A primary production model is described and compared to 3 observational data bases: light-saturated carbon fixation, net phytoplankton primary production, and gross phytoplankton pri- mary production. The model successfully reproduces the observations while maintaining realistic calculations of algal carbon, chlorophyll, limiting nutrient, and light attenuation. Computed primary production in light-limited regions is proportional to the algal growth rate. Successful computation of primary production in nutrient-depleted waters depends on the formulation and magnitude of the model predation term. Our quadratic formulation mimics a predator population that is closely coupled to algal biomass and rapidly recycles nutrients from algal biomass to available form.


This report focuses on developments in Dutch aid to education in conflict affected areas in the last
decade, with a focus on the period 2007‐2010, when ex‐Minister for International Development,
Koenders was in office. In this relatively brief time frame, Koenders prioritised development cooperation in 'fragile states'3 and his policies coincided and aligned themselves with wider international tendencies toward increased attention to conflict affected regions or emergency
situations.
We start by outlining the rationale and main policy developments regarding Dutch aid to education
in conflict affected situations, emergencies and fragile states. Aid to conflict and education from the
government of the Netherlands is characterised by a very diverse system of aid channelled through multilateral, bilateral and non‐governmental/private channels. Furthermore, various (development, humanitarian and fragile states departments) departments within (and outside) the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) are involved in providing funding and policy advice in education sectors in
conflict affected regions. We then turn to discuss the country or area selection processes, and the
various labels and lists that are used to distinguish fragile states or conflict affected regions. The
UNICEF Education in Emergencies and Post‐Crisis Transition Programme, totalling over 200 million US
dollars, has been the largest investment of the Dutch government directed to foster education in
emergencies and crisis situations. The paper elaborates on the rationale and the genealogy of the UNICEF programme, as well as some of the initial lessons learnt since its inception. Following on from that we provide an overview of the variety of multilateral, bilateral and non‐governmental/private initiatives supported by the Dutch MFA in the case of Afghanistan and Sudan, including both short term and immediate responses, as well as longer term capacity building programmes. Throughout the paper, we draw from evidence of the involvement of the Netherlands in other countries such as Colombia, Pakistan, Haiti and Yemen. The paper concludes with some reflections on Dutch aid to
education in conflicts and emergencies, and briefly anticipates possible future directions.


Book synopsis: The introduction of the Human Rights Act has led to an explosion in books on human rights, yet no sustained examination of their history and philosophy exists in the burgeoning literature. At the same time, while human rights have triumphed on the world stage as the ideology of postmodernity, our age has witnessed more violations of human rights than any previous, less enlightened one. This book fills the historical and theoretical gap and explores the powerful promises and disturbing paradoxes of human rights.

Divided in two parts and fourteen chapters, the book offers first an alternative history of natural law, in which natural rights represent the eternal human struggle to resist domination and oppression and to fight for a society in which people are no longer degraded or despised. At the time of their birth, in the 18th century, and again in the popular uprisings of the last decade, human rights became the dominant critique of the conservatism of law. But the radical energy, symbolic value and apparently endless expansive potential of rights has led to their adoption both by governments wishing to justify their policies on moral grounds and by individuals fighting for the public recognition of private desires and has undermined their ends.

Part Two examines the philosophical logic of rights. Rights, the most liberal of institutions, has been largely misunderstood by established political philosophy and jurisprudence as a result of their cognitive limitations and ethically impoverished views of the individual subject and of the social bond. The liberal approaches of Hobbes, Locke and Kant are juxtaposed to the classical critiques of the concept of human rights by Burke, Hegel and Marx. The philosophies of Heidegger, Strauss, Arendt and Sartre are used to deconstruct the concept of the (legal) subject. Semiotics and psychoanalysis help explore the catastrophic consequences of both universalists and cultural relativists when they become convinced about their correctness. Finally, through a consideration of the ethics of otherness, and with reference to recent human rights violations, it is argued that the end of human rights is to judge law and politics from a position of moral transcendence.

This is a comprehensive historical and theoretical examination of the discourse and practice of human rights. Using examples from recent moral foreign policies in Iraq, Rwanda and Kosovo, Douzinas radically argues that the defensive and emancipatory role of human rights will come to an end if we do not re-invent their utopian ideal.


An earlier article of mine, Kovacs (2009a), discussed OT 1424–1530, whose genuineness was impugned most recently by Dawe (2001; 2006). I argued that 1424–67 (which I call A) are genuine, but that 1468–1530 (which I call B) are spurious. Sommerstein (2011), accepting my defence of A, undertook the defence of all but a few lines of B as well, dismantling much of my case against it and adding the argument that the transmitted ending mirrors the play's beginning and is therefore presumptively Sophoclean. The present article, in part a reply to Sommerstein's reply, restates some of my earlier arguments and also presents new evidence for the spuriousness of B.


We provide a proof of the technical feasibility of LOUPE, the first integral-field snapshot spectropolarimeter, designed to monitor the reflected flux and polarization spectrum of Earth. These are to be used as benchmark data for the retrieval of biomarkers and atmospheric and surface characteristics from future direct observations of exoplanets. We perform a design trade-off for an implementation in which LOUPE performs snapshot integral-field spectropolarimetry at visible wavelengths. We used off-the-shelf optics to construct a polarization modulator, in which polarization information is encoded into the spectrum as a wavelength-dependent modulation, while spatial resolution is maintained using a micro-lens array. The performance of this design concept is validated in a laboratory setup. Our proof-of-concept is capable of measuring a grid of 50 × 50 polarization spectra between 610 and 780 nm of a mock target planet - proving the merit of this design. The measurements are affected by systematic noise on the percent level, and we discuss how to mitigate this in future iterations. We conclude that LOUPE can be small and robust while meeting the science goals of this particular space application, and note the many potential applications that may benefit from our concept for doing snapshot integral-field spectropolarimetry.


Background: Appropriate histopathology reporting helps to ensure effective therapy and prognosis. Objective: Toexamine compliance with clinical practice guidelines for histopathology reports of melanomas. Methods: A sample of melanoma histopathology reports in Queensland was audited for inclusion of recommended information. The quality of documentation was constructed and multivariate analysis used to determine factors affecting the quality of reporting practices. Results: Documentation of the most important features of melanoma was high: clear diagnosis (99.8%; 95% CI 98.6–100), thickness (99.8%; 95% CI 98.6–100), comment on adequacy of excision (87.9%; 95% CI 84.9–91.0) and measurement of margins (91.9%; 95% CI 88.8–91.4). Overall reporting of ulceration and regression was of lesser completeness (83.0 and 77.8%, respectively) and these features were more likely to be reported by high-volume laboratories (p < 0.001 and p = 0.037, respectively). This trend was not apparent for other features. Fewer than 50% of reports documented mitotic rate per square millimetre, predominant cell type, microsatellites, growth phase and desmoplasia. Conclusion: Awareness of current reporting practices and identification of areas in which insufficiencies exist enable the revision of systems and potential improvements to the transfer of information to treating clinicians.


Summary
Kimchi was fermented in onggi and other containers at 4 °C for 4 weeks. Two types of onggi were used: glazed and nonglazed onggi. Other containers such as polyethylene plastic containers, polypropylene containers for use in a kimchi refrigerator, stainless steel and glass bottles were used. During the fermentation, kimchi fermented in onggi showed relatively stable acidity change compared with those in the other containers. Also it showed higher lactic acid bacteria multiplication (108–109 cfu g−1 at 4th week) but slower general aerobic bacteria multiplication than the others. The springiness of kimchi fermented in onggi was more than 50% at 4th week, it is higher than the others. Its carbonic acid taste and overall acceptability were excellent in sensory evaluations. The antioxidative and cancer-cell antiproliferative activities were also greater in kimchi fermented in onggi than the others. Between the two types of onggi, nonglazed onggi showed better results in both properties and functionalities of kimchi. Onggi showed higher gas permeability than polyethylene plastic containers and glass bottles because of its porous structure, and lactic acid bacteria could have benefited from this condition. It possibly contributes to optimal ripening of kimchi resulting in better properties, especially texture and taste, and health functionalities.


Neuroscience
Pairing a stimulus in one modality (vision) with a stimulus in another (sound) can lead to task-induced hallucinations in healthy individuals. After many trials, people eventually report perceiving a nonexistent stimulus contingent on the presence of the previously paired stimulus. Powers et al. investigated how different groups of volunteers and patients respond to this conditioning paradigm. They used behavior, neuroimaging, and computational modeling to dissect the effect of perceptual priors versus sensory evidence on such induced hallucinations. People who are more prone to hear voices were more susceptible to the induced auditory hallucinations. The network of brain regions that was active during the conditioned hallucinations resembled the network observed during clinical symptom capture in individuals who hallucinate while in a brain scanner.

Science , this issue p. [596][1]

 [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.aan3458


The research of concerning the aspect of law the role and also Serulingmas
zoo in animal conservation basic to governmental regulation no.8 tahun 1999 in
Banjarnegara aim to know how role from Serulingmas zoo in the effort animal
conservation protected.
This research normative law research, that is research done by checking
book substance representing data secondary. In this writing study the positive law
norm which is in the form of law and regulation related to animal conservation.
The result of this research has shown that implementation, covering is:
first, population Recovery, scarce species/ totally disappeared/ ex situ, effect of
damage of wild hunt and habitat a lot of species which in this time its population
critical in a condition. Second, paying attention to animal prosprity ( animal
welfare ). In wild activity use animal passing activity of animal development, is
obliged to pay attention to the animal prosperity ( animal welfare ) that is do not
hurt, hurting, killing or other, dissimiliar tratment causing animal depressed
( stress ) of animal the capturer and also group or population left its nature habitat.
Third, developing network work by stakeholders, unworkable Conservation
execution only by just Serulingmas zoo but have to be executed by entire/all
society element. Fourth, role development and also society in management and
operation of type exploiting. Fiveth, maintaining variety of genetic and type of
animal. In beside the are constraint of implementation role of Serulingmas zoo, is:
human resource which less be professional, new Couple inexistence make animal,
financing which less.


Many musical instruments exhibit an inherent latency or delayed auditory feedback (DAF) between actuator activation and the occurrence of sound. We investigated how DAF (73ms and 250ms) affects musically trained (MT) and non-musically trained (NMT) people's ability to synchronize the audible strum of an actuated guitar to a metronome at 60bpm and 120bpm. The long DAF matched a subdivision of the overall tempo. We compared their performance using two different input devices with feedback before or on activation. While 250ms DAF hardly affected musically trained participants, non-musically trained participants' performance declined substantially both in mean synchronization error and its spread. Neither tempo nor input devices affected performance.


Membrane-bound receptors, crucial for mediating several developmental signals, are synthesized on endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Therefore, the functional integrity of ER must be important for the regulation of at least some of the developmental programs. However, the developmental control of ER function has not been well understood. Here, we identify the C. elegans protein FARL-11, an ortholog of the mammalian STRIPAK complex component STRIP1/2 (FAM40A/B), as an ER protein. In the embryo, we find that FARL-11 is essential for the cell cycle-dependent morphological changes of ER and embryonic viability. In the germline, FARL-11 is required for normal ER morphology and for the membrane localization of the GLP-1 / Notch receptor involved in germline stem cell (GSC) maintenance. Furthermore, we provide evidence that PUF-8, a key translational regulator in the germline, promotes the translation of farl-11 mRNA. These findings, thus, reveal that the ER form and function in the C. elegans germline are post-transcriptionally regulated and essential for the niche-GSC signaling mediated by GLP-1. D ev el o pm en t • A dv an ce a rt ic le


The purpose of this study was to prepare chitosan nanoparticles (CS NP) for controlled protein delivery. Two techniques, simple ionotropic gelation (method [I]) and w/o/w emulsion solvent evaporation containing ionotropic gelation (method [II]), were used to prepare CS NP. Tripolyphosphate (TPP) and Eudragit L100-55 (Eud) were used as anionic agents to form complex with cationic chitosan. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) was encapsulated into NP. The morphological characteristics, particle size and size distribution, protein entrapment efficiency, zeta potential, in vitro release, protein secondary structure and its integrity were investigated. The results showed that CS NP could be prepared by appropriate cationic and anionic ratios in both methods. Excess anionic agents resulted in particle aggregation of micron size. The median sizes of particles were between 0.127-0.273 mcm with method [I] provided the smallest size. The 0.02-0.10% BSA loaded preparations showed the same particle sizes and size distributions as blank preparations. SEM photomicrographs revealed that the obtained NP were spherical. Protein entrapment efficiency was between 47-84% and increased when decreasing the percentage of drug loading. The method [II] with TPP exhibited the highest protein entrapment efficiency, following by the method [II] with Eud and method [I] with TPP, respectively. The zeta potentials were positive. Prolonged in vitro protein release profiles were observed from all preparations of CS NP. After 10 days, the release was between 53-72%. Circular dichroism and SDS-polyaceylamide gel electrophoresis techniques confirmed that these processes did not have any destructive effect on the protein structure. Therefore these preparation techniques could be used to encapsulate water-soluble drugs, proteins, DNA, or antigens into CS NP as effective delivery carriers.


Plants are used worldwide for the treatment of diseases, and novel drugs continue to be developed through research from plants. There are more than 20,000 species of plants used in traditional medicines, and these are all potential reservoirs for new drugs. Cucurbita pepo has been used in traditional folk medicine to treat cold and alleviate ache. Previous pharmacological tests have shown that it possesses antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic effects. Also, Solanum nigrum has been used as a diuretic and an antipyretic agent and it has also been used to cure inflammation, edema, mastitis and hepatic cancer. In this investigation, cytotoxicity of specific concentrations of hydro-alcoholic extracts of C. pepo and S. nigrum was studied on normal [Chinese hamster ovarian cells (CHO) and rat fibroblast] and cancer (HepG2 and CT26) cell lines. The cytotoxic effects and IC50 of the extracts on the selected cell lines were studied followed by colonogenic assay method. The results showed that IC50 of S. nigrum extract was significantly lower than that of the C. pepo extract on all four cell lines (P < 0.05). On the other hand, IC50 of S. nigrum extract was significantly higher than the extract of Taxus baccata and Cisplatin, herbal and chemical control positive anticancer compounds, respectively, on all four cell lines (P < 0.05). As a result, it is concluded that the extract of S. nigrum has almost similar cytotoxicity to the extract of T. baccata on cancer cells.


Determining the number of dimensions is extremely important in applying item response theory (IRT) models to data. Traditional and revised parallel analyses have been proposed within the factor analysis framework, and both have shown some promise in assessing dimensionality. However, their performance in the IRT framework has not been systematically investigated. Therefore, we evaluated the accuracy of traditional and revised parallel analyses for determining the number of underlying dimensions in the IRT framework by conducting simulation studies. Six data generation factors were manipulated: number of observations, test length, type of generation models, number of dimensions, correlations between dimensions, and item discrimination. Results indicated that (a) when the generated IRT model is unidimensional, across all simulation conditions, traditional parallel analysis using principal component analysis and tetrachoric correlation performs best; (b) when the generated IRT model is multidimensional, traditional parallel analysis using principal component analysis and tetrachoric correlation yields the highest proportion of accurately identified underlying dimensions across all factors, except when the correlation between dimensions is 0.8 or the item discrimination is low; and (c) under a few combinations of simulated factors, none of the eight methods performed well (e.g., when the generation model is three-dimensional 3PL, the item discrimination is low, and the correlation between dimensions is 0.8).


The Hyphen at its most basic is a three legged, impractical table, with an isosceles triangle formed by its three legs. It occupies an integral position within Paul Neagu's practice. His drawings, paintings and sculptures all explore forms, materials and, crucially, concepts which are linked (or 'hyphenated') to his oeuvre in its entirety. The Hyphen is the critical fulcrum. Within this practice there is a logical progression of concepts and creations, although key concerns also move back and forth in prominence, eventuating into a philosophically and historically dense practice and narrative — one deliberately interwoven. This dissertation seeks to explain the Hyphen and its context as far as possible, specifically its role as a crucial pivot within a practice overall more concerned with circularity than stand-alone sculpture.

The Hyphen was formally a result of both Neagu's Romanian heritage and his strong sense of the semiotic capabilities inherent in simple shapes (the triangle, the rectangle, the circle). Conceptually the Hyphen is clearly linked with his Generative Art Code, this being a philosophical approach to life which merits careful explanation in order to clarify this relationship. The Generative Art Code was for Neagu as important a textual guidebook by which to grasp the world as the Hyphen was a visual tool. Also integral to the development of the Hyphen are the works which came before – primarily the anthropocosmic work, his palpable art and the invention of the Generative Art Group. The Hyphen melds form and concept in a highly eccentric, highly intellectual sculpture, derived from philosophical and visual influences and eccentric and intellectual sources.

The dissertation is split into three sections, outlining in turn Neagu's practice pre-Hyphen, the context in which the Hyphen emerged and the new sculptural oeuvre which emerged from its invention.


Quantum-dot cellular automata (QCA) technology is expected to offer fast computation performance, high density, and low power consumption. Thus, researchers believe that QCA may be an attractive alternative to CMOS for future digital designs. Side channel attacks, such as power analysis attacks, have become a significant threat to the security of CMOS cryptographic circuits. A power analysis attack can reveal the secret key from measurements of the power consumption during the encryption and decryption process. As there is no electric current flow in QCA technology, the power consumption of QCA circuits is extremely low when compared to their CMOS counterparts. Therefore, in this paper an investigation into both the best and worst case scenarios for attackers is carried out to ascertain if QCA circuits are immune to power analysis attack. A QCA design of a submodule of the Serpent cipher is proposed. In comparison to a previous design, the proposed design is more efficient in terms of complexity, area, and latency. By using an upper bound power model, the first power analysis attack of a QCA cryptographic circuit is presented. The simulation results show that even though the power consumption is low, it can still be correlated with the correct key guess, and all possible subkeys applied to the Serpent submodule can be revealed in the best case scenario. Therefore, in theory QCA cryptographic circuits would be vulnerable to power analysis attack. However, the security of practical QCA devices can be greatly improved by applying a smoother clock. Moreover, in the worst case scenario, the design of logically reversible QCA circuits with Bennett clocking could be used as a natural countermeasure to power analysis attack. Therefore, it is believed that QCA could be a niche technology in the future for the implementation of security architectures resistant to power analysis attack.


Stable gonality is a multigraph parameter that measures the complexity of a graph. It is defined using maps to trees. Those maps, in some sense, divide the edges equally over the edges of the tree; stable gonality asks for the map with the minimum number of edges mapped to each edge of the tree. This parameter is related to treewidth, but unlike treewidth, it distinguishes multigraphs from their underlying simple graphs. Stable gonality is relevant for problems in number theory. In this paper, we show that deciding whether the stable gonality of a given graph is at most a given integer $k$ belongs to the class NP, and we give an algorithm that computes the stable gonality of a graph in $O((1.33n)^nm^m \text{poly}(n,m))$ time.


Cadmium (Cd) accumulations in a Cd hyper-accumulator fern, Athyrium yokoscense (Ay), and tobacco, Nicotiana tabacum (Nt), were kinetically analysed using the positron-emitting tracer imaging system under two medium conditions (basal and no-nutrient). In Ay, maximumly 50% and 15% of the total Cd accumulated in the distal roots and the shoots under the basal condition, respectively. Interestingly, a portion of the Cd in the distal roots returned to the medium. In comparison with Ay, a little fewer Cd accumulations in the distal roots and clearly higher Cd migration to the shoots were observed in Nt under the basal condition (maximumly 40% and 70% of the total Cd, respectively). The no-nutrient condition down-regulated the Cd migration in both species, although the regulation was highly stricter in Ay than in Nt (almost no migration in Ay and around 20% migration in Nt). In addition, the present work enabled to estimate physical and physiological Cd accumulation capacities in the distal roots, and demonstrated condition-dependent changes especially in Ay. These results clearly suggested occurrences of species-/condition-specific regulations in each observed parts. It is probable that integration of these properties govern the specific Cd tolerance/accumulation in Ay and Nt.


One of the most vexing problems in contemporary liberal democratic theory and practice is the relation between ethics and economics. This article presents a way of bringing this relation into focus in the terms offered by two incredibly influential but too-often neglected twentieth-century political philosophers: John Dewey and Friedrich Hayek. I describe important points of contact between Dewey and Hayek that enable us to begin the project of reframing contemporary debates between ethical egalitarians and economic libertarians. Cautiously recognizing these commonalities whilst remaining attentive to persisting differences enables us to better approach the difficult relations between morals and markets. Specifically, I argue for a Deweyan combination of fair trade and free trade motivated by taking seriously a Hayekian caution about states. The result is a democratic theory that importantly refuses to attribute too much political efficacy to the quintessential liberal distinction between public and private.


Bioluminescence imaging enables noninvasive quantification of luciferase reporter gene expression in transgenic tissues of living rodents. Luciferase transgene expression can be regulated by endogenous gene promoters after targeted knock-in of the reporter gene, usually within the first intron of the gene. Even using CRISPR/Cas9 mediated genome editing this can be a time consuming and costly process. The generation of germline transgenic (GLT) rodents by targeted genomic integration of a gene expression cassette in embryonic stem (ES) cells is commonplace but results in the wastage of large numbers of animals during colony generation, back-crossing and maintenance. Using a synthetic/truncated promoter-driven luciferase gene to study promoter activity in a given tissue or organ of a GLT also often results in unwanted background luciferase activity during whole-body bioluminescent imaging as every cell contains the reporter. We have developed somatotransgenic bioimaging; a method to generate tissue-restricted transcription factor activated luciferase reporter (TFAR) cassettes in rodents that substantially reduces the number of animals required for experimentation. Bespoke designed TFARs are delivered to newborn pups using viral vectors targeted to specific organs by tissue-tropic pseudotypes. Retention and proliferation of TFARs is facilitated by stem/progenitor cell transduction and immune tolerance to luciferase due to the naïve neonatal immune system. We have successfully applied both lentiviral and adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors in longitudinal rodent studies, targeting TFARs to the liver and brain during normal development and in well-established disease models. Development of somatotransgenic animals has broad applicability to non-invasively determine mechanistic insights into homeostatic and disease states and assess toxicology and efficacy testing. Somatotransgenic bioimaging technology is superior to current whole-body, light-emitting transgenic models as it reduces the Open Peer Review


Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) and can ihua (Chenopodium pallidicaule Allen) are native Andean food plants of high nutritional value used as food by the Incas and previous cultures. An extensive analytical study was done on three samples for each species for all amino acids, sterols, fatty acids and mineral determination. The aim was to evaluate the chemical and nutritional characterization of can ihua and quinoa in relationship with wheat, corn, rice, rye, as sources of dietary fiber and other bioactive compounds in human and animal. C. quinoa and pallidicaule present an excellent nutritional value with high (14-18%) protein content, balanced amino acid composition, trace elements and vitamins and contain no gluten. This food species presented rich flavonol and triterpene glycosides fractions that include different compounds. C. quinoa and pallidicaule are an excellent example of functional foods that aims to prevent the risk of various diseases


A 0.25-/spl mu/m single-chip CMOS single-conversion tunable low intermediate frequency (IF) receiver operated in the 902-928-MHz industrial, scientific, and medical band is proposed. A new 10.7-MHz IF section that contains a limiting amplifier and a frequency modulated/frequency-shift-key demodulator is designed. The frequency to voltage conversion gain of the demodulator is 15 mV/kHz and the dynamic range of the limiting amplifier is around 80 dB. The sensitivity of the IF section including the demodulator and limiting amplifier is -72 dBm. With on-chip tunable components in the low-power low-noise amplifier (LNA) and LC-tank voltage-controlled oscillator circuit, the receiver measures an RF gain of 15 dB at 915 MHz, a sensitivity of -80 dBm at 0.1% bit-error rate, an input referred third-order intercept point of -9 dBm, and a noise figure of 5 dB with a current consumption of 33 mA and a 2450 /spl mu/m/spl times/ 2450 /spl mu/m chip area.


The effect of variations in the density of a submerged macrophyte, Lagarosiphon ilicifolius, on epiphytic macroinvertebrate community structure in the shallow waters of a sheltered bay of Lake Kariba were investigated. The body size class distributions of a mayfly, Cloeon (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae), and the damselfly family, Coenagrionidae, were also assessed with respect to variation in vegetation density. Macroinvertebrates were sampled from low-, moderate- and high-density beds of L. ilicifolius. There were no significant differences in individual taxon and total macroinvertebrate abundances, macroinvertebrate richness and diversity with respect to vegetation density. In all three density categories the functional feeding group (FFG) composition was dominated by collector-gatherers and collector-filterers. The abundance of the two FFGs did not change significantly within each, as well as among, the three vegetation-density categories (ANOVA, p > 0.05). The largest size class of Cloeon occurred only in high-density beds, whereas the largest coenagrionid individuals were obtained from low- and moderate-density beds and were absent from high-density beds. The results suggest that variation in the density of Lagarosiphon does not affect epiphytic macroinvertebrate community structure, but does affect body-size distributions of macroinvertebrate taxa, probably by affecting predator-prey interactions.


Von Neumann in 1932 was the first to outline the possible non-existence of dispersion free ensembles in quantum mechanics, and he used this basic evidence to give a preliminary proof on incompatibility between quantum mechanics and local hidden variables theory. In the present paper, we give a detailed theoretical elaboration on the manner in which such a fundamental subject could be explored at perceptive and cognitive levels in humans. We also discuss a general design of the experiment that we have in progress so to give direct indications to other researchers engaged in such field.


The nutritional quality of protein hydrolysates has been related in several reports to their di- and tripeptide contents. In the present work different hydrolytic conditions were tested using papain in order to prepare casein hydrolysates with a suitable peptide profile for being used in special diets. The hydrolysates were fractionated by size-exclusion HPLC and the rapid Correct Fraction Area method was used for quantifying the peptides. Among the five hydrolytic conditions studied, three of them gave rise to preparations having nutritionally similar peptide profiles. However, the use of the temperature of 37 degrees C and enzyme:substrate ratio (E:S) of 2% may probably be the most economical condition for industrial production.


We present very detailed simulations of fast switching phase correction which treats, as accurately as we can, fast switching at all frequency bands available to ALMA, with the calibration being performed at either the target frequency or at 90 GHz. This work leads us to the following results and potential problems: * Fast switching will typically have efficiencies (considering both residual decorrelation and time spent calibrating) ranging from 0.70 at the highest frequencies to 0.90 at the lowest. * Residual phase errors will range from 35 deg rms at the highest frequencies to 15 deg rms at the lowest frequencies. * For target frequencies above 345 GHz, calibrating at 90 GHz (where the sources are brighter and the sensitivity is better, but requires an extra calibration observation to determine the difference in the instrumental phases at the two frequencies) will result in about a 5% increase in efficiency over calibrating at the target frequency. It appears that below 345 GHz, there is little gain in performing the calibration at 90 GHz, and we may very well calibrate at the target frequency. * Performing fast switching at 90 GHz, rather than at the target frequency, only improves the efficiency by about 5% in the sub-millimeter, and may be deemed too much trouble for too little gain. * Problems with modeling dispersive delay in the sub-millimeter regime, or dry pathlength fluctuations together with even well-modeled dispersive delay, could push us to perform calibrator observations at the target frequency above 345 GHz. * Calibrator sources (ie, flat spectrum quasars) might not look the same at 90 GHz and the target frequencies because of dust emission at the higher frequency, or because the position of the core changes with frequency. These effects could make it difficult to calibrate at a frequency other than the target frequency. * The fast switching pointing specification (being able to move 1.5 deg in 1.5 sec with a 3 arcsec residual pointing error) is not acceptable for mosaicing or sub-millimeter observations, and we need to study how quickly the antenna returns to an acceptable pointing residual. * The specification on changing frequencies is 1.5 s, which was intended to match the fast switching antenna motion specification. If this could be shaved to 1 s, we could probably make good use of that improved frequency change time. * At the best 5% conditions in the joint opacity/phase stability distributions, we determine that the residual phase jitter over short times (ie, 20 s or less) is 111 fs rms delay. * Also at the best 5% atmospheric conditions, simulations indicate that longer timescale (ie, 300 s) atmosphereic delay variation will produce residual errors in visibility phase corresponding to about 32 fsec rms.


Fuel-cell deployable proton exchange membranes (PEMs) are considered to be a promising technology for clean and efficient power generation. However, a fundamental atomistic understanding of the hydronium diffusion process in the PEM environment is an ongoing challenge. In this work, we employ fully atomistic ab initio molecular dynamics to simulate diffusion mechanisms of the hydronium ion in a model PEM. In order to mimic a precise polymer with a layered morphology, as recently introduced by Trigg, et al., Nat. Mater., 2018, 17, 725, a nano-confined environment was created composed of graphane bilayers to which sulfonate end groups (SO3−) are attached, and the space between the bilayers was subsequently filled with water and hydronium ions up to λ values of 3 and 4, where λ denotes the water-to-anion ratio. We find that for the low λ value, the water distribution is not homogeneous, which results in an incomplete second solvation shell for H3O+, fewer water molecules in the vicinity of SO3−, and a higher probability of obtaining a coordination number of ∼1 for the nearest oxygen neighbor to SO3−. These conditions increase the probability that H3O+ will react with SO3− according to the reaction SO3− + H3O+ ↔ SO3H + H2O, which was found to be an essential part of the hydronium diffusion mechanism. This suggests there are optimal hydration conditions that allow the sulfonate end groups to take an active part in the hydronium diffusion mechanism, resulting in high hydronium conductivity. We expect that the results of this study could help guide synthesis and experimental characterization used to design new PEM materials with high hydronium conductivity.


Enzymatic mechanisms for deiodination of 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine or thyroxine in the phenolic ring (5'-deiodinase) or tyrosyl ring (5-deiodinase) are found in cells of many organs, including the intestinal wall. Deiodinases are highly active in intestinal tissue of developing rat fetuses and relatively inactive in adult intestinal cells, but little is known about these systems in the luminal contents of intestines. We have found both 5- and 5'-deiodinase activities in adult rat intestinal contents and have shown that their expression is inhibited by resident intestinal microflora, which are normally present in the adult but not in the fetus, possibly because they are bound by intestinal bacteria in the adult.


We examined the tissue response to subcutaneous injections of particulate polymethylmethacrylate powder in fully immunocompetent C3Hf/Sed mice as well as three strains of mice with different levels of lymphocyte dysfunction. Five weeks after the injection, we found clearly demarcated granulomas. Histological and immunohistochemical studies showed that these granulomas were similar among all strains, with either paucity or absence of lymphoid cells. In situ hybridization with use of complementary RNA probes indicated that macrophages were synthesizing interleukin-1 beta messenger RNA (mRNA), a marker of macrophage activation, and a cytokine implicated in pathological bone resorption. We concluded that, in mice, there is a lymphocyte-independent pathway of macrophage activation in response to particulate polymethylmethacrylate. This suggests that the foreign-body response to particulate orthopaedic biomaterials is macrophage-initiated and maintained and that lymphocytes are not essential to this response, although they may modulate it.


Neurophysin, vasopressin and oxytocin were localized in different portions of the supraopticohypophysial tract (SHT) using the unlabeled antibody enzyme technique at the ultrastructural level. In vasopressin-positive supraoptic perikarya, vasopressin and neurophysin were present in all neurosecretory granules. Within the zona interna of the median eminence, vasopressin and neurophysin were present in two populations of axons, one with granules of 1300-1500 A and one with granules of 900-1300 A. Following exposure of thin sections of median eminence to antiserum to neurophysin, reaction products were present in granules and in the extragranular cytoplasm in the axons with larger granules; in all other cases reaction product was confined to the granules. Vasopressin-positive fibers were also presented in large numbers of the zona externa of the median eminence and many terminated on the pituitary primary portal plexus. A few oxytocin fibers were present on the portal capillaries in the infundibular stalk. In the posterior pituitary all axon profiles were neurophysin positive. Neurophysin was present as both a granular and cytoplasmic pool. Vasopressin-containing axons account for 90% of the neuronal elements in the posterior pituitary and oxytocin for the remaining 10%. Findings on the subcellular distribution of these peptides are related to current theories on transport and release of neurohormones.


BaM2(PO4)2 (M2+ transition metals) compounds display a variety of polymorphs; among those, the well-known rhombohedral γ-form stands at the origin of a series of (quasi)2D-magnetic behaviors intensively studied in the last few decades. We have prepared original α-variants for M = Fe2+ and Mn2+ and investigated their stabilities and sequence of phase transitions by analogy to the already reported M = Co2+ case. Heating the α-phases leads to a variety of structural rearrangements between α, α′ and β variants, according to unified 1st order reconstructive transitions. However, spontaneous long-time transformations under ambient conditions α → γ (Fe case) versus γ → α (Co case) denote a contrasted hierarchy of stable compounds verified by DFT calculations. Interestingly, in α-BaFe2(PO4)2 the quasi triangular Fe2+O3+2 coordination is rarely observed and relies on one very short Fe–O distance of ca. 1.78 A, destabilizing the edifice in favor of the most stable FeO6 in the γ-type, as verified by Crystal Orbital Hamilton Population (COHP) analysis.


While the redevelopment of brownfield sites has been the mainstay of public agencies and private developers, this paper argues that in order to promote just redevelopment that encourages participation and targets weak market sites, a community-based approach to brownfield redevelopment should be encouraged. Furthermore, this paper maintains that community development corporations (CDCs) could be the ideal agents to spur community development and address environmental justice concerns through their increased involvement in brownfield redevelopment projects. In order to promote these positions, we first describe this new approach, which focuses on building the capacity of CDCs to meaningfully participate in brownfield redevelopment. We then offer four proposals designed to increase this capacity. We conclude with a discussion of how community-based brownfield redevelopment connects to larger issues of democratic decision-making, environmental justice, and urban revitalisation.


An overview of the March 2003 coordinated sea ice field campaign in the Alaskan Arctic is presented with reference to the papers in this special section. This campaign is part of the program to validate the Aqua Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for Earth Observing System (AMSR-E) sea ice products. Standard AMSR-E sea ice products include sea ice concentration, sea ice temperature, and snow depth on sea ice. The validation program consists of three elements, namely: 1) satellite data comparisons; 2) coordinated satellite/aircraft/surface measurements; and 3) modeling and sensitivity analyses. Landsat-7 and RADARSAT observations were used in comparative studies with the retrieved AMSR-E sea ice concentrations. The aircraft sensors provided high-resolution microwave imagery of the surface, atmospheric profiles of temperature and humidity, and digital records of sea ice conditions. When combined with in situ measurements, aircraft data were used to validate the AMSR-E sea ice temperature and snow-depth products. The modeling studies helped interpret the field-data comparisons, provided insight on the limitations of the AMSR-E sea ice algorithms, and suggested potential improvements to the AMSR-E retrieval algorithms


The e-Commerce boom has greatly changed the process through which a consumer purchases goods and services. The driving force behind this shift from brick and mortar stores is the sheer convenience of procuring items online. However, consumers are unable to really discern their own appearance in the clothing available from images on a website and are hence hesitant towards such purchases. This paper and its implementation is an attempt to offer a resolution to this issue and provide the consumer with the ability to "visualize" themselves wearing garments as they would in a store mirror. With the use of Computer Vision techniques, it is possible to achieve a real-time implementation of the project.


Subsurface damage that is caused by mechanical machining is a major impediment to the widespread use of hard–brittle materials. Ultrasonic vibration-assisted macro- or micromachining could facilitate shallow subsurface damage compared with conventional machining. However, the subsurface damage that was induced by ultrasonic vibration-assisted nanomachining on hard–brittle silicon crystal has not yet been thoroughly investigated. In this study, we used a tip-based ultrasonic vibration-assisted nanoscratch approach to machine nanochannels on single-crystal silicon, to investigate the subsurface damage mechanism of the hard–brittle material during ductile machining. The material removal state, morphology, and dimensions of the nanochannel, and the effect of subsurface damage on the scratch outcomes were studied. The materials were expelled in rubbing, plowing, and cutting mode in sequence with an increasing applied normal load, and the silicon was significantly harder than the pristine material after plastic deformation. Transmission electron microscope analysis of the subsurface demonstrated that ultrasonic vibration-assisted nanoscratching led to larger subsurface damage compared with static scratching. The transmission electron microscopy results agreed with the Raman spectroscopy and molecular dynamic simulation. Our findings are important for instructing ultrasonic vibration-assisted machining of hard–brittle materials at the nanoscale level.


The present work aims to provide insights into the dynamic operation of a coupled reformer/combustion unit that can utilize a variety of saturated hydrocarbons (HCs) with 1–4 C atoms towards H2 production (along with CO2). Within this concept, a preselected HC-based feedstock enters a steam reforming reactor for the production of H2 via a series of catalytic reactions, whereas a sequential postprocessing unit (water gas shift reactor) is then utilized to increase H2 purity and minimize CO. The core unit of the overall system is the combustor that is coupled with the reformer reactor and continuously provides heat (a) for sustaining the prevailing endothermic reforming reactions and (b) for the process feed streams. The dynamic model as it is initially developed, consists of ordinary differential equations that capture the main physicochemical phenomena taking place at each subsystem (energy and mass balances) and is compared against available thermodynamic data (temperature and concentration). Further on, a distributed control scheme based on PID (Proportional–Integral–Derivative) controllers (each one tuned via Ziegler–Nichols/Z-N methodology) is applied and a set of case studies is formulated. The aim of the control scheme is to maintain the selected process-controlled variables within their predefined set-points, despite the emergence of sudden disturbances. It was revealed that the accurately tuned controllers lead to (a) a quick start-up operation, (b) minimum overshoot (especially regarding the sensitive reactor temperature), (c) zero offset from the desired operating set-points, and (d) quick settling during disturbance emergence.


In this contextual study I investigate why and how the traditional approach to mission, engaged by Anglican missionaries, gave rise to a dual observance of ritual among Shona Anglican Christians. I begin by establishing the significance and essence of Shona views of death and the dead, then investigate the missionaries' historical background. I highlight that Christian arrogance, in the guise of racial superiority, underlies the confrontational and condemnatory approach. Traditional views were considered evil, in their place, Shona converts were forced to adopt western Christian views as the only acceptable and valid way of coping with this eschatological reality. These views did not usually fit the Shona worldviews and religious outlook, hence the adoption of dual observance. For some, life continues to be classified as either Christian or traditional and never both. However, some present Shona Anglican practices reflect a desire to integrate the two. Unless there is this integration, the Church remains other and irrelevant to the Shona people.

The ultimate aim of this thesis is to advocate for a theological synthesis of Christian and Shona traditional views. I argue that such a synthesis, patterned on the interactive dialogical model, could lead to the cessation of confrontation and condemnation and its attendant dual observance, and enhance the development of a Shona Christian theology of death and the dead which provides for relevant and sensitive pastoral care.


Cystatin C is considered as a new marker of glomerular filtration rate (GFR). However, studies on its renal physiological handling are lacking [1], making the study of van Rossum et al. interesting [2]. Nevertheless, we have some comments. Firstly, as contrast injection may induce acute variation in intrarenal haemodynamics, it would be of interest to know the timing of the sampling procedure in relation to iodine injection [3]. Secondly, the authors have described large absolute and relative variations in cystatin extraction compared with iothalamate extraction. No systematic bias could be detected, and opposite ratios are observed in both kidneys of individual patients. This could be explained in part by the high analytical coefficient of variation (CVa) reported for the cystatin measurements (11.3% for 1.4mg/l). This CVa must still be higher in the patient samples (and not the controls given by the manufacturer DAKO). The use of sodium citrate tubes is also questionable as it is never recommended in immuno-assays. Performing the cystatin in triplicate will not change this limiting fact. Thirdly, the authors confirm the tubular secretion of iothalamate [4]; however, iothalamate has been used as a GFR 'reference' measure in most important studies [5]. We would be interested in the authors' opinion on this topic.


Climate Change (CC) is recognised as having a significant impact on human decisions,
subsequently affecting human-made networks and social systems. Accordingly, gaining
insight into how and when CC-related data is established, distributed and utilised is essential
in terms of the design of policies, approaches and systems governing everyday life.
Uncovering the impacts and risks associated with CC on building sector assets has been
highlighted in other research studies as an area necessitating further work. With this in mind,
this study is directed towards considering the risks known to emerge from CC scenarios on
UK buildings and real estate, and how buildings may be affected by CC.
This study adopted a critical literature review with the goal of establishing the risks seen to
emerge from CC. The study has adopted an online survey in order to explore the opinions and
views of professionals and practitioners across several organisations, sectors and institutions
in the UK in relation to the risks emerging from CCS. In addition, the research assessed the
most likely risks emerging from CCS on buildings and real estate, along with the potential
timescale of their emergence, as based on the experience of the respondents of the study.
Moreover, the survey was designed empirically to identified—as based on the emerging
risks—the possible and practical responses that will form the most effective Climate Change
Risk Management (CCRM) strategies and tools to be adopted to cope with these emerging
risks and accordingly avoid as much impact as is possible in direct consideration of property.
The main findings from this study showed that, identifying and assessing the emerging risks
from CC—specifically in terms of their damages, impacts and emergence timeframe—are
crucial for all stages of the lifecycle of buildings and real estate. In this study, 112 risk factors
have been identified and were grouped into seven main clusters; from which the operational
emerging risks were the most important risks cluster.
On the whole, this study provides a first attempt to uncover the potential emerging risks from
CCS on the building sector from different perspectives, using conceptual study and
simulation in relation to previous researches, and therefore helps to extend the understanding
of the possible risks and impacts emerging from CC. In addition, this study builds knowledge
in the building sector by providing the potential emerging risks that need to be integrated
within a building's lifecycle in a systematic manner for mitigating the impact of climate
change.


Purpose: To determine cyclotorsional eye movement between the upright position and the supine position, in Iranian patients with high preoperative astigmatism Methods: This prospective cross sectional study contains 102 eyes of 59 patients who were candidates for refractive surgery with Technolas 217z100 excimer laser system for correction of high astigmatism. Wavefront measurements using Zywave II, Hartmann Shack aberrometer were performed in seated position. For all patients the amount of cyclotorsion before surgical procedure in supine position was measured by iris registration and the comparison between preoperative examinations in seated position with the supine position resulting in the amount of cyclotorsion was conducted by iris registration. Results: The mean cyclotorsion was found 3.18±2.37 (SD) degrees significantly greater than zero degrees (3.28±2.28 (SD) degrees in excyclotorsion and 3.01±2.54 (SD) degrees in incyclotorsion). Excyclotorsion was predominant trend of rotation in comparison with incyclotorsion in both right and left eyes. The amount of rotation greater than 2, 5 and 7 degrees occurred in 59.8%, 21.6% and 5.9% of the eyes, respectively. Conclusion: This study confirms significant rotational movement between the upright position and the supine position. Proper registration for appropriate correction of astigmatism and higher order aberrations (HAOs) for achieving optimal visual outcomes is recommended.


In order to enhance measurement precision of the piezoelectric micro-actuator, by means of the transformation rule of tensor the research on the Bending Charge Sensitivity Distribution of Piezoelectric Quartz is conducted. First by the theories of elasticity and electromagnetism the torsion stress and bound charge are calculated, and the charge measured by the detection electrodes is obtained, which depend on the piezoelectric coefficient d12. Then using the transformation rule of tensor the piezoelectric coefficient d12 in the new coordinate system is calculated, and according to the unrestrained multipurpose optimization method the optimization Cut is obtained. Finally a special designed experiment is performed, and the experimental results show that the bound charge produced by the optimized Cut is about twice larger than that primitive Cut. This research on the bending charge sensitivity will provide a theoretical foundation for disposing the detection electrodes of a new piezoelectric micro-actuator


Decentralized control of a class of large-scale interconnected nonlinear systems with uncertain and bounded nonlinear interconnections is considered in this paper. Both state regulation and state tracking problems are considered. In the case of state regulation it is shown that a linear decentralized feedback controller achieves semi-global exponential stability. In the case of state tracking, a new decentralized continuous control law is also designed, which guarantees that each subsystem tracking error is ultimately bounded within a certain neighborhood of zero. For both the regulation and the tracking cases, the proposed controllers are compared with an existing higher-order global controller via simulation examples.


Models of vertical product differentiation allow for the analysis of international trade in the presence of country asymmetries in terms of product qualities, technology, costs, market size, and income. In the presence of such asymmetries, national industries will either be market leaders or be lagging behind in the international market place in terms of their product qualities. The resulting asymmetry in profits creates powerful incentives for lagging industries as well as their national governments to reverse this situation to their advantage, i.e. to induce "leapfrogging" in terms of product qualities. This paper presents an analysis of subsidies to investment in product quality as a facilitating device for leapfrogging. Investment in product quality is interpreted as innovation investment or expense, which includes but is not limited to R&D investment. Its result is a better, different product, i.e. product innovation. It is found that subsidies to quality investment can induce leapfrogging and thereby increase domestic profits, consumer surplus and welfare. In the case of leapfrogging, the domestic firm will enjoy profit increases that are larger than the necessary subsidy costs. The strategic aspect of the subsidy policy lies in its function as a facilitating device for a radical change of the initial market structure, where the domestic firm gains an international leadership position.


Abstract: In recent years, it is important to own a reliable security system that can secure our assets as well as to protect our privacy. The traditional security system needs an individual to use a key, identification (ID) card or password to access an area such as home and workplace. However, the present security system has many weaknesses wherever it is simply cast and taken. Most doors are controlled by persons with the employment of keys, security cards, countersign or pattern to open the door. The aim of this paper is to assist users for improvement of the door security of sensitive locations by using face detection and recognition. The proposed system mainly consists of subsystems namely image capture, face detection and recognition, email notification and automatic door access management. Face Recognition supported openCV is brought up because it uses Eigen faces and reduces the scale of face images without losing vital features, facial images for many persons can be stored in the database. The door lock can also be accessed remotely from any part of the world by using Telegram android application. The captured image from pi camera will be sent to the authorized person through email for safety purposes. Keywords: OpenCV, Raspberry pi, Telegram application, Email


Balancing exploration and exploitation is difficult, and across a wide variety of situations under-exploration of uncertain alternatives appears prevalent. We propose that one possible cause of under-exploration is present bias, whereby immediate rewards (like those gained from exploitation) loom larger than future rewards (like those gained from exploration). This possible cause of under-exploration is not addressed by past studies, in which choices generally yield token rewards that are converted to money at the end of the experiment, removing the inter-temporal aspect of the decision-making process. To address this issue, we developed an exploratory choice task with immediately-consumed rewards. We then tested whether whether imposing a temporal delay before the consumption of rewards increased exploration by decreasing present bias, and report on our results.


The role of wall shear stress (WSS) in atherosclerotic plaque development is evident, but the relation between WSS and plaque composition in advanced atherosclerosis, potentially resulting in plaque destabilization, is a topic of discussion. Using our previously developed image registration pipeline, we investigated the relation between two WSS metrics, time-averaged WSS (TAWSS) and the oscillatory shear index (OSI), and the local histologically determined plaque composition in a set of advanced human carotid plaques. Our dataset of 11 carotid endarterectomy samples yielded 87 histological cross-sections, which yielded 511 radial bins for analysis. Both TAWSS and OSI values were subdivided into patient-specific low, mid, and high tertiles. This cross-sectional study shows that necrotic core (NC) size and macrophage area are significantly larger in areas exposed to high TAWSS or low OSI. Local TAWSS and OSI tertile values were generally inversely related, as described in the literature, but other combinations were also found. Investigating the relation between plaque vulnerability features and different combinations of TAWSS and OSI tertile values revealed a significantly larger cap thickness in areas exposed to both low TAWSS and low OSI. In conclusion, our study confirmed previous findings, correlating high TAWSS to larger macrophage areas and necrotic core sizes. In addition, our study demonstrated new relations, correlating low OSI to larger macrophage areas, and a combination of low TAWSS and low OSI to larger cap thickness.


Whether focusing on the readings included in a syllabus, the learning activities that expose students to other perspectives, or physical travel to a foreign locale, political science classes face the pedagogical obstacle and opportunity of conveying the different political perspectives held diverse groups and states. This article builds on prior calls for internationalizing the classroom and develops a videoconference discussion of terrorism between students in Chico, California and Cairo, Egypt. Surveys reveal that students who attended the conference reported an increased confidence in their knowledge of terrorism as well as a deeper appreciation of international perspectives on terrorism. Based on this study, I argue for the creation of a more formal networking opportunities between US-based and foreign-based instructors in order to facilitate the availability of low-cost, international experiences as part of a more inclusive, internationalized classroom.


We specify the local quasi hidden variable (LqHV) model reproducing the probabilistic description of all N-partite joint von Neumann measurements on an N-qudit state. Via this local probability model, we derive a new upper bound on the maximal violation by an N-qudit state of Bell inequalities of any type (either on correlation functions or on joint probabilities) for S observables per site. This new upper bound not only improves for all N, S and d the corresponding results available for general Bell inequalities in the literature but also, for the N-qubit case with two observables per site, reduces exactly to the attainable upper bound known for quantum violations of correlation 2×⋯×2 setting Bell inequalities in a dichotomic case.


The understanding of Hebrew prophecy has made great advances in modern biblical scholarship. To be sure, such is the diversity and complexity both of prophetic texts within the Hebrew canon and of contemporary methods of interpretation that many unresolved—perhaps irresolvable—issues remain. Yet recent hermeneutical debate, like the philological and historical work of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, can offer fresh lenses through which to read the text, in ways that at least sometimes may help make progress beyond seeming impasses. My purpose in this paper is to focus on one particular prophetic narrative, one which is often used as a case study: the story of Micaiah ben Imlah in 1 Kgs 22:1–38. I hope it may illustrate something of the kind of fresh understanding of a difficult prophetic text which is achievable.


At the center of the upheavals brought by emancipation in the American South was the economic and social transition from slavery to modern capitalism. In Between Slavery and Capitalism, Martin Ruef examines how this institutional change affected individuals, organizations, and communities in the late nineteenth century, as blacks and whites alike learned to navigate the shoals between two different economic worlds. Analyzing trajectories among average Southerners, this is perhaps the most extensive sociological treatment of the transition from slavery since W.E.B. Du Bois's Black Reconstruction in America. In the aftermath of the Civil War, uncertainty was a pervasive feature of life in the South, affecting the economic behavior and social status of former slaves, Freedmen's Bureau agents, planters, merchants, and politicians, among others. Emancipation brought fundamental questions: How should emancipated slaves be reimbursed in wage contracts? What occupations and class positions would be open to blacks and whites? What forms of agricultural tenure could persist? And what paths to economic growth would be viable? To understand the escalating uncertainty of the postbellum era, Ruef draws on a wide range of qualitative and quantitative data, including several thousand interviews with former slaves, letters, labor contracts, memoirs, survey responses, census records, and credit reports. Through a resolutely comparative approach, Between Slavery and Capitalism identifies profound changes between the economic institutions of the Old and New South and sheds new light on how the legacy of emancipation continues to affect political discourse and race and class relations today.


Analysis of the distribution of patients and diseases in the Kasungu District Hospital of Malawi, a land locked country in south-eastern Africa, was presented. The statistics of reported diseases in the hospital data with variables such as disease types, patient types and times of the year were examined. It is shown in this study that many of the diseases endemic to Africa do generally occur in this selected district as well. However, the analysis presents the possibility of reducing the incidences of many diseases by preventive measures and access to health facilities on time. This work is the extension of previous efforts to make accurate data available and is placed in the larger context of the diseases affecting the African continent in general.

 Key words: Malaria, tuberculosis, Malawi, childhood education.


Abstract The influence of environmental factors on seed germination and seedling emergence of American sloughgrass was studied in laboratory and greenhouse conditions. The optimum temperature for seed germination was 10 C and light was not necessary. Seed germination was sensitive to osmotic potential and completely inhibited at an osmotic potential of −0.6 MPa, but it was quite tolerant to salinity: germination occurred even at 160 mM NaCl (36%). More than 80% of seeds germinated at pH values ranging between 4 and 10. Seedling emergence was highest when seeds were placed on the soil surface (91%) but declined with burial depth. Few (3%) seedlings emerged when seeds were planted at a depth of 5 cm. Information gained in this study will lead to a better understanding of the requirements for American sloughgrass germination and emergence. Nomenclature: American sloughgrass, Beckmannia syzigachne (Steud.) Fernald.


The Telemetry, Tracking and Command, TT&C, communication subsystem is the lifeline of a satellite and is a way to remotely monitor its status. The subsystem can confirm position and angle in relation to the base station as well as make small adjustments to its orbit if needed. The system constantly receives and transmits information and is active from launch to the end of the life cycle where the data is sent by the telemetry transmitter using phase modulation.

In order to minimize power consumption and to ensure a reliable operation of the TT&C subsystem, the output amplifier of the telemetry transmitter must be designed with great care. As collaboration between Chalmers University of Technology and Kongsberg Norspace, the aim of the thesis was to design a 2W MMIC power amplifier as well as measuring important parameters of a commercial equivalent to use as a benchmark. By investigating different topologies and techniques the amplifier size and channel temperatures were kept down while the design achieved the desired output power.

Various processes and bias points were reviewed before selecting PPH25X from UMS as a base for the MMIC design. PPH25X is a space qualified process using pHEMT transistors that possess high power density to ensure the wanted output power. The simulated amplifier uses three stages with 14 active devices in total to keep the temperature down in the output stage. Different techniques were used to make the active devices stable and to achieve a flat gain throughout the band. The final design achieved a P1 dB of 33.3 ± 0.3dBm with a gain and gain variations of 25.4 dB and 0.45 dB/500MHz respectively, at a maximum channel temperature of 95 deg C.


The influence of highly purified pituitary adrenocorticotropic (ACTH) and growth (somatotropic, STH) hormones on resistance of normal, young adult rats infected with Pasteurella pestis organisms (EV 76) has been studied. The daily dosage of ACTH was 0.1 mg. (25 I.U per mg.) and that of STH was 1.0 mg. When these hormones were administered for 3 days prior to infection (1 LD50) and for 4 days thereafter, ACTH treatment resulted in a significant depression of resistance (p = < 0.001). The simultaneous administration of STH not only resulted in a definite counteraction of the depression (p = < 0.001), but resistance was increased to a level significantly above that of the non-hormone treated controls (p = < 0.001). Treatment with STH alone also showed a significantly higher protection when compared to the same controls (p = < 0.05). The results of experiments in which the challenge dose was 1 LD50 suggested that greater alterations in resistance, whether it be a depression or enhancement, could be obtained by continuing hormone treatment after challenge instead of discontinuing on the day prior to challenge. When animals were treated with a relatively high daily dose (1.0 mg.) of ACTH and challenged with only ¼ of an LD50 of organisms, the majority of animals died within 4 to 7 days, whereas either the ACTH treatment or the bacterial dose alone resulted in no deaths. If the hormones were administered for 2 weeks prior to challenge with a high, toxic dose of organisms (4 LD50), and discontinued thereafter, there were significant differences in mortality in the various groups during the first 24 hours post challenge. The ACTH treated group showed a marked drop in resistance (p = < 0.001). STH, when given alone, exercised a significant protection (p = < 0.02), and in combination with ACTH, effectively counteracted the depression of resistance to acute, toxic deaths induced by the latter hormone (p = < 0.001). In this particular experiment, practically all animals died within 4 to 5 days, owing to the high challenge dose; the few survivors were in the group that had been pretreated with growth hormone. The maximal loss in body weight following an LD50 challenge dose occurred by the 3rd day post challenge in all groups except in the ACTH-treated animals. At this time the LD50 control group had lost an average of 14 gm. per rat, the STH group only 3 gm. per rat, whereas the group receiving both hormones lost an average of 7.5 gm. per rat. The ACTH-treated animals showed the greatest weight loss on the 4th day. Thus, under the conditions of the experiment, the beneficial effect of STH on the maintenance of body weight was demonstrated during the period of acute infection. The peak incidence of death in controls or hormone-treated animals following infection with 1 LD50 of living organisms occurred on the 4th to 5th day post challenge; the earliest deaths occurred on the 3rd day, while the latest occurred on the 7th day. The peak incidence of death after the 4 LD50 challenge dose occurred earlier, falling on the 2nd to 3rd day. Death was always accompanied by the characteristic gross pathology which results from infection with Pasteurella pestis organisms, particularly in the animals which succumbed after the 3rd day. Bacterial cultures usually revealed the presence of numerous Pasteurella pestis organisms in the spleen and heart blood at the time of death.


Test-driven development of GUIs is currently very difficult. On the one hand, to avoid frequent updates of the tests, test-driven development requires a degree of stability in the application under development, whereas GUIs are very likely to change during development. On the other hand, the easiest way of creating GUI tests - using a capture/replay tool - requires the GUI to exist. This paper introduces a new approach to user-interface test-driven development, wherein a capture-replay tool is used to record test scripts from low-fidelity prototypes. This allows GUI tests to be


This paper addresses the time synchronization problem in IEEE 802.11a OFDM wireless systems. To enhance the coarse time synchronization mechanism, recent methods exploit not only traditional training sequences as specified by the standard but also additional knowledge available when the Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance mechanism (CSMA/CA) is triggered. In this case, additional information can be used as training sequences based on the protocol knowledge training sequence known by the receiver. This step is followed by a time synchronization and channel estimation which results in the smallest Channel Estimate Errors (CEE) according to the selected criterion (e.g. LS, MAP). However it was found that the synchronization failure probability heavily depends on the channel estimate quality. Therefore to improve the performance of this class of algorithms, we propose an optimal time synchronization metric that minimizes the average of the transmission error over all CEE. Simulation results show a strongly improved performance in terms of synchronization failure probability in comparison with the existing algorithms.


Abstract: There are different ways of administering a questionnaire, such as with a pen and paper, face-to-face, over the phone, or via a computer, for example. Some researchers may select a specific mode or use more than one mode within a single study to generate additional responses. Moreover, it is widely agreed that the way in which a questionnaire is administered affects output data (Grandjean et al., 2009, Koponen et al., 2011, Kelly et al., 2008). This paper aims to show the ways in which results from web-based approaches—which are notably based on using web technology—and the paper-based mode of distributing a questionnaire may be dissimilar. Furthermore, this paper shows the way in which the researcher has dealt with the gap in the results.

Keywords: Expert power, Referent power, Self-confidence, Reliance, Connectedness


Background & Aims Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is difficult to eradicate and type III interferons (IFN-λ, composed of IL-28A, IL-28B and IL-29) are novel therapeutic candidates. We hypothesized that IFN-λ have immunomodulatory effects in HCV- infected individuals. Materials and Methods We analyzed the expression of IFN-λ and its receptor (composed of IL-10R2 and IFN-λR subunits) in the blood and livers of patients with chronic (c)HCV infection compared to controls (those who cleared HCV by sustained virological response, SVR, and those with liver inflammation of non-viral origin, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, NASH). We also compared the proliferative capacity of dendritic cells (DCs) obtained from healthy individuals and those with chronic HCV using a mixed leukocyte reaction combined with 3H-Td incorporation. In addition, the composition of the IFN-λ receptor (IFN-λR) on myeloid DCs, plasmacytoid DCs, PBMCs, and T cells was determined by FACS analysis. Results We report that the expression of IFN-λ protein in serum and mRNA in liver is increased in cHCV patients, but not in those with HCV SVR or NASH, compared to controls. Liver level of IFN-λR mirrored the expression of serum IFN-λ and was higher in cHCV, compared to controls and HCV-SVR patients, suggesting that elevation of IFN-λ and IFN-λR are HCV-dependent. We further identified that innate immune cell populations expressed complete IFN-λ receptor. In vitro, recombinant IFN-λ promoted differentiation of monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs) into a phenotype with low T cell stimulatory capacity and high PD-L1 expression, which further promoted expansion of existing regulatory T cells. IFN-λ-DCs failed to induce de novo generation of regulatory T cells. The inhibitory capacity of IFN-λ-DCs was counteracted by recombinant IL-12 and by neutralization of the PD-1/PD-L1 system. Conclusions Our novel findings of the immunomodulatory effect of IFN-λ contribute to the understanding of the anti-inflammatory and/or anti-viral potential of IFN-λ in cHCV.


Very neutron-rich Z∼60 isotopes produced by in-flight fission of a 345 MeV/nucleon U238 beam at the RI Beam Factory, RIKEN Nishina Center, have been studied by delayed γ-ray spectroscopy. New isomers were discovered in the neutron-rich N=100 isotones Sm162, Eu163, and Gd164. Half-lives, γ-ray energies, and relative intensities of these isomers were obtained. Level schemes were proposed for these nuclei and the first 2+ and 4+ states were assigned for the even-even nuclei. The first 2+ and 4+ state energies decrease as the proton numbers get smaller. The energies and the half-lives of the new isomers are very similar to those of 4− isomers known in less neutron-rich N=100 isotones Er168 and Yb170. A deformed Hartree-Fock with angular momentum projection model suggests Kπ=4− two-quasiparticle states with ν7/2[633]⊗ν1/2[521] configurations with similar excitation energy. The results suggest that neutron-rich N=100 nuclei are well deformed and the deformation gets larger as Z decreases to 62. The onset of K isomers with the same configuration at almost the same energy in N=100 isotones indicates that the neutron single-particle structures of neutron-rich isotones down to Z=62 do not change significantly from those of the Z=70 stable nuclei. Systematics of the excitation energies of new isomers can be explained without the predicted N=100 shell gap.


If a field theory contains gauged, non-Abelian, bifundamental fields, i.e. fields that are charged under two separate non-Abelian gauge groups, the transition from a deconfined phase to a hadronic phase may be frustrated. Similar frustration may occur in non-Abelian gauge models containing matter only in higher dimensional representations, e.g. models with pure glue, or if ordinary quarks are confined by two flux tubes, as implied in the triangular configuration of baryons within QCD. In a cosmological setting, such models can lead to the formation of a web of confining electric flux tubes that can potentially have observational signatures.


Throughout the last 20 years, many—prospective and retrospective—observational studies have shown longterm survival benefits derived from the use of bilateral internal thoracic artery (BITA) grafts for myocardial revascularization (BITA grafting). Outcomes of large cohorts of BITA patients have been reviewed. Pooled analyses of these studies suggest that, at 10 years, there are approximately 20% fewer all-cause deaths with BITA grafting than with the standard model of myocardial revascularization, i.e., single internal thoracic artery (SITA) graft to the left anterior descending coronary artery (SITA grafting), and saphenous vein grafts (SVGs) for the remaining diseased coronary vessels (1-3). The benefits arise mainly from the higher late patency of internal thoracic artery (ITA) graft versus SVG, even for difficult subset of patients such as diabetics. In fact, the SITA graft has a 10-year rate of angiographic patency exceeding 90%, as compared with 50% for SVG, having the radial artery (RA) an intermediate performance (4-6).


Animation in multimedia is said to be beneficial to learning especially when the learning material demands visual movements. The emergence of 3Dimensional animated visuals has extended the presentation mode in multimedia learning. It is said that animated visuals in a 3-D representation not only possess motivational value that promotes positive attitudes toward instruction but also facilitate learning when the subject matter requires dynamic motion and 3-D visual cue. The field of computer science, especially in operating systems concepts uses an array of abstract concepts such as virtual memory, paging, fragmentations etc to describe and explain the underlying processes. Various studies together with our own observations strongly indicate that students often find these concepts difficult to learn, as they cannot easily be demonstrated. This study investigates the effects of animation on student understanding when studying a complex domain in computer science, that is, the subject of memory management concepts in operating systems. A multimedia learning system was developed in two different versions: 2-D animation and 3D animation. A hundred and one students took part in this study and they were assigned into one of these groups. All the students who took part in this experiment had low prior knowledge in this subject and after viewing the treatment, they were asked to take a test which tested them for recall and transfer knowledge. This test was used to determine if, in fact, improved learning actually occurred and which version of the animation produced the better outcome. Initial analysis of results indicates no statistical difference between the scores for the two versions and suggests that animations, by themselves, do not necessarily improve student understanding.


The mature furfural industry mostly under-utilizes its cellulose-rich solids as a boiler fuel. In this paper, a new sugarcane bagasse biorefinery concept was studied using switchable butadiene sulfone in the presence of water (BSW) to pretreat the solid residues after production of furfural followed by enzymatic hydrolysis of the cellulose fraction for potential production of biofuels. Butadiene sulfone is a solvent that is inexpensive, easily recyclable, with low toxicity, and effective as a biomass pretreatment agent under mild conditions, characteristics that make BSW a greener pretreatment alternative. In this biorefinery concept, hemicellulose (xylan) in sugarcane bagasse was converted in a batch reactor to furfural via dilute sulfuric acid catalysis at 170 °C and 180 °C for 10 min. The furfural yields were comparable to industrial batch production, achieving 38% and 50% of the theoretical yield at 170 °C and 180 °C, respectively. Under these conditions, unwanted humins (pseudo-lignin) formed mostly from xylan and were observed by an increase in the total lignin composition. The mild BSW pretreatment at 110 °C for 3 h solubilized 21.6% to 27.9% of the solids consistent with the removal of 38.6% and 32.5% of the total lignin prior to enzymatic hydrolysis.


Abstract : An A-mode ultrasound unit was used to investigate how the principle refractive surfaces of the eye changed during the act of accommodation. Sixteen volunteers took part in an investigation where changes were studied in both the cyclopleged and noncyclopleged state. Measurements of axial length, anterior chamber, lens thickness, and vitreous chamber depth were made at three different accommodation response levels over time. These results showed no significant change in axial length or vitreous chamber depth of the eye from cycloplegia to any accommodative response level. The depth of the anterior chamber and thickness of the lens showed significant changes at each of the three accommodative response levels. The results are consistent with the Helmholtz-Fincham theory of accommodation. This study also demonstrated the time course of action of two drops of 1% cyclopentolate with full cyclopentolate cycloplegia reached between 35 and 45 minutes for subjects with dark irides.


This article proposes a novel integrative approach to moral judgment and a related model that could explain how unconscious heuristic processes are transformed into consciously accessible moral intuitions. Different hypothetical cases have been tested empirically to evoke moral intuitions that support principles from competing moral theories. We define and analyze the types of intuitions that moral theories and studies capture: those focusing on agents (A), deeds (D), and consequences (C). The integrative ADC approach uses the heuristic principle of "attribute substitution" to explain how people make intuitive judgments. The target attributes of moral judgments are moral blameworthiness and praiseworthiness, which are substituted with more accessible and computable information about an agent's virtues and vices, right/wrong deeds, and good/bad consequences. The processes computing this information are unconscious and inaccessible, and therefore explaining how they provide input for moral intuitions is a key problem. We analyze social heuristics identified in the literature and offer an outline for a new model of moral judgment. Simple social heuristics triggered by morally salient cues rely on three distinct processes (role-model entity, action analysis, and consequence tallying—REACT) in order to compute the moral valence of specific intuitive responses (A, D, and C). These are then rapidly combined to form an intuitive judgment that could guide quick decision making. The ADC approach and REACT model can clarify a wide set of data from empirical moral psychology and could inform future studies on moral judgment, as well as case assessments and discussions about issues causing "deadlocked" moral intuitions.


Objective Screening the differentially expressed proteins related to apoptosis in cold-dampness syndrome of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected from healthy people and RA patients with cold-dampness syndrome. 43 apoptosis-related proteins were detected by antibody chip, which was verified by ELISA. Results In 43 apoptosis-related proteins, 10 of them were up-regulated and 3 were down-regulated. The most differentially expressed were tumor necrosis factor receptor 5 (CD40) and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 (sTNFR2). Compared with the normal group, the expression of CD40 and sTNFR2 in RA patients with cold-dampness syndrome increased significantly. The results of receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) showed that CD40(AUC=0.8133) and sTNFR2(AUC=0.8117) could be used as diagnostic markers of RA patients with cold-dampness syndrome. The results of Spearman correlation analysis showed that CD40 was negatively correlated with Fas and Fas ligand (FasL), while sTNFR2 was positively correlated with erythrocyte sedimentation rate and negatively correlated with mental health score (MH). Logistic regression analysis showed that rheumatoid factor (RF), 28 joint disease activity scores (DAS28) and vitality (VT) were risk factors for CD40. ESR, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibody, self-rating depression scale (SAS) and MH were the risk factors of sTNFR2. Conclusion CD40 and sTNFR2 are proteins related to apoptosis in RA patients with cold-dampness syndrome, which are closely related to clinical indexes and apoptosis indexes.


Larval and immature forms in Neoheligmonella dossoi and N. tranieri (Nippostrongylinae) coparasites of Uranomys ruddi from Africa are described. The free larval stages of both species cannot be distinguished one from the other. L1, L2 and L3 are identified by their size and by shape and tail length. In the parasitic larval stages the males are distinguished from females as from the second day after infestation: the female genital primordium is displaced to the caudal extremity in a very significant way. The L4 can be separated from L3 by the presence of a cephalic vesicle and a synlophe; the immature specimens from L4 due to the presence of a new cephalic vesicle and the synlophe of adult. A specific name can be given to those larvae from day 3 after the infestation: plotting the length of the genital primordium in relation to total body length shows two distinct clouds representing a large and a small species. Similar clouds were obtained for day 4 to 7 post-infection. By day 6, the immature forms of the small species can be identified by the synlophe as dossoi and those of the large species as tranieri. The larval development of N. dossoi is slower than that of N. tranieri.


In this study, an analytical simulation model was developed to investigate how system design parameters affect image figures of merit and task performance for small animal positron emission tomography (PET) scanners designed to image mice. For a very high resolution imaging system, important physical effects that may impact image quality are positron range, annihilation photon acollinearity, detector point-spread function (PSF) and coincident photon count levels (i.e., statistical noise). Modeling of these effects was included in an analytical simulation that generated multiple realizations of sinograms with varying levels of each effect. To evaluate image quality with respect to quantitation and detection task performance, four different figures of merit were measured: 1) root mean square error (RMSE); 2) a region of interest SNR (SNR/sub ROI/); 3) nonprewhitening matched filter SNR (SNR/sub NPW/); and 4) recovery coefficient. The results indicate that for very high resolution imaging systems, the increase in positron range of C-11 compared to F-18 radiolabeling causes a significant reduction of quantitation (SNR/sub ROI/) and detection (SNR/sub NPW/) accuracy for small regions. In addition, changing the shape of the detector PSF, which depends on crystal thickness, causes significant variations in quantitation and detection performance. However, while increasing noise levels significantly increase RMSE and decrease detectability (SNR/sub NPW/), the quantitation task performance (SNR/sub ROI/), is less sensitive to noise levels. These results imply that resolution is more important than sensitivity for quantitation task performance, while sensitivity is a more significant issue for detection. The analytical simulation model can be used for estimating task performance of small animal PET systems more rapidly than existing full Monte Carlo methods, although Monte Carlo methods are needed to estimate system parameters.


Editor's note: Alternatives columnist Bob Creo, a Pittsburgh arbitrator and mediator, has been revisiting his catalog of CPR Institute website columns, originated a decade ago, in a Back to Basics series that he has subtitled "Human Problems, Human Solutions." These updated and expanded columns are in print for the first time, building on new concepts and knowledge. He has revisited a wide spectrum of mediation room behaviors and practices. This month's column combines two of those early efforts.


The Fundamentals of Jewish Mysticism: The Book of Creation and Its Commentaries provides its readers with the background necessary to grasp the profound ideas of Jewish mystical theology. The modern student is often unable to crack open a kabbalistic text due to insufficient knowledge of the Hebrew language or a lack of basic information. Leonard R. Glotzer carefully guides the nonspecialist through a primary text of Kabbalah, the result being not a book about Jewish mysticism, but a book of Kabbalah itself. The structure of The Fundamentals of Jewish Mysticism is based on the author's translation of Sefer Yetzirah, known as The Book of Creation, one of the oldest and most important of kabbalistic texts. Many kabbalistic ideas appear for the first time in The Book of Creation, and it has served as a point of departure for all subsequent kabbalistic works. The importance of The Book of Creation is reflected in the fact that some of the greatest names in Jewish history have written commentaries on it, including Saadia Gaon, Nachmanides, and Rabbi Elijah, the Vilna Gaon. Many Jewish sages have commented on The Book of Creation in their own writings, among them Yehuda Halevi and Abraham ibn Ezra. Glotzer, observing that for many students today these commentaries are too difficult to understand, has provided us with a commentary on these commentaries and gives enough background and history to make The Book of Creation a wellspring of inspiration. By offering us a modern translation of The Book of Creation as well as translations of large parts of its major classical commentaries, Glotzer clearly illustrates his view that "Kabbalah is more of a process than a result." In addition, he presentsthe different approaches of the kabbalists throughout the centuries and the reasons why they differ, along with clear discussions of the major schools of Jewish mysticism, including the schools of the Ari (Yitzchak Luria) and Moses Cordovero. The Fundamentals of Jewish Mysticism


Good Clinical Practice (GCP) is a set of guidelines agreed at the International Conference on Harmonisation (ICH) of Technical Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use.1 The definition of ICH-GCP is "A standard for the design, conduct, performance, monitoring, auditing, recording, analyses, and reporting of clinical trials that provides assurance that the data and reported results are credible and accurate, and that the rights, integrity, and confidentiality of trial subjects are protected". Although developed for clinical trials of pharmaceuticals, the principles of ICH-GCP are relevant to most clinical research. Clinicians involved in research, and certainly those involved in clinical trials, are therefore expected to know and understand ICH-GCP. The College of Emergency Medicine Education and Examinations Committee has decided to make ICH-GCP part of the emergency medicine curriculum. This editorial explains the reasoning behind this decision.

Emergency medicine is a science-based specialty. We want to give the best possible treatment with good scientific evidence to support it. …


Virtual reality is more than just a close model of a virtual world. Virtual reality focuses on the human senses while someone navigates the virtual space. The purpose of this project thesis is to initially create an interactive audio/visual/haptic virtual world and to study the physically motivated sound synthesis. For this purpose a number of tools were examined and used; such as dynamic phenomena modelling libraries and libraries of sound and haptic interactions. In addition to this, a haptic interaction device and a head mounted VR display were used. An interactive application was developed in which users are able to haptically interact with a xylophone and create sounds that are coming from pre-recorded samples


The production of science-ready data from major solar telescopes requires expertise beyond that of the typical observer. This is a consequence of the increasing complexity of instruments and observing sequences, which require calibrations and corrections for instrumental and seeing effects that are not only difficult to measure, but are also coupled in ways that require careful analysis in the design of the correction procedures. Modern space-based telescopes have data-processing pipelines capable of routinely producing well-characterized data products. High resolution imaging spectropolarimeters at ground-based telescopes need similar data pipelines. We present new methods for flat-fielding spectropolarimetric data acquired with telecentric Fabry-Perot instruments and a new approach for accurate camera co-alignment for image restoration. We document a procedure that forms the basis of current state-of- the-art processing of data from the CRISP imaging spectropolarimeter at the Swedish 1 m Solar Telescope (SST). By collecting, implementing, and testing a suite of computer programs, we have defined a data reduction pipeline for this instrument. This pipeline, CRISPRED, streamlines the process of making science-ready data. It is implemented and operated in IDL, with time-consuming steps delegated to C. CRISPRED will also be the basis for the data pipeline of the forthcoming CHROMIS instrument.


Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) cultivars are available that produce high-quality forage; however, information is lacking on the consistency of cultivar forage quality over environments and the influence of stand age on quality. Our objectives were to evaluate alfalfa cultivars for consistency of forage quality over time and environments and to test the validity of sampling seeding-year stands for forage quality. We sampled eight alfalfa entries (seven cultivars and one experimental germplasm) at bud and flower maturity stages in the seeding year (one harvest) and first production year (two harvests) in six states (Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, New York, Washington, and Wisconsin). ANOVA and orthogonal contrast analyses were conducted to assess entry × environment interactions for forage quality. First-cut forage in the first production year had lower forage quality than third-cut forage, and differences between entries were more pronounced at the first cutting. Including seeding-year data in the ANOVA produced a complex location × entry × stand age interaction, indicating that seeding-year data alone were insufficient to characterize alfalfa entries for forage quality. 'Cimarron VR', 'Arrow', and '5432' had the greatest stability for forage quality and could serve as high, medium, and low forage-quality checks, respectively, in forage quality testing trials. 'WL 322 HQ' and 'Pacesetter' often had high quality, but were not stable for forage quality over environments. Correlations between crude protein, acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and in vitro digestible dry matter were consistent across locations, entries, cuttings, and maturities. The high correlation between NDF and ADF (r ≥ 0.97, P ≥ 0.05) suggests that it may not be necessary to use both procedures to predict entry differences in forage quality.