Viscose fabric-reinforced unsaturated polyester composites were successfully prepared through vacuum infusion process. Unidirectional viscose fabric was modified by two different organosilane coupling agents and by acetylation treatment. The main objective was to study the influence of fabric treatment on the mechanical and water absorption properties of the composites. Flexural, tensile and impact properties of composites were studied. The results from mechanical testing of composites pointed out that 3-aminopropyltriethoxy silane treatment increased the flexural and impact strengths of the composites with respect to untreated fabric composite. The impact strength of 3-aminopropyltriethoxy silane-treated fabric composites almost doubled compared to the value of untreated fabric composite. Among all the composites under study, those with fabrics treated by 2 vol% 3-aminopropyltriethoxy silane in ethanol/water (95:5) solution exhibited significant improvement in water uptake resistance. An unsaturated polyester gelcoat and topcoat were applied as the outer surface on the composites with untreated fabric. This was done in order to investigate the visual surface appearance and evaluate the gelcoat and topcoat effect on water absorption after accelerated water immersion test. The regenerated cellulose fibre as reinforcement shows high potential to be used as an alternative for natural bast fibres, especially, when toughness of material matters. Chemical treatment of regenerated cellulose fibres could result in improvement in properties of polymer composites, considering that the appropriate treatment method is selected for the corresponding fibre–matrix system.


A new method for producing genetic mosaics, which involves the spontaneous somatic loss of free chromosome fragments, is demonstrated. Four genes that affect the behavior of C. elegans were studied in mosaic animals. The analysis is known. Two of the mutant genes affect certain sensory responses and prevent uptake of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) by certain sensory neurons. Mosaic analysis indicated that one of these mutant genes is cell autonomous with respect to its effect on FITC uptake and the other is cell nonautonomous. In the latter case, the genotype of a non-neuronal supporting cell that surrounds the processes of the neurons that normally take up FITC probably is critical. The other two mutant genes affect animal movement. Mosaic analysis indicated that the expression of one of these genes is specific to certain neurons (motor neurons of the ventral and dorsal nerve cords are prime candidates and the expression of the other gene is specific to muscle cells.


The work of historical geographers has produced a rich literature concerning medieval and later rural settlement in Scotland. This work has frequently been used in an uncritical manner by archaeologists studying this period, often to the exclusion of developing a suitable theoretical and methodological basis for archaeological research. These models might be appropriate for the 'big history' paradigms of the disciplines which generated them, but they fail to address several issues which are key to the archaeologist. This paper investigates the pre-crofting settlement of two areas of the Isle of Lewis to argue that to understand post-medieval settlement, it is necessary to utilise both conventional archaeological survey and theoretical considerations of how societies interact and react to the particular environment in which they are placed.


The state of neural network pruning has been noticed to be unclear and even confusing for a while, largely due to"a lack of standardized benchmarks and metrics"[3]. To standardize benchmarks, first, we need to answer: what kind of comparison setup is considered fair? This basic yet crucial question has barely been clarified in the community, unfortunately. Meanwhile, we observe several papers have used (severely) sub-optimal hyper-parameters in pruning experiments, while the reason behind them is also elusive. These sub-optimal hyper-parameters further exacerbate the distorted benchmarks, rendering the state of neural network pruning even more obscure. Two mysteries in pruning represent such a confusing status: the performance-boosting effect of a larger finetuning learning rate, and the no-value argument of inheriting pretrained weights in filter pruning. In this work, we attempt to explain the confusing state of network pruning by demystifying the two mysteries. Specifically, (1) we first clarify the fairness principle in pruning experiments and summarize the widely-used comparison setups; (2) then we unveil the two pruning mysteries and point out the central role of network trainability, which has not been well recognized so far; (3) finally, we conclude the paper and give some concrete suggestions regarding how to calibrate the pruning benchmarks in the future. Code: https://github.com/mingsun-tse/why-the-state-of-pruning-so-confusing.


A series of analogues of insect juvenile hormone (four geometric isomers of methyl epoxyfarnesenate, several para-substituted epoxygeranyl phenyl ethers, and epoxyfarnesol and its acetate and haloacetate derivatives) was prepared to investigate the binding specificity of the hemolymph juvenile hormone binding protein from the tobacco hornworm Manduct sexta. The relative binding affinities were determined by a competition assay against radiolabeled methyl (E,E)-3,11-dimethyl-7-ethyl-cis-10,11-epoxytrideca-2,6-dienoate (JH I). The ratio of dissociation constants was estimated by plotting competitor data according to a linear transformation of the dissociation equations describing competition of two ligands for a binding protein. The importance of the geometry of the sesquiterpene hydrocarbon chain is indicated by the fact that the binding affinity is decreased as Z (cis) double bonds are substituted for E (trans) double bonds in the methyl epoxyfarnesenate series; the unepoxidized analogues do not bind. A carboxylic ester function is important although its orientation can be reversed, as indicated by the good binding of epoxyfarnesyl acetate. In the monoterpene series, methyl epoxygeranoate shows no affinity for the binding protein, but substitution of a phenyl or p-carbomethoxyphenyl ether for the ester function imparts a low, but significant affinity. These data taken together with earlier results indicate that the binding site for juvenile hormone in the hemolymph binding protein is characterized by a sterically defined hydrophobic region with polar sites that recognize the epoxide and the ester functions.


We consider a weighted proportional allocation of resources that allows providers to discriminate usage of resources by users. This framework is a generalization of well-known proportional allocation by accommodating allocation of resources proportional to weighted bids or proportional to submitted bids but with weighted payments.
 We study a competition game where everyone is selfish: providers choose user discrimination weights aiming at maximizing their individual revenues while users choose their bids aiming at maximizing their individual payoffs. We analyze revenue and social welfare of this game. We find that the revenue is lower bounded by k/(k+1) times the revenue under standard price discrimination scheme, where a set of k users is excluded. For users with linear utility functions, we find that the social welfare is at least 1/(1+2/√3) of the maximum social welfare (approx. 46%) and that this bound is tight. We extend this efficiency result to a broad class of utility functions and multiple competing providers. We also describe an algorithm for adjusting discrimination weights by providers without a prior knowledge of user utility functions and establish convergence to equilibrium points of the competition game.
 Our results show that, in many cases, weighted proportional sharing achieves competitive revenue and social welfare, despite the fact that everyone is selfish.


e-mail:email@example.com Wire electrical discharge machining (WEDM) cuts material using the principles of electroerosion, which conclusively defines the resulting morphology of the machined surface. During the erosion process, removal of tiny particles of material (tiny globules) is achieved using a stream of dielectric. On certain surfaces, these tiny globules get stuck during the thermaltreatment and remain on the machined surface. This thesis studies these globules of debris on foursamples of two metallic materials with various heat treatment using electron microscopy.Furthermore, a part of the globule was removed using a focused iont beam, which allowed for studying its inside and analyzing the chemical composition in its individual parts.


The crack propagation along the bond coat / topcoat interface of a TBC system has been studied in a previous work under a certain mode ratio (K2/K1). In order to discuss a parameter that describes the crack propagation, the growth behavior of a crack has to be studied under various K2/K1 ratios. In this work, BEM was used to determine the modifications that change K2/K1 ratios of the specimen employed in the previous study. Six characteristics of the specimen were modified: location of the applied load; height; length, position and direction of the notch, and its separation from the bond coat / topcoat interface. Among these modifications, the change of location of load point can effectively change K2/K1 ratio to values greater and smaller than those of the previous study. Crack propagation tests with three different positions of load point were performed using specimens with topcoat porosity of 5%, 15% and 20%. The results indicated that, independently of K2/K1 ratio, the parameter Ki dominated the crack growth behavior for an interface crack under mixed mode.


In the present work, the glass formation of Fe50-xCr15Mo14C15B6Mx (x = 0,2 and M = Y,Gd) alloys has been investigated. Wedge shaped bulk samples, with thickness from 2 mm up to 5 mm, were prepared by copper mold casting technique. Ribbons of the same compositions, with 30 μm in thickness, were produced by melt-spinning technique. Thermal and structural properties were measured using High Temperature Differential Scanning Calorimetry and X-ray diffraction, respectively. The microstructure has been observed by Scanning Electron Microscopy and chemical composition was checked by Energy Dispersion Spectroscopy. In the case of ribbons, fully amorphous phase was observed for all compositions. Copper mold casting technique leads to a fully amorphous structure for bulk samples up to 2 mm only for composition containing Y or Gd. Such elements can act as oxygen scavengers, avoiding heterogeneous nucleation. The role of Y and Gd on glass formation is also discussed on the basis of the melting behavior.


Increasing numbers of reported cases of child sexual abuse (CSA) are leading to greater numbers of such children being placed in foster care. Findings suggest that sexually abused children and their families have a multiplicity of problems that form the basis for removal from the home. In addition, sexually abused children are returned to the home sooner than other children placed in care. Consequently, it is imperative that during placement specialized sexual abuse-specific services be made available to these children and their families in order to strengthen the child and the family system as a means of forestalling revictimization and/or a return to foster care. Specialized sexual abuse units within foster care agencies are being recommended as the vehicle for the delivery of services to CSA children and their families where placement is required. The Sexual Abuse Unit (SAU) of the Harlem Dowling West Side Center is one of these units. As a consequence of an awareness of the individual and familial complexities involved in intra-familial child sexual abuse the structure and delivery of SAU services is multidisciplinary. SAU services include placement, foster parent recruitment selection, medical examination, disclosure validation, clinical interventions of individual, group, and family therapy, case work counseling, case services, training, and reunification. (Author/ABL) ********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. *********************************************************************** Child Sexual Abuse Units New Direction in Foster Care


Very faint X-ray transients (VFXTs) are a group of X-ray binaries with low luminosities, displaying peak X-ray luminosities during their outbursts of only 1034–1036 erg s−1. Using γ-ray data obtained with the Large Area Telescope (LAT) onboard the Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope (Fermi), we investigate their possible nature of containing rotation-powered pulsars, or more specifically being transitional millisecond pulsars (MSPs). Among more than 40 known VFXTs, we select 12 neutron star systems. We analyze the LAT data for the fields of 12 VFXTs in the energy range 0.2–300 GeV, but do not find any counterparts likely detected by Fermi. We obtain luminosity upper limits for the 12 sources. While the distances to the sources are largely uncertain, the upper limits are comparable to the luminosities of two transitional systems, PSR J1023−0038 and XSS J12270−4859. From our study, we conclude that no evidence is found at γ-rays for the suggestion that some VFXTs could contain rotation-powered MSPs (or be transitional MSP systems).


The Philippine duck industry is dominated by balut (partially hatched embryos) production and by smallholder production that accounted for more than 75 percent of the total duck production. However, the commercial sector is gaining momentum in moving towards a higher degree of vertical integration and contract farming and there appears to be some increase in the demand for duck meat. At present, almost all of the demand for duck eggs is met by domestic production while about two percent of duck meat consumption is imported. As such, imports appear not to be a serious threat to the domestic supply at present. However, it is envisaged that as trade liberalisation continues, the Philippine duck industry will face increasing competition from overseas and other food products. Continuing survival and future growth of the industry depend on its ability to compete in a free trade environment, which, in turn, depends on efficiency of the production and marketing systems relative its competitors. The objectives of this paper are to provide an overview of the industry, identify industry issues and suggest areas for further research. The key issues identified in this paper include (1) a possible declining demand for duck products; (2) the absence of product standards and market information; and (3) the collection and consistency of BAS data. One suggestion is that expert opinions are needed to reconcile discrepancies in the published data. In addition, more research is needed on several areas, including identifying issues facing the smallholders, including the emergence of large scale commercial duck farms; better understanding of consumer demand; defining and establishing product standards, and generating more reliable market intelligence.


In dense wireless scenarios, and particularly under high traffic loads, the design of efficient random access protocols is necessary. Some candidate solutions are based on Direct-Sequence Spread Spectrum (DS-SS) combined with a Successive Interference Cancellation (SIC) demodulator, but the performance of these techniques is highly related to the distribution of the users received power. In that context, this paper presents a theoretical analysis to calculate the optimum user SINR profile at the decoder maximizing the spectral efficiency in bps/Hz for a specific modulation and practical Forward Error Correction (FEC) code. This solution is achieved by means of Variational Calculus operating in the asymptotic large-user case. Although a constant SINR function has been typically assumed in the literature (the one maximizing capacity), the theoretical results evidence that the optimum SINR profile must be an increasing function of the users received power. Its performance is compared with that of the uniform profile for two representative scenarios with different channel codes in a slightly overloaded system. The numerical results show that the optimum solution regulates the network load preventing the aggregate throughput from collapsing when the system is overloaded. In scenarios with a large number of transmitters, this optimum solution can be implemented in an uncoordinated manner with the knowledge of a few public system parameters.


The paper discusses a certain type of competitions based on distance interaction of a participant with simulation models of concepts from discrete mathematics and computer science. One of them is the "Construct, Test, Explore" (CTE) competition, developed by the authors, the other is the Olympiad in Discrete Mathematics and Theoretical Informatics (DM&TI). The tasks presented in this paper are generally devoted to the concept of a graph isomorphism. Most of the tasks are verified automatically.


Background Flow diverters (FD) offer a novel approach to the endovascular management of aneurysms. In a small minority FD may be the only therapeutic option for previously untreatable lesions but in most patients they have actually been used as an alternative to established therapeutic strategies. Data are currently limited to small prospective studies, single centre series and retrospective analysis of (mostly small) existing case series. Issues have arisen with FD devices around non-procedural bleeding from previously unruptured aneurysms, high technical complication rates, delayed parent vessel stenosis/occlusion and parenchymal bleeds apparently unrelated to dual antiplatelet therapy or any procedural event. Caution should be exercised with the introduction of any novel class of device and comprehensive post marketing surveillance programmes are required by FDA and European Regulators alike. In late 2009 the UK Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA) expressed "interested concern" over FDs and unexpected SAEs (serious adverse events), which had occurred with FDs. In response to these concerns, a prospective Registry was proposed by UK Neurointerventional Group (UKNG) members in early January 2010 and endorsed by the wider UKNG as a means to address many of the concerns. More recently entering UK PED™ cases into the Registry has been mandated by NICE in its recommendations regarding used of PED™. Methods UK wide audit Registry was developed- funded by one industry partner (Covidien) - but run completely independently in three academic institutions- University of Edinburgh, Newcastle University, University of Oxford. A simple, workable "case record form" (CRF) was developed, which collected a minimum demographic, procedural and follow-up set of data. CRF uses online data entry and audit has run prospectively from November 2010. However, two large scale FD users (University College London & QE Hospital Birmingham) were enabled to put in their prospectively acquired 2010 cases. Formal statistical analysis was undertaken independently of database administration by Oxford Neurovascular and Neuroradiology Research Unit (ONNRU). Only the database administrator can access all the anonymised data. The project was scrutinised by Scottish Ethics Committee who decided it constituted prospective audit of anonymised data. Results All 29 UK neuroscience centres with a formal INR service (three with no on site INR service were not approached) were contacted and invited to participate. Two centres did not respond but from informal discussions one of these didn't use FDs (to end of 2011) and the remaining centre used quite modest numbers (low single figures to end of 2011). Of the 27 centres responding, 2 don't use FD's, leaving 25 centres participating in the registry (representing 96% of UK centres using FD for aneurysm treatment). We will report the statistical results on the first 200 patients enrolled in the Registry. Conclusion A very diverse group of patients and aneurysms were enrolled but they do represent "real world" practice and outcomes. The complication rates observed were not insignificant but analysis by aneurysm type/size/location/symptomatology is critical to evaluating the ongoing role of FDs in aneurysm therapy. Disclosures P. White: 1; C; Covidien, Codman, Microvention, Acandis. 2; C; Codman, Microvention. A. Molyneux: 1; C; Covidien.


The crystal structure of the title compound, C10H20O2, was published [Korner et al. (2000). Acta Cryst. C56, 74–75] with an erroneous position for an hydroxy H atom. This has now been corrected and leads to a more sensible hydrogen-bonding scheme.


We AI researchers are concerned about the potential impact of artificially intelligent systems on humanity. In the first half of this essay, I argue that ethics is an evolved body of cultural knowledge that (among other things) encourages individual behavior that promotes the welfare of the society (which in turn promotes the welfare of its individual members). The causal paths involved suggest that trust and cooperation play key roles in this process. In the second half of the essay, I consider whether the key role of trust exposes our society to existential threats. This possibility arises because decision-making agents (humans, AIs, and others) necessarily rely on simplified models to cope with the unbounded complexity of our physical and social world. By selecting actions to maximize a utility measure, a well-formulated game theory model can be a powerful and valuable tool. However, a poorly-formulated game theory model may be uniquely harmful, in cases where the action it recommends deliberately exploits the vulnerability and violates the trust of cooperative partners.Widespread use of such models can erode the overall levels of trust in the society. Cooperation is reduced, resources are constrained, and there is less ability to meet challenges or take advantage of opportunities. Loss of trust will affect humanity's ability to respond to existential threats such as climate change.


The scanning electron microscope (SEM) is one of the most popular instruments available for the measurement and analysis of the micro/nano structures. It is equipped with an electron optical system that consists of an electron beam source, magnetic lenses, apertures, deflection coils, and a detector. The magnetic lenses playa role in refracting electron beams to obtain a focused spot using the magnetic field driven by an electric current from a coil. A SEM column usually contains two condenser lenses and an objective lens. The condenser lenses generate a magnetic field that forces the electron beams to form crossovers at desired locations. The objective lens then focuses the electron beams on the specimen. The present work concerns finite element analysis for the electron magnetic lenses so as to analyze their magnetic characteristics. To improve the performance of the magnetic lenses, the effect of the excitation current and pole-piece design on the amount of resulting magnetic fields and their peak locations are analyzed through the finite element analysis.


Field-induced oxidation has become a promising process that is capable of directly producing high-resolution surface oxide patterns on variety materials. This report initiated the idea of the possibility of a controlled nanofabrication of SiO2 on silicon wafer by utilizing a frozen humid air film. A low temperature (-70°C) operation of an atomic force microscope (AFM) was used to condense ambient humidity (40%) to perform a thin frozen water layer covering a silicon wafer surface. A scanning probe was contacted with the layer and a zero bias voltage was applied to the sample surface with the AFM probe tip connected to the reference -2.44V. The frozen water film acted both as an electrolyte to form silicon dioxide and as a resource of hydroxide. Using this technique (a) a consistency in height of 6 nm silicon dioxide patterns layer could be achieved showing that the effect of tip vibration could be reduced; (b) easy to remove frozen water by just operating the AFM to the ambient temperature; (c) it is possible to control thickness by making different humidity.


A 60-year-old man presented with a traumatic leptomeningeal cyst manifesting as local tenderness in the right parietal region and local headache 2 years after head injury. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a small arachnoid cyst under bone defect. Dural and bone plasty were performed. Intraoperative examination found small and round defects of the dura and bone. Progressive headache was relieved after the surgery. This rare case of adult posttraumatic leptomeningeal cyst occurred within an unusually short period after trauma, and was associated with a small and round bone defect and small dural defect usually characteristic of congenital arachnoid cyst.


SIR,-I enclose a table to support the suggestion of Dr M F G Murphy and colleagues that cot death (sudden infant death syndrome) occurs more frequently at weekends (9 August, p 364). It combines data from the only. studies citing the day of the week of such deaths published before the article of Murphy et al.'4 The numbers are self evident. When the data are combined there is a significant excess of cot deaths on Saturday to Monday compared with Tuesday to Friday (x2= 18-34, df.1, p<O001).


Masculinity has been studied in various outdoor settings, including the industries of ecotourism, outdoor education, and forestry. However, few studies have examined how physical space contributes to the construction of hegemonic masculinity in organizations associated with nature and the outdoors. This study relies on nine in-depth interviews conducted with outdoor educators and sixteen hours of ethnographic research completed at Mountain View Scout Camp, a backpacking program for youth operated by the Boy Scouts of America. Findings indicate that Mountain View is gendered both through its organizational aesthetics, which valorize a hegemonically masculine ideal, and via sta members' conception of nature as feminine and forestry work and tools as masculine. Results also suggest that men employed at Mountain View will occasionally embody a hybrid masculine gender performance by utilizing non-hegemonic traits of masculinity such as pro-feminist ideas. However, these episodic masculine performances also serve to subtly reproduce gender inequalities by accepting only a speci c type of woman and rewarding men for super cial allyship.


BEPC will be upgraded into BEPCII, and the luminosity will be about 100 times higher. We developed a three dimensional strong-strong PIC code to study the beam-beam effects in BEPCII. The transportation through the arc is the same as that in Hirata's weak-strong code. The beam-beam force is computed directly by solving the Poisson equation using the FACR method, and the boundary potential is computed by circular convolution. The finite bunch length effect is included by longitudinal slices. An interpolation scheme is used to reduce the required slice number in simulations. The standard message passing interface (MPI) is used to parallelize the code. The computing time increases linearly with (n + 1), where n is the slice number. The calculated luminosity of BEPCII at the design operating point is less than the design value. The best area in the tune space is near (0.505,0.57) according to the survey, where the degradation of luminosity can be improved.


During an acarological study of brackish habitats in the Netherlands, a wingless species of Chasmodon was discovered. Because of the intermediate shape of the notauli it was not possible to identify it with the key of Hedqvist (1962), and therefore I propose another key for the wingless and brachypterous specimens of Alysiinae. The new species is compared with C. apterus (Nees von Esenbeck, 1812), which is the only other species of the genus. Key to the genera of wingless and brachypterous Alysiinae 1. Scutellum indistinct, strong constriction in middle of mesosoma; second abdominal tergite petiolate. (Mediterranean; 4 spp.) Pseudopezomachus Mantero, 1905 — Scutellum distinct, constriction wanting; second tergite may be slender, but not distinctly petiolate 2 2. Mandibles with 7 teeth; mesosoma strongly scrobiculate dorsad; length of temples 2.7 times compound eye (dorsal aspect). (N. Europe; 1 sp.)....... Lodbrokia Hedqvist, 1962 — Mandibles with 3 teeth, mesosoma almost smooth dorsad; length of temples equal to length of eye or less (dorsal aspect) 3 3. Third antennal segment distinctly longer than fourth; pterostigma large, elliptical; second cubital cell triangular; between notauli a medial, longitudinal, suture; hind coxa finely sculptured. (Europe; 1 sp.) Males of Alloea Haliday, 1833 (p.p.) — Third antennal segment shorter than fourth; pterostigma (if present) smaller and triangular ; second cubital cell wanting ; medial suture wanting; hind coxa smooth 4


This paper presents a design proposal for controlling the five thousand fiber positioners within the focal plate of the DESI instrument. Each of these positioners is a robot which allows positioning its optic fiber with a resolution within the range of few microns. The high number and density of these robots poses a challenge for handling the communication from a central control device to each of these five thousand. Furthermore, an additional restriction applies as the required time to communicate to every robot of its position must be smaller than a second. Additionally. a low energy consumption profile is also desired. Both wireless and wired communication protocols have been evaluated, proposing single-technology-based architectures and hybrid ones (a combination of them). Among the wireless solutions, ZigBee and CyFi have been considered. Using simulation tools these wireless protocols have been discarded as they do not allow an efficient communication. The studied wired protocols comprise I2C, CAN and Ethernet. The best solution found is a hybrid multilayer architecture combining both Ethernet and I2C. A 100 Mbps Ethernet based network is used to communicate the central control unit with ten management boards. Each of these boards is a low-cost, low-power embedded device that manages a thirty six degrees sector of the sensing plate. Each of these boards receives the positioning data for five hundred robots and communicate with each one through a fast mode plus I2C bus. This proposal allows to communicate the positioning information for all five thousand robots in 350 ms total.


In the last century, markets, technical configurations, existing power relations, and prevailing ideologies in industrialised countries have co-evolved in ways that promote fossil-fuel-based systems. Relatedly, the literature on sustainability transitions (STs) has gained significance in the last twenty years, primarily because of increased interest by those who are concern with enabling shifts towards low-carbon sources of energy. This research examines the kinds of changes which take place in fossil fuel path-dependent systems in response to the pressure imposed by the advent of greener alternatives. Understanding how fossil-fuelled path-dependent systems respond to such demands enables us to identify counter-strategies, which may help accelerate sustainability transitions.

Using a combination of the multi-level perspective on socio-technical transitions and institutional theory, the thesis presents case studies centred on South Africa's coal-fired electricity regime, which is entrenched in a system known as the minerals-energy complex (MEC). The case studies examine how the coal-fired electricity regime tried to maintain stability in the face of pressure to decarbonise by diversifying to include more renewables-based and gas-fired electricity generation, each of which is considered as a niche.

The findings from the case studies are organised into three articles. The first paper presents a case study on the establishment of the MEC and shows how it became a highly path-dependent system, posing a formidable obstacle and challenge for new entrants. The second paper investigates the contestation between the dominant regime incumbent, Eskom, versus the nascent renewable energy programme. This paper demonstrates an evolving strategy of regime resistance in response to several gains achieved by the renewables niche over time. The third paper examines the emergence of a gas-to-power niche against a backdrop of interactions between electricity and liquid fuel regimes. This paper shows the highly dynamic changes that take place in a regime as it tries to maintain stability.

The overall findings demonstrate that the electricity regime evolved from highly stable to having features of a fractured regime, or what could be understood to be a form of destabilisation. The thesis contributes to the ST field by suggesting several ways in which regime stability and change could be better understood. These include enhanced theorising of regime resistance through analysis of the regime's multi-dimensional selection environment and mobilising endogenous institutional concepts through various modes of change (drift, layering, conversion and displacement) into the theory. Policy recommendations suggest a fractured regime requires a temporally sensitive displacement policy mix. This is one in which varying stages of regime stability are recognised and potentially exploited by corresponding niche strategies.


This document defines extensions to the failure-detection protocol for
Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) Label Switched Paths (LSPs) known
as "LSP Ping" that allow selection of the LSP to use for the echo
reply return path. Enforcing a specific return path can be used to
verify bidirectional connectivity and also increase LSP ping
robustness. It may also be used by Bidirectional Forwarding Detection
(BFD) for MPLS bootstrap signaling thereby making BFD for MPLS more
robust.


Various impacts of Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) were reported in many cancer types. Particularly, MMPs are involved in extracellular matrix destruction which is required cancer cells to make an invasion. Gene polymorphisms which are thought to affect expressions levels of MMPs are widely studied to determine their influence on cancer. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association of gene polymorphism frequencies of MMP2 C1306T and MMP9 C1562T in Malignant Mesothelioma (MM), other metastatic cancers to pleura and benign pleural diseases. DNA extracted from pleural tissues of 195 subjects (MM, other metastatic cancers to pleura and benign pleural diseases). MMP2 C1306T and MMP9 C1562T polymorphisms genotyped using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method. We found no significant difference in genotype frequencies of MMP2 C1306T, MMP9 C1562T between subjects except for MMP2 C1306T CT genotypes were high in MM when compared to benign pleural diseases group. We recommend extensive mutation and polymorphism scan including whole exomes of these genes.


Gallium lanthanum sulphide (GLS) based glasses and optical fibres have considerable potential for use in both active and passive infrared applications. These range from using it as a passive transmission medium in the mid-infrared, to a host material for mid-infrared fibre lasers. This is potentially useful for all optical gas detection systems. The purification, thermal and optical properties, and fibre drawing of GLS based optical fibre forms the content of this thesis. A successful scheme of purification of the precursors, and optimisation of the composition of the glass, has allowed the fabrication of the lowest loss GLS fibre reported to date with a loss of 1 dBm-1 at 4µm. The development of a novel preform fabrication technique for producing single mode fibres has greatly enhanced the prospects of this material for the future.


Abstract The biology of purple nutsedge was studied by growing it alone and in competition with 12 and 24 rice plants in a pot experiment. Compared with the weedy plants grown alone, competition from rice reduced purple nutsedge leaf number, shoot number, tuber production rate, and leaf biomass. At 10 wk after planting, interference from 12 and 24 rice plants reduced purple nutsedge leaf area by 79 and 86%, respectively, compared with weedy plants grown without rice interference. On the same date, purple nutsedge aboveground shoot biomass was 26.8 g plant−1 without interference, whereas in interference with 12 and 24 rice plants, purple nutsedge produced aboveground biomass of 4.8 and 2.2 g plant−1, respectively. A total of 95 tubers plant−1 were produced by purple nutsedge when grown alone. Growth with 12 and 24 rice plants reduced tuber production to 33 and 17 tubers plant−1, respectively. Without interference, purple nutsedge produced 40 g plant−1 of total biomass of tuber plus root plus rhizome, whereas in interference with 12 and 24 rice plants, purple nutsedge produced 14 and 5 g plant−1 of total belowground biomass, respectively. Nomenclature: Purple nutsedge, Cyperus rotundus L. CYPRO; rice, Oryza sativa L.


More than ever before, the Department of Defense is relying on contactors to support our men and women in uniform. However, the cost of supporting these contractors has been paid not only with congressional funds but with an unprecedented number of contractor casualties. Sadly, while contractors are dying in record numbers in Iraq and Afghanistan, Congress has been preoccupied with paying less for the statutorily mandated workers' compensation insurance that is intended to protect these workers. With the advent of Kevlar vests and armored-plated Humvees, contractors are returning home, but often with scars of war both visible and invisible. Rather than being greeted as heroes, they are treated as mercenaries, as insurance carriers deny their medical claims and reap excessive profits. Congress is now developing a new acquisition strategy for Defense Base Act Insurance to address the rising cost of premiums. Regrettably, congressional leaders have all but ignored the issue of insurance carriers denying injured contractors' claims, especially those related to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI). While Congress and the Department of Defense debate cost-saving strategies, the more poignant question of whether the government owes a greater duty to Americans defending our freedom is subverted. This article argues that Congress must adopt a multiple-provider acquisition strategy until a government self-insurance system can be implemented in the future. These short and long-term strategies offer the government the greatest leveraging capability as it struggles to maintain accountability and morality in a system that has for the last decade exploited injured contractors and disgraced a society that prides itself in leaving no American behind.


INTRODUCTION
Lupus nephritis is a serious organ involvement with unknown etiology, and glomerulonephritis class IV is one of the most severe forms of the disease which correlates with poor prognosis and death. Immunological abnormalities are implicated in the expression of lupus nephritis. In this study, we examined some T helper 17 and regulatory T-related cytokines and molecules in systemic lupus erythematosus patients with glomerulonephritis class IV.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
The study group comprised of 20 glomerulonephritis class IV SLE patients and 20 sex- and age-matched SLE patients without kidney involvement as control group. Blood samples was collected from each participant, lymphocytes were isolated, and RNA was extracted from lymphocytes. Then cDNA was synthesized using reverse transcription enzyme, and finally using specific primers and probes, the expression levels of forkhead box P3 (Foxp3), transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-17 genes were analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction based on the TaqMan method.

RESULTS
The expression levels of IL-6, IL-17, IFN-γ, and Foxp3 genes were significantly higher in SLE patients with glomerulonephritis class IV than those with non-nephritis SLE. However, the expression of TGF-β was not significantly different between the SLE patients with and without glomerulonephritis class IV involvement.

CONCLUSIONS
According to our results, it seems that in class IV glomerulonephritis patients, increased Foxp3-producing regulatory T cells has an imperfect capacity to control the pathogenic IL-17- and IFN-γ-producing cells.


Cognitive neuropsychology has championed the use of single-case research design. Recently, however, case series designs that employ multiple single cases have been increasingly utilized to address theoretical issues using data from neuropsychological populations. In this paper, we examine these methodologies, focusing on a number of points in particular. First we discuss the use of dissociations and associations, often thought of as a defining feature of cognitive neuropsychology, and argue that they are better viewed as part of a spectrum of methods that aim to explain and predict behaviour. We also raise issues regarding case series design in particular, arguing that selection of an appropriate sample, including controlling degree of homogeneity, is critical and constrains the theoretical claims that can be made on the basis of the data. We discuss the possible interpretation of "outliers" in a case series, suggesting that while they may reflect "noise" caused by variability in performance due to factors that are not of relevance to the theoretical claims, they may also reflect the presence of patterns that are critical to test, refine, and potentially falsify our theories. The role of case series in treatment research is also raised, in light of the fact that, despite their status as gold standard, randomized controlled trials cannot provide answers to many crucial theoretical and clinical questions. Finally, we stress the importance of converging evidence: We propose that it is conclusions informed by multiple sources of evidence that are likely to best inform theory and stand the test of time.


Several management practices have been suggested to mitigate the global pollinator decline in agro‐ecosystems, including wildflower strips and Farming with Alternative Pollinators (FAP). FAP proposes to dedicate 25% of the field area to seed Marketable Habitat Enhancement Plants (MHEP) around the main crop, occupying 75% of the field. However, wild pollinators may not rely fully on the resources that fields provide due to differences in flying period and host‐plant preferences, and need additional resources from wild flowering plant communities. Here we aim to compare wild pollinator communities between FAP fields, monoculture of pollinator dependent crops and the nearby wild flowering plants. We developed two experimental trials with two main crops (faba bean and eggplant) in 16 fields in North‐West Morocco and we compared wild pollinator richness and wild pollinator specialization between FAP fields, control fields and the nearby wild flowering plants. We recorded a significantly higher pollinator richness in FAP fields compared to wild flowering plants and monoculture. Pollinator specialization index (i.e. degree of interaction specialization at the species level) did not differ significantly between the three treatments in faba bean trial (i.e. FAP, control and wild plants), whilst in eggplant trial, wild plants harboured significantly more specialist species than FAP fields. Yet, no significant differences in pollinator specialization index were reported between the other treatments in eggplant trial (i.e. FAP vs. control and control vs. wild plants). Moreover, 28% of the pollinator species collected, were only observed on wild plants, particularly thistles. These results highlight the potential of FAP approach as a tool for pollinator conservation in farmlands. However, the FAP approach alone is not sufficient to cater the diverse pollinators present in the agro‐ecosystem, and hence, the maintenance of the surrounding wild flowering plants is necessary to support pollinators in farmlands.


Aim: The aim of this thesis was to further understand the link between maternal smoking during pregnancy and mental health outcomes among children. The thesis comprises (a) a longitudinal epidemiological analysis of smoking during pregnancy and child mental health outcomes using cohort data for UK children from before birth to 7 years of age (b) an exploration of what policy documents, official guidance and qualitative studies tell us about how the epidemiological risks of smoking in pregnancy are reflected in public policy and discourse. Methods: Existing epidemiological evidence was reviewed prior to the quantitative analyses. The data analysed are from the Millennium Cohort Study. Data for 13,161 mothers and children, analysed longitudinally, were used to link exposure to maternal smoking during pregnancy to child mental health outcomes (hyperactivity and aggressive behaviour) at 3, 5 and 7 years of age. Additionally a review of official and lay health guidance in two countries (United Kingdom and United States) was conducted to ascertain the extent to which the potential link between maternal smoking during pregnancy and increased risk of child mental health problems is reflected in ante-natal care policy and practice in these countries. Similarly, a review of qualitative studies was conducted to ascertain the extent to which the risk of child mental health problems is reflected in women's perceptions of the risks of smoking during pregnancy. Results: During the past 10 years high-quality studies (and studies of lower quality) have consistently observed an association between prenatal smoking exposure and child mental health problems, though a few well designed recent studies have provided conflicting findings, and further disentangling of exposure and potential confounding factors is needed. Prenatal smoking, socioeconomic position, genetics, family environment, parental mental health and other chemical and environmental exposures, including other endocrine disrupting chemicals, should be explored together, and in more depth, to understand the associations that have been observed between maternal smoking during pregnancy and child mental health during the past 20 years. The original and significant contribution of this thesis is a confirmation of the link between smoking in pregnancy and the development of disruptive behaviour problems in children in a large population-based sample from the United Kingdom. In terms of policy and discourse, ante-natal care packets could be modified to include information about these risks for pregnant women. Conclusions: Child mental health, prenatal smoking and the economic well- being of families are interlinked–so policies aimed at helping pregnant women to quit smoking, as well as those to help them out of disadvantage are likely to have positive effects on both the exposure (prenatal smoking) and the outcome (child mental health).


Th e stature of the fi rst anatomically modern Europeans decreases dramatically following the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), the culminating point, around 20.000 BP, of a period of climatic deterioration that had profound eff ects on demographic, biological and economic aspects of Upper Palaeolithic populations. Declines in nutritional and life conditions are commonly assumed to play a major role in stature reduction. Th e aim of this paper is to test this hypothesis using skeletal indicators of biological and functional stress in samples from the early and late phases of Upper Paleolithic (respectively EUP and LUP), and integrating the results with the relevant archeological and paleoecological information. Analysis of biological stress markers indicates that after the LGM only a minor decline occurred in health conditions. Th is and the absence of marked or frequent growth disruptions suggests that nutritional defi ciencies alone do not explain the observed trend. Biomechanical data, however, show an increase in upper limb robusticity, indicating that LUP populations were devoting more eff ort to subsistence activities. Th ose results dovetail with archaeological information pointing to increased competition for access to resources by growing populations living in a less productive environment. Based on that, we suggest that a microevolutionary adaptive process, involving reduction in body size to reduce energy requirements and hence nutritional demands, took place in the moderately adverse conditions following the LGM.


As platforms for the design of metal-based therapeutic and diagnostic agents, macrocycles are rigid enough to provide strong metal binding sites and orient functional groups stereoselectively, yet flexible enough to accommodate structural changes required for induced-fit recognition of biological targets. We consider the recognition of the Zn(II) complex of the bis-tetraazamacrocycle xylyl-bicyclam, a potent anti-HIV agent, by the coreceptor CXCR4, a G-protein-coupled receptor used by HIV for membrane fusion and cell entry. NMR studies show that the macrocycles of Zn(II)(2)-xylyl-bicyclam perchlorate exist in aqueous solution as two major configurations, trans-I (nitrogen chirality R,S,R,S), and trans-III (S,S,R,R). Acetate addition induced a major structural change. X-ray crystallography shows that the acetate complex contains the unusual cis-V cyclam configuration (R,R,R,R and folded) with bidentate coordination of acetate to Zn(II) plus second-coordination-sphere double H-bond formation between diagonal NH protons on the opposite cyclam face and acetate carboxylate oxygens. Detailed 1D and 2D NMR studies show that the major configuration of Zn(II)(2)-xylyl-bicyclam acetate in aqueous solution is cis-V/trans-I. Molecular modeling shows that an analogous cis-V site can be formed when Zn(II)(2)-xylyl-bicyclam binds to CXCR4, involving the carboxylate groups of Asp262 (Zn(II) coordination) and Glu288 (double H-bonding). The second cyclam can adopt the trans-I (or trans-III) configuration with Zn(II) binding to Asp171. These interactions are consistent with the known structure-activity relationships for bicyclam anti-HIV activity and receptor mutation. Consideration of the anti-HIV activity of xylyl-bicyclam complexes of other metal ions suggests that affinity for carboxylates, configurational flexibility, and kinetic factors may all play roles in receptor recognition. For example, Pd(II) cyclam complexes interact only weakly with axial ligands and are inflexible and inactive, whereas Co(III) cyclams bind carboxylates strongly, are configurationally flexible, and yet have low activity. Our findings should aid the design of new generations of active macrocycles including highly specific chemokine receptor antagonists.


Between the rise of globalization and the development of information technology, the complexity of the operating environment in industry increases daily, perhaps making intangible assets the key to competitive advantage (Norton and Kaplan, 1996, 2003). Social networks, one such significant intangible asset, have gained prominence in recent years (e.g., Gulati et al., 2000; Koka and Prescott, 2002). The analyses of social networks are tied to multiple levels: individual, firm, and regional. This paper focuses primarily on social networks at the firm level. That is, firm network is being referenced. In terms of firms, social networks refer to a set of firms that are connected by a specific type of social relationship. Prior research has suggested that interfirm networks facilitate the transmission of information and the access to unique resources and thus can be thought of as an inimitable and non-substitutable asset (Gulati, 1999; Palmer et al., 1995). A number of studies have also suggested that social networks provide several benefits for firms, such as learning benefits (e.g., Powell et al., 1996), coordination benefits (e.g., Coleman, 1990; Uzzi, 1997), performance benefits (e.g., Maurer and Ebers, 2006), and increasing legitimacy (e.g., Higgins and Gulati, 2003). Therefore, whether and how social networks improve corporate performance has become a dominant theme in strategy and organizational research (see, e.g., Carpenter and Westphal, 2001; Goerzen, 2007; Zollo et al., 2002). However, extant research examining the performance effects of social networks reports mixed results. Some research has found a positive impact: Carpenter and Westphal (2001) found that social networks formed by members of the boards of directors helped to obtain useful corporate strategy information and increase corporate performance; Inkpen and Tsang (2005) found that social networks not only promoted knowledge transfer among members of a network but also between union firms, thus promoting performance and innovation; Sorenson et al. (2009) found a positive impact of network ties in family businesses on corporate performance. Other research has found a negative impact: Goerzen and Beamish (2005) found that international companies with more diverse networks had, on average, lower economic performance than international companies with less diverse networks; Goerzen (2007) pointed out that social networks had a negative impact on corporate performance when there was a greater overlap of organizational partners. These conflicting findings reveal two possibilities. One is that the relationship between social networks and corporate performance might be nonlinear. Another is that the value of social networks might depend on a number of moderators and contingencies (e.g., Gulati and Higgins, 2003; Gupta et al., 2011; Hansen et al., 2001; Rowley et al., 2000). To clarify the relationship between social networks and corporate performance, this research extends previous research about the performance impacts of social networks (e.g., Goerzen, 2007; Goerzen and Beamish, 2005) by exploring whether the relationship between social networks and corporate performance is a non-linear inverted U-shape curve. The authors particularly focus on examining network centrality, which signifies a firm's network position and determines the set of resources and information the firm could mobilize through social networks (Davis, 1991). When an organization has a higher network centrality, it can receive and transfer a greater amount of information, and therefore has an advantage in controlling information transfer and can benefit more from social networks. Despite that several other network properties have been studied in prior research, such as network structure and network composition, a firm's network position plays an important role in securing timely access to novel information and benefiting from social networks. Obtaining access to a greater number of more diverse information through a central position also comes at a price. …


Introductions: Studies have shown inadequate use of prophylaxis for venous thromboembolism (VTE) in hospital admitted medical patients. This study aims to evaluate the use of VTE prophylaxis in admitted medical patients in a tertiary care teaching hospital.
Methods: This was a cross sectional observational study for three weeks from 19 March to 8 April 2017 in patients admitted in the medical ward of Patan Hospital, Patan Academy of Health Sciences, Lalitpur, Nepal. Patient charts were reviewed for appropriate VTE prophylaxis as per modified Padua risk Assessment model. Risks of VTE, presence of bleeding risks, demographics (age, BMI), hospital stay were descriptively analysed.
Results: Out of 122 patients, 81 (66.4%) were at risk of VTE. Among 81 at risk, 69 were eligible for VTE pharmacoprophylaxis with no risk of bleeding only 29 (42%) received pharmacoprophylaxis and 12 eligible for prophylaxis but with the risk of bleeding did not receive any prophylaxis. Reduced mobility was the most common indication of thromboprophylaxis in 79 (64%), followed by acute infection 50 (41%).
Conclusions: There was suboptimal use of thromboprophylaxis in hospital admitted medical patients at risk of venous thromboembolism, VTE.


Kevlar has demonstrated the ability to protect well against ballistic threats but has low resistance to puncture. Correctional Kevlar has shown good resistance to puncture. However, the fabric is expensive, difficult to manufacture because of its tight weave construction, and has limited protection against ballistic threats. In an effort to produce materials that are less bulky, more flexible, and resistant to puncture, thermoplastic-Kevlar (TP-Kevlar) composites have been examined. Kevlar fabric was impregnated with thermoplastic film using a hot press to produce the composites. Static and dynamic puncture resistant properties of the TP-Kevlar composites were investigated using a National Institute of Justice (NIJ Standard 0115.00) Stab Tower. The TP-films used in this study were polyethylene, Surlyn, and co extruded-Surlyn, which is a co extrusion of Surlyn and polyethylene. Response of the polyethylene (PE)-Kevlar composites, Surlyn-Kevlar composites, and co extruded (COEX)-Kevlar composites to spike and knife threats under static and dynamic conditions were compared with that of neat Kevlar. The infusion of thermoplastic films into the Kevlar fabric was shown to dramatically increase puncture resistance during quasi-static and dynamic testing with spikes. The TP-film type also made a difference when examining the resistance on a comparative basis of the TP-Kevlar targets. The TP-Kevlar composite targets showed more resistance to quasi-static spike testing than quasi-static knife testing. Weapon comparisons revealed that the TP-Kevlar composite targets had more resistance to dynamic knife testing than dynamic spike testing.


Protonated and deuterated ices (H2O and D2O) compressed to a maximum pressure of 210 gigapascals at 85 to 300 kelvin exhibit a phase transition at 60 gigapascals in H2O ice (70 gigapascals in D2O ice) on the basis of their infrared reflectance spectra determined with synchrotron radiation. The transition is characterized by soft-mode behavior of the ν3 O-H or O-D stretch below the transition, followed by a hardening (positive pressure shift) above it. This behavior is interpreted as the transformation of ice phase VII to a structure with symmetric hydrogen bonds. The spectroscopic features of the phase persisted to the maximum pressures (210 gigapascals) of the measurements, although changes in vibrational mode coupling were observed at 150 to 160 gigapascals.


The chapter studies the functioning of the so-called "voluntary" carbon offset market, a market in which moral controversies take place. The analysis dwells on the theoretical framework that enables us to study the functioning of a contested market through particular devices. The chapter seeks to contribute to the literature on moral struggles within markets by focusing the attention on one specific device: relational work, including several dimensions like meeting between seller and buyer, establishing contracts and maintaining the relationship with clients in the long run. By studying relational work, the authors highlight how this basic market activity is a crucial device that makes it possible for a contested market to continue to exist.


On July 1 the Israeli government adopted a comprehensive emergency program for stabilization and recovery which has had dramatic consequences, at least in the very short-run. Within a few months inflation was down to 1-2 percent a month, foreign exchange reserves were rising rapidly andin spite of rather harsh contractionary fiscal and monetary policy measures average unemployment did not rise by more than 2 percentage points abovethe pre-July level.This paper deals with the background to the acute crisis of the Israeli economy and the conceptual underpinnings of the stabilization plan and with the first six months of its implementation. Apart from the more conventional fiscal and monetary policy measures, with partial deindexation, special emphasis is put on stabilization of the exchange rate, as a central nominal anchor for the price system, along with a wage policy package. Further budget restraint as well as wage moderation are considered the key for continued success of the stabilization effort. Both of these conditions will be tested in the new fiscal year starting April 1986.


We present a detailed investigation of the γ-ray emission in the vicinity of the supernova remnant (SNR) W28 (G6.4−0.1) observed by the Large Area Telescope (LAT) on board the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope. We detected significant γ-ray emission spatially coincident with TeV sources HESS J1800−240A, B, and C, located outside the radio boundary of the SNR. Their spectra in the 2–100 GeV band are consistent with the extrapolation of the power-law spectra of the TeV sources. We also identified a new source of GeV emission, dubbed Source W, which lies outside the boundary of TeV sources and coincides with radio emission from the western part of W28. All of the GeV γ-ray sources overlap with molecular clouds in the velocity range from 0 to 20 km s−1. Under the assumption that the γ-ray emission toward HESS J1800−240A, B, and C comes from π0 decay due to the interaction between the molecular clouds and cosmic rays (CRs) escaping from W28, they can be naturally explained by a single model in which the CR diffusion coefficient is smaller than the theoretical expectation in the interstellar space. The total energy of the CRs escaping from W28 is constrained through the same modeling to be larger than ∼2 × 1049 erg. The emission from Source W can also be explained with the same CR escape scenario.


Newly emerged landscapes above sea level are characterized by rapidly evolving geomorphic systems where the initial fluvial pattern adapts to a former submarine topography. Such an early formed fluvial system establishes drainage basins and unstable landforms that characterize high topographic asymmetry which are prone to fast removal or reorganization. Transitional landscapes might form depositional systems as lakes or ponds that subsequently are incised, captured and incorporated into drainage basins. In this study we focus on the recently emerged Hengchun Peninsula to survey its paleoenvironment evolution. Three drillings performed in the Gangkou basin with fieldwork revealed several indicators that reconstructed stages of the landscape reorganization. The major finding shows an ephemeral large lake in the central part of the Hengchun Peninsula that was drained to the Pacific c. 6000 bp. The lake belonged to an ephemeral lakeland that was created after the emergence of the peninsula. Currently, several areas as relict landforms indicate this stage of topography evolution that through high rates of incision and subsequent captures, transforms into drainage basins. Furthermore, two drillings show brackish waters at the present estuary of the Gangkou basin. These two different paleoenvironments today build one system – Gangkou catchment. Long‐term uplift rates show that a hanging wall of the Hengchun Fault plays a significant role in the creation of a lakeland by tilting the peninsula's surface. The tilt impacts on asymmetrical emergence of the peninsula and catchment development. Our study shows that a new geomorphic system might create depositional ephemeral landforms (lakes) that represent phases of early topography evolution after emergence above a sea level that are subjected to instantaneous rearrangement and evolves through large‐scale phases before it reaches a topographic steady‐state.


The existence of applications for such subjects as skeletal and muscular system in biologywhere visual learning is importantis a necessity for teaching. This research basically aims to analyse applications for skeletal and muscular systems available in Apple, Google Play and Amazon virtual stores. This research employs document analysisone of the qualitative research method. Applications available in virtual stores for skeletal and muscular system were reviewed in this research. The data collected were analysed through content analysis. Consequently, 35 applications in total were found for use with smart phones in relation to skeletal and muscular system. The results showed that the applications concerning skeletal and muscular system could be divided into 5 categories (Game, entertainment, animation, 2D and 3D visual based applications). Applications concerning skeletal and muscular system can be used in teaching so as to make diffarence for education and to increase permanence in learning.


The thymus, a bilobate gland located in the upper anterior thorax in higher vertebrates, is the major site of T-lymphocyte production. This primary lymphoid organ composed of various nonlymphoid elements, referred to as the thymic stroma, governs the maturation and tolerance induction of haematopoietic precursors into immune-competent nonautoreactive T cells. Whilst naturally involuting with age, the thymic stromal compartment remains dynamic in nature throughout life and retains the potential to regenerate.

Keywords:

thymocyte;
T lymphocyte;
T-cell receptor;
differentiation;
thymus


The sensitivity of magnetic resonance imaging to biochemical and biophysical changes in the extracellular matrix of articular cartilage give it the potential to noninvasively detect the earliest changes of cartilage damage. The transverse relaxation time (T2) of cartilage has been shown to be a sensitive parameter for evaluation of early degeneration in articular cartilage, particularly changes in water and collagen content and tissue anisotropy. Although initial application has been in microimaging of small cartilage explants, in vivo techniques have been developed for cartilage T2 mapping of human joints. In addition to potential application in development of new pharmaceuticals and surgical techniques for preserving cartilage, in vivo cartilage T2 mapping can improve understanding of arthritis, cartilage aging, and response of cartilage to exercise.


Complexity and simplicity are the two contradictory qualities prevailing in human knowledge. Architectural designs varied between these two characteristics based on the designer's convictions. Modern architecture has been coupled with repetition to the extreme, and has become a tool for achieving high abstraction, as modern architecture is not concerned with its meaning or rather its lack of a special identity and sense of place resulting from the use of typical box-block blocks, because of their belief that such architecture is more economical in cost than expressive architecture.In modern architecture there is no fixed form of architecture as long as there is no single function of architecture.Modern architecture ignored the identity of the diagnosis, as the shapes became the result of the design process, innovation and neglect of the language of historical memory in architecture, which prompted modern architects to compensate for the element of history by approaching the industrial and technological age and abstraction, so that modernity became just a hobby and an adventure far from the historical approach. Modernism, with its simplicity, exaggeration, and its excessive abstraction, caused some boredom and repetition from these simple geometric shapes. Trends emerged that stand against modernity and its repetitive forms and call for innovation and imagination in the form while achieving the functional aspect to the fullest. The pictorial accumulation phase in postmodern architecture from the age of architecture was characterized by flooding the facades with symbols of the past as an attempt to reconnect with the heritage, so the concept of quotation appeared by requiring looking at architecture in its relationship with itself and its constituent elements, where the previous elements are linked together in a series in which it only refers to its nature as architectural elements . The postmodern architecture movement was characterized by pluralism, and its works were distinguished by diversity and disparity, which made each of its pioneers produce works with a special taste that differs from its counterpart, which are generated from the special visions of the designer, his artistic and cultural inclinations, and his special capabilities. Postmodern architecture differs from traditional architecture in that it takes only some of its expressions from it.It is not a revival movement that aims to resurrect a classic architectural thought or as eclectic architecture in a complete simulation of old styles, but rather a hybrid between modern architecture and another component of local culture, such as traditional or classical architecture.Postmodern architecture has moved away from architecture as a concept from simplicity and reduction to ambiguity and  juxtaposition.


The current research is analyzing self-representation of Iranian women in Facebook relating tothe mandatory veil case study. Social media is assisting Iranian women to demonstrate theirprotest against mandatory hijab in various aspects. Iranian women are benefiting from theoutstanding features associated with social media, particularly Facebook, such as anonymity,publicity and freedom of speech. Therefore, this study's target is to investigate and analyzeMandatory Veil Diaries campaign on the Woman=Man Facebook page. There are fifty-ninedigital diaries written by women in three different generations. The qualitative research isconducted through thematic analysis and along digital life writing discourse and sexualobjectification through a feminism perspective. In this case, study-based theories provided ageneral comprehension for the researcher to establish an in-depth analysis of the situation andexplanation of the role of women in Iran as a developing country. Digital life writing and digitalself is mainly focused on the analysis. Digital life writing, after almost three decades, hasprovided this opportunity to Iranian women to reflect a covert reality in Iranian society.Thematic analysis was performed by gathering data that was extracted from the previous steps.These diaries were then coded and themes were extracted. These themes were then utilized todecode how Iranian women represent their experiences on Facebook regarding mandatoryveiling, and how they narrated mandatory veil in different stages of their lives and if utilizingsocial media is influencing their digital diary writings. Finally, development of the coding andthemes accommodates the enhancement of the analysis credibility. The result of qualitativeresearch presents seven main themes that all participants have indicated: Obligation, activism,psychological and physical shame, religion, self-censorship, social life and patriarchal. Inaddition, Iranian women are victimized by objectification and the imposed role model of an idealwoman. The picture of an ideal woman represented in media, school, and university is a womanwho has a superior veil (chador), is a good wife, a good mother and a perfect Muslim. Also,Facebook as a medium has assisted this campaign with its features such as anonymity,minimized censorship, digital self creation, vent rage, blow off steam, and freedom of speech.


Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a heterogeneous disease characterized by mucosal inflammation. Airborne allergens are associated with upper and lower airway inflammatory disease. We investigated the effects of airborne allergen stimulation in the nasal epithelial cells and their effect on the peripheral blood mononuclear cells' (PBMCs) Th immune polarization. Interleukin (IL)-10, IL-25, IL-33, and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) levels were determined using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in nasal polyp tissues. Cultured primary nasal epithelial cells were stimulated with Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus fumigatus, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (DP), and Dermatophagoides farina (DF) for 48 hours. IL-6, IL-25, IL-33, and TSLP production were measured by ELISA, and the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), activator protein 1 (AP-1), and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) expression were determined by western blot analyses. PBMCs were cultured with nasal epithelial cell-conditioned media (NECM), and IL-5, interferon (IFN)-γ, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were measured. Innate lymphoid type2 cells (ILC2) were analyzed with flowcytometry. IL-25, IL-33, and TSLP levels were significantly higher in eosinophilic nasal polyps. Alternaria, DP, and DF enhanced IL-33 and TSLP production from the nasal epithelial cells through the NF-κB, AP-1, and MAPK pathway. NECM induced IL-5, IFN-γ, and TNF-α production from PBMCs, without increasing ILC2 expression. Alternaria and house dust mites enhanced the chemical mediator production from nasal epithelial cells and these allergens may induce not only Th2 inflammatory responses but also Th1 inflammatory responses in the nasal mucosa.


The interactions of cisplatin with DNA have been defined in sophisticated detail; however, the interactions of this drug with other components of the cell are less well understood. There is much interest in how cisplatin gets into cells, how it is transformed and inactivated, how it and its biotransformation products are effluxed from the cell, how the DNA damage is repaired, and how all of these processes can be modulated for therapeutic gain. Recent years have seen much progress toward defining the cellular pharmacology of cisplatin and, in the process, several mechanisms of acquired resistance to this drug have now been elucidated.


Aim: The increasing incidences of type 2 diabetes mellitus, represents a considerable public health problem and characterized by loss in sensitivity of tissues to insulin which can be restored by activation of Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors (PPARs). The present work takes in consideration for the development of PPAR agonists, which can activate PPARs and is expected to lower LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, raise HDL cholesterol and normalize hyperglycaemia. Materials and Methods: Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship (QSAR) study is performed by means of Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) analysis on a set of indanyl acetic acid derivatives followed by ADMET prediction and Docking Studies. Results: A good correlation is found by regression analysis between the observed and predicted activities as evident by their R2 (0.81), Q2 (0.81) and R2 pred (0.86) for PPARα and R2 (0.66), Q2 (0.66) and R2 pred (0.90) for PPARδ and R2 (0.82), Q2 (0.77) and R2 pred (0.58) for PPARγ respectively. Molecular docking of the ligands qualifying all the Drug Likeness properties to the proteins PPARα (PDB ID: 3ET1), PPARδ (PDB ID: 3ET2) and PPARγ (PDB ID: 3ET3) with FlexX score -11.98, -9.69 and -21.48 respectively followed by core hoping. Conclusion: Docking studies revealed that hydrogen-bonding interactions are crucial for the binding of ligands with the target. Core replacement of the best-docked conformations of the selected ligand is performed in order to obtain more potent and novel ligands.


Hoff, E. F., Cook, S. H., Sherman, G. D., Harper, J. M., Ferguson, D. J. P., Dubremetz, J. F., and Carruthers, V. B. 2001. Toxoplasma gondii: Molecular cloning and characterization of a novel 18-kDa secretory antigen, TgMIC10. Experimental Parasitology, 97, 77-88. During host cell invasion, Toxoplasma gondii secretes proteins from specialized organelles (micronemes and rhoptries) located at the apical end of the parasite. The contents of the micronemes appear to be crucial to T. gondii invasion, as inhibition of microneme secretion prevents parasite entry into host cells. Here we describe a new T. gondii microneme protein, TgMIC10. Molecular characterization of a full-length TgMIC10 cDNA revealed that TgMIC10 lacks homology to any previously characterized proteins, although a homologue, NcMIC10, was identified in a closely related parasite, Neospora caninum. TgMIC10 has an unusually long secretory leader sequence of 58 amino acids; the mature TgMIC10 is 18 kDa, possesses nine diglutamic acid repeats and an imperfect repeat sequence (RK(R/Y)HEEL), and is entirely devoid of cysteines. Antibodies raised against recombinant TgMIC10 recognized the native TgMIC10 and localized the protein to the micronemes in indirect immunofluorescence and immunoEM experiments. Comparison of immunofluorescence images indicates that TgMIC10 expression is higher in T. gondii tachyzoites, which are responsible for active infection, than in bradyzoites, which are responsible for latent infection.


Introduction: Fixed criteria have been classically used in the functional characterization of patients with respiratory diseases. International guidelines actually recommend the preferential use of the lower (LNN) or upper limit of normality (below or above the 5th percentile). Objective: To compare the results of lung function (LF) obtained in clinical practice for diagnosis of airway obstruction, using fixed percentage values versus the 5th percentile (the reference standard) as normality limits. Methods: Retrospective analysis of LF (spirometry and body plethysmography) performed in 2011 by the authors. It has been evaluated the concordance of both methods in the global sample, and divided by age groups. Those with criteria for airway obstruction considering the FEV1/VC (forced expiratory volume in one second / vital capacity) ratio < LLN were selected and among these, we analyzed FEV1, FVC (forced vital capacity), TLC (total lung capacity) and RV (residual volume) considering the 5th percentile and the fixed percentage values. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 20.0, using Cohen's Kappa test. Results: During 2011, 1358 subjects underwent LF; 8 were excluded due to incomplete data. Overall, the agreement between the two criteria was kappa = 0.655 ± 0.035. Among the 124 patients who had obstruction diagnosed by LLN, 32 (26%) had a normal test with the 0.70 cut -off, and would be wrongly underdiagnosed. This occurred only in younger age groups, while in older ones a high rate of overdiagnosis (51 subjects – 36%) was observed. Among patients with airway obstruction, the agreement of the 2 criteria for the remaining parameters was good, except for inflation diagnosed with TLC. Conclusion: Using fixed percentage criteria for the diagnosing airway obstruction leads to a high rate of underdiagnosis in younger and overdiagnosis in older ages.


Many ultrasonic tools are excited by piezoelectric elements. Most often, resonant vibration is required to achieve maximum energy transformation. Resonance frequency, however, varies when mechanical environment of piezo changes so we need a controller which can tune f equency of driver to resonance frequency. In this paper a voltage resonant inverter is presented which is controlled by a new frequency controller. Conventional frequency controllers are based on PLL theory and tune frequency by using a phase detector and VCO. They change frequency until phase detector output becomes zero. Instead, this controller tends to change the drive frequency so that the reactive component of current approaches to zero and uses S&H and VCO circuit. The system that has been combined with an inverter and so called controller, has been simulated in ORCAD and found very suitable for simulation application because of its simplicity. Also response time of this controller to load change is in the shorter range in compare with conventional PLL controller.


Among 125 patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) with severe abdominal sepsis over a 3-year period, further laparotomy was required in 60 (48 per cent). The median age of these 60 patients was 67 (range 22-88) years and their admission APACHE (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation) II score was 24 (range 7-40); 25 patients (42 per cent) survived to leave the ICU but only 19 (32 per cent) survived to leave hospital. These patients underwent 95 (median 1; range 1-6) operations after admission to the ICU and survival fell with increasing number of operations in the ICU (P = 0.01). A total of 81 operations (85 per cent) were therapeutic in that pus was drained or dead tissue removed, and 41 operations (43 per cent) resulted in improvement in the patient's condition within 48 h of surgery. Only nine per cent of patients not improved by their first operation in the ICU survived (P < 0.0001). The source of sepsis was eradicated from the abdomen in 37 patients (62 per cent); this was a prerequisite for survival but was achieved less frequently with increasing number of operations (P < 0.002). When operations were delayed until the diagnosis was clear, the need for subsequent procedures was significantly increased (P < 0.05). Multiple operations for patients with abdominal sepsis in the ICU were associated with diminishing returns and alternative surgical strategies merit active consideration.


Traditional health communication interventions have often failed to show significant changes in people's behaviors. Guidance from social semiotic frameworks suggests that health communication interventions can be improved by incorporating greater participation by the intended audiences of users, paying greater attention to social contexts, and increasing broad use of integrated multimedia dissemination strategies. The use of eHealth communication has great promise to influence behavioral health outcomes, given its enhanced features of interactivity, multimodality, mass customization, and the opportunity for users to also be producers. The first 15 years of scientific evidence about the use of eHealth interventions suggests that, overall, such strategies are gaining rapid acceptance worldwide, improve user engagement, and often show significant positive effects on health behaviors in diverse populations and across a wide range of health conditions. Challenges remain, however, to learn how to best use eHealth communication to improve information access for vulnerable populations, to effectively leverage the power of new media channels, and to discover the longer-term effects of eHealth communication on public health. This article reviews key issues and evidence from eHealth studies and recommends a greater application of strategic semiotic principles in future eHealth communication research and interventions.


The insulation material epoxy resin mean molecular weight to its solidification electrical performance influence is discussed. In view of the bisphenol A epoxy resin with different mean molecular weights, Finite Element Method (FEM) are introduced and electric field calculation equations are established to calculate the field distribution of basin insulator and its around region in GIS. Representative potential distribution curves are shown. The tangential and normal electric filed intensity maximum of basin insulator is calculated. The positions of electric field intensity maximum are also given.


A two-step, biomimetic approach was applied for the rapid deposition of octacalcium phosphate (OCP) coatings on zirconia ceramics (Y-TZP). In the first step, sintered zirconia discs were immersed into a supersaturated Ca-P solution with pH=7.4 (CPS1). In the second step, the substrates were transferred from the CPS1 to another Ca-P solution with a lower pH (CPS2). After 6 hours of immersion in the CPS2, a thick coating consisting of large OCP crystals was obtained. Afterwards, the coated substrates were subjected to a thermal treatment in order to improve the attachment of the coating to the substrate.


Contingent negative variation (CNV) was examined in 14 epileptic patients (5 with generalized and 9 with partial fits) both before and after 24 hours of sleep deprivation. Background CNV indices differed significantly by higher amplitudes of nearly all CNV components from the ones of healthy individuals. Amplitudes of postimperative negative waves (PINW) and general waves differed most of all. After sleep deprivation there was an PINW increase as well as the tendency to the late CNV component amplitude's increase. Elevation of CNV amplitudes after sleep deprivation was more pronounced in patients in which the deprivation provoked development of epileptic fits in comparison with patients which endured sleep deprivation rather favourably. The changes revealed in CNV components of the patients with epilepsy were considered in terms of disorders in regulatory mechanisms at the level of apical dendrites of cortical neurons' excitation.


Recommender systems attempt to predict items in which a user might be interested, given some information about the user's and items' profiles. Most existing recommender systems use content-based or collaborative filtering methods or hybrid methods that combine both techniques (see the sidebar for more details). We created Informed Recommender to address the problem of using consumer opinion about products, expressed online in free-form text, to generate product recommendations. Informed recommender uses prioritized consumer product reviews to make recommendations. Using text-mining techniques, it maps each piece of each review comment automatically into an ontology.


Reactions of formaldehyde (HCHO), acetic acid (CH3COOH), 2-propanol (2-PrOH), and glucose with some metal oxides (CeO2, MoO3, TiO2, and ZrO2) were conducted in supercritical water at 673 K and 25–35 MPa, using batch reactors. For the reactions of HCHO, CeO2 and ZrO2 showed basicity, on the other hand, MoO3 and TiO2 were acid catalysts. ZrO2 catalyst promoted bimolecular decarboxylation of CH3COOH to form acetone, which indicates that both acid and base sites exist on the surface of ZrO2 in supercritical water. Dehydration of 2-PrOH with formation of propylene was promoted by acid catalyst (H2SO4), while its dehydrogenation with formation of acetone was catalyzed by alkali (NaOH). All the metal oxides that were used in this study promoted dehydration of 2-PrOH; namely there are mainly acidic sites for 2-PrOH reactions on the surface of all the metal oxides under the conditions used. Among the metal oxides, ZrO2 and TiO2
(rutile) enhanced the formation of acetone in the case of 2-PrOH reaction. This means there are also basic sites for 2-PrOH on the ZrO2 and TiO2
(rutile). In supercritical water at 673 K and 15 min, H2 yield from glucose in the acidic atmosphere (namely in the presence of H2SO4) is lower than that in the absence of additive whereas, on the other hand, the H2 yield in the presence of NaOH is twice as much as that in the absence of the additive. With CeO2 and ZrO2, the H2 yield from glucose was almost twice as high as that without catalyst. By adding MoO3 and TiO2, the amount of H2 formation was suppressed. Through this study, we can show the generality of acidity and basicity of the metal oxides for organic reactions in SCW.


Description: Clinical Endocrinology of Companion Animals offers fast access to clinically relevant information on managing the patient with endocrine disease. Written by leading experts in veterinary endocrinology, each chapter takes the same structure to aid in the rapid retrieval of information, offering information on pathogenesis, signalment, clinical signs, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and prevention for a broad list of endocrine disorders. Chapters begin with brief summaries for quick reference, then delve into greater detail.


ABSTRACT China's sea power has been a continual discussion among scholars and policymakers, specifically regarding the kind of maritime power China is about to develop. Many strategists assume that China has adopted the Mahanian approach of constructing a strong naval power through the control of major merchant sea-lanes and offshore bases. However, this assumption is problematic. Since the mid-2000s, many Chinese scholars and strategists have proposed various approaches to how China should become a strong maritime power using alternative methods. This article organizes these approaches into different schools of thought and examines how they are developed. After years of policy debate on sea power construction, Chinese academics and policy practitioners have agreed that China could develop its sea powers not just with a dominant navy, but also through an emphasis on the importance of domestic maritime governance and diplomatic coercion. This approach goes beyond any understanding of Mahanianism. These findings help to reveal new perspectives with which to understand China's multidimensional sea power, especially the use of gray-zone strategy in the South China Sea in recent years.


The author summarizes the capability of future leptons colliders to indirectly discover a new Z{prime} and to determine its couplings to the fermions of the Standard Model. The physics associated with sitting on the Z{prime}-pole is also briefly discussed. This analysis is based on the results presented in the Snowmass 1996 New Gauge Boson Working Group report.


This study aimed at assessing the biological activities of Mucuna pruriens seeds using cytotoxicity, phytochemical, antiparasitic screening, and antioxidant assays. Mature fruits of M. pruriens were harvested from Fort Hare University's Research Farm located in Alice, South Africa. The collected seeds were pulverized in a standard process and taken to the laboratory for crude extraction and further treatments. Cytotoxic, antimalarial, and trypanocidal effects of crude extracts obtained from ethanol and water were tested, while the total phenolic, proanthocyanidin, and flavonoid contents of the aqueous extracts as well as their pharmacological activities were determined in vitro using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl ethanol (DPPH), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) assays. Although the extracts showed mild antiparasitic (antiplasmodial and trypanocidal) effects, results from the cytotoxic experiment revealed that M. pruriens is not toxic to human cervix adenocarcinoma (HeLa) cells when tested using 50 µg/mL of extracts. It was observed that the seeds were remarkably rich in phenol (3730.1 ± 15.52 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g) compared to flavonoids (63.03 ± 1.95 mg quercetin equivalent (QE)/g) and proanthocyanidin (18.92 ± 1.09 mg catechin equivalent (CE)/g). Also, the antioxidant activities of the extracts were comparable to those of the standard antioxidant drugs (rutin and gallic acid) used, in a concentration-dependent manner. There was a direct relationship between phenolic acid content and antioxidant effects. It is therefore suggested that M. pruriens seeds be incorporated into human diets as a supplement to promote healthy living. Pharmaceutical industries with a particular interest in natural phenolic acids should consider using seeds of M. pruriens as pharmaceutical precursors.


Basidial fungi have long been known as sources of antitumor compounds such as polysaccharides. Studies conducted by
scientists from different countries demonstrate that polysaccharides and other fungal compounds (proteins, glycoproteins, terpenoids,
melanins, nucleosides, etc.) exhibit antiviral activity against many viruses pathogenic for humans. The review presents data on the
studied antiviral activities of higher basidial fungi against herpes, West Nile, influenza, human immunodeficiency and hepatitis
viruses as well as orthopoxviruses including variola virus. Many species of basidial fungi and various classes of biologically active
compounds obtained from them are capable of effectively inhibiting the development of viruses in cells and animals while possessing
low toxicity. Biologically active compounds from the same fungal species can exhibit antiviral effects against different pathogens.
Effective strains isolated from wild mushrooms in culture represent promising objects for the development of biotechnological drugs,
including ones possessing antiviral activity. The data on antitumor and antiviral activities of compounds from the same fungal
species indicate the correlation of these properties. In this connection, preparations of basidial fungi may have prophylactic value in
preventing cancers of viral etiology.


Bovine mastitis is the most costly disease affecting dairy cows and milk production. As Staphylococcus aureus is considered as a major pathogen due to its prevalence in dairy herds, contagious nature of infection, economic impact of treatment and control and its resistance to antimicrobial agents is a well-documented challenge in dairy cows. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate and determine the antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticles against S. aureus isolated from subclinical mastitis cows. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) distribution of the silver nanoparticles tested for S. aureus field isolates were determined by a broth dilution method. The results show MIC values ranging from 1.25 to 10 μg/ml. The MIC values that inhibited 50 and 90% of the population of the isolates tested of silver nanoparticles were 5 and 10 μg/ml for S. aureus , respectively. In addition, the results of this study demonstrated that the mean time of the antimicrobial action of silver nanoparticles against S. aureus is 7 min. This in vitro result clearly indicates that the silver nanoparticle might have a good activity against S. aureus with mastitis origin. Key words: Bovine mastitis, silver nanoparticles, Staphylococcus aureus.


Author(s): Derpanopoulos, George | Advisor(s): Geddes, Barbara | Abstract: This dissertation contains three essays, each addressing a different question in political economy and comparative politics. The first essay speaks to the large literature arguing that dictatorships can achieve high levels of economic growth if dictators can commit to not expropriate elites. Extant research has focused on the role of formal institutions – legislatures and parties – in helping elites constrain dictators' predation. I complement this literature by documenting the role of an informal institution, elite financial networks, in constraining the dictator. I argue that dense financial ties among elites diffuse private information on the state of the economy, hence facilitating elites' monitoring – if the dictator reneges on his commitments to elites, informed elites are able to infer and punish his defection. Accordingly, I hypothesize that dictatorships with denser elite financial networks enjoy stronger property rights. To test my argument, I uncover networks of elites' co-ownership of offshore companies – a strong type of financial tie – using a large, untapped leak of private financial information, the Panama Papers. A thorough regression analysis of almost all dictatorships in the period 2002−2013 supports my theory: a one-standard deviation increase in financial network density predicts a half-standard deviation decrease in expropriation risk.The second essay asks: why have some countries counted hundreds of their citizens fleeing to fight in Syria, while other countries' citizens have remained bystanders? There are three methodological challenges to answering this question. First, there may be two groups of countries: one at no risk of "supplying" foreign fighters and another supplying some positive amount. Second, there is no theory that specifies a functional form linking countries' features to foreign fighter supply. Third, existing models for predicting foreign fighter supply perform poorly out of sample or yield output that is not amenable to social-scientific interpretations. To solve these challenges, I augment a count regression model, the hurdle negative binomial, with two machine learning tools. Namely, I allow features to affect the response non-parametrically, by using kernel functions that represent expansions of the data. Furthermore, I add regularization terms that penalize complexity to mitigate overfitting. My approach combines the strengths of predictive and confirmatory models: it performs similarly to state-of-the-art machine learning algorithms in prediction while providing substantively interpretable output. Applying the model to data on 163 countries, I find that populous, developed countries, with a large Sunni population and proximity to Syria supply more fighters. These results lend themselves to viewing foreign fighter supply as largely driven by structural forces.The third essay contributes to the literature on civil war, which has recently shifted its attention from state-rebel violence to rebel-rebel violence. I build on this work by applying tools from social network analysis to visualize, summarize, and model conflict among 22 rebel groups in Lebanon's Civil War, specifically in the period 1980−1991. Using a network graph and node-, dyad-, and network-level statistics, I find a conflict structure in line with historical accounts: a dense pattern of hostilities, high reciprocity in hostilities (i attacks j ⇔ j attacks i), low transitivity in hostilities (the enemy of my enemy is my friend), infighting within religious sects, and the existence of 3 central groups. Furthermore, using regression models tailored to network data, I find that groups that command support from the ethno-religious sect they belong to, control valuable natural resources and territory, and use terrorist tactics are more likely to attack other rebels, while groups that are able to reach an agreement with the state are less likely to attack other rebels. Finally, using a clustering model, I detect 2 sub-conflicts: a narrow cluster that includes the infighting among Palestinian groups and their Sunni allies and a broader cluster that includes the hostilities between rival Shi'ite groups. My approach is relevant to policy-makers deciding which rebel groups to support, particularly in conflicts where opposition to the state is fragmented.