Thanks to Samuel P. Huntington's classic study The Third Wave: Democratization in the Late Twentieth Century, the 1974 Portuguese Revolution has come to be acknowledged as the starting point of the cascade of transitions that Huntington dubbed democracy's "third wave." There may well be new transitions to democracy, but there are also likely to be new reversals that will more or less balance them out. The magnitude of democratic change brought by the third wave—the era par excellence of democratic transitions—is unlikely to be matched in the future.


The exploitation of e-business has become one of the primary conditions of doing business in the current business environment. Companies have moved to web-based business to business platforms where transactions are done efficiently and in a fast pace. The importance of e-business technology has grown significantly in supply management as well. Therefore, this study examines the effects of e-business on supply management using data collected from 100 Finnish firms. Moreover, light is shed on the targets of e-business and the changes caused by e-business in supply management and how these changes have influenced the firm's competitive and bargaining positions. The results of the study show that the main targets of e-business in supply management are cost and time savings and process development. It was also found that ebusiness has caused changes in supply chains and networks in terms of bargaining and competitive position.


Quality of service (QoS) is an important issue in the design and management of web service composition. QoS in web services consists of various non-functional factors, such as execution cost, execution time, availability, successful execution rate, and security. In recent years, the number of available web services has proliferated, and then offered the same services increasingly. The same web services are distinguished based on their quality parameters. Also, clients usually demand more value added services rather than those offered by single, isolated web services. Therefore, selecting a composition plan of web services among numerous plans satisfies client requirements and has become a challenging and time-consuming problem. This paper has proposed a new composition plan optimizer with constraints based on genetic algorithm. The proposed method can find the composition plan that satisfies user constraints efficiently. The performance of the method is evaluated in a simulated environment.


Currently, there is a need for strength-based recreation therapy approaches which promote the retention of skills and abilities of the growing older adult population. This article introduces an emerging multimodal intervention: Therapeutic Thematic Arts Programming for Older Adults (TTAP Method©), an approach that provides stimulation to three distinct brain systems, encouraging brain wellness and neural regeneration, thereby providing a viable means for enhancing cognitive functioning in older adults. Research on TTAP Method© efficacy is currently being explored at Cornell University and previous pilot studies strongly indicate that the TTAP Method© may be an effective intervention for slowing the progression of mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer's disease. TTAP Method© is person centered and culturally competent, and engages a variety of creative activities.


This body of work as whole has the theme of using floating-gates and reconfigurable systems to explore and implement non-traditional computing solutions to difficult problems. Various computational methodologies are used simultaneously to solve problems by mapping pieces of them to the appropriate type of computer. There exists no systematic approach to simultaneously apply analog, digital, and neuromorphic techniques to solving general problems. Typically, this is a very difficult task, and one that few attempt to undertake. However, when done right, solutions can be found with orders-of-magnitude improvement over existing solutions restricted to using only one type computational domain. To that end, I have helped build large and complicated reconfigurable systems (and software tools for helping to use these systems) capable of implementing solutions to problems in all three of those domains simultaneously. These systems are used to explore and implement these cross domain solutions to difficult problems. The earlier work was involved with simply applying floating-gate technology to improving the building blocks of digital systems. Through that early work a new logic family built from floating-gate transistors was discovered, a Logical Effort compatible power analysis technique was developed, and low power floating-gate based FPGA was implemented. This work was then merged with existing research in the group involving solving problems using reconfigurable analog, and neuromorphic techniques. Thus converging on the mentioned systems that allow one to solve problems using techniques from all three domains: analog, neuromorphic, and digital.


PRISONER RESETTLEMENT: POLICY AND PRACTICE Ed. Anthea Hucklesby and Lystra Hagley-Dickson Cullompton Willan (2007) pp. 306, ISBN 978184392-253-7 This edited collection features distinguished practitioners, academics and researchers in the field of prisoner resettlement. The book is divided into three logical sections; theory, policy and research, issues of resettlement practice, the resettlement of specific groups of prisoners. As a result the book is suitable to a wide authence such students, academics, researchers, practitioners and policy makers. Each contribution offers something different yet all alert the reader to the problems of prisoner resettlement and the gaps in our knowledge about this area. As a consequence the book ends by looking at the evidence that already exists and makes important recommendations about how resettlement could be more meaningful and effective for all stakeholders. In the first section Hedderman rightly points out that there are many problems and limitations with the practice and processes of resettlement. In particular support for prisoners is poor. Life after prison as Raynor in the following chapter indicates that leaving prison should not necessarily mean criminal justice agencies are wholly responsible for the 'care' of ex-offenders. Instead movement towards welfare care for resettlement might offer more logical and effective support. Hedderman and Raynor both discuss the role of theory in relation to understanding resettlement and identify difficulties in understanding this term, its uses, relevance and impact. Raynor sees that social capital might be an objective of resettlement, whereby ex-offenders are able to make productive and meaningful bonds and bridges within community (p38). Furthermore models of resettlement are described by Hucklesby and Wincup 'very much an ideal' (p44) and pressures to ensure 'success' bring about 'quantity not quality' (p49). The prison routine adds further barriers for agencies to work with prisoners meaning that time and resources remain limited or considered impractical for doing meaningful work with respect to resettlement. Hucklesby and Wincup also describe the different models and approaches to resettlement and often initiatives to assist prisoners making positive changes in their lives are not fully focused on the aims and objectives described by the initiatives. The authors describe these models well and alert the reader to the dilemmas and contradictions of such models. One of the most insightful chapters Researching and evaluating resettlement by Wincup and Hucklesby discusses the process of researching resettlement. Their chapter poses a number of significant issues relating to research in this area and offers practical advice on both doing research in this area and for those considering commissioning research. In addition research for these contributors is perhaps a misleading term. Often initiatives have to incorporate evaluation (and not research) of their performance in order to achieve funding and are therefore driven to describe what needs to be measured rather than what should be measured. In particular the need for initiatives to demonstrate reductions in offending are as the authors describe is misleading and difficult to capture especially in the time constraints of an evaluation and the kinds of sample that emerges. The authors offer practical advice to doing research in prisons and in the community and ways in which data could be analysed. Probably the most significant lesson from this chapter is the authors' attention to the pitfalls that result in doing evaluations in this area and the political implications of presenting outcomes and outputs to a wider authence. …


Consumer-driven health plans continue to emerge and grow across the country. The intent of these plans is to increase patient control and thus the free-market variables, increasing competition and quality, with a side effect of better patient health through improved service, improved patient self-management of regimens, and overall health awareness. Healthcare costs will be lower overall as a result. But more action is required from providers, patients, and payers alike when dealing with these plans. The products and benefits are not always understood, and the education to make the system work is lacking.


The European Commission decided to propose legislation on the protection of whistle-blowers in order to strengthen enforcement of Union law and to provide an enforcement tool at the national and EU level. The Directive on the protection of persons reporting breaches of Union law has been approved by the European Parliament and the Council and it will soon be published in the Official Journal of the European Union. The whistle-blower is an enforcement tool which is given to Member States in order to enhance the enforcement of EU law. The whistle-blower is in a privileged position to detect and report wrongdoings and the new Directive aims to facilitate this process by providing a concrete definition of the whistle-blower, the procedural path of report and, finally, protection from retaliation or any kind of liability. Being a debated figure until recently, the whistle-blower becomes now a helpful tool for the better implementation and enforcement of Union rules. The Directive is a positive step towards a European legal framework on the protection of whistle-blowers and a change of attitude. However, there are dubious and complex points of the Directive that may harden, instead of facilitate, the work of the whistle-blower.


The synthesis of 2-(6,7-diethoxy-3,4-dihydroisoquinolin-1-yl)acetonitrile (1) has been performed by ring closure of the corresponding amide according to the Bischler-Napieralski method (Scheme 1). Based on spectroscopic data, the tautomeric 2-(tetrahydroisoquinolin-1-ylidene)acetonitrile is the actual compound. The reactions of 1 with alpha-oxohydrazonoyl halides 4 in the presence of Et3N led to 2-(aryldiazenyl)pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinoline derivatives 8 (Scheme 2), whereas with C-(ethoxycarbonyl)hydrazonoyl chlorides 14, 2-(arylhydrazono)pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinoline-1-carbonitriles 16 were formed (Scheme 4). The structures of the products were established from their analytical and spectroscopic data and, in the case of 8b, by X-ray crystallography.


The current study was undertaken to evaluate the results of stapedotomy over a three-year period at a tertiary hospital. We studied the case records, including demographic data and operative results, of patients with clinically suspected otosclerosis undergoing stapedotomy. Over a 3-year period, a total of 264 patients underwent small fenestra stapedectomy of which records were complete for 200 patients and were thus included for analysis. The procedure was done under local anaesthesia and used a 0.6 mm Teflon piston with sacrifice of the stapedius tendon. Air-Bone Gaps at speech frequencies of 500 Hz to 3 KhZ were averaged to calculate the Pure-Tone averages. This was done following the recommendations of the AAO-HNS and was done pre-operatively and post-operatively. 92/200 patients were male (46%) and 108/200 (54%) were female with an age range of 20-50 and a mean of 32 ± 7.78 years. The mean pre-operative Air-Bone gap was 46.1 ± 8.23. No patient had abnormal BC thresholds. After surgery, the mean air-bone gaps at 30 days, 90 days and 180 days were 28.84 ± 6.74, 18.32 ± 6.53 and 9.26 ± 4.49 dB. At six months' follow-up, all patients had achieved Air-Bone Gap closure to within 25 dB while 104 patients (52%) had achieved closure to within 10 dB. While the study is retrospective in nature, our results reflect current thought that small fenestrastapedectomy remains an excellent surgical option in experienced hands for patients with otosclerosis.


In addition to his ground-breaking research, Nobel Laureate Steven Weinberg is known for a series of highly praised texts on various aspects of physics, combining exceptional physical insight with his gift for clear exposition. Describing the foundations of modern physics in their historical context and with some new derivations, Weinberg introduces topics ranging from early applications of atomic theory through thermodynamics, statistical mechanics, transport theory, special relativity, quantum mechanics, nuclear physics, and quantum field theory. This volume provides the basis for advanced undergraduate and graduate physics courses as well as being a handy introduction to aspects of modern physics for working scientists.


BACKGROUND
Patients often present in primary care with physical symptoms that doctors cannot readily explain. The process of reassuring these patients is challenging, complex and poorly understood.

AIM
To construct a typology of general practitioners' (GPs') normalising explanations, based on their effect on the process and outcome of consultations involving patients with medically unexplained symptoms.

DESIGN OF STUDY
Qualitative analysis of audiotaped consultations between patients and GPs.

SETTING
Seven general practices in Merseyside, United Kingdom.

METHODS
Transcripts of audiotaped consultations between 21 GPs and 36 patients with medically unexplained symptoms were analysed inductively, to identify types of normalising speech used by GPs.

RESULTS
Normalisation without explanation included rudimentary reassurance and the authority of a negative test result. Patients persisted in requesting explanation and elaborated or extended their symptoms, rendering somatic management more likely. Normalisation with ineffective explanation provided a tangible physical explanation for symptoms, unrelated to patient's expressed concerns. This was also counterproductive. Normalisation with effective explanation provided tangible mechanisms grounded in patients' concerns, often linking physical and psychological factors. These explanations were accepted by patients; those linking physical and psychological factors contributed to psychosocial management outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS
The routine exercise of normalisation by GPs contains approaches that are ineffective and may exacerbate patients' presentation. However, it also contains types of explanation that may reduce the need for symptomatic investigation or treatment. These findings can inform the development of well-grounded educational interventions for GPs.


CC chemokine receptors are important modulators of inflammation. Although CC chemokine receptors have been found predominantly on leukocytes, recent studies have suggested that vascular smooth muscle cells respond to CC chemokines. We now report that human smooth muscle cells express CCR5, a co-receptor for human immunodeficiency virus. CCR5 mRNA was detectable by RNA blot hybridization in human aortic and coronary artery smooth muscle cells. The cDNA generated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction from aortic smooth muscle cells had 100% identity throughout the entire coding region with the CCR5 cloned from THP-1 cells. By immunohistochemistry, CCR5 and the CCR5 ligand, macrophage inflammatory protein-1β (MIP-1β), were detected in smooth muscle cells and macrophages of the atherosclerotic plaque. In smooth muscle cell culture, MIP-1β induced a significant increase in intracellular calcium concentrations, which was blocked by an antibody to CCR5. In addition, MIP-1β caused a calcium-dependent increase in tissue factor activity. Tissue factor is the initiator of coagulation and is thought to play a key role in arterial thrombosis. These data suggest that human arterial smooth muscle cells express functional CCR5 receptors and MIP-1β is an agonist for these cells.


"The Print in the Western World" is a comprehensive history of the print from its origins in the fifteenth through the late twentieth century. A source of inspiration to many great painters, such as Titian, Rembrandt, and Manet, printmaking has established its own criteria of aesthetic excellence as well as its own expressive language, both of which are explored here. Scholars and print collectors will find in this well-written and generously illustrated book a valuable reference, students a lucid survey, and art lovers an informative introduction to the history of the print in Europe and America. More than 700 illustrations, forty-nine of them in color, show the evolution of the relief, intaglio, planographic, and stencil processes through the centuries. Giving detailed treatment to the work of five master printmakers Albrecht Durer, Rembrandt van Rijn, Francisco Goya, Pablo Picasso, and Jasper Johns the book also discusses in depth numerous other artists, such as Martin Schongauer, Andrea Mantegna, Hendrik Goltzius, Jacques Callot, Giovanni Battista Piranesi, William Hogarth, Honore Daumier, Edouard Manet, Paul Gauguin, Edvard Munch, Kathe Kollwitz, Max Ernst, and Andy Warhol. Although its primary focus is the fine-art original print, The Print in the Western World also addresses in detail the reproductive tradition in printmaking that reached its peak in the eighteenth century and touches on book illustrations, posters, political satires, and vernacular prints such as chromolithographs. Author Linda C. Hults emphasizes the meaning and historical context of prints, the consequences of the print's accessibility to many strata of society, and the relationship among artist, context, subject matter, and technique. The volume includes a glossary of basic printmaking terms, as well as full bibliographies at the end of each chapter, giving readers access to a wide range of recent scholarship on prints."


Abstract. Here, we prove the existence of smooth solutions for mean-field games with a singular mean-field coupling; that is, a coupling in the Hamilton-Jacobi equation of the form g(m) = −m. We consider stationary and time-dependent settings. The function g is monotone, but it is not bounded from below. With the exception of the logarithmic coupling, this is the first time that MFGs whose coupling is not bounded from below is examined in the literature. This coupling arises in models where agents have a strong preference for low-density regions. Paradoxically, this causes the agents to spread and prevents the creation of solutions with a very-low density. To prove the existence of solutions, we consider an approximate problem for which the existence of smooth solutions is known. Then, we prove new a priori bounds for the solutions that show that 1 m is bounded. Finally, using a limiting argument, we obtain the existence of solutions. The proof in the stationary case relies on a blow-up argument and in the time-dependent case on new bounds for m.


ABSTRACT Nucleocytoplasmic trafficking of histone deacetylase 4 (HDAC4) plays an important role in regulating its function, and binding of 14-3-3 proteins is necessary for its cytoplasmic retention. Here, we report the identification of nuclear import and export sequences of HDAC4. While its N-terminal 118 residues modulate the nuclear localization, residues 244 to 279 constitute an authentic, strong nuclear localization signal. Mutational analysis of this signal revealed that three arginine-lysine clusters are necessary for its nuclear import activity. As for nuclear export, leucine-rich sequences located in the middle part of HDAC4 do not function as nuclear export signals. By contrast, a hydrophobic motif (MXXLXVXV) located at the C-terminal end serves as a nuclear export signal that is necessary for cytoplasmic retention of HDAC4. This motif is required for CRM1-mediated nuclear export of HDAC4. Furthermore, binding of 14-3-3 proteins promotes cytoplasmic localization of HDAC4 by both inhibiting its nuclear import and stimulating its nuclear export. Unlike wild-type HDAC4, a point mutant with abrogated MEF2-binding ability remains cytoplasmic upon exogenous expression of MEF2C, supporting the notion that direct MEF2 binding targets HDAC4 to the nucleus. Therefore, HDAC4 possesses intrinsic nuclear import and export signals for its dynamic nucleocytoplasmic shuttling, and association with 14-3-3 and MEF2 proteins affects such shuttling and thus directs HDAC4 to the cytoplasm and the nucleus, respectively.


Dark muscle in Thunnus albacares is considered as waste from frozen loin tuna and canned tuna processing. This waste still actually can be utilized as fish sauce which has economical value. The objectives of this research was to study the fish sauce processing by using acid hydrolysis with dark muscle tuna as raw material. Research was conducted in two steps, where the first step done in order to learn the influence fish and HCl ratio toward the quality of fish sauce especially for protein content. The ratio of fish and HCl were varies by w/w comprise 2:1 (A1), 1:1 (A2) and 1:2 (A3). The protein content of hydrolyzed fish sauce reach from 4.41-9.65 %, NPN 0.68-1.51 g/100 g, free amino acid 63.14-120.19 mg/100 g, NaCl 9.06-13.61%; TVN 100.48-167.91 mg/100 g, TMA 11.29-14.87 mg/ 100 g, total TDS 20.65-23.45 % and color 9.289-0.693. Fish sauce (A1) considered as the best product, therefore in the later/pursued study in this ratio was used as primary treatment combined with various concentration of caramel 0 % (B1); 2.5 % (B2); 5 % (B3); 7.5 % (B4) and 10 % (B5). The addition of caramel tend to increase color intensity and stickiness of fish sauce. Panelist prefer to chose the commercial fish sauce, however the hydrolyzed fish sauce produced from this study still has higher protein content. Fish sauced was still also to liquid, the color still darker and the taste still strange.


The spatial distribution of rainfall has a significant
influence on catchment dynamics and streamflow generation. However, there are
few stochastic models that can simulate long sequences of stochastic rainfall
fields continuously in time and space. To address this issue, this paper
presents a continuous daily spatial rainfall model which employs a latent
variable approach. The use of a latent variable approach is parsimonious as it
utilises a single distribution to model both the rainfall occurrence and the
amount. A comprehensive evaluation approach was developed that uses a
performance classification scheme to systematically evaluate model performance
over a range of temporal and spatial scales. The evaluation of the model
performance using the Onkaparinga catchment in South Australia showed that the
model is able to reproduce the majority of statistics at individual sites
within the region as well as realistic patterns of spatial rain fields. These
statistics included rainfall occurrences/amounts, wet/dry spell distributions,
monthly/annual volumes, extremes and spatial patterns, which are important from
a hydrological standpoint. One of the few model weaknesses was that the total
annual rainfall in drier years (lower 5%) was over-estimated by 15% on average
over all sites. An advantage of the comprehensive evaluation was that it was
able to attribute the source of this over-estimation to the poor representation
of annual variability in rainfall occurrences. Given the strengths of this
continuous daily rainfall field model it shows considerable promise for
hydrological applications such as distributed catchment modelling.


Bone proteomic studies using animal proxies and skeletonized human remains have delivered encouraging results in the search for potential biomarkers for precise and accurate post-mortem interval (PMI) and the age-at-death (AAD) estimation in medico-legal investigations. The development of forensic proteomics for PMI and AAD estimation is in critical need of research on human remains throughout decomposition, as currently the effects of both inter-individual biological differences and taphonomic alteration on the survival of human bone protein profiles are unclear. This study investigated the human bone proteome in four human body donors studied throughout decomposition outdoors. The effects of ageing phenomena (in vivo and post-mortem) and intrinsic and extrinsic variables on the variety and abundancy of the bone proteome were assessed. Results indicate that taphonomic and biological variables play a significant role in the survival of proteins in bone. Our findings suggest that inter-individual and inter-skeletal differences in bone mineral density (BMD) are important variables affecting the survival of proteins. Specific proteins survive better within the mineral matrix due to their mineral-binding properties. The mineral matrix likely also protects these proteins by restricting the movement of decomposer microbes. New potential biomarkers for PMI estimation and AAD estimation were identified. Future development of forensic bone proteomics should include standard measurement of BMD and target a combination of different biomarkers.


Present study was conducted to determine the effects of long term carbosulfan exposure on erythrocyte and liver acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), and to assess sensitive tissue to carbosulfan in terms of AChE activity. For these purpose, fish were allowed to recover in toxicant-free water for 24 days after 60 days of exposure. AChE activity was determined spectrophotometrically using acetylthiocholine iodide as substrate in the erythrocyte and liver. Erythrocyte and liver AChE of carbosulfan-exposed fish showed considerable inhibition rate. A higher degree of enzyme inhibition was observed in the erythrocyte when compared with liver. The degree of enzyme inhibition had a positive correlation with the time of exposure. Erythrocyte and liver AChE activities were recovered after 18 d and 21 d, respectively. Results indicate that the erythrocyte AChE activity is more sensitive to carbosulfan exposure than that of liver AChE. The greater sensitivity of the erythrocyte AChE suggests that it may be more useful as a biomarker of carbosulfan exposure or contamination.


In order to probe the application of TQM within Small and Medium Sized UK Construction-Related Organisations, a study was conducted on 63 SMEs; 20 (31.7%) of these reported implementation of TQM on their management system. For this purpose, a monitoring and assessment tool was developed, incorporating within it the TQM implementation quality features or techniques, grouped in 10 sub principles. The rate of TQM commitment and advancement was then measured for each organisation. The study was designed to assess the levels of advancement of implementation constructs in both UK TQM and non- TQM Construction related SMEs. The research was conducted in four stages: exploratory, descriptive, empirical and analytic research. The exploratory stage involved an extensive literature review for searching TQM models and critical success factors. The Powell (1995) instrument was selected as the criterion for the critical success factors, with the justification provided for the selection, by comparing and evaluating it with other existing and validated instruments such as Saraph et al, 1989; Flynn et al, 1995; Black
and Porter, 1996 and Ahire et al, 1996. The descriptive study involved a questionnaire survey of construction related SMEs in the UK. The research design also included: an empirical investigation to assessth e critical successf actors and levels of TQM advancementin the UK construction SMEs, identification of the advocated advantages associated with the implementation, measuring the success of TQM and assessment of the business and organisation performance, assessment of the competitive environment. The survey was conducted to investigate the four stated issues and finally, to ascertain the combined effect of TQM practices on the business and organisation performance in the context of organisation size, TQM maturity and union density. The results of the surveys provided the levels of implementation of TQM in both TQM and Non-TQM organisations. The survey results of the study indicated that while TQM deploying organisations were more advanced in the observation of the deployment constructs, non-TQM organisations exhibited marked levels of achievement
of implementation constructs. The empirical and analytical research involved in subjecting the developed Total Quality-Self Monitoring and Assessment Rating Tool (TQ-SMART) Model to a structural analysis based on the computation of the TQM relative
advancement indices. The TQ-SMART was developed consisting of 10 TQM constructs with 34 independent variables (items). This resulted in the 10 constructs having high cronbach values. The TQ-SMART model was found to be valid, based on the goodness of fit indices. (Field 2000). It also exhibited
strong undimensionality, reliability, convergent, discriminant and criterion-related validities. The structural models demonstrated and built in this study
hypothesised and tested the relationship among the ten TQM deployment constructs and their contribution to the UK Construction-related SME's business and organisational performance indicators (BOPI) and competitive advantage. The explanatory research involved a detailed case study on three organisations. An interpretative approach was used to gain further insights in the implementation of TQM. This included both non-TQM and TQM deploying organisations. Though various assessment models exist, and literature has examined issues such as organisations needing to identify the unused capabilities, there is a lack of formal methods of working out the unused capabilities or conducting
empirical studies. The application of the relative advancement index will prove particularly useful as benchmarks for comparison with other TQM deploying organisations. The Commitment and Advancement indices generated by the TQ-SMART Model serves as an assessment and monitoring mechanism for TQM deployment organisations at the same time as an assessment mechanism for non-TQM deploying organisations wishing to identify their existing levels of quality initiatives. Quality Managers can use this model as well as Senior Management to assess their strengths and weaknesses on the deployment constructs necessary for the effective and efficiency implementation of TQM. The research concluded that the conceptual model though not generalisable was still indicative of the general trends within the UK Construction Related SMEs.


In writing this thesis I tried to create an 'artwork' in which theory, literature, narrative and art become interwoven to illuminate the lived experiences of educators working towards anti-oppressive practices in a higher education context. I used an illustrated narrative inspired by the memories and experiences of the participants (including myself) in order to create 'portraits' of educators working in this context. These portraits are presented as collages which then become part of a bigger narrative. This narrative explores the connections between educator identity and the issues arising in the broader South African higher educational landscape.
I employed Kevin Kumashiro's (2002) four conceptualisations of anti-oppressive education as a theoretical lens through which to read and discuss the stories. Often, when we talk about social justice we talk about social identities and constructed identities. But these fixed categories can reduce us to measurable and quantifiable units that function in set hierarchies which and can never be disrupted or troubled. Through my research I rather attempt to emphasise the complex and messy nature of educators' experiences and emotions as they try to teach in anti-oppressive ways.
This study is rooted in arts-based practice and experiments with ways in which this research methodology can inform social change. The use of art in the thesis is thus purposefully connected to a theme of anti-oppressive change as it engages not only with different ways of being, but also different ways of learning and knowing. The work is situated in a poststructuralist framework in which oppression is read as intersectional, situated and multiple. Art opens up new spaces for the researcher to explore the social context and educational landscape. The extension of self-study into anti-oppressive theory made it possible to explore the contextual realities through the 'eyes' of the participants. In this exploration I used a collaborative self-study to connect the theory to the experiences of the educator where it can open up an in-between space in which anti-oppressive change becomes possible.
Art assisted me to challenge certain academic conventions of thesis writing, but it also helped me to make connections between theory and experience that would otherwise have been impossible. The methodology informed me theoretically as working towards anti-oppressive change also involves giving up some control so that we can learn from uncertainty and crisis in order to trouble existing knowledge. The implication being that as educators we cannot learn or be 'told' how to work towards anti-oppressive practice but have to build such knowledge through our experiences – and our creative engagement with these experiences.
The portraits foreground educators as complex beings dealing with complex issues and resist the idea that there is a correct way to be or to teach. In this way, it troubles prescriptive recipes for anti-oppressive practice by looking at creative avenues of exploring one's identity to become different. This research shows how we work in in-between spaces of uncertainty, discomfort and self-doubt, and how our experiences are disruptive, interrupted, and messy. We are troubled and haunted by our own identities as we try to move our experience into a new frame in which difference is possible.


Abstract. In this paper we study the influence of the cloud microphysical
parameterization, namely the effect of different methods for calculating the
supersaturation and aerosol activation, on the structure and life cycle of
radiation fog in large-eddy simulations. For this purpose we investigate a
well-documented deep fog case as observed at Cabauw (the Netherlands) using
high-resolution large-eddy simulations with a comprehensive bulk cloud
microphysics scheme. By comparing saturation adjustment with a diagnostic and
a prognostic method for calculating supersaturation (while neglecting the
activation process), we find that, even though assumptions for saturation
adjustment are violated, the expected overestimation of the liquid water
mixing ratio is negligible. By additionally considering activation, however,
our results indicate that saturation adjustment, due to approximating the
underlying supersaturation, leads to a higher droplet concentration and hence
significantly higher liquid water content in the fog layer, while diagnostic
and prognostic methods yield comparable results. Furthermore, the effect of
different droplet number concentrations is investigated, induced by using
different common activation schemes. We find, in line with previous studies,
a positive feedback between the droplet number concentration (as a
consequence of the applied activation schemes) and strength of the fog layer
(defined by its vertical extent and amount of liquid water). Furthermore, we
perform an explicit analysis of the budgets of condensation, evaporation,
sedimentation and advection in order to assess the height-dependent
contribution of the individual processes on the development phases.


The application of Inherent Safety (IS) principles and Inherently Safer Design (ISD) concept has been proven to reduce the risk of accidents and is economically attractive for chemical process plants. However, they also suffer from several trade-offs or conflicts that arise from the modification suggested by the concept. A design which is identified to be inherently safer from one hazard could possibly alter the magnitude of other hazards, which were previously not at a critical level. Therefore, an IS tool should emphasise this limitation before a decision can be made, in order to obtain the best ISD alternatives. This paper presents a likelihood tool to evaluate the potential hazard conflicts in ISD alternatives at preliminary design stage. The tool is part of a framework which is developed based on risk approach. The proposed tool is applied to hydrogen storage systems with the objective to prevent and minimise potential fire and explosion. The results have shown that the new tool is able to highlight the potential new hazards and variation of magnitude of existing hazards which emerged when the hydrogen storage is changed according to the ISD concept at


A systematic review of randomized controlled trials was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of a biopsychosocial approach to management for chronic low back pain when applied by individual physiotherapists. Eight primary databases and three secondary databases were searched electronically. A manual reference search was also performed. To be eligible, trials had to provide treatment according to biopsychosoci al principles in primary care or comparable settings. This approach is a holistic intervention that addresses social, psychological, and biological aspects of chronic pain. Included trials defined chronic low back pain as of greater than eight weeks duration. Primary outcome measures were reductions in pain or improvement in function. Nine trials were identified that provided a biopsychosocia l intervention evaluated qualitatively by evidence of a combined approach of education and empowerment of the patient, neurobiological conditioning, and graded exposure. Comparison treatments included exercise alone, cognitive behavioral therapy alone, usual care, and no treatment. Data from these trials were extracted for comparison and the findings synthesized against research evidence quality dimensions to evaluate the effectiveness of a biopsychosocial approach applied by physiotherapists. Five trials found strong evidence for the effectiveness of a biopsychosocial approach to individual physiotherapy care, three trials found moderate evidence, and one trial found limited evidence. This review supports the use of biopsychosoci al approaches for chronic low back pain and informs clinical practice. The findings may have particular relevance for physiotherapists working in professional or geographical isolation.


Report on BCTCS 2016 - The 32nd British Colloquium for Theoretical Computer Science 22–24 March 2016, Queen's University Belfast The British Colloquium for Theoretical Computer Science (BCTCS) is an annual forum in which researchers in Theoretical Computer Science can meet, present research findings, and discuss developments in the field. It also provides an environment for PhD students to gain experience in presenting their work in a wider context, and to benefit from contact with established researchers.


Different historical experiences in various regions of Ukraine have produced very different political cultures and identities. (1) Each region of Ukraine has a unique history: Transcarpathia was the only part of Ukraine to experience protracted Hungarian rule--nearly 1,000 years of it; Bukovina was the only part to experience both Moldavian and later modern Romanian rule; Bukovina and Galicia were the only regions to have experienced Austrian rule; large parts of the southern territories were carved out of the Crimean Khanate; significant portions of central Ukraine were once part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania; and much of Ukraine's formative historical experiences unfolded within Poland and Russia/USSR. The border between the latter states has shifted over time, and some parts of Ukraine have lived much longer under Poland (Galicia: 1386-1772, 1918-39) and others much longer under Russia and its Soviet successor (the Hetmanate and Sloboda Ukraine: since the mid-17th century until independence in 1991, interrupted by the German occupation of 1941-43). Of course, Crimea was not included in the Ukrainian SSR until 1954 and had previously been in the Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic (RSFSR). All former regimes have left their traces in the regions, and not just in the spheres of art and architecture: Polish and Magyar are still widely understood and spoken in Galicia and Transcarpathia, respectively, while Russophones predominate over Ukrainophones in the eastern and southern regions; labor migration from Ukraine to Hungary, Poland, and Russia originates from regions with historical associations with those countries; the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church is strongest where Catholic powers once held sway (in formerly Polish and Austrian Galicia and in formerly Hungarian Transcarpathia), while Orthodoxy reigns where once there was Russia and Moldavia (central, eastern, and southern Ukraine, as well as Bukovina). A variegated past has produced a variegated Ukraine. In the present crisis, the most salient regional division is between Galicia, on the one hand, and eastern and southern Ukraine, on the otlier. Galicia, as used here, comprises three western oblasts of Ukraine: Ivano-Frankivs'k, L'viv, and Ternopil'. (The Austrian crownland of Galicia was larger; its western territories were incorporated into Poland after World War II.) Often commentators and scholars operate with the term "western Ukraine," but as far as politics are concerned, the three Galician oblasts are quite different from the other western Ukrainian oblasts of Chernivtsi (comprising mainly the former Bukovina) and Transcarpathia. Galicians were over-represented in the antigovernment demonstrations both in the Orange Revolution and what is often called the Euromaidan Revolution (the terminology for what happened in the winter of 2014 remains contested). (2) In both cases, the Galicians were protesting against governments headed by presidents and their networks based in the East (Leonid Kuchma in Dnipropetrovs'k and Viktor Yanukovych in Donetsk). Even though persons from all around Ukraine have adopted their viewpoint, it was the Galicians who articulated the vision of Ukrainian identity that informed the Euromaidan Revolution and inflamed heated resentment in the East and South. For example, the greeting popularized by the Euromaidan Revolution--"Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the heroes!"--originated in Galicia in the 1930s as the slogan of the radical right Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN). The other relevant political culture is that of eastern and southern Ukraine. These were the areas most resistant to the political changes introduced by the Euromaidan. In eastern and southern regions where the population was over 90 percent Russophone, the dissatisfaction contributed to the emergence of powerful secessionist movements (Crimea, eastern Donbas). Central Ukraine has been less a creator than a reflector of political cultures. …


Automated transport of multiple particles using optical tweezers requires real-time path planning to move them in coordination by avoiding collisions among themselves and with randomly moving obstacles. This paper develops a decoupled and prioritized path planning approach by sequentially applying a partially observable Markov decision process algorithm on every particle that needs to be transported. We use an iterative version of a maximum bipartite graph matching algorithm to assign given goal locations to such particles. We then employ a three-step method consisting of clustering, classification, and branch and bound optimization to determine the final collision-free paths. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the developed approach via experiments using silica beads in a holographic tweezers setup. We also discuss the applicability of our approach and challenges in manipulating biological cells indirectly by using the transported particles as grippers.


This paper provides a brief overview of an emerging application for solid freeform fabrication known as Shape Deposition Manufacturing (SDM) with Microcasting. The SDM microcasting process has been used to manufacture complex geometric shapes from CAD models. This novel manufacturing process is briefly described, and a sample artifact is shown. Our current research is described, involving the thermal behavior of the process, the bonding of deposited layers, and droplet fluid dynamics. We have gained significant understanding of the relationship between process parameters and the final quality of artifacts created by microcasting, and continue to investigate the effect of process parameters to develop a systematic representation of the parameter design space; current efforts are directed towards improving the numerical simulations to more accurately predict and control the microcasting process.


ABSTRACT Introduction: Non-small cell lung cancer and malignant pleural mesothelioma represent two of the most intriguing and scrutinized thoracic malignancies, presenting interesting perspectives of experimental development and clinical applications. Areas covered: In advanced non-small cell lung cancer, molecular targeted therapy is the standard first-line treatment for patients with identified driver mutations; on the other hand, chemotherapy is the standard treatment for patients without EGFR mutations or ALK rearrangement or those with unknown mutation status. Once considered an ineffective therapy in pulmonary neoplasms, immunotherapy has been now established as one of the most promising therapeutic options. Mesenchymal stromal cells are able to migrate specifically toward solid neoplasms and their metastatic localizations when injected intravenously. This peculiar cancer tropism has opened up an emerging field to use them as vectors to deliver antineoplastic drugs for targeted therapies. Expert opinion: Molecular targeted therapy and immunotherapy are the new alternatives to standard chemotherapy. Mesenchymal stromal cells are a new promising tool in oncology and—although not yet utilized in the clinical practice, we think they will represent another main tool for cancer therapy and will probably play a leading role in the field of nanovectors and molecular medicine.


The intersection of causal inference and machine learning is a rapidly advancing field. We propose a new approach, the method of direct estimation, that draws on both traditions in order to obtain nonparametric estimates of treatment effects. The approach focuses on estimating the effect of fluctuations in a treatment variable on an outcome. A tensor-spline implementation enables rich interactions between functional bases allowing for the approach to capture treatment/covariate interactions. We show how new innovations in Bayesian sparse modeling readily handle the proposed framework, and then document its performance in simulation and applied examples. Furthermore we show how the method of direct estimation can easily extend to structural estimators commonly used in a variety of disciplines, like instrumental variables, mediation analysis, and sequential g-estimation.


A full lignin-to-chemicals valorisation chain – from hardwood over bissyringols to aromatic polyesters (APEs) – is established for renewable 4-n-propylsyringol (PS), the main product from catalytic hydrogenolysis of (native) hardwood lignin. To do so, reagent-grade PS was produced from birch wood via reductive catalytic fractionation (RCF) and isolated in 34 wt% yield on lignin basis. Additional early-stage theoretical calculations, based on both relative volatility (α) and distillation resistance (Ω) as well as Aspen Plus® simulations, predict that the isolation of PS by means of distillation is economically feasible at industrial scales ($85–95 per ton of propylphenolics at 200–400 kt a−1 scale). Subsequent stoichiometric acid-catalysed condensation with formaldehyde unveils a remarkably high 92 wt% selectivity towards the dimer 3,3′-methylenebis(4-n-propylsyringol) (m,m′-BSF-4P), which is isolated in >99% purity by facile single-step crystallisation. The striking dimer selectivity is ascribed to the synergetic interplay between the activating methoxy groups and the oligomerisation-inhibiting propyl chain. Next, an in vitro human oestrogen receptor α (hERα) assay was performed to ensure safe(r) chemical design. The bissyringyl scaffold displays reduced potency (∼19–45-times lower affinity than bisphenol A) and lower efficacy (∼36–45% of BPA's maximum activity). Lastly, to assess the functionality of the safe(r) bissyringol scaffold, it was converted into an APE. The APE displays a Mw = 43.0 kDa, Mn = 24.4 kDa, Tg = 157 °C and Td,5% = 345 °C. In short, (i) the feasibility and scalability of the feedstock, (ii) the simplified process conditions, (iii) the reduced in vitro oestrogenicity, and (iv) the functionality towards polymerisation, make this bissyringol a renewable and potentially benign bisphenol replacement, capable for production at bulk scale.


A great deal of recent writing has indicated that growing scarcities of renewable resources can contribute to conflict. Most of this research, however, suffers from two major methodological weaknesses: lack of variation in the independent and dependent variables, and the absence of control for other conflict-generating factors. As one of the first large-N studies of the relationship between environmental degradation and domestic armed conflict, this article takes on these challenges. On the basis of a multivariate analysis for all countries in the period 1980-92 we test and confirm the hypotheses (as indicated from various case-studies) that factors like deforestation, land degradation, and scarce supply of freshwater, alone and in combination with high population density, increase the risk of domestic armed conflict, especially low-level conflict. This holds true also when we control for economic and political factors, such as level of economic development and type of political regime. The latter variables, however, prove more decisive than environmental scarcity in predicting the incidence of domestic armed conflict. The severity of such conflicts is better accounted for by military expenditure than by environmental degradation, poverty or non-democratic rule.


The topic of the Symposium is the citation to foreign court precedent in domestic jurisprudence. I am going to take a somewhat different approach in my presentation. Instead of citation to foreign court precedent, I will discuss the citation by U.S. courts to decisions by international tribunals in international trade cases. First of all, I should point out that unlike most of the other speakers, I come before you not as an intellectual or academic but simply as a practitioner. I am Senior Counsel with the law firm Sidley Austin LLP and my practice focuses on international trade. Secondly, I come here as an advocate for implementing the U.S. trade laws in accordance with the international obligations of the United States. Now, Scott McBride and I may disagree on this issue; but I think this disagreement, in part, is really a complaint by Scott, his agency, and some members of Congress, about decisions by WTO Panels and NAFTA Panels that have been lost by the United States. Had the U.S. won more of these cases, I doubt that you would have heard the same complaints about the WTO and NAFTA decisions. But my job here today is not to defend those decisions, but rather to discuss how they are applied or not applied by U.S. courts under U.S. law. In order to understand what we are talking about here, we need to have some understanding of the antidumping and countervailing duty laws. Fortunately, Mr. McBride has saved me from the task of having to explain the antidumping law, which is obscure, complex, confusing, and to those other than trade lawyers, extremely dull. I have learned that whenever anyone asks what I do for a living, their eyes soon glaze over and they nod off when I try to explain the constructed export price offset or the sales below cost provision of the antidumping law. To give you an over-simplified explanation, the antidumping law imposes additional duties on imported products that are sold in the United States at prices that are below the prices for such or similar products in the home market of the exporting country, or that are sold in the home market below cost, if the imports injure or threaten to injure a domestic industry. (1) The countervailing duty law imposes additional duties to offset subsidies that are granted on the production or exportation of imported products, again if the imports injure or threaten to injure a domestic industry. (2) The issues of dumping or subsidy are decided by the Commerce Department. (3) The issue of injury or threat of injury is decided by the International Trade Commission. (4) These decisions can be appealed to the Court of International Trade (CIT) (5) and then to the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC). (6) These laws have been around for many years. What is new is that administrative decisions are now subject to review by two international tribunals as well as U.S. courts--NAFTA binational panels and WTO dispute settlement panels. (7) The question is what weight, if any, will the U.S. courts give to decisions of the international tribunals? The topic of my presentation is what we fondly refer to as the Charming Betsy Doctrine that was established by Chief Justice John Marshall in 1804 in the case of Murray v. Schooner Charming Betsy. (8) In Marshall's words, "[A]n act of Congress ought never to be construed to violate the law of nations if any other possible construction remains." (9) This maxim has guided U.S. courts over the past 200 years, although it has been honored more in the breach than in the observance in international trade cases. The CIT and the CAFC review administrative decisions in antidumping and countervailing duty cases under the standard of Chevron U.S.A. v. Natural Resources Defense Council. (10) Under Chevron the courts first consider whether the agency's decision is required or prohibited by an explicit statutory provision. (11) Then, if the statute is silent or ambiguous, the courts defer to the agency as long as the agency's decision is based upon a permissible interpretation of the statute. …


The connection between how a physical movement is processed in the brain to how the body physically completes the task is significant in the sports world. Information from the environment must be observed and processed in order to develop a resulting course of action for particular athletic skills. More specifically, the brains of soccer players must smoothly adjust between internal and external cognitive pathways when making sports related decisions thousands of times during games and practices. A study by Wood and Wilson revealed that gaze coordination and aiming accuracy are closely related (2010). The current study extended this study to examine other factors that affect accuracy with and without a keeper under controlled conditions. The aim of the study was to find the connection between visual focus patterns and the development of sports performance execution. Through analyzing the visual focus patterns of participants, compared to how accurate the participants were penalty kicks, we were able to enhance our understanding of how the internal and external cognitive network assigned to making and executing decisions regarding sports related activities could be advanced. It is hypothesized that when gaze coordination exhibits greater external focus, there will be less interference among internal action signals resulting in more accurate performance. Participants completed a series of 24 penalty kicks, performing 6 penalty kicks within each of four conditions: No Keeper/No Target, Keeper/No Target, No Keeper/Target, and Keeper/Target. Having a target indicates that the participant was required to look at a red cardstock (RC) posted to the center of the crossbar before completing their penalty kick. Eye movements were recorded and analyzed alongside the quality of their penalty kicks. Kick quality was measured using velocity of the kick, distance of the shot from the center of the goal, and whether the goal was scored. Eye movement patterns were collected using TOBII eyeglass equipment, which recorded fixation duration, fixation count, visit duration, and visit count measurements among various areas of interest on the goal. There were 7 areas of interest, 6 areas dividing the goal: Top Left (1), Bottom Left (2), Top Center (RC) (3), Bottom Center (4), Top Right (5), Bottom Right (6) and one area of interest for the ball (7).Repeated-measures ANOVA revealed that participants were more accurate when there was no keeper present and when they were required to focus on an external target (RC). In examining eye movement patterns, it was found that the greater the external focus, either on the target or the ball, as indicated by number of fixations, duration, and visits, the greater the accuracy of the kick. Based on the study's results, increased gaze coordination (focusing on a target external to the participant) increased the accuracy of the kick. Consistent with our hypothesis, this suggests that by focusing on a target before performing a penalty kick occupies a participant's external cognitive pathway, creating a purer internal cognitive signal that allows for higher quality penalty kicks to result.


Lead and homocysteine are both associated with cardiovascular disease and cognitive dysfunction. We evaluated the relations among blood lead, tibia lead, and homocysteine levels by cross-sectional analysis of data among subjects in the Baltimore Memory Study, a longitudinal study of 1,140 randomly selected residents in Baltimore, Maryland, who were 50–70 years of age. Tibia lead was measured by 109Cd K-shell X-ray fluorescence. The subject population had a mean ± SD age of 59.3 ± 5.9 years and was 66.0% female, 53.9% white, and 41.4% black or African American. Mean ± SD blood lead, tibia lead, and homocysteine levels were 3.5 ± 2.4 μg/dL, 18.9 ± 12.5 μg/g, and 10.0 ± 4.1 μmol/L, respectively. In unadjusted analysis, blood lead and homocysteine were moderately correlated (Pearson's r = 0.27, p < 0.01). After adjustment for age, sex, race/ethnicity, educational level, tobacco and alcohol consumption, and body mass index using multiple linear regression, results revealed that homocysteine levels increased 0.35 μmol/L per 1.0 μg/dL increase in blood lead (p < 0.01). The relations of blood lead with homocysteine levels did not differ in subgroups distinguished by age, sex, or race/ethnicity. Tibia lead was modestly correlated with blood lead (Pearson's r = 0.12, p < 0.01) but was not associated with homocysteine levels. To our knowledge, these are the first data to reveal an association between blood lead and homocysteine. These results suggest that homocysteine could be a mechanism that underlies the effects of lead on the cardiovascular and central nervous systems, possibly offering new targets for intervention to prevent the long-term consequences of lead exposure.


The aim of this paper is to present the University of Bologna's E-Learning Centre strategy
for quality e-learning courses production and delivery, with special regards to lifelong
learning. The starting point was very complex since the University lacked a harmonised
student approach, teaching styles, and so forth. The experimental phases of e-learning
implied also the use of a number of different platforms. Since 2006 the Rector and the
Academic Senate introduced a step by step strategy in order to harmonise projects,
introduce quality technological and teaching guidelines, and improve lifelong learning offer.
An E-Learning Centre was established and new regulations were approved for master
degree courses, with reference to the e-learning utilization. Since 2007 the University of
Bologna Strategic Plan has focussed on e-learning in the European context and strategic
issues. Main issues include: a) delivery of blended learning courses in compliance with the
University of Bologna information systems (authentication system, Academic Courses
databases and so forth) b) keeping up with technological change such as LMSs and learners'
technical access to the e-content c) developing partnerships and e-learning based joint
international master degrees for lifelong learning with other European Universities and
Institutions. The paper highlights some critical aspects and the first results of the E-Learning
Centre activities.


This paper, we studied the ability of geostatistical models (ordinary kriging (OK) and Inverse distance weighting (IDW)), adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) and Winter method for prediction of seasonality in prices of potatoes and onions in Iran over the seasonal period 1986_2001. Results show that the best estimators in order are winter method, ANFIS and geostatistical methods. The results indicate that Winter and ANFIS had powerful results for prediction the prices while geostatistical models were not useful in this respect.


SUMMARY There is increasing emphasis on the need for effective ways of sharing knowledge to enhance environmental management and sustainability. Knowledge exchange (KE) are processes that generate, share and/or use knowledge through various methods appropriate to the context, purpose, and participants involved. KE includes concepts such as sharing, generation, coproduction, comanagement, and brokerage of knowledge. This paper elicits the expert knowledge of academics involved in research and practice of KE from different disciplines and backgrounds to review research themes, identify gaps and questions, and develop a research agenda for furthering understanding about KE. Results include 80 research questions prefaced by a review of research themes. Key conclusions are: (1) there is a diverse range of questions relating to KE that require attention; (2) there is a particular need for research on understanding the process of KE and how KE can be evaluated; and (3) given the strong interdependency of research questions, an integrated approach to understanding KE is required. To improve understanding of KE, action research methodologies and embedding evaluation as a normal part of KE research and practice need to be encouraged. This will foster more adaptive approaches to learning about KE and enhance effectiveness of environmental management.


A Cyber Physical System (CPS) is an autonomous embedded system based on high reliability with real-time control of distributed physical systems through wired/wireless networks. There is usually large volume of data which needs to be delivered to right places at the right time. In addition, large number of controllers in the automation and control systems are usually distributed which increases the complexity that there needs to be more point-to-point Ethernetconnections in the network. Because the controllers in the network may share control data and interact with each other from different communication protocols, including higher level operator systems. The interdependencies between these nodes may potentially create a complex architecture of the network in the distributed system especially if the point-topoint connection needs to be established. Publish-subscribe model shows some appealing properties, such as connectionless and multicast, that can be used to reduce some of the visible complexity in the software systems. Data distribution middleware for CPS should be based on a data-centric approach and guarantee real-time performance. In this regard, OMG's DDS is the best proximity middleware. RTPS (Real-Time Publish/Subscribe) is proposed for real-time service discovery in DDS. However, legacy discovery protocols cannot completely support the CPS system with a largescale network (approx. 100,000 entities) like a warship, because service discovery messages are proportional to the square of the number of participants in RTPS. This paper proposes a scalable and fast service discovery protocol with improved discovery time for large-scale cyber physical systems based on the boot-strap algorithm and adaptive PDP message period. As a result, the proposed protocol improves reliability and real-time for service discovery in cyber physical systems. In this paper, mathematical analysis and test-bed experiments are conducted to evaluate the performance of the proposed protocol. Consequently, mathematical analysis and test-bed experiments provide almost identical results. The performance results prove that our protocol works to scale for large-scale CPS networks by minimizing the discovery time as well as traffic simultaneously


Communication and interaction with the patient is an integral part of a doctor's job. As a result of advancements in technology, patients today have greater access to information on health issues and expect more dedicated communication from their doctors. This article examines three factors that may enhance communication between doctors and patients: two-way communication, biopsychosocial content and nonverbal communication. Factors such as culture and practicality are also discussed. The involvement of a health psychologist is recommended in some cases. This provides a possible direction toward the ideal doctor-patient communication, in the interest of providing best healthcare.


Monoploid genotypes (2n = x = 12), derived by anther culture of a diplandrous (2n pollen-producing) clone of Solanum phureja Juz. & Buk., a South American diploid potato species, were examined for their use in germplasm development. Nine monoploid genotypes and the anther-donor genotype were grown in three chambers (10-, 14-, and 18-hr daylengths) to examine the effect of photoperiod on tuber yield and to determine the variability for critical photoperiod for tuberization. Significant differences were found among the monoploid genotypes for tuber weight and tuber number. Longer photoperiod treatments decreased and delayed tuberization. Axillary tuber formation from single-node cuttings was used to estimate the onset of tuber induction and demonstrated variability among monoploid genotypes for critical photoperiod for tuberization.


Uveitis, which occurs in association with systemic immunological diseases, presents a considerable medical challenge because of incomplete understanding of its pathogenesis. The signals that initiate T cells to target the eye, which may be of infectious or noninfectious origin, are poorly understood. Experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU) develops in mice immunized with the endogenous retinal protein interphotoreceptor retinoid binding protein in the presence of the adjuvant CFA. EAU manifests as posterior ocular inflammation consisting of vasculitis, granulomas, retinal damage, and invasion of self-reactive T cells, which are key clinical features of human uveitis. Our studies uncover Card9 as a critical genetic determinant for EAU. Card9 was responsible for Th17 polarization and Th17-associated Ag-specific responses, but not Th1-associated responses. Nonetheless, Card9 expression was essential for accumulation of both lineages within the eye. Consistent with its recently identified role as an intracellular signaling mediator for C-type lectin receptors (CLRs), a Card9-dependent transcriptional response in the neuroretina was observed involving genes encoding the CLRs Dectin-1, Dectin-2, and Mincle. Genetic deletion of these individual CLRs revealed an essential role for Mincle. Mincle activation was sufficient to generate the EAU phenotype, and this required activation of both Syk and Card9. In contrast, Dectin-1 contributed minimally and a possible repressive role was shown for Dectin-2. These findings extend our understanding of CLRs in autoimmune uveitis. The newly identified role of Mincle and Syk/Card9-coupled signaling axis in autoimmune uveitis could provide novel targets for treatment of patients with ocular inflammatory disease.


People with type II diabetes have more liver function abnormalities than non-diabetics. Recent studies have shown the mutual relationship between metabolic conditions of type II diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Therefore, this study explores the effects of synthetic aerobic exercises on the indicators of liver inflammation (AST & ALT) and some of the cardiovascular risk factors of serum of the middle-aged women with diabetes (HDL, LDL, & triglyceride) who live in Behbahan city. Methodology: In this study, 30 participants were selected randomly from among women with type II diabetes with BMI>25, aged 45-60, and divided into control and experimental groups. The participants of the practicing group practiced 12 weeks (three days a week with the intensity of 55-70 % maximum heart rate (MHR) and 35-50 minutes per session). The results were analyzed with SPSS and dependent ttest was used to compare the average score of each group in pretest, and independent t-test was used to compare the averages of the different variables between two groups. Results: According to the results, 12 weeks of aerobic exercise have significant effect (p<0/05) on the level of alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase of participant's serum. In addition, the results have shown that 12 weeks of aerobic exercise have significant effect (p<0/05) on high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, and triglyceride of the participants. Conclusion: It can be concluded that synthetic aerobic exercise can be effective in the conditions of patients with type II diabetes with reducing some indicators of liver inflammation and improving the lipid profile of serum of the participants.


This thesis is dedicated to the study of the atomic motion in laser irradiated solids on a picosecond to subpicosecond time-scale using the time-resolved X-ray diffraction technique.

In the second chapter, the laser system, the laser-plasma based X-ray source and the experimental setup for optical pump / X-ray probe measurements were presented. To perform the experiments described in this thesis, the construction of a new experimental setup for optical pump / X-ray probe measurements was required. The old experimental setup, due to its geometrical restrictions, did not allow the observation of some of the Bragg-reflections which are necessary for effective measurements of the transient Debye-Waller factor. In this chapter special attention is paid to the characterization of the used laser-plasma based X-ray source, because its parameters determine which applications the setup can be used for. The work on optimization of the laser system and the experimental setup allowed the experiments described in this thesis to be performed with high accuracy.

The optical pump / X-ray probe experiments required in particular efficient recollection and focusing of the radiation of the laser-plasma based X-ray source because its radiation is emitted into the full solid angle. The X-ray focusing elements are therefore key elements in the experimental setup. Chapter 3 is devoted to the characterization and comparison of different types of X-ray optics. For each optic the amount and distribution of the X-rays in the focal plane was determined. It was found that all the optics tested can focus the X-ray radiation into a spot with the size (FWHM) of 100-200 μm. The measured fluxes of X-rays in the foci of all the optics were large enough to perform TRXD experiments. It was shown that for each type of experiment it is possible to choose a suitable kind of optic. In particular for the experiments where the measurements of the X-ray reflection profiles (rocking curves) are of interest, the toroidal mirrors are best suited to fulfill the role of the focusing optic due to their narrow bandwidth (thus high angular resolution) and large convergence angle of the focused X-rays.
Multilayer mirrors and capillary optics focus typically the whole Ka radiation of the X-ray source including the Ka1 and Ka2 lines. Therefore, they are suitable if one is interested in the integral intensity of the diffracted signal from the sample under investigation but the profile of the rocking curve is not of interest. As multilayer mirrors and capillary optics have a relatively small convergence angle (due to their large magnification) they can be used in experiments where no large shifts of the rocking curves are expected.
It turned out, that the Ge (400) toroidal mirror for Ti-Ka radiation, due to its relatively large bandwidth provides a good compromise when both the integrated intensity and the angular distribution of the diffracted signal are of interest. This mirror was used for the experiments discussed in this thesis.

Chapter 4 presented the time-resolved X-ray diffraction experiments performed for this thesis.
The first section of this chapter discusses the measurements of initially unexpected strain-induced transient changes of the integrated reflectivity of the X-ray probe beam. These changes should be taken into consideration in any type of experiment in which an X-ray beam probes a spatially inhomogeneously strained sample, otherwise they can mask other physical effects such as the Debye-Waller factor. In particular, this effect should be carefully considered in any optical pump / X-ray probe experiment where the size of the pump beam differs from the size of the probe beam by less than at least one order of magnitude.
The elimination of the strain-induced transient changes of the integrated reflectivity described in the first section of chapter 4 represented an important prerequisite to perform the study of lattice heating in Germanium after femtosecond optical excitation by measuring the transient Debye-Waller effect. These measurements are described in the second section of chapter 4. It was found that the energy of the excited electrons is transferred to the lattice in just over one picosecond. The process of electron-to-lattice energy transfer had been investigated previously by the observation of changes in the electronic system of the material. The experiments discussed here demonstrate that TRXD enables us to investigate this process also "from the lattice point of view", thus completing our understanding of the energy relaxation in solids after optical excitation.
The third section describes the investigations of acoustic waves upon ultrafast optical excitation and discusses the two different pressure contributions driving them: the thermal and the electronic ones. The experiments performed here made it possible to estimate the relative strength of the electronic and thermal pressure contributions. The values of the strength and the decay time of the electronic pressure obtained from the experiments provided clarification on some seeming contradictions in the measurements on acoustic phonons in Germanium discussed in the literature.


In this work we present the additive manufacturing of optical multimode waveguides on flexible foil by aerosol jet printing. In order to obtain higher aspect ratios for the waveguides, the foils are conditioned by a flexographic printing step in advance. This technique is used to manufacture asymmetric bus couplers, which allow for coupling without waveguide interruption. They follow the working principle of directional core-core-couplers but have different coupling ratios depending on the coupling direction, due to a bending of one of the coupling partners. The latest results on the printing process are shown, especially the laser structuring of the flexographic printing form to optimize the condition lines. Also the attenuation of the printed waveguides is measured as well as the coupling results of the asymmetric bus coupler. Especially the coupling powers and the strength of the asymmetric effect are shown.


The study of linear fractals has gained a great deal from the study of quadratic fractals, despite important dierences. Methods for classifying points in the complement of a fractal shape were originally developed for quadratic fractals, to provide insight into their underlying dynamics. These methods were later modied for use with linear fractals. This paper reconsiders one such classication, called escape time, and presents a new algorithm for its computation that is signicantly faster and conceptually simpler. Previous methods worked backwards, by mapping pixels into classied regions, whereas the new forward algorithm uses an \escape buer" to mapping classied regions onto pixels. The eeciency of the escape buer is justied by a careful analysis of its performance on linear fractals with various properties.


Background: Healthy human pregnancies are accompanied by a mild systemic maternal inflammatory response, which includes activation of peripheral blood monocytes. This generalized inflammation is exaggerated in preeclampsia, a placenta-dependent disorder specific to human pregnancies. It has been proposed that placental syncytiotrophoblast membrane microparticles (STBM), which are released into the peripheral blood, might contribute to the maternal response in normal pregnancy and preeclampsia. Aim: The aim of this work was to assess the inflammatory properties of STBM generated in vitro from human term placentas by four different approaches which should mimic physiologic or patho-physiologic conditions, and their mode of action on human monocytes in vitro. Methods: STBM were prepared by: (1) placental explant cultures of villous tissue incubated at 20% O2/5% CO2 (air) at 37°C for 72 hours (eS20); (2) perfusion of the maternal side of a placental cotyledon (pS); (3) placental explant cultures of villous tissue incubated at 3% O2/5% CO2 (hypoxia) at 37°C for 72 hours (eS3); and (4) mechanical dissection of villous tissue (mS). In all approaches, STBM were isolated by serial high-speed centrifugation. STBM were co-incubated with either the human monocytic cell line Mono Mac 6 or human peripheral blood monocytes. In some cases, agents which inhibit cellular functions or signalling pathways were used. Analysis of viability, phenotype and function were performed by real-time PCR, flow cytometry, ELISA and fluorescence microscopy. Results: Viability of Mono Mac 6 cells was not impaired following treatment with STBM. However, STBM only induced a marginal response in Mono Mac 6. None of the STBM population affected the viability of primary monocytes. eS3 and mS decreased the expression of CD54 on peripheral blood monocytes, but did not induce the secretion of IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-8. However, pS and eS20 up-regulated the cell surface expression of CD54 on primary monocytes and stimulated the secretion of IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-8 in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Interestingly, eS20 derived from normal and preeclamptic placentas stimulated monocyte activation to similar degrees. eS20 induced the transcription of several NF-κB responsive genes, including IL-6 and IL-8, and the secretion of IL-6 and IL-8 was reduced upon treatment with NF-κB inhibitors. eS20 was located at the monocytic cell surface and a phagocytosis inhibitor did not reverse the eS20 induced production of IL-6 and IL-8. Primary monocytes and the non-responding Mono Mac 6 cells expressed toll like receptors (TLRs) differently. Pre-incubation of primary monocytes with an inhibitor of intracellular TLR signalling reduced the inflammatory response triggered by eS20. Conclusions: STBM populations evoked neither a proinflammatory nor an anti-inflammatory phenotype in Mono Mac 6 cells. However, STBM prepared at conditions which are believed to mimic the physiologic situation in human pregnancy (eS20 and pS) triggered the secretion of IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-8 and up-regulated the expression of the adhesion molecule CD54 on peripheral blood monocytes. These findings indicate that Mono Mac 6 cells are not the appropriate cells to study the interaction between monocytes and STBM. STBM prepared at non-physiologic (mS) and hypoxic (eS3) conditions, which are thought to mimic the patho-physiologic situation in preeclampsia, did not induce an inflammatory response in peripheral blood monocytes. In addition, the observation that eS20 derived from normal as well as from preeclamptic placentas triggered an equally strong and dose-dependent inflammatory response in primary monocytes, suggests that there are no or only minor qualitative differences between the microparticles. These findings presume that the overt maternal inflammation associated with preeclampsia may be due to the higher concentration of circulating STBM, rather than to a qualitative difference between microparticles released from normal and patho-physiologic placentas. The results also suggest that the inflammatory reaction in monocytes may be initiated by the attachment of STBM to the cell surface and the activation of TLRs. In turn, NF-κB mediates transcription of proinflammatory genes, including IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and CD54. The altered expression of CD54 may modulate the adhesion properties of monocytes, whereas the secretion of IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-8 could recruit further immune cells, leading to generalized inflammation.


In the past several decades, there has been considerable interest in groundwater-surface water interactions and their ability to regulate and cycle nutrients and pollutants. These interactions are spatially and temporally complex; however, electrical resistivity imaging can be a useful tool for their characterization. Here, an electrical resistivity imaging monitoring array was installed laterally across a groundwater-dominated Chalk river and into the adjacent riparian wetland; data were collected over a period of 1 year. Independent inversions of data from the entire transect were performed to account for the changing river stage and river water conductivity. Additionally, data from just the riparian zone were inverted using a temporally constrained inversion algorithm and the correlation between the riparian zone resistivity patterns and river stage was assessed using time-series analysis. The river stage and the Chalk groundwater level followed similar patterns throughout the year, and both exhibited a sharp drop following cutting of the in-stream vegetation. For the independent inversions, fixing the river resistivity led to artifacts, which prevented reliable interpretation of dynamics in the riverbed. However, the resistivity structure of the riparian zone coincided well with the intrusively derived boundary between the peat and the gravel present at the field site. Time-series analysis of the inverted riparian zone models permitted identification of seven units with distinct hydrological resistivity dynamics (five zones within the peat and two within the gravel). The resistivity patterns in the gravel were predominantly controlled by up-welling of resistive groundwater and the down-welling of more conductive peat waters following the river vegetation cutting event. In comparison, although the vegetation cutting influenced the resistivity dynamics in the peat zones, the resistivity dynamics were also influenced by precipitation events and increasing pore-water conductivity, likely arising from biological processes. It is anticipated that the distinct hydrological units are results of the complex fluvial history of the site. It is evident that such approaches combining electrical resistivity imaging and time-series analysis are useful for understanding the spatial extent and timing of hydrological processes to aid in the better characterization of groundwater-surface water interactions


Multi-Agent Simulation (MAS) models are intended to capture emergent properties of complex systems that are not amenable to equilibrium analysis. They are beginning to see some use for analysing agricultural systems. The paper reports on work in progress to create a MAS for specific sectors in New Zealand agriculture. One part of the paper focuses on options for modelling land and other resources such as water, labour and capital in this model, as well as markets for exchanging resources and commodities. A second part considers options for modelling agent heterogeneity, especially risk preferences of farmers, and the impacts on decision-making. The final section outlines the MAS that the authors will be constructing over the next few years and the types of research questions that the model will help investigate.


This book is part of the Oxford Reading Tree Fireflies series which offer a wide range of stimulating non-fiction titles for young children. It includes a variety of topics covering all areas of the curriculum, from science to citizenship. The books have a bright modern page design, and are illustrated with colour photographs. They are carefully graded across 10 levels and contain built-in progression and vocabulary repetition throughout. Each book includes notes for parents/carers and teaching assistants on the inside covers. Help with childrens reading development is also available at www.oxfordowl.co.uk. This book is also available as part of a mixed pack of 6 different books or a class pack of 36 books of the same ORT level. CD-ROM versions of Fireflies titles are also available as eFireflies.


Landslides plunging into lakes and reservoirs can result in extreme wave runup at the shores. This phenomenon has claimed lives and caused damage to near-shore properties. Landslide tsunamis in lakes are different from typical earthquake tsunamis in the open ocean in that (i) the affected areas are usually within the near field of the source, (ii) the highest runup occurs within the time period of the geophysical event, and (iii) the enclosed geometry of a lake does not let the tsunami energy escape. To address the problem of transient landslide tsunami runup and to predict the resulting inundation, we utilize a nonlinear model equation in the Lagrangian frame of reference. The motivation for using such a scheme lies in the fact that the runup on an inclined boundary is directly and readily computed in the Lagrangian framework without the need to resort to approximations. In this work, we investigate the inundation patterns due to landslide tsunamis in a lake. We show by numerical computations that Airy's approximation of an irrotational theory using Lagrangian coordinates can legitimately predict runup of large amplitude. We also demonstrate that in a lake of finite size the highest runup may be magnified by constructive interference between edge waves that are trapped along the shore and multiple reflections of outgoing waves from opposite shores, and may occur somewhat after the first inundation.


We provide an investigation of duration dependence in prewar business expansions, contractions, and whole cycles for France, Germany, and Great Britain. Our results, obtained using both nonparametric and parametric procedures, generally indicate the presence of positive duration dependence in expansions and whole cycles but not in contractions. Our results corroborate those of our earlier studies of the United States.


The problem of hyperbolic incoming orbits for single-apparition comets is investigated. In this context the effect of non-gravitational acceleration on cometary dynamics was analyzed for the sample of 33 "hyperbolic" comets. The orbital elements of each cometary orbit were determined by the least squares procedure based on positional observations. These osculating orbital elements serve as a basis for the determination of the incoming orbits. The new method of estimating the uncertainties of $(1/a)_{\rm ori}$ based on a statistical approach to the orbit determinations is applied. For sixteen comets it was possible to determine the non-gravitational effects and original "non-gravitational" orbits. We show that for almost all the comets with detectable non-gravitational effects the incoming barycentric orbits changed from hyperbolic to elliptical when the non-gravitational effects were included. However, it was also ascertained that excess velocity at great distance are not cancelled by the non-gravitational acceleration itself. We show that the non-gravitational effects are responsible for small modifications of the osculating elements (mainly eccentricity), which are sufficient, however, to obtain the elliptic original orbits for comets recognized in the literature as hyperbolic.


ABSTRACT Although stalled since 2016, the negotiations on a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) have had major unintended consequences. The TTIP led to demands from third countries to upgrade their trade relationship with the EU and to unprecedented politicisation. As second-order effects of the latter, it endangered the EU-Canada trade agreement and brought about reform of EU trade governance and amendments to EU trade policy positions. These unintended consequences occurred because of inflated expectations about and insufficient awareness of the different nature of TTIP with regard to scope and partner compared to other trade negotiations. In the meantime, EU trade policy has adapted to the new politics of trade, making unintended consequences less likely.


We introduce SPHINCS+, a stateless hash-based signature framework. SPHINCS+ has significant advantages over the state of the art in terms of speed, signature size, and security, and is among the nine remaining signature schemes in the second round of the NIST PQC standardization project. One of our main contributions in this context is a new few-time signature scheme that we call FORS. Our second main contribution is the introduction of tweakable hash functions and a demonstration how they allow for a unified security analysis of hash-based signature schemes. We give a security reduction for SPHINCS+ using this abstraction and derive secure parameters in accordance with the resulting bound. Finally, we present speed results for our optimized implementation of SPHINCS+ and compare to SPHINCS-256, Gravity-SPHINCS, and Picnic.


How do people conceive of an ethically good action? How do people link their perceptual arguments which is compelling? Do people not simply line up reasons for a specific course of action? Many of us will say differently, and it somehow depends on the situation they are in. Ethics refers to the moral principles and standards that guide individuals or groups as they obtain, use and dispose of goods or services. What is perfectly legal, could possibly violate the ethical standards of a society. No exception, marketing activities could become unethical when they market products that are considered as harmful to vulnerable consumers who are susceptible to physical, economic, or psychological harm. For example, while the cigarette industry is considered legal, the health, safety and social problems associated with cigarette consumption lead to intense public discussion. In this context, the present paper contributes to our understanding about ethical perception. Responding to the above questions, the study conducts an inquiry into people's perceptions on key cigarette marketing activities that exist in a society where cigarette industry plays a significant economic role. The ethics model of this study consists of four constructs – one extraneous antecedent of perceived freedom of business enterprise (PFBE); one intravenous antecedent of perceived reputation (PReput); and two pure consequences of perceived ethics of advertising (PAdv) and perceived ethics of company's social responsibility (PCSR); with five hypotheses. Convenient sampling was adopted in this study with a total of five hundred questionnaires were distributed face-to-face in participating urban villages. Analysing a data set of 491 respondents, the findings reveal the significance of perceived freedom of business enterprise influencing societal perceptions on cigarette business' reputation and tobacco advertising, but not on perception of cigarette firms' corporate social responsibility (CSR). Nevertheless, perceptions on reputation mediates perception on freedom to impact perception on CSR. The mediated influence of perceived freedom toward perceived CSR indicates a virtuous aspiration of society about how cigarette firms should run their CSR activities. Future research may examine the perceived ethicality of specific reputation building activities over specific advertising and CSR. Another route can explore how freedom of business enterprise influences other marketing communication mix such as promotion and sponsorship. Keywords: Cigarette marketing, ethical perception, CSR


With the restoration of open democracy in South Africa in 1994, there was unusual optimism and hope that prosperity, as the dividends of democracy, would trickle down to the working population. But post-repressive societies have not always attained this Eldorado. One of the many ways in which this contradiction has manifested itself is the continuing frosty relationship between the state and the labour movement. The troubled labour relations have in fact often led to violent industrial action. By means of a descriptive approach and content analysis of media (print & electronic) as well as documentary sources, the study, after a brief literature review on strike action in Southern / South Africa, traces the root of the 2007 public service union strike in South Africa, the strategies adopted by the parties to the dispute, the way the dispute was resolved and the cost of the strike. The article concludes by highlighting the intended and unintended outcomes for both the government and the unions.


Insect pests are one of the major constraints to increase food production and
higher agricultural productivity. On a global level, pests are reported to destroy
a significant part of the agricultural harvest. A comprehensive study (Oerke et
al. 1999) showed that crop losses due to insect-pests range from 25% to over
50%, depending on the crop and agroclimatic conditions. About five million tons
of pesticides are used annually in agriculture world-wide and there is ample
evidence to show that pesticide use can often aggravate rather than reduce the
pest damage in many crops.


We describe a novel inference algorithm for sparse Bayesian PCA with a zero-norm prior on the model parameters. Bayesian inference is very challenging in probabilistic models of this type. MCMC procedures are too slow to be practical in a very high-dimensional setting and standard mean-field variational Bayes algorithms are ineffective. We adopt a dense message passing algorithm similar to algorithms developed in the statistical physics community and previously applied to inference problems in coding and sparse classification. The algorithm achieves nearoptimal performance on synthetic data for which a statistical mechanics theory of optimal learning can be derived. We also study two gene expression datasets used in previous studies of sparse PCA. We find our method performs better than one published algorithm and comparably to a second.


Monoclonal antibodies are among the most promising therapeutic agents for treating cancer. Therapeutic cancer antibodies bind to tumor cells, turning them into targets for immune-mediated destruction. We show here that this antibody-mediated killing of tumor cells is limited by a mechanism involving the interaction between tumor cell-expressed CD47 and the inhibitory receptor signal regulatory protein-α (SIRPα) on myeloid cells. Mice that lack the SIRPα cytoplasmic tail, and hence its inhibitory signaling, display increased antibody-mediated elimination of melanoma cells in vivo. Moreover, interference with CD47–SIRPα interactions by CD47 knockdown or by antagonistic antibodies against CD47 or SIRPα significantly enhances the in vitro killing of trastuzumab-opsonized Her2/Neu-positive breast cancer cells by phagocytes. Finally, the response to trastuzumab therapy in breast cancer patients appears correlated to cancer cell CD47 expression. These findings demonstrate that CD47–SIRPα interactions participate in a homeostatic mechanism that restricts antibody-mediated killing of tumor cells. This provides a rational basis for targeting CD47–SIRPα interactions, using for instance the antagonistic antibodies against human SIRPα described herein, to potentiate the clinical effects of cancer therapeutic antibodies.


This study is the first operational exploration of the thinking and behavior of all 83 persons known to have attacked, or approached to attack, a prominent public official or public figure in the United States since 1949. In addition to data about each attack or near-attack and each subject's demographic and background characteristics, information was gathered about each subject's ideas and actions in the days and weeks before their attacks or near-lethal approaches. Questions were examined about each subject's movement from the idea of attack to actual attack, motives, selection of targets, planning, communication of threat and intent, symptoms of mental illness, and significant life experiences. In every case, the attack or near-attack was the end result of an understandable, and often discernible, process of thinking and action. Implications for protectors, investigators, and researchers are discussed.


Specialist surfacings such as high-friction and coloured traffic-calming surfaces have gained huge popularity since their introduction. However, the reputation of these specialist systems in New Zealand is also plagued by premature failures due to cracking and other related modes. Many of the failure modes have in fact originated from or are at least associated with the performance of the underlying pavement substrate. The purpose of this project was to assess test methods where the emphasis was on the performance of the underlying substrate and its interaction with the specialist surfacing systems to ensure best outcomes. A number of commercial resin systems, namely epoxy, polyurethane and methyl methacrylate were tested using methods based on ASTM standard test methods C1583-13 and D638-10. Thermal effects were also investigated by conducting thermal cycling experiments. The intention was to develop a test that could be implemented in the field. As a result, a draft test specification has been developed as part of the research work to better understand the performance of the surfacing systems and their underlying substrates to minimise some of the common premature failures.