Abstract. Perfluorocarbons (PFCs) are potent greenhouse gases with global warming potentials up to several thousand times greater than CO2 on a 100-year time horizon. The lack of any significant sinks for PFCs means that they have long atmospheric lifetimes of the order of thousands of years. Anthropogenic production is thought to be the only source for most PFCs. Here we report an update on the global atmospheric abundances of the following PFCs, most of which have for the first time been analytically separated according to their isomers: c-octafluorobutane (c- C4F8 ), n-decafluorobutane (n- C4F10 ), n-dodecafluoropentane (n- C5F12 ), n-tetradecafluorohexane (n- C6F14 ), and n-hexadecafluoroheptane (n- C7F16 ). Additionally, we report the first data set on the atmospheric mixing ratios of perfluoro-2-methylpentane (i- C6F14 ). The existence and significance of PFC isomers have not been reported before, due to the analytical challenges of separating them. The time series spans a period from 1978 to the present. Several data sets are used to investigate temporal and spatial trends of these PFCs: time series of air samples collected at Cape Grim, Australia, from 1978 to the start of 2018; a time series of air samples collected between July 2015 and April 2017 at Tacolneston, UK; and intensive campaign-based sampling collections from Taiwan. Although the remote "background" Southern Hemispheric Cape Grim time series indicates that recent growth rates of most of these PFCs are lower than in the 1990s, we continue to see significantly increasing mixing ratios that are between 6 % and 27 % higher by the end of 2017 compared to abundances measured in 2010. Air samples from Tacolneston show a positive offset in PFC mixing ratios compared to the Southern Hemisphere baseline. The highest mixing ratios and variability are seen in air samples from Taiwan, which is therefore likely situated much closer to PFC sources, confirming predominantly Northern Hemispheric emissions for most PFCs. Even though these PFCs occur in the atmosphere at levels of parts per trillion molar or less, their total cumulative global emissions translate into 833 million metric tonnes of CO2 equivalent by the end of 2017, 23 % of which has been emitted since 2010. Almost two-thirds of the CO2 equivalent emissions within the last decade are attributable to c- C4F8 , which currently also has the highest emission rates that continue to grow. Sources of all PFCs covered in this work remain poorly constrained and reported emissions in global databases do not account for the abundances found in the atmosphere.


SiMeonova, M. L., n. a. Todorov and a. P. SchinckeL, 2012. review of in vivo-methods for quantitative measurement of protein deposition rate in animals with emphasize on swine. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 18: 455 481 Most societal important breeding traits have an economic and a no economic value, and are sufficiently heritable for effective genetic selection. Genetic selection goals include the improvement of production traits, such as growth rate (g/day), meat percent (%), feed efficiency, and piglet production, because these traits are economically important. Because of their high relationship with the growth rate and feed efficiency, and the fact that they are inherently related with the animal health and welfare, the traits muscle lean gain (g/day) and protein deposition rate (g/day) are useful measurements. Intensive pork production within large animal populations requires a special care to reduce the negative consequences of animal production on the environment. Growth models can be used to evaluate the nutrient content of the diets fed to minimize nutrient excretion. However, these models require the pigs' compositional growth to be parameterized (Schinckel and de Lange, 1996) The aim of this review is to compare different methods for in vivo quantitative estimation of protein deposition in pigs and other animals. The main criteria for the involving of in vivo methods for quantitative estimation of chemical body composition are: a) the accuracy of estimation; b) the financial costs and c) the possibilities for exploitation in field conditions. The chemical analysis post mortem is the most reliable, but it is also the most cost and labor intensive method of estimation in cases of large numbers of animals. From statistical point of view, the best estimate of the accuracy of estimation respectively prediction equations of composition is the percentages RSD for percent substance (Schinckel et al., 2007; Schinckel et al., 2010b). The d2O-dilution technique is relatively economical, since it allows the calculation of the composition of the empty body along with good opportunities for measurements under field conditions with high accuracy. The ultrasonic analysis has been shown to provide acceptable estimation of the protein deposition rate, where the two-dimensional B-mode scans (R2=0.36 – 0.68) are superior to the one-dimensional A-scan gauges (R2 = 0.11 – 0.20). The bioelectrical impedance analysis supplies an accuracy of R2 = 0.81 for the estimation of the fat-free mass of a live animal. The magnet resonance tomography (MRT) has been shown to accurate in the both, indirect (r2 = 0.89 0.97) and direct (R2 = 0.62) prediction of total body protein. The total body electromagnetic conductance TOBEC accurately predict fat-free lean and protein mass (R2 = 0.94), showing good prediction capacity, when used in line speeds in combination with growth modeling with optical probe. Corresponding to the stated criteria, the ultrasonic analysis, the bioelectrical impedance, and the D2o-dilution technique are the most economical and acceptability accurate methods that can be applied under field conditions. The MRT, the X-ray computer Thomography (R2 = 0.92 0.98), TOBEC, and the measurements of the isotope K40, are precise, but too expensive under the most conditions, since their implementation is possible only through specially instrumented equipment, only selection in nucleus farms).


Architectural sites suffers from weathering effects such as liquid sedimentation, lampblack or pollution deposit, moss growing or longterm erosion. Displaying their impact on present buildings could help deciders to plan relevant actions for preserving the architectural heritage. In this paper we present a user-friendly solution for on-line acquiring a semi-physical model from one or few images of a building, immediately followed by real-time simulations. The goal is certainly not to give an accurate prediction of what will happen, but rather to show a plausible state of the site under various possible degradations arising from natural effects. The solution relies on the coupling of two 3-D modelling programs: one dedicated to interactive reconstructions and a second to discreet manipulation for natural phenomena simulations based on a combination of different surface cellular automata. Several experiments were held to estimate the effectiveness of this approach and to identify future works in order to cope with present limitations. A first series applies a lampblack deposit simulation on a large-size 3-D model to demonstrate the solution feasibility and to provide indications about achievable performance. The second series focuses on the solution sensitiveness to both geometrical and semi-physical models granularity through the application of a stone erosion effect on a smaller but less regular-shaped building model. The third series demonstrates the discreet model ability to simulate multiple effects with the example of a vegetation growth simulation. Guidelines for future works are given in the conclusion of this paper.


Fracture is a fundamental mechanism of materials failure. Propagating cracks can exhibit a rich dynamical behavior controlled by a subtle interplay between microscopic failure processes in the crack tip region and macroscopic elasticity. We review recent approaches to understand crack dynamics using the phase field method. This method, developed originally for phase transformations, has the well-known advantage of avoiding explicit front tracking by making material interfaces spatially diffuse. In a fracture context, this method is able to capture both the short-scale physics of failure and macroscopic linear elasticity within a self-consistent set of equations that can be simulated on experimentally relevant length and time scales. We discuss the relevance of different models, which stem from continuum field descriptions of brittle materials and crystals, to address questions concerning crack path selection and branching instabilities, as well as models that are based on mesoscale concepts for crack tip scale selection. Open questions which may be addressed using phase field models of fracture are summarized.


The Pigeon River, North Carolina has a long history of habitat degradation due to water diversion and high levels of toxic effluents from a paper mill. Over the last 20 years the paper mill has modernized its processes and reduced water use and waste production greatly. Historically, the wavy-rayed lampmussel, Lampsilis fasciola, was believed to have been present throughout the river from Canton to its mouth in Tennessee, but it currently persists only upstream of Canton, NC. In this preliminary study of the feasibility of restoring the mussels to the downstream reach, I compared the survival and growth of L. fasciola placed in the Pigeon River downstream from Canton with those placed upstream. Captively propagated mussels were individually marked and placed in enclosures in the river at two upstream sites and three downstream sites in December 2008. They were monitored for survival and growth monthly from December 2008-November 2009. Mortality rates among sites were not significantly different; however, growth rates of mussels held in the downstream sites were significantly greater than for those held at upstream sites. Highest growth rates were observed at a site located approximately 18 km downstream from Canton. Several influences may have impacted these growth rates, such as elevated temperature due to heated effluent and agricultural runoff with elevated nutrients. Assessment of survival at other life stages is needed before the full extent of potential for reintroduction of mussels to the studied reach of the Pigeon River is known.


Self-driving cars are no longer in the realm of science fiction, thanks to the integration of numerous automotive technologies that have matured over many years. Technologies such as adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and V2V/V2I communications are being merged into one complex system. The papers in this compendium were carefully selected to bring the reader up to date on successful demonstrations of autonomous vehicles, ongoing projects, and what the future may hold for this technology. It is divided into three sections: overview, major design and test collaborations, and a sampling of autonomous vehicle research projects. The comprehensive overview paper covers the current state of autonomous vehicle research and development as well as obstacles to overcome and a possible roadmap for major new technology developments and collaborative relationships. The section on major design and test collaborations covers Sartre, DARPA contests, and the USDOT and the Crash Avoidance Metrics Partnership-Vehicle Safety Communications (CAMP-VSC2) Consortium. The final section presents seven SAE papers on significant recent and ongoing research by individual companies on a variety of approaches to autonomous vehicles. This book will be of interest to a wide range of readers: engineers at automakers and electronic component suppliers; software engineers; computer systems analysts and architects; academics and researchers within the electronics, computing, and automotive industries; legislators, managers, and other decision-makers in the government highway sector; traffic safety professionals; and insurance and legal practitioners.


BACKGROUND
When treatment-refractory schizophrenia shows an insufficient response to a trial of clozapine, clinicians commonly add a second antipsychotic, despite the lack of robust evidence to justify this practice.

OBJECTIVES
The main objectives of the study were to establish the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of augmentation of clozapine medication with a second antipsychotic, amisulpride, for the management of treatment-resistant schizophrenia.

DESIGN
The study was a multicentre, double-blind, individually randomised, placebo-controlled trial with follow-up at 12 weeks.

SETTINGS
The study was set in NHS multidisciplinary teams in adult psychiatry.

PARTICIPANTS
Eligible participants were people aged 18-65 years with treatment-resistant schizophrenia unresponsive, at a criterion level of persistent symptom severity and impaired social function, to an adequate trial of clozapine monotherapy.

INTERVENTIONS
Interventions comprised clozapine augmentation over 12 weeks with amisulpride or placebo. Participants received 400 mg of amisulpride or two matching placebo capsules for the first 4 weeks, after which there was a clinical option to titrate the dosage of amisulpride up to 800 mg or four matching placebo capsules for the remaining 8 weeks.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
The primary outcome measure was the proportion of 'responders', using a criterion response threshold of a 20% reduction in total score on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale.

RESULTS
A total of 68 participants were randomised. Compared with the participants assigned to placebo, those receiving amisulpride had a greater chance of being a responder by the 12-week follow-up (odds ratio 1.17, 95% confidence interval 0.40 to 3.42) and a greater improvement in negative symptoms, although neither finding had been present at 6-week follow-up and neither was statistically significant. Amisulpride was associated with a greater side effect burden, including cardiac side effects. Economic analyses indicated that amisulpride augmentation has the potential to be cost-effective in the short term [net saving of between £329 and £2011; no difference in quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs)] and possibly in the longer term.

LIMITATIONS
The trial under-recruited and, therefore, the power of statistical analysis to detect significant differences between the active and placebo groups was limited. The economic analyses indicated high uncertainty because of the short duration and relatively small number of participants.

CONCLUSIONS
The risk-benefit of amisulpride augmentation of clozapine for schizophrenia that has shown an insufficient response to a trial of clozapine monotherapy is worthy of further investigation in larger studies. The size and extent of the side effect burden identified for the amisulpride-clozapine combination may partly reflect the comprehensive assessment of side effects in this study. The design of future trials of such a treatment strategy should take into account that a clinical response may be not be evident within the 4- to 6-week follow-up period usually considered adequate in studies of antipsychotic treatment of acute psychotic episodes. Economic evaluation indicated the need for larger, longer-term studies to address uncertainty about the extent of savings because of amisulpride and impact on QALYs. The extent and nature of the side effect burden identified for the amisulpride-clozapine combination has implications for the nature and frequency of safety and tolerability monitoring of clozapine augmentation with a second antipsychotic in both clinical and research settings.

TRIAL REGISTRATION
EudraCT number 2010-018963-40 and Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN68824876.

FUNDING
This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme and will be published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 21, No. 49. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.


This thesis develops empirical econometric models of the private sector aggregate demand for real and financial assets in Kenya over the period 1973 to 1990. Single-equation error-correction models of the demand for money are estimated using systems cointegration methods developed by Johansen (1988). The models are found to be statistically stable functions throughout the period, and are capable of encompassing existing studies. Across a range of monetary aggregates, including a Divisia index aggregate for broad money, the models describe demand for money functions in which inflation and illegal foreign currency substitution are significant determinants of money holdings, and where the private sector adjusts rapidly to deviations from its stable longrun equilibrium real money demand. The demand for money is then integrated within a neo-classical model of asset demands, which examines the behaviour of the aggregate private sector asset portfolio in response to changes in relative prices between assets and to external shocks to the economy, principally the 1976-77 coffee boom. A variant of the Almost Ideal Demand System model developed by Deaton and Muellbauer (1980) is estimated for a class of six assets: base money, banking system deposits, government securities, tradable capital, nontradable capital and inventories. The asset substitution model, which also takes an errorcorrection form, and which allows for credit rationing, generates results which are consistent with the earlier demand for money models, where private agents are also denied access to foreign-denominated assets. Using this model, the maintenance of policies of financial repression are shown to cause the private sector to offset inflationary shocks through the accumulation of real assets, principally in the form of non-tradable capital in the construction and property sectors. The evidence from the two models is used to analyze the fiscal effects of the inflation tax and financial repression measures. Policies of financial liberalization are shown to reduce the revenue maximizing rate of inflation (estimated to be 14% per annum) and the implicit tax on domestic holders of government liabilities. This dampens asset substitution in response to inflationary shocks and offsets the adverse effects of "construction-boom" investment on non-tradable capital prices.


We studied tongue positions of vowels in oral and nasal contexts. In the previous study [Arai, J. Acoust. Soc. Am., 115, p.2541 (2004)], formant frequencies were measured and bidirectional formant shifts in F1 frequency were observed: increasing F1 for high vowels and decreasing F1 for low vowels. Then, we tried to answer to the next question, that is, whether or not speakers and/or listeners compensate for the formant shifts. The perceptual experiment by Arai (2004) showed that compensation occurs when an isolated vowel has nasalization and is accompanied by formant transitions. This result agreed with the findings of Krakow et al. [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 83, 1146-1158 (1988)]. The goal of this study is to examine the compensation effect for the formant shifts in production. In the EMMA experiment, the measurement of the positions of the articulators showed almost no compensation except for the lowest vowel /#/.


Current approaches to Intrusion Detection are not able to cope with previously unknown protocols, e.g. protocols defined through protocol negotiation. While methods are available to automate the process of describing and even building rudimentary detectors, the resulting systems do not reach far enough. Solutions like GAPAL [1] and binpac [2] rely on manually embedded code blocks and do not allow for fully automated generation of complete detectors. We propose an approach to better automate the generation of detectors by defining an SDL-based XML protocol specification language and a detection framework. Protocols specified in our lan-guage are abstract parameterizations for this framework and generate its specific instances. The specification language and the detection framework include the following main aspects of protocol specification: header format, static constraints, and state machines. The specification of the header format is required to parse data units of the protocol. Using the static constraints malformed data units can be de-tected - finally, the state machine specification allows to detect illegal messages and state transitions associated with them.


Today's imaging technologies generate a wealth of data that requires visualization and multi-dimensional quantitative image analysis as prerequisites to turning qualitative data into quantitative values. Such quantitative data provides the basis for mathematical modeling of protein kinetics and biochemical signaling networks that, in turn, open the way toward a quantitative view of cell biology. There has been a lot of work on solving some of the fundamental problems in the image based analysis like segmentation, image restoration, shape normalization etc. One of the limiting factors of such analysis is the statistical and morphological variation present across different biological samples. Thus, these standalone solutions can not be used off the shelf. The challenge is to develop a workflow for each problem considering the goals of the study, underlying biology and technical limitations. During pregnancy, the antibodies are transferred from mother to the fetus. This transfer takes place through placenta. It is well established that a MHC-1 receptor FcRn in essential for transport of IgG across placenta. But the exact mechanism of this process is not known. This thesis focuses on designing a workflow based on 3D analysis of confocal microscopy images and statistical modeling to understand the IgG transport in the yolk sac endoderm of the mouse. The workflow consists of image correction, active contour based segmentation, distance transform based protein distribution and clustering.


Writing is one of the most common activities in higher education, and is essential if we are situated in virtual learning environments based on written communication. However, the fact that it is a customary activity does not mean that it is specifically taught or that guidance is given to help students in the academic writing process (Lonka, 2003). In fact, the opposite often happens; students are already expected to know how to write in different contexts. Nevertheless, students require specific support from teachers and their peers to enable them to deal with the processes and products of academic communication. Feedback could be one type of support, seen as a joint activity which entails active interaction between students and the teacher, including how students receive and utilise the feedback (Dysthe, 2007), but not all kinds of feedback are effective. This study thus explores the impact of formative e-feedback on students' texts written collaboratively in an online learning environment and also it explores when the e-feedback takes place in a way which contributes to the inclusion of more complex arguments in academic texts. A proactive reaction by the students was caused in response to feedback. This happened when they received messages questioning their work but also suggesting changes, in addition to correction. The pattern that seems to generate quality changes in collaborative text revision processes is initiated by teacher elaboration feedback, which generates discussion among the students and, as a result, leads to contextualised changes to the text. Proposing regular feedback that requires discussion among the students turns out to be an essential strategy to encourage high quality revision of texts written collaboratively in an online learning environment.


This study assessed the external environment of the organic farming in Laguna Province, Philippines using Porter's five forces framework. Using snow ball approach for the selection of participants, a total of 86 organic farmers in selected municipalities were included in the study. A self-made questionnaire was the main data gathering tool. Frequency distribution and percentage were used to analyze data. Majority of the organic farms were existing for 3 to 5 years, less than one hectare farm size, vegetable as the prime commodity and manual organic farming practices. Based on Porter's five forces, threat of new entrants, threat of substitute and buyer power are high while supplier power and competitive rivalry are low. Results show that organic farming can be categorized as moderately attractive. Results suggest the need to intensify organic farming practices in the province of Laguna. The Porter's Five Forces Analysis can be used for better organic farming outcomes and boost the industry to induce farmers to shift from conventional agriculture to organic farming.


The Rehnquist and Roberts Courts have reinterpreted rules 8, 23, and 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, in each case altering them to restrict access to the federal courts and make early dismissals more readily available. Neither changes in the text of the rules nor new discoveries about their original intended meaning justified those decisions. Indeed, the reinterpretations conflicted with the stated purposes of those rules and contradicted the Court's own repeated acknowledgments that it has no authority to change the meaning of any Federal Rule once Congress has adopted it. This article examines those changed interpretations, shows that they brought parallel anti-plaintiff results, and demonstrates that those results are consistent with the practical social results that flow from a wide variety of other decisions of the Rehnquist and Roberts Courts. The decisions construing Rules 8, 23, and 56 advance the same anti-plaintiff policies that mark the Court's decisions restricting or defeating tort, antitrust, civil rights, securities, environmental, and employment discrimination claimants. The article argues that the Federal Rules decisions of the Rehnquist and Roberts Courts are not only compatible in their social results with their decisions in those other areas but that they all spring from the same extra-legal source, the commitments of the Court's conservative Republican justices to their party's market-based ideologies. Although those justices commonly assert text, tradition, and original meaning as justifications for their decisions, they have been wholly inconsistent in applying those methods. The consistency of their jurisprudence lies not in their application of any rigorous legal method but in their ideologically-rooted desire to block certain kinds of lawsuits and to protect from liability state governments, state and local officials, and corporate defendants.


This article closely investigates the unique visual representations of the building plans of late nineteenth-century and early twentieth-century Berlin, and emphasizes the agency of the paper plan in the profession and discipline of Städtebau. Following positions in German media theory, the paper plan is understood and theorized as a medium of bureaucracy and the plan drawing as a set of cultural techniques. In doing so, the article traces the refinement of the instruments for regulating the building of the city—from the building plan, to the building zones plan, to the town development plan. It is argued that the paper plans themselves have agency in seeing the city and hence thinking about the city (through their methods of visual representation), and agency in the formation of graphic terms and concepts (derived from the making of building plans). The paper plans mediated visual and verbal knowledge of the city that would have been inconceivable without them.


Cities and Climate Change examines the links between urbanization and climate change, the poten tially devastating effects of climate change on urban populations, and the policy responses and practices that are emerging in urban areas. Over half of the world's population now live in urban settlements, and the convergence of urbaniza tion and climate change threatens to have an unprecedented impact on economies, quality of life and social stability. Alongside these threats, however, is an equally compelling set of opportunities. The concentration of people, industries and infrastructure, as well as social and cultural activities, acts as a crucible of innovation – developing ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve coping mechanisms and reduce vulnerability to climate change impacts. This new report from the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UNHabitat), the world's leading authority on urban issues, shows how cities can improve the way they operate in order to respond to climate change, and provides practical strategies for strengthening their role as part of the solution. The Global Report on Human Settlements 2011 is the most authoritative and upto date global assessment of human settlement conditions and trends. Preceding issues of the report have addressed such topics as Cities in a Globalizing World, The Challenge of Slums, Financing Urban Shelter, Enhancing Urban Safety and Security and Planning Sustainable Cities. Cities and Climate Change: PoliCy direCtions


This paper focuses on the metaphorical categories of the Sinukwan legends that could account for the ethnocentric qualities of the Kapampangans (people of Pampanga, a province in the northern part of the Philippines) and their behavioral patterns as a distinct race. According to oral accounts, Sinukwan, supposedly the first inhabitant in Pampanga, was a noble, gigantic being whose countenance reflected beautiful traits such as royalty, wisdom, faithfulness, ability and love. Sinukwan is a product of the Kapampangans' primordial culture but, in many respects, he serves as a central image in the maintenance of their internal racial affinity as well as in the interaction of their past and present. On one hand, he may be perceived as an instrument of sentimental evocation. But on the other, Sinukwan is an indispensable force in asserting and reasserting the Kapampangan identity. The Kapampangans still believe that their historical beginnings were woven into and their society constructed within the realm of a powerful cultural symbol. In the development of Kapampangan civilization, Sinukwan has become an established archetype in Kapampangan arts and literature, a rallying point in the socio-political transformation of the Kapampangan community, and the paradigmatic model that is constantly invoked in the unfolding events of Kapampangan history. To be mentioned in particular is an aspect of a Sinukwan legend that provides a colorful explanation of one of the worst calamities that struck Pampanga: the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo. The story is, in a sense, an imaginative articulation of a historical phenomenon that pierced through the very heart of Kapampangan civilization and altered the course of its development.


Background: The aims of this study were to determine walking mobility in the community in individuals with lower limb weakness and to establish the extent to which some clinic based measures predict such activity. Methods: Five groups (n = 12–18) of independently ambulant patients with lower limb weakness due to neurological conditions and a matched healthy control group were recruited. Measures of isometric knee extension/flexion muscle strength, time to stand up (sit-to-stand, STS), gait speed, and daily step counts (recorded over 7 days) were obtained. The Rivermead Mobility Index (RMI) provided a measure of functional ability. Between group differences and associations were explored. Backward stepwise regression analysis was used to identify variables influencing daily step count in individuals with neurological impairment. Results: Patients were significantly weaker (mean (SD) quadriceps strength 69±34% v 102±37% predicted), slower to stand up (2.9±1.3 v 2.0±0.6 s), and had slower self selected gait speed (0.74±0.3 v 1.2±0.2 m/s) than controls. Mean daily step count was also lower (3090±1902 v 6374±1819) than in controls. In neurology patients step count was correlated with RMI score (rs = 0.49, p<0.01) and STS (r = −0.19, p<0.05). However, self selected gait speed was the only significant predictor in the regression analysis (p<0.01) of daily mean step count. Conclusions: Measures of muscle strength, timed STS, and RMI do not appear to closely reflect community walking activity in these patient groups. Self selected gait speed was partially predictive. Measurement of community walking activity may add a new dimension to evaluating the impact of interventions in neurological disorders.


The purpose of this paper is to see the potential of Batik Bakaran in Pati regency, Central Java, in its development through a program of creative economy promoted by the government. Batik Bakaran is one of the products that re-encouraged through creative economic programs in order to promote local values and to be able to compete in the global level. Batik Bakaran development experienced ups and downs and has not been able to compete with other batik areas. Through the creative economy program, it is expected to improve the development of batik bakaran which then can increase the local employement through the science and creativity of the community. Because most of the people of Bakaran Village are live as batik producer. This paper is analytical descriptive, using qualitative methods, with data collection techniques, using "library research" and "interview" techniques. The data were collected from various sources such as books, journals, newspapers, magazines, as well as data sourced from the internet, and conduct in-depth interviews with related parties. The findings in this study indicates that the government has provided support to batik bakaran craftsmen to develop and innovate in terms of motives and colors through the development of human resources. But apparently it has not been able to improve the competitiveness of batik Bakaran in the domestic and international markets. Solutions to overcome these problems is to apply the concept of competitiveness through the development of the capabilities of the batik Bakaran industry players include: (1) ability to strengthen its market position, (2) ability to connect with its environment, (3) ability to improve nonstop performance, and (4) ability to establish favorable position. If the government is committed to assisting the community in the development of batik bakaran to compete in the domestic or international market then it must apply the concept of competitive development.

Keywords: Batik Bakaran, Competitiveness, Creative Economy, Government


In this paper, we propose and analyse a mathematical model that describes the dynamics of Cholera. The main aim of this model is to investigate the role of houseflies in the transmission of Cholera. Our analysis showed that the disease free equilibrium is globally asymptotically stable whenever the basic reproduction number is less than unity; and unstable otherwise; and our model posses only one endemic equilibrium which is locally asymptotically stable whenever basic reproduction number is greater than unity. Our sensitivity analysis showed that the basic reproduction number is very sensitive to ingesting vibrios rate from aquatic environment by vectors, the rate of contribution to V. cholera in the aquatic environment and the death rate of vector and death rate of vibrios in aquatic environment which indicates that the vector (i.e. the houseflies) play a very important role in the transmission procedure.Numerically, we shown that the rate of water contamination by infectious people shedding V. cholera into the environment has no impact in the infection because it depends on both bacteria shedding of the infected individuals and the level of sanitation in the environment and since the environment is safe, then it is obviously has no effects. In addition, if the contact rate of vectors with contaminated water is high in the presence of increased contribution of each infected vector to the aquatic environment then cholera will persist in the population. Therefore, to obtain a significant and effective control, the contribution of each infected vector to the aquatic environment and the rate of exposure to contaminated water must be reduced.


This PhD thesis asks how 'neo-liberal' was the Thatcher government? Existing accounts tend to characterise neo-liberalism as a homogeneous, and often ill-defined, group of thinkers that exerted a broad influence over the Thatcher government. This thesis - through a combination of archival research, interviews and examination of ideological texts - defines the dominant strains of neo-liberalism more clearly and explores their relationship with Thatcherism. In particular, the schools of liberal economic thought founded in Vienna and Chicago are examined and juxtaposed with the initial neo-liberals originating from Freiburg in 1930s and 1940s Germany. Economic policy and deregulation were the areas that most clearly linked neo-liberal thinking with Thatcherism, but this thesis looks at a broad cross section of the wider programme of the Thatcher government. This includes other domestic policies such as education and housing, as well as the Thatcher government's success in reducing or altering the pressures exerted by vested interests such as the trade unions and monopolies. Lastly, while less associated with neo-liberal theory, foreign policy, in the area of overseas aid, is examined to show how ideas filtered into the international arena during the 1980s. Although clearly a political project, the policies of Thatcherism, in so far as they were ideological, resonate most with the more expedient, or practical, Friedmanite strain of neo-liberalism. This encapsulated a willingness to utilize the state, often in contradictory ways, to pursue more marketorientated policies. As such, it sat somewhere between the more rules-based ordoliberalism and the often utopian Austrian School.


This article examines transformations in Sufi orders and in the status of Sufis in the late Ottoman Empire and argues that their increasing bureaucratization was an extension of increased rationalization of Ottoman administration and the normalization of the objects of governance into the Islamic sphere. The characteristically modern modes of power that Michel Foucault identified as governmentality and the particular kinds of knowledge and subjectivities associated with them were profoundly rearticulating the nature of Sufism in Ottoman lands by the last quarter of the nineteenth century. The article shows that changes in Sufi discourse and practice reflected the context of broader debates about Islamic traditions, institutions, and society at large in the late Ottoman Empire. This reevaluation of the experiences of Sufis in the later empire is important to an adequate interpretation of the relationship between Sufism and reform and of the concrete circumstances in which the orders were eventually proscribed by the republic in 1925.


[1] The nature of seismic coupling for many of the world's subduction zones has been reevaluated. Geodetic estimates of seismic coupling obtained from GPS measurements of upper plate deformation during the interseismic period are summarized. We compared those with new estimates of seismic coupling obtained from seismological data. The results show that with a few notable exceptions the two methods agree to within about 10%. The seismological estimates have been greatly improved over those made 20–30 years ago because of an abundance of paleoseismological data that greatly extend the temporal record of great subduction earthquakes and by the occurrence, in the intervening years, of an unusual number of great and giant earthquakes that have filled in some of the most critical holes in the seismic record. The data also, again with a few notable exceptions, support the frictional instability theory of seismic coupling, and in particular, the test of that theory made by Scholz and Campos (1995). Overall, the results support their prediction that high coupling occurs for subduction zones subjected to high normal forces with a switch to low coupling occurring fairly abruptly as the normal force decreases below a critical value. There is also considerable variation of coupling within individual subduction zones. Earthquake asperities correlate with areas of high coupling and hence have a semblance of permanence, but the rupture zones and asperity distributions of great earthquakes may differ greatly between seismic cycles because of differences in the phase of seismic flux accumulation.


The EU, political and economic development in Africa is looks at the policies of European Union in respect to economics and politics in Africa. This study goes on to mention the main role of aid in the EU policy in shaping the economy and politics of Africa. With so much received from the union comparing to the less that can be seen on ground, this paper investigate what went wrong and who are sole responsible for the mishap. The advent of China reshaping the policy of EU in Africa in discussed in this paper. In other to be in the realm of affairs the EU suggests a partnership with the Chinese who have already been in the process of aiding without strings and being totally mindful of their business. The political class and their mismanagement is leading the continent into serious poverty and stagnated growth while the European remains quite and selective and meting out punishment to the offenders.


Mindfulness has been described as a non-elaborative, non-judgmental, present-centred awareness in which each thought, feeling or sensation is acknowledged and accepted. The aim of the present study was to systematically search and synthesise qualitative evidence of cancer patients' attitudes to mindfulness. A systematic review of qualitative evidence was conducted following the SPICE framework. All cancers were included. Medline, Cinahl, Science Direct, O-Alster and New Bank were searched from the first available year to August 2016 using the search terms; wellbeing, mindfulness, qualitative. Two reviewers independently screened titles and abstracts; potentially relevant articles were retrieved and assessed independently by two reviewers. Data were extracted and quality assessed using Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) qualitative research checklist. In total, 233 studies conducted between 2005 and 2015 were identified with six included in the final analysis. Four themes were identified: Coping strategies developed through mindfulness course; Positive outcomes of mindful practice; Challenges with engaging in mindful practice; and Group identification and shared experience. The current evidence supports the view that mindfulness is an effective intervention to help people adjust to living with and beyond cancer however, more qualitative work is needed in this area.


Student migration is a key component of knowledge migration. However, as knowledge becomes a central part of migrant selectivity, labour and family migrants too are involved in knowledge acquisition, both prior to and after migration. At the same time, student migrants are involved in work and family, just like other migrants. What then is distinctive about student migrants? This paper attempts to address this challenge. It begins by reviewing how migration theories have analysed student mobility. It then suggests that migration theorists need to extend existing analyses, which have primarily focused on the spatialities of migration, to take account of the spatialities of knowledge. It is argued that knowledge institutions need to reach out to people in different parts of the world and to produce in prospective students a desire to circulate. This is necessary if the institutions are to obtain a global presence and to maintain their legitimacy as knowledge brokers. An analysis of student migration where the inducements that the Higher Education Institutions offer to prospective students and the subjective responses of such students to these invitations will throw light on how the spatiality of knowledge is achieved and also highlight the distinctiveness of student migration in a knowledgeable migrant world.


The acceleration of change in our time has become an elemental force. This accelerative thrust has personal, psychological and sociological consequences. Unless people quickly learn to control the rate of change in their personal and professional affairs, as well as society at large, mankind is doomed to a massive adaptational breakdown. Empowering the learning community within the academy through Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is certainly a classic example! Thus, the authors attempt to address some of the salient issues including: (1) early synergies and the inevitable "bureaucratic creep" of ICT; (2) the ICT system including administrators, technophobes, and users frequently comprised of technophiles and self-proclaimed informed users; (3) ICT system encumbrances and the need for periodic reality checks; and (4) institutionalizing synergy within the learning community of the academy through ICT. The article is the outgrowth of a recent multi-year collaborative interdisciplinary research project by the authors, all of whom were posted at The American University of Cairo at the time.


As a consequence of recent market conditions an increasing number of investors are realizing the importance of controlling tail risk to reduce drawdowns thus increasing possibilities of achieving long-term objectives. Recently, so called volatility control strategies and volatility target approaches to investment have gained a lot of interest as strategies able to mitigate tail risk and produce better risk-adjusted returns. Essentially these are rule-based backward looking strategies in which no optimization is considered. In this contribution we focus on the role of volatility in downside risk reduction and, in particular, in tail risk reduction. The first contribution of our paper is to provide a viable way to integrate a target volatility approach, into a multiperiod portfolio optimization model, through the introduction of a local volatility control approach. Our optimized volatility control is contrasted with existing rule-based target volatility strategies, in an out-of sample simulation on real data, to assess the improvement that can be obtained from the optimization process. A second contribution of this work is to study the interaction between volatility control and downside risk control. We show that combining the two tools we can enhance the possibility of achieving the desired performance objectives and, simultaneously, we reduce the cost of hedging. The multiperiod portfolio optimization problem is formulated in a stochastic programming framework that provides the necessary flexibility for dealing with different constraints and multiple sources of risk.


In the programme Health Promoting Kindergartens and Schools, we work across various educational contexts, and our goal is to facilitate for good mental health where individuals thrive and can develop their potential. The background for this programme was increased mental health challenges among young people. We believe it is important to have a common set of values to create an environment that embraces difference and promotes a positive development. We have developed a set of guiding principles which are as follows: 1) There are no difficult children, only children who are going through difficulties. This principle is inspired by Ross Green's saying «Kids do well if they can», and it expresses a professional responsibility to act according to what children and young people express through words or action. 2) We see development as a possibility, meaning that it is always possible to influence a situation. 3) We develop solutions together, meaning that children and young people are supported to be actors in their own lives depending on age and matureness. 4) We know that we are all part of the context, meaning that we must be conscious of our own attitudes and understandings when meeting with others. To ensure that the different participants in the programme work according to the same principles, we gathered different professionals from the education and health sectors, and used a method called Dialogue Cafe to discuss the four principles. In this presentation, we will elaborate on this process, and how the four guiding principles were understood.


It is thought by many that the size of a nation's economy determines the amount and kind of services that any individual in that nation can access. This paper explores how freedom affects a country's economic success in terms of GDP per capita. The conclusions are that the amount of freedom a country has, as determined by Freedom house measures, does have an effect on Gross Domestic Product per Capita. Generally, the more freedom a country has the higher the GDP per capita is. Countries should promote and establish free regimes in order to have the best economic output. In this research, political and economic freedom play a big part of why "freer" countries have more success. Degree Type Open Access Senior Honors Thesis Department Political Science


ASSESSING LEARNING STRATEGIES WITH AN EDUCATIONAL VIDEO David James Harrison Old Dominion University, 2016 Director: Dr. Ginger S. Watson Even though educational films and videos have been in used for a century, there remains insufficient research into efficacious learning strategies that can be used alongside them. This study sought to investigate active learning strategies as a method to improve learning from video. This true experimental study, supported and informed by qualitative data, examined three active learning strategies utilized within video-based instruction: Guided Notetaking, Personal Notetaking, and Guided Summaries. Outcome measures included three dimensions of learning (factual, conceptual, and procedural) on an immediate posttest, perceptions of extrinsic cognitive load, likelihood that participants would use the strategies again, how often participants paused the video, time-on-task, quality of strategy usage, and commonly shared experiences. While there were no significant differences between groups on general measures of learning, when the scores of only those participants who crafted high quality products (notes or summaries) were compared, the Guided Notetaking group scored significantly higher than the Guided Summaries on factual learning. These results suggest that quality of strategy usage is a factor that should be included in research examining active learning strategies with educational videos. The Guided Notetaking group experienced significantly higher perceived extrinsic cognitive load than the other groups. Participants in the Personal Notetaking group reported significantly higher likelihood that they would use these strategies again compared to the other groups. Participants in the Guided Notetaking strategy paused the video significantly more often than participants in the other groups. Analysis of commonly shared subjective experiences indicated that Guided Notetaking was difficult for several reasons: matching of the video content with the notes, switching back and forth between the video and notes (which some perceived as detracting from their learning), and the constant pausing of the video this strategy required. Personal Notetaking was perceived as the easiest of the three strategies, only slightly easier than the Guided Summaries. Suggestions for implementation of strategies, future research, and production of educational videos are also provided.


Giant Cell tumors (GCT) are benign tumors with potential for aggressive behavior and capacity to metastasize. Although rarely lethal, benign bone tumors may be associated with a substantial disturbance of the local bony architecture that can be particularly troublesome in peri-articular locations. Its histogenesis remains unclear. It is characterized by a proliferation of mononuclear stromal cells and the presence of many multi- nucleated giant cells with homogenous distribution. There is no widely held consensus regarding the ideal treatment method selection. There are advocates of varying surgical techniques ranging from intra-lesional curettage to wide resection. As most giant cell tumors are benign and are located near a joint in young adults, several authors favor an intralesional approach that preserves anatomy of bone in lieu of resection. Although GCT is classified as a benign lesion, few patients develop progressive lung metastases with poor outcomes. Treatment is mainly surgical. Options of chemotherapy and radiotherapy are reserved for selected cases. Recent advances in the understanding of pathogenesis are essential to develop new treatments for this locally destructive primary bone tumor.


This comprehensive textbook/reference presents a focused review of the state of the art in privacy research, encompassing a range of diverse topics. The first book of its kind designed specifically to cater to courses on privacy, this authoritative volume provides technical, legal, and ethical perspectives on privacy issues from a global selection of renowned experts. Features: examines privacy issues relating to databases, P2P networks, big data technologies, social networks, and digital information networks; describes the challenges of addressing privacy concerns in various areas; reviews topics of privacy in electronic health systems, smart grid technology, vehicular ad-hoc networks, mobile devices, location-based systems, and crowdsourcing platforms; investigates approaches for protecting privacy in cloud applications; discusses the regulation of personal information disclosure and the privacy of individuals; presents the tools and the evidence to better understand consumers privacy behaviors.


Heat pumps are becoming more commonly and widely used due to their advantages in efficiency and versatile applications in both cooling and heating. However, the reliability of its compressor is being compromised due to high discharge temperatures caused by harsh operating conditions. Among the numerous studies conducted in improving the discharge temperature and performance of the heat pump, two-phase injection is receiving great interest. In this study, the performance of the two-phase injection heat pump was measured with a variation of operating parameters. The experiment results were used to study the performance change according to the operating parameter such as injection quality and pressure. It was found that the performance of the heat pump using the two-phase injection was better in terms of COP by up to 5.8% compared to that using the vapor injection. Furthermore, the two-phase injection was effective in reducing the discharge temperature to improve the compressor reliability. Two types of optimum injection qualities were suggested through this study: discharge temperature optimum injection quality (TIQ), and performance optimum injection quality (PIQ). It was found that in most conditions PIQ was sufficient in satisfying the compressor reliability, but in harsh operating conditions, where the compression ratio was high, TIQ was required in order to maintain the compressor reliability.


A series of advanced investigations on the radiation performance of four 6-in-thick plates from a large (30-ton) commercial melt of A533-B steel is described. The melt represented the first commercial scale demonstration test of improved radiation embrittlement resistance through the control (minimization) of selected residual impurity elements. Melt specifications emphasized the attainment of a low copper and phosphorus content; one half of the melt was modified, however, by a copper addition (0.03 percent Cu increased to 0.13 percent Cu). Initial plate tests described superior 550 F (288 C) radiation resistance, in terms of notch ductility retention, for the primary melt composition and verified the detrimental influence of impurity copper on irradiation behavior. Promising capability of the primary melt composition for very high fluence (∼2.5 × 1020 n/cm2 > 1 MeV) service is shown by the current investigations. In addition, a significant influence of copper content on radiation resistance is revealed for a broad range of exposure temperatures. A dependence of 650 F (343 C) postirradiation heat treatment response (notch ductility recovery) on copper content was also found. Charpy-V versus dynamic tear test performance and tensile strength trends with temperature are examined for low (<450 F, 121 C) and elevated (550 to 585 F, 288 to 307 C) temperature irradiation conditions.


Play is a means to express and explore an individual's or a community's identity.
The individual uses play to communicate meaning about who they are. People perform
identity when they meet role expectations (Goffman, 1959). Play involves accepting or
rejecting the role expectations of the situation in which we find ourselves (Grayson,
1999). We don't have to play when there are role expectations, but we can if we so
choose.
All play has meaning (Huizinga, 1956). It points to and signifies other things. It
reflects and rewards the values of the players' community. If shopping is more than
buying things but the buying of identity (Clammer, 1992; Johnstone and Conroy, 2005),
then play is the demonstration and the performance of this purchased (and elective)
identity. The acquired 'things' become the props we use to make identity performances
real, visible, and readable by others. This research will look at the effort consumers go
through to construct, maintain, and defend elective identities within the environments
within which they are enacted—what I will refer to throughout this document as
'playscapes'. I ask the questions,
1. "Why take the effort to construct, maintain, and defend an elective identity within
a playscape? (What are the payoffs?).
2. "What role does the environment play in affecting elective identity consumption
processes?" and
3. "[How] do players differentiate between other players and spectators within a
playscape?"
ix
What I show through this research is how the explicit recognition of play in
the elective identity process enables us to better understand how consumers approach
consumption. Once we are freed from the obligations of necessity—once we are free to
play—we can approach our consumption differently. Once we begin to play, we don't all
play the same way.
Identities are not static; they are ongoing projects. They are a process. We can
work at these projects or we can play at these projects. We can make these projects a
game and, in doing so, they take on the characteristics and components of any other
game. They have a playscape—boundaries within which they are played. They have
rules determining what you can and cannot do. They have pieces, props, and other
paraphernalia. They involve the suspension of the 'real world' for the acceptance of an
imaginary world that—while it is active—takes precedence over the outside world.
Finally, games have other players.
One of the things this research makes apparent is that other players, in the form
of spectators, are more important to play and games—especially elective identity
games—than we may at first realize. In consumer behavior and consumer culture
theory we tend to treat the observer as a given; as something that is fixed. As a result
we tend to see elective identity performances as one-sided communication—as
presentations made to relevant audiences. What, in fact, my research shows is that
elective identity performances are more like multi-sided games with both moves and
countermoves. Elective identity becomes a form of negotiation between the performer
and an active audience who are also involved in the performance—or, in keeping with
this dissertation, a negotiation between players playing the same or similar games. As
x
an open game—one whose goal is to keep playing and not end the game—elective
identity games involve the creation, maintenance, and defense of different elective
identities within a playscape. Successful play means the creating, maintaining, and
defending playscape-compatible elective identities. It is through the ongoing play within
these playscapes that boundaries are tested and performances assessed. It is an
iterative process, a conversation, between presenter and observer in which a consumer
can choose to play either role. If we study just one side of this equation we cannot get a
proper understanding of the role played by each—like hearing only one side of a phone
conversation. We can try to piece some of it together, but we can be more confident in
what we hear and understand if we have both sides of the conversation.


The introduction of technology in the public school teaching process could help increasing the weak motivation we can observe toward engineering studies. To achieve this goal, one main obstacle is motivating public school teachers to use technological tools in their teaching activity. In this paper we present how to use a large public robotic festival to introduce such educational tools to teachers. A survey made among the teachers helps in understanding their expectations in this particular context and the potential impact of this action, giving hints on how to run this type of activity.


The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) manages and maintains over
3,000 miles of interstates across the state. Assessing lane marking quality is an
important part of agency asset tracking and typically occurs annually. The current
process requires agency staff to travel the road and collect representative
measurements. This is quite challenging for high volume multi-lane facilities.
Furthermore, it does not scale well to the additional 5,200 centerline miles of non-interstate routes. Modern vehicles now have technology on them called "Lane Keep Assist" or LKA,
that monitor lane markings and notify the driver if they are deviating from the lane.
This thesis evaluates the feasibility of monitoring when the LKA systems can and
cannot detect lane markings as an alternative to traditional pavement marking asset
management techniques. This information could also provide guidance on what
corridors are prepared for level 3 autonomous vehicle travel and which locations need
additional attention. In this study, a 2019 Subaru Legacy with LKA technology was utilized to detect
pavement markings in both directions along Interstates I-64, I-65, I-69, I-70, I-74, I90, I-94 and I-465 in Indiana during the summer of 2020. The data was collected in
the right most lane for all interstates except for work zones that required temporary
lane changes. The data was collected utilizing two go-pro cameras, one facing the
dashboard collecting LKA information and one facing the roadway collecting photos
of the user's experience. Images were taken at 0.5 second frequency and were GPS
tagged. Data collection occurred on over 2,500 miles and approximately 280,000
images were analyzed. The data provided outputs of: No Data, Excluded, Both Lanes
Not Detected, Right Lane Not Detected, Left Lane Not Detected, and Both Lanes
Detected. The data was processed and analyzed to create spatial plots signifying locations where
markings were detectable and locations where markings were undetected. Overall,
across 2,500 miles of travel (right lane only), 77.6% of the pavement markings were
classified as both detected. The study found• 2.6% the lane miles were not detected on both the left and right side • 5.2% the lane miles were not detected on the left side • 2.0% the lane miles were not detected on the right side
8 Lane changes, inclement weather, and congestion caused 12.5% of the right travel
lane miles to be excluded. The methodology utilized in this study provides an
opportunity to complement the current methods of evaluating pavement marking
quality by transportation agencies. The thesis concludes by recommending large scale harvesting of LKA from a variety
of vendors so that complete lane coverage during all weather and light conditions can
be collected so agencies have an accurate assessment of how their pavement markings
perform with modern LKA technology. Not only will this assist in identifying areas
in need of pavement marking maintenance, but it will also provide a framework for
agencies and vehicle OEM's to initiate dialog on best practices for marking lines and
exchanging information.


Many loads connected to electric power systems can cause power quality problems at all voltage levels and for very different power ratings due to their unbalanced and non-linear behavior characteristics. This paper describes the aspects of power quality at the point of common coupling (PCC) where an arc furnace for steel melting with alternating current is connected. By measurements of Flicker, harmonics content in voltage and current, active and reactive power and power factor, the preservation of the reference levels for the supply voltage and emission limits for the furnace as a customer are evaluated. The evaluation of power quality of contemporary International and Argentinian standards is given. The different phases in the operation of the arc furnace are described in detail and illustrated with measurements.


It has long been recognized that Nepal faces high earthquake hazard, with the most recent large ( M w>7.5) events in 1833 and 1934. When the 25 April 2015 M w 7.8 Gorkha earthquake struck, it appeared initially to be a realization of worst fears. In spite of its large magnitude and proximity to the densely populated Kathmandu valley, however, the level of damage was lower than anticipated, with most vernacular structures within the valley experiencing little or no structural damage. Outside the valley, catastrophic damage did occur in some villages, associated with the high vulnerability of stone masonry construction and, in many cases, landsliding. The unexpected observations from this expected earthquake provide an urgent impetus to understand the event itself and to better characterize hazard from future large Himalayan earthquakes. Toward this end, articles in this special focus section present and describe available data sets and initial results that better illuminate and interpret the earthquake and its effects.


About more than half of the migration population across the globe are women. Even though women had equal participation as men in the process of migration in search of job opportunities outside their home by crossing the national and the international boundaries from the 1980's onwards, they are not given due space as a separate category in migration studies. This was brought to the notice in the 20 th century. The low-end service jobs have replaced male employees with ethnic migrant women for multiple reasons. The gender, race and ethnicity are playing an equally crucial role in the hiring and recruitment of the new service sector industries. In this paper, an attempt has been made to conceptualise certain changes in the demands of skills and training that are reconstructing the image of a favourable employee desirable in the service sectors. Emphasis on the embodiment of the workers in the current global market especially is (re)establishing their demand/recruitment in specific job opportunities in the labour market.A case of the North-Eastern women working in the low-end service jobs reflects on the feminisation of migration which indirectly influences the changing labour market in India. The study has taken up the case of the migrant women workers in Chennai. The methodology of the paper is descriptive, and the required information is collected with structured questionnaire survey of 300 female migrants from the North-Eastern states working in the low-end service jobs in Chennai.


This essay is part of a symposium issue dedicated to "Constitutional Rights: Intersections, Synergies, and Conflicts" at William and Mary School of Law. I make four points. First, perfect harmony among rights might not always be normatively desirable. In fact, in some instances, such as when First Amendment and Second Amendment rights clash, we might wish to have expressive rights consistently trump gun rights. Second, we can't resolve clashes between rights in the abstract but instead must consult history in a broadly relevant rather than a narrowly "originalist" fashion. When we do so, we learn that armed expression and white supremacy has been linked in the past in dangerous ways that must be accounted for today. Third, in deciding how to juggle a variety of constitutional interests, we must engage in purposivist interpretation, considering not only the goal of particular constitutional provisions, but also how the general enterprise of constitutionalism is affected by interpretive choices. In a time of democratic decline, which we are experiencing today, the borrowing of constitutional ideas and delineation of rights must be done in a way that treats the renewal of democracy as an overriding purpose. Otherwise, judicial decisions will be incapable of aiding perennially mistreated groups or solving intractable problems. Remaining non-judgmental as to warring conceptions of democratic life merely ratifies unequal patterns of power and influence. Fourth, as an alternative to policing rights harmony, I argue that it is a judge's responsibility to help foster an unruly constitutional culture where overlapping rights and values are ubiquitous rather than to be obsessed with maintaining a mythical notion of balance. To do so, judges should pursue these twin goals: (1) ensuring the durability of connections between key constitutional values and (2) permitting one closely related value to be substituted for another when doing so is consistent with our constitutional past and can aid the project of democratic renewal.


A comprehensive study of the consumers' needs and demands, the patterns of their social and cultural behavior are essential to the success of the modern luxury companies in their market activity. The purpose of research is to study the possible differences and similarities in the perception of luxury and motivation to purchase these goods by consumers in different parts of the world and selection of acceptable marketing tools. The study is built on the results of analysis of cultural values in some countries using the country comparison tool developed by Hofstede and the results of analysis of scientific articles on the behavior of luxury goods consumers in different countries. The methodology approach – Hofstede's model of national culture and scientific studies belonging to cultural impacts on luxury consumers' behavior – is applied to explore cross-cultural differences in luxury consumption behavior. The findings of the study are as follows: consumers from countries with high power distance, collectivism, and masculinity, long-term orientation, and low indulgence primarily perceive social values in consuming luxury goods and are sensitive to conspicuous luxury-status. In cultures with high individualism, masculinity, indulgence, and low power distance, consumers display to perceive individual and functional values and are sensitive to "emotional hedonistic luxury." The consumption of luxury goods in the Asian region is characterized by significant focusing on social values and status consumption, more than in the rest of the world. The motives of achievements in the form of self-realization and self-actualization are among the main reasons for the luxury consumption of European Union consumers.


UK ambulance service guidelines note that patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) should be transferred to hospital as blue-light emergencies. This study examines whether emergency transportation increases stress levels in patients with ACS. Patients aged between 50 and 90 years with clinical signs of ACS were screened for inclusion in the trial and 32 patients consented to participate. Venous plasma levels of epinephrine, norepinephrine and lactate as well as pain and anxiety scores were measured before and after transportation to hospital. In addition, heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen saturation were recorded every 3 minutes.


Although there is a host of literature on the locational choice of traditional economy firms, relatively little is known about the locational needs and preferences of new economy firms. Therefore, the current paper provides an empirical analysis of the factors determining the regional distribution of new economy firms in Germany. Using a count data analysis, we find evidence that the number of firms listed in a particular region depends positively on the region's knowledge potential (as measured by the number of patents or by the number of R&D employees) as well as on the regional supply of venture capital.


We study low-energy collective excitations in a trapped superfluid Fermi gas. These excitations originate from slow variations of the phase of the superfluid order parameter and, in this sense, are similar to the Bogolyubov sound in a homogeneous superfluid Fermi gas. Well below the critical temperature the eigenfrequencies of the lowest collective excitations are of the order of the trap frequency, and these modes manifest themselves in the density oscillations under periodic modulations of the trap frequencies. This gives a clear signature of the presence of a superfluid phase.


The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) was asked by the European Commission to deliver a scientific opinion on sterigmatocystin (STC) in food and feed. STC is a polyketide mycotoxin that shares its biosynthetic pathway with aflatoxins. Following an EFSA call for data, analytical results from 247 food and 334 feed samples were submitted. In food, analytical results on STC were reported to be all below the limit of detection or limit of quantification. In feed, only four quantified results were reported. Therefore, the EFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM Panel) concluded that the available occurrence data are too limited to carry out a reliable human and animal dietary exposure assessment. Acute oral toxicity of STC is relatively low, and liver and kidneys are the target organs. STC is mutagenic in both bacterial and mammalian cells after metabolic activation and forms DNA adducts. Tumourigenicity has been observed after oral, intraperitoneal, subcutaneous and dermal administration resulting in hepatocellular carcinomas, haemangiosarcomas in the liver, angiosarcomas in brown fat and lung adenomas. Since no exposure data were available, the margin of exposure approach for substances that are genotoxic and carcinogenic could not be applied for STC, and thus the CONTAM Panel could not characterise the risk for human health. Regarding animals, the Panel noted that STC is hepatotoxic in poultry and pigs, and nephrotoxic in poultry and toxic in several fish species. However, in the absence of exposure data for livestock, fish and companion animals, and given the limited knowledge on the adverse effects of STC, the CONTAM Panel could not characterise the risk for animal health. More occurrence data on STC in food and feed need to be collected to allow dietary exposure assessment. For food, methods with a limit of quantification of less than 1.5 μg/kg should be applied. © European Food Safety Authority, 2013


Abstract Dynamic econometric models are built individually for ten countries from G10 during the Great Moderation period, with the aim of analysing counterfactually the globalisation effect on inflation. The main findings are (i) the effect is highly heterogeneous from country to country; (ii) increases in trade openness could be either inflationary or deflationary whereas increased imports from low-cost emerging-market economies are mostly deflationary; and (iii) there is almost no direct globalisation impact as far as inflation persistence is concerned while the impact on inflation variability can be positive as well as negative. Overall, globalisation is found to have contributed positively to lowering rather than stabilising inflation during the Great Moderation era.


The white-flippered penguin (Eudyptula minor albosignata) population on Banks Peninsula, New Zealand, was extensively preyed on by mammalian predators during the 1980s and 1990s with the loss of many colonies and the reduction in size of others. This paper presents the results of a 20-year study designed to identify the predators primarily responsible for these losses. It was based on the monitoring of 9 colonies ranging in size from 2 to 37 nests on a 1.7 km section of rocky coastline. Predators were trapped in the largest colony to determine the species present and their relevant behaviour. The other colonies were left unprotected, 6 of which were accessible to predators and 2 were not. Predation of penguins was first observed in the area in 1981 and it occurred annually through to the end of the study in 1995. Five of the 6 unprotected colonies were lost in 1982 and 1983 while the inaccessible colonies were unaffected. The remains of penguins that had been preyed on were found in the 'protected' colony in 11 of the 15 years between 1981 and 1995. These had been taken during the second half of the moulting season in February, and during the non-breeding season from April to August. No predation was observed during September to January when the penguins were breeding. A total of 47 mustelids were trapped in the 'protected' colony of which 43 (91%) were ferrets (Mustela furo). Overall there were 16 instances of predation that could be attributed to ferrets and 1 that was attributed to a ferret although the predator was not caught. The onset and sustained period of penguin predation by ferrets followed an eruption in their numbers Banks Peninsula-wide. This was most likely triggered by a corresponding increase in the numbers of rabbits (Oryctolagus c. cuniculus), their primary prey. Challies, C.N. 2015. Predation of white-flippered penguins (Eudyptula minor alborsignata) by ferrets (Mustela furo) in Harris Bay, Banks Peninsula, New Zealand. Notornis 62 (4): 202-208.


Abstract An effective delivery strategy coupled with relevant social and behaviour change communication (SBCC) have been identified as central to the implementation of micronutrient powders (MNP) interventions, but there has been limited documentation of what works. Under the auspices of "The Micronutrient Powders Consultation: Lessons Learned for Operational Guidance," three working groups were formed to summarize experiences and lessons across countries regarding MNP interventions for young children. This paper focuses on programmatic experiences related to MNP delivery (models, platforms, and channels), SBCC, and training. Methods included a review of published and grey literature, interviews with key informants, and deliberations throughout the consultation process. We found that most countries distributed MNP free of charge via the health sector, although distribution through other platforms and using subsidized fee for product or mixed payment models have also been used. Community‐based distribution channels have generally shown higher coverage and when part of an infant and young child feeding approach, may provide additional benefit given their complementarity. SBCC for MNP has worked best when focused on meeting the MNP behavioural objectives (appropriate use, intake adherence, and related infant and young child feeding behaviours). Programmers have learned that reincorporating SBCC and training throughout the intervention life cycle has allowed for much needed adaptations. Diverse experiences delivering MNP exist, and although no one‐size‐fits‐all approach emerged, well‐established delivery platforms, community involvement, and SBCC‐centred designs tended to have more success. Much still needs to be learned on MNP delivery, and we propose a set of implementation research questions that require further investigation.


The complex interplay between extraterrestrial events and earth-bound processes that triggered one of the greatest biological crises of the Phanerozoic requires a high resolution timescale. Detailed magnetic susceptibility measurements at the Contessa Highway and Bottaccione sections (Italy) span the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary and reveal clear orbital signatures in the sedimentary record. Identification of precession and 405 kyr eccentricity cycles allows an estimate of 324+/-40 kyr for the duration of the Maastrichtian part of Chron C29r. We present in the same high resolution time frame sites in Spain and the North and South Atlantic and bio-horizons, biotic changes, stable isotopic excursions and the decrease in Osmium isotopes recorded in these sections. The onset of 187 Os/ 188 Os decrease coincides with the ! 13 C negative excursion K-PgE1, thus suggesting a first pulse in Deccan volcanism at 66.64 Ma. The K-PgE3 ! 13 C negative excursion is possibly the expression of a second pulse at 66.26 Ma. Late Maastrichtian ! 13 C negative excursions are of low intensity and span durations of one to two eccentricity cycles, whereas early Danian excursions are brief (about 30 kyr) and acute. In Biotic response to late Maastrichtian perturbations occurred with a delay of ca. 200 kyr after the beginning of K-PgE1 shortly before K-PgE3. The biotic perturbation could be thus either a delayed response to K-PgE1, or a direct response to K-PgE3, and possibly, a threshold response to the stepwise buildup of CO2 atmospheric injections. No delay is evident in response to early Danian hyperthermal events. These differences suggest that short-lived, volcanically-derived environmental perturbations were buffered within the stable late Maastrichtian oceanic realm whereas they were amplified by the more sensitive and highly disturbed early Danian oceanic ecosystem.


In this thesis, we discuss a scheme for simulating the real time quantum quench dynamics of interacting quantum spin systems within the positive-P formalism. As model systems we study the transverse field Ising model as well as the Heisenberg model undergoing a quench away from the classical ferromagnetic ordered state. The connection to the positive-P formalism, as it is used in quantum optics, is established by mapping the spin operators on to Scwhwinger bosons. In doing so, the dynamics of the interacting quantum spin system is mapped onto a set of stochastic differential equations (SDEs) the number of which scales linearly with the number of spins, N, compared to an exact solution through diagonalization that in the case of the Heisenberg model would require matrices exponentially large in N. This mapping is exact and can be extended to higher dimensional interacting systems as well as to systems with an explicit coupling to the environment.


Abstract. It is known that atmospheric dynamics in the tropical stratosphere have an influence on higher altitudes and latitudes as well as on surface weather and climate. In the tropics, the dynamics are governed by an interplay of the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) and semiannual oscillation (SAO) of the zonal wind. The QBO is dominant in the lower and middle stratosphere, and the SAO in the upper stratosphere/lower mesosphere. For both QBO and SAO the driving by atmospheric waves plays an important role. In particular, the role of gravity waves is still not well understood. In our study we use observations of the High Resolution Dynamics Limb Sounder (HIRDLS) satellite instrument to derive gravity wave momentum fluxes and gravity wave drag in order to investigate the interaction of gravity waves with the SAO. These observations are compared with the ERA-Interim reanalysis. Usually, QBO westward winds are much stronger than QBO eastward winds. Therefore, mainly gravity waves with westward-directed phase speeds are filtered out through critical-level filtering already below the stratopause region. Accordingly, HIRDLS observations show that gravity waves contribute to the SAO momentum budget mainly during eastward wind shear, and not much during westward wind shear. These findings confirm theoretical expectations and are qualitatively in good agreement with ERA-Interim and other modeling studies. In ERA-Interim most of the westward SAO driving is due to planetary waves, likely of extratropical origin. Still, we find in both observations and ERA-Interim that sometimes westward-propagating gravity waves may contribute to the westward driving of the SAO. Four characteristic cases of atmospheric background conditions are identified. The forcings of the SAO in these cases are discussed in detail, supported by gravity wave spectra observed by HIRDLS. In particular, we find that the gravity wave forcing of the SAO cannot be explained by critical-level filtering alone; gravity wave saturation without critical levels being reached is also important.


In this work we analyze degradation phenomena observed in pseudomorphic AlGaAs/InGaAs HEMTs with Al/Ti gate metallization, which have been submitted to accelerated tests at high drain-source voltage VDS and high power dissipation PD. After these tests, we observe permanent degradation effects, consisting in electron trapping in the gate-drain access region, with consequent decrease in the longitudinal electric field and 'breakdown walkout', and. in thermally-activated interdiffusion of the Al/Ti gate with decrease in the gate Schottky barrier height and increase in drain saturation current ID Rather than causing a degradation of the rf characteristics of the device, these phenomena induce an increase in the associated rf gain at 12 GHz, the other rf characteristics being almost unchanged. Overall, the most relevant failure mode observed is an increase of low-frequency transconductance.


Much of the discussion of the rise of dark tourism opportunity for Northern Ireland is underscored by the reality that there is a strong political context in which certain types of attractions are being developed. Political tourism is a relatively new niche form of tourism associated with few regions. Northern Ireland could position itself to promote this type of tourism, alongside existing 'dark' opportunties. This paper probes the willingness of the tourism industry to embrace political tourism.


Since the successful sequencing of the human genome, interest in the group of genes encoding proteins responsible for DNA remodeling has grown exponentially. Included in this group are enzymes that methylate and demethylate DNA, as well as those that modify histones by adding chemical groups through acetylation, methylation, and sumoylation reactions, amongst others. Epigenetic enzymes are now among the most important pharmaceutical targets due to their involvement in numerous key cellular processes and in the etiology of many devastating diseases including cancer, neurodegenerative disease, and developmental disorders. Significant efforts are under way in both academic and industrial laboratories to identify and validate new so-called reader, writer, and eraser enzymes as well as their histone substrates. Understanding the functions of these proteins may lead to a new generation of therapeutics. While various molecular biology techniques were initially used to identify and validate epigenetics enzymes and their substrates, novel approaches are now available to perform pharmacological characterization of histone-modifying enzymes. During this webinar, our expert panelists will describe these methods and present breakthrough research data obtained using novel experimental approaches, including immunoassays, microfluidics-based techniques, and high-content screening immunophenotypic assays. View the Webinar


A science of comparative cognition ultimately needs a measurement theory, allowing the comparison of performance in different species of animals, including humans. Current theories are often based on human performance only, and may not easily apply to other species. It is proposed that such a theory include a number of indexes: an index of the stage of development based on the order of hierarchical complexity of the tasks the species can perform; an index of horizontal complexity; and measures of g (for general intelligence) and related indexes. This article is an early-stage proposal of ways to conceive of g in animals and people. It responds to Geary's argument that domain- general mechanisms are essential for evolutionary psychologists. Existing research is used to enumerate domains, such as problem solving behavior in pursuit of food, or behaviors in pursuit of mates and/or reproduction, and itemize identifiable human social domains. How to construct g, across domains and within domains, is described.


Apatites from carbonatites, related alkaline silicate rocks, a carbonate-bearing melilititic dyke rock (bergalite), and a diatreme breccia (containing both carbonate and silicate fragments) of the Miocene Kaiserstuhl Volcanic Complex, SW Germany, are used to reconstruct the petrogenetic relationship among these rocks. Apatites from carbonatites reach higher Sr and Nb contents but are generally lower in Fe, Mn, Th, U, Si, S, Cl and Br compared to apatites from associated silicate rocks, whilst Na, REE and F contents are overlapping. Apatites from bergalite show a systematic and discontinuous core-rim zonation, with the core being compositionally similar to apatites from silicate rocks and the rim corresponding to carbonatitic apatites. These observations imply that the bergalite apatites nucleated in a silicate melt and continued to crystallize from an evolving CO 2 -enriched melt probably with carbonatitic affinity. Apatites from a diatreme breccia comprise three populations: (1) similar to the apatites from silicate rocks, (2) similar to the carbonatitic apatites, and (3) resembling apatite population (1) partially replaced by apatite (2). We infer that apatite (1) was derived from silicate-rock fragments and apatite (2) crystallized from a later intruding carbonatitic melt, which metasomatized the silicate-rock fragments and caused the replacement textures as observed in apatite population (3). We conclude that apatites from the Kaiserstuhl complex preserve important information on the petrogenetic relationship between carbonatitic and silicate melts. The carbonatitic melts at the Kaiserstuhl complex are probably the products of protracted fractionation of a CO 2 -rich nephelinitic melt.


The study presented in this thesis is an attempt to explore the potential and diversity of Bacillus thuringiensis from the local environment for the control of cotton spotted bollworm (Earias sp.), a major pest of cotton. Two hundred and ninety eight samples of soil, grain dust, wild animal dung, bird dropping, decaying leaves and dead insect were collected from different ecological environments of Pakistan yielding 438 B. thuringiensis isolates that produce parasporal crystalline inclusions. In this study the soil samples were found to be the richest source for B. thuringiensis. Further characterization of 350 isolates for cry gene content divulged cry4 genes as the most prevalent followed by cry1A genes. The entomocidal activities of representative isolates were examined against Earias vitella larvae reared on locally developed synthetic diet. On the basis of bioactivities, an isolate JR6.3, separated from a soil sample, was selected as source material for gene cloning studies. This isolate was found highly effective against Earias vitella giving LC50 value 11.22 ng/mg in comparison with 25.12 ng/mg of diet for B. thuringiensis kurstaki HD1, which was used as a reference standard.

The gene cloned from isolate JR6.3 was characterized to be homologous to Lepidoptera active c1yAC gene as judged by Southern hybridization, PCR and restriction pattern analyses. Further, alignment of the complete nucleotide sequence of the coned gene with holotype cry1AC sequence from B.t.k. strain HD-73 showed 10 difference, with one difference resulting in change in amino acid residue from phenylalanine to serine at position 440. Full-length sequencing of a previously cloned and partially sequenced cry gene from a local B. thuringiensis isolate CEMB1, reported to be toxic against cotton spotted bollworm and rice leaf folder, was accomplished and sequence homology analyzed. The nucleotide sequence of cry gene from isolate CEMB1 was found to be 100% homologous with a nematode toxic cry6B gene sequence reported in the gene data bank.

Expressions of Histidine tagged 133kDa Cry1Ac and 44kDa Cry6B protenins were obtained in E. coli under T7 promoter. The crude lysate of E. Coli expressing Cry1Ac protein exhibited 100% larval mortality when fed to E. vitella larvae mixed in the artificial diet. The expressed proteins were purified through Ni+2 affinity column and thereafter subjected to trypsin digestion analysis. After incubation with trypsin 133kDa Cry1Ac protein was converted into 65kDa Cry6B protein was completely hydrolyzed showing its sensitivity towards serine proteases. The protease susceptibility of Cry6B protein was corroborated by computer aided analysis of the amino acid sequence.


The joint supply of timber and other services from forest environments plays a central role in most forest land debates. This paper defines a general conceptual model of timber supply that provides the context for discussing both individual harvest choice and aggregate supply models. While the structure and breadth of these models has developed considerably over the last twenty years, unresolved issues remain. Supply formulations that account for the quality and vintage distribution of forest capital will be necessary for improving medium- and long-run forecasts. This will be especially important for examining the potential impacts of structural changes in forest production and timber markets. In addition, consistent aggregation of individual owners to total supply will be required to address changing forest land ownership patterns.


This article explores the ways in which the comics medium enhances our understanding of literary models of the Fantastic. It examines the presence and depiction of multiple worlds in Neil Gaiman's The Sandman, with specific reference to the role of the comics medium and its denial of mimesis when creating such alterities.

It initially uses literature review to establish a contemporary working model of the Fantastic, taking as its basis the framework devised by Tzvetan Todorov, and incorporating the later work of Rosemary Jackson, A B Chanady, and Christine Brooke-Rose. It establishes the position of the Fantastic as a literary mode lying between the marvellous (supernatural accepted) and the uncanny (supernatural explained), and clarifies the distinction between the mode of the Fantastic (which encompasses various genres) and the genre itself.

The article then considers the ways in which both the form and content of the comics medium sustain the mode of the fantastic. It broadly discusses the ways in which the following factors contribute to this process:
• subject matter: fantastic events, super powers, alternate worlds
• non-realistic aesthetic: pop art, stylised visuals, fiction of fonts (invoking the tension between hand-drawn and computerised artwork or lettering)
• authorial reticence: the possibilities for surpassing or discarding narrative voice
• the role of the reader: as both interpreter and co-creator.

It then focuses more closely upon the genre of the Fantastic, establishing the ways in which this genre is opposed to both magical realism (outright fantasy) and realism (where such events are explained). It summarises the role of various qualities of the Fantastic in this regard, which include an antinomy between the natural and supernatural, author reticence, over- or under-determined language, and a defiance of absolute meaning in favour of interpretation or hesitation .

The article then proceeds to two case studies, taken from Neil Gaiman's The Sandman: A Game of You and The Kindly Ones. The first analyses the construction of two contrasting alterities ('The Land' and 'New York') and examines the ways in which, despite initial appearances, these two worlds are both equally removed from the referent of 'reality'. It proceeds to discuss the use made of over- and under-determined signifiers, the transformation motif, intertextuality, and the redefinition of static notions (home, gender) as fluid and undefined. It deconstructs The Kindly Ones in similar terms, considering the ways in which its triple alterities are all simultaneously validated by the text and the role of motifs such as multiple names and duplicated characters.

It concludes that, like the Fantastic, the comics medium exposes the notion of 'reality' as a constructed referent, which the text's alterities comment on. The nature of the medium allows for the construction and sustenance of multiple worlds without recourse to a stable notion of reality. As the reader's hesitation destabilises interpretation of reality versus fantasy, absolute meaning is denied. It therefore seems that comics offer what might be best described as a postmodern vision of the Fantastic.


Objective: Successful tongue reconstruction should restore swallowing, speech function, and cosmesis. This study was done to evaluate the functional outcomes of tongue reconstruction using submental flap for tongue defects.
Method: From August 2016 to June 2017, patients receiving submental flap for tongue reconstruction were included in the study. All patients had class II defect after surgery. Speech intelligibility score and swallowing assessment were done for functional evaluation.
Results: Total seven patients underwent submental flap reconstruction for tongue defect during the study period. Speech intelligibility assessment showed good outcome in 5 and acceptable outcome in 2 patients. Swallowing assessment showed good MTF score in 6 and acceptable score in 1 patient. There was no local recurrence.
Conclusion: Submental flap is good alternative for tongue reconstruction in patient with class II defects after surgical resection.