This thesis presents results on direct photon and pi0 production in pi-p, pi+p and pp interactions at an incident beam momentum of 280 GeV/c, using data recorded by CERN experiment WA70 at the Omega Prime Spectrometer. Chapter 1 discusses the theoretical background for direct photon production and presents results from previous experiments. Chapter 2 describes the experimental apparatus used by WA70, with particular emphasis on the high-granularity electromagnetic calorimeter constructed specifically for the experiment. Chapter 3 discusses the reconstruction programs used to process the raw data from the Omega Prime Spectrometer and calorimeter prior to performing any physics analysis. Chapter 4 presents a detailed account of the method, developed by the author, to calculate the efficiencies of the individual planes of the 4m wire chamber, and presents these efficiencies for the two experimental runs. Chapter 5 discusses some of the methods used in offline calibration of the electromagnetic calorimeter, referring particularly to two separate studies performed by the author, (i) the detection of a discontinuity in the online calibration for the 1984 data taking run, and (ii) the search for a J/ps signal in the 1985 run, which would be particularly useful, since the e+e- pair can be detected in both the wire chambers and photon detector. In Chapter 6 an analysis of the 1985 data is performed to provide the cross- sections for direct photon and pi production and the ratio of the cross-sections. This chapter gives a description of the procedures involved in producing the raw signals, calculating the various cuts and contaminations, and evaluating the detection efficiencies for pi and direct photons. The pi cross-sections are compared to the parametrised results from other experiments, and the direct photon cross-sections are compared with the predictions of next-to-leading order QCD.


In the vision of Ambient Intelligence, people are assisted in their everyday activities through the proactive, opportunistic support of non-intrusive computing devices offering intuitive interaction modalities. The usefulness and quality of delivered services can be improved considerably if the devices are able to adapt their behaviour according to sensed changes in their surrounding environment, both at the physical and logical levels. This interplay between context-awareness and dynamic software adaptability is key to the construction of applications that are smart with respect to user needs. Unfortunately, most current applications do not reach this level of adaptability, due to a lack of appropriate programming technology. Most applications exhibit fixed functionality and seldom do they sense their environment and adapt their services in a context-aware fashion. Many chances of delivering improved services to users and network peers are thus missed. This dissertation presents a programming model to ease the construction of applications that can react to changes in their execution context by adapting their behaviour dynamically. The starting point of our research is the development of novel language abstractions and the adaptation of existing abstractions to render context-aware, self-adaptable applications easier to develop. We demonstrate that a simple yet powerful computation model readily provides the needed support, leading to straightforward application code that is not concerned with context adaptation, behaviour that can be adapted dynamically to different contexts in a non-intrusive fashion, and context-aware applications with software architectures that are not biased towards context adaptation ---rather, they can be designed freely according to their domain. The proposed computation model is realised through the Ambience programming language, and its underlying open implementation, the Ambient Object System. A small-step operational semantics describes it formally. Much in the vein of prototype-based programming, the model has been designed with simplicity and concreteness in mind. It is highly dynamic, featuring dynamic (multiple) dispatch, dynamic inheritance, dynamic typing, and dynamic method scoping. Application logic adaptation is enabled by means of an intuitive, first-class reification of context that is straightforwardly connected to dynamic behaviour selection. We describe needed management techniques for such context, and a few programming guidelines on how to develop context-aware applications using our approach. The approach is validated by showing its application in a number of scenarios inspired on Ambient Intelligence.


The advent of heterogeneous many-core systems has increased the spectrum
of achievable performance from multi-threaded programming. As the processor components become more distributed, the cost of synchronization and
communication needed to access the shared resources increases. Concurrent
linearizable access to shared objects can be prohibitively expensive in a high
contention workload. Though there are various mechanisms (e.g., lock-free
data structures) to circumvent the synchronization overhead in linearizable
objects, it still incurs performance overhead for many concurrent data types.
Moreover, many applications do not require linearizable objects and apply
ad-hoc techniques to eliminate synchronous atomic updates.
In this thesis, we propose the Global-Local View Model. This programming model exploits the heterogeneous access latencies in many-core systems.
In this model, each thread maintains different views on the shared object: a
thread-local view and a global view. As the thread-local view is not shared,
it can be updated without incurring synchronization costs. The local updates
become visible to other threads only after the thread-local view is merged
with the global view. This scheme improves the performance at the expense
of linearizability.
Besides the weak operations on the local view, the model also allows strong
operations on the global view. Combining operations on the global and the
local views, we can build data types with customizable consistency semantics
on the spectrum between sequential and purely mergeable data types. Thus
the model provides a framework that captures the semantics of Multi-View
Data Types. We discuss a formal operational semantics of the model. We
also introduce a verification method to verify the correctness of the implementation of several multi-view data types.
Frequently, applications require updating shared objects in an "all-or-nothing" manner. Therefore, the mechanisms to synchronize access to individual objects are not sufficient. Software Transactional Memory (STM)
is a mechanism that helps the programmer to correctly synchronize access to
multiple mutable shared data by serializing the transactional reads and writes.
But under high contention, serializable transactions incur frequent aborts and
limit parallelism, which can lead to severe performance degradation.
Mergeable Transactional Memory (MTM), proposed in this thesis, allows accessing multi-view data types within a transaction. Instead of aborting
and re-executing the transaction, MTM merges its changes using the data-type
specific merge semantics. Thus it provides a consistency semantics that allows
for more scalability even under contention. The evaluation of our prototype
implementation in Haskell shows that mergeable transactions outperform serializable transactions even under low contention while providing a structured
and type-safe interface.


In a program grant from the Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research we are investigating the use of modern information technology in hearing rehabilitation in a broad sense. We use the Internet in this research when we study hearing impaired persons from when the loss is detected to whe intervention is implemented. In the research we intend to survey online resources, implement selfscreening both in terms of self-assessments and actual hearing screening on the Internet, use online cognitive tests, use the Internet for medical support system aimed to be integrated in health care, test if motivational interviewing methods can be used to facilitate the decision process when seeking treatment, develop and test online counselling for hearing impaired persons, use more open-ended qualitative methods to probe the experiences of acceptance versus experiential avoidance, and finally develop and test web resources for significant others (e.g. parents of children, adult children of older adults without access to the Internet). The program is divided into nine subprojects that are at different stages of their execution. This presentation will give an overview of the activities and outcomes so far in the FAS-IT program.


'Ecological Touchstones of Our Identity' explores the ways in which the language of New Zealand's landscapes have been transformed by colonisation as New Zealand undergoes transition into a post-colonial era. This thesis identifies how three uniquely native New Zealand landscapes, the Beach, the Swamp and the Bush, have become lost to New Zealanders, both physically and conceptually, through the gradual transitions of time and contested histories. Although these landscapes are perceived within New Zealand's culture as uniquely native to New Zealand, their true nature is somehow lost on many. Such unique landscapes coalesce into one very important landscape - the transect of the lowland forest - which has been all but lost from the fabric of our landscapes. This thesis uses a methodological approach wherein a range of dualities are explored in opposition to each other. The concept of biculturalism between Māori and Pākehā; the orientation between the vertical and horizontal, the gaze versus the object; wetland and bushland versus pastureland; and, most importantly, the perceived duality of nature versus culture. This latter point will be challenged through the theory and design concepts presented in this thesis. The final design outcome deals with the practicalities of generating a strong knowledge base of eco-sourcing and regeneration of national importance by creating a functioning seedbank between the two sites selected: the Museum of New Zealand -Te Papa Tongarewa and Lake Waiwiri (Lake Papaitonga). The vision is to regenerate the lowland forest transect between Lake Waiwiri and the coastal edge back into the functioning ecosystem once present, while structuring this regeneration to act as a cultural tool for strengthening New Zealand's sense of ecological cultural awareness, and thereby, identity. The role that landscape architecture and architecture play within this system of regeneration is critically explored through form and conceptual process, cumulating to a scheme which presents the educational opportunity of integrating these two different sites into one functioning ecosystem of regeneration.


Multiple-Point Statistics (MPS) simulation has emerged recently as a practical facies modeling technique to simulate complex geological patterns, such as sinuous channels, that cannot be modeled using conventional (two-point statistics) variogram-based techniques. MPS simulation consists of first extracting patterns from training images describing the type of facies heterogeneity expected in the reservoir under study, and then reproducing similar patterns conditionally to well and seismic data in the simulation grid. MPS facies models are then populated with porosity and permeability using variogram-based techniques, typically Sequential Gaussian Simulation (SGS). However, SGS does not allow reproducing intra-facies geobody petrophysical trends, such as upwards decreasing porosity/permeability trends, which are commonly observed in channels, and which may have a significant impact on reservoir flow behavior. In this paper, we propose to adapt the original and most used MPS simulation program snesim to the modeling of continuous properties, and to use this new continuous snesim program along with facies boundary information to simulate porosity/permeability trends within facies geobodies.


A user may use a software bundle provided by vendors to control consumer electronics (CEs) in a home network environment. Software was developed as a bundle composed of various components and registered to an OSGi service registry, thus, a user can select a suitable bundle and implement it in a service gateway. There's no need to consider hardware when using a single bundle, because this was handled by hardware, service gateway specifications. But using several bundles to implement a business process for simultaneous control of various CEs is a different matter. If hardware resource sharing was not considered in development, then quality of service (QoS) of the business process cannot be guaranteed. Thus, we need an evaluation method for a user-defined business process, to guarantee QoS in business process modeling. This paper suggests a representative evaluation algorithm by considering metadata about bundle distribution as evaluation items, such as method response time, component response time, memory space and CPU capacity. Also, this paper suggests a business process simulator. It enables constructions of simulations for the efficiency of evaluation items and methods. A user uses a simulator to select a suitable bundle for hardware and easily makes and verifies a suitable business process for their goals.


Type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) is an autoimmune disease that results from the destruction of insulin-secreting pancreatic islet beta cells by autoreactive cells and their mediators. The aim of this study was to analyze the expression of Fas receptors (CD95) on T and B lymphocytes from patients with type 1 DM and to assess the role of soluble Fas (s-Fas) in Fas mediated apoptosis of T and B lymphocytes, and to assess the role of glycemic control in renal and ocular complications. This study was carried out on three groups: Group I: consist of 16 patients with type 1 DM. Their age ranged from (11-18) years old with mean duration of illness 6 + 4 months. Group II: consist of 16 patients with long standing type 1 DM, their age ranged from 10 – 19 years old, with mean duration of illness 30 + 10 months. Group III: consist of 16 healthy persons their age ranged from 10.5 – 19.5 years old. Results can be summarized as follows: The incidence of positive microalbuminuria as well as incidence of retinopathy were significantly higher in group II (long standing DM) than newly diagnosed case (group I). Microalbuminuric patients had significantly higher HbA1C than others. Newly diagnosed cases (group I) as well as (group II) long standing DM type 1 had significantly higher percentage of T and B lymphocyte bearing Fas receptors (CD95) as compared to control group. Mean plasma level of s-Fas showed a significant increase in both DM groups as compared to control group. There is no significant difference in the percentage of lymphocytes expressing CD95, and plasma s-Fas levels when compared microalbuminuric to normoalbuminuric patients. There was positive correlation between HbA1C and microalbuminuria in diabetic patients, there was positive correlation between HBA1C and % of lymphocyte expressing the Fas receptors (CD95). In both diabetic groups, positive correlation was found between HbA1C and s-Fas in DM type 1. Also, positive correlation was found between % of cells expressing CD95 and s-Fas. In conclusion, the study of the possible role of apoptosis of autoreactive lymphocytes and its regulation, in the pathogenesis of type 1 DM may provide new therapeutic tools for the prevention of the disease. Further analysis, is necessary to finally settle this point, to elucidate the roles played by distinct immunological pathway in diabetes pathogenesis, this can lead to more effective and targeted therapies for the disease. Poor glycemic control is an essential initiating factor of defective apoptosis in type 1DM.


The biological pump plays a vital role in exporting organic particles into the deep ocean for long-term carbon sequestration. However, much remains unknown about some of its key microbial players. In this study, Labyrinthulomycetes protists (LP) were used to understand the significance of heterotrophic microeukaryotes in the transport of particulate organic matter from the surface to the dark ocean. Unlike the sharp vertical decrease of prokaryotic biomass, the LP biomass only slightly decreased with depth and eventually exceeded prokaryotic biomass in the bathypelagic layer. Sequencing identified high diversity of the LP communities with a dominance of Aplanochytrium at all depths. Notably, ASVs that were observed in the surface layer comprised ~20% of ASVs and ~ 60% of sequences in each of the deeper (including bathypelagic) layers, suggesting potential vertical export of the LP populations to the deep ocean. Further analyses of the vertical patterns of the 50 most abundant ASVs revealed niche partitioning of LP phylotypes in the pelagic ocean, including those could decompose organic detritus and/or facilitate the formation of fast-sinking particles. Overall, this study presents several lines of evidence that the LP can be an important component of the biological pump through their multiple ecotypes in the pelagic ocean. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.


Bertozzi, T., Lee, M.S.Y. and Donnellan, S.C. 2016. Stingray diversification across the end-Cretaceous extinctions. Memoirs of Museum Victoria 74: 379–390. The evolution of stingrays (Myliobatiformes) is assessed using a new phylogeny with near-complete genus-level sampling, and additional molecular data. Stingrays diversified into three primary clades: (A) river stingrays, round rays and typical stingrays, (B) butterfly rays and stingarees and (C) eagle and manta rays. The enigmatic sixgill and deepwater rays (Hexatrygon and Plesiobatis) are not basal stingrays, but are part of the second clade. There is extensive clade-specific variation in molecular evolutionary rates across chondrichthyans: the most appropriate (autocorrelated) divergence dating methods indicate that the extant stingray radiation commenced in the late Cretaceous and continued across the K-Pg boundary. This is highly consistent with the fossil record, and suggests that Cretaceous stingrays, being primarily benthic taxa, were less affected by the K-Pg event than taxa inhabiting the water column. The largest pelagic radiation of stingrays (myliobatids: eagle and manta rays) evolved very shortly after the K-Pg boundary, consistent with rapid ecological expansion into newly-vacated pelagic niches.


F.S. Schroeder (Eureka Montana) asked: Is it wise or advisable for a nursing mother to take oral contraceptives? Answer (by W.N. Spellacy): It is neither wise nor advisable to prescribe oral contraceptives to nursing mothers. This is because the steroid components as is the case with most drugs are excreted into the milk. Their effects on the neonate are variable and dose-dependent. For example an androgen-type progestagen may masculinize a female infant and steroid metabolites may contribute to neonatal jaundice. Accordingly most pharmaceutical companies include a Food and Drug Administration approved statement in their drug advertisements under warnings: A small fraction of the hormonal agents in oral contraceptives has been identified in the milk of mothers receiving these drugs. The long-range effect to the nursing infant cannot be determined at this time.(FULL TEXT)


Predominantly linear narrative arrangements used to direct the spectator's comprehension are but one of many options made available to filmmakers. Opposing this convention, the films of South Korean director Hong Sang-soo are characterized by their complex narratives as much as the romantic triangles that inhabit them. This thesis addresses the "optional path" narratives observable in Hong's films, which deny the audience the ability to reconstruct an objective, verifiable timeline. Whereas established theories of film narratives foreground the limitations placed on storytelling in order to guide comprehension, key works in Hong's cinema will be understood to adopt a "partial-geometric" model that emphasizes the agency of the spectator in creating meaning in the film text. A style-based narratological approach, operating under Formalist assumptions, will be interrogated for the fissures that emerge when it is applied against these texts. The objects of study are understood as realizing multiple diegeses, or story worlds, the boundaries of which are made speculative through the use of space. Although building upon the existing narratological insights of key scholars David Bordwell and Edward Branigan, this thesis will instead distance itself from limiting narrative frameworks in favor of optionality. The spectator is able to attribute or disarticulate the "truth value" of key events, and is encouraged to recognize the unlimited narrative arrangements and their own subjective agency. This thesis will also make initiatives to extend its insights beyond the borders of Hong's filmography, recognizing film festivals as a discursive site for expanding narrative models.


Aligning video is a fundamental task in computer graphics and vision, required for a wide range of applications. We present an interactive method for computing optimal nonlinear temporal video alignments of an arbitrary number of videos. We first derive a robust approximation of alignment quality between pairs of clips, computed as a weighted histogram of feature matches. We then find optimal temporal mappings (constituting frame correspondences) using a graph-based approach that allows for very efficient evaluation with artist constraints. This enables an enhancement to the "snapping" interface in video editing tools, where videos in a time-line are now able snap to one another when dragged by an artist based on their content, rather than simply start-and-end times. The pairwise snapping is then generalized to multiple clips, achieving a globally optimal temporal synchronization that automatically arranges a series of clips filmed at different times into a single consistent time frame. When followed by a simple spatial registration, we achieve high quality spatiotemporal video alignments at a fraction of the computational complexity compared to previous methods. Assisted temporal alignment is a degree of freedom that has been largely unexplored, but is an important task in video editing. Our approach is simple to implement, highly efficient, and very robust to differences in video content, allowing for interactive exploration of the temporal alignment space for multiple real world HD videos.


Heterocytous cyanobacteria are among the most prolific sources of bioactive secondary metabolites, including anabaenopeptins (APTs). A terrestrial filamentous Brasilonema sp. CT11 collected in Costa Rica bamboo forest as a black mat, was studied using a multidisciplinary approach: genome mining and HPLC-HRMS/MS coupled with bioinformatic analyses. Herein, we report the nearly complete genome consisting of 8.79 Mbp with a GC content of 42.4%. Moreover, we report on three novel tryptophan-containing APTs; anabaenopeptin 788 (1), anabaenopeptin 802 (2), and anabaenopeptin 816 (3). Furthermore, the structure of two homologues, i.e., anabaenopeptin 802 (2a) and anabaenopeptin 802 (2b), was determined by spectroscopic analysis (NMR and MS). Both compounds were shown to exert weak to moderate antiproliferative activity against HeLa cell lines. This study also provides the unique and diverse potential of biosynthetic gene clusters and an assessment of the predicted chemical space yet to be discovered from this genus.


UNIVERSITY OF JYVÄSKYLÄ Department of Psychology JÄRVINEN, HANNA: Men's explanations for intimate partner violence. How intimately violent men explain their violence, and how the explanations and their changes are related to treatment outcome in the Jyväskylä Model treatment group for intimately violent men. Master's thesis, 42 pages, 1 appendix Supervisors: Juha Holma, Raimo Lappalainen Psychology April 2011 The aim of this study was to evaluate the explanation models of intimately violent men according to treatment outcome in the Jyväskylä Model treatment groups. It was hypothesized, that the men who are able to reduce the use of intimate partner violence either initially explain their abusive behaviour differently or their explanation models change during the intervention, and thus differ from those of the men who do not reduce their abusive behaviour. The data of this study consisted of 32 videotaped or DVD-recorded 1.5 hour group intervention sessions from Jyväskylä Model treatment groups for intimately violent men. The explanation models of each of the four subjects were analysed from the four first and four last sessions they attended. The used method was functional analysis developed by Stephen Haynes. A Functional Analytic Clinical Case Model was drawn based on the explanations of each man. An additional source of information was the reports of the subjects' spouses. The results of this study suggest that even though there were not significant differences in the content of the explanation models, those of the men who were not able to reduce their abusive behaviour were rather fixed and inflexible compared to others'. This result further supports a previous result, suggesting that the flexibility of explanation models may be an essential factor in reducing abuse. The contradictions in the reports of the subject and his spouse were immense in the group of men who did not reduce the use of intimate partner violence. Consequently it is extremely important that the authorities treating intimately violent men also have a lasting contact with the victim of intimate partner violence.


Under the guise of examining new legislation that would attempt to mitigate the impact of supporters of terrorism on university campuses, Duncan Clarke engages in a smear campaign against me and, indeed, the organized American Jewish community. His piece, rather than being an analysis of American-Israeli relations and the role of American Jews in that relationship, is, in fact, an effort, though hardly the first, to turn the American people and leaders away from their long-time support of the State of Israel, and to employ the threat of anti-Semitism as a way to prevent American Jews from their democratic right to support the one Democratic State in the Middle East. Clarke's essay is so full of distortions, exaggerations, stereotypes, and innuendoes that it is hard to know where to begin in responding. Let's start with his initial charge that in my book I, as champion for free expression (in Clarke's own words), am trying to stifle open dialogues on campuses regarding the Middle East. This is simply untrue. I have been clear on many an occasion that the freedom to speak is a basic American value that protects all American minorities in particular. When vicious anti-Israel speakers appear on campus - individuals who deny Israel's right to exist, support suicide bombers against Israel, and intimidate Jewish students - I have called on college Administrators to make use of their free speech rights to speak against the messages that are being articulated, not against the right to voice such messages. My record is clear on such matters and is reflected in our approach to the Internet. Hate speech, including anti-Semitism and extreme anti-Israel messages, abound and must be countered, but I have never called for censorship. Clarke's effort to depict me otherwise is one of his many inaccuracies and distortions. second, Clarke suggests that my goal in writing about the connections between the new anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism is to portray any pointed criticism of Israeli policies as anti-Semitic. This is an old charge and is wrong on its face. Criticisms of Israeli policies are all around us, including in Israel itself. Obviously, there are a host of differing views about what Israel should do about settlements, terrorism, refugees, territories, Jerusalem, and its relations with the United States. These differences are aired in the media, in government offices, on campuses, and just about everywhere else. Clearly, I have a point of view about Israel, but I recognize the legitimacy of differing perspectives, including within the Jewish community. Clarke is setting up a straw man in arguing that this is what I call anti-Semitism. What I and others have written about during this period, in which there is an explosion of global anti-Semitism not seen in 60 years, is the relevance of what Israel's Minister of Diaspora Affairs Natan (Anatoly) Sharansky refers to as the "demonization, delegitimization, and double standard" in attitudes toward Israel. These definitions of what has created an environment in which anti-Semitism has been legitimized for the first time since the Holocaust, have nothing to do with legitimate criticisms of Israel's policy, part of the normal course of international conversation. They are about singling out Israel as the root of all problems. They are about denying the right of the Jewish people to a home of their own. They are about exaggerating Israel's faults while minimizing or ignoring the far greater faults of others, such as at the Durban Conference in 2001, when the fact that Israel, the only society in the Middle East that is democratic and is governed by the rule of law, was singled out for its alleged "racism." Lawrence H. Summers, the President of Harvard University, said it well in an address several years ago. Speaking of the re-emergence of anti-Semitism in the world, a phenomenon which he admitted surprised him, he referred to efforts to get Harvard and other major universities to divest from any companies that do business with Israel, much as had taken place vis-a-vis South Africa in the 1980s. …


An improved Retroviral Replicating Vector (RRV), Toca 511, encoding an optimized yeast cytosine deaminase prodrug activator gene, is currently under investigation for recurrent high-grade glioma in Phase I/II clinical trials. RRVs exhibit inherent tumor selectivity, due to their intrinsic inability to enter post-mitotic cells, and unlike replication defective vectors, are capable of efficient gene transfer to tumors, as the virus continues to spread through the tumor mass after initial infection1. However, tumor transduction may still be limited by cellular anti-viral immune factors. Moreover, concerns remain about the use of RRVs for gene therapy given the possibility that viral integration might lead to off-target effects, or genotoxicity, in non-cancerous cells. Therefore, we investigated mechanisms to improve both the safety and efficiency of RRV-mediated gene therapy. Enhancing the tumor specificity of RRVsWe examined whether the incorporation of miRNA target sequences (miRTs) into the RRV genome could restrict viral replication in a tissue-specific manner. Accordingly, we developed novel RRVs with one to four copies of the target sequence for human miR142-3p, a lymphohematopoietic-specific miRNA, inserted into the ψ packaging signal, the 3' LTR and/or the transgene cassette of the RRV. We showed that incorporation of the miR142-3p target sequence (miRT142) significantly reduced viral spread to hematopoietic tissues, without inhibiting intratumoral replication or cytotoxic effect. However, the genomic location of the miRT affected viral replication kinetics, transgene stability, and miRT sequence integrity, in some cases. Therefore careful placement of miRTs is necessary to preserve efficient viral replication and genomic stability in non-restricted tissues, while maximizing suppression of RRV replication in lymphohematopoietic cells. MicroRNA-based restriction can effectively suppress RRV replication in a tissue-specific manner, and this approach may add an additional safeguard to gene therapy applications.Improving the efficiency of RRV-mediated gene transferTo explore the effect of cellular factors on RRV replication, we monitored RRV spread in a panel of primary human glioblastoma (glioma) cell lines, and quantified the expression, in these same cells, of various cellular factors that may play a role in RRV replication. We confirmed the finding, by another group, that tetherin (BST2, CD317) is strongly overexpressed in glioma cells, and identified an additional antiviral factor, protein kinase R, whose expression may also be dysregulated. We demonstrated that tetherin expression is correlated with slower RRV spread and reduced viral titers in the supernatants of infected cells, and suggest a possible antitumor effect of tetherin knockdown in glioma. Our results can be extended to future studies of the effect of tetherin on RRV replication or glioma tumor progression, or may be used to inform either the development of novel RRVs with enhanced infectivity, or the stratification of patients in clinical trials.


It is an open secret that Boumediene v. Bush's promise of robust review of the legality of the Guantanamo detainees' detention has been effectively negated by decisions of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, beginning with Al-Adahi v. Obama. This Report examines the outcomes of habeas review for Guantanamo detainees, the right to both habeas and "a meaningful review" of the evidence having been established in 2008 by the Supreme Court in Boumediene.There is a marked difference between the first 34 habeas decisions and the last 12 in both the number of times that detainees win habeas and the frequency in which the trial court has deferred to the government's factual allegations rather than reject them. The difference between these two groups of cases is that the first 34 were before and the remaining 12 were after the July 2010 grant reversal by the D.C. Circuit in Al-Adahi.Detainees won 59% of the first 34 habeas petitions. Detainees lost 92% of the last 12. The sole grant post-Al-Adahi in Latif v. Obama has since been vacated and remanded by the D.C. Circuit.The differences were not limited merely to winning and losing. Significantly, the two sets of cases were different in the deference that the district courts accorded government allegations. In the 34 earlier cases, courts rejected the government's factual allegations 40% of the time. In the most recent 12 cases, however, the courts rejected only 14% of these allegations.The effect of Al-Adahi on the habeas corpus litigation promised in Boumediene is clear. After Al-Adahi, the practice of careful judicial fact-finding was replaced by judicial deference to the government's allegations. Now the government wins every petition.Given the fact-intensive nature of district court fact-finding, the shifting pattern of lower court decisions could only be due to an appellate court's radical revision of the legal standards thought to govern habeas petitions, raising questions about whether the D.C. Circuit has in fact correctly applied Boumediene. This Report analyzes allegations that repeatedly appear in habeas cases to reveal the actual pattern of district court fact-finding.


Background: Whether vaccine effectiveness against Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) lasts longer than 6 months is unclear.Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using Swedish nationwide registries. The cohort comprised 842,974 pairs (N=1,684,958), including individuals vaccinated with 2 doses of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, mRNA-1273, or BNT162b2, and matched unvaccinated individuals. Cases of symptomatic infection and severe Covid-19 (hospitalization or 30-day mortality after confirmed infection) were collected from 12 January to 4 October 2021. Findings: Vaccine effectiveness of BNT162b2 against infection waned progressively from 92% (95% CI, 92-93, P<0·001) at day 15-30 to 47% (95% CI, 39-55, P<0·001) at day 121-180, and from day 211 and onwards no effectiveness could be detected (23%;95% CI, -2-41, P=0·07). The effectiveness waned slightly slower for mRNA-1273, being estimated to 59% (95% CI, 18-79) from day 181 and onwards. In contrast, effectiveness of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 was generally lower and waned faster, with no effectiveness detected from day 121 and onwards (-19%, 95% CI, -97-28), whereas effectiveness from heterologous ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 / mRNA was maintained from 121 days and onwards (66%;95% CI, 41-80). Overall, vaccine effectiveness was lower and waned faster among men and older individuals. For the outcome severe Covid-19, effectiveness waned from 89% (95% CI, 82-93, P<0·001) at day 15-30 to 42% (95% CI, -35-75, P=0·21) from day 181 and onwards, with sensitivity analyses showing notable waning among men, older frail individuals, and individuals with comorbidities.Interpretation: Vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic Covid-19 infection wanes progressively over time across all subgroups, but at different rate according to type of vaccine, and faster for men and older frail individuals. The effectiveness against severe illness seems to remain high through 9 months, although not for men, older frail individuals, and individuals with comorbidities. This strengthens the evidence-based rationale for administration of a third booster dose.Funding: None to declare. Declaration of Interest: None to declare. Ethical Approval: This study was approved by the Swedish Ethical Review Authority (number 495/2021)


: We propose Tinamutrema as a new genus for Brachylaima centrodes (Braun, 1901) Dollfus, 1935 and for T. canoae, as a new species inhabiting tinamus in the Area de Conservaci6n Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Specimens from Costa Rica resemble B. centrodes in having an elongate body, pretesticular genital pore and terminal genitalia, intercecal uterine loops occupying all available space between the anterior testis and the intestinal bifurcation, an oral sucker width:pharynx width ratio of approximately 1:0.55, an oral sucker:ventral sucker width ratio of approximately 1:1, and vitelline follicles extending into the forebody closer to the pharynx than to the anterior margin of the ventral sucker and by living in the cloaca. They differ from B. centrodes in having vitelline follicles that do not extend as far anteriorly as those in B. centrodes, which extend anteriorly to the level of the anteriormost extent of the cecal "shoulders," dense tegumental spination as opposed to sparse or no spination, relatively smaller cirrus with fewer spines, longer and more sinous pars prostatica, and forebody averaging 36% of total body length (TBL) as opposed to 42% TBL. Both species differ from other members of the Brachylaimidae in possessing a spinose cirrus and a cirrus sac containing both the cirrus and the pars prostatica. Preliminary phylogenetic assessment suggests that these traits are plesiom- orphic,


Abstract
The internet of things is assessed as one of the most disruptive technological advances
that are predicted to transform life, business and the global economy. Moreover, almost
every industry is impacted from this technological disruption due to the great versatileness
of connected functionalities. Thereby the increasing connectivity impacts especially
electric and electronic (E/E) architectures, since they can be seen as the main innovation
drivers in modern products. However, companies moving towards more connected products
encounter different challenges in terms of design and development of connected
products, which calls for a shift in the way E/E architectures are designed and developed
in connected environments.
This thesis aimed to examine which characteristics futureproof designs of connected E/E
architectures feature and how such architectures are to be developed from a strategical,
processual and organizational perspective. Further it was examined if design and development
approaches differ for the respective applications and reasons for these differences
were investigated. This aim was approached by a three stepped process. First a
literature study was conducted theoretically analysing the impact of increasing connectivity
on the general structure of E/E architectures. Second, an empirical study in form of
expert interviews was conducted trying to understand how R&D organizations across
different industries design and develop connected E/E architectures. Lastly, the insights
gained from the interviews were consolidated into a conceptual decision model guiding
companies in design and development of connected E/E architectures.
The literature study indicated the emergence of a new functional layer in connected E/E
architectures potentially adding additional complexity to the already existing one. Based
on the empirical industry study it could be concluded that there certainly is no one-sizefits-
all approach for designing and developing future connected E/E architectures. Insights
regarding different drivers, design and development approaches followed by the
interviewed companies were gained. The results of the interviews were consolidated by
defining 37 criteria describing drivers, architectural design and development. The criteria
were linked to each other by conducting an interdependence analysis. Finally, dependency
profiles were formulated summarizing identified findings and enabling to decide
upon suitable design and development characteristics.


The complex model of the lower part of the urinary tract is introduced. It consists of the detrusor smooth muscle cell model and the detailed 1D model of the urethra flow. The nerve control is taken into account. In future this model will allow to simulate the influence of different drugs and mechanical obstructions in the bladder neck and urethra. A general muscle model involving the calcium dynamics in the smooth muscle cell and the growth and remodelling theory will be shortly introduced. For the modelling calcium dynamics the approach of Koenigsberger published in Biophysical Journal (Koenigsberger, M., Sauser, R., Seppey, D., Beny, J.-L., Meister, J.-J., Calcium dynamics and vosomotion in arteries subject to isometric, isobaric and isotonic conditions, Biophysical Journal 95 (2008) 2 728–2 738.) was adopted. The model includes the ATP consumption calculation according to Hai et al. (Hai, C. M., Murphy, R. A., Adenosine 5'-triphosphate consumption by smooth muscle as predicted by the coupled four-state crossbridge model, Biophysical Journal 61(2) (1992) 530–541.). The main part is devoted to the development of a simple bladder model and the detrusor contraction during voiding together with the detailed model of the urethra flow.


Deficient parasympathetic activity to the heart has been hypothesized to underlie some forms of cardiovascular disease. Consequently, this experiment attempted to induce non- respiratory mediated increases in cardiac parasympathetic activity. Thirty-nine subjects were asked to increase their vagal tone using biofeedback, paced breathing, biofeedback plus paced breathing, or quiet sitting. The cold pressor test was used to examine the relative efficacy of vagal tone increase to mitigate cardiovascular reactivity. Repeated measures ANOVAs and t-tests revealed significant increases in vagal tone for the paced breathing, and biofeedback plus paced breathing groups, relative to controls. However, the quality of these increases could not be tested using the cold pressor test because the test failed to produce homogeneous cardiac reactivity.


Abstract Research suggests interrogation techniques used by U.S. law enforcement can yield false confessions. To investigate, participants (n = 151) were randomly assigned to complete one of two simulated interrogation exercises designed to model different interrogation tactics: (a) the accusatorial Reid Technique, one of the most widely-used interrogation approaches by U.S. law enforcement; or (b) the information-gathering "Compliance" model. False confession rates were examined. The underlying emotional and cognitive themes in participants' written confessions and open-ended responses were also examined using the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) and Automated Integrative Complexity systems. Results revealed no differences in false confession rates between conditions. However, participants exposed to Reid-based questioning used comparatively more negative, angry, and close-minded (cognitively simple) language when describing their interrogator and less certainty in confessions. The emergent differences in emotional and cognitive reactions inform our understanding of the effects of interrogation approaches used by law enforcement in the United States.


Campylobacter jejuni is a prominent food-borne pathogen and causative agent of Campylobacteriosis infection. This infection arises primarily from the consumption of foodstuffs/beverages previously contaminated with this microorganism. Despite current food control measures currently employed, this pathogen remains problematic despite its fastidious nature. To help control the spread of Campylobacter many hurdles are used in the food industry, including natural products such as modified atmosphere and salt. Other natural antimicrobials are shown to possess antibacterial activity. Chitosan, a natural antimicrobial, has promising uses in food production. However, little is known about the transcriptional differences of C. jejuni upon chitosan exposure. Molecular responses may allow for generation of adaptive responses in an attempt to combat such a stressor, possibly altering phenotypic and virulence potential. The aims of this study were to establish the adaptive response of C. jejuni to low molecular weight chitosan by assessing the phenotypic and molecular differences arising from the chitosan challenge. By exposing C. jejuni NTCT11168 to suboptimal levels of chitosan, based on MIC determination on a model system, an adaptive strain of C. jejuni has been developed. This newly developed isolate, referred to as the 'adapted' C. jejuni NCTC11168 was found to have enhanced antimicrobial tolerance to chitosan, with a 3.83 fold increase in MIC relative to the parental wild-type C. jejuni NCTC11168 cells (0.012% - 0.046% (w/v) respectively). Antimicrobial activity of chitosan was found to be pH dependant. Differences in motility were also apparent between the 'adapted' and wild-type strains. Consistent increases in motility were noted in the 'adapted' cells, especially in relation to wild-type after 24, 48 and 72 hours (p


This letter evaluates the consistency of rainfall drop size distribution (DSD) parameters that were estimated from attenuation-corrected X-band dual-polarization (XPOL) radar measurements with estimates from a colocated S-band dual-polarization radar (S-Pol). The DSD retrieval technique uses reflectivity and differential reflectivity, and a constrained relationship to estimate the three parameters of a ldquonormalizedrdquo gamma distribution model. The more definitive S-Pol DSD parameter estimates are used as a reference to assess the performance of the corresponding XPOL estimates for different rain-path attenuation values. Results show that XPOL attenuation-corrected profiles can provide rainfall DSD estimations that are consistent to an S-band dual-polarization radar, even in cases of moderate to high rain-path attenuation.


In 1976, the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma published "Optimal Resources for Care of the Seriously Injured." 1 These guidelines initially defined the optimal qualities of a trauma center, but quickly evolved into guidelines for a trauma system. From the very beginning the Committee on Trauma was anxious to regionalize trauma care for several reasons. First and foremost was to provide consistent quality care to patients who often present in the middle of the night and/or when there are multiple patients. An analogy has been made between a trauma center and the fire department. Firefighters are required to be in house 24 hours a day to respond immediately to a fire to save property and sometimes even lives. The trauma system guidelines were designed to provide a similar type of response while reducing costs by preventing duplication and minimizing redundancy within the system. Trauma regionalization has become unique


Background: Earlier studies have shown that stimulation of the human pharynx by injection of minute amounts of water stimulates the pharyngo‐UES contractile reflex. It has been suggested that this reflex may be activated during pharyngeal reflux of gastric and/or esophageal content, thus increasing the UES pressure and possibly preventing further entry of the refluxate into the pharynx. However, the integrity of this reflex in patients with posterior laryngitis has not been studied. Aim: Evaluate the pharyngo‐UES contractile reflex in a group of patients with objective findings of posterior laryngitis. Methods: Fourteen consecutive patients with posterior laryngitis (mean age, 48 ± 6 y) and 13 healthy volunteers (mean age, 53 ± 6 y) were studied by concurrent pharyngeal water stimulation and UES manometry. Results: The threshold volume required to evoke the pharyngo‐UES contractile reflex in the laryngitis group (0.4 ± 0.05 mL) was significantly higher than that of the control (0.2 ± 0.04 mL) (P < .05). Following stimulation of the pharyngo‐UES contractile reflex, the maximum postinjection pressure in patients (75 ± 6 mm Hg) was similar to that of the controls (78 ± 6 mm Hg). The percent increase in UES pressure following stimulation of the reflex in the laryngitis group (99% ± 15%) was significantly higher than that of controls (55% ± 11%) (P < .05). Conclusions: Compared with normal controls, a significantly larger volume of liquid is required to trigger this reflex in patients with posterior laryngitis. When triggered, the maximum UES pressure induced by the pharyngo‐UES contractile reflex is similar between the two groups. These findings suggest an altered afferent sensory limb of this reflex in patients with posterior laryngitis. Key Words: Upper esophageal sphincter, reflux laryngitis, airway protection.


The chloride tolerance of three Fe (II)- and sulfur-oxidising thermophiles and the effect of chloride on metals extraction from mineral sulfides were studied. Initially, 10-day bioleaching tests (60 °C) were conducted using pyrite (FeS2), chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) or pentlandite ((Ni,Fe)9S8) concentrates as substrate in basal salts medium (BSM), and the activities of Sulfolobus (S.) metallicus, Acidianus (A.) brierleyi and Metallosphaera (M.) hakonensis were compared. Fe (II) oxidation, as indicated by an increase in oxidation reduction potential (ORP), was observed in all combinations except A. brierleyi growing on chalcopyrite. The presence of added NaCl resulted in lower ORP after 10 days of bioleaching in all cases. In ancillary tests using BSM-Fe (II) growth medium with added NaCl it was found that cell counts at the end of Fe (II) biooxidation provided the most reliable estimate of tolerance to NaCl. On this basis, the rank order of salt tolerance is S. metallicus >>>A. brierleyi > M. hakonensis.


ABSTRACT Interest in social movement coalitions has been increasing significantly in recent years. While this growing body of research has paid much attention to conditions and processes of coalition building, the consequences of coalitions remain understudied. This article aims to contribute to a better understanding of coalitions' internal impact by exploring how different types of coalitions affect each other. In particular, we analyse how coalitions across countries influence coalitions across movement sectors. The article explores the diverse coalitions in the Global Justice Movement (GJM) in Europe and Southeast Asia, a movement characterized by its strong transnational as well as cross-sectoral ties. Our analysis includes four case studies from different transnational coalitions within the GJM: the peasant network La Vía Campesina, the debt-relief campaign Jubilee 2000, the network of women's movements World March of Women, and the grassroots network Peoples' Global Action. The case studies in Indonesia, the Philippines, the UK and Italy show how coalition building across countries can both enhance as well as hinder coalitions across sectors. We demonstrate how transnational coalitions in some cases deepen divides between local movement sectors and hamper domestic coalition building, while they help bridging divisions within local movement coalitions in others. Our findings point to the relevance of conflicts, power inequalities and trade-offs in coalition building as well as to the importance of negative effects of coalitions.


Privatization of higher education is not a new phenomenon in India. However, since India started embracing neoliberal policies in 1991, the objectives of higher education in India have increasingly shifted from philanthropy to profit-maximization. This paper is an empirical attempt to show how the higher education system in India is gradually changing with the demands of neoliberalism and leaving behind its original objectives of promoting national development through equity and quality. This paper will also suggest some possible solutions.


An accurate micromechanical material model for predicting a composite's elastic properties is desired in order to determine the potential structural and economic benefits of an advanced resin system for the construction of wind turbine blades. A MATLAB script and GUI are implemented for the determination of composite laminate properties based upon the properties of the individual matrix and reinforcement, as well as the fiber volume fraction. An advanced model based on periodic boundary conditions is compared with classical rule of mixture models and a composite cylinder model. The predicted properties of available systems are verified using a database of experimental results. This material model can be exported and used in finite element analysis to determine the structural effects and economic potential of a high performance resin (or reinforcement) with improved properties.


Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis is one of the most important tools for strategic planning. The traditional method of conducting SWOT analysis does not prioritize and is likely to hold subjective views that may result in an improper strategic action. Accordingly, this research exploits Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA), a technique for measuring customers' satisfaction based on survey data, to systematically generate prioritized SWOT factors based on customers' perspectives which in turn produces more accurate information for strategic planning. This proposed approach is called IPA based SWOT analysis and its development issues discussed in this report are: (1) selecting a technique for measuring importance which is one of the two main aspects of IPA since currently there are no well-established approaches for measuring importance; and (2) identifying opportunities and threats since only strengths and weaknesses can be inferred from the IPA result. The first issue is addressed by conducting an empirical comparison to analyse the performance of various techniques for measuring importance. Specifically, this thesis considers two data mining techniques namely Naive Bayes and Bayesian Networks for measuring importance and compares their performance with other techniques namely Multiple Linear Regressions, Ordinal Logistic Regression and Back Propagation Neural Networks that have been used to derive the importance from the survey data. The comparison result measured against the evaluation metrics suggests that Multiple Linear Regressions is the most suitable technique for measuring importance. Regarding the second issue, opportunities and threats were identified by comparing the IPA result of the target organisation with that of its competitor. Through the use of IPA based SWOT analysis, it is expected that an organisation can efficiently formulate strategic planning as the SWOT factors that should be maintained or improved can be clearly identified based on customers' viewpoints. The application of the IPA based SWOT analysis was illustrated and evaluated through a case study of Higher Education Institutions in Thailand. The evaluation results showed that SWOT analysis of the case study has a high face validity and its quality is considered acceptable, thereby demonstrating the validity of this study. Although the application of IPA based SWOT analysis was illustrated in the specific field, it can be argued that IPA based SWOT analysis can be used widely in the other business areas where SWOT analysis has been seen to be applicable and the customer satisfaction surveys are generally conducted.


Burchell, Club and Hopwood (1985) considered that "little is known of how...wider social forces can impinge upon and change accounting" (p.382). This study identifies six political forces that may have instigated changes in accounting practice and annual reporting of a New Zealand electricity entity. Based on the literature (Hopwood, 1983, 1990; Napier, 1989; Gray and Haslam, 1990; Thomson, 1993) it is expected that significant changes in the environment in which the entity operates will effect changes in reporting. The study compares the annual report disclosures of an Electricity Supply Authority on a yearly basis from 1970 to 2001 a 18 year period with little significant environmental impact in the electricity industry with a period of intense activity in the following 14 years. The study found considerable evidence that the change from a local body accountable to electors/consumers to a public company accountable to shareholders, led to a greater emphasis on profits and earnings per share as a means of measuring performance. It identifies specific changes in accounting practice that support this view as well as a period of "big bath" accounting, decreasing disclosure of commercially sensitive information, and the increasing use of dramatic presentation in the annual report.


This study focuses on Enhancing community based organizations initiatives engaged in solid waste management in Morogoro Municipal council. The accumulation of solid waste in urban area being collected and disposed have been a major problem to hygiene mechanism to residents causing an increase of communicable diseases such as Cholera, diarrheal diseases, pungent smell, malaria, disentry, land water and food contamination .Limited funds from local government to support the CBOS of solid waste management services lack of adequate protective gears and trucks/ vehicles to ferry the solid waste to the main landfill in time are the major contributing factors of this problem .The CNA prioritization of needs came with an intervention of minimizing the amount of solid waste by deciding to start compost manure schemes within the CBOS engaged with collection of the solid waste in the municipal area .It was a project to be conducted in three years. The project began with few(2 to3 CBOS) among 30 CBOS in order to enable implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the project to be easily achieved according to the intended main goal of initiating compost manure schemes..The project came up with a number of recommendations. Mainly it is recommended that Morogoro Municipal Authority assist in the formulation and enforcement of by laws and regulations on solid waste and enhance CBO's to undertake their roles and responsibilities in solid waste management in compost manure production.


Many emerging information processing applications require applying various fork and join type operations such as correlation, aggregation, and encoding/decoding to data streams in real-time. Each operation will require one or more simultaneous input data streams and produce one or more output streams, where the processing may shrink or expand the data rates upon completion. Multiple tasks can be co-located on the same server and compete for limited resources. Effective in-network processing and resource management in a distributed heterogeneous environment is critical to achieving better scalability and provision of quality of service. In this paper, we study the distributed resource allocation problem for a synchronous fork and join processing network, with the goal of achieving the maximum total utility of output streams. Using primal and dual based optimization techniques, we propose several decentralized iterative algorithms to solve the problem, and design protocols that implement these algorithms. These algorithms have different strengths in practical implementation and can be tailored to take full advantage of the computing capabilities of individual servers. We show that our algorithms guarantee optimality and demonstrate through simulation that they can adapt quickly to dynamically changing environments.


We consider scattering state contributions to the partition function of a two-dimensional ~2D! plasma in addition to the bound-state sum. A partition function continuity requirement is used to provide a statistical mechanical heuristic proof of Levinson's theorem in two dimensions. We show that a proper account of scattering eliminates singularities in thermodynamic properties of the nonideal 2D gas caused by the emergence of additional bound states as the strength of an attractive potential is increased. The bound-state contribution to the partition function of the 2D gas, with a weak short-range attraction between its particles, is found to vanish logarithmically as the binding energy decreases. A consistent treatment of bound and scattering states in a screened Coulomb potential allowed us to calculate the quantum-mechanical second virial coefficient of the dilute 2D electron-hole plasma and to establish the difference between the nearly ideal electron-hole gas in GaAs and the strongly correlated exciton/free-carrier plasma in wide-gap semiconductors such as ZnSe or GaN. @S0163-1829~98!09531-9#


Please doi:10. Summary. — Widespread rural poverty in Africa and the success of Asia's Green Revolution suggest that agriculture is a key sector for African development. However, in response to recent skepticism, this paper examines whether the conventional wisdom about agriculture's contribution to the development process can still be applied to Africa today. We first outline the debate between the proponents of agriculture and its skeptics before presenting a series of case studies reflecting the heterogeneity of initial conditions facing low-income African countries. Drawing on economy-wide modeling, these case studies contrast the effectiveness of alternative growth strategies in reducing poverty. The findings indicate that while Africa does face many new challenges unlike those faced by Asian countries, there is little evidence to suggest that these countries can bypass a broad-based agricultural revolution to successfully launch their economic transformations. 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.


The small French town of Concarneau is a summer resort. In winter it becomes the deserted, rainswept scene for a series of murder attempts that attract the interest of Maigret. While his assistant Leroy uses "science" and "deductions" to trace the murderer, Maigret's instincts unerringly guide him to the real killer past a labyrinth of fascinating characters: a paranoid failed medical doctor turned real-estate shark; a passive, working class waitress whose heart secretly burns a torch of passion; an aristocratic politician who pressures Maigret to "make some arrests"; and a snarling stray dog that knows the murderer's real identity.


Abstract This paper is a quantitative multifactorial study of the near-synonymous constructions let+V, allow+to V and permit+to V based on the British National Corpus. The study investigates the differences between these constructions with the help of 23 formal, semantic, social and collostructional variables. A Bayesian multinomial mixed-effects model reveals a remarkable alignment of the variables that represent different dimensions of variation, namely, the linguistic distance between the predicates, the conceptual distance between the events they represent, the distance between the speaker and the Permitter and Permittee on the animacy/entrenchment/empathy hierarchy, the social and communicative distance between the interlocutors, as well as the strength of collostructional attraction between the constructions and second verb slot fillers. The paper offers several possible explanations for this alignment from a cognitive, functional and historical perspective.


Towed horizontal line arrays have been used very successfully in the past to acquire data to estimate the horizontal directionality of the ambient noise. Those estimates are commonly called noise roses. A more comprehensive algorithm which estimates the horizontal and vertical arrival structure of the ambient noise from towed line array data has been developed at NRL. The algorithm has been exercised with both simulated and measured data, and the results have been compared to noise roses that have been obtained from the same beam noise data using previous algorithms. The agreement has been good. In addition, the increased dimensionality of the new results has permitted the identification and quantification of spatial ''holes'' in the noise field that could be exploited by multidimensional arrays to achieve gains well in excess of that which one might expect from adding the independent gains for vertical and horizontal aperture. The algorithm is presented, and some results are discussed. [Work supported by...


The UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council has launched a £4 million, 5-year grand challenge multi-disciplinary research consortium (Twenty65) to achieve sustainable clean water for all through the development and demonstration of disruptive socio-technical solutions. The aim of this transformative research is to drive re-visualisation of water service provision and revolutionise the way innovation is delivered in the water sector. This briefing introduces concepts of disruptive innovation that could lead to a new paradigm for water service provision.


The southeast of Cordoba province used to be originally covered by hundreds of wetlands that got heavily modified or drained in the last few decades. Since wetlands provide various important ecosystem services (ESS) for human well-being, their degradation created several problems in La Picasa basin, among which floods are the most obvious one. The wise use of wetlands is increasingly acknowledged to be part of nature-based solution approaches reducing disaster risk. However, in the study area these approaches remain a relatively new concept to decision makers and the lack of knowledge on their effectiveness and implementation process poses a serious barrier to their adoption.
To overcome this obstacle, this dissertation applies an ESS perspective on the current problems of La Picasa basin and sets it in a context of socio-ecological system (SES) theory. A comprehensive analysis of (1) the role wetlands have played in the historic development of the SES, (2) important stakeholder dynamics that create opportunities or restrictions for the conservation of wetlands and (3) possible management approaches to inverse negative ESS trade-offs and feedback loops, was performed.
Results demonstrate that the current problems of floods have both natural and anthropogenic causes. In this regard, wetlands hold a vital role in the complex historic interactions between the social and ecological drivers of changes in the water balance. Although a social network between stakeholders exists, several conflicts prevent a proper functioning of a basin-wide integrated management concept based on wetland restoration. Nature-based solution approaches, putting wetlands in the center of attention of future management strategies, were found to hold a high potential to reduce the risk of floods and, as a side-effect boost biodiversity and habitat quality in the study area.


Querying inconsistent knowledge bases is a problem that has attracted a great deal of interest over the last decades. While several semantics of query answering have been proposed, and their complexity is rather well-understood, little attention has been paid to the problem of explaining query answers. Explainability has recently become a prominent problem in different areas of AI. In particular, explaining query answers allows users to understand not only what is entailed by an inconsistent knowledge base, but also why. In this paper, we address the problem of explaining query answers for existential rules under three popular inconsistency-tolerant semantics, namely, the ABox repair, the intersection of repairs, and the intersection of closed repairs semantics. We provide a thorough complexity analysis for a wide range of existential rule languages and for different complexity measures.


This paper presents the results of observation of mould growth in laboratory colonies of termites. It also attempts to determine the species of mould fungi present in the research laboratory and the main colonies and their entomopathogenic for the termites. The following four species were found in test termite colonies: Trichoderme viride , Mucor himeralis , Rhizopus nigricans , Aspergillus sp., Aspergillus flavus , Alternaria sp., Penicylium verucosum and Fusarium sp. were recognisable in test colonies with domestic and exotic wood. Morphological observations of the fungi were carried out using a microscope with a 40x magnification. The growth of mould fungi in test containers caused death of whole termite colonies.


Target-specific DNA delivery requires vectors that combine stability in the biological milieu, receptor-mediated uptake into target cells, and intracellular activation to mediate transgene expression. This is achieved here using polymer-coated vectors based on plasmid DNA complexed with a reductively degradable polycation (RPC), designed for intercellular degradation. The RPC were prepared by oxidation of the terminal cysteinyl thiol groups of Cys(Lys)10Cys. The complexes were coated and surface-cross-linked using multivalent reactive copolymers of N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide (PHPMA), providing a unique combination of steric and reversible lateral stabilization, known to promote extended circulation in the bloodstream. Coated complexes containing RPC exhibited lateral stabilization that was reversible by treatment with 2.5 mM dithiothreitol, releasing free DNA after incubation with a polyanion. In contrast, coated complexes containing nonreducible poly(l-lysine) (PLL) were not destabilized by reduction. The biological usefulness of this trigger mechanism was examined by measuring transfection activity in human retinoblast 911 cells of coated complexes, based on PLL or RPC, targeted to cell surface receptors by covalent linkage of basic fibroblast growth factor. The levels of transgene expression observed for RPC-based targeted vectors indicated efficient intracellular activation, authenticating the concept that lateral stabilization introduced by surface coating with PHPMA can be reversed by intracellular reduction.


A lie detector which can reveal lie and deception in some automatic and perfectly reliable way is an old idea we have often met with in science fiction books and comic strips. This is all very well. It is when machines claimed to be lie detectors appear in the context of criminal investigations or security applications that we need to be concerned. In the present paper we will describe two types of 'deception' or 'stress detectors' (euphemisms to refer to what quite clearly are known as 'lie detectors'). Both types of detection are claimed to be based on voice analysis but we found no scientific evidence to support the manufacturers' claims. Indeed, our review of scientific studies will show that these machines perform at chance level when tested for reliability. Given such results and the absence of scientific support for the underlying principles it is justified to view the use of these machines as charlatanry and we argue that there are serious ethical and security reasons to demand that responsible authorities and institutions should not get involved in such practices.


Saturn has a dynamically rich satellite system, which includes at least three orbital resonances between three pairs of moons: Mimas–Tethys 4:2, Enceladus–Dione 2:1, and Titan–Hyperion 4:3 mean-motion resonances. Studies of the orbital history of Saturn's moons usually assume that their past dynamics was also dominated solely by two-body resonances. Using direct numerical integrations, we find that three-body resonances among Saturnian satellites were quite common in the past, and could result in a relatively long-term, but finite capture time (10 Myr or longer). We find that these three-body resonances are invariably of the eccentricity type and do not appear to affect the moons' inclinations. While some three-body resonances are located close to two-body resonances (but involve the orbital precession of the third body), others are isolated, with no two-body arguments being near resonance. We conclude that future studies of the system's past must take full account of three-body resonances, which have been overlooked in the past work.


The effect of a constant magnetic field, an electromagnetic field, and low-frequency mechanical vibrations on specific electrical conductivity of distilled water was studied. Newly formed (fresh), three-day- and six-day-old distilled water was used. The exposure of distilled water to a constant magnetic field (2.5 mT), electromagnetic field (2.5 mT and 1-100 Hz), low-intensity mechanical vibrations (1-100 Hz) with an intensity of 30 Db led to a reduction of its specific electrical conductivity. It was found that, as water aged, the effect of these factors on the specific electrical conductivity decreased.


For the past 15 years, pre-university students in many countries including the United States have encountered data analysis and probability as separate, mostly independent strands. Classroom-based research suggests, however, that some of the difficulties students have in learning basic skills in Exploratory Data Analysis stem from a lack of rudimentary ideas in probability. We describe a recent project that is developing materials to support middle-school students in coming to see the "data in chance" and the "chance in data." Instruction focuses on four main ideas: model fit, distribution, signal-noise, and the Law of Large Numbers. Central to our approach is a new modeling and simulation capability that we are building into a future version of the data-analysis software TinkerPlots. We describe three classroom-tested probability investigations that employ an iterative model-fit process in which students evaluate successive theories by collecting and analyzing data. As distribution features become a focal point of students' explorations, signal and noise components of data become visible as variation around an "expected" distribution in repeated samples. An important part of students' learning experience, and one enhanced through visual aspects of TinkerPlots, is becoming able to see things in data they were previously unable to see.


Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have emerged as a new class of crystalline porous materials with distinct structural features, such as uniform pore distribution, tunable architecture, and modifiable skeletons. COFs hold significant promise for application in gas separation because of their high Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area and narrow pore-size distribution, which enable selective separation. The porosity and separation performance of COFs have been finely tuned by structurally modifying the starting materials. Along this direction, for the first time, we prepared W-shaped diamines by catalytic arene-norbornene annulation (CANAL) and then treated them with trialdehyde (Tp) to synthesize novel β-ketoenamine-linked norbornane-based COFs, i.e., ND-COF-1 and ND-COF-2, via a solvothermal Schiff-base condensation approach. The pore interior was decorated with methyl groups attached to the norbornane unit of the COF skeleton. Both COFs exhibited high chemical stability in different organic solvents and acidic media. Additionally, they showed high CO2/N2 selectivity compared with those of previously reported COFs. Moreover, their CH4/N2 separation efficiency was investigated, and the results revealed that ND-COF-1 is more selective than ND-COF-2, which could be attributed to the less hindered pathway offered to methane gas molecules by the framework pore.


Thanks to velocity data on races in Chantilly (France), we set a mathematical model which provides the optimal pacing strategy for horses on a fixed distance. It relies on mechanics, energetics (both aerobic and anaerobic) and motor control. We identify the parameters useful for the model from the data. Then it allows to understand the velocity, the oxygen uptake evolution in a race, as well as the energy or the propulsive force and predict the changes in pacing according to the properties (altitude and bending) of the track.


PURPOSE
To assess the biologic and technical responses to cemented and screw-retained all-ceramic single-tooth implant-supported reconstructions at 3 years postinsertion.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Thirty-four patients with single-tooth implants were randomly restored with either a cemented lithium disilicate crown on a customized zirconia abutment (CEM) or a screw-retained crown with a directly veneered zirconia abutment (SCREW). At baseline examination and after 3 years of loading, marginal bone level and technical parameters were assessed. Differences in marginal bone loss were tested using Mann-Whitney U test at baseline and at 3 years, and changes within each group between baseline and 3 years were tested using Wilcoxon signed rank test.

RESULTS
The median changes between baseline and the 3-year follow-up amounted to -0.1 mm (CEM; intragroup P = .36) and -0.0 mm (SCREW; intragroup P = .58). Intergroup comparisons did not reveal statistically significant differences at 3 years (P = .20) or over time (P = .70).

CONCLUSION
At 3 years, screw-retained and cemented reconstructions rendered largely the same radiographic and technical outcomes.


The widespread use of online social networks (OSN) and their applications by users lead to the lack of knowledge identification of their needs across the vast amount of data, which made the need to create systems that help people to solve the problems and make decisions with more accuracy, an example of these systems is the Recommendation system (RS), which helps users to make decision and save time in search on a commercial or personal level, one of the most critical types of recommendation systems is the friends recommendation system (FRS) . In this survey, several studies have been suggested to solve the problem of FRS and its mechanism, techniques, and algorithms used to create them Also, the RS types and techniques, a variety of dataset that deals with a specific system, are explained. Moreover, the challenges they face to determine the needs of people in terms of the choice of items or at the level of social networks are included. KeywordsRecommendation System, Friends Recommendation System, Collaborative Filtering, Content-based Filtering, Social dataset. How to cite this article: Q.A. Sammer A.R. Ayad and, ―Survey of User to User Recommendation System in Online Social Networks,‖ Engineering and Technology Journal, Vol. 37, Part A, No. 10, pp. 422-428, 2019.


Wheat stripe rust is one of the most damaging diseases of wheat worldwide. The wheat-Leymus mollis introgression line M8664-3 exhibits all-stage resistance to Chinese stripe rust races. Genetic analysis of stripe rust resistance was performed by crossing M8664-3 with the susceptible line Mingxian169. Analysis of the disease resistance of F2 and F2:3 populations revealed that its resistance to Chinese stripe rust race 33 (CYR33) is controlled by a single dominant gene, temporarily designated as YrM8664-3. Genetic and physical mapping showed that YrM8664-3 is located in bin 4AL13-0.59-0.66 close to 4AL12-0.43-0.59 on chromosome 4AL and is flanked by single-nucleotide polymorphism markers AX111655681 and AX109496237 with genetic distances of 5.3 and 2.3 centimorgans, respectively. Resistance spectrum and position analyses indicated that YrM8664-3 may be a novel gene. Molecular detection using the markers linked to YrM8664-3 with wheat varieties commonly cultivated and wheat-L. mollis-derived lines showed that YrM8664-3 is also present in other wheat-L. mollis introgression lines but absent in commercial common wheat cultivars. Thus, YrM8664-3 is a potentially valuable source of stripe rust resistance for breeding.


We evaluate the statistical and economic differences between affine term-structure models. Despite the voluminous literature on this subject, we have a limited understanding of those structural features of the models that are important in practice. Given that the key distinguishing characteristic of the affine models is the specification of the conditional volatility of the factors, we explore models that have critical differences in this respect: Gaussian (constant volatility) and stochastic volatility models. We estimate the models using the Eurodollar futures and options data as a basis. We subject these models to an exhaustive set of diagnostics. In particular, we develop a finite-sample version of the encompassing test for non-nested models. We find, based on the statistical tests and pricing errors, that there is little difference between the models when the models are estimated using only the yield curve information. Using options data enables us to separate the models very clearly. The stochastic volatility model is the most successful according to our diagnostics. JEL: C1, G12 Copyright The Author 2010. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com, Oxford University Press.


Offering exemplars from around the world, including China, Mexico, Nicaragua, and California, this paper argues that disasters must be understood and analyzed more deeply and more often as explicitly political events. The paper also argues that because politics is the "authoritative allocation of values, " the politics-disaster nexus revolves around the allocation of several important values: life safety in the pre-event period, survival in the emergency phase, and "life chances" in the recovery and reconstruction periods. The paper concludes by suggesting that the literatures on agenda control and causal stories/blame management are particularly useful points of departure for analyzing disasters as intrinsically political events-


This study is focused on teenagers who behave violently and who are also victims of violence. The data was collected from records of adolescent inmates in Sao Jose do Rio Preto. The variables selected were: place of residence, age, education level, type of offense, drugs use, family income, parent education levels, jobs. The findings disclose a social and demographic profile for teenagers around seventeen years old with only elementary education. The most common offence was robbery; followed by theft, homicide, drug dealing, and robbery leading to death. Most of these teenagers smoked tobacco and marijuana, drank alcoholic beverages and took crack. The data indicate a context defined by precarious living conditions where family members have low incomes and poor job skills, together with alcohol abuse. As a result, they help turn teenagers into victims of society. The mother - who typically supports the household - is the strongest presence during the incarceration period, serving as a mediator between the adolescent in conflict with the law, the courts and the community. In view of the high costs of interpersonal violence, it is necessary to develop and implement a municipal strategy for children and adolescents in Sao Jose do Rio Preto.


In three international phase III trials, MMF has been demonstrated to reduce the frequency and severity of acute renal allograft rejection episodes. As a treatment for acute refractory renal allograft rejection, MMF is also now showing strong promise in phase I and phase II trials. The mechanism of MMF to selectively inhibit purine synthesis in T- and B-lymphocytes results in a number of pathways in which it can interfere with deleterious immune responses in solid-organ transplant patients: inhibiting T- and B-cell activation and proliferation, inhibiting the glycosylation of adhesion molecules, and inhibiting the production of antibodies and possibly cytokines. The result is a new drug that not only can be used to prevent acute rejection episodes but, in contrast to other drugs such as azathioprine, can also be used to treat refractory acute rejection episodes. MMF may also have additional long-term benefits in that it is less mutagenic or carcinogenic than azathioprine, and it appears to suppress allograft arteriosclerosis and chronic rejection (see accompanying articles in this issue). Our own experience with MMF leads us to conclude that MMF treatments will soon become a standard, valuable alternative therapy for acute refractory allograft rejection.


When most people go to the trouble of getting erasure tools to remove data from their hard drives they expect the job is done correctly. Using erasure tools is a step to protect privacy by assuming the applied tools erase data rather than simply delete data that may be recovered using forensic tools. In this research we tested the performance of the delete function on three web browsers against the performance of eight erasure tools with alarming results. It was found that the erasure tools had almost the same capability to delete data as the web browsers delete function; and that no tool actually erased data. The implications for people using these tools to protect sensitive data are profound. People and organisations as they retire, sell or dispose of their hardware containing information assets require assurance they will not be impacted by the adverse effects of unintended disclosure of sensitive information. Better software solutions are required and better software certification measures require implementation.


Recently, the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) via electrocatalytic water splitting has provided a promising and sustainable strategy for energy conversion and storage. A cheap and efficient electrocatalyst composed of earth-abundant elements is needed. Here, we have synthesized new samples of N–MoO2 sheets with excellent stable Pt-like HER performance. A simple and repeatable strategy has been developed via the use of the cheap, simple small organic molecule urea as a reducing agent. We confirm that N doping can induce a disordered surface lattice and increase the number of proton adsorption sites with a relatively weak binding force. Owing to the cooperative effects of surface N doping, disordered surface distortion and the intrinsic nature of MoO2, high HER activity can be achieved, with an overpotential of η = 96 mV vs. RHE at a current density of −10 mA cm−2 and a Tafel slope of 33 mV per decade. Moreover, we further extended the synthesis method to Ni and Co systems with the formation of N–NiO/Ni and N–CoO/Co core–shell structures, which exhibited enhanced HER performance in comparison with bare MO/M (M = metal) samples. This study can help us design new earth-abundant electrocatalysts with further enhancements in catalytic performance.


Background
In older persons, muscle loss is accelerated during physical inactivity and hypoenergetic states, both of which are features of hospitalization. Protein supplementation may represent a strategy to offset the loss of muscle during inactivity, and enhance recovery on resumption of activity.

Objective
We aimed to determine if protein supplementation, with proteins of substantially different quality, would alleviate the loss of lean mass by augmenting muscle protein synthesis (MPS) while inactive during a hypoenergetic state.

Design
Participants (16 men, mean ± SD age: 69 ± 3 y; 15 women, mean ± SD age: 68 ± 4 y) consumed a diet containing 1.6 g protein · kg-1 · d-1, with 55% ± 9% of protein from foods and 45% ± 9% from supplements, namely, whey protein (WP) or collagen peptides (CP): 30 g each, consumed 2 times/d. Participants were in energy balance (EB) for 1 wk, then began a period of energy restriction (ER; -500 kcal/d) for 1 wk, followed by ER with step reduction (ER + SR; <750 steps/d) for 2 wk, before a return to habitual activity in recovery (RC) for 1 wk.

Results
There were significant reductions in leg lean mass (LLM) from EB to ER, and from ER to ER + SR in both groups (P < 0.001) with no differences between WP and CP or when comparing the change from phase to phase. During RC, LLM increased from ER + SR, but in the WP group only. Rates of integrated muscle protein synthesis decreased during ER and ER + SR in both groups (P < 0.01), but increased during RC only in the WP group (P = 0.05).

Conclusions
Protein supplementation did not confer a benefit in protecting LLM, but only supplemental WP augmented LLM and muscle protein synthesis during recovery from inactivity and a hypoenergetic state. This trial was registered at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03285737.


There has been increased interest in the role of B cells in the pathogenesis of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). Although the vast majority of patients with this disease have anti‐mitochondrial antibodies, there is no correlation of anti‐mitochondrial antibody titer and/or presence with disease severity. Furthermore, in murine models of PBC, it has been suggested that depletion of B cells may exacerbate biliary pathology. To address this issue, we focused on a detailed phenotypic characterization of mononuclear cell infiltrates surrounding the intrahepatic bile ducts of patients with PBC, primary sclerosing cholangitis, autoimmune hepatitis, chronic hepatitis C, and graft‐versus‐host disease, including CD3, CD4, CD8, CD20, CD38, and immunoglobulin classes, as well as double immunohistochemical staining for CD38 and IgM. Interestingly, CD20 B lymphocytes, which are a precursor of plasma cells, were found in scattered locations or occasionally forming follicle‐like aggregations but were not noted at the proximal location of chronic nonsuppurative destructive cholangitis. In contrast, there was a unique and distinct coronal arrangement of CD38 cells around the intrahepatic ducts in PBC but not controls; the majority of such cells were considered plasma cells based on their expression of intracellular immunoglobulins, including IgM and IgG, but not IgA. Patients with PBC who manifest this unique coronal arrangement were those with significantly higher titers of anti‐mitochondrial antibodies. Conclusion: These data collectively suggest a role for plasma cells in the specific destruction of intrahepatic bile ducts in PBC and confirm the increasing interest in plasma cells and autoimmunity. (HEPATOLOGY 2012)


Abstract Both supraventricular and ventricular rhythm disorders are frequently observed in patients with isolated left ventricular noncompaction (IVNC). Most importantly, these patients are prone to develop life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias, which are amongst their most frequent causes of death. Data regarding risk stratification of ventricular arrhythmias, however, are scarce due to the rareness of the disease. Indeed, even invasive electrophysiological studies may be of limited value in this regard in the majority of patients. Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) have been demonstrated to be highly effective for the prevention of sudden arrhythmic death in IVNC and should be considered in patients who are clinically judged to be at high risk for ventricular tachyarrhythmias. These include patients with a severely reduced ejection fraction as well as those with a prior history of sustained ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation, recurrent syncope of unknown etiology, or a family history of ventricular tachyarrhythmias or sudden cardiac death. This review summarizes the electrocardiographic and electrophysiological findings in patients with IVNC and discusses possibilities for risk stratification as well as the rationale for ICD implantation for the prevention of sudden cardiac death.


The commissioning of the Swiss Light Source (SLS) started in Feb. 2000 with the Linac, continued in May 2000 with the booster synchrotron and by Dec. 2000 first light in the storage ring were produced. The first four beam lines had to be operational by August 2001. The thorough integration of all subsystems to the control system and a high level of automation was prerequisite to meet the tight time schedule. A careful balanced distribution of functionality into high level and low level applications allowed an optimization of short development cycles and high reliability of the applications. High level applications were implemented as CORBA based client/server applications (tcl/tk and Java based clients, C++ based servers), IDL applications using EZCA, medm/dm2k screens and tcl/tk applications using CDEV. Low level applications were mainly built as EPICS process databases, SNL state machines and customized drivers. Functionality of the high level application was encapsulated and pushed to lower levels whenever it has proven to be adequate. That enabled to reduce machine setups to a handful of physical parameters and allow the usage of standard EPICS tools for display, archiving and processing of complex physical values. High reliability and reproducibility were achieved with that approach.


The following paper positions independent, creative producers and businesses in the creative sector as entrepreneurial. It also assesses how prior knowledge of entrepreneurship may contribute to the success of creative ventures. Through a sample of nine interviews with creative producers in the visual arts (namely digital art, multimedia production, painting, photography and new media art), this papers assesses 1) current conceptions of creative process and creative personalities 2) how entrepreneurial orientation and entrepreneurial intention has helped them achieve social or capital gain. While some artists have used bootstrapping and lean methodologies to increase their incidences of success, they were not exposed to these methodologies prior to embarking on a career in the arts. Knowledge of bootstrapping can give artists ways to maximize the social and economic resources available to them. Knowledge of lean methodology can help artists decrease the inherent risk of creating artistic products while letting them better understand their value within a marketplace.


An important variable in the successful management of redberry junioper (Juniperus pinchotii Sudw.) with prescribed fire is foliage moisture content (FMC). Juniper canopies are readily ignited by fire when FMC falls below 70%. Our objectives were to determine seasonal changes in redberry juniper FMC, and to determine relationships with soil water content in the Texas Rolling Plains. Trees on sandy bottomland, clay flat, and shallow redland range sites were sampled at approximately 14-day intervals from September 1995 through March 1997 in Garza County. Soil samples were taken beyond the drip-line of each tree to a depth of 12 inches. The FMC followed similar trends on all sites, but was generally highest on the sandy bottomland site and lowest on the clay flat site. The FMC was below 70% on all range sites and sample dates after 24 January 1996. Soil water was highest on the clay flat site, which was due to the higher water holding capacity of the heavy clay soil. The FMC and soil water were poorly correlated on all sites, except for the first 12 months of sampling. Redberry juniper FMC appears to be more closely related to available soil water than to total soil water since foliage moisture was not significantly impacted by precipitation events. Subsoil moisture recharge may occur slowly with average precipitation, and FMC may remain low following severe drought.


This dissertation explores the black struggle for housing equality through mid-twentieth century Los Angeles, California. Alongside the rise of Los Angeles as a major metropolitan center, residential discrimination became embedded in the fabric of the city and African Americans found themselves forced to live on the increasingly run down Eastside. In response, a number of middleand upper-class blacks led a campaign against housing discrimination by migrating to the Westside. While they were accused of abandoning lowincome blacks and adopting white norms, affluent blacks defied racial restrictive covenants, endured white intimidation, and pursued lawsuits in an effort to live in some of the city's desirable neighborhoods and attain full access to the city. Claiming their right to better housing and services, improving their financial status, and becoming regularly consuming Americans served as political statements for African Americans in a city that forbade people of color from fully enjoying those opportunities. Affluent blacks challenged the divisions that segregated the urban, racially diverse Eastside from the suburban, mostly white Westside. As they migrated westward, they invalidated housing discrimination and opened up more neighborhoods to people of color. While most whites ultimately responded to black in-migration by moving away, affluent blacks forged alliances across racial lines to keep their communities both integrated and prosperous. After moving to historic West Adams Heights and winning the legal battle against restrictive covenants, affluent blacks migrated further westward into the highly-regarded Crenshaw district. In an effort to thwart real estate blockbusting and maintain racial integration, affluent blacks established interracial neighborhood associations, worked with public schools, and organized community outreach programs. Despite white fears of neighborhood deterioration, as more blacks settled in the Crenshaw district and adjacent Ladera Heights, property values soared. Successful black doctors, attorneys, and entertainers heightened the reputation of the area. But the efforts toward integration proved no match to white resistance. By the 1980s, the Crenshaw district and Ladera Heights comprised of a majority black population and earned the ambiguous nickname the "black Beverly Hills," a title that celebrated black achievement, yet kept affluent blacks in the shadow of mostly white Beverly Hills.