Simulated Annealing on the Composite Graph Coloring Problem

The composite graph is a finite undirected graph G with no loops and no multiple edges and with positive integers associated with each vertex of G. The number of integers associated with each vertex is the chromaticity of the vertex. The chromatic degree of a vertex v is the sum of the chromaticity of v and the chromaticities of all vertices adjacent to v. The graph G is a v-composite graph if the chromaticities are not equal

HAMLET AS MUSIC: A STUDY IN THE SEMANTICS OF SYMPHONIC POETRY

Symphonic poetry, a widely overlooked genre in musico-literary scholarship, provides a unique focal point into the relationship between music and extramusical texts. Invented by Franz Liszt in the mid-19th century, symphonic poems (or ‘tone poems’) interpret literary texts or ideas through short orchestral works. Thus, the symphonic poem invites close analysis of the semiotic relationship between music and literature. Using Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Liszt’s Symphonic Poem No. 10 (“Hamlet”), this thesis examines the relationship between the Shakespearean tragedy and Lisztian symphonic poetry. This focus is a microcosm for the musico-literary relationship and, henceforth, an undiscovered niche that involves disciplines as diverse as intertextuality, semiology, musicology, literary criticism, and neurophilosophy. By bridging the gaps between literary criticism and musical analysis, this thesis provides a fresh glimpse at the relationship between these two different but complementary fields

Role of the Δ-Isobar in the (p,π) Reaction

This research was sponsored by the National Science Foundation Grant NSF PHY-931478

Energy Dependence of the 3-He(p,pi+)4-He Reaction

This research was sponsored by the National Science Foundation Grant NSF PHY 87-1440

Diagnostics in patients presenting to the emergency room with headache

In patients with acute headache who present to the emergency room the yield of a CTA is highest in patients with an abnormality on head NCCT. The yield in patients with normal NCCT is low. A multivariable prediction model showed that clinical symptoms have no added value over the variable ‘normal NCCT’ alone. In patients with acute headache and a normal NCCT the yield of CTA is higher than in the general population, but findings consist mainly of unruptured intracranial aneurysms that do not always have treatment implications and may generate anxiety. The sporadically found cervical dissection, CVT or RCVS may justify performing CTA. At the moment there are no clinical factors, which can predict which patients will have an abnormality on CTA after a normal NCCT. In patients who are suspected of CVT but who have no additional risk factors besides headache, CT venography is unnecessary if the D-dimer level in serum is normal. The negative predictive value of D-dimer in this group is very high for excluding CVT. If CSF testing for the presence of bilirubin is required, the Leiden method, an iterative calculation model, is 100% sensitive. Specificity can be increased if the UK NEQAS method is applied on the CSF’s that test positive with the Leiden method. This workflow assures both highest specificity and highest laboratory workforce efficiency. In patients suspected of bacterial meningitis procalcitonin determination in CSF may become a valuable marker particularly in patients with confounding factors such as recent neurosurgical intervention. The differentiation from aseptic or septic meningitis in this group is difficult and an additional marker would be valuable to avoid unnecessary antibiotic treatment. LUMC / Geneeskund

Legitimating the CAP: The European Commission's Discursive Strategies for Regaining Support for Direct Payments

In its public discourse, the European Commission presented the EU’s most recent Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) as a paradigm change. Many observers of the CAP reform process, however, describe the recent agreement as a lost opportunity for change. This article describes and analyses the Commission’s discursive strategies in response to the legitimacy challenges regarding the CAP’s direct payments. We draw on the work of Mark Suchman (1995) to analyse these responses. The analysis reveals a progression of legitimation strategies that can be linked to the broader institutional environment, the setting of the ongoing policy process and the (critical) reaction of civil society organisations to these strategies. Besides shedding light on the progression of legitimation strategies, this article contributes to the literature on the Commission’s legitimation strategies more generally by linking the Commission’s public discourse to its public consultation regime

Understanding the timing and variation of greenhouse gas emissions of forest bioenergy systems

Forest-based bioenergy plays an important role in climate mitigation for limiting global mean temperature increase to below 2 °C. The greenhouse gas (GHG) impact of three forest-based bioenergy systems from the USA, Canada and Spain supplying wood pellets for electricity in the UK were evaluated by conducting lifecycle assessments and forest carbon modelling of the three forest systems. Cumulative emissions were analysed by calculating the forest carbon stock change and net GHG emissions balance of the forest-based bioenergy electricity. The analysis considered both the replacement of the existing electricity mix with bioenergy electricity and forest management with and without bioenergy use. The supply chain emissions and forest carbon balances indicated that GHG emission reductions are possible. However, the cumulative net GHG balance at forest landscape scale revealed that the reduction potential is limited, potentially with no GHG reductions in fast growing forests with shorter rotations, while slow growing forest systems with longer rotations result in greater GHG reductions. This means that the maximum climate benefit is delivered at a different point in time for different forest systems. To evaluate the climate change mitigation potential of forest-based bioenergy it is therefore necessary to consider the management, utilisation and relevant counterfactual of the whole forest and its products. In terms of climate change mitigation potential and minimising possible negative impacts that would require multi-level governance

Constraints on the Pion-Nucleus Optical Potential from the (p,pi) Reaction

This research was sponsored by the National Science Foundation Grant NSF PHY 87-1440