Abstract. This study focuses on the role of VGI visualization in encouraging participation to environmental Citizen Science, taking as a case study the mobile application developed within SIMILE (Informative System for the Integrated Monitoring of Insubric Lakes and their Ecosystems) project activities. The main project goal is the protection of water quality for Lugano, Maggiore and Como lakes through a geoinformatics coordination of existing monitoring systems with new data collection methods (satellite images, high frequency sensors and citizen science). This tool enables the producers to perform a community-based monitoring side by side with local authorities and research bodies improving the efficiency of the current protocols. Referring to ontologies of geospatial data, the VGI samples are analysed under different aspects as their quality, quantity, variety, granularity, spatial and temporal distribution, highlighting their temporary, moving and changing nature. This analysis shows the presence of potential contradictions existing between the application use and the perceived lake water quality, to be mitigated mainly working on the user interface of the map view. So, a study of existing conventions, especially in terms of colours, is compared with the results coming from the application of consolidated survey methodologies to this specific context. Reflections on markers, symbols and attributes of features and maps are presented introducing geovisual analytical solutions for dynamic phenomena. The design solutions adopted are finally presented and validated with a combination of different usability evaluation methods like heuristics and field tests.


The application of control systems, active or passive, in reducing structural vibrations has been explored during the last few decades; some of them being practically employed. However, in large structural systems, the transfer of data from the sensors located at di erent places in the system to the processors, and sending back the control signals to the actuators in a very short time, is of great concern. That is the main reason behind the new concept of segregation of original large structural systems into smaller controllable units. In this paper, besides reviewing existing algorithms for centralized active control of tall buildings, the concept of decentralized active control of large structural systems is elaborated, and its application to the control of 3-D structural models is demonstrated. For this purpose, while proposing a method to divide 3-D structural models into several substructures, a velocity-displacement feedback control algorithm is used to reduce the response of the sub-structures. In the considered performance index for derivation of the control algorithm, the weighting matrices are determined using the Lyaponuv function to guarantee the stability of the dynamic system. It is followed by a case study, in which the performance of the decentralized control is compared with that of the regular centralized control approach. It is assumed that the actuators are located on all oors. Extensive parametric studies are performed to determine the sensitivity of the proposed control algorithm to a number of parameters, such as the number and size of substructures, eccentricity, and type of earthquake records. The obtained results indicate that, in all cases, the control algorithm guarantees the stability of the structural models, and the performance of the centralized and decentralized control approaches are almost the same. The e ect of eccentricity is investigated using a number of earthquake records. It is shown that more control forces are needed in eccentric buildings, caused by the lateral-torsional seismic response of the structural system. The optimization of the size and number of sub-structures, to minimize the required control forces, is not the aim of this study, and will be dealt with in future work. In the developed control algorithms, both the structural model and the control system are assumed to behave linearly, and no time delay is considered in activation of the actuators (active tendons). Matlab software was used for performing the numerical analysis.


Paper is a flexible material, commonly used for information storage, writing, packaging, or specialized purposes. It also has strong appeal as a substrate in the field of flexible printed electronics. Many applications, including safety, merchandising, smart labels/packing, and chemical/biomedical sensors, require an energy source to power operation. Here, progress regarding development of photovoltaic and energy storage devices on cellulosic substrates, where one or more of the main material layers are deposited via solution processing or printing, is reviewed. Paper can be used simply as the flexible substrate or, exploiting its porous fiber‐like nature, as an active film by infiltration or copreparation with electronic materials. Solar cells with efficiencies of up to 9% on opaque substrates and 13% on transparent substrates are demonstrated. Recent developments in paper‐based supercapacitors and batteries are also reviewed with maximum achieved capacity of 1350 mF cm−2 and 2000 mAh g−1, respectively. Analyzing the literature, it becomes apparent that more work needs to be carried out in continuing to improve peak performance, but especially stability and the application of printing techniques, even roll‐to‐roll processing, over large areas. Paper is not only environmentally friendly and recyclable, but also thin, flexible, lightweight, biocompatible, and inexpensive.


Owing to hydrophilic behavior lignocellulosic fibers, e.g. Agave is unacceptable in various fields of applications. In the present communication attempts have been made to enhance hyrdrophobicity of these fibers through surface modification using methyl methacrylate as vinyl monomer. The grafting reaction initiated by ceric ion was carried out in vacuum. The various reaction parameters such as reaction time, temperature, monomer concentration, initiator concentration and vacuum were optimized to obtain the maximum percent graft yield. The grafted samples were evaluated for the hydrophobic character and other physicochemical properties such as swelling behavior in different polar and nonpolar solvents alongwith chemical resistance behavior. The grafted products were further characterized by different techniques such as FT-IR, SEM, X-RD and thermogravimetric studies. Copyright © 2010 VBRI press.


There seems to be a significant uncertainty in aerodynamic and aeroelastic simulations on megawatt turbines operating in inflow with considerable shear, in particular with the engineering blade element momentum (BEM) model, commonly implemented in the aeroelastic design codes used by industry. Computations with advanced vortex and computational fluid dynamics models are used to provide improved insight into the complex flow phenomena and rotor aerodynamics caused by the sheared inflow. One consistent result from the advanced models is the variation of induced velocity as a function of azimuth when shear is present in the inflow. This gives guidance to how the BEM modeling of shear should be implemented. Another result from the advanced vortex model computations is a clear indication of influence of the ground, and the general tendency is a speed up effect of the flow through the rotor giving a higher power than in uniform flow. On the basis of the consistent azimuthal induction variations seen in the advanced model results, three different BEM implementation methods are discussed and tested in the same aeroelastic code. A full local BEM implementation on an elemental stream tube in both azimuth and radial direction seems to be closest to the advanced model results. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


We investigated molecular characteristics of particulate proteins in Pacific surface waters using two‐dimensional electrophoresis (2DE). Most proteinaceous materials estimated by dye‐binding methods were characterized by the 2DE unresolved acidic materials with a broad range of molecular mass and the 2DE unresolved low molecular mass materials with a broad range of isoelectric point. The 2DE unresolved acidic and low molecular mass materials were considered to comprise peptides conjugated with acidic saccharides and degradation products (peptides) of proteins, respectively, which indicates that almost all proteins in living organisms failed to survive in detrital particulate organic matter (POM). Nevertheless, 23 discrete proteins were distinguished by the 2DE. Electrophoretic patterns of the discrete proteins indicated that they were a component of detrital POM. Three discrete proteins were subjected to N terminal amino acid sequence analysis. Two proteins out of three could not be determined because their N termini were blocked, and one protein was determined from the N terminus to the ninth amino acid residue. A homology search revealed that the N terminal amino acid sequence of the protein agreed completely with that of 70 kDa heat shock protein (HSP70) derived from photosynthetic organisms. HSP70 is a major member of the molecular chaperones that protect or repair proteins from damage under conditions of environmental stress. The occurrence of HSP70 in this study demonstrated that phytoplankton were able to induce the molecular chaperone(s). Clarification of factor(s) controlling induction of chaperones will enable us to assess the actual environmental stress on phytoplankton at the biomolecular level.


The knowledge and understanding of the environmental related problems associated with development activities has increased rapidly in recent years. Consequently, arise in adoption of appraisal tools for monitoring environmental performance is also evidenced in a number of countries. In Sub-Sahara African (SSA) region, for instance, policy and regulation reform has been intensified over the past two decades demonstrating governments' initiatives in addressing environmental, social and economic aspects of sustainability. This paper reviews the extent of contribution the policy instruments make in monitoring and evaluating environmental impacts related to the building industry in the SSA. Basing on the reviewed literature of an ongoing PhD research, it is noted that there is need for appropriate information and data on which the proposed policies are to be based. Also different building stakeholders, researchers and the public sector need to participate not only in the policy formulation but also in defining sustainability in the local context and be considered as the basis for policy formulation.


The photosensitization mechanism for cationic polymerizations initiated by diaryliodonium salts photosensitized by anthracene was investigated using fluorescence and phosphorescence spectroscopy. In situ photosensitizer fluorescence measurements confirmed that the photosensitization reaction proceeds by an electron transfer process. Transient phosphorescence studies demonstrated that electron transfer occurred from the triplet excited state of anthracene to the initiator, with an intrinsic kinetic rate constant of 2 × 108 L/mol s. Further evidence for the role of the triplet state was provided by an observed seven-fold decrease in the polymerization rate upon addition of a triplet state quencher. Finally, numerical solution of the photophysical kinetic equations indicated that the triplet state concentration was approximately three orders of magnitude higher than that of the singlet state, and that 94-96% of the active cationic centers are produced by reaction of the initiator with the triplet state. These results indicate that the electron transfer occurs primarily from the triplet state of anthracene, with the singlet state providing only a minor contribution to the photosensitization reaction. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.


Objectives: (1) To review progress in the prevention of blindness in Sudan compared to Vision 2020 targets. (2) To show gaps and shortfalls. Materials and Methods: Reports of national Vision 2020 program covering the period 2003-2010 are reviewed, including data generated from six RAAB surveys conducted in 2009-2010. Results: Prevalence of blindness is 1% compared to 1.5% in 2003. Cataract surgical out-put, cataract surgical rate (CSR), and IOL implantation rate increased steadily. It is estimated that 70% of the population are covered with refractive errors services. Low vision services are provided by four centers. Trachoma mapping completed for Northern Sudan except Darfur. SAFE strategy is implemented. Prevalence of childhood blindness is not known. Two centers provide specialized pediatric eye services. There is community-directed treatment with Ivermectin (CDTI) in 3 out the 4 onchocerciasis foci. Ophthalmologists tripled in number. Optometists exceeded 1000, compared to less than 500 in 2003. Secondary and tertiary level facilities increased in major cities. There is no primary eye-care program. Conclusion: Northern Sudan shows good progress in most of the components of Vision 2020, namely cataract, trachoma, onchocerciasis, refractive errors, and low vision. However, scaling up and attention to diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma are still needed to reach all the targets by the year 2020.


In the late 1970s, a ground-breaking project began in the Pilanesberg district in what is now the North West Province of South Africa to create a wildlife conservation and eco-tourism venture from degraded marginal farmland in an aesthetically attractive extinct volcanic crater. The establishment of this national park was innovative in a number of respects, including a partnership between landscape and ecological designers, local community development and participation, regional tourist satisfaction, trophy hunting, environmental education, ecological restoration, and wildlife conservation and management. This paper briefly explored the park's early history, explaining its landscape, its early peopling and historical land use. The narrative then concentrated on the first five years of the park's existence, from its inception in 1977, under the aegis of Agricor, Bophuthatswana's rural development agency, to 1984, when responsibility for the park was given over to Bophuthatswana National Parks, a parastatal agency, and a new era began. The article contended that 1984 is an appropriate date on which to conclude the early history of the Pilanesberg National Park (PNP) because it was then that the experimental phase of the park ended: its infrastructure was sufficiently developed to offer a satisfactory visitor experience, the management plan was revised, its bureaucratic structures were consolidated and an attitude survey amongst the local community was undertaken. Embedding the originating period of the PNP in its historical, political and socio-economic context, the paper foregrounded those elements in the park's beginnings that were new in the southern African protected area arena. Thus, elements that relate to socio-politics, landscape and ecological design and restoration, and early relations with neighbouring communities were emphasised. This paper has been written by an historian and is therefore conceptual and historical, conforming in language and structure to the humanities style (environmental history). It relies on published and unpublished literature and oral information and the critical evaluation of these sources. Conservation implications: The pioneering example of the PNP as a protected area is relevant to the field of conservation science because, as human population densities increase, as the tourism sector develops, as marginal farmland becomes available for new uses, and as it becomes important to include neighbouring communities in conservation activities, a study of this park's early history and socio-political and economic context may be of assistance in the development of similar projects elsewhere in South Africa and beyond.


This important book reviews applications of optimization and optimal control theory to modern problems in physics, nano-science and finance. The theory presented here can be efficiently applied to various problems, such as the determination of the optimal shape of a laser pulse to induce certain excitations in quantum systems, the optimal design of nanostructured materials and devices, or the control of chaotic systems and minimization of the forecast error for a given forecasting model (for example, artificial neural networks). Starting from a brief review of the history of variational calculus, the book discusses optimal control theory and global optimization using modern numerical techniques. Key elements of chaos theory and basics of fractional derivatives, which are useful in control and forecast of complex dynamical systems, are presented. The coverage includes several interdisciplinary problems to demonstrate the efficiency of the presented algorithms, and different methods of forecasting complex dynamics are discussed.


A range of evidence indicates that many granite tors in the Cairngorms have been modified by the flow of glacier ice during the Pleistocene. Comparisons with SW England and the use of a space–time transformation across 38 tor groups in the Cairngorms allow a model to be developed for progressive glacial modification. Tors with deeply etched surfaces and no, or limited, block removal imply an absence of significant glacial modification. The removal of superstructure and blocks, locally forming boulder trains, and the progressive reduction of tors to stumps and basal slabs represent the more advanced stages of modification. Recognition of some slabs as tor stumps from which glacial erosion has removed all superstructure allows the original distribution of tors to be reconstructed for large areas of the Cairngorms. Unmodified tors require covers of non‐erosive, cold‐based ice during all of the cold stages of the Middle and Late Pleistocene. Deformation beneath cold‐based glacier ice is capable of the removal of blocks but advanced glacial modification requires former wet‐based glacier ice. The depth of glacial erosion at former tor sites remains limited largely to the partial or total elimination of the upstanding tor form. Cosmogenic nuclide exposure ages (Phillips et al., 2006) together with data from weathering pit depths (Hall and Phillips, 2006), from the surfaces of tors and large erratic blocks require that the glacial entrainment of blocks from tors occurred in Marine Isotope Stages (MIS) 4–2, 6 and, probably, at least one earlier phase. The occurrence of glacially modified tors on or close to, the main summits of the Cairngorms requires full ice cover over the mountains during these Stages. Evidence from the Cairngorms indicates that tor morphology can be regarded as an important indicator of former ice cover in many formerly glaciated areas, particularly where other evidence of ice cover is sparse. Recognition of the glacial modification of tors is important for debates about the former existence of nunataks and refugia. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


Constitutive promoters are essential component in genetic engineering. The promoters are usually derived from genes that are constitutively expressed or function as housekeeping genes. In this study, the ubiquitin extension protein (uep2) gene was identified as a constitutively expressed gene in oil palm. The 5' region of the oil palm uep2 gene was isolated and the promoter truncation analysis was performed. The full length of uep2 (uep2a) and its truncation derivatives (uep2b and uep2c) were linked to β-glucuronidase (gus) reporter gene. The strength and the activity of the uep2 promoter were transiently evaluated in various oil palm tissues and tobacco leaves. Histochemical GUS analysis showed that the activity of truncated uep2b promoter was higher than the full length promoter and uep2c derivative in most tissues tested. Result also showed that uep2b was capable of directing the expression of GUS in all tissues with the high activity detected in oil palm embryoid, green leaves, and tobacco leaves. The full length of uep2 (uep2a) promoter also exhibited the ability to direct the expression of GUS in all tissues with the high activity detected in the plantlet stem. By contrast, although the uep2c showed high activity in young leaves and embryoid, a significant decrease of GUS expression was seen in green tissues. These results indicated that the region between position -1096 and -3237 is essential for constitutive transcriptional regulation as deletion of the region resulted in a significant decrease in the promoter activity. Though maize ubi1 and CaMV35S promoters showed a relatively higher activity than uep2, the uep2 has the ability to induce the constitutive GUS expression in all tissues tested. These results showed that 5' flanking region of uep2 gene is active in oil palm and tobacco, suggesting that the promoter could be used as an alternative promoter for driving constitutive expression of transgenes in oil palm and other plants.


This thesis explores representations and discussion of the 'interior' life of industrial workers in psychological, literary and sociological discourse published between 1900 and 1970 in twentieth-century Britain. The attempts of amateur and professional psychologists, writers and sociologists to uncover, decipher and accurately represent the mental world of industrial workers is examined with reference to broader medical and psychological conceptualisations of the influences and effects that different types of labour exercised over the minds and bodies of individuals. The following chapters focus upon industrial psychological, sociological and autobiographical literature from the period, tracing contrasting explanations and solutions for expressions of unease and dissatisfaction in industrial environments. The main themes explored include discussion of 'industrial misfits' and 'neurotic' workers in published industrial psychological literature during the inter-war period. This thesis will also include analysis of the testimonies of non-specialist Mass-Observers and the contrasting postwar industrial sociological studies on the Affluent Worker produced by sociologists John Goldthorpe, David Lockwood and Ferdynand Zweig. Of central concern in this thesis, are the different ways in which specific groups of industrial 'experts' approached the issue of subjectivity; the reasons behind their interest, their preoccupations, methods, and the various obstacles and criticisms they met with in their attempts at observation, control and categorisation of feeling. Contemporary intellectual debates and preoccupations surrounding how to study, understand and interpret emotional well-being of workers within industrial contexts has been presented as a rich and under-researched area in current historiography. This thesis argues that such literature needs to be re-examined in terms of its contribution to historical understandings of the relationship between work, material conditions and mental health in twentieth century Britain.


Background: With the incidence and the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) increasing worldwide and its economic repercussions, a detailed haematological workup of such patients is necessary to detect the type of anaemia, as there is a general tendency to consider anaemia to be of the normocytic normochromic type. However in India, a co-existing iron deficiency is also common. Anaemia is an independent risk factor for the mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease. Platelet dysfunction is inherently associated with the uraemic environment, and bleeding tendencies may be manifested despite the presence of normal platelet counts, due to defects in the platelet functioning. This can be detected by the prolonged bleeding times. The immunosuppressed state which is seen in chronic kidney disease is due to defects in both the cell mediated and the humoral immune systems and also due to the associated complement dysfunction.
Objective: This study was chosen as an attempt towards detecting the various aspects which are associated with anaemia and its relationship with the stage of chronic kidney disease, in addition to other haematological changes which occur in the same.
Materials and Methods: This observational study included 100 patients of chronic kidney disease, who were included, irrespective of their age, sex, aetiology and their clinical profiles. A thorough clinical examination and evaluation were conducted, which included serum iron studies. By using Chi-square analysis, the parameters which were used for a statistical correlation were the levels of anaemia with respect to the stages of the kidney disease, the type and the severity of anaemia, thrombocytopaenia with the bleeding time, leucocytosis and elevated ESR values.
Results: Although most of the anaemia was of the normocytic type, nearly a third of the patients had microcytic hypochromic and a mixed type of anaemia. Those with a microcytic hypochromic picture correlated with a severe degree of anaemia. The elevated Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) levels were more distributed in the lower levels of the Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR). There was no association between the platelet levels and the bleeding time. The leucocytosis was not necessarily associated with infections.
Conclusions: It is pertinent to detect and treat subclinical iron deficiency in patients with CKD and to not over-investigate the minor haematological variations.


Resume: Budget impact analysis of treatment of ankylosing spondylitis was carried out on the for cohort of 100 patients in the Russian Federation. With the current distribution of patients, adalimumab received 26%, golimumab – 14%, infliximab – 26%, etanercept 18%, certolizumab pegol 7%, secukinumab – 9%. With the simulated distribution of patients, the share of the most economical drug, secukinumab, was increased to 21.8%, while the shares of adalimumab, golimumab, infliximab, certolizumab pegol and etanercept were 21.6%, 13.8%, 13.8%, 5, 8%, 13.8%, respectively. Also, in the simulated distribution, the shares of recently registered drugs – netakimab - 6.8%, and ixekizumab – 2.6% were taken into account. With the current distribution of patients between drugs the budget is 92,868,680 rubles in the first year and 258,825,970 rubles for three years. With a simulated distribution, the costs in the first year are 86,626,248 rubles and 240,444,152 rubles for three years. Thus, when calculating per 100 patients, the simulated distribution of patients in comparison with the current one provides savings in the amount of 6,242,431 rubles in the first year and 18 381 818 rubles for three years. With the saved money, 9 patients can be additionally treated with secukinumab.


Design and operating characteristics are reported for high prf copper laser-pumped rhodamine 590 dye-laser oscillators using simple Littrow-mounted or grazing-incidence grating cavities incorporating double-prism beam expanders. Conversion efficiencies from the 2-W, λ510.6-nm pump beam at the λ575-nm peak of the dye tuning band are 4–5% for linewidths in the subgigahertz range down to 650 MHz at a pulse repetition frequency of 8 kHz. Background amplified spontaneous emission intensity is low, typically 1% of tunable laser intensity for the Littrow-grating cavity and only 0.1% for the grazing-incidence grating cavity.


INTRODUCTION: The cryopreserved homograft is a good valve substitute due attributes like excellent hemodynamics, low incidence of thromboembolic events, infection resistance and good mid-term durability. However, progressive homograft degeneration and fibrocalcification may occur, particularly in the childhood and young adults. Their antigenicity triggers an immunological reaction that plays an important role in their degeneration and failure. The decellularization process was proposed to decrease this antigenicity. By the action of detergents and enzymes, this process removes all cellular components from the homograft matrix, diminishing immunogenicity and probably delaying its degeneration. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this experimental and descriptive study is to evaluate the biological and functional behavior of decellularized pulmonary homografts (Decell-H), treated by a sodium dodecil sulfate solution (0.1%), developed in our University (Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Parana). For the characterization of Decell-H performance, parameters like recellularization, calcification, and echocardiographic data will be analyzed. METHODS: Eight juvenile sheep were submitted to the implantation of the Decell-H sutured into orthotopic position, through a left thoracotomy and with cardiopulmonary bypass support. They were followed-up clinically and by periodical echocardiograms until the explantation, which were performed in different time for every two sheep: seven, 30, 90 and 180 postoperative days. For histological analysis we used Hematoxilin-eosin, Movat and Alizarin-Red staining. RESULTS: The sheep reached their follow-up period in a good clinical state. There was no valve regurgitation or stenonis by the echocardiogram. The animals submitted to the explantation in 90 and 180 days had a significant somatic growth and these Decell-H(s) had a diameter increase, without central valve insufficiency. Histologically, all homografts preserved their extra-cellular matrix organization and were progressively recellularized, without calcification. CONCLUSION: In this experimental model, the Decell-H behaved as an excellent valve substitute.


This paper presents a physically based technique for simulating water. This work is motivated by the semi-Lagrangian "stable fluids" method developed by Stam to handle gaseous fluids. We extend this technique to water, which calls for the development of methods for modeling multiphase fluids and suppressing dissipation. We construct a multiphase fluid formulation by combining the Navier–Stokes equations with the level set method. By adopting constrained interpolation profile (CIP)-based advection, we reduce the numerical dissipation and diffusion significantly. We further reduce the dissipation by converting potentially dissipative cells into droplets or bubbles that undergo Lagrangian motion. Due to the multiphase formulation, the proposed method properly simulates the interaction of water with surrounding air, instead of simulating water in a void space. Moreover, the introduction of the nondissipative technique means that, in contrast to previous methods, the simulated water does not unnecessarily lose mass and its motion is not damped to an unphysical extent . Experiments showed that the proposed method is stable and runs fast. It is demonstrated that two-dimensional simulation runs in real-time. CR Categories: I.3.7 [Computer Graphics]: Three-Dimensional Graphics and Realism—Animation; I.6.8 [Simulation and Modeling]: Types of Simulation—Animation


In LMIC, radiology image studies are transported across distant geographical locations in an attempt at seeking radiologist's reporting services. This often leads to delayed care, poor patient outcomes and negative monetary implications. The landscape is rapidly changing with improved internet connectivity and availability of advanced radiology equipment. Tele-radiology holds great promise in solving this problem. We describe a tele-radiology architecture that uses the global virtual radiology service model, its implementation, success, challenges and its promise with wide adoption. Implementation involved several policy, stakeholder, security and workflow integration considerations. Over a 1-year period of implementation from January to December 2017, 80 X-rays (CR studies), 150 MRIs and 1,335 CT Scans were processed and delivered for reporting within a period of three (3 ±1.4) minutes. There was image size variability depending on modality. The total cost of implementation of the architecture was $7,540. The system demonstrated that it is possible to implement a scalable, low-cost, sustainable, secure and robust tele-radiology architecture in low resource settings. This would help alleviate some of the constraints associated with the sparse number of radiologists.


Abstract Analysis, interpretation and reconstruction of different depositional palaeoenvironments in the land–sea transition zone of the huge Lower Devonian siliciclastic delta system at the northern margin of the Rhenohercynian Basin (Central European Variscides, Germany) are the main subjects of this paper. Seven representative columnar sections have been taken at larger outcrops in the Mid-Rhine region. They furnished the main criteria for this analysis. The understanding and interpretation of the different depositional palaeoenvironments have been supported by regional geological lithological and biostratigraphical data. The sedimentary processes of distal meandering fluvial systems that gradually passed into fluvial-dominated deltaic systems of the elongate bird-foot type have been recognized. Lower delta slope to delta-foot plain conditions have been detected in a subtidal environment probably down to 100 m of former water depth. Thus, the Siegenian delta must have had a low inclined but wide slope down to the basin floor. Palaeoclimatic conditions at a latitude of about 10 to 30° south, in the basinal as well as in the source area of the Old Red Continent in the north, controlled the input of siliciclastic detritus as well as the depositional processes in the basin. Moreover, steady subsidence and an intermittent sea level played a prominent role during sedimentation. They held this system in balance for more than seven million years.


The paper demonstrates that, in opposition to accepted wisdom, questions often exhibit various degrees of certainty, while answers express different types of uncertainty. The analysis of polar questions and answers draws heavily on the representation of mental states and applies a formal interpretation system (ℛeALIS) capable of handling cognitive notions. Although the paper investigates Hungarian data, the method it applies can be adopted in the examination of similar usages in other languages. The aim of the paper is twofold: on the one hand, it aims at drawing attention to the importance of taking mental states into account in the semantic-pragmatic analysis of polar questioning; on the other hand, it introduces a formal interpretation system suitable for handling pragmatic phenomena.


A winner-take-all mechanism is a device that determines the identity and amplitude of its largest input (Feldman and Ballard 1982). Such mechanisms have been proposed for various brain functions. For example, a theory for visual velocity estimate (Grzywacz and Yuille 1989) postulates that a winner-take-all selects the strongest responding cell in the cortex's middle temporal area (MT). This theory proposes a circuitry that links the directionally selective cells in the primary visual cortex to MT cells, making them velocity selective. Generally, several velocity cells would respond, but only the winner would determine the perception. In another theory, a winner-take-all guides the spotlight of attention to the most salient image part (Koch and Ullman 1985). Also, such mechanisms improve the signal-to-noise ratios of VLSI emulations of brain functions (Lazzaro and Mead 1989). Although computer algorithms for winner-take-all mechanisms exist (Feldman and Ballard 1982; Koch and Ullman 1985), good biologically motivated models do not. A candidate for a biological mechanism is lateral (mutual) inhibition (Hartline and Ratliff 1957). In some theoretical mutual-inhibition networks, the inhibition sums linearly to the excitatory inputs and the result is passed through a threshold non linearity (Hadeler 1974). However, these networks work only if the difference between winner and losers is large (Koch and Ullman 1985). We propose an alternative network, in which the output of each element feeds back to inhibit the inputs to other elements. The action of this presynaptic inhibition is nonlinear with a possible biophysical substrate. This paper shows that the new network converges stably to a solution that both relays the winner's identity and amplitude and suppresses information on the losers with arbitrary precision. We prove these results mathematically and illustrate the effectiveness of the network and some of its variants by computer simulations.


Author(s): Charnavel, Isabelle | Advisor(s): Sportiche, Dominique | Abstract: This dissertation focuses on the French word propre roughly meaning `characteristic-of' and corresponding to English own found in `her own thesis'. This adjective makes extremely varied and complex contributions to the meaning and properties of sentences it occurs in. The present work addresses the question of how these contributions arise. Parsimoniously assuming a unique lexical entry for propre, these contributions are compositionally derived by a specific DP-internal structure and different interactions with focus.More precisely, propre is analyzed as taking as argument a possessive relation characterized as most specific. Unlike postnominal propre, prenominal propre exhibits three main readings called restrictive, possessor and possessum propre: restrictive propre has a standard intersective truth-conditional effect; possessor and possessum propre do not, but induce focus alternatives respectively to the possessor and to the possessum; possessum propre moreover gives rise to scalarity effects. These readings are argued to derive from a principle of minimization and different interactions with focus; in particular, the behavior of possessum propre shows the presence of a covert focus operator akin to even.When combined with a pronominal possessor like son (`his'), the behavior of propre provides probes bearing on binding theoretic issues. First, son propre exhibits complex correlations between focus, locality and animacy: possessor propre is subject to locality only when it is inanimate, unlike possessum propre not so constrained. The difference between possessor and possessum propre underscores an interaction between focus and binding. Moreover, the distribution of possessor son propre sheds new light on how to formulate condition A supporting the relevance of local binding domain (for non-exempt anaphors) and the need for exemption (from condition A). As inanimate French anaphors like son propre are never exempt, they provide a crucial tool for delimiting locality, allowing a reduction of condition A (at least in French) to phase theory based architectural principles.


Activation of brown adipose tissue in mice, through the use of the amino acid leucine, was investigated. Brown adipose tissue has become a topic of interest in recent years, as activation of this tissue has been proposed as a potential target for obesity and type 2 diabetes treatment. This is because activation requires large amounts of energy, as well as circulating glucose, and stores of triglycerides. Previous work involving brown adipose tissue activation focuses on drugs with a known beta-adrenergic stimulus, which is one method of activation of brown adipose tissue, but few focus on potential dietary treatment. In order to assess activation due to leucine, 18F-FDG uptake was measured using positron emission tomography after treatment with leucine. Using an analysis method of calculating standardized uptake value and maximum standardized uptake value, the level of 18F-FDG uptake was quantified and used to judge activation. It was shown that leucine causes an additional increase to brown adipose tissue activation in a hyperglycaemic state. This finding opens the door for future research involving the method of action of leucine or testing if leucine treatment has the potential to treat hyperglycaemia.


Individuals must increasingly construct their identity in the face of changing communities and a globalizing world. The north of England, and Newcastle as a case in point, is often thought of and portrayed in mainstream media as backwards and working-class (Lancaster 1995). However, The Quayside of Newcastle has in recent years been witness to a transformation, a so-called 'culture-led regeneration'. But is there any room in the developed Newcastle for the working-class Northerner?

With a commodified dialect for sale at the local tourist office (Beal 2009) and increasing developments focusing on more 'middle-class values' such as modern art and classical music (Miles 2005), where is the vernacular Tyneside speaker meant to find their identity?

This paper will present the findings of a quantitative corpus study of diachronic change in Tyneside English morphosyntax (sentential negation with do, 2 personal pronouns, and 4 verbal constructions). The results will be linked to an interviewer-led questionnaire study which investigates Tyneside speakers' awareness of and attitudes to these particular local vernacular forms. These two studies form part of an investigation into the notion of salience and its role in language change from the point of view of the individual (rather than the speech community). However, this investigation also raises issues of the indexicality (Silverstein 2003) and enregisterment (Agha 2003) of forms and local identity formation through language (Beal 2009).

The working assumption of this investigation is that Tyneside speakers are increasingly defining themselves through the use of local language forms rather than through identification with the town itself. As the urban landscape of the town is changing speakers are increasingly looking for other ways to anchor their identity and signify local identity. One way to do this is through the use of local vernacular forms.

This paper argues that both social and cognitive factors are at work in the construction of salience and that an approach to studying language variation and change and "language in the mind" more generally benefits from being informed by theories and insights from socio-cognitive psychology.


Abundance and biomass estimations of filamentous cyanobacteria often use conventional microscope measurements, which are highly time‐consuming and provide no information on filament morphology. In this article, we describe an image analysis method developed for rapid, semiautomated or fully automated estimations of filament lengths and abundance of uncoiled cyanobacteria. The method was developed for the Baltic Sea cyanobacterium Aphanizomenon sp. and then applied on Trichodesmium sp. strain IMS101 to demonstrate the wider applicability of the system. Digitized microscope images were analyzed with software that identified the filaments by comparing their dimensions with specified acceptance ranges and automatically measured selected parameters. Validation of the method against estimates obtained by conventional microscope measurements showed excellent agreement for both Aphanizomenon sp. and Trichodesmium sp. Compared with previously described image analysis methods based on fluorescence, the presented method is an improvement, as filament dimensions are used to discriminate between the cyanobacterial filaments and other objects. The image analysis also provides detailed morphological information on individual filaments, and the fully automated procedure requires only computer time for counting and is therefore highly cost‐efficient.


Since completing advanced degrees in statistics and epidemiology, I have participated in nursing research at Yale School of Nursing (YSN) by providing statistical support for grants. While analyzing data from diverse subjects with cancer, diabetes, sleep disorders, cardiac disease, autism, and other health conditions, I have encountered common statistical problems with inter-correlated multidimensional outcomes in longitudinal observations. One of my primary research interests is to find analytic methods to overcome statistical problems in symptom evaluation.


Many textile and apparel manufacturers are attempting to address consumer demand for environmentally friendly products. However, few empirical studies exist to help researchers understand the relationships between the antecedents to consumers' eco-friendly consumption behavior in the context of textiles and apparel. Only two studies directly explore the linkages between consumers' knowledge of the environmental impacts of production, concern for the environment, and environmentally friendly consumption behavior within the context of textiles and apparel (Butler and Francis, 1997; Kim and Damhorst, 1998). Moreover, these and other studies from the broader literature on sustainability report conflicting results in terms the influence of knowledge and concern on actual consumption behavior (e.g., Hines et al., 1987; Schahn and Holzer, 1990; Vining and Ebreo, 1990; Chan, 1999; Takacs-Santa, 2007). The current research uses structural equation modeling (SEM) among a sample of consumers (N= 429) to examine the relationships between knowledge, concern, and consumption behavior for environmentally friendly textile and apparel products. Rival models are compared to clarify the relationships between the focal constructs, with findings suggesting that knowledge of the environmental impacts of textile and apparel production leads to concern for the environment, which in turn leads to environmentally friendly consumption behavior.


Employers look for employees who have positive work attitudes besides technical knowledge and related skills.
Students, therefore, should have positive work attitudes to be successful in the workplace. This study is an
attempt to identify the motivational factors that may be associated with work attitudes of students at Universiti
Pertanian Malaysia. The motivational factors include: (1) educational aspirations, (2) occupational aspirations,
(3) reason for entering the programme, (4) religiosity, and (5) student perception of parental work values. A
cluster random sampling was used to determine the sample of respondents. The sample consisted of686 diploma
programme students. The results indicated that the reason for entering the programme, religiosity and student
perception of parental work values were related to work attitude. These variables were further analyzed to determine
the semi-partial multiple regression coefficients. The findings showed that reason for entering the programme
did not account for a significant unique proportion of the variance in work attitude. However, religiosity
and student perceptions of parental work values accounted for a significant unique proportion of the variance in
work attitude. These two variables were used in the stepwise multiple regression analysis. It was found that the
two variables were the best predictors of the work attitude of diploma programme students at the Universiti
Pertanian Malaysia.


Friction is a nonlinear and complex phenomenon. It is unwanted at the biped joints since it deteriorates the robot's walking performance in terms of speed and dynamic behavior. On the other hand, it is desired and required between the biped feet and the walking surface to facilitate locomotion. Further, friction forces between the feet and the ground determine the maximum acceleration and deceleration that the robot can afford without foot slip. Although several friction models are developed, there is no exact model that represents the friction behavior. This is why online friction estimation and compensation enter the picture. However, when online model-free estimation is difficult, a model-based method of online identification can prove useful. This thesis proposes a new approach for the joint friction estimation and slip prediction of walking biped robots. The joint friction estimation approach is based on the combination of a measurementbased strategy and a model-based method. The former is used to estimate the joint friction online when the foot is in contact with the ground, it utilizes the force and acceleration measurements in a reduced dynamical model of the biped. The latter adopts a friction model to represent the joint friction when the leg is swinging. The model parameters are identified adaptively using the estimated online friction whenever the foot is in contact. Then the estimated joint friction contributes to joint torque control signals to improve the control performance. The slip prediction is a model-free friction-behavior-inspired approach. A measurement-based online algorithm is designed to estimate the Coulomb friction which is regarded as a slip threshold. To predict the slip, a safety margin is introduced in the negative vicinity of the estimated Coulomb friction. The estimation algorithm concludes that if the applied force is outside the safety margin, then the foot tends to slip. The proposed estimation approaches are validated by experiments on SURALP (Sabanci University Robotics Research Laboratory Platform) and simulations on its model. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of these methods.


The microbial ecology of distribution systems is complex and is influenced by a number of factors. This study assessed whether or not during drinking water treatments it is important to add a chemical disinfectant after ultraviolet (UV) disinfection in order to control the regrowth of microbes in distribution systems. Results showed that low UV doses did not impact assimilable organic carbon (AOC) significantly. No definite relationship between UV dose and steady-state biofilm heterotrophic (HPC) bacteria was evident. AOC and chlorine residual are two important factors affecting biofilm and suspended HPC growth in distribution systems. When the AOC concentration was 0, 5 and 10 μg AC/L (μg acetate-C/L), a chlorine residual was not necessary to keep the fluid HPC under 500 CFU/mL. When the AOC concentration reached between 100 and 200 μg AC/L, the regrowth of microbes in the model distribution system necessitated a chlorine residual of over 0.5 mg/L. At lower AOC levels (0, 10–20 μg AC/L), the AOC appeared to have a strong effect on controlling biofilm formation and suspended HPC concentration. In contrast, at higher AOC levels (50, 100 and 200 μg AC/L), a chlorine residual was indispensable when controlling the regrowth of HPC in the distribution systems. AOC and the required chlorine residual in these systems were interrelated.


One of the challenges of today's lecturers in training centers for nurses is to teach large classes of over 60 students, maintain eye contact with students, ensure understanding, manage a structured lesson and change it according to the class mood. The lecturer must "feel" the class and, accordingly, conduct the lesson. The lecturer develops these skills over time and experience. Today, most of the lecturers prepare lesson plans using PowerPoint (PPT) presentations. It is a simple, user-friendly software that allows to combine images, videos, text, and graphs. In Israel, students learn to use this software even in elementary schools, but as lecturers there is a considerable gap using this tool, which affects the lecture's efficiency and quality. New lecturers who use presentation in their lecture do not necessarily know how to properly build a presentation. This may lead to the lecturer and lesson's low evaluation by the students, claiming the presentation is unclear, confusing, discontinuous. Therefore, the question is whether the organization inviting the lecturer has responsibility for the contents and the way of lecturing? Like a news anchor before reading the news, the editors check the content and how it is written, or before publishing a newspaper article it is reviewed and edited. In Ted lectures, the lecturers are the content experts and the knowledgeable, but before these lecturers go up to the stage and speak, media experts work with them on the presentation and clear and elegant message convey. Thus, it is possible to prevent or influence to a certain extent the lesson's low assessment by students at least in part of using a presentation. The lecturer is part of the organization, which wants to convey a message to the students that the organization is serious, professional and relevant.This article, will present three new lecturers in one of the largest academic training centers in Israel for nurses, who have prepared lesson plans of their choice using PowerPoint (PPT) software. The problems arose in the presentations preparation will be presented, and as a result, the importance that the academic training center will provide support in feedback to improve lesson plans using this tool before entering the lecture.


We are crossing a new frontier in the evolution of computing and entering the era of cognitive systems. The victory of IBM's Watson on the television quiz show Jeopardy! revealed how scientists and engineers at IBM and elsewhere are pushing the boundaries of science and technology to create machines that sense, learn, reason, and interact with people in new ways to provide insight and advice.In Smart Machines, John E. Kelly III, director of IBM Research, and Steve Hamm, a writer at IBM and a former business and technology journalist, introduce the fascinating world of "cognitive systems" to general audiences and provide a window into the future of computing. Cognitive systems promise to penetrate complexity and assist people and organizations in better decision making. They can help doctors evaluate and treat patients, augment the ways we see, anticipate major weather events, and contribute to smarter urban planning. Kelly and Hamm's comprehensive perspective describes this technology inside and out and explains how it will help us conquer the harnessing and understanding of "big data," one of the major computing challenges facing businesses and governments in the coming decades. Absorbing and impassioned, their book will inspire governments, academics, and the global tech industry to work together to power this exciting wave in innovation.


Mobile phones have become important daily companions for millions of people which help to organize both their private and their professional lives. Having access to data such as the calendar or the address book anywhere, anytime, has become commonplace. Sensor data such as the phone's GPS location and accelerometer help users navigate through the physical world. Users can furthermore extend the functionality of their phone using small programs called apps from various developers and vendors in an open ecosystem. Undoubtedly, having all this data merged on a device that is always-on and always-connected and that can easily be extended with new software greatly improves user convenience. On the other hand, it also poses new questions with regard to privacy and security. Apps may misuse the data stored on the phone or obtained from the sensors to infringe upon the user's privacy. In fact, companies already now use location data and app usage statistics to build user profiles for the purpose of targeted advertisement. The user is oftentimes unaware of these data leaks originating from his phone and has little means for analyzing the actual behavior of a given app with regard to privacy.

Static data flow analysis has been proposed as a means for automatically enumerating the data flows inside a program. Still, either do not support Android's platform-specific semantics or fall short on precision, recall, or scalability. In this thesis, we therefore propose techniques for efficiently and precisely performing static data flow analysis on real-world binary-only Android apps with large code sizes. We present the FlowDroid tool and show that it can detect data leaks in popular apps such as Facebook, Paypal, and LinkedIn. The FlowDroid reports improve the user's digital sovereignty by allowing his to asses the behavior of the app before installing it on his device and thereby entrusting it with his personal data. We allow the user to verify which of his data leaves the device and how. On the DroidBench micro-benchmark suite, we show that FlowDroid achieves a precision of more than 87% and a recall of over 84%, thereby outperforming state-of-the-art tools from academia and industry. Additionally, FlowDroid has already been used as a building-block for many other works in the field.


More than 600 erratic boulders of ironstone were found on the western shores of Beitstadfjorden, inner Trondheimsfjorde n, but none on the eastern shores. This suggests the existence of an ironstone formation at the bottom of the fjord, and plant remains indicate a middle Jurassic age. The pure ironstone consists of 7Q-80% siderite, with the remainder kaolinite. Another type contains more or less clastic grains, mostly of quartz. The petrography suggests that formation took place in a warm climate in a quiet limnic environment with a chemical precipitation of siderite, and a deposition of some kaolinite clay and locally derived


Use Moodle to manage and organize your administrative duties, monitor attendance records, manage student enrolment, record exam results, and much more Transform your Moodle site into a system that will allow you to manage information such as monitoring attendance records, managing the number of students enrolled for a particular course, and inter-department communication Create courses for all subjects in no time with the Bulk Course Creation tool Create accounts for hundreds of users swiftly and enroll them in courses at the same time using a CSV file. Part of Packt's Beginner's Guide series: Readers are walked through each task as they read through the book with the end result being a sample CIMS Moodle site In Detail Moodle is the most widely used Learning Management System in the world. Moodle is primarily used as an online learning course platform and few people know how to use it in any other way. However, Moodle can also be used as a management system. By adapting Moodle to become a curriculum and information management system, you can keep your administrative tasks in the same place as your lesson plans by managing student attendance records, recording grades, sharing reports between departments, and much more Moodle as a Curriculum and Information Management System will show you how you can use Moodle to set up an environment that enables you to disseminate information about your educational program, provides a forum for communication amongst all those involved in your institution, and even allows you to control your course registration and enrollment. This book is written on version 1.9 and also includes examples applicable to version 2.0. This book will show you how to create courses and organize them into categories. You will learn to assign teachers to each course, which will greatly help you to manage timetables and student enrolment, which can otherwise be a very frustrating and time consuming task. You will learn how to display the different aspects of your Curriculum and Information Management System to make it easily accessible and navigable for staff and students alike, ensuring that everyone knows what they are doing and where they are meant to be A practical step-by-step guide to expand the functionality of your Moodle learning management system What you will learn from this book Create hundreds of courses in Moodle via the Bulk Course Creation tool with ease Add multiple web pages to your Moodle site that can all be accessed by anyone visiting the front page of your site Use Moodle to keep attendance records for your institution Ideas about how Moodle can be used as a grade submission tool Deliver program-wide assessment tests using the Moodle Quiz module Create different roles, with specifically defined access capabilities, in your Moodle site for educational administrators Install and use several advanced plugins that allow you to access student related information and data that is stored in the Moodle database Different ways of using your Moodle database as a Student Information System Expedite the communication and information flow within your institution using Moodle modules Manage the course registration and enrollment for your institution using contributed Moodle enrollment plugins Approach This book is a beginner's guide in which the reader is led, step-by-step, to accomplish all the tasks right from installing Moodle to transforming into a CMS. Some more advanced steps and concepts are presented but always in a manner that allows beginners to follow along and learn through experience as they experiment on their own test site. By the time you finish the book, you will have your own fully-functional curriculum and information management system. Who this book is written for If you are a teacher or head of department in an institution and are interested in how Moodle can be used to streamline curriculum delivery and information flow in your institution, this book is for you. This book is also useful for Moodle administrators. Prior experience with Moodle is not essential for this book.


Nearest neighbor (kNN) methods have been gaining popularity in recent years in light of advances in hardware and efficiency of algorithms. There is a plethora of methods to choose from today, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. One requirement shared between all kNN based methods is the need for a good representation and distance measure between samples.
We introduce a new method called differentiable boundary tree which allows for learning deep kNN representations. We build on the recently proposed boundary tree algorithm which allows for efficient nearest neighbor classification, regression and retrieval. By modelling traversals in the tree as stochastic events, we are able to form a differentiable cost function which is associated with the tree's predictions. Using a deep neural network to transform the data and back-propagating through the tree allows us to learn good representations for kNN methods.
We demonstrate that our method is able to learn suitable representations allowing for very efficient trees with a clearly interpretable structure.


Extreme Classification comprises multi-class or multi-label prediction where there is a large number of classes, and is increasingly relevant to many real-world applications such as text and image tagging. In this setting, standard classification methods, with complexity linear in the number of classes, become intractable, while enforcing structural constraints among classes (such as low-rank or tree-structure) to reduce complexity often sacrifices accuracy for efficiency. The recent PD-Sparse method addresses this via an algorithm that is sub-linear in the number of variables, by exploiting primal-dual sparsity inherent in a specific loss function, namely the max-margin loss. In this work, we extend PD-Sparse to be efficiently parallelized in large-scale distributed settings. By introducing separable loss functions, we can scale out the training, with network communication and space efficiency comparable to those in one-versus-all approaches while maintaining an overall complexity sub-linear in the number of classes. On several large-scale benchmarks our proposed method achieves accuracy competitive to the state-of-the-art while reducing the training time from days to tens of minutes compared with existing parallel or sparse methods on a cluster of 100 cores.


Fluid dynamic potentials are critical to the entrapment, distribution, phase, leakage and migration of hydrocarbons. The classification system combines two cap rock properties (static and dynamic) with five seal and leakage modes (capillary seal, pressure seal, hydraulic resistance seal, water drive leakage and hydraulic fracturing leakage) and two hydrocarbon migration mechanisms into and out of a trap (fill/spill and fill/leak). Static cap rocks, such as thick shales, usually seal more than the vertical closure of the trap, as a consequence of the critical pore throat capillary pressure (capillary seal). In two-phase hydrocarbon systems fill/spill tends to concentrate gas. Hydraulic fracturing is usually required to generate significant leakage through static cap rocks. Then fill/leak tends to concentrate oil. Dynamic cap rocks, such as inhomogeneous sand/shale sequences and faults have less sealing capacity than the static cap rocks, but are more widespread. They are strongly affected by variations in the fluid dynamic properties and are less dependent on capillary pressure. Water potentials are often critical, for seal (pressure seal) or for leakage and redistribution (water drive leakage). Hydraulic resistance seal is important for trapping of oil and crucial for concentration of oil relative to gas (fill/leak).


Hyperparasites in the form of cytoplasmic RNA elements have been proposed as a biological control agent for Dutch elm disease. We characterized the range of outcomes likely to follow the introduction of such an agent by modelling the resultant population dynamics as an ecological interaction between the wild, 'target', fungus and the hyperparasitized 'control'fungus. We used data from the 1970s epidemic of Dutch elm disease in the UK to parameterize the population dynamics of the target fungus, and considered the success of control across a wide range of possibilities for the lethality and transmissibility of the modified control fungus. We decomposed hyperparasite transmissibility into horizontal transmissibility (the ability to colonize previously unparasitized target fungal hosts) and vertical transmissibility (the ability of control fungus to establish new colonies). There is an invasion threshold for both horizontal and vertical transmissibility. As vertical transmission is further increased, there is another threshold at which the target fungus is eradicated because of competitive exclusion by the control fungus. In contrast, eradication by raising horizontal transmission may never succeed because the target fungus needs to be present to support new cases through this route. Between these two thresholds for invasion and exclusion, control and target fungus may coexist. Using a stochastic, spatially extended model, we showed that predictions of success based on high competitive ability of the control fungus (i.e. high vertical transmission) are likely to be more robust than those based on the high degree to which the control fungus can cause target fungus to be hyperparasitized (i.e. high horizontal transmission).


Neural memory enables fast adaptation to new tasks with just a few training samples. Existing memory models store features only from the single last layer, which does not generalize well in presence of a domain shift between training and test distributions. Rather than relying on a flat memory, we propose a hierarchical alternative that stores features at different semantic levels. We introduce a hierarchical prototype model, where each level of the prototype fetches corresponding information from the hierarchical memory. The model is endowed with the ability to flexibly rely on features at different semantic levels if the domain shift circumstances so demand. We meta-learn the model by a newly derived hierarchical variational inference framework, where hierarchical memory and prototypes are jointly optimized. To explore and exploit the importance of different semantic levels, we further propose to learn the weights associated with the prototype at each level in a data-driven way, which enables the model to adaptively choose the most generalizable features. We conduct thorough ablation studies to demonstrate the effectiveness of each component in our model. The new state-of-the-art performance on cross-domain and competitive performance on traditional few-shot classification further substantiates the benefit of hierarchical variational memory.


On March 22, 2010, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, in Ariad Pharmaceuticals, Inc. v. Eli Lilly & Co., held that the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. § 112 contains a written description requirement separate from the enablement requirement. In so doing, the court affirmed recent circuit precedent holding that a patentee must demonstrate possession of its invention at time of filing, in addition to enabling one of skill in the art to practice the invention. This Comment argues that the court's stated bases inadequately support its holding and appear to skew the result towards Lilly, undermining the perceived justness of the decision.


Vaccination of mice with heat shock protein 70 (hsp70) preparations derived from the Meth A sarcoma, but not from normal tissues, renders the mice immune to a substantial challenge with Meth A sarcoma. The immunogenicity is dose dependent and tumor specific. Treatment of an antigenically active hsp70 preparation with ATP followed by removal of low-molecular weight material leaves hsp70 intact, as judged by SDS- PAGE but results in loss of antigenicity, as judged by tumor rejection assays. Separation of this low-molecular weight material on a C18 reverse-phase column shows a diverse array of peptides with molecular mass between 1,000 and 5,000 daltons. Our data indicate that antigenicity of hsp70 preparations derives, not from hsp70 per se, but from associated peptides. These observations may suggest a novel method of using the peptide-binding property of hsp70 for specific vaccination against cancer and infectious diseases.


The idea of peace has to be framed cross-culturally. For example, individualist cultures may tend to think of peace in association with justice and fairness notions whereas collectivist cultures may interpret peace in alliance with harmony and face-saving values. In quite subconscious and silent ways (as this is often how cultures operate), the pursuit of peace can mean different things to different people. Furthermore, generally speaking, individualism promotes a transactional style of communication and collectivism favours a relational approach. Such respective communication styles can unconsciously impact upon the peace process. From a cross-cultural perspective, one's religious and/or philosophical leanings play yet another significant role in peace articulation. The purpose of this Paper is to draw together the meaning of peace in its widest sense, yet give it the most cogent and concise application so as to make the idea of peace a 'walk-your-talk' exercise. For, until then, we can all be armchair critics, and peace will remain on remote horizons.


The lack of norms for speech sound acquisition and phonological error patterns in the Syrian variety of Arabic is one of the challenging aspects of diagnosing and treating speech disorders in speakers of this language. Although there are normative data which speech language therapists could use to assess the phonological skills of Syrian children, these are based on data standardized on children speaking other varieties of Arabic, such as Jordanian. This may lead to incorrect diagnosis and inappropriate treatment. In order to address this problem, a detailed study of Syrian Arabic was carried out for this thesis.

This study was carried out to provide reliable normative data for speech sound acquisition and phonological error patterns in Syrian children between the ages of 2:6 and 6:5. One hundred and sixty typically developing Syrian children were recruited from Damascus to participate in this cross-sectional study. The results indicate that acquisition of the vowels in Syrian Arabic was almost complete by the age of 3. However, some errors persisted at this age and these mainly related to the production of diphthongs. The two diphthongs which were studied did not appear in the children's speech samples until the age of 5:0-5:5, but they did not reach the acquisition criterion.

For the consonants, the results suggest that there is a gradual development in their correct production: correct production started at 71.3% at the age of 2:6-3:0 and increased with age to 94.3% in children aged 6:0-6:5. All the consonants in Syrian Arabic were acquired by age 6:5, except for the affricate /ʒ/. The order of consonant acquisition in terms of sound class was: median approximants > nasals > plosives > the lateral approximant /l/ > all fricatives except/ʒ/ > the trill. The findings also showed that the order of speech sound acquisition in Syrian children is very similar to that in children from other language backgrounds.

The results for consonant acquisition also indicated that 11 consonants are acquired between the ages of 2:6-4:0. These early-acquired consonants are / b, f, j, m, n, l, t, d, h, ʔ, w, h /. They include plosives, nasals, the lateral and a few fricatives. One of these fricatives has an anterior place of articulation while three are produced in the posterior portion of the oral cavity, i.e. /h, ʔ, ʕ/. Seven consonants were acquired between the ages of 4:0 and 5:0. These were /x, s, z , ʕ, tˁ, dˁ, k/. Most of which are fricatives and emphatics. The late-acquired consonants are /ʃ, r, sˁ, ɣ/ which are acquired between the ages of 5:0 and 6:5.

There were clear differences in the percentage of correctly produced consonants indifferent word positions. In general, word-final consonants were produced correctly slightly more often than those in initial and medial positions. This was true for all agegroups. This difference was significant between initial and final position, and between medial and final positions; however, no significant difference was found between initial and medial positions.

As far as the phonological error patterns (all phonological error patterns whatever their percentage big or small) are concerned this study identified a total of 11 phonological error patterns in Syrian children. These errors were: r-deviation, fronting, stridency deletion, de-emphasis, weak syllable deletion, stopping, backing, glottalization, devoicing and assimilation. There was also one dialectal error pattern called epenthesis, in which a vowel is inserted between consonants in order to simplify their pronunciation. Epenthesis is singled out from phonological error patterns that while it is considered a phonological error pattern in some languages, in Syria it is a dialectal error appears in normal speech and as such not consider phonological error pattern.

Using a developmental criterion to define the phonological error patterns used by Syrian children, the study revealed that there are 9 typical phonological errors. These errors are: r-deviation, fronting, stridency deletion, de-emphasis, weak syllable deletion, consonant deletion, backing, glottalization, and devoicing. The results of this study showed that Syrian children no longer produce developmental errors by the age of 5:5.


Using firm-level data from 2006 to 2013 for a set of developing countries, we examine the effects of financial development on innovation. Financial development boosts innovation by improving resource allocation and investment toward strategic sectors as well as facilitating technology to promote growth. Using binary response models as well as instrumental variable techniques to correct for endogeneity, we find robust but puzzling results. Contrary to most existing literature, financial development has a negative effect on the probability of a firm to innovate. The effect is conditional on firm size, and only larger firms are the ones that benefit from financial development. These results are robust to different measures of financial development. We argue that this is a result of the design of the financial system in regards to the lack of capital and the institutional system. Consequently, developing countries should first generate appropriate institutional conditions if they want financial development to spur growth through innovation.


This article reviews the authors' engagement with a research ethics framework (Stutchbury & Fox 2009) through the course of an ethnographic case study of the agendas, participation and influence of stakeholders at a government primary school in Ethiopia (Mitchell forthcoming). Fieldwork took place over an eight-month period in 2014, and involved participant observation in lessons and meetings, informant-led interviews, and the collection of institutional documents. Data collection focused on the meetings of various bodies, and the activities of a single class in Grades 6 and 7. As other research approaches involving fieldwork, ethnography requires negotiating ethical principles and power relations expressed in different texts and contexts: university ethics committees, professional codes, legal systems, and the social world of the research site. Universities are often privileged in these interactions, positioned in a paternalistic, gatekeeper role in relation to those in the research site. Yet the codified ethical policies of universities and professional bodies can provide a rather limited, Western and legalistic reading of social research ethics (Hammersley & Traianou 2012). The framework is a tool for making visible the ethical dimensions of research activities from the perspective of different ethical principles (deontological, consequential) and at different scales of social context (relational, ecological). It encourages thinking beyond mere compliance with institutional guidelines, promoting the kind of awareness and sensitivity which ethical cross-cultural research demands. The framework supports ethical analysis and decision-making across all stages of the research process, however the present discussion focuses on the planning and ethical approval stage. In the UK context, burgeoning ethical regulation based on psychological and biomedical research models can pose a challenge to researchers seeking approval for ethnographic research (Hammersley 2006; Hammersley & Atkinson 2007). Using the Ethiopian study as an example, the authors illustrate how the use of the framework for comprehensive ethical analysis helped to strengthen the proposal for ethnographic research. References: Hammersley, M. (2006) 'Are ethics committees ethical?', Qualitative Researcher 2, Spring. Available at: http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/socsi/qualiti/QualitativeResearcher/QR_Issue2_06.pdf (Accessed 08/01/17) Hammersley, M. & Atkinson, P. (2007) Ethnography Principles in Practice: Third Edition. Hoboken: Taylor & Francis. Hammersley, M. & Traianou, A. (2012) Ethics and Educational Research. Available at: http://www.bera.ac.uk/system/files/Ethics and Educational Research.pdf (Accessed 10/12/13). Mitchell, R. (forthcoming) An ethnographic case study of the agendas, participation and influence of stakeholders at an urban government primary school in Tigray, Ethiopia. PhD thesis. University of Leicester. Stutchbury, K. & Fox, A. (2009) 'Ethics in educational research: introducing a methodological tool for effective ethical analysis', Cambridge Journal of Education, 39(4), 489-504.


The conventional two-way relaying (TWR) protocol requires that the transmitter (receiver) in one direction must be the receiver (transmitter) in the other direction, a limitation precluding the application of the TWR for sophisticated real-world wireless networks. In this paper, we study a more general multicell system consisting of a downlink (DL) traffic in one cell and an uplink (UL) traffic in an adjacent cell, with a multiantenna relay located in the cell edge and shared by both cells. For the coexistence of DL and UL transmissions, we propose exploiting the overheard signals from the adjacent cell (commonly known as the intercell interference) to improve the quality of signal reception in both cells. To reduce the power consumption to suit for green networks, we design the optimum relay precoder to minimize the total power at the relay yet satisfying the rate constraints for both the DL and UL traffic flows. The original precoder design is a nonconvex problem that is difficult to solve. To make the problem tractable, we transform the nonconvex problem to an equivalent quadratically constrained quadratic program (QCQP), which is then solved by the semidefinite relaxation (SDR) technique. Finally, simulations validate the effectiveness of our proposed protocol together with the optimized relay precoder.


In the urgently expanding field of environmental history, two trends are emerging. Research has internationalized, crossing political and historical borders. And urban spaces are increasingly seen as part of, not apart from, the global environment. In this book, Jeffry Diefendorf and Kurk Dorsey have gathered much of the important work pushing the field in new directions. Eleven essays by prominent and regionally diverse scholars address how human and natural forces collaborate in the creation of cities, the countryside, and empires. The Cities section features essays that examine pollution and its aftermath in Pittsburgh, the Ruhr Valley (Germany), and Los Angeles. These urban areas are far apart on the globe but closely linked in their histories of how human decision making has affected the environment. Changing rural and suburban spaces are the focus of Countryside. Elizabeth Blackmar "follows the money" in order to understand why the financing of suburban mall developments makes local resistance difficult. Studies of the fractious history of the creation of a wildlife refuge in Oregon and the ongoing impact of hydraulic mining in the early California goldmining era emphasize the misuse of technology in rural spaces. Such misuse is a central idea of Empires. In "When Stalin Learned to Fish," Paul R. Josephson tells the story of Soviet fishing technology designed to "harness fish to the engine of socialism." Other essays explore the failures of Western agricultural technology in Africa and the relationship between such technology and disease in European attempts to conquer the Caribbean. In a stirring, wide-ranging consideration of the neo-European colonies (the United States, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand), Thomas R. Dunlap observes the ongoing, unsettled interaction of lands and dreams. An afterword by Alfred W. Crosby, an eminent scholar of environmental history, closes the book with a broad and insightful synthesis of the history and future of this critical field.


Abstract The present work provides a first description of the zoeal stages of the Caridean prawns Campylonotus vagans, C. semistriatus and C. capensis Bate, 1888. Zoeal stages one and two were obtained from plankton catches during several expeditions in the Magellan region and the southwestern Atlantic Ocean, and first zoeae of C. vagans were confirmed with larvae hatched in a laboratory culture. Based on the results obtained, we conclude the morphological differences of the presence/absence of carapace spines, the shape of the somites, the telson and its number of posterolateral spines to serve as diagnostic features for the determination of campylonotid larvae. Morphological comparisons with larvae of the Pandalidae, Palaemonidae, and Oplophoridae suggest the Campylonotidae to be phylogenetically related to the Oplophoridae. Additionally, a key for identifying the zoeal stages of the Campylonotidae from the southernmost region of America is given in order to facilitate future ecological and life history studies.


PIK3CA, the gene coding for the p110α subunit of phosphoinositide 3-kinase, is frequently mutated in a variety of human tumors including breast cancers. To better understand the role of mutant PIK3CA in the initiation and/or progression of breast cancer, we have generated mice with a conditional knock-in of the common activating mutation, Pik3caH1047R, into one allele of the endogenous gene in the mammary gland. These mice developed a ductal anaplasia and hyperplasia by 6 weeks of age characterized by multi-layering of the epithelial lining of the mammary ducts and expansion of the luminal progenitor (Lin−; CD29lo; CD24+; CD61+) cell population. The Pik3caH1047R expressing mice eventually develop mammary tumors with 100% penetrance but with a long latency (>12 months). This is significantly longer than has been reported for transgenic models where expression of the mutant Pik3ca is driven by an exogenous promoter. Histological analysis of the tumors formed revealed predominantly ERα-positive fibroadenomas, carcinosarcomas and sarcomas. In vitro induction of Pik3caH1047R in immortalized mammary epithelial cells also resulted in tumor formation when injected into the mammary fat pad of immunodeficient recipient mice. This novel model, which reproduces the scenario of a heterozygous somatic mutation occurring in the endogenous PIK3CA gene, will thus be a valuable tool for investigating the role of Pik3caH1047R mutation in mammary tumorigenesis both in vivo and in vitro.


Realistic synthetic time series data of sufficient length enables practical applications in time series modeling tasks, such as forecasting, but remains a challenge. In this paper we present PSA-GAN, a generative adversarial network (GAN) that generates long time series samples of high quality using progressive growing of GANs and self-attention. We show that PSA-GAN can be used to reduce the error in two downstream forecasting tasks over baselines that only use real data. We also introduce a Frechet-Inception Distance-like score, Context-FID, assessing the quality of synthetic time series samples. In our downstream tasks, we find that the lowest scoring models correspond to the best-performing ones. Therefore, Context-FID could be a useful tool to develop time series GAN models.


The information retrieval (IR) field has been successful in developing techniques to address many types of information needs. However, there are cases in which traditional approaches to IR are not able to produce adequate results. Examples include: when a small set of (2--3) documents is needed as an answer rather than a single document, or when "query splitting" is required to satisfactorily explore the document space. We explore an alternative model of building and presenting retrieval results for such cases. In particular, we research effective methods for handling information needs that may: (1) Include multiple topics: A typical query is interpreted by current IR systems as a request to retrieve documents that each discusses all topics included in that query. We propose an alternative interpretation based on query splitting. It allows queries to be interpreted as requests to retrieve sets of documents rather than individual documents, with meaningful relationships among the members of each such set. (2) Be interpreted as parts in a chain of relationships: Suppose a query concerns topics tl and tm. Is there a relation between topics t l and tm that involves t2 and possibly other topics as in {t1, t2, ··· tm}? Thus, we propose an alternative interpretation of user queries and presentation of the results. Our interpretation has the potential to improve retrieval results whenever there is a mismatch between the user's understanding of the collection and the actual collection content. We define and refine a retrieval scheme that enhances retrieval through a framework that combines multiple sources of evidence.
Query results in our interpretation are networks of document groups representing topics, each group relating to and connecting to other groups in the network that partially answer the user's information need. We devise new and more effective representations and techniques to visualize results, and incorporate the user as part of the retrieval process.
We also evaluate the improvement of the query results based on multiple measures. In particular, we verify the validity of our approach through a study involving a collection of Operating Systems research papers that was specially built for this dissertation.


Abstract:  Bovine tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium bovis, has become established in Kruger National Park, South Africa, in the cape buffalo (Syncerus caffer) population and in other species. TB in prey species has resulted in infection and morbidity in the resident lion (Panthera leo) prides. The only validated live animal test currently available for lions is the intradermal tuberculin test. Because this test requires capture twice, 72 hr apart, of free-ranging lions to read results, it is logistically difficult to administer in a large ecosystem. Therefore, development of a rapid animal-side screening assay would be ideal in providing information for wildlife managers, veterinarians, and researchers working with free-living lion prides. This study reports preliminary descriptive results from an ongoing project evaluating two serologic tests for M. bovis (ElephantTB Stat-Pak and dual path platform VetTB). Disease status was determined by postmortem culture and presence of pathologic lesions in 14 free-ranging lions. Seropositivity was found to be associated with M. bovis infection. Extended field studies are underway to validate these rapid animal-side immunoassays for antemortem screening tests for TB in lions.


This thesis explores the ways in which secondary school students interpret different
representations of the past as portrayed in the film. It focuses on the question of how they set
the film director's view within a sociocultural context, and how they conceptualise what
constitutes acceptable historical knowledge. Ninety-six secondary school students in South
Korea viewed two sets of historical films that vary in terms of authorship, period, and genre.
The viewings were followed by semi-structured interviews, which aimed to investigate a
range of students' approaches to different representations produced at a given place and time.
This thesis argues that acknowledging the structuring of historical knowledge as a part of
cultural practice enabled students to make a shift in their picture of the past: from the idea of
the past as being reproduced to that of the past as being organised and reconstructed. A range
of ideas about historical knowledge, from a direct report of the event through an
idiosyncratic interpretation of a literary past to systematic mediation of historical reality, was
identified.
Through analysis of students' approaches to revision of the past, this thesis also discusses the
relationship between ideas about the role of perspective in history and ideas about the
reconfiguration of the past for the present. Students tended to assume that more committed
perspectives were likely to subject historical representations to greater revision of history.
Students' ideas about changing representations of the past reflected their presuppositions
about change of viewpoints in historical enquiry, mainly either in an empirical or cultural
sense rather than in a methodological sense.
Given students' tendency to conceive historical representations as being subject to
perspective mainly fuelled by present interests, it is crucial to provide an opportunity for
them to frame an historical account as an answer to a particular question, attributing a
positive role to perspectival views of the past.


At a time when airline business is facing a very competitive period, the strategy took up to shape thefuture is crucial. Airlines need to continuously invest in innovative IT solutions which enable them to improve and optimize specific processes rapidly. Amadeus IT Group provides an extended variety of
pioneering IT and Distribution Solutions to this market. Altea Departure Control Systems (DCS) are the Amadeus solutions designed to automate key airport services.
The purpose of this master thesis was to specify, design and implement a working prototype of an interface that integrates two airport IT Solutions; Altea Departure Control Flight and Altea Baggage Reconciliation System (BRS). The prototype's main goal was to demonstrate a usable interface between the two systems providing benefits to airlines in terms of weight and balance engineering operations and a complete baggage tracking.
The first phase of this project involved to become familiar with both systems, from goals to functionalities. Afterwards, a complete pre-study was dedicated to investigating message formats in the airline industry and current flows of information between Altea DCS. In addition, a user study was conducted mainly focusing on agents activities concerning loading processes to determine the needs and requirements of the FM-BRS Interface users. Functional requirements were gathered from various
meetings in which team members representatives from both teams attended.
The prototype was evaluated in different test environments with expert representatives from Customer Management Baggage Team and Flight Management Team.
The result of the 6-month thesis is a first prototype of a standalone interface which tolerates a flow of communications not only between these two Amadeus Systems, but also with other DCS or BRS. A qualitative analysis shows the benefits that can be archived if the interface is implemented by airlines.
The analysis' conclusions are used to assess results obtained whilst testing the prototype.
To conclude, a feasibility study suggested that further work needs to be put in the prototype in terms of functionalities and messages format selection.


The ECJ is the driving force behind the realization of the right of students to pursue their education in another Member State. In the article the principle of non-discrimination on grounds of nationality is further developed as regards cross border student mobility. It is argued that a Member State's demand for payment for an education only imposed on foreign students is a discriminatory measure falling within the ambit of the EC Treaty. The Member States thus have to justify a claim for payment imposed only on foreigners. Territorial restrictions on educational benefits, as well as territorial restrictions on student grants, are also discussed from the perspective of non-discrimination. The ECJ has consistently rejected the argument that Article 49 EC is applicable to public education. The approach to publicly funded education could however benefit from taking as its point of departure the idea that public education, like health care, is an individual welfare benefit. This approach would show that educational benefits and health care benefits have some common features which make the different legal treatment of these benefits difficult to explain.


This paper presents a new image segmentation scheme based on active contours guided by the optimization techniques Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and Differential Evolution (DE), independently. The scheme uses the optimization methods over a polar coordinate system to perform the segmentation task increasing the energyminimizing capability regarding the traditional active contour model. This proposed model is applied in the segmentation of the human heart from datasets of sequential Computed Tomography images. In addition, to obtain a quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the segmentation results compared to regions outlined by experts, different similarity metrics have been adopted. The experimental results demonstrate that by using PSO or DE, the proposed scheme outperforms the traditional implementation of active contour model in terms of stability and efficiency, achieving a high accuracy segmentation regarding the ground truth.


Quantum optimal control experiments and simulations have successfully manipulated the dynamics of systems ranging from atoms to biomolecules. Surprisingly, these collective works indicate that the effort (i.e., the number of algorithmic iterations) required to find an optimal control field appears to be essentially invariant to the complexity of the system. The present work explores this matter in a series of systematic optimizations of the state-to-state transition probability on model quantum systems with the number of states N ranging from 5 through 100. The optimizations occur over a landscape defined by the transition probability as a function of the control field. Previous theoretical studies on the topology of quantum control landscapes established that they should be free of suboptimal traps under reasonable physical conditions. The simulations in this work include nearly 5000 individual optimization test cases, all of which confirm this prediction by fully achieving optimal population transfer of at least 99.9% on careful attention to numerical procedures to ensure that the controls are free of constraints. Collectively, the simulation results additionally show invariance of required search effort to system dimension N. This behavior is rationalized in terms of the structural features of the underlying control landscape. The very attractive observedmore » scaling with system complexity may be understood by considering the distance traveled on the control landscape during a search and the magnitude of the control landscape slope. Exceptions to this favorable scaling behavior can arise when the initial control field fluence is too large or when the target final state recedes from the initial state as N increases.« less


Gas exchange in the lung occurs within alveoli, air-filled sacs composed of type 2 and type 1 epithelial cells (AEC2s and AEC1s), capillaries, and various resident mesenchymal cells. Here, we use a combination of in vivo clonal lineage analysis, different injury/repair systems, and in vitro culture of purified cell populations to obtain new information about the contribution of AEC2s to alveolar maintenance and repair. Genetic lineage-tracing experiments showed that surfactant protein C-positive (SFTPC-positive) AEC2s self renew and differentiate over about a year, consistent with the population containing long-term alveolar stem cells. Moreover, if many AEC2s were specifically ablated, high-resolution imaging of intact lungs showed that individual survivors undergo rapid clonal expansion and daughter cell dispersal. Individual lineage-labeled AEC2s placed into 3D culture gave rise to self-renewing "alveolospheres," which contained both AEC2s and cells expressing multiple AEC1 markers, including HOPX, a new marker for AEC1s. Growth and differentiation of the alveolospheres occurred most readily when cocultured with primary PDGFRα⁺ lung stromal cells. This population included lipofibroblasts that normally reside close to AEC2s and may therefore contribute to a stem cell niche in the murine lung. Results suggest that a similar dynamic exists between AEC2s and mesenchymal cells in the human lung.


In this article I explore the many different meanings of the mediatized meeting with New York (how gazing at the Manhattan skyline 'felt like being at the movies') from the point of departure of how traveling Swedes – mainly male, middle aged and of middle- and upper-class backgrounds – made sense of America in travel writing from 1945–1963. By analyzing the pivotal arrival scenes in these narratives in conjunction with the accompanying illustrations, I investigate the kinds of gazes that were called upon. I set out by arguing that their gazes reinforced a kind of 'medial attitude' which resonated with strong traditions of traveling and visualizing the other. But the article ultimately shows that when they approached the new world, experiences of mediatization and movement also invoked a range of other viewing possibilities that bore witness to their stance being first and foremost that of ambivalence, which implied that their gaze, their masculinity and their authority were set in motion.