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 Posternumber: 001 (Assigned by Journal editor) Triple Action RoundTable: A Practical Three-Entry Point Innovation Sue Gabriele firstname.lastname@example.com The Triple Action RoundTable is conceptualized to triple the power of the RoundTable to facilitate systemic school or social system renewal, or perhaps even increase its effectiveness to the third power.  It builds on the Display/Pickup paradigm.  The proposition is that, since learning and performance depend on criteria within the learner, the role of the teacher is display, and the role of the learner is pickup.  The Triple Action RoundTable acts at three entry points in the system.  I will explain first in the example of a classroom. The first entry point is the 30/30 RoundTable (RT), an activity that is used weekly to develop classroom subject matter.  Cued by a carefully designed RoundTable Guide/script, it allows about 30 people to give spontaneous learning reports in 30 minutes.  This is a bottom-up entry point, as it allows the views of all the students to be heard by the teacher, as well as each other.  The second entry point is the Triple Bottom Line (3BL).  Once the RoundTable is established to allow ongoing development of the users' subject matter, an additional  topic, 3BL, is added.  3BL is an in-out-in innovation.  In other words, users are invited to reflect on their current goals and outcomes ( in ), and then think out of the box ( out ) to consider more comprehensive goals.  At the organization or institution level, 3BL might be the 3Ps (profit/budget, people, planet).  At the classroom level, 3BL might be student CAP development (cognitive/affective/psychomotor) or PIE (physical/intellectual/emotional).  Users then revise their own goals accordingly ( in ). The third entry point is TPO Thermostat Guide,  Here, the teacher uses a thermostat metaphor modified by TPO Theory.  TPO Theory explains that lessons (T=Things) must be designed around the needs/abilities of students (P = people) for best Outcomes (O).  This is a top down approach.  A s the teacher manages classwork and students, he/she visualizes three TPO Thermostat system modes for optimal adjustment capacities.  Mode One: When class is not in session, the system is OFF .  This is the Planning mode, where windows/doors are metaphorically wide open to let in fresh air and ideas. In the next two modes, the windows and doors are metaphorically closed, to preserve the flow of heat/resources/energy, to maximize its distribution among users. Mode Two is ON: Manual for Delivering resources.  The teacher is actively displaying the subject matter, perhaps in a temporal audio and visual display. Mode Three is ON: Auto , for passive Monitoring .  The teacher keeps the environment optimal as people work independently.  This mode is helpfully supplemented by ever-present display of subject-matter (on the walls of the classroom, in textbooks, etc.)  Zooming out to a wider view, the Triple Action RoundTable is a tool for whole system or systemic renewal.  Thus, it is used by all system members, in one of their existing meetings.  Since classrooms typically meet daily, the RoundTable can be held at least weekly for 30 minutes.  At other levels of educational system, RoundTables are proposed for use monthly in meetings – including meetings of faculty, parent/teacher-associations, grade-levels, departments, principals, superintendents, government-level educational policy-makers, and so forth.


Improving the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients is the fundamental aim of aesthetic breast surgery and its importance is increasingly recognised in breast cancer-related surgery. There has been growing acceptance of the value of assessing physical, psychological and social well-being through patient reported outcome measures (PROMs). It is important to consider the role of PROMs in relation to objective measures to ensure that the optimal assessment tools are selected when assessing outcomes in breast surgery. A narrative review was conducted of published articles identified on Ovid Medline by searching the terms: patient reported outcome measures, quality of life (QoL), functional outcomes, aesthetic outcomes, complications and breast surgery. Reference lists were also examined to find relevant articles not detected through the search. Survival and mortality are outcomes of immense importance in breast surgery that are not suitable for assessment through PROMs and should be measured objectively. Post-operative complication rates and markers of their severity are most appropriately assessed using objective measures, however, patients may provide valuable insights into the impact complications have on their QoL. All current assessment tools for assessing aesthetic outcome have inherent limitations, and thus it is likely that both subjective and objective measures are required to comprehensively assess aesthetic outcomes in breast surgery. Physical dysfunction can be assessed objectively, however, PROMs may better evaluate physical well-being, reflecting the real-life implications of a change in function. Psychological and social well-being is irrefutably personal in nature and best assessed through PROMs. There is no one optimal assessment tool for assessing breast surgery outcomes. Utilising a combination of PROMs and objective measures is necessary to accurately and comprehensively evaluate the impact and effectiveness of surgical breast interventions.


The Miocene Kiahera Formation at its type locality on Rusinga Island in the Kenyan part of Lake Victoria consists of a sequence of alluvial sedimentary and pyroclastic strata and calcareous palaeosols. The 80 m thick formation was formed by braidplain aggradation and pyroclastic airfall in response to volcanism from the nearby Kisingiri volcano. Numerous fining-upward sequences approximately 5 m to 15 m thick make up the bulk of the Kiahera Formation. A complete sequence contains sandy and conglomeratic beds at the base which fine upward to sandy siltstones, calcareous palaeosols and airfall tuffs. The fining-upward sequences may have been produced by aggradation during phases of volcanic eruption. During major eruptive episodes, scoriaceous nephelinite detritus flooded the alluvial system to create the lower, coarse-grained beds. As eruptive activity waned, airfall ash and overbank flood deposits accumulated on the landscape forming the upper, fine-grained beds of the sequence. Calcareous soils formed on these highly alkaline ashes between large ash fall events. The calcareous palaeosols are grouped broadly into two main types: tuffaceous clayey Inceptisols with distinct Ck horizons (Chido palaeosols) and sandy Inceptisols consisting of nephelinitic rock fragments and subordinate amounts of tuff (Okoto palaeosols). Both types show only weak to moderate soil development interpreted to be a result of episodic rejuvenation by fresh airfall ash and flood deposits. Comparison of depth of the calcareous subsurface horizon from these palaeosols with those in calcareous modern soils from the Serengeti Plain that also developed on alkaline volcanic ash allow for rainfall estimates of between 550 mm a−1 to 750 mm a−1 for the Kiahera palaeosols. This together with root traces, soil structure, and major element chemistry of the two palaeosol types are evidence of a landscape with sandy, stream-side woodland soils (Okoto palaeosols) and clayey, floodplain grassy woodland soils (Chido palaeosols).


Whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) seasonally aggregate at Western Australia's Ningaloo Reef in the austral autumn and winter, but their occurrence beyond this region during spring and summer remains elusive. The aggregation at Ningaloo Reef coincides with a pulse of productivity following mass coral spawning in early autumn, with the population during this period dominated by juveniles that amass for feeding purposes. To investigate their movement patterns beyond Ningaloo Reef, whale sharks were fitted with SPOT (n = 13) or SPLASH (n = 1) tags between April and September (2010–14). Tagged whale sharks ranged in total length from 3 to 9 m. Each whale shark was also photographed for its subsequent identification using Wildbook for Whale Sharks, and their years of residency at Ningaloo Reef determined. Temporal and spatial observations of whale shark sightings were also determined through the conducting of interviews with people throughout 14 coastal towns along the Western Australian coastline, as well as through historical sightings and the Wildbook database. Satellite tracking revealed that all sharks remained relatively close to the Western Australian coast, travelling a mean minimum distance of 1667 (±316, s.e.) km. Public reports, coupled with satellite tracking, demonstrated that whale sharks inhabit most of the Western Australian coast (from 35°S to 12°S), and that seasonal migrations beyond Ningaloo Reef may be to the north or south and may similarly be associated with areas of increased productivity.


The design of code and cipher systems has undergone major changes in modern times. Powerful personal computers have resulted in an explosion of e-banking, e-commerce and e-mail, and as a consequence the encryption of communications to ensure security has become a matter of public interest and importance. This book describes and analyses many cipher systems ranging from the earliest and elementary to the more recent and sophisticated, such as RSA and DES, as well as wartime machines such as the ENIGMA and Hagelin, and ciphers used by spies. Security issues and possible methods of attack are discussed and illustrated by examples. The design of many systems involves advanced mathematical concepts and this is explained in detail in a major appendix. This book will appeal to anyone interested in codes and ciphers as used by private individuals, spies, governments and industry throughout history.


This book is devoted to the complex relationship between Russian art and the East--be it the Russian East or the Far East--with special focus on the radical artists who shaped the development of modern art a century ago. The rituals of Siberian shamans, the ancient funerary sculptures from the steppes seen as a crystallized presence of archaic and everlasting forms of worship, Chinese popular prints, Japanese engravings, Theosophic and Anthroposophic theories, and Indian philosophy are but some of the elements that inspired the aesthetic and theoretical pursuits of the new generation of Russian artists and writers just before the October 1917 Revolution. This book examines figures such as Leon Bakst, Alexandre Benois, Pavel Filonov, Natalia Goncharova, Wassily Kandinsky, Mikhail Larionov, and Kazimir Malevich, who were deeply aware of the significance of the East for their art, and contributed to launching a rich debate that left a deep and permanent mark on their artistic praxis.


When working with a document, users often perform context-specific repetitive edits – changes to the document that are similar but specific to the contexts at their locations. Programming by demonstration/examples (PBD/PBE) systems automate these tasks by learning programs to perform the repetitive edits from demonstration or examples. However, PBD/PBE systems are not widely adopted, mainly because they require modal UIs – users must enter a special mode to give the demonstration/examples. This paper presents Blue-Pencil, a modeless system for synthesizing edit suggestions on the fly. Blue-Pencil observes users as they make changes to the document, silently identifies repetitive changes, and automatically suggests transformations that can apply at other locations. Blue-Pencil is parameterized – it allows the "plug-and-play" of different PBE engines to support different document types and different kinds of transformations. We demonstrate this parameterization by instantiating Blue-Pencil to several domains – C# and SQL code, markdown documents, and spreadsheets – using various existing PBE engines. Our evaluation on 37 code editing sessions shows that Blue-Pencil synthesized edit suggestions with a precision of 0.89 and a recall of 1.0, and took 199 ms to return suggestions on average. Finally, we report on several improvements based on feedback gleaned from a field study with professional programmers to investigate the use of Blue-Pencil during long code editing sessions. Blue-Pencil has been integrated with Visual Studio IntelliCode to power the IntelliCode refactorings feature.


Increasing evidence for coronal heating contributions from cooler solar atmospheric layers, notably quiet Sun (QS) conditions, challenges standard solar atmospheric descriptions of bright transition region (TR) emission. As such, questions about the role of dynamic QS transients in contributing to the total coronal energy budget are raised. Using observations from the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly and Heliosemic Magnetic Imager on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory, and numerical model extrapolations of coronal magnetic fields, we investigate a dynamic QS transient that is energetically isolated to the TR and extrudes from a common footpoint shared with two heated loop arcades. A non-causal relationship is established between episodic heating of the QS transient and widespread magnetic field re-organization events, while evidence is found favoring a magnetic topology that is typical of eruptive processes. Quasi-steady interchange reconnection events are implicated as a source of the transient's visibly bright radiative signature. We consider the QS transient's temporally stable (≈35 minutes) radiative nature to occur as a result of the large-scale magnetic field geometries of the QS and/or relatively quiet nature of the magnetic photosphere, which possibly act to inhibit energetic build-up processes that are required to initiate a catastrophic eruption phase. This work provides insight into the QS's thermodynamic and magnetic relation to eruptive processes that quasi-steadily heat a small-scale dynamic and TR transient. This work explores arguments of non-negligible coronal heating contributions from cool atmospheric layers in QS conditions and contributes evidence to the notion that solar wind mass feeds off of dynamic transients therein.


This Bachelor thesis is a part of a bachelor project which includes building, programming and controlling a 3DOF tandem helicopter. This particular report deals with the propulsion units, i.e. the motors and propellers of the helicopter. It covers the process of how to determine the most suitable propulsion units for the rig that eventually will enable it to run. To achieve this, different data have been processed. Torque and thrust are two important parameters that have been studied. The data have been acquired by different tests, e.g. thrust measurements from a thrust rig. Also more complex analysis such as Blade Element Theory and Actuator Disk Theory have been carried out in order to determine the behaviour of the propulsion units. Study data sheets and databases was also a part of the work. The result of this work was two equal propulsion units which were mounted in the helicopter. They proved to work satisfactory and provided wanted dynamics to the system.


We consider a model where local and national governments invest in both productive and consumptive public goods using income tax revenue. Local governments will overprovide the consumptive public good if the local income tax is (fully or partially) deductible. However, without full deductibility, local governments will underprovide local productive public goods. Hence, to reduce the distortions in local governments' decisions, a welfare-maximizing national government will underinvest in both types of public goods, assuming that the level of national public good provision does not directly affect the local governments' decisions. We also consider an alternative fiscal structure where the national government sets one national tax rate and provides matching grants for expenditures on productive public goods; this can result in efficient levels of public good provision at both the local and national levels.


This article revisits the law of parental liability following recent horrific acts of violence by minors across the country. It begins with a brief discussion of prevailing parental liability law, then turns to a consideration of the concept of justice in tort law and its application in various real and hypothetical cases. The author next summarizes the insights of John Rawls and Mari Matsuda, discussing the application of their analytical metaphors to the issues of parental liability. The author concludes that parents should be subject to greater liability for the torts of their children, either through an expanded duty of supervision actionable in negligence or through adopting strict parental liability for harmful acts by minors. The author posits a new "Developmental Liability" - a theory of shared responsibility for the harm done by minors and discusses the implications of the proposed expansion of liability for parents, children and society as a whole. The article concludes that the common law should adopt a more expansive approach to claims seeking to hold parents and other potentially responsible parties liable for the torts of minor children in order to promote both a distributive and corrective justice.


Transcripts of a cytoplasmic gene from sperm are translated after fertilization and control asymmetric zygotic division. The signals that get embryonic development going in plants reveal a finely timed interaction between paternal and maternal gametes. Bayer et al. (see the Perspective by Grossniklaus) have discovered the messenger RNA (mRNA) encoding a kinase SSP in the paternal pollen grains. After fertilization and fusion of male and female gametes, the mRNA is translated into the SSP protein. SSP then triggers activity of YODA, a kinase supplied from the maternal gamete. YODA in turn regulates early phases of zygotic development. In this way, embryonic development begins only after fusion of male and female gametes. M. Bayer, T. Nawy, C. Giglione, M. Galli, T. Meinnel, W. Lukowitz, Paternal control of embryonic patterning in Arabidopsis thaliana. Science 323, 1485–1488 (2009). [Abstract] [Full Text] U. Grossniklaus, Paternal patterning cue. Science 323, 1439–1440 (2009). [Summary] [Full Text]


Amidst cries that judges have become too political (or for some, that they are not political enough), this Article examines the colorful and complicated views of Judge Learned Hand on the role of judges in American society. It explores four of Hand's public lectures and dinner speeches to see how he understood the complicated interaction between the common law, the common will, and the independence of the judiciary. Hand's view — that an independent judiciary is both a sign of a free society and a necessary part of a free society — is analyzed in the hopes that it will shed light on current debates about the role of the judge in America today and offer further insights into the beliefs and style of Judge Hand.


This book explores the role of mens rea, broadly defined as a factor in jury assessments of guilt and innocence from the early thirteenth through the fourteenth century - the first two centuries of the English criminal trial jury. Drawing upon evidence from the plea rolls, but also relying heavily upon non-legal textual sources such as popular literature and guides for confessors, Elizabeth Papp Kamali argues that issues of mind were central to jurors' determinations of whether a particular defendant should be convicted, pardoned, or acquitted outright. Demonstrating that the word 'felony' itself connoted a guilty state of mind, she explores the interplay between social conceptions of guilt and innocence and jury behavior. Furthermore, she reveals a medieval understanding of felony that involved, in its paradigmatic form, three essential elements: an act that was reasoned, was willed in a way not constrained by necessity, and was evil or wicked in its essence.


Book synopsis: Perhaps more than any other social theorist in recent history, Niklas Luhmann's work has aroused extreme, and often antagonistic, responses. It has generated controversies about its political implications, its resolute anti-humanism and its ambitious critique of more established definitions of society, social theory and sociology. Now, however, a steadily growing number of scholars working in many different disciplines have begun to use aspects of Luhmann's sociology as an important methodological stimulus and as a theoretical framework for reorientating their studies. This collection of essays includes critical and reconstructive contributions by a number of distinguished social theorists, political theorists, legal scholars and empirical sociologists. Together, they provide evidence of Luhmann's extensive and diverse relevance to the issues facing contemporary society, and, at the same time, they enhance our understanding of the challenges posed by his theoretical paradigm to more traditional conceptions of social theory.


Context: Globally, it is estimated that by 2020, noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) will account for 73% of deaths and 60% of disease burden. India is in the midst of an epidemiological transition leading to increasing the prevalence of NCDs. Targeting the risk factors for NCDs is recognized as an essential preventive strategy. Aims: The rationale of this study was to decipher the baseline data on the prevalence of NCD risk factors among the rural population. Settings and Design: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 207 adults in the rural catchment area of the Department of Community Medicine. Subjects and Methods: The World Health Organization STEPS approach was employed which includes three sequential phases: Collection of information on sociodemographic variables and behavioral risk factors (STEP 1), obtaining physical measurements (STEP 2), and acquiring biochemical measurements (STEP 3). Statistical Analysis: Data were analyzed using the SPSS version 16. P < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: Among the study subjects, the prevalence of smoking, smokeless tobacco use, alcohol use, and sedentary lifestyle was 26.0%, 35.1%, 16.9%, and 9.6%, respectively, in males and 4.6%, 15.4%, 0.0%, and 19.0%, respectively, in females. The prevalence of hypertension and diabetes was 15.6% and 13.0% respectively among males and 20.0% and 7.7% respectively among females. Hypercholesterolemia and Hypertriglyceridemia were observed in 5.2% men and 13.8% women and 22.1% men and 16.9% women, respectively. Conclusions: The study reveals high burden of NCD risk factors in rural areas as well and reiterates the need to take preventive measures.


Thyroid organogenesis is a very complex developmental process that leads to the formation of an organ able to produce specific hormones through specification, migration, structural organization and functional differentiation of thyroid precursor cells. In mammals, alteration of these mechanisms might be responsible for congenital hypothyroidism (CH), the most frequent inherited endocrine disease.
Thyroid development in fish is comparable to mammals at both ontogenetic and molecular levels: the thyroid develops from the endodermal tissue, at the midline of the pharyngeal floor, and its formation is subdivided into main successive steps shared with mammals. The genetic program involved in fish thyroid differentiation, including the activity of transcription factors such as Nkx2.1a, Pax8 and Hhex, is conserved with respect to expression patterns and functions.
To gain further insights on the genetic machinery implicated in normal thyroid development, and therefore in CH disease, an oligonucleotide microarray analysis was performed in mouse with the aim to identify genes differentially expressed during gland organogenesis. This approach highlighted a list of genes enriched in embryonic mouse thyroid. In the present work, the zebrafish model was used to perform functional analysis on fish counterparts of the murine thyroid enriched genes. Looking at the expression territories of the zebrafish orthologs, a very low correlation in thyroid expression profile between mouse and zebrafish was found: indeed, very few mouse thyroid expressed genes have their zebrafish ortholog being expressed in thyroid primordium. This observation strongly suggests that some changes concerning thyroid development occurred from lower to higher vertebrates; during evolution, the thyroid of higher vertebrates probably recruited new genetic pathways/functions by means of mutations occurred in cis-regulatory elements. Despite the low correlation in expression profiles, a new conserved function relevant for thyroid development was identified with this comparative approach; an anti-apoptotic function, represented by Bcl2 in mouse and bcl2l in zebrafish, was conserved during thyroid evolution. Knock-down experiments conducted by means of morpholinos injection, have revealed that bcl2l is regulated by the thyroid transcription factors and plays a relevant role in normal thyroid development. Indeed, bcl2l thyroid expression was lost in embryos deprived of the thyroid transcription factors, leading to thyroid degeneration via apoptosis. It is feasible to hypothesize that a conserved antiapoptotic function during thyroid evolution could counteract a putative proapoptotic function, ready to intervene if something fails during normal gland morphogenesis.


Coco Chanel once proclaimed, "I don't do fashion, I am fashion," and in one line she established a mantra for a handful of women who revolutionized the concept of femininity in the mid-20th century. "A Matter of Style" documents the unforgettable lives of Chanel and nine other female icons of style and elegance who captivated entire generations and remain inspiring models of beauty and fascination. An extraordinary collection of photographs bring these women back to life: Coco Chanel, Katharine Hepburn, Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, Brigitte Bardot, Marilyn Monroe, Jacqueline Kennedy, Mary Quant, Twiggy, and Lady Diana. These are the stories of unparalleled lives, captured in a volume without precedent.


Given their pervasive use, social media, such as Twitter, have become a leading source of breaking news. A key task in the automated identification of such news is the detection of novel documents from a voluminous stream of text documents in a scalable manner. Motivated by this challenge, we introduce the problem of online l1-dictionary learning where unlike traditional dictionary learning, which uses squared loss, the l1-penalty is used for measuring the reconstruction error. We present an efficient online algorithm for this problem based on alternating directions method of multipliers, and establish a sublinear regret bound for this algorithm. Empirical results on news-stream and Twitter data, shows that this online l1-dictionary learning algorithm for novel document detection gives more than an order of magnitude speedup over the previously known batch algorithm, without any significant loss in quality of results.


The Ebola epidemic in West Africa resulted in calls for universal health coverage and revision of global health governance for emergency response. This political economy analysis identifies structural reasons why Sierra Leone and the international health community failed to respond in a timely and effective manner to the Cholera and Ebola epidemics or to translate learning from the Cholera epidemic to the Ebola response. The analysis considers how structural factors interact with stakeholder institutions' interests and power dynamics before it identifies potential solutions. We urge national and global decision makers to take concrete action to tackle underlying inequity within the global health system and address the root causes of populations' vulnerability to future infectious disease outbreaks.


In the past, efforts to prepare for the impacts of El Niño-driven flood and drought hazards have often relied on seasonal precipitation forecasts as a proxy for hydrological extremes, due to a lack of hydrologically relevant information. However, precipitation forecasts are not the best indicator of hydrological extremes. Now, two different global scale hydro-meteorological approaches for predicting river flow extremes are available to support flood and drought preparedness. These approaches are statistical forecasts based on large-scale climate variability and teleconnections, and resource-intensive dynamical forecasts using coupled ocean-atmosphere general circulation models. Both have the potential to provide early warning information, and both are used to prepare for El Niño impacts, but which approach provides the most useful forecasts? This study uses river flow observations to assess and compare the ability of two recently-developed forecasts to predict high and low river flow during El Niño: statistical historical probabilities of ENSO-driven hydrological extremes, and the dynamical seasonal river flow outlook of the Global Flood Awareness System (GloFAS-seasonal). Our findings highlight regions of the globe where each forecast is (or is not) skilful compared to a forecast of climatology, and the advantages and disadvantages of each forecasting approach. We conclude that in regions where extreme river flow is predominantly driven by El Niño, or in regions where GloFAS-seasonal currently lacks skill, the historical probabilities generally provide a more useful forecast. In areas where other teleconnections also impact river flow, with the effect of strengthening, mitigating or even reversing the influence of El Niño, GloFAS-seasonal forecasts are typically more useful.


ABSTRACT Comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) is a key component of efforts to improve sexual and reproductive outcomes for young people. While many governments have established policies and curricula for CSE, there are no quantitative measures of the quality of their implementation in schools. We describe the construction of a school-level index to measure CSE implementation quality using data from Peru, Guatemala, Kenya and Ghana for validation. The composite index represents seven key components of a successful programme: range of topics, values imparted, teaching methods, teacher training, resources available, monitoring and evaluation, and the school environment. These components are combined into two sub-indices (curriculum content and implementation context), which together provide a summary index of implementation quality. We present scores for the seven components, the two sub-indices and the summary index for each country. Ghana scored highest on the summary index, while Guatemala scored lowest, but country rankings varied within the different components. The paper discusses the implications of the findings for improving school-based CSE in these countries. An assessment of the validity and reliability of the index indicates it can be used in other settings and could be a useful tool for educationalists, researchers and programme implementers to measure CSE implementation quality.


Little information is available in which changes in the concentrations of total, protein, nonprotein, ammonium, nitrate:, free α-amino, asparagine, and glutamine N in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) herbage have been measured at successive growth stages in the same investigation. In the current study, concentrations (% dry weight) of these N fractions were analyzed for the leaflets, stems, and total herbage of 'Vernal' alfalfa sampled when the spring growth in 1966 was 25-, 41-, and 53-cm tall, and at first, 25%, and 75% flower. All N fractions decreased in percentage in the leaflets, stems, and total herbage with advance in maturity. Percentages of total N, protein N, and non-protein N were higher in the leaflets than stems at all stages of growth, while percentages of ammonium N and glutamine N were similar in leaflets and stems. In contrast, percentages of nitrate N, free a-amino N, and asparagine N were higher in the stems than leaflets. Percentage decreases in the concentration of N f.ractions in the total herbage from the youngest (25-cm tall) to the oldest (75% flower) stage ranged from a low of 50% for protein N to a high of 75% for nitrate N.


The exposure of human T-cell clones to supra-immunogenic concentrations of peptide antigen in the absence of accessory cells induces antigen-specific unresponsiveness. Using this model we have investigated the ability of cytokines to modulate the induction of, or reversal of, T-cell tolerance. Our findings demonstrate that interleukin-2 (IL-2), but not interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) or interleukin-1 (IL-1), is able to inhibit the induction of T-cell unresponsiveness in a dose-dependent fashion. Moreover, IL-2 was able to reverse established antigen-dependent T-cell unresponsiveness. In order to determine if modulation of IL-2 receptors is able to induce or abrogate unresponsiveness, the T cells were treated with anti-Tac antibody alone or together with tolerizing concentrations of antigen. Anti-Tac antibody was neither able to induce nor inhibit the induction of tolerance. The application of this model in the manipulation of immune responses is discussed here.


Geochemical analyses of igneous rocks can provide valuable information about processes, element fluxes, and rock lithologies not evident at the surface. This is particularly important in subduction zone settings where complex interactions between the subducting plate, mantle wedge and arc crust cannot yet be measured by alternative methods.
The Sunda arc, in SE Asia, provides an ideal opportunity to study the effects of subduction in a complex tectonic setting where the basement is poorly exposed and understood. However, in order to do so, magma compositions modified during differentiation in the arc crust must be effectively distinguished from those modified at the source. This study includes a detailed major- and trace element and isotopic (Sr-Nd-Hf-Pb) examination of volcanoes from west Java (Papandayan, Patuha and Galunggung), Central Java (Sumbing), east Java (Kelut) and Bali (Agung), the result of which provides greater insights into petrogenesis both across and along the arc.
Contamination in the arc crust is more extensive than previously recognised, particularly in west and central Java where few volcanoes can be used in order to identify subduction and source contributions. In west Java, volcanoes such as Papandayan and Patuha show significant enrichments in isotope ratios above mantle values (e.g. 87Sr/86Sr ~ 0.706, 143Nd/144Nd ~ 0.5125, 208Pb/204Pb ~ 18.91 and 176Hf/177Hf ~ 0.2827) which indicates a terrigneous crustal contaminant. At Sumbing volcano, most magma compositions are similar to those at Merapi and Merbabu, and show strong evidence for the assimilation of carbonate-rich lithologies with some magmas becoming enriched in CaO, Sr and 87Sr/86Sr.
Differentiation in volcanoes from east Java and the western part of the Lesser Sunda Islands (Bali, Lombok and Sumbawa) is dominantly controlled by fractional crystallisation, which provides better controls on source compositions. At Kelut, one group of samples show the most 'depleted' magma compositions yet discovered on Java, which contain MORB-like values for 143Nd/144Nd and 176Hf/177Hf (0.5130 and 0.2831 respectively). These samples represent the depleted (asthenospheric) mantle and are situated towards the front of the arc in east Java. It is likely that the progressive enrichment further back on the arc (i.e. Leucititic compositions at Ringgit-Besar) include more of an enriched (lithospheric) mantle (SCLM) component derived from the NW margin of Australia during the breakup of Gondwana.


The eastern spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius) is a small omnivorous Carnivora similar in much of its natural history to the commonly found striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis). Spilogale putorius has experienced drastic population declines over a large portion of its geographic range. Many hypotheses for the decline of S. putorius have been proposed. δ13C and δ15N isotope analysis provides a unique opportunity to examine diet over an expanded time span. Thus was used on hair sampled from natural history collections, teaching collections, and road kills to examine dietary change for both S. putorius and M. mephitis from 1852 to 2012. Because stable isotope values of hair reflect the diet at the time the hair was grown, knowledge of molting patters is necessary when using hair in stable isotope studies. I determined molting patterns in S. putorius were similar to M. mephitis. When compared to M. mephitis molting patterns in S. putorius were delayed by approximately a month. Long-term farm and crop trends have not been examined in Kansas. I examined trends in average farm size, percent of land in farms, number of farms, number of irrigated farms, hectares of woodland, and hectares of17 different crops across Kansas from 1880 to 2007. Trends were observed in most crop types and provided support for a slow transition from small diversely planted farms to large scale monoculture in Kansas. I analyzed Kansas fur harvest trends for M. mephitis and S. putorius and detected corresponding declines in Kansas for both species. These declines were correlated with a reduction of maize in the landscape and agricultural intensification. Studies indicate the presence of melanin in colored feathers affects the δ13C and δ15N values of feather samples. I examined the effect of melanin on δ13C and δ15N values of hair from 8 mammal species but detected no effect. The effects of preservation techniques on δ13C and δ15N values of mammalian samples are also not well understood. I examined the effect of tanning as a preparation technique on δ13C and δ15N values of M. mephitis. Tanned hides were depleted in both stable isotopes compared to non-tanned hides. Diet of S. putorius and M. mephitis was related to landscape structure. Maize composed the highest proportion of the diet for both S. putorius and M. mephitis and has experienced change in the diet of S. putorius over time. In addition, increased δ15N variability was observed over time in these species, potentially suggesting decline of or exclusion from historical diet sources. This research provided useful insights into the effects of landscape structure on a declining mesocarnivore, and provided additional support for dietary change as a contributing factor to the decline of S. putorius. When combined, these data potentially provide evidence for a decline in S. putorius based in part on a reduction in the amount of maize in the landscape and agricultural intensification.


Two key techniques necessary to digitally calibrate multistep or pipelined converters are demonstrated in a differential 5-V, 13-b, 10-Msample/s analog-to-digital converter (ADC). One technique, called code-error calibration, is to linearize the transfer characteristic of digital-to-analog converters (DAC's) while the other, called gain-error proration, is to evenly distribute interstage gain errors over the full conversion range. The core of the former technique is an oversampling delta-sigma ratio calibrator working synchronously with the converter. This digital calibration process constantly tracks and updates the code errors without interfering with the normal operation. The prototype converter fabricated using a 1.4-μm BiCMOS process consumes 360 mW with a 5-V single supply and exhibits a signal-to-noise ratio of 71 dB and a maximum end-point integral nonlinearity of 1.8 LSB at a 13-b level. The proposed techniques can be incorporated into general multistep or pipelined ADC's without sacrificing the conversion speed


Efficiently and selectively converting CO2 to value-added carbon compounds remains a major challenge in sustainable energy research. In this paper, we report the synthesis of a cost-effective catalyst, i.e. amorphous molybdenum sulphide on a polyethylenimine modified reduced graphene oxide substrate, for electrocatalytically reducing CO2 into CO in CO2 saturated aqueous NaHCO3 medium with high efficiency and selectivity. The catalyst is capable of producing CO at overpotentials as low as 140 mV and reaches a maximum faradaic efficiency of 85.1% at an overpotential of 540 mV. At an overpotential of 290 mV with respect to the formation of CO, it catalyzes the formation of syngas with high stability. Detailed investigations reveal that PEI works as a co-catalyst by providing a synergetic effect with MoSx.


Following the May 2004 EU accession of Eastern European workers (A8s), the UK witnessed its largest ever in-migration, with the Poles the largest ever single ethnic group (Salt and Millar, 2006). This migration took all by surprise and left many at a local level having to 'fire-fight' the numerous issues that have arisen. Migration has been dramatic for many small towns and villages in the north of England, with the Worker Registration Scheme (WRS) accession monitoring reports stating that the North has a larger number of registered A8 workers than are registered in London and the South East. Discussion here is based on a series of projects that the author has undertaken tracking A8 and Polish migration to the north of England (Fitzgerald, 2005; 2006; 2007a; 2007b; 2008; Banks of the Wear, 2007). The main underlying aim of the research has been to identify trade union engagement with newly arrived Polish migrant workers in the north of England, in particular in North East and North West construction. The approach to the research has been a key respondent and action research approach. This has meant undertaking over 60 interviews with key contacts who are engaged with A8 and Polish migrants. In particular it has involved interviews with construction personnel and participation in: site meetings with teams of Polish workers; trade union construction representatives; and a mass meeting of Polish workers. The focus of the construction projects was to identify how Polish workers were obtaining their employment in the sector and how employers were treating these workers.


In this thesis, we have developed a strategic optimization model of investments in infrastructure in the LNG value chain. The focus is on floating LNG production units: when they are a viable solution and what value they add to the LNG value chain. First a deterministic model is presented with focus on describing the value chain, before it is expanded to a multistage stochastic model with uncertain field sizes and gas prices. The objective is to maximize expected discounted profits through optimal investments in infrastructure. A dataset based on a set of potential fields on the Norwegian continental shelf, with shipping of LNG to three markets in the Atlantic basin, is used to solve the model. The results illustrate when FLNG units can add value to the value chain. They are used as a supplement to onshore processing plants; for example expanding peak capacity or to react to the resolution of uncertain parameters. The floating liquefaction option is especially attractive for fields located far from shore. We also find that the main reason for using FLNG units is their lower liquefaction costs, not the ability to move between fields. The stochastic version of the model results in solutions very similar to the solutions of the deterministic model, even though it is significantly harder to solve. Dantzig-Wolfe decomposition is implemented to reduce run times, but does not converge.


Russia-United Kingdom Diplomatic ties have been banter of ally-crises-ally relations and have not fared well since its first diplomatic contact in 1553 during the era of Tsardom of Russia, and currently at its most tensed point occasioned by the alleged poison attack on Sergei Skripal in Salisbury. While it remains unclear which exactly of the Novichok variants were used to poison Skripal and his daughter? The medical effect of the poison is well understood and Britain with their allies points at Russia as the culprit. This single act has turn sour the diplomatic relations of these great powers. However, it raised multiplicity of arguments among scholars and analysts, who try to highlight and analyse views on who seeks to gain from the cold war between the power megalomaniacs. It is on this ground that the paper looks at the diplomatic crisis between Russia and United Kingdom over the attempted poisoning of Skripal and his daughter . The paper employed a combination of Psycho-Cultural Theory of Conflict and Conspiracy theory as it framework, using a qualitative analysis which relies on secondary data as its source of information to explore the problematic. It further examined if there were any similarities between the Salisbury attack and other attacks carried out in United Kingdom. The paper concludes with the implications of the attack, notes that despite Russia-United Kingdom crisis prone diplomatic relation over Salisbury nerve agent attack, they have an obligation to cooperate in the United Nation should an international conflict arise, as they encompass two of the five permanent members in the UN Security Council giving them the power to veto the approval of UN Security Council resolutions should any quick decision be required. Hence, the pronged disagreement is an interruption to the adoption of quick resolutions, particularly with the emergent danger of conflict and crises on the Korean headland and the on-going civil turbulence in Syria. The paper recommends among others; for Putin to take the opportunity of a new term to start afresh and rebuild ties with the United Kingdom, following the full dictates of diplomatic principles.


Childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE) is a rare, multisystem and potentially life-threatening autoimmune disorder with significant associated morbidity. Evidence-based guidelines are sparse and management is often based on clinical expertise. SHARE (Single Hub and Access point for paediatric Rheumatology in Europe) was launched to optimise and disseminate management regimens for children and young adults with rheumatic diseases like cSLE. Here, we provide evidence-based recommendations for diagnosis and treatment of cSLE. In view of extent and complexity of cSLE and its various manifestations, recommendations for lupus nephritis and antiphospholipid syndrome will be published separately. Recommendations were generated using the EULAR (European League Against Rheumatism) standard operating procedure. An expert committee consisting of paediatric rheumatologists and representation of paediatric nephrology from across Europe discussed evidence-based recommendations during two consensus meetings. Recommendations were accepted if >80% agreement was reached. A total of 25 recommendations regarding key approaches to diagnosis and treatment of cSLE were made. The recommendations include 11 on diagnosis, 9 on disease monitoring and 5 on general treatment. Topics included: appropriate use of SLE classification criteria, disease activity and damage indices; adequate assessment of autoantibody profiles; secondary macrophage activation syndrome; use of hydroxychloroquine and corticosteroid-sparing regimens; and the importance of addressing poor adherence. Ten recommendations were accepted regarding general diagnostic strategies and treatment indications of neuropsychiatric cSLE. The SHARE recommendations for cSLE and neuropsychiatric manifestations of cSLE have been formulated by an evidence-based consensus process to support uniform, high-quality standards of care for children with cSLE.


We have performed molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to explore the structure and dynamics of the ionic solvation shells of alkali ions and halide ions in aqueous solution. Several structural and dynamical properties such as radial distribution functions (RDFs), diffusivity, velocity autocorrelation function (VACF), etc. are computed to obtain a microscopic picture of solvation. In addition, we have examined the effect of counter ions on the solvation structure of ions. We have also calculated the mean residence time (MRT) of solvent molecules in the first solvation shell (FSS) using a stable states picture (SSP) approach. The results from this work can provide a microscopic picture of the underlying mechanisms which play an important role in determining macroscopic properties in electrolyte solutions.


Simulation accuracy by recent dynamic vehicle simulation multidimensional expression significantly has progressed and acceptable results not only for passive vehicles but also for active vehicles normally equipped with advanced electronic components is also provided. Recently, one of the subjects that has it been considered, is increasing the safety car in design. Therefore, many efforts have been done to increase vehicle stability especially in the turn. One of the most important efforts is adjusting the camber angle in the car suspension system. Optimum control camber angle in addition to the vehicle stability is effective in the wheel adhesion on road, reducing rubber abrasion and acceleration and braking. Since the increase or decrease in the camber angle impacts on the stability of vehicles, in this paper, a car suspension system mechanism is introduced that could be adjust camber angle and the mechanism is application and also inexpensive. In order to reach this purpose, in this paper, a passive double wishbone suspension system with variable camber angle is introduced and then variable camber mechanism designed and analyzed for study the designed system performance, this mechanism is modeled in Visual Nastran software and kinematic analysis is revealed.


In planning tasks an agent may often find himself in a situation demanding that he choose an action that would prevent some unwanted event from occurring. Similarly, in tasks involving the generation of descriptions or explanations of sequences of events, it is often useful to draw as many informative connections as possible between events in the sequence; often, this means explaining why certain events are not possible. In this paper, I consider the semantics of event prevention and argue that a naive semantics which equates prevention with the elimination of all future possibility of the event in question is often difficult, if not impossible, to implement. I argue for a more useful semantics which falls out of some reasonable assumptions regarding restrictions on the set of potential actions available to an agent: (1) those actions about which the agent has formed intentions, (2) those actions consistent with the agent's attitudes (including its other intentions), and (3) the set of actions evoked by the type of situation in which the agent is embedded.


The vision of next generation wireless network (NGWN) is to integrate different wireless access technologies, each with its own characteristics, into a common IP-based core network to provide mobile user with service continuity and seamless roaming. One of the major issues for the converged heterogeneous networks is providing a seamless vertical handover (VHO) with QoS support. In this paper we have reviewed the various interworking architectures and handover scenarios between UMTS and WiMAX. Also, we have compared the proposed solutions based on different criteria and revealed the pros and cons of each scheme. The comparison aids to adopt a better interworking and handover mechanism in NGWN.


Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) is an emerging technology that shows great promise for various futuristic applications both for mass public and military. The sensing technology combined with processing power and wireless communication makes it lucrative for being exploited in abundance in future. The inclusion of wireless communication technology also incurs various types of security threats. Since security is a critical issue for the sensor networks being accepted and being used for many software applications, we would also attempt to analyze the threats against the Wireless Sensor Networks, in turn proposing some measure to counter the attacks against the Wireless Sensor Networks. The intent of this paper is to analyze the security related issues and challenges in wireless sensor networks. We identify the security threats, review proposed security mechanisms for wireless sensor networks. We also discuss the holistic view of security for ensuring layered and robust security in wireless sensor networks. Keywords-Sensor, Security, Attack, Holistic, Challenge.


In this study, we develop a vegetation monitoring framework which is applicable at a planetary scale, and is based on the BACI (Before-After, Control-Impact) design. This approach utilizes Google Earth Engine, a state-of-the-art cloud computing platform. A web-based application for users named EcoDash was developed. EcoDash maps vegetation using Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) products (the MOD13A1 and MYD13A1 collections) from both Terra and Aqua sensors from the years 2000 and 2002, respectively. to detect change in vegetation, we define an EVI baseline period, and then draw results at a planetary scale using the web-based application by measuring improvement or degradation in vegetation based on the user-defined baseline periods. We also used EcoDash to measure the impact of deforestation and mitigation efforts by the Vietnam Forests and Deltas (VFD) program for the Nghe An and Thanh Hoa provinces in Vietnam. Using the period before 2012 as a baseline, we found that as of March 2017, 86% of the geographical area within the VFD program shows improvement, compared to only a 24% improvement in forest cover for all of Vietnam. Overall, we show how using satellite imagery for monitoring vegetation in a cloud-computing environment could be a cost-effective and useful tool for land managers and other practitioners


Microfluidics can be used to increase performance, reduce reagent consumption and increase throughput in chemical analysis. With the forthcoming development of more advanced microfluidic systems, the integration of actuating elements becomes essential, giving the ability to control and manipulate fluid flow as well as sample or other components. This thesis addresses miniaturisation of piezoceramic actuators, in particular important technological issues when actuators are integrated in microfluidic systems. Thick film multilayer fabrication technology for piezoceramics has been further developed, e.g. by introducing techniques for integration of microfabricated channel structures and via interconnects in multilayer components. New building techniques have been incorporated to allow miniaturisation of devices. A rapid prototyping technique for advanced multilayer actuators based on mechanical machining has also been developed and used in subsequent work.When interfacing the macro and the micro world in miniaturised chemical analysis systems, non-contact sample dispensing methods such as ink-jet technology are needed. Thus a piezoactuated flow-through microdispenser, suitable for high-speed on-line chemical sample handling has been investigated. A new miniaturised actuator has been developed and integrated in the microdispenser, simplifying assembly and demonstrating an improved performance of the device.With the prospect of performing automated and highly parallel analysis in reusable microarray devices, a new concept for dynamic arraying is presented. Non-contact trapping of particle or bead clusters in a microfluidic system is demonstrated utilising acoustic radiation forces in standing ultrasonic waves. The integration of piezoceramic microtransducers has been shown to render possible localised and spatially controlled trapping of individually addressable particle clusters in microfluidics. The importance of the acoustic near field in miniaturised devices has been identified and utilised to give strong trapping forces. By making use of disposable chemically activated microbead arrays within a flow-through device, a flexible system is emerging with e.g. applications in proteomics.


Predicting the efficacy of fuel treatments aimed at reducing high severity fire in dry-mixed conifer forests in the western US is a challenging problem that has been addressed in a variety of ways using both field observations and wildfire simulation models. One way to describe the efficacy of fuel treatments is to quantify how often wildfires are expected to intersect areas prioritized for treatment. In real landscapes treatments are static, restricted to a small portion of the landscape and against a background of stochastic fire and dynamic vegetation, thus the likelihood of fire encountering a treatment during the period treatments remain effective is small. In this paper we simulate a wide range of different treatment prioritization schemes using the forest landscape simulation model Envision to examine 50 years of fire-treatment interactions and forest succession. We first reviewed 47 fuel management projects in Oregon, USA to build prioritization schemes that addressed different fuel management objectives. We then simulated different priority schemes in the 18 planning areas of the Deschutes National Forest in central Oregon and measured potential fire-treatment interactions over time. Simulated annual area burned was used to calculate the success odds for each priority scheme and planning area. Out of the ten metrics considered only three had higher success odds than a random prioritization of planning areas. Spatial allocation of projects based on burn probability and transmitted wildfire had the highest success odds among the tested metrics. However, success odds declined sharply as desired success levels increased suggesting that fuel management goals need to be tempered to consider the stochastic nature of wildfire. Meeting long-term multiple management goals over time can benefit from consideration of shortand long-term tradeoffs from different treatment prioritization schemes. Our work contributes towards a better framing of both management and public expectations regarding the performance of fuel treatments programs.


The UCSC Arboretum grows nearly ten thousand plant species from around the world, has imported over 2,500 ornamentals, and enriched countless gardens by introducing native plants to the nursery trade. Arboretum staff and volunteers teach undergraduate classes, make presentations in K-12 classes in area schools, offer plant consultations to members of the community, provide legal testimony on rare species, and participate in international research efforts and local conservation initiatives. But how did this unique arboretum come to flourish at UC Santa Cruz? The UCSC Arboretum: A Grand Experiment: An Oral History addresses this question. This volume includes three oral histories, a historical introduction, a timeline, photographs, and other archival material; it chronicles the development of the UCSC Arboretum over the past forty years through interviews with Brett Hall, Phyllis Norris, and Daniel Harder, three key individuals who have shaped the Arboretum's history.


This series of questions and answers is designed to help you take the first steps toward the successful production of a scholarly article in librarianship. You may find yourself in a library position that requires writing or you may have just decided that you are ready to share your findings, experiences, and knowledge with the current and future generations of librarians. While following the guidelines listed here will not guarantee that you will be successful, these steps will take you closer to discovering the thrill of seeing your name in print and making a difference in the field.


A widely disseminated photograph of Phoolan Devi, India's famous bandit queen, surrendering to police forces in 1983 became an emotional touchstone for Indians who saw the outlaw as a lower-caste folk hero. That affective response was reignited in 1994 with the release of a feature film based on Phoolan Devi's life. Despite charges of murder, arson, and looting pending against her, the bandit queen was elected to India's parliament in 1996. Bishnupriya Ghosh considers Phoolan Devi, as well as Mother Teresa and Arundhati Roy, the prize winning author turned environmental activist, to be global icons: highly visible public figures capable of galvanizing intense affect and sometimes even catalyzing social change. Ghosh develops a materialist theory of global iconicity, taking into account the emotional and sensory responses that these iconic figures elicit, the globalized mass media through which their images and life stories travel, and the multiple modernities within which they are interpreted. The collective aspirations embodied in figures such as Barack Obama, Eva Peron, and Princess Diana show that Ghosh's theory applies not just in South Asia but around the world.


The topic for this thesis is the relationship between household income and life satisfaction, and the discrepancy between results based on within-country analyses and between-country analyses. Time-series of average income and average life satisfaction show that while income has increased, life satisfaction have remained stagnant in most Western countries. Crosssectional comparisons of average income with life satisfaction show a curvilinear effect of life satisfaction. This is often interpreted as that beyond some point there is no additional satisfaction gained by more income or wealth. Simultaneously, cross-sectional within-country analyses show that high income groups are significantly more satisfied with life than low income groups. This inconsistency between within-country and between-country results is often referred to as the Easterlin Paradox, since this inconsistency was first described by Easterlin(1974). Possible individual level interpretations of the Easterlin Paradox are highlighted. This thesis suggests that the interpretation of between-country correlations on the individual level is an example of an ecological fallacy. Errors in the theoretic assumptions are introduced as a possible cause for this fallacy. By considering the drawbacks of macro level and micro level analysis, multilevel models are suggested as a promising approach because of the multilevel nature of the Easterlin Paradox. A building-block approach to multilevel modelling is applied. The intraclass correlation coefficient shows that 20.4 percent of the variance in life satisfaction could be attributed to the country level, while 79.4 percent of the variance could be attributed to the individual level, which strongly suggests the necessity of multilevel modelling. Random intercept models with fixed slopes and random slopes models are applied and show a significant correlation between life satisfaction and household income, but the strength of the relationship seems to vary between income groups and between countries. Income inequality is suggested as a country level variable that could have a mediating effect on the life satisfaction-household income relationship. Income inequality seem to have a significant main effect on life satisfaction, while the validity of the cross-level interaction effect between income inequality and household income is questionable due to methodological considerations. The results strongly suggest that multilevel modelling is a promising approach to understanding the relationship between life satisfaction and income, and that household income matters for life satisfaction in most of the countries in the dataset. Implications of the results for research in the social sciences and psychology in particular is discussed, in addition to practical implications for public policy which aims to promote wellbeing.


This body of work provides descriptions of test systems, which can be used for a detailed assessment of physical, non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma (APP) devices with regard to bio-medically relevant performance parameters. To establish and perform experiments, two different plasma sources were used: the plasma jet type kINPen® MED and a µs-pulsed volume dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) device. On the basis of a general physico-technical characterization of the two sources, evaluation strategies were developed to comparatively study (1) immediate cell damages after APP treatments and (2) to test if APPs cause genetic alterations in cellular DNA. Since the dermatological use of APP devices was of major interest in this thesis, different human skin fibroblast lines were used for plasma experiments. With the test systems, cell-type dependent effects of APP can be compared; moreover, a direct comparison of plasma-type dependent effects is also feasible. The first part of this thesis presents common test systems for the basic physical characterization, which include measurements of electric current, gas temperature and resulting thermal output, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and emission of potentially unhealthy gases. Based on these measurements, a risk assessment was possible, which indicate that the two sources can be safely used as medical tools, but also exhibit plasma-specific handling and application requirements. Furthermore, a number of bio-medically relevant performance parameters of the sources were investigated: inactivation efficiency against pathogens, cytotoxicity on human skin fibroblasts, and chemical changes of plasma-treated phosphate buffered saline (PBS) solution. The results demonstrated that the impact of APPs on cells differ due to their different physical and chemical properties. Most, but not all, of the test systems presented here were published in the context of a cooperation with other groups as German DIN-Specification 91315. The second part of the thesis presents test systems for the assessment of long-term damages. The genotoxic and mutagenic effects of plasmas on isolated and cellular deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) were examined with different techniques: host cell reactivation assay, DNA separation via gel electrophoresis, plasmid shuttle vector assay, and flow cytometry based on staining of phosphorylated histone proteins. The assessment of possible plasma-induced long-term damages is of utmost importance because some of the plasma components, like reactive oxygen species (ROS) and UV radiation, are well known to affect DNA. Particularly in dermatological therapies of wounds, potential mutagenic side effects induced by plasma application would lead to serious health risks, since the skin of patients will be directly exposed to plasma and, thus, also proliferative cells in the wound area. The level of impact of the two plasma sources on cells and isolated DNA was compared. At same treatment durations, plasma jet treatments usually induced stronger effects than DBD applications. In particular, a higher cytotoxicity and genotoxicity was observed. However, only a tendency towards a mutagenic effect was seen. In contrast, in experiments on plasmid DNA, which was located inside the cells during plasma treatments, no mutagenic effect was detected for either of the two sources. But, an increased formation of double strand breaks in genomic DNA could be demonstrated. Calculations of plasma doses within given treatment durations revealed that in same time periods the plasma jet transfers higher energy densities to the treatment object than the DBD plasma. On the other hand, the DBD plasma was shown to generate much higher ROS and RNS concentrations during the same treatment time. In some parts these findings can explain the observations in this thesis. It is, however, assumed that mainly ROS and UV radiation are responsible for the different effects of the two plasma sources. With the assays presented here, a valuable basis for a more detailed evaluation of different plasma jet systems and volume DBD devices with regard to their medical usability is created. Moreover, such APP sources can now be characterized and their desired therapeutic applications can be assessed on a standardized, quantitative basis.


Background: Cortical atrophy, assessed with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), is an important outcome measure in multiple sclerosis (MS) studies. However, the underlying histopathology of cortical volume measures is unknown. Objective: We investigated the histopathological substrate of MRI-measured cortical volume in MS using combined post-mortem imaging and histopathology. Methods: MS brain donors underwent post-mortem whole-brain in-situ MRI imaging. After MRI, tissue blocks were systematically sampled from the superior and inferior frontal gyrus, anterior cingulate gyrus, inferior parietal lobule, and superior temporal gyrus. Histopathological markers included neuronal, axonal, synapse, astrocyte, dendrite, myelin, and oligodendrocyte densities. Matched cortical volumes from the aforementioned anatomical regions were measured on the MRI, and used as outcomes in a nested prediction model. Results: Forty-five tissue blocks were sampled from 11 MS brain donors. Mean age at death was 68±12 years, post-mortem interval 4±1 hours, and disease duration 35±15 years. MRI-measured regional cortical volumes varied depending on anatomical region. Neuronal density, neuronal size, and axonal density were significant predictors of GM volume. Conclusions: In patients with long-standing disease, neuronal and axonal pathology are the predominant pathological substrates of MRI-measured cortical volume in chronic MS.


Introduction The use of balloon remodeling allows for the treatment of aneurysms that were previously considered to be poor candidates for coil embolization. The Scepter C (Microvention, Tustin, California, USA) is a novel temporary occlusion balloon system with a dual coaxial lumen catheter. The design accommodates a more steerable 0.014 inch guidewire with improved control for delivery to the target lesion. We describe our initial experience with the use of this device for balloon remodeling to assist during aneurysm coil embolization. Methods All aneurysms that were treated with balloon remodeling employing the Scepter C balloon at a single institution (Medical University of South Carolina) from the time it was available in October 2011 to July 2012 were evaluated. Patient demographics, aneurysm characteristics, procedural success, and adverse events were assessed. Results 52 aneurysms were treated in 48 patients (45 women, three men) with a mean age of 59.3±11 years (mean±SD). Mean aneurysm height was 5.9±3 mm, width 4.4±2 mm with a 3.1±2 mm broad neck. A variety of aneurysms were treated. The most commonly utilized size was the 4 mm×10 mm (n=33) balloon. A Raymond 1 (complete occlusion) was achieved in the majority (n=44; 84.6%) of aneurysms, Raymond 2 (residual neck) in five, and Raymond 3 (residual aneurysm) in five. There was one complication (1.9%) attributed directly to balloon use. Conclusions Our initial experience with the dual coaxial lumen Scepter C occlusion balloon catheter demonstrates its feasibility for use in balloon remodeling for aneurysm coil embolization. A variety of aneurysms at different locations were treated with satisfactory initial angiographic results and adverse event rates.


In-vehicle technologies and cooperative services are attracting a lot of attention for their potential to deal with congestion problems and improve traffic safety. This paper aims to investigate the impact of infrastructure-to-vehicle cooperative systems, case of COOPERS, at the aggregate level, on traffic performance. A factorial experiment is designed with two factors: traffic demand and penetration of the system with three levels each. In total, nine scenarios are investigated. To replicate driving behavior with and without the system, speed distributions from a simulator experiment are used. A motorway section of 4 km is built in VISSIM simulation software. Indicators such as speed, density, delays and travel times are chosen to evaluate and compare the motorway performance with and without the system. The results show that drivers driving with the system activated are more aware and alert to near future traffic conditions compared to driving without the system. Driving with the system activated is characterized by smoother and longer speed decelerations when approaching critical incident/accident events. The results show as well that the factors investigated significantly impact the motorway performance. Congestion reduces the impact of the system whereas higher penetration levels improve traffic operation on the motorway. Future research directions can include (1) investigating the impact of the system at the micro level such as lane changing or car-following behaviors; (2) levels of compliance with the system, which is an important aspect as well.


OBJECTIVES
Yoga based lifestyle modifications have been earlier shown to be beneficial in coronary artery disease in a small number of patients. We evaluated the role of lifestyle modification based on Yoga techniques, stress management and dietary modifications in retardation of coronary artery disease.

METHODS
This prospective, controlled, open trial included angiographically proven coronary artery disease patients (71 patients in study group and 42 patients in control group). They were assessed clinically, by biochemical parameters, stress myocardial perfusion and function studies and coronary angiography and on psychological parameters. The study group patients were given a family based Yoga Programme which included, control of risk factors, dietary modifications and stress management for a period of one year. The patients were assessed at baseline, at frequent intervals and at the end of one year.

RESULTS
At the end of one year of yoga training, statistical significant changes (P<0.05) were found in serum total cholesterol (reduction by 23.3% in study group patients as compared to 4.4% in controls); serum LDL cholesterol (reduction of 26% in study group patients as compared to 2.6% in the control group), regression of disease (43.7% of study group patients v/s 31% control group on MPI and 70.4% of study group v/s 28% of control group on angiography) arrest of progression (46.5% study group v/s 33.3% control group on MPI) and progression (9.9% of study group vs 35.7% of controls on MPI, 29.6% of study group v/s 60.0% of controls on angiography). At the end of the study improvement in anxiety scores was concordant with the improvement seen in the MPI. No untoward effects of the therapy were observed.

CONCLUSION
Yoga based lifestyle modifications help in regression of coronary lesions and in improving myocardial perfusion. This is translated into clinical benefits and symptomatic improvement.


Indonesia's education system is characterised by teacher-centred approaches and rote learning, and learning in school tends to focus on achieving academic standards and requirements of the curriculum. Pressures are placed on students from teachers and parents to achieve good academic results – particularly in urban settings. Teachers also tend to focus on effective ways to produce better test results rather than on student well-being and learning. Within this educational context, this study addressed the issue of student well-being in school, often measured in terms of school satisfaction or school happiness. Student happiness in school is important because happier students have been shown to learn better. In researching this topic, a mixedmethods approach was used to investigate student perspectives on their school experiences and learning environment. Student voice about their school experiences is a critical focus in this study, expressing a communicative power that highlights the realities of school life. Emerging themes of this study identify the learning environment factors that impact student well-being in school. Self-determination theory is used as a theoretical lens to differentiate school well-being in terms of hedonic perspectives – measured by level of school satisfaction and positive and negative affect, and eudaimonic perspectives – indicated by school happiness, and also by the fulfilment of basic psychological needs. Furthermore, this theory is used to analyse the extent to which school provides a psychologically healthy school experience for students. Despite most students reporting they are happy in school, their feelings of dissatisfaction also indicate that school experiences have not provided sufficient opportunity for them to satisfy their basic psychological needs. Students in this study may experience happiness in school, but this may not necessarily yield the fulfilment of their need for competence, autonomy, and relatedness.


Rates of carbon (C) specific growth and nitrogen (N2) fixation were monitored in cultures of Baltic Sea Nodularia and Aphanizomenon exposed to gradual limitation by inorganic phosphorus (P). Both cyanobacteria responded by decreased cellular P content followed by lowered rates of growth and N2 fixation. C-specific growth and cellular N content changed faster in Aphanizomenon both when inorganic P was lowered as well as during reintroduction of P. Aphanizomenon also showed a more rapid increase in N-specific N2 fixation associated with increased C-specific growth. When ambient concentrations of inorganic P declined, both cyanobacteria displayed higher rates of alkaline phosphatase (APase) activity. Lower substrate half-saturation constants (KM) and higher Vmax : KM ratio of the APase enzyme associated with Nodularia suggest a higher affinity for dissolved organic P (DOP) substrate than Aphanizomenon. Aphanizomenon, which appears more sensitive to changes in ambient dissolved inorganic P, may be adapted to environments with elevated concentrations of P or repeated intrusions of nutrient-rich water. Nodularia on the other hand, with its higher tolerance to increased P starvation may have an ecological advantage in stratified surface waters of the Baltic Sea during periods of low P availability.


Regression or classification? This is perhaps the most basic question faced when tackling a new supervised learning problem. We present an Evolutionary Deep Learning (EDL) algorithm that automatically solves this by identifying the question type with high accuracy, along with a proposed deep architecture. Typically, a significant amount of human insight and preparation is required prior to executing machine learning algorithms. For example, when creating deep neural networks, the number of parameters must be selected in advance and furthermore, a lot of these choices are made based upon pre-existing knowledge of the data such as the use of a categorical cross entropy loss function. Humans are able to study a dataset and decide whether it represents a classification or a regression problem, and consequently make decisions which will be applied to the execution of the neural network. We propose the Automated Problem Identification (API) algorithm, which uses an evolutionary algorithm interface to TensorFlow to manipulate a deep neural network to decide if a dataset represents a classification or a regression problem. We test API on 16 different classification, regression and sentiment analysis datasets with up to 10,000 features and up to 17,000 unique target values. API achieves an average accuracy of 96.3% in identifying the problem type without hard-coding any insights about the general characteristics of regression or classification problems. For example, API successfully identifies classification problems even with 1000 target values. Furthermore, the algorithm recommends which loss function to use and also recommends a neural network architecture. Our work is therefore a step towards fully automated machine learning.


Suicidal behaviour is a challenge for military forces around the world. Suicide can be a reaction in peacekeeping operations or conventional warfare, because the stressful nature of both types of operations can force military members to such a catastrophic end. This article focuses on the necessary knowledge and skills for a better understanding of suicidal behaviour in the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) for members on different levels. It discusses the operational environment, with specific reference to peacekeeping operations or conventional warfare as contributing factors, risk factors, and the prevention and proper management of suicide by means of educating commanders and members of the multi-professional team (MPT).


The main objective of this article is studying the effectiveness of group logotherapy in improving the quality of life in menopausal women. The research method is quasi-experimental with pretest and posttest and control group. The statistical population of this study is all menopausal women (50 ones) who went to Social Security clinic in Bandar-e Anzali to receive medical care and counseling in 2015. Simple random sampling was used for selection of the sample members. 30 women were randomly selected. Then using lottery, 15 women were placed in the experimental group and 15 ones in the control group. The group logotherapy training program was given in 10 sessions of 90 minutes to the experimental group while the control group did not see any particular training and responded positive to the World Health Organization and Life Quality Questionnaires. Mancoa Test in SPSS 19 software was used in order to analyze the data. The results showed that there was a significant difference between experimental and control groups in terms of quality of life (P<0.0001and F=34.79). Overall results showed that the difference between experimental and control groups are in favor of the experimental group. According to the results, it can be said that that group logotherapy can be a useful and new strategy in improving the quality of menopausal women's life.


Abstract This article examines how the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) conflict management process in the South China Sea (SCS) has been conducted and whether the ASEAN way can effectively manage the dispute, in which China is a prime and important actor. It argues that rising tensions in the South China Sea are a direct result of the changed balance of power in the region given the asymmetry between China and ASEAN members. China has taken advantage of ASEAN efforts to develop a code of conduct that is premised on the ASEAN way.


Phytoplankton and environmental conditions in Lake Washington, Seattle, Washington, are discussed from the perspective of dynamic relationships between taxon‐specific growth rates and environmental variables. More than four decades of measurements permit inspection of conditions associated with net increase and decrease for 40 phytoplankton species or species groups. Reproducible patterns exist for growth responses to over 25 environmental factors including nutrient chemistry, physical variables, and herbivorous zooplankton species. There appear to be no more than six main modalities of response to environmental factors, and responses to chemical and physical variables show coherence across taxa. Diatoms show a near uniform positive growth response to abundant inorganic nutrients, cold and transparent water, deep mixing, and intolerance for virtually all zooplankton grazers. Many chlorophytes and cyanobacteria show equally uniform growth responses to chemical and physical variables, although their preferences are virtually opposite from the diatoms. They benefit from the presence of copepods but show highly specific growth rate responses to different cladocerans and rotifers. Growth rate variations among the diatoms sort out along gradients of resource and physical factors, but there is coherence to the rise and fall of multiple species. Among the other algal divisions, despite a common set of physical and chemical conditions that promote growth rates, the species do not increase and decrease together. Instead, the prevailing grazer community appears to shape the phytoplankton community by admitting only certain species from the large pool of contenders.


Herbivory is one of the major biotic interactions shaping the structure and dynamics of grassland plant populations and community structure. The two major grass growth forms, rhizomatous and caespitose species, may show different grazing tolerance and short-term overcompensation may offset long-term reductions in plant performance and fitness. The objectives of this study were to assess 1) the effects of long-term ungulate grazing on plant architecture, population structure, and life history traits of the caespitose perennial grass, Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem), and the rhizomatous Bouteloua curtipendula (sideoats grama) in tallgrass prairie, and 2) the effects of grazing intensity (frequency of defoliation) on growth responses of little bluestem. Long-term bison grazing decreased the cover, frequency, tiller height, and proportion of tillers producing seed in little bluestem, but caused no changes in tiller density and total genet size. Grazed little bluestem plants maintained a significantly larger belowground bud bank. Bison grazing had no long-term effect on the abundance, bud bank densities, or rhizome growth of the rhizomatous side-oats grama grass. Biomass, tiller density, relative growth rates, and proportion of tillers flowering in little bluestem all decreased with increasing frequency of defoliation. However, even an intense grazing regime (9 defoliations over a 12 month period) caused no plant mortality and no changes in new tiller emergence rates, or bud bank densities. Increasing defoliation frequency did result in shifts in plant architecture, as an increasing proportion of extravaginal tillers led to a more lateral, decumbent growth form. These results show that the rhizomatous side-oats grama grass has a significantly higher grazing tolerance than does little bluestem, and/or that bison selectively graze little bluestem. Results from responses to the experimental defoliation regimes suggest that little bluestem shows lower tolerance to high frequency of defoliation, and its maintenance of a reserve belowground bud bank may be its primary tolerance mechanism, allowing tiller populations to recover following severe defoliation.


This paper investigates how enforcement of labour regulation affects the firm's use of informal labour, firm size and firm performance. Using firm level data on employment, capita, and output, census data on informal employment at the city level, and administrative data on enforcement of regulation at the city level, we show that in areas where law enforcement is stricter firms employ a smaller proportion of informal workers. Furthermore, by reducing the firm's access to unregulated labour stricter enforcement is also associated with smaller firms, less fluid labour markets, and (possibly) lower labour productivity. We control for different regional and firm characteristics, and we instrument enforcement with the distance between firm location and the location of an enforcement office, a measure of access of labour inspectors to firms. Taken together, our findings suggest that increased access to labour flexibility frees the firm from growth constraints, and it is likely to contribute to an improvement in productivity.


BACKGROUND
Proper validation is an important aspect of QSAR modelling. External validation is one of the widely used validation methods in QSAR where the model is built on a subset of the data and validated on the rest of the samples. However, its effectiveness for datasets with a small number of samples but a large number of predictors remains suspect.

OBJECTIVE
Calculating hundreds or thousands of molecular descriptors using currently available software has become the norm in QSAR research, owing to computational advances in the past few decades. Thus, for n chemical compounds and p descriptors calculated for each molecule, the typical chemometric dataset today has a high value of p but small n (i.e. n << p). Motivated by the evidence of inadequacies of external validation in estimating the true predictive capability of a statistical model in recent literature, this paper performs an extensive and comparative study of this method with several other validation techniques.

METHODOLOGY
We compared four validation methods: Leave-one-out, K-fold, external and multi-split validation, using statistical models built using the LASSO regression, which simultaneously performs variable selection and modelling. We used 300 simulated datasets and one real dataset of 95 congeneric amine mutagens for this evaluation.

RESULTS
External validation metrics have high variation among different random splits of the data, hence are not recommended for predictive QSAR models. LOO has the overall best performance among all validation methods applied in our scenario.

CONCLUSION
Results from external validation are too unstable for the datasets we analyzed. Based on our findings, we recommend using the LOO procedure for validating QSAR predictive models built on high-dimensional small-sample data.


Many signaling pathways have been shown to be involved in the formation of the vascular system. Among them are the endothelial specific receptor families such as VEGF, Ang/Tie, as well as other signaling pathways such as semaphorins, which are also involved, in axonal guidance. It is known that the interaction between receptor tyrosine kinase, Tie2, VE-Cadherin, and VE-PTP mediate endothelial cell quiescence and adhesion. However, the structural basis of these interactions is not well understood. The aim of our study is to characterize the binding interactions between these players. Another important part of our study is describing the cross-talk between vasculature and nervous system by characterizing the Neuropilin/Plexin/Semaphorin system. VE-Cadherin along with neuropilins plays an essential role by directing VEGF signals to the appropriate location and coordinating the activation of downstream molecules. We characterize the interaction between Tie2, VE-PTP and VE-Cadherin by (FRET)based proximity assay, fluorescence lifetime imaging, and co-immunoprecipitation assays. Our data showed a consistent localization of the protein and FRET signal for Tie2 and VEPTP prior to ligand recognition. We showed the association between Tie2 and VE-Cadherin complex by co-immunoprecipatation. However, our FRET data was not consistent. The examination of VE-PTP and VE-Cadherin for association and localization of the protein showed a very unique, mutually exclusive localization of the protein. Our study of Neuropilin/Plexin/Semaphorin system showed changes in the protein localization, FRET signal and morphology upon stimulation of HEK293 cells expressing Nrp/plexin with Sema3D. In this system VE-Cadherin along with neuropilins plays an essential role by directing VEGF signals to the appropriate location and coordinating the activation of downstream molecules. The characterization of extracellular binding between Tie2, VEPTP, and VE-Cadherin, will help to better understand the molecular mechanisms of normal and tumor angiogenesis to develop new anti-angiogeneic therapies.


In the United Nations as in other political organizations elective offices are eagerly sought as badges of prestige and levers of influence. Some of the most hotly contested political battles in the United Nations have centred around elections to the prestigious and influential nonpermanent seats on the Security Council. Contests have sometimes run to many ballots before any country emerged with the required two-thirds majority, and deadlock has more than once forced a compromise in which the two-year term was divided between two contenders. Indicative of the feeling sometimes aroused was Indonesia's withdrawal from the United Nations in 1965 which, although prompted by other motives as well, was timed to serve as a protest against the seating of Malaysia on the Security Council. Contests for other positions are generally less spirited, but there are invariably more office seekers than offices.


Abstract Many papers on economic geography have analysed industrial clusters, but few have addressed the relations among clusters. This paper discusses three types of relations among clusters to better understand why they occur and the roles that human resources, capital, knowledge and markets play in such relations. It provides theoretical ideas, empirical illustrations and suggestions for future research on the relations among clusters in a globalized economy.


This paper investigates the possibility that ultra-compact dwarf (UCD) galaxies in the Fornax cluster are formed by the threshing of nucleated, early-type dwarf galaxies (hereafter dwarf galaxies). Similar to the results of Cote et al. for the Virgo cluster, we show that the Fornax cluster observations are consistent with a single population in which all dwarfs are nucleated, with a ratio of nuclear to total magnitude that varies slowly with magnitude. Importantly, the magnitude distribution of the UCD population is similar to that of the dwarf nuclei in the Fornax cluster. The joint population of UCDs and the dwarfs from which they may originate is modelled and shown to be consistent with a Navarro, Frenk & White (NFW) profile with a characteristic radius of 5 kpc. Furthermore, a steady-state dynamical model reproduces the known mass profile of Fornax. However, there are a number of peculiarities in the velocity dispersion data that remain unexplained. The simplest possible threshing model is tested, in which dwarf galaxies move on orbits in a static cluster potential and are threshed if they pass within a radius at which the tidal force from the cluster exceeds the internal gravity at the core of their dark matter halo. This fails to reproduce the observed fraction of UCDs at radii greater than 30 kpc from the core of Fornax.


Recent years have witnessed the exploration and synthesis of an increasing number of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). The utilization of stable MOFs as a platform for catalysis and biomimetics is discussed. This Feature Article will provide insights into the rational design and synthesis of three types of stable MOF catalysts on the basis of structural features of MOFs, that is, (i) MOF catalysts with catalytic sites on metal nodes, (ii) MOF catalysts with catalytic sites immobilized in organic struts, and (iii) MOF catalysts with catalytic centres encapsulated in the pores. Then, MOFs used in biomimetics including biomimetic mineralization, biosensors and biomimetic replication are introduced. Finally, a discussion on the challenges that must be addressed for successful implementation of MOFs in catalysis and biomimetics is presented.

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