Rejoinder to Duncan Foley and David Laibman

Article that appeared as Zarembka, P (ed) Economic Theory of Capitalism and its Crises, Research in Political Economy 18, pp285-93. Stanford, CT: JAI Press. (http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/bookdescription.cws_home/621298/description#description) Responds to debate initiated in Research in Political Economy 17 (http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/bookdescription.cws_home/621907/description#description) This article formed the final part of a four-way exchange on the rate of profit which appeared in Research in Political Economy 17 and 18 in 1999 and 2000, between David Laibman, Duncan Foley, Andrew Kliman and Alan Freeman. This piece constituted Kliman and Freeman’s final response to the debate around Laibman’s initial critique of the Temporal Single System Interpretation (TSSI) of Marx’s value theory.TSSI; MELT; value; Marx; price; profit rate; Okishio; non-equilibrium; equilibrium; money; sraffaTSSI, MELT, value, Marx, price, profit rate, Okishio, non-equilibrium, equilibrium, money

Two Concepts of Value, Two Rates of Profit, Two Laws of Motion

Article that appeared as Zarembka, P (ed) Economic Theory of Capitalism and its Crises, Research in Political Economy 18, pp241-48. Stanford, CT: JAI Press. (http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/bookdescription.cws_home/621298/description#description) Responds to debate initiated in Research in Political Economy 17 (http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/bookdescription.cws_home/621907/description#description) This article formed part of a four-way exchange on the rate of profit which appeared in Research in Political Economy 17 and 18 in 1999 and 2000, between David Laibman, Duncan Foley, Andrew Kliman and Alan Freeman. This piece constituted Freeman and Kliman’s response to the contributions of Foley and Laibman, themselves a response to our reactions to Laibman’s initial critique of the Temporal Single System Interpretation (TSSI) of Marx’s value theory. Our response establishes that both Laibman and Foley concede the fundamental point in the debate: there exist circumstances under which the rate of profit falls under cost-saving technical change, refuting Okishio’s theorem which states that the rate of profit cannot fall on these presuppositions in any circumstances. Our response assesses the reasons that, although Okishio’s theorem has been disproved, Marxist authors are unable or unwilling to acknowledge this fact. We dissect the faulty mathematical reasoning that lies behind the following notion: ‘the temporal rate of profit may fall, but it may also rise. Since it does not inevitably fall, Okishio’s theorem holds’. In fact, Okishio’s theorem asserts that the rate of profit may never fall. Therefore, mathematically, if a case is exhibited in which, under Okishio’s assumptions, the rate of profit does fall, the theorem is thereby disproved. Our response then establishes the general conditions under which the rate of profit does, or does not, fall.TSSI; MELT; value; Marx; price; profit rate; Okishio; non-equilibrium; equilibrium; money; sraffaTSSI, MELT, value, Marx, price, profit rate, Okishio, non-equilibrium, equilibrium, money

Replicating Marx: a Reply to Mohun

This is a prepublication version of ‘Replicating Marx: a reply to Mohun’, Capital and Class No. 88, Spring 2006, pp 117-123. ISSN 0309 8168 Kliman (2001) showed that “simultaneist” interpretations – those which hold that Marx valued inputs and outputs simultaneously – contradict his exploitation theory of profit, while the temporal single-system interpretation (TSSI) conforms to it. Mohun, S. 2003. “On the TSSI and the Exploitation Theory of Profit,” Capital and Class 81, Autumn 2003, pp85-102. calls these demonstrations into question. This note defends them.Value, Price, Money, Labour, Marx, MELT, Okishio, TSSI, temporalism, rate of profit

Quality of Life in Youth with Bipolar Disorder and Trauma

Background:Epidemiological work suggests that youth with histories of trauma or bipolar disorder have lower quality of life (QoL) than generally healthy youth without a history of bipolar disorder or trauma. Aim: To evaluate whether trauma and bipolar disorder have a negative effect in youth seeking services for emotional and behavioral difficulties. Method & Sample: Participants were 596 youths and caregiver dyads from an urban community mental health center and an academic medical center in Cleveland, OH. Diagnoses were based on semi-structured interviews of the parent and youth. The KINDL-R measured Total, Emotional, Self-esteem, Family, Friend, School, and Physical QoL. Results: Trauma history was not associated with changes in QoL. Youth with bipolar disorder had significantly lower QoL than youth without bipolar disorder. There was no interaction between trauma history and bipolar disorder. Conclusion: Among youth seeking mental health services, trauma history was common. A history of trauma does not alter QoL compared to youth without a history of QoL in a service seeking sample. Youth with bipolar disorder had significantly lower QoL than youth without bipolar disorder suggesting that youth with bipolar disorder might require more intensive services than youth without bipolar disorder

Teaching Computers to Think: Analysis of Artificial Intelligence and Connect Four

Connect Four is a classic two person, zero-sum game in which players utilize their wits and gravity to connect four of their own pieces in a horizontal, vertical, or diagonal row while blocking their opponent’s attempt to do the same. We have constructed a simulation of this game which we have used as a base for the implementation and testing of varying Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems. Early strategies worked according to simple strategic methods, while more advanced heuristics employed a Min-Max Tree in tandem with methods to determine how advantageous a certain board would be. This Min-Max Tree goes beyond a simple strategy, as it allows for the computer to look many moves ahead, thus picking the move that optimizes its chances of winning. The collection of statistics for the various strategies has allowed for the analysis and improvement of the AI structures

All That You Can’t Leave Behind: Making and Administering Laws in the Select Government Localities of Komenda, Cape Coast, and Accra

This paper is an attempt to understand how laws are created and maintained on the local level in Komenda, Cape Coast, and Accra. It explains how bylaws are created in those localities through the use of the General Assemblies. The paper then examines the judicial system in those same areas. Komenda uses an Arbitration Committee. Cape Coast and Accra both have a Circuit Court and a High Court. After detailing how the legislative and court system function, the paper compares and contrasts the different ways that the legislative and judicial branches are executed

Impacts of elevated atmospheric ozone on peatland below-ground DOC characteristics

Rising concentrations of tropospheric ozone are having detrimental impacts on the growth of crop and forest species and some studies have reported inhibition of the allocation of carbon below ground. The effects of ozone on peatland ecosystems have received relatively little attention, despite their importance within the global carbon cycle. During this study, cores from a Welsh minerotrophic fen and ombrotrophic bog were exposed to four ambient/ elevated ozone concentration regimes representing current and predicted 2050 profiles. A large and significant reduction in the concentration of porewater dissolved organic carbon (DOC) was recorded in the fen cores exposed to the elevated ozone concentrations (up to −55%), with a concurrent shift to a higher molecularweight of the remaining soil carbon. No effects of ozone on DOC concentrations or characteristics were recorded for the bog cores. The data suggest higher ozone sensitivity of plants growing in the fen-type peatland, that the impacts on the vegetation may affect soil carbon characteristics through a reduction in root exudates and that theremay have been a shift in the source of substrate DOC for microbial consumption from vegetation exudates to native soil carbon. Theremay also have been a direct effect of ozone molecules reacting with soil organic matter after being transported into the soil through the aerenchyma tissue of the overlying vegetation. These qualitative changes in the soil carbon in response to elevated ozone may have important implications for carbon cycling in peatland ecosystems, and therefore climate change

Potential biological control agents for the salmon louse Lepeophtheirus salmonis (Kroyer, 1837)

The salmon louse, Lepeophtheirus salmonis (Krøyer), is an obligate ectoparasitic copepod that lives on the external surface of salmonid fish. It is the most common parasite on cage reared Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.), costing the aquaculture industry in Scotland millions of pounds each year to control. Traditional methods used to control sea lice have centred on the use of chemical pesticide treatments, which are expensive, hazardous to handle, potentially deleterious to the marine environment, and are sometimes ineffective. Furthermore, the misuse use of two previously efficacious chemotherapeutants has led to a build up of resistance in sea lice populations. The aims of this study were to investigate a potential alternative control strategy, concentrating on the isolation of the naturally occurring enemies of sea lice, and evaluating their potential for use as biological control agents. A screening protocol was undertaken to examine sea lice removed from harvest size farmed fish and wild Atlantic salmon, to look for the presence of epibiotic and hyperparasitic organisms on the external surfaces of the sea lice. A screening protocol was also undertaken to look for invasive microorganisms, such as fungal pathogens, internal symbionts, and other internal hyperparasites. Sea lice were examined microscopically for the presence of external epibionts and obvious signs of internal invasion by microorganisms and parasites. Surface sterilised sea lice were incubated on growth media to screen for the presence of fungal pathogens. Fresh tissue squashes were performed on lice showing clinical signs of infection and screening / diagnostic PCRs were used to detect and identify endosymbionts and invasive pathogens and parasites. Wax histology, TEM and SEM were used to further investigate host parasite interactions in order to evaluate pathogenicity where appropriate. In vitro and in vivo challenge trials were performed with an isolated hyperparasite to effect transmission and to determine pathogenicity. The stalked suctorian ciliates Ephelota gemmipara and Ephelota gigantea, and the monogenean worm Udonella sp. were frequently found utilising L. salmonis as a substrate. High densities of Udonella were observed on the cephalothoracic shield and genital segment of adult lice, and very high densities of Ephelota spp. were found on the genital segment, abdomen, and egg strings. The prevalence and seasonal pattern of occurrence of these epibionts were assessed. Fourteen fungal isolates were obtained, but failed to sporulate in vitro culture and were hence not identifiable. No endosymbionts were detected in either the body cavity or the egg strings by using the screening and diagnostic PCRs. An hyperparasitic microsporidian was found heavily parasitising adult sea lice. The microsporidian infection arose in the epidermal cells lying beneath the cuticle, infection was not observed in other tissues. Horizontal transmission was assumed as developing eggs and egg strings were not seen to be infected. The ultrastructure and complete developmental cycle of this hyperparasite in the salmon louse were described. Specific PCR primers were designed for use as a diagnostic tool and a molecular phylogeny was constructed using rRNA gene sequences. Taking into account its taxonomic positioning, its morphology and its unique characteristics, it appears that this parasite represents both a new genus and a new species. The microsporidian was not found at all farm sites visited and was not detected in sea lice from wild caught Atlantic salmon. The microsporidian infected up to 10% of lice sampled when most prevalent, but was sometimes absent, and showed no clear seasonal pattern in its occurrence. Transmission of the microsporidian hyperparasite to uninfected sea lice was not achieved and evidence for an alternative / intermediate host for the microsporidian is presented. This is the first report of a microsporidian from sea lice, and indeed from marine copepods; it is also the first report of a hyperparasitic microsporidian in crustacea. The potential for the epibionts and endobionts found in association with sea lice to be used as biological control agents are presented

Dismount Threat Recognition through Automatic Pose Identification

The U.S. military has an increased need to rapidly identify nonconventional adversaries. Dismount detection systems are being developed to provide more information on and identify any potential threats. Current work in this area utilizes multispectral imagery to exploit the spectral properties of exposed skin and clothing. These methods are useful in the location and tracking of dismounts, but they do not directly discern a dismount\u27s level of threat. Analyzing the actions that precede hostile events yields information about how the event occurred and uncovers warning signs that are useful in the prediction and prevention of future events. A dismount\u27s posturing, or pose, indicates what he or she is about to do. Pose recognition and identification is a topic of study that can be utilized to discern this threat information. Pose recognition is the process of observing a scene through an imaging device, determining that a dismount is present, identifying the three dimensional (3D) position of the dismount\u27s joints, and evaluating what the current configuration of the joints means. This thesis explores the use of automatic pose recognition to identify threatening poses and postures by means of an artificial neural network. Data are collected utilizing the depth camera and joint estimation software of the Kinect for Xbox 360. A threat determination is made based on the pose identified by the network. Accuracy is measured both by the correct identification of the pose presented to the network, and proper threat discernment. The end network achieved approximately 81% accuracy for threat determination and 55% accuracy for pose identification with test sets of 26 unique poses. Overall, the high level of threat determination accuracy indicates that automatic pose recognition is a promising means of discerning whether a dismount is threatening or not

Educational Environments and Preventing Violent Extremism Policy Agendas: Perspectives and Implications

Concentrating on the educational space, this research considers the potential risk and protective factors that individuals may be most influenced by if affected by violently extreme ideologies. Methodologically, generating new data that specifically targeted parents and teachers involved in the educational field, this project sought to discover what the Australian public’s expectations are surrounding the implementation of P/CVE programmes in Australian schools and how these programmes should best engage with schools and their respective communities