The aim of this thesis was to characterise and understand the evolution and significance of several large 'cap zones' that overlie Myra Falls mineralised zones. The Myra Falls volcanic hosted massive sulphide (VHMS) district is located in Strathcona Provincial Park in the middle of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. The orebodies are hosted by the Devonian Sicker Group, a volcanosedimentary package which forms the basement rocks of Vancouver Island. The Cu-Pb-Zn deposits are located in two mineralised horizons, and this study concentrates on the lower ore horizon, which includes the Battle and HW deposits, located on or near the contact with the footwall Price Andesite. The orebodies are hosted by the HW horizon, a rhyolitic package, 5 to 200 m thick, of volcaniclastic and sedimentary rocks, and quartz-feldspar porphyry bodies. The HW horizon is overlain by an andesite-dacite volcano-sedimentary sequence, which is up to 450 m thick.

Paleoseafloor reconstructions indicate that the Battle and HW orebodies formed in small basins along a NVV-trending ridge. Argillite deposits above the orebodies and in the South Flank area coincide with paleo-topographic lows and represent depocentres. The sequence has undergone multiple deformation events, including early extension and formation of growth faults; D i folding and development of an E-W oriented foliation; D2 shear zones; D3 aand D3b compression with steep strikeslip faults and shallow N-S dipping thrust faults; D4 extension with steep planar normal faults; and D5 compression resulting in large shallow N-S dipping thrusts and steep NE-oriented strike-slip faults.

Chert is best developed above the Battle orebody, where it appears to form a thick 'cap' (3-5m thick) above the massive sulphides. Chert horizons are also located above the Ridge and Extension ore zones. However, the HW orebody is overlain by a thick argillite sequence, with only minor chert.

The siliceous caprocks above the Battle deposit are replacement cherts (after mudstone), and these cherts share many sedimentological and petrological features with the adjacent unaltered argillite, including parallel laminations, interbedded turbidites, radiolarians, soft-sediment deformation and phosphatic concretions. Immobile elements indicate a closely related provenance for the argillite and chert, significantly different to the Price Andesite or rhyolitic rocks. Trace element geochemistry, and the spatial association of the cherts with the Battle orebody, indicate that the chert represents hydrothermal alteration of seafloor muds. There is a gradational transition, from white chert above the orebody, to black chert, 120m from the orebody, to unaltered argillite. Lateral metal zonation is observed in the chert, is interpreted to reflect precipitation from a cooling hydrothermal fluid, with a higher temperature Cu-Zn-Cd zone in the white chert, and a lower temperature Pb-Ag-Sb zone in the black chert.

Fluid inclusions in spherical megaquartz patches in the Battle chert, indicate temperatures between 135 to 250° C and salinities from 3 to 12.1 eq. wt % NaC1, which are similar to fluid inclusions in Battle orebody quartz (140 to 250° C, 3 to 12.4 eq. wt % NaC1). Densities, estimated from inclusion data, range from 0.88 to 1.05 g/cm3 and are close to the density of ambient seawater at 2° C and 2000m depth (1.03 g/cm3). These densities suggest that the hydrothermal fluids potentially displayed a range of behaviour types where they entered the submarine environment, from buoyant plumes to intermediate brines, which flowed laterally through porous seafloor sediments.

At the time of ore formation and caprock deposition, bottom water conditions in the Battle and HW basins were moderately anoxic to euxinic, indicated by DOP values > 0.90, Fe-sulphur-carbon relations, low Fe and Mn values, and high V/Cr, V/Ni and V/(Ni+V) ratios. Barite and haematite, which are common in VHMS caprocks globally, are absent in the caprock horizon, most likely reflecting low O2 conditions. Zn, Pb, Cu, As, Ag, V, Ba and Cd are variably enriched in argillites from the Battle and HW basins, and these are attributed to a hydrothermal origin, because they are all enriched in the orebody. Argillites from the South Flank show no metal enrichment, interpreted to reflect a lack of hydrothermal activity in this area.

δ34S values in the unaltered Battle basin argillite range from —35.2 to —10.3 ‰, which are much lighter than δ34S values in the black chert ( —18.4 to —5.3 ‰), and the Battle orebody (-1.1 to +4.1 ‰). The distinct shift from light δ34S values in the unaltered argillite, to heavier δ34S values in the black chert provides evidence that hydrothermal fluids, originally with Battle-like signatures, progressively leached regional argillites and so obtained intermediate δ34S compositions.
A model for the formation of the Battle orebody and siliceous caprocks consists of 5 stages, including:

1) Basin formation and the onset of rhyolitic volcanism, followed by a period of tectonic and/or volcanic quiescence, with the deposition of several metres of laminated muds, silts, and minor interbedded turbidites in the Battle basin. Restricted circulation within the basin resulted in a stratified water column with low to fluctuating O2 bottom water conditions.

2) The onset of hydrothermal activity during deposition of the seafloor muds resulted in the deposition of rutile, apatite and minor sulphides in primary pore space, principally by diffuse flow of hydrothermal fluids through the sediments. Buoyant venting also occurred, producing fine layers of sulphide-rich mud. In places, these layers were entrained into overlying sandstone turbidites.

3) Subsequent low to moderate temperature, silica-bearing fluids flowed laterally through porous seafloor muds to form the Battle chert. Silicification took place early in the depositional/diagenetic history of the muds, to account for the incorporation of chert into overlying mass flows. Ubiquitous bedding-parallel micro-stylolites indicate that silicification occurred prior to compaction. Low metal contents in the chert reflect relatively low fluid temperatures (<250° C) and likely prior deposition of sulphides in the underlying coarse-grained rhyolitic volcaniclastic layer. Low flow velocities combined with relatively high salinities and moderate temperatures may have enhanced subsurface lateral fluid flow, rather than buoyant venting. Lateral fluid flow is consistent with the sheet-like form of the Battle orebody and caprocks, replacement textures, and lateral metal zonation in the chert. Plugging of the porous seafloor sediments by silica precipitation changed the hydrothermal flow regime from diffuse to more focussed flow, leading to enhanced lateral flow of subsequent ore-bearing fluids beneath the silica cap; the basal contact of the chert is crosscut by massive sulphides.

4) Formation of the siliceous caprocks was followed by renewed extension and volcanism, with the rapid deposition of rhyolitic mass flow units, interlayered with rhyolitic sandstones and volcaniclastic rocks. Finely bedded jasper clasts are common in the overlying mass flow units and most likely originated from Fe-Si deposits forming on the margins of Battle basin, above the anoxic-oxic boundary. The end of rhyolitic volcanism was marked by the intrusion of a massive quartz-feldspar porphyry body at the top of the rhyolitic sequence.

5) Ore deposition continued throughout the deposition of the HW Horizon rhyolitic volcaniclastic rocks and intrusion of the quartz-feldspar porphyry. The barite-rich Gap lens formed by upflow of a more focussed hydrothermal fluid, along the main growth structure at the northern edge of the basin. The upper ore lenses formed by diffuse fluid flow through the rhyolitic pile and ponding beneath the massive porphyry. A more oxygenated environment developed during deposition of upper zone sulphides, indicated by ubiquitous barite in upper ore lenses.

A similar structural and depositional environment is proposed for the HW orebody. However, the HW orebody formed prior to deposition of the caprock horizon. Massive sulphides were deposited within the coarse-grained rhyolitic detritus on the basin floor and the top surface of the HW orebody is eroded in places, with ore clasts common in overlying mass flows. Elsewhere, there is a sharp depositional contact between argillite and the orebody. This study indicates that the formation of siliceous caprocks required the interaction of hydrothermal fluids with a pre-existing carapace of fine-grained sediment.


BACKGROUND
Maternal psychopathology robustly predicts poor developmental and treatment outcomes for children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Despite the high heritability of ADHD, few studies have examined associations between paternal ADHD symptoms and child adjustment, and none have also considered degree of paternal involvement in childrearing. Identification of modifiable risk factors for child conduct problems is particularly important in this population given the serious adverse outcomes resulting from this comorbidity.

METHODS
This cross-sectional study examined the extent to which paternal involvement in childrearing moderated the association between paternal ADHD symptoms and child conduct problems among 37 children with ADHD and their biological fathers.

RESULTS
Neither paternal ADHD symptoms nor involvement was independently associated with child conduct problems. However, the interaction between paternal ADHD symptoms and involvement was significant, such that paternal ADHD symptoms were positively associated with child conduct problems only when fathers were highly involved in childrearing.

CONCLUSIONS
The presence of adult ADHD symptoms may determine whether father involvement in childrearing has a positive or detrimental influence on comorbid child conduct problems.


Objective Recently the potential long-term effect of sports-related head injuries has been discussed. To develop effective injury prevention strategies, epidemiological information is required. The aim of this study was to analyse the incidence and characteristics of head and neck match injuries. Design Prospective cohort study. Setting FIFA tournaments and Olympic Games. Participants All football teams participating in FIFA tournaments and Olympic Games between 1998 and 2015 were included in the study. The team physicians reported injuries from 2106 matches from 65 outdoor tournaments (20 women's and 45 men's). The average response rate was 96%. Outcome measures Incidence rates per match and a variety of injury characteristics (type, severity, cause, gender) of head/neck injuries compared to other football injuries were analysed. Main results 4756 injuries (2.4 injuries/match) were reported. Most injuries affected the lower extremity (70%), followed by the head/neck (15%), trunk (8%) and upper extremity (7%). Head injuries (n=674; 14.4%) were more frequent than neck injuries (n= 34;0.7%), and the incidence was higher in female (18%) than in male (14%) players. Most head/neck injuries were contusions (n=362; 50.3%) and non-time-loss injuries (n= 164;22.8%). Of the 108 (15%) reported concussions, 62% resulted in time-loss. Only one head injury (fracture) had an estimated time-loss of more than four weeks. Conclusion While neck injuries are rare, head injuries are more frequent, and particularly concussions often result in time-loss. No career-ending injuries of the head or neck were reported. Potential long-term effects of head/neck injuries warrant further evaluation in clinical studies. Competing interests None.


Abstract. Long-chain diols (LCDs) occur widespread in marine environments
and also in lakes and rivers. Transport of LCDs from rivers may impact the
distribution of LCDs in coastal environments, however relatively little is
known about the distribution and biological sources of LCDs in river systems.
In this study, we investigated the distribution of LCDs in suspended
particulate matter (SPM) of three river systems (Godavari, Danube, and Rhine)
in relation with precipitation, temperature, and source catchments. The
dominant long-chain diol is the C32 1,15-diol followed by the
C30 1,15-diol in all studied river systems. In regions influenced
by marine waters, such as delta systems, the fractional abundance of the
C30 1,15-diol is substantially higher than in the river itself,
suggesting different LCD producers in marine and freshwater environments. A
change in the LCD distribution along the downstream transects of the rivers
studied was not observed. However, an effect of river flow is observed; i.e.,
the concentration of the C32 1,15-diol is higher in stagnant
waters such as reservoirs and during seasons with river low stands. A
seasonal change in the LCD distribution was observed in the Rhine, likely due
to a change in the producers. Eukaryotic diversity analysis by 18S rRNA gene
sequencing of SPM from the Rhine showed extremely low abundances of sequences
(i.e., < 0.32 % of total reads) related to known algal LCD
producers. Furthermore, incubation of the river water with
13C-labeled bicarbonate did not result in 13C
incorporation into LCDs. This indicates that the LCDs present are mainly of
fossil origin in the fast-flowing part of the Rhine. Overall, our results
suggest that the LCD producers in rivers predominantly reside in lakes or
side ponds that are part of the river system.


Compared to other Western democracies, references to "human rights" are rare in domestic American law. A survey of landmark Supreme Court cases reveals that both conservative and liberal Justices made no mention of "human rights" when addressing fundamental questions: racial segregation, the death penalty, prisoners' rights, women's rights, children's rights, gay rights, and indefinite detention at Guantanamo. This absence illustrates a broader societal trait. In the United States, "human rights" commonly evoke foreign problems like abuses in Third World dictatorships — not domestic problems. By contrast, human rights play a relatively important role as a domestic principle in Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Diverse legal, political, sociological, historical, and normative factors shed light on why human rights have hardly made headway as a domestic principle in America. The disinclination to frame domestic problems as human rights issues or to consider humanitarian questions per se helps explain why modern-day America has a worse human rights record than other Western democracies in various areas, including criminal justice, the "War on Terror," and access to affordable health care. America notably has the highest incarceration rate worldwide, is the only Western democracy to retain the death penalty, and has openly tortured alleged terrorists. In addition, it is the sole Western nation to lack universal health care, which is essentially considered a human right elsewhere in the West.The relative absence of human rights as a principle in contemporary American law is particularly striking given that the United States have made substantial contributions to the development of individual rights since becoming the first modern democracy to emerge from the Enlightenment in the 18th century. American leaders like Franklin Roosevelt, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Martin Luther King also played an active role in promoting the principle of "human rights" as it gradually emerged into a major international movement. If human rights have not achieved meaningful recognition as a domestic legal principle in the United States, it partly reflects the contradictions of American society.


When all non-edge distances of a graph realized in R d as a bar-and-joint framework are generically implied by the bar (edge) lengths, the graph is said to be rigid in R d . For d = 3, characterizing rigid graphs, determining implied non-edges and dependent edge sets remains an elusive, long-standing open problem. One obstacle is to determine when implied non-edges can exist without non-trivial rigid induced subgraphs, i.e., nucleations , and how to deal with them. In this paper, we give general inductive construction schemes and proof techniques to generate nucleation-free graphs (i.e., graphs without any nucleation) with implied non-edges. As a consequence, we obtain (a) dependent graphs in 3 D that have no nucleation; and (b) 3 D nucleation-free rigidity circuits , i.e., minimally dependent edge sets in d = 3. It additionally follows that true rigidity is strictly stronger than a tractable approximation to rigidity given by Sitharam and Zhou [16], based on an inductive combinatorial characterization. As an independently interesting byproduct, we obtain a new inductive construction for independent graphs in 3 D . Currently, very few such inductive constructions are known, in contrast to 2 D .


The aggregation of cyclodextrins (CD) in aqueous solution is an old, yet still vastly unexplored topic that has been studied at least since the 1980s. At that time, few authors took into consideration the possibility of formation of aggregates for the interpretation of thermodynamic and thermophysical properties of CDs in aqueous solution. The aggregates appear at quite low CD concentrations and seem to encompass only a small number of CD molecules. They also occur in water in the presence of hydrophobic or amphiphilic moieties, including surfactants, assuming a preassembled state with the hydrophobic chains threading through one or two CDs. After a long period in which it has been neglected, CD aggregation is now a hot topic and one far from gathering consensus. In this chapter, a timely and critical review on the phenomenon of CD aggregation and the respective supramolecular properties, including some computational rationales, will be presented. A comprehensive summary of CD aggregates studied to date, indicating the formation conditions, characterization techniques, and applications, is also provided.


Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a zoonotic disease caused by leishmania species. Dogs are considered to be the main reservoir of VL. A number of methods and antigen-based assays are used for the diagnosis of leishmaniasis. However, currently available methods are mainly based on direct examination of tissues for the presence of parasites, which is highly invasive. A variety of serological tests are commonly applied for VL diagnosis, including indirect fluorescence antibody test, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), dot-ELISA, direct agglutination test, Western-blotting, and immunochromatographic test. However, when soluble antigens are used, serological tests are less specific due to cross-reactivity with other parasitic diseases. Several studies have attempted to replace soluble antigens with recombinant proteins to improve the sensitivity and the specificity of the immunodiagnostic tests. Major technological advances in recombinant antigens as reagents for the serological diagnosis of VL have led to high sensitivity and specificity of these serological tests. A great number of recombinant proteins have been shown to be effective for the diagnosis of leishmania infection in dogs, the major reservoir of L. infantum. Although few recombinant proteins with high efficacy provide reasonable results for the diagnosis of human and canine VL, more optimization is still needed for the appropriate antigens to provide high-throughput performance. This review aims to explore the application of different recombinant proteins for the serodiagnosis of VL in humans and dogs.


BACKGROUND
The prevalence of obesity has increased at an epidemic rate, and obesity has become one of the most common health concerns in the United States. A few small studies have noted a possible association between iron deficiency and obesity.

OBJECTIVE
To investigate the association between weight status, as measured by body mass index (BMI), and iron deficiency in a nationally representative sample of children and adolescents.

DESIGN
National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III (1988-1994) provides cross-sectional data on children 2 to 16 years of age. Recorded measures of iron status included transferrin saturation, free erythrocyte protoporphyrin levels, and serum ferritin levels. Children were considered iron-deficient if any 2 of these values were abnormal for age and gender. With the use of age- and gender-specific BMI percentiles, at risk for overweight was defined as a BMI of > or =85th percentile and <95th percentile, and overweight was defined as a BMI of > or =95th percentile. The prevalence of iron deficiency was compared across weight groups. Logistic regression was used to estimate the association between iron status and overweight, controlling for age, gender, ethnicity, poverty status, and parental education level.

RESULTS
In this sample of 9698 children, 13.7% were at risk for overweight and 10.2% were overweight. Iron deficiency was most prevalent among 12- to 16-year-old subjects (4.7%), followed by 2- to 5-year-old subjects (2.3%) and then 6- to 11-year-old subjects (1.8%). Overweight 2- to 5-year-old subjects (6.2%) and overweight 12- to 16-year-old subjects (9.1%) demonstrated the highest prevalences of iron deficiency. Overall, the prevalence of iron deficiency increased as BMI increased from normal weight to at risk for overweight to overweight (2.1%, 5.3%, and 5.5%, respectively), and iron deficiency was particularly common among adolescents (3.5%, 7.2%, and 9.1%, respectively). In a multivariate regression analysis, children who were at risk for overweight and children who were overweight were approximately twice as likely to be iron-deficient (odds ratio: 2.0; 95% confidence interval: 1.2-3.5; and odds ratio: 2.3; 95% confidence interval: 1.4-3.9; respectively) as were those who were not overweight.

CONCLUSIONS
In this national sample, overweight children demonstrated an increased prevalence of iron deficiency. Given the increasing numbers of overweight children and the known morbidities of iron deficiency, these findings suggest that guidelines for screening for iron deficiency may need to be modified to include children with elevated BMI.


This study investigates the morphological basis of differences between humans and chimpanzees in the kinematical and dynamical parameters of the musculature of the thumb. It is partly intended to test an hypothesis that human thumb muscles can exert significantly greater torques, due to larger muscle cross-sectional areas or to longer tendon moment arms or to both. We focus on the estimation of the potentials of thumb muscles to exert torques about joint axes in a sample of eight chimpanzee cadaver hands. The potential torque of a muscle is estimated by taking the product of a muscle's physiological cross-sectional area (an estimator of force) with its dynamical moment arm (derived from the slope of tendon excursion versus joint angular displacement, obtained during passive movements of cadaver thumb joints). Comparison of our results with similar data obtained for humans at the same Mayo Clinic laboratory shows significant differences between humans and chimpanzees in potential torque of most thumb muscles, those of humans generally exhibiting larger values. The primary reason for the larger torques in humans is that their average moment arms are significantly longer, permitting greater torque for a given muscle size. An additional finding is that chimpanzees and humans differ in the direction of secondary thumb metacarpal movements elicited by contraction of some muscles, as shown by differences in moment arm signs for a given movement in the same muscle. The differences appear to be related to differences in the musculo-skeletal structures of the trapeziometacarpal joint.


Provision for Education for Local and Global Citizenship became a statutory component for all post-primary schools from September 2007. It is a key element within the overall curriculum framework and an explicit strand of learning within Learning for Life and Work.In preparation for the introduction of this new curriculum area the Department of Education (DE) supported a pilot initiative between 2002 and 2007, offering schools the opportunity to avail of significant in-service training for teachers on an opt-in basis. This evaluation explored the implementation and initial impact of the pilot initiative on pupils, teachers and schools in terms of pupils' knowledge, attitdudes and values; teacher confidence and pedagogy; and school ethos, management and curriculum provision.


This study examines the effects of worker choice laws in the US — commonly referred to as "right to work" (RTW) policies — and applies the findings to British Columbia and to Ontario. RTW laws have been enacted by 24 US states; these laws prohibit collective bargaining agreements between employers and unions from forcing workers represented by a union to pay dues for its representation.The scholarly literature generally finds that RTW laws reduce the percentage of workers covered by union contracts, and increase economic and employment growth. A new econometric analysis reported in this study finds that RTW laws in the US increase economic growth by about 1.8% and employment by about 1% in the states enacting such laws.The scholarly literature also finds that RTW laws have the effect of increasing manufacturing employment and output. Oklahoma, which became a RTW state in 2001, shares a border with seven states, four of which adopted RTW laws earlier; the others are not RTW states. The data suggest that the faster manufacturing growth observed in Oklahoma after 2001 was due, to some substantial degree, to the adoption of a RTW policy.A conservative application of the econometric findings reported here suggest that a RTW policy would increase manufacturing output in British Columbia and Ontario by about $200 million (0.2%) and $4.0 billion (0.5%), respectively. A conservative estimate is that a RTW policy would increase total economic output in British Columbia by $3.9 billion (about $844 per capita) and total employment by a bit less than 19,000. The respective figures for Ontario are $11.8 billion (about $874 per capita) and almost 57,000.These predicted effects are not trivial, and the prospective benefits should engender a debate in Canada and in the provinces about the policy reforms needed to maintain and enhance competitive positions. A RTW law should be prominent among them.


As a result of debt enforcement problems, many high-productivity firms in emerging economies are unable to pledge enough future profits to their creditors and this constrains the financing they can raise. Many have argued that, by relaxing these credit constraints, reforms that strengthen enforcement institutions would increase capital flows to emerging economies. This argument is based on a partial equilibrium intuition though, which does not take into account the origin of any additional resources that flow to high-productivity firms after the reforms. We show that some of these resources do not come from abroad, but instead from domestic low-productivity firms that are driven out of business as a result of the reforms. Indeed, the resources released by these low-productivity firms could exceed those absorbed by high-productivity ones so that capital flows to emerging economies might actually decrease following successful reforms. This result provides a new perspective on some recent patterns of capital flows in industrial and emerging economies. (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.)


Trastuzumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2; also known as HER-2/neu), is indicated for the treatment of women with either early stage or metastatic HER2 + breast cancer. It kills tumor cells by several mechanisms, including antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). Strategies that enhance the activity of ADCC effectors, including NK cells, may improve the efficacy of trastuzumab. Here, we have shown that upon encountering trastuzumab-coated, HER2-overexpressing breast cancer cells, human NK cells become activated and express the costimulatory receptor CD137. CD137 activation, which was dependent on NK cell expression of the Fc γ RIII receptor, occurred both in vitro and in the peripheral blood of women with HER2-expressing breast cancer after trastuzumab treatment. Stimulation of trastu-zumab-activated human NK cells with an agonistic mAb specific for CD137 killed breast cancer cells (including an intrinsically trastuzumab-resistant cell line) more efficiently both in vitro and in vivo in xenotransplant models of human breast cancer, including one using a human primary breast tumor. The enhanced cytotoxicity was restricted to antibody-coated tumor cells. This sequential antibody strategy, combining a tumor-targeting antibody with a second antibody that activates the host innate immune system, may improve the therapeutic effects of antibodies against breast cancer and other HER2-expressing tumors.


This paper develops a model of crime analyzing how such behavior is associated with individual and neighborhood poverty. The model shows that even under relatively minimal assumptions, a connection between individual poverty and both property and violent crimes will arise, and moreover, "neighborhood" effects can develop, but will differ substantially in nature across crime types. A key implication is that greater economic segregation in a city should have no effect or a negative effect on property crime, but a positive effect on violent crime. Using IV methods, I show this implication to be consistent with the empirical evidence.


. Technology and IoT have improved significantly in recent years. The Internet of Things (IoT) allows devices to self-identify. IoT uses electronic and RFID technology to collect and distribute data. The IoT is supposed to change our lives. Thus, IoT connects everyone. It lets things communicate, share information, and make judgments. The future of IT matters a lot. Physical items will be related to boosting decision-making intelligence. Outside of metropolitan areas, satellite-based Geographic Guidance Systems (SGGS) is the most cost-effective and efficient way to gather geographic and temporal distribution data. Thirty billion connected IoT devices worth $2.5 trillion by 2022. Some estimates put the IoT's global commercial impact at $15 trillion by 2025, with 120 billion linked devices. Regulators can help IoT adoption and implementation by protecting customers and network security. Regulators can consider ways to promote IoT growth. Improve LTE Advanced and 5G networks and assess IoT spectrum needs. They encourage commercial use of IPv6 through government programs and public procurement. They facilitate interoperability and give consumers easy access to their data. Encourage global standards and remote SIM usage. Regulators should prioritize privacy and security to enhance public trust and IoT adoption. On the IoT sector, SGGS, theoretical foundations, legal and regulatory ramifications.


Many organic and inorganic compounds are known to exhibit widespread anti-fungal activity with successful usage in agricultural applications. The action mechanism of sulfur agents is that sulfur interacts with organic substances and forms sulfides and pentatonic acid having anti-microbial and anti-parasitic activities. Nowadays elemental sulfur is widely used in plant growing as a fungicide and acaricide. In recent years great considerable attention has been paid to the synthesis methods of antifungal properties of nanoscale sulfur due to the development of nanotechnology. Micronized sulfur and sulfur nanoparticles have antifungal and inbition effects of sporulation against pathogenic fungi. In this study, the antifungal activities in vitro of nano calcium polysulfide were investigated against two pathogenic fungi caused disease on tomato (Fusarium oxyporium lycopersici, Botrytis cinerea). Different concentrations of nano calcium polysulfide (0,0.5, 1, 2%) were tested for growth inhibition of Fusarium oxyporium lycopersici, Botrytis cinerea. Growth inhibitions of tested pathogens were measured in vitro. Nano calcium polysulfide showed low inhibiton against Fusarium oxyporium lycopersici, Botrytis cinerea. Mycelial growth inhibition was observed at a maximum of 2% nano calcium polysulfide application for Botrytis cinerea (34,4%) and 0.5% application for Fusarium oxyporium lycopersici (30.72). Nano calcium polysulfide inhibited only spore germination. Mycelial growth in both fungi was very weak increased in nano calcium polysulfide compared to the control.


In his successful comics seriesGoorgoorlou, the Senegalese journalist and cartoonist T.T. Fons depicts the difficulties of the day-to-day life in Dakar through the tragicomic adventures of the hero Goor, a symbol of the Senegalese everyman struggling with debts, political unrest, social distress and cultural paradoxes. This article introduces the economic, political and cultural context before discussing the linguistic features and the Italian translation of the series. Through vibrant images and a shared urban language, T.T. Fons shapes a national conscience out of a satirical publication and offers the readers a window into the dynamic linguistic landscape of Dakar. Goor speaks to all those who feel abandoned and deceived by the government in a way that truly reflects the multi-faceted linguistic system of urban Senegal: a skilful and authentic blend of French, Wolof, humoristic distortions and local idioms. Because its linguistic configuration acts as a de facto legitimation of an emerging urban culture between the late 1980s and the early 2000s, providing a suitable translation of the comics series into Italian has proved to be a challenging endeavour.


This paper attempts to illustrate the implications of a simultaneous redirection of the big publishers' business strategy towards open access business models and the acquisition of scholarly infrastructure utilizing the conceptual framework of rent-seeking theory. To document such a transformation, we utilized financial databases to analyze the mergers and acquisitions of the top publicly traded academic publishers. We then performed a service analysis to situate the acquisitions of publishers within the knowledge and education life-cycles, illustrating what we term to be their vertical integration within their respective expansion target life-cycles. Implications of higher education institutions' increased dependency towards the companies and increased influence by the companies on the institution and individual researcher were noted from the vertical integration of products. Said vertical integration is analyzed via a rent theory framework and described to be a form of rent-seeking complementary to the redirection of business strategies to open access. Finally, the vertical integration is noted to generate exclusionary effects upon researchers/institutions in the global south.


Purpose: Approximately 30% of hearing aid owners do not wear their hearing aids. One of the main reasons reported for hearing aid non-use is that hearing aid owners cannot successfully use and/or care for their hearing aids (Lupsakko, Kautiainen, & Sulkava 2005; Popelka et al. 1998; Vuorialho, Karinen, & Sorri 2006). The primary purpose of the present study was to evaluate the benefit of identifying specific hearing aid use and care skills that a hearing aid user cannot perform or has difficulty performing and providing re-instruction on those specific skills. This is operationally defined in the present study as targeted re-instruction. A second purpose was to determine if adding targeted re-instruction to a hearing aid fitting would result in greater hearing aid satisfaction and more hours of daily hearing aid use. Last, factors that may influence an individual's learning and remembering of hearing aid use and care skills were also assessed. Method: Twenty-six participants (13 experimental; 13 control) were included in this randomized control trial. All participants were new hearing aid users who had never worn or tried hearing aids before. Participants were fit with ReSound Linx 3D 962 RIC-style hearing aids for a fourweek trial period and provided a standard hearing aid orientation. Participants assigned to the experimental group were also administered the Practical Hearing Aid Skills Test – Revised (PHAST-R; Desjardins & Doherty 2009; Doherty & Desjardins 2012) and provided targeted reinstruction. Hearing aid use and care skills were measured using the Hearing Aid Skills and Knowledge (HASK; Saunders et al. 2018) test immediately following the hearing aid fitting and then again at four weeks post-hearing aid fitting. The relationship between hearing aid use and care skills and measures of hearing handicap, hearing aid-related attitudes, and working memory were assessed. In addition, hearing aid satisfaction was measured at two and four weeks posthearing aid fitting. Data logging was used to determine average daily hours of hearing aid use. Results: Participants in the experimental group maintained their hearing aid use and care skills over the four week hearing aid trial, but participants in the control group showed a significant decline in their hearing aid use and care skills over the same time period. None of the factors assessed in the present study were significantly correlated to learning and remembering of hearing aid use and care skills. Also, no significant difference in average daily hours of hearing aid use was observed between the two groups of participants. Level of satisfaction was significantly different between the two groups at two weeks post-hearing aid fitting, but not at the end of the four week trial period. Last, it took an average of 9 minutes and 15 seconds (SD = 3 minutes and 13 seconds) to administer the PHAST-R app and provide targeted re-instruction. Conclusions: Targeted re-instruction prevented a decline in hearing aid use and care skills after four weeks of hearing aid use. Participants who did not receive targeted re-instruction showed a decline in their hearing aid use and care skills after only four weeks of hearing aid use. This indicates that targeted re-instruction can help new hearing aid users maintain their hearing aid use and care skills over time. It took an average of less than 10 minutes to administer the PHAST-R app and provide targeted re-instruction.


Many firms want to target their customers with a sequence of marketing actions, rather than just a single action. We interpret sequential targeting problems as a Markov Decision Process (MDP), which can be solved using a range of Reinforcement Learning (RL) algorithms. MDPs require the construction of Markov state spaces. These state spaces summarize the current information about each customer in each time period, so that movements over time between Markov states describe customers' dynamic paths. The Markov property requires that the states are "memoryless," so that future outcomes depend only upon the current state, not upon earlier states.

We propose a method for constructing Markov states from historical transaction data by adapting a method that has been proposed in the computer science literature. Rather than designing states in transaction space, we construct predictions over how customers will respond to a firm's marketing actions. We then design states using these predictions, grouping customers together if their predicted behavior is similar. To make this approach computationally tractable, we adapt the method to exploit a common feature of transaction data (sparsity). As a result, a problem that faces computational challenges in many settings, becomes more feasible in a marketing setting. The method is straightforward to implement, and the resulting states can be used in standard RL algorithms. We evaluate the method using a novel validation approach. The findings confirm that the constructed states satisfy the Markov property, and are robust to the introduction of non-Markov distortions in the data.


Abstract. An inverse transport modeling approach based on the concepts of sequential importance resampling and parallel computing is presented to reconstruct altitude-resolved time series of volcanic emissions, which often cannot be obtained directly with current measurement techniques. A new inverse modeling and simulation system, which implements the inversion approach with the Lagrangian transport model Massive-Parallel Trajectory Calculations (MPTRAC) is developed to provide reliable transport simulations of volcanic sulfur dioxide (SO2). In the inverse modeling system MPTRAC is used to perform two types of simulations, i.e., unit simulations for the reconstruction of volcanic emissions and final forward simulations. Both types of transport simulations are based on wind fields of the ERA-Interim meteorological reanalysis of the European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts. The reconstruction of altitude-dependent SO2 emission time series is also based on Atmospheric InfraRed Sounder (AIRS) satellite observations. A case study for the eruption of the Nabro volcano, Eritrea, in June 2011, with complex emission patterns, is considered for method validation. Meteosat Visible and InfraRed Imager (MVIRI) near-real-time imagery data are used to validate the temporal development of the reconstructed emissions. Furthermore, the altitude distributions of the emission time series are compared with top and bottom altitude measurements of aerosol layers obtained by the Cloud–Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) and the Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding (MIPAS) satellite instruments. The final forward simulations provide detailed spatial and temporal information on the SO2 distributions of the Nabro eruption. By using the critical success index (CSI), the simulation results are evaluated with the AIRS observations. Compared to the results with an assumption of a constant flux of SO2 emissions, our inversion approach leads to an improvement of the mean CSI value from 8.1 to 21.4 % and the maximum CSI value from 32.3 to 52.4 %. The simulation results are also compared with those reported in other studies and good agreement is observed. Our new inverse modeling and simulation system is expected to become a useful tool to also study other volcanic eruption events.


Innerworldly Individualism looks to colonial history, in particular, seventeenth-century New England, to understand the sources of modern nation building. Seligman analyzes how cultural assumptions of collective identity and social authority emerged out of the religious beliefs of the first generation of settlers in New England. He goes on to examine how these assumptions crystallized three generations later into patterns of normative order, forming the foundation of an American consciousness. Seligman uses sociological research grounded in early American history as his laboratory, and does so in a highly original way. Seligman uses Max Weber's paradigm of sociological inquiry to explore how a combination of ideational and structural factors helped to develop modern conceptions of authority and collective identity among New England communities. Seligman addresses a number of significant issues, including social change, the mutual interaction and development of process and structure, and the role of charisma in the forging of a social order. His book profoundly increases our understanding of the ideological and social processes prevalent in early American history as well as their contemporary influence on civil identity. Innerworldly Individualism uniquely intertwines sociological study with cultural history. It uses American history to develop and elucidate problems of broad theoretical significance. Seligman's argument is bolstered by a close examination of concrete detail. His book will be of interest to anthropologists, sociologists, political theorists, and historians of American culture.


Fibroadenomas are the most common benign breast condition among women and account for up to 50% of all breast biopsies being performed. Although considered a benign condition, fibroadenomas utilize substantial resources for management and treatment to rule out potential malignancies. Dietary factors may influence benign fibrocystic breast conditions, but little is known of their association with fibroadenomas. We examined possible associations between a broad spectrum of circulating biomarkers of dietary intake and risk of fibroadenomas. Participants were women in a breast self-examination trial in Shanghai, China who were diagnosed with fibroadenomas (n = 258) and 1035 controls. Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% CI. Isoflavone concentrations were inversely associated with risk of fibroadenomas. Adjusted OR (95% CI) for the highest versus the lowest quartile of plasma concentration were 0.36 (0.16-0.79; P-trend < 0.001) for daidzein and 0.39 (0.19-0.84; P-trend = 0.010) for genistein. We also observed inverse associations between higher percentages of the RBC (n-3) fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) ([0.38 (0.19-0.77); P-trend = 0.007] and docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) [0.32 (0.15-0.70); P-trend = 0.024], and fibroadenoma risk. Circulating concentrations of carotenoids, vitamin C, retinol, and ferritin were not associated with fibroadenoma risk. The inverse associations between plasma isoflavone concentrations and RBC EPA and DPA and fibroadenoma risk suggest that higher intakes of soy foods and fatty fish may lower the risk of fibroadenomas.


T5 5'-3' exonuclease is a member of a homologous group of 5' nucleases which require divalent metal co-factors. Structural and biochemical studies suggest that single-stranded DNA substrates thread through a helical arch or hole in the protein, thus bringing the phosphodiester backbone into close proximity with the active site metal co-factors. In addition to the expected use of Mg(2+), Mn(2+) and Co(2+) as co-factors, we found that divalent zinc, iron, nickel and copper ions also supported catalysis. Such a range of co-factor utilisation is unusual in a single enzyme. Some co-factors such as Mn(2+) stimulated the cleavage of double-stranded closed-circular plasmid DNA. Such endonucleolytic cleavage of circular double-stranded DNA cannot be readily explained by the threading model proposed for the cleavage of substrates with free 5'-ends as the hole observed in the crystal structure of T5 exonuclease is too small to permit the passage of double-stranded DNA. We suggest that such a substrate may gain access to the active site of the enzyme by a process which does not involve threading.


It is often argued that the true benefits of water resource development in international river basins are undermined by a lack of consideration of interdependence in water resource planning. Yet it has not been adequately recognized in the water resources planning literature that overestimation of interdependence may also contribute to lack of progress in cooperation in many systems. This paper examines the nature and degree of economic interdependence in new and existing water storage projects in the Ganges River basin based on analysis conducted using the Ganges Economic Optimization Model. We find that constructing large dams on the upstream tributaries of the Ganges would have much more limited effects on controlling downstream floods than is thought and that the benefits of low-flow augmentation delivered by storage infrastructures are currently low. A better understanding of actual and prospective effects of interdependence not only changes the calculus of the benefits and costs of different scenarios of infrastructure development, but might also allow riparian countries to move closer to benefit sharing positions that are mutually acceptable.


Do health warnings change consumer behaviour? And for how long? We address these questions by studying the effects of the 2015 WHO's warning about the carcinogenic effect of red meat consumption. We use high-frequency data and implement a difference-in-difference-in-differences model which exploits the seasonality in red meat consumption and the heterogeneity in household's internet access due to historical infrastructure as a measure of intensity of exposure to the warning. We find generally short-lived effects and more pronounced in less processed meats contrary to the contents of the warning. Households with higher levels of education correctly reduced red meat consumption and over a longer period. Our findings suggest that the design of health warnings should account for such heterogeneity in the consumers' response.


While mobile hosts are evolving into full-IP enabled devices, there is a greater demand to provide a more flexible, reconfigurable, and scalable security mechanism in mobile communication systems beyond 3G (B3G). Work has already begun on such an "all-IP" end-to-end solution, commonly referred to as 4G systems. Fully fledged integration between heterogeneous networks, such as 2.5G, UMTS, WLAN, Bluetooth, and the Internet, demands fully compatible, time-tested, and reliable mechanisms to depend on. SSL protocol has proved its effectiveness in the wired Internet and it will probably be the most promising candidate for future wireless environments. In this paper, we discuss existing problems related to authentication and key agreement (AKA) procedures, such as compromised authentication vectors attacks, as they appear in current 2/2.5G/3G mobile communication systems, and propose how SSL, combined with public key infrastructure (PKI) elements, can be used to overcome these vulnerabilities. In this B3G environment, we perceive authentication as a service, which has to be performed at the higher protocol layers irrespective of the underlying network technology. Furthermore, we analyze the effectiveness of such a solution, based on measurements of a "prototype" implementation. Performance measurements indicate that SSL-based authentication can be possible in terms of service time in future wireless systems, while it can simultaneously provide both the necessary flexibility to network operators and a high level of confidence to end users.


We investigate the late Quaternary history of slip on the Kamena Vourla and Arkitsa normal faults, which are segments of a fault system bounding the south coast of the Gulf of Evia in central Greece, and which we refer to as the Coastal Fault System. We examine two river terraces, near the village of Molos, which are found within the uplifted footwall of the Kamena Vourla fault. The upper terrace is ~20 m above the present river level and appears to represent fan deposition into the main river channel from surrounding tributaries. The lower terrace, ~8 m above the present-day river bed, represents an interval of river-bed aggradation and correlates with the surface of a delta on the hanging-wall side of the fault. GPS profiles show a 6 ± 0.1 m vertical offset of the lower terrace surface as it crosses the fault. Preliminary dating of the two terrace levels, using both optical luminescence and radiocarbon methods, provides inconclusive results. The lower terrace, however, grades toward the present-day sea level and correlates with the surface of a delta on the hanging-wall side of the fault; it is, therefore, likely to date from ~6 ka, when sea level stabilized at its present-day highstand. With an age of ~6 ka, the 6 m vertical displacement of the lower terrace yields an estimate of ~1.2-2.0 mm/yr for the Holocene rate of slip across the Kamena Vourla fault. This rate of slip is comparable with an estimated rate of ~0.7-2.0 mm/yr for the central (Arkitsa) segment of the Coastal Fault System, and with a 0.4-1.6 mm/yr slip rate measured on the easternmost (Atalanti) segment. These estimates of Holocene slip rates are consistent with the 1-3 mm/yr of present-day extension across the Gulf of Evia measured by GPS, arguing against large changes in rate of extension through the Holocene. Both the Arkitsa and Kamena Vourla faults are clearly active and despite an absence of historical earthquakes on either fault, they should be considered to be a major hazard to local populations. However, further dating studies and palaeoseismic investigations are required before the slip rate and history can be fully quantified.


Beginning with a review of the history of he Ismailis, as a major Shi'i Muslim community, the author elaborates on the basic tenets of the Ismaili theology. The Ismaili system of religious thought, the author suggests, was based on a fundamental distinction between the exoteric [zahir] and the esoteric [batin] aspects of the sacred scriptures and religious commandments and prohibitions, holding that every literal meaning implied an inner, hidden and immutable reality. He also surveys the seminal contributions of the Ismaili Da'is [religio-political missionaries] and authors to Islamic theology and philosophy in general and to Shi'i thought in particular.
In the course of their history, the author believes, the Ismailis have been accused of a variety of heretical practices and, at the same time, a multitude of myths and misconceptions circulated about the Ismailis and their teachings. This is mainly because the Ismailis were, until recently, studied and evaluated almost exclusively on the basis of the evidence collected or often fabricated by their enemies. As the most revolutionary wing of Shi'ism with a religio-political agenda aimed at uprooting the Abbassids and restoring the caliphate to the Ismaili imam, the Ismailis from early on aroused the hostility of the Sunni establishment. With the founding of the Fatimid State, the Ismaili challenge to the established order had become actualized and thereupon the Sunni Establishment launched what amounted to a more systematic anti-Ismaili propaganda campaign. In fact, by spreading defamatory claims and forged accounts, the anti-Ismaili authors produced a "black legend" in the course of 4th/10th century. Indeed, these distorted views and forged accounts became the main sources of European and orientalist studies of the Ismaili beliefs and practices.
According to the author, the breakthrough in Ismaili studies had to await the recovery and study of genuine Ismaili texts on a large scale—manuscript sources which had been preserved secretly in numerous private collections. However, modern scholarship in Ismaili studies was actually initiated in the 1930's in India, where significant collections of Ismaili manuscripts had been preserved in the Ismaili Bohra community. This breakthrough resulted mainly from the pioneering efforts of W. Ivanow (1886-1970) and a few Ismaili Bohra scholars based in India. Ismaili scholarship received a further impetus through the establishment in 1946 of the Ismaili Society of Bombay.


We evaluate the potential to measure ttbar H associated production at the LHC using non-resonant multi-lepton final states in conjunction with two or more b-tags. The multi-lepton ttbar H signal arises predominantly from H to tau tau and H to WW^* alongside the semi-leptonic or fully leptonic decay of the ttbar pair. We demonstrate the power of a multi-lepton search for ttbar H associated production by recasting the CMS b-tagged multi-lepton search with 19.5 fb^-1 of 8 TeV data to obtain an observed (expected) limit of 4.7 (6.6) times the Standard Model rate, comparable to ongoing searches in 4b and bb gamma gamma final states. Sensitivity can be further improved by the addition of exclusive channels involving same-sign dileptons. We recast the CMS b-tagged same-sign dilepton search with 10.5 fb^-1 of 8 TeV data to set limits on ttbar H associated production, and approximately combine the two searches by calculating the fraction of same-sign dilepton signal events which do not satisfy multi-lepton selection criteria. We estimate an expected total non-resonant leptonic reach of mu < 5.0 times the Standard Model rate in 20 fb^-1 of 8 TeV data, with improvements possible.


All-fiber lasers offer increased robustness and simplicity over other fiber laser systems. Current active Q-switching techniques for all-fiber lasers rely on electro-mechanical transducers to strain-tune an intra-cavity fiber-Bragg grating, which adds complexity and can lead to vibrational sensitivity. An all-optical technique for achieving active Q-switched operation is a more elegant approach and would maintain the inherent robustness and simplicity of an all-fiber laser system. In this work, we studied the optical tuning of a fiber-Bragg grating by resonant optical pumping and optimized it for application to active systems. We incorporated an optically-tunable fiber-Bragg grating into a fiber laser and demonstrated active Q-switching at 35 kHz with this all-optical, all-fiber laser system. We highlight the potential to operate at >300 kHz with the current embodiment. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of an optically-driven active Q-switch in a fiber laser. Further potential to operate at MHz frequencies is discussed.


This study characterized Escherichia coli strains from fresh produce and farm environments in Korea. To characterize Escherichia coli strains and evaluate the spread of antimicrobial resistance, we conducted phenotypic and genetic studies on antimicrobial-resistant strains in isolates from fresh produce and farm environments. We performed a genetic epidemiological characterization of isolates that produced extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL), and confirmed plasmid transfer in isolates that carried bla CTX-M-type genes. E. coli strains were isolated from eight fresh produce samples and 152 samples from the farm environment from May 2014 to June 2016. Cephalosporin resistance was the most prevalent (61.8%) among the isolates. Five ESBL-producing strains with high genetic homology to E. coli of human- or livestock-origin were identified. There was successful lateral transfer of p lasmids harboring bla CTX-M-type genes to transconjugants . Two isolates from Chinese cabbage and water from a nearby stream harboring the IS Ecp1-bla CTX-M-55 -orf477 operon were confirmed as having sequence type 1196 and the same type of plasmid replicon, suggesting that cross-contamination was highly likely. A high-risk clone ST69 (clonal complex 69) was also observed in the farm environment. This study provides genetic evidence that E. coli antimicrobial resistance factors in farm environments originate in the clinic or in livestock, and suggests that Good Agricultural Practice in farming is important to inhibit the spread of antimicrobial resistance to fresh produce.


Possible changes in the tropical cyclones in a future, greenhouse-warmed climate are investigated using a 20 km-mesh, high-resolution, global atmospheric model of MRI/JMA, with the analyses focused on the evaluation of the frequency and wind intensity. Two types of 10-year climate experiments are conducted. One is a present-day climate experiment, and the other is a greenhouse-warmed climate experiment, with a forcing of higher sea surface temperature and increased greenhouse-gas concentration. A comparison of the experiments suggests that the tropical cyclone frequency in the warm-climate experiment is globally reduced by about 30% (but increased in the North Atlantic) compared to the present-day-climate experiment. Furthermore, the number of intense tropical cyclones increases. The maximum surface wind speed for the most intense tropical cyclone generally increases under the greenhouse-warmed condition (by 7.3 m s - 1 in the Northern Hemisphere and by 3.3 m s - 1 in the Southern Hemisphere). On average, these findings suggest the possibility of higher risks of more devastating tropical cyclones across the globe in a future greenhouse-warmed climate.


This manuscript presents a universal control law for a class of complex dynamic systems, such as mobile robots. The trajectory tracking problem is among the major problems in the field of robotics. The proposed universal control law solves the trajectory tracking problem of mobile robots. Despite a large body of research on developing robot's control laws conducted in the literature, the dynamic effects of robots are often not taken into consideration while deriving control laws that define their trajectories. In most cases, the robot's trajectory tracking and/or stabilization problems are addressed based on its kinematic model due to simplicity. Therefore, the need for a universal control law based on the robot's dynamic and/or kinematic model is significant. Even though the feedback control theory is well-established in the field of robotics, the control laws for dynamic systems are typically more complex than system models themselves. Furthermore, control laws are required to be adapted depending on models of different mobile robot systems. Here, the development of universal control law is underscored, i.e., the paper is aimed at developing universal dynamic tracking control law that solves the trajectory tracking problem of a class of mobile robots. The controller is tested through a set of computer simulations using a differential drive mobile robot operating in an indoor planar environment.


We describe two sisters aged 2 and 7 years, with monilethrix. The older sister was clinically less severely affected but, microscopically, the features of weathering and alternating nodes and internodes were more obvious. The younger girl had more severe alopecia, with shorter hair, but the microscopic features were less marked. Scanning‐electron microscopy demonstrated only slight cuticular weathering in both cases, and evidence of breakage in the cuticle at points of no obvious cuticular pathology. Transmission‐electron microscopy showed normal cuticle cells in cross‐section, but an abnormal cortex. The abnormalities included areas of homogeneous non‐fibrillar material, and a deviated axis of some microfibrils. We consider that these findings support the possibility that a cortical defect contributes significantly to the fragility of hair in moniiethrix. This might explain why hair with marked beading can be stronger than hair from an affected sibling with less apparent abnormality.


PURPOSE
This research determined whether there is a measurable effect of local geometry factors on leucite content of dental porcelain in fixed partial dentures (FPD).

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Four-unit FPD frameworks (n = 36) were fabricated using a nickel-chromium alloy (Rexillium III). Body porcelain (Crystar, shade A2) was applied in one increment and subjected to two simulated body firings, followed by a simulated glaze firing to achieve a thickness of 1.5 to 2.0 mm. The completed FPD specimens were randomly assigned to three groups of 12 specimens each: (1) simulated post-soldering, (2) multiple firing, and (3) control. The FPDs from each test group were sectioned into individual units: canine retainer, premolar pontic, molar pontic, and molar retainer. The porcelain was removed from each unit, and the leucite content was measured via quantitative x-ray diffraction.

RESULTS
Porcelain cracking indicated that the soldering simulation had successfully reproduced conditions in the dental laboratory that result in porcelain cracking during soldering. The leucite content was not significantly different between the retainer and pontic units for either the soldering simulation or control FPDs, although the canine retainer units did have a slightly lower leucite content than the pooled values of the other units. Comparison of the pooled data for the three groups indicated statistically significant differences among the leucite contents.

CONCLUSION
Compared to the control, the simulated post-soldering procedure produced a significant increase in leucite, and the multiple firing group exhibited a significant decrease in leucite. Increases in leucite weight fraction during post-soldering operations-and the larger thermally induced stresses that accompany these leucite increases-are responsible for the cracking that occurs.


Author(s): Strbac, Goran; Wolak, Frank A | Abstract: This paper identifies the key features of successful electricity market designs that are particularly relevant to the experience of low-income countries. Important features include: (1) the match between the short-term market used to dispatch generation units and the physical operation of the electricity network, (2) effective regulatory and market mechanisms to ensure long-term generation resource adequacy, (3) appropriate mechanisms to mitigate local market power, and (4) mechanisms to allow the active involvement of final demand in a short-term market. The paper provides a recommended baseline market design that reflects the experience of the past 25 years with electricity restructuring processes. It then suggests a simplified version of this market design ideally suited to the proposed East and Western Sub-Sahara Africa regional wholesale market that is likely to realise a substantial amount of the economic benefits from forming a regional market with minimal implementation cost and regulatory burden. Recommendations are also provided for modifying the Southern African Power Pool to increase the economic benefits realised from its formation. How this market design supports the cost-effective integration of renewables is discussed and future enhancements are proposed that support the integration of a greater share of intermittent renewables. The paper closes with proposed directions for future research in the area of electricity market design in developing countries.


The development of realistic topology generators that produce faithful replicas of Internet topologies is critical for conducting realistic simulation studies of Internet protocols. Despite the volume of research in this area the last several years, current topology generators fail to capture an inherent aspect of the autonomous-system (AS) topology of the Internet, namely the fact that AS links reflect business agreements between competing entities, which impose restrictions on how traffic is routed between ASs. These restrictions result in inflated AS paths and generally in suboptimal routing in the Internet. In this work, we first evaluate the importance of modeling AS relationships when conducting accurate and realistic simulation studies. We demonstrate that ignoring AS relationships produces different simulation results than modeling AS relationships based on known relationships between Internet Internet Service Providers (ISPs). Then, we introduce a framework for generating synthetic AS topologies annotated with realistic relationships. In addition to modeling the degree distribution of a network, which is the property that most existing topology generators model, our framework also models new properties that capture the characteristics of AS relationships. Finally, we propose a novel algorithm for generating synthetic graphs, annotated with AS relationships, that reproduce these AS relationships-aware propertie


The bat fauna of the Caribbean island of Sint Eustatius consists of five documented species—Monophyllus plethodon, Brachyphylla cavernarum, Artibeus jamaicensis, Ardops nichollsi, and Molossus molossus—and one provisional species—Tadarida brasiliensis. The Insular Single-leaf Bat, M. plethodon, is reported in the scientific literature for the first time from Sint Eustatius based on material presented herein. The bat fauna of the island is considered to be unbalanced because only three species, which are the environmental generalists, are abundant, whereas the more specialized species are rare or absent from the fauna. It is our hypothesis that the unbalanced bat fauna on St. Eustatius is the result of chronic environmental degradation and destruction due primarily to human activity.


In this study, hydroxyapatite, tetracalcium phosphate, HPEO/PBT 55145 copolymer, PEO/PBT 55!45 copolymer (Polyactive) and siiicone rubber were implanted as dense blocks, subcutaneously and. into the tibia of rats. Biocompatibility and degradation were investigated but most attention was directed to .the bone/biomaterial interactions. None of the matenals showed any significant adverse tissue reactions. With exception of the silicone rubber, all materials sho~ed bone bonding phenomena based on both morphological and mechanical evaluations. (H)PEO/PBT 55145 copolymer is the first polymer reported to be bonded by bone and thus widens the spectrum of bone bonding materials with a low modulus, degradable, elastomer in contrast to the high modulus glasses and ceramics that are available to date. The possible associated bone-bonding mechanism is briefly discussed.


A challenge for current evolutionary algorithms is to yield highly evolvable representations like those in nature. Such evolvability in natural evolution is encouraged through selection: Lineages better at molding to new niches are less susceptible to extinction. Similar selection pressure is not generally present in evolutionary algorithms; however, the first hypothesis in this paper is that novelty search, a recent evolutionary technique, also selects for evolvability because it rewards lineages able to continually radiate new behaviors. Results in experiments in a maze-navigation domain in this paper support that novelty search finds more evolvable representations than regular fitness-based search. However, though novelty search outperforms fitness-based search in a second biped locomotion experiment, it proves no more evolvable than fitness-based search because delicately balanced behaviors are more fragile in that domain. The second hypothesis is that such fragility can be mitigated through self-adaption, whereby genomes influence their own reproduction. Further experiments in fragile domains with novelty search and self-adaption indeed demonstrate increased evolvability, while, interestingly, adding self-adaptation to fitness-based search decreases evolvability. Thus, selecting for novelty may often facilitate evolvability when representations are not overly fragile; furthermore, achieving the potential of self-adaptation may often critically depend upon the reward scheme driving evolution.


What drove an entire region in the Global South to significantly expand refugee protection in the early twenty-first century? In this paper, we test and build on political refugee theory via a mixed-methods approach to explain the liberalization of refugee legislation across Latin America. First, we use data from the new APLA Database, which measures legislative liberalization over a 30-year period, and test both general and region-specific immigration and refugee policy determinants through a series of nested Tobit and linear spatial panel-data regressions. Our models do not support some consistent predictors of policy liberalization identified by the literature such as immigrant and refugee stocks, democratization, and the number of emigrants, but they offer statistical evidence for the importance of leftist government ideology and regional integration. We then shed light on the causal mechanisms behind these correlations for two extreme but diverse cases: Argentina and Mexico. Based on process tracing and elite interviews, we suggest that the reason that leftist political ideology rather than institutional democratization and number of emigrants matters for policy liberalization is that Latin American executives embarked on symbolic human and migrant's rights discourses that ultimately enabled legislative change.


Dynamical friction is typically regarded as a secular process, in which the subject ("perturber") evolves very slowly (secular approximation) and has been introduced to the host over a long time (adiabatic approximation). These assumptions imply that dynamical friction arises from the LBK torque with nonzero contribution only from purely resonant orbits. However, dynamical friction is only of astrophysical interest if its timescale is shorter than the age of the universe. In this paper we therefore relax the adiabatic and secular approximations. We first derive a generalized LBK torque, which reduces to the LBK torque in the adiabatic limit, and show that it gives rise to transient oscillations due to nonresonant orbits that slowly damp out, giving way to the LBK torque. This is analogous to how a forced, damped oscillator undergoes transients before settling to a steady state, except that here the damping is due to phase mixing rather than dissipation. Next, we present a self-consistent treatment that properly accounts for time dependence of the perturber potential and circular frequency (memory effect), which we use to examine orbital decay in a cored galaxy. We find that the memory effect results in a phase of accelerated, super-Chandrasekhar friction before the perturber stalls at a critical radius, R crit, in the core (core stalling). Inside R crit the torque flips sign, giving rise to dynamical buoyancy, which counteracts friction and causes the perturber to stall. This phenomenology is consistent with N-body simulations, but has thus far eluded proper explanation.


In recent years research into creative labour and cultural work has usually addressed the politics of production in these fields, but the sociotechnical and aesthetic dimensions of collaborative creative work have been somewhat overlooked. This book aims to address this gap. Through case studies that range from TV showrunning to independent publishing, from the film industry to social media platforms such as Tumblr and Wattpad, this collection develops a critical understanding of the integral role collaboration plays in contemporary media and culture. It draws attention to diverse kinds of creative collaboration afforded via the intermediation of digital platforms and networked publics. It considers how these are incorporated into emergent market paradigms and investigates the complicated forms of subjectivity that develop as a consequence. But it also acknowledges historical continuities, not least in terms of the continued exploitation of 'support personnel' and of resulting artistic conflicts but also of alternative models that resist the precarious nature of contemporary cultural work. Finally, this volume attempts to situate creative collaboration in broader social and economic contexts, where the experience and outcomes of such work have proved more problematic than the rich potential of their promise would lead us to expect. The Editors: James Graham is Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Arts and Creative Industries, Middlesex University, London. Alessandro Gandini is Lecturer in Digital Media Management and Innovation in the Department of Digital Humanities, Kings College, London.


With the rapidly growing capability of computer architectures their complexity grows as well. More and more parallelism is necessary to provide the needed computing power. Moreover, systems must adapt to changing environments and cope with a breakdown of components. One approach is to incorporate organic features into computer systems. Organic computers [14] are characterized by self-x properties like self-configuring, self-optimizing, self-healing, and self-protecting. To make a cluster computer behave "organic", it should possess (among other important aspects) some kind of self-healing feature, which detects and deactivates defective components. If a node fails, all data stored in its local memory is lost. Therefore deactivation alone will usually not suffice, as in computer clusters data is often stored in a decentralized way. Concepts have to be developed to store data redundantly and to recover the data in case of a failure. In this paper the concept and features of the implemented prototype of the Self Distributing Virtual Machine (SDVM) is presented. Self-healing will be discussed as one aspect of the functionality of the SDVM.


Author(s): Obermeyer, Allie | Advisor(s): Francis, Matthew B | Abstract: The synthetic modification of proteins plays an important role in the fields of chemical biology and biomaterials science. As applications of protein-based materials continue to become more complex, improved methods for the covalent modification of proteins are needed. Although many methods for the modification of native and artificial amino acids exist, they often require long reaction times or lengthy syntheses of reactive substrates. This work describes the development and application of a suite of bioconjugation reactions that utilize ortho-aminophenols. The oxidative coupling of aniline residues with o-aminophenol substrates was optimized. Potassium ferricyanide was identified as an alternative, mild oxidant for this coupling. These new conditions enabled the use of the oxidative coupling reaction in the presence of free cysteines and glycoslated substrates. Aminophenols were also discovered to react with native residues on protein substrates in addition to artificial aniline moieties. Cysteine and the N-terminus were identified as the reactive residues. The oxidative coupling of o-aminophenols with the N-terminus was optimized to achieve high levels of modification on peptide and protein substrates. The oxidative coupling of anilines and o-aminophenols was applied to the synthesis of a targeted, virus-like particle and to the detection of protein tyrosine-nitration. Overall, these updated and novel oxidative coupling methods expand the utility ortho-aminophenols for the modification of proteins.


This descriptive study examines the role of nurses in management within the NHS in Scotland between 1994-1995. The general aim of the study was to provide information about the emerging role of nurses in management in the NHS after the Reforms in 1990. Data collection tools were a postal questionnaire to all subjects (N=284) and later interviews with 27 participants. The Questionnaire was carried out between MayJuly 1994. Overall response rate was 64.4%. The interviews were conducted in February and March 1995. All nurses in management working in hospitals and the community, in Scotland, with the exception of those meeting exclusion criteria, were invited to participate in the study. In this study the men were slightly younger than the females and the men were more likely to be married than the females. There were 44 different job titles used by the 158 respondents. Approximately one in four of subjects had a degree. In total 76 (48%) respondents had had a formal "management training" qualification but only 10% had degree level management education. Almost all the subjects stated that their job had changed greatly after the NHS 1990 reforms and their responsibilities had increased. In total 68 respondents perceived the role of nurses in management negatively. In terms of future career developments of the subjects 17% expected their next career step to be a more into general management role within the NHS. The study provides lessons which will be of value in planning the selection and training of future nurse managers. In this study it was suggested that nurses in management should undertake proper management training that would meet their individual needs. In addition first line managers in particular should be supported and encouraged to take up roles in general management. It was suggested that individuals should take more responsibility for shaping their own careers and the NHS should provide support for their staff. It was also believed that this study provides a benchmark where there is little information.


PURPOSE
To analyze the acute physiological response to aerobic short-interval training (AESIT) at various high-intensity running speeds. A minor anaerobic glycolytic energy supply was aimed to mimic the characteristics of slow continuous runs.

METHODS
Eight trained male runners (maximal oxygen uptake [VO(2max)] 55.5 ± 3.3 mL · kg(-1) · min(-1)) performed an incremental treadmill exercise test (increments: 0.75 km · h(-1)· min(-1)). Two lactate turn points (LTP1, LTP2) were determined. Subsequently, 3 randomly assigned AESIT sessions with high-intensity running-speed intervals were performed at speeds close to the speed (v) at VO(2max) (vVO(2max)) to create mean intensities of 50%, 55%, and 60% of vLTP1. AESIT sessions lasted 30 min and consisted of 10-s work phases, alternated by 20-s passive recovery phases.

RESULTS
To produce mean velocities of 50%, 55%, and 60% of vLTP1, running speeds were calculated as 18.6 ± 0.7 km/h (93.4% vVO(2max)), 20.2 ± 0.6 km/h (101.9% vVO(2max)), and 22.3 ± 0.7 km/h (111.0% vVO(2max)), which gave a mean blood lactate concentration (La) of 1.09 ± 0.31 mmol/L, 1.57 ± 0.52 mmol/L, and 2.09 ± 0.99 mmol/L, respectively. La at 50% of vLTP1 was not significantly different from La at vLTP1 (P = .8894). Mean VO(2) was found at 54.0%, 58.5%, and 64.0% of VO(2max), while at the end of the sessions VO(2) rose to 71.1%, 80.4%, and 85.6% of VO(2max), respectively.

CONCLUSION
The results showed that AESIT with 10-s work phases alternating with 20 s of passive rest and a running speed close to vVO(2max) gave a systemic aerobic metabolic profile similar to slow continuous runs.


This article describe about curriculum. The curriculum is a set of plans and arrangements regarding the objectives, content, and learning materials and materials used as guidelines for the implementation of learning activities to achieve certain educational goals (Rusman, 2009: 3). Administration of the curriculum is a system of curriculum management that is cooperative, comprehensive, systemic, and systematic in order to realize the achievement of curriculum objectives. The aim of the curriculum is to achieve institutional learning at educational institutions, so that the curriculum plays an important role in realizing quality and quality schools. The method used in this study includes planning, implementation, supervision, and curriculum evaluation. Thus it can be seen that a good curriculum is a curriculum that follows the development of science and technology based on society. Failure in the administration of a curriculum will have fatal consequences on the success of the world of education.


The PIGMI (Portable Information Technologies for supporting Graphical Mathematics Investigations) Project 1 investigated the role of portable technologies in facilitating development of students' graphing skills and concepts. This paper examines the impact of a recent shift towards calculating and computing tools as increasingly accessible, everyday technologies on the nature of learning in a traditionally difficult curriculum area. The paper focuses on the use of graphic calculators by undergraduates taking an innovative new mathematics course at the Open University. A questionnaire survey of both students and tutors was employed to investigate perceptions of the graphic calculator and the features which facilitate graphing and linking between representations. Key features included visualization of functions, immediate feedback and rapid graph plotting. A follow-up observational case study of a pair of students illustrated how the calculator can shape mathematical activity, serving a catalytic, facilitating and checking role. The features of technology-based activities which can structure and support collaborative problem solving were also examined. In sum, the graphic calculator technology acted as a critical mediator in both the students' collaboration and in their problem solving. The pedagogic implications of using portables are considered, including the tension between using and over-using portables to support mathematical activity.


Analysis of intermediate- and long-term results of surgical treatment of metopic synostosis is lacking. We therefore retrospectively studied 23 patients with metopic synostosis (14 males, 9 females) who have been followed from 3 months to 8.1 years (mean 42.5 months) after operation. Age at first operation ranged from 2 to 56 months (mean 8.2 months), with 15 patients operated on before 6 months and 8 after 7 months. Fronto-orbital remodeling and calvarial vault reshaping with floating forehead techniques were carried out in all patients. Stabilization of bony segments was accomplished with microplates and screws in 7 patients (30 percent), wires in 15 (65 percent), and absorbable sutures in 1. Complications included minor wound dehiscence (n = 1), seizures (n = 1), and increased intracranial pressure (n = 1). Postoperative photographic documentation of surgical results was avaiable in 17 of the 23 patients. Aesthetic outcome in these 17 patients was graded (I = none or minor contour irregularities; II = moderate; and III = severe) by one of the authors (Cohen) and by a lay panel (n = 3) according to the degree of residual cranio-orbital deformity. Judged by the surgeon, grade I results were present in 53 percent, grade II in 35 percent, and grade III in 12 percent. To date, total reoperation (reoperative fronto-orbital remodeling and calvarial vault reshaping) was necessary in 2 patients (9 percent), one of whom had signs of increased intracranial pressure 3 years after the original craniofacial procedure, while partial reoperation (temporal cranioplasty) was carried out (n = 2) or recommended (n = 3) in another 5 patients. When outcomes were analyzed critically, aesthetic results appeared to be superior in the group stabilized with plates and screws, although follow-up times were shorter (mean 14.6 months) than for patients undergoing fronto-orbital remodeling with wire osteosynthesis (mean 54.5 months). Serial postoperative photographs, which were available in 10 patients, showed that forehead deformities worsened over time in 1 patient but were stable in the remaining 9.


This paper employs a general equilibrium econometric model to determine the extent of imported inflation in Pakistan during the 19705 and its impact on some related macroeconomic phenomenon. It was found that approximately 44 per cent of inflation observed during 1969 to 1981 was contributed by imports, while the remaining 56 per cent could be accounted for by domestic factors, in particular, the growth in money supply. The analysis also suggested that although higher import prices stimulated domestic production, they also tended to increase the trade deficit and to reduce real wages.


Since many biological processes occur on the μs to ms time scale, internal dynamics on that time scale may well be related to biological functionality. The characterization of internal dynamics is thus an important issue to improve our understanding of the biological activity of macromolecules, such as proteins, RNA and DNA fragments. Solution NMR spectroscopy, in particular relaxation measurements, is well suited for the deter tion of exchange rates on that slow time scale. In solution, relaxation of nuclear spins is caused mainly by Brownian tumbling and, to a lesser extent, by internal motions that modulate the effective field of the spins. Thus, these fluctuations depend on the electronic environment of each spin and on internal dynamics. On the one hand, the determination of structures of biomolecules suffers from local motions that lead to the determination of average structures. While, on the other hand, only little information is available concerning the time scale and the type of motions that may be responsible for important biological functions. To address this issue, new experiments have been designed to determine the contribution of slow internal motions (μs-ms) to relaxation of multiple-quantum coherences (MQC) involving carbonyl C' and nitrogen N nuclei. Local motions that are slower than the overall correlation time τc (ns) induce chemical shift modulations (CSM) of the spins involved in the motions. If correlated, such fluctuations can contribute to differential relaxation between zero- and double-quantum coherences. It is known that a train of π-pulses can reduce this contribution if the time scale of the modulations is comparable to the frequency at which refocusing pulses are applied. In the limit of slow pulse rates. both CSM/CSM (slow dynamics) and CSA/CSA (structure), the sum of this two terms being referred to as CS/CS, affect the differential relaxation of ZQC and DQC, whereas in the limit of fast pulse rates, only CSA/CSA affect the differential line broadening, allowing the discrimination between structural and dynamic contributions to relaxation. Related theoretical concepts and experimental methodology are extensively discussed in the text. In protonated and deuterated ubiquitin it was possible to confirm that the particularly large C'/N cross-correlated CS/CS relaxation rates observed for the Asparagine N25 residue were partly caused by a pronounced local mobility. This is in agreement with previous observations that indicate mobility in this part of the protein: the fact that the nitrogen R2 relaxation rate of N25 deviates from the N/NHN CSA/DD cross-correlated relaxation rates, the fact that the neighbouring Glutamic acid residue E24 is almost absent from the HSQC spectrum and that Isoleucine I23 shows a particularly large N/HN cross-correlated CS/CS relaxation rate.


This paper describes a case study of student engagement in Building Performance Evaluation research through live participation in 'The Glasgow House' project. For many students, issues of performance can seem to be very remote from the early stage design and conceptual development and immediate demands of reviews and assessment. Whilst some key programmes, for example the Stage 3 environmental project address performance issues through a carefully crafted design brief, an understanding of issues of comfort and performance is difficult to address without direct experience.

Between 2011 and 2013 an opportunity was developed to address this by the engagement of students in research being undertaken by the Mackintosh Environmental Architecture Research Unit. MEARU is a research unit at the Mac formed primarily of staff engaged in the delivery of environmental design and construction, both through taught courses and studio engagement, and provides the knowledge base on energy and environmental performance for studio programmes.

MEARU had been commissioned by Glasgow Housing Association to undertake evaluation of a prototype low energy house, two versions of which were constructed on the City Building skills academy. In this project, undergraduate students were recruited as 'test occupants' and lived in the houses for two-week periods in these houses, allowing them to engage, both in the experience of the buildings themselves, but also the research activity used in the project. Over 50 students lived in the houses at some point. As well as informing their design projects, there are also examples where students have gone on to use data from the project in their own research projects, but at Diploma and masters level.


Abstract : This study was tasked with the purpose of collecting information describing the teleportation of material objects, providing a description of teleportation as it occurs in physics, its theoretical and experimental status, and a projection of potential applications. The study also consisted of a search for teleportation phenomena occurring naturally or under laboratory conditions that can be assembled into a model describing the conditions required to accomplish the transfer of objects. This included a review and documentation of quantum teleportation, its theoretical basis, technological development, and its potential applications. The characteristics of teleportation were defined and physical theories were evaluated in terms of their ability to completely describe the phenomena. Contemporary physics, as well as theories that presently challenge the current physics paradigm were investigated. The author identified and proposed two unique physics models for teleportation that are based on the manipulation of either the general relativistic spacetime metric or the spacetime vacuum electromagnetic (zero-point fluctuations) parameters. Naturally occurring anomalous teleportation phenomena that were previously studied by the United States and foreign governments were also documented in the study and are reviewed in the report. The author proposes an additional model for teleportation that is based on a combination of the experimental results from the previous government studies and advanced physics concepts. Numerous recommendations outlining proposals for further theoretical and experimental studies are given in the report. The report also includes an extensive teleportation bibliography.


Online collections do not yet function like conventional libraries. Many digital collections are experimental and lack service components, and few have preservation components. The function of searching across collections is a dream frequently discussed but seldom realized at a robust level. This paper places a conceptual framework upon digital library development, and discusses how we might move from isolated digital collections to interoperable digital libraries. It first examines how early efforts to construct digital collections were conceived as experiments rather than operational libraries. It then discusses various conventional library components that are necessary to deployment of operational digital libraries. Finally, the author points to functions (such as infrastructure, robust metadata, and preservation components) that can be deployed to move us from isolated digital collections to interoperable digital libraries.


The Moroccan state has long attempted to maintain tight control on "its" subjects living in Europe . Since the 1960s, the state has actively discouraged migrants' social and political integration because this was seen as endangering the flow of remittances and creating political opposition from outside. However, the failure of these remote control policies and an ominous stagnation in remittances prompted the state to change course over the 1990s. On the surface, repression has given way to the active courting of the rapidly expanding Diaspora. Along with policies to facilitate holiday returns, remittances and to co-opt former exiles, the state adopted a positive attitude towards migrants' dual citizenship and integration. Despite the apparent success of these policies, the recent spectacular increases in remittances and holiday visits could only be achieved because of continuing emigration and because these targeted policies were an integral part of a more general process of political reform and liberalisation. Reform has only been partial and the state has not given up a number of instruments to control and foster links with 'its' emigrants. While the state tries to strike a delicate balance between courting and controlling the expanding Moroccan Diaspora, some European politicians see these policies as running counter to integration policies. This can result in conflicting sovereignty claims made by Moroccan and European states.


Abstract This article documents the work of Islamic charities and NGOs from diverse backgrounds to develop sets of principles guiding their humanitarian and charitable work, in the framework of the dialogue and cooperation among Islamic NGOs and charities as well as between Islamic and Western humanitarian agencies. The authors look at draft documents that resulted from these processes, and the way these relate to the core principles of humanitarian action. They further follow how the dialogue and cooperation between humanitarian organizations from different backgrounds and origins has influenced the orientation of this debate on humanitarian principles from theory and identity to concrete and shared challenges and concerns.


Rental prices have been increasing throughout the country for the last several years. While New Orleans is no exception to this trend, rental rates have decreased in most area zip codes in the last six months. In the meantime, vacancy rates have been fairly constant at their average rates. In this study, we investigate whether any increases in New Orleans' rental rates are correlated to Airbnb activity, or whether they are part of overall trends in prices. For each zip code in New Orleans, we investigated whether changes in rental prices are correlated with changes in Airbnb activity, after controlling for regional rental rate changes (outside New Orleans). We were unable to find any scientifically valid evidence that rental rates and Airbnb presence are correlated, and conclude that Airbnb has no discernible impact on rents in any of New Orleans' zip codes.


Geographical economics starts from the observation that economic activity is clearly not randomly distributed across space. This revised and updated introduction to geographical economics uses the modern tools of economic theory to explain the who, why and where of the location of economic activity. The text provides an integrated, first-principles introduction to geographical economics for advanced undergraduate students and first-year graduate students, and has been thoroughly revised and updated to reflect important developments in the field, including new chapters on alternative core models and policy implications. It presents a truly global analysis of issues in geographical economics using case studies from all over the world, including North America, Europe, Africa and Australasia, and contains many computer simulations and end-of chapter exercises to encourage learning and understanding through application.


There is a lack of applicable model for understanding stability affected by combination of incentive and direct control for an economic regulation within mixed-forms. The research on stability of an economic regulation has mostly been focused on incentive or direct control in a U-form or M-form dominated organization. Therefore, the purpose of this study has been to discover a universal model for explaining stability affected by combination theory, leading to high mixed-form organizations performance.This dissertation illustrates the relative theories bound to the research topic and moves one step forward into hierarchies, the U-form dominated and M-form dominated mixed forms. And this dissertation puts forward a hypothesis on how to lead an economic regulation to more stable. The suggested theory was empirically tested in a case study and received strong support. The conclusion of the conducted research is that an economic regulation governed by an M-form dominated organization with stronger incentive and less direct control is more stable than a U-form dominated organization with weaker incentive and more direct control.