420 research outputs found
SOVEREIGN GEOGRAPHIES, ERRANT PARTS & EVERYTHING IN ITS PLACE
We exist in a significant geo-political nexus in the history of global development. African nations of the Sahel and indigenous peoples around the world have begun to kinetically resist neo-colonial initiatives to reimpose past suppressions. This paper surveys developments from 15th and 16th Century Papal Bulls through, government legislation and policy developments including the American Indian removal act of 1830, Berlin Conference of 1884-85, the Morgenthau Plan, late 20th Century Neo-Colonial exploitation and continuing early 21st century attempts at re-inscription of emergent rentier oppressions and trajectories. Within this context, this piece concludes with a pointed discussion of social media and its place in subverting the governmental attempts to control the narrative of the global order in light of recent geo-political developments and the global history of suppression
of Airport Landing Slots
Abstract: We investigate the competitive effects of exchanges or sales of airport landing slots. In our model, airlines with potentially asymmetric slot allocations must decide upon which routes to use their landing slots. When all airlines serve the same routes in a slot-constrained Cournot-Nash equilibrium, small changes in slot allocations among airlines do not affect the overall allocation of slots across routes or air fares. In a symmetric equilibrium where slot-holding airlines have the same number of slots, we find that an increase in the number of slot-holding airlines leads to higher social welfare and consumer surplus, although the number of served routes may decline. Under asymmetric slot allocations, larger slot holders serve “thin” demand routes that are not served by smaller slot holders. In this situation, transfers of slots from larger to smaller slot holders increase social welfare and consumer surplus, even though fewer routes may be served. More generally, our results suggest that increases in slot concentration are harmful to consumers and social welfare, although consumers on relatively thin routes may gain air transportation service as a result.
Social deficits, stereotypy and early emergence of repetitive behavior in the C58/J inbred mouse strain
Mouse lines with behavioral phenotypes relevant to symptoms in neurodevelopmental disorders may provide models to test hypotheses about disease etiology and to evaluate potential treatments. The present studies were designed to confirm and expand earlier work on the intriguing behavioral profile of the C58/J inbred strain, including low social approach and aberrant repetitive movements. Additional tests were selected to reflect aspects of autism, a severe neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by emergence of symptoms early in life, higher prevalence in males, social deficits and abnormal repetitive behavior. Mice from the C57BL/6J inbred strain, which has a similar genetic lineage and physical appearance to C58/J, served as a comparison group. Our results revealed that C58/J mice display elevated activity levels by postnatal day 6, which persist into adulthood. Despite normal olfactory ability, young adult male C58/J mice showed deficits in social approach in the three-chambered choice assay and failed to demonstrate social transmission of food preference. In contrast, female C58/J mice performed similarly to female C57BL/6J mice in both social tests. C58/J mice of both sexes demonstrated abnormal repetitive behaviors, displaying excessive jumping and back flipping in both social and non-social situations. These stereotypies were clearly evident in C58/J pups by postnatal days 20–21, and were also observed in C58/J dams during a test for maternal behavior. Overall, the strain profile for C58/J, including spontaneously developing motor stereotypies emerging early in the developmental trajectory, and social deficits primarily in males, models multiple components of the autism phenotype
A biophysical Raman spectroscopic model for noninvasive screening of skin cancer
Raman spectroscopy (RS) is sensitive to the molecular composition of biological tissues. Raman optical fiber- based probes have demonstrated efficacy in noninvasive cancer screening of the skin, breast, stomach, cervical, lung and brain. Currently, statistical algorithms such as principle component analysis (PCA) are the standard approaches for describing the spectral variance of the RS data and providing tissue classification. However, a PCA-based analysis does not allow for an examination of the biophysical basis of disease, such as microstructural organization of proteins and lipids. Understanding those biophysical parameters is essential to interpret the diagnostic result similar to that a pathologist is familiar reading, and develop diagnostic algorithms for fast and accurate cancer screening.
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A Survey of the Reptiles and Amphibians at the University of Georgia Costa Rica Field Station in San Luis de Monteverde, Costa Rica
Reptiles and amphibians are experiencing declines across the globe. In Monteverde, Costa Rica, these declines and their underlying causes have been relatively well studied since the early 1990s, and many protected areas have been set aside to conserve these species. However, thorough surveys of the herpetofaunal diversity in these areas have been scarce over the last 20 years. We conducted a survey of all reptile and amphibian species at the University of Georgia Costa Rica (UGACR), a field station in San Luis de Monteverde. Herein, we present an annotated checklist of the 48 species (35 reptiles and 13 amphibians) that we encountered. While we did not find any exceptionally rare or endangered species, the number of species we encountered is disproportionately high given the small plot of land occupied by UGACR. This underscores the importance of conducting regular diversity surveys in biodiversity hotspots as a means to better inform conservation efforts
EMS Hot Spot Analysis: 2014-2016
Final project for URSP688L: Planning Technologies (Fall 2016). University of Maryland, College Park.This report attempts to identify the locations of the most life-threatening EMS incidents, patterns indicated by data analysis by time of day/day of the week, and potential underlying causes of EMS incidents. We found that the highest concentrations of dispatch calls were in the north-central part of the county, in and around Annapolis, and in residential areas where some senior citizens live. Our recommendation is that the county can incorporate the ArcGIS Network Analyst tool to analyze transportation routes and response times. This will help identify ways to optimize emergency resources and improve overall effectiveness in providing emergency services to residents.Anne Arundel County & Annapoli
Seismic stratigraphy of Lago Fagnano sediments (Tierra del Fuego, Argentina) - A potencial archive of paleoclimatic change and tectonic activity since the Late Glacial
Located at 54ºS in the heart of the Island of Tierra del Fuego, Lago Fagnano occupies the deepest of a chain of en-echelon tectonic depressions along the Magallanes-Fagnano Transform system (MFT). A recent geophysical campaign combining 3.5 kHz (pinger) single-channel with 1 in3 airgun multi-channel systems surveyed more than 100 m of glacio-lacustrine sediments filling two main sub-basins. These data provide a unique opportunity to visualize the most recent lacustrine sequence with high-resolution while simultaneously imaging the oldest infill. A preliminary seismic stratigraphic analysis of the high-resolution 3.5 kHz pinger data allowed the identification of three major seismostratigraphic units (A, the oldest and C, the youngest). While unit A is interpreted as glacially derived sediments, the overlying unit B is interpreted as fining upward sequences of proglacial turbidites reflecting sediment pulses released by the retreating Fagnano glacier during the last deglaciation. A major environmental change occurred during deposition of unit C when pelagic style of sedimentation is intercalated by sequences of downslope mass flow events probably triggered by relatively strong tectonic pulses along the MFT system. Gravity cores show a regular alternation of light and dark laminae occasionally interrupted by homogenous sedimentary units interpreted as turbidites. Ultra-high resolution X-ray fluorescence micro-profiles show fluctuations in major trace elements at mm scale that may indicate seasonal variations in the sedimentary influx. These core data provide a unique record of decadal changes in regional climate that can be compared with other marine and continental archives to improve our understanding of the forcing mechanisms behind climate change
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