This paper sets out a framework to evaluate the welfare impacts of residential energy efficiency programs in the presence of imperfect information, behavioral biases, and externalities, then estimates key parameters using a 100,000-household field experiment. Several results run counter to conventional wisdom: we find no evidence of informational or behavioral failures thought to reduce program participation, there are large unobserved benefits and costs that traditional evaluations miss, and realized energy savings are only 58 percent of predictions. In the context of the model, the two programs we study reduce social welfare by $0.18 per subsidy dollar spent, both because subsidies are not well-calibrated to estimated externality damages and because of self-selection induced by subsidies that attract households whose participation generates low social value. However, the model predicts that perfectly calibrated subsidies would increase welfare by $2.53 per subsidy dollar, revealing the potential of energy efficiency programs.


The worldwide quest for an AIDS vaccine represents an unprecedented scientific and human challenge for the 21st century. Preventive vaccines represent our only long-term hope to stop the epidemic. AIDS vaccines must be seen as the ultimate prevention tool that will complement the existing prevention strategies in place. The acceleration of vaccine development through the parallel exploration of several scientific approaches and implementation of clinical trials are the best and probably only way to reach this goal, and the best vaccines have moved into phase II and efficacy trials. Ideally an AIDS vaccine should induce both neutralizing antibodies against HIV-1 primary isolates and cell-mediated responses. AIDS vaccines could prevent either HIV infection or progression to disease and decrease transmission by reducing the HIV viral load. Most of the vaccine approaches developed so far aim at inducing cell-mediated immune responses. New vector-based vaccines include modified vaccinia Ankara, adeno-associated virus, adenovirus and alpha viruses. Considerable efforts are on to develop vaccines that would induce neutralizing antibodies. All vaccines tested so far in humans have proven to be safe. This long-term endeavour requires strong and renewed political leadership and commitment, flexibility of processes, medical and scientific dedication and collaboration on a mission mode along with community participation for immediate action. Recent developments in India highlight clearly the commitment of the Government of India and the scientific community to a long-term global effort to develop an AIDS vaccine.


Micro RNA (miRNA) is one of the kinds in non coding RNA class that regulates gene expression by translational repression, mRNA cleavage, mRNA disruption initiated by miRNA-guided rapid de-adenylation. Up- and/or down-regulated expression study of the miRNA is a good approach to study their function in cancer pathogenesis. In our previous study we understood the down regulation of polycomb gene BMI1 and its correlation with histochemical markers like ER, PR and Her2 in different histological grades of breast tumors. To derive on the identification of regulatory factor accountable for this gene regulation pattern, we tried to identify miRNA that could sway on the gene regulation with the consecutive tumor grades. To adequate this perspective we identified miR-142-5p as a regulating marker for the proliferation of human ductal invasive breast carcinoma using microarray hybridization and attempted to demonstrate the expression profile of miR-142-5p in various histological grades of human breast carcinoma using Real time-PCR amplification. The up regulation of miR-142-5p in histological Grades I, II and III predicted variation with the hormone receptor status. The miR-142-5p up regulation was vice versa with the down regulation of BMI1 gene in the tumors from Grade I to Grade III. Hence with the severity in tumor the up regulated miR-142-5p was estimated to show substantial regulatory effect on expression of the histological markers and polycomb gene BMI1. These signatures shall hold on the diagnosis and therapy for human breast carcinoma.


The Korteweg-de Vries equation (KdV) is a partial differential equation which has some remarkable mathematical properties. Furthermore, it also appears as a useful model in a great many physical situations. Thus, although it was originally obtained as an approximation in fluid dynamics, it was reinterpreted as a canonical field theory for weakly dispersive and weakly nonlinear systems. This reinterpretation led to the hypothesis that the properties of the XdV could be understood in terms of a balance between the competing effects of dispersion and nonlinearity. Alternatives to the KdV were proposed on the basis that their dispersive properties were physically and mathematically preferable to those of the JCdV.

The use of dispersion, which is a linear concept, as a criterion for predicting the properties of these nonlinear equations was examined in an earlier thesis by Abbas. By introducing a general class of equations which includes the lCdV and all its proposed alternat1ves as spec1al cases, Abbas 1nvestigated 1n detail the predictions based on the dispersion relation and compared them with the actual properties of the equation, particularly in regard to the existence of solitary waves. He found little correlation and some contradictions and concluded that the idea of a balance between nonlinearity and dispersion is not useful way of understanding these equations. It is clear, therefore, that we must develop other criteria to obtain this understanding.

In this thesis we continue this investigation by looking at other properties of the class of equations introduced by Abbas which are relevant to the KdV. The general question which we are considering is whether the properties of the KdV are unique in this class and if so how can we decide this a priori, i.e., from the equation and its elementary solutions. A prerequisite for tackling this problem is to establish whether the embedding of the KdV in this class is reasonable, i.e., that these equations can indeed be considered as homologues of the KdV. Thus, it is necessary to establish well-posedness, the existence of solitary wave and other elementary solutions and the existence of other properties such as, for example, conservation laws. These are the specific questions that we consider in this thesis.

To make the thesis self-contained we begin with a comprehensive review of the JCdV and its main alternative, the regularized long wave equation, together with the work of Abbas. This comprises the first part of the thesis and puts our own contribution in its proper perspective.

The second part of the thesis contains our own contribution and begins with a completion of the analysis of solitary waves begun by Abbas. We next partition the general class into five equivalence classes and establish well-posedness for three of them and existence for a fourth. Finally, we show that all equations have at least two conservation laws, some of the equations have at most three conservation laws. These results enable us to conclude that this class of equations is a reasonable one in which to investigate the question referred to above.

The thesis ends with a resume and suggests avenues for continuing this investigation.


Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling plays a critical role during development and carcinogenesis. While Gli family members govern the transcriptional output of Shh signaling, little is known how Gli-mediated transcriptional activity is regulated. Here we identify the actin-binding protein Missing in Metastasis (MIM) as a new Shh-responsive gene. Together, Gli1 and MIM recapitulate Shh-mediated epidermal proliferation and invasion in regenerated human skin. MIM is part of a Gli/Suppressor of Fused complex and potentiates Gli-dependent transcription using domains distinct from those used for monomeric actin binding. These data define MIM as both a Shh-responsive gene and a new member of the pathway that modulates Gli responses during growth and tumorigenesis.


The paper considers William Morris's belief that modern language was 'degraded', and explores how his late fiction tried to resist this degradation. Morris was influenced by the romantic philology of the mid-Victorian period which depicted languages as living organisms. Philologists such as Max Muller claimed that modern civilization had arrested this growth, mechanizing language into conventional signs; and Morris adapted the idea into a critique of industrial capitalism. He conceptualized modern English as manufactured external forms, sundered from organic history. His late prose fictions trace the 'natural' meanings of words which he imagined feudalism and capitalism had suppressed. However, this narrative of organic origins existed in tension with Morris's socialist ideals, which sought an objective language above local or national perspectives. The older Morris was writing at a time when romantic philology was coming under attack from a new generation of scholars. These proto-linguists regarded meaning as conventional and narratives of organic 'roots' in the distant past as mere mythology. Morris's struggles to reconcile the contradictions in his philosophy of language reflect wider tensions in romantic philology. His imaginary worlds in which everyone spoke the same relied upon myths of original linguistic unity and stasis which new research and theories were undermining. Ironically, Morris's attempts to re-organicize English inadvertently demonstrated the conventionality and perspectivism of language, relying upon common cultural frames of reference.


Quantifying spatial variations in fracture orientations and fracture density with respect to position in a rock unit is an important part of the complete description of a 3D fracture network. We interpret terrestrial lidar data obtained from an outcrop of fractured Permo-Triassic aeolian red sandstone in the Vale of Eden half graben at George Gill, Appleby, located east of the Lake District in NW England. This work extends a previous study that used measured fractures manually along a single 1D transect. The lidar point clouds are preprocessed using RiSCAN PRO software. Deformation band traces are picked manually from the lidar data and used to calculate spatial attributes of fracture orientations. The digital nature of the data also allows re-sampling and effective filtering to derive fracture network parameters that are traditionally measured from outcrops, including size distributions, fracture spacing and clustering statistics. The orientation statistics derived from lidar data are used to investigate three aspects of spatial heterogeneity: geometrical clustering, spatial variation and spatial correlation using bootstrap, variogram and hierarchical analysis methods. The study suggests a qualitative relationship between fracture orientation and fracture sizes at different scales.


Michael Andrews attended Taunton's School in Southampton. His notebook for history covers work from his third and fourth year history lessons. It is an eclectic mix of topics, arranged broadly chronologically but not a continuous outline. There is also a great variety of presentation in the notes, including two detailed annotated timelines - one covering political history of the Tudors and the other the history of education from 1800-1950. There is a study of Hampshire during the Civil War and detailed notes on enclosure in the eighteenth century illustrated with maps and diagrams. The most detailed work covers transport history - from the canals and railways to shipping in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, illustrated with many drawings and cards and small cut-out pictures stuck into the pages. Antoher detailed section includes notes on the Australian aborigines and the lives of Livingstone and Rhodes in Africa.


Background: The investigation of structural organisation in lignocellulose materials is important to understand changes in cellulase accessibility and reactivity resulting from hydrothermal deconstruction, to allow development of strategies to maximise bioethanol process efficiencies. To achieve progress, wheat straw lignocellulose and comparative model wood cellulose were characterised following increasing severity of hydrothermal treatment. Powder and fibre wide-angle X-ray diffraction techniques were employed (WAXD), complemented by enzyme kinetic measurements up to high conversion. Results: Evidence from WAXD indicated that cellulose fibrils are not perfectly crystalline. A reduction in fibril crystallinity occurred due to hydrothermal treatment, although dimensional and orientational data showed that fibril coherency and alignment were largely retained. The hypothetical inter-fibril spacing created by hydrothermal deconstruction of straw was calculated to be insufficient for complete access by cellulases, although total digestion of cellulose in both treated straw and model pulp was observed. Both treated straw and model pulps were subjected to wet mechanical attrition, which caused separation of smaller fibril aggregates and fragments, significantly increasing enzyme hydrolysis rate. No evidence from WAXD measurements was found for preferential hydrolysis of non-crystalline cellulose at intermediate extent of digestion, for both wood pulp and hydrothermally treated straw. Conclusions: The increased efficiency of enzyme digestion of cellulose in the lignocellulosic cell wall following hydrothermal treatment is a consequence of the improved fibril accessibility due to the loss of hemicellulose and disruption of lignin. However, incomplete accessibility of cellulase at the internal surfaces of fibrillar aggregates implies that etching type mechanisms will be important in achieving complete hydrolysis. The reduction in crystalline perfection following hydrothermal treatment may lead to an increase in fibril reactivity, which could amplify the overall improvement in rate of digestion due to accessibility gains. The lack of preferential digestion of non-crystalline cellulose is consistent with the existence of localised conformational disorder, at surfaces and defects, according to proposed semicrystalline fibril models. Cellulases may not interact in a fully selective manner with such disordered environments, so fibril reactivity may be considered as a function of average conformational states.


The reported discrepancy between theory and experiment for external combustion Stirling engines is explained by the addition of thermal resistance of the combustion gasses to the standard Carnot model. In these cases, the Stirling engine ideal efficiency is not as is normally reported equal to the Carnot cycle efficiency but is significantly lower. A new equation for ideal Stirling engine efficiency when the heat is obtained through external combustion without pre-heating the air, is presented and results for various fuels tabulated. The results show that petrol and diesel, internal combustion engines (Otto cycle) have a higher ideal efficiency than the Stirling engine. When comparing thermoacoustic engines heated by wood, efficiency should not be quoted as a percentage of the Carnot efficiency, but against a figure 48% lower than Carnot. The effect is not seen with electrically heated rigs, solar or nuclear fission heated engines.


The First World War (1914-1918) or the Great War for Civilisation, as it was known at the time, was a watershed event in modern world history. The events of that conflict changed the social and political map of the world forever. Its repercussions reverberate through time and many contemporary conflicts, particularly in the Middle East, trace their roots directly to the fallout of that war.Though a colony at the time, India actively supported the war effort in its bid to gain Dominion status. The overwhelming majority of mainstream political opinion in 1914 was united in the view that if India desired greater responsibility and political autonomy, it must also be willing to share in the burden of Imperial defence.As a result, India contributed immensely to the war effort in terms of both men and material. Her soldiers served with credit and honour in numerous battlefields around the globe: in France and Belgium, in Aden, Arabia, East Africa, Gallipoli, Egypt, Mesopotamia, Palestine, Persia, Salonica, Russia, and even in China. By the end of the war 1,100,000 Indians had served overseas at the cost of 60,000 dead. They earned over 9,200 decorations for gallantry including 11 Victoria Crosses. These figures include the contribution of over 26,000 Imperial Service troops who were a part of the Indian States Forces.


We evaluate the performance of earthquake early warning algorithm ElarmS‐2 (earthquake alarm system v. 2) in the Pacific Northwest. Real‐time and prerecorded seismic data from Oregon, California, and Washington in the United States and British Columbia in Canada are used. The earthquakes tested range up to moment magnitude 7.2, the limit for which the ElarmS‐2 magnitude method is accurate. ElarmS‐2 reliably detects catalog magnitude 3 and larger earthquakes within the network, but the cut‐off magnitude for accurate event recognition is higher for events offshore and on the edges of the network. We have made several adjustments that make the ElarmS‐2 algorithm less likely to falsely report multiple alerts for earthquakes. Replaying of past earthquakes shows that the new settings improve the algorithm's behavior for edge cases while not degrading previously well‐constrained solutions within the dense part of the network. We expect few false alerts, none that would predict significant shaking anywhere in our region. Even though ElarmS‐2 assumes a fixed earthquake depth, the epicenter and magnitude estimates are accurate enough to provide good predictions of shaking intensities.

Online Material: Tables listing parameters of 31 calibration earthquakes, ElarmS‐2 real‐time detections, and comparison of ElarmS‐2 performance for calibration events before and after adjusting configuration.


Dense nonaqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs) are a pervasive and persistent category of groundwater contamination. In an effort to better understand their unique subsurface behavior, a controlled and carefully monitored injection of PCE (perchloroethylene), a typical DNAPL, was performed in conjunction with the University of Waterloo at Canadian Forces Base Borden in 1991. Of the various geophysical methods used to monitor the migration of injected PCE, the U.S. Geological Survey collected 500-MHz ground penetrating radar (GPR) data. These data are used in determining calibration parameters for a multiphase flow simulation. GPR data were acquired over time on a fixed two-dimensional surficial grid as the DNAPL was injected into the subsurface. Emphasis is on the method of determining DNAPL saturation values from this time-lapse GPR data set. Interactive full-waveform GPR modeling of regularized field traces resolves relative dielectric permittivity versus depth profiles for pre-injection and later-time data. Modeled values are end members in recursive calculations of the Bruggeman-Hanai-Sen (BHS) mixing formula, yielding interpreted pre-injection porosity and post-injection DNAPL saturation values. The resulting interpreted physical properties of porosity and DNAPL saturation of the Borden test cell, defined on a grid spacing of 50 cm with 1-cm depth resolution, are used as observations for calibration of a 3-D multiphase flow simulation. Calculated values of DNAPL saturation in the subsurface at 14 and 22 hours after the start of injection, from both the GPR and the multiphase flow modeling, are interpolated volumetrically and presented for visual comparison.


In the last decade, drones became frequently used to provide eye-in-the-sky overview in the outdoor environment. Their main advantage compared to the other types of robots is that they can fly above obstacles and rough terrains and they can quickly cover large areas. These properties also open a new application; drones could provide a multi-hop, line of sight communication for groups of ground users. The aim of this thesis is to develop a drone team that will establish wireless ad-hoc network between users on the ground and distributively adapt links and spatial arrangement to the requirements and motion of the ground users. For this application, we use fixed wing drones. Such platforms can be easily and quickly deployed. Fixed wing drones have higher forward speed and higher battery life than hovering platforms. On the other hand, fixed wing drones have unicycle dynamics with constrained forward speed which makes them unable to hover or perform sharp turns. The first challenge consists in bridging unicycle dynamics of the fixed wing drones. Some control strategies have been proposed and validated in simulations using the average distance between the target and the drone as a performance metric. However, besides the distance metric, energy expenditure of the flight also plays an important role in assessing the overall performance of the flight. We propose a new methodology that introduces a new metric (energy expenditure), we compare existing methods on a large set of target motion patterns and present a comparison between the simulation and field experiments on proposed target motion patterns. The second challenge consists in developing a formation control algorithm that will allow fixed wing robots to provide a wide area coverage and to relay data in a wireless ad-hoc network. In such applications fixed wing drones have to be able to regulate an inter-drone distance. Their reduced maneuverability presents the main challenge to design a formation algorithm that will regulate an inter-drone distance. To address this challenge, we present a distributed control strategy that relies only on local information. Each drone has its own virtual agent, it follows the virtual agent by performing previously evaluated and selected target tracking strategy, and flocking interaction rules are implemented between virtual agents. It is shown in simulation and in field experiments with a team of fixed wing drones that using this distributed formation algorithm, drones can cover an area by creating an equilateral triangular lattice and regulate communication link quality between neighboring drones. The third challenge consists in allowing connectivity between independently moving ground users using fixed wing drone team. We design two distributed control algorithms that change drones' spatial arrangement and interaction topology to maintain the connectivity. We propose a potential field based strategy which adapts distance between drones to shrink and expand the fixed wing drones' formation. In second approach, market-based adaptation, drones distributively delete interaction links to expand the formation graph to a tree graph. In simulations and field experiments we show that our proposed strategies successfully maintain independently moving ground users connected. Overall, this thesis presents synthesis of distributed algorithms for fixed wing drones to establish and maintain wireless ad-hoc communication networks.


This essay examines hip hop music as a form of legal criticism. It focuses on the music as critical resistance and "new terrain" for understanding the law, and more specifically, focuses on what prisons mean to Muslim hip hop artists. Losing friends, family, and loved ones to the proverbial belly of the beast has inspired criticism of criminal justice from the earliest days of hip hop culture. In the music, prisons are known by a host of names like "pen," "bing," and "clink," terms that are invoked throughout the lyrics. The most extreme expressions offer violent fantasies of revolution and revenge, painted within a cosmic worldview that likens present conditions to the slave system that first brought African Muslims to America as slaves. The discursive war challenges the notion that the most radical voices in Muslim America are to be found in mosques or other Muslim gatherings. Such a position must contend with this sonic jihad and its aural assault against prisons. These artists arguably represent the most radical Islamic discourse in America today that undoubtedly ranks Muslim rappers among the most cutting-edge critics of mass incarceration.


Background Phthalates can alter steroidogenesis and peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor gamma (PPARγ)–mediated transcription in rodent tissues. The placenta offers a rich source of biomarkers to study these relationships in humans. Objective We evaluated whether gestational phthalate exposures in humans were associated with altered human placental steroidogenesis and trophoblast differentiation as measured by markers of mRNA transcription. Methods We measured seven target genes in placentas collected from 54 Dominican and African-American women at delivery in New York City using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), normalized to 18S rRNA. qPCR results for the target genes were log-transformed, converted to Z-scores, and grouped into two functional pathways: steroidogenesis (aromatase, cholesterol side chain cleavage enzyme, 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1, and cytochrome P450 1B1) and trophoblast differentiation (PPARγ, aryl hydrocarbon receptor, and human chorionic gonadotropin). Repeated measures models were used to evaluate the association of phthalate metabolites measured in third-trimester urine samples with each group of target genes, accounting for correlation among the genes within a pathway. Results Higher urinary concentrations of five phthalate metabolites were associated with lower expression of the target genes reflecting trophoblast differentiation. Results were less consistent for genes in the steroidogenesis pathway and suggested a nonlinear dose–response pattern for some phthalate metabolites. Conclusions We observed a significant association between prenatal exposure to phthalates and placental gene expression within two pathways. Further studies are warranted to understand the significance of this association with respect to fetal development and placental function.


This book describes the new generation of discrete choice methods, focusing on the many advances that are made possible by simulation. Researchers use these statistical methods to examine the choices that consumers, households, firms, and other agents make. Each of the major models is covered: logit, generalized extreme value, or GEV (including nested and cross-nested logits), probit, and mixed logit, plus a variety of specifications that build on these basics. Recent advances in Bayesian procedures are explored, including the use of the Metropolis-Hastings algorithm and its variant Gibbs sampling. This second edition adds chapters on endogeneity and expectation-maximization (EM) algorithms. No other book incorporates all these fields, which have arisen in the past 25 years. The procedures are applicable in many fields, including energy, transportation, environmental studies, health, labor, and marketing.


Sickness absence and long-term incapacity leave contribute substantially to the national service delivery challenges that are particularly evident in the public health sector. The Auditor-General's reports, and the Department of Public Service and Administration, have highlighted these challenges.
Recognising this as an area requiring intervention, the Department of Public Service Administration developed the 'Policy and Procedure on Incapacity leave and Ill-health Retirement' and outsourced the management of sickness absence to private agencies. Management of ill-health among health-care workers is not addressed at the workplace; this has resulted in poor decision-making about fitness to work, and to work incapacity contributing to levels of absenteeism that exceed international benchmarks for the healthcare sector.
This chapter reviews and critiques current approaches in the management of ill-health among healthcare workers and assessment of their ability to work. A review was done of the literature on current benchmarks and approaches to managing sickness absence; secondary data from national and provincial Department of Health reports were also reviewed. A description is given of a small sample of short-term sickness-absence cases (n=151) at a hospital in KwaZulu-Natal. Two of the cases are highlighted.
Healthcare workers experience a significant burden of disease caused by a range of workplace hazards. This, together with inadequate institutional management of sickness absence, results in a high number of lost work-days. In 2004-2006 and 2007-2009, the national cost of sickness absence was R7.3m and R8.8m respectively, while the provincial costs were R208m and R303m respectively. In 2014, sickness absence resulted in an average of seven days (senior management), eight days (skilled supervisors) and eight days (lower categories), among all those workers taking sick leave.
The authors propose an approach that ensures institutional responsibility for sickness absence, involvement of the Employee Health Service in the case of five days of absence, and involvement of the Occupational Medical Practitioner in cases of repeated short-term absence and assessment of fitness to work.


It is well known that personalized and adaptive training, such as from a human tutor, is dramatically more effective than traditional classroom training. Due to reasons such as cost and availability, however, most military training is still provided in the traditional classroom format. The United States Army Research Laboratory has recently published research plans and major thrusts for changing this dynamic. Each of these research plans outlines a different aspect of intelligent tutoring system technology, which are tied together in a unifying architecture for conducting the research. This paper discusses how this path was decided upon, the progress made to date, clarifies the role of the architecture in the research, and discusses some of the advantages of a unified system as part of measuring training effectiveness and overall system improvement.


The natural ecosystem of the Sundarbans mangrove wetlands is under threat due to anthropogenic activities. This ecosystem has become vulnerable to pollution such as oil spillage, heavy metals, and agrochemicals – which may have changed the mangrove ecosystem's biogeochemistry. In this paper, the present status of Sundarbans' mangrove pollution is reviewed. The ecotoxicologic effect on its aquatic and terrestrial flora and fauna, and pollution management problems are also discussed. Conservation and environmental pollution management for protecting this world's largest mangrove ecosystem are immediately needed. Environmentally sound technology should be adapted for pollution prevention, control and remediation in the Sundarbans mangrove wetlands.


Purpose: To examine mechanisms that determine long-term responses of B-RAFV600E melanoma cells to B-RAF inhibitors. Experimental Design: B-RAFV600E melanoma cells were exposed to the B-RAF inhibitor PLX4720 for prolonged periods to select for cells resistant to apoptosis induced by the inhibitor. The resultant cells were analyzed for activation of extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK), MAP/ERK kinase (MEK), and Akt, and related signals. Their roles in survival of the cells were also examined. Results: B-RAFV600E melanoma cells selected for resistant to PLX4720-induced apoptosis retained the V600E mutation in B-RAF, and proliferated steadily in the presence of the inhibitor, albeit with slow growth rate. These cells displayed high levels of ERK activation, that is, at least in part, independent of the conventional RAF/MEK/ERK pathway, as MEK activation was low and inhibition of MEK did not significantly block activation of ERK. In contrast, extracellular signals appeared involved. This was associated with elevated activation of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3k)/Akt pathway and could be inhibited by serum starvation and inhibition of PI3k/Akt. Inhibition of MEK did not impact on survival of these cells, whereas serum starvation, inhibition of PI3K/Akt, and inhibition of ERK1/2 reduced their viability. Conclusions: These results indicate that sensitivity to induction of apoptosis may be a major determinant of long-term responses of B-RAFV600E melanomas to specific inhibitors and suggest that rebound melanoma growth after initial treatment with the inhibitors may not be responsive to MEK inhibitors, but may be susceptible to inhibition of the PI3k/Akt pathway. Clin Cancer Res; 17(4); 1–10. ©2010 AACR.


The genetic diversity of cyanobacterial communities was studied at various depths in Lake Kinneret (Israel). Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of specific 16S rRNA gene PCR products showed significant differences in the cyanobacterial community structure between epi- and hypolimnetic waters. Sequences of clone libraries prepared from 16S rRNA gene PCR products from epi- and,hypolimnion revealed the presence of at least 11 different groups of cyanobacteria. Clones related to the unicellular cyanobacteria (Chroococcales and picocyanobacteria) dominated the clone libraries from both depths. New primers to amplify the gene coding for the photosystem 11 reaction centre (psbA) and the nitrogen regulator gene (ntcA) of cyanobacteria were developed and used for further characterization of the cyanobacterial communities from the lake. Sequences of psbA amplicons clustered with those from 2 different groups of marine Synechococcus and Chroococcales. Cloned ntcA amplicons from the lake were closely related and did not cluster with sequences from cultured cyanobacteria or other environmental sequences from this gene. All the molecular markers analyzed here showed similarity to sequences from some groups of cyanobacteria in the lake and those so far found in marine habitats.


Gaspar Gabrielli was brought to Ireland by the second Lord Cloncurry in 1805 for the decoration of his estate, Lyons of County Kildare. He contributed similar decorative work to Tanderagee Castle and No. 41 North Great George's Street and also various landscapes to exhibitions in Dublin between 1809-1814. Gabrielli continued to practise landscape painting in Ireland for some years, returning to Italy in 1819.


The so-called Goeman-Taeldeman-Van Reenen Project (GTRP) consists of a large online database of 613 local dialects of Dutch on the basis of which the phonologies of these dialects can be systematically compared. In this paper we present a quantitative investigation of an aspect of the reliability of the GTRP data. To this end, we performed a series of statistical analyses in order (1) to detect to which extent the various investigators involved affected the data regarding the palatalisation and velarisation of coronal nasal-plosive clusters, and (2) to determine the weight of the effects exerted on the variability in the data by the investigators, dialect geography, diachronic and synchronic internal factors as well as several parameters of usage. The findings are relevant for both theoretical and methodological reasons. In the former connection, we discuss the effects of the phonological as well as frequency factors determining palatalisation and velarisation in this environment. In the latter connection, we make suggestions for the calibration and enrichment of phonological databases.


Our societies are ageing to an unprecedented level. This ongoing demographic process presents our cities, architecture, and urban space with new challenges, prompting us to creatively reconsider well-known spatial and urban strategies. While we have made substantial progress in defining frameworks that seek to increase age-friendliness, such as the WHO's "Global Age-Friendly Cities: A Guide," which calls for better accessibility and increased embedment and participation of older people within our communities, we have still a fairly limited understanding of how older people actually partake in urban life and how they root themselves within its context, particularly from a spatial point of view. The work presented in this article seeks to bridge this perceived gap in current research by contributing a qualitative spatial ethnographic pilot study from the field of architecture and urbanism that explores the experiential realm of the city and the lived spaces of older people, specifically with regards to the tactics older people use in order to root themselves and partake in the city. The lived context is often far more diverse and complex than quantitative studies might imply, pointing to a need to redefine common assumptions about community, participation, and locality. The aim of the study is neither to verify a hypothesis nor to offer straightforward solutions, but to uncover the often hidden dimensions of older age, in order to generate new questions and ambitions. The wider aim of the research is to exceed the demand for an "accessible city" implemented through various practical measures by uncovering significant themes within the daily lives of older people that have the capacity to provide starting points for new urban and spatial strategies for the future city.


The World Health Organization and pharmaceutical experts have recommended that Generic Drug Policies be implemented to improve the availability of affordable medicines. This document reports on the status of generic drug policies in Latin America. The data presented are based on several sources: a survey conducted in 2003, archival information, and official health and pharmaceutical policy documents. The survey revealed that countries use different definitions for the terms "generic and bioequivalence" severely curtailing the ability to make comparisons across countries. There is also ample variability in the periods allowed for drug registration and registration charges. Although most countries in the region are becoming increasingly dependent on pharmaceutical imports, many have sizeable local pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity. The need to adopt common definitions for technical terms, the urgency of improving quality controls and the importance of strengthening generic drug programs are highlighted.


Background: In recent years, higher than the recommended rate of oxytocin use has been observed among low-risk women. This study examines the relationship between oxytocin administration and birth outcomes in women and neonates. Methods: A retrospective analysis of birth and neonatal outcomes for women who received oxytocin versus those who did not. The sample included 322 women with a low-risk pregnancy. Results: Oxytocin administration was associated with cesarean section (aOR 4.81, 95% CI: 1.80–12.81), instrumental birth (aOR 3.34, 95% CI: 1.45–7.67), episiotomy (aOR 3.79, 95% CI: 2.20–6.52) and length of the second stage (aOR 00:18, 95% CI: 00:04–00:31). In neonatal outcomes, oxytocin in labor was associated with umbilical artery pH ≤ 7.20 (OR 3.29, 95% CI: 1.33–8.14). Admission to neonatal intensive care unit (OR 0.56, 95% CI: 0.22–1.42), neonatal resuscitation (OR 1.04, 95% CI: 0.22–1.42), and Apgar score <7 (OR 0.48, 95% CI: 0.17–1.33) were not associated with oxytocin administration during labor. Conclusions: Oxytocin administration during labor for low-risk women may lead to worse birth outcomes with an increased risk of instrumental birth and cesarean, episiotomy and the use of epidural analgesia for pain relief. Neonatal results may be also worse with an increased proportion of neonates displaying an umbilical arterial pH ≤ 7.20.


I know what we wanted to start, and I know we started something, but I don't really know what happened. And I don't think anyone can really tell you

A spectre of mystery haunts those interested in documenting and writing about riot grrrl. It feels like an unwarranted invasion into the safe spaces of female youth, like reading that hidden diary, decoding a secret myth, or eavesdropping on a slumber party. Writing about riot grrrl is risky. Girls keep secrets for a reason. Writing can destroy and distort meanings, intentions and experiences by twisting them into an uncomfortable order:
confinement in language and linearity. Accounts of riot grrrl produced by dominant culture have easily fallen into these traps. riot grrrl has been understood as a fashion, a phase, as punk, as dead, as violent, as man-hate, and ultimately, as a failure; the effect of which produces a set of meanings that reaffirm cultural power in masculine hands. riot grrrl has
had its messages and slogans co-opted, diluted and sold back in the form of girl-powered commodities and all-girl pop groups. Those involved in is creation have been excluded from profiting from this mainstreaming of riot grrrl. Left unable or unwilling to churn out another grrrl story or manifesto, and refusing to align themselves or conceptualise their
youth within terms that have become alien from their own experiences. The opportunity to write a history of riot grrrl is like walking a tight rope, blindfolded, over hot coals with a bad sense of balance. But this might be a symptom of how much the movement means to me. How much these women and their ideas have personally inspired me and keep encouraging new generations of girls and women to explore their own creativity, political identity and expression. Nonetheless, I felt a need to keep as close as I possibly could to riot grrrl words, stories and meanings. Therefore, in writing this history I resisted relying upon mainstream media representations, to instead favour the voices of riot grrrl in their own words, as expressed in oral histories and panel discussions I've recently been involved in, as well as those conducted by the Experience Music Project in Seattle Washington. Instead of reproducing a music, American or fashion-centred history, I
wanted to re-situate riot grrrl as a radical political movement, philosophy and cultural catalyst which continues to provide girls and women with vital inspiration and encouragement worldwide. By resisting the traditional depictions of girlhood, feminism and consumer culture, riot grrrl enabled the proliferation of new generations of cultural creators
and activists. Women and girls found their own voices and power in music, art, literary and political discourses. riot grrrls began to rewrite and figure out for themselves what it means to be a girl, a feminist, an activist, a musician or an artist at one particular moment and place. Since then riot grrrl has opened up the possibility to share our experiences, tell our own stories and create our own language. A riot grrrl history is an insight into a provocative moment in modern day feminism, youth resistance and popular culture. Like girl germs, it's
infectious.


In this paper, we use the panel of the first two waves of the Household Finance and Consumption Survey by the European Central Bank to study housing demand of European households and evaluate potential housing market regulations in the post-crisis era. We provide a comprehensive account of the housing decisions of European households between 2010 and 2014, and structurally estimate the housing preference of a simple life-cycle housing choice model. We then evaluate the effect of a tighter LTV/LTI regulation via counter-factual simulations. We find that those regulations limit homeownership and wealth accumulation, reduces housing consumption but may be welfare improving for the young households.


Designing energy-efficient architecture can have a significant influence on the energy performance of wireless sensor networks. Such an architecture design consists of cross-layer approach to determine the lifetime of the network using optimal number of cluster selections in a high density sensor network. The MAC protocol designs of network keeps sensors in sleep mode to reduce energy consumption. In this paper, we propose an enhancement to existing architectural design by using novel Hybrid MAC protocol. This consists of Dynamic MAC (D-MAC) / TDMA MAC protocol. It is energy efficiency and has low latency MAC in wireless sensor networks. The enhanced protocol is simulated in MATLAB for performance evaluation. The simulation result show that Hybrid MAC protocol considerably improves the energy saving and latency to increase the sensor network lifetime. The proposed architecture appears to be promising and will require further research.


The majority of people with upper limb absence (PWULA) live in lower, or middle-income countries (LMICs). However, efforts to develop improved prostheses have largely focused on electrically powered devices, sustainable deployment of which, in LMICs, is difficult. In the 'Fit-for-purpose, affordable body-powered prostheses' project, teams from the United Kingdom, Uganda and Jordan are developing mechanically-operated prostheses, optimised for LMICs, and establishing local methods for fabrication, fitting and evaluation. Here we first report on preliminary studies aimed at grounding the project in the reality of current prosthetics services and the experiences of people with limb absence in Uganda. Finally, we outline our ongoing work in the context of our findings.In our first two studies we reviewed current prosthetics and associated repair services. An issue which came up repeatedly was the difficulty faced by orthopaedic technologists in accessing componentry/materials. All specialised prosthetics components and materials are imported, often at a high cost. Purchasing does not appear to be well coordinated between centres, meaning potential economies of scale are not being fully exploited. Although there is supposed to be government funding for prosthetics, in practice budgets are often inadequate and a reliance on donations is common. The resource limitations mean Orthopaedic Technologists often resort to ad-hoc solutions; unsurprisingly perhaps, failures in prostheses were reported. In particular, lamination-based socket manufacture is very difficult, given the complexity (and cost) of the processes involved. Repair services are also limited, in part also due to problems accessing materials/components. Despite (or in part, as a result of) these challenges, the orthopaedic technologists are generally an extremely 415resourceful and multi-skilled group and there is genuine enthusiasm to see services improve. Further, there is a growth in interest and capabilities in the area of medical device innovation.In the third of our studies, we interviewed 17 PWULA and present preliminary results from the analysis of a subset of five participants. Firstly, we found that only 2 of the participants reported experience with using an upper limb prosthesis, again supporting the picture which emerged from the other studies. The findings illustrate the emergence of four key themes: a) attitude towards disability; b) barriers to prosthesis use; c) coping without a prosthesis; and d) communication with other PWULA. Although attitudes to those with limb loss varied, participants reported impacts in terms of social isolation and a mixed experience of emotions that appeared predominantly negative; barriers to prosthesis use were broader than just cost and functionality, and included a lack of training and psychological support; given that it is difficult to access an upper limb prosthesis, PWULA have found ways to perform daily life activities without relying on one; finally, most PWULA find the suggestion of communicating with other people with the same experience appealing.In our project we are addressing some of the issues found in the preliminary studies. To make socket manufacture less dependent on access to imported materials and specialised equipment, we are investigating the development of lattice-style, adjustable sockets, made from locally available materials. We are also investigating alternatives to the traditional harness-controlled, body-powered prosthetic hands. Given that clinicians have no objective means of evaluating the value of the prosthesis to their clients, we are testing the use of low-cost digital monitoring tools. We are also exploring the potential value of using mobile-phones to reduce the isolation of PWULA. Finally, we are exploring how these innovations may be translated into the Ugandan health setting.


In model-based evolutionary algorithms (EAs), the underlying search distribution is adapted to the problem at hand, for example based on dependencies between decision variables. Hill-valley clustering is an adaptive niching method in which a set of solutions is clustered such that each cluster corresponds to a single mode in the fitness landscape. This can be used to adapt the search distribution of an EA to the number of modes, exploring each mode separately. Especially in a black-box setting, where the number of modes is a priori unknown, an adaptive approach is essential for good performance. In this work, we introduce multi-objective hill-valley clustering and combine it with MAMaLGaM, a multi-objective EA, into the multi-objective hill-valley EA (MO-HillVallEA). We empirically show that MO-HillVallEA outperforms MAMaLGaM and other well-known multi-objective optimization algorithms on a set of benchmark functions. Furthermore, and perhaps most important, we show that MO-HillVallEA is capable of obtaining and maintaining multiple approximation sets simultaneously over time.


Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked genetic disorder that arises from mutations in the dystrophin gene. The disease is characterised by severe and progressive wasting of skeletal and cardiac muscles. The mdx mouse model of muscular dystrophy has a nonsense mutation in exon 23 of the dystrophin gene. Our group has previously shown that both 2_-O-methyl antisense oligonucleotides (AOs) and morpholino AOs can induce skipping of exon 23 in H2k-mdx cells. These AOs redirect splicing by masking the normal donor splice site to induce exon 23 skipping, causing an in-frame transcript to be produced which can then be translated into a shorter but functional dystrophin protein. We have compared 2_-O-methyl AOs with morpholino AOs, to determine which chemistry is the most efficient at inducing exon skipping and presumably which chemistry should be used in human clinical trials. Two different sequences targeting the intron 23 donor splice site, each prepared as 2_- O-methyl or morpholino AOs, were evaluated to determine if the length of the AO influences efficiency of exon skipping. Both morpholino and 2_-O-methyl AOs were used to transfect H2k-mdx cells across a range of concentrations. Persistence of corrected in-frame transcript was also used as ameasure to determine the most efficient AO for inducing exon skipping. We found the longer AO for each chemistry was more efficient than the corresponding shorter compound. The morpholino AOs, when delivered as a leash-lipoplex, were more efficient at inducing sustained exon skipping than the corresponding sequences prepared as 2_-O-methyl AOs in vitro. Both chemistries are now being evaluated in vivo for safety and efficacy.


Introduction: A. auriculiformis, A. disparrima and A. leptoloba are native Australian Acacia spp. which were used as both foods and medicines by the first Australians. Infusions and decoctions produced from leaves and bark have reputed antiseptic properties and were used traditionally to treat a variety of bacterial diseases. Despite this, Australian Acacia spp. solvent extractions have not been rigorously examined for antibacterial properties against food spoilage and food poisoning bacteria. Methods: The antimicrobial activity of A. auriculiformis, A. disparrima and A. leptoloba leaf extracts extractions was investigated by disc diffusion and growth time course assays against a panel of food spoilage and food poisoning bacteria. The growth inhibitory activity was quantified by MIC determination. Toxicity was determined using the Artemia franciscana nauplii bioassay. Results: A. auriculiformis, A. disparrima and A. leptoloba leaf extracts inhibited the growth of a wide range of bacterial species which cause food spoilage and food poisoning. A. auriculiformis extracts were generally more potent growth inhibitors than extracts prepared from the other species, although A. disparrima extracts were also potent inhibitors of bacterial growth. With few exceptions, the methanolic extracts were more potent growth inhibitors than the other solvent extractions. The methanolic A. auriculiformis leaf extract was a particularly potent inhibitor of K. pneumoniae and P. mirabilis, B. cereus and S. aureus growth, with MIC values of 97, 132, 178 and 109 µg/mL respectively. This extract was also a good inhibitor of A. faecalis, A. hydrophilia and S. newport growth (MIC's <1000 µg/mL range). The A. disparrima extracts had a similar, albeit slightly less potent activity profiles. In contrast, the A. leptoloba leaf extracts were substantially less potent. All extracts were determined to be nontoxic in the Artemia franciscana nauplii bioassay, indicating their safety for use as natural food preservatives. Conclusions: The lack of toxicity of the A. auriculiformis, A. disparrima and A. leptoloba leaf extracts and their growth inhibitory bioactivity against a panel of food spoilage and food poisoning bacteria indicate their potential in the development of natural food preservatives.


The impact damping capabilities of four different boxing gloves were assessed under two different conditions of target padding to determine whether target characteristics might influence previous conclusions concerning potential for impact mitigation through novel glove design. A conventional 10 oz glove (Std 10 oz), a conventional 16 oz glove (Std 16 oz), a prototype pneumatic glove with a sealed bladder (SBLI) and a prototype pneumatic glove with a bladder allowing air exchange with the external environment (ARLI) were each dropped three times on to a force plate from six heights ranging from 2.5 to 5.0 metres. The force plate was covered by a 50 mm thick mat of EVA material and results obtained were compared with those of an earlier experiment involving use of a similar protocol but a 25 mm thick EVA force plate covering. The thicker mat greatly reduced peak impact forces for all gloves, with values for the Std 10 oz glove becoming much closer to those reported by other researchers for punches delivered by elite boxers to crash test manikins. Peak rates of force development were also substantially decreased. Protective effects provided by the ARLI glove relative to the Std 10 oz glove were diminished but still in the order of 17% - 22% for peak impact force and 27% - 49% for peak rate of force development across the range of drop heights. With the 50 mm mat thickness, the SBLI glove was as effective as the ARLI glove in reducing peak impact force, whereas this was not the case with the 25 mm mat. It was, however, always inferior to the ARLI glove in decreasing peak rate of force development. The ability of the ARLI glove to afford protection across a spectrum of impact conditions could yield important practical advantages.


PURPOSE
To assess the association of lymphovascular invasion (LVI) with cancer recurrence and survival in a large international series of patients treated with radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) for upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS
Data were collected on 1,453 patients treated with RNU at 13 academic centers and combined into a relational database. Pathologic slides were rereviewed by genitourinary pathologists according to strict criteria. LVI was defined as presence of tumor cells within an endothelium-lined space.

RESULTS
LVI was observed in 349 patients (24%). Proportion of LVI increased with advancing tumor stage, high tumor grade, presence of tumor necrosis, sessile tumor architecture, and presence of lymph node metastasis (all P < .001). LVI was an independent predictor of disease recurrence and survival (P < .001 for both). Addition of LVI to the base model (comprising pathologic stage, grade, and lymph node status) marginally improved its predictive accuracy for both disease recurrence and survival (1.1%, P = .03; and 1.7%, P < .001, respectively). In patients with negative lymph nodes and those in whom a lymphadenectomy was not performed (n = 1,313), addition of LVI to the base model improved the predictive accuracy of the base model for both disease recurrence and survival by 3% (P < .001 for both). In contrast, LVI was not associated with disease recurrence or survival in node-positive patients (n = 140).

CONCLUSION
LVI was an independent predictor of clinical outcomes in nonmetastatic patients who underwent RNU for UTUC. Assessment of LVI may help identify patients who could benefit from multimodal therapy after RNU. After confirmation, LVI should be included in staging of UTUC.


Transplantation
of labial salivary glands to the eyelids for patients with dry eye appears to
give excellent results clinically. To obtain more scientific evidence for this
surgery, the human tear proteome was characterized and compared with salivary
proteins. Not only the possible beneficial effects of the surgery in patients
with dry eye disease were confirmed; the tear fluid proteome appears to contain
a lot of additional information, possibly reflecting other ophthalmological and
even non-ophthalmological pathologies.
Top-down proteomics of tears is superior to the bottom-up approach because
multiple molecular forms are detected as products of the same genes. Since
structurally different protein forms are likely to have different
bioactivities, the identification of these so called proteoforms, which is
largely missed in bottom-up proteomics, is essential to understand the effect
of a specific protein in relation to a disease.
The combination of Schirmer strip based tear fluid sample collection, automated
heat stabilization, a microfluidic chip-based capillary electrophoresis unit,
and a benchtop high resolution mass spectrometer may make proteoform profiling
of tears become applicable in the peripheral ophthalmic practice.


Calcium is an intracellular second messenger that is vital for normal neuronal function. The
maintenance of calcium homeostasis is critical for healthy neuronal function, and
disruption in calcium homeostasis has been implicated in diseases such as epilepsy and
Alzheimer's disease. In developing neurons, calcium signalling regulates the precise wiring
of neurons, in a process known as axon guidance. Axon guidance is extremely important in
the normal healthy development of the nervous system. Aberrant axon guidance is highly
associated with several neurodevelopmental disorders including autism and mental
retardation syndromes such as fragile-X syndrome. Axons navigate the environment by a
dynamic navigational structure located at the distal tip of an extending axon, known as a
growth cone. Cytosolic calcium is crucial in mediating growth cone navigation. Correct
understanding of the signalling mechanisms that regulate cytosolic calcium is key to
understanding normal growth cone function. This thesis focuses on the molecular mechanisms that regulate a vital source of calcium
within growth cones, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Little is known about the function of
the ER within growth cones. Stromal Interaction Molecule 1 (STIM1) is a calcium sensing
protein in the ER membrane, which interacts with Orai proteins in the plasma membrane to
initiate store-operated calcium entry (SOCE) and refill depleted intracellular calcium stores.
The central hypothesis of this thesis is that STIM1 is necessary for SOCE in neuronal
growth cones, and is required for axon guidance. The results presented within this thesis demonstrate the presence and function of STIM1-
mediated processes within the developing nervous system. This thesis has utilised primary
cell culture of embryonic dorsal root ganglia neurons and immunocytochemistry to
investigate the presence and localisation of STIM1 within developing growth cones.
STIM1, along with its binding partners Orai1 and Orai2 reside in two different localisation
patterns within growth cones; active (punctate) and inactive (diffuse). Depletion of calcium
stores resulted in the activation of STIM1 within growth cones, increasing the number of
growth cones displaying punctate STIM1 protein distribution. Calcium depletion also
increased colocalisation between STIM1 and Orai1. Furthermore, STIM1 localisation
appeared to be biased towards the turning side of the growth cone, in response to a calciumdependent
guidance cue. These data suggest that STIM1 and the Orai proteins are dynamic
proteins that function in the regulation of calcium within growth cones. While immunocytochemistry data suggested that STIM1 was functional within growth
cones, a target morpholino approach was used to determine if STIM1 was necessary for
growth cone function. A reduction of endogenous STIM1 reversed turning towards BDNF
and netrin-1, and demonstrated that STIM1-mediated SOCE was necessary for BDNF
signalling in growth cones. Unexpectedly, a reduction in STIM1 abolished turning away
from Sema-3a in a manner independent of SOCE. In a growth cone collapse assay, STIM1
was also found to be necessary for Sema-3a-induced collapse, suggesting that STIM1 is
implicated in multiple Sema-3a signalling pathways. This knockdown approach clearly
demonstrates the necessity of STIM1 function for normal growth cone turning. While the main function of STIM1 is thought to be the activation of Orai proteins, and
subsequent activation of SOCE, STIM1 has been shown to interact with other signalling
proteins, including the second messenger cAMP, in a process termed store-operated cAMP
signalling. This study utilised cAMP analogues to determine if store-operated cAMP
signalling was functional within growth cones. Upon the activation of cAMP, repulsive
turning away from Sema-3a was restored in growth cones with reduced levels of STIM1.
Sema-3a collapse was also prevented upon addition of cAMP agonists in control growth
cones, but not restored in STIM1 morphants. Similar results were achieved with cGMP
agonists. These data suggest that STIM1 mediates cyclic nucleotide signalling within
growth cones. Furthermore, STIM1 has also recently been implicated in the reciprocal
control of L-type voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) and Orai proteins. While Ltype
VGCCs are important in mature neurons, there is conflicting data in the literature as to
their role in axon guidance. This study investigated whether there was a potential
interaction between STIM1 and L-type VGCCS in growth cones, and found that if there is
an interaction, it is not essential for growth cone turning, but may be required for axon
extension. These results indicate a number of novel findings: Firstly, that STIM1 mediates growth
cone navigation in response to both calcium-dependent and -independent guidance cues.
Secondly, that STIM1 is required for Sema-3a signalling. Thirdly, that STIM1 mediates
cyclic nucleotide signalling pathways within growth cones, and likely does not interact with L-type VGCCs for growth cone navigation. In conclusion, this thesis has significantly
added to the understanding of the regulation of the calcium signalling pathways that are
crucial for normal growth cone guidance, enhancing our understanding of growth cone
navigation, and in particular the regulation of the calcium signalling pathways that are
crucial for normal growth cone guidance. These findings add to the pool of knowledge of
how growth cones function and regulate calcium, which is crucial for normal neuronal
health within development.


Purpose: Rho GDP dissociation inhibitor 2 (RhoGDI2) has been identified as a regulator of Rho family GTPase. However, there is currently no direct evidence suggesting whether RhoGDI2 activates or inhibits Rho family GTPase in vivo (and which type), and the role of RhoGDI2 in tumor remains controversial. Here, we assessed the effects of RhoGDI2 expression on gastric tumor growth and metastasis progression. Experimental Design: Proteomic analysis was done to investigate the tumor-specific protein expression in gastric cancer and RhoGDI2 was selected for further study. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect RhoGDI2 expression in clinical samples of primary gastric tumor tissues which have different pathologic stages. Gain-of-function and loss-of-function approaches were done to examine the malignant phenotypes of the RhoGDI2-expressing or RhoGDI2-depleting cells. Results: RhoGDI2 expression was correlated positively with tumor progression and metastasis potential in human gastric tumor tissues, as well as cell lines. The forced expression of RhoGDI2 caused a significant increase in gastric cancer cell invasion in vitro, and tumor growth, angiogenesis, and metastasis in vivo, whereas RhoGDI2 depletion evidenced opposite effects. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that RhoGDI2 is involved in gastric tumor growth and metastasis, and that RhoGDI2 may be a useful marker for tumor progression of human gastric cancer.


This paper considers the execution of a Multi-Agent Plan in a partially observable environment, and faces the problem of recovering from action failures.

The paper formalizes a local plan repair strategy, where each agent in the system is responsible for controlling (monitoring and diagnosing) the actions it executes, and for autonomously repairing its own plan when an action failure is detected.

The paper describes also how to mitigate the impact of an action failure on the plans of other agents when the local recovery strategy fails.


Polarization-resolved dynamics of mutually coupled vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers with asymmetrical injections is studied. For one laser, the injection parameters, such as injection rate, lasing frequency, and propagation phase, are set to fixed values, while for the other laser these parameters are taken as variables. The results show that asymmetrical injections have great influence on the dynamics and polarization state of the system. Subjected to injections with different degrees of asymmetry, the lasers can experience bifurcations in the original polarization, polarization switching to the orthogonal direction, or emission with both of the two linearly polarized modes.


The collision of trade and security interests is taking place today in an increasingly fragmented landscape. Governments' conceptions of their own vital interests are undergoing a rapid transformation, as the concept of "national security" expands to encompass issues such as national industrial policy, cybersecurity, and responses to climate change and pandemic disease. At the same time, the system for settling trade disputes is being pulled apart by competing tendencies toward legalism and deformalization. Last year, a landmark decision suggested that international adjudicators could oversee this clash between security and trade, deciding which security interests can override trade rules and which ones cannot. Then the collapse of the WTO Appellate Body threw into doubt the future of a legalized trade regime, suggesting a partial return to a system driven by politics, where governments retain significant discretion to advance their own interpretations of their trade obligations and their security interests.

In this contribution to the Duke Journal of Comparative and International Law symposium on trade and security, I argue that this fragmented landscape provides an opportunity to experiment with different ways of resolving the clash between trade and security. After introducing the expansion of state security interests with reference to recent policy developments, I identify three emerging models for reconciling expanded security interests with trade obligations: structured politics, trade legalism, and judicial managerialism. Each of these models brings tradeoffs in terms of oversight and flexibility, and each is associated with an ideal institutional setting. Rather than attempting to vindicate one model for all settings and all purposes, we should embrace plurality, especially at a moment where the relationship between trade and security appears to be undergoing a historic transformation.


The influence of heat treatment steps on the characteristics of (CdS, CdSe) junction partners and on solar cell performance was studied. CdS films were obtained by chemical bath deposition, and CdSe layers were evaporated. Structural and compositional properties of CdS/CdSe bilayer stacks did not change upon heat treatment at 400 °C up to 10 min, whereas heat treatment in the presence of CdCl2 for 10 min caused formation of a CdSSe alloy with a bandgap value of about 2.05 eV. Originally, the cubic structure of the stack was also transformed into a hexagonal structure during this treatment. CdSe–CdTe interdiffusion was also studied using CdS/CdSe/CdTe triple layer stacks. CdTe films were deposited using a close-spaced sublimation method. Limited CdSe–CdTe interdiffusion was seen when CdTe was deposited over the as-deposited CdSe layer at 580 °C. However, such interdiffusion was not detected for samples where CdTe deposition was carried out on CdS/CdSe stacks pre-annealed in the presence of CdCl2. This suggests that partial crystallization of the CdS/CdSe bilayer stack by CdCl2 reduced such an interaction. Solar cells with CdSe/CdTe, CdS/CdTe and CdS/CdSe/CdTe structures with efficiencies of 8.39%, 10.12% and 11.47% were fabricated using 4.5–5 µm thick CdTe layers and a final CdCl2 treatment. Quantum efficiency measurements demonstrated the benefit of CdSe–CdTe alloying during the final CdCl2 treatment in improving the short circuit current values.


BACKGROUND
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can lead to pulmonary hypertension and cor pulmonale, which are predictors of mortality.

OBJECTIVE
To identify predictors of increased pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) in COPD patients without resting hypoxaemia, and to characterise COPD patients with increased PAP.

DESIGN
A study of 117 COPD patients from the Korean Obstructive Lung Disease (KOLD) cohort who had measurable tricuspid regurgitant flow under transthoracic Doppler echocardiography and no resting hypoxaemia.

RESULTS
The mean patient age was 67 years. Mean forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV(1)) was 47% predicted, mean haemoglobin (Hb) concentration was 145 g/l and mean systolic PAP (sPAP) was 33 mmHg. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that Hb was the only factor independently associated with sPAP (beta = -1.752, P = 0.005). Cluster analysis using FEV(1)% predicted, sPAP and Hb concentration as variables indicated three patient clusters: Cluster 1 (n = 36; mean FEV(1) 44% predicted, mean sPAP 39 mmHg, mean Hb 132 g/l), Cluster 2 (n = 45; FEV(1) 35% predicted, sPAP 31 mmHg, Hb 154 g/l), and Cluster 3 (n = 36; FEV(1) 65% predicted, sPAP 29 mmHg, Hb 148 g/l).

CONCLUSION
Elevated PAP was linked to low haemoglobin levels in COPD without resting hypoxaemia.


The study examines whether taxes levied on rubber, coconut, and pineapple smallholders in 1975 are a major cause for smallholder low income. ' Results of the study show that tax burden on the smallholder is substantial, particularly that on rubber smallholders. The average rubber smallholder pays about one-fourth to onethird of his income in taxes. However, the scope for incrfasing income through changes in the tax structure is limited. Such changes should be coupled with programmes aimed at increasing farm productivity and size
of holding.


The following paper is centred upon practice based research, developing a capsule collection of custom fitted knitwear for the individual body shapes of a cohort of British women over UK size 16 (Eu 44), with parallels to other European female consumers. The intent of the research has been to develop a new knit system offering minimally extensible knitted garments for larger size women, producing tangible knitted results which exemplify a theory.
The 2003 SizeUK survey established that the average woman in the UK is a size 16 (Allen et al., n.pag); since then further body size surveys have been carried out in France, China, Mexico and Brazil. Recent studies show that 36% of the female population in the UK could be obese by 2020. (Press Association, n.pag) Thus a significant amount of the female population falls into the plus size clothing market. Despite this trend, research has concluded that larger women experience dissatisfaction with clothing fit. (Chowdhary and Beale, p1; Kind and Hathcote, p323; Shim and Kotsiopulos, p1038)
Fashion abhors fat and the ageing process (Evans, p94); thinness symbolises wealth, youth, beauty and power. (Nussbaum, p5) Average women can have up to 38% body fat by middle age (30% when younger) whereas models with as much as 22% less than average body fat are the ideal for whom clothing is designed. (Wolf, p192) As a woman's socio-economic status rises she acquires the financial ability to achieve this ideal. (Arnold, p89) Through this social mechanism, larger size, which often correlates with low income, is relegated to 'low fashion'. (Clinical Guidelines on the Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults the Evidence Report) This research seeks to redress this by improving the fit of commercial knitwear.
 Spanning three main areas: clothing fit, larger body shape and knitwear manufacture, this participatory, user centred research has adopted a case study method derived from Yin (Yin, p46), to enable working with real bodies of real women. Interviews plus an online survey have gathered contemporary socio/psychological data on larger size women's clothing choices, shopping, body image and cathexis specific to this research.
 Protocols have been established in body measurement and knitwear design for larger sizes by adapting traditional methods and embracing new technologies. Sophisticated digital knitting equipment has been core to the development of garments, which are based on manually acquired and 3D body scanned data. In order to achieve final garments, objective and subjective evaluation of prototypes have informed serial re-designing involving wearer participation. (Rasband and Liechty, p62-63; Watkins, p241)
 This research concludes, as its contribution to new knowledge, that improving the fit of fashion knitwear for larger women by removing the fit-by-stretch factor (which up until now has been a major style and psychological drawback for these consumers), enhances their wearing experience, and enthuses the wearer towards the garment. There are some indications that this engagement potentially encourages longevity of use, which may absorb the increased cost of customisation. The template library derived from the research offers a direct route into future industrial developments of the process, which includes scope to consider communication of data straight from body scanner to knitting machine. Response from the mass production knitwear industry has so far been positive and further work in this direction will be pursued.


Characterization of three‐dimensional (3D) airflow remains elusive within a variety of environments and is particularly challenging over complex dune topography. Previous work examining airflow over and in the lee of dunes has been restricted to two‐dimensional studies and has concentrated on dune shapes containing angle of repose lee sides only. However, the presence of vegetation in coastal dunes creates topographic differences and irregular shapes that interfere with flow separation at the crest and significantly modify lee‐side airflow patterns and potential transport. This paper presents the first 3D field characterization of airflow patterns at the lee side of a subaerial dune. Flow information was obtained using an array of 3D ultrasonic anemometers deployed over a beach surface during seven offshore wind events. Data were used to measure cross‐shore and alongshore lee‐side airflow patterns using the three dimensions of the wind vector. Distances to re‐attachment were similar to previous studies, but the range of transverse incident wind directions resulting in flow separation (0+/−35°) was almost twice that previously reported (0+/−20°). Airflow reversal took place with winds as slow as 1 m s−1. Transverse offshore winds generated areas of opposing wind directions both within the reversed zone and beyond re‐attachment, contrary to consistent deflection in only one direction found in transverse desert dunes. Patterns of flow convergence‐divergence have been reported in fluvial studies. However, while convergence was associated with weak reversal in fluvial settings, it appeared to be related to strong flow reversal here and could be produced by pressure differentials at the dune crest.


Two experiments concerning the recognition of tone series with a triad on the tonic located either at the beginning, the center, or the end of the series are reported. In Experiment 1, the series consisted of nine tones and comprised three subgroups of either diatonic or nondiatonic tones. Experiment 2 focused on series of 9,11, and 13 tones. The results of Experiment 1 showed that recognition was most accurate for series with the tonic triad located in the center. In Experiment 2, the same effect of location of the tonic triad was found for series of 9 tones, but no significant effect of location of the triad was found for series of 11 or 13 tones. It appears that the location of a tonic triad influences the recognition of short tone series only, and the tonic triad has the greatest impact when it is located in the center of such a series.


This paper discusses estimation and guidance strategies for vision-based target tracking. Specific applications include formation control of multiple unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and air-to-air refueling. We assume that no information is communicated between the aircraft, and only passive 2D vision information is available to maintain formation. To improve the robustness of the estimation process with respect to unknown target aircraft acceleration, the nonlinear estimator (EKF) is augmented with an adaptive neural network (NN). The guidance strategy involves augmenting the inverting solution of nonlinear line-of-sight (LOS) range kinematics with the output of an adaptive NN to compensate for target aircraft LOS velocity. Simulation results are presented that illustrate the various approaches.


Denton County's unique cultural and natural landscape has undergone dramatic transformations during the past two centuries due to agricultural, urban and suburban processes which accelerated the loss and removal of native habitat and wildlife. This research sought out to identify the remaining natural areas which retain their natural features and support wildlife. Research methodology included fundamental principles of Conservation Planning, Geographical Information Systems, and Habitat Evaluation Procedures for identifying remnant functional landscapes and wildlife corridors. The final results suggest that Denton County's rural landscape retains the functional properties and elements suitable for habitat conservation and wildlife corridors, while also pointing to the fundamental obstacles to conservation posed by continued growth and private landownership.


Advocacy is the outspoken support of a cause or group of people. Within the context of medicine, it includes any individual or organized effort that strives to improve health outcomes, expand the inclusivity of the field or promote awareness of a systemic problem that can be ameliorated through legislative efforts. Examples of advocacy in medicine range from fighting for a patient's costly prescription drug to be covered by insurance, to ensuring that historically underrepresented groups are given the opportunity to achieve a presence in a certain specialty, to contacting legislators to fund efforts to decrease the overcrowding of emergency rooms in public hospitals.  Thus, advocacy is crucial across all specialties in the medical field. We believe increasing the exposure of medical students to advocacy training is imperative and will provide them with the necessary tools to beneficially influence the field during their careers. The American Medical Association (AMA) states that physicians must "advocate for the social, economic, educational and political changes that ameliorate suffering and contribute to human well-being" in its Declaration of Professional Responsibility, and other physician and specialty organizations urge such important professional activity as well.1-7
Undergraduate Medical Education (UGME) refers to the instruction received during medical school by students when pursuing an M.D. or D.O. degree. Graduate Medical Education (GME), on the other hand, refers to any type of education after completing an M.D. or D.O. degree, which usually includes residency or fellowship training. Both the United States and Canada recognize the importance of training physicians in advocacy at the GME level, however, advocacy training at the UGME level is less cohesive.8,9 In addition, even at the GME level, though some specialties such as pediatrics do have a requirement for advocacy training, there are no standardized curricula or standards across specialties.10,11
UGME currently lacks compulsory advocacy training integration into the medical school curriculum, although The American Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) in the USA and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons (RCPS) in Canada recognize training in advocacy as an objective of GME.12 This could explain the gap between the AMA's vision of professional responsibility and medical students' perception of their duties as future physicians. In a 2014 survey, McCrea and Murdoch-Eaton found that medical students "expressed limited appreciation of the concept of social accountability and acknowledged little explicit teaching around underpinning core concepts such as awareness of local health needs, advocacy and nurturing of altruism."13 They did, however, recognize "the importance of qualities such as advocacy in their future professional careers." In order to close this gap, UGME should ensure curricular components that foster the nurturing of advocacy are included from an early stage in the instruction of medicine. This will help prevent negative ramifications such as the decline in interest for social issues during medical training, which Bhate et al. describe.14 Bhate also notes that training in advocacy has been shown to change physician's attitudes towards its practice. Additionally, Press et al. argues that "exposing all medical students to advocacy within medicine may help shape and define their perceived professional role."15 As advocacy in healthcare can contribute to the enactment of regulations and standards that ultimately improve the public's health, students should be exposed to formal training that equips them with the necessary tools to engage in effective advocacy and understand their responsibility for engagement. UGME should, therefore, have a requisite to offer advocacy training that is evidence-based, influenced by clinical expertise and contextualized to account for social, economic and political realities.
Lastly, these advocacy-driven initiatives are likely to lead to an improvement in patient-centered measures such as patient satisfaction. Feuerwerker et al. argue that the creation of a position called "Patient Advocate" by a medical student in pre-clinical years would make patients feel more satisfied with their care in the ED and teach students to actively solve patient's frustrations.16 In a similar project, Ward et al. show through their "Patient Advocate Project" that outpatient satisfaction survey data from pre-, peri-, and post-provider (patient advocate) periods demonstrate the implementation of a Patient Advocate Project improved overall satisfaction scores in the ED during the peri-intervention period.17 Knowing that advocacy training can positively impact the quality of care as judged from a patient's perspective should stand out as a driving force to implement these changes at a formative time in the careers of medical professionals: during UGME training.


Allergy is an exaggerated immune reaction to usually harmless foreign proteins present in food and airborne pollens for example. Allergic hypersensitivity can be subdivided in IgE- and non-IgE-mediated allergies. A critical role for mast cells is extensively described for IgE-mediated allergies, but evidence for their role in non-IgE mediated allergies is convincing as well. IgE can bind antigen with high affinity and crosslinking of mast cell-bound IgE by multivalent antigen causes mast cell activation leading to the release of multiple inflammatory mediators. These mediators initiate or contribute to the persistence of an inflammatory response. Despite this important contribution of IgE in many allergies, many patients (up to 40%) suffer from a non-IgE-mediated allergy (e.g. in food allergy). What causes mast cell activation in patients suffering from this type of allergies or other disorders in which mast cells play an important role? Besides IgE, immunoglobulin free light chains (FLCs) can mediate antigen-specific mast cell activation. A number of studies have indicated a possible functional role of (antigen-specific) FLCs in preclinical models of contact hypersensitivity, cow's milk allergy, and asthma. The main focus of this thesis is to gain more insight in the production, presence, distribution, and putative functional role of FLCs in different human disorders. Upper and lower airway disorders were studied by analyzing the presence of FLCs in allergic rhinitis and nonallergic rhinitis patients, chronic rhinosinusitis with and without nasal polyposis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. In all disorders, most apparent increases in FLC concentrations were observed at local sites of inflammation. Furthermore, part of the FLC-positive cells in nasal mucosa of rhinitis patients showed to be mast cells supporting a mast cell-mediated effect of FLCs. Extremely high FLC concentrations were found at local sites of inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, and FLC concentrations showed to correlate with disease severity. In addition, FLC concentrations only significantly decreased in patients that responded to B cell depletion therapy (anti-CD20). Moreover, the abundant presence of FLCs within human cancer tissues of different organs and aetiologies was found, and this showed to be associated with poor clinical outcome in breast cancer patients. In a preclinical melanoma model it was shown that tumour growth was highly dependent on the presence of both FLCs and mast cells. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that FLCs bind to human basophils and that cross-linking of FLCs modulates IgE-mediated basophil activation. Finally, it is demonstrated that FLCs monomers and dimers might be secreted as distinct entities. FLC dimers showed to have a significantly higher antigen-specific binding affinity compared to FLC monomers. In conclusion, current knowledge on the biological activity of FLCs obtained in in vitro research, and preclinical and clinical studies suggests that FLCs possibly affect multiple cell types, including mast cells and basophils, in physiological and pathological conditions. Considering the described pro-inflammatory effects of FLCs, it would be interesting to investigate the therapeutic value of FLC antagonists (such as F991) in further detail.


A procedure is described for estimating Streptomyces populations in soil. Soils are air-dried, 10g quantities are shaken in plastic bags containing 0.1% water agar and homogenized with a Stomacher homogenizer, serial dilutions are plated on a semi-selective culture (STR) medium and incubated for 2 weeks at 22°C, and the Streptomyces colonies are enumerated. Use of STR medium reduced the bacterial and fungal colonies recovered from soil to levels below that of the Streptomyces spp. while not affecting the number of Streptomyces colonies compared with those enumerated on yeast malt extract medium. A procedure for screening large numbers of Streptomyces strains for thaxtomin production, a phytotoxin recognized as a virulence marker in S. scabies, is also described. Strains are grown on oatmeal medium, and the thaxtomin is extracted from the medium by facilitated diffusion and detected by miniature thin layer chromatography. S. scabies and S. acidiscabies strains (approximately 130 from Ontario and 70 from other locations in North America) that produced thaxtomin did not form aerial mycelia or sporulate on STR medium within 2 weeks at 22°C. Ontario S. scabies strains that produced thaxtomin A also produced melanin on STR medium. All S. scabies strains from scab lesions that produced thaxtomin A had this colony morphology, whereas only 4 to 9% of strains from soil with this colony morphology produced thaxtomin A. Using these procedures, we determined that the population of thaxtomin-producing S. scabies in soil from a potato field in Ontario with a history of potato scab was about 20,000 CFU/g soil.


Education and support based on family's needs may reduce anxiety and increase satisfaction of family members of hospitalized patients in Intensive Care Unit (ICU). This study was conducted to determine the effect of educational-supportive intervention on satisfaction of family members. In this quasi-experimental study, 154 participants of family members of hospitalized patients in ICU in Zahedan (Iran) were studied. The participants were allocated to intervention and control groups. Family Satisfaction-ICU (FSICU) was used as data collection tool. The validity and reliability of questionnaire was confirmed in Iran. The questionnaires were completed by both groups before and after oneweek intervention. The mean change in the score of satisfaction with performance, comfort and participation in decision-making of family members of patients after educational-supportive intervention were 76.62±14.34, 73.86±4.15, and 31.61±19.323 respectively in the intervention group. These scores were significantly higher than those of control group (43.5±3.62, 22.63±5.83 and 18.12±13.84). Analysis of covariance through control of covariate showed that the mean score of satisfaction of family members concerning the three sub-scales were significantly different in two groups after intervention. According to the effect of educational-supportive intervention on the increase of family satisfaction, it is essential to apply these interventions in educational programs and familycentered care. This action reduces the family's concern as well as increases their motivation and power in caring after patient's discharge.


For applications in Quantum Information and Quantum Key Distribution an on-demand source of single photons is desirable because absolute security is of utmost importance. Photons are quantum systems; hence encoding information onto them offers a secure alternative to classical cryptography as a measurement cannot be performed on photons without altering their properties. The Nitrogen Vacancy (NV) centre in diamond is a good source of such photons. It is photo-stable and its location in diamond offers robustness. It has zero phonon line at 637 nm and its relative short luminescence life-time of about 12 ns makes it suitable for generating single photons. This thesis covers two aspects: Firstly the characterization of defects in diamonds and subsequent selection of diamonds suitable for use in the single photon setup and secondly, the development of the experimental setup for single photon generation. This thesis sets out to describe the development of a laboratory based single photon source using the NV centre in diamond. For this purpose a suite of diamond samples were selected and subjected to various spectroscopic tests in order to characterize and classify the samples, especially the presence of the NV centres and their concentrations. The characterization of the defects was done through the use of the following spectroscopic techniques: UltravioletVisible-Near infrared spectroscopy, Infrared spectroscopy, Electron Spin Resonance and Photoluminescence. These techniques enabled us to understand the types and origins of crystal defects that were present in the diamond samples used in this study and to use this to select diamonds that are most suitable for use in generation of single photons. The experimental setup for single photon generation using the NV centre is based on a confocal microscope arrangement. Single NV centres were identified by measuring the second order autocorrelation function of the fluorescence light emitted by the sample when illuminated with a laser. This measurement was done using a Hanbury-Brown Twiss (HBT) interferometer.


Shareholders of U.S. corporations historically tended towards rational apathy. Holding small blocks that were unable to affect the outcome of the vote and faced with the considerable costs associated with gathering sufficient information to make an informed decision, they adopted the so-called Wall Street Rule (it was easier to switch than fight). In the last 15 years or so, a growing number of commentators and investor activists have claimed that the rising importance of institutional investors has the potential to reshape the field by empowering shareholders to become active players in corporate governance.This paper situates investor activism in the so-called director primacy theory of corporate governance. In so doing, it demonstrates that the separation of ownership and control typical of U.S. public corporations has significant efficiency benefits. It then argues that shareholder activism threatens to undermine the advantages of director primacy without offering significant countervailing gains.Accordingly, the paper concludes that pending regulatory proposals to expand shareholder governance rights should be viewed with suspicion.


In this study, a simple and straightforward method has been developed to prepare carbon quantum dots (CQDs) with ultrahigh absolute fluorescence quantum yields (96.9%). The fluorescence peak of CQDs remains the same (565 nm) due to their homogeneous surface structure, when the excitation wavelength was changed from 300 nm to 500 nm. It was found that the as-prepared CQDs exhibit excellent fluorescent properties in organic solvents, but could be quenched by water. As a result, the as-prepared CQDs are promising fluorescent probes for the detection of water in organic solvents without any modification. To our knowledge, this is the first time that CQDs have been adopted as water-sensitive fluorescent probes in organic solvents (ethanol, tetrahydrofuran, and 1,4-dioxane) with a limit of detection as low as 0.01% (V/V). What is more, the dynamic quenching mechanism of the CQDs–water system was clarified by UV-vis absorption spectrometry and time-resolved fluorescence spectrometry.


In the rear-end collision avoidance system (RCAS), which incorporates the functions of detecting and reporting distance headway as well as of collision avoidance through the use of automatic braking, the development of the technique to integrate the advanced characteristic of each sensors becomes important. In this paper, we propose the uniting processing technique which uses the network as a trial. We classify the recognition system into some modules from the software point of view, link these modules as the network and make the states of the network correspond to the driving environment. We referred to a immune network when making the network. The immune network is a technological model of the immune mechanism in the living body. We applied this network mechanism to fuse functions of the distance headway, the road lane position and the position of the preceding vehicle obtained by the laser radar and image processing. These three functions are transferred to modules, each module tests mutually, and each certainty degree is changed continuously. This paper describes this network technique and the experimental results.


Ephemeral snowpacks, or those that routinely experience accumulation and ablation at the same time and persist for <60 days, are challenging to observe and model. Using 328 site years from the Great Basin, we show that ephemeral snowmelt delivers water earlier than seasonal snowmelt. For example, we found that day of peak soil moisture preceded day of last snowmelt in the Great Basin by 79 days for shallow soil moisture in ephemeral snowmelt compared to 5 days for seasonal snowmelt. To 5 understand Great Basin snow distribution, we used moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Snow Data Assimilation System (SNODAS) data from water years 2005-2014 to map snow extent. During this time period snowpack was highly variable. The maximum seasonal snow cover was 64 % in 2010 and the minimum was 24 % in 2014. We found that elevation had a strong control on snow ephemerality, and nearly all snowpacks over 2500 m were seasonal. Snowpacks were more likely to be ephemeral on south facing slopes than north facing slopes at elevations above 2500 m. Additionally, we 10 used SNODAS-derived estimates of solid and liquid precipitation, melt, sublimation, and blowing snow sublimation to define snow ephemerality mechanisms. In warm years, the Great Basin shifts to ephemerally dominant as the rain-snow transition increases in elevation. Given that snow ephemerality is expected to increase as a consequence of climate change, we put forward several challenges and recommendations to bolster physics based modeling of ephemeral snow such as better metrics for snow ephemerality and more ground-based observations. 15


In his essay on the role of the judiciary in corporate law, Professor John C. Coffee, Jr. contends that the differences between the competing sides in the mandatory/enabling debate' in corporate governance have been greatly overstated because both sides have ignored the important role of a central institutional actor, namely the judiciary. According to Professor Coffee, courts, using well-recognized techniques to interpret statutes and intrafirm contracts, often will reconcile whatever tension may exist between contractarians and anticontractarians. Anticontractarians, according to Coffee, generally misperceive the nature of corporate law because they fail to understand the extent to which courts adjust the mandatory statutory provisions imposed by legislatures. Contractarians, on the other hand, misperceive the nature of corporate law because they fail to appreciate the role that courts play in evaluating the contractual innovations suggested by the parties against the backdrop of the fiduciary duties of care and loyalty owed by directors and managers to their shareholders. I fully agree with Professor Coffee's basic premise, which is that the central role played by courts must be understood before the concept of