Eder, Stephan H. K.; Cadiou, Herve; Muhamad, Airina; McNaughton, Peter A.; Kirschvink, Joseph L.; Winklhofer, Michael (2012): Magnetic characterization of isolated candidate vertebrate magnetoreceptor cells. In: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Vol. 109, Nr. 30: S. 12022-12027
Volltext auf 'Open Access LMU' nicht verfügbar.
Abstract
Over the past 50 y, behavioral experiments have produced a large body ofevidence for the existence of a magnetic sense in a wide range ofanimals. However, the underlying sensory physiology remains poorlyunderstood due to the elusiveness of the magnetosensory structures. Herewe present an effective method for isolating and characterizingpotential magnetite-based magnetoreceptor cells. In essence, a rotatingmagnetic field is employed to visually identify, within a dissociatedtissue preparation, cells that contain magnetic material by theirrotational behavior. As a tissue of choice, we selected trout olfactoryepithelium that has been previously suggested to host candidatemagnetoreceptor cells. We were able to reproducibly detect magneticcells and to determine their magnetic dipole moment. The obtained values(4 to 100 fAm(2)) greatly exceed previous estimates (0.5 fAm(2)). Themagnetism of the cells is due to a mu m-sized intracellular structure ofiron-rich crystals, most likely single-domain magnetite. In confocalreflectance imaging, these produce bright reflective spots close to thecell membrane. The magnetic inclusions are found to be firmly coupled tothe cell membrane, enabling a direct transduction of mechanical stressproduced by magnetic torque acting on the cellular dipole in situ. Ourresults show that the magnetically identified cells clearly meet thephysical requirements for a magnetoreceptor capable of rapidly detectingsmall changes in the external magnetic field. This would also explaininterference of ac power-line magnetic fields with magnetoreception, asreported in cattle.


Peer reviewed
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ERIC Number:EJ1060021 Record Type:Journal Publication Date:2015-Apr Pages:14 Abstractor:As Provided Reference Count:N/A ISBN:N/A ISSN:ISSN-1092-4388
Kinematic Measurements of the Vocal-Fold Displacement Waveform in Typical Children and Adult Populations: Quantification of High-Speed Endoscopic Videos
Patel, Rita; Donohue, Kevin D.; Unnikrishnan, Harikrishnan; Kryscio, Richard J.
Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, v58 n2 p227-240 Apr 2015
Purpose: This article presents a quantitative method for assessing instantaneous and average lateral vocal-fold motion from high-speed digital imaging, with a focus on developmental changes in vocal-fold kinematics during childhood. Method: Vocal-fold vibrations were analyzed for 28 children (aged 5-11 years) and 28 adults (aged 21-45 years) without voice disorders. The following kinematic features were analyzed from the vocal-fold displacement waveforms: relative velocity-based features (normalized average and peak opening and closing velocities), relative acceleration-based features (normalized peak opening and closing accelerations), speed quotient, and normalized peak displacement. Results: Children exhibited significantly larger normalized peak displacements, normalized average and peak opening velocities, normalized average and peak closing velocities, peak opening and closing accelerations, and speed quotient compared to adult women. Values of normalized average closing velocity and speed quotient were higher in children compared to adult men. Conclusions: When compared to adult men, developing children typically have higher estimates of kinematic features related to normalized displacement and its derivatives. In most cases, the kinematic features of children are closer to those of adult men than adult women. Even though boys experience greater changes in glottal length and pitch as they mature, results indicate that girls experience greater changes in kinematic features compared to boys.
Descriptors: Motion, Human Body, Children, Adults, Evaluation Methods, Photography, Developmental Stages, Child Development, Gender Differences, Intonation, Measurement Techniques, Statistical Analysis
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). 10801 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852. Tel: 800-638-8255; Fax: 301-571-0457; e-mail: subscribe@asha.org; Web site: http://jslhr.asha.org
Publication Type:Journal Articles; Reports - Research Education Level:N/A Audience:N/A Language:English Sponsor:National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) Authoring Institution:N/A IES Grant or Contract Numbers:R03DC11360


Fulfilling a commitment to campus sustainability
There is an increasing trend among people and organizations to focus on issues of sustainability. As a result, there are often conflicting ideas or confusion about what it really means to act in ways that protect the environment.
Missy Nergard sticks with a textbook definition, which can be summarized as making sure environmental resources are protected for current and future generations. To do so means focusing on entire processes, not merely end results.
That’s exactly what Nergard does at Illinois State, where she serves as director of sustainability. She actively involves students in projects across disciplines, working to fulfill one of the priorities established in
Educating Illinois 2013-2018: Individualized Attention, Shared Aspirations. The University’s strategic plan calls for action that promotes an environmentally sustainable campus.
For some that means obvious action, such as keeping furniture abandoned by students at the end of the school year off the trash curb or composting food waste from the residence hall dining centers. Nergard paints a much broader picture, noting that both examples again focus on the end of a process without necessarily touching the starting point.
Her goal as director involves helping students see sustainability as issues of environmental systems that interact with business and social systems. She focuses on efficiencies at the University level, engaging students who are eager to acquire a skill set that positions them as a job candidate with a competitive advantage.
They can achieve that goal by completing a renewable energy major or a minor in business environment and sustainability. Corporate interest is huge and growing, but there is wide involvement on campus beyond College of Business students. Many who work with Nergard are interested in the projects she finds that create a bridge between campus and the community. Students play an active role in deciding what work can and should be undertaken on campus.
“We look across the board, from supply chain management to corporate responsibilities and fair trade issues,” Nergard said, noting that the University provides an annual budget of $180,000 in a Student Sustainability Fund. She oversees the money, which is dispersed after a committee formed through the Student Government Association determines what projects should be pursued.
A Reggie Ride bike-share program is one that gained approval and was restarted during this spring semester. Thirty new bikes were purchased as a way to provide free, sustainable campus transportation for the ISU community.
Another is a green roof project that allows students experience in creating and cultivating a garden plot suitable for a rooftop. Nergard noted that green roofs are increasingly mandatory in larger metropolitan areas such as Chicago. They are desired as a way to mediate building heat, help clean the air, and ease the stress on storm systems during rainy seasons.
Nergard is equally excited about ongoing work with bee hives in the Sugar Grove Nature Center south of campus near Funks Grove. In a public/private venture, bees are housed so that honey can be gathered, processed, and sold. The project is both educational for students and practical for the area, as honey produced locally mitigates allergy concerns.
From working to have ISU’s Weibring Golf Club certified through the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program to supporting the University’s solar car team and bringing in speakers, students are passionate and engaged in campus sustainability efforts. They are living what they learn, leaving the University empowered to literally protect and nurture their world.


In Neuropsychological Aspects of Substance Use Disorders, internationally recognized experts provide clinicians with the most up to date information on the neuropsychology of substance use disorders based on the empirical literature. Substance use disorders continue to be a major healthconcern in the United States and worldwide, although their causes and effective treatments remain elusive. Research in this area has expanded dramatically over the past two decades and provided insights into psychobiological, behavioral, and genetic factors that contribute to the onset andmaintenance of substance use disorders and associated neuropsychological abnormalities. This research has provided a strong empirical foundation that has direct implications for clinical neuropsychological practice and created a need to provide the practitioner with a cogent and up-to-date summaryof current developments, which is the goal of this volume. Chapters in this volume are organized into three sections that are designed to provide a translational overview of basic research and treatment findings regarding addictions, neuropsychological and neurological sequalae of the most common substances of abuse, and consideration of special issues thatmight confound interpretation of neuropsychological test results. Section I provides an overview of addictions, including diagnoses based on the DSM-IV, as well as the most current conceptualizations of addiction from psychobiological, genetic, and behavioral and no economics perspectives, providingthe reader with a broad evidence-based conceptual framework. Section II reviews the most common substances of abuse including coverage of structural and functional neuroimaging findings, epidemiological evidence, and neuropsychological sequelae. Substances included in this section represent the mostcommonly encountered drugs of abuse. Section III includes coverage of the number of special topics, including specific issues related to psychiatric, medical, and neurological comorbidities. Topics included in this section represent areas of common concerns faced by clinical neuropsychologists inthe interpretation and application of neuropsychological test results.


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The UK is a market ripe for the click-and-collect proposition provided by a good many digital sellers, due mainly to its relatively small size and a well-developed logistics and distribution network. These sellers can actively benefit from such a facility, given that it reduces the requirements for larger physical storefronts.
Data supports the idea that UK consumers are becoming increasingly enamored with this type of digital buying, as does research from the seller side of the equation. According to enterprise technology solutions provider MICROS, the number of digital sellers offering a click-and-collect service has risen hugely over the past few years, from 15.0% in 2009 to 43.5% in 2013.
Of course, these sellers wouldn’t offer such a service, nor increase their rate of availability at such pace, were there not any demand for it. June 2013 data from comScore highlighted just how popular this type of buying was in the UK, with 57% of digital buyers having used such a service. Only digital buyers in France were more active users, and marginally so at that.
Despite this rapid uptake in both demand and supply, click and collect still only accounts for a relatively small proportion of UK retail ecommerce. As of Q2 2013, its share of total retail ecommerce sales stood at just 16%, according to the Interactive Media in Retail Group and Capgemini.
However, this represented good growth over Q2 2012, when the proportion stood at just 12%. And with increasing availability of service may come increasing relevance.
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As of 2015, Yahoo Finance offers historical stock charts for the Dow Jones Industrial Average index and the S&P 500 index, while MarketWatch offers historical charts for the New York Stock Exchange Composite index, as their respective websites indicate. In addition, StockCharts offers an extensive collection of free historical stock charts covering a wide array of indexes, as shown on its website.Continue Reading
If used as a proxy for the entire U.S. stock market, the historical performance of the S&P 500 index shows that the market has doubled in real terms since the 1970s as of 2015, as Business Insider explains. This is in contrast to the Japanese market, where stocks trade at the same level as they did during the 1970s after adjusting for inflation. This poor performance reflects the country's deflation quagmire.
Stocks in the U.S market have outperformed bonds and cash over the previous 130 years, yielding returns of roughly 6.5 percent per year after adjusting for inflation, reports Business Insider. Surprisingly, stock price appreciation is responsible for only a fraction of the return, with dividends accounting for most of the favorable performance. Between 1871 and 1982, dividends lifted returns by 5 percent per year, but they have performed only half as well since 1982. However, if 2009 dividend ratio trends remain in place, stocks are set to give returns of 4 percent per annum in the following decades.Learn more about Investing


Grid computing has emerged as an important new field, distinguished from conventional distributed computing by its focus on large-scale resource sharing and innovative applications as well as an establishment for the creation of e-health networks. Grid Technologies for E-Health: Applications for Telemedicine Services and Delivery examines innovations to further improve medical management using grid computing. A defining collection of field advancements, this publication discusses the significance of automation and IT resources in healthcare technology previously infeasible due to computing and data-integration constraints.


#2 Resist High-Priced Junk Bonds
Domestic high-yield bonds (otherwise known as junk bonds) have had a tremendous ride over the last several years. Low default rates and a thirst for yield have been tremendous drivers of asset prices in this sector. However, valuations have appeared to reach an extreme level,which has in turn led to lower yields for new money being added to this space.
If you already own a junk bond ETF such as the
iShares High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (HYG), I would continue to hang onto the position with the expectation that we may see a shift in credit at some point that would necessitate an exit from this holding. Prices are not indicating any kind of problem as yet, and the income streams are still solid for early adopters. However, there will come a time when it will make sense to switch to higher credit quality areas such as investment grade corporate bonds or mortgage securities.
One possible alternative that I believe is offering a more attractive value proposition with a comparable yield is the
iShares JP Morgan USD Emerging Market Bond ETF (EMB). This ETF sports a yield of just under 5% and is still trading below its 2013 highs.


BLAIN, J. and WALLIS, R. J. (2004). Sacred sites, contested rites/rights: contemporary pagan engagements with the past.
Journal of material culture, 9 (3), 237-261.
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Abstract
Our Sacred Sites, Contested Rites/Rights project (www.sacredsites.org.uk) examines physical, spiritual and interpretative engagements of today’s Pagans with sacred sites, theorises ‘sacredness’, and explores the implications of pagan engagements with sites for heritage management and archaeology more generally, in terms of ‘preservation ethic’ vis a vis active engagement. In this paper, we explore ways in which ‘sacred sites’ --- both the term and the sites --- are negotiated by different interest groups, foregrounding our locations, as an archaeologist/art historian (Wallis) and anthropologist (Blain), and active pagan engagers with sites. Examples of pagan actions at such sites, including at Avebury and Stonehenge, demonstrate not only that their engagements with sacred sites are diverse and that identities --- such as that of ‘new indigenes’ --- arising therefrom are complex, but also that heritage management has not entirely neglected the issues: in addition to managed open access solstice celebrations at Stonehenge, a climate of inclusivity and multivocality has resulted in fruitful negotiations at the Rollright Stones.
Item Type: Article Additional Information: Copyright © 2004 by SAGE Publications Research Institute, Centre or Group: Sociology, Politics and Policy Research Group Identification Number: 10.1177/1359183504046893 Depositing User: Ann Betterton Date Deposited: 18 Dec 2008 Last Modified: 19 Aug 2015 17:16 URI: http://shura.shu.ac.uk/id/eprint/58 Actions (login required)
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Abandoned Mineland Reclamation Anthracite Mining in Northeastern Pennsylvania
There are two forms of coal in Pennsylvania: bituminous and anthracite. Bituminous coal, generally found in western Pennsylvania, is relatively soft and burns easily. Anthracite coal, found mainly in northeastern Pennsylvania, is harder and longer burning, making it a more efficient fuel source. For this reason, anthracite was a crucial factor in the Industrial Revolution, powering America’s factories, propelling its transit systems, and heating its business and homes.
Anthracite coal was discovered in Pennsylvania’s Wyoming Valley in the late 1700s. The region, which generally follows the Susquehanna River southwest from Wilkes-Barre through Nanticoke City to Conyngham Township, prospered. Each mine was part of a colliery, as were all buildings, plants, machinery, and equipment. Breakers were a major feature. Inside the hulking structures, men and boys split the coal, separating it by size and value, the castoffs now comprising the massive culm banks across the region. Around the collieries sprung up dozens of small towns, the businesses of which relied on the colliery for their success. The dominant mining practice was deep mining, where tunnels were dug increasingly deeper through coal seams in a cross-hatching manner. Strip mining, where mountainsides are simply blasted away to expose the coal, was also employed. By the 1800s, over one million tons of coal were being culled annually, transported via an extensive canal network for distribution along the East Coast.
By the mid-1900s, however, the mining industry began to decline. Coal resources were exhausted, and alternative fuels – namely, gas and oil – were growing in popularity. The Knox Mine disaster expedited the end. On January 22, 1959, a section of the mine, which had tunneled under the Susquehanna River, collapsed. The channel flooded. Twelve miners were killed. In the wake of the accident, Knox Coal closed, and thousands of jobs were lost. Other companies followed suit, some simply closing their doors, others declaring bankruptcy. This, coupled with the changing energy market, marked the end of the mining era not only in northeastern Pennsylvania, but also across the Commonwealth.
Why Reclaim?
Northeastern Pennsylvania can be proud of its mining heritage. Mining fueled America’s Industrial Revolution, and the industry attracted and provided for thousands in the region. That said, pre-regulatory mining did significantly damage local lands and watersheds. Pennsylvania has more than 250,000 acres of abandoned mine lands in 45 of its 67 counties – higher than any other state. Associated water pollution contaminates more than 5,000 miles of Pennsylvania waterways. Unreclaimed sites are characterized by
massive piles of mine spoils/culm mine shaft openings highwalls mining pits abandoned/acid mine drainage sparse or nonexistent vegetation remnant shafts/structures
In addition to these visible impairments, abandoned mines also have issues underground, including subsidences and mine fires. Subsidences occur when underground mine supports collapse, which causes the ground to shift, and subsequently voids to appear at the surface. Sometimes these are small – mere depressions in the ground (a.k.a., a sinkhole). Other times, however, the breaks are so large that cars, homes, and roadways drop in. Mine fires may have a natural or human start (e.g., lightning or burning trash). Regardless the cause, once ignited, they burn endlessly along coal seams, until their fuel source is used up. They are also difficult to detect, reach, and contain, making extinguishment nearly impossible. Earth Conservancy’s Laurel Run mine fire, for instance, has been burning since 1915. Unfortunately, mine fires often run under populated areas, exposing residents to smoke and noxious fumes.
Although many in the region have become accustomed to these sites, they must be addressed. They will not improve unless we intervene. Through the reclamation process, Earth Conservancy is working to mitigate the effects of historic mining practices on our lands, helping to restore environmental health to and boost economic potential in the Wyoming Valley.
Earth Conservancy: Addressing the Past, Reclaiming the Future
Since its formation in 1992, Earth Conservancy has reclaimed nearly 2,000 of its 16,300 acres. Reclamation is expensive, however: over $42.8 million has been invested to date. Additionally, the reclamation process is lengthy. Grant cycles can take up to a year. And even when a grant has been awarded, many preliminary steps must occur. First, each site must be surveyed to stake out boundaries, assess topography, and identify hazards such as pits, sinkholes, or shafts. Next, a qualified consultant develops site-specific plans and engineering specifications to estimate the amount of material to be moved, and to detail grading and filling operations. Requisite permits then must be obtained from the Pennsylvania DEP and the Luzerne Conservation District. Finally, illegally-dumped refuse and garbage must be removed.
Once these items have been completed, reclamation can then begin. Although work will vary according to each site, construction generally includes the removal and disposal of existing mine waste; or the grading of spoil materials, which are then covered with a substantial amount of fill. Stormwater management features like channels, swales, and basins may also be constructed. After this, the entire area is seeded to stabilize the soil and prevent future erosion. For some projects, more concentrated re-vegetation is necessary, especially along natural waterways.
Paying for Reclamation
As a nonprofit, Earth Conservancy depends on outside funding to support its reclamation work. Land sales, loans, timbering, and the sale of culm to cogeneration facilities are all resources. Grants, however, are the most significant, and have ranged from federal, state, county, and local governments; to foundations; to the corporate sector. One of our longtime supporters has been the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, specifically through its Brownfields Cleanup Program. Through these awards, brownfields – or sites where redevelopment is hindered by the presence of hazardous contaminants – are targeted for assessment, remediation, and reuse. Congressman Paul E. Kanjorski was instrumental in having abandoned minelands included in the Brownfields program. Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection has been another key partner. Growing Greener, started by Governor Tom Ridge, and Growing Greener II, launched by Governor Ed Rendell, both have financed reclamation work. Additional support has come through the Energy Harvest Program and the Illegal Dump Cleanup Program.
New Uses for Old Culm
On some projects, part of the reclamation process includes re-mining coal spoils, or culm. Previously, the black piles of waste were unusable; no existing plant could generate enough heat to burn the residual coal. However, advancements in processing have made the high temperatures possible, making the culm valuable. Such an opportunity is an asset to any reclamation project, as the sale of the culm to cogeneration plants provides revenue that can be reinvested in restoration work.
Earth Conservancy has partnered with regional cogeneration facilities for some of its projects, to the benefit of both parties: culm is removed from the site, revenue is generated, and eventually, electricity results. Such collaborations have resulted in the removal of over 2 million tons mine spoils from EC sites, and has yielded approximately 850,000 tons of usable material to generate electricity.


Last summer, a lawsuit brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) alleging Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) violations against two individuals related to Noble Corporation, a global oil and gas drilling services company, nearly went to trial in federal court in Texas. SEC v. Jackson and Ruehlen, No. 12-cv-563 (S.D. Tex.). (Note: The authors represented Mr. Jackson in this case. The views expressed herein are theirs alone.) As one of the only civil FCPA cases to proceed to that stage of litigation, the case provided unique insights into the SEC’s interpretation of key provisions of the FCPA. The case ultimately settled on very favorable terms for the individuals, but the SEC’s position on the facilitating payments exception to the FCPA was a notable departure from its own stated guidance and may herald a renewed attempt by the SEC to further narrow the exception to the point of irrelevance.
Click here to read the full article, which appeared in
Business Crimes Bulletin in February 2015.


Due to the popularity of sports drinks during big sports events, the FIFA World Cup in Brazil in 2014 drove opportunities for innovation in marketing campaigns and new product development. For instance, Coca-Cola, one of the official sponsors of the event, adopted a global strategy to build brand awareness and local identities. In one campaign, the company communicated the stories of overcoming adversity, featuring the famous Spanish footballer Andrés Iniesta, among others.
Euromonitor International's Sports Drinks in Brazil report offers a comprehensive guide to the size and shape of the market at a national level. It provides the latest retail sales data (2010-2014), allowing you to identify the sectors driving growth. It identifies the leading companies, the leading brands and offers strategic analysis of key factors influencing the market – be they legislative, distribution, packaging or pricing issues. Forecasts to 2019 illustrate how the market is set to change.
Data coverage: market sizes (historic and forecasts), company shares, brand shares and distribution data.
Why buy this report?
Get a detailed picture of the Sports Drinks market;
Pinpoint growth sectors and identify factors driving change;
Understand the competitive environment, the market’s major players and leading brands;
Use five-year forecasts to assess how the market is predicted to develop.
Euromonitor International has over 40 years' experience of publishing market research reports, business reference books and online information systems. With offices in London, Chicago, Singapore, Shanghai, Vilnius, Dubai, Cape Town, Santiago, Sydney, Tokyo and Bangalore and a network of over 800 analysts worldwide, Euromonitor International has a unique capability to develop reliable information resources to help drive informed strategic planning.


It may not be long before you see this message on your cell phone: "Getting in accident. Txt u ltr?" That's because texting while driving is on the riseand leading to more crashes. This phenomenon grabbed headlines last September when the conductor of a California train missed a signal and ran head-on into an oncoming freight train, killing 25 people. It was later revealed that the conductor was sending text messages just seconds before, a fact that investigators concluded led to the deadly collision. And in June 2007, five girls died when their vehicle collided with a tractor-trailer in Rochester, New York; police discovered that the driver's phone was being used for text messaging just before the crash.
According to a report from the London-based RAC Foundation, driving while texting is more dangerous than driving under the influence of alcohol or marijuana. In a test of drivers between the ages of 17 and 24, those who had consumed alcohol to the legal limit0.08 for most U.S. statessaw a 12 percent reduction in reaction time, compared with 21 percent for marijuana. Texting, however, led to a 35 percent reduction for those who composed or read text messages while driving.
In response, at least 16 states, including California, Washington, Alaska, Louisiana, and Minnesota, are proposing or have already enacted bans on texting while driving.
"Certainly, texting is the issue du jour this year in the legislatures," says Matt Sundeen of the National Conference of State Legislatures in a recent interview with U.S. News & World Report.
The legislatures, it turns out, are right to be concerned. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that four out of five car crashes are due to distracted drivers. And with 47 percent of drivers between the ages of 18 and 24 admitting to texting while driving (according to a recent survey by legal Web site Findlaw.com), legal repercussions may be the only way to prevent an "OMG!" moment.


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Since its inception, search has been taken for granted. How spoiled we have become, forgetting what it’s like to use an encyclopedia or to journey to the local library for the answers we seek. Instead, we depend on search engines to answer our every question and query. By no accident, search has evolved to listen. As consumers, we demand personalized answers at the speed of light. Saying the words, “Okay Google...” has enabled us to engage in conversations with our mobile devices about the best places to go and how to get there. Helping brands navigate this shift in behaviour is where I come in. Search is often a key primary step in the customer journey on the path to purchase. I help clients navigate today's ever-changing search experience, ensuring their digital content aligns with the search intent of their customers.


Yes. Unlike during pregnancy, when there is a higher risk of bacteria or parasites in sushi harming your fetus, there is little to no risk during breastfeeding. Eating sushi from reputable restaurants is considered safe for mom and baby. Whether cooked or raw, however, it is best to limit your intake of large, fatty fish such as tuna, due to their potentially higher mercury content.


Digital media provides an inventory of powerful learning tools for technology, science and mathematics education in the primary school. Opportunities are provided for recording, designing, creating, experimenting, calculating and expressing using information and communication technology (ICT) to enhance learning. This paper describes how digital media is being used with the


With the SAS 70 phasing out on 6/15, financial institutions have a dual challenge; determining the best report to request, and evaluating the report they are provided. To assist with this challenge, I’ve created two documents.
The first, or Step 1, is a SOC Selection Flowchart, which is available here. This will assist in determining the most relevant report to request from your service provider. Once you register your email address, I’ll automatically send the second (Step 2) document, the SOC Evaluation Flowchart. Step 2 is still under development, as the AICPA has not yet completed the audits guides for the SOC 2 or SOC 3.
You will also have the opportunity to opt in (or opt out) of receiving notice of future regulatory compliance resources, like webinars, white papers, etc. I hope you find the flowcharts and other resources useful.


AndroGel AndroGel is a prescription steroid used for treating low testosterone levels in men. This medication contains testosterone in a special gel that is applied to the skin just once a day. Over a 24-hour period, AndroGel can increase testosterone levels back to normal. Although most people tolerate the medication well, side effects are possible and may include acne, prostate problems, and breast development. What Is AndroGel?AndroGel ®(testosterone gel) is a prescription medication approved to treat low testosterone levels in men due to various causes.
AndroGel is an anabolic steroid and is classified as a Schedule III controlled substance in the United States. This means that special laws and regulations control its sale and use.
How Does AndroGel Work?AndroGel contains the hormone testosterone in a special gel that is applied to the skin just once a day. The gel dries on the skin, and testosterone is absorbed into the bloodstream throughout a 24-hour period. AndroGel helps increase testosterone to a normal level.
AndroGel is used as a gel (not taken by mouth) because it would have little effect on testosterone levels if taken by mouth. When medications are taken by mouth, they must first pass through the liver before they reach the bloodstream. The liver metabolizes testosterone extensively before it has a chance to reach the bloodstream, and significant blood levels of the medication cannot be achieved.
However, when testosterone is applied to the skin, it bypasses the liver, allowing significant amounts of the hormone to reach the bloodstream.


The CHAIR then introduced Agenda Item 2, Changing consumption patterns (Agenda 21, Chapter 4). He outlined six areas elaborated by the CSD at its second and third sessions. These are: greater efficiency in the consumption of energy and resources; minimizing waste volume; assisting individuals and households to make environmentally-sound purchases; influencing the procurement policies of governments; pricing to develop incentives and disincentives; and reinforcing values of sustainable development.
The Task Manager, Kenneth Ruffing (DPCSD), introduced the report of the Secretary-General on Agenda Item 2 (E/CN.17/1996/5 and Add.1). The report contains analysis and policy recommendations in five sections: identifying trends and projections in consumption and production patterns; assessing the impact on developing countries of changes in consumption and production in developed countries; evaluating policy measures; reviewing voluntary commitments to achieve sustainable development; and revised UN guidelines for consumer protection. The Chair then invited general comments on the Secretary- General's report.
The REPUBLIC of KOREA reported on the Workshop on Policy Measures for Changing Consumption Patterns, which was held from 30 August to 1 September 1995 in Seoul. The meeting was co-sponsored by the Republic of Korea, Australia, the UN DPCSD, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the UN Development Programme (UNDP). The workshop discussed four main topics: sustainable consumption; policy options and instruments; case studies of their application in end-use energy consumption, waste management, water resource consumption and urban/land-use planning; and shared responsibility toward sustainability.
ITALY, on behalf of the EU, noted the Rio commitment that developed countries should take the lead on sustainable consumption and production issues, but stated that rapid population and economic growth in several large developing economies are changing their relative impact on the global environment. He called delegates' attention to a number of issues, including: the catalyzing role environmental legislation and consumer demand for more environmentally friendly products and services is playing in the development of new products and technologies; the necessity to assess the impacts on developing countries of changes in production and consumption patterns in developed countries; the positive step represented by the OECD initiative of "greening governments" and of incorporating environmental considerations into decision-making processes; and the importance of ensuring that trade, environment and development policies are mutually supportive.
NORWAY stated that the demand side is where the most gains can be made and suggested that the CSD concentrate on what can be done at the global level, such as cooperation on policy instruments. The Norwegian Government is supporting a dialogue on this issue on the internet, which can be found at <<http://www.iisd.ca/consume/>>. He noted that developed countries have taken the lead, and suggested welcoming developing countries into projects on these issues.
COLOMBIA stated that any change in the consumption and production patterns of industrialized countries must not have an adverse impact on the prospects for developing countries. He called for trade and technology transfer to be connected to any change in production and consumption patterns. Regarding the inferred recommendation from the Secretary-General's report that greater attention must be given to consumer decisions, he stressed producer decisions over consumer decisions. He called for the involvement of exporters, especially in developing countries, in decisions on worldwide standards of production and consumption.
AUSTRALIA suggested a focus on sustainable consumption patterns. She welcomed the Secretariat initiative to analyze global trends and develop a model, and supported a simple clearinghouse. The US supported a CSD multi-year study, and suggested that it focus on: the creation of sustainable development indicators; eco-efficiency and the internalization of externalities; and enhanced public awareness regarding the need for more sustainable patterns. He supported continued work on the demand side, and stressed voluntary programmes.
The OECD noted findings from a recent workshop, held in Norway, on the subject of clarifying the concepts involved with production and consumption. Findings included: eco-efficiency is a promising tool in an overall strategy to address consumption and production patterns; the value of eco-efficiency strategies can be enhanced by setting targets; and more needs to be done to clarify the linkages between OECD and non-OECD countries.
CHINA stated the CSD should continue to study consumption patterns and raise public awareness. He supported COLOMBIA and stated that: developed countries should take the lead on the economic and social consequences of their policies; policy proposals should not be mandatory; and guidelines for consumer protection should be discussed. The UK: described a set of environmental indicators to monitor the environmental impact of economic activity; endorsed the role of economic instruments in changing production and consumption behavior; and called for Governments to internalize environmental externalities in line with Principle 16 of the Rio Declaration.
MEXICO stated that poverty eradication and reducing disparities in living standards are essential for sustainable development. He noted that it is more important to consider the "development trajectory" of developed, rather than developing, countries, and highlighted the environmental, social and economic aspects of this issue. He cautioned against the economic effect of applying inappropriate environmental standards to the exports of developing countries, and noted that UN guidelines should be developed in a balanced manner, taking into account both producers and consumers.
MALAYSIA raised the principle of common but differentiated responsibility. While acknowledging that the demand for resources will increase as countries develop, he noted that all countries have the "universal right to develop." While developed countries have an obligation to change unsustainable patterns, they must also assist developing countries through financial and technical means. Lastly, he stated that economic instruments must be approached cautiously, transparently, and with the needs of developing countries in mind.
INDIA stated that: the paragraph on demand-side modification of consumption patterns should reference studies of the impact of media and advertising; the paragraph on increased efficiency in the use of energy and materials should address technology transfer; the paragraph on waste generation must adopt stronger measures than voluntary ones; eco-labelling must be voluntary; and the paragraph on the demand-side approach was downplayed relative to CSD-3 recommendations.
JAPAN stated that changing consumption and production patterns must target consumers as well as producers. He highlighted the long-term objectives of his government's basic environmental plan. He called attention to guidelines for environmentally-sustainable procurement, and emphasized the importance of consumption patterns in the service sector. The REPUBLIC of KOREA stressed the importance of technical assistance and transfer for capacity building.
The CHAIR then opened the floor for specific comments on each section of the Secretary-General's report. The EU noted that its opening comments addressed specific aspects of the report. In reference to a paragraph that notes that sustainable development will depend on the development trajectory followed by developing countries whose current consumption levels are relatively low, MOROCCO cautioned that the text confused levels of consumption and methods of consumption.
A. Identifying the policy implications of trends and projections in consumption
and production patterns: BENIN noted that the report does not refer to the
contribution that the private sector could make in changing patterns of consumption and
production, and noted a role for transnational corporations. In a paragraph identifying the
need for research and investment in clean, efficient technologies and efforts to
disseminate these technologies, and an accompanying reference to a report of the
Secretary-General on Chapter 34 of Agenda 21 (technology transfer), he stated that
Chapter 4 should be considered in connection with all of Agenda 21. BRAZIL noted the
importance of the economic viability of these clean technologies and stressed the need for
access to them. MEXICO questioned the references to "demographics" and "wealth" as
some of the driving forces of production and consumption levels. MALAYSIA also
questioned inclusion of "demographics." CANADA suggested "demographic dynamics,"
the phrase used in Agenda 21.
In a paragraph regarding the levels and characteristics of production and consumption, BENIN noted that the reference to identifying socio-cultural changes that could lead to more sustainable patterns is a delicate issue, and stated that changes in socio-cultural customs should not be imposed from outside.
INDONESIA suggested that the CSD consider consumption patterns against the background of poverty alleviation. He also noted the roles that governments, businesses and NGOs play in these issues.
CANADA added a reference to pollution "prevention" in a paragraph that noted the great scope for reducing pollution. The FOSSIL FUELS RESEARCH INSTITUTE, on behalf of the Energy Caucus, and supported by BRAZIL, noted that efforts to bring goods to the consumer are not addressed in the report. He specifically noted environmental disasters associated with oil transport. The REPUBLIC of KOREA supported the Secretariat's efforts to develop a modeling framework, but stressed that the work should be balanced.
B. Assessing the impact on developing countries, especially the least developed
countries and small island developing States, of changes in consumption and
production in developed countries:
BENIN noted that transnational corporations do not apply the same standards in developing as in developed countries, and he encouraged application of the same standards. He also suggested a reference to the impacts of large-scale, as opposed to artisanal-scale, production. He noted that the reference to eco-labeling only dealt with certain materials, and he called for a balanced treatment of the issue.
CANADA noted the importance of greening the government, and offered to share its manual on the subject. MEXICO suggested that the paragraph referencing activities to implement policies to reduce waste in developed countries should also note such activity in developing countries. He suggested a reference to the need for suitable markets for eco-labeled products in the paragraph regarding eco-labeling. The UK noted that eco-labeling can help create new markets. INDONESIA stated that eco-labeling schemes introduce potential trade barriers.
C. Evaluating the effectiveness of policy measures intended to change
consumption and production patterns: SWEDEN noted three instruments to
change consumption patterns: government procurement; regulatory means; and economic
means, such as taxes. The REPUBLIC of KOREA noted that eco-labeling schemes have a
discriminatory trade effect. GERMANY stressed education to change patterns of
consumption and welcomed the work of NGOs in this regard.
BENIN suggested that the advertising industry and the media should not just sell products but also promote the environmental importance of changed patterns of consumption. In reference to a paragraph noting a UNESCO Workshop on Education and Public Awareness for Sustainable Development that called on the CSD to reach households with information on sustainable consumption, BENIN suggested also transmitting information to producers.
BRAZIL called for measures to encourage governments to stimulate eco-friendly publicity.
D. Progress made in implementing voluntary commitments to achieving
sustainable development goals that have an especially high priority at the national
level: Much of the discussion on this section focused on a paragraph calling for
subsidy removal and internalization of environmental costs. BENIN noted that the issue is
delicate and that each government should be allowed to decide how to act. SENEGAL
stated that some subsidies are desirable, such as a Senegalese programme to combat
desertification by replacing wood fuel with gas. The UK called delegates' attention to an
expert meeting in Manila, which recognized that the impact of subsidy removal should
be addressed. The NETHERLANDS suggested a reference to removal of
"environmentally damaging subsidies." The OECD noted it is currently analyzing the
costs and benefits of subsidy removal and reform. The NETHERLANDS COMMITTEE
FOR IUCN stressed the importance of addressing distributional aspects of removal, such
as disproportionate effects on the poor.
MOROCCO suggested a recommendation for the promotion of new and renewable energy resources.
E. Revision of the UN guidelines for consumer protection: BENIN
suggested preparing guidelines for producers as well, so that their goods do not harm
consumers or the environment. MEXICO suggested a reference to the informal sector and
noted the importance of funding from international organizations to promote eco-efficiency.
The INTERNATIONAL CHAMBER of COMMERCE (ICC) noted that it has played a key role in developing ethical business standards, including the present UN guidelines for consumer protection, and that it is working on a code for environmental advertising, including eco-labeling schemes such as timber certification. He emphasized that guidelines must be worked out with business, since compliance may involve costs, and called for the participation of the ICC at the earliest possible stage.
MOROCCO stated that it is "surrealistic" to talk about principles of consumer protection and environmental behavior when discussing citizens who earn less than one dollar a day. Such standards are only relevant above a certain income threshold, and this should be reflected in the paragraph on influencing environmental behavior.
[Return to start of article]


Until recently, discussions on contract variations between contractors and authorities have invariably led to the parallel procurement universe of
Pressetext and the case-law of the Court of Justice of the European Union. From 26 February this year, practitioners and their clients in England, Wales and Northern Ireland can now turn to Regulation 72 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 ( PCR 2015). While it doesn’t necessarily make the discussion any easier, the new provisions do at least provide a much better framework for those discussions and the associated procurement risks.
A related new provision in Regulation 73 of the PCR 2015 provides authorities with an implied right to terminate contracts inter alia where the contract has been subject to a substantial modification that would have required a new procurement procedure.
Here we provide a brief summary of the relevant provisions and some practical considerations both for authorities and for contractors.
Variations
Regulation 72 sets out six situations where modifications can be made to a public contract without triggering a requirement for a new procurement procedure:
Clear, precise and unequivocal review clauses: Where the change, irrespective of its monetary value, has been provided for ‘in the initial procurement documents in clear, precise and unequivocal review clauses’; but provided that they (i) state the scope and nature of the possible changes or options as well as the conditions under which they may be used and (ii) do not permit changes that would alter the overall nature of the contract. The requirement is not for the review clause to be in the actual contract. It must be in the ‘initial procurement documents’, a term not defined but which presumably means the tender documents issued to bidders as part of the original procurement process. Additional works, services or supplies: Where these ‘have become necessary’ and were not included in the initial procurement and where a change of contractor (i) cannot be made for economic or technical reasons such as requirements of interchangeability or interoperability with existing equipment, services or installations and (ii) would cause significant inconvenience or substantial duplication of costs. However, any increase in price must not exceed 50% of the original contract value and the authority relying on this ground must publish a modification notice in the OJEU; Unforeseen circumstances: Where the need for the change (i) ‘has been brought about by circumstances which a diligent contracting authority could not have foreseen’, (ii) the change does not alter the overall nature of the contract and (iii) any increase in price does not exceed 50% of the original contract value. Again, to rely on this ground, the authority must publish a modification notice in the OJEU; New contractor: Where a new contractor replaces the one that was initially awarded the contract, but only where as a consequence of (i) an ‘unequivocal review clause or option’ meeting the requirements of 1 above or (ii) universal or partial succession into the position of the initial contractor (including corporate restructuring, merger or acquisition or insolvency) provided that the new contractor meets the original pre-qualification criteria and the appointment does not result in other substantial changes to the contract and is not aimed at circumventing the procurement rules; New: Where the change, irrespective of its value, is not ‘substantial’ in terms of one or more of (i) the contract being materially different in character from the one initially concluded (ii) the change introducing conditions which, if they had been included in the original procurement, would have allowed admission of other candidates or the acceptance of another tender or attracted additional participants in the procedure, (iii) the change impacting the economic balance of the contract in favour of the contractor in a way that was not provided for in the contract, (iv) the change considerably extends the scope of the contract or (v) a new contractor replaces the contractor originally awarded the contract in circumstances not permissible under 4 above; or Pressetext De minimis thresholds: Where the change does not exceed both of the following two thresholds (i) the relevant works, services or supplies threshold and (ii) either 15% of the original contract value for works contracts or 10% of the original contract value for service or supply contracts; but provided always that the change does not ‘alter the overall nature of the contract’. However, unlike changes made relying on 2 or 3 above, these thresholds must be applied cumulatively to successive modifications. Terminations
Regulation 73 provides that authorities must ensure every public contract they award contains provisions enabling the authority to terminate the contract where:
the contract has been subject to a ‘substantial modification’ (i.e. a modification not permitted by Regulation 72); where post-award it is discovered the contractor should have been excluded from the procurement process on certain mandatory exclusion grounds (including bribery or corruption offences); or the Court of Justice of the European Union has declared the contract was awarded in ‘serious infringement’ of the authority’s obligations under EU law and Directive 2014/24/EU in infringement proceedings brought by the European Commission against the Member State concerned under Article 258 TFEU.
If the authority fails to insert such a provision into the contract, Regulation 73(3) provides authorities with an implied right to terminate contracts on those grounds (and on giving ‘reasonable notice to the contractor’). To the extent express provisions are not included in the original contract, contractors need to be aware of the potential risks of this implied term.
Practical considerations
While the PCR 2015 implement the new Public Sector Directive (2014/24/EU) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, similar provisions will apply in Scotland when the Public Sector Directive is implemented by the Scottish Government later this year. Similar provisions will also apply to utilities and concessions procurements when the new Utilities Directive (Directive 2014/25/EU) and the new Concessions Directive (2014/23/EU) are implemented later this year.
The recent
Winchester and Edenred cases highlight the importance of disputes around contract variations. These new provisions at least provide a much better framework for discussions on contract variations. They will apply to any modifications to existing public contracts being made by authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland after 26 February this year (i.e. the relevant date is the date on which the modification is agreed, not the date of the original contract). The requirement on authorities to include termination provisions will apply to any new contracts awarded after 26 February. However, the UK Cabinet Office’s has issued guidance in March taking the view that an implied term will nevertheless apply to all existing all contracts, which may be a concern for contractors.


The glycemic index, abbreviated GI, is a great tool to evaluate the quality of carbohydrate-containing foods. Foods with a low GI result in more even blood sugar levels after eating, while foods with a higher GI cause larger fluctuations in your blood sugar levels. Low GI foods are associated with a healthier body weight, a reduced risk of developing heart disease and improved physical performance. A value of 55 and under is considered low, between 56 and 69 is medium and 70 and above is high.
Low GI Fruits
Many fruits have a low GI value, which makes them good choices for keeping your blood sugar levels under control and maintaining optimal health. For example, cherries, apples, pears, peaches, grapefruit, plums, grapes, kiwifruits, oranges, strawberries and prunes all have a GI below 55, which makes them good options for a low glycemic index diet.
Medium GI Fruits
Mangoes, bananas, raisins, papaya, figs and pineapple have a medium GI value, which ranges between 56 and 69. Although these fruits do not produce a sharp rise in your blood sugar levels like a high GI food would, their influence over your blood sugar levels is significantly higher compared to low GI fruits.
High GI Fruits
Watermelon has a GI of 80 and dates have a GI of 103, making them high GI fruits. Eating these fruits, especially in large quantities, can cause your blood sugar levels to rise quickly. High GI foods should be consumed in moderation only.
Low GI Vegetables
Most vegetables have a low GI, with only a few exceptions. If you are aiming to lower your dietary GI, you can include an abundance of vegetables such as carrots, eggplants, tomatoes, onions, mushrooms, broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, green beans, bell peppers, summer squash and cabbage. These vegetables will help you keep your blood sugar levels more stable.
Medium GI Vegetables
Beetroot is one of the only vegetables with a medium GI value of 64. It can be part of a healthy and balanced low glycemic index diet if eaten in moderation.
High GI Vegetables
Pumpkins and parsnips have a high GI, which is above 70. All potatoes, whether they are baked, mashed or fried, also have a high GI value. Eating high GI vegetables can result in a sharp increase in your blood sugar levels.


Medicaid-only long-term care residents driving up state expenditures, report finds
Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA)
Among people eligible for Medicaid but not Medicare, long-term care residents are most likely to be among the costliest beneficiaries for a state, according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office.
Investigators based their analysis on fiscal year 2009 government data, such as from the Medicaid Statistical Information System. Beneficiaries whose total Medicaid charges were within the top 5% of the state's total expenditures were defined as the “high-expenditure” group.
Residents of long-term care facilities had a 24% probability of being in the high-expenditure group, the analysts found. Those with HIV/AIDS had the second-highest probability (20.8%), followed by those with disabilities.
Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) requested the report, noting that much research has focused on those eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare, but has largely overlooked the Medicaid-only group. The GAO findings are meant to guide policymakers' efforts to manage spending, the report states. However, it does recommend specific changes.
The high-expenditure group represented 4.3% of total Medicaid beneficiaries nationally, but accounted for 31.6% of state Medicaid spending in 2009, according to the report. Dual eligibles were a costlier group, accounting for 35.2% of spending.
The remaining third of Medicaid dollars went toward the beneficiaries who were not in the high-expenditure or dual-eligible groups — and this cohort accounts for the majority (81%) of those enrolled in Medicaid, the report notes.
However, spending per high-expenditure beneficiary varies greatly between states, the GAO found. New York and Alaska had per-capita expenditures of $55,000 or more, while 16 states had per-capita expenditures of less than $35,000.
Click here to access the complete report, released Wednesday.


The Mathematics department follows the Curriculum and Standards for School Mathematics of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and the Frameworks of the State of South Carolina for Mathematics Education. These standards contain an instructional plan for curriculum and evaluation for students. They specifically address what students need to know, how students are to achieve these goals, and what teachers are to do to help students develop their mathematical knowledge. The standards are articulated for evaluating both student performance and curricular programs, with an emphasis on the role of evaluative measures in gathering information upon which teachers can base subsequent instruction. These standards also acknowledge the value of gathering information about student growth and achievement purposes.


This document aims to compare ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 9001:2000 to highlight changes.
The ISO 9001:2008 has been published and the standard is available through The American Society for Quality website at http://www.asq.org/. ISO 9001:2008 does not introduce any additional requirements beyond the current ISO 9001:2000. Although certification is not compulsory, it is estimated that over one million ISO 9001 certificates have been issued to organizations in private and public sectors, in manufacturing and services, and in 170 countries.
The new edition, however, will not require any specific reassessment for certification. ISO 9001:2008 will be the fourth edition of the standard which was first published in 1987. The third edition, published in 2000, represented a thorough revision, including new requirements and a sharpened customer focus, reflecting developments in quality management and experience gained since the publication of the initial version. Compared to the current 2000 edition, ISO 9001:2008 represents fine-tuning.
It introduces clarifications to the requirements in ISO 9001:2000, based on user experience over the last eight years, and changes that are intended to improve further compatibility with the ISO 14001:2004 environmental standard.
To accompany the publication of this new edition, ISO is working on implementation guidance for ISO 9001:2008, a reference table comparing and contrasting ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 9001:2008, and answers to Frequently Asked Questions.
Quality Guru Asks : What do you think of the value of this revision and will it improve your organizational effectiveness?


Elgar original reference Edited by Laura Anna Costanzo and Robert Bradley MacKay Extract
28 Dynamic knowledge creation Taman H. Powell and Howard Thomas Introduction In the dynamic environments faced by many of today’s ﬁrms, market positioning can become rapidly obsolete due to new innovations, process improvements and hypercompetitive environments. To successfully compete in these markets, it is argued that ﬁrms need to continually create new sources of competitive advantage – but how? Much research in the ﬁeld has focused on competitive strategy and competitive advantage (Porter, 1980, 1985; McGee and Thomas, 1986) and at the ﬁrm level on the characteristics of resources that are of importance to achieve sustainable rents (Barney, 1991; Peteraf, 1993), or how to determine what resources will be crucial to compete in the future (Hamel and Prahalad, 1994). However, this research focuses on the knowledge creation process itself and links the knowledge-based view of the ﬁrm to the literatures on the resource-based view and competitive strategy. It illustrates the theoretical arguments with examples from the consulting industry. By focusing on facilitating the knowledge creation process, rather than fortifying current resources, or predicting future strategic resources, this chapter also adopts a somewhat evolutionary approach (Nelson and Winter, 1982) to the development of a knowledge-based view of the ﬁrm. If strategy is deﬁned as occupying a unique strategic position, or a ‘viable who–what– how combination’ (Markides, 1999, p. 58), dynamic strategy in ﬁrms involves both competing in a current position and also: [searching] continuously for new strategic positions. After identifying another viable strategic position in its industry, the company then...
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Even as U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff General Mark Welsh III was visiting China, the Chinese military, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), was conducting “Mission Action-2013 C,” the final part of a series of large-scale exercises involving the PLA Air Force, the PLA Navy Air Force, and ground force units.
According to Chinese press reports, these exercises will include simulated air combat operations, joint air defense, and cross-military region deployments of forces.
This latest series of exercises continues a trend of the past several years marking the growing importance of joint operations in the Chinese conception of military preparations. Where the PLA used to be much more focused on individual service operations, more recent exercises have involved forces drawn from various services. It is also noteworthy that Chinese space forces have been part of “Mission Action-2013 C,” with the Chinese Beidou navigation satellite constellation specifically mentioned.
Chinese military exercises have become steadily more sophisticated. Chinese military writings have emphasized the need for more realistic training activities incorporating all the aspects of “local wars under informationized conditions,” as the Chinese military conceives of future wars. The elevation of General Fan Changlong to one of the vice chairman slots on the Chinese Central Military Commission (CMC) may also reflect this growing importance.
General Fan’s promotion marks an unprecedented two-grade promotion to the CMC, which oversees the entire PLA. In his previous position, General Fan had been head of the Jinan Military Region, which staged several large-scale joint exercises. It is possible that his elevation to the top Chinese military leadership will mark the incorporation of lessons learned from his tenure in Jinan to PLA-wide training activities.
It is not clear whether the PLA invited the United States or other Asian nations to send observers to these exercises.


And often we need to do things we're not that passionate about. You may, for example have chosen to be an accountant even though you'd rather be a singer. But to be even a reasonable successful person, in any field, requires drive.
Some people are fortunate to be intrinsically driven. They do everything with vigor. But if you're not, often these can help:
1. Break it down to baby steps, perhaps giving yourself a reward after each baby step. That's old news but it works, perhaps more often than anything else.
2. Be accountable to someone else: Tell people your goal (e.g., lose 20 pounds, get a job within three months, whatever.) Perhaps have daily check-ins. Or try a dramatic solution: Hire someone for a day or two to monitor you and keep you on-task, for example, in job searching. That may get you into the rhythm. Yes, it may cost you $100 or $200, but you've spent that much on an evening out. This will yield you far more benefit and even pleasure.


The subject of Christian church music has sparked controversy for centuries. In thisdissertation I highlight the most recent discussion about the ‘worship war’ debate, namelythe infiltration of contemporary popular music into what once was considered a sacredarena. I explore some of the shortcomings of Contemporary Church Music with theintention of answering two questions: Is there a style of music that is most appropriate forChristian worship and that best represents Christian identity? and, How can South AfricanChristians express their own unique cultural identity in their Church Music? I seek proof ofthe link between musical choices and demographics in three Evangelical churches inJohannesburg via insights gained in a worship questionnaire and series of interviews. Iconclude that music has the ability to construct both identity and a sense of place and thatContemporary Church Music (CChM) is distinct from contemporary secular music in twoways: its purpose and the identity of the musicians and congregants who participate in itsperformance. Addressing the latter, I explore a demographics model and conclude thatevery congregation boasts a unique identity which is affected by music, church history andcultural upbringing. I argue that Indigenous Worship is critical in answering both questions
Description:
MMus thesis, School of Music, Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand, 2009


Nuclear Technology / Volume 178 / Number 2 / May 2012 / Pages 153-163
Technical Paper / Small Modular Reactors / Thermal Hydraulics
The extreme events that led to the prolonged electrical power outage and finally to sever damage of four units of the Fukushima nuclear plant have highlighted the importance of ensuring a technical means for stable, long-term cooling of the nuclear fuel and the containment following a complete station blackout. This paper presents an overview of the advanced passive safety systems designed for the NuScale nuclear power plant and their role in addressing extreme events. The NuScale plant may include up to 12 power modules, and each module incorporates a reactor pressure vessel (core, steam generator, and pressurizer) and a containment vessel that surrounds the reactor vessel. During normal operation, each containment vessel is fully immersed in a water-filled, stainless steel-lined concrete pool that resides underground. The pool, housed in a Seismic Category I building, is large enough to provide 30 days of core and containment cooling without adding water. After 30 days, the core decay heat generation is so small that the natural convection heat transfer to air at the outside surface of the containment, coupled with thermal radiation heat transfer, are completely sufficient to remove the core decay heat for an unlimited period. These passive safety systems can perform their function without requiring an external supply of water or electric power. Computational and experimental assessments of the NuScale passive safety systems are being performed at several institutions, including the one-third scale NuScale integral system test facility at Oregon State University.


US-based not-for-profit Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) has unveiled a free initiative designed to encourage transparency of security practices within Cloud providers.
To be known as the CSA Security, Trust and Assurance Registry (STAR), it will be a publicly accessible registry documenting the security controls provided by various cloud computing offerings.
The initiative, expected to go live in Q4 this year, aims to enable CIOs to more effectively assess the security practices of providers they currently use or are considering contracting with, thereby accelerating the due diligence process and leading to higher quality procurement experiences.
CSA STAR is open to all Cloud providers and allows them to submit self-assessment reports that document compliance with CSA-published best practices. According to CSA, the increased transparency will encourage Cloud providers to make security capabilities a key market differentiator.


Social and environmental due diligence is a critical part of the mission for many companies. Until recently, Root Capital perceived it as an additional cost that might reduce profitability or their ability to compete with other lenders. Their experience has taught them to think about it as a competitive advantage that at least partially pays for itself, and may even bolster the bottom line.


Christians are Followers of Jesus, and have been born again. They pattern their lives after Jesus, are filled with God's Holy Spirit, and will spend Eternity in Heaven.
The first Followers of Jesus were the twelve Disciples, handpicked by Jesus when He began His ministry on earth.
The Twelve Disciples:
"He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him," (John 1:10-11).
It is sad that Israel was the only nation expecting the Messiah, (Jesus), and yet rejected Him when He arrived: To be a Follower of Christ, One Must:
Those who follow the Christian Faith are to pattern their lives after Jesus. They are to be baptized, and then love, serve and take the Gospel to the world. They must trust in God's promises, and prayerfully abide in Jesus.
Jesus Forewarns His followers:
According to Jesus, His followers may face rejection and persecution for their faith in Him. If so, they are not to be discouraged.
"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.
That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also" (John 16:18-21).
Persecution During Jesus Time:
During Jesus life, the world showed its opposition in the form of harsh words, hostile plots, and violent torture. Many of the early Christians experienced rejection, exclusion, ridicule and even death.
Persecution Today:
We must not make the mistake of thinking the hatred of the world toward the Followers of Christ has disappeared. Today there are Christians imprisoned in over 40 countries for practicing their Faith.
In America, Christians are often ridiculed and rejected. An example, in the movies it is not uncommon to see well-dressed cowboys riding fine horses, along side a poorly dressed preacher portrayed as an inept bungler, riding a mule or donkey.
In truth, our early preachers were intelligent, often well-educated, robust individuals who loved the Lord, and were fearless in their pursuit of spreading the Gospel.
The Holy Spirit;
The good news is that God did not abandon the Followers of Jesus to struggle on their own. The Child of God, living according to God's plan and guidance, can have the most fulfilling life there is.
After Jesus' death and resurrection, He sent the Holy Spirit to indwell, comfort and counsel each of His followers. The Holy Spirit brought them peace, joy and hope, and enabled them to be strong and faithful, despite the world's hostility.
"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever - the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him or knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you," (John 14:16-17).
Hope and Joy for the Followers of Christ;
Paul said, "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what unseen is eternal, (2 Cor 4:16-18).
Paul encouraged the Followers of Jesus to not lose heart or give up on their eternal reward. This world is not all there is; f you are a Christian, you are a Child of God, and will inherit eternal life!
Christians can confidently look beyond this brief life with the promise that because Jesus shed His blood on the cross we will spend a glorious eternity with Him, in a place where there is unspeakable joy, no suffering, and no tears.
Samuel L. Mills
Samuel L. Mills


Affordable housing is becoming a theme heard all around the world now.
This week the International Housing Association (IHA) issued a call for advancing housing affordability during its 2015 Interim Meeting this week in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The group aims to provide access to safe and decent housing to the broadest population possible. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) serves as the Secretariat of IHA.
IHA defines "housing affordability" as the availability of housing which is reasonably adequate in standard and location for lower or middle income households and does not cost so much that a household is unlikely to be able to meet other basic needs on a sustainable basis.
The group will pursue the following actions to help advance housing affordability across the world:
Identify and share common challenges each of our organizations confronts in meeting our individual country's housing needs.
Commit to sharing successful strategies implemented to address the above noted challenges shared.
Exchange knowledge and best practices regarding tools and techniques designed to address the development of housing affordability - prior to construction, during the construction phase and over the life of the structure.
Address practices which directly and negatively impact housing affordability such as government imposed fees and taxes, and land use restrictions.
Work individually to mentor and support fellow member organizations as they actively address housing affordability challenges locally.
Use existing industry organizations, associations or interest groups, to further raise international focus on this critical housing need.


ERIC Number:ED346763 Record Type:RIE Publication Date:1991-Apr-3 Pages:23 Abstractor:N/A Reference Count:N/A ISBN:N/A ISSN:N/A
Understanding Ego States: A Prerequisite for Cross-Cultural Training.
Park, Hoon
This paper argues that cross-cultural training aimed at improving cultural sensitivity and awareness is a must for students and management trainees pursuing careers with international businesses and for U.S. companies actively seeking strategic alliances with foreign partners. It further argues that understanding the ego states of the parties involved and using this information as an analytical tool when devising training programs will help businesses succeed and ultimately survive in global competition. The paper examines the different ego states in cross-cultural interaction (child ego, parent ego, and adult ego); and the patterns of cross-cultural interaction as they would be experienced in persons meeting with the following ego states: child-to-child; parent-to-parent; adult-to-adult; parent-to-child; adult-to-parent; or adult-to-child. It is noted that cultural differences alone do not necessarily cause negative experiences in cross-cultural communication, and that it is only when the message sender's ego state is not compatible with that of the receiver that cultural differences between the parties become problematic and start to generate negative experiences and impede effective communication. Contains 18 references. (GLR)
Publication Type:Reports - General; Speeches/Meeting Papers Education Level:N/A Audience:Administrators; Teachers; Practitioners Language:English Sponsor:N/A Authoring Institution:N/A Note:Paper presented at the Annual Eastern Michigan University Conference on Languages and Communication for World Business and the Professions (10th, Ypsilanti, MI, April 3-5, 1991).


Systematic identification of abundant A-to-I editing sites in the human transcriptome. Levanon EY., Eisenberg E., Yelin R., Nemzer S., Hallegger M., Shemesh R., Fligelman ZY., Shoshan A., Pollock SR., Sztybel D., Olshansky M., Rechavi G., Jantsch MF.
RNA editing by members of the ADAR (adenosine deaminases acting on RNA) family leads to site-specific conversion of adenosine to inosine (A-to-I) in precursor messenger RNAs. Editing by ADARs is believed to occur in all metazoa, and is essential for mammalian development. Currently, only a limited number of human ADAR substrates are known, whereas indirect evidence suggests a substantial fraction of all pre-mRNAs being affected. Here we describe a computational search for ADAR editing sites in the human transcriptome, using millions of available expressed sequences. We mapped 12,723 A-to-I editing sites in 1,637 different genes, with an estimated accuracy of 95%, raising the number of known editing sites by two orders of magnitude. We experimentally validated our method by verifying the occurrence of editing in 26 novel substrates. A-to-I editing in humans primarily occurs in noncoding regions of the RNA, typically in Alu repeats. Analysis of the large set of editing sites indicates the role of editing in controlling dsRNA stability.


Engineers at the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore have successfully piloted the world's first ZigBee-based inter-satellite communication system.
The team at the Satellite Research Centre launched the VELOX-I, which consists of a nanosatellite weighing 3.5 kg and a piggyback picosatellite weighing 1.5 kg, from the two highest points on campus. Both miniature satellites were configured with a ZigBee wireless network and equipped with small sensor nodes that perform functions such as local sensing, distributed computing and data-gathering.
Designed to evaluate the performance of wireless sensor networks (WSNs) in space, the experiment marks a breakthrough in aeronautical engineering. After conducting Received Signal Strength Indicator tests on the satellites' radio frequency modules, a maximum range of 1 km was found to be achievable for inter-satellite communication in the campus environment. An even longer communication range can be expected in free space, due to the absence of signal attenuation caused by fading and diffraction.
To estimate the range of inter-satellite communication in free space, the team applied a link budget analysis based on the Friis transmission equation, deriving an average theoretical distance of 4.186 km and a maximum of 15.552 km. Published in the special issue of
Unmanned Systems, these findings present a compelling case for further studies into inter-satellite communication systems with more complex designs.
In addition to their high performance in inter-satellite communication, WSNs are also remarkably suitable for intra-satellite communication. The team found that by replacing internally wired connections with wireless links, a satellite's mass could be reduced by as much as 10%. With the twin pressures of minimising development costs and maximising risk diversification imposing major constraints on satellite design, the production of comprehensive yet lightweight systems could benefit significantly from WSNs.
Although WSNs have been used in a wide range of applications in recent years, their use in space applications has, until now, remained limited. The Singaporean team's data-driven survey has established a sound platform for future formation-flying satellite missions, and seems poised to create subsequent revolutions in space.
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Contact: Jason CJ Lim
cjlim@wspc.com.sg
65-646-65775 x247
World Scientific
Source:Eurekalert
0
GOOD


In an unconventional move, a group of more than sixty pro-abortion organizations have sent letters to both the Democrat and Republican parties, calling on them to endorse abortion in their party platforms.
All Above All, a coalition including the ACLU, Center for Reproductive Rights, Ipas, NARAL, National Abortion Federation, National Organization for Women, Planned Parenthood, and more, calls on both parties to adopt language endorsing
Roe v. Wade, protecting “access” to abortion regardless of “ability to pay” (meaning at taxpayers’ expense) and opposing “any and all” restrictions or regulations of abortion.
The first bill would legislatively codify
Roe and federally eliminate and forbid virtually every state and local pro-life law in the country, including ultrasounds, waiting periods, admitting privileges, ambulatory transfer agreements, and webcam abortion bans. The second would require that all health care or insurance obtained through the federal government, including Medicaid, Medicare, federal employee insurance, and the Veterans Administration; cover “all pregnancy related services, including abortion.”
However, the campaign is unlikely to achieve anything, as the Democrat platform already contains very similar language, while the proposal is diametrically opposed to the official Republican position on abortion. The Democrat platform “strongly and unequivocally supports
Roe v. Wade and a woman’s right to choose a safe and legal abortion, regardless of ability to pay, and we oppose any and all efforts to weaken or undermine that right.” The GOP platform declares abortion a violation of preborn children’s “fundamental individual right to life,” calling for abortion to be banned and opposing taxpayer funding for it.
Polling suggests All Above All does not represent widespread public opinion in either party. 57% believe abortion should be either completely illegal or only permitted in cases of rape, incest, or to save a mother’s life. 68%, including 69% of women and 51% of pro-choicers, oppose taxpayer funding of abortion. Even 62% of pro-choicers want to ban abortion past 20 weeks of pregnancy.


(Relaxnews) – Scientists from Belgium have found that ordinary conditioner is just as effective as special conditioners and treatments for removing lice. Findings have been published in the Journal of Medical Entomology.
Those who have dealt with lice eggs, or nits, know they are incredibly challenging to remove. They feature a glue-like substance that sticks to strands of hair so strongly that eggs remain even after the use of pediculicides, a lice-killing treatment.
Following a few experiments, scientists found “no significant difference” between regular conditioner and special lice-removal products in ridding hair of the sticky eggs. However, they did find eggs easier to remove when hair was soaked in deionized water.
The scientists theorize the deionized water was effective as it created a lubricant for removing nits, meaning less friction was needed when washing hair.
“Treatment with conditioner reduces the coefficient of friction of undamaged and damaged hair,” they write. “As a consequence, conditioners will facilitate nit removal.”
In addition to washing hair, of course, lice removal is dependent on cleaning clothing, bedding, and anything the infected person has had contact with — hair brushes and accessories, carpeting, furniture, etc. — and storing items that can’t be cleaned in plastic bags for two weeks to smother the lice. Lice-removal combs are also helpful, especially when dipped in conditioner first.
km/kc


Among millennials who are buying homes, men are most often listed as the primary borrower on loans. Women were listed as the primary borrowers on just 32% of loans closed between May and July 2016.
However, when breaking down the demographics of these primary borrowers, there's a more telling sign. Of women 18- to 35-years old who are securing home loans, 61% were single. For men who secured home loans, just 42% were single.
Also, while young men lead the charge in hubs like New York, where 68 percent of closed millennial loans were secured by males, compared to just 30 percent by females, women are starting to reverse that trend in parts of the Midwest. In Midland, Michigan, for example, women represented 48 percent of mortgages in recent months among young adults, compared to 52 percent for men.


Summary:
The �Energy Transition� is a Dutch government initiative that seeks to achieve a struc-tured transition to sustainable energy systems. While current energy policy is con-cerned with securing targets for the year 2010, the Transition programme focuses spe-cifically on the period thereafter. The Dutch government is keen to share this approach with international partners and create alliances for the future.
At the request of the Interdepartmental Programme on Energy Transitions (IPE) and in collaboration with the Clingendael International Programme (CIEP), CE Delft has car-ried out a pilot study to identify potential European partners for an Energy Transition approach at a strategic political and international level. The project�s guidance commit-tee comprised Messrs. F. Vollenbroek (IPE), F. Dietz (IPE), F. Berkhout (Free Univer-sity of Amsterdam) and E. Breunesse (Shell).
The procedure adopted was to draw up a series of selection criteria, which were used to perform a quick scan of the 25 EU countries with respect to energy innovation. This led to selection of 6 countries, which were then subjected to a more detailed SWOT analysis. Representatives of these countries (Denmark, Germany, Poland, Spain, Swe-den and the United Kingdom) were then invited to a workshop in The Hague on 24 No-vember 2006 to launch joint actions and/or coalitions, using the SWOT analysis as a background document.


On April 4, 2016, the Commission issued a quick affirmance of Judge Dee Lord’s Initial Determination (“ID”) finding two patents asserted in
Certain Activity Tracking Devices, Systems, and Components Thereof, Inv. No. 337-TA-963, invalid under Section 101.
As we noted in an earlier post, Judge Lord’s March 3rd ID marked the first time since the Supreme Court’s
Alice decision in 2014 that any Commission Judge had found claims invalid for failure to claim patentable subject matter. Indeed, Judge Lord noted in her ID that the full Commission had not addressed Section 101 issues since Alice. As discussed in our prior post, Judge Lord granted respondents’ motion for summary determination of invalidity, which was filed after claim construction had been completed. The Commission reviewed and affirmed Judge Lord’s determination without substantial comment on its reasoning. The Commission’s only modification of the ID was to amend a statement Judge Lord had made regarding the relevant presumptions. Judge Lord had stated that the presumption of patent validity did not apply to challenges under Section 101, citing a case from the District of New Jersey. The Commission disagreed, saying that “the law remains unsettled” with respect to this presumption, citing a case from the Eastern District of Virginia that said “[a]s a result of this deafening silence, district courts, not surprisingly, are split over the standard of proof applicable to §101 challenges.” In re TLI Communications LLC Patent Litig., 87 F. Supp. 3d 773, 797 (E.D. Va Feb. 6, 2015). However, the Commission went on to say that the claims at issue were directed to ineligible subject matter and, therefore, were invalid regardless of whether a presumption of validity applied.
While this investigation remains just one data point, the Commission’s speedy affirmance of Judge Lord’s ID suggests that Section 101 defenses may be an increasingly viable route for ITC respondents.


Purpose: This study evaluated the antibacterial activity of water-activated zinc polycarboxylate cement with adjunctive 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate on the subgingival microbiota in fixed partial dentures. Materials and Methods: Thirty-six teeth prepared as fixed partial denture abutments in 9 patients were cemented randomly using water-activated zinc polycarboxylate cement (control group) or water-activated zinc polycarboxylate cement, including 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate (test group). A total of 108 subgingival plaque samples were analyzed at baseline, immediately before permanent cementation (5 weeks), and 8 weeks later (at 13 weeks). Results: In the control group, the subgingival microbiota altered to closely resemble the flora of chronic gingivitis (increased proportions of gram-negative anaerobes such as Prevotella intermedia, Fusobacterium nucleatum) by 13 weeks. In contrast, the microflora at test sites comprised predominantly gram-positive facultative cocci and rods at 13 weeks. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the addition of 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate may enhance the antimicrobial action of polycarboxylate cements to ensure the maintenance of a microflora compatible with periodontal health, at least up to 13 weeks post-cementation.
Int J Prosthodont 2005;18:377–382.


Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the ultrastructural characteristics and ionic profile of U937 cells after exposure to 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) to shed light on the cytotoxicity of this dental adhesive and its relation to mechanisms of cell death. Materials and Methods: U937 human monoblastic cells were incubated in RPMI 1640 culture medium and exposed to HEMA at LD50. Structural changes after 5, 15, 30, 60, and 120 min were observed with transmission electron microscopy. Ionic content of Na, K, Cl, Mg, P and S was evaluated by quantitative electron probe X-ray microanalysis. Results: Our results in human monoblastic cell line U937 establish that exposure to HEMA at LD50 led to a singular mechanism of cell death characterized by changes in the morphology and ultrastructure of the cells (cell size, blebs, and organelle structure) compatible with apoptosis, but without changes in nuclear ultrastructure. These findings were consistent with our microanalytical data, which revealed a significant increase in intracellular Na and a decrease in K, along with a significant initial decrease in Cl concentration followed later (120 min) by an increase. Conclusion: All three lines of evidence (cell morphology, ultrastructural changes, and ionic profile) showed that HEMA at LD50 led to a hybrid process of cell death. We suggest that apoptosis and necrosis are part of a continuum comprising a single process of cell death. Keywords: HEMA, cell death, apoptosis,
Keywords: HEMA, cell death, apoptosis, necrosis, microanalysis, sodium, chlorine, potassium


For every fight-related injury, teen girls' IQ scores dropped by an average of 3.02 points, compared with 1.62 points for teen boys, Florida State University researchers found. They noted that each year approximately 4% of high-school students in the U.S. incurred an injury from being involved in a fight. The study was published in the Journal of Adolescent Health.


What is a traumatic brain injury?
Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) include open and closed head injuries resulting in impairments in one or more areas, including cognition; language; memory; attention; reasoning; abstract thinking; judgment; problem solving; sensory, perceptual, and motor abilities; psychosocial behavior; physical functions; information processing; and speech. The term does not apply to brain injuries that are congenital, degenerative, or induced by birth trauma.


Decades ago, in the wake of World War II, forced air emerged as the most popular residential heating system in America. Even today, despite a range of performance drawbacks, forced air remains the dominant choice. But it’s definitely not the only the option out there, and in growing numbers, savvy homeowners are opting instead for radiant heat, for a range of reasons. For one, radiant heat eliminates the need for ductwork, notorious not only for hogging space and collecting dust, but also for leaking air and compromising system efficiency. As they don't involve ducts, radiant systems operate at least 25 percent more efficiently, with some products—for instance, Warmboard—able to deliver even more dramatic monthly savings. An even more compelling advantage: In stark contrast to the uncomfortably uneven heating that characterizes forced air, radiant systems deliver consistent, “everywhere” warmth. It’s a qualitatively different experience. Indeed, as you move about a room, or go from one room to the next, the temperature never varies. After a while—particularly because radiant heating systems operate invisibly and silently—you simply stop noticing that the heat's on. You notice only that you’re perfectly comfortable. All signs indicate that radiant heating, which is already widespread in Europe and Asia, could be the next big thing in heating here at home.


Abstract
The Bureau of Mines conducted laboratory batch and small-scale continuous tests to remove traces of dissolved molybdenum from water simulating waste discharged from a molybdenum concentrator. Molybdenum concentrations, initially ranging from 2 to 10 ppm, were decreased to 0.5 Ppm or less by coprecipitation of the molybdenum with freshly precipitated ferric hydroxide. The precipitate was separated as a froth by dissolved-air flotation for subsequent disposal. Although the treated water met current environmental standards for contained molybdenum, contained particulate iron might have to be removed by filtration for the water to be acceptable. Estimated costs of treating concentrator effluent water were 55 cents, 57 cents, and 64 cents per 1,000 gal at initial molybdenum concentrations of 2, 4, and 10 ppm, respectively.


Abstract
Abstract Graded SiO2–TiO2 binary composite films are prepared by a unique electro-assist deposition approach from a mixture of sol–gel precursors containing tetramethoxysilane (TMOS) and titanium tetraisopropoxide (TTIP). A negative potential applied to either stainless steel or ITO substrates causes the reduction of the solvent, thus increasing the concentration of hydroxyl ions, which enhances the precursor condensation and film deposition. The Ti:Si ratio in the films depends on the deposition potential, time and composition of the precursor solution. This ratio decreases as the films grow thicker due to the more facile kinetics of silica deposition. Nevertheless, the Ti:Si ratio in the films is always lower than in the corresponding precursor solution. As the Ti:Si ratio in the deposition solution increases, the thickness of the electro-assist deposited films at the same conditions gradually decreases. SIMS and cross-section EDX analysis show that the Ti:Si ratio in the films increases from the surface to the substrate, suggesting electro-assist deposition as a potential method for one-step preparation of graded sol–gel films.


Wei Li, Peter van Beek, and Pascal Poupart
The ability to update the structure of a Bayesian network when new data becomes available is crucial for building adaptive systems. Recent work by Sang, Beame, and Kautz (AAAI 2005) demonstrates that the well-known Davis-Putnam procedure combined with a dynamic decomposition and caching technique is an effective method for exact inference in Bayesian networks with high density and width. In this paper, we define dynamic model counting and extend the dynamic decomposition and caching technique to multiple runs on a series of problems with similar structure. This allows us to perform Bayesian inference incrementally as the structure of the network changes. Experimental results show that our approach yields significant improvements over the previous model counting approaches on multiple challenging Bayesian network instances.
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An additional math class may help reduce rates of bankruptcy, foreclosure and poor credit ratings better than a financial-literacy course, according to a recent study. Researchers compared financial histories of students who took mandatory personal-finance classes to those students who did not take such courses and found that mathematical ability is a key predictor of future financial success.