Soviet democracy

https://stars.library.ucf.edu/prism/1535/thumbnail.jp

The profit motive, is it indispensable to industry?

https://stars.library.ucf.edu/prism/1687/thumbnail.jp

At first the attempt to remember, and then remembrance itself: A Phenomenological Study of Alfred Schnittke\u27s Piano Quartet

Phenomenology, in its etymological sense, is the activity of giving an account of the way things appear. Thus, a phenomenology of time attempts to account for the way things appear to us as temporal or how we experience time. Alfred Schnittke’s Piano Quartet lends itself well to phenomenological analysis due to the anachronistic placement of Gustav Mahler’s unfinished, G-minor scherzo sketch into the subjective, intentional realm of time-consciousness. Schnittke’s meticulous manipulation of Mahler’s theme intentionally creates multi-dimensional objects in time and sound that suggest both small- and large-scale circular-patterns of memory, a musical epitaph for both Mahler and himself.In order to identify intentionality in Schnittke’s realization of Mahler’s unfinished sketch, the Piano Quartet is explored through the philosophical lens of affect theory, defined as an impingement or extrusion of a momentary or sometimes more sustained state of relation.1 Specifically, this thesis explores how Schnittke intentionally manipulates both time and space to create these momentary or sustained states of relation. I begin by providing a brief account of biographical information over Mahler’s Piano Quartet (and sketch), the relationship between Schnittke and Mahler, and Schnittke’s background. I then reviewing three texts that investigate Schnittke’s Piano Quartet, and define and codify the analytical concepts utilized in this analysis. I provide an analysis of Schnittke’s Piano Quartet utilizing modern analytical techniques that reveal the intentionality and central structure of experience, including Schenkerian and Contour analysis. Finally, I summarize my findings by establishing a narrative for future endeavors in the melding of musical analysis and philosophy.1 Marie Thompson and Ian Biddle, Sound, Music, Affect: Theorizing Sonic Experience (New York: Bloomsbury Publishing, 2013), 6

The Fascist International

https://stars.library.ucf.edu/prism/1446/thumbnail.jp

Fangs for the Memories? A Survey of Pain in Snakebite Patients Does Not Support a Strong Role for Defense in the Evolution of Snake Venom Composition

Animals use venoms for multiple purposes, most prominently for prey acquisition and self-defense. In snakes, venom composition often evolves as a result of selection for optimization for local diet. However, whether selection for a defensive function has also played a role in driving the evolution of venom composition has remained largely unstudied. Here, we use an online survey of snakebite victims to test a key prediction of a defensive function, that envenoming should result in the rapid onset of severe pain. From the analysis of 584 snakebite reports, involving 192 species of venomous snake, we find that the vast majority of bites do not result in severe early pain. Phylogenetic comparative analysis shows that where early pain after a bite evolves, it is often lost rapidly. Our results, therefore, do not support the hypothesis that natural selection for antipredator defense played an important role in the origin of venom or front-fanged delivery systems in general, although there may be intriguing exceptions to this rule

Formation and structural chemistry of the unusual cyanide-bridged dinuclear species [Ru-2(NN)(2)(CN)(7)](3-)(NN=2,2 '-bipyridine or 1,10-phenanthroline)

Crystallisation of simple cyanoruthenate complex anions [Ru(NN)(CN)(4)](2) (NN = 2,2'-bipyridine or 1,10-phenanthroline) in the presence of Lewis-acidic cations such as Ln(III) or guanidinium cations results, in addition to the expected [Ru(NN)(CN)(4)](2) salts, in the formation of small amounts of salts of the dinuclear species [Ru-2(NN)(2)(CN)(7)](3). These cyanide-bridged anions have arisen from the combination of two monomer units [Ru(NN)(CN)(4)](2) following the loss of one cyanide, presumably as HCN. The crystal structures of [Nd(H2O)(5.5)][Ru-2(bipy)(2)(CN)(7)] center dot 11H(2)O and [Pr(H2O)(6)][Ru-2(phen)(2)(CN)(7)] center dot 9H(2)O show that the cyanoruthenate anions form Ru-CN-Ln bridges to the Ln(III) cations, resulting in infinite coordination polymers consisting of fused Ru(2)Ln(2)(mu-CN)(4) squares and Ru(4)Ln(2)(mu-CN)(6) hexagons, which alternate to form a one-dimensional chain. In [CH6N3](3)[Ru-2(bipy)(2)(CN)(7)] center dot 2H(2)O in contrast the discrete complex anions are involved in an extensive network of hydrogen-bonding involving terminal cyanide ligands, water molecules, and guanidinium cations. In the [Ru-2(NN)(2)(CN)(7)](3) anions themselves the two NN ligands are approximately eclipsed, lying on the same side of the central Ru-CN-Ru axis, such that their peripheries are in close contact. Consequently, when NN = 4,4'-Bu-t(2)-2,2'-bipyridine the steric bulk of the t-butyl groups prevents the formation of the dinuclear anions, and the only product is the simple salt of the monomer, [CH6N3](2)[Ru((t)Bu(2)bipy)(CN)(4)] center dot 2H(2)O. We demonstrated by electrospray mass spectrometry that the dinuclear by-product [Ru-2(phen)(2)(CN)(7)](3) could be formed in significant amounts during the synthesis of monomeric [Ru(phen)(CN)(4)](2) if the reaction time was too long or the medium too acidic. In the solid state the luminescence properties of [Ru-2(bipy)(2)(CN)(7)](3) (as its guanidinium salt) are comparable to those of monomeric [Ru(bipy)(CN)(4)](2), with a (MLCT)-M-3 emission at 581 nm

The Planning and Appraisal of Mega Transport Infrastructure Projects Delivered by Public–Private Partnerships: The Case for the Use of Policy-Led Multi-Criteria Analysis

Mega transport infrastructure projects are frequently perceived as critical to the “success” of major metropolitan, regional and national development because of their potential to affect significant socioeconomic and territorial changes. However, the mega infrastructure development literature tends to focus upon the frequent failures of such projects because of their inability to meet their original expectations. A major cause for such perceived underperformance has been attributed to the inadequacies of ex-ante project appraisal methodologies. In particular, their excessively narrow focus has prompted growing calls for broader and more transparent project appraisal frameworks. These calls coincide with a period where public private partnerships (PPPs) are growing in importance globally as the favoured procurement route for governments looking to undertake new mega transport infrastructure developments. Some see the practicalities of PPPs as placing them at odds with aspirations for more inclusive and open project appraisal with adequate consideration of the public interest. It is the authors’ contention that if introduced with broader and more systematically presented sustainability concerns, PPPs can remain compatible with such ambitions. Towards this end, this paper presents the rudimentaries of a policy-led multi-criteria analysis (PLMCA) approach to project appraisal as a means by which PLMCA can contribute to more holistic PPP procurement practices. The authors contend in the latter part of the paper that PLMCA addresses many of the limitations associated with the application of narrower decision-making and project appraisal approaches currently supporting PPPs and other more conventional procurement practices

A Technique for In-situ Measurement of Free Spectral Range and Transverse Mode Spacing of Optical Cavities

Length and g-factor are fundamental parameters that characterize optical cavities. We developed a technique to measure these parameters in-situ by determining the frequency spacing between the resonances of fundamental and spatial modes of an optical cavity. Two laser beams are injected into the cavity, and their relative frequency is scanned by a phase-lock loop, while the cavity is locked to either laser. The measurement of the amplitude of their beat note in transmission reveals the resonances of the longitudinal and the transverse modes of the cavity and their spacing. This method proves particularly useful to characterize complex optical systems, including very long and/or coupled optical cavities, as in gravitational wave interferometers. This technique and the results of its application to the coupled cavities of a 40-meter-long gravitational wave interferometer prototype are here presented

Phenotypic Characterization of Chicken Bursal Stromal Elements

Many, if not all, of the different phases of intrabursal B-cell maturation are controlled by the stromal components. We have used an extensive panel of mAb to provide a detailed phenotypic profile of these cells. Antigenic specificities were defined for the entire surface epithelium, interfollicular surface epithelium, follicle-associated epithelium, basement membrane, basement membrane-associated epithelium. Several mAb were specific for the medulla, including those reactive with the stellate network of epithelial cells, isolated macrophages, and granular, apparently secreted antigens. One of these, MUI-92, appears to be bursa-specific. Two mAb reacted strongly with stellate cortical macrophages, one of which weakly stained similar cells in the medulla. MHC-class II antigens were expressed on endothelium of the corticomedullary junction, macrophagelike cells in the cortex, and medulla and B lymphocytes predominantly in the cortex. Collectively, these mAb have demonstrated the antigenically distinct nature of discrete regions in the bursa, but also the continuity of the surface epithelium with the corticomedullary junction and medulla. They represent excellent reagents for defining the stromal cell contribution to B-cell development