Gold, bismuth and copper mineralisation at Tennant Creek occurs
in transgressive magnetite- and hematite-rich lodes within the Carraman
Formation of the Lower Proterozoic Warramunga Group.
Rocks of the Warramunga Group are dominantly felsic greywackes
and shales with features indicative of turbidity current deposition. These
are interbedded with massive pyroclastic rocks, rhyolitic lavas, preconsolidation
slump breccias and minor lenses of banded iron formation.
The magnetite-hematite lodes (locally referred to as ironstones)
have an ellipsoidal to pipe-like shape commonly flattened in the direction
of the regional east-west cleavage. They are typically localised in
small anticlinal structures within the greywacke-shale turbidites adjacent
to thin lenses of hematite-chlorite-calcite bearing banded iron formations
or hematite-rich shales. A smaller number of mineralised ironstones have
replaced the preconsolidation slump breccia horizons within the felsic
sediment pile.
Silicate, oxide and carbonate gangue minerals within the lode
structures are grouped into a series of compositionally distinct zones
which exhibit sharp contacts against one another and the enclosing
country rocks , Massive magnetite (>80%) and Fe-Mg chlorite (<20%)
commonly constitute the core of the mineralised lode and are surrounded
by vari ous umbrella-shaped zones. These may be: talc-magnet.ite; dolomite;
chloritised sediments, as at J·uno Mine, or quartz-hematite; hematitemagnetite;
hematite-chlorite; chloritised sediments, as at Gecko Mine.
The magnesium content of the chlorites (dominantly ripidolites) increases
from the base, to the top, of the lode structures. The chemical and mineralogical characteristics of these zones
indicate contemporaneous formation and growth, resulting from the flow of
hydrothermal solutions which reacted with the host rocks and suffered
continual, and systematic, changes in chemistry. A zone of intense
chloritisation extends below each of the orebodies and constitutes what
is thought to be a channel of hydrothermal alteration.
This investigation deals with the structure, mineralogical
constitution, mineral zoning, textures, and origin of the lode rocks in
the three largest operating mines in the goldfield, namely the Juno, Gecko
and Warrego deposits.
At the Juno and Warrego mines, gold, bismuth and copper
mineralisation has been shown to occur in three overlapping zones within
the magnetite-rich lodes e Gold is concentrated at depth, and is overlain
above by an umbrella shaped zone rich in bismuth sulphosalts. Chalcopyrite
is concentrated at the top of the lode structures enveloping the
bismuth zone. At Gecko (anomaly 2), bismuth and copper show a similar
vertical zonation but gold is completely lacking. Within the bismuth zone
at Juno, the sulphur/selenium and bismuth/ lead ratios of the bismuth
sulphosalts increase from its inner edge (overlapping the gold zone) to
its outer edge (overlapping the copper zone).
The most common bismuth sulphosalt at Juno is junite, a new
mineral, unique to Juno, which has been shown by microprobe analysis to
have the formula Bi8PbJCu2 (S,Se) 16 , containing 3.8 to 11.6 wt.% selenium.
Junite is easily distinguished from other lead-bismuth sulphosalts by its
characteristic x-ray powder pattern. The second most abundant bismuth
sulphosalt has a composition close to Bi10Pbg(S,Se) 23 and may be equivalent
to the mineral wittite , previously reported from Falun, Sweden by
Johansson in 1924 . Other selenium bearing sulphosalts at Juno include
heyrovskyite and members of the aikinite-bismuthinite series.
Colloform textures occur throughout all the lode structures in the goldfield, strongly indicating that replacement of the sediment host
rocks to form the ironstone bodies was achieved by the processes of
dispersive metasomatism. Replacement of this type involves the gradual
hydrolysis
Mg 2+ 1' .n t h e
of the host sediments and permits ready exchange of Fe 2+ and
hydrothermal solutions with si4+, Al3+, Na+ and K+ in the
hydrolysed sediment matrix. Most of the magnetite in the central lode
zones replaced needle-shaped a - FeO(OH) and S - Fe203.H20 crystal forms
which probably developed from ageing of ferric hydroxide gels.
Thermodynamic considerations of gangue mineral stabilities in
hydrothermal solutions of the type which may have caused mineralisation
at Tennant Creek, suggests that the solutions were initially acidic in
nature and capable of 1 each1•. ng the I base catl.' ons I Fe 2+ and Mg 2+ (p 1 us ore
metals) from the Carraman sediments at depth. There is evidence of leaching
of this type in the lowest parts of the Juno hydrothermal channel.
The process of metasomatic lode formation was most probably initiated by
interaction of rising, chloride-rich, hydrothermal solutions with the
calcite bearing banded_ iron formation or with particularly porous horizons
containing abundant pore fluids (e.g., preconsolidation slump breccias)
leading to an increase in solution pH and f02 which caused the deposition
of amorphous, hydrated, ferric oxides.
Under the influence of increasing solution p~the gangue minerals
at Juno, were deposited in the order:- iron-rich chlorite at depth,
followed by hematite, magnetite, talc and dolomite, to form a well zoned
lode structur e . The progressive drop in f02 associated with the deposition
of magnetite probably resulted in the increase in sulphur/selenium and
sulphur/metal ratios of sulphides passing up the Juno lode structure, and
may have also lead to the zonal distribution of gold, bismuth and copper .
Sulphur isotope studies at Juno lend support to this proposal.
The
16o;18o and
12c;13c ratios in dolomites from the outer
envelope zone at The 32 S/34 S ratlio of syngenetic sulphides in the tuffaceous greywackes and vein sulphides in the hydrothermal channel,
below the orebody, supports a proposal that the sediments of the Lower
Carraman Formation provided the source for the sulphur. These sediments
also contain sufficient trace quantities of gold, bismuth and copper to
constitute a source for the ore components.
Connate wate.rs (pore water and interlayer water) released from
the argillaceous sediments in the vicinity of granitic and rhyolitic
porphyry intrusions provides the most probable source for the hydrothermal
solutions. Such solutions moved upwards continually leaching iron,
magnesium and ore elements from the sediments in their path and were
eventually channelled into low pressure anticlinal sites and deposited
their metal load in favourable structural-lithological traps.


This work focuses on the Late Pleistocene-Holocene transition in the southern Po Basin. Five areas were investigated, with the aim of unraveling the role of different allogenic factors (climate, eustacy, sediment supply) on stratigraphic architecture in the last 45 ky. The study starts from the distal portion of the basin (the coastal plain deposits) and then moves towards increasingly internal areas: the alluvial sector characterized by the Po channel belt deposits, and the mud-prone interfluvial succession between the Apenninic margin and the Po channel belt. In the coastal sector, high-resolution facies analysis, along with a well-constrained chronostratigraphic framework, led to the accurate paleoenvironmental reconstruction of the last 45 ky BP depositional history along the 93 km-long transect. It is also provided a sequence stratigraphic interpretation for the whole sedimentary succession. In the Po channel belt sector, based on 28 radiocarbon dates, facies interpretation from high-quality core descriptions and freshly-drilled continuous cores, the contrasting stratigraphic architecture of Late Pleistocene and Holocene deposits was highlighted. Changes in lithofacies and channel stacking patterns reveal the vertical superposition of amalgamated fluvial-channel sands (Late Pleistocene) and mud-dominated deposits (Holocene), with isolated fluvial-channel bodies. We also attempted to establish the link between facies architecture, sea-level fluctuations and climate changes. The 3rd study area (interfuvial succession) was selected to test a new method for paleosol identification, on the basis of geotechnical properties generated from pocket penetrometer values.
Through the reconstruction of the Biferno coastal deposits (4th study area, located ca. 300 km south of the Po Plain) we had the opportunity to document two coeval (Late Pleistocene - Holocene) coastal sedimentary successions, diverging in terms of shelf gradient and proximity to the LGM-lowstand Po Delta. The 5th study area, broadly coincides with Ferrara, was selected to show how high-resolution stratigraphic studies can be used for aquifer protection.


Language Integrated Query (LINQ) is Microsoft's new technology for powerful, general purpose data access. This technology provides a fully-integrated query language, available in both C# 3.0 and VB 9.0, for high-level data access against objects, relational databases, and XML documents. In this Short Cut you'll learn about LINQ and the proposed C# 3.0 extensions that support it. You'll also see how you can use LINQ and C# to accomplish a variety of tasks, from querying objects to accessing relational data and XML. Best of all, you'll be able to test the examples and run your own code using the latest LINQ CTP, available free from Microsoft. This Short Cut includes a complete reference to the standard LINQ query operators.


Cytochrome c Peroxidase (CCP) is a hemoprotein found in the intermembrane space of yeast mitochondria. One of its roles is to protect the cell against oxidative stress by reducing mitochondrial H 2 O 2 to H 2 O. Titration of CCP with peroxynitrite [ONOO(H)] formed a species with an absorption spectrum identical to compound I/II at a ONOO(H)/CCP ratio of 1.65 ± 0.10. Titration of the CCP species formed with ferrocytochrome c, gives a ratio of ferrocytochrome c/CCP = 1.87, indicating that the species formed is compound I. An estimate of the second-order rate constant for the reaction of peroxynitrite with CCP at pH 7.0 is 6.9 ± 2.2 \ 10 5 M -1 s -1 . We propose that the end product of the reaction of CCP with peroxynitrite is nitrite and not the NO 2 · radical, since excess nitrite does not induce reduction of compound 1. We conclude that CCP is a protective enzyme against nitrosative as well as peroxidative stress. A silent BamH I mutation was introduced into the mature sequence of CCP gene as well as BamH I and EcoR I restriction sites at its 5 ' - and 3 ' -ends, respectively. Cloning of this DNA into the pGEX 2T vector yields the GST-CCP construct, and expression of this construct in E. coli produces ~530 mg GST-CCP fusion protein per 12 L of culture. Purification of the fusion protein involves a single affinity chromatography step and free CCP is obtained by cleavage of the fusion protein with thrombin. After recrystallization, 60 mg of highly pure enzyme was produced with 61.5% of the expected activity based on heme content. Further investigations are necessary to improve the yield and activity of CCP as obtained using this procedure.


Corporate hypocrisy refers to publics' negative perception of CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) as a result of ethical attribution of CSR to normative ethics, and thus can be a useful indicator of the disappointing and ineffective role of CSR programs geared toward raising publics' goodwill toward a firm. However, scant scholarly effort has been made to explore the concept of corporate hypocrisy in relation to corporate issues and crises, publics' ethical orientation, cultural and national influence, and polarized sentiments toward global business in the media landscape. These aspects collectively constitute the unpredictable, uncontrollable public opinion, in particular the opinion of the socially minded general public, and these aspects thus generate a turbulent business arena across the globe. To fill this void, this dissertation concurrently conducted two sets of research: one used a survey methodology on a real company's CSR case and the other used an experimental method. First, Study 1 aimed to investigate how the perception of corporate hypocrisy connects publics' ethical attribution of CSR to subsequent positive/negative opinioned communication intention and pro-firm behavioral intention. With special attention to deontology and consequentialism in normative ethics of philosophy, the current study was to empirically test a theoretical model of perceived corporate hypocrisy with two causal antecedents (i.e., the evaluation of self-orientation and other-orientation in CSR), and the mediating role of corporate hypocrisy between such antecedents and subsequent publics' communication and behavioral intention toward a firm. Personal ethical orientation was suggested to moderate effects of corporate hypocrisy on dependent measures. Moreover, to explore the cultural and national effect in the theoretical model, this study compared U.S. and Korean data. To this end, a survey using a real company CSR case was conducted via Internet with a convenient sample (n = 603; the U.S.=406, Korea=256), including the general population (n=456) and a Northeastern university's student and alumni population (n=147). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to empirically test the hypothesized mediation model of corporate hypocrisy. The results indicate several key issues regarding the role of ethics on the strategic CSR communication. First, this study found sound measurement reliability and validity of the proposed four-item scale of four dimensions in ethical CSR evaluation (i.e., self-interested motives, self-interested outcomes, altruistic motives and altruistic outcomes). Further, this study also proposed a self-developed seven-item scales for deontology and consequentialism with acceptable reliability and validity as indicators of personal ethical orientation in the context of public's ethical judgment of global business practices. The current study also found significant mediation effects of corporate hypocrisy between ethical CSR evaluation and publics' communication and behavioral intention based on positive and negative opinions formed through CSR evaluation. Also, as assumed, personal ethical orientation and cultural/national difference were found to significantly moderate the role of corporate hypocrisy on dependent measures. Study 2 aimed to test the theoretical validity of the attitudinal and behavioral influence of personal ethical orientation (i.e., deontology vs. consequentialism) and media framing of CSR approach (i.e., self-oriented CSR vs. other-oriented CSR); an experiment study (n=603) was conducted online for study 2. For the U.S. samples, the university student and alumni population was recruited (n= 347), and for the Korean samples, the general population (n=256) was recruited via an online survey system. Study 2 also found significant effects of personal ethical orientation and media framing. Deontological publics were more influenced by media framing of CSR approach rather tha n consequentialist publics; more significant was the differing interaction effect across nationalities. The Korean samples were more prone to be affected by media framing of CSR approach depending on their ethical orientation than the U.S. samples. To summarize, across the findings of the two studies, deontological publics showed more ethically idealistic and rigorous traits whereas consequentialist publics displayed a more pragmatic and business-friendly inclination in CSR judgment. This result highlighted the role of virtue ethics perceived from corporate motives and outcomes of CSR, which can play a part in forming publics which have certain opinions toward global business and its CSR activities. Also, the findings indicated that these ethical traits can be related to the cultural and national background of publics targeted in the global market; thus CSR strategy should take the ethical and cultural traits of target publics into account. Limitations and suggestions for future research were discussed with implications for both public relations scholarship and practices. THE ROLE OF ETHICAL EVALUATION OF CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN THE PERCEPTION OF CORPORATE HYPOCRISY, THE INTENTION OF OPINIONED COMMUNICATION AND BEHAVIOR TOWARD A FIRM


The current state-of-the-art for acoustic language recognition is an i-vector classifier followed by a discriminatively-trained multiclass back-end. This pape r presents a unified approach, where a Gaussian i-vector classifier is trained using Maximum Mutual Information (MMI) to directly optimize the multiclass calibration criterion, so that no separate back-end is needed. The system is extended to the open set task by training an additional Gaussian model. Results on the NIST LRE11 standard evaluation task confirm that high performance is maintained with this new single-stage approach.


Abstract On 31 January 1986, at 11:46 EST, an earthquake of m b = 5.0 occurred about 40 km east of Cleveland, Ohio, and about 17 km south of the Perry Nuclear Power Plant. The earthquake was felt over a broad area, including 11 states, the District of Columbia, and parts of Ontario, Canada, caused intensity VI-VII at distances of 15 km, and generated relatively high accelerations (0.18 g) of short duration at the Perry plant. Thirteen aftershocks were detected as of 15 April, with six occurring within the first 8 days. Two of the aftershocks were felt. Magnitudes for the aftershocks ranged from about 0.5 to 2.5. Focal depths for all of the earthquakes ranged from 2 to 6 km. Except for one small earthquake, all of the aftershocks occurred in a very tight cluster with a north-northeast orientation. Focal mechanisms of the aftershocks exhibit predominantly oblique right-slip motion on nearly vertical nodal planes oriented N15° to 45°E, with a nearly horizontal P axis north of east. Three deep waste disposal wells are currently operating within 15 km of the epicentral region and have been responsible for the injection of nearly 1.2 billion liters of fluid at pressures reaching 112 bars above ambient at a nominal depth of 1.8 km. Estimates of stress inferred from commercial hydrofracturing measurements suggest that the state of stress in northeastern Ohio is close to the theoretical threshold for failure along favorably oriented, preexisting fractures. This implies that effective stress conditions near the bottom of the two most active wells may be at or near the critical level for incipient failure. Two and, possibly, three earthquakes have occurred within less than 5 km from the wells since 1983. The relative distance to the main shock epicenter and its aftershocks (about 12 km), the lack of large numbers of small earthquakes typical of many induced sequences, the history of small to moderate earthquakes in the region prior to the initiation of injection, and the attenuation of the pressure field with distance from the injection wells, however, all argue for a "natural" origin for the 1986 earthquakes. In contrast, the proximity to failure conditions at the bottom of the well and the probable spatial association of at least one earthquake suggest that triggering by well activities cannot be precluded.


The structural behaviour of lawsonite CaAl2Si2O7(OH)2.H2O, has been studied under quasi-hydrostatic conditions in a diamond-anvil cell to 18 GPa at room temperature, using angle-dispersive X-ray powder diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. With increasing pressure, we observe a phase transition at P = 8.6(3) GPa, characterized by (1) the splitting of diffraction lines, (2) the emergence of new Raman bands, and (3) significant changes in the frequency shifts of the hydroxyl O-H stretching modes. The transition is displacive and fully reversible, without any detectable hysteresis. The high-pressure phase, referred to here as lawsonite III can be indexed into a monoclinic unit-cell, with a = 5.6833(3), b = 8.5944(4), c = 12.8773(5) A, Y = 91.42(4)° and V = 628.80(4) A3 at P = 10.6 GPa. The space-group of lawsonite III is likely to be C 1121/ m , which is the unconventional representation of P 21/ m related to the low-pressure Cmcm symmetry. Assuming the change in space-group from Cmcm to C 1121/ m , the resulting components of the spontaneous strain tensor are analyzed in terms of the change in point group from mmm to 2/ m . The pressure-dependence of the fourth power of the symmetry-breaking component e 64 is linear, indicating a tricritical character for the transition. Both X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy indicate that the overall aluminosilicate framework of lawsonite is retained through the transition. However, monoclinic lawsonite III is ∼ 40% less compressible than the low-pressure orthorhombic polymorph. The Raman spectroscopic results, in good agreement with recent infrared ones reveal that this decrease in compressibility is likely to be related to the increase in the hydrogen bond strength involving the hydroxyl groups in the structure, whereas the hydrogen bond system around the water molecule does not appear to be modified at the transition.


The problem of finding optimal solutions of stochastic functions over continuous domains is common in several real-world applications, such as, e.g., advertisement allocation, dynamic pricing, and power control in wireless networks. The optimization process is customarily performed by selecting input points sequentially and receiving a noisy observation from the function. In this paper, we resort to the Multi-Armed Bandit approach, aiming at optimizing stochastic functions when keeping at a pace the regret (i.e., the loss incurred during the learning process) during the learning process. In particular, we focus on smooth stochastic functions, as it is known that any algorithm suffers from a constant per-round regret when the domain is continuous, and the function does not satisfy any kind of regularity. Our main original contribution is the provision of a general family of algorithms, which, under the mild assumption that stochastic functions are a realization of a Gaussian Process, provides a regret of the order ofO ( √ γTT ), being γT the maximum information gain and T the time horizon used for the learning process. Furthermore, we design a specific algorithm of our family, called DAGP-UCB, which exploits the structure of GPs to select the next arm to pull more effectively than the previous algorithms available in the state of the art, thus speeding up the learning process. In particular, we show the superior performance of DAGP-UCB in both synthetic and applicative settings, comparing it with the state-of-the-art algorithms.


Metamodeling plays an important role in simulation-based optimization by providing computationally inexpensive approximations for the objective and constraint functions. Additionally metamodeling can also serve to filter noise, which is inherent in many simulation problems causing optimization algorithms to be mislead. In this paper, we conduct a thorough statistical comparison of four popular metamodeling methods with respect to their approximation accuracy at various levels of noise. We use six scalable benchmark problems from the optimization literature as our test suite. The problems have been chosen to represent different types of fitness landscapes, namely, bowl-shaped, valley-shaped, steep ridges and multi-modal, all of which can significantly influence the impact of noise. Each metamodeling technique is used in combination with four different noise handling techniques that are commonly employed by practitioners in the field of simulation-based optimization. The goal is to identify the metamodeling strategy, i.e. a combination of metamodeling and noise handling, that performs significantly better than others on the fitness landscapes under consideration. We also demonstrate how these results carry over to a simulation-based optimization problem concerning a scalable discrete event model of a simple but realistic production line.


We report the first application of a vertical-cavity surfaceemitting laser (VCSEL) for calibration- and sampling-free, high-speed, in situ H2O concentration measurements in IC engines using direct TDLAS (tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy). Measurements were performed in a single-cylinder research engine operated under motored conditions with a time resolution down to 100 μs (i.e., 1.2 crank angle degrees at 2000 rpm). Signal-to-noise ratios (1σ) up to 29 were achieved, corresponding to a H2O precision of 0.046 vol.% H2O or 39 ppm · m. The modulation frequency dependence of the performance was investigated at different engine operating points in order to quantify the advantages of VCSEL against DFB lasers.


This paper examines whether partisan politics influence the proportion of income tax returns audited by the IRS. I find that under Democratic presidencies the audit rate of income tax returns is higher than under Republican presidencies even after the inclusion of various political and economic controls. This difference is not constant across types of returns since during Democratic presidencies the IRS tends to audit fewer individual returns and more corporate returns than during Republican presidencies. Within the individual returns class, I find that under Democratic presidencies non-business returns are audited less frequently than business returns. Binding term limits do not affect these findings, regardless of partisan affiliation. These results contrast with recent evidence in the political economy literature that suggests that partisan politics affects mainly economic outcomes, such as growth and inflation rates, rather than the choice of policy instruments. Even though the declining trend in the number of income tax audits has been interpreted by the public as an indication that the IRS has become more tolerant of tax evasion, the results of this paper suggest that parties may be in fact resorting to more subtle redistributive policies, such as the likelihood of an audit, to favor their constituency.


The interlayer inserted between the active layer and ITO has been demonstrated to be crucial for the performance of inverted polymer solar cells (i-PSCs). In this work, we find that ionic liquids (ILs) can significantly enhance the efficiency of i-PSCs. With the ZnO/IL interfacial layer, PTB7-Th : PC71BM i-PSCs can exhibit a champion power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 10.15%, which is among the highest PCEs reported thus far for single-junction bulk heterojunction solar cells through the solution process. The IL layer and ZnO/IL combination layer with low work function, good optical transmittance, improved electron extraction and reduced resistance at the cathode interface have been demonstrated to be excellent and general interfacial layers for i-PSCs.


Abstract:In Bhasin v Hrynew, the Supreme Court of Canada recognized good faith in contractual performance to be a 'general organizing principle' of the common law of contract. The true impact of Bhasin on the future development of Canadian contract law remains the subject of considerable debate among legal scholars and practitioners. This article explores Bhasin's evolutionary impact on the Canadian common law of contract, by providing an institutional understanding of the general organizing principle of good faith in contractual performance. It is contended that Bhasin's contribution to the common law of contract is institutional rather than substantive – Bhasin fundamentally alters the organization of the sources of contract law by introducing a new law-making mechanism (that is, 'law-making through good faith') that is separate from, and potentially supersedes, the traditional doctrine of precedent. To support the central claim that Bhasin's contribution is institutional rather than substantive, I employ three different kinds of arguments that correspond to three distinct, but closely related, dimensions of the principle of good faith in contractual performance: (a) semantic structure; (b) historical origins; and (c) economic function. Although these three lines of inquiry rest on quite different methodological premises, they converge in supporting the central idea that good faith performance is best understood as an institutional mechanism to allocate law-making power rather than a substantive legal principle.


In this chapter, an irradiation radon system was explained in detail. This system is based on soil gas as a natural radon source. The radon system was used to determine both the calibration factor of the radon detector and the equilibrium factor between radon and its short-lived daughters. Also, the calibration factor has been calculated theoretically and experimentally. The effect of humidity upon the calibration factor has been investigated. The diffusion of radon through polyethylene membrane has been determined using new nuclear method. This method depends upon the physical decay of radon.


Tag rugby is a non-contact sport that is a safe and fun way to introduce rugby to under-11s. It improves fitness, develops running and handling skills and hand-eye coordination and fosters team spirit. It can be played by mixed teams and is ideal for children aged 5 upwards. This book is a clear and comprehensive guide to playing tag rugby for coaches, teachers and parents that aims to make the game fun and accessible to all, whatever the children's ability or the coach's level of experience. It introduces the game, explains the rules and outlines the principles of training (with reference to the National Curriculum where necessary). It then provides a range of drills and game ideas that can be made easier or more difficult depending on the level of the group being taught and the coach's competence.


Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates collected during a 7-month period in 1992 and 1993 at Hospital Pulido Valente (340 beds), Lisbon, Portugal, were characterized by a combination of genotypic and phenotypic methods. Clonal identities were determined by probing ClaI digests (i) with a mecA probe and (ii) with a Tn554 probe and (iii) by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns of chromosomal SmaI digests. mecA-ClaI type I was predominant among these isolates (38 of 43). Most of these (37 of 38 [97.4%]) were associated with a single Tn554 pattern, pattern E, and the majority (23 of 38 [61%]) also showed a relatively uniform chromosomal background, as indicated by PFGE (PFGE pattern A). The major clone (mecA-ClaI type I::Tn554 type E and PFGE pattern A) at Hospital Pulido Valente was indistinguishable by these molecular typing criteria from the dominant clone that had been identified in two major current outbreaks of MRSA disease in Spain (Barcelona and Madrid). The Portuguese and Spanish clones also had a common heterogeneous class 3 phenotype and identical multidrug resistance patterns. The data presented in this work support the notion that MRSA clones can spread across considerable geographic distances.


Accurate measurement of residual stress in metallic components using the contour method relies on the achievement of a good quality cut, on the appropriate measurement of the deformed cut surface and on the robust analysis of the measured data. There is currently no published standard or code of practice for the contour method. As a first step towards such a standard, this study draws on research investigations addressing the three main steps in the method: how best to cut the specimens; how to measure the deformation contour of the cut surface; and how to analyse the data. Good practice guidance is provided throughout the text accompanied by more detailed observations and advice tabulated in Appendix.


Participatory GPS and GIS mapping is a mapping process that involves active participation of the local communities with the assistance of outsiders who are experts in the field. The objective of Participatory GPS and GIS mapping is to produce a technically accurate and socially acceptable participatory map and to facilitate skills transfer to the participant community. A basic communal land administration system is a land administration structure responsible for the administration of a local, elementary area of jurisdiction (a village) occupied by a tribe whose rights to land are derived from shared rules determining access and is normally led by an Induna. The analysis of such a structure could provide a foundation for the implementation of Communal Land Rights Act, 2004 (Act No 11 of 2004) that is, the transfer of communal lands to communities. A sub-metre accuracy is obtainable after post-processing differential correction as acclaimed by Trimble on the Geo-XTTM GPS unit and proven in the Ukulinga case study. Pa rticipatory GPS and GIS mapping guarantees effective and efficient skills transfer to participant communities and accurate recording of boundary data. Maps produced through Participatory GPS and GIS mapping are widely acceptable since they are preceded by discussions and subsequent consensus on boundary data points prior to actual recording, thereof. The study was designed to analyze basic communal land administration systems and to develop a methodology for mapping them. A successful implementation of the Communal Land Rights Act, 2004 required spatial and related information on land administration structures A Participatory mapping methodology designed was tested in two case studies and found to be reasonably accurate.


I am honored to contribute to this symposium in honor of Bill Whitford. I have been an admirer of Bill's work for the past 39 years, which encompasses my entire teaching career. Bill's scholarship on contracts and consumer law in his law review articles and in his casebook, Contracts: Law in Action, now in its third edition with Macaulay, Braucher, and Kidwell, confirms the importance of examining the non-legal forces at work in exchange transactions, the sometimes tenuous relationship between contract rules and legal decisions, the limitations of legal opinions, and the value of focusing on the relationship of contracting parties. In this essay, I begin with a brief description of Bill and his coauthors' casebook in order to capture the contributions and importance of their perspective on teaching contract law. I then turn to Bill and Stewart Macaulay's recent debate with Bob Scott on the meaning of the record in Hoffman v. Red Owl Stores, a case that figures prominently in Bill and Stewart's and most other casebooks. I use the fascinating back and forth between these three prominent authors as a jumping off point to ponder the appropriate role of telling the whole story in important cases.


It has often been argued that voter turnout in the United States is too low, particularly compared with turnout in other industrialized democracies, and that a healthy democracy should have higher turnout. One proposal that has been considered by Congress to increase voter turnout is the creation of Democracy Day, making Election Day a national holiday. In this study I evaluate the likely effectiveness of an election holiday in increasing turnout by studying how state regulations making election day a holiday for state employees affects voter turnout among state employees in those states. I exploit these natural experiments in a difference-in-difference context, using various groups of non-state employees as controls. My analysis relies on data from Voting Supplements to the Current Population Survey in November 2004 and 2006. The results are clear. There is no evidence from the natural experiment of states providing an election holiday for state employees that such holidays significantly increase voter turnout. I conclude that having an election holiday, by itself, is not an effective strategy to increase voter turnout.


THE IRAQ CRISIS ILLUSTRATED RIFTS IN SECURITY POLICY between the positions of the US and some European states as well as among the Europeans themselves. Snappy remarks about "adventurism" (Gerhard Schroder) and "old versus new Europe" (Donald Rumsfeld) have escalated a long-simmering debate about new risks and appropriate responses. European Atlanticists reacted nervously. Politicians in Europe minimized the crisis as mere dissent among old friends and stressed the efficient co-operation in many areas. Various transatlantic networks launched a number of declarations to detoxify relations during the crisis.(1) It was possible to put aside the aggressive wrangling and move back to normal.The better climate might be a relief, but the crisis is not over yet and could quickly resurface in a different shape. Although there is finally a debate in Europe about the use of force as an instrument in the fight against new risks like terrorism and proliferation, most Europeans have a different attitude than their American allies. They also dislike the American defiance of international law and multilateral institutions. While many pundits conjure the spirit of a new start, a redefinition of transatlantic relations or a new deal, none of these has taken shape yet. New tensions over the unilateral strong-arm politics of the US seem likely. New alliances opposing American action are possible, as well as a lasting breakup, together with a marginalization of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). There remains an uneasy feeling of the ambiguous character of transatlantic relations.Pessimists look at diverging foreign policy principles in Europe and the US and their material causes. They see a fundamental rift that will change transatlantic relations, from co-operation to blockade or even competition. Robert Kagan argues that military power, or the lack of it, shapes the way Americans and Europeans look at the world. His frequently cited bon mot that the latter are from Venus and the former are from Mars alludes to the assumption that the chosen weakness of Europe shapes the way its inhabitants see the world, as a place where the use of force cannot change a lot and norms and institutions are the instrument of choice. The "end of Atlanticism" is looming, as Ivo Daalder has warned, since "American and European foreign policies no longer center around the transatlantic alliance to the same overriding extent as in the past." The columnist Tom Friedman denies that the two sides pursue the same objective and only apply alternative approaches: no, he writes, "we have two different visions, not just tactical differences."(2)Optimists are equally worried but look at the seemingly close value systems and the transnational problems that make co-operation inevitable. Phil H. Gordon puts the "irreconcilable differences" into perspective, showing that Europeans and Americans are not so far apart in most issue areas, including the use of force. The assumption of fundamental differences itself could prevent the necessary co-operation.(3) Proliferation, international terrorism, civil war and failing states can be targeted by unilateral actions, but even the last remaining superpower will need the co-operation of allies to cope with these challenges. An opportunity for renewal would open up for NATO, an alliance based on coherent beliefs and attitudes. James B. Steinberg warns that despite a great potential for solving problems together, "it is not enough to rely on an invisible hand" to make this happen.(4)An analysis of transatlantic relations cannot stop at asking what went wrong but has to go beyond that to ask: "What kind of transatlantic relations do we want?" Having in mind both the pressing need for collaboration and the differences that cannot be negotiated away, finding ways to make the best out of the divergence must be top priority.This article will discuss the differences and the degree of co-operation that is feasible. …


This study investigates how independent Rician fading channels affect both the fast frequency-hopped binary frequency shift keying (FFH/BFSK) product-combining receiver (PCR) and partial-band jammer (PBJ). We demonstrate that the average bit-error-rate (BER) expressions of FFH/BFSK PCR can be derived with the aid of an approximation by quantizing the product-combiner's output. Numerical results show that system performance of the FFH/BFSK PCR over fading channels and PBJ is lower than that in nonfaded PBJ at a low signal-to-jammer density ratio E/sub b//N/sub J/.


This article examines the existence and function of the narrative in the philosophies of modernism and postmodernism through application of these notions to The Gap, an ocean cliff in the eastern Sydney suburb of Watson's Bay. Written in the experimental fictocritical style, this article uses fictocritical eye to delve into the function of postmodern local narrative and espouse the differences between it and the more prevalent metanarrative of modernism. While scholars continue to study the differences evident in modernism and postmodernism, here they are married in an inseparable manner that asks readers to rethink the notions of modern and postmodernism and their time-periods.


Healthcare education institutions are increasingly including arts-based interventions in their programmes. We analysed 62 studies of arts-based interventions to understand how these interventions may be beneficial, and why providing evidence continues to be a challenge for the field. Our analysis highlighted two issues. We found that 79% of the included studies reported that their interventions were successful, but without always defining this success or how it was measured. This lack of clarity was apparent in descriptions of both what arts-based interventions aimed to do, and in descriptions of how they might do this. We also found that only 34% of studies involved a collaboration with artists or arts educators, raising questions over who had the necessary experience and specialism in the arts to design and deliver such interventions. Our analysis revealed that arts-based interventions are failing to acknowledge, and subsequently capture through assessment, the process of learning in the moment. This is particularly important because arts-based pedagogies typically use embodied, practical, physical methods, in which what is being learnt cannot be separated from the process of learning. Involving artists and arts educators throughout the process of designing and delivering these interventions may help to bring clarity over what arts-based interventions are aiming to do and how they may do this, and ensure that appropriate evaluation methods are used. We suggest that close observation with feedback, and the use of reflective portfolios are two ways of assessing the process of learning in arts-based interventions.


paper examined factors influencing cassava pulp fermentation period for gari processing among cassava processors in South-eastern Nigeria. Five out of nine states that constitute South-east Agro-ecological zone of Nigeria were purposively sampled on the basis of being notable for cassava production. From each sampled state and by simple random sampling technique, 64 cassava processors were selected evenly from across the agricultural zones of the state. This summed up to a sample size of 320 respondents from the entire study area. Using structured interview schedule, data on age of farmers, educational status, years of gari processing experience, marital status, membership of cooperative societies, etc were collected from the respondents. Data collected were analyzed with descriptive statistics and Probit model analysis. Result of probit model analysis at 5% significance level shows an R value 0.4728 indicating that 47.28% of factors affecting cassava-pulp fermentation practices in the study area were accounted for by the variables considered in this study. Marital status (2.236**) and respondents' cultural influences (1.960**) were positively related to long period fermentation of cassava-pulp among the respondents. On the contrary, socio-economic statuses (-2.466**) of the respondents were negatively related to long period fermentation of cassava-pulp among the respondents. It is therefore, recommended that awareness campaign should be mounted to sensitize cassava processors to the health risks associated with short period of fermentation of cassava-pulp during gari processing. Similarly, extension agents should use occasion of personal visits to farmers to educate them on the importance of adequate fermentation of cassava pulp during gari processing. Cultural groups and activities should be explored by extension agents and nutritionists in disseminating information on need for longer period of fermentation of cassava pulp during gari processing. Keywords: Cassava-pulp, Fermentation, Gari Processing, Cyanide, Toxic


Bayesian analysis of publicly available time series of cases and fatalities in different geographical regions of India during April 2020 is reported. It is found that the initial apparent rapid growthin infections could be partly due to confounding factors such as initial rapid ramp-up of disease surveillance. A brief discussion is given of the fallacies which arise if this possibility is neglected. The growth after April 10 is consistent with a time independent but region dependent exponential. From this, R0 is extracted using both known cases and fatalities. The two estimates are seen to agree in many cases; for these CFR is reported. It is seen that CFR and R0 increase together. Some public health implications of this observation are discussed, including a target doubling interval if medical facilities are to remain adequate.


The article articulates an educational motto – expressed in the title – found in a 'prototypical narrative' of social youth work carried out by activists in Copenhagen in the 1990s. This way of modeling pedagogical practice is first outlined as different from the standardizing approach dominant in science. As a prototypical narrative, the story alternates between descriptions and contextualizations of events, theoretical debate, and analytical suggestions. The key idea that is unfolded is the 'critical trans-pedagogy' of a creation and tinkering of collectives and their participants in struggles for recognition, and for the democratic social engineering of a responsive welfare state. It is suggested that a singular historical situation spurred this development, both in the practical youth work, and in the theoretical traditions with which I could articulate it. This included the post-industrial crisis of labor, the post-cold-war shaking of state forms, New Public Management, and the simultaneous expansion and attack on the welfare state. It also included how the Foucauldian rethinking of power and the performative turn in the social sciences informed the broadly Vygotskian traditions. On these backgrounds, the youth work practices could be approached as generalizing, performative reenactments of social problems. The approach is finally spelled out in and around the story of one participant, before the concluding remarks return to the issue of how a prototypical narrative deals with theory.


Structural realism is currently at the center of international political theory in the United States. Sociological interpretations of ethnocultural or linguistic hegemony aside, this scientifically rigorous theorizing can stand on its intrinsic merits and is destined to exercise a major influence on future efforts to construct explanatory models of international political relations. This article sets out why that is so by drawing a profile of a viable deductive macrotheory of Interstate politics. The new realist theory is distinguished from its more overtly normative and prescriptivist antecedents which sought to come to terms with the contending claims of power and ethics in world politics and from the self-conscious scientism of earlier Systems thinking which emphasized unit-processed interaction patterns. Structural realism has broken free from the holistic organicism of Systems theory, tributary to biological models, to align the theory-building enterprise with the more successful formal structuralism of the physico-chemical sciences which places a premium on the generic description of logico-mathematical group structures arrived at through the inventive deduction or axiomatic decision of their constituent unit s. The exemplar text of American structural realism posits a form of what Piaget called 'relational' structuralism predicated on distributions of power resources among the international System's unit s. This focus on internal or necessary asymmetric relations between and among polarizing and dependent units renders structural realism a choice object for synthesis with inductively generated geopolitical constructs which stress microstructural configurations of relative capabilities. The current wave of geopolitical writing in the French language is drawn on to demonstrate how the procedures of intertheoretical reduction can be employed to enrich structural realism's explanation of system-level constraints on state action via the introduction of a spatiotemporal component.


Young and dynamically active planetary systems can form disks of debris that are easier to image than the planets themselves. The morphology and evolution of these disks can help to infer the properties of the putative planets responsible for generating and shaping the debris structures. We present integral field spectroscopy and dual-band imaging from VLT/SPHERE (1.0–1.7 μm) of the debris disk around the young F2V/F3V star HD 115600. We aim to (1) characterize the geometry and composition of the debris ring, (2) search for thermal emission of young giant planets, and (3) in the absence of detected planets, to refine the inferred properties of plausible planets around HD 115600 to prepare future attempts to detect them. Using a different dust scattering model (ZODIPIC) than in the discovery paper to model the disk geometry, we find a0 = 46 ± 2 au for the disk's central radius and offsets Δα, Δδ = −1.0 ± 0.5, 0.5 ± 0.5 au. This offset is smaller than previously found, suggesting that unseen planets of lower masses could be sculpting the disk. Spectroscopy of the disk in Y-J bands with SPHERE shows reddish color, which becomes neutral or slightly blue in H-band seen with GPI, broadly consistent with a mixed bulk disk composition of processed organics and water ice. While our observed field contains numerous background objects at wide separations, no exoplanet has been directly observed to a mass sensitivity limit of 2 − 3(5 − 7) MJ between a projected separation of 40 and 200 au for hot (cold)-start models.


Much has been written about the desirability of turning disabled readers on to reading. Replacing negative feelings and disinterest which disabled readers typically have toward books is one of the most difficult tasks of all. But when disabled readers report little or no encouragement from home the challenge becomes even greater. Recent research has shown three very important factors in developing interest in reading-all three factors within the home: (1) fathers who read to children; (2) mothers who read to children and; (3) the availability of easy reading material in the home (Sucher, Note 1). When asked about reading habits and home involvement via the Literature Preference Inventory (Abrahamson and Stetson, Note 2), disabled readers tutored at the University of Houston Diagnostic Learning Center reported very little home involvement (Colvin and Tomas, 1978). A tabulation of student responses concerning home reading habits revealed that 85% of the mothers and 95% of the fathers seldom or never read to them. The prospects of turning these readers on to books did not look bright. The following paragraphs detail the Recreational Reading Program (RRP) implemented at the Diagnostic Learning Center in order to meet this challenge. A RECREATIONAL READING PROGRAM FOR DISABLED READERS: IT WORKS!


Studies of HIV-positive patients have consistently shown that drug users, in particular injection drug users (IDU), are far more likely to have hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection than other patient groups. HIV incidence and prevalence in IDU has declined in recent years, but HCV remains endemic in this population. HCV antibody prevalence among non-injection users of drugs such as heroin and cocaine is between 5 and 30%, although there are scant data on specific transmission risk behavior. The control of HIV/HCV co-infection must address HCV prevention. Epidemiological studies have suggested that HCV prevalence in IDU is subject to various influences, some of which may be modifiable by interventions. However, studies have not shown consistent effects of various prevention strategies on HCV transmission, including studies of HCV screening and education, drug treatment or needle exchange. Although some large cross-sectional studies in regions where needle exchange is available to a large number of drug injectors have reported declining HCV prevalence, the scale of services needed is a matter of considerable debate and has not been systematically quantified. Priorities for research related to the prevention of HIV/HCV co-infection should include estimating the effect on disease occurrence of eliminating specific risk factors, and specifying the level of resources needed to alter HCV incidence.


Summary
The serum proteins of 67 patients with chronic schistosomiasis and of 37 controls were studied by paper electrophoresis. Compared to the controls, slight but significant changes consisting of decrease of serum albumin and increase of gamma globulin were found in the infected group. The changes were more pronounced in patients with hepatosplenomegaly than in those without hepatosplenomegaly, but the differences were not significant. No significant relationship was found between the protein abnormalities and the hepatic functional impairment determined by the bromsulfalein retention test. The protein abnormalities had no relation to previous treatment with antimonial agents. The changes were significantly more marked in patients who had an abnormal cephalin flocculation test than in those whose cephalin flocculation test was normal. The gamma globulin was significantly higher in those sera that produced a large amount of precipitate (2+ to 4+) in the circumoval precipitation test than in those that produced either no or a small amount of precipitate (0 to 1+). However, no correlation between the circumoval precipitation test and the cephalin flocculation test was found.
These findings indicate that decrease of serum albumin and increase of serum gamma globulin represent a protein response by the human host to chronic infection with Schistosoma mansoni. In view of the known hepatic involvement which occurs in this disease it would seem reasonable to suspect that the protein changes result from this involvement. However, in the present study they could not be correlated at an acceptable level of confidence either with abnormal bromsulfalein retention or with hepatosplenomegaly. The evidence presented supports the view that these changes are due substantially to an immunologic mechanism. This mechanism probably produces a group of antibodies, one of which is the circumoval precipitin.


This study examines the dynamic relationship between financial structure and bank profitablility in Nigeria over the period 1981-2017 using the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) bounds testing approach. The results are mixed. On the first part, there is a short causal impact between financial sector proxy by industry variables and bank performance. However in the second phase, the results suggest that all the variables are unable influence return on assets except Central Bank asset to GDP in the long run. In general, the results highlight the underdevelopment state of the financial sector in resource mobilisation and allocation and in driving profitability in banking sector. This study has some important policy implication: Banks should lower the level of liquidity to increase the income from loan. In other words, a bank can increase lending to the public thereby reducing cash tied up to liquid asset.


Given an over-constrained system, a Maximal Satisfiable Subset (MSS) denotes a maximal set of constraints that are consistent. A Minimal Correction Subset (MCS, or co-MSS) is the complement of an MSS. MSSes/MCSes find a growing range of practical applications, including optimization, configuration and diagnosis. A number of MCS extraction algorithms have been proposed in recent years, enabling very significant performance gains. This paper builds on earlier work and proposes a finer-grained view of the MCS extraction problem, one that reasons in terms of literals instead of clauses. This view is inspired by the relationship between MCSes and backbones of propositional formulas, which is further investigated, and allows for devising a novel algorithm. Also, the paper develops a number of techniques to approximate (weighted partial) MaxSAT by a selective enumeration of MCSes. Empirical results show substantial improvements over the state of the art in MCS extraction and indicate that MCS-based MaxSAT approximation is very effective in practice.


Introduction: Studies made at preclinical level have demonstrated the Medicago sativa L, alfalfa (CPA)'s concentrated protein biological value; as such this product could be an alternative to reduce undernourishment. Objective: To determine CPA consuming effects in kindergarten children with chronic undernourishment by biochemical and hematologic indicators. Design: Intervention analytical, longitudinal and prospective study. Setting: Biochemistry and Nutrition Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos. Participants: Pampas, Huancavelica, Peru, preschool children with chronic undernourishment. Interventions: Previous parents informed consent we determined the nourishment-nutritional, biochemical and hematologic status of 23 less than six year-old children in order to establish undernourishment. Then a CPA nutritional nourishment intervention in the chronically undernourished children was developed for 25 days and finally the initial evaluation was repeated. Biochemical -hemoglobin, total proteins, albumin and globulin, creatinine, transaminases- and hematologic -hematocrit, reticulocytes count- determinations were done before and after providing the CPA nutritional complement. Excel program and t-student were used in order to obtain results inference. Results: By stature/age indicator 84,5% of the children suffered chronic undernourishment. With respect to calorie and nutrients consumed by the children, energy values were between 563 kcal and 2 597 kcal, protein 9,7 g to 78 g, lipids 5,1 g to 53,8 g, carbohydrates from 79,8 g to 495,1 g, calcium between 180,9 mg and 986 mg, and iron from 1,9 mg to 21,5 mg. Hemoglobin, total proteins, globulins, creatinine, transaminases and hematocrit before and after CPA ingestion did not display variations (p>0,05) but albumin and reticulocytes count increased significantly following ingestion (p<0,05). Conclusions: CPA daily consumption for 25 days CPA by children with chronic undernourishment significantly increased reticulocytes count and albumin levels.


The wide use of chemicals in modification of kaolinite in order to improve its adsorption capacity is expensive, requires skilled personnel, noxious to the environment and results in secondary contamination. As a result this study investigated an eco and environmental friendly modification of kaolinte using cassava peel to enhance its adsorption for Cr (III) ions. The adsorption capacity of the Unmodified Kaolinite Clay (UKC), Cassava Peel Modified Kaolinite Clay (CPMKC) and Unmodified Cassava Peel (UCP) were compared. The effect of experimental variables such as pH, Cr (III) ion concentration, adsorbent dosage, particle size, agitation time and temperature on sorption was studied using batch methodology. Equilibrium isotherm studies was analyzed by the Langmuir, Freundlich and Halsey isotherm models while the Pseudo First Order (PFO), Pseudo Second Order (PSO) and Intraparticle Diffusion (IPD) models were used for kinetic analysis. All the experimental variables were found to have significant effect on Cr (III) ions sorption on the adsorbents with an optimum pH of 5.0, adsorbent dose 0.1 g, particle size 100 μm and chromium concentration of 375 mg/L obtained. Equilibrium sorption at 25, 20 and 60 min was obtained for UKC, CPMKC and UCP respectively which showed the faster sorption potential of CPMKC. The Langmuir model had the best fit with linear regression (R2) of 0.991 and 0.998 for UKC and UCP. The Freundlich and Halsey models gave the best fit with same R2 of 0.975 for CPMKC and the Sum of Square of Errors (SSE) was slightly lower for the Freundlich (0.833) than the Halsey (0.897). The PFO model gave the best fit (R2>0.980) and lowest SSE than the PSO model. An initial sorption rate h (mg/g min) of 2.16, 3.14 and 1.02 was obtained for UKC, CPMKC and UCP respectively. Thermodynamics revealed an endothermic physical sorption of Cr (III) on all the adsorbents. The sorption was in the order UCP>CPMKC>UKC, which showed the suitability of cassava peel in enhancing the sorption ability of kaolinite for chromium ion from aqueous solution.


Abstract. The temporal evolution of a surface chlorophyll a bloom sampled in the western tropical South Pacific during the 2015 Oligotrophy to UlTra-oligotrophy PACific Experiment (OUTPACE) cruise is examined. This region is usually characterized by largely oligotrophic conditions, i.e. low concentrations of inorganic nutrients at the surface and deep chlorophyll a maxima. Therefore, the presence of a surface bloom represents a significant perturbation from the mean ecological state. Combining in situ and remote sensing datasets, we characterize both the bloom's biogeochemical properties and the physical circulation responsible for structuring it. Biogeochemical observations of the bloom document the bloom itself, a subsequent decrease of surface chlorophyll a, significantly reduced surface phosphate concentrations relative to subtropical gyre water farther east, and a physical decoupling of chlorophyll a from a deep nitracline. All these characteristics are consistent with nitrogen fixation occurring within the bloom. The physical data suggest surface mesoscale circulation is the primary mechanism driving the bloom's advection, whereas balanced motions expected at submesoscales provide little contribution to observed flow. Together, the data provide a narrative where subtropical gyre water can produce significant chlorophyll a concentrations at the surface that is stirred, deformed, and transported great distances by the mesoscale circulation. In this case, for the time period considered, the transport is in an easterly direction, contrary to both the large-scale and mean mesoscale flow. As a result, future studies concerning surface production in the region need to take into account the role complex mesoscale structures play in redistributing subtropical gyre water.


We have reformed a large lecture modern physics course for engineering majors by radically changing both the content and the learning techniques implemented in lecture and homework. Traditionally this course has been taught in a manner similar to the equivalent course for physics majors, focusing on mathematical solutions of abstract problems. Based on interviews with physics and engineering professors, we developed a syllabus and learning goals focused on content that was more useful to our actual student population: engineering majors. The content of this course emphasized reasoning development, model building, and connections to real world applications. In addition we implemented a variety of PER‐based learning techniques, including peer instruction, collaborative homework sessions, and interactive simulations. We have assessed the effectiveness of reforms in this course using pre/post surveys on both content and beliefs. We have found significant improvements in both content knowledge and beliefs comp...


Background and Purpose: The literature is replete with research and guidelines indicating that educational materials provided by healthcare workers often surpass the average reading ability of adults in the United States (US). The purpose of this article was two-fold: (1) to assess PTs' knowledge and use of health literacy strategies, and (2) to assess written home exercise programs for 10 outpatient physical therapy practices. Method: Physical therapist conference attendees attending a state chapter meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association were invited to participate; a total of 43 participated. In addition, 10 outpatient physical therapy practices in western Pennsylvania provided a home exercise program (HEP) for review; a sample of convenience was employed for selecting these sites. Participants were solicited via inclusion of an introductory cover letter, written survey on health literacy, and a return envelope in each conference applicant's registration packet. Data were collected over the course of the conference. The home exercise programs were either mailed or requested in person by one of the investigators. The home exercise programs were reviewed for Flesch reading ease, the Flesch-Kincaid grade level, and the presence of diagrams. Results: Only 25% of PTs report that they clinically assess or screen for problems related to illiteracy. Seven percent (n=3) of the respondents recognized the incidence of illiteracy in United States, although 65% (n=28) were aware of the relationship of illiteracy to poorer health status. The average Flesch reading ease was 75.08 ± 18.99 and the grade level was 4.59 ± 3.59. Each of the 10 home exercise programs included pictures or diagrams. Discussion and Conclusion: Clinical implications of this study include recognition of the need to employ appropriate reading levels for patient educational materials, from HEPs to educational brochures. Physical therapists must become more aware of health literacy by implementing the most appropriate interventions to allow for the best possible outcomes for the patient.


The arrival of Latino immigrant workers and the weakening of federal labor regulations after Hurricane Katrina raised concerns about labor conditions and workers' rights. We carried out a survey of workers at 212 randomly selected addresses in the city of New Orleans, successfully interviewing 212 out of 351 workers approached (40% refusal rate). Workers were asked about their demographic, employment, and health characteristics, as well as violations of human rights they may have experienced. The survey was supplemented with in-depth qualitative interviews with Latino workers and key informants in Louisiana and Mississippi. Our study showed that Latino workers, particularly undocumented workers, experienced lower wages, more nonpayment of wages and/or overtime wages, and fewer worker protections than non-Latino workers. The poorer treatment of Latino and undocumented workers is thought to reflect employers' perception of them as a disposable labor force. Indeed, few of the workers who arrived after Katrina, and especially low percentages of Latinos and undocumented workers, intended to settle in New Orleans.


Fluctuations of conserved charges allow to study the chemical composition of hadronic matter. A comparison between lattice simulations and the Hadron Resonance Gas (HRG) model suggested the existence of missing strange resonances. To clarify this issue we calculate the partial pressures of mesons and baryons with different strangeness quantum numbers using lattice simulations in the confined phase of QCD. In order to make this calculation feasible, we perform simulations at imaginary strangeness chemical potentials. We systematically study the effect of different hadronic spectra on thermodynamic observables in the HRG model and compare to lattice QCD results. We show that, for each hadronic sector, the well established states are not enough in order to have agreement with the lattice results. Additional states, either listed in the Particle Data Group booklet (PDG) but not well established, or predicted by the Quark Model (QM), are necessary in order to reproduce the lattice data. For mesons, it appears that the PDG and the quark model do not list enough strange mesons, or that, in this sector, interactions beyond those included in the HRG model are needed to reproduce the lattice QCD results.


A central concern for many learning algorithms is how to efficiently store what the algorithm has learned. An algorithm for the compression of Nonnegative Matrix Factorizations is presented. Compression is achieved by embedding the factorization in an encoding routine. Its performance is investigated using two standard test images, Peppers and Barbara. The compression ratio (18:1) achieved by the proposed Matrix Factorization improves the storage-ability of Nonnegative Matrix Factorizations without significantly degrading accuracy (≈ 1-3dB degradation is introduced). We learn as before, but storage is cheaper.


We compared the INR (International Normalized Ratio) monitoring process using a telemedicine device with the conventional approach in which blood samples were sent to the hospital for analysis. We conducted a randomized controlled trial. We enrolled 40 patients on chronic warfarin therapy from two primary healthcare centres (PHCs). Half were monitored using the telemedicine device and half were monitored conventionally. Each patient received three INR measurements. The total processing time was measured from blood sampling until warfarin dosing was performed in the anticoagulant clinic. The median total processing time was significantly shorter with telemedicine than usual care (34 vs. 260 min, P < 0.001). This was mainly because sample transport was avoided using the point-of-care device and automatic data transmission. Telemedicine reduced the total processing time for INR monitoring and has the potential to improve the management of patients undergoing anticoagulant treatment at PHCs.


Introduction:
 Convenience meals that are ready-to-eat (RTE) or ready-to-heat (RTH) are typically considered unhealthy choices because they are often high in saturated fat, sodium, sugar, or processed foods. Frequent RTE and RTH meal consumption is hypothesized to increase obesity risk. This research aimed to examine differences in RTE and RTH meal consumption by race/ethnicity in a large sample of US adults. Furthermore, we aimed to determine if associations between RTE and RTH meal consumption and obesity differ by race/ethnicity.

 Hypothesis:
 Differences in RTE and RTH meal consumption will exist between racial/ethnic groups. RTE and RTH meal consumption will be associated with increased body mass index (BMI) among all racial/ethnic groups.

 Methods:
 Cross-sectional data on 14,307 participants of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) years 2009-2012 were analyzed. Participants were 49.0% Non-Hispanic white, 23.2% Non-Hispanic black, and 27.8% Hispanic or Latino. Self-reported food purchasing behaviors were captured via a questionnaire. Participants were asked to record the total number of RTE meals (i.e. meals prepared away from home at a food retail outlet) they consumed in the past 7 days, and the total number of RTH meals (i.e. frozen meals) they consumed in the past 30 days. Stratified multivariable-adjusted linear regression models were used to examine associations between RTE and RTH meal consumption and BMI by racial/ethnic group. Analyses were adjusted for the NHANES sampling scheme.

 Results:
 Mean BMI was 28.1 (±0.1). About 39% of participants were obese. On average, Non-Hispanic white participants consumed significantly more RTE meals and RTH meals than Non-Hispanic black and Hispanic participants. Hispanic participants, on average, consumed RTE and RTH meals the least. After adjusting for covariates such as age, education level, household size, and participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, increased consumption of RTE meals was significantly associated with increased BMI among Non-Hispanic whites and Non-Hispanic blacks. There was no association between RTE meal consumption and BMI among Hispanics. RTH meal consumption was not associated with BMI among any racial/ethnic group.

 Conclusions:
 Racial/ethnic differences in the association between RTE and RTH meal consumption and obesity were observed. More research is needed to better understand the contribution of food purchasing behaviors to racial disparities in chronic disease.


The protein kinase inhibitor CTx-0152960 (6, 2-((5-chloro-2-((4-morpholinophenyl)amino)pyrimidin-4-yl)amino)-N-methylbenzamide), and the piperazinyl analogue, CTx-0294885 (7, 2-((5-chloro-2-((4-piperazin-1-ylphenyl)amino)pyrimidin-4-yl)amino)-N-methylbenzamide), were prepared using a hybrid flow and microwave approach. The use of flow chemistry approaches avoided the need for Boc-protection of piperidine in the key SNAr coupling with 1-fluoro-4-nitrobenzene. Microwave coupling of 4-morphilinoaniline 8 and 4-(piperazine-1-yl)aniline 9 with 2-(2,5-dichloropyrimidine-4-ylamino)-N-methylbenzamide 10, proved to be the most efficacious route to the target analogues 6 and 7. This hybrid methodology reduced the number of synthetic steps, gave enhanced overall yields and increased atom economy through step reduction and minimal requirement for chromatographic purification, relative to the original batch synthesis approach.


A simple method for the preparation of core-shell micro/nanostructured magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) for protein recognition is described. Magnetic MIPs were synthesized by copolymering gamma-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane and tetraethyl orthosilicate at the surface of Fe(3)O(4) nanospheres, which were directly covalently bound with template molecule, bovine hemoglobin (BHb), through imine bond. Transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy images showed that the Fe(3)O(4) nanospheres with diameter about 50-150 nm were coated with the MIPs layer with average thickness about 10 nm, which enabled the magnetic MIPs to have a sensitive and fast magnetic response. The proximity between the thickness of MIPs layer and the spatial size of BHb indicated that the imprinted sites almost situated at the surface of magnetic MIPs, leading a rapid adsorption saturation within 1 h. And the adsorption amounts of magnetic MIPs toward BHb were estimated to be 10.52 mg/g at pH 6.5, which was 4.6 times higher than that of magnetic nonmolecularly imprinted polymers. Meanwhile, the result of selective test showed that the magnetic MIPs had an excellent recognition capacity to BHb compared to the other nontemplate proteins. Except for the spatial size complementary between BHb and the binding sites in magnetic MIPs, the electrostatic interaction also was proven to be an important factor for recognizing the imprinting molecule.


Building conversational agents that can conduct natural and prolonged conversations has been a major technical and design challenge, especially for community-facing conversational agents. We posit Mutual Theory of Mind as a theoretical framework to design for natural long-term human-AI interactions. From this perspective, we explore a community's perception of a question-answering conversational agent through self-reported surveys and computational linguistic approach in the context of online education. We first examine long-term temporal changes in students' perception of Jill Watson (JW), a virtual teaching assistant deployed in an online class discussion forum. We then explore the feasibility of inferring students' perceptions of JW through linguistic features extracted from student-JW dialogues. We find that students' perception of JW's anthropomorphism and intelligence changed significantly over time. Regression analyses reveal that linguistic verbosity, readability, sentiment, diversity, and adaptability reflect student perception of JW. We discuss implications for building adaptive community-facing conversational agents as long-term companions and designing towards Mutual Theory of Mind in human-AI interaction.


IZA DP No. 14046 JANUARY 2021 Teenage Mother's Health across Different Life Stages* Many women who give birth during their teenage years face lifetime disadvantages in health, social and economic domains. To develop effective policies to support these teenage mothers, it is important to understand how the disadvantage evolves over time to target the timing of any interventions. This paper focuses on health outcomes and seeks to determine the role of teenage motherhood and the likely channels through which teenage motherhood may contribute to health disparities across different life stages between teenage mothers and other women. Using household panel survey data and fixed-effects regressions that control for the effects of prior disadvantage, we show that teenage motherhood is negatively associated with all domains of health and that impacts worsen in later life stages. Potential mediators, including health behaviours, family, social support, education and economic factors are investigated and these partly explain mental health outcomes, reducing the direct impact of teenage motherhood, but not physical health. The strongest pathways are through social support, family and economic outcomes. Our results suggest boosting social support and addressing economic disadvantage may improve mental health outcomes for teenage mothers. JEL Classification: I14, I31, J13


Canola (Brassica napus L.) is a major rotation crop but low yield has limited its adoption by farmers in the low-rainfall regions of southern Australia, where drought events can occur at any stage of crop development. We examined the effect of soil water deficit on osmotic adjustment and seed yield of canola and mustard (B. juncea L.) at the juvenile, elongation, anthesis, or seed-fill stage under glasshouse conditions and post-anthesis drought in the field. At the juvenile and elongation stages, leaves of both canola cv. Monty and mustard line 397-23-2-3-3 adjusted osmotically after exposure to water deficit. In comparison, only the mustard line expressed osmotic adjustment at anthesis and neither genotype adjusted at the seed-fill stage. A single drought event at the juvenile or elongation stage had little effect on growth and seed yield of either genotype, whereas water deficit at anthesis or seed-fill stage reduced seed yield of the canola cultivar by decreasing pod number, seeds per pod, and/or harvest index but largely did not affect the mustard line. In the field where rainfall diminished and plants were subjected to increasing water deficit during the reproductive stages, canola cv. Karoo and mustard line JN25 showed higher osmotic adjustment at anthesis and less yield reduction than the canola cv. Monty. This study suggests that yield sensitivity to water deficit was mainly due to its effect on concurrent formation of yield components, but could be modified by the physiological trait of osmotic adjustment.


The Large-s Experiment (LSX) was built to study the formation and equilibrium properties of field-reversed configurations (FRCs) as the scale size increases. The dynamic, field-reversed theta-pinch method of FRC creation produces axial and azimuthal deformations and makes formation difficult, especially in large devices with large s (number of internal gyroradii) where it is difficult to achieve initial plasma uniformity. However, with the proper technique, these formation distortions can be minimized and are then observed to decay with time. This suggests that the basic stability and robustness of FRCs formed, and in some cases translated, in smaller devices may also characterize larger FRCs. Elaborate formation controls were included on LSX to provide the initial uniformity and symmetry necessary to minimize formation disturbances, and stable FRCs could be formed up to the design goal of s = 8. For x [le] 4, the formation distortions decayed away completely, resulting in symmetric equilibrium FRCs with record confinement times up to 0.5 ms, agreeing with previous empirical scaling laws ([tau][proportional to]sR). Above s = 4, reasonably long-lived (up to 0.3 ms) configurations could still be formed, but the initial formation distortions were so large that they never completely decayed away, and the equilibrium confinementmore » was degraded from the empirical expectations. The LSX was only operational for 1 yr, and it is not known whether s = 4 represents a fundamental limit for good confinement in simple (no ion beam stabilization) FRCs or whether it simply reflects a limit of present formation technology. Ideally, s could be increased through flux buildup from neutral beams. Since the addition of kinetic or beam ions will probably be desirable for heating, sustainment, and further stabilization of magnetohydrodynamic modes at reactor-level s values, neutral beam injection is the next logical step in FRC development. 24 refs., 21 figs., 2 tabs.« less


Herbivory and nutrients are major ecosystem drivers in African tropical savanna. We studied the effects of Impala (Aepyceros melampus) dung midden on some selected soil properties and grass species diversity in Nyakasanga Hunting Area. The main objective of the study was to measure nutrient concentrations and grass species diversity on impala dung midden and nondung midden. A purposive sampling technique was used to select grass and soil sampling points. Ten (10) sample sites in mopane woodland (wet season) and eight (8) from the floodplain (dry season) were sampled for vegetation and soil attributes. The titrimetric method using ferrous sulphate was used to test soil organic carbon and other chemical properties were determined by the atomic absorption spectrophotometer.
Differences in soil chemical properties and vegetation diversity between two strata were tested using a student's t-test. There were significant differences (t(10)=2.291, p=0.002, F=10.20) between the soil pH, ExCa, ExMg, ExK, TEB, CEC, ESP and Organic carbon of non-dung and dung sites samples in both wet and dry seasons. We recorded higher concentration of soil nutrients on dung middens sites as compared to non-dung sites and marked differences were statistically tested. We used the bottom-up approach to explain our findings.
Our Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) output showed associations between some grass species and soil chemical properties. Dung middens are important patches in savanna ecosystems they help to recharge and improve soil fertility and are hotspots of diverse grass species.


This Article argues that the liability framework governing securities trading is unable to effectively deter and compensate harms in algorithmic markets. Theory underscores the significance of robust laws to safeguard information flows and the trading process. Without this assurance, investors internalize the costs of privately policing markets and will rationally discount the capital they invest. A detailed body of regulation seeks to ensure that markets function safely, benchmarking compliance using the three familiar standards grounding liability: (i) intent; (ii) negligence; and (iii) strict liability. This Article shows that this framework is ineffective in markets that rely on algorithms – or pre-programmed computerized instructions – for trading. It makes two claims. First, a basic level of error is endemic to the operation of algorithmic markets. Especially when designed to trade in fractions of a second, algorithms must be programmed in advance of trading and anticipate how markets are likely to behave. This predictive dynamic means that error and imprecision are inevitable, irrespective of constraints that liability imposes. Secondly, liability standards fare poorly in high-speed algorithmic markets where errors can spread rapidly across multiple exchanges and security types. Even small, "reasonable," risk taking can give rise to outsized harms, diminishing the protection provided under the negligence standard. Strict liability also fails. With error inextricably a part of predictive, pre-set algorithms, liability can arise too frequently to function as an informative signal of bad behavior. Further, small errors can create large-scale losses that may be too high for any single firm to pay. Finally, punishing only intentional bad actors leaves a swath of the market unsanctioned for careless behavior. With each standard falling short, the current design of the liability framework can leave markets facing pervasive costs of mistake, manipulation and disruption. In concluding, this weakening of laws points to a need for structural solutions in automated markets. This Article explores avenues for reform to institutionalize better behavior and fill the gaps left by the law.


Linear Matrix Inequalities (LMIs) and LMI techniques have emerged as powerful design tools in areas ranging from control engineering to system identification and structural design. Three factors make LMI techniques appealing. a) A variety of design specifications and constraints can be expressed as LMIs. b) Once formulated in terms of LMIs, a problem can be solved exactly by efficient convex optimization algorithms (the "LMI solvers"). c) While most problems with multiple constraints or objectives lack analytical solutions in terms of matrix equations, they often remain tractable in the LMI framework. This makes LMIbased design a valuable alternative to classical "analytical" methods. II. LINEAR MATRIX INEQUALITIES


New Horizons in Geometry represents the fruits of 15 years of work in geometry by a remarkable team of prize-winning authors-Tom Apostol and Mamikon Mnatsakanian. It serves as a capstone to an amazing collaboration. Apostol and Mamikon provide fresh and powerful insights into geometry that requires only a modest background in mathematics. Using new and intuitively rich methods, they give beautifully illustrated proofs of results, the majority of which are new, and frequently develop extensions of familiar theorems that are often surprising and sometimes astounding. It is mathematical exposition of the highest order. The hundreds of full color illustrations by Mamikon are visually enticing and provide great motivation to read further and savor the wonderful results. Lengths, areas, and volumes of curves, surfaces, and solids are explored from a visually captivating perspective. It is an understatement to say that Apostol and Mamikon have breathed new life into geometry.


"Ethnic Jewellery from Indonesia: Continuity, Creativity and Evolution" is a compelling introduction to the little known visual power and beauty of the body adornments used by the myriad people of Indonesia's outer islands, including Sumatra, Borneo, Sulawesi, Sumba and Maluku. Illustrated with more than 500 rare pieces that have been accumulated since the 1970s by collector Manfred Giehmann, the book explores the depth and breadth of an ancient and magnificent tradition, revealing the fruits of careful documentation that has taken place over a period of decades. It will provide information on the origin, meaning and purpose of the jewellery items, as well as unique insights into the people who crafted and wore the jewellery for ritual or ceremonial functions. "Ethnic Jewellery: Continuity, Creativity and Evolution" is a definitive work on the subject and a testimony to the greatness of a fast-disappearing Indonesian tradition.


Estimating the seabottom geophysical structure from the analysis of acoustic returns of an explosive source (air-gun, sparker,…) has been used for a longtime as a routine survey technique. Recent work showed the possibility of using well-suited numerical models to invert the acoustic field for estimating detailed geoacoustic sediment properties. Common implementations used long synthetic aperture arrays (up to 2 km and more) in order to resolve potential environmental ambiguities of the acoustic field. Others, used vertical arrays of sensors covering a significant part of the water column to identify the channel normal mode structure and thus gather information for the bottom physical relevant properties. This paper investigates, with simulated data, the concept of using a moderate aperture physical line array and a sound source simultaneously towed by a single ship for inverting the bottom geoacoustic structure from the acoustic returns received on the array. First, bottom parameter estimators are derived and their system sensitivity is investigated. In particular, it is shown that such a system may be used to sense compressional and shear velocities on the bottom first layers. Density and attenuations (both compressional and shear) have in general small influence on the acoustic field structure and are therefore difficult to estimate. Increasing the signal frequency bandwidth by incoherent module averaging has no significant influence on sensitivity. Mismatch cases, mainly those related to array/source relative position, showed that deviations of more than λ/3 in range and λ/5 in depth may give erroneous extremum location and therefore biased final estimates. Second, two bottom parameter estimators are compared and their performance tested on a typical shallow water environment. In order to solve the underlying multiparameter inverse problem, global search optimization is used. In particular, it is shown that the use of an adaptive genetic algorithm may, in conjunction with a well-suited maximum likelihood based parameter estimator, rapidly converge to the surface extremum. Inversion results are in agreement with the predictions obtained from the sensitivity study. The mean relative error at 10 dB signal-to-noise ratio is within 1% for the compressional velocity, while greater errors are reported for the shear velocity, Comparison with recent results obtained with a radial basis functions (RBF) inversion strategy showed similar performance. Finally, results obtained with a 156 m aperture towed array showed a good agreement between the inverted compressional velocities and the ground truth measurements.


ABSTRACT Cyclists are understood as vulnerable road users, but when cyclists are killed by drivers, media reports shared to social media are often accompanied by comments that aggressively rearticulate hierarchies of automobility. This article explores the news reporting, public social media sharing, and public social media comments about the deaths of two cyclists – Mike Hall and Cameron Frewer. To assemble an archive of relevant media material, we have developed a method that uses Google News and the Chrome plugin Crowdtangle. We draw on the work of Judith Butler to argue that some commenters find cyclists ungrievable and explore how this performance of ungrievability rearticulates common sense hierarchies of automobility. Similarly, we also argue that these tragic events serve as a locus of sociality for cyclists and cycling advocates who often do not have a personal relation to Hall or Frewer, but nevertheless articulate their mourning in terms of a personalized relationship to their evident tragic vulnerability.


Indonesia has been home to some of the most vibrant and complex developments in modern Islamic thought anywhere in the world. Nevertheless little is known or understood about these developments outside Southeast Asia. By considering the work of the leading Indonesian thinkers of the twentieth century, R. Michael Feener, an intellectual authority in the area, offers a cogent critique of this diverse and extensive literature and sheds light on the contemporary debates and the dynamics of Islamic reform. The book highlights the openness to, and creative manipulation of, diverse strands of international thought that have come to define Islamic intellectualism in modern Indonesia. This is an accessible and interpretive overview of the religious and social thought of the world's largest Muslim majority nation. As such it will be read by scholars of Islamic law and society, Southeast Asian Studies and comparative law and jurisprudence.


Within the debate on international relations an increasing amount of scholars have acknowledged that the debate is unnecessarily entrenched in old paradigms and that the dividing lines are in many cases arbitrary. This theory-developing paper is an answer to the call for cross-fertilization specifically between realism and constructivism. Here the concept of national interests, and its role in the realist tradition of international relations, is re-examined. The argument is made that, classical- and neo-classical-, realist theories should take identity into account when explaining states pursuit of national interests. This is done not only by identifying and explaining the constructivist theories that is useful to realism but also by illuminating an, so far, unexplored potential within realism to directly include identity into its theories. In the final part of the paper the usefulness of the augmented concept of national interests is also illustrated by using the concept to explain Sweden's reluctance against a NATO-membership.


The Joint Force of today is facing an inflection point with respect to the way it believes it should learn, train, and educate. The generation that fought America's longest war is more savvy and intuitive but also sober on what really "works." The authors have observed, for instance, that "Jointness" is being redefined, and correspondingly preparation for it is shifting, focusing less on systems and more on developing higher-order cognitive skills, such as problem-solving, adaptiveness, and anticipation. However, trainers are unclear on how to create interventions that simultaneously un-tap the cognitive potential of their staffs, enable accurate and actionable performance measurement, and support affordable scalability to geographically dispersed training audiences. We argue that part of the solution requires exploiting web-based technologies that can create semi-immersive experiences in "strategic compression," which we use as a short-hand reference for the stresses of operational/strategic crisis action planning and decision-making under time constraints, contextual complexity, and organizational ambiguity. If those conditions are rendered in a distributed team simulation (part-task trainer) and paired with appropriate instructional interventions, this creates opportunities for trainers to facilitate quality interventions in support of a group's decision-making processes (i.e., "strategic reflection"). The authors build upon previously published research related to technology-enabled joint training at the lower-end of the cognitive learning taxonomy (i.e., remember, understand, and apply; see Fautua, Schatz, et. al., I/ITSEC 2014) to provide preliminary findings in establishing similar interventions for the taxonomy's upper end: analyze, evaluate, and create.


To meet the growing demand of affordable power, several designs of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), which will be installed below-grade, have been proposed by the nuclear industry. The containment vessels of these reactors will be under water. During a seismic event, these reactors will experience a complex soil (ground)-structure (SMR)-fluid (water) interaction that can affect the integrity of the system. Each of these reactors uses a seismic damping or isolation system to protect its important to safety structures, systems, and components from a design-basis earthquake. Designers of these damping/isolation systems need to have a thorough understanding of the complex soil-structure-fluid interactions to ensure the adequacy of the isolation system. In addition, regulators need to understand these interactions to evaluate the safety of such installations and systems.This study was initiated to understand the complexities in modeling facility responses that may accompany a design-basis earthquake. The ability to model these complexities is important to designers and regulators. It was recognized that a three-way coupled approach that can satisfactorily model the unique dynamic characteristics of soil surrounding the reactor, the reactor structure, and fluid contained within the reactor is not available. As a first step in understanding the complex interaction phenomena, a sequential coupling approach was adopted in this study. It was assumed that the feedback loop (such as structural deformation affecting ground motion and sloshing) has limited influence because of the high inertia of the massive structure. The general-purpose geological continuum package FLAC was used to simulate the propagation of earthquake-generated ground motion. The fluid analysis was conducted using the commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) package ANSYS-FLUENT. This paper briefly discusses the modeling techniques used in soil-structure and structure-fluid interaction analyses. Using a strong motion earthquake record, the ground acceleration at the base of the SMR was calculated and used as input to the CFD analysis of fluid motion inside the structure.Copyright © 2014 by ASME


This paper provides an overview of the most important statistical properties of individual hedge fund returns. We find that the net-of-fees monthly returns of the average individual hedge fund exhibit significant degrees of negative skewness, excess kurtosis, as well as positive first-order serial correlation. The correlations between hedge funds in the same strategy group are of the same order of magnitude as the correlations between funds in different strategy groups and relatively low. Only 10-20% of the variation in the average individual hedge fund's returns can be explained by what happens in the US equity and bond markets. Compared to individual funds, portfolios of hedge funds tend to exhibit lower skewness, higher serial correlation and higher correlation with stocks and bonds. Movements in the US equity and bond markets still only explain 20-40% of the variation in hedge fund portfolios returns though. Finally, an equally-weighted portfolio of all funds in our sample offers a 2.76% higher mean return than the average fund of funds. This strongly suggests that the timing and fund picking activities of the average fund of funds are not rewarded by a higher return.


Many political failure arguments implicitly assume that voters are irrational. This article argues that this assumption is both theoretically and empirically plausible: in politics, rationality, like information, is a collective good that individuals have little incentive to supply. In consequence, voters are frequently not only rationally ignorant but also `rationally irrational'. Rational irrationality leads to both demand-side and supply-side political failures: competition not only pressures politicians to act on voters' biased estimates, but selects for politicians who genuinely share those biases. The analytical framework also sheds new light on log-rolling, political shirking and advertising, and politicians' human capital.