Learning the structure of a Bayesian network is an NP-hard problem and exact learning algorithms that are guaranteed to find an optimal structure are not feasible with large number of variables. Thus, large-scale learning is usually done using heuristics that do not provide any quality guarantees. We present a heuristic method that scales up to networks with hundreds of variables and provides quality guarantees in terms of an upper bound for the score of the optimal network. The proposed method consists of two parts. First, we simplify the problem by approximating local scores using so-called edge scores. With the edge scores learning an optimal Bayesian network structure is equivalent to finding the maximum acyclic subgraph. Second, we solve the maximum acyclic subgraph problem fast using integer linear programming. Additionally, we choose the approximation in a specific way so that an upper bound for the score of an optimal network can be obtained.


This report details maturity and migration modelling of four wells for the 21CXRM Palaeozoic project, Orcadian study area. The aim of the maturity modelling was to predict if Devonian and Carboniferous source rock intervals within the wells are, or have been, mature for hydrocarbon generation.
Wells 12/27- 1 and 20/10a- 3 were chosen for 1D modelling based on availability of maturity and geochemical data (Figure 1). As this region comprises a series of Palaeozoic structural highs and basins, two wells cannot fully represent the geological evolution of the study area. Two 'scenario' or 'pseudo' wells, 12/16- 1 and 21/06b- 5 were included to contrast the basin history.
Previous basin modelling work in the Inner Moray Firth is summarised in Greenhalgh (2016) and this study is placed in regional context in Monaghan et al. (2016).
Inner Moray Firth (IMF)
Lacustrine strata deposited during Lower and Middle Devonian times are believed to offer the main source rock potential in the IMF (see summary in Greenhalgh, 2016), as the high TOC Jurassic strata are largely immature (Fraser et al., 2003, their fig. 17.2). Well 12/27- 1 is situated on a post-Lower Devonian relative high (Figure 2), has moderate/good Total Organic Content (TOC) in the Lower Devonian Struie Formation and oil and gas shows are observed (well report; Vane et al., 2016). Two cases were modelled to accommodate uncertainty in the maturity data, with a significant impact on the timing of generation. If deepest burial was achieved during Devonian times (fitted to higher maturity values; Figure 13, 14, 15), then main hydrocarbon generation occurred during Devonian burial (Figure 17). However, if deepest burial occurred during Cretaceous – Cenozoic times (best fit to maturity values, though these data are possibly supressed; Figure 5, 7, 8) then generation occurred from the Struie Formation during both Devonian and Cretaceous – Cenozoic times (Figure 9). Please see Section 4 for more detail.
Carboniferous strata are rarely penetrated by wells in the IMF. The anomalous Firth Coal Formation to Devonian succession proven in Well 12/16- 1, close to the Great Glen and Wick faults was modelled (Figure 21, 24). Well 12/16-1 lies in a different Palaeozoic sub-basin to Well 12/27-1. It is classed as a 'scenario' well due to uncertainties in the constraining data. The source rock intervals contain mainly gas prone kerogens and as the Carboniferous strata only reached the main oil maturity window during deep Carboniferous burial, significant gas generation is not expected.
Given the block and basin structure of the IMF during the Palaeozoic Era and the variable distribution of facies, any single well is unlikely to provide a complete representation of the geological history and petroleum systems. The model results are useful in assessing the maturity geohistory and generation potential of the region, but must be considered in the regional context of the Orcadian study area (see Monaghan et al., 2016).
South Buchan Basin
Well 20/10a- 3 was drilled on a high at the western margin of the South Buchan Basin and was chosen for modelling based on availability of maturity data. The Firth Coal Formation source rocks are interpreted to be mainly gas prone but some condensate prone intervals were noted towards the bottom of the drilled interval. The 1D basin modelling shows that the Firth Coal Formation reached the mid mature window for oil generation during deep Cenozoic burial (Figure 288, 30, 31, 32).


Received: June 05, 2019 Accepted: June 30, 2019 Published: July 31, 2019 Volume: 2 Issue: 4 DOI: 10.32996/ijllt.2019.2.4.25 This research is qualitative research with descriptive nature. The purpose of the research is to identify the translation method and ideology conducted by the translator in translating the sayings that contain sexist attitudes from source language to target language. The data were compiled from an Indonesian novel entitled Ronggeng Dukuh Paruk whose translation novel is titled The Dancer. This was done by using document analysis method. The findings of the study show that translation method used by the translator is communicative method, whereas the ideology used is domestication. Those two aspects are influenced by the tendency of the translator to search for the equivalent words in translating the source language to target language. KEYWORDS


Song, Zhuonan. M.S., Purdue University, August 2016. Mashup Similarity in the Context of Open Data Innovation Contest. Major Professor: Sabine Brunswicker. Contests have become an important instrument for fostering the development of novel open data mash-ups, in short open data innovations. Literature calls for new methods for measuring the similarity of open data mash-ups in order to identify code cloning and creative re-use of components of applications. Theoretically grounded computationally methods for identifying the similarity of open data contests are lacking. This study explores the similarity measurement of data-based mashups in the context of an open data innovation contest. Three different dimensions of mashup similarity are defined: code similarity, functional feature similarity, and visualized feature similarity. The results from the contest, including the source code, the running project and the descriptive documents, are collected as the research data for this study. Data analysis is based on the design and development of computational approaches to measure technology and functional similarity. The findings of this study will be helpful in better understanding the similarity of solutions in an open data innovation contest. This study contributes to the theoretical and practical approaches for similarity measurement, especially in the field of mashup development.


Glaucoma is considered worldwide the second cause of blindness, after cataract. The main cause is increased intraocular pressure, that leads to optic nerve damage and blindness. Patients often have no symptoms, the first sign, loss of peripheral or lateral vision, occurring in the advanced stages of the disease. Therapeutic options include drug, laser or surgical treatment. The choice of the appropriate method should be made according to the patient, the type and stage of the disease. The most used drugs are beta blockers and prostaglandin analogues, applied topically.


Level of education is closely linked to health. Poor health can lead to early school leaving, and leaving school early has a negative effect on health. However, early school leaving is usually only seen as an educational problem and interventions only occur when leaving appears imminent or when the individual concerned has already dropped out. This dissertation examined which factors from birth play a role in later school leaving. Early school leavers are more often boys with a non-Western background and a lower socio-economic status. They are also more likely to come from single-parent families. At a young age, factors are already present that have a relationship with later early school leaving. These include an unsatisfactory hearing test (0-4 years), learning disabilities (4-8 years), impulsive or disobedient behaviour (8-12 years) and absenteeism (related to illness or not; 12-16 years). To prevent pupils from dropping out of school, personalised interventions can be developed based on the findings described in this PhD dissertation.


The oxidation behavior of an Fe48Cr15C15Mo14B6Er2 bulk metallic glass (Fe-BMG) was studied over the temperature range of 600–725 � C in dry air. The oxidation kinetics of the glassy alloy followed a two-stage parabolic rate law at T � 650� C, while the single-stage linear rate was observed at higher temperatures (T � 675 � C). The oxidation rates of the Fe-BMG at T � 625 � C were much lower than those of the commercial 304 stainless steel (304 SS), revealing the excellent oxidation resistance of the amorphous alloy. A continuous, thin layer of chromium oxide (Cr2O3) containing some iron was formed at T � 650 � C, while typical hump iron oxides intermixed with minor amounts of Cr2O3 and MoO2 were observed at T � 675 � C. In addition, a substrate phase transformation from the amorphous structure to Fe-Cr and FeCrMo crystalline phases was detected after the oxidation. Very likely, the formation of the non-protective Fe3O4 and MoO2 breaks the scale integrity and allows the rapid cation/anion transportation, resulting in the fast linear-kinetics behavior of the Fe-BMG at T � 675 � C.


Geological sequestration of carbon dioxide in deep reservoirs may provide a large-scale option for reducing the emissions of this gas into the atmosphere. The effectiveness of sequestration depends on the storage capacity and stability of the reservoir and risk of leakage into the overburden. Reservoir rocks can react with a CO2-water mixture, potentially resulting in the precipitation of minerals in the available matrix pore space and within pre-existing fractures. This induced mineralization may form internal seals that could help mitigate the leakage of CO2 into the overburden. For basaltic host rocks, carbonic acid partially dissolves minerals in the host rock, such as the calcium plagioclase mineral, freeing various cations (e.g., Ca2+ and Mg2+) for later precipitation as carbonate cements (Gislason et al., 2010).


Most black educators are aware of black pioneers, such as Frederick Douglass, Phillis Wheatley, Booker T. Washington, W. E. B. DuBois, George Washington Carver, Mary McLeod Bethune, and others, Few are, however, aware of Hallie Quinn Brown (1845-or 1850-1949) educator, author, lecture, founder, and reformer, who wrote one of the first biographies on black women (Hallie Berry is an actress who is also a pioneer in drama.) Hallie Q. Brown; Background Hallie Q. Brown was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1845 or 1850 of former slaves, Thomas Arthur Brown and Frances Jane Scroggins, who were well educated, according to Voices from the Gap. Allowed to purchase his freedom, Thomas was the son of a Scottish woman who owned a Maryland plantation and the plantation's black overseer. Frances was freed by one of her grandfathers, a white Revolutionary War officer and plantation owner (Lyman, 1999, p. 30) Both were actively involved in the Underground Railroad. Their commitment to the cause of freedom for black people perhaps influenced the work of Hallie Brown. The Brown Family moved from Pittsburgh to Ontario, Canada in 1864 and then to Wilberforce, Ohio in 1870. Hallie Q. Brown attended Wilberforce College, a private, coeducational, liberal arts college, and graduated from there in 1873, with a Bachelor of Science degree. After graduation, she taught on the Senora Plantation in Mississippi, several other plantation, and Columbia city schools, before she taught at Allen University in Columbia. From 1875 to 1887 she served as Dean at Allen University in Columbia, South Carolina. At Tuskegee Institute now Tuskegee University, she served as lady principal or Dean of Women, 1892-1893, where she worked with Booker T. Washington. Returning to Ohio, Brown taught in the Dayton Public Schools for four years and established an adult class for migrant workers. Hallie Q. Brown; Contributions Interested in public speaking, Brown enrolled in summer school at Chautauqua Lecture School and graduated in 1866. She was influenced by Professor Robertson of the Boston School of Oratory whom she met while she was lecturing in Dayton (Lyman, 1999, p. 31). From 1894 to 1899, Brown traveled as a lecturer and public speaker for African American culture and temperance. During her travel, she spoke before Queen Victoria (Alexandria 1819-1901 Queen of Great Britain 1837-1901), the 1895 Convention of the World's Women Christian Temperance Union in London, and the 1899 International Congress of Women, as a representative of the United States. Attempting to change the subservient position of black women through education, Brown made numerous speeches and wrote several books. Susan Kates wrote that Brown recognized that social change could only come through an educational venture (Kates 59). According to Voices from the Gap (p. 3), Brown penned a number of works: Pen Pictures of Pioneers of Wilberforce, 1937 Homespun Heroines and Other Women of Distinction, 1926 Our Women, Past, Present and Future, 1925 Tales My Father Told, 1925 The Beautiful: A True Story of Slavery 1924 First Lessons in Public Speaking, 1920 Elocution and Physical Culture, 1910 Bits and Odds: A Choice Selection of Recitations, 1880 Machilo--The African A gist of some of her works follows: Homespun Heroines and Other Women of Distinct, edited in 1926 by Brown, includes biographical sketches of more than 60 black women. The book having a number of women writers was published by Aldine Publishing Company and dedicated to the National Association of Colored Women of America and Council which was founded by Brown, who wrote in the book: "This book is presented as an evidence of appreciation and as an token of regard for the history making women of our race" (Voices from the Gap, p. 2). Printed in 1925, Tales My Father Told is an attempt to preserve family history and to present a particular moral viewpoint. …


It has been demonstrated that vigorous leisure-time physical activity and hard physical occupational work protect against ischaemic heart disease (IHD), but the protective mechanisms are not clear. According to most research reports programmes of regular physical activity do not lower serum cholesterol concentrations, but they do lower serum triglyceride levels. Dedicated marathon runners have lower serum low density lipoprotein and higher high density lipoprotein levels than controls, but it has not been proved that this lipoprotein pattern is the result of regular, high-intensity exercise. Regular physical exercise lowers the blood pressure to a greater degree in hypertensives than in controls. An exercise programme plus diet had no greater effect on serum total cholesterol levels than did diet alone on subjects with primary hyperlipoproteinaemia types IIa, IIb and IV. However, in types IIb and IV the exercise programme plus diet was more effective than diet alone in lowering serum triglyceride levels. The results of these studies are not valid for deciding whether regular exercise decreases the IHD risk factors studied. Such judgements must be based upon the results of randomized, controlled trials. The only satisfactory trial of this nature to date was done in Helsinki, and its results were inconclusive.


This paper investigates the dissolution mechanism of a lateritic nickel ore from the Caldag Region of Manisa in Turkey. The ore sample contained 1.2% Ni, 24.8% Fe, and 0.062% Co. The optimum leaching conditions were found to be temperature 80 o C, particle size -74 µm, H2SO4 concentration 200 g/dm 3 , solids ratio (by weight) 10% and leaching duration 8 h. The extractions of 98.2% Ni, 98.6% Fe and Co 98.9% were obtained under these conditions. Additionally, the effects of additional substances such as NaCl, Na2S2O5, Na2SO4, and KCl were investigated in order to decrease the leaching duration. The results showed that the additives accelerated the leaching kinetics and achieved nearly the same nickel and cobalt extractions at the end of 4 h compared to the results obtained after 8 h without the additives. If the additives containing chlorine were used, it was determined that the iron extraction showed no increase, although both the nickel and cobalt extractions increased.


Introduction To date, the diagnosis and subtype of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is verified by histopathology by means of a skin biopsy. However, non-invasive diagnostic strategies such as optical coherence tomography (OCT) enable detailed examination of skin tissue architecture and may be used to identify BCC. In this study, the diagnostic accuracy and level of confidence in detection and subtyping of BCC by OCT was evaluated. Materials & methods In this prospective observational study, OCT imaging was used for all lesions suspected for non-melanoma skin cancer or pre-malignancy that were biopsied to confirm the diagnosis at our outpatient Dermatology clinic. Decisions on treatment were guided by clinical examination and biopsy conform standard care. The OCT images were assessed by two investigators, blinded to the histological diagnosis. Diagnostic accuracy and certainty of clinical diagnosis alone was compared to the diagnostic accuracy and certainty of the combination of clinical diagnosis and OCT imaging, using histopathological diagnosis of the biopsy specimen as the gold standard. Aim of the study The aim of the study is to investigate the diagnostic value of OCT in addition to clinical examination for the detection and subtyping of BCC. Diagnostic parameters such as the sensitivity, specificity, positive- and negative predictive value were evaluated.


The development of a control system of solid desiccant dehumidifier for air-conditioning is reported in this paper. The system is applied to monitor and control the internal conditions of air-conditioned buildings with a view to reducing carbon emissions. The system provides the following major functions: data acquisition, data processing and decision-making. The data acquisition module is built up within this system based on signal recognition and sensory technology to detect the operating status of the air-conditioned air. The real-time data processing module is implemented using data I/O communication to process received data and to transmit control commands to a controller interface. An experimental investigation was carried out by monitoring and controlling working conditions of the dehumidifier used in the air conditioning. Process control for solid desiccant dehumidification was performed by tuning NI-DAQ controller parameters to regulate humidity, temperature, flow rates, and other conditions of the air condition. Experimental result proves that the system has been successfully developed and applied for controlling/monitoring the operation of solid desiccant dehumidifier for air conditioning.


Purpose To investigate the positive predictive value (PPV) of the giant cell arteritis (GCA) diagnosis in the Danish National Patient Registry (DNPR). Patients and Methods A total of 293 patients aged ≥50 years with a first-time diagnosis of GCA in the DNPR between January 2012 and December 2017 were included. Patients were sampled from two secondary and one tertiary care hospitals in the Central Region Denmark. Two independent investigators (PH & PT) reviewed all medical files, including medical records, treatment, biochemistry, histopathology and imaging, and either confirmed or dismissed the diagnosis of GCA. In case of disagreement, a consensus agreement was reached. Sub-analyses including number of redeemed prescriptions performed temporal artery biopsies (TABs), and number of GCA-related hospital contacts were performed. Results We confirmed the diagnosis of GCA in 183/293 patients resulting in a PPV of 62% (95% CI: 57–68). In patients with ≥3 redeemed prescriptions of glucocorticoids (GCs), we confirmed the diagnosis in 166/214 resulting in a PPV of 78% (95% CI: 71–83). In patients with ≥3 redeemed prescriptions of GCs and ≥3 GCA-related hospital contacts, we confirmed the diagnosis in 88/95 resulting in a PPV of 93% (95% CI: 85–96); however, this only included 88/183 confirmed GCA patients. Conclusion This is the first study to validate the diagnostic code of GCA in the DNPR. The overall PPV of GCA in the DNPR was 62%. Requiring redeemed prescriptions of GCs and/or GCA-related hospital contacts increase the PPV, but also excludes a significant number of GCA patients.


This paper stresses the importance of biases in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) in two regards. First, in order to foster efficient algorithmic decision-making in complex, unstable, and uncertain real-world environments, we argue for the structurewise implementation of human cognitive biases in learning algorithms. Secondly, we argue that in order to achieve ethical machine behavior, filter mechanisms have to be applied for selecting biased training stimuli that represent social or behavioral traits that are ethically desirable. We use insights from cognitive science as well as ethics and apply them to the AI field, combining theoretical considerations with seven case studies depicting tangible bias implementation scenarios. Ultimately, this paper is the first tentative step to explicitly pursue the idea of a re-evaluation of the ethical significance of machine biases, as well as putting the idea forth to implement cognitive biases into machines.


ABSTRACT Physical violence is a significant problem in forensic mental health institutions, being associated with a variety of negative outcomes for both inpatients and staff. In this study, associations between mental health symptom profile, treatment engagement, the experience of stressors and trajectories of physical aggression were examined in a sample of 3293 men institutionalized in a forensic mental health setting with an initial diagnosis of psychotic disorder. Data were collected for up to seven time points, equivalent to a roughly 18-month follow-up period. Three distinct trajectories of aggression were identified. The vast majority (approx. 90%) of inmates did not show a significant or consistent pattern of aggressive behavior. A small subgroup (approx. 1 in 43 individuals) presented with a pattern of increasing aggressive acting-out. Another group (approx. 1 in 15 individuals) exhibited a somewhat higher probability of aggression at baseline, with a moderate progressive decline over time. These groups were differentiated on the basis of symptom profile, level of insight and specific psychosocial stressors. Findings suggest that institutional aggression in men with psychosis appears to be multi-determined, with active symptoms, deficits in self-awareness and the experience of stressors all playing a role in accounting for its presence and evolution over time.


"Smart City's role is to improve urban life through sustainable integrated solutions and address city-specific challenges in various policy areas, such as energy, mobility and transport, and ICT, which must also be effectively implemented. Smart City relies on the use of information and communication technology (ICT) to sustainably develop urban spaces and limit the negative effects of urbanization. Globally, there is a trend to promote the concept of Smart City as a solution for urban areas in efficient and sustainable development, without affecting the environment. In Romania, Smart City has become a concern for local, urban and rural administrations, in the context in which at European level there are non-reimbursable funds for such projects. In Romania, Smart City and the projects that have the role of making an administration to be Smart are in their infancy. The purpose of this article is to highlight the advantages of Smart City development in urban administrations in Romania and the influence on the financial management of local authorities. Urban spaces in Romania face certain difficulties, both in terms of development (economic, infrastructure), but also pollution. The paper will highlight the stage of development of Smart City and how it influences the financial management of local governments, where such projects are implemented. The paper is descriptive, by correlating the information highlighted in the literature and data on projects submitted for Smart City by urban areas in Romania. The study analyzes the projects submitted by the main urban areas in Romania in 2020 for their development as Smart City, according to the website https://steinbeis-romania.com, thus highlighting the concern of local governments for their development as Smart City. "


Introduction
Loss in sense of smell and taste is a condition that can occur without an organic pathology and it is noteworthy in patients diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Few studies have shown that Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (tTMS) can correct losses in sense of smell and taste. In this study, we aimed to examine the effects of tTMS treatment applied to patients diagnosed with MDD on the sense of smell and taste in this patient group.

Methods
The sense of smell of 56 patients who were diagnosed with MDD and had tTMS indication was examined with the "Sniffin' Sticks" smell test and the sense of taste with the "Taste Strips" taste test. MDD patients who lost at least one sense of smell and taste were included in the study, but a total of 30 patients were able to complete the study. Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D) was applied to the patients before tTMS treatment, and this scale was repeated after 15 sessions of tTMS treatment. Taste and smell senses were re-evaluated after the last tTMS session.

Results
According to the Sniffin Stick Smell test, 15 of 29 patients with hyposmia had normosmia after tTMS, and 16 of 18 patients who were found to have hypogeusia according to Taste Strips Taste test had Normogeusia after tTMS. There was a positive improvement in both the smell and taste scores of all patients who were treated, compared to before tTMS. The positive improvement in the smell tests of the patients who responded to the treatment according to the HAM-D scores was found to be significantly different than the patients who did not respond.

Conclusion
The positive effect of tTMS treatment on the sense of smell and taste has been demonstrated even in patients whose HAM-D scores could not be sufficiently decreased. In patients diagnosed with depression, using tTMS alone or adding it to the current treatment suggests that it may have a positive effect on the sense of smell and taste as well as depression treatment.


Building the Fetish was a research project and ten hour public art event on Granary Square to map the 'value' of the multi-billion pound 67 acre private development north of Kings Cross and St Pancras railway stations. It was made in collaboration with BA Fine Art students at Central Saint Martins, the college located on the square. Mixing clay with earth dug from one of the nearby building sites we constructed a three dimensional schematic diagram of the development on top of a plinth. Referring passers-by to an informational map pasted on the surface of the plinth we explained that the relative heights of the lumpy mud towers corresponded to annual estimates of the value-producing power of the buildings and sites they represented - offices, retail units, apartments, restaurants, parks and squares, an art college, a hotel, student accommodation and public amenities. The higher the tower, the larger the economic value. Throughout the day workers, residents and users of the square discussed and debated specific effects of the development and the wider social, cultural and political issues the work raised about 'value' as well as the private investor regeneration model adopted by Camden Council. After completion the fetish was left standing in the square until dusk, when it was torn down, and the muddied stone paving washed clean.

Building the Fetish was part of 'Unannounced Acts of Publicness'


The ePUMA architecture is a novel master-multi-SIMD DSP platform aimed at low-power computing, like for embedded or hand-held devices for example. It is both a configurable and scalable platform, designed for multimedia and communications.Numbers with both integer and fractional parts are often used in computers because many important algorithms make use of them, like signal and image processing for example. A good way of representing these types of numbers is with a floating-point representation. The ePUMA platform currently supports a fixed-point representation, so the goal of this thesis will be to implement twelve basic floating-point arithmetic operations and two conversion operations onto an already existing datapath, conforming as much as possible to the IEEE 754-2008 standard for floating-point representation. The implementation should be done at a low hardware and power consumption cost. The target frequency will be 500MHz. The implementation will be compared with dedicated DesignWare components and the implementation will also be compared with floating-point done in software in ePUMA.This thesis presents a solution that on average increases the VPE datapath hardware cost by 15% and the power consumption increases by 15% on average. Highest clock frequency with the solution is 473MHz. The target clock frequency of 500MHz is thus not achieved but considering the lack of register retiming in the synthesis step, 500MHz can most likely be reached with this design.


BACKGROUND
Over the last 10 years 'exercise referral schemes' have been popular even though the evidence for effectiveness of any one-to-one intervention in primary care is deficient. We report the results of a primary care based one-to-one intervention that compared the effect of two communication styles with a no-intervention control group on self-reported physical activity at 12 months.

METHODS
In all, 1658 middle-aged men and women were randomly assigned to 30 minutes of brief negotiation or direct advice in primary care or a no-intervention control group. The main outcome was self-reported physical activity at 12 months. Secondary outcome measures included change in blood pressure and body mass index.

RESULTS
Intention-to-treat analysis revealed no significant differences in physical activity between groups. Brief negotiation group participants who completed the study increased their physical activity significantly more than controls. There was no change in body mass index in any group. The brief negotiation group produced a greater reduction in diastolic blood pressure than direct advice.

CONCLUSION
If patients whose health may benefit from increased physical activity seek advice in primary care, 20-30 minutes of brief negotiation to increase physical activity is probably more effective than similar attempts to persuade or coerce. However, blanket physical activity promotion in primary care is not effective. The most effective way of increasing physical activity in primary care has yet to be determined.


Image registration is an important pre-processing operation to be performed before many image exploitation and processing functions such as data fusion, super-resolution frame reconstruction, change detection, image mosaicing, etc. Given two image frames, obtained from the same sensor or from different sensors, the registration problem involves determining the transformation that most nearly maps (or aligns) one image frame into the other. Due to the tremendous practical importance of this problem in several applications, both military (surveillance, tracking, missile guidance, etc.) and non-military (medical imaging, HDTV, homeland security, etc.), many sophisticated image processing algorithms are presently being developed which provide varying degrees of registration accuracy and robustness to scene characteristics. Typically, image registration requires intensive computational effort and the developed techniques are scene dependent. Furthermore, the problems of multimodal image registration (i.e. problem of registering images acquired from dissimilar sensors) and sub-pixel image registration (i.e. registering two images at sub-pixel accuracy) are highly challenging and no satisfactory solutions exist.
This dissertation introduces novel techniques to solve the image registration problem both at the pixel-level and at the sub-pixel level. For pixel-level registration, a procedure is offered that enjoys the advantages that it is not scene dependent and provides the same level of accuracy for registering images acquired from different types of sensors. The new technique is based on obtaining the local frequency content of an image and using this local frequency representation to extract control points for establishing correspondence. To extract the local frequency representation of an image, a computationally efficient scheme based on minimizing the latency of a Gabor filter bank by exploiting certain biological considerations is presented. The dissertation also introduces an extension of using local frequency to solve the sub-pixel image registration problem. The new algorithm is based on using the scaled local frequency representation of the images to be registered, with computationally inexpensive scaling of the local frequency of the images prior to correlation matching. Finally, this dissertation provides a novel approach to solve the problem of multi-modal image registration. The principal idea behind this approach is to employ Computer Aided Design (CAD) models of man-made objects in the scene to permit extraction of regions-of-interest (ROI) whose local frequency representations are computed for extraction of stable matching points. Detailed performance evaluation results from an extensive set of experiments using diverse types of images are presented to highlight the strong points of the proposed registration algorithms.


Recent computational advancements in the simulation of biochemical processes allow investigating the mechanisms involved in protein regulation with realistic physics-based models, at an atomistic level of resolution. Using these techniques to study the negative regulation of the androgen receptor (AR), we discovered a key functional role played by non-native metastable states appearing along the folding pathway of this protein. This unexpected observation inspired us to design a completely novel drug discovery approach, named Pharmacological Protein Inactivation by Folding Intermediate Targeting (PPI-FIT), based on the rationale of negatively regulating protein expression by targeting folding intermediates. Here, PPI-FIT was tested for the first time on the cellular prion protein (PrP), a cell surface glycoprotein playing a key role in fatal and transmissible neurodegenerative pathologies known as prion diseases. We predicted the all-atom structure of an intermediate appearing along the folding pathway of PrP, and identified four different small molecule ligands for this conformer, all capable of selectively lowering the expression of the protein by promoting its degradation. Our data support the notion that the level of target proteins could be modulated by acting on their folding pathways, implying a previously unappreciated role for folding intermediates in the biological regulation of protein expression.


Whereas the structural implications of drug intervention are well established, there are few data on the possible mechanical consequences of treatment. In this work we examined the changes in elastic and shear moduli (EM and SM) in a region of trabecular bone in the distal radius and distal tibia of early postmenopausal women on the basis of MRI‐based micro‐finite‐element (µFE) analysis. Whole‐section axial stiffness (AS) encompassing both trabecular and cortical compartments was evaluated as well. The study was conducted on previously acquired high‐resolution images at the two anatomic sites. Images were processed to yield a 3D voxel array of bone‐volume fraction (BVF), which was converted to a µFE model of hexahedral elements in which tissue modulus was set proportional to voxel BVF. The study comprised 65 early postmenopausal women (age range 45 to 55 years), of whom 32 had chosen estrogen supplementation (estradiol group); the remainder had not (control group). Subjects had been scanned at baseline and 12 and 24 months thereafter. At the distal tibia, EM and SM were reduced by 2.9% to 5.5% in the control group (p < .05 to <.005), but there was no change in the estradiol subjects. AS decreased 3.9% (4.0%) in controls (p < .005) and increased by 5.8% (6.2%) in estradiol group subjects (p < .05) at 12 (24) months. At the distal radius, EM and SM changes from baseline were not significant, but at both time points AS was increased in estradiol group subjects and decreased in controls (p < .005 to <.05), albeit by a smaller margin than at the tibia. EM and SM were strongly correlated with BV/TV (r2 = 0.44 to 0.92) as well as with topologic parameters expressing the ratio of plates to rods (r2 = 0.45 to 0.82), jointly explaining up to 96% of the variation in the mechanical parameters. Finally, baseline AS was strongly correlated between the two anatomic sites (r2 = 0.58), suggesting that intersubject variations in the bone's mechanical competence follows similar mechanisms. In conclusion, the results demonstrate that micro‐MRI‐based µFE models are suited for the study of the mechanical implications of antiresorptive treatment. The data further highlight the anabolic effect of short‐term estrogen supplementation. © 2010 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research


[1] Three-dimensional (3-D) particle simulations are performed in a double current layer configuration to investigate the stability of current sheets and boundary layers which develop during magnetic reconnection of antiparallel fields in collisionless plasma. The strong current layers that develop near the x line remain surprisingly laminar, with no evidence of turbulence and associated anomalous resistivity or viscosity. Neither the electron shear flow instabilities nor kink-like instabilities, which have been observed in these current layers in earlier simulations, are present. The sharp boundary layers which form between the inflow and outflow regions downstream of the x line are unstable to the lower hybrid drift instability. The associated fluctuations, however, do not strongly impact the rate of reconnection. As a consequence, magnetic reconnection in the 3-D system remains nearly two dimensional.


The electrochemical transfer of quinidine across the H20/ I ,2-dichloroethane interface was investigated by cyclic voltammetry, so as to determine its lipophilicity. The formal transfer potential was measured as a function of the pH of the aqueous phase. Both singly and doubly protonated quinidine cations can transfer across the interface, and their formal Gibbs free energies of transfer were observed to be 7.7 and 31.2 kJ mol-', respectively. Between pH 0 and 3, only the doubly charged quinidine was present in the aqueous phase and was observed to transfer. Between pH 3 and 6, the transfer of both cations occurred. The proportion of doubly charged quinidine decreased progressively in this pH range and disappeared completely above pH 6. The overall process was analyzed using a thermodynamic model. The relationship between the various forms of quinidine in both phases and pH was established and found to he in good agreement with the experimental results. With this model, the acid-base equilibrium constants in the organic phase could be calculated as pK,,, = 9.66 f 0.21 and pK,,, = 14.20 * 0.16 (the subscripts alo and a20 refer to the first and second dissociation constants). This study illustrates how the partition ofionic species can be taken into account in the determination of lipophilicity and in the description of the passive transfer of organic drugs.


This paper describes a technique for synthesizing supervisory discrete event controllers for hybrid plants. The discrete event model of the plant behaviour is assembled for a limited lookahead horizon at run time based on discrete abstractions of embedded continuous simulations. A supervisory controller for this limited horizon model is then computed as a state avoidance problem. Since the controller is valid for only a limited time/event horizon, it must be re-computed on-line periodically, in order to extend the operation to an infinite time horizon. We present a scheme for enforcing guaranteed safe and nonblocking behaviour which is rooted in standard industrial practice


The global market forces have had a strong influence on Higher Education. Universities worldwide have been largely commercialised. Despite a number of work that has been published on the relationship between universities and the market, limited research has been done in examining and comparing the impact of market forces on the degree courses in different countries, especially in the case of Translation Studies.

The broad aim of this comparative research is to study the differences in curricula and translating programme design between China and the UK within different national traditions in teaching and learning, as well as different global, social and economic contexts. More specifically, it seeks to investigate the impact of the neo-liberal economic globalisation on the HE sectors in both countries, and how their degree courses (including translation programmes) have responded to these market forces driven by the neoliberalism. This study also investigates the design and delivery of translation courses in these two countries from the perspective of course aims and module content, placing a clear focus on the tensions between education (academia) and training (profession), and intends to establish how the educational content and professional needs are balanced in the curricula of translation programmes.

A major contribution of this thesis is that it is the first study in English to analyse the impact of neoliberalism on the degree courses in Translation Studies, and to employ the tension between educational content and professional needs in the analysis of the current curricula in two different national contexts. It also contributes to the quality assurance of translation programmes, in particular with the integration of standards and benchmarks in the translation profession.

The author's analysis shows that the market forces have placed pressures on the translation programmes in both countries that they need to develop courses to address the needs of employers and students. This finding is further tested by comparing the three selected case programmes in each country and the two collective case studies (the UK and China), and shows that translation programmes in the UK are generally struggling with the balance between theoretical units and professional issues. In China, the MTI programmes have adopted different strategies to design professionally-oriented translation courses due to economic, geographical, and personnel factors. But in both countries, it is common for translation programmes with more resources to have a higher degree of professional issues, whereas other under-funded universities do the opposite.


Solving multiobjective optimization problems requires suitable algorithms to find a satisfactory approximation of a globally optimal Pareto front. Furthermore, it is a computationally demanding task. In this paper, the grid implementation of a distributed multiobjective genetic algorithm is presented. The distributed version of the algorithm is based on the island algorithm with forgetting island elitism used instead of a genetic data exchange. The algorithm is applied to the allocation of booster stations in a drinking water distribution system. First, a multiobjective formulation of the allocation problem is further enhanced in order to handle multiple water demand scenarios and to integrate controller design into the allocation problem formulation. Next, the new grid-based algorithm is applied to a case study system. The results are compared with a nondistributed version of the algorithm.


The active selection of instances can significantly improve the generalisation performance of a learning machine. Large margin classifiers such as support vector machines classify data using the most informative instances (the support vectors). This makes them natural candidates for instance selection strategies. In this paper we propose an algorithm for the training of support vector machines using instance selection. We give a theoretical justification for the strategy and experimental results on real and artificial data demonstrating its effectiveness. The technique is most efficient when the data set can be learnt using few support vectors.


The Study of Sovereignty, Intervention and Peace Operations in International Relations Analysing a Moving Target: Sovereignty, a Complex Concept Intervention, Justifications and Interpretations: The Case of ECOWAS in Liberia Sanctions, Justifications and Reactions: The Case of the Regional Initiative in Burundi Intervention, Justifications and Interpretations: The Case of SADC in Congo Capacity-Building and Local Ownership: Indicators of Sovereignty? (De)Stabilization - So What?: An Analysis of the Political Consequences of the Interventions on a Regional and International Level Concluding Remarks


Clinicians now have updated guidelines to help them manage hypertension in persons with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure unveiled its seventh report (JNC VII) at the recent American Society of Hypertension meeting in New York City.


Results are presented from constructed wetland systems designed to treat wastewater in Akumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico, which was developed after prior experience with the Biosphere 2 closed ecological system wetland systems. These systems illustrate the congruity of needs in advanced life support systems and in solving social and environmental problems in developing countries. For sustainable food production for life support, closed ecological systems need to bioregenerate and recycle nutrient-rich wastewater. Developing countries need low-tech ecologically engineered systems that minimize requirements for capital, nonrenewable energy, and technical expertise. Biosphere 2's surface flow wetlands covered 41 m2 and treated the wastewater from eight inhabitants, laboratories, and domestic animals during the 1991-1993 closure experiment. The Mexican wetlands are subsurface flow wetlands using limestone gravel as substrate. Two wetland systems treat sewage from 40 people and cover 131 m2. During the initial year of operation, the wetlands in Akumal reduced BOD 86%, TSS 39%, total P 80%, total N 75%, and coliform bacteria 99.85%. Phosphorus uptake in the limestone gravel was around 6 mg/kg. High biodiversity, with 70 plant species, was maintained in the Akumal constructed wetlands 1.5 years after planting. The Shannon diversity index was 4.7 (base 2). Plant diversity was slightly less than tropical forest ecosystems of the region, but far greater than biodiversity in natural mangrove wetlands.


Abstract The boundaries between pairs of adjacent fault segments within normal fault arrays define a spectrum of structures, from relay ramps where the length of overlap between the fault segments is much larger than the separation, through low aspect ratio (overlap/separation) relay ramps and ultimately to underlapping fault segments. Where fault segments underlap, transfer of displacement between them is accommodated by a connecting monocline. When displacement increases and a through-going fault forms, relay ramps are preserved as fault-bounded zones of elevated bed dip and monoclines are preserved as areas of normal drag. Therefore, the orientation and magnitude of bed dips within and adjacent to a fault zone, and the numbers of segments seen on a cross-section through it, depend largely on the aspect ratios of relay ramps in the initial fault array. The aspect ratio of relay ramps varies between different fault systems. An analysis of the geometry of 512 relay ramps from 13 different fault systems suggests that the main controls on aspect ratio are the strength of the sequence at the time of faulting and the underlying structure.


Embedded software is at the core of current and future telecommunication, automotive, multimedia, and industrial automation systems. The success of practically any industrial application depends on the embedded software system's dependability, and one method to verify the dependability of a system is testing its robustness. The motivation behind this paper is to provide a knowledge base of the state of the practice in robustness testing of embedded software systems and to compare this to the state of the art. We have gathered the information on the state of the practice in robustness testing from seven different industrial domains (telecommunication, automotive, multimedia, critical infrastructure, aerospace, consumer products, and banking) by conducting 13 semi-structured interviews. We investigate the different aspects of robustness testing, such as the general view of robustness, relation to requirements engineering and design, test execution, failures, and tools. We highlight knowledge from the state of the practice of robustness testing of embedded software systems. We found different robustness testing practices that have not been previously described. This paper shows that the state of the practice, when it comes to robustness testing, differs between organizations and is quite different from the state of the art described in the scientific literature. For example, methods commonly described in the literature (e.g., the fuzzy approach) are not used in the organizations we studied. Instead, the interviewees described several ad hoc approaches that take specific scenarios into account (e.g., power failure or overload). Other differences we found concern the classification of robustness failures, the hypothesized root causes of robustness failures, and the types of tools used for robustness testing. This paper is a first step in capturing the state of the practice of robustness testing of embedded software systems. The results can be used by both researchers and practitioners. Researchers can use our findings to understand the gap between the state of the art and the state of the practice and develop their studies to fill this gap. Practitioners can also learn from this knowledge base regarding how they can improve their practice and acquire other practices.


Poetry discloses truth in a perpetually open, dialectic way. It remakes the world through an imaginative, metaphoric engagement with the world. This deep reciprocity and communicative movement inherent in poetry is also a fundamental dimension of architecture. A building is no more an object than a poem is – their mode of engagement being participatory and inescapably temporal. Poetry and architecture privilege metaphor as a communicative mode. The movement inherent in metaphor goes beyond mere signification, to become a continuation of the creative act through participation. The communal character and open-endedness of this process enables the transcendence of the programmatic dimension of architecture, to achieve its potential of a cultural relevance beyond function and narrowly conceived symbolism.

This paper discusses a project by Alvaro Siza, the Catholic church of Santa Maria in the parochial complex of Marco de Canaveses, in northern Portugal. Siza's design for the whole complex and church in particular is a testament to the poetic dimension of architecture and its ability to structure communicative space for meaningful engagement with the full spectrum of culture, encompassing juxtaposed and even conflicting ideas and experiences in a situated and conciliatory way.


Water resources across the globe face challenges from population growth and climate change. Concerns regarding the potential implications of extreme, previously unseen, droughts are also increasing. Recent research in the UK has developed and demonstrated new, practical 'bottom-up' approaches for assessing and communicating the resilience of water supply systems to droughts beyond the historic record and assessing the potential impacts of climate change.
Traditionally water supply planning in the UK has been based around the historic record to identify the worst droughts which in turn are used to test the performance of contemporary water supply systems. Typically, data records extend back to the early twentieth century, although with increasing data uncertainty further back in time, generally providing around five or six events around which to design and plan a water supply system.
Drought events are rare and their characteristics are both spatially and temporally variable. Planning solely to events in the historic record does not reflect that droughts in the future could exhibit very different characteristics. Recent work has demonstrated the benefits of using stochastically generated and synthetic droughts applied as part of a 'bottom-up' approach to provide a richer understanding of system resilience. The outputs are presented consistently across the industry in the form of drought response surfaces with pragmatic methods and supporting tools developed to support industry application.
For climate change, impacts have been previously assessed using 'top-down' modelling approaches that, particularly for large, complex conjunctive-use systems, require significant effort regardless of the systems' potential vulnerability and which may not adequately consider and communicate how adaptation to climate change relates to resilience to droughts. Consequently, further work with the UK water resource industry has extended the "bottom-up" approach to droughts, alongside exploiting previous climate change analysis, to ensure an effective, proportionate approach to climate change.
Application of these methods has demonstrated contrasting levels of resilience to different types of droughts and vulnerability to climate change across the UK. The outputs are being used to inform both national policy and underpin local investment planning in demand-side and supply-side measures.


Background/Context Informed by the increasing racial disparity between the nation's predominantly White teaching force and the growing number of students of color in K–12 schools, along with the well-documented struggles that White teachers have in exploring race and racial identity, the authors critique the use of White privilege pedagogy as a strategy for promoting antiracist dispositions in White pre-service teachers. Purpose/Objective/Research Question/Focus of Study By deploying several concepts central to critical race theory, as well as critiques that note the shortcomings of past attempts at racial reform (Brown v. Board of Education, Voting Rights Act), the authors investigate the effectiveness of White privilege pedagogy within the teacher education setting. Research Design To construct our conceptual critique of White privilege pedagogy within teacher education, we reviewed the extant literature that discussed the range of shortcomings to this pedagogical approach. To create a more historical and structural critique, we demonstrated how the tenets of White privilege pedagogy conflicted with key principles of critical race theory and with lessons from past racial remedies. We contend that White privilege pedagogy arises from a racial liberalist worldview and requires an untenable convergence of interests that limits its long-term impact. We parallel our critiques of White privilege pedagogy with arguments used by critical race scholars to explain the limited impact of previous efforts at racial reform. Conclusions/Recommendations The authors urge teacher educators to move away from the individualized and over-essentialized representations of racism inherent to White privilege pedagogy in favor of historical, structural, and intersectional discussions of race, racism, and the construction of White privilege.


Since the beginning of the 21st century, there has been a call for further research to trace the effects of the speedy changes in business environment on management accounting practices. This study assesses the impact of different information technologies on ABC adoption and implementation. It uses a cross-sectional survey of financial directors and controllers in the UK firms. Postal and electronic questionnaires have been used in order to collect the empirical data.

The findings revealed that the rate of ABC adoption has shown a number of changes between 1999 and 2005. The proportions of ABC users and those currently assessing it have dramatically fallen. The percentage of firms rejecting ABC has slightly fallen as well. However, there has been a considerable increase in the number of firms that abandoned ABC implementation and those firms that gave no consideration for its implementation. These results indicate a decrease in the popularity of ABC. ERP systems seem to have a slightly low significant impact on the initial decision of ABC adoption in those firms that do not have any consideration for ABC and firms that have an ERP system before ABC adoption.

Furthermore, the results indicate that firms use different information technologies in the ABC assessment and implementation. For ABC assessment, general software applications are the most preferable software packages while a mix of different ABC software packages is the most popular in the case of ABC implementation. Finally, the findings of this study provide an indication on the nature of the possible effect of general IT-related problems on ABC implementation.


As many writers of news headlines are all too keen to tell us, obesity is an epidemic that has an enormous impact on health care systems throughout the developed world, as it increases the risk for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and various other ailments. Media reports on obesity are often alarming, so much so that one recent headline, drawn from statements made by a public health expert in the United Kingdom, equated the threat of obesity with that of terrorism (1).

The "nature versus nurture" debate has been central to the discussion about the rising incidence of obesity. Some consider obesity to be the result of overconsumption of food and limited exercise. Logically, this problem can be fixed by eating less and exercising more. However, recent studies have indicated that things might not be quite as straightforward as this for everyone. Indeed, we now know that many factors contribute to whether a person is likely to become obese if their calorie intake is excessive and that these factors can have very subtle and complex effects.

One factor that influences whether a person is at risk of becoming obese is genetic makeup. During the past two decades, many genes that control appetite, energy expenditure, and fat metabolism have been discovered. In some cases, mutations in single genes can lead to overeating and obesity. However, these often arise in consanguineous relationships and are therefore uncommon. Indeed, the genetics of obesity is complex, and until recently, efforts to identify obesity genes were largely unsuccessful.

One of the genes associated with obesity is fat mass and obesity associated (FTO). The link between a common variant of FTO and obesity was reported in Science just last year, in a study that indicated that 16% of adults who carried two copies of the high-risk allele weighed 3 kg more and had a higher risk (approximately 1.67 times) of developing obesity than those without a high-risk allele (2).

How does the abnormal FTO gene variant lead to obesity? Studies in rodents and humans have suggested that FTO regulates food intake and may also control fat metabolism (3). However, a recent publication in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found that children who carry the high-risk allele of FTO did not recognize when they were full after a meal and tended to overeat (4). Jane Wardle (professor of Clinical Psychology at University College London and the lead author of the study), told the JCI that the fact that the high-risk FTO allele operates partly through decreased sensitivity to being full is good news, because it means that individuals with this allele might be able to learn strategies to combat its effects and thereby reduce their risk of gaining weight. She was also quick to note, however, that "The high-risk FTO allele is associated with an average increase in weight of about 3 kg, so it is not, in itself, a major cause of obesity. There are likely to be many such genes, each exerting a modest effect, and individuals with higher-risk versions of many of these genes will be at considerable risk of obesity."

Research in areas other than genetics, including the biology of fat cells, is also providing new insight into factors that might influence an individual's risk of becoming obese. Earlier this year, a study published in Nature indicated that in adulthood, the number of fat cells in the human body remains constant, even after the loss of a substantial amount of weight (5). The researchers found that weight loss was instead associated with a decrease in the size of the fat cells. Kirsty Spalding, the lead author of the study, told the JCI that the fact that fat cell numbers do not decrease following significant weight loss might help explain why many individuals who are obese struggle to keep weight off after losing it — they are not losing the fat cells, but simply reducing their size.

Despite new research identifying factors beyond the control of an individual as influencing that person's risk of becoming obese, the debate surrounding the causation of obesity and what to do about it is likely to continue. For those who favor an environmental/behavioral etiology, the rational explanation is the first law of thermodynamics, whereby energy intake equals energy expenditure; obesity results when energy intake exceeds expenditure. However, as Rexford Ahima (an expert in CNS regulation of body weight and energy balance at the University of Pennsylvania) summed up nicely for the JCI, "The notion that 'a calorie is a calorie' is attractive but fails to address the complexity of energy metabolism and how excess fat storage leads to disease. Given that most people consume more calories than they expend, it is remarkable that some manage to stay thin. Beyond the headlines, the fact remains that obesity is a complex trait, and progress on this front will require greater understanding of gene-environment interactions."


Wang, Lulu, M.S., Department of Economics, Wright State University, 2003, Thesis. This paper provided investigation on economic welfare changes in poor neighborhoods in U.S. central cities during the 1990's. Using Census data for 1990 and 2000, this study found that the association between changes in family median income of poor neighborhoods and changes in family median income of their metropolitan areas was not statistically significant. The empirical evidence indicated that welfare changes in poor neighborhoods were detached from those of their metropolitan areas. The study also tested the correlation between the changes in family income level and other economic factors in poor neighborhoods during 1990's. The test results suggest that government agencies need to refine the education system for poor neighborhoods residents and to provide assistance for business developers in poor neighborhoods to build the linkages between the poor neighborhoods and their metropolitan areas. TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE


A method to enhance the data transmission performances in a real-time complex system is presented. It uses serial multiplexed buses that assure high performances in data transmission concerning a minimum rate of errors and a reduced latency according to L. Vornicu (2000) and R. Jurgen (1995). The reliability can be increased based on redundancy feature of bus system used. The method could be interesting from designer's point of view, but also could be useful for the users, giving a new approach in multiplex wiring real-time complex system analysis and design.


Present-day food systems are characterised by industrial mass-production and are becoming exceedingly untenable from a social, ecological and economic perspective. The era of favourable growing conditions and stability is no longer guaranteed, and arguments for holistic and transformative solutions are raised, that can reconnect humanity to the biosphere and create resilient food systems. The overall aim of this study is to describe eco-gastronomy within a Swedish context, and to explore its potential to act as an incubator for change within the foodservice sector. The findings contribute to the transformation framework with contextual understanding on how sub-processes (in the preparation phase) play out in an eco-gastronomic context. One of the main challenges for the future and viability of eco-gastronomy is associated with limited supply and access to high quality and sustainable Swedish produce. Food professionals envision and innovate new pathways through social-ecological innovation, network building, novel organization and close collaboration (e.g. knowledge exchange, feedback). Collaborative efforts are made to support diversity, quality and access to eco-gastronomic produce. However, eco-gastronomic practices are both adaptive and transformative, and a potential trade-off is outlined between the goal of achieving an extensive change in food preferences and transformative production practices. Low social sustainability (e.g. low salaries) and small networks can threaten the longevity and expansion of eco-gastronomy. However, networks are growing in size and number, and a new type of food awareness is described, that in extension can become a seed to a more sustainable food culture. Eco-gastronomy is not a blueprint for resilient food systems but it provides solutions that can result in a more sustainable and delicious future.


The present paper analyzes data collected between 2001 and 2002 on 81 reef fish species targeted by fishers at 5 sites in the Kingdom of Tonga (South Pacific). We first ranked the sites with respect to fishing pressure using two independent methods: (i) Tongan demography and reef surfaces available for fishing, and (ii) the differential effects of fishing on the whole set of 81 species grouped by their life history traits (LHT). We then focused on Parrotfish (Scaridae), which are heavily targeted in coral reef fisheries. We used the identified gradient of fishing pressure to study the effect of fishing on the community structure and test the hypothesis of "shifting dominance" amongst the 20 Scarid species present in the surveys. In addition to the classical effect of decreasing fish size in a family strongly targeted by fishers, the shifting dominance phenomenon includes a decrease in the abundance of the large-bodied and highly targeted species, favouring their replacement by smaller-bodied species from the same family, which are less impacted by fishing. In a context of interspecific competition amongst Scarids, the stress of fishing appears as a factor favouring the replacement of species with large maximum size, and LHT promoting low resilience, by smaller species with the opposite attributes. The discussion focuses on the various processes that can explain the shifting dominance phenomenon. The total density of resilient species, which increased along the gradient of increasing fishing pressure, can be used as an indicator of the over-exploitation of fish communities for reef fisheries management.


This research developed, proposed and tested an integrated psychological process to performance model. The model utilized the overarching theory of social exchange to incorporate the climate perceptions and affective reactions of 3,012 employees across 88 UK call centres. In the pursuit of parsimony, a review of the applied psychology literature gave rise to a model where the path between global service climate and contextual performance was fully mediated by, first, perceived organizational support, second, job satisfaction and third, affective commitment. The resulting integrated and parsimonious model was tested via SEM and the mediation hypotheses were tested via a series of nested competing models. A moderate fit and partial, rather than full, mediation were reported. Nested Competing Model 4 proved to be the most parsimonious and to have the best fit. It is important to recognise, however, that Nested Competing Model 4 is not intended to be the most comprehensive model (which would include all significant paths), but a more practically useful one (i.e. parsimonious), that focuses on the main relationships.


Improvement of firm performance has been an effective tool for firms to increase their competitiveness. Acceleration of technological developments, difficulty of customer satisfaction and very intense global competition have resulted in a hostile environment necessitating a dynamic change process. This process is indeed difficult to manage and Business Excellence has become one of the critical instruments for managers to secure survival. Defining Business Excellence, discovering its determinants, analyzing the status and characteristics of Business Excellence in Turkish manufacturing industry and measuring its effects on firm performance constitute the major objectives of this thesis. After an extensive literature review, technology and innovation tendency, human resources, process management and continuous improvement (CI), manufacturing structure and operations, planning, manufacturing strategy, customer focus, supplier relations and leadership are identified as Business Excellence determinants. The questionnaire is prepared by considering Business Excellence determinants and the questionnaires employed in previous studies. Our final sample size has reached 140 manufacturing firms. In the following step, employing the data gathered, analyses about relationship between Business Excellence determinants and general firm performance and financial indicators are performed. Factor analysis, reliability analysis, correlation analysis, T-tests and structural equation modeling are selected as the appropriate methods for the analysis. Commercial software packages MS Excel, SPSS v13 and AMOS v4 are used.


This retrospective and cross-sectional study on trends of Low Birth Weight (LBW) as observed in selected health
facilities in Ogun state, Nigeria, covered the period 1991 – 1999, with reference to the World Summit for Children
(WSC) target for the 1990's. LBW is a serious threat to survival of infants in both perinatal and neonatal periods,
and to normal physical and mental development in the post natal period. The study was carried out to determine
how far the WSC goal of reducing the LBW incidence to 10% by the year 2000 has been achieved, and also to gain
an understanding on the determinants of LBW in the study area. Data were generated from five randomly selected
health facilities (three rural and two urban), with a total of 33,321 deliveries having fairly complete antenatal
records during the study period. Out of this number, 5,598 cases of LBW deliveries were extracted. The data
obtained were analysed using SPSS package version 14.0. The overall incidence of LBW was 16.8%. A regression
model further showed the percentage contribution of sex of baby (r2 = 0.43), maternal height (r2 = 0.41) maternal
age (r2 = 0.27) and parity (r2 = 0.09) to observed LBW incidence. The findings from this study showed an almost
consistent departure from the WSC target and explained why Nigeria did not attain the WSC goal. Adolescent
nutrition and reproductive health behaviours, measures for improved pregnancy outcomes and reversal of negative
implications of LBW incidence in Nigeria, must be effectively addressed.


Effects of essential oils on rumen fermentation, eating behavior and milk production in lactating dairy cattle Lisa Rachel Tager Manipulation of rumen fermentation to improve feed efficiency is often achieved by feeding sub-therapeutic levels of antibiotics to ruminant animals. However, there has been increased concern over the use of antibiotics in the livestock industry due to the possible rise of antibiotic resistant bacteria. In the last decade, plant essential oils (EO) have emerged as a suggestion for replacement of antibiotic feed additives due to their known antimicrobial properties. Examples include: cinnamaldehyde (CIN), eugenol (EUG), and capsicum oil (CAP), which may act as rumen modifiers. The objectives of the current studies were to: (1) investigate the effects of CIN, EUG, and CAP on rumen fermentation and pH characteristics in continuous culture using a corn-based dairy ration; (2) to assess the in vivo effects of CAP at the recommended dosage, a blend of CIN and EUG at the recommended dosage, and a blend of CIN and EUG at a high dosage closer to levels used in vitro, on rumen fermentation, rumen pH, milk production, and feeding behavior; and (3) to assess the effects of CAP in a larger scale study on eating behavior and milk production in lactating dairy cattle. To study in vitro effects of EO on rumen fermentation and pH, a 12-unit continuous culture system was used in a complete randomized design with treatments including: no oil (CON), CIN, EUG, and CAP [500 mg L –1 d –1 ]. Dry matter (DM) digestibility did not differ among treatments (P = 0.97). Organic matter (OM) digestibility tended to decrease with CIN (P = 0.06). Digestibility of neutral detergent and acid detergent fiber (NDF and ADF respectively) tended to be highest with CAP (P = 0.04 and 0.08). Crude protein digestibility and bacterial nitrogen flow was depressed with CIN and EUG (P = 0.01 and < 0.01 respectively). Cinnamaldehyde tended to decrease microbial protein synthesis (P = 0.06) and increase effluent ammonia nitrogen (P = 0.06). Total volatile fatty acid (VFA) production did not differ among treatments (P = 0.16). Cinnamaldehyde and EUG had higher mean pH, spent fewer hr/d and had smaller area under the curve at pH < 5.6 and 5.8 (P < 0.01). Capsicum had the smallest area under the curve at pH < 5.6 (P < 0.01). A second experiment was designed to examine the effects of these oils in vivo. Seven ruminally cannulated lactating Holstein dairy cows were used in an incomplete Latin rectangle design to assess the effects of 2 commercial EO products on rumen fermentation, milk production, and feeding behavior. Treatments included addition of: 0.5 g/d XT 6965 (CE Lo; 85 mg CIN and 140 mg EUG; Pancosma S.A., Bellegarde-sur-Valserine, France), 10 g/d XT 6965 (CE Hi; 1700 mg CIN and 2800 mg EUG), 0.25 g/d XT 6933 (50 mg CAP; Pancosma S.A., Bellegarde-surValserine, France), or CON. Dry matter intake, number of meals/d, h eating/d, mean meal length, rumination events/d, h ruminating/d and mean rumination length were not affected by EO (P > 0.20). However, length of the first meal after feeding decreased with addition of CE Hi (47.2 min) and CAP (49.4 min) compared to CON (65.4 min; P = 0.01). Milk yield and composition did not change with EO (P > 0.20). Volatile fatty acid profile, acetate:propionate ratio, and ammonia concentration were not affected by EO (P > 0.15). Rumen pH was unaffected by EO (P > 0.30). Total tract digestibility of OM, DM, NDF, ADF, crude protein, and starch as well as in situ DM disappearance of ground soybean hulls was not affected by EO (P > 0.50). However, in situ OM disappearance tended to decrease compared to CON with CE Hi (P = 0.08). Compared to CON, NDF disappearance (41.5% vs. 37.6%) and ADF disappearance (44.5% vs. 38.8%) decreased with addition of CE Hi (P = 0.05 and 0.04 respectively). To further investigate the effects of CAP on eating behavior, 40 lactating dairy cows were used in a replicated crossover design to study the effect of CAP on feeding behavior and milk production using the GrowSafe system (GrowSafe Systems Ltd., Airdrie, AB, Canada). Experimental treatments included: 1 g/cow/d Xtract 6933 (200 mg CAP) or CON. There was no difference in DMI (23.4 kg/d vs. 23.1 kg/d), number of meals/d (12.5 vs. 12.2), total h spent eating/d (3.1 h vs. 3.1 h), mean meal length (16.3 min vs. 16.4), length of first meal after feeding (44.6 min vs. 45.7 min), or eating rate (7.8 kg/h vs. 8.0 kg/h) between CAP and CON (P > 0.30). Milk yield did not differ between CAP and CON (31.8 kg/d vs. 32.3 kg/d; P = 0.81). In summary, the results from these 3 experiments suggest that EO have limited effects, in vitro and in vivo, on rumen fermentation, rumen pH, eating behavior, and milk production in lactating dairy cattle except at very high dosages, which would be both biologically and economically inappropriate in a commercial dairy operation.


ABSTRACT Terrorism researchers have long sought to identify methods for challenging terrorist ideologies. The construction and dissemination of counternarratives has begun to receive substantial attention as a means of doing so. However, the effectiveness of this approach is contingent on message targets' trust in the counternarrative's content and source. This article draws from literatures on trust and online source credibility to offer preliminary guidelines for cultivating trust in counternarratives and their sources. By encouraging trust in this manner, practitioners can reduce the likelihood that their counternarratives will be dismissed by their intended audiences—a perpetual challenge to strategic messaging geared toward countering violent extremism.


With its 2010 decision in Graham v. Florida, the U.S. Supreme Court for the first time placed categorical Eighth Amendment limits on noncapital sentences. Graham prohibits life-without-parole sentences for juveniles in nonhomicide cases and requires states to provide these juveniles with a "meaningful opportunity to obtain release based on demonstrated maturity and rehabilitation." In 2012, in Miller v. Alabama, the Court again set a categorical Eighth Amendment limit — prohibiting mandatory life-without-parole sentences for all juveniles and requiring sentencers to give mitigating effect to youth-related factors when juveniles face life-without-parole sentences.
Following Graham and Miller, 23 states have enacted statutes responding to the decisions and there has been extensive litigation nationwide. The first wave of litigation has largely focused on the scope of the Court's categorical holdings, with lower courts considering questions such as: How long is a "life" sentence? Which crimes are "nonhomicides?" Do the decisions apply retroactively?
A new wave of litigation is beginning to examine what procedures are required to ensure proportionate sentences under the Eighth Amendment. Across the country, states are using a range of approaches. In providing a "second look" for juveniles, some states are simply using existing parole systems, whereas other states have reformed their parole practices for juveniles or created special mechanisms for sentencing review through the courts. With respect to sentencing procedures, some states have adopted special procedures for serious juvenile cases. Other states have provided little guidance to sentencing courts.
In the past several years, many individuals have been sentenced or resentenced under Miller, and parole boards have started holding hearings in some states. With these sentencing and second look proceedings underway, advocates have started to challenge the procedures that states are using. Are state parole boards in fact providing a "meaningful opportunity" for release to juveniles based on demonstrated maturity and rehabilitation? Are courts conducting sentencing hearings in compliance with Miller's mandates?
Eighth Amendment capital litigation has often focused on the procedures governing capital cases, and much can be accomplished by pushing for better procedures in the noncapital sentencing context. With hope, reforms to parole and sentencing processes for juveniles will not only improve outcomes for juveniles but will also lead to better procedures and outcomes for adults. Yet at the same time, advocates should not abandon efforts to push for further substantive Eighth Amendment limits on sentences — not only for children but for adults.


Starting from three-dimensional X-ray tomography data of a commercial LiMn2O4 battery electrode, the effect of microstructure on the electrochemical and chemo-mechanical response of lithium-ion batteries is analyzed. Simulations show that particle size polydispersity impact the local chemical and electrical behavior of a porous electrode, while particle-particle mechanical interactions favor intercalation induced stress accumulation, resulting in a mechanically unreliable electrode microstructure. Simulations based on computer-generated electrode microstructures demonstrate that broad particle size distributions deliver up to two times higher energy density than monodisperse-sized particles based electrodes for low C-rates. However, monodisperse particle size distribution electrodes deliver the highest energy and power density for high discharge rates due to a higher surface area of reactive material per unit volume. Calculations show that the surface roughness in experimentally determined electrodes is 2.5 times higher than the one delivered by perfectly smooth spherical particles in computer generated electrodes, and provide high instantaneous power performance, but accelerate side reactions that impact negatively on power performance. The combined experimental and modeling approach demonstrates that porous electrodes with spatially uniform microstructural features improve electrochemical performance and mechanical reliability, especially for high power density applications. © 2014 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.


Branding is an unappreciated feature of contract design. Corporate finance scholars generally assume that consumers focus on product attributes like price, quality, durability, and resale value. But consumers choose brands, not just product attributes. This Article claims that the legal infrastructure of deals sometimes has a branding effect - that is, an effect on the brand image of the company. Deal structure affects the atmospherics of the brand. I explore this link between deal structure and brand image by first examining the Google IPO from last summer. From a traditional corporate finance perspective, the goal of a properly structured IPO is to manage the information asymmetry between issuer and investors and to lower the cost of capital. From this perspective, the success of the Google deal is questionable. Few would call the deal elegant or efficient. But this is not really what the Google IPO structure was about, or at least it is not the full story. When Google structured its IPO as an auction, it reinforced its image as an innovative, egalitarian, playful, trustworthy company. Talking about Google's IPO makes you want to use Google's products. By that measure, the deal was a success. I also examine the branding effects of three other deals: the Ben & Jerry's public offering in 1984, which sold stock only to Vermonters; Steve Jobs's contract with Apple, which entitles him to cash salary of exactly one dollar; and Stanley Works' failed attempt to reincorporate in Bermuda to minimize its tax liability. Finally, I conceptualize the role of branding as it relates to deal structure. Deal structure may be a useful advertising medium for companies targeting early adopters of cult-like products. Certain legal events in the lifecycle of the company - what I call branding moments - provide opportunities for firms to signal company values to these early adopters.


This paper shows the performance enhancement of heat pipes by tailoring the density distribution of micropillar wicks to minimize viscous pressure loss while maintaining sufficient capillary pumping. In a heat pipe, capillarity and permeability are linked, since small pores create higher capillary pumping while unfortunately inducing more pressure drop along the heat pipe. This pressure loss accumulates along the heat pipe, leading to a non-uniform pressure difference between the liquid and vapor. Therefore, we do not need a uniform capillary pressure to withstand this difference. This provides the opportunity to spatially tailor the wick structure, aiming for a high capillarity to pump the liquid, but a low permeability to induce less pressure loss. Our study offers a compromise between capillarity and permeability by designing the density distribution of the pillar wick structure. This density distribution, which was not studied before, will be shown to enhance the heat pipe performance.
 The theoretical models show that a tailored density distribution can enhance the heat pipe performance by a factor of 1.5. To support this result, 'rate of rise' measurements along a pillar array demonstrate that the liquid pressure loss in a tailored density array are less compared to a constant pillar density.


After examining some of the concepts central to the subject of community decision-making, notably power, leadership, elites, and participation, this study goes on to look at the literature on community power with special reference to the conflicting methodologies that have been developed. Of particular significance is the distinction between the 'reputationalists' and the 'decisionalists'; the former believing that community power can best be approached by discovering v/ho have reputations for leadership, while the latter believe that the main focus of interest should be concrete cases of decision making. The conclusion reached is that both methodologies have their advantages and disadvantages and that, therefore, a combination of the to probably offers the best hope of advancement. As a result the study both examines seven issues with which Tyneside has been faced in recent years and, by means of questionnaires and interviews, seeks to discover who are considered to be the influentials in Tyneside politics. The seven issue studies were local government re-organisation, the building of the Tyne Tunnel, the development of the airport, the establishment of the Port of Tyne Authority, the re-organisation of police areas, the merger of shipbuilding interests on the river Tyne, and the establishment of a Passenger Transport Authority. The general conclusion was that effective participation in the decision making process was confined to a small group of individuals who owed their importance normally to their positions in the local authorities. The survey by means of questionnaires revealed that local leaders differ from the population as a whole in terms of socio-economic characteristics and that, therefore, what is essentially a traditional working class. Labour-dominated area is in fact not led by a representative leadership group.


Candida parapsilosis, which has recently gained increasing importance, is the second most common fungal pathogen isolated from clinical specimens. C.parapsilosis strains exhibiting genetic heterogeneity were previously considered as a complex of three genetically different groups (group I, II, III). However, they have recently been reclassified as new species and named as C.parapsilosis sensu stricto (Grup I), C.orthopsilosis (Grup II) and C.metapsilosis (Grup III). In the present study we aimed to identify C.parapsilosis complex species by PCR-RFLP (Polymerase chain reaction-Restriction fragment lenght polymorphism) method and to determine the distribution of new species isolated from clinical specimens. A total of 68 samples (44 blood, 10 urine, 5 wound, 2 paracentesis fluids, 2 tympanocentesis samples and one of each cerebrospinal fluid, peritoneal fluid, surgical material, oral lesion and nail sample) in which C.parapsilosis had been isolated and identified with API 20C AUX (bioMérieux, France) between October 2005 - July 2009 in the Microbiology Laboratory of Karadeniz Technical University Hospital, in Trabzon, Turkey, were included in the study. Yeast genomic DNA was extracted using the "High Pure PCR Template Preparation Kit" (Roche Diagnostic, USA) and amplification of SADH gene was performed by using specific primers (S1-F sense; 5'-GTTGATGCTGTTGGATTGT-3' ve S1-R antisense; 5'-CAATGCCAAATCTCCCAA-3') with PCR. RFLP method was then applied by digesting PCR product (716 bp) with BanI enzyme (Fermentas, USA). In our study 98.5% (67/68) of the isolates were identified as C.parapsilosis sensu stricto, and 1.5% (1/68) was identifed as C.orthopsilosis, whereas no C.metapsilosis strains were detected. The strain identified as C.orthopsilosis was from a urine specimen and all the blood culture isolates were C.parapsilosis sensu stricto. In conclusion, the inability to differentiate C.parapsilosis complex species by phenotypical and routine tests leads to lack of knowledge in the clinical importance, isolation rates and geographical distribution of these species. Thus, genotypical identification of C.parapsilosis complex species will be the initial step for the arrangement of further studies in that area.


: Dysphagia is a symptom of disease reflecting either structural or neuromuscular disorders of the oropharynx or esophagus. Dysphagia should be distinguished from globus sensation and odynophagia. The clinical evaluation of the dysphagia patient by the otolaryngologist requires taking a detailed history of the complaint, extended ENT physical examination, fiberoptic nasopharyngolaryngoscopy, to assess the oral and pharyngeal phases of swallowing. Special investigations including radiography, esophageal endoscopy, ultrasonography, pH metry, manometry may be needed for the full diagnosis. It is essential for the otolaryngologist to develop a close working relationship with the radiologist, gastroenterologist, neurologist and swallowing therapist. This team approach will allow in most of the patients with dysphagia not only to identify the cause of the complaint but also to implement an effective treatment.


In the current curriculum Gy 11 the literature education is described as one of two major parts of the Swedish language subject, which means that the majority of Swedish school children come in contact with literature during their school years in one way or another. In the dissertation Between Dante and Big Brother, A study of secondary school student text encounters Christina Olin-Scheller highlights that emotions are important for texts to be understood, unfortunately, a rarely raised factor as a key component in education. The purpose of this study is by seven qualitative pupil interviews illuminate and problematize literature teaching in schools from a learner-centered emotional perspective. In order to investigate the students' feelings and the importance of those feelings has theoretical points been presented through literature didactic, neorupedagogic and general education research.


Cholesterol is a nonpolar lipid dietary constituent, absorbed from the small intestine, transported in blood and taken up by the liver. In bile, the sterol is solubilized in mixed micelles by bile salts and phospholipids. In case of supersaturation, cholesterol is kept in vesicles with phospholipid or phase-separated as crystals. Accurate isolation of micellar and vesicular lipid carriers in model systems is important for the study of the cholesterol crystallization and gallstone formation. A new method for separating lipid carriers in model biles has been proposed in this thesis. Also, the key role of bile salts and phospholipids in cholesterol solubilization in bile is described, together with their modulating/protecting effects on cholesterol supersaturation and crystallization.
Apart from cholesterol crystallization, this thesis also focused on the process of nascent bile formation at the level of the hepatocyte canalicular membrane. Phosphatidylcholine is the predominant phospholipid in bile, although both sphingomyelin and phosphatidylcholine are the major structural phospholipids in the outer leaflet of the hepatocyte canalicular membrane. Different physical-chemical characteristics of the two phospholipids may relate to their different distribution in vivo. We have studied by means of spectrophotometry and by sequential state-of-the-art cryo-transmission electron microscopy, effects of including sphingomyelin within phosphatylcholine-containing vesicles (with and without cholesterol) on vesicle ? micelle phase transitions that were induced by addition of bile salts. Cholesterol plays a key role in formation of pathophysiologically relevant phosphatidylcholine plus sphingomyelin-containing bilayers and in modulating interactions between vesicles and detergent bile salts.
The entero-hepatic circulation and the detergent activity of the bile salts are discussed int he last part of the thesis. Bile salts may present as "good" or "bad" guys. The good aspect is their effect in intestinal lipid absorption, bile formation and cholesterol solubilization. The "bad" aspect is the potential cytotoxicity induced by the detergent bile salts. The presence of phospholipids within bile salt micelles protects against bile salt-induced cytotoxicity. When compared to egg yolk phosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin offered greatly enhanced protection against bile salt-induced cytotoxicity compared to egg yolk phosphatidylcholine. Last, epidemiological and experimental studies have indicated a consistent correlation between increased risk of colon cancer and elevated levels of fecal bile salts in Western populations that consume high-fat diets. Deoxycholate, a secondary bile salts present in the colon, may act as a tumor promoter, inducing hyperproliferation and increasing the number of tumors elicited by complete carcinogens. Appreciable amounts of dietary sphingomyelin appear to reach to the colon. In CaCo-2 cells, we have shown that pathophysiologically relevant concentrations of this bile salt induced dose-dependent apoptosis in the early stages of incubation, but hyperproliferation at later stages. Sphingomyelin dose-dependently inhibited apoptosis as well as hyperproliferation, presumably through a local effect on deoxycholate activity. These findings may have important implications for colon cancer prevention.


Exact solutions of traversable wormholes are found under the assumption of spherical symmetry and the existence of a nonstatic conformal symmetry, which presents a more systematic approach in searching for exact wormhole solutions. In this work, a wide variety of solutions are deduced by considering choices for the form function, a specific linear equation of state relating the energy density and the pressure anisotropy, and various phantom wormhole geometries are explored. A large class of solutions impose that the spatial distribution of the exotic matter is restricted to the throat neighborhood, with a cutoff of the stress-energy tensor at a finite junction interface, although asymptotically flat exact solutions are also found. Using the 'volume integral quantifier', it is found that the conformally symmetric phantom wormhole geometries may, in principle, be constructed by infinitesimally small amounts of averaged null energy condition violating matter. Considering the tidal acceleration traversability conditions for the phantom wormhole geometry, specific wormhole dimensions and the traversal velocity are also deduced.


Abstract : The predicted alterations in the solvent-dependent reaction dynamics of electron-transfer processes brought about by the presence of reactant vibrational (inner-shell) activation in addition to overdamped solvent motion are examined by using a slightly modified from of the theoretical treatment due to Sumi, Nadler, and Marcus. Allowance is made for the occurrence of nuclear tunneling involving the high-frequency vibrational modes, and for barrier crossing driven by solvent inertial polarization as well as vibrational activation. The latter enables the emergence of the zero-friction (transition-state theory, TST) limit to be included along with providing a unified description in the absence and presence of vibrational activation. Attention is focussed on the calculated dependencies of the reaction rate constant, and barrier-crossing frequency, upon the overdamped solvent relaxation time, over a range of parameters and in a format which can be compared directly with experimental solvent-dependent kinetic data.


1. Assay conditions are described for the ATP-dependent, uncoupler-sensitive, energy-linked reduction of NAD(+) by succinate, dl-alpha-glycerophosphate or d-lactate in membranes from aerobically grown Escherichia coli. 2. The reaction may be demonstrated in electron-transport particles (ET particles) from cells grown in glycerol, but not in depleted particles washed in low-ionic-strength buffer, or in ET particles from cells grown in glucose. 3. The latter two classes of particles have low specific activities of ATPase (adenosine triphosphatase), succinate dehydrogenase, dl-alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase and d-lactate dehydrogenase relative to undepleted ET particles from cells grown in glycerol. 4. Reconstitution of energy-linked NAD(+) reduction in particles from cells grown in glucose was done by: (a) addition of the high-speed supernatant fraction from sonicates of the same cells; (b) addition of a protein fraction, precipitated by (NH(4))(2)SO(4) from this supernatant, or (c) addition of an (NH(4))(2)SO(4)-precipitated fraction from the low-ionic-strength wash of particles from cells grown in glycerol. 5. The use of (NH(4))(2)SO(4)-precipitated fractions from ATPase- or succinate dehydrogenase-deficient mutants grown in glycerol in the above reconstitution indicated that failure to demonstrate the reaction in particles from cells grown in glucose was a result of inadequate activities of appropriate dehydrogenases, rather than of ATPase. 6. Energy-linked NAD(+) reduction could be demonstrated in particles from a ubiquinone-deficient mutant only after restoration of NADH oxidase activity by adding ubiquinone-1. 7. The measured rate of the energy-linked reaction in particles from a haem-deficient mutant, however, was not stimulated after the ATP- and haematin-dependent acquisition of functional cytochromes. 8. Results are interpreted as evidence of the ubiquinone-dependent, but cytochrome-independent, nature of the site I region of the respiratory chain in E. coli.