Sustainability, such as green initiatives, may be considered from two perspectives: (1) social marketing whereby societal value is a priority and (2) financial viability wherein stakeholder value is a concern. However, equally important to companies who seek to colour the workplace green is employee buy-in. This research, set in Dubai, UAE, sought answers about the support for green measures in the workplace. It was guided by three objectives: (1) to what extent are employees willing to contribute to an energy and/or environmentally friendly workplace; (2) to what extent do employees perceive company commitment towards a green workplace, and (3) what initiatives, if any, would encourage employees to participate in green activities. The empirical findings indicate that employees are critiquing company actions. They suggest that more may be done including education activities such as workshops and seminars for information as well as competitions across departments. Monetary rewards were preferred by those youngest and oldest in the workplace. The contribution to knowledge is made more significant given that the UAE scores exceptionally high on carbon footprint per capita ratings. The focus of the study was kept intentionally broad for data interpretation to identify potential issues which could further the research beyond this exploratory stage. Respondents were approached at various venues, including some in their workplace presenting some limitations due to sample size. Future research may pursue the opportunity for companies to use internal marketing activities if they seek to colour the workplace a deeper shade of green.


This article examines the awareness and application of distance education among the students at the International Black Sea University (IBSU, Georgia). It suggests the way of risk-free exploration of the Massive Online Courses within the university curricula or outside of the institutional program. We employed the quantitative method to gather the data from IBSU bachelor students; the data was analyzed by SPSS 17.0 software. The findings suggest that technology must be used more efficiently for educational purposes, and instructors should help students to improve their computer skills. Digital literacy will promote lifelong learning and motivate students' self-development.


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Purpose:  To find out the efficacy of oral Alprazolam and Mefenamic acid in relieving pain during pan retinal photocoagulation in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy.
Study Design:  Quasi experimental study.
Place and Duration of Study:  Department of Ophthalmology, Al-Ehsan Eye Hospital, Lahore, from January 2018 to December 2018.
Methods:   Patients were divided into two groups; groups A received one tablet of Xanax (Alprazolam 0.5 mg) and 2 tablets of Ponston Forte (Mefenamic acid 500 mg) an hour before PRP. In group B no pain relieving medicines were prescribed. Proparacaine hydrochloride 0.5% eye drops were instilled in the eye to achieve corneal anesthesia before the procedure in both the groups. Pain was scored, 15 minutes after PRP, using standard verbal rating scale and results were analyzed. Paired sample t-test was used to measure the mean difference in pain between the two groups. A p value of less than 0.01% was considered significant.
Results:  Five hundred and sixty patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) requiring Pan Retinal Photocoagulation (PRP) were enrolled. There were 272 males and 288 females. Mean age of patients was 64.0 ± 6.8 years. Mean pain score for group A was 4.0 ± 0.6 and for group B was 2.1 ± 0.3. Difference in pain score felt by each group was -1.93 ± 0.7 with significant p value of ˂ 0.01%.
Conclusion:  Oral administration of Alprazolam and Mefenamic acid one hour before PRP in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy was effective in reducing pain and in attaining patient cooperation during the procedure.
Key Words:  Pan Retinal Photocoagulation, Pain, Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy, Alprazolam, Mefenamic acid.


Expressions for the generated antiStokes spectral density in coherent antiStokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS) are obtained, which take into account the finite linewidths of laser sources and which may be used to analyse observed spectra. Lorentzian and gaussian laser lineshapes are taken as special cases, which enable further analytic results for single and multiline CARS spectra to be derived. Emphasis is placed on scanning and broadband (multiplex) CARS techniques, and the choice of laser sources discussed from the spectral point of view. As examples of multiline spectra an analytical account of a periodic spectrum is presented and temperature measurement from Q-branch spectra is treated.


A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Arts in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Criminal Justice at the University of Zululand, 2004.


This paper develops a model that combines intra-household bargaining with competition on the marriage market to analyse women's and men's incentives to invest in education. Once married, spouses bargain over their share of total household income. They have the option of unilateral divorce and subsequent remarriage. Through this channel, the marriage market situation (the quality of prospective spouses and the distribution of resources in other couples) influences the distribution within existing couples. Individuals differ in their educational attainment, and more educated individuals contribute more to household income. I use this model to study the impact of changes in the rates of educational attainment of men and women on intra-household distribution. An increase in the number of women who obtain a university degree over an above the number of men who do so benefits men without degrees; university educated men, however, are not able to translate this change on the marriage market into a significantly larger share of household income. Hence, men's incentive to invest in education decreases if more women become educated. Even without assuming any heterogeneity in tastes between men and women, equilibria arise in which men and women decide to become educated at different rates.


Lehrstuhl fu$ r Genetik, Fakulta$ t fu$ r Biologie, Universita$ t Bielefeld, Postfach 100131, D-33501 Bielefeld, Germany The tonB, exbB and exbD1 genes of Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris are essential for ferric iron uptake. In contrast, the exbD2 gene located in the same gene cluster is not essential. Mutational analysis revealed that the ferriciron-uptake genes tonB, exbB and exbD1 are necessary for the induction of a hypersensitive response (HR) on the nonhost plant pepper (Capsicum annuum) and the induction of typical black rot symptoms on the host plant cauliflower (Brassica oleracea). Again, the exbD2 gene behaved differently. It was found to play a role only in the induction of the HR in pepper but not in the induction of black rot symptoms in cauliflower. Due to the low iron concentration in the plant tissue, the titre of viable bacteria of the ferric-iron-uptake mutants tonB, exbB and exbD1 decreased after leaf infiltration of pepper. The exbD2 mutant, however, which is not impaired in ferric iron uptake, multiplied in the pepper leaf tissue and grew even better than the wild-type strain, probably due to its failure to induce the HR. Nevertheless, the tonB, exbB and exbD1 mutant strains were able to spread systemically in cauliflower.


With the recently launched Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) mission, it is very important to have a complete understanding of the radiative transfer model for better soil moisture retrievals and to direct future research and field campaigns in areas of necessity. Because natural systems show great variability and complexity with respect to soil, land cover, topography, precipitation, there exist large uncertainties and heterogeneities in model input factors. In this paper, we explore the possibility of using global sensitivity analysis (GSA) technique to study the influence of heterogeneity and uncertainties in model inputs on zero order radiative transfer (ZRT) model and to quantify interactions between parameters. GSA technique is based on decomposition of variance and can handle nonlinear and nonmonotonic functions. We direct our analyses toward growing agricultural fields of corn and soybean in two different regions, Iowa, USA (SMEX02) and Winnipeg, Canada (SMAPVEX12). We noticed that, there exists a spatio‐temporal variation in parameter interactions under different soil moisture and vegetation conditions. Radiative Transfer Model (RTM) behaves more non‐linearly in SMEX02 and linearly in SMAPVEX12, with average parameter interactions of 14% in SMEX02 and 5% in SMAPVEX12. Also, parameter interactions increased with vegetation water content (VWC) and roughness conditions. Interestingly, soil moisture shows an exponentially decreasing sensitivity function whereas parameters such as root mean square height (RMS height) and vegetation water content show increasing sensitivity with 0.05 v/v increase in soil moisture range. Overall, considering the SMAPVEX12 fields to be water rich environment (due to higher observed SM) and SMEX02 fields to be energy rich environment (due to lower SM and wide ranges of TSURF), our results indicate that first order as well as interactions between the parameters change with water and energy rich environments.


Large-scale, algorithmic access to LOD Cloud data has been hampered by the absence of queryable endpoints for many datasets, a plethora of serialization formats, and an abundance of idiosyncrasies such as syntax errors. As of late, very large-scale – hundreds of thousands of document, tens of billions of triples – access to RDF data has become possible thanks to the LOD Laundromat Web Service. In this paper we showcase Frank, a command-line interface to a very large collection of standards-compliant, real-world RDF data that can be used to run Semantic Web experiments and stress-test Linked Data applications.


The shape, position and measurements of the hyoid bone of 6 small and medium-sized European ruminant species of different feeding types as classified by Hofmann (1976), (rose deer, mouflon, sheep, red deer, fallow deer and goat) were fully described. A comparison with other domestic species was carried out, the most characteristic species differences were shown and the results were expressed in 9 Figs. and 1 Table. The basic structural plan of the hyoid bone is found to be similar in all species studied; there are, however, distinct species variations.


Optimizing yields of important taxane compounds in yews under cultivation is a function of the genetic variation among individual genotypes in taxane concentration and vegetative growth response to hedging. This study examined yew clones grown from cuttings, their foliar biomass and regrowth after harvest in relation to their foliar taxane concentrations, and compared the performance of Pacific yew (Taxus brevifolia Nutt.) to an ornamental yew hybrid (Taxus x media Rehd.). To investigate the variation in these components, branch tips for cuttings were collected from an ornamental yew shrub, and nine Pacific yew trees. Cuttings were rooted in an outdoor rooting house then transplanted to raised beds. After three growing seasons in the raised beds, the clones were hedged for foliar biomass at oneand two-year intervals. Total taxanes, taxol, 10-deacetylbaccatin III and baccatin III concentrations for each clone were determined when biomass was first harvested. The highest yielding clones generally ranked in the top half in total taxane and taxol amount per clone over all years but not necessarily in growth of biomass. Taxane concentration appeared to be more important than biomass accumulation for optimizing yields. This study suggests that T. brevifolia could be managed through selection, propagation, and cultivation of high taxane-yielding genotypes as a sustainable source of these important compounds.


Bone diseases are major causes of abnormalities of the human skeletal system. To mention a few, osteoporosis, osteogenesis imperfecta and bone cancer are examples. This study is mainly focusing on osteoporosis and bone cancer. Osteoporosis have claimed many lives and some call it a silent thief because it has no clinical manifestations until there is a fracture. Bone cancer is also a life threating disease due to its effect of reducing red blood cell level. Bisphosphonates are well known antiresorptive drugs with the ability to inhibit the bone resorption process and diethylenetriamine compounds are chelating agents which can be used in chemotherapy to inhibit proliferation of several human cancers. So, the current research is aiming to make one more step in chemistry of hybrid compounds with high potency, high efficacy and low toxicity. All the reactions were performed at room temperature then, infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance were used to characterize the synthesized compounds.


ABSTRACT At scales of 100 to 102 km, grain-size change in gravelly, alluvial systems is characterized by punctuated downstream fining. Significant lateral sediment inputs define a sequence of sedimentary links within which fluvial processes produce fining trends. Using a new set of surface grain-size data, eighteen such links along two Canadian gravel-bed rivers are examined. Negative exponential functions are found to be most appropriate for describing within-link grain-size changes. Development of a pragmatic means of predicting grain size is then pursued by searching for a means to relate model diminution coefficients to link attributes. Consideration of lithologically differentiated fining trends indicates that lithology plays an insignificant role in controlling fining rate. Examination of within-link longitudinal profiles indicates a reasonable relation between fining rate and the rate of change of channel slope. The predictive value of this relation is limited by the regional nature of the data upon which it is based and the relative difficulty of obtaining accurate gradient information. However, as previously noted for alluvial fans (although for different reasons), channel gradient is correlated with link length and a reasonable predictive tool is apparent in a relation between link length and diminution rate. The validity of the derived relation cannot be tested for want of a suitable data set. Several lines of evidence indicate that abrasion is unimportant as a fining mechanism on these rivers, and it is argued that this may be typical of sedimentary links. Fining rate must then be a function of the efficiency with which sorting processes operate, and it is suggested that this efficiency is dependent on aggradation rates associated with the lateral sediment influxes at the head and terminus of individual links.


Objective: Compromised endothelial function contributes to poor prognosis in patients with coronary artery disease and type 2 diabetes. Incretin-based therapy may exert beneficial cardiovascular effects beyond glucose lowering. We tested whether sitagliptin improves endothelial function. Research design and methods: In the double-blind BEta-cell function in patients with Glucose Abnormalities and Acute Myocardial Infarction (BEGAMI) trial, acute coronary syndrome (ACS)-patients with newly detected impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) were randomised to sitagliptin 100 mg (n = 31) or placebo (n = 33) during 12 weeks. Endothelial function was studied as reactive hyperaemia index (RHI). Results: At baseline, the RHI was slightly compromised in both groups (sitagliptin 1.67; Q1;Q3: 1.46;2.17 vs placebo 1.61; 1.44;1.96; ns). The RHI did not change during the study period and was 1.57 (1.40;2.36) in the sitagliptin and 1.60 (1.46;1.81; ns) in the placebo group after treatment. Conclusion: Sitagliptin did not improve endothelial function in patients with ACS and newly detected glucose perturbations.


Emerging evidence suggests that temperament may predict childbearing. We examined the association between four temperament traits (novelty seeking, harm avoidance, reward dependence and persistence of the Temperament and Character Inventory) and childbearing over the life course in the population‐based Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns study (n = 1535; 985 women, 550 men). Temperament was assessed when the participants were aged 20–35 and fertility history from adolescence to adulthood was reported by the participants at age 30–45. Discrete‐time survival analysis modelling indicated that high childbearing probability was predicted by low novelty seeking (standardized OR = 0.92; 95% confidence interval 0.88–0.97), low harm avoidance (OR = 0.90; 0.85–0.95), high reward dependence (OR = 1.09; 1.03–1.15) and low persistence (OR = 0.91; 0.87–0.96) with no sex differences or quadratic effects. These associations grew stronger with increase in numbers of children. The findings were substantially the same in a completely prospective analysis. Adjusting for education did not influence the associations. Despite its negative association with overall childbearing, high novelty seeking increased the probability of having children in participants who were not living with a partner (OR = 1.29; 1.12–1.49). These data provide novel evidence for the role of temperament in influencing childbearing, and suggest possible weak natural selection of temperament traits in contemporary humans. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


Context. Binary asteroids are common in the solar system, including in the Kuiper belt. However, there seems to be a marked disparity between the binary populations in the classical part of the Kuiper belt and the part of the belt in the 3:2 resonance with Neptune – i.e., the region inhabited by the Plutinos. In particular, binary Plutinos are extremely rare. Aims. We study the impact of the 3:2 resonance on the formation of Kuiper belt binaries, according to the Nice model, in order to explain such phenomenon. Methods. Numerical simulations are performed within the 2 + 2 body approximation (Sun/Neptune + binary partners). The MEGNO chaos indicator is used to map out regular and chaotic regions of phase space. Residence times of test (binary) particles within the Hill sphere are compared inside and outside of the 3:2 resonance. The effect of increasing the heliocentric eccentricity of the centre of mass of the binary system is studied. This is done because mean-motion resonances between a planet and an asteroid usually have the effect of increasing the eccentricity of the asteroid. Results. The stable zones in the MEGNO maps are mainly disrupted in the resonant, eccentric case: the number of binary asteroids created in this case is significantly lower than outside the 3:2 resonance. Conclusions. In the 2 + 2 body approximation, the pumping of the eccentricity of the centre of mass of a potential binary destabilises the formation of binaries. This may be a factor in explaining the scarcity of binaries in the Plutino population.


The coexistence of melanic Daphnia cf. longispina and facultatively planktivorous brown trout is reported from a clear-water, alpine lake. This co-occurrence is uncommon, presumably due to the vulnerability of pigmented Daphnia to fish predation. Lake Bjornesfjorden (Norway) provided an opportunity to test this assumption. About 20% of the fish caught in gill nets had fed on Daphnia. The trout exerted a marked selection for large-sized Daphnia prey, and a very strong selection for pig- mented individuals relative to transparent ones. The persistence of a pigmented Daphnia population probably relies on limited recruitment and a low stock of the predator, and the availability of more favourable benthic prey organisms.


Textbooks represent a significant portion of the overall cost of higher education in the United States. The burden of these costs is typically shouldered by students, those who support them, and the taxpayers who fund the grants and student loans which pay for textbooks. Open educational resources (OER) provide students a way to receive high-quality learning materials at little or no cost to students. We report on the cost savings achieved by students at eight colleges when these colleges began utilizing OER in place of traditional commercial textbooks.


Both developed and developing countries are living a disturbing period because of growing population, rapid urbanization and environmental degradation in their urban and also rural areas. So that , the new approaches and terms in the field of daily life, which will be the solution of environmental problems are getting priority in the agenda of planners, managers and designers of cities. Many similar terms such as "green movement", ecological approaches", "sustainable development" and "green urbanization" play an increasingly important role in the purpose of minimizing environmental degradation in different areas. Cemeteries are the probably the most interesting areas in this context. Cemeteries as the inevitable form of land use in cities, should have be planned, managed, design and maintained with ecological approaches in order to protect environment and create livable spaces. Ecological concerns to cemetery areas include the type of inhume, selection of burial area, the type of soil, cemetery landscape design (selection of plant species etc.) and maintenance of cemetery landscape (such as weed control, fertilization) after planning and design process. This paper intends to emphasize and explains these considerations and their importance in the cities as healthy urban habitats. It also gives some samples of eco-cemetery, which have less pollutant. The study especially gives cemetery issues from different religions and cultures, discusses ecological sensitivity for cemeteries.

 Key words: Eco-cemetery, ecological sensitivity, environment problems, green burial, urban planning.


The data obtained in the paper showed that complex dynamics of changes of spatial-temporary situation of heterocomponent thalamocortical responses (TCR) at passing the sensorimotor cortex (SMC) was conditioned by the properties of electrogenesis of each TCR component, age and frequency of stimulation of ventroposterolateral (VPL) thalamus nucleus transformation of electric profile of the second positive component (PC-2) of the TCR at passing SMC might testify to algebraic summation in this component of bioelectric processes of several generation sources (invertible and non-invertible PC-2). The revealed properties of ontogenetic dynamics of the bioelectric fields profiles of the third negative component (NC-3) of the TCR might be the consequence of the age stages of the development and change of embryonal mechanisms of electrogenesis of the definitive ones in extremely similar negativities.


This study examines the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and social enterprise growth. A sample of 144 was selected from 548 registered social enterprises in Kampala city of Uganda using simple random sampling. The paper uses cross-sectional data. It has established that there is a significant positive correlation between the level of Innovativeness and Social Enterprise Growth, implying that that, as social entrepreneurs invest more in both radical and incremental innovations, they are likely to realise growth in competitiveness. Moreover, the study has found that risk orientation and proactiveness have a significant correlation with social enterprises growth. In other words, when social enterprises prepare good business plans, practice effective business controls while constantly seeking opportunities, they are likely to experience growth. In fact, EO, as a global construct, explains up to 37.3 percent of the variance in social enterprise growth . As such, the social enterprise sector needs to develop EO mechanisms for utilisation in creating and exploring opportunities for growth. Although the social enterprise sector has experienced phenomenal growth, there is need to develop an entrepreneurial capacity-building framework to support growth, sustainability and competitiveness of these enterprises. Indeed, the study recommends encouraging social entrepreneurs to make financial investments in research and development in addition to carrying out market environmental scanning to identify market changes, constant social product and service improvements and new social product development so as to access differentiated markets and realise requisite growth.  On the whole, this paper presents and extends the debate on the relevance of EO and contextual evidence of social enterprises and their nature of entrepreneurial orientation in a developing economy where the level and practice of philanthropy has unique challenges for supporting social entrepreneurship.


Experimental and literary data on the peculiarities of complement alternative pathway (APC) self-regulation and regulation are reviewed. There is a discussion of the methods of APC evaluation, including a new one, called complement hemolytical capacity. It is shown that the duration of complement-dependent hemolysis lag-period is limited by factor D concentration. The phenomenon of acceleration of APC-dependent hemolysis by membranes of lysed cells is described. The latter is an evidence of APC functioning in the mode of double amplification.


Objective To compare the effectiveness of shockwave therapy with a traditional conservative treatment program for chronic proximal hamstring tendinopathy in professional athletes. Design Randomized controlled trial, with 12 months of follow-up. Sample size was calculated with 80% power to show a difference of 3 points on a visual analog scale (VAS, 0-10 points; "no pain" to "worst pain") at P ⩽ 0.05, adjusted for multiple comparisons. Setting Tertiary imaging and rehabilitation center in Sulmona, Italy, with enrollment between February 2004 and September 2006. Participants Patients with chronic proximal hamstring tendinopathy diagnosed by the presence of ≥2 of 3 positive clinical tests (the Puranen-Orava test, the fast hamstring-stretch test, or the hamstring strength test), a pain score of ≥4 cm on the VAS, and abnormalities in the proximal hamstring tendon on magnetic resonance imaging using a grading system devised for Achilles tendinopathy (Khan system) were eligible. Exclusion criteria were other clinical syndromes and conditions, including hamstring muscle tears or pain of presumed lumbar spine origin, age ≥18 years, and any treatment in the previous 4 weeks. Of 52 patients assessed for eligibility, 27 men and 13 women met criteria. Intervention The 20 patients in the shockwave therapy group were assigned to 4 sessions, once per week, of 2500 shocks per session at an energy flux density of 0.18 mJ/mm2 directed to the area of maximal tenderness. Weight bearing and unrestricted range of motion were allowed immediately. No cointerventions except intermittent icing of the treated area were permitted. Patients were instructed to avoid activities that increased their symptoms. The patients in the traditional conservative treatment group were instructed to rest and to take 600-mg ibuprofen twice daily for the first week. For the first 2 weeks, they were assigned to physiotherapy consisting of daily ultrasound and transverse friction massage 3 times per week. This was followed by 3 weeks of stretching and strengthening work, including isotonic exercises, lunges, and jumps, performed 3 times per week. Main Outcome Measures The primary outcome measures 3 months after treatment were a mean difference of ≥3 cm between groups in the reduction in pain scores on the self-rated VAS and a mean difference in improvement between groups on the Nirschl phase rating scale (NPRS, phases 1-7, least pain and activity limitation to constant pain at rest). Patients who had surgery (15%) were not evaluated subsequently. Main Results After 3 months, the mean reduction in pain scores was 5.0 cm for the shockwave therapy group compared with 0.2 cm for the traditional conservative treatment group (95% confidence interval [CI] for the difference of 4.7 cm, 1.3-7.2). The mean NPRS improved for the shockwave therapy group (5.1 at baseline to 1.8 at 3 months) but worsened slightly for the traditional conservative treatment group (5.3 at baseline to 5.5 at 3 months; 95% CI for the difference of 3.7, 1.4-4.8). After 12 months, 80% of the patients in the shockwave therapy group were rated much improved or completely recovered and 80% had returned to their preinjury level of sport participation (mean time to return, 9 weeks; range, 6-15 weeks) compared with none in the traditional conservative treatment group. Surgical intervention was more common in the traditional conservative treatment group than the shockwave therapy group (5 patients vs 1 patient). Conclusions Shockwave therapy for athletes with hamstring tendinopathy was more effective in reducing pain and accelerating return to sport than "traditional" conservative treatment. Improvements were evident 3 and 12 months after treatment.


Endoscopic examinations and procedures are essential for diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. As a result of poor reprocessing practice microorganisms can be transmitted via endoscope. The majority of infection transmissions is due to insufficient performance of cleaning and disinfection disregarding guidelines of societies of gastrointestinal endoscopy. A review of the literature and a comparison of European and American guidelines for reprocessing flexible endoscopes are given. Differences in the classification of endoscopic devices, on the possibility of prion transmission, recommendations on staff training and protection, quality assurance of reprocessing and evidence-based graduation of guidelines are stressed and discussed. With respect to the procedure of endoscope reprocessing, differences concerning the cleaning solution to choose, necessity of thoroughly manual cleaning and brushing of the accessible endoscope channels (even in the case of subsequent automatic reprocessing endoscopes in washers-disinfectors), disinfection solution, microbiological quality of water for final rinsing and rationale for alcohol flush of endoscope channels for better drying are mentioned. The need for experimental investigations of the cleaning and disinfection process is stressed. In contrast to recent guidelines of European and American societies of gastrointestinal endoscopy, the now updated recommendations of the Robert Koch-Institute for reprocessing flexible endoscopes and endoscopic accessories are evidence-based and graduated.


We derive the expression for the energy uncertainty of the final state of a decay of an unstable quantum state prepared at the initial time $t=0$. This expression is function of the time $t$ at which a measurement is performed to determine if the state has decayed and, if yes, in which one of the infinitely many possible final states. For large times the energy spread is, as expected, given by the decay width $\Gamma$ of the initial unstable state. However, if the measurement of the final state is performed at a time $t$ comparable to (or smaller than) the mean lifetime of the state $1/\Gamma$, then the uncertainty on the energy of the final state is much larger than the decay width $\Gamma$. Namely, for short times an uncertainty of the type $1/t$ dominates, while at large times the usual spread $\Gamma$ is recovered. Then, we turn to a generic two-body decay process and describe the energy uncertainty of each one of the two outgoing particles. We apply these formulas to the two-body decays of the neutral and charged pions and to the spontaneous emission process of an excited atom. As a last step, we study a case in which the non-exponential decay is realized ad show that for short times eventual asymmetric terms are enhanced in the spectrum.


Welding is a commonly applied joining method in many applications in arctic and marine conditions, e.g., in ship and offshore structures, and energy production equipment. Such applications are usually subjected to fluctuating load conditions, and during a decades-long service, they may experience millions of load cycles. Consequently, fatigue strength design and acceptable flaw sizes in the welded details of these structures are among the most important design criteria. Multiple fatigue strength assessment approaches exist for assessing the fatigue strength of a welded detail. The present study introduces a numerical and analytical fatigue strength assessment, conducted on a non-load-carrying X-joint, which is a representative joint type used in many steel constructions. Fatigue analyses are carried out following the DNVGL-RP-C203 and BS7910:2013 fatigue design guidelines for offshore steel structures. The stress intensity factors (SIFs) for linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) analyses were obtained using three different methods: the weight function approach, the analytical equations provided in the IIW Recommendations, and by conducting numerical crack propagation analysis using the Franc2D software. All three methods had a good agreement particularly for short crack depths, indicating the applicability of the analytical approaches for the fatigue analyses. The results showed that the consideration of degree of bending at the welded detail is crucial due to the distinguishing notch stress factors of membrane and bending loading, and different stress distributions in the through-thickness direction. In addition, it was found that the LEFM-based fatigue life assessments are significantly more conservative than the life predictions obtained using the structural hot-spot and effective notch stress approaches.


The purpose of this Handbook is to provide practical guidance for planners, managers, and evaluators on the design and use of Monitoring and Evaluation Systems for the Rural Travel and Transport Program (RTTP), and to ensure that these systems are gender sensitive - capturing the impact of RTTP interventions on both men and women. The Handbook is designed both to provide an overview of the general principles of M/E design for RTTP programs as well as to ensure that the systems fully address gender. It is being developed as a collaborative product of the Gender and Rural Transport Initiative (GRTI) and the national RTTP programs, and has already benefited from inputs from a number of member countries. The draft Handbook will be distributed to all RTTP countries for comments, and field-testing and experiences from the participating countries will be incorporated into subsequent editions. The Rural Travel and Transport Program (RTTP), which is now being implemented in 19 African countries, is a collaborative initiative between the World Bank, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and several bilateral and multilateral donors agencies. The specific objectives of the RTTP are to help develop national rural transport policies and strategies to improve the planning, financing, and maintenance of rural roads, tracks, paths and footbridges; provide motorized and non-motorized rural transport services to move people and goods; and promote the use of least-cost methods, local resources, and small contractors for rural transport infrastructure works. The World Bank and other development agencies view the RTTP as a tool to advance reform in rural roads and transport policies, stimulate rural development and reduce poverty.


Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common, recurrent, chronic inflammatory skin disease that is a cause of considerable economic and social burden. Its prevalence varies substantially among different countries with an incidence rate proclaimed to reach up to 20% of children in developed countries and continues to escalate in developing nations. This increased rate of incidence has changed the focus of research on AD toward epidemiology, prevention, and treatment. The effects of probiotics in the prevention and treatment of AD remain elusive. However, evidence from different research groups show that probiotics could have positive effect on AD treatment, if any, that depend on multiple factors, such as specific probiotic strains, time of administration (onset time), duration of exposure, and dosage. However, till date we still lack strong evidence to advocate the use of probiotics in the treatment of AD, and questions remain to be answered considering its clinical use in future. Based on updated information, the processes that facilitate the development of AD and the topic of the administration of probiotics are addressed in this review.


The fifth generation, 5G, mobile communications technologies are expected to transform the future wireless communications services and networks' business models and respective ecosystems. The paper discusses the extended ecosystemic platform architecture for 5G evolution consisting of components, interfaces, data and algorithms and investigates how this business framework can enable the transformation of the 5G. With roots in economics and engineering, this study looks 5G architecture through the lenses of platform-based ecosystemic business model framework utilizing themes of innovation, openness, complementarity, competition and cooperation, organization and governance, economies of scale and scope, and supply-side, demand-side, two-sided or multi-sided business models. Based on the timely review of the state-of-the-art studies on the topic in the recent literature and the results of the future-oriented workshop held in 6G Summit 2019, study showed that the transformation from current network-for-connectivity business models towards network-of-services model builds on platform with data and algorithms.


Most metal materials tend to produce brittle fracture at low temperature. Nominal stress of producing brittle fracture is low, generally lower than yield limit. By use of this property, the machinability of the workpiece, tool life and workpiece surface quality can be improved. Classification and application of low temperature machining was introduced in the paper. Tests of low temperature machining were carried out. The test results show low temperature machining is superior to the cutting in normal temperature for the aspects of tool life and the roughness of workpiece surface.


Despite extensive research focused on increasing the sustainability and productivity of agricultural systems in the tropics, adoption rates of improved management solutions often remain low among smallholder farmers. To address this, we evaluated how local knowledge and perceptions influenced decision-making processes among smallholder cocoa farmers. We conducted individual semistructured interviews with 72 cocoa farmers in Southeast Sulawesi and documented local knowledge about soil fertility indicators, nutrient cycling processes, and the interactions among shade trees, cocoa trees, and soils in cocoa agroforests. We further collected data regarding farmers' fertilizer preferences, additional income sources, and perceived barriers to improved cocoa production. We found that farmers' understanding of biophysical interactions in Southeast Sulawesi was comprehensive, mostly accurately aligned with scientific literature, and sometimes provided additional complementary knowledge. Cocoa farmers in Southeast Sulawesi approached decision making in a holistic way, integrating personal observations, information from external sources, and socioeconomic limitations and priorities. This finding highlights the value of flexible conservation farming approaches that allow farmers to minimize trade-offs and prioritize their households' needs. Finally, we identify a "dual" knowledge gap on the part of farmers and scientists regarding the direct benefits of shade tree inclusion for improved yields and income security. Addressing this through further research and targeted knowledge dissemination could contribute to an increase in the long-term adoption rates of more sustainable cocoa cultivation practices.


Lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries have been one of the most attractive secondary battery systems to take advantage of their high theoretical energy densities and the low cost of sulfur. However, to realize their wide-scale commercial use, a high sulfur fraction is essential for the sulfur cathode. It is well known that the binder has a direct impact on the properties of the sulfur cathode. In this paper, γ-polyglutamic acid (PGA) was adopted as a functional binder in Li–S batteries. With plentiful electron-rich groups (amide, carboxyl) in the PGA molecular chain, the shuttle effect was restrained, and a good conductive network was formed. It was found that batteries using PGA as a binder exhibited better electrochemical cycling performance and rate capability compared to batteries using LA132, a common binder in sulfur cathodes. Even the PGA cathode contained a high sulfur mass fraction (77 wt%), the discharge capacity still remained 659 mA h g−1 with a coulombic efficiency of around 99% after 200 cycles at 0.5C.


Bioimpedance allows living tissues characterization and detection of pathological states. Although in previous years several methods have been proposed to assess bioimpedance, many instruments used in studies of living tissues characterization are commercial devices designed for the measurement of components or electronic circuits and therefore the measurement of biological tissues can be affected by electrical polarization. In order to test if electrical impedance spectroscopy may be helpful in providing further information about the structure and the properties of tissues, an impedance meter for living-tissues, able to avoid polarization, was developed. Subsequently, ex-vivo impedance measurements were performed by placing a needle-probe into 6 tissues (heart, kidney, lung, muscle, liver and fat) of 3 rabbits. Impedance was analyzed in terms of modulus and phase. In the range 2-10 kHz, considering both modulus and phase, it was possible to discriminate each tissue with statistical significance. In the lower considered range of frequencies (i.e., 10-100 Hz and 200-1000 Hz) this was not always the case. We conclude that the detailed analysis of modulus and phase in the frequency range of 2-10 kHz, by using an ad-hoc device able to avoid electrical polarization, allows to discriminate between several healthy living tissues.


Establishing strong connections between universities within initial teacher education (ITE) programs not only takes time, but it also presents opportunities and challenges. Tertiary music educators are called to prepare ITE students/pre-service teachers to be culturally responsive. This article forms part of our wider study "See, Listen and Share: Exploring Intercultural Music Education in a Transnational Experience Across Three Universities (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University, Australia; Deakin University, Australia; and Universitat Jaume I of Castelló, Spain). For this article, we draw on student web survey data, anecdotal feedback, and our reflections. We employ Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis as a tool to thematically group our surveys into three broad overarching themes to inform our findings and discussions. We argue that music education is an effective vehicle for exploring culture and diversity through song. Our findings show that our ITE students built positive attitudes about using songs in their generalist primary and early childhood classrooms. They also recognized the importance of collaborative sharing using face-to-face and Skype. This project proved a worthy experience for all concerned, it formed a rich part of our professional learning. We encourage others to consider the approach as one way to promote multicultural music and cultural diversity within ITE programs and across other educational settings.


With an aim to explore optical variability at diverse timescales in BL Lac source S5 0716+714, it was observed for 46 nights during 2013 January 14 to 2015 June 01 when it underwent two major outbursts. The observations were made using the 1.2 m Mount Abu InfraRed Observatory telescope mounted with a CCD camera. On 29 nights, the source was monitored for more than 2 hr, resulting in 6256 data points in the R band, to check for the intra-night variability (INV). Observations in the B, V, and I bands with 159, 214, and 177 data points, respectively, along with daily averaged R-band data are used to address inter-night and long-term variability and the color behavior of S5 0716+71. The study suggests that the source shows significant INV with a duty cycle of more than 31% and night-to-night variations. The average brightness magnitudes in the B, V, R, and I bands were found to be 14.42(0.02), 14.02(0.01), 13.22(0.01), and 13.02(0.03), respectively, while S5 0716+714 was historically brightest with R = 11.68 mag on 2015 January 18, indicating that the source was in a relatively high state during this period. A mild bluer-when-brighter behavior, typical of BL Lacs, supports the shock-in-jet model. We noticed larger amplitudes of variation when the source was relatively brighter. Based on the shortest timescale of variability and causality argument, the upper bound on the size of the emission region is estimated to be 9.32 × 1014 cm, and the mass of the black hole is estimated to be 5.6 × 108 M⊙.


We report recent advances in tool and process hardening of a first of its kind 300 mm wafer-to-wafer (WtW) preprocessing, aligning, and bonding integrated tool. We have demonstrated sub-500 nm post-bond alignment accuracies for 300 mm WtW face-to-face (FtF) Cu-Cu thermocompression bonds, WtW FtF Si-Si fusion bonds, and WtW FtF oxideoxide fusion bonds. All process of record (POR) recipes that were developed had undetectable voids based on scanning acoustic microscope (C-SAM) measurements on representative bonded Cu, oxide, and Si blanket wafers. Optimized bonded patterned wafer splits in the Cu-Cu WtW thermocompression bonding step have shown alignment accuracies down to ∼190 nm, the highest accuracy to date. Using an infrared-enabled, high speed focused ion beam (FIB) system (with XeF2) with a CAD overlay function to assist in selective sample preparation, we have verified that the bonding interfaces at the via chain structures with 1–5 μm diameter vias show no interfacial voids. Also, there is evidence of Cu interdiffusion, as supported by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and electron backscattering diffraction (EBSD) data.


The stability of a variety of aromatic and aliphatic N-donor ligands adducts of methyltrioxorhenium(VII) (CH3ReO3, MTO) was investigated using acetonitrile (CH3CN) as a solvent. The formation constants were determined by utilization of the obtained spectrophotometric data based on a 1:1 adduct formations. The adduct formation constants (Kf) for MTO:L (L = nitrogen donor ligand) are very sensitive to the electronic nature of the ligand and increases with the ligand donating ability. Adducts of aliphatic N-donor ligands are less stable towards decomposition by basic solutions and produce polymeric rhenium material, methane and perrhenate. The kinetics of the adduct decomposition were investigated in solution at room temperature under pseudo-first-order conditions. Linear correlations between the adduct decomposition rate constants (kd) and (Ka) values of the N-donor ligand have shown that the decomposition rate constants increasing with the N-donor ligand basicity. A comparative study between the values of Kf and kd revealed that imidazole forms the most stable adduct with MTO among the N-donor ligands investigated in this study.


Money laundry has been a known problem for a long period of time and Swedish banks today have a responsibility to discover and report any suspicions about money laundry to the finance police, which requires extensive work and resources. It's difficult to find practical solutions that suit both the customer and the bank while continuing to follow the law in a satisfactory way. A difficult situation arises when the bank is in between two important stakeholders and needs to balance their conflicting interests to keep the legitimacy against both of the stakeholders. The purpose of the study is to increase the bankers' understanding of customers' potential acting in evaluation situations when it comes to handling of money laundry. This is achieved by analysing the bankers' decision-making in situations regarding money laundry by cognitions in the complex strive to create legitimacy toward both the Finance inspectorate and the customer. The interest lies in identifying and categorising factors that affecting the bankers' decisions by developing a cognitive model. The study is a combination of both a quantitative and a qualitative method of research that has been approached by abduction. The study began with gathered empirical data from professional experience. Subsequently empirical data was gathered by the interviewing technique Repertory Grid with complementary classic interview question. The analysis and the conclusion show what factors have the greatest influence on a difficult and a simple situation involving handling of money laundry. By using Repertory Grid, we have identified two components:" risk of money laundry " and " important customer " and from this, we have identified four different categories where the customer of the bank can be placed and how they are being handled in reality.The analysis model can be practically used by the bank to identify the risk of money laundering for its various customers. Inductive, the personality of the bank worker has been studied and it has been shown that confident and efficient individuals believe that few situations are difficult to handle and their decisions are mostly guided by cognitions. The bank workers with a careful personality more often make decisions based on rules. Two different people can experience a situation in different ways, while different people can interpret money laundering law in different ways. As new standards are developed, there will also be new cognitions. New standards meet resistance from old norms and cognitions of bank employees, the resistance is called cognitive dominance. It requires extensive work to implement the new standards. Another inductive streak in the study is the stereotypical filter where the bank workers cut corners in their decision making to be efficient in situations where efficiency is demanded. A consequence of the stereotypical decision making process might be that faulty decisions are made and that the wrong people are questioned for it, while the people that actually commit money laundry crimes aren't punished. The conclusions focus on the factors that has shown to be the most significant and whether personality of a bank clerk can have significance to make a decision in a situation regarding money laundry.


CONTENTS Ι. Scope of this work 3 2. Acknowledgements 4 3. History of the study of Suriname marine Mollusca....... 6 a. Recent 6 b. Holocene 15 4. The Suriname coastal waters as an environment for Mollusca .... 23 a. General remarks 23 b. The intertidal zone and shallow coastal waters....... 24 c. The estuary and lower course of the Suriname River..... 26 d. The coastal waters within the 30 fathom line....... 29 5. The occurrence of Holocene marine Mollusca in Suriname..... 31 6. The economic importance of Suriname marine Mollusca...... 34 7. Origin of the material studied 36 a. Collections and collectors 36 b. Localities 39 8. The marine Mollusca of French and British Guiana....... 42 9. References 44 I. SCOPE OF THIS WORK More than ten years ago Dr. D. C. Geijskes, then Director of the Suriname Museum, Paramaribo, visited me and asked for my help. During the years (since 1938) Dr. Geijskes had stayed in Suriname, he had collected marine Mollusca in a great number of localities, in the Holocene so called shellridges, as well as on the coast and in the estuaries. He was sure that his collection contained a great number of species, and that their distribution over


In recent times, scholars have engaged themselves with these two words "poverty" and "corruption" most especially in relation to what Africans experience on their way to economic emancipation e.g. Nigeria and Kenya. There had been a struggle between poverty and corruption. The bible also is not left out in this struggle. Poverty and corruption as we know the two today are not only African problems. They are universal phenomena. It is generally true to say that whenever there are extreme poverty and corruption everywhere, all the miseries that come with poverty and corruption, majority of the cases show a black face, an indigenous person, a caste, an orphan, a widow, woman or young person who is jobless and so on. The two cuts across all races, religion and cultures. By implication they are described as endemic in any human existence. The greatest evidence of poor people in Africa is lack of opportunities, lack of political power and voice to be global player in the world where economics defines success. Hence, this paper examines how poverty is related to corruption and vice versa. It also examines the New Testament perspective and assesses poverty and corruption in the contemporary experiences in Africa. This paper also suggests some ways out of the woods to ameliorate these challenges that almost cripple the dignity of humans which confront Africa in the 21stCentury.


A two-step bonding technique for optical device assembly on a planar lightwave circuit platform was developed, which consists of a chip-by-chip thermo-compression prebonding step and a simultaneous reflow bonding step. The technique was used to realize multichip optical integration on the platform. The characteristics of the bonding technique were examined by investigating its strength and accuracy. The bonding accuracies in the horizontal and vertical directions were 1.1 and 0.8 /spl mu/m, respectively, with high bonding strength. The technique was first applied to a 3 chip integrated transceiver module and the 136 fabricated modules exhibited good performance. The average coupling loss between the laser diodes and the waveguide was estimated to be 4.1 dB and stable characteristics were observed during 1200 cycle thermal shock tests between -40 and 85/spl deg/C. Next, the two-step bonding technique was used for a 4 channel laser diode module on which 8 optical device chips were integrated and a low coupling loss was achieved of better than 4.2 dB which is as good as that of the 3 chip integrated optical modules.


The definition and significance of oscillator stability continually arise in communication and radar system design. This paper relates the conventional definition of oscillator stability to the more fundamental frequency error process of the oscillator through an integral equation. Both short-and long-term stability are encompassed by the definition. Since in general the integral equation cannot be solved, certain frequency error processes are postulated, and the stability is derived therefrom.


Building evacuation analysis has recently received increasing attention, as people are keen to assess the safety of occupants. Reports on past disasters indicate that human behavior characterizes evacuation during emergencies. The understanding and modeling of human behavior enable improved design of evacuation plans to better reflect the needs of occupants — for example, to reduce evacuation time, a composite of pre-movement time and travel time. In this paper, we demonstrate that information at the time of emergencies affects human behavior and that this behavior affects pre-movement time and the time it takes to move people to safe places. Information is shared with people via announcements and through interpersonal communication. We have modeled and simulated information transfer in an agent-based evacuation system, using BDI models that represent the diversity of human psychological states and using ACL-based communications that dynamically change people's beliefs. The model enables an evacuation simulation to consider the effect of information on human behavior and calculate evacuation time, including pre-movement time. The simulation results demonstrate that methods of guidance improve evacuation time, and they reveal phenomena in agent behaviors that have not been simulated by other methods.


We present a search for the lightest supersymmetric partner of the top quark in proton-antiproton collisions at a center-of-mass energy root s = 1: 96 TeV. This search was conducted within the framework of the R parity conserving minimal supersymmetric extension of the standard model, assuming the stop decays dominantly to a lepton, a sneutrino, and a bottom quark. We searched for events with two oppositely-charged leptons, at least one jet, and missing transverse energy in a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1 fb(-1) collected by the Collider Detector at Fermilab experiment. No significant evidence of a stop quark signal was found. Exclusion limits at 95% confidence level in the stop quark versus sneutrino mass plane are set. Stop quark masses up to 180 GeV/c(2) are excluded for sneutrino masses around 45 GeV/c(2), and sneutrino masses up to 116 GeV/c(2) are excluded for stop quark masses around 150 GeV/c(2).


This note provides a biographical sketch of the author, and describes how she has conducted her researches including design of bio-mimetic materials with unique functions and surface forces measurement. Her experiences in biomimetic chemistry have helped her to uniquely pursue the measurement. Examples of her research on surface forces measurements are presented. They include: (1) demonstration of hydrogen-bonded molecular macroclusters formation on silica; (2) development of resonance shear measurement for confined liquids; and (3) development of twin-path surface forces apparatus for opaque samples.


Executive sponsorship is critical to project success; however, the impact of the sponsorship role on project management value and sustainability is not known. Using correlation analysis we examine survey responses from 91 U.S. executives. Formalizing and providing training on the sponsorship role and responsibilities are both significantly related to senior management's perception of the sustainability of project management value. Unexpectedly, no significant relationship exists between the prevalence of the sponsorship role and project management value outcomes. These results extend our understanding of the importance of the sponsorship role and provide practical guidance for those seeking to improve the sustainability of project management value.


The simplex algorithm travels, on the underlying polyhedron, from vertex to vertex until reaching an optimal vertex. With the same simplex framework, the proposed algorithm generates a series of feasible points (which are not necessarily vertices). In particular, it is exactly an interior point algorithm if the initial point used is interior. Computational experiments show that the algorithm are very efficient, relative to the standard simplex algorithm. It terminates at an approximate optimal vertex, or at an optimal vertex if a simple purification is incorporated.


Too many choices of widely varying quality. The idea of this page is to provide a selected group of websites and resources to health consumers.


The contemporary Armenian diaspora is spread throughout the world, with its core composed of descendants of the survivors of the atrocities carried out by the Turkish authorities during the decline of the Ottoman Empire (1881–1922). The majority of this established diaspora hails from what was once western Armenia and is now eastern Turkey, in contrast to the newest wave of Armenian economic migrants, who come from portions of eastern historical Armenia ruled by the czarist and then Soviet empires and who left following the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. Unlike the new migrants, the older diasporans have to negotiate the gap between a mythical homeland and an actual "step-homeland" in the shape of the present Republic of Armenia. This background goes some way to explain why there was been very little "return" migration to Armenia by diasporans. Nonetheless, a very small number of diasporans have actually taken up the option of "return" in the sense of relocating to Armenia. I have termed this trend a particular kind of "sojourning," located in the conceptual space in between migrant and visitor. The concept of sojourn reflects the increased mobility and flexibility of both the theory and practice of diaspora, challenging the traditional triadic framework of homeland–diaspora–host state through which diasporas have been approached. This article plots the evolving and complex relationship of diaspora and "homeland" on the ground, specifically through the experiences of diasporans who have made the move to live in Armenia for varying periods of time. It analyzes and articulates the experiences of these individuals and views them as a counter-community that re-imagines and expands the "homeland" while embodying the transnational. This movement represents identity shaping from below, which does not subvert state categories of belonging (and in fact can reinforce them) but transgresses and expands the boundaries of these categories in practice and in the imagining of the "transnation."


Healthcare costs in the United States have been increasing in recent years. The increase in healthcare costs and the lack of affordable health insurance affects many individuals and organizations. Human resources (HR) departments have started to take strategic steps to lessen the effect of high healthcare costs to the organization. Creating a culture of wellness at work and implementing workplace wellness programs, allows HR to support individual efforts towards a healthy lifestyle. By proving why organizations should invest in their most valuable asset, their employees, the human resources department can strengthen their position as a strategic partner. This paper addresses the outcomes from successful workplace wellness programs. In order for HR to meet departmental and organizational goals from wellness programs, they must gain support from upper management, encourage employees to participate, mold the organization's culture, and measure the outcomes of the wellness initiatives; doing so will prove wellness programs are not an expense, instead they are an investment in human capital in order to create a return on investment (ROI) and a return on value (ROV) for the organization. Investing in human capital can position the company above others in the marketplace and helps insure the long term stability and success of an organization.


The boll weevil Anthonomus grandis Boheman, is one of the major pests of cotton in Brazil. There have been many attempts to locate sources of resistance to this insect in many places where it occurs. Several researchers have mentioned primitive Gossypium hirsutum L. that have given significant reduction in oviposition punctures under laboratory tests. Some lines have imposed significant reduction in boll weevil populations under field conditions. Some progenies derived from crosses between these race stocks and cultivars Stoneville 213, PNH3 and CNPA Precoce 2, exhibited significant levels of resistance to boll weevil while maintaining good fiber and agronomic characteristics.


An appropriate method of pre-dye coating of TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) and a facile approach of a dip coating technique have been adopted for the fabrication of panchromatic dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC). A bi-layer photoanode consists of two distinct layers of TiO2 films, which were individually sensitized with N719 and N749 dyes and then coated on a TCO substrate in a sequenced manner. The spectral response of panchromatic DSSCs has been investigated using monochromatic incident photon to current conversion efficiency (IPCE) spectroscopy. The IPCE spectrum of panchromatic DSSC revealed the absorption characteristics of each single dye cell. The broader absorption spectra were obtained up to 850 nm of near IR region and the higher quantum efficiency than those of single cells were recorded. The higher value of IPCE is correlated with the higher short circuit current density value of panchromatic cell (Jsc = 13.4 mA cm−2). The tandem cell showed an average open circuit voltage (Voc = 0.79 V) of the single dye cells with an overall conversion efficiency of 7.1%. Moreover, the present approach does not require any high temperature sintering process; therefore it could be suitable for the fabrication of flexible panchromatic DSSCs.


The thermal state of the lithosphere and related geothermal heat flow (GHF) is a crucial parameter to understand a variety of processes related to cryospheric, geospheric, and/or biospheric interactions. Indirect estimates of GHF in polar regions from magnetic, seismological, or petrological data often show large discrepancies when compared to thermal in situ observations. Here, the lack of in situ data represents a fundamental limitation for both investigating thermal processes of the lithosphere and validating indirect heat flow estimates. During RV Polarstern expeditions PS86 and PS118, we obtained in situ thermal measurements and present the derived GHF in key regions, such as the Antarctic Peninsula and the Gakkel Ridge in the Arctic. By comparison with indirect models, our results indicate (1) elevated geothermal heat flow (75 ± 5 mW m−2 to 139 ± 26 mW m−2) to the west of the Antarctic Peninsula, which should be considered for future investigations of ice-sheet dynamics and the visco-elastic behavior of the crust. (2) The thermal signature of the Powell Basin characteristic for oceanic crust of an age between 32 and 18 Ma. Further, we propose (3) that at different heat sources at the slow-spreading Gakkel Ridge in the Aurora Vent Field region might explain the geothermal heat flow distribution. We conclude that in situ observations are urgently required to ground-truth and fine-tune existing models and that a multidisciplinary approach is of high importance for the scientific community's understanding of this parameter.


For the requirements of mechanism activity, the mechanical pairs need certain clearances. To research the precision and stability of high-speed mechanism, it's need to study the impaction and vibration which is caused by clearance in pair. A vibration experiment set of four-bar linkage with clearances is designed for this goal, and on the experiment set, vibration wave and data are gotten. The data got from experiment set are consistent to the results of theoretical calculation. From the vibration measure and dynamic model, it's found that comparing to ideal pair, clearance causes impact in pair and the vibration increasing nonlinearly with rotary velocity.


Summary To characterize the duration of the fibrinolytic response to tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and streptokinase (SK) in patients with acute myocardial infarction we serially assayed crosslinked fibrin degradation products (XL-FDP) and Bβ15-42 fibrinopeptide. Use of specific monoclonal antibodies permitted quantification and differentiation of fibrin from fibrinogen degradation products. Marked elevations of XL-FDP occurred within 1 hour after administration of t-PA (n = 13) or SK (n = 35) to >1000 ng/ml in 79% of the patients. All patients given t-PA exhibited elevations of XL-FDP >1000 ng/ml, most exhibited values >5000 ng/ml (79% of patients). In contrast 6 of the patients given SK failed to exhibit XL-FDP >1000 ng/ml. XL-FDP >5000 ng/ml occurred in only 14%. The difference in the response to t-PA compared to SK was particularly striking 7 hours or more after administration of activator at which time XL-FDP were markedly elevated in patients given t-PA (5821 ± 1683 ng/ ml) compared with decreasing values in patients given SK (2924 ± 1186 ng/ml) (p <0.01). Levels of Bβ315-42 were significantly higher after t-PA compared with SK beginning 3 hours after treatment, consistent with a greater intensity of fibrinolytic response to t-PA. Marked elevations of this short lived degradation product of fibrin (t1/2 = 10-20 minutes) in the samples drawn late after administration of t-PA (44.3 ±12.8 nM) but not after SK (11.7 ± 4.5 nM) confirmed prolonged fibrinolytic activity of plasmin after t-PA. There was no discernible relationship between the extent of fibrinolysis as assessed by XL-FDP and Bβ 15-42 and the total dose of t-PA administered or the duration of the infusion. Elevations of XL-FDP invariably occurred after SK, and were not significantly different in patients with or without recanalization. Thus "clinical success" of coronary thrombolysis appears to depend on a favorable balance between thrombosis and fibrinolysis rather than the intensity of fibrinolysis alone. The prolonged fibrinolytic activity after t-PA appears to reflect the enhanced binding of this activator to fibrin and is likely to result in more sustained and hence more effective fibrinolysis with t-PA compared to SK despite the short half-life of t-PA (t1/2 = 6 minutes) in the circulation.


One of the most problems that affects the performance of the journal bearing is the shaft misalignment. Misalignment may result due to installation error, shaft deformation, manufacturing error, bearing wear, etc. This paper presents a solution for the misaligned journal bearing problem under hydrodynamic regime. The Reynolds equation has been solved numerically for a finite length bearing based on the finite difference method. The solution demonstrates a new model for the representation of the 3D misalignment geometry and also a detailed procedure for the implementation of the boundary condition in the numerical solution is explained. Furthermore, the convergence of the solution to the required load is investigated. The results reveal a severe thinning in the levels of film thickness and significant rising of the maximum pressure value when the misalignment is taken into consideration.


Disenchantment with the Washington Consensus has led to an emphasis on growth diagnostics. In the case of Brazil, the literature suggests three main factors impeding growth: low domestic savings, a shortage of skilled workers, and lack of investment in the country's transportation infrastructure. The unique contribution of this study is to show the inter-temporal implications of relaxing these constraints. We fit a multi-sector Ramsey model to Brazilian data, validate its fit to times data, and provide empirical insights into the economy's structural transformation to long-run equilibrium. Then, the sensitivity of these results to relaxing each of these three constraints is investigated in a manner that yields the same long-run level of well- being. Analytical concepts adapted from static trade theory are used to provide a detailed explanation of how the economy responds in transition growth to the relaxation of these impediments. Addressing these factors clearly benefits the economy, but they do not launch the economy on a substantially higher growth path.


In this paper, an analysis of fatigue crack growth behavior from a statistical point of view has been carried out. Fatigue crack growth tests were conducted on sixteen pre-cracked compact tension (CT) specimens of the pressure vessel (SPV50) steel in controlled identical load and environmental conditions. The assessment of the statistical distribution of fatigue crack growth experimental data obtained from SPV50 steel was studied and also the correlation of the parameter C and m in the Paris-Erdogan law was discussed. The probability distribution function of fatigue crack growth life seems to follow the 3-parameter Weibull. The fatigue crack growth rate seems to follow the 3-parameter Weibull and the log-normal distribution. The coefficient of variation (COV) of fatigue crack growth life was observed to decrease as the crack grows. Fatigue crack growth rate data shows a normal distribution for both m and logC. A strong negative linear correlation exists between the coefficient C and the exponent m.


Authors' Abstract Multimodal interfaces combining, e.g., natural language and graphics take advantage of both the individual strength of each communication mode and the fact that several modes can be employed in parallel, e.g., in the text-picture combinations of illustrated documents. It is an important goal of this research not simply to merge the verbalization results of a natural language generator and the visualization results of a knowledge-based graphics generator, but to carefully coordinate graphics and text in such a way that they complement each other. We describe the architecture of the knowledge-based presentation system WIP which guarantees a design process with a large degree of freedom that can be used to tailor the presentation to suit the specific context. In WIP, decisions of the language generator may influence graphics generation and graphical constraints may sometimes force decisions in the language production process. In this paper, we focus on the influence of graphical constraints on text generation. In particular, we describe the generation of cross-modal references, the revision of text due to graphical constraints and the clarification of graphics through text.


Digital Health Literacy (DHL) is a key element to promote patient empowerment. This position paper presents the lessons learnt from the daily activities of a General Practitioner interacting with patients. General Practitioners have a main role in each stage on individual digital health literacy process. They are the first meeting point between patients and the medical knowledge; in the search phase, they are who can prescribe and validate health information; in the comprehension phase, they lead to a full understanding; and in the adoption phase, they assist in the own personal application. Major conclusions are that General Practitioners need a set of tools, organizational resources and knowledge to acquire Digital Health Literacy skills to help patients on their way from the information to the empowerment. Some of these tools and knowledge are identified to draw the future roadmap to get people with Digital Health Literacy skills.


Executive Summary A review of the recent literature and research in progress on bird collisions with communication towers was contracted by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In the five year period 1995 through 1999, very little research was published or conducted that is relevant to the bird-communication tower collision problem. It seems that since the major reviews of the late 1970s and early 1980s, few researchers and others have been interested in researching the problem. Before 1985, there was an enormous body of literature, mostly anecdotal that has not been examined analytically. For the current review, , a standard literature search was conducted along with a search of the world wide web. In addition, all state fish and game agencies (nongame programs), state ornithological organizations (and their publication editors), bird observatories and organizations, and listserves were canvassed via email, as were representatives of conservation organizations of more than 25 countries. Finally, about a dozen of the world's leading researchers on the topic were interviewed to determine whether they were conducting research or whether they knew of anyone who was. Questionnaires were designed and tailored to each of the groups canvassed. Although there is little research now being conducted or results published within the past five years, several researchers are now conducting studies of towerkills in Kansas, West Virginia, and New York. These studies, in addition to studies of towerkills at recently developed wind turbine sites, suggest that shorter towers do not kill as many birds as taller towers (no major mortality events have been reported at the shorter towers), although this conclusion should not be considered definitive. With respect to research on the influence of magnetic radiation and radio frequencies in the range of those emanating from towers on migrating birds, there is little research. Experts canvassed did not feel that these waves are as strong as the earth's magnetic field and are not likely to cause disruption of night migrating birds' orientation or navigation systems. One potentially promising technique involves the impacts of infrasonic (low-frequency acoustic) shock waves on birds, particularly Homing Pigeons, which may – following research into its efficacy – provide a means for warning birds of tower presence and resultant bird avoidance, even in inclement weather. There have been no studies documenting the difference in risk of various lighting systems, although several researchers stated that white strobes are likely to be less risky than …


The U.S. cheese industry has historically used the organized Exchange spot cheese prices as reference prices in contract cheese market. Furthermore, the Exchange cheese prices have been influencing government-set prices of milk used in cheese manufacturing (i.e. Class III milk). The thinness of the Exchange spot cheese market has been raising concerns as to whether it adequately represents the cheese market fundamentals, which is important for the effective performance of cheese industry. The empirical evidence presented in the paper may suggest that due to the nature of cheese manufacturing, which basically depends on one input (milk), and a presence of government milk pricing, Class III milk price has become a key strategic variable in the modern cheese industry. While variation in cheese production and stock explains 4-15% of variation in the Exchange cheddar cheese price, variation in lagged Class III milk price explains 72% of variation in the Exchange cheddar cheese price. Furthermore, the effect of lagged Class III milk price on the Exchange cheddar cheese price and its variance tends to be stronger than the effect of cheese production and stock.


Abstract Polymer nanocomposites combine the versatile, lightweight characteristics of polymers with the properties of nanomaterials. Polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG) is commonly used in polymer additive manufacturing due to its controllable transparency, high modulus, and mechanical properties. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) add tensile strength, electrical conductivity, and thermal stability. The increased use of nanocomposites has led to concern over potential human health risks. We assessed morphologic alterations to determine impacts of ingested abraded nanocomposites compared to its component materials, pristine MWCNTs (1000 mg/L) and PETG. Adult transparent Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) were administered materials via oral gavage in 7 doses over 16 days. In vivo observations revealed altered livers and gallbladders following exposure to pristine MWCNTs and nanocomposites. Subsequent histologic sections showed fish exposed to pristine MWCNTs had highly altered biliary structures, and exposure to nanocomposites resulted in hepatocellular alteration. Thyroid follicle proliferation was also observed in fish exposed to materials containing MWCNTs. Transmission electron microscopy of livers showed that hepatocytes of fish exposed to MWCNTs had widespread swelling of rough endoplasmic reticulum, pronounced lysosomal activity, and swelling of intrahepatic biliary passageways. Fish exposed to nanocomposites had areas of degenerated hepatocytes with interspersed cellular debris. Each analysis showed that fish exposed to pristine PETG were most similar to controls. These results suggest that MWCNTs are the source of toxicity in abraded nanocomposite materials but that nanocomposites may also have some unique effects. The similarities of many teleost and mammalian tissues are such that these findings may indicate human health risks.


The effective complex conductivity of a two-component material can be conveniently expressed as an integral transformation of a spectral function. The spectral function depends only on the geometry of the material, and can be used to calculate for any particular choice of component conductivities. This is a very useful feature if the component conductivities can be varied (by changing the temperature or frequency, for example) at a fixed geometry. We present a derivation of the spectral function that identifies it as a density of states. We have made direct numerical calculations of the spectral function of two-dimensional random resistor networks. Two-dimensional discrete resistor networks are ideal for this study, as the Y - transformation can be used as an algorithm to obtain the most detailed results to date. We identify the structure in the spectral function with clusters in the network. We give analytic expressions for the first five moments of the spectral function, which are identified as the expansion coefficients of the effective conductivity in weak-scattering theory, and compare these expressions with the moments calculated from the simulations.


Abstract This article explores the emergence and development of Death Certificates as a means of establishing the cause of death for individuals and populations. The difficulty in choosing which disease caused death when several are described on the Certificate explains why the number of COVID‐19‐related deaths has been difficult to determine. This problem also draws attention to the dominant biomedical explanation for the cause of death that both promote and circumscribe what can be recognised as a valid cause.


Cloud computing is defined as a structured model that defines computing services, in which resources as well as data are retrieved from cloud service provider via internet through some well formed web-based tool and application. It provides the on demand services for various applications and infrastructure to the user. Cloud service providers are required to provide the service efficiently and effectively. For that, a cloud provider utilizes all the resource from the node. Thus, the node that are meant for creating a task in the cloud computing must be considered for efficient usage of the available resources. Resources have to be properly selected according to the properties of the task. By analyzing the present research on cloud computing, we have come to the most common and important issue of load balancing. Load balancing has always been a research subject whose objective is to ensure that all computing resources are distributed efficiently and fairly. As the numbers of users are increasing on the cloud, the load balancing has become the challenge for the cloud provider. Load balancing being subject of research, we have proposed an algorithm for load balancing which will work dynamically for optimal usage of resource utilization. We have compared our algorithm with various existing static load balancers as well as conventional dynamic load balancer also.


Introduction: Respiratory distress is serious issue in dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), especially in children. Appropriate and timely intervention for treatment of respiratory distress is a prerequisite for treatment success; however, this requires appropriate preparation of personnel and equipment. Therefore, further research is needed on the rate, the associated factors, and the severity of respiratory distress. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate DHF treatment in a provincial pediatric hospital in southern of Vietnam. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted between January 2015 and June 2017 at Dongnnai Paediatric Hospital (DPH). All DSS cases treated at DPH in the study period were invited to participate in the study. The NS1 rapid test, combined with an IgM test, was used to indicate DHF. Results: In total, 1,085 pediatric patients were admitted to DPH, and 800 of them developed dengue shock syndrome (DSS); the mortality rate was 0.3%. The average age of DSS patients was 9.3 ± 3 years. A total of 137 patients (17.1%) suffered from respiratory distress. The onset of respiratory distress was 23.6 hours after resuscitation with fluid, and 76.3% of these patients received respiratory support with nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). Mechanical ventilation was required in 5.9% of patients; the shortest time of mechanical ventilation was 1.5 days and the maximum were 13 days. The epidemiology, signs, and treatment of respiratory distress are associated with many factors, including age, mucosal hemorrhage, hematocrit (Hct), albumin, blood lactate at shock, total fluid volume, molecule fluid volume, number of hours of infusion, amount of urine during infusion, and rate of re-shock. Conclusion: The respiratory failure in children with DSS has a rate of 17.1%, is mostly at the moderate level, and requires CPAP. Young age, high plasma loss, re-shock, and the volume of parenteral administration are factors that contribute to respiratory distress in pediatric DHF cases.


Requirements hand-over is a common practice in software development off shoring. Cultural and geographical distance between the outsourcer and supplier, and the differences in development practices hinder the communication and lead to the misinterpretation of the original set of requirements. In this article we advocate requirements quality certification using LSPCM as a prerequisite for requirements hand-over. LSPCM stands for LaQuSo Software Product Certification Model that can be applied by non-experienced IT assessors to verify software artifacts in order to contribute to the successfulness of the project. To support our claim we have analyzed requirements of three off shoring projects using LSPCM. Application of LSPCM revealed severe flaws in one of the projects. The responsible project leader confirmed later that the development significantly exceeded time and budget. In the other project no major flaws were detected by LSPCM and it was confirmed that the implementation was delivered within time and budget. Application of LSPCM to the projects above also allowed us to refine the model for requirements hand-over in software development off shoring.


This thesis explores nationalism, state identity and community through the lens of one Southern planter family. The Crenshaw family are traced from their origins in Virginia, to South Carolina and thence to Alabama Territory during the first wave of migration between 1816 and 1819. Establishing a strong kinship community upon migration, they fostered an identity with their new state which superseded that of American or Confederate identity.
Employing genealogy as a research methodology to enhance the understanding of kinship networks, within the framework of a detailed analysis of the Crenshaw family's archive, this research demonstrates how familial power dynamics created and redefined their identity as Alabamians, Southerners and Americans. Employing the framework of national vs. local identity, this project reflects on the relative importance of localism over and above national loyalty and the possibilities for localism superseding national identity prior to the Civil War and beyond.
Planters, lawyers and politicians, the Crenshaws belonged to the planter elite and as such accrued significant land and wealth, including a large community of enslaved people. Settling finally in Butler County, the core years addressed here examine their lives their 1817-1819 migration to the state through to the end of Reconstruction, tracing community establishment, education and the approach of the Civil War. The fortunes of the family in such a location were undeniably changed forever by their personal experiences of Civil War and Reconstruction.
Re-Appraising the established and current literature against a vast archive of newly discovered primary material, this thesis demonstrates, in contrast to some established beliefs, that family networks and community identity were an essential element in the success of family amidst this turbulent period in the 19th century United States. In the process, this project emphasizes the importance of local history in illuminating and enhancing broader historical processes.


An amphiphilic block copolymer surfactant is used to impart peripheral surface functionality to polymer nanoparticles synthesized via emulsion polymerization. Particles ranged in size from ca. 55 nm by SEM (ca. 82 nm by DLS) to just over 200 nm. Particles displaying latent functionality were readily functionalized directly after polymerization using a fluorescent dye.


Vehicle trajectory data has received increasing research attention over the past decades. With the technological sensing improvements such as high-resolution video cameras, in-vehicle radars and lidars, abundant individual and contextual traffic data is now available. However, though the data quantity is massive, it is by itself of limited utility for traffic research because of noise and systematic sensing errors, thus necessitates proper processing to ensure data quality. We draw particular attention to extracting high-resolution vehicle trajectory data from video cameras as traffic monitoring cameras are becoming increasingly ubiquitous. We explore methods for automatic trajectory data reconciliation, given"raw"vehicle detection and tracking information from automatic video processing algorithms. We propose a pipeline including a) an online data association algorithm to match fragments that are associated to the same object (vehicle), which is formulated as a min-cost network flow problem of a graph, and b) a trajectory reconciliation method formulated as a quadratic program to enhance raw detection data. The pipeline leverages vehicle dynamics and physical constraints to associate tracked objects when they become fragmented, remove measurement noise on trajectories and impute missing data due to fragmentations. The accuracy is benchmarked on a sample of manually-labeled data, which shows that the reconciled trajectories improve the accuracy on all the tested input data for a wide range of measures. An online version of the reconciliation pipeline is implemented and will be applied in a continuous video processing system running on a camera network covering a 4-mile stretch of Interstate-24 near Nashville, Tennessee.


Objective: Primary tubal cancers are rare malignant tumors that account for approximately less than 1% of all gynecological malignancies. We retrospectively analyzed the clinicopathological characteristics of twenty cases of primary cancers of the fallopian tube. Material and Method: Twenty patients diagnosed as primary tubal cancer at the Pathology Department of the Istanbul Faculty of Medicine between October 1997 and December 2005 are described in our study. Results: The patient age ranged from 43 to 74 years. Of the patients, 13 underwent surgical staging. Most of the patients were classified as stage III. The most common histological type was serous carcinoma. Only one patient had another synchronous primary gynecologic cancer. Of the 11 patients with complete prognostic data, 9 were alive for 16 to 106 months after initial surgery. In conclusion, primary cancers of the fallopian tube are similar to ovarian cancers with their pathological features and usually advanced stage - cancers with peritoneal and lymphatic spread. They can be successfully treated with the combination of cytoreductive surgery and chemotherapy. Conclusion: We suggest that a thorough macroscopic examination of gynecological specimens by the pathologists would increase the percentage of these "rare" tumors.


The adoption of Information Technology (IT) in organisations has brought significant benefits to business operations. However, achieving business and IT alignment has been and continues to be a major challenge for researchers and practitioners. The rapid changes in business and IT environments and the influence of social aspects on the business value generated by IT have contributed to its increased complexity. In order to be aware of the state of this alignment, organisations are advised to conduct a business and IT alignment assessment. The outcomes of such assessments provide a platform to achieve a better state of business-aligned IT. However, existing methodological approaches to evaluate business and IT alignment at the operational level have lacked the involvement of social values, to be balanced with other tangible values, as factors in the alignment assessment. Addressing this issue is the motivation for this research.
Guided by the Design Science Research (DSR) paradigm, the Business and IT Alignment Assessment Method (B-ITAAM) is developed as the main research contribution. B-ITAAM comprises, in a novel approach, a set of business analysis techniques that assist for a comprehensive business-aligned IT assessment. Principles and concepts from multiple theoretical and methodological perspectives have been adopted to form the theoretical foundations upon which the assessment method is based. As such, concepts from Strategic Management are adopted to establish a link between the strategic and operational levels of an organisation to guide the alignment assessment. Principles from Socio Technical Systems and Organisational Semiotics form the basis for eliciting social values from relevant stakeholders influencing the value of business and IT. Additionally, principles from Service-Oriented Architecture and Enterprise Architecture enable the evaluation method to be service driven. Finally, principles from Task Technology Fit and Social Exchange theories support, respectively, the establishment and assessment of the business and IT alignment.
B-ITAAM was applied in a higher education institution to evaluate its viability as an effective business and IT alignment assessment method. The application resulted in a set of recommendations that aim to enhance the alignment of a set of business and IT services offered by the institution, which received appraisal from nine experts involved in the institution. The application also reveals the complexity of the business and IT alignment assessment in the higher education sector, which, until now, has received little attention in business and IT alignment research.


The wind‐driven saltation of granular material plays a key role in various geophysical processes on Earth, Mars, Venus, and Titan. Although interparticle cohesion is known to limit the number of grains lifted from the surface through aerodynamic entrainment and granular splash, the role of cohesion in the development of saltation from onset to steady state is still poorly understood. Using a numerical model based on the discrete element method, we show that saltation over cohesive beds sustains itself at wind speeds 1 order of magnitude smaller than those necessary to initiate it, giving rise to hysteresis in which the occurrence of transport depends on the history of the wind. Our results further suggest that saltation over cohesive beds requires much longer distances to saturate, thereby increasing the size of the smallest stable bed forms. These findings have implications for dune formation, dust emission, and snow sublimation over cohesive beds.


In the last 30 years, numerous studies analysed the factors that affect land prices mainly using the Hedonic Pricing method. These studies have shown that many factors can affect land prices (e.g. land and surrounding territory characteristics, accessibility, proximity to urban area, etc.). However, they rarely addressed the analysis of the reliability of the models by comparing the estimated values to the observed one. Attempting to face this problem, our study analysed the land market of the "Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore PGDO" area. Despite the quite high coefficient of determination (r2 = 0.76) and statistical significance of the model parameters, we found that the percentage absolute deviation between observed and estimated value is higher than 30% in 34% of cases. Our results seem to suggest that future researches should devote particular attention to the analysis of the discrepancies existing between estimated values and market prices in order to support the appraisal activity of professional valuers.


1.0 Introduction
In northern environments such as Canada, road salt (e.g. sodium chloride, NaCl) has been used as a de-icing agent to improve winter driving conditions since the 1950's (Godwin et al., 2003). While research has shown that the application of salt to roadways can reduce accident rates by up to 88%, the use of road salt has been linked to increasing concentrations of chloride (Cl) in ground and surface waters in urbanized watersheds (Godwin et al., 2003). A recent study (Dugan et al., 2017) which tested 371 lakes in north eastern North America found that 44% trended towards long term salinization – levels at which Cl concentrations may begin to impact freshwater ecosystems. High Cl concentrations have been found to be potentially lethal to aquatic organisms, and long-term exposure can have detrimental effects on human health (Howard and Beck, 1993; Kelly et al., 2008). Keeping lakes and rivers "fresh" is important for the maintenance of ecosystem services associated with freshwater resources such as drinking water, fisheries and aquatic habitat.


It is no secret in the bankruptcy community that creditors hate so-called "preference" actions, which permit a debtor to recover payments made to creditors on the eve of bankruptcy for the benefit of the estate. This resentment is particularly palpable among trade creditors, which tend to be unsecured businesses providing the debtor goods and services on credit terms. Nominally, preference actions are intended to equalize the extent to which each unsecured creditor must bear the loss of a bankruptcy discharge, or to discourage creditors from rushing to collect from the debtor in such a way that will push an insolvent debtor into bankruptcy. But empirical evidence strongly suggests that, at least in chapter 11 reorganization proceedings, preference actions do not fulfill either of these stated goals. Interviews with debtors, trade creditors, and attorneys involved in small-and medium-sized chapter 11 bankruptcy cases establish both that creditors are not deterred from collecting by preference actions, and that preference actions are not applied equally in a system where debtors are able to choose which preferential transfers to avoid and how much to accept in settlement of preference actions. Instead, these interviews suggest an alternative justification for preference law in chapter 11, one more consistent with promoting a debtor's ability to exercise strategic leverage over its creditors in an effort to reorganize. In this way, the law of preference avoidance is actually one of preference perpetuation, in the interest of preserving valuable relationships within bankruptcy proceedings.