The aim of this minor dissertation is to contribute to recent attempts at theorizing and re-evaluating legal texts. From this broad perspective, the concepts of "dehiscence", "iterability", "parasitism" and "undecidable contamination" provide a useful way of understanding how meaning in legal judgments is circulated and valorised. Significant parts of the process of meaning construction in legal judgments rely on propositional stipulation and imaginative projection and so also do our acts of meaning construction which we perform on all legal texts. These include prosodic contour, relating parts of the discourse inter-textually to other discourses and a heterogeneity of positions of the speaker and the presented world. All of the constructs associated with the process of meaning construction demonstrate the broad nature of meaning in legal judgments beyond prescribed ways of reading.

Further, mode and time act as narrative filters in legal discourse. The differences between narrative discourse and the world it evokes provide a setting for an imaginative rather than a strictly prescribed world. The imaginative process of reading becomes an "enonciation" which tells something about the judge and his world as well as about the legal system at large.

The re-ordering of time in legal judgments leads to useful interpretations of the meaning of these judgments. As the pace in the judgments slows down and tracks impinge on the centres of consciousness the judge is using, meaning is accomplished.

Like literary statements, legal judgments can be interpreted as secondary structures or modelling systems of natural language. In these systems, structural elements of legal judgments become semanticised. Legal judgments are multiply encoded and this generates polysemy and play and thus informational complexity. The mobility of meaning in legal judgments is demonstrated by use of Saussure's syntagmatic and paradigmatic axes of analysis. These flexible tools lead us to a deautomatisation of the text. Repetition is closely associated with the syntagmatic and paradigmatic axes of analysis and can be likened to a source which gives them an existence.

One can also observe a decentering of the subject in legal judgments as the symbolic order encoded in them is expressed. Play and cultural experience is involved in the continuing individual and collective formation of subjectivity by legal texts.

The verbal presence of what is excluded in legal judgments activates and attracts unconscious material, draws it towards experience and exposes it to possible change. In this process, the boundaries of subjectivity are altered.

A "free area" of speech is present in legal judgments in which the boundaries between the primary and secondary processes are suspended. Thus imaginary functions serve to master a problem or deficiency in legal judgments. These functions enable imaginary characters or "alien voices" to come to utterance when the judge detaches himself from his own speech. Monologic speech gives way to polyphony.

The use of this "free area" in legal judgments improves their capacity for dialogue. It adds richness and creative ambiguity to them freeing as it does the polyphonic and polysemic potential normally hidden behind institutional ways of reading the law.


There are many slaughter methods prevalent throughout the world are administered either by religions or cultures. This paper reviews the relevant aspects of ritual and traditional slaughter methods in different countries around the world. Ritualistic or religious slaughter often requires the animal to be in a state of consciousness at the time it is bled. According to the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) halal slaughtering process of an animal involves restraining, stunning (if used) and severing of trachea, esophagus and both the carotid arteries and jugular veins. In Shariah law, slaughtering is not a normal matter in which humans act independently as they wish,but it is rather a matter of worship which Muslims must adhere by in its provisions. It is important for scientists to understand that the main reason for the observance of the Islamic faith is to follow the Divine Orders. "Kosher" is the term applied to the procedures and techniques of slaughter as well as the products derived therefrom under the Jewish faith, if done according to the laws of the religion. In the Hebrew language, Kosher means fit to be used as food. The regulations governing Kosher slaughter are derived from Hebrew traditions. Under these the animals are to be fully conscious, killed and blend thoroughly by one clean stroke of the knife. Sikh Slaughter (Jhakta) process is practised mainly under Sikhism, a religious faith which is an offshoot of Hinduism centred in the Punjab, India. The method is limited only to sheep and goats (Cattle are regarded as sacred by Sikhs and Hindus and are therefore not eaten). In the process, the head of the animal is tied to a pole, the hind legs are stretched out and tied by hand to another pole on the opposite side. The head is chopped off with a single stroke of a heavy sharp blade. After this, the animal body is dressed for use. Slaughter process practicing in USA, Europe and China is that the stunned animals must be hanging by shackling below the hock of one hind leg and hoisting the animal (head down) before bleeding. The actual bleeding operation is made by sticking or inserting the sticking knife through the neck behind the jaw bone and below the first neck bone to let out blood. The noticeable feature of African traditional slaughter is that the sheep or goat is first securely held on its back on the ground by two or three men while the mouth is grabbed tight and drawn backwards to stretch the neck. The slaughterer then cuts the throat with a series of strokes half-way deep into the neck. Blood is allowed to drain off until the animal (still tightly held) is motionless or dies. Ritualistic slaughter procedure cannot change but may be modified, yet the other procedures mostly which is practiced in the developed countries can changed.


This article demonstrates how party leaders (frontbenchers) and backbenchers use their access to UK Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) to represent the policy agenda. Building on comparative research on parliamentary questions and agenda-setting as well as taking account of the particular context of PMQs, we argue that party leaders and followers draw attention to different kinds of policy topics with the express purpose of influencing the government. Based on a content analysis of over 9,000 questions between 1997 and 2008, we demonstrate how the posing of questions affects subsequent agenda, varying according to whether questions come from the front or backbench, from government and opposition and from different parties. The findings demonstrate that PMQs helps both the opposition and backbenchers draw attention to issues that the government and opposition party leadership does not always wish to attend to.


INTRODUCTION
Papulosquamous diseases are characterized by scaly papules and plaques with similar clinical picture which amounts to confusion and hence, a definitive histopathological diagnosis goes a long way in treatment of such diseases.

AIM
The aim of the study was to study the histomorphology of non-infectious, erythaematous, papulosquamous lesions of skin with clinicopathological correlation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Skin biopsies from 150 clinically diagnosed/suspected non-infectious erythaematous, papulosquamous skin diseases were received in the Department of Pathology. The specimens obtained were subjected to formalin fixation and paraffin embedding, stained with haematoxylin and eosin and studied. The lesions were classified as psoriasis, lichen planus, lichen nitidus, lichen striatus, pityriasis rosea and pityriasis rubra pilaris and clinicopathological correlation was done.

RESULTS
Papulosquamous lesions were common in the elderly. Males were commonly affected except in pityriasis rosea. Among the 150 cases studied, 72 cases (48%) were histopathologically confirmed to be papulosquamous lesions. Psoriasis was the most common lesion.

CONCLUSION
Key histopathological features and clinicopathological correlation gives a conclusive diagnosis. The importance of specific histomorphological diagnosis lies in distinguishing these lesions as the treatment and prognosis varies widely.


Neurodegeneration shows the distressing effects of miscommunications
between brain cells. Insulin signaling dysregulation and small vessel disease in the base of diabetes
may be important contributing factors in Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. Gliptins play
a role in neurodegeneration due to its neuroprotective effects. Eye is an extension of the brain.
Ocular route reduces drug's adverse effects offering an advantage in minimizing risk by targeted
delivery to the brain. Conventional ophthalmic formulations exhibit poor bioavailability. Liposomes
serve as promising active carriers of drugs to posterior segment eye disorders due to improvement
in intravitreal half-life and targeted sustained drug delivery to the retina. Liposomes act
as drug carriers for entrapment of hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs.

The study aimed to formulate and evaluate sitagliptin liposomal formulation for sustained
effect in individuals suffering from neurodegeneration owing to high patient compliance,
especially in geriatric patients.

Sitagliptin liposomes were prepared by the ethanol injection method and were evaluated
for various physicochemical properties such as visual appearance, particle size distribution, zeta
potential, % drug entrapment efficiency, % drug loading capacity and in vitro drug release studies.

The optimized formulation (L-3) showed round-shaped distinct particles with good stability.
The L-3 shows average diameter (281.9 nm); zeta potential (-11.9 mV); % entrapment efficiency
(82.7 ± 0.89%); % drug loading (33.11 ± 0.67%). L-3 followed Korsmeyer- Peppas model
with fickian diffusion transport of drug release giving n' (0.3094), r2 (0.9753), with 83.78 ± 0.97%
of sustained drug release. The L-3 passes the sterility test indicating its safe use in ophthalmic purposes.

Thus, liposomal drug delivery is a highly effective approach for sustained drug delivery
and minimizing the side effects of gliptins for effective therapy in neurodegeneration.


This work explores the importance of meaningful action for language teaching and learning, paying tribute to the enduring influence of Earl Stevick. With contributions from 19 ELT authors and influential academics, Meaningful Action draws upon and acknowledges the huge influence of Earl Stevick on language teaching. Stevick's work on 'meaningful action' explored how learners can engage with activities that appeal to sensory and cognitive processes, ensuring that meaning is constructed by the learner's internal characteristics, and by their relationship with other learners and the teacher. This edited volume focuses on meaningful action in three domains: learner internal factors and relationships between the people involved in the learning process; classroom activity; and diverse frameworks supporting language learning.


Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection that can cause cervical, anal, vaginal, penile, and oropharyngeal cancers. There is heterogeneity in HPV prevalence across racial and socioeconomic groups as well as by age-cohort. These differences in HPV infection contribute to disparities observed in the rates of HPV-related cancer rates in these groups. This talk reviews what is known about genital, anal, and oral HPV infection, and how infection differs among groups. Reasons for disparities in HPV infection are discussed, including the roles of sexual behavior, sexual network, and co-factors (such as tobacco use). Common questions and answers about HPV infection will be discussed. Citation Format: Gypsyamber D9Souza. Disparities in HPV infection. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Seventh AACR Conference on The Science of Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; Nov 9-12, 2014; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2015;24(10 Suppl):Abstract nr IA01.


This study investigated the efficacy of different sanitizers, including acidic electrolyzed water (AEW), peroxyacetic acid (POAA), and chlorine, on the inactivation of Escherichia coli O157:H7 on fresh-cut apples. The effects of the sanitizers and sequential treatments of AEW or POAA followed by calcium ascorbate (CaA) on browning inhibition and organoleptic qualities of fresh-cut apples stored under different package atmospheres at 4 degrees C were also evaluated. Changes in package atmosphere composition, product color, firmness, total aerobic bacterial counts, yeast and mold counts, and sensory qualities were examined at 0, 4, 8, 11, and 21 d. Among all sanitizer treatments, POAA and AEW achieved the highest reduction on E. coli O157:H7 populations. The sequential treatment of AEW followed by CaA (AEW-CaA) achieved the best overall dual control of browning and bacterial growth on fresh-cut apple wedges. Package atmospheres changed significantly over time and among package materials. Packages prepared with films having an oxygen transmission rate (OTR) of 158 had significantly lower O2 and higher CO2 partial pressures than those prepared with 225 OTR films and the Ziploc bags. The effect of package atmospheres on the browning of apples is more pronounced on AEW, POAA, and POAA-CaA-treated apple wedges than on AEW-CaA-treated samples.


The phylogenetic analysis of the Chondrichthyes has been the subject of intense debate over the past two decades. The principal relationships within the group based on the analysis of morphological traits are inconsistent with the available molecular topologies, and the phylogeny of these animals is highly controversial, at all levels, ranging from superorders to families and even the genera within families. With the recent develop‐ ment of new generation sequencing (NGS), many phylogenies are now being inferred based on the complete genome of the species. In 2015 and 2016 alone, around 21 new elas‐ mobranch genomes were made available in GenBank. In this context, the principal objec‐ tive of the present study was to infer the phylogeny of the sharks and rays based on the complete mitochondrial genomes available in the literature. A total of 73 mitogenomes of chondrichthyan species were analyzed. The phylogenetic trees generated rejected the "Hypnosqualea" hypothesis and confirmed the monophyly of the Neoselachii and Batoidea as sister groups of the sharks. These mitogenomic analyses provided ampler and more complete insights into the relationships between the sharks and rays, in par‐ ticular, the topologies obtained by the analyses revealed a number of incongruities in certain groups of sharks and rays, and the interrelationships between them.


Every set of points $\mathcal{P}$ determines $\Omega(|\mathcal{P}| / \log |\mathcal{P}|)$ distances. A close version of this was initially conjectured by Erdős in 1946 and rather recently proved by Guth and Katz. We show that when near this lower bound, a point set $\mathcal{P}$ of the form $A \times A$ must satisfy $|A - A| \ll |A|^{2-\frac{2}{7}} \log^{\frac{1}{7}} |A|$. This improves recent results of Hanson and Roche-Newton.


LaCl3 stimulated the initial rate of 45Ca2+ exchange measured under steady-state conditions in isolated liver cells. Cu2+ greater than La3+ = Fe3+ greater than Fe2+ = Zn2+ greater Ni2+ greater than Mn2+ also stimulated 45Ca2+ exchange. Compartmental analysis of 45Ca2+-exchange curves obtained in the presence or absence of La3+, and in the presence or absence of adrenaline, showed that the predominant effect of La3+ is to stimulate the inflow of Ca2+ to the cell from the medium. No evidence for an inhibition of Ca2+ outflow from the cell was obtained. In the presence of La3+, adrenaline caused no further stimulation of Ca2+ inflow to the cell. In the absence of adrenaline, La3+ increased the uptake of Ca2+ (measured by atomic-absorption spectroscopy) by isolated hepatocytes incubated at 1 degree C. The proposal that La3+ stimulates Ca2+ inflow to the liver cell by inducing a conformational change in the Ca2+-inflow transporter of the plasma membrane is briefly discussed.


Model-based reinforcement learning (MBRL) algorithms can attain significant sample efficiency but require an appropriate network structure to represent system dynamics. Current approaches include white-box modeling using analytic parameterizations and black-box modeling using deep neural networks. However, both can suffer from a bias-variance trade-off in the learning process, and neither provides a structured method for injecting domain knowledge into the network. As an alternative, gray-box modeling leverages prior knowledge in neural network training but only for simple systems. In this paper, we devise a nested mixture of experts (NMOE) for representing and learning hybrid dynamical systems. An NMOE combines both white-box and black-box models while optimizing bias-variance trade-off. Moreover, an NMOE provides a structured method for incorporating various types of prior knowledge by training the associative experts cooperatively or competitively. The prior knowledge includes information on robots' physical contacts with the environments as well as their kinematic and dynamic properties. In this paper, we demonstrate how to incorporate prior knowledge into our NMOE in various continuous control domains, including hybrid dynamical systems. We also show the effectiveness of our method in terms of data-efficiency, generalization to unseen data, and bias-variance trade-off. Finally, we evaluate our NMOE using an MBRL setup, where the model is integrated with a model-based controller and trained online.


Factors influencing information systems (IS) success have been long researched with modest success in identification of the primary drivers of success. Acceptance of technology is an all-consuming concept in the IS field (Davis et al. 1989; DeLone et al. 1992; Zmud 1979) and as such definition of the dependent variable for IS success has dominated IS research. However, a recent study to understand the independent variables associated with IS success provides evidence that user characteristics such as attitude toward technology, self-efficacy, and technology experience are predictive IS Success measures that merit further empirical research (Petter et al. 2013). This research extends focus on yet another complex human characteristic, intuition. Exploration of the treatment of intuition in contemporary IS research potentially offers additional insight into the factors impacting IS success.


RF-LDMOS is the dominant RF power device technology in the infrastructure market from Cellular through WiMAX frequencies. High performance, low cost, and excellent reliability are just a few of the factors responsible for this dominant position. Base station suppliers and their customers continue to demand improvements in system efficiency while simultaneously providing lower cost solutions. RF-LDMOS continues to evolve to meet these demanding requirements. One key evolution that provides improved performance while lowering cost is the introduction of high power RFICs. By combining high Q integrated passives with RF-LDMOS device technology, multi-stage, high-power (≫100W) devices can be realized that offer superior performance and lower cost than the corresponding discrete transistor implementation can provide, with similar if not superior reliability. This paper will review recent RF-LDMOS high-power IC developments.


Degradation of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) in aqueous, humid, and acid gas environments likely begins at defect sites. Until now, however, theoretical studies of MOFs have widely assumed an ideal defect-free structure. Here we present a computational model for low-energy extended defects in bulk zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) that are analogous to stacking faults in zeolites. We demonstrate the thermodynamic accessibility of stacking faults in ZIFs and examine the impact of these defects on pore diffusion and accessible surface area. We identify strong correlations between the defect density of a structure and its X-ray diffraction spectra. By examining a topologically isomorphic ZIF that has been reported experimentally we find characteristic defect-induced peak broadening and splitting in the reported powder patterns, giving strong evidence for the existence for stacking faults in this material.


In a scenario of economic crisis it is common for companies to reduce the volume of social activities and innovation. Companies in the electricity sector are the basis for a country's industries, making this sector one of the most important. Therefore, it is relevant to investigate whether companies in the electricity sector perform innovation, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities, and CSR actions that can be considered as innovation. The objective of this study was to describe the CSR actions and innovations that matter most to the electric sector companies present in the BMF Bovespa Corporate Sustainability Index (ISE). A documentary survey was carried out, consisting of the management and sustainability reports, from the years 2013 to 2015, of the 10 companies listed in the ISE in the year 2015. Regarding CSR activities, it can be inferred that promoting art, culture, citizenship, quality of life and generation of income for young people and adults, have programs of inclusive professional training and volunteer programs, matter to the companies surveyed. Regarding the relationship between innovation and CSR, it can be inferred that the implementation of innovations that led to the improvement of social actions, and the elaboration of innovation projects matter to companies, to the detriment of the other researched items. It is suggested that the actions of innovation and CSR are focused primarily on the development of the individual and the interaction with the society in which it is inserted, and this can provide a favorable image of the company for society.


Soil fauna activities are probably more important than currently acknowledged in determining individual plant response to stresses and overall plant diversity. Here we demonstrate that the positive effect of earthworms on rice could be the result of a systemic effect on plant physiology. Moreover, this effect could improve tolerance to stressors such as parasitic nematodes. In a controlled experiment, an 82% decrease in the production of infested plants was suppressed when earthworms were present. Earthworms had no direct effect on nematode population size. In their presence, however, root biomass was not affected by nematodes and the expected inhibition of photosynthesis was suppressed. In the leaves, the expression of three stress-responsive genes (coding for lipoxygenase, phospholipase D and cysteine protease) was modulated by the presence of belowground invertebrate activities. We document conflicting systemic effects of parasitic nematodes and beneficial earthworms, although we cannot precisely identify the mechanism involved. These results reveal the importance of nontrophic belowground/aboveground interactions for plant health and response to stresses.


The persistence of lumbar and nerve root pain after nerve root decompression surgery may be attributed to one of five causes; 1) progression of the spondylotic disease in the presence of peridural fibrosis; 2) recurrence of disc herniation or new hernia; 3) stenosis of the spinal or nerve root canal; 4) arachnoiditis; 5) vertebral instability. In most patients with peridural fibrosis and worsening of spondylotic lesions regression of nerve root symptoms was obtained after several months of conservative treatment, which continues to constitute essential treatment for most patients with recurrence of lumbar symptoms. The authors report the results obtained with the surgical treatment of 95 patients performed between 1981 and 1991 and divided into the categories listed above. Of these patients, 70 were submitted to further decompression surgery while 25 were submitted to posterolateral vertebral fusion. Reintervention obtained useful results in 83% of the cases where there had been recurrence of disc herniation; nerve root release obtained positive results in 100% of the cases where there was stenosis. Results obtained after wide decompression were poor in all of the cases with arachnoiditis; in these patients conservative treatment with T.E.N.S. can obtain a fair amount of control over pain. Positive results were obtained in 84% of the 25 patients submitted to posterolateral fusion for the treatment of vertebral instability, with fusion obtained in 96% of the cases. Surgical treatment is indicated for psychotic, neurotic patients or those with insurance-related motivations only when the organic cause of the symptoms is clearly evident.


Maintaining the trend towards higher track densities and data rates in rotating memory devices require track following servo systems of increasing bandwidth for reliable storage and retrieval (R/W) of data. The bandwidth requirements are even more severe in the emerging portable computing applications. Increase in bandwidth under strict constraints on over-sampling is limited by the presence of mechanical resonance modes and other nonlinearities in the voice coil motor (VCM) actuators. One approach to overcoming the problem is by using a dual or a compound actuator. In such a mechanism, a VCM is used as a primary stage while the recording head is mounted on the secondary stage which in turn is mounted on the VCM. The secondary stage provides rapid small-motion and position correction to the recording head. Several dual-stage configurations have been proposed using electrostatic, piezoelectric and electromagnetic secondary actuators. The paper proposes a piezoelectric stack micro-actuator design for a disk drive. It preserves the present suspension and head assembly. A prototype of the actuator is designed, fabricated, and tested. The test results are presented. A dual actuator tracking servo system is proposed. The scheme is a promising alternative for providing high bandwidth actuation for future high performance drives.


In this study, the insulin adsorption ability by synthetic hydroxyapatite was investigated. Hydroxyapatite before thermal treatment and heated at 900°C and 1100°C were incubated in a solution containing 32 mg insulin/gHA. Adsorption and desorption experiments were carried out at 37°C under constant and slowly stirring. From FTIR results it was observed that insulin was tightly attached to HA surface after 96 hours adsorption experiment. Thermal pre-treatment on HA samples had no effect on insulin adsorption. However, protein desorption was more pronounced on samples not submitted to thermal treatment.


An effect due to fusion born triton production has been observed in JET high-performance deuterium plasma discharges with neutral beam injection (NBI) and H-minority ion cyclotron range of frequencies (ICRF) heating, using DD and deuterium tritium (DT) neutron spectrometry as well as fusion product loss measurements. The observations show that a decrease of the second harmonic ω  =  2ωcD enhancement of the DD neutron rate correlates with an increase of the triton burnup rate. An acceleration of tritons due to absorbing ICRH power at the third harmonic ω  =  3ωcT has been observed. This effect could indicate a redistribution of ICRH power absorption at ω  ≈  ωcH  =  2ωcD  =  3ωcT with increasing triton concentration at the ion cyclotron resonance layer. Also, the reduction of the second harmonic enhancement of the DD neutron rate can be caused by burning of the accelerated deuterium as the tritium concentration grows. This is an extremely non-linear process as both mechanisms intensify with triton concentration. It determines the necessity to consider the ICRH power absorption ω  =  3ωcT in modelling of high-performance deuterium discharges with simultaneous NBI and H-minority ICRF heating as well as the assessment of enhanced burnup of ICRF accelerated deuterium for the development of high-performance plasma scenarios and DT fusion rate predictions.


Digitized cell animations are typically composed of frames, which contain a small number of regions, which each contain pixels of the same color and exhibit a significant level of shape coherence through time. To exploit this coherence, we treat the stack of frames as a 3D volume and represent the evolution of each region by the bounding surface of the 3D volume V that it sweeps out. To reduce transmission costs, we triangulate and simplify the bounding surface and then encode it using the Edgebreaker compression scheme. To restore a close approximation of the original animation, the client player decompresses the surface and produces the successive frames by intersecting V with constant-time planes. The intersection is generated in real-time with standard graphics hardware through an improved capping (i.e. solid clipping) technique, which correctly handles overlapping facets. We have tested this approach on real and synthetic black and white animations and report compression ratios that improve upon those produced using the MPEG, MRLE, and GZIP compression standards for an equivalent quality result.


Monoblock centrifugal pumps are a crucial part of many industrial plants. Early detection of faults in pumps can increase their reliability, reduce energy consumption, service and maintenance costs, and increase their life-cycle and safety, thus resulting in a significant reduction in life-time costs. It is clear that the fault diagnosis and condition monitoring of pumps are important issues that cannot be ignored. Machine learning-based approach to fault detection and diagnosis is becoming very popular, mainly due to their high accuracy when compared to older statistical methods. There are set of related activities involved in machine learning approach namely, data acquisition from the monoblock centrifugal pump, feature extraction from the acquired data, feature selection, and finally feature classification. This paper presents the use of C4.5 decision tree algorithm for fault diagnosis through histogram feature extracted from vibration signals of good and faulty conditions of monoblock centrifugal pump. The performance of the proposed system is compared to that of a Naive Bayes-based system to validate the superiority of the proposed system.


Synopsis The oil industry in Scotland spans a period of 136 years from James Young's patent on extracting oil from cannel coal, to the attainment of oil production from the North Sea of 2.6 million barrels per day. Subsequent to the First World War a campaign of onshore oil exploration began in Scotland, which is still in progress today. Operations in offshore Scottish waters have now been in progress for almost 20 years, and activity in 1984 was at a record level. The development of this industry has been subject to constraints in three main areas: technology, economics and legislation. The interaction of these three elements is examined in relation to both onshore and offshore exploration.


Emotional prosody is considered as the ability to express emotions. Intonation is one parameter of prosody that gives information on the production aspects of emotions. The aim was to study the intonation patterns in two languages, Malayalam and Hindi, from two different language groups in India and also to document if there are differences in the patterns produced across gender groups. Eight native speakers of Malayalam and Hindi, in the age range of 18-40 years were considered for the study (two males and two females for each of the languages). Simple sentences with five basic emotions were used as the stimuli and the samples were recorded in Motor Speech Profile software (MSP) of Computerized Speech Lab 4150. The patterns were plotted using the PHH model. Acoustic data were subjected to statistical analysis, using Mann Whitney U Test (SPSS Version 16).The results of this study reveal that across the five emotions, the terminal intonation pattern has a falling contour, except for the emotion of anger in females, which has a raising contour. This was observed in both the languages. On subjective observation, there were instances of differences in the patterns across the genders, but these were not statistically significant.


The passing of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and The Health Care Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010 created new requirements and responsibilities for tax-exempt hospitals, one of them being a community health needs assessment. In July of 2011, the IRS further clarified the requirements of the needs assessments and mandated that hospitals report their findings on the Schedule H of the Form 990. Although this process was created to help heath care systems best care for the needs of their communities', these new expectations have put a strain on many healthcare organizations, especially those not positioned to meet the needs identified in their assessments. The community health needs assessment, or CHNA, seeks to understand the needs, health status, and behaviors of the community served by a hospital, yet it does not take into account the myriad and diversity of the tax-exempt healthcare organizations that make up today's market. Is it realistic to assume that all healthcare systems can meet the same requirements, whether it is a 10-bed specialty hospital, or multi hospital, integrated healthcare system? In a time of healthcare reform, resource scarcity and economic instability, the CHNA adds another layer of complication for many healthcare organizations, yet it can also be a beneficial and resourceful asset. This piece takes a look into the usefulness and challenges of the CHNA, and the idea that it may not be a "one size fits all" process, as the IRS had originally anticipated. As healthcare is transitioning from acute episodic care to population based care, the CHNA will play a large role in the success of healthcare organizations achieving this goal. The CHNA will become a useful tool in the planning and implementation of population and community-based programs, and while improving the public health sector to help shape the future of healthcare.


In times of crisis, including the 2020-21 global pandemic, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has engaged in a type of securities regulation that few scholars have acknowledged, let alone evaluated. Specifically, during recent market crises, the SEC has adopted rules that are temporary, designed to help the securities markets and its participants—both public companies and public investment funds, such as mutual funds and ETFs—weather the crisis at hand but go no further. Once that goal has been accomplished, these rules usually expire, replaced by the permanent rules that they temporarily supplanted. Although the temporary-rulemaking endeavor is laudable—and arguably necessary for the sake of maintaining well-functioning markets in crisis circumstances—neither the SEC nor its observers have sufficiently acknowledged the meaningful risks that temporary rules might present to investors. At the same time, they have also not appreciated the opportunities that temporary rules may create for furthering the cause of more effective regulation. This Article seeks to illuminate the potential and the pitfalls of temporary rules, thereby contributing to a better understanding of what is at stake when the SEC adopts them and what considerations should inform the agency's rulemaking during future crises.


Water-rock interaction of the groundwater in aquifer system has been analyzed and inferred with hydrochemical and isotopic datum in Laizhou Bay, eastern China. 32 samples of groundwater from three boreholes (96-5#, 96-6#, 1121#), couples of seawater, saline water, fresh water, surface water and rainfall are obtained in study area for hydrochemical and isotopic analyses. The origin of groundwater is generally concluded by stable isotope (δO and δD) and the analytic results of Na, Ca, Mg, Cl, SO4, HCO3 changing with depth, combined with total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), can be apparently proofs for serious water-rock interaction. The conclusion reveals that the origin of 96-5#, 112-1# is most likely saline water different from that the groundwater of 96-6# which is possible originated from fresh water, surface water or mixing of both. Compared the ion content of same borehole at different depth and different boreholes with same depth, the optimal area for building main well and mining area is determined eventually is around 96-5#.


Research on the microdroplet splitting phenomenon has intensified in recent years. Microdroplet splitting has numerous applications in chemical synthesis, biology, and separation processes. The current paper covers the numerical study of ferrofluid microdroplet splitting at various lengths and velocities inside the T-junction with branches of unequal widths under asymmetric magnetic fields. Microdroplet splitting can be controlled by using an asymmetric magnetic field and the asymmetry in the width of T-junctions branches. Three geometrical models of the T-junction with different widths ratio (0.7, 0.85, and 1), along with a magnetic field with various intensities are studied. This magnetic field is generated by a line dipole. In this study, the distance between the dipole and origin is kept constant. The splitting ratio of ferrofluid microdroplets at different velocities (different capillary numbers), different non-dimensional lengths and different magnetic force (different magnetic Bond numbers) at the center of T-junction are calculated for each amount of branch width. The results are verified with previous works and their correctness is proved. The splitting ratio is defined as the volumetric ratio of the larger daughter droplet to the mother droplet. The results indicate that generally, the stronger the asymmetric magnetic force is, the more asymmetric the splitting will become, with the splitting ratio becoming closer to 1. Also, as asymmetry increases between the widths of the two branches of the T-junction, the splitting ratio approaches 1.


The effectiveness of peer mediation in secondary schools is evaluated to determine if the process is beneficial to the disputants. A review of information on the use of mediation in schools is included, and programs in this school system are described. This study investigates perceptions from high school disputants (N.111) in an ethnically diverse suburban public high school system of the short-term impact of the peer mediation process. The following factors were examined: (1) The number of agreements still in effect 5-7 days after mediation; (2) Whether the disputants could describe what the dispute and/or agreement was about; (3) Could the disputants describe what happened to them during the process that brought them to a successful signing of an agreement? and (4) Disputants' perceptions of the mediators during the process. Success rates were compared to demographic characteristics of the disputants. Findings indicate that peer mediation is successful for students of all ethnic backgrounds. Significant findings are presented in the areas of: (1) The fairness of the agreement compared to ethnicity and age; (2) The length of time the disputants had known one another compared to the strength of the agreement; and (3) the ethnicity of the disputant compared to whether or not they would use mediation in the future. Appendix A is the Disputant Assessment form. Appendix B is the Structured Interview Questions. Appendix C is the Disputant Survey. Appendix D surveys the relationship of questions to the research questions. Appendix E is the interrater reliability for Research Question 6A. (Contains 85 references and 32 tables.) (EMK) ******************************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ********************************************************************************


Declines in habitat quality through the breeding season within a bird's home-range can limit overall productivity. In environments where multiple breeding opportunities arise during the course of a season, these effects can be buffered by a shift to different breeding sites or habitats. We studied the distribution and habitat associations of a crop-nesting farmland bird, the Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava, across an arable-dominated farming region in eastern England using both field-scale territory mapping and large-scale transect surveys. Surveys were repeated at monthly intervals to measure changes in both distribution and habitat use during the course of the season. The distribution of breeding birds changed markedly at both regional and field-scales, coinciding with a shift in crop preference. Initially, most territorial birds were recorded in autumn-sown cereal fields, but this crop was subsequently abandoned in favour of potato crops, which were more patchily distributed. Other habitat features influencing Yellow Wagtail distribution included local crop diversity, hedgerow presence and soil type, with organic soils supporting higher abundance than alluvial clays or silts. The mid-season switch in habitat associations might allow individuals to maximize the number of breeding attempts made in a single year by using multiple habitats sequentially. The use of multiple habitats could influence population regulation by buffering the effects of local within-season declines in habitat suitability. Seasonal habitat switching may be more prevalent than is currently recognized in seasonal environments.


Modern marine structures (berths, breakwaters, offshore platforms, etc.) often include steel tubular piles of essential length (80-100 m and more) that should provide high bearing capacity in case of external axial loads application. Interaction between elements of the system "piled structure – soil media" is not studied sufficiently yet. It relates also to the bearing capacity of the long steel tubular piles of large diameter. One of the interesting peculiarities of long tubular piles behavior is the formation of soil plug at the piles tip. There are a lot of suggestion and methods aimed to increase piles bearing capacity under static pressing load. One of them relates to use of the additional structural element, i.e., the internal diaphragm welded to the internal surface of the pile shaft. Such approach has been applied in some practical cases of marine construction and demonstrated its effectiveness. At the moment there are no researches focused on study of the peculiarities of internal diaphragm application. So proposed research aimed to study two connected processes during steel tubular pile driving: soil plug formation at the tip of the open-end pile and soil behavior under the internal diaphragm fixed inside the tubular pile shaft. To study mentioned processes we provided several series of laboratory experiments fulfilled at the Geotechnical laboratory of the Department "Sea, River Ports and Waterways" in Odessa National Maritime University. In these experiments the model of steel tubular pile has been driven (pressed) into fine sand by mechanical jack. The first series was devoted to determination of the conditions related to the soil plug formation at the pile tip. The next series were aimed to study the influence of the flat rigid diaphragm inside the pile shaft. Obtained experimental results allow to conclude that (a) in the fine sand the plug is formatted at the comparatively early stage of pile installation (in case of our modeling – at the penetration depth of some 4-5 pile diameter); (b) our empirical assessment of the conditions of soil plug formation corresponds to the approaches based on PLR and IFR characteristics; (c) formation of soil plug at the pile tip is followed by decreasing of soil level in the pile shaft relatively its initial value (on completing the plug formation the soil level in the shaft become stable); (d) regarding above mentioned, we may note that in case of use of internal diaphragm on the recommended depth (5-7 pile diameters) there may be no contact between diaphragm and the soil inside the pile (e) application of the diaphragm may lead to increasing of the pile's bearing capacity. It was proposed (and checked by our tests) the technological improvement based on sand filling into space under the internal diaphragm to provide constant diaphragm-soil contact and related soil resistance.


This report contains the results of attempting to improve on the results of Scott R. Sawyer and Alan M. L'Esperance research paper "Investigation of Paraffin Wax as an Energy Storage Medium Within a Shell-and-Tube Heat Exchanger." The overall goal of the paper mentioned was to investigate the usefulness of wax as an energy storage medium. Scott R. Sawyer and Alan M. L'Esperance determined that "the amount of energy that can be released by the paraffin wax back to the airflow reaches a plateau, despite an increase in heating times." They suggested that by surrounding the airflow tubes of a heat exchanger with metal foam that heat conduction would occur throughout the wax via the metal foam and increase the energy output from the wax. Unfortunately there was not enough money in the budget to implement metal foam to the heat exchanger and instead an aluminum honeycomb sheet was used. A difference to point out from Scott R. Sawyer and Alan M. L'Esperance experiment is this experiment uses a removable heat exchanger instead of a fixed tube heat exchanger and aluminum honeycomb was wrapped around the inflow tubes. The heat exchanger was filled with three pounds of paraffin wax. A heater heated the inflow air temperature that passed through the heat exchanger, which could be turned on or off. Thermocouples were used to measure the inflow air temperature and the outflow air temperature. A flow meter was used to measure and a valve controlled the volumetric flow rate. The experiment consisted of two tests. The first test consisted of heating the airflow into the heat exchanger for three hours and a heater off phase that lasted three hours. The second experiment was the same except that aluminum honeycomb was used to surround the inflow tubes. The findings of the experiment were similar to Scott and Alan's, despite surrounding the inflow tubes with aluminum honeycomb there was no increase in efficiency. For both runs the amount of energy extracted from the hot wax to the cold air was only 34%. A likely reason for this is the presence of solid and liquid wax within the heat exchanger. Originally it was believed that the deposits of wax in the honeycomb would increase heat conduction, but the wax deposits in the honeycomb closest to the cold airflow tubes solidified and thus did not allow energy transfer from the hot wax to cold air because the wax deposits closest to the tube acted as an insulator.


Dual-polarized, X-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery was obtained from an altitude of 60,000 feet over a test area near Camden, SC on June 30, 1980. The objective of this study was to determine, qualitatively, the value of the SAR imagery for identifying various forest cover types. In analyzing the HH and HV polarization images, particular attention was given to the tonal and textural characteristics of the cover types involved. The analysis of the dual-polarized SAR imagery has shown that certain forest cover features are more easily identified in one polarization than the other, while some features look very similar in both polarizations. In general, the results for this data set have shown that the overall tonal contrast between features was greater on the HH image. Neither polarization was consistently better for identifying the various forest cover types examined. These results suggest the usefulness of a dual-polarized SAR system for mapping forest cover.


Few-shot recognition learns a recognition model with very few (e.g., 1 or 5) images per category, and current few-shot learning methods focus on improving the average accuracy over many episodes. We argue that in real-world applications we may often only try one episode instead of many, and hence maximizing the worst-case accuracy is more important than maximizing the average accuracy. We empirically show that a high average accuracy not necessarily means a high worst-case accuracy. Since this objective is not accessible, we propose to reduce the standard deviation and increase the average accuracy simultaneously. In turn, we devise two strategies from the bias-variance tradeoff perspective to implicitly reach this goal: a simple yet effective stability regularization (SR) loss together with model ensemble to reduce variance during fine-tuning, and an adaptability calibration mechanism to reduce the bias. Extensive experiments on benchmark datasets demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed strategies, which outperforms current state-of-the-art methods with a significant margin in terms of not only average, but also worst-case accuracy. Our code is available at https://github.com/heekhero/ACSR.


X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) and x-ray emission spectroscopy (XES) are advanced x-ray spectroscopies that impact a wide range of disciplines. However, unlike the majority of other spectroscopic methods, XAFS and XES are accompanied by an unusual access model, wherein the dominant use of the technique is for premier research studies at world-class facilities, i.e., synchrotron x-ray light sources. In this paper, we report the design and performance of an improved XAFS and XES spectrometer based on the general conceptual design of Seidler et al. [Rev. Sci. Instrum. 85, 113906 (2014)]. New developments include reduced mechanical degrees of freedom, much-increased flux, and a wider Bragg angle range to enable extended x-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) measurement and analysis for the first time with this type of modern laboratory XAFS configuration. This instrument enables a new class of routine applications that are incompatible with the mission and access model of the synchrotron light sources. To illustrate this, we provide numerous examples of x-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES), EXAFS, and XES results for a variety of problems and energy ranges. Highlights include XAFS and XES measurements of battery electrode materials, EXAFS of Ni with full modeling of results to validate monochromator performance, valence-to-core XES for 3d transition metal compounds, and uranium XANES and XES for different oxidation states. Taken en masse, these results further support the growing perspective that modern laboratory-based XAFS and XES have the potential to develop a new branch of analytical chemistry.


ABSTRACT Few studies have examined the owner-manager as a facilitator of learning in small businesses. Furthermore, these studies are typically not framed by distinctive characteristics of small businesses. These limitations of the literature stimulated us to ask: How do the situational opportunities and constraints that emanate from the distinctive characteristics of small businesses affect the small business owner-manager's role as a facilitator of learning? To address this question, we first conducted a narrative review of existing research on the owner-manager as facilitator of learning in small businesses (10–49 employees). Four themes emerged from our analysis of research findings, including a theme that owner-managers are seldom directly involved in facilitating employees' learning. Next, we conducted an integrative review of literatures that discuss (a) indirect approaches managers can adopt to facilitate learning; and (b) small business characteristics. We focussed on four high-impact indirect approaches owner-managers can use and examined how employment of each approach might be enabled or constrained by distinctive characteristics of small businesses. The integrative review generated ten research propositions. We also synthesized a conceptual framework that illustrates the main variables to be studied and presumed relationships among them. Based on our analysis of literature, implications for policy and practice are proposed.


Visualizations are commonly seen as one of the distinguishing features of service design, yet little research has been done on the topic. Building on questions raised by recent research (Segelstrom & Holmlid, 2009) this paper analyses the results from 14 interviews with practicing service designers. The interviews focus on user research. The analysis is aimed at answering why service designers visualize their material. It is found that the various visualization tools all serve the purpose of communicating user data to different recipients. Additionally the results points towards that there is a set of basic techniques, such as customer journeys and personas, which are almost universally used, as well as a long tail of techniques only used by a few companies. Finally, it is found that service designers to a large extent let the nature of the user data decide the form of visualisation together with the intended audience of the visualization.


Manganese based precious metal-free electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) are promising materials for energy storage systems based on dark or photo-coupled water electrolysis, because they are active, inexpensive and of low toxicity. In this work, atomic scale structure–activity relationships of two different nano-structured manganese oxides, MnOx, are established using a combination of X-ray absorption, diffraction and electrochemistry. Prepared by chemical symproportionation (s-MnOx) and impregnation (i-MnOx), the s-MnOx catalyst consisted of a layered structure similar to δ-MnO2 while the i-MnOx catalyst displayed a mixture of tunnelled, 3D cross-linked β- and defective γ-MnO2 structures. During electrocatalytic oxygen evolution the structural motifs of both MnOx remain largely unchanged, but the oxidation state of Mn increases from 3.5 to 3.9–4. Kinetic parameters of the electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction were extracted using Tafel slope analysis and pH titration experiment, and the role of the protons abstracted was analyzed. The study reveals fundamental differences of general importance in the catalytic activity between layered and cross-linked structures. The exclusive presence of di-μ-oxo-bridged Mn ions in the layered structure is coupled to a pronounced redox and charge capacity behaviour. This ensured efficient use of surface and bulk active sites, and resulted in a relatively large Tafel slope. Consequently, the intrinsic OER activity is especially high in s-MnOx. In contrast, 3D cross-linked structures with both mono- and di-μ-oxo-bridged Mn ions resulted in lower intrinsic activity but smaller Tafel slope, and thus favourable activity at technological water-splitting rates. The insights from this comparative study will provide guidance in the structural design and optimization of other non precious metal oxide OER catalysts.


Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is associated with the production of reactive species, which target cysteine redox switches in proteins thereby affecting gene regulation, DNA damage, ion transport, intermediary metabolism and mitochondrial function. Precursors of reactive species are derived from organic and inorganic compounds and their cofactors, including amino acids, vitamins, oxygen, nitrite, and sulfate. Nutrition and the gut microbiome fuel this process to a significant extent. Production of reactive species in IBD is reflected by a reduction in systemic free thiols, the major components of the antioxidant machinery. Systemic free thiols are amenable to nutritional or therapeutic intervention. This opens up future avenues for therapeutic modulation of redox status in IBD.


The exploration of new carbon materials to overcome the rapid performance decay of common carbon materials in oxygenated saline water (i.e., natural saline water) is the biggest challenge for the industrial application of the capacitive deionization (CDI) technology. In this work, we first report the layer-by-layer motif synthesis of 3D interconnected metal–organic framework (MOF) tubes and the derived nitrogen–iron-doped carbon tubes (3D-FeNC tubes) by using continuous polymeric fibers as templates. The elaborately designed 3D-FeNC tubes exhibit multiple advantages, including fast ionic diffusion (originating from the 1D hollow structure of the tubes), efficient electronic pathways and abundant active sites (arising from the 3D interconnected carbon frameworks), which are beneficial for enhancing the oxygen reduction ability. As a consequence, the as-prepared 3D-FeNC tubes exhibit an unprecedented CDI performance in oxygenated saline water with an exceptional salt adsorption capacity of 40.70 mg g−1 and ultrahigh capacity retention of 93.82% even after 200 cycles, highlighting the significance of morphological control and the benefits of hollow structured materials.


A 3D stacked modular packaging technology was developed so as to meet the general requirements of MEMS and wireless communication on packaging. The general requirements include high-density, low-cost and high-yield etc. According to the requirements of modular package, a kind of accelerator (MEMS) and its modem circuits (IC) were incorporated by three stacked modules and a 3D stacked modular package was realized. In this package, every module was assembled by using traditional surfaced mounting technology (SMT) based on FR4 substrate. MEMS and IC devices were assembled in the same module. The vertical interconnection between modules was realized by means of solder paste printer, mechanical alignment apparatus and optimized reflow curve. The mechanical alignment apparatus was specially prepared for alignment and positioning of stacked modular assembly. The alignment of stacked modules was completed by the alignment-pin/hole method. In order to increase the alignment efficiency, the module substrate was design as paste-up, for example 3×3. The alignment precision of vertical interconnection of the stacked modules reaches to 0.068mm typically. The volume of the entire stacked module was about 19mm×19mm×8mm. Finally, the influencing factors on the vertical interconnection were discussed and shear strength test of the module was presented.


In a recent work we presented a mathematical theory of homogenization structures and we subsequently constructed a new homogenization approach that proves highly fitted to systematically tackle nonstochastic homogenization problems beyond usual periodic homogenization theory. In this way, various concrete homogenization problems arising in nonperiodic physical processes can henceforth be considered. Of course, this releases us from the classical periodicity hypothesis to which reference is usually systematically made for lack of a suitable mathematical framework beyond the periodic setting. With a view to pointing out the wide scope of this new homogenization approach, we consider in this paper two classes of homogenization problems of major interest as regards their close connection with practical applications: the so-called discrete problems dealing with differential operators whose coefficients are constant on each cell ε (k + Y ) with k ∈ ZN , where ε > 0 and Y = (0, 1)N , and the so-called composite homogenization problems arising in the technology of composite materials. The exactness of the homogenization results confirms the essential role the homogenization structures are destined to play in homogenization.


This paper presents a dynamic analysis of a horizontally base-excited rigid rod with unsymmetric end stiffnesses. This is to model a shaker/mould structure with gripper imperfections. The study explains the large rotational and transverse vibrations of the mould at specific operating frequencies observed in the experiments. The governing equations consist of a time-dependent coefficient which indicates the existence of parametric excitation effects. It is concluded that differences between the gripper stiffnesses are responsible for this phenomenon and could destabilize the system. The value of the time-varying parameter is related to the horizontal vibration amplitude of the mould and hence is a function of the system parameters and excitation frequency. The mould's rotational motion is directly parametrically excited while its transverse vibration is excited indirectly through coupling with the rotational motion. A thorough analysis of this class of mechanical systems has not been performed in the past. In this research, studies are conducted to identify the contributions of various system parameters, such as gripper stiffness, damping, mould inertia, and excitation amplitude to the system dynamic characteristics. The results provide new insight and guidelines toward optimizing such mechanical systems.


The authors review the options of secondary medical prevention in patients with ischaemic heart disease, stressing the need and safety of using statins. The beneficial effect of statin therapy on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and the clinical benefit of the greatest possible reduction in LDL cholesterol level are presented. The atherosclerotic plaque regression achieved by a high-intensity statin therapy in the ASTEROID trial is also briefly reviewed.


A review conference to be convened in May, 2010, will consider an amendment to the treaty establishing the International Criminal Court that would define the crime of aggression and make that crime prosecutable before the Court. The proposed definition would, this article argues, constitute a crime in blank prose, one that would, in its disregard of the international principle of legality and related constitutional prohibitions against vague and retroactive criminal punishment, run afoul of basic international human rights norms and U.S. domestic guarantees of due process. Repeated efforts to define aggression foundered throughout the 20th century for good reason: no consensus existed then or now as to what the term means, at least not at the level of specificity needed to impose individual criminal liability. Prosecution under the ambiguous definition that is proposed would turn upon factors that the law does not delineate, rendering criminal liability unpredictable and undermining the law's integrity. The definition is, moreover, so broad in its potential reach that, had it been in effect for the last several decades, every U.S. president since John F. Kennedy, hundreds of American legislators and military leaders, as well as innumerable foreign military and political leaders could have been subjected to prosecution. These difficulties would be magnified by including the roulette wheel that is the United Nations Security Council in the decision to prosecute, as some have urged. Excluding the Council, on the other hand, would create an irresolvable conflict with the Charter. That the United States is not a party to the treaty does not render all this academic: it is possible that U.S. military and political leaders could still be prosecuted for the crime of aggression even if the United States continues to refuse to join.


Learn best practices for managing software development projects from an unexpected but surprisingly relevant source: the producers of major motion pictures. What can Hollywood s hundred years of filmmaking experience teach the software industry? Like movies, software projects can be complex, creative, and high risk. But Hollywood has a better track record for delivering projects to plan. Now you can apply the project-management best practices used by motion-picture producers and production managers to your own work and get better results. The author an expert in software engineering and process improvement shares what he s learned from film-industry project managers to delivering software projects on time and on budget. You ll gain practical insights and effective techniques you can apply right away for estimation and planning; controlling costs, schedules, and changes; coordinating multiple teams; tracking progress; reporting status; managing logistics; management reviews; and more. Key Book Benefits: Applies the project management techniques developed in one complex, creative, high-risk environment to another with surprising relevance and results Describes best practices to improve the way you estimate, plan, budget, manage, and report software projects leading to better, on-target results Features case studies based on numerous interviews with noted Hollywood producers and production managers with insights immediately useful to project managers working in the software industry


This paper presents those areas of Iatmul morphosyntax that are relevant to a discussion of transitivity. Evidence for the syntactic status of subject and direct object as core arguments comes from S=O ambitransitive verbs, S/O pivots in complex predicates, switch reference, relative clause formation, agreement marking, and obligatory focus marking. In contrast, there is no evidence for the concept of an "indirect object". Other relevant phenomena to be explored are case marking, verbs whose morphological make-up correlates with transitivity, zero anaphora, and coalescent nouns in complex predicates. In summary, if languages can be characterized by the extent to which they have grammaticalized the control cline between actor and undergoer, Iatmul can be located in the middle field, with a clear subject category, and a more variable direct object function, whose instantiation is primarily determined by semantic and pragmatic factors.


An experimental investigation has been performed to study the effect of flow intermittency on convective heat transfer to a planar water jet impinging on a constant heat flux surface. Enhanced heat transfer was achieved by periodically restarting an impinging flow and thereby forcing renewal of the hydrodynamic and thermal boundary layers. Although convective heat transfer was less effective during a short period when flow was interrupted, high heat transfer rates, which immediately follow initial wetting, prevailed above a threshold frequency, and a net enhancement occurred. Experiments with intermittent flows yielded enhancements in convective heat transfer coefficients of nearly a factor of two, and theoretical considerations suggest that higher enhancements can be achieved by increasing the frequency of the intermittency. Enhancements need not result in an increased pressure drop within a flow system, since flow interruptions can be induced beyond a nozzle exit. Experimental results are presented for both the steady and intermittent impinging jets at distances up to seven jet widths from the stagnation line. A theoretical model of the transient boundary layer response is used to reveal parameters that govern the measured enhancements. A useful correlation is also provided of local heat transfer results for steadily impinging jets.


Galaxies encode fossil records of their formation histories. While in the Milky Way there is the opportunity to observe individual stars, in other galaxies this is not always possible. Low surface brightness in the outskirts and crowding in the centre makes it challenging to determine the age, chemical composition, kinematics and spatial sub- structure of an external galaxy. Globular clusters however, are collections of stars that are bright and reach far out into a galaxy halo, making them ideal candidates to unveil hidden properties of the galaxy in which they reside, including their formation histories and dark matter distributions. To use GCs as tracers of the formation history of a galaxy, one must first under- stand how these objects form and evolve alongside their host galaxies. The MOd- elling Star cluster population Assembly in Cosmological Simulations within EAGLE (E-MOSAICS) simulations, are a tool to do just that. The simulations are a suite of 25 zoom-in Milky Way-mass galaxies and, more recently, a 34 Mpc volume that follow the co-formation and evolution of galaxies and their GC populations. In this thesis, the simulations are used to address multiple questions of GC and galaxy co-formation. The mass function of globular cluster (GC) populations is a fundamental observable that encodes the physical conditions under which these massive stellar clusters formed and evolved. In this thesis I show that the cluster formation model in E-MOSAICS reproduces the observed shapes of GC mass functions. Furthermore, I examine the origin of the shape and relate it to the mass and the formation history of galaxies, concluding that it is a combination of nature and nurture that sets this shape. Stellar streams are the most direct evidence of accretion onto a galaxy halo. In this thesis I examine the properties of GCs associated with stellar streams. More massive accreted galaxies typically contribute younger and more metal rich GCs. Futhermore, GCs associated with stellar streams have systematically lower [α/Fe] at fixed [Fe/H] than other GCs in a galaxy halo. This lower age results from a more extended cluster formation history in more massive galaxies. In addition, at fixed stellar mass, galaxies that are accreted later host younger clusters, because they can continue to form GCs without being subjected to environmental influences for longer. This explains the large range of ages observed for clusters associated with the Sagittarius dwarf galaxy in the halo of the Milky Way compared to clusters which are thought to have formed in satellites accreted early in the Milky Way's formation history. The α-element abundances of the globular cluster (GC) and field star populations of galaxies encode information about the formation of each of these components. The [α/Fe]-[Fe/H] distribution of GCs largely follows that of the field stars and can also therefore be used as tracers of the [α/Fe]-[Fe/H] evolution of the galaxy. There is a wide range of shapes for the field star [α/Fe]-[Fe/H] distribution, with a notable subset of galaxies exhibiting bimodal distributions, in which the high [α/Fe] sequence is mostly comprised of stars in the bulge, a high fraction of which are from disrupted GCs, where this fraction correlates with the galaxy's formation time. Using this result, I suggest that the Milky Way experienced a phase of unusually rapid growth at early times. The E-MOSAICS simulations can also be used to test other models to inform the users about any biases they should be aware of. Dynamical models allow the user to connect the motion of a set of tracers to the underlying gravitational potential, and thus to the total (luminous and dark) matter distribution. Globular clusters (GCs) are an ideal tracer population in dynamical models. This thesis tests how well Jeans-Anisotropic- MGE (JAM) models using GCs (positions and line-of-sight velocities) as tracers can constrain the mass and radial distribution of DM halos. There is a strong correlation between how well we recover the mass and the radial distribution of the DM and the number of GCs in the galaxy: the constraints get exponentially worse with fewer GCs, and at least 150 GCs are needed in order to guarantee that the JAM model will perform well. These results contribute to the growing body of work that recognises the close relation- ship between GC and galaxy formation. This thesis shows clearly that the properties of GCs can be used to investigate the formation history of both the visible and dark components of a galaxy.


In this report, Texas Transportation Institute researchers identify key work zone safety and mobility performance measures that the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) should target as part of a work zone monitoring program within a district, region, or across the state. Analysis methodologies and computational procedures are presented that will yield the recommended performance measures. For mobility-based measures, researchers recommend that TxDOT target the collection of queue length and travel time delay data caused by temporary lane closures, as the congestion and delays that result from those activities are the simplest to isolate and attribute to the work activities themselves. With regard to work zone safety monitoring, researchers developed procedures that aid a district or project engineer in determining which projects are most suitable for safety monitoring via a periodic review of crash statistics occurring before and during the project. Researchers developed graphs that indicate combinations of work zone length (or work zone segment length), average daily traffic, normal crash rate, and work zone phase or project direction that will most likely allow for reasonable inferences to be made regarding the relative level of safety being maintained within the project. Researchers also developed graphs to aid field or district personnel in quickly determining whether accident frequencies being experienced during a project are within, or above, tolerance limits for that type of project on that facility.


Many scientists nowadays choose to create profiles on the Internet and thus present themselves and their work to a worldwide audience. This study examines, how scientists use the existing online profiles when looking for information about their peers. Of particular interest are differences in behavior based on existing interpersonal ties (strong, weak, latent, and absent ties). The study analyzed data from an online survey of 123 European scientists using quantitative association measures and qualitative comparative analysis. The findings show, that the Internet can positively influence the development of social networks within the scientific community. However, the platforms available for presentation online are numerous and the peer audience heterogeneous. While Internet presence can be of advantage for scientists, it should be designed and maintain with deliberation.


Bootstrapping behavior in small ventures is examined in this study through a prism of typologies to advance our understanding of entrepreneurial behavior. Based on a survey of 91 entrepreneurs in small ventures and interviews with 10 entrepreneurs, this study develops a taxonomy of strategies for bootstrapping behavior and explores the strategies' constitutive elements and underlying logics. The statistically identified 'chunks' of entrepreneurial bootstrap behavior formed a basis for further qualitative exploration and confirmation of a taxonomy of such behavior. The study offers a multifaceted image of bootstrap financing practiced in small ventures by proposing discriminating strategy profiles. By delineating the nature of three entrepreneurial strategy profiles and their underlying logics, and highlighting their effects, the present research contributes to the understanding of how small ventures orient themselves to resource mobilization and gives insights into why entrepreneurs use specific bootstrapping strategies. The taxonomy outlines three bootstrap financing strategies for resource mobilization in small ventures: 'quick-fix bootstrappers', which emphasize temporary access to resources and prefer internally oriented activities for such purposes; 'proactive bootstrappers', which focus on operational resource issues; and 'efficient bootstrappers', which prefer activities that are externally and vertically oriented, up or down in the value creation chain.


During the seventies and early eighties, the Supreme Court adopted a broad, purposive and organic approach to the interpretation of language rights in the Constitution. In 1986, however, the Court implicitely repudiated this approach and returned to a narrow, literal and static interpretation of these rights, reminiscent ofthat espoused by the Privy Council during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The author attacks the policy considerations which underlie this recent change in the Court's approach. He argues that besides impeding further enhancement of bilingualism, the change poses a threat to all minority rights and indeed to the stability of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In his view, the terms of the Meech Lake Accord are too ambiguous to have much effect on the Supreme Court's future interpretation of the Constitution and should therefore be altered to ensure that the Court is induced to adopt a more generous approach when interpreting French language rights.


Orally administered ethanol (300 mg/kg) and aqueous (300 mg/kg) extracts of Hybanthus enneaspermus (L) F. Muell were evaluated for its aphrodisiac activity in sexually inactive male rats both in a single dose regimen and in a chronic regimen as a daily dose for 28 days. Mount and intromission latency and number of mounts, intromissions and ejaculations were the parameters used for assessing sexual arousal and performance. Following a single dose administration, the aqueous extract produced a decrease in the mounting and intromission latency, with an increase in the ejaculatory and intromission frequency. In the chronic model, both the alcohol and aqueous extracts increased the number of mounts, ejaculations and intromissions with decrease in the mounting and intromission latency. Treatment with aqueous extract also elevated the testosterone levels in sexually inactive male rats. The findings suggest that H. ennaespermus may exert aphrodisiac activity in sexually inactive male rats.


In the present study the location of the probe tip was studied on human teeth scheduled for extraction for periodontal reasons. Prior to extraction all teeth were subjected to initial treatment consisting of plaque control and removal of supra- and subgingival deposits. Results showed that: 1) 43% of the pockets examined were still bleeding on probing after treatment 2) bleeding pockets were deeper than non-bleeding pockets 3) in non-bleeding pockets the probe tip was located more accurately at the attachment level than in bleeding pockets.


This book explains the functional parts of a WiMax system and its basic operation. You will learn how WiMax can use base stations to provide high speed data connections that can be used for voice, data and video services to distances of over 30 km. The original WiMax system was designed to operate at 10-66 GHz and it had to change to offer broadband wireless access (BWA) in the 2-11 GHz frequency range. To do this, the WiMax standard includes variants (profiles) that use different combinations of radio channel types (single carrier -vs- multicarrier), modulation types, channel coding types to provide fixed, nomadic or portable services. WiMax can provide multiple types of services to the same user with different QoS levels. For example, it is possible to install a single WiMax transceiver in an office building and provide real time telephone services and best effort Internet browsing services on the same WiMax connection. To do this, WiMax was designed to mix contention based (competitive access) and contention free (polled access) to provide services which have different quality of service (QoS) levels. You will learn about WiMax protocols and how they are designed to allow for point to point (PTP), point to multipoint (PMP) and mesh networks. Operators can use the mesh configuration to allow it to link base stations without the need to install or lease interconnecting communication lines. Some of the services WiMax operators can provide include leased line, residential broadband, commercial broadband and digital television (IPTV) services. WiMax can use radio channel bandwidths that can vary from 1.25 MHz to 28 MHz and data transmission rates can exceed 155 Mbps. The types of data connections on WiMax radio channels include basic (physical connection), primary (device control), secondary (configuration) and transport (user data). You will learn about the typical range for WIMAX systems and how to extend the range of WIMAX systems through the use of directional antennas. Some of the most important topics featured include: . The Functional Parts of WiMax Systems . Basic WiMax Operation . The Types of WIMAX Services . Data Transmission Rates . WIMAX Industry Standards . WIMAX Technology Evolution . Protocols Used in WiMax . Physical and Logical Channel Types . The Different Types of WIMAX Devices . Basic Security Operation


For visible range emitting particles, which are relevant for display and additional applications, Cd-chalcogenide nanocrystals have reached the highest degree of control and performance. Considering potential toxicity and regulatory limitations, there is a challenge to successfully develop Cd-free emitting nanocrystals and, in particular, heterostructures with desirable properties. Herein, we report a colloidal synthesis of fluorescent heavy-metal-free Zn-chalcogenide semiconductor nanodumbbells (NDBs), in which ZnSe tips were selectively grown on the apexes of ZnTe rods, as evidenced by a variety of methods. The fluorescence of the NDBs can be tuned between ∼500 and 585 nm by changing the ZnSe tip size. The emission quantum yield can be greatly increased through chloride surface treatment and reaches more than 30%. Simulations within an effective-mass-based model show that the hole wave function is spread over the ZnTe nanorods, while the electron wave function is localized on the ZnSe tips. Quantitative agreement for the red-shifted emission wavelength is obtained between the simulations and the experiments. Additionally, the changes in radiative lifetimes correlate well with the calculated decrease in electron-hole overlap upon growth of larger ZnSe tips. The heavy-metal-free ZnTe/ZnSe NDBs may be relevant for optoelectronic applications such as displays or light-emitting diodes.


Abstract With the recent advances in digital technology, creators of information goods such as books, songs, or videos can now self-publish and sell their work directly to consumers, without the help of traditional publishers. In this study, we construct an analytical model to examine the role of online word of mouth in this trend of disintermediation. Online word of mouth can reveal product quality for experience goods and raise awareness to accelerate product diffusion. Intuitively, one would expect that with online word of mouth, creators would be more likely to skip publishers and sell directly to consumers. However, our results suggest that online word of mouth may, in fact, encourage more creators to use publishers for high quality work. Our model also makes predictions on the conditions under which online word of mouth benefits publishers and for what types of products and creators it has the most impact.


Single degree of freedom force-feedback mechatronic devices, often called haptic paddles, are used in university curriculum as well as massive open online courses (MOOCs). While devices differ based on the goals of a given course, broadly speaking they provide hands-on learning for students studying mechatronics and dynamics. We introduce the third iteration of the Haptic Paddle at Rice University, which has been modified to improve haptic performance and robustness. The modifications to the design increased device up time as well as the devices Zwidth. The performance improvement enables the addition of experimental plants to the haptic paddle base, which can be directed at advanced dynamics and controls courses, or special topics in mechatronics and haptics. The first module, a Haptic Ball and Beam, adds an underactuated plant for teleoperation or more complex control structures, and a testbed for haptic motor learning experiments in undergraduate coursework.


Microshoots of four hazelnut genotypes grown in vitro on Nas and Read medium (NRM) containing various combinations of CuSO 4  5H 2 O and myo-inositol were success- fully rooted and acclimatized ex vitro without any need of in vitro hardening treatments. Dipping of shoot bases in 1000 ppm indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) solution for 5 or 10 seconds followed by placement of shoots in plant growth regulator free NRM gave rise to forma- tion of roots as early as 8 days. Shoots treated for 5 and 10 seconds rooted similarly, and depending on genotype, 88% to 98% rooting was observed within 15 days after treatment with IBA. Ex vitro survival of shoots three months after in vitro-root induction was 73% when shoots were treated with IBA for 5 seconds and 66% when shoots were treated for 10 seconds. The highest ex vitro survival rate (97%) 3 months after root induction was observed when shoots were treated with IBA solution for 10 seconds, and then cultured directly in peat pellets. Shoots developed good roots, and grew up to 70 cm in height 3 months after root induction. The potential use of rooting and acclimatization protocol for commercial micropropagation of hazelnut is presented.


Poland is very popular among foreigners. Tourism is an important part of the Polish economy. The share of tourism in GDP remains at a level of 5-6%, with employment estimated at approx. 760 thousand. People (4.7% of the total workforce), with approx. 170-200 thousand. People are employed in activities related to accommodation and food service. Proceeds from the arrivals of foreigners goes back to the year 8-9 billion euros, of which about half is the proceeds of arrivals of foreign tourists. The aim of the article is to present the characteristics of arrivals of foreigners to Poland, with particular emphasis on visitors from outside the Schengen Area. On the basis of statistical data I analysed arrivals of foreign tourists to Poland and presented the changes in the structure of those arrivals. The article also shows the diversity of tourism revenue in the period considered. For this purpose a method of "Desk Research" based on data from Central Statistical Office, Institute of Tourism, Ministry of Sport and Tourism. The article also includes the perspective of the development of inbound tourism. The article presents the results of research conducted in October 2016 in Kiev among 152 respondents. The aim of the study was to collect the information on the attractiveness of Poland for Ukrainian visitors. Convenient sampling method was used to select the survey participants. Diagnostic survey method was used in the study and the direct technique was an interview without previously prepared questions. The results confirm that Ukrainians are willing to visit Poland.


Abstract Shortly after being confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2021, Commissioner Maria Elena Giner called for input into issues of importance to the U.S. Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission (USIBWC). Responding to her call, a group of border scholars committed to producing a white paper entitled "Water Management on the U.S.-Mexico Border: Achieving Water Sustainability and Resilience through Cross-Border Cooperation". This document was presented to Commissioner Giner at the spring 2022 ABS Annual Meeting in Denver, Colorado. This commentary outlines the main ideas and recommendations in this white paper, which are intended to strengthen the USIBWC's ability to respond to the challenges of U.S.-Mexico border water management in the 21st century. The paper recognizes the IBWC's long history of handling binational water issues effectively and its demonstrated capacity to respond and adapt to the border region's changing social, political, and environmental conditions. The commentary is capped with Commissioner Giner's response to the white paper, including her commitment to work with the academic community in both countries in creating an IBWC's binational science advisory group, as recommended in the white paper.


Rebound insomnia and rebound anxiety are clinical conditions related to withdrawal of certain benzodiazepine drugs. Numerous studies of benzodiazepine and nonbenzodiazepine hypnotics conducted in our sleep laboratory demonstrated that rebound insomnia developed following withdrawal from benzodiazepines with a rapid or intermediate elimination rate. Several studies conducted by other investigators also indicated the development of rebound insomnia under similar conditions. Rebound insomnia and rebound anxiety are discussed in terms of their interrelationship, clinical implications, and receptor mechanisms. Evidence suggests that drugs producing rebound insomnia and rebound anxiety also show a more rapid development of tolerance and greater potential for drug dependence than benzodiazepines where the parent compound or its metabolites have a long elimination half-life.


The incidence of oesophageal adenocarcinoma has increased faster than that of any other solid tumour over the last 50 years. The major aetiological factor associated with this tumour is prolonged gastro-oesophageal reflux resulting in metaplastic change in the squamous mucosa to a columnar mucosa (columnar-lined Barrett's oesophagus) with subsequent dysplasia and ultimately neoplastic change to adenocarcinoma. The natural history of this transformation is poorly documented and guidelines have only been developed recently to aid clinicians in their management of columnar-lined oesophagus. This is a retrospective observational cohort study of 2751 patients from 7 United Kingdom centres collated through the UK National Barrett's Oesophagus Registry. It has followed the course of their progress preceding the diagnosis of columnar-lined oesophagus through the course of their clinical follow-up and endoscopic surveillance. The thesis is divided into 5 principal studies examining the natural history of columnar-lined oesophagus and its progression to adenocarcinoma and a sixth examining the validity of the database. The project has examined demographic and epidemiological factors in columnar-lined oesophagus as well as overall rate of progression to adenocarcinoma. The importance of the length of the metaplastic segment and changes in this length and diagnostic histology with reference to malignant risk are examined and discussed. The progress of the metaplastic segment over time is examined with reference to the detection of dysplasia and adenocarcinoma at surveillance. The influence of antireflux treatment (medical and surgical) and symptomatic duration (and type) on the outcome of patients with columnar- lined oesophagus are described. The project has provided a large cohort (the largest in the world with the exception of a pathology report-based database) for examination of the outcome of columnar-lined oesophagus which makes a significant contribution to knowledge on this subject to aid professional bodies in their guidelines and clinicians in their management of this condition.


In the 1960s, "Development" was an economic phenomenon, but in the latter period measures related with poverty, inequality and unemployment were also embedded into the concept. The introduction of Physical Quality Life Index in the 1970s and the Human Development Index in 1990 broadened the way of measuring development. Development must be conceived of as a multidimensional process involving major changes in the social structures, popular attitudes and social and national institutions as well as the acceleration of economic growth, the reduction of inequality and the eradication of poverty. However, so far human goals of development in light of cultural aspects embodied in the life styles of people have not been considered in definitions of development. This study concentrates on the ambiguity in the development definitions. In the attainment of this objective, the paper peruses the Mahaweli development project, the largest integrated rural development multipurpose program that was implemented in Sri Lanka. According to the "Project Reassessment Report" prepared by the World Bank in 2004, assessments rate the outcomes as highly unsatisfactory, based on the modest relevance of the project's development activities, modest progress in achieving those objectives and negligible efficiency.  The study was conducted based upon the survey-based methodology. Primary data were collected through the survey conducted in three selected areas attached to the Mahaweli "C" system, namely (1) Hobariyawa, (2) Millaththawa and (3) Wiranagama. Descriptive statistical methods were utilized to analyze the data.  The major statistical techniques used were percentage analysis, correlation analysis and other qualitative methods.  Out of the total households residing in these three areas, 71 households that earn their income from fishery, livestock, paddy and other crops were randomly selected as the sample of the study.  Firstly, the study revealed that people who live in this division are satisfied with what they have achieved and are contended, trustworthy and healthy though this project has not become a success according to the national objectives.  Secondly, these people have not got caught in the 'competition' and everybody is at the same level.  Hence they live a very relaxed life. Finally, this concludes that the progress attained by these masses have been underestimated by interpreting it in terms of quantitative and economic aspects of development. Hence, cultural aspects, personal religious beliefs and attitudes should also be taken into account in assessing 'Development'. Keywords: Development, Culture, Mahaweli System For full paper: email@example.com


The estimation of petrophysical properties (i.e. porosity, lithology, and pore fluids) is commonly done by first estimating rock properties (i.e., S- and P-wave velocities and density) from prestack seismic data. Then by some empirical or theoretical transform, the rock properties are converted to the desired petrophysical properties. There are risks associated with this procedure. Among other things, what sensitivity does a rock property show to changes in petrophysical properties or what is the possibility of having more than one combination of petrophysical properties yielding the same rock-property value (ambiguity)?


This study provides a national picture of the time American 6- to 12-year-olds spent playing video games, using the computer, and watching TV at home in 1997 and 2003, and the association of early use with their achievement and behavior as adolescents. Girls benefited from computer use more than boys, and Black children benefited more than White children. Greater computer use in middle childhood was associated with increased achievement for White and Black girls, and for Black but not White boys. Increased video game play was associated with an improved ability to solve applied problems for Black girls but lower verbal achievement for all girls. For boys, increased video game play was linked to increased aggressive behavior problems.


The Australian Partnership for Advanced Computing (APAC) began developing the APAC National Grid in 2004. The APAC Grid integrates several partner sites, most of which have multiple compute resources. Different APAC grid application projects require different grid middleware systems, including GT2, GT4 and LCG. In order to provide these different systems to interface to different resources at each site, it was decided to provide a single, standard grid gateway machine at each site, and to use Xen to provide a number of virtual machines to run the different grid middleware stacks, as well as other services such as grid portals and data management. In this paper we discuss the design of this system, and our experiences in deploying and using virtual machines on a single grid gateway machine for interfacing to multiple clusters at a site.


A fast and efficient image search method is developed for a compressed image database using vector quantization (VQ). An image search on an image database requires an exhaustive sequential scan of all the images, given the similarity measure. If compressed images are dealt with, images are decompressed as an initial operation and then the previously mentioned exhaustive search is performed using the predetermined similarity measure. If the images in the database are compressed using VQ, the image search process is reduced to codebook index match tests. A pixel by pixel similarity test of two images computationally costs too much. This bottleneck is overcome by using VQ, where the similarity test of the two image block is performed by a precalculated distortion lookup table. The same is valid for the object search in the image database. The object image is vector quantized first; then the index map of the object image is scanned over the entire index area of the compressed image database. Significant image search speed gains on the VQ image database are obtained. Results show that the VQ compressed image search is faster than a sequential search, and compressed and decompressed JPEG search. Actual speed gain obtained here depends on the application area and required image quality for the database.


In the context of the canonization of John Paul II, the author reflects on his experience of the concentration camp at Auschwitz. It is a difficult experience, therefore it can more reveal the Pope as a man and a pastor, his way of thinking and perceiving reality. Through canonization this way is indicated to us as a pattern. John Paul came often to Auschwitz, where he saw the place of denial of God and man, but also a place of victory of man over contempt, hatred and death through faith in God, which generates love for Him and for man. The symbol of such a victory is St. Maximilian Maria Kolbe, martyr of love that as Christ gave his life for the fellow prisoner Francis Gajowniczek. In this heroic deed – in the opinion of the Pope – Christ himself was present, so the camp at Auschwitz is not only hell on earth, but also the Golgotha of our times, the cemetery of the martyrs, the sanctuary of the patron of difficult century. Pope John Paul II arrived there to pray and make a reflection on the contemporary man's condition, who in Christ the Redeemer can still conquer evil with good and to build the peace based on respect for the rights of person and nations.