One of Claude Shannon's best remembered "toys" was his maze-solving machine, created by partitions on a rectangular grid. A mechanical mouse was started at one point in the maze with the task of finding cheese at another point. Relays under the board guided successive moves, each of which were taken in the first open counterclockwise direction from the previous move. In belated honor of Shannon's centenary and of amnesia in the mouse at age 70, we compare this deterministic search strategy with a random search requiring no memory. For simplicity, the rectangular grid with partitions is replaced by a finite connected graph. A maze is then a graph with some given destination node. The worst case required number of steps to find the cheese for deterministic searches and the expected number for random searches are remarkably similar, each being, for example, $|\mathcal {E}^2|$|E2| taken over all graphs of $|\mathcal {E}|$|E| edges. Finally, we demonstrate a simple improvement to the above algorithms that generates an Eulerian cycle on the directed edges of $G$G, i.e., a walk on $G$G of $2|\mathcal {E}|$2|E| steps that traverses each edge in $G$G exactly once in each direction before returning to the starting point.


Abstract The quantification of disparity is an important aspect of recent macroevolutionary studies, and it is usually motivated by theoretical considerations about the pace of innovation and the filling of morphospace. In practice, varying protocols of data collection and analysis have rendered comparisons among studies difficult. The basic question remains, How sensitive is any given disparity signal to different aspects of sampling and data analysis? Here we explore this issue in the context of the radiation of the echinoid order Spatangoida during the Cretaceous. We compare patterns at the genus and species levels, with time subdivision into subepochs and into stages, and with morphological sampling based on landmarks, traditional morphometrics, and discrete characters. In terms of temporal scale, similarity of disparity pattern accrues despite a change in temporal resolution, and a general deceleration in morphological diversification is apparent. Different morphometric methods also produce similar signals. Both the landmark analysis and the discrete character analysis suggest relatively high early disparity, whereas the analysis based on traditional morphometrics records a much lower value. This difference appears to reflect primarily the measurement of different aspects of overall morphology. Disparity patterns are similar at both the genus and species levels. Moreover, inclusion or exclusion of the sister order Holasteroida and the stem group Disasteroida in the sampled morphospace did not affect proportional changes in spatangoid disparity. Similar results were found for spatangoid subclades vis-à-vis spatangoids as a whole. The relative robustness of these patterns implies that the choice of temporal scale, morphometric scheme, and taxonomic level may not affect broad trends in disparity and the representation of large-scale morphospace structure.


Over the last few decades, states have imposed tougher punishments on drunk drivers. This article argues that increasing punishments is counter-productive. If legislatures are seeking to hold guilty offenders accountable and deter drunk driving generally, they should keep punishments low and instead abolish the right to jury trials. Under the petty offense doctrine, the Supreme Court has authorized states to abolish jury trials when defendants face a maximum sentence of six months' incarceration. Social science evidence has long demonstrated that judges are more likely to convict than juries, particularly in drunk driving cases. And researchers have also found that the certainty of punishment, not the severity of punishment, is the key factor in maximizing deterrence. Thus, by keeping maximum sentences for most drunk driving offenders at six months or less, states can abolish jury trials, thereby raising conviction rates and improving general deterrence. Additionally, bench trials will be far more efficient because the greater certainty of conviction will give defendants an incentive to plead guilty rather than taking their cases to trial. When trials do occur they will be much faster because there will be no need to select juries, and lawyers will have to present far less background information to already knowledgeable judges. At present, only a handful of states have eliminated jury trials for drunk drivers. This article outlines the specific steps that states should take to abolish jury trials and thereby increase convictions, maximize general deterrence, and more efficiently handle one of the most common crimes in the United States.


Copepods are some of the most abundant animals on the planet, accounting for a large
proportion of mesozooplankton biomass in the oceans. They are an important link
between microbial processes and higher trophic levels, and for this reason the
measurement of copepod productivity is a central theme in Biological Oceanography.
Because biological production is a function of growth rate, considerable effort has been
invested in developing techniques for studying various aspects of copepod
development and growth. Historically, most studies investigating the biology, growth
and production of copepods have been conducted in temperate waters, and
information on tropical copepod species is extremely scarce. Tropical species are often
exposed to sub-optimal trophic resources and have higher metabolism expenditure
than temperate species. These differences limit the direct application of current
empirical models, based mostly on temperate data to the tropics. However, tropical
seas comprise a large part of the world's oceans, and more studies on the biology of
tropical copepods are necessary for a better understanding of biogeochemical cycles in
the tropics, and for improved estimates of energy flow in the oceans. This thesis tries to
fill this gap by advancing our understanding of some important characteristics of the
development and growth of tropical copepods. The objective of this thesis is to
determine the effectiveness of the application of traditional and biochemical indices for
the study of growth and development of tropical copepods. More specifically, this study
investigates the applicability of the artificial cohort and egg production techniques, and
nucleic acid indices for the study of tropical copepod species.

In the first part of the thesis I used the artificial cohort technique to investigate trophic
influences on the development, growth, production, and the occurrence of intersexes
and skewed sex ratios in the tropical paracalanid copepod Acrocalanus gracilis from
the Timor Sea. An artificial cohort of A. gracilis was followed from egg to adulthood,
and its development characterised by the calculation of stage specific duration, median
development time, moulting period duration, and moult and growth rates. In addition,
the morphometry, sex ratios and the occurrence of intersexes in copepodite and adult
stages was quantified during the development of the experimental population of A.
gracilis and compared to the wild population. The food environment in the experimental
incubation was poorer than in situ. The somatic growth of A. gracilis was log-linear
throughout most of its development, even under variable and limited food conditions.
Linearity of growth appears to be maintained at the cost of varying the moulting rate
and stage duration. The development of this species conforms to the equiproportional model, and in this respect is similar to other paracalanid species. The quality and
quantity of food significantly affected the morphometry and body size of all copepodite
stages of A. gracilis, indicating that trophic conditions play an important role in
controlling the development features of paracalanids more generally. Moreover,
intersexes were more frequent in the food limited experimental incubation than in the
field. Adult males were present in the field, but were completely absent from the
experiment. The sex ratios calculated considering intersexes as males in C5 and adults
showed no significant difference between populations in the field and in the
experiment. On the other hand, sex ratios in the experiment were significantly different
from the field when intersexes were added to females. These results suggest that the
occurrence of intersexes is a result of the process of sex change in male copepodites,
and that these Intersexes can have a major effect on the sex ratio of copepod
populations. The quality and quantity of food that the animals experience during
development appears to be the key factor controlling sex change in copepods. The
point of sex switching occurs late in the development of A. gracilis, and appears to be
triggered by the nutritional condition of copepodite 4 males. Sex determination in
copepods appears to be under strong environmental control, and sex change is an
important mechanism determining the adult sex ratio of copepod populations,
explaining the often female skewed sex ratios observed in copepod populations. In
addition, the results and hypothesis presented here enhance our understanding and
raise new questions about the sex determination and sex change processes in
copepods, implications for sex ratios, and ultimately for the maintenance and success
of copepod populations in nature.

In the second part of the thesis I evaluated the individual and interactive effects of food
quantity, food quality and temperature on the egg production, nucleic acid content and
nucleic acid—egg production relationship of the copepod Acartia sinjiensis. The egg
production rate and nucleic acid content of A. sinjiensis females were quantified in a
series of laboratory experiments where different food types (Tetraselmis chuii, Pavlova
salina, Isochrysis aff. galbana and Chaetoceros muelleri) were offered at various
concentrations and temperature levels. Food quality, quantity, temperature and their
interaction significantly affected the nucleic acid content, egg production rate and the
nucleic acid—egg production relationship of Acartia sinjiensis. The egg production,
RNA:DNA ratio and individual RNA content of food-limited females were lower than
animals fed non-limiting algae concentrations. Under non-limiting food conditions, A.
sinjiensis females produced more eggs and had higher nucleic acid concentrations
when fed Tetraselmis and Pavlova, than when fed Isochrysis and Chaetoceros. Under food-limiting conditions, differences in food quality became evident as only the higher
quality algae Pavlova and Tetraselmis could support egg production. Moreover, the
relationship of RNA content, RNA:DNA ratio and egg production with food
concentration followed the same sigmoid function up to an asymptotic (saturation)
level. The minimum food concentration necessary to saturate the RNA content,
RNA:DNA ratio and egg production was between 500—1000Zg Cl-1, as is the case in
other Acartia species. Furthermore, the slopes of linear regressions using nucleic acid
indices as predictors of egg production were similar in females fed different algal
species (i.e. different food quality), but the intercepts of these regressions differed
significantly. The DNA content of A. sinjiensis females was significantly affected by
food and temperature, suggesting that it is not a good index of cell number in
copepods. Despite this, the RNA:DNA ratio was as good a predictor of egg production
as total RNA content in this species. While temperature appeared to have a minor
effect on the egg production of A. sinjiensis, total, C- and N-specific nucleic acid indices
had a strong negative correlation with temperature. Furthermore, the slopes of the
regression lines of RNA content and RNA:DNA ratio as predictors of egg production
increased non linearly with temperature. Finally, the interaction terms of RNA based
nucleic acid indices with temperature were better predictors of egg production in linear
models than these indices alone in A. sinjiensis. These findings indicate that
temperature, food quantity and quality are key factors controlling the egg production
rate, the nucleic acid content, and the nucleic acid—egg production relationship in
Acartia sinjiensis. Finally, these results provide key information for the development of
predictive models of egg production based on nucleic acid indices for A. sinjiensis and
other tropical copepods.


BACKGROUND
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a significant problem for military veterans. There is an international imperative to improve access to effective treatments, but more research is needed to ascertain the extent to which treatments found to be efficacious in research settings translate to successful national implementation efforts.

METHOD
This study reports the clinical outcomes for the first 100 clients treated following the implementation of cognitive processing therapy (CPT) across a national community-based veterans' mental health service that commenced in May 2012. The implementation included training and ongoing clinical supervision, leadership support, and updates to the service's data collection and intake system to support the delivery of CPT. The service implemented an intake screen (the Primary Care PTSD) that was used to allocate clients who screened positive for PTSD to CPT-trained therapists. An outcome measure for PTSD (the PTSD Checklist) was incorporated into the services' computerized records system. Clients who received CPT were assessed pretreatment and posttreatment.

RESULTS
Statistically significant and clinically large improvements were found for self-reported PTSD (effect size = 1.01, P < .001). In addition, the study obtained high levels of treatment fidelity in the delivery of the CPT treatment.

CONCLUSIONS
There is relatively little published research supporting the effectiveness of evidence-based PTSD treatments following national implementation efforts. This is the first study to systematically report CPT treatment outcomes from a national implementation effort, using service-based outcome monitoring data. Results indicate that when administered as part of routine clinical practice, CPT achieves large clinically significant improvements for PTSD comparable with those found in randomized controlled trials.


In our normal, daily lives we are invariably so self-preoccupied that we find it difficult to be able to accord others the same reality and value we give to ourselves. In brief, it's difficult for us to live in true empathy because we are forever consumed with our own heartaches and headaches. From two famous intellectuals, one speaking philosophically and the other psychologically, we get that same insight.


This is an exploratory study of "organic" versus "sustainable" agriculture applied to fed cattle production. Two interrelated premises underlie the study. The paramount factors considered in current certification standards for organic beef production, in our judgment, are (1) protection of animal health and welfare and (2) production of a differentiated product intended to be conducive to consumer health and which, therefore, will command a price premium in the market. Second, we believe the concept of sustainability embraces concerns extending beyond those currently embodied in organic production standards. · The theme of organic versus sustainable fed cattle production is examined through development and verification of two production indices: a Producer Organic Index (POI) and a Producer Sustainability Index (PSI). The POI reflects current production standards for organically certified beef. The PSI reflects a broader range of concerns, including long-term natural resource conservation and economic staying-power of cattle producers. Results of the study show there may be only a loose connection between current certification standards for organic beef production and conditions for sustainable beef production. Factors conducive to production of organic and sustainable beef production are identified. The methodology embodied in development of the producer indices can be used to provide insights to beef cattle extension specialists and individual cattle producers on strengths and weaknesses in current feedlot management practices.


Description: Explains how GIS enhances the development of chemical fate and transport models Over the past decade, researchers have discovered that geographic information systems (GIS) are not only excellent tools for managing and displaying maps, but also useful in the analysis of chemical fate and transport in the environment. Among its many benefits, GIS facilitates the identification of critical factors that drive chemical fate and transport. Moreover, GIS makes it easier to communicate and explain key model assumptions. Based on the author's firsthand experience in environmental assessment, GIS Based Chemical Fate Modeling explores both GIS and chemical fate and transport modeling fundamentals, creating an interface between the two domains. It then explains how GIS analytical functions enable scientists to develop simple, yet comprehensive spatially explicit chemical fate and transport models that support real–world applications. In addition, the book features: Practical examples of GIS based model calculations that serve as templates for the development of new applications Exercises enabling readers to create their own GIS based models Accompanying website featuring downloadable datasets used in the book's examples and exercises References to the literature, websites, data repositories, and online reports to facilitate further research Coverage of important topics such as spatial decision support systems and multi–criteria analysis as well as ecological and human health risk assessment in a spatial context GIS Based Chemical Fate Modeling makes a unique contribution to the environmental sciences by explaining how GIS analytical functions enhance the development and interpretation of chemical fate and transport models. Environmental scientists should turn to this book to gain a deeper understanding of the role of GIS in describing what happens to chemicals when they are released into the environment.


We describe a new Godunov algorithm for relativistic magnetohydrodynamics (RMHD) that combines a simple, unsplit second-order accurate integrator with the constrained transport (CT) method for enforcing the solenoidal constraint on the magnetic field. A variety of approximate Riemann solvers are implemented to compute the fluxes of the conserved variables. The methods are tested with a comprehensive suite of multi-dimensional problems. These tests have helped us develop a hierarchy of correction steps that are applied when the integration algorithm predicts unphysical states due to errors in the fluxes, or errors in the inversion between conserved and primitive variables. Although used exceedingly rarely, these corrections dramatically improve the stability of the algorithm. We present preliminary results from the application of these algorithms to two problems in RMHD: the propagation of supersonic magnetized jets and the amplification of magnetic field by turbulence driven by the relativistic Kelvin–Helmholtz instability (KHI). Both of these applications reveal important differences between the results computed with Riemann solvers that adopt different approximations for the fluxes. For example, we show that the use of Riemann solvers that include both contact and rotational discontinuities can increase the strength of the magnetic field within the cocoon by a factor of 10 in simulations of RMHD jets and can increase the spectral resolution of three-dimensional RMHD turbulence driven by the KHI by a factor of two. This increase in accuracy far outweighs the associated increase in computational cost. Our RMHD scheme is publicly available as part of the Athena code.


Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) in principle has the capability to detect and localise complex chemistry on the sub-cellular scale. Robust sample preparation protocols are therefore of great importance when attempting to preserve the natural biochemistry and architecture of biological specimens and extract meaningful information. It is likely that the optimum methodology will depend on the nature of the sample, and the goal of the analysis. The following study focussed on the preparation of cancer cells for ToF-SIMS analysis. Air drying, freeze fracturing, freeze drying and cytospinning-based preparation techniques and variations thereof were evaluated. Using image contrast, assessing spectra for the gain, or loss of native and non-native cellular species and the ratio of inorganic to organic ion yields, the investigation provides a systematic evaluation of the features of each preparation technique. This study then employed the optimum methods to determine the influence of the various phases of the cell cycle on classification of ToF-SIMS spectral data. A number of cell types, both cancerous and non-cancerous in G1, S and G2/M growth phases are separated by anticancer drug treatment and FACS (fluorescence activated cell sorting) and subjected to ToF-SIMS analysis. The results indicate that ToF-SIMS can detect surface biochemical changes induced by the cell cycle. Importantly it is also capable of detecting subtle alterations in cellular chemistry caused by anticancer drugs. Furthermore, the ToF-SIMS data was compared to results obtained from synchrotron sourced FTIR microspectroscopy to provide a more robust complementary analysis and support chemical evidence gathered.


The recent development of electrical vehicles (EVs) offers vast benefits not only in environmental protection and economics but also in demand response (DR). Employing EVs in load scheduling enables householders to help alleviate the network load burden while reducing their own electric bills. In this chapter, innovative EV-assisted DR strategies with an EV auxiliary power supply (APS) model and a neighbor energy sharing (NES) model are proposed, to jointly optimize the load distribution for both individual household and multi-household network via vehicle-to-home (V2H) and vehicle-to-neighbor (V2N)connections, respectively. The proposed DR strategies take account of the comprehensive impacts of EV charging behaviors, user preferences, distributed generation, and load priority. The effectiveness of the proposed energy management solutions is verified by numerical results in terms of load balancing and cost reduction. The proposed DR strategies also significantly outperform the previous approaches.


The last decade, scientific studies have indicated an association between air pollution to which people are exposed and wide range of adverse health outcomes. We have developed a tool which is based on a model (MM5-CMAQ) running over Europe with 50 km spatial resolution, based on EMEP annual emissions, to produce a short-term forecast of the impact on health. In order to estimate the mortality change (forecasted for the next 24 hours) we have chosen a log-linear (Poisson) regression form to estimate the concentration-response function. The parameters involved in the C-R function have been estimated based on epidemiological studies, which have been published. Finally, we have derived the relationship between concentration change and mortality change from the C-R function which is the final health impact function.


In proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC), gas diffusion layers (GDL) play a critical role of supplying the oxidant and the fuel to the cathode and anode besides facilitating transfer of the electrons generated to the current collectors. In the present paper, a new low cost activated carbon fabric of high porous nature has been investigated for its suitability as substrate layer in PEMFC electrodes alternative to the carbon paper. The critical parameters like permeability, porosity, fuel cell performance are compared with standard substrate layer after optimizing the electrode structure. Economic analysis for a 1 kW power system reveals that there exists a considerable cost reduction by about 50%, with reference to the substrate layer.Copyright © 2005 by ASME


This article examines U.S. Vice President Henry A. Wallace's Cold War dissent as a window into racial geopolitics in a post–World War II era of decolonization and U.S. global power. Focused on Wallace and the United States, the article uses a wide range of published and archival sources to argue that Wallace and U.S. anticolonial liberal elites saw anti-racist egalitarian pressures in the post-1945 international system as not only a threat, as existing scholarship suggests, but also an opportunity for U.S. global expansion—particularly in the Pacific Rim. By the 1960s, Wallace and postwar anti-racist activists diminished in influence amid global Cold War pressures reviving racial restrictions and Cold War militarization after the Korean War. Nonetheless, Wallace's anti-racist diplomacy, stemming from long-running U.S. and global liberal debates and political struggles over race and empire, suggests the wider role of anti-racist geopolitics and the paradoxical persistence of race as a global cultural concept in the postwar era.


The Oxford University Museum of Natural History appears to be quintessentially Victorian, with its iron-and-glass architecture. It even bears the seal of approval of the great doyen of Victorian taste, John Ruskin (1819-1900). However, this museum also embodies William Paley's (1743-1805) Romantic-era Christian philosophy of divine design. Paley was the great synthesizer of the tradition of Natural Theology, which held that God's benevolence and ingenuity could be "read" from nature just as they could from the Bible. I argue that Paley's influence persisted long after the Romantic era and pervaded the Oxford University Museum (founded 1860) and its program of architectural decoration. To enter the museum, we walk under the arm of the carved angel who holds the book of nature. The teaching and popular writings of the clergyman and geologist William Buckland (1784-1856) form a bridge between Paley and the Oxford University Museum. Buckland was an inspired, innovative re-constructor of ancient ecosystems. His pupils included Ruskin and Henry Acland, two of the great advocates of the Oxford University Museum. Buckland's popular Bridgewater Treatise (1836) exemplifies Natural Theology, and features an imaginary walk through the mineral deposits of Britain. Paralleling this imaginary walk, the Oxford University Museum had columns made from different kinds of British stone, allowing visitors to stroll through Britain's mineral wealth. Where Paley admired the structure and beauty of common flowers, the museum featured entrancing botanical carvings; drawing on the Romantic poetry of Walter Scott, Ruskin admired their combination of religious feeling, truth to nature, and beauty.


We discuss the theoretical machinery involved in predicting financial market movements using an artificial market model which has been trained on real financial data. This approach to market prediction-in particular, forecasting financial time-series by training a third-party or 'black box' game on the financial data itself – was discussed by Johnson et al. in [10] and [13] and was based on some encouraging preliminary investigations of the dollar-yen exchange rate, various individual stocks, and stock market indices (see [12] for more details also). However, the initial attempts lacked a clear formal methodology. Here we present a detailed methodology, using optimization techniques to build an estimate of the strategy distribution across the multi-trader population. In contrast to earlier attempts, we are able to present a systematic method for identifying 'pockets of predictability' in real-world markets. We find that as each pocket closes up, the black-box system needs to be 'reset'-which is equivalent to saying that the current probability estimates of the strategy allocation across the multi-trader population are no longer accurate. Instead, new probability estimates need to be obtained by iterative updating, until a new 'pocket of predictability' emerges and reliable prediction can resume.


Ongoing arc magmatism along western North America was preceded by ancestral arc magmatism that began ca. 45 Ma and evolved into modern arc volcanism. The southern ancestral arc segment, active from ca. 30 to 3 Ma, adjoins the northern segment in northern California across a proposed subducted slab tear. The east edge of the Walker Lane approximates the east edge of the southern arc whose products, mostly erupted from stratovolcanoes and lava dome complexes arrayed along the crest of the ancestral arc, extend down the west flank of the Sierra Nevada. Southern arc segment rocks include potassic, calc-alkaline intermediate- to silicic-composition lava flows, lava dome complexes, and associated volcaniclastic deposits. Northern and southern segment rocks are similar to other convergent-margin magmatic arc rocks but are compositionally distinct from each other. Southern segment rocks have lower TiO 2 , FeO*, CaO, and Na 2 O contents and higher K 2 O contents, and exhibit less compositional-temporal variation. Compositional distinctions between the northern and southern segment rocks reflect the composition and thickness of the crust beneath which the associated magma systems were sourced. Northern segment rock compositions are consistent with generation beneath thin, primitive crust, whereas southern segment rocks represent magmas generated and fractionated beneath thicker, more evolved crust. Although rocks in the two arc segments have similar metal abundances, they are metallogenically distinct. Small porphyry copper deposits are characteristic of the northern segment whereas significant epithermal precious metal deposits are most commonly associated with the southern segment. These metallogenic differences are also fundamentally linked to the tectonic settings and crustal regimes within which these two arc segments evolved.


The reflectivities of Ag, Au, Cu, and Al were measured at an angle of incidence of 45°, in the wavelength range of 0.40μ to 0.95μ at glass-metal and air-metal interfaces. These reflectivities, together with previously determined values of the absorption coefficient k, were used to calculate the index of refraction n. Samples were prepared by evaporation and deposition from the vapor. The important experimental results are: (1) The ratios of the reflectivities in the s plane to those in the p plane agreed with the theoretical values. This result indicates that the boundary conditions required for the application of the equations of electromagnetic theory have been satisfied. (2) Ageing and annealing resulted in increased reflectivity at both air-metal and glass-metal interfaces. (3) The values of n obtained from aged or annealed samples were in many cases considerably lower than previously published values.


Introduction. Why Product Companies Jump In. The Sirens' Song of Services. The Product-Services Wheel. Good Reasons to Offer New Services. 1. Mapping the Voyage. Parameters for Success. Primary Audience. Chapter Structure. Secondary Audiences. Chapter Overview Table. 2. Setting the Parameters. Are You Sure? Four Qualifying Questions. Mission. Format. Audience. Overarching Objective. Mission and the SAR Factor. Business Model. Objectives. Guiding Principles. 3. Levers for Profitability. Revenue. Revenue Types. Revenue Mix. Revenue Growth Rate. References. Product References. Capabilities References. Solution References. Industry References. Repeatability. Tale of Two Business Units. 4. Organizational Overview. Professional Services Functional Map. Selling. Delivering. Productizing. Promoting. Operations. Professional Services O-Map. General PS Interfaces. O-Map Interfaces. 5. Selling. Supply and Demand in Professional Services. Warning! Function Overview. Critical Success Factors. Services Sales Charter. Identify and Close. Identify. Qualify. Propose. Negotiate. Forecast. Roles and Responsibilities. Key Interfaces for Sales. Compensation for Sales. Key Variables. Key Metrics for Sales. Organizational Structure and Sizing. Target Revenue. Rep Quotas. Geography versus Industry Based. Sample Organizational Structure. Sample Budget. Issues to Watch. 6. Delivering. Function Overview. Critical Success Factors. Services Delivery Charter. Estimate. Execute. Requirements Review. Plan. Design and Develop. Implement. Sign-Off. Review. Follow-On. Educate. Roles and Responsibilities. Key Interfaces for Delivery. Compensation for the Delivery Function. Key Metrics. Organizational Structure and Sizing. Revenue Mix. Billable Utilization Rate. Billable Rate. Sample Organizational Structure. Sample Budget. Issues to Watch. 7. Productizing. Function Overview. Critical Success Factors. Services Engineering Charter. Capture. Project Review. Solution Review. IP Capture. Improve. Solution Development. Sample Architecture. Sample Project Plan. Sample Proposal. Engagement Framework and Engagement Activity Forms. Resource Profiles. Partner Profiles. Source Code. Training Materials. Demonstrations. Leverage. Solution Rollout. Sales Support. Solution Evaluation. Roles and Responsibilities. Key Interfaces for Services Engineering. Compensation for Services Engineering Staff. Key Metrics for Services Engineering. Organizational Structure and Sizing. Target Mix. Number of Solutions. Sample Organizational Structure. Sample Budget. Issues to Watch. 8. Promoting. Function Overview. Critical Success Factors. Services Marketing Charter. Differentiate. The Solution Review. Solution Rollout. Campaign Development. Validate. Demos. Benchmarking. Evangelize. Sales Training. Channel Management. Lighthouse Accounts. Roles and Responsibilities. Key Interfaces for the Services Marketing Function. Compensation for Services Marketing. Key Metrics for Services Marketing. Organizational Structure and Sizing. Unique Regions. Number of Solutions. Sample Organizational Structure. Sample Budget. Issues to Watch. 9. Operational Infrastructure. The Framework. Critical Success Factors. Operational Process. Legal Support. PS Automation. Operational Reports. Funnel Reports. Bookings Reports. Billings Reports. Backlog Reports. Web Sites. Electronic Newsletters. Internal Distribution Lists. Financial Reporting. Executive Dashboard. Metrics Reporting. Project Processes. Partner Management. Resource Management. Solutions Assurance Review. Project Accounting. Project Reports. Knowledge Management. Staff Processes. Commission Payments. Proposal Generation. Professional Development. Project Management Certification. General Training. PS Specific Training. Staff Reports. Time Reporting. Roles and Responsibilities. Key Interfaces for Operations. Compensation for Operations. Organizational Structure and Sizing. 10. Putting It All Together. Organizational Parameters. Organizational Interfaces. Interfaces within Professional Services. Interfaces with the Larger Company. External Interfaces. Interfaces by Function. Technical Staff versus Sales and Marketing Staff. Field Staff versus Corporate Staff. Organizational Structure. Roles and Responsibilities. Processes and Metrics. Compensation. Business Model and Budget. Summary. 11. Customer Engagement Workflow. Workflow Overview. Step 1: Request. Step 2: Qualify. Step 3: Bid. Step 4: Negotiate. Step 5: Develop. Step 6: Implement. Step 7: Sign-Off. Step 8: Review. Summary. 12. Four Phases of Building PS. Overview of Phases. Phase I-Implementation Services. Value Proposition. Profitability Triangle Focus. Critical Skills. Required Operational Infrastructure. Target Mix. Revenue Growth Rate. Target Gross Margin. Target Operating Profit. Phase II-Integration Services. Value Proposition. Profitability Triangle Focus. Critical Skills. Required Operational Infrastructure. Target Mix. Revenue Growth Rate. Target Gross Margin. Target Operating Profit. Phase III-Consulting Services. Value Proposition. Profitability Triangle Focus. Critical Skills. Required Operational Infrastructure. Target Mix. Revenue Growth Rate. Target Gross Margin. Target Operating Profit. Phase IV-Productized Services. Value Proposition. Profitability Triangle Focus. Critical Skills. Required Operational Infrastructure. Target Mix. Revenue Growth Rate. Target Gross Margin. Target Operating Profit. Maturity Time Line. Services Phases Graph. Skipping a Phase. Stalling in a Phase. Services Market Landscape. Hewlett Packard: More Than Just an Integrator? Compaq: Buying Its Way Around the Wheel. Sun: Not Sure They Want In. EMC: Knows the Way to Go. Management Positioning. 13. Unique Issues. Alignment. Vertical Alignment: Aligning Service Solutions and Capabilities. Horizontal Alignment: Aligning Service Departments. Aligning Skills. Overlap. Partner Conflict. Product Infrastructure versus Service Infrastructure. Internal Education and Promotion. Global Differences. Closing Comments. 14. Summary of Key Concepts. The SAR Factor. Four Qualifying Questions. Ten Parameters for Running a Business. Key Levers of a Professional Services Business. Organization Structure, Metrics, and Compensation. Business Model and Objectives. Maturity Time Line. Unique Issues. Sirens' Song. Appendix A. Evaluating Your Service Vendors. Tier I-Solutions and Capabilities. Tier II-Ability to Execute. Tier III-Strategic Fit. Appendix B. Key Financial Models. Appendix C. PS Business Review. Timing. Attendees. Agenda. Sample Review Packages. Appendix D. Sample Project Review. Project Review Executive Summary. 1.0 Project Overview. 2.0 Project Team. 3.0 Project Statistics. 3.1 Phase I: Detailed Design. 3.2 Phase II: Interpretation. 3.3 Project Statistics Interpretation. 4.0 Repeatable Components. 5.0 Conclusions. Appendix E. Solution Portfolio Management. Solution Portfolio Graph. Solution Revenue. Solution Maturity. Solution Margin. Portfolio Ownership. Services Marketing. Services Engineering. Appendix F. Customer Request and Qualification Form. Request and Qualification Form. Customer Qualification Information. Glossary. Glossary of Terms. Selected Bibliography. Index.


IntroductionAcute Kidney Injury (AKI) effects up to 20% of emergency hospital admissions. It can be identified from serum creatinine (SCr) levels and as such an e-alert system has been introduced to hospitals in England and Wales to identify AKI. This system relies on manual review by pathology laboratory staff to prevent false alerts in dialysis patients.
Objectives and ApproachOur aim is to use routinely collected dialysis timeline and dialysis treatment data in order to create dialysis treatment spells using Structured Query Language (SQL), which can then be compared with dialysis prevalence results in the UK renal registry. Furthermore, we will link this data with biochemical results in Secure Anonymised Information Linkage (SAIL) Databank to create an AKI cohort.
Through identifying when patients are on renal replacement therapy (RRT) at a specific time we are able to exclude false positive AKI Alerts. This is done in two ways – one from a timeline within the data which is used in the UK renal registry. The other using individual dialysis sessions to get accurate coverage, as short periods of acute dialysis are often not been recorded in UK renal registry data.
ResultsUsing the renal dataset in SAIL we were able identify more renal dialysis patients than the UK renal registry between (2009-17). By applying this to Swansea and Bridgend pathology data in SAIL we were able to identify 60,072 SCr tests in dialysis patients between 2011 and 2013 out of 1,776,101 SCr tests. In this cohort, without ruling out dialysis patients there would be 91,140 AKI alerts, however 19.6% (17,855) of the alerts are during dialysis treatments spells.
Conclusion / ImplicationsWe were able to recreate the 'e-Alert' algorithm using SQL with SAIL and get an accurate picture of RRT in Wales, enabling more accurate AKI analysis.


The widespread use of GUIs for interacting with software is leading to the construction of more and more complex GUIs. With the growing complexity come challenges in testing the correctness of a GUI and its underlying software. We present a new technique to automatically generate test cases for GUIs that exploits planning, a well-developed and used technique in artificial intelligence. Given a set of operators, an initial state, and a goal state, a planner produces a sequence of the operators that will transform the initial state to the goal state. Our test case generation technique enables efficient application of planning by first creating a hierarchical model of a GUI based on its structure. The GUI model consists of hierarchical planning operators representing the possible events in the GUI. The test designer defines the preconditions and effects of the hierarchical operators, which are input into a plan-generation system. The test designer also creates scenarios that represent typical initial and goal states for a GUI user. The planner then generates plans representing sequences of GUI interactions that a user might employ to reach the goal state from the initial state. We implemented our test case generation system, called Planning Assisted Tester for Graphical User Interface Systems (PATHS) and experimentally evaluated its practicality and effectiveness. We describe a prototype implementation of PATHS and report on the results of controlled experiments to generate test cases for Microsoft's WordPad.


The concept of the papal Antichrist evolved throughout the Middle Ages, developing multiple layers of meaning and distinctive modes of rhetorical expression. It reached its most elaborate late medieval form in the Hussite treatise known as Anatomy of the Antichrist. This work provides a comprehensive summary of antipapal Antichristology using nominal tropes, anatomical metaphors, and antithetical contrasts between the idealized primitive church and the fifteenth-century Roman church. Philip Melanchthon's polemical The Pope-Ass Explained (1523) reveals close parallels to the content of Anatomy of the Antichrist. These similarities demonstrate that the authors of both works shared a common vocabulary and tropological understanding of the figure of the papal Antichrist.


This study diagnoses the spatio-temporal variation of three major hydroclimatic variables (temperature, precipitation and evaporation) estimated from four general circulation models participating in the Fifth Phase of the Coupled Model Intercomparision Project (CMIP5). Changes in climate regime are analyzed across India for the historical scenario (1850–2005) and for the RCP8.5 scenario (2006–2100). The study provides a relative assessment of projected changes in climatic pattern over different zones in India, broadly divided as southern, Eastern, Western, Central, North-Eastern and Himalayan regions. Monthly data for both the scenarios were obtained, and all the data were re-gridded to a common resolution. All the models show a stronger warming in the future as compared to the historical period. The North-Eastern, Northern and Himalayan regions are likely to be severely affected. Though inconsistencies have been observed among the models, the majority of them predict an increase in precipitation in future, with a major increment in southern cities. The Himalayan belt is expected to receive heavy rainfall in the summer season, with little change in the winter season. Most of the regions are not expected to experience change in evaporation in pre-monsoonal months, but substantial change is expected in some regions during monsoonal and post-monsoonal months.


Executive Summary Shortly after the Civil War, the American people amended the Constitution in an effort to better protect individuals against state violations of their rights. Under the Privileges or Immunities Clause of the new Fourteenth Amendment, constitutional guarantees against the federal government could be raised for the first time against state governments as well. Although targeted initially against the "black codes" that were emerging in the postwar South, the amendment was written broadly to protect all Americans. But 125 years ago, in 1873, in the infamous Slaughterhouse Cases, a deeply divided Supreme Court effectively eviscerated the Privileges or Immunities Clause. Since then courts have tried to do under the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the amendment what should have been done under the more substantive Privileges or Immunities Clause. The result has been an erratic and often groundless Fourteenth Amendment jurisprudence that has pleased neither liberals nor conservatives, yet both oppose reviving the clause. Liberals tend to favor the latitude judges now have. Conservatives fear revival will lead to still more "judicial activism." Both sides are wrong. Conservative "originalists" cannot ignore the plain language and history of the Privileges or Immunities Clause. Liberals need to appreciate that a properly read and applied clause will better protect individual rights. In the current federalism debate, both sides should understand that power will be devolved to the states and the people in a principled way only if the principles inherent in the Privileges or Immunities Clause are revived--along with the clause itself.


Objectives: To assess the no inferiority of K2M Mesa Small Stature versus K2M Mesa System for degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis (DS). To assess pros and cons of K2M Mesa Small Stature System vs K2M Mesa System to treat degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis. To assess evolutions of symptoms after surgery using a lower profile screws and rods system for lumbar arthrodesis generally adopted in pediatric patients. Methods: Seventy-one (71) patients were evaluated during a 24 months follow-up period. Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) plus Economic and Functional PROLO grades and VAS scores were obtained using a webbased questionnaire. We investigated ODI plus Economic and Functional PROLO grades and VAS scores on a series of patients treated surgically for degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis with a 24 months follow-up. 40 patients were treated with K2M Mesa Small Stature System and 31 patients with K2M Mesa System. All surgical operation were performed by the same surgeon (SM) using CT based computer assisted surgical navigation. No statistical difference was noticed among the two groups. K2M Mesa Small Stature System is lower in profile and size than standard Mesa system. Nevertheless it provided comparable follow-up results to K2M Mesa. Results: Variables studied at 6, 12 and 24 months were similar among two groups (p>0,05). Conclusions: Lower profile, lower invasivity Mesa Small Stature System demonstrated safe and reliable for degenerative lumbar spine disease


The puzzle this article examines is how one can study the concept of modernity within the history of its universalization as a process of translation. For this purpose, I look at how the contemporary Moroccan historian and intellectual Abdallah Laroui has critically engaged with the history, politics, and epistemology of translating modernity (Arabic ḥadāthā, French modernité) into his intellectual and political setting of Morocco, North Africa, and the Middle East during and after the colonial period. I read him as making a critical intervention into existing modes of timing and spacing the concept of modernity and, thus, what I describe as the politics of historicity. In conclusion, I make a methodological plea for framing the history of concepts across political borders in terms of translational practices.


Two samples of mine wastes were selected from an abandoned deposit at the Natural Park Estero Domingo Rubio, in order to determine the fractionation and relative mobility of some heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn). The chemical partitioning of elements was conducted by a six-step sequential extraction scheme developed for Fe-rich materials. The results showed high pseudototal concentrations of heavy metals (up to 3249 mgL-1 Pb, 1670 mgL-1 Zn and 625 mgL-1 Cu). A large proportion of these potentially toxic metals are easily mobilisable at the present acidic and oxidant conditions, because most of them are bound to soluble and/or exchangeable phases (up to 84% Pb) and oxidisable phases (up to 91% Zn, 83% Cd and 71% Cu) of the wastes.


The trend of outsourcing within the electronic industry has contributed to the creation of new types of extended enterprises. These extended enterprises must be able to manage a challenging situation with shorter product life cycles and increased collaboration between companies during the vital product introduction process. For the electronic industry, which is currently acting in an "era of hyper-competition", it is a challenge to implement an efficient and flexible collaboration within an extended enterprise during the product introduction process. In the product introduction process, a product design is prepared for and transferred into production. During the course of this research, the electronic industry has changed continuously. Empirical data were first collected within an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) that was responsible for its own production. Based on a strategic decision at the OEM, a new extended enterprise was established. In general, these new extended enterprises within the electronic industry consist of: a "product owner" in the form of an OEM that owns the product design and its brand; a "producer" in the form of an Electronic Manufacturing Services (EMS) company that is responsible for the production; and suppliers of services, material, components, equipment etc. However, in the later stages of this research the studied EMS was responsible for the product introduction, production and distribution of the product to the end user. In order to compare and contrast trends and lessons learned in similar industries, case studies within the mechanical engineering and aerospace industries also were performed. The dissertation primarily describes the process of collaborative product introduction (PI) within the electronic industry, and presents among other things a number of general conditions for efficient collaborative PI within an EE in that industry. First, a clearly communicated definition of what is included in product introduction is needed. A second condition is that early participation from all involved partners in the EE's product introduction process supports efficient collaboration. Third, clear communication and information handling within the extended enterprise – both internally and externally – was found to facilitate collaboration. Fourth, business approaches should be built on trust, reliability and respect for each other's competence. Finally, the importance of cultural awareness, both between different companies and countries, cannot be ignored. This research also presents a framework for supporting collaborative product introduction within an extended enterprise, which serves to both synthesize and summarize much of the research.


This thesis deals with topological effects in linear mechanical metamaterials governed by Newton's equation of motion. Mechanical metamaterials are artificially designed structures whose behavior arises from a scale much larger than its constituting units. The topological effects taken into account are the ones known from single-particle condensed matter physics. While first introduced in the context of quantum mechanics, they are not bound to it and appear in other contexts as well. As such, the field of topological mechanical metamaterials is the youngest offspring implementing ideas from topological band theory and beyond. This thesis is part of this development and its contributions are fourfold. The first contribution is a systematic approach to import topological effects from single-particle condensed matter physics to mechanical metamaterials. We show how to bring Newton's equation of motion into a form akin the Schrödinger equation. This then allows for a direct import of the desired physics. Besides, through this transformation we combine previously unconnected approaches to carry over topological effects, and set out how further ones transfer. A central feature of topological materials is the presence of robust surface modes that are of interest in sight of applications. However, some types of topological effects can only be implemented if classical timereversal symmetry is broken, which in turn can be hard to achieve for versatile and affordable mechanical metamaterial. We theoretically and experimentally demonstrate how a passive, time-reversal-invariant topological material can be built, by implementing the topological aspects of the quantum spin Hall effect in a mechanical metamaterial. We experimentally characterize the edge (surface) modes and discuss their topological protection. The quantum spin Hall effect is protected by quantum time-reversal symmetry, which translates into a local symmetry in its mechanical version. By deliberately breaking this symmetry, we show how the topological edge channels can be switched on and off. Furthermore, we experimentally show that it is sufficient to break the symmetry in a very small spatial region of the system to obtain an almost perfect switching behavior. Taking into account additional energy terms renders topological invariants often ill-defined. Nevertheless, they offer a structured approach to engineer peculiar surface physics. We create such a metamaterial with a polar elastic response. When straining the material with a point-like object on a certain surface, it provides a very soft response, whereas when poked on the opposite surface the material is hard. The effect is robust, and in particular not prone to wearing.


Background: Various treatments are used to prolong survival and improve quality of life (QOL). The purpose of this study was to assess the change in QOL scores in patients with Oesophagogastric (OG) cancer undergoing curative intent and palliative therapy. Methods: This was a mix-designed cohort study with a consecutive sampling of patients with OG cancer who underwent curative or palliative treatment regimens. The QOL, as a determinant of efficacy and impact of cancer care, was evaluated using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaires. QOL data were collected from the eligible subjects at three points of time. The repeated measurement test was used to compare the significance of change in scores. Results: Overall, 149 patients (54.4% male, 61.1% curative intent, 52.3% esophageal, 37.6 % gastric, 10.1% OG junction cancer; with mean age 62 year) with OG cancer were eligible for inclusion in the study. Compared to the palliative group, the curative group was more likely to have an esophageal tumor site, Squamous Cell Carcinoma, and stage 2 (versus stomach, Adenocarcinoma, and stage 4 in the palliative group). In comparing the patients' functional, global health status, and cancer symptom, considering time, group of treatment, and their mutual effect the result indicated significant difference between the intervention groups. Conclusion: Most patients with Oesophagogastric cancer are diagnosed with an incurable form of the disease. Hence in absence of curative treatment, palliative therapy is the most effective therapy to maintain patient independency and relieve pain and symptom in order to improve their QOL. The present study has shown that palliative similar to curative intervention can improve the QOL in cancer patient especially in short term.


In some basins, large scale development of unconventional stacked-target plays requires early election of well targeting and spacing. Changes to the initial well construction framework can take years to implement due to lead times for land, permitting, and corporate planning. Over time, as operators wish to fine tune their development plans, completion design flexibility represents a powerful force for optimization. Hydraulic fracturing treatment plans may be adjusted and customized close to the time of investment.
 With a practical approach that takes advantage of physics-based modeling and data analysis, we demonstrate how to create a high-confidence, integrated well spacing and completion design strategy for both frontier and mature field development. The Dynamic Stimulated Reservoir Volume (DSRV) workflow forms the backbone of the physics-based approach, constraining simulations against treatment, flow-back, production, and pressure-buildup (PBU) data. Depending on the amount of input data available and mechanisms investigated, one can invoke various levels of rigor in coupling geomechanics and fluid flow – ranging from proxies to full iterative coupling.
 To answer spacing and completions questions in the Denver Basin, also known as the Denver-Julesburg (DJ) Basin, we extend this modeling workflow to multi-well, multi-target, and multi-variate space. With proper calibration, we are able generate production performance predictions across the field for a range of subsurface, well spacing, and completion scenarios. Results allow us to co-optimize well spacing and completion size for this multi-layer column. Insights about the impacts of geology and reservoir conditions highlight the potential for design customization across the play. Results are further validated against actual data using an elegant multi-well surveillance technique that better illuminates design space.
 Several elements of subsurface characterization potentially impact the interactions among design variables. In particular, reservoir fluid property variations create important effects during injection and production. Also, both data analysis and modeling support a key relationship involving well spacing and the efficient creation of stimulated reservoir volumes. This relationship provides a lever that can be utilized to improve value based on corporate needs and commodity price. We introduce these observations to be further tested in the field and models.


Abstract. Precipitation forecasts play the role in flood control and drought relief. At present, the time series analysis and the linear regression analysis are two of most commonly used methods. The time series analysis is relatively simple as it only requires historical precipitation data. The model of the linear regression analysis can ensure high accuracy for causality analysis and short, medium and long-term prediction. Guilin is the region of the heavy rain center in Guangxi, which frequently suffers serious losses from rainstorms. Selecting a better model to predict precipitation has the important reference significance for improving the accuracy of precipitation weather forecast. In this research, the two methods are used to predict precipitation in Guilin. According to data of the monthly maximum precipitation, monthly average daily precipitation and monthly total precipitation from 2014 to 2016, this paper establishes the time series model and linear regression analysis model to predict precipitation in 2017 and compare the forecast results. The results show that the monthly average daily precipitation model is best with the accuracy of the time series model, and the residual error of predicted precipitation is 3.08 mm, but the change trend of predicted precipitation is not accord with the actual situation. The residual error is only 0.45 mm through using inter-annual linear regression equation to predict the precipitation, but the predicted summer precipitation is quite different from the actual one. The linear equation established by different seasons is used to predict the precipitation with residual error of 3.25 mm, and it is coincident for the predicted precipitation trend with the actual situation. Furthermore, the predictions fitting errors of spring, summer, autumn and winter are all less than 20%, which are within the scope of the specification prediction error.


iber/ metal laminates (FMLs) are hybrid composites consisting of alternating thin layers of metal sheets and fiber reinforced epoxy laminates. In this study, the effect of fiber orientation on impact properties of FML plates is investigated both analytically and experimentally. Two groups of specimens were prepared and tested in two different levels of impactor energy. The indentation depth and damage size after impact is measured and delamination area is specified for each specimen. Increasing impactor energy causes more fractured layers, more debonding and delaminations area but the trend was similar to lower level energy. The analysis was based on a method of minimum total potential energy and the von Karman strain displacement equations. Good agreement is obtained between the model predictions and experimental results. fiber metal laminate, low velocity impact, strain energy, glass fiber, fiber orientation


The drive for innovation, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness has seen governments increasingly turn to artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance their operations. The significant growth in the use of AI mechanisms in the areas of migration and border control makes the potential for its application to the process of refugee status determination (RSD), which is burdened by delay and heavy caseloads, a very real possibility. AI may have a role to play in supporting decision makers to assess the credibility of asylum seekers, as long as it is understood as a component of the humanitarian context. This article argues that AI will only benefit refugees if it does not replicate the problems of the current system. Credibility assessments, a central element of RSD, are flawed because the bipartite standard of a 'well-founded fear of being persecuted' involves consideration of a claimant's subjective fearfulness and the objective validation of that fear. Subjective fear imposes an additional burden on the refugee, and the 'objective' language of credibility indicators does not prevent the challenges decision makers face in assessing the credibility of other humans when external, but largely unseen, factors such as memory, trauma, and bias, are present.
 Viewing the use of AI in RSD as part of the digital transformation of the refugee regime forces us to consider how it may affect decision-making efficiencies, as well as its impact(s) on refugees. Assessments of harm and benefit cannot be disentangled from the challenges AI is being tasked to address. Through an analysis of algorithmic decision making, predictive analysis, biometrics, automated credibility assessments, and digital forensics, this article reveals the risks and opportunities involved in the application of AI in RSD. On the one hand, AI's potential to produce greater standardization, to mine and parse large amounts of data, and to address bias, holds significant possibility for increased consistency, improved fact-finding, and corroboration. On the other hand, machines may end up replicating and manifesting the unconscious biases and assumptions of their human developers, and AI has a limited ability to read emotions and process impacts on memory. The prospective nature of a well-founded fear is counter-intuitive if algorithms learn based on training data that is historical, and an increased ability to corroborate facts may shift the burden of proof to the asylum seeker. Breaches of data protection regulations and human rights loom large. The potential application of AI to RSD reveals flaws in refugee credibility assessments that stem from the need to assess subjective fear. If the use of AI in RSD is to become an effective and ethical form of humanitarian tech, the 'well-founded fear of being persecuted' standard should be based on objective risk only.


This article analyzes communication practices within networked social movements by exploring the network structure of an organization responsible for numerous labor actions and campaigns targeting the retail giant Walmart. This case study of the Organization United for Respect at Walmart (OUR Walmart) represents an initial attempt to map the network structure of an emergent form of labor organization. To better understand the relationship between communication and collective action, I utilize Bennett and Segerberg's [(2012). The logic of connective action: Digital media and the personalization of contentious politics. Information, Communication & Society, 15(5), 29] model of connective action to examine the organizational structure of OUR Walmart. I conducted semi-structured interviews with a dozen union representatives, OUR Walmart members, and current and former Walmart employees. My intention is to (1) delineate the network structure of a new and significant organizational form of class struggle and (2) consider the utility and validity of the logic of connective action. I conclude with a consideration of the limitations and affordances of the network structure of OUR Walmart for workers engaged in struggles for better working conditions and higher wages. This research finds support for Bennett and Segerberg's model of large-scale action networks. Moreover, this research suggests that organizationally enabled networks are an effective means of coordinating class struggle.


Background/aims To investigate the correlation between strabismus and the severity of white matter damage of immaturity (WMDI), based on MRI findings. Although strabismus is commonly associated with WMDI, its clinical features are not well established. Methods This cross-sectional study involved 73 consecutive patients who visited the department of ophthalmology and were diagnosed with WMDI. The severity of WMDI was graded based on the MRI findings of the patients. All of the patients underwent complete ophthalmic examination, and strabismus was characterised in terms of direction, constancy, and angle of deviation. The prevalence and the characteristics of strabismus and their correlation with the grade of WMDI were investigated. Results The perinatal characteristics, age at MRI, and the number of MRIs per child did not differ between different grades of WMDI. Refractive errors, found in 56 (76.7%) patients, did not differ between the grades of WMDI either. Strabismus was observed in 38 (52.1%) patients, and its prevalence increased with the grade of the disorder; 20 patients had exotropia and 18 had esotropia. Constant strabismus was found more frequently in patients with higher grade WMDI. However, the direction and angle of deviation did not differ depending on the grade of WMDI. Conclusions The prevalence of strabismus increased with the severity of WMDI and was higher among patients with WMDI than among healthy individuals. The severity of WMDI might be related to the presence and constancy of strabismus.


Obesity has reached epidemic proportions with serious health consequences. Techniques used to measure body fat (BF) yield variable BF estimates, and this variability may lead to underestimation or overestimation of BF and subsequent treatment options. The measurements that are most accurate (Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) and Air Displacement Plethysmography (ADP)) are expensive and often unavailable. The purpose of this study is to find the commonly available BF measurement that is the most accurate and practical for individual body types in the general population and compare these measurements to ADP (BOD POD®) as the standard. Field measurements include skinfolds (SKF), upper, lower, and whole body bioelectrical impedance (BI), waist and hip circumference ratios, body mass index calculations (BMI), and ADP. Our data indicate that BI is the least accurate measurement of body fat in males and females (paired t-tests of % body fat: BI vs. ADP, p0.05). However, preliminary data suggest female- specific SKF equations more accurately predict body fat in obese males than male-specific SKF equations. Given the current obesity trends, it is imperative to update these formulae to accurately reflect the current population.


BACKGROUND
This multicenter phase II trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of trabectedin in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS
Two schedules were evaluated in three cohorts: weekly as 3-h i.v. infusion at 0.58 mg/m(2) for 3 out of 4 weeks (Cohort A, n = 33), and every 3 weeks (q3wk) as 24-h infusion at 1.5 mg/m(2) (Cohort B1, n = 5) and 1.2 mg/m(2) (Cohort B2, n = 20). The primary end point was prostate-specific antigen (PSA) response; secondary end points included safety, tolerability and time to progression (TTP).

RESULTS
Trabectedin resulted in PSA declines ≥ 50% in 12.5% (Cohort A) and 10.5% (Cohort B2) of patients. Among men pretreated with taxane-based chemotherapy, PSA response was 13.6% (Cohort A) and 15.4% (Cohort B2). PSA responses lasted 4.1-8.6 months, and median TTP was 1.5 months (Cohort A) and 1.9 months (Cohort B2). The dose of 1.5 mg/m(2) (approved for soft tissue sarcoma) given as 24-h infusion q3wk was not tolerable in these patients. At 1.2 mg/m(2) q3wk and 0.58 mg/m(2) weekly, the most common adverse events were nausea, fatigue and transient neutropenia and transaminase increase.

CONCLUSIONS
Two different trabectedin schedules showed modest activity in metastatic CRPC. Further studies may require identification of predictive factors of response in prostate cancer.


It is usually assumed that the real area of contact between two nominally flat metal surfaces is determined by the plastic deformation of their highest asperities. This leads at once to the result that the real area of contact is directly proportional to the load and independent of the apparent area—a result with many applications in the theories of electric contacts and friction. Archard pointed out that plastic deformation could not be the universal rule, and introduced a model which showed that, contrary to earlier ideas, the area of contact could be proportional to the load even with purely elastic contact. This paper describes a new theory of elastic contact, which is more closely related to real surfaces than earlier theories. We show how the contact deformation depends on the topography of the surface, and establish the criterion for distinguishing surfaces which touch elastically from those which touch plastically. The theory also indicates the existence of an 'elastic contact hardness', a composite quantity depending on the elastic properties and the topography, which plays the same role in elastic contact as the conventional hardness does in plastic contact. A new instrument for measuring surface topography has been built; with it the various parameters shown by the theory to govern surface contact can be measured experimentally. The typical radii of surface asperities have been measured. They were found, surprisingly, to be orders of magnitude larger than the heights of the asperities. More generally we have been able to study the distributions of asperity heights and of other surface features for a variety of surfaces prepared by standard techniques. Using these data we find that contact between surfaces is frequently plastic, as usually assumed, but that surfaces which touch elastically are by no means uncommon in engineering practice.


The bone marrow microenvironment influences malignant hematopoiesis, but how it promotes leukemogenesis has not been elucidated. In addition, the role of the bone marrow stroma in regulating clinical responses to DNA methyltransferase inhibitors (DNMTi) is also poorly understood. In this study, we conducted a DNA methylome analysis of bone marrow-derived stromal cells from myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients and observed widespread aberrant cytosine hypermethylation occurring preferentially outside CpG islands. Stroma derived from 5-azacytidine-treated patients lacked aberrant methylation and DNMTi treatment of primary MDS stroma enhanced its ability to support erythroid differentiation. An integrative expression analysis revealed that the WNT pathway antagonist FRZB was aberrantly hypermethylated and underexpressed in MDS stroma. This result was confirmed in an independent set of sorted, primary MDS-derived mesenchymal cells. We documented a WNT/β-catenin activation signature in CD34+ cells from advanced cases of MDS, where it associated with adverse prognosis. Constitutive activation of β-catenin in hematopoietic cells yielded lethal myeloid disease in a NUP98-HOXD13 mouse model of MDS, confirming its role in disease progression. Our results define novel epigenetic changes in the bone marrow microenvironment, which lead to β-catenin activation and disease progression of MDS. Cancer Res; 77(18); 4846-57. ©2017 AACR.


The most thorough and up-to-date obstetrics and gynecology review available for the USMLE Step 2 CK and the Ob/Gyn clerkship exam 1300+ board-style questions deliver a thorough review of the clerkship's core competencies LANGE Q&A Obstetrics & Gynecology, 9e features more than 1300 USMLE-style questions and answers with concise but comprehensive explanations of correct and incorrect answer choices. This trusted review simulates the USMLE Step 2 CK test-taking experience by including clinical vignette questions and updates on the latest in obstetric and gynecologic treatment, therapies, diseases and disorders. Questions are carefully selected to match the style and difficulty level of what students will see on the actual exams. The ninth edition features more than 35 images, and has been student and resident reviewed to assure the most relevant, up-to-date content possible. Build confidence and assess your knowledge with 1,300+ USMLE-style questions Get detailed explanations for why answers are correct or incorrect Review one subject at a time to pinpoint your strengths and weaknesses Gain a better understanding of key concepts with more than 35 images Bolster your preparation with a 150-question comprehensive practice exam Everything you need to excel: Clinical vignette questions simulate what you will see on the actual exam Student and resident reviewed to make sure you are studying the most relevant material possible Written by experienced Ob-Gyn faculty Questions focus on high-yield material, allowing you to maximize your study time


1. An account is given of the pattern and intensity of the spontaneous locomotor activity of adult males of the desert locust. It is shown that desert locusts exhibit almost continuous activity under continuous light conditions, and almost continuous inactivity in darkness. Under alternating light and dark conditions, the locusts assumes a periodicity of activity which is not circadian since it may be 'instantaneously' changed by altering the light/dark regime. 2. Allatectomy of newly emerged adult locusts results in their persistent locomotor inactivity, which may be reversed by implanting active corpora allata. Allatectomy of sexually mature locusts similarly leads to inactivity. Gonadectomy has no such effect on locomotor activity. 3. The hypothesis is advanced that the corpus allatum hormone regulates the intensity of locomotor activity by its direct effect on the central nervous system. The accumulation of fat and glycogen after allatectomy may thus be explained as a consequence of the resulting lowered spontaneous locomotor activity since fat forms the chief energy reserves in the desert locust.


Origanum vulgare was used as an effective herbal for infertility treatment in traditional medicine. The present study compared the effects of the hydroalcoholic extract of the air branch of Origanum vulgare, LHRH-A2, and17β-estradiol on the ultrastructure of oocyte and pituitary in immature Trichogaster trichopterus. For this purpose 60 pieces of Trichogaster trichopterus with average weight of 2.1±1gram were divided into 6 groups: saline, placebo, ethanol and 3 experimental groups (Origanum vulgare and 17β-estradiol at a dose of 50 mg/kg and LHRH-A2 at a dose of 0.005 mg/kg) (each group 10 fish). Fish were injected intra-muscularly, one dose every other day and seven doses in total. Ultrastructure of oocyte and anterior pituitary in the three treatments were measured and compared with control treatments. The results showed that the size of oocytes follicle and the mean diameter of Golgi vesicles in Origanum vulgare treatment was higher than that in LHRH-A2 treatment, but there were lesser than that in 17beta-estradiol treatment (p≤0.05). The results of the ultrastructural comparision of the anterior pituitary showed that in Origanum vulgare treatment the number of small cells increased and made a few large granules in gonadotroph cells. In fish treated with 17β-estradiol the number of large granules increased significantly, whereas in LHRH-A2 treatment large granules were lysed and stimulation was complete. The present results suggested that the Origanum vulgare affected Trichogaster trichopterus fertility.


Alpha(1-3) glucan is a main component of the Aspergillus fumigatus cell wall. In spite of its importance, synthesis of this amorphous polymer has not been investigated to date. Two genes in A. fumigatus, AGS1 and AGS2, are highly homologous to the AGS genes of Schizosaccharomyces pombe, which encode putative alpha(1-3) glucan synthases. The predicted Ags proteins of A. fumigatus have an estimated molecular mass of 270 kDa. AGS1 and AGS2 were disrupted in A. fumigatus. Both Deltaags mutants have similar altered hyphal morphologies and reduced conidiation levels. Only Deltaags1 presented a reduction in the alpha(1-3) glucan content of the cell wall. These results showed that Ags1p and Ags2p were functionally different. The cellular localization of the two proteins was in agreement with their different functions: Ags1p was localized at the periphery of the cell in connection with the cell wall, whereas Ags2p was intracellularly located. An original experimental model of invasive aspergillosis based on mixed infection and quantitative PCR was developed to analyze the virulence of A. fumigatus mutant and wild-type strains. Using this model, it was shown that the cell wall and morphogenesis defects of Deltaags1 and Deltaags2 were not associated with a reduction in virulence in either mutant. This result showed that a 50% reduction in the content of the cell wall alpha(1-3) glucan does not play a significant role in A. fumigatus pathogenicity.


Background Hemostasis and thrombosis are regulated by agonist-induced activation of platelet integrin αIIbβ3. Integrin activation, in turn is mediated by cellular signaling via protein kinases and protein phosphatases. Although the catalytic subunit of protein phosphatase 1 (PP1c) interacts with αIIbβ3, the role of PP1c in platelet reactivity is unclear. Methodology/Principal Findings Using γ isoform of PP1c deficient mice (PP1cγ−/−), we show that the platelets have moderately decreased soluble fibrinogen binding and aggregation to low concentrations of thrombin or protease-activated receptor 4 (PAR4)-activating peptide but not to adenosine diphosphate (ADP), collagen or collagen-related peptide (CRP). Thrombin-stimulated PP1cγ−/− platelets showed decreased αIIbβ3 activation despite comparable levels of αIIbβ3, PAR3, PAR4 expression and normal granule secretion. Functions regulated by outside-in integrin αIIbβ3 signaling like adhesion to immobilized fibrinogen and clot retraction were not altered in PP1cγ−/− platelets. Thrombus formation induced by a light/dye injury in the cremaster muscle venules was significantly delayed in PP1cγ−/− mice. Phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase (GSK3)β-serine 9 that promotes platelet function, was reduced in thrombin-stimulated PP1cγ−/− platelets by an AKT independent mechanism. Inhibition of GSK3β partially abolished the difference in fibrinogen binding between thrombin-stimulated wild type and PP1cγ−/− platelets. Conclusions/Significance These studies illustrate a role for PP1cγ in maintaining GSK3β-serine9 phosphorylation downstream of thrombin signaling and promoting thrombus formation via fibrinogen binding and platelet aggregation.


Imagine that police arrest an individual for a simple traffic infraction, such as running a stop sign. Under the search incident to arrest doctrine, officers are entitled to search the body of the person they are arresting to ensure that he does not have any weapons or will not destroy any evidence. The search incident to an arrest is automatic and allows officers to open containers on the person, even if there is no probable cause to believe there is anything illegal inside of those containers. What happens, however, when the arrestee is carrying an iPhone in his pocket? May the police search the iPhone's call history, cell phone contacts, emails, pictures, movies, calendar entries and, perhaps most significantly, the browsing history from recent internet use? Under longstanding Supreme Court precedent decided well before handheld technology was even contemplated, the answer appears to be yes. This article demonstrates how the full contents and multiple applications of iPhones can be searched without a warrant or probable cause under existing Supreme Court precedent. The article also offers approaches courts and legislatures might adopt to ensure greater protection for the soon-to-be pervasive iPhone devices.


It is well known that cooperative relaying has the potential to improve the performance of end-to-end wireless communications. However, compared to point-to-point communications, implementing cooperative relaying requires much more overhead. For example, more complicated coordination and transmission schemes are required. In this paper, the spectral efficiency of cooperative relaying is investigated, taking into account the overhead to acquire essential channel state information, as well as that required to select the relay(s). A comparison of three cooperative relaying schemes (Timer-based Best-Select relaying, Dis-STBC All-Select relaying, and M-group All-Select relaying) is presented. Numerical results are further provided to illustrate the impact of the overhead on the spectral efficiency.


In practice, few security bugs found in source code are urgent, but quickly identifying which ones are is hard. We describe the application of bounded model checking to triaging reported issues quickly at the cloud service provider Amazon Web Services (AWS). We focus on the job of reactive security experts who need to determine the severity of bugs found in the Xen hypervisor. We show that, using our publicly available extensions to the model checker CBMC, a security expert can obtain traces to construct security tests and estimate the severity of the reported finding within 15 minutes. We believe that the changes made to the model checker, as well as the methodology for using tools in this scenario, will generalise to other organisations and environments.


Reliable positioning and navigation is becoming imperative in more and more applications for public services, consumer products, and safety-critical purposes. Research for finding pervasive and robust positioning methodologies is critical for a growing amount of societal areas while making sure that navigation is trustworthy and the risks and threats of especially satellite navigation are accounted for. This book provides a comprehensive survey of the effect of radio-frequency interference (RFI) on the Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) as well as of the spoofing threats. Through case studies and practical implementation/applications, this resource presents engineers and scientists with a better understanding of interference and spoofing threats, ultimately helping them to design and implement robust systems


The RTP (Real-time Transport Protocol) payload format for generic forward error correction allows RTP participants to improve loss resiliency through the use of traditional parity-based channel codes. This payload format requires four new MIME types, audio/parityfec, video/parityfec, text/parityfec and application/parityfec. This document serves as the MIME type registration for those formats.


This paper presents a multidisciplinary research on the thermodynamic and geophysical effects of crude oil released underneath thin sea ice, and further evaluates the ability of a combined frequency- and time-domain approach toward its detection. To this end, a controlled oil release experiment in an artificially grown sea ice mesocosm was performed during the winter of 2017 at the Sea-Ice Research Environmental Facility located at the University of Manitoba. Ice cores extracted during the evolution of the sea ice prior and post oil injection allowed the investigation of the profile's properties and the oil distribution. Furthermore, chemical composition and microstructure analysis were performed via a gas chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry and X-ray, respectively. The time-series radar signature of the profile was measured utilizing ground penetration radar at 500 MHz and a C-band scatterometer. For this experiment, it was shown that the retrieval of the oil presence underneath the young sea ice layer was feasible, provided that the measured data were utilized simultaneously in a unified cost function.


When we think about people seeking relief for infringement of their intellectual property rights pursuant to copyright and trademark laws, we typically assume they will operate within an overtly legal scheme of cease-and-desist letters, notice-and-takedown requests, litigation, or settlement. Quite by contrast are those who assert extralegal norms within a tight-knit community to remediate copying of creative works like tattoos, recipes, jokes, roller derby pseudonyms, and magic, which lie outside the subject matter—or at least the heartland—of these intellectual property laws. In recent years, however, there has been a growing third category of relief-seekers: those taking intellectual property into their own hands as a way to seek relief outside the legal system for copying of works well within the heartland of copyright or trademark laws, such as visual art, music, and fashion. Moreover, they can do so successfully across different artistic communities or in the absence altogether of any discrete community—that is, without the backdrop of a single close-knit community, which legal scholars tend to see as a prerequisite to enforcing extralegal norms. They exercise intellectual property self-help in a constellation of related ways. Most frequently, they use shaming, principally through social media or a similar platform to call out perceived misappropriations. Other times, they reappropriate perceived misappropriations, therein generating yet new creative works. This Essay identifies, illustrates, and analyzes this phenomenon using a diverse array of recent examples, including the Suicide Girls' retaking of Richard Prince's copies of their Instagram photos, Gucci's hiring of street artist GucciGhost for a recent fashion collaboration, a number of intellectual property diss songs at the center of hip hop, James Turrell's calling out of Drake for using artwork reminiscent of Turrell's in a popular music video, and Instagram phenomenon Diet Prada, which devotes itself to shaming copycats in fashion. Aggrieved creators can use self-help of the sorts we describe to accomplish much of what they could hope to derive from successful infringement litigation: collect monetary damages, insist on attribution to them of their work, and correct potential misattributions to them of a misappropriation. We evaluate how to assess the benefits and demerits of intellectual property self-help, as compared with more traditional intellectual property enforcement. We hold out more hope for the promise of self-help through retaking of copies than through social media shaming. Reappropriations, at their core, provide society with new artistic creations. Reappropriators turn the intellectual property paradigm on its head, by seeing infringement as a moment for creativity, rather than as a block to creativity. Social media shaming gives far less to the public, at least artistically.


BACKGROUND
Mortality from coronary heart disease in the United States has decreased substantially in recent decades. We conducted a study to determine how much of this decrease could be explained by the use of medical and surgical treatments as opposed to changes in cardiovascular risk factors.

METHODS
We applied a previously validated statistical model, IMPACT, to data on the use and effectiveness of specific cardiac treatments and on changes in risk factors between 1980 and 2000 among U.S. adults 25 to 84 years old. The difference between the observed and expected number of deaths from coronary heart disease in 2000 was distributed among the treatments and risk factors included in the analyses.

RESULTS
From 1980 through 2000, the age-adjusted death rate for coronary heart disease fell from 542.9 to 266.8 deaths per 100,000 population among men and from 263.3 to 134.4 deaths per 100,000 population among women, resulting in 341,745 fewer deaths from coronary heart disease in 2000. Approximately 47% of this decrease was attributed to treatments, including secondary preventive therapies after myocardial infarction or revascularization (11%), initial treatments for acute myocardial infarction or unstable angina (10%), treatments for heart failure (9%), revascularization for chronic angina (5%), and other therapies (12%). Approximately 44% was attributed to changes in risk factors, including reductions in total cholesterol (24%), systolic blood pressure (20%), smoking prevalence (12%), and physical inactivity (5%), although these reductions were partially offset by increases in the body-mass index and the prevalence of diabetes, which accounted for an increased number of deaths (8% and 10%, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS
Approximately half the decline in U.S. deaths from coronary heart disease from 1980 through 2000 may be attributable to reductions in major risk factors and approximately half to evidence-based medical therapies.


The Constitution is primarily about power, the capacity of government actors to change legal rules and legal relations. It is also to some extent about the duties of government actors and institutions, and imposes on them obligations that it is wrong not to fulfill. These two functions of constitutional rules, setting out powers and imposing duties, are distinct from one another and it is important not to confuse them. The provisions of the Constitution that grant and limit the power of Congress are concerned exclusively with power and do not create duties. They therefore are not the source of the obligations that Senators and Representatives have to ensure that their legislation is consistent with the Constitution. Members of Congress do have obligations of that kind, but those obligations come from their role as legislators, and because of that role are flexible and not absolute. There are circumstances in which a conscientious legislator may vote for legislation that the legislator believes to be partly unconstitutional. By contrast, the constitutional provisions that grant authority to act conclusively, such as the provisions that empower the courts, do bring with them unqualified obligations to follow the law. Power and duty interact differently depending on the kind of power involved. Because the obligations of legislators concerning the constitutionality of legislation are flexible, they do not support the inference that legislation is necessarily valid or invalid on its face and not as applied. But the text of the First Amendment, understood as dealing solely with the power and not the duty of Congress, does strongly suggest that it makes rules valid or invalid as such, so that all invalidity is facial invalidity. The well established phenomenon of as-applied invalidity, and the sever-ability of valid from invalid applications, can be explained consistently with this reading of the First Amendment. Sever-ability happens when Congress has implicitly or explicitly provided a fallback rule that is valid as such and that replaces the primary rule that is invalid on its face. The First Amendment operates at the level of rules and not applications.


This paper analyzes the implications of different designs of policies, which aim to contain the diffusion of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, with respect to induced economic loss and virus mortality. An agent-based simulation model is implemented and calibrated with German data, which combines the representation of a simple multi-sectoral closed economy with the explicit incoporation of virus transmission channels at the workplace, during shopping activities and other social contacts. It is demonstrated that under a policy resembling German containment measures the model closely repuduces the dynamics of pandemic and economic variables in the aftermath of the COVID-19 outbreak in Germany. Exploring alternative policy designs shows that any efficient policy should impose a low threshold of newly infected for moving from the lock-down to the opening-up stage and in the opening-up stage all restrictions on economic activity should be lifted. With respect to the reduction of consumption activities during the lock-down a trade-off between the induced GDP loss and the resulting mortality emerges. Regardless of the chosen design of the containment measures, the introduction of complementary economic support measures substantially reduces the induced GDP loss and leads to a reduction of the public debt accumulated during the considered time interval. The efficient design of containment policies changes substantially if lifting economic restrictions during the opening-up stage also results in reduced effectiveness of the individual prevention measures by agents.


A number of trademark holders have recently challenged the policies of Google and other Internet search engines that allow the trademark owner's competitors to purchase advertising space linked specifically to the owner's trademarks when entered as search terms. This iBrief examines the application of trademark law to this practice and concludes that Google would be contributorially liable for trademark infringement only when the advertising links lead to consumer confusion about the identity of the advertiser.


Sequential pattern mining (SPM) is a well‐studied theme in data mining, in which one aims to discover common sequences of item sets in a large corpus of temporal itemset data. Due to the sequential nature of data streams, supporting SPM in streaming environments is commonly studied in the area of data stream mining as well. On the other hand, stream‐based process discovery (PD), originating from the field of process mining, focusses on learning process models on the basis of online event data. In particular, the main goal of the models discovered is to describe the underlying generating process in an end‐to‐end fashion. As both SPM and PD use data that are comparable in nature, that is, both involve time‐stamped instances, one expects that techniques from the SPM domain are (partly) transferable to the PD domain. However, thus far, little work has been done in the intersection of the two fields. In this focus article, we therefore study the possible application of SPM techniques in the context of PD. We provide an overview of the two fields, covering their commonalities and differences, highlight the challenges of applying them, and, present an outlook and several avenues for future work.


This paper introduces a simple and robust method for the classification of significantly expressed genes in high throughput microarray measurements of a cellpsilas transcriptome. The technique has its origins in PCA-based fault detection and isolation (FDI) systems engineering. PCA-FDI is a data-driven procedure that can be used to isolate gene expression profiles associated with anomalous cell function by projecting target assays onto a dasiaresidualpsila subspace orthogonal to a set of PCA coordinates extracted from microarray data collected under normative cell conditions. The method is robust to noise and disturbances, and is insensitive to natural variation due to nominal cell functioning. The approach is demonstrated on a sequence of simulated gene regulatory net work (GRN) time-series expression profiles.


In 2010, we and our colleagues on the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) released a report entitled Prepare and Inspire: K-12 Education in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Education for America's Future. This important report advocates preparing all students to use STEM in their personal and professional lives and inspiring them to learn STEM subjects and pursue STEM careers. But in the United States, over 60% of students who enter college intending to major in a STEM field fail to graduate with a STEM degree. Because economic analyses forecast that the United States will need 1 million more STEM graduates over the next decade than will be produced by our current modes of education,* reducing this dropout rate is the focus of a second report we released last month, called Engage to Excel: Producing One Million Additional College Graduates with Degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.†


The plasma emission spectrum of uranium in laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is weak and susceptible to spectral interference, especially in a complex ore matrix. In this study, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy combined with laser-induced fluorescence (LIBS-LIF) technology was proposed to enhance the spectral intensity of uranium in ores and eliminate spectral interference. Different combinations of excitation lines and analytical lines of the U element were investigated. In contrast with atomic lines, uranium ion lines are more suitable for determination of uranium. The relative number of U ions in plasma was studied for the best selection of excitation lines and analytical lines. The analytical performance of LIBS-LIF and LIBS for U determination in ores was compared. The results showed that all indicators had been significantly improved by LIBS-LIF. The slope, R2, LoD, RMSECV, ARE, and ARSD values of LIBS-LIF were 1.1 × 105 counts per wt%, 0.998, 35 μg g−1, 0.05 wt%, 6.69%, and 6.37%, respectively. This work demonstrates that LIBS-LIF has excellent potential in the exploration of uranium resources.