We have developed an external-injection seeding system to generate continuous wavelength-tunable optical short pulses with a side-mode suppression ratio of more than 28 dB over a wavelength-tuning range of 21.2 nm. The system consists of two Fabry-Perot laser diodes, one of which is gain switched and another that is dc biased; two tunable optical filters; an erbium-doped optical-fiber amplifier; and a circulator. The system is simple, easy to operate, and robust and may be used in wavelength-division-multiplexed optical-communication systems and in time-division multiplexing of spectroscopic gas sensors.


Fiber-shaped supercapacitors (FSCs) that exhibit high electrochemical performance while maintaining mechanical reliability are urgently needed to meet the growing demand for wearable electronics. However, developing fiber electrodes with nanoporous microstructures remains challenging. Here, we proposed high-energy, ultra-stable FSC devices based on a new class of porous, hollow, and conductive composite fibers (PHCFs) with a multilayer structure. The nanoporous structures of the PHCFs substantially increased both the specific surface area (98.1 m2 g−1) and the pore volume (0.43 cm3 g−1), but had a negligible influence on the mechanical properties. Such an interconnected nanoporous structure in the PHCFs guaranteed high mass loading and high efficiency utilization of electrodeposited PANI, and the derived fiber electrodes (PHCFs@PANI) delivered a high areal capacitance of 2723 mF cm−2 and unprecedented ultrastable cycle performance without any capacitance loss over 26 000 cycles. Furthermore, a symmetric FSC (S-FSC) device based on PHCFs@PANI achieved a remarkable energy density of 55.3 μW h cm−2 at a power density of 447 μW cm−2, values far superior to those of most recently reported FSCs. Moreover, the S-FSC was able to withstand various deformations, such as repeated bending, twisting, and knotting, with a nearly invariant capacity.


The paper suggests a similarity function for applications of empirical similarity theory in which the notion of similarity is asymmetric. I propose defining similarity in terms of a quasimetric. I suggest a particular quasimetric and explore the properties of the empirical similarity model given this function. The proposed function belongs to the class of quasimetrics induced by skewed norms. Finally, I provide a skewness axiom that, when imposed in lieu of the symmetry axiom in the main result of Billot et al. (2008), characterizes an exponential similarity function based on a skewed norm.


The flipped learning approach takes direct content instruction out of the classroom in order to incorporate more student-centered, inquiry-based activities that facilitate learning. In-class lectures are replaced by video lessons that students watch outside of class meeting time. Class time is reserved for practice, activities, and laboratory experiences in the presence and with the support of the teacher. Advantages of the flipped learning approach for students are control over the pace of their learning, increased one-to-one time with the teacher, seamless access to available resources, and more dynamic in-class activities to support learning. The purpose of this study was to determine if the incorporation of the flipped learning approach to instruction coupled with technology-based formative assessments affected academic achievement, student engagement, and participation in a high school chemistry classroom. A pretreatment phase of traditional instruction was followed by two separate treatment phases. The first treatment incorporated technology-based formative assessments into traditional instruction. In the second treatment phase, the flipped learning approach was used for direct content instruction in addition to the technology-based formative assessments. Students were administered preand post-tests as well as summative tests for each unit to assess and compare learning and achievement. Students participated in surveys and interviews to determine the impact on engagement and participation. A daily journal was kept by the teacher as part of the study as well. The results of the study revealed that there was no substantial difference in student academic achievement overall. However, students with an IEP and historically low-performing students did show an increase in test scores. Students showed increased interest in chemistry and engagement over the treatment period due to the increased time available for student-centered, inquiry activities in class. While participation rates for class activities remained unchanged, participation rates in class discussion increased. I will continue to utilize the flipped learning approach as a result of this study.


In recent years, the number of devices, applications and services based on a wireless connectivity has grown exponentially resulting in deep changes in our ways of living. New concepts such as the Internet of Things (IoT) associated with the connectivity of sensors and machines will amplify this phenomenon. The term "wireless" refers primarily to radio frequencies (30KHz to 300GHz), the main challenge is the saturation of the spectrum electromagnetic. In this paper, we give a survey of the most significant issues Li-Fi (Light Fidelity) systems that operate at short ranges. We consider the challenging issues facing these systems: link design and system requirements, transmitter and receiver structures, challenges and possible techniques to mitigate the impairments in these systems, applications in medicine and open research issues. In Li-Fi, the data are transmitted in several bit-streams flickering of the LED bulb and decoded on the receiver side. This happens in the form of a binary transmission of data, where '0' is the LED in its 'off-state' and '1' is the LED in its 'on-state' [1]. We use this concept to transmit data (audio signal) to demonstrate the use-cases and the possible impact it can have in the ever growing field of communication.


An irrigation pipe made of medium-density PE failed during service. This pipe was subjected to severe cyclic-bending strain of the order of 6% while under tensile stress of approximately 6.9 MPa (1000 psi) and a hoop stress of approximately 6.2 MPa (900 psi), far more stringent conditions than those encountered in most applications of PE pipes. Visual inspection and reflected-light optical micrographs were used to plot bandwidth as a function of crack length. The conclusion was that, contrary to the dominant belief that pipe failure initiates from surface defects, a critical size flaw within the pipe wall can also initiate failure as it did in this case. Recommendations included that similarity criteria should be established between the fracture behavior of a component in service and that observed in the laboratory.


The process of relaxation of a unidirectional magnetic field in a highly conducting tenuous fluid medium is considered. Null points of the field play a critical role in this process. During an initial stage of relaxation, variations in magnetic pressure are eliminated, and current sheets build up in the immediate neighborhood of null points. This initial phase is followed by a long diffusive phase of slow algebraic decay of the field, during which fluid is continuously sucked into the current sheets, leading to exponential growth of fluid density and concentration of mass around the null points, which show a tendency to cluster. Ultimately, this second phase of algebraic decay gives way to a final period of exponential decay of the field. The peaks of density at the null points survive as a fossil relic of the decay process. Numerical solution of the governing equations provides convincing confirmation of this three-stage scenario. Generalizations to two- and three-dimensional fields are briefly considered.


We consider a toy universe containing conventional matter and an additional real scalar field, and discuss how the requirements of gauge and diffeomorphism invariance essentially single out a particular set of theories which might describe such a world at low energies. In these theories, fermion masses and g factors, as well as the electromagnetic coupling, turn out to be scalar field dependent; fermion charges and the gravitational coupling might be assumed to be constant. We then proceed to study the impact of a time variation of the scalar field on measurements of atomic spectra at high redshifts. Light propagation is not affected by a sufficiently slow change of the fine structure constant, but changes of the latter as well as variations of fermion masses and g factors do affect the observed atomic spectra. Finally, we prove the independence of these predictions on the chosen conformal frame in a further attempt to address differing views about the subject expressed in the literature.


One particularly difficult challenge for cross-channel MLLR (CMLLR) are two widely-used techniques for speaker introduced in the 2005 and 2006 NIST Speaker Recognition Evaluations, where training uses telephone speech and verification uses speech from multiple auxiliary comparable to that obtained with cepstral features. This paper describes a new feature extraction technique for speaker recognition based on CMLLR speaker adaptation which session effects through latent factor analysis (LFA) and through support vector machines (SVM). Results on the NIST operates directly on the recorded signal with noise well as in combination with two cepstral approaches such as reduction in the performance gap between telephone and auxiliary microphone data.


This paper provides an overview of the dramatic changes in the UK banking sector over the 1989-2013 period, seen through the lens of a newly-assembled database built from banks' regulatory reports. This database, which we refer to as the Historical Banking Regulatory Database (HBRD), covers financial statement and confidential regulatory information for all authorized UK banks and building societies at the consolidated (group) and standalone (bank) level. As a result, it permits both a more comprehensive picture of the UK banking sector as well as a more refined view of sub-sectors, such as small banks, than possible with other existing datasets (e.g. from external vendors or aggregate statistics). The overview focuses on developments in banks' CAMEL characteristics (Capital adequacy, Asset quality, Management skills, Earnings performance and Liquidity), and relates these developments to concurrent regulatory changes, such as the Basel Market Risk Amendment. In a forthcoming paper, we suggest ways in which the database can be used for evidence-based research and policy analysis.


Since contrasts agents are used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), numerous efforts have been done to increase their relaxivity (parameter allowing to quantify contrast agent efficiency). Few years ago, the Merbach group developed the chelating agent DTTA (H4DTTA = diethylenetriaminetetraacetic acid = N,N'-[iminobis(ethane-2,1-diyl)]bis[N-(carboxymethyl)glycine]), which contains when complexed with gadolinium(III) in aqueous solution two inner-sphere coordination sites for water molecules. This chelate unit complexed with gadolinium(III) presents also a relatively fast inner-sphere water exchange rate which is favorable for the relaxivity. Three types of compounds have been studied in this thesis, all of them containing the DTTA chelate unit. The first is considered to be the monomer and allows studying the stability of the chelate unit. The second is a close derivative to the metallostar compound {Fe[Gd2bpy-DTTA2(H2O)4]3}4-, when the iron(II) central ion is replaced by a ruthenium(II) ion. The third is represented by the DTTA thiol derivative coated to gold nanoparticles. The first part of this thesis, chapter II, is thus the study of the physicochemical properties of the DTTA chelating moiety. For this purpose, the methylated derivative H4DTTA-Me (N,N'-[(methylimino)bis(ethane-2,1-diyl)]bis[N-(carboxymethyl)glycine]) was synthesized. Protonation and deuteration constants of the ligand were determined in an aqueous solution by potentimetry and 1H NMR pH titration and compared to various DTTA derivatives. Stability constants were measured for the chelates formed with Gd3+ (log KGdL = 18.60 ± 0.10) and Zn2+ (log ΚZnL = 17.69 ± 0.10). A novel approach of determining in a direct way the relative conditional stability constant of two paramagnetic complexes by 1H NMR relaxometry is presented and was used for the Gd3+ complexes [Gd(DTTA-Me)(H2O)2]- (L1) and [Gd(DTPA-BMA)(H2O)] (L2) [Κ*L1/ L2 (at pH 8.3, 25°C) = 6.4 ± 0.3]. The transmetalation reaction of the Gd3+ complex with Zn2+ in phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.0) was measured to be twice as fast for [Gd(DTTA-Me)(H2O)2]- in comparison to that for [Gd(DTPA-BMA)( H2O)]. This can be rationalized by the higher affinity of Zn2+ toward DTTA-Me4- if compared to DTPA-BMA3-. The formation of a ternary complex with L-lactate, which is common for DO3A-based heptadentate complexes, has not been observed for [Gd(DTTA-Me)( H2O)2]- as monitored by 1H NMR relaxometric titrations. From the results, it was concluded that the heptadentate DTTA-Me4- behaves similarly to the commercial octadentate DTPA-BMA3- with respect to stability. Considering recent suspicions against [Gd(DTPA-BMA)( H2O)] for being involved in Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis (NSF) disease, DTTA-type chelates will not be admitted as contrast agents in clinical MRI. However, their use in vitro and in animal studies is absolutely conceivable, mainly at high magnetic fields, where the increase of inner-sphere-coordination water actually seams to be the only promising way to increase the relaxivity markedly. The second part of this thesis, chapter III, presents the synthesis in aqueous solution and the magnetic and optical properties of the Ru(II)-based metallostars Na4{Ru[Ln2bpy-DTTA2(H2O)4]3} (Ln = Y, Gd, and Eu). The synthesis and the purification of the new, highly stable heptametallic entities have been optimized for the diamagnetic Y3+ complex and followed by 1H NMR. The europium(III) ruthenium-based metallostar {Ru[Eu2bpy-DTTA2(H2O)4]3}4- displays sensitized 5D0→7FJ luminescence upon excitation of the tris-(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) unit in both the ultraviolet around 293 nm, as well as in the visible around 450 nm (1MLCT state). NMRD profiles at two temperatures (25°C and 37°C) were measured on the {Ru[Gd2bpy-DTTA2(H2O)4]3}4-. NMRD profiles of the ruthenium-based {Ru[Gd2bpy-DTTA2(H2O)4]3}4- and iron-based {Fe[Gd2bpy-DTTA2(H2O)4]3}4- metallostars were fitted with SBM theory coupled to the model-free Lipary-Szabo method for internal motion as well as with the modified Florence approach. Comparison of both fitting methods shows that the Florence approach is able to fit NMRD profiles up to 100 MHz, fails however at higher frequencies because it does not account for internal motion. Overall, the results detailed point to the heptametallic self-assembled edifices being potential relaxivity and luminescence bimodal bioprobes. The third part of this thesis, chapter IV, is devoted to nano objects. We developed small, water-dispersible, stable nanoparticles covalently linked to Ln-DTTA derivative complexes (with Ln=Gd and Y) on the surface. Characterizations of these DTTA thiol capped gold nanoparticles (Gd-DtNP) using TEM images, dynamic light scattering technique and STEM with EDX analysis indicate 1.5-15.5 nm particle diameters, coated by Ln-Dt complexes on the surface. Molecular modeling shows a rough distance in the range of 1.3 nm between the lanthanide(III) ion and gold core surface and the structure that possess Ln-DtNP offers to lanthanide(III) a tightly bonding on the surface of particles. Accurate Au, Gd and Y concentrations have been determined by ICP-MS technique. Bulk magnetic susceptibility of samples with different gadolinium concentration has been established following the Evans method and no significant magnetic contribution can be attributed to the gold core. NMRD profiles of Gd-DtNP at 25°C show very high relaxivities and present broad relaxivity humps indicating very large systems with slow rotational motion. The modified Florence approach allows fitting well the experimental NMRD profil of Gd-DtNP, and the fitted electronic relaxation parameters are in good coherence with what was expected from the Ru-based metallostar values. Our Gd-DtNP systems are very rigid nano-object.


In May 2005, the Commonwealth announced changes to the eligibility criteria for a number of farm welfare payments which have resulted in farmers receiving such payments on more generous terms than other disadvantaged groups in the community. The changes passed largely unremarked by the media or political commentators. Farm welfare programs are developed independently of the general welfare safety net and are based on assumptions about the nature, extent and causes of farm poverty. No comprehensive empirical research has been conducted into farm poverty since the Henderson Inquiry of the 1970s. This paper discusses the issue of farm poverty in Australia and how it fits into the broader welfare debate, and proposes a way forward to develop more effective and equitable farm welfare programs.


Aim

The International Classification of Diseases, version 10, Australian modification (ICD-10-AM) is used to classify diseases in hospital patients in Australia and New Zealand. ICD-10-AM defines malnutrition as '[body mass index] BMI <18.5 kg/m2 or unintentional weight loss of ≥5% with evidence of suboptimal intake resulting in subcutaneous fat loss and/or muscle wasting'. The Australasian Nutrition Care Day Survey (ANCDS) is the most comprehensive survey to evaluate malnutrition prevalence in acute care patients from Australian and New Zealand hospitals. This study determined if malnourished participants were assigned malnutrition-related codes according to ICD-10-AM.

Methods

The ANCDS recruited acute care patients from 56 hospitals. Hospital-based dietitians evaluated participants' nutritional status using BMI and Subjective Global Assessment (SGA). In keeping with the ICD-10-AM definition, malnutrition was defined as BMI <18.5 kg/m2, SGA-B (moderately malnourished) or SGA-C (severely malnourished). After 3 months, in this prospective cohort study, staff members from each hospital's health information/medical records department provided coding results for malnourished participants.

Results

Malnutrition was prevalent in 30% (n = 869) of the cohort (n = 2976) and a significantly small number of malnourished patients were coded for malnutrition (n = 162, 19%, P < 0.001). In 21 hospitals, none of the malnourished participants were coded.

Conclusions

This is the largest study to provide a snapshot of malnutrition coding in Australian and New Zealand hospitals. Findings highlight gaps in malnutrition documentation and/or subsequent coding, which could potentially result in significant loss of casemix-related revenue for hospitals. Dietitians must lead the way in developing structured processes for malnutrition identification, documentation and coding.


Few studies have assessed how the dynamics of wetland bird movements relate to changing resource availability, particularly at more than one spatial scale. Within western Oregon's Williamette Valley, we examined winter resident Dunlin Calidris alpina movements in relation to a decrease in availability of preferred shorebird foraging habitat from early to late winter of 1999‐2000. By tracking movements of 15 (early winter) and 12 (late winter) radiomarked individuals, we calculated home ranges and characterized presence/absence of a preference for shorebird foraging habitat during each winter period. Between periods, we compared: (1) percentage of shorebird habitat in home ranges to its availability in the landscape (regional preference), (2) percentage of radio locations in shorebird habitat to its availability within home ranges (local preference) and (3) relative use of roost sites. Concurrent with a 75% decrease in available shorebird habitat from early to late winter, average home range sizes increased by a factor of 3.8. At a regional scale, home ranges in early winter included a significantly greater percentage of shorebird foraging habitat than was available in the wider landscape. However, by late winter, the percent of shorebird habitat in home ranges did not match availability in the landscape. At the local scale, for both winter periods Dunlin were located in shorebird foraging habitat more often than expected given availability of habitat within home ranges [Correction added after online publication 23 May 2008: sentence amended]. An increase in the number of roosts used from early to late winter implies possible reliance on additional sites in late winter for foraging opportunities. Results suggest that wet, unvegetated habitat is sought by Dunlin throughout winter, but individuals could not select home ranges in late winter that fully compensated for seasonal loss of habitat.


Malingering Detection among Accommodation-Seeking University Students Spencer Clayton Department of Psychology Doctor of Philosophy Universities have increasingly sought to provide accommodative services to students with learning disorders and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in recent decades thereby creating a need for diagnostic batteries designed to evaluate cognitive abilities relevant to academic performance. Given that accommodative services (extended time on tests, alternate test forms, etc.) provide incentive to distort impairment steps should be taken to estimate the rate at which students distort impairment and to evaluate the accuracy with which symptom distortion is identified. In order to address these concerns, the Word-Memory Test, Test of Memory Malingering, and Fake Bad Scale (of the MMPI-2) were compared in terms of their clinical utility in a university sample within a two-part study. In the first portion of the study, an analogue design (which included a control group (n = 29) and an experimental group (n = 30) that was asked to simulate an academic disability) was used to calculate the sensitivity and specificity of each measure. In the second portion of this study, scores were collected for 121 consecutively presenting students who were evaluated for academic difficulty at a large private university. Failure rates on measures of malingering placed the base rate of malingering within this population between 10 and 25 percent. The Word-Memory Test (WMT) demonstrated the most robust sensitivity and specificity. The modest sensitivity of the Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM) can be partially explained by the ease with which the measure is completed by university students as well as the format of its presentation. Although the scores on Fake Bad Scale (FBS) are modestly correlated with group membership (between controls and simulators), its use should be discouraged in this context due to poor sensitivity and to high rates of false positives.


A dynamic simulation model of an inspection-based software lifecycle process has been developed to support quantitative process evaluation. The model serves to examine the effects of inspection practices on cost, scheduling and quality throughout the lifecycle. It uses system dynamics to model the interrelated flows of tasks, errors and personnel throughout different development phases and is calibrated to industrial data. If extends previous software project dynamics research by examining an inspection-based process with an original model, integrating it with a knowledge-based method for risk assessment and cost estimation, and using an alternative modeling platform. While specific enough to investigate inspection practices, it is sufficiently general to incorporate changes for other phenomena. It demonstrates the effects of performing inspections or not, the effectiveness of varied inspection policies, and the effects of other managerial policies such as manpower allocation. The results of testing indicate a valid model that can be used for process evaluation and project planning, and can serve as a framework for incorporating other dynamic process factors.


: Debates over the value and compatibility of different approaches to understanding and changing environmental-relevant actions proliferate across the social sciences. This article reviews and discusses some of the (socio-)psychological and sociological approaches in those debates. We will start by critically reviewing the (socio-)psychological perspectives, highlighting two main shortcomings. First, they are often partial in their focus – concentrating on the consumption side of climate relevant actions and, relatedly in changing these actions at the individual level. They tend to assume that individual change equates to social change and, with that, fail to contextualise 'anti'-environmental actions in current neo-liberal, capitalist societies. Second, they usually present the mainstream (socio-)psychological approaches, which are ontologically individualistic and cognitive, as the only existent ones, therefore neglecting other perspectives within Social Psychology which might actually be (more) compatible with sociological perspectives. We then suggest that Social Representations Theory (SRT), as an ontologically social-psychological approach and a theory of social change, might be reconciled with sociological approaches, such as Social Practices Theory (SPT), in contrast to the more individualistic (socio-)psychological perspectives. After reviewing the main tenets of SRT, its discrepancies and potential synergies with SPT, we discuss how the two can be articulated to understand different stages of the social change process towards more environmentally sustainable societies. While SPT might be more suitable to understand stability or how some actions become habitual, SRT might be better equipped to understand how those change, or how individuals and groups negotiate new actions with old ones.


This study discusses the collapse criteria for thermally-treated line pipe and their bending interaction against collapse based on a full-scale test under external pressure with and without bending loading. The critical collapse strain in the pressure bending test was much higher than that estimated by the DNV-ST-F101 standard because it was calculated based on estimating collapse pressures without bending interaction based on SMYS of design pipe in the standard. However, the collapse pressures without bending interaction in fullscale test was significantly higher than that of the estimation according to DNV-ST-F101 standard. The effect of the thermal heat cycle simulated anti-corrosion coating heating on line pipe collapse criteria is also discussed based on the change of yield stress of pre-strained and thermally-treated material. As the maximum heat cycle temperature increases, the reduction of the compressive yield stress along circumferential direction by the Baushinger effect due to UOE process becomes small. It is thought that a DNV equation for estimating the critical bending strain to collapse will provide a more accurate estimation of the critical collapse pressure and strain for thermally-treated line pipe when the collapse pressure is calculated considering the change of strength parameters due to the tensile pre-strain level and heat cycle temperature.


Many automated machine learning methods, such as those for hyperparameter and neural architecture optimization, are computationally expensive because they involve training many different model configurations. In this work, we present a new method that saves computational budget by terminating poor configurations early on in the training. In contrast to existing methods, we consider this task as a ranking and transfer learning problem. We qualitatively show that by optimizing a pairwise ranking loss and leveraging learning curves from other datasets, our model is able to effectively rank learning curves without having to observe many or very long learning curves. We further demonstrate that our method can be used to accelerate a neural architecture search by a factor of up to 100 without a significant performance degradation of the discovered architecture. In further experiments we analyze the quality of ranking, the influence of different model components as well as the predictive behavior of the model.


Genetic algorithms (GAs) are computational techniques based upon evolution. They have been recently introduced in architecture to study present complexities in form and function. Despite growing trends and inclinations to use GAs, there is not an organized study and instruction about its usage in architecture. This library research, while examining the structure of GAs, seeks answers to these questions: 1. What is the necessity of GAs in architecture today? 2. Are GAs used to meet special needs of architecture or are they merely complex forms? 3. Haw can GAs come to our assistance in design? And last but not least 4. Does GAs serve reality or unreal abstract forms of an imaginative world!? To answer these questions, the present research studies GAs in architecture and other disciplines. It also investigates their functions in architecture and finally explains introductory parametric operations in this field.


This poster aims to describe challenges and learning points in endeavours at starting systematic advance care planning (ACP) in Tan Tock Seng Hospital, a 1200-bed tertiary hospital in Singapore Based on the model of ACP espoused by Respecting Choices of Wisconsin, USA, a disease-specific pilot project was initiated in the department of cardiology in 2010 and a POLST-like pilot project in the departments of respiratory medicine, neurology and neurosurgery. 28 staff comprising nurse clinicians, case managers and medical social workers were trained in the Respecting Choices model of ACP facilitation. Less experienced facilitators were mentored by senior staff with experience in ACP facilitation. The facilitators also met regularly to share experiences. 5 patients with advanced heart disease, 5 with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and 2 patients with advanced neurological diseases underwent facilitated ACP discussions by trained facilitators. Outcomes were documented and scanned into the hospital medical records system. Significant challenges faced were relatively low awareness of ACP among the general public and healthcare professionals as well as the need for clear workflows and co-ordination across multiple disciplines. There are ongoing endeavours at continual quality improvement through forums aimed at engaging the staff and the public, workshops to enhance the skills of facilitators, audits and improvement in resource allocation. A systematic approach to ACP faces significant challenges in the initial stages of the endeavour in a complex hospital environment. ACP is resource intensive and a clear vision, high level support as well as a multi-pronged approach are paramount for successful implementation.


Introduction to Computer Security is a new Computer Security textbook for a new generation of IT professionals. It is ideal for computer-security courses that are taught at the undergraduate level and that have as their sole prerequisites an introductory computer science sequence (e.g., CS 1/CS 2). Unlike most other computer security textbooks available today, Introduction to Computer Security, 1e does NOT focus on the mathematical and computational foundations of security, and it does not assume an extensive background in computer science. Instead it looks at the systems, technology, management, and policy side of security, and offers students fundamental security concepts and a working knowledge of threats and countermeasures with just-enough background in computer science. The result is a presentation of the material that is accessible to students of all levels.


A long standing feature of U.S. corporate taxation is a group of doctrinal devices serving to prevent taxpayer attempts to avoid double taxation of corporate earnings. These devices, referred to collectively as the constructive dividend doctrine ("CDD") are predicated on a perspective under which corporate income is to be subject to double taxation. A contrasting perspective is one in which all income derived from a business enterprise would be taxed exactly once (the "Integrationist Norm"). Under such an idealized Integrationist Norm, all income would be imputed to individuals connected with the corporate enterprise - as shareholders or otherwise - as earned, and all income would be taxed at the individual rate schedules. This Article examines the CDD in light of the Integrationist Norm. Elsewhere, in an article entitled "Advancing to Corporate Tax Integration: A Laissez-Faire Approach," I advanced the proposition that although systematic corporate tax integration is unlikely to be enacted in the foreseeable future, integrationism should be regarded as normative. The Laissez-Faire Approach proposes that, to the extent that legal mechanisms serve to prevent self-help corporate tax integration, they are counterproductive, wasting valuable taxpayer, IRS, and judicial resources. This Article analyzes the CDD in light of the Laissez-Faire Approach in order to identify circumstances in which it is best to dispense with the CDD as a counter productive mechanism that wastes resources reinforcing the double tax anti-ideal.


Abstract. This study examined the group- and individual-level part score profiles of children with intellectual disability (ID) who participated in clinical validity studies supporting three individually administered intelligence tests. Across tests, children with ID produced group-level profiles comprising mean part scores that fell in the Low to Very Low ranges. However, profile similarity analysis revealed that few of these children exhibited profiles similar to their respective group-level profile. When profiles of individual children were examined, 7% to 17% obtained at least one part score in the Average range or higher (standard score ≥ 90), and 33% to 52% obtained at least one part score in the Low Average range or higher (standard score ≥ 80). Moreover, the percentage of children who would not be identified as having ID based on elevated part scores ranged between 33% and 80%. Based on these results and considering the diagnostic criteria for ID, deferring diagnosis and denying services to children who meet all criteria for ID but who have elevated part scores yielded from valid testing, when there is no diagnosis or eligibility category better describing the impairing condition, appears to be a flawed and inappropriate practice.


BackgroundVentricular pressure and volume overload may induce hemodynamically important ventricular interactions mediated by the thick interventricular septum. The purpose of this study was to determine whether analogous hemodynamically manifest atrial interactions occur across the thinner interatrial septum. MethodsRight atrial (RA) and left atrial (LA) pressures were measured with micromanometer-tipped catheters before and after atrial pressure and volume overload elicited by sequential right ventricular (RV), RA, and septal ischemia induced in nine open-chest dogs. ResultsFollowing RV ischemia, RA pressure increased and RA contraction and relaxation were enhanced, as indicated by an augmented A wave and X descent. Despite decreased LV diastolic size, LA pressure increased, with similar increases in its A wave and X descent. RA ischemia depressed RA contraction and relaxation, resulting in diminished A wave and X descent. Parallel changes occurred in the LA waveform. Following septal ischemia, LA contraction and relaxation were enhanced, as reflected in an augmented A wave and X descent. Despite persistent RA ischemia, the RA A wave and X descent increased. ConclusionsThese fingings demonstrate interatrial transmission of pressure and waveform changes that may influence hemodynamic evaluation and cardiac function.


This volume presents an extended version of the contributions presented at the workshop "Kant's Concept of Law" held at the 26 th World Congress of the International Association for Philosophy of Law and Social Philosophy (IVR) in 2013. It handles issues of applied legal philosophy in Kant's Doctrine of Right such as ownership, the alleged right of necessity, the right of resistance and the right of revolution. With each of these applied issues, the focus lies, on the one hand, on the relationship between the principles a priori of law and of the duties of rights, as well as their normative requirements – for instance, the duty of independence from the coercion by others – and, on the other hand, empirical situations and their pressing demands. Thus, this volume illustrates how Kant concretely conceives of the doctrine of "first metaphysical of the doctrine of right" as supplying "the immutable principles for any giving of positive law". Each essay of this volume not only undertakes a careful and original interpretation of Kant's theses, but also offers a critical assessment.


This article is a conceptual study of the characteristics and approaches of social aspects of Islamic law. This study is important because Islamic law encompasses various dimensions, namely the abstract dimension, in the form of all the commandments and the prohibitions of Allah and His Messenger, and the concrete dimension, in the form of behavior that is steady among Muslims as an effort to do the command of Allah and His Messenger, In addition, Islamic law also includes substances that are internalized into various social institutions. Therefore, the study of the social aspects approaches in Islamic law is very important. Islamic law has a character, namely rabbaniyah, syumul, al-wasthiyah, and insanity. There are several methods of Islamic law enforcement conducted by aspects of the social approach, especially in Indonesia, namely the establishment of Islamic law through fiqh, the establishment of Islamic law through the law, the establishment of Islamic law through jurisprudence, and the affirmation of Islamic law through fatwas.


Summary The course of the common apodeme of the tripartite retractor unguis muscle is described for the stick insects Carausius morosus and Acrophylla wulfingii. This apodeme travels through the femoro-tibial joint well outside the axis of rotation of the joint, but movements of the femoro-tibial joint do not affect the position of the tarsal claws, which are moved by the retractor unguis muscle. The independence of tarsal position upon tibial position is not produced by a neural compensation mechanism but by a sophisticated morphological arrangement combined with specialized physiological properties. These mechanisms consist of two parts. (1) Moderate claw flexions are mainly produced by the smaller tibial parts of the muscle and their influence on claw position is not affected by tibial position, because they lie distal to the femoro-tibial joint. (2) The retractor unguis muscle works against strong elastic structures and the claw assumes the position where the elastic force is counterbalanced by the muscle force. The maximum muscle force of the strong femoral part of the muscle is nearly independent of muscle length. Therefore, the force it transfers to the elastic structures is also nearly independent of tibial position.


Everyday contextual settings create associations that later afford generating predictions about what objects to expect in our environment. The cortical network that takes advantage of such contextual information is proposed to connect the representation of associated objects such that seeing one object (bed) will activate the visual representations of other objects sharing the same context (pillow). Given this proposal, we hypothesized that the cortical activity elicited by seeing a strong contextual object would predict the occurrence of false memories whereby one erroneously remembers having seen a new object that is related to a previously presented object. To test this hypothesis, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging during encoding of contextually related objects, and later tested recognition memory. New objects that were contextually related to previously presented objects were more often falsely judged as old compared with new objects that were contextually unrelated to old objects. This phenomenon was reflected by activity in the cortical network mediating contextual processing, which provides a better understanding of how the brain represents and processes context.


This paper presents the resiliency of international production networks stretched across the Asian region in face of the Asian financial and currency crisis back in 1997-98, as well as confirming its stability with consideration to adverse effects of the crisis. To examine the probability of survival once a trade relationship is established and the probability of revival after the transaction is broken off, survival analysis is conducted using the country-product level trade data. A series of survival analyses provide evidence supporting the view that transactions of intermediate goods within production networks are more likely to be stable and resilient to a temporary disruption compared to other transactions. First, even after considering the impact of the Asian crisis, machinery parts & components are more likely to be traded through long-lived trade relationships compared to finished products in intra-Asian trade. Second, machinery parts & components are no exception in that a non negligible portion of trade relationships was actually broken off amid the Asian crisis, but many of them were restored shortly afterward as compared to the others.


Previously undated low-grade metamorphic rocks from the Puerto Cisnes-Queulat area (44°30' S) contain detrital zircons of mid-Oligocene age (ca. 28 Ma). Their outcrops represent the easternmost occurrence of the late Oligocene to early Miocene marine volcano-sedimentary Traiguén Formation; previous correlation with the Paleozoic metamorphic basement of this sector of the North Patagonian Andes is thus refuted. A similar age and provenance were obtained for a paraconglomerate bed of the La Junta Formation ca. 80 km to the north, which is thought to represent a high-energy lateral facies variation of the Traiguén Formation. Miocene plutonic rocks of the North Patagonian Batholith intruded these metasedimentary rocks, generating a contact metamorphic aureole that reaches biotite grade and overprints a previous metamorphic fabric probably formed during closure of the Traiguén Basin. Similar young ages for metamorphic rocks located immediately west of the Liquiñe-Ofqui Fault Zone 300 km north, near Ayacara, suggest a regional pattern of earliest Neogene metamorphism and rapid exhumation in this segment of the Patagonian Andes.


Education is a proven determinate of one's income. From a policy point of view an important question is whether the children of the first-generation immigrants are capable of acquiring a good socio-economic position, and if so, to what extent. Since educational attainment is a strong determinant of the labor market position and related variables like income, a focus on the educational achievements of the second-generation makes sense. Rather, if these second generation immigrants are being educated, entering the work force and likely raising children in the US, it is likely that their education will be passed on. So if there is that effect of having immigrant parents on education, is this affect the same for every country of origin? Likely not. As mentioned earlier, every country has its own customs and beliefs, and thus, its own views on the importance of school. Do these nation specific differences give different effects on the educational attainment of the children of immigrants? And if so, which countries have stronger positive effects on their second-generation? This article is available in The Park Place Economist: http://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/parkplace/vol19/iss1/13


Colorectal cancer is the third most common visceral malignancy and remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths due to late diagnosis and therapy resistance. Even many years after initially successful treatment, the disease recurs in many patients and frequently spreads to distant organs. It is currently hypothesized that relapse may at least partially, be caused by a small population of dormant- or slowly cycling tumor cells. Presumably these cells are more resistant to the effects of DNA-damaging agents such as chemotherapy and irradiation than cycling cells. Such dormant cells have already been identified in the stem cell compartments of many tissues of the body, for instance in the skin, the hematopoietic system and the intestine. In parallel, it has been proposed that tumors arise from cancer stem cells, which might share common features with normal tissue stem cells, such as the ability to remain dormant. However, there is so far very little experimental evidence for the existence of dormant- or slow-cycling cells in cancer.
In order to study the occurrence of dormancy in colorectal cancer, primary tumor models were used. Primary colorectal cancer cell lines were labeled with a tetracycline-inducible H2B-GFP reporter that enables the detection and in vivo isolation of label-retaining cells.
Slowly cycling cells were identified in vitro and in vivo. Cell cycle analyses demonstrated a correlation between label-retention and cell cycle activation, suggesting the presence of quiescent tumor cells. The properties and hierarchical relation of label-retaining and non-label retaining cells were compared. Sorting into fast-, medium- and slowly cycling cell populations and subsequent tracing demonstrated that the initial phenotypes were preserved over several days in vitro. However, all three populations were capable of generating label-retaining cells as well as fast cycling cells, suggesting a dynamic switch between the different proliferative phenotypes. Furthermore, slowly cycling cells showed an enhanced resistance to standard chemotherapy.
These findings suggest that label-retaining cells exist within at least some colorectal tumors and that they can switch from a dormant to an active proliferative state, suggesting a possible role in tumor-recurrence after therapy.


Twentieth century events, with the Buddhist Revival (in response to colonialism), the war (and subsequent dispersal of the Vietnamese overseas), and Communist challenges, have brought about a renewed interest in Zen Buddhism in the twenty‐first century. The southern Vietnamese monk, Thích Thanh Từ, has drawn on potent historical signifiers of Trần Nhân Tông and the only Vietnamese Zen lineage (Trúc Lâm) to create a new kind of Zen while simultaneously claiming identity with a nationalistic symbol from the past. In 1997 a local pagoda was taken over by Thích Thanh Từ's organisation and Zen missionaries from southern Vietnam have turned it into a major Zen centre on the outskirts of Hanoi. This paper will explore how they have created and transformed the northern Buddhist space into something entirely new, reflecting more Modernist/Western/Global visions of Buddhism than local Vietnamese Buddhist understandings.


Contributing to and maintaining public goods are important for a functioning society. In reality, however, we see large variations in contribution behavior. While some individuals are not cooperative, others are highly so. Still others cooperate only to the extent they believe others will. Although these distinct behavioral types clearly have a divergent social impact, the sources of heterogeneity are poorly understood. We used source‐localized resting electroencephalography in combination with a model‐free clustering approach to participants' behavior in the Public Goods Game to explain heterogeneity. Findings revealed that compared to noncooperators, both conditional cooperators and unconditional cooperators are characterized by higher baseline activation in the right temporo‐parietal junction, an area involved in social cognition. Interestingly, conditional cooperators were further characterized by higher baseline activation in the left lateral prefrontal cortex, an area involved in behavioral control. Our findings suggest that conditional cooperators' better capacities for behavioral control enable them to control their propensity to cooperate and thus to minimize the risk of exploitation by noncooperators.


As noted in Part 1, of this two-part paper, one of the most common questions that arise in clinical practice is whether a causal relationship exists between two factors. In order to answer this question we noted in Part 1 that three steps need to be taken: First an association needs to be demonstrated between treatment/exposure and effect. Next, the possibility of this association being the result of error needs to be determined. Finally, additional evidence to support a cause-and-effect relationship needs to be identified. Part 1 covered the first two steps and now Part 2 describes how a complementary and alternative medicine provider goes through the last step of this process when confronted with the question of whether silicone breast implants cause the development of arthritis. Part 3 examines the importance of answering the following questions: Did the cause precede the effect? How strong was the association observed? Is increasing exposure more likely to lead to disease? Is there evidence from several different studies showing the same association? Does withdrawal of the cause result in loss of the effect? Is there a biologic model that can explain the causal relationship?


This paper proposes a comparison method for various compression techniques for medical imaging systems. The quality of images reconstructed with compressed datasets is used to score the compression process. The image quality is measured by mutual information between a reference and the reconstructed images. Six lossy compression methods, ranging from simple thresholding to discrete wavelet based compression methods were used to compress ultrasound signals over a large range of compression ratios. Experimental results with simulated ultrasound computer tomography system show the influence of compression on datasets is properly measured by mutual information. The possible utilization of the assessment system is discussed.


Global supply chain (GSC) trade has been a driving force underlying economic transformation, urbanization, and social change in the People's Republic of China (PRC). Female migrants account for a large share of the labor force in the country's GSC production base. Using province-level panel data, this study employs regression analysis to examine how the country's rapid integration into the supply chain has affected women's welfare outcomes captured by occupational status. The analysis shows mixed results. On the one hand, global integration through trade expansion improved the concentration of men and women equally in professional and skilled occupations and in management positions. On the other hand, female employment in manufacturing for GSC trade increased faster than male employment. This trend decreased in turn the male–female sex ratio among those aged 0–4 years. This finding is consistent with other studies on the PRC that confirm the beneficial effect of a relative rise in women's income in reducing the sex imbalance. Gender-specific policies should support female migrants in moving up the job ladder in GSC trade through higher education and skills training for professional and leadership positions. This should be complemented with incentives for the private sector—the biggest source of employment in the PRC—to promote gender equality by harnessing the advancement in technology and opportunities offered by the rapid growth of GSC trade.


The upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract undergoes a temporally coordinated cyclic motor pattern known as the migrating motor complex (MMC) in both dogs and humans during the fasted state. Feeding results in replacement of the MMC by a pattern of noncyclic, intermittent contractile activity termed as postprandial contractions. Although the MMC is known to be stimulated by motilin, recent studies have shown that ghrelin, which is from the same peptide family as motilin, is also involved in the regulation of the MMC. In the present study, we investigated the role of the vagus nerve on gastric motility using conscious suncus—a motilin- and ghrelin-producing small animal. During the fasted state, cyclic MMC comprising phases I, II, and III was observed in both sham-operated and vagotomized suncus; however, the duration and motility index (MI) of phase II was significantly decreased in vagotomized animals. Motilin infusion (50 ng·kg−1·min−1 for 10 min) during phase I had induced phase III–like contractions in both sham-operated and vagotomized animals. Ghrelin infusion (0.1, 0.3, 1, 3, or 10 µg·kg−1·min−1 for 10 min) enhanced the amplitude of phase II MMC in sham-operated animals, but not in vagotomized animals. After feeding, phase I was replaced by postprandial contractions, and motilin infusion (50 ng·kg−1·min−1 for 10 min) did not induce phase III–like contractions in sham-operated suncus. However, in vagotomized suncus, feeding did not evoke postprandial contractions, but exogenous motilin injection strongly induced phase III–like contractions, as noted during the phase I period. Thus, the results indicate that ghrelin stimulates phase II of the MMC via the vagus nerve in suncus. Furthermore, the vagus nerve is essential for initiating postprandial contractions, and inhibition of the phase III–like contractions induced by motilin is highly dependent on the vagus nerve.


The method for synthesis of corrected three-wavelengths spectrometers for trace gas components of atmosphere on the basis of development of mathematical model has been suggested. The classification table for possible structures of corrected spectrometers is considered. The synthesis allows to reveal some new variants for development of three-wavelength spectrometers for trace gas components of atmosphere. For experimental checkup of achieved theoretical results, a laboratory pattern of three-wavelength spectrometer is developed and tested.


BALB/c-H-2dm2 mice (H-2KdI-AdI-EdDd), a congenic strain of BALB/c mice, have a deletion of the class I MHC Ag, H-2Ld. This gene encodes the exclusive class I MHC-restricting gene product for vesicular stomatitis virus-specific cytolytic T lymphocytes. When dm2 mice were immunized with infectious vesicular stomatitis virus, a specific CTL response was generated. These CTL lysed VSV-infected targets that expressed Iad gene products, but not VSV-infected Iad- targets. The CTL were used initially as long term cytolytic lines; 13 CTL clones were derived by limit dilution. All of the clones expressed the phenotype CD3+, CD4+, CD8-; some clones expressed TCR that are members of the V beta 8 family, others did not. The clones were restricted by class II MHC Ag, both I-Ad and I-Ed serving as restricting elements for individual clones of the panel. All of the clones derived from dm2 mice were specific for the immunizing serotype, Indiana, of VSV and did not lyse syngeneic cells infected with VSV of the New Jersey serotype. Studies using defective interfering virus particles, UV light-inactivated virus, and purified micelles of the viral glycoprotein indicated that infectious virus was not required for sensitization of target cells for immune recognition by the class II MHC-restricted CTL clones. Additional studies using recombinant vaccinia virus vectors to sensitize targets confirmed the specificity of the clones for the viral glycoprotein. These studies also demonstrated a cryptic population of class II-restricted CTL in BALB/c lines specific for VSV G. Naturally occurring variant viruses and mutant viruses, selected for escape from neutralization by mAb, were used in an effort to map the determinant(s) recognized; on the basis of patterns of target cell lysis, three groups of epitopes recognized by the clones were defined. Therefore, in the absence of the class I MHC Ag required for a CTL response to VSV, dm2 mice generated CTL with the CD4+ phenotype that recognized different epitopes on the viral glycoprotein, and lysed cells in a class II-MHC restricted, Ag-specific manner.


The King David of the Bible, and especially as portrayed in the books of Samuel, is one of the most complex characters in ancient literature. We are told his story from his youth as a shepherd until his death as king of Israel. He kills a mighty warrior with a slingshot, goes to war with his king and later his son, and has an affair that threatens to throw his kingdom into disarray. The stories surrounding David seem perfect for cinematic adaptation yet what makes this character so compelling has been problematic for filmmakers. Here, three types of Biblical filmmaking shall be considered: Hollywood epics (David and Bathsheba (1951), David and Goliath (1960), and King David (1985)); televised event series (The Story of David (1976) and The Bible: The Epic Miniseries (2013)); and independent Christian films (David and Goliath (2015) and David vs. Goliath: Battle of Faith (2016)). Issues that shall be considered include: tone and genre, casting, democracy and ideology, masculinity, and sexual morality. This investigation shall explore how these issues are treated in different types of Biblical filmmaking and how genre constraints impact the reception of David on film.


A highly reliable wireless solid-state drive (SSD) system for future applications of large volume storage is presented. The wireless interface in the system consists of an inductively coupled power link with fast transmission power control and high-speed data links using transmission line couplers (TLCs). The wireless power link can deliver 1 W from the host to the SSD. The full duplex wireless data interface achieves raw data rate of 1.6 Gb/s. The reliability of the wireless interface is studied though simulation analysis and experiments. The error correction block for the NAND flash memory system can also correct errors in the wireless data links, allowing the requirements for the PHY layer to be relaxed. The error correction code is discussed, including optimization by analyzing the error bits on the wireless data links. The experimental results confirmed strong tolerance to the interference from the power link on the wireless data link, and the water proof property of both the data and power links.


Video streaming of local government meetings offers transparency. After an experimental phase, video streaming has now become a regular service in several Norwegian municipalities. This paper describes the design, development and implementation of one such video streaming service for a consortium of twelve municipalities. One important goal of this project was to deliver rich user experience without putting additional workload on municipal administrators. Our solution is able to deliver multiple video streams originating from different video sources (cameras), and the user may choose which video streams to view. Video streams are stored and made available for later viewing. An administrative application facilitates linking items on the agenda to relevant video content. A search engine makes it possible to search for video content across municipal borders. The paper also reports on a recent survey conducted among initial users of the video streaming service. The results are discussed, and some areas of future research are proposed.


A method for the energy-dispersive x-ray fluorescence analysis of the trace elements Zn, Rb, Sr, Zr, and Ba in carbonate rocks (limestone and dolomite) is described. This method utilizes silicate rock standards, loose powder samples, and a matrix correction based on scattered radiation. Values for several international carbonate rock standards are calculated and compare favorably with neutron activation analysis results.


The Shark Alert Early Warning System is a device geared toward avid beach goers such as surfers, divers, and swimmers. The system is composed of an ultrasonic transmitter mounted on a shark's dorsal fin and a receiver worn by the user around the ankle. The receiver alerts the user to the presence of a shark upon ultrasonic signal detection. The receiver warns the user through both visual and tactile (vibration) alerts to ensure user notification. This circuit was built and tested in the EE labs and Recreation Center pools to determine transmission range. The receiver detects the transmitted signal up to 150 feet away and fits comfortably on the user's ankle. The alert module determines receiver detection. The transmitter remains operational over the shark's lifetime by hydraulic turbine-based AC power generation. This is accomplished by utilizing the shark's movement through the water. Testing was conducted in the Cal Poly Civil Engineering Department's Flume and in Lake Nacimiento.


We analyze PLANET collaboration data for MACHO 97-BLG-41, the only microlensing event observed to date in which the source transits two disjoint caustics. The PLANET data, consisting of 46 V-band and 325 I-band observations from five southern observatories, span a period from the initial alert until the end of the event. Our data are incompatible with a static binary lens, but are well fitted by a rotating binary lens of mass ratio q = 0.34 and angular separation d ≈ 0.5 (in units of the Einstein ring radius), in which the binary separation changes in size by δd = -0.070 ± 0.009 and in orientation by δθ = 5.°61 ± 0.°36 during the 35.17 days between the separate caustic transits. We use this measurement, combined with other observational constraints, to derive the first kinematic estimate of the mass, distance, and period of a binary microlens. The relative probability distributions for these parameters peak at a total lens mass M ~ 0.3 M☉ (M-dwarf binary system), lens distance DL ~ 5.5 kpc, and binary period P ~ 1.5 yr. The robustness of our model is demonstrated by its striking agreement with MACHO/GMAN data that cover several sharp features in the light curve not probed by the PLANET observations, and which did not enter our modeling procedure in any way. Available data sets thus indicate that the light curve of MACHO 97-BLG-41 can be modeled as a source crossing two caustics of a physically realistic rotating binary. Thus, contrary to a recent suggestion, the additional effects of a postulated planetary companion to the binary lens are not required.


Ocean stagnation has been invoked to explain the widespread occurrence of organic-carbon–rich, laminated sediments interpreted to have been deposited under anoxic bottom waters at the time of the end-Permian mass extinction. However, to a first approximation, stagnation would severely reduce the upwelling supply of nutrients to the photic zone, reducing productivity. Moreover, it is not obvious that ocean stagnation can be achieved. Numerical experiments performed with a three-dimensional global ocean model linked to a biogeochemical model of phosphate and oxygen cycling indicate that a low equator to pole temperature gradient could have produced weak oceanic circulation and widespread anoxia in the Late Permian ocean. We find that polar warming and tropical cooling of sea-surface temperatures cause anoxia throughout the deep ocean as a result of both lower dissolved oxygen in bottom source waters and increased nutrient utilization. Buildup of quantities of H2S and CO2 in the Late Permian ocean sufficient to directly cause a mass extinction, however, would have required large increases in the oceanic nutrient inventory.


We characterized SnO2:F/p-type a-Si:H heterojunctions by current-voltage (I-V) and capacitance-voltage (C-V) measurements at room temperature to determine the junction parameters. Samples with circular geometry and different diameters were characterized. The current scales with the junction area, and the current density J as a function of the voltage V is a slightly asymmetric curve with a super-linear behaviour (cubic law) for high voltages. Using a transmission line model valid for devices with circular geometry, we studied the effects of the SnO2:F resistivity on the measured capacitance when the SnO2:F layer works as an electrical contact. The measured C-V curve allows us to determine junction parameters as doping of p-type a-Si:H, built-in potential and depletion width for the heterojunction with the smallest diameters, demonstrating that for these samples the TCO effects can be neglected. We compared theoretical and measured data to explain qualitatively the transport mechanism in this heterojunction. © 2010 Published by Elsevier B.V.


Objective: This study aimed to investigate the risk of malnutrition and to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Subjective-Objective Malnutrition Risk Assessment (SOMRA), SOMRA cut-offs and Swedish-Guidelines on Malnutrition Risk Assessment (SGMRA) for Swedish people aged ≥ 60 years. Setting: This study included both older people living at home and those in special housing. Participants: 1222 of the 1402 subjects aged ≥ 60 years who had participated in the baseline survey (2001–2003) as part of the ongoing National Study on Aging and Care-Blekinge (SNAC-B) were included because they had provided complete information on Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA). Measurements: The risk of malnutrition was estimated by the SOMRA, MNA, and SGMRA. To measure concurrent validity, the Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curve, Cohen's kappa (κ) and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient rho (rs) were used. Youden's index (J) was computed to assess the optimal cut-off on SOMRA. Cronbach's alpha (α) was used to test reliability. Results: The risks of malnutrition measured by SOMRA, MNA and SGMRA were 6.5%, 8.6% and 20.9%, respectively. The risk was higher among older people living in special housing compared to those at home (p < 0.05). Different optimal cut-offs on SOMRA were observed for residents living at home (≥ 1) and those in special housing (≥ 3). Compared to SGMRA, the SOMRA and SOMRA cut-off ≥ 3 gave higher values for J (0.68, 0.81, and 0.84, respectively), κ (0.59, 0.77, and 0.84, respectively) and rs (0.64, 0.78, and 0.84, respectively) for the older people in special housing. The reliability for SOMRA was α = 0.71. Conclusion: The risk of malnutrition was higher among older people in special housing than among those living at home. For the people in special housing, the SOMRA and SOMRA cut-off ≥ 3 showed higher concurrent validity with MNA compared to the SGMRA, but not for older people living at home. SOMRA includes six items, takes less time to implement and is composed of both subjective and anthropometric measurements; therefore, it is suitable for use in special housing and/or clinical settings to identify the risk of malnutrition or the need for nutritional support.


This thesis documents a research study of High Voltage transmission line faults induced by fire. Conductor to conductor and conductor to ground flashovers have been experienced by electricity utilities around the world under conditions of veld and sugar cane fires. These types of faults are unpredictable and negatively impact line reliability and quality of supply. This is a crucial problem when the revenue of the industry is sensitive to voltage dips. Electricity utilities have taken a preventative approach, like clearing vegetation from the line servitude in order to decrease the frequency of line faults. There has also been a drive to collaborate with sugarcane farmers in order to have harvesting fires planned with utilities. Some success has been achieved with these initiatives however there still remains a large number of faults. The focus of this study is on the mechanism of fire-induced flashover. Previou s work has displayed the existence of two theories. The first theory suggests that flashover is due to the reduction in air insulation strength caused by a reduced air density that results from the thermal effect of the fire. The second theory suggests that small particles present in the fire cause electric field distortions that induce flashover. This study is focused on a theory , which indicates that flashover is induced due to an enhanced electric field which is a result of the conductive properties of the flames present in the air gap (the flame conductivity theory). The effects of particles and a reduced air density is said to support this mechanism that is the primary reason for flashover. This thesis present s a summary of the literature where firstly an understanding of air insulation behavior is displayed. Thereafter specific interest is given to the effect of fire and flames wherein the physics of flames are discussed. This then leads to the description of the flame conductivity theory. Chapter 4 deals with a simulative investigation into the effect a conducting flame has on the electric field distribution. This is looked at with a varying flame conductivity and gap length in mind. The simulations specifically cover the 275 kV and 400 kV line configurations. The simulative investigation results in a mapping of electric field enhancement against conductivity values and gap sizes. Thus a flashover probability is assessed by using the two factor flashover criteria when analyzing the electric field stresses. The objective of the experimental work in this study is to obtain insight on how the flame geometry and orientation affects flashover and the dependence of flashover on gap size. Tests involving a fire beneath a conductor were carried out for different gap sizes . Experimentation with particles above a flame was also conducted. It was concluded that flame structure does have an impact on flashover since a flame with sharp edges is more likely to cause flashover. Particles have a reducing effect on air insulation strength. This is mainly due to the fact that the particle reduces the effective…


According to classic niche theory, species can coexist in heterogeneous environments by reducing interspecific competition via niche partitioning, e.g. trophic or spatial partitioning. However, support for the role of competition on niche partitioning remains controversial. Here, we tested for spatial and trophic partitioning in feather mites, a diverse and abundant group of arthropods. We focused on the two dominant mite species, Microspalax brevipes and Zachvatkinia ovata, inhabiting flight feathers of the Cory's shearwater, Calonectris borealis. We performed mite counts across and within primary and tail feathers on free-living shearwaters breeding on an oceanic island (Gran Canaria, Canary Islands). We then investigated trophic relationships between the two mite species and the host using stable isotope analyses of carbon and nitrogen on mite tissues and potential host food sources. The distribution of the two mite species showed clear spatial segregation among feathers; M. brevipes showed high preference for the central wing primary feathers, whereas Z. ovata was restricted to the two outermost primaries. Morphological differences between M. brevipes and Z. ovata support an adaptive basis for the spatial segregation of the two mite species. However, the two mites overlap in some central primaries and statistical modeling showed that Z. ovata tends to outcompete M. brevipes. Isotopic analyses indicated similar isotopic values for the two mite species and a strong correlation in carbon signatures between mites inhabiting the same individual host suggesting that diet is mainly based on shared host-associated resources. Among the four candidate tissues examined (blood, feather remains, skin remains and preen gland oil), we conclude that the diet is most likely dominated by preen gland oil, while the contribution of exogenous material to mite diets is less marked. Our results indicate that ongoing competition for space and resources plays a central role in structuring feather mite communities. They also illustrate that symbiotic infracommunities are excellent model systems to study trophic ecology, and can improve our understanding of mechanisms of niche differentiation and species coexistence.


The extensive and successful use of social media has enhanced and empowered a variety of movements all over the world in a way that is hard to achieve through conventional means. This has led to numerous studies that leverage online social data to describe, analyze, model or gain insights about the online activism, as well as to empower and facilitate information sharing for the activists. Despite the recent success of public movements thanks to the efficiency that online tools brought to the activists, it is still unclear what factors impact success. In addition, the support to empower online activism remains scarce. This thesis investigates the aforementioned issues in respect to, first, analysis and modeling of the online activism in several forms, second, algorithmic approaches to producing unstructured texts for individual users and filtering social media stream. To reflect on these issues, we conduct separate studies that enable us to apply consistent methodologies to profile online campaigns, devise systematically interpretable models for online petitions, we propose and assess efficient template induction tools for email composition, and design and compare an efficient and accurate approach for filtering topical short texts. The main contributions of this thesis are: 1) Gained insights into the online public campaigns. We ran a comparative study opposing over a hundred awareness and mobilization public campaigns on social media regarding online and offline actions that were performed by the activists. To this end, we introduced a generic methodology for categorizing online campaigns based on their goals and user engagement, as well as extracted campaign's actions from their social media traces. We discovered substantial differences between types of the campaigns and their corresponding actions. 2) Scrutinized and quantified the effect of external sources on online reinforced phenomena - over 4,000 e-petitions - and we proposed an accurate and interpretable model that dissects the impact of various confounders on the time evolution of petition's signatures. We showed performance variations of the designed model with various combinations of the external factors that outperform multiple baselines and is interpretable across various petitions. Our findings suggested that effects from social media are prolonged and are stronger for the successful petitions, while the direct promotion is the strongest. 3) Assessed the extent of repetitive content in targeted email messages. We defined a task of template induction over unstructured email corpora and proposed an efficient and accurate algorithm that, first, identifies repetitive and representative phrases that are usually typed by a user, and second, aligns these phrases into a template. While we found over 1% of email users might benefit from the templatization, we also uncovered the potential of saving up to several dozens of words in email writing effort, which in turn is an essential amenity for the activists. 4) Improved document filtering for a particular topic or event by introducing a method that increases the accuracy of filtered short texts samples while preserving efficiency and recall for small training sets. To locate and monitor particular topics or events, this method constructs and applies a filter of automatically generated sets of patterns that represent semantically homogeneous groups of input data.


The purpose of this research is to analyze the credit bureau data of a commercial bank to detect any possible data errors, irregularities, or fraud. The field of Forensic Accounting is gaining prominence in today's complex business world. The use of Forensic accounting techniques, in conjunction with the understanding of various investigative methods, will improve forensic accountants, auditors and investigation officers' ability to examine and to take legal action against those involved in fraud, embezzlement other corrupt criminal acts. Forensic Accountants, Investigative Accountants and Auditors have applied Benford's Law as a tool and technique in determining misappropriations and frauds. This research contains a sample of 35,379 records of borrowers with a filtered sample of 10,034 from the credit bureau of a leading commercial bank. First, Second, Third and Fourth digits tests of the Benford's Law are carried out. Chi square is applied to determine the significance of the model. As chi square statistics is significant for 1st, 3rd and 4th digits of sample, it is concluded that there are some irregularities in the bureau data.


We consider the problem of counting transitive factorizations of permutations; that is, we study tuples (σr , . . . , σ1) of permutations on {1, . . . , n} such that (1) the product σr · · · σ1 is equal to a given target permutation π , and (2) the group generated by the factors σi acts transitively on {1, . . . , n}. This problem is widely known as the Hurwitz Enumeration Problem, since an encoding due to Hurwitz shows it to be equivalent to the enumeration of connected branched coverings of the sphere by a surface of given genus with specified branching. Much of our work concerns the enumeration of transitive factorizations of permutations into a minimal number of transposition factors. This problem has received considerable attention, and a formula for the number c(π) of such factorizations of an arbitrary permutation π has been derived through various means. The formula is remarkably simple, being a product of well-known combinatorial numbers, but no bijective proof of it is known except in the special case where π is a full cycle. A major goal of this thesis is to provide further combinatorial rationale for this formula. We begin by introducing an encoding of factorizations (into transpositions) as edge-labelled maps. Our central result is a bijection that allows trees to be "pruned" from such maps. This is shown to explain the appearance of factors of the form kk in the aforementioned formula for c(π). It also has the effect of shifting focus to the combinatorics of smooth maps (i.e. maps without vertices of degree one). By providing decompositions for certain smooth planar maps, we are able to give combinatorial evaluations of c(π) when π is composed of up to three cycles. Many of these results are generalized to factorizations in which the factors are cycles of any length. We also investigate the Double Hurwitz Problem, which calls for the enumeration of factorizations whose leftmost factor is of specified cycle type, and whose remaining factors are transpositions. Finally, we extend our methods to the enumeration of factorizations up to an equivalence relation induced by possible commutations between adjacent factors.


COVID‐19 is a systemic infection with a significant impact on the hematopoietic system and hemostasis. Lymphopenia may be considered as a cardinal laboratory finding, with prognostic potential. Neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio and peak platelet/lymphocyte ratio may also have prognostic value in determining severe cases. During the disease course, longitudinal evaluation of lymphocyte count dynamics and inflammatory indices, including LDH, CRP and IL‐6 may help to identify cases with dismal prognosis and prompt intervention in order to improve outcomes. Biomarkers, such high serum procalcitonin and ferritin have also emerged as poor prognostic factors. Furthermore, blood hypercoagulability is common among hospitalized COVID‐19 patients. Elevated D‐Dimer levels are consistently reported, whereas their gradual increase during disease course is particularly associated with disease worsening. Other coagulation abnormalities such as PT and aPTT prolongation, fibrin degradation products increase, with severe thrombocytopenia lead to life‐threatening disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), which necessitates continuous vigilance and prompt intervention. So, COVID‐19 infected patients, whether hospitalized or ambulatory, are at high risk for venous thromboembolism, and an early and prolonged pharmacological thromboprophylaxis with low molecular weight heparin is highly recommended. Last but not least, the need for assuring blood donations during the pandemic is also highlighted.


The magnetrons used in microwave ovens operate on the same frequency band as Wi-Fi equipment, and the radiation they release can interfere with the operation of wireless networks. This paper presents a multiphysics simulation of a magnetron using CST STUDIO SUITE®, with the aim of testing the electrical, magnetic, thermal and mechanical characteristics of a low-interference magnetron design. The simulation results are then compared to measurements made experimentally, and the two sets of results are shown to be in good agreement.


Abstract What do the snow leopard in the Kangchenjunga Conservation Area in Nepal, flood water diversion on Mount Kenya, waste separation in Manantlán (Mexico), conflict transformation workshops in Sudan, Ethiopia and Egypt, law and policy analysis with vigilantes in the Tunari park in Bolivia, and a radio program for Nepali migrants have in common? They are all so-called Partnership Actions for Mitigating Syndromes of Global Change (PAMS)—projects in an innovative research approach developed by the Swiss National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) North–South. This approach merges scientific knowledge and local, tacit or "non-scientific" real-life knowledge in a genuine, grounded research experience.


This paper investigates the degradation behavior of 14 organic micropollutants (OMPs), selected for their different physico-chemical properties (e.g., molecular weight, hydrophobicity and charge), in soil columns simulating the conditions prevailing in the first meter of river bank filtration (RBF) media. The results from the column system are compared to RBF field data obtained from the Vitens drinking water company in The Netherlands. The study explores the role of sorption media (sand filled columns and polyethylene tubes) as carrier material for the biomass. Polyethylene tubes with the same specific surface area as sand in the columns, were operated under similar conditions to compare OMP removal in the two systems. Both the column and field data indicate that negatively charged OMPs with Log D ranging from 0.65 to 1.95, positively charged OMPs with Log D ranging from 0.59 to 0.21 and neutral OMPs with Log D ( 1.9 to 1.12) were more susceptible to biodegradation. The compounds that persisted (carbamazepine, atrazine, phenytoin, lincomycin) were positively charged with lower Log D ( 1.33) or neutral with higher Log D (1.56 to 2.64). Hydrochlorothiazide showed poor biodegradability despite being neutral and having a lower log D ( 0.71); it is an exception to the above behavior for reasons that have not yet been identified. A comparison of OMP removal in a biologically active polyethylene tube with a biologically active column showed that the biomass established in either systems removed the same OMPs and to similar extent for a majority of the OMPs. This finding supports the use of polyethylene tubes as a simple, cheap and quick method for investigating the trends in OMP removal in RBF.


Catering computer information to expand the scale, standardization of chain operation, the need for high-quality management personnel. The shortage of talent, has become the constraints of important problem of Chinese style restaurant chain of computer information management progress. Chinese restaurant chain computer informationization should establish a people-oriented management concept of human resources, the establishment of the internal training system, strengthening the construction of internal incentive mechanism and computer information culture, effective training and development of catering management talent.


The aim of this study was to examine the influence of visibility on teamwork, collaborative communication, and security issues in emergency departments (EDs). This research explored whether with high visibility in EDs, teamwork and collaborative communication can be improved while the security issues will be reduced. Visibility has been regarded as a critical design consideration and can be directly and considerably impacted by ED's physical design. Teamwork is one of the major related operational outcomes of visibility and involves nurses, support staff, and physicians. The collaborative communication in an ED is another important factor in the process of care delivery and affects efficiency and safety. Furthermore, security is a behavioral factor in ED designs, which includes all types of safety including staff safety, patient safety, and the safety of visitors and family members. This qualitative study investigated the impact of visibility on teamwork, collaborative communication, and security issues in the ED. One-on-one interviews and on-site observation sessions were conducted in a community hospital. Corresponding data analysis was implemented by using computer plan analysis, observation and interview content, and theme analyses. The findings of this exploratory study provided a framework to identify visibility as an influential factor in ED design. High levels of visibility impact productivity and efficiency of teamwork and communication and improve the chance of lowering security issues. The findings of this study also contribute to the general body of knowledge about the effect of physical design on teamwork, collaborative communication, and security.


It is a not-so-well-kept secret that many colleges and universities discriminate against women in admissions. Believing that there are "too many" qualified women seeking admission, these schools resort to holding female applicants to higher academic standards than they hold male applicants. Title IX prohibits federally-funded public institutions as well as federally-funded private graduate schools and private professional schools from engaging in such discrimination. On the other hand, private undergraduate schools (regardless of whether they accept federal funding), are exempt from Title IX's core prohibition on sex discrimination when it comes to admissions. In either case, however, this practice is certainly troubling. Why does it get so little attention?


We investigate the modal characteristics of a 1300-nm InP-based photonic-crystal (PC) vertical-cavity surface- emitting diode laser. To this aim, we apply the plane-wave admittance method and analyze a broad range of PC parameters such as hole etching depth, distance between the holes, and their diameters. We determine a range of technologically feasible PC parameters providing an optimal laser performance.


This path-breaking text deals with the effects of federal civil rights legislation on the behavior and attitudes of the inhabitants of a single county in Mississippi - Panola County. These effects are examined in the three civil rights areas of voting, education, and economic opportunities. By using this smaller example, Frederick M. Wirt's broader interest is to show how legislation can be used to effect social change on a large scale.The need to substitute empirical knowledge for abstract speculation motivates Wirt's study. Wirt restricts his study to one county but with conclusions on comparative studies that illumine the emerging political sociology of the South. The author sketches the historical setting of Panola County, emphasizing on the demographic, economic, and political developments in recent decades. He then examines what has actually happened in race relations as an effect of civil rights laws affecting votes, schools, and jobs.Wirt utilizes documentary material from federal, state, and county sources; local newspapers; and records from business and other groups. But his closer understanding comes from personal interviews. Because federal law is the dynamic factor setting the social system in movement, the author explains the interactions between public opinion, the President, and the Congress, which in the end resulted in the laws on votes, schools, and jobs. He also deals with the differing machinery of sanctions and enforcement. Law has a huge effect on social change; and Wirt draws from his empirical study a systematic, inclusive statement of the factors affecting compliance with law, in conditions of conventional biases.


Bayesian inference in state-space models is challenging due to high-dimensional state trajectories. A viable approach is particle Markov chain Monte Carlo (PMCMC), combining MCMC and sequential Monte Carlo to form ``exact approximations'' to otherwise-intractable MCMC methods. The performance of the approximation is limited to that of the exact method. We focus on particle Gibbs (PG) and particle Gibbs with ancestor sampling (PGAS), improving their performance beyond that of the ideal Gibbs sampler (which they approximate) by marginalizing out one or more parameters. This is possible when the parameter(s) has a conjugate prior relationship with the complete data likelihood. Marginalization yields a non-Markov model for inference, but we show that, in contrast to the general case, the methods still scale linearly in time. While marginalization can be cumbersome to implement, recent advances in probabilistic programming have enabled its automation. We demonstrate how the marginalized methods are viable as efficient inference backends in probabilistic programming, and demonstrate with examples in ecology and epidemiology.


Although transactional models have proved to be very useful for numerous applications, the development of new models to reflect the ever-increasing complexity and diversity of modem applications is a very active area of research. Analysis of the existing models of multithreaded transactions shows that they either give too much fi-eedom to threads und do not control their participation in transactions, or unnecessarily restrict the computational model by assuming that only one thread can enter a transaction. Another important issue, which many models do not address properly, is providing adequate exception handling features. In this paper a new model of multithreaded transactions is proposed. Its detailed description is given, including rules of thread behaviour when transactions start, commit and abort, and rules of exception raising, propagation and handling. This model is supported by enhanced error detection techniques to allow for earlier error detection and for localised recovery. General approaches to implementing transaction support a~ discussed and a detailed description of an Ada implementation is given. Special attention is paid to outlining typical applications for which this model is suitable and to comparing it with several known approaches (Coordinated Atomic actions, CORBA, and Argus).


Persistent inflammation contributes to a number of diseases; therefore, control of the inflammatory response is an important therapeutic goal. In an effort to identify novel anti-inflammatory compounds, we screened a library of pyridazinones and structurally related derivatives that were used previously to identify N-formyl peptide receptor (FPR) agonists. Screening of the compounds for their ability to inhibit lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) transcriptional activity in human THP1-Blue monocytic cells identified 48 compounds with anti-inflammatory activity. Interestingly, 34 compounds were FPR agonists, whereas 14 inhibitors of LPS-induced NF-κB activity were not FPR agonists, indicating that they inhibited different signaling pathways. Further analysis of the most potent inhibitors showed that they also inhibited LPS-induced production of interleukin 6 (IL-6) by human MonoMac-6 monocytic cells, again verifying their anti-inflammatory properties. Structure–activity relationship (SAR) classification models based on atom pair descriptors and physicochemical ADME parameters were developed to achieve better insight into the relationships between chemical structures of the compounds and their biological activities, and we found that there was little correlation between FPR agonist activity and inhibition of LPS-induced NF-κB activity. Indeed, Cmpd43, a well-known pyrazolone-based FPR agonist, as well as FPR1 and FPR2 peptide agonists had no effect on the LPS-induced NF-κB activity in THP1-Blue cells. Thus, some FPR agonists reported to have anti-inflammatory activity may actually mediate their effects through FPR-independent pathways, as it is suggested by our results with this series of compounds. This could explain how treatment with some agonists known to be inflammatory (i.e., FPR1 agonists) could result in anti-inflammatory effects. Further research is clearly needed to define the molecular targets of pyridazinones and structurally related compounds with anti-inflammatory activity and to define their relationships (if any) to FPR signaling events.


Disparagement claims belong in the category of trademark cancellation claims that are not subject to laches defenses because the harm to the public in the continued registration of the mark outweighs any private harm that may be caused by the delay. This exception categorically precludes application of the laches defense and does not require a balancing of the equities that occurs in ordinary cases involving a laches defense. Courts have recognized that the equitable defense is inapplicable in disputes in which there is a public harm caused by the continued legislation and enforcement of the mark.Disparagement claims explicitly target the public harms of perpetuating offensive stereotypes. If laches defenses are barred in cancellation claims that only implicitly protect the public, then that doctrine clearly extends to cancellation claims that explicitly protect the public from harm.


Asia Education Symposium 2006, Inaugural Session: "Education in Japan, Korea, China and Vietnam" ( Day One; Sat., October 14 )


The World Leisure Journal is the official refereed journal of World Leisure. I t has a large, worldwide and otherwise diverse readership composed of researchers, scholars, educators, policy-makers and managers in the commercial, public and voluntary sectors, who work in the arts, the media, sport, tourism, community recreation, therapeutic recreation and other specific fields, and in leisure in general.


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This article focuses on the guilty landscape of the Belgian kidnapper, child rapist and child murderer, Marc Dutroux. Our aim is to explore which role the houses of Dutroux fulfill in the collective memory of this affaire. What has happened with the houses where Dutroux molested, murdered and buried his victims throughout the years? And how has the local community dealt with this physical memory of the kidnappings? In total, sixteen in-depth interviews have been carried out with spokesmen for the local governments, neighbouring residents of the different houses of Dutroux and local entrepreneurs in the tourist industry. Results show that the houses of Dutroux fulfill a problematic role within the collective memory of the Dutroux-affaire. On the one hand there is the need to retain the memory of this painful episode, often accompanied by placing tangible objects such as monuments at the locations of these crimes. In most cases, this process is initiated by the municipalities. On the other hand it appears that after a couple of years, the residents increasingly feel the need to forget. The houses of Dutroux serve as silent witnesses of the affaire, of which the ominous shadow reaches further than the homes of this criminal. We conclude that feelings of guilt and shame related to the Dutroux-case, seem to spill over to its spatial surroundings. In this tension between wanting to remember and wanting to forget, a local art project appears to play a remarkable role.

'Het is een verschrikkelijke gebeurtenis die heeft plaatsgevonden, een zwarte pagina in de geschiedenis. Het is dan niet de bedoeling dat er een museum komt.'
– Marcel Basille (Burgemeester van Lobbes)

'Elke dag word ik ermee geconfronteerd. Het markeert je dag met Marc Dutroux.'
– Buurtbewoner in Marcinelle


Wine contains polyphenols that are responsible for its quality. Moreover, phenolic compounds have antioxidant properties and benefits on human health. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) was the first electrochemical method used for polyphenols characterization and determination of polyphenols content in wine products. Electrochemical behaviour of standard solutions of phenolic compounds has been investigated and evaluated the importance of the phenolic concentration and pH. The electrochemical parameters extracted from the voltammograms have been correlated with the antioxidant potential in wine products. In addition, CV allowed establishing differences in the antioxidant activity of wines with different addition of grape seeds. In winemaking by-products, different Ipa and Q500 values were found depending on the state of maturation of the grape pomace. On the other hand, the total flavonoids and phenolic acids contents were significantly correlated to the electrochemical parameters. Differences for the electrochemical parameters were found between by-products, being pomace and seeds which presented the greatest values of Q500. Simple regression analyses showed that voltammetric parameters are correlated to their values of lipid peroxidation inhibition by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances method. Our results open the possibility of CV as a promising technique to estimate the global antioxidant potential of wine products rich in phenolic compounds.


The series Religion and Society (RS) contributes to the exploration of religions as social systems both in Western and non-Western societies; in particular, it examines religions in their differentiation from, and intersection with, other cultural systems, such as art, economy, law and politics. Due attention is given to paradigmatic case or comparative studies that exhibit a clear theoretical orientation with the empirical and historical data of religion and such aspects of religion as ritual, the religious imagination, constructions of tradition, iconography, or media. In addition, the formation of religious communities, their construction of identity, and their relation to society and the wider public are key issues of this series. "