosures in Gwinnett County, Georgia and increase the mortgage knowledge ofWhen purchasing a home, buyer considerations include price of the home, credit rating, mortgage type, and lending agency. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the loan options successful business leaders consider when shifting loan lending from prime mortgage loans to subprime mortgage loans. Systems theory formed the conceptual framework for the study. A purposive sample of 20 participants from Gwinnett County, Georgia completed semistructured interviews and described their personal experiences. Data analysis incorporated van Kaam's technique to code and cluster information into topics. The following themes emerged from the analysis indicating what these business leaders considered when they established subprime mortgage loans: (a) creditable subprime mortgage lending, (b) preferred subprime mortgage type, (c) length of the approval process, (d) pressures and limited options, and (e) the benefits of a subprime mortgage. The findings indicated these creditworthy subprime borrowers received better loans options. Findings also showed that subprime mortgage borrowers preferred fixed rate mortgages, creditworthiness determined the extent of their subprime process, the number of first time homebuyers increased, and mortgage borrowers with credit problems preferred subprime mortgage loans. The information from this study could assist mortgage borrowers looking for loan options and mortgage lenders looking to build stronger relationships with the borrowers and communities they serve. Implications for positive social change include the possibility to lower foreclosures in Gwinnett County, Georgia and increase the mortgage knowledge of


Effective Field Theory (EFT) is the successful paradigm underlying modern theoretical physics, including the"Core Theory"of the Standard Model of particle physics plus Einstein's general relativity. I will argue that EFT grants us a unique insight: each EFT model comes with a built-in specification of its domain of applicability. Hence, once a model is tested within some domain (of energies and interaction strengths), we can be confident that it will continue to be accurate within that domain. Currently, the Core Theory has been tested in regimes that include all of the energy scales relevant to the physics of everyday life (biology, chemistry, technology, etc.). Therefore, we have reason to be confident that the laws of physics underlying the phenomena of everyday life are completely known.


Since 2009, blockchain has served as a potentially transformative information technology expected to be as revolutionary as the Internet. Originally developed as a methodology to record cryptocurrency transactions, blockchain's functionality has evolved into a large number of applications, such as banking, financial markets, insurance, voting systems, leasing contracts, and government service. Despite such advancements, the application of blockchain to accounting and assurance remains under-explored. This paper aims to provide an initial discussion on how blockchain could enable a real-time, verifiable, and transparent accounting ecosystem. Additionally, blockchain has the potential to transform current auditing practices, resulting in a more precise and timely automatic assurance system.


Constructing large Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs) is synonymous with significant cost and schedule uncertainty. Innovative Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) have been identified as a way of increasing certainty of delivery, whilst also maintaining a competitive Life Cycle Cost (LCC). Previous research into the cost of SMRs has focused on the economics of a design from the perspective of an owner or investor. There is a significant gap in the literature associated with cost estimating SMRs at the early concept development stage from the perspective of a reactor developer. Early design stage cost estimates are inherently uncertain. Design teams, therefore, need to make decisions that will achieve a cost competitive product by considering uncertainty. Existing cost uncertainty analysis methods lack standardisation in their application, often relying on the subjective assessment of experts. The central argument presented in this research is that the SMR vendor can make more effective decisions related to achieving cost certainty by understanding the drivers of knowledge uncertainty associated with early design stage cost estimates. This thesis describes research spanning the concept design phase of the UK SMR development programme. The research investigation is divided into two distinct phases. The first phase identifies the requirements for cost information from the perspective of the SMR vendor through interviews, a participatory case study investigation and surveys. Limited access to cost information means that early design cost assessment is highly subjective. Cost uncertainty analysis should provide decision makers with an understanding of the level of confidence associated with the estimate. A survey investigating how cost information is interpreted revealed that providing more granular detail about cost uncertainty would support the design team with additional rationale for selecting a design option. The main requirement identified from phase 1 of the research is the need for a standardised method to identify how sources of cost uncertainty influence the maturity of the estimate at each stage of the design development process. The second phase of the research involved a participatory research approach where the Acceptable Cost Uncertainty Benchmark Assessment (ACUBA) method was developed and then implemented retrospectively on the case study cost data. The ACUBA method uses a qualitative measure to assess the quality and impact of engineering definition, manufacturing process knowledge and supply chain knowledge on the cost estimate confidence. The maturity rating is then assessed against a benchmark to determine the acceptability of the estimate uncertainty range. Focus groups were carried out in the vendor organisation to investigate whether the design team could clarify their reasoning for decisions related to reducing cost uncertainty when given insight into the sources of cost uncertainty. The rationale for a decision is found to be clearer using the ACUBA method compared with existing cost uncertainty analysis methods used by the case study organisation. This research has led to the development of a novel method which standardises and improves the communication of cost information across different functions within a design team. By establishing a benchmark acceptable level of cost maturity for a decision, the cost maturity metric can be employed to measure the performance of the SMR development programme towards achieving product cost maturity. In addition, the ACUBA method supports the more effective allocation of limited resources available at the early design stage, by identifying design activities which could lead to an acceptable cost maturity.


The focus of this study is with the experiences of volunteers engaged in peace building activities in the contested society of Northern Ireland. It takes a qualitative approach utilising semi-structured in-depth interviews to consider their participation and learning. Fourteen volunteers were individually interviewed. As such, the approach adopted in this thesis is one in which the volunteer is placed at the centre of the analysis utilising grounded theory methods which stress discovery and emerging theory development (Glaser & Strauss, 1967; Strauss & Corbin, 1997). Narratives about volunteering arise largely from the accounts filed by researchers, practitioners and journalists. They depict a rosy tinted picture of volunteering. This study contends that a fuller account needs the voices of volunteers to be front of stage. Volunteer accounts provide a rich repository of knowledge, experience and understanding concerning areas such as peace building, volunteer participation and learning. These three areas are seen as emblematic to the study. In order to illustrate participation a framework is promoted to explore the complexities of contextual or relational influence and modes of participation. Collectively they point to different experiences and outcomes that stress belonging, radical learning and collectivity. Unlike formal learning about peace building which is framed systematically volunteering highlights a more informal and organic curriculum. A significant absence is due to the dominant discourse that volunteer learning is a by-product. Emerging themes, volunteer descriptions and current research are synthesised to define the importance of informal learning, a greater understanding of peace building and clearer modes of participation.


The inhibition effect of some dyes like methyl red, eriochrome black-T, congo red and alizarin red-S on the corrosion of 60/40 brass in nitric acid solution has been studied by using weight-loss and galvanostatic polarization technique. The corrosion rate was calculated in the presence and absence of the various dyes. The efficiency of the inhibitors was increases with increase in the inhibitor concentration and decreases with increase of temperature. The activation energy was obtained through weight-loss experiment at different temperature. For all the inhibitors the heat of adsorption (Qads) and the free energy of adsorption (DGads) obtained were negative. The plot of log(q/1-q) versus log C results in a straight line, which suggest that the inhibitors function through Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The polarization results show that the inhibitors are of mixed type inhibitor.


Title of Thesis: Ruin Imagery and the Iconography of Regeneration in Eighteenth Century French Art Stephen Henry Whitney, Master of Arts, 1977 Thesis directed by: Doctor George Levitine Professor, Art Department While the extraordinary popularity of ruin imagery in eighteenth century France is well known to art historians, it has remained a largely unstudied, and thus misunderstood, cultural phenomenon. The profusion of ruin pictures and ruinous garden pavilions during the Enlightenment is generally interpreted as symptomatic of the emotional febrility and escapist perversity of a society bogged down in decadence. The popularity of ruins as motifs of interior decoration is taken as proof of the reign of rococo frivolity. The present study seeks to bring into focus how eighteenth century artists, connoisseurs and writers themselves felt about their ruin imagery. This examination is called for because the evidence of documents, literary sources and the art itself overwhelmingly suggests that ruins were considered to be symbolic of nature's regenerative vitality and wholesomeness. To the contemporary viewer, therefore, the experience of a ruin was an antidote to, not a symptom of, social and personal lethargy. Early signs of the new iconographical trends appear in the art of students at the French Academy in Rome and were probably influenced by the commitments to ecclesiastical and cultural reform expressed by Italian ruinists associated with the academy. Ruins had a longstanding association in visual imagery and literature with the contemplative life, intellectual insights and poetic inspiration; in the eighteenth century, to frequent ruin settings implied a rejection of hypocrisy, pomposity and spiritual complacency. In France, catastrophes, urban renewal projects and the Revolution created "fresh" ruins which, even more poignantly than ancient ruins, illustrated the transience of life. Images of these modern ruins clearly embodied the unstable blend of anxiety, excitement, hope and resignation with which French society watched the shirlwind of change sweeping their country toward the year 1800.


European trade unions have attempted to coordinate their bargaining strategies transnationally in order to counter downward pressures on wages. Such coordination is most feasible in broadly integrated and exposed sectors that have to face common competitive constraints on wages. This article investigates collectively negotiated wage increases in the metal sector in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. We assume a specific logic of transnational pattern bargaining, with Germany as the 'anchor' country. We investigate the emergence of a transnational wage coordination effect before and after institutions for the coordination of wage bargaining were established. Finally, we draw conclusions on prospects for wage bargaining coordination with further integration of Economic and Monetary Union.


The goal of this study was to develop and apply a population of phantoms that realistically models patient variability and use it to optimize and evaluate different compensation methods used during reconstruction process with respect to defect detection in myocardial SPECT images. Various combinations of attenuation, detector response and scatter compensation were used in this study. A major difference between this and previous studies was that the level of realism was significantly increased by inclusion of variability in heart and organ uptakes, in the heart size and orientation, and in the defect size and contrast. In this study we used a population of 24 4-D NCAT phantoms (half male, half female) recently developed with statistical models for organ uptake and organ size based on clinical data. Almost noise-free projection data of the torso, heart, liver, lungs, and other organs were simulated for each phantom using the SIMSET MC simulation code. They were then combined to form 72 sets of projections for each phantom using randomly sampled activity ratios from a clinically realistic distribution. Poisson noise was then added to the projection data. We applied the channelized hotelling observer (CHO) and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis to optimize iteration number for OSEM and cutoff frequency of a 3-D post-reconstruction Butterworth filter. We found that the area under the ROC curve (AUC) values were reduced compared to a previous study that included significantly less phantom variability, even though the defect contrast was higher and noise level was lower. The resulting AUC values were similar to those obtained using patient data. We found, in agreement with the previous study, that including compensation for more effects resulted in improved defect detectability. However, the optimal filter cutoff frequency was increased compared to the previous study. These studies demonstrate the importance of including realistic levels of phantom variability in myocardial perfusion studies using simulated data.


Stochastic population models are widely used to assess extinction risk under various management scenarios, but due to the lack of independent data, such models are tested only rarely. Here we evaluate the predictive accuracy of a stochastic, spatially explicit, individual-based model of the population dynamics of the Red-cockaded Woodpecker by comparing simulated data with independent empirical data sets from two populations. We examined primary model predictions such as population size and number of territories, and secondary predictions such as population structure, dispersal success, natal dispersal dis- tances, and age distributions. The model predicted most evaluated parameters with high accuracy, but model performance could be enhanced by including pioneering behavior and by improving estimates of male and female dispersal behavior. We judge our model to provide reliable predictions when applied to real populations, with a few specific exceptions.


We present a computational framework for automatic synthesis of a feedback control strategy for a piecewise affine (PWA) system from a specification given as a Linear Temporal Logic (LTL) formula over an arbitrary set of linear predicates in its state variables. First, by defining partitions for its state and input spaces, we construct a finite abstraction of the PWA system in the form of a control transition system. Second, we develop an algorithm to generate a control strategy for the finite abstraction. While provably correct and robust to small perturbations in both state measurements and applied inputs, the overall procedure is conservative and expensive. The proposed algorithms have been implemented and are available for download. Illustrative examples are included


With an increasing proportion of elderly and an increasing demand for healthcare, managerial efforts are needed in order make the best use of resources and to keep cost under control. One of the most critical and expensive resources in a hospital is the operating theatre. This thesis aims to investigate the potential of computer-based modelling for supporting healthcare decision makers to improve management policies related to the hospital operating theatre. In a study conducted at a medium sized Swedish hospital we identify important prioritisations and decisions made in relation to patient scheduling and resource allocation when planning for surgery. Patient scheduling and operating room planning are complex tasks with a number of influencing factors to consider like, e.g., uncertainty in patient arrival, uncertainty in surgery procedure time and medical prioritisations and diagnosis. Further, several intersected dependencies, e.g. pre- and post operative care, have to be considered as to prevent occlusion and obtain a maximum patient through-put. With an optimisation-based approach we demonstrate how different criteria in patient scheduling and resource allocations can affect various objectives in terms of patient perspectives, staff perspectives and costs. For instance, we show that the current policy for resource allocation does not handle the variability generated by the patient diagnosis very well. In Sweden a law has recently been introduced, which advocates restrictions in elective patient waiting times. We extend the optimisation-based approach to include post-operative care and simulate a scenario based on patient data from a Swedish hospital to be able to predict the possible impact of the new law. The results indicate that the law causes an unsuitable increase in the waiting times for medium prioritised patients. Furthermore, we propose a combination of discreteevent simulation and optimisation to examine what impact different resource allocations of emergency and elective resources have on both utilisation rate and disturbance consequences, i.e. surgery cancellation and overtime work, due to emergency cases and other unexpected events. We show that both utilisation rate and cancellation frequencies can be improved significantly by the application of some minor changes in the resource allocation. Finally, we explore some future possibilities of using agent technology for modelling health care management decisions.


Predator-induced morphological defences (PIMDs) are ubiquitous. Many PIMDs may be mediated by prey behaviour rather than directly cued by predators. A survey of 92 studies indicated 40 that quantified prey behaviour, all of which document positive associations between defence production and activity reduction. Thus, PIMDs are associated with changes in prey activity, which could have caused the morphological change. We propose two possible mechanisms: 1) decreased activity reduces feeding rate, resulting in lower growth and morphological change; and 2) activity reduction conserves energy, which is reallocated for growth, subsequently changing morphology. Resource availability also causes similar morphological change to predator presence, suggesting confounding effects of resources and predators with current methodology. Future studies should estimate food ingestion, assimilation efficiency, and growth rate in the presence and absence of predators, crossing predator presence with resource levels. Not all PIMDs will be behaviourally-mediated, but consideration of causal linkages between prey behaviour and PIMDs is warranted.


Divide-and-conquer strategies for Monte Carlo algorithms are an increasingly popular approach to making Bayesian inference scalable to large data sets. In its simplest form, the data are partitioned across multiple computing cores and a separate Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm on each core targets the associated partial posterior distribution, which we refer to as a sub-posterior, that is the posterior given only the data from the segment of the partition associated with that core. Divide-and-conquer techniques reduce computational, memory and disk bottle-necks, but make it difficult to recombine the sub-posterior samples. We propose SwISS: Sub-posteriors with Inflation, Scaling and Shifting; a new approach for recombining the sub-posterior samples which is simple to apply, scales to high-dimensional parameter spaces and accurately approximates the original posterior distribution through affine transformations of the sub-posterior samples. We prove that our transformation is asymptotically optimal across a natural set of affine transformations and illustrate the efficacy of SwISS against competing algorithms on synthetic and real-world data sets.


The legitimacy of the scientific underpinning of European fisheries management is often challenged because of perceived exclusion of fishers knowledge and the lack of transparency in generating scientific advice. One of the attempts to address this lack of legitimacy has been through participatory knowledge development. In this paper, we will present the results of the JAKFISH project (Judgement and Knowledge in Fisheries Management involving Stakeholders) that focussed on the interplay between different actors in constructing the underpinning of policy decisions for sustainable fisheries. We tested participatory modelling as a tool to enhance mutual understanding and to increase legitimacy and found that it can be instrumental in developing a broader knowledge base for fisheries management and in building up trust between scientists and stakeholders. However, the participatory approach may not always work. Through social network analyses we found that the number of connections and the frequency of interactions between individuals in different groups (science, fisheries, eNGOs, policy) provides an important clue on the potential effectiveness of participatory approaches. We used three concepts to evaluate the role of scientific knowledge in policy making: salience, legitimacy and credibility. In situations with high stakes and high uncertainties, the evaluation of scientific analyses for policy decisions needs to involve a broader peer community consisting of scientists, policy-makers, NGOs and fisheries in order to increase legitimacy of results. When stakes are low and uncertainties are modest, the credibility of scientific results are sufficiently addressed through traditional scientific peer review.


Community development (CD) has been demonstrated to effectively deliver sought-after benefits towards improved economic, social, physical and psychological wellbeing. CD in rural areas is thus an important response to the change pressures in rural communities. Millions of dollars are spent annually on rural community development (RCD) activities. Yet CD is complex with many interacting variables and these dynamic processes are particularly visible in rural communities. RCD can have unintended (positive and negative) consequences upon the interwoven dynamics of the fabric of rural communities, independent of whether or not project objectives are achieved. A greater theoretical understanding of these processes is needed to better manage RCD outcomes and side effects. Such theoretical understanding is currently lacking in CD literature.
The purpose of this study was to use a grounded theory approach to generate a theoretical understanding of how RCD implementation processes interact with and affect the fabric of a community. Open interviews with twenty participants across three different RCD projects and rural sites were the key data source, contextualised by observation and written documentation.
Based on differing aetiologies, the study identified three types of community associated with and including the rural community: feature, interest and cause based. It was found that a multiplicity of these communities acted as constituents of each rural community, being part of, yet separate to the rural community. In coexisting, they were constituted by and subject to boundary processes. Literature describes such boundary processes in terms of differentiation and symbolic expression. This study identified additional processes of agendas, alignment and non-alignment.
RCD involved establishing and managing a further cause based constituent community amongst existing constituent communities and within the rural community. RCD projects were subject to boundary processes in creating their community identity, as well as in their interaction with other communities whilst pursuing project objectives. The study found that the often conflated concepts of community ownership and support were also distinct processes with different roles in RCD. How all these processes were managed affected both the rural community fabric and the success of projects.
The thesis develops a theoretical model which will contribute to understanding and managing community processes and RCD for theorists and practitioners alike. Due to sample limitations, further research is needed to establish the extent to which the model can be extrapolated to other settings.


Deforestation has many negative effects on the environment. In North Africa the most dramatic are a loss of habitat for wildlife, desertification, soil erosion, and climate change.
In the Jefara plain, Libya, tree planting was undertaken to combat desertification and stabilize sand dunes and by 1984, 248,000 ha had been planted. However, these forest now suffer from severe deforestation, leading to serious encroachment of sand dunes, which now puts at risk those areas converted to agriculture.
The major objective of this thesis was to understand the real causes of deforestation focussing mainly on socio-economic and policy drivers in Algarabulli District.
Interviewed respondents stated that deforestation commenced in 1986, the major direct causes being agricultural expansion, building and road construction, and land trading. However, the major indirect cause contributing to deforestation was reported to be the change of forest governance in 1986; this led to an increase in corruption and a decrease in law enforcement, resulting in many land allocation contracts being issued to officers and government officials who then cleared forestland for themselves and later by local people. They reported that deforestation increased dramatically in the study zone after the fall of the Gaddafi regime in 2011, due to the total breakdown in governance.
Interviews were also conducted with 20 government officials (in the Ministry of Agriculture and legal experts of in administrative and real estate law) Legislation, Forest Department records and policies were also reviewed. These findings agreed with those from research with local residents. Officials added that the former regime contributed to destruction of the forests indirectly by: giving orders to abolish the Ministry of Agriculture several times, encouraging burning of the Land Registry Centres, and distributing forest land to officials, all of which led to an increase the corruption and lack of law enforcement. This was despite the de jure adequacy of forest protection legislation.
Remote sensing, using SPOT imagery was used to estimate the rate of land cover change. The results of supervised classification and ground truething showed a remarkable degree of agreement with other two methods (local residents' estimates and Forest Department records): 27% of total forest area was cleared between 1986 and 2010, but after the fall of the Gaddafi regime another 35% was cleared between 2011 and 2013. Currently only 36% of the originally planted forest remains.
Finally, a survey was conducted with 43 forest clearers. The results showed that population growth and density had not contributed to deforestation. Analysis of the characteristics of forest clearers found that 93% of respondents were educated, 100% were employed and their income was slightly higher than respondents who had not cleared forests. The main purpose of clearing forest after the 2011 uprising was to sell the land illegally, due to a tenfold increase in land prices, which incentivised land speculation and forest clearance as a means of money laundering.
If deforestation continues at the current rate, all forests will be lost within three years. Due to the total breakdown in governance, deforestation in Libya nowadays is one of the biggest environmental challenges.


Ill-posed mathematical problem occur in many interesting scientific and engineering applications. The solution of such a problem, if it exists, may not depend continuously on the observed data. For computing a stable approximate solution it is necessary to apply a regularization method. The purpose of this thesis is to investigate regularization approaches and develop numerical methods for solving certain ill-posed problems for parabolic partial differential equations. In thermal engineering applications one wants to determine the surface temperature of a body when the surface itself is inaccessible to measurements. This problem can be modelled by a sideways heat equation. The mathematical and numerical properties of the sideways heat equation with constant convection and diffusion coefficients is first studied. The problem is reformulated as a Volterra integral equation of the first kind with smooth kernel. The influence of the coefficients on the degree of ill-posedness are also studied. The rate of decay of the singular values of the Volterra integral operator determines the degree of ill-posedness. It is shown that the sign of the coefficient in the convection term influences the rate of decay of the singular values. Further a sideways heat equation in cylindrical geometry is studied. The equation is a mathematical model of the temperature changes inside a thermocouple, which is used to approximate the gas temperature in a combustion chamber. The heat transfer coefficient at the surface of thermocouple is also unknown. This coefficient is approximated via a calibration experiment. Then the gas temperature in the combustion chamber is computed using the convection boundary condition. In both steps the surface temperature and heat flux are approximated using Tikhonov regularization and the method of lines. Many existing methods for solving sideways parabolic equations are inadequate for solving multi-dimensional problems with variable coefficients. A new iterative regularization technique for solving a two-dimensional sideways parabolic equation with variable coefficients is proposed. A preconditioned Generalized Minimum Residuals Method (GMRS) is used to regularize the problem. The preconditioner is based on a semi-analytic solution formula for the corresponding problem with constant coefficients. Regularization is used in the preconditioner as well as truncating the GMRES algorithm. The computed examples indicate that the proposed PGMRES method is well suited for this problem. In this thesis also a numerical method is presented for the solution of a Cauchy problem for a parabolic equation in multi-dimensional space, where the domain is cylindrical in one spatial direction. The formal solution is written as a hyperbolic cosine function in terms of a parabolic unbounded operator. The ill-posedness is dealt with by truncating the large eigenvalues of the operator. The approximate solution is computed by projecting onto a smaller subspace generated by the Arnoldi algorithm applied on the inverse of the operator. A well-posed parabolic problem is solved in each iteration step. Further the hyperbolic cosine is evaluated explicitly only for a small triangular matrix. Numerical examples are given to illustrate the performance of the method.


Bone graft substitutes with osteogenic factors alone often exhibit poor bone regeneration due to inadequate vascularization. Combined delivery of osteogenic and angiogenic factors from biodegradable scaffolds may enhance bone regeneration. We evaluated the effects of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), combined with natural coral scaffolds, on the repair of critical-sized bone defects in rabbit orbits. In vitro expanded rabbit bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) were transfected with human BMP2 and VEGF165 genes. Target protein expression and osteogenic differentiation were confirmed after gene transduction. Rabbit orbital defects were treated with a coral scaffold loaded with BMP2-transduced and VEGF-transduced BMSCs, BMP2-expressing BMSCs, VEGF-expressing BMSCs, or BMSCs without gene transduction. Volume and density of regenerated bone were determined by micro-computed tomography at 4, 8, and 16 weeks after implantation. Neovascularity, new bone deposition rate, and new bone formation were measured by immunostaining, tetracycline and calcein labelling, and histomorphometric analysis at different time points. The results showed that VEGF increased blood vessel formation relative to groups without VEGF. Combined delivery of BMP2 and VEGF increased new bone deposition and formation, compared with any single factor. These findings indicate that mimicking the natural bone development process by combined BMP2 and VEGF delivery improves healing of critical-sized orbital defects in rabbits.


Potato (Solanum tuberosum) is one of fourmajor food crops in the world. Weed control is a major component in potato production and has been accomplished using different methods, including but not limited to the use of herbicides and straw mulch. A combination of preemergence herbicide and straw mulch may improve weed control; however, no information is available for combining both methods, along with their effects on weed control, weed density, and potato tuber yields. The objective of this study was to evaluate weed control in potato using atrazine or straw mulch applied alone at different rates or in combination. A field experiment was conducted for 4 years from 2006 to 2010 in Ludhiana, Punjab, India. Common weeds included burclover (Medicago arabica), common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album), littleseed canarygrass (Phalaris minor), purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus), scarlet pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis), swinecress (Coronopus didymus), and toothed dock (Rumex dentatus). Results suggested that atrazine applied alone was not very effective and resulted in 0% to 78% control depending on the weed species being investigated at 30 days after treatment (DAT). Straw mulch applied alone at any rate provided ‡90% control of toothed dock, but control of other weed species was variable. A combination of atrazine and straw mulch at any rate usually resulted in >90% weed control at 30 DAT, except for swinecress and purple nutsedge. This treatment combination also resulted in weed density as low as 0 plant/m for common lambsquarters, scarlet pimpernel, and toothed dock. Potato tuber weight and yield was significantly higher in all treatments compared with untreated control without difference among them. It is concluded that a combination of straw mulch and atrazine can provide effective weed control in potato.


Steerable catheters are routinely deployed in the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. During invasive electrophysiology studies, the catheter handle is manipulated by an interventionalist to guide the catheter's distal section toward endocardium for pacing and ablation. Catheter manipulation requires dexterity and experience, and exposes the interventionalist to ionizing radiation. Through the course of this research, a platform was developed to assist and enhance the navigation of the catheter inside the cardiac chambers. This robotic platform replaces the interventionalist's hand in catheter manipulation and provides the option to force the catheter tip in arbitrary directions using a 3D input device or to automatically navigate the catheter to desired positions within a cardiac chamber by commanding the software to do so. To accomplish catheter navigation, the catheter was modeled as a continuum manipulator, and utilizing robot kinematics, catheter tip position control was designed and implemented. An electromagnetic tracking system was utilized to measure the position and orientation of two key points in catheter model, for position feedback to the control system. A software platform was developed to implement the navigation and control strategies and to interface with the robot, the 3D input device and the tracking system. The catheter modeling was validated through in-vitro experiments with a static phantom, and in-vivo experiments on three live swines. The feasibility of automatic navigation was also verified by navigating to three landmarks in the beating heart of swine subjects, and comparing their performance with that of an experienced interventionalist using quasi biplane fluoroscopy. The platform realizes automatic, assisted, and motorized navigation under the interventionalist's control, thus reducing the dependence of successful navigation on the dexterity and manipulation skills of the interventionalist, and providing a means to reduce the exposure to X-ray radiation. Upon further development, the platform could be adopted for human deployment.


We consider a higher-order hidden Markov models (HMM), also called weak HMM (WHMM), to capture the regime-switching and memory properties of financial time series. A technique of transforming a WHMM into a regular HMM is employed, which in turn enables the development of recursive filters. With the use of the change of reference probability measure methodology and EM algorithm, a dynamic estimation of model parameters is obtained. Several applications and extensions were investigated. WHMM is adopted in describing the evolution of asset prices and its performance is examined through a forecasting analysis. This is extended to the case when the drift and volatility components of the logreturns are modulated by two independent WHMMs that are not necessarily having the same number of states. Numerical experiment is conducted based on simulated data to demonstrate the ability of our estimation approach in recovering the "true" model parameters. The analogue of recursive filtering and parameter estimation to handle multivariate data is also established. Some aspects of statistical inference arising from model implementation such as the assessment of model adequacy and goodness of fit are examined and addressed. The usefulness of the WHMM framework is tested on an asset allocation problem whereby investors determine the optimal investment strategy for the next time step through the results of the algorithm procedure. As an application in the modelling of yield curves, it is shown that the WHMM, with its memory-capturing mechanism, outperforms the usual HMM. A mean-reverting interest rate model is further developed whereby its parameters are modulated by a WHMM along with the formulation of a self-tuning parameter estimation. Finally, we propose an inverse Stieltjes moment approach to solve the inverse problem of calibration inherent in an HMM-based regime-switching set-up.


The objective of this study is to implement deep neural network (DNN) models to classify autism spectrum disorder (ASD) patients and typically developing (TD) participants. The experimental design utilizes functional connectivity features extracted from resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) originating in the multisite repository Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange (ABIDE) over a significant set of training samples. Our methodology and results have two main parts. First, we build DNN models using the TensorFlow framework in python to classify ASD from TD. Here we acquired an accuracy of 75.27%. This is significantly higher than any known accuracy (71.98%) using the same data. We also obtained a recall of 74% and a precision of 78.37%. In summary, and based on our literature review, this study demonstrated that our DNN (128-64) model achieves the highest accuracy, recall, and precision on the ABIDE dataset to date. Second, using the same ABIDE data, we implemented an identical experimental design with four distinct hidden layer configuration DNN models each preprocessed using four different industry accepted strategies. These results aided in identifying the preprocessing technique with the highest accuracy, recall, and precision: the Configurable Pipeline for the Analysis of Connectomes (CPAC).


There is little debate left about how important identity is in understanding political phenomenon. Whether it is in the study of social movements or ethno-nationalism at either the national (Holloway 2011) or international level (Gurr & Harff, 1994; Gurr, 2000; Fearon & Laitin, 2003), or even broader discussions of identity and culture in international relations (Patten, 2011) and international relations theory (Lapid & Kratochwil 1996, Wendt 1999), identity has continued to move to the center of the study of political phenomenon (Smith 2004). And while there may not be universal agreement on how best to operationalize identity across the array of research agendas that engage it (Abdelal et. al., 2006) as well as on-going debates about how exactly identity interacts and drives political action (Huddy, 2001), an effective vocabulary for the study of identity has emerged that centers on identity formation, identity salience, and identity mobilization. This vocabulary can be used with students to introduce them to the key aspects of identity as a political phenomenon. It is also is not hard to get students to recognize the importance of identity in the politics around them. Whether it is the partisan nature of American politics (Bartle 2009), the situation on the ground in Iraq (Dawisha, 2008) or Afghanistan (Riphenburg, 2005), or any of a wide range of 2 other national and international examples ( for example Johnson, 2008), few students should have to be sold that group identification plays an important role in explaining political behavior. But while it is easy to introduce students to the potential impacts and implications of ethnonationalism, religion, ideology, and/or minority status both in their own countries and overseas, it is more of a challenge to get the vast majority of students, particularly students who see themselves as from the ethnic/religious majority in the largely multicultural United States, to truly grasp the concepts and issues associated with identity formation, salience, and mobilization. In a society where identity can be easily hyphenated, remain multilayered, and where crosscutting identity cleavages are seen as foundational to an open civil society, few students have a deep personal identification with a single, determinate identity that defines their world view, or at least few are aware of such an identity or the power of such. We provide a two part identity exercise that provides an effective mechanism for getting students to engage directly with issues of identity formation, salience, and mobilization. Our exercise first seeks to have students confront their own identity and its salience to themselves. Unlike the well known Invisible Knapsack exercise (McIntosh, 1988), which is designed to specifically make those in majority groups confront their previously unstated or unexplored societal privileges or prejudices, our exercise seeks to address identity without provoking a discussion about the value of any one specific identity over or in direct contrast with another. Next, the exercise utilizes highly mobilized identity rhetoric in the form of nationalist poetry to provide the students with an opportunity to sample quickly but effectively the impact and nature of identity politics in conflict cases, again without provoking a distracting debate about the value of the particular identity or the reality of the cases in question on the ground. Using this exercise, students are able to grapple with their own identity formation, its potential salience and possibility for mobilization, as well as the power of identity mobilization writ large, in a powerful but controlled and relatively apolitical manner that supports teaching about identity as a political phenomenon.


Develop towards a knowledge-based economy is extremely important for the ASEAN five plus three countries, since the countries face challenges at the global fronts and technological changes; the rules of competition have changed. A country's competitive advantage is no longer dependent solely on factors such as labor, land and natural resources, but on its potential to produce, acquire, utilize and disseminate knowledge. Thus, this is essentially a shift from economic development based on resources to development based on knowledge where human capital (consequently education) emerges as crucial public policy themes for creating wealth and increasing the quality of life.
This thesis attempts to determine the level of knowledge-based development in Malaysia in terms of efficiency, technical change and human capital. This development is then compared with the other ASEAN five plus three countries,which includes four members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) namely Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand and the three Northeast Asian states, namely China, Japan and South Korea. In particular, the objectives of this study are to (1) determine the contribution of knowledge-based human capital to economic growth in the ASEAN five plus three countries, (2) identify the determinants of knowledge-based human capital in Malaysia and the selected ASEAN five plus three countries, (3) determine the efficiency of Malaysian in generating the knowledge-based outputs, as compared to other ASEAN five plus three countries, and (4) investigate whether there is any long-run convergence in the development of knowledge-based human capital among Malaysia and the ASEAN five plus three countries.
The empirical findings of the economic growth model using a panel cointegration framework and Fully Modified Ordinary Least Square (FMOLS) show that the human capital significantly influenced the economic growth in the ASEAN five plus three countries. Furthermore, the empirical results of the human capital analyses also indicate significant economic and demographic variables including the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and fertility rate. However, the time series cointegration test did not detect a significant long-run convergence in the development of human capital among Malaysia and the ASEAN five plus three countries.The empirical findings of the Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA) indicate that Malaysia, Korea, Singapore, Japan and China appear to be the most efficient countries in generating the knowledge-based outputs, followed by Thailand though Indonesia and Philippines appear to be the least efficient countries. In regard to the issue of catch-up and convergence, the results show that Malaysia and Korea are catching up with the developed country such as Japan while other ASEAN five plus three countries are failed to catch-up with developed countries over the period. Last but not least, all the ASEAN five plus three countries have enjoyed from technical progress and achieved positive total factor productivity (TFP) growth rates over the 1992-2005 period.