The European Union and refugees: towards more restrictive asylum policies in the European Union?

Several scholars have argued that European countries have decided to cooperate on asylum and migration matters at the EU level in order to develop more restrictive policies. In particular, it has been argued that European states have ‘venue-shopped’ to a new policy-venue in order to escape national constraints. This paper puts this argument to the test by assessing the extent to which the development of EU cooperation on asylum matters has indeed led to the adoption of more restrictive asylum standards. The paper argues that, actually, EU asylum cooperation has led to an overall increase in protection standards for asylum-seekers and refugees. This outcome is explained by two main factors: the increasing ‘judicialisation’ of asylum in the EU and institutional changes in the EU asylum policy area that have strengthened the role of more ‘refugee-friendly’ institutions

Upsilon Production In pp Collisions For Forward Rapidities At LHC

This is a continuation of recent studies of $\Upsilon(nS)$ production at the LHC in pp collisions. Our previous studies were for rapidity y=-1 to 1 for the CMS detector, while the present study is for y=2.5 to 4.0 at the LHC.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figure

Systems identification and application systems development for monitoring the physiological and health status of crewmen in space

The use of automated, analytical techniques to aid medical support teams is suggested. Recommendations are presented for characterizing crew health in terms of: (1) wholebody function including physiological, psychological and performance factors; (2) a combination of critical performance indexes which consist of multiple factors of measurable parameters; (3) specific responses to low noise level stress tests; and (4) probabilities of future performance based on present and periodic examination of past performance. A concept is proposed for a computerized real time biomedical monitoring and health care system that would have the capability to integrate monitored data, detect off-nominal conditions based on current knowledge of spaceflight responses, predict future health status, and assist in diagnosis and alternative therapies. Mathematical models could play an important role in this approach, especially when operating in a real time mode. Recommendations are presented to update the present health monitoring systems in terms of recent advances in computer technology and biomedical monitoring systems

Analysis of homogeneous turbulent reacting flows

Full turbulence simulations at low Reynolds numbers were made for the single-step, irreversible, bimolecular reaction between non-premixed reactants in isochoric, decaying homogeneous turbulence. Various initial conditions for the scalar field were used in the simulations to control the initial scalar dissipation length scale, and simulations were also made for temperature-dependent reaction rates and for non-stoichiometric and unequal diffusivity conditions. Joint probability density functions (pdf's), conditional pdf's, and various statistical quantities appearing in the moment equations were computed. Preliminary analysis of the results indicates that compressive strain-rate correlates better than other dynamical quantities with local reaction rate, and the locations of peak reaction rates seem to be insensitive to the scalar field initial conditions

Estimate of CP Violation for the LBNE Project and $\delta_{CP}

Measurements of CP violation (CPV) and the basic $\delta_{CP}$ parameter are the goals of the LBNE Project, which is being planned. Using the expected energy and baseline parameters for the LBNE Project, CPV and the dependence of CPV on $\delta_{CP}$ are estimated, to help in the planning of this project.Comment: 7 pages, 1 figur

A novel laser ranging system for measurement of ground-to-satellite distances

A technique was developed for improving the precision of laser ranging measurements of ground-to-satellite distances. The method employs a mode-locked laser transmitter and utilizes an image converter tube equipped with deflection plates in measuring the time of flight of the laser pulse to a distant retroreflector and back. Samples of the outgoing and returning light pulses are focussed on the photocathode of the image converter tube, whose deflection plates are driven by a high-voltage 120 MHz sine wave derived from a very stable oscillator. From the relative positions of the images produced at the output phosphor by the two light pulses, it is possible to make a precise determination of the fractional amount by which the time of flight exceeds some large integral multiple of the period of the deflection sinusoid

Estimation of juvenile striped bass relative abundance in the Virginia portion of Chesapeake Bay, January 2011-December 2011 : annual progress report

The 2011 striped bass juvenile abundance index is 27.09 and is significantly higher than the historic average of 7.92. Unlike previous years, the 2011 York River index was the highest among Virginia watersheds with high recruitment in both the Pamunkey and Mattaponi rivers. All individual river JAI values were significantly higher than their respective historic averages except for the Chickahominy River which was not significantly different from its historic average. This suggests a strong year class was produced in the Virginia portion of Chesapeake Bay in 2011. Sampling of auxiliary stations provides greater spatial coverage of the nursery grounds and suggests that juvenile striped bass occupied upstream sites in higher abundances during 2011 compared with these sites historic averages. Several important changes were incorporated into the 2011 annual report. Samples collected within the currently established sampling season (early-July through mid-September) were used to estimate annual recruitment indices for 1967 – 1973; we omitted samples taken outside the established sampling time frame to improve our ability to compare contemporary indices with those from the late 1960s to early 1970s. In addition, the historic average is now properly calculated as the geometric mean of annual juvenile abundance estimates. Previously, the historic average was simply the mean over all stations sampled over time; the previous method therefore weighted the mean by the number of stations sampled in any given year and because the survey sampled fewer stations prior to 1988, the previous (incorrect) historic average was biased by recent abundance estimates. A juvenile white perch recruitment index has been developed for each major Virginia tributary to Chesapeake Bay

Estimation of juvenile striped bass relative abundance in the Virginia portion of Chesapeake Bay, January 2012-December 2012 : annual progress report

The 2012 Striped Bass juvenile abundance index is 2.68 and is significantly lower than the historic average of 6.96. Recruitment failure, as defined by Addendum II to Amendment 6 of the FMP, occurred during 2012. All individual watershed JAI values were below their historic mean. The Rappahannock, Pamunkey and Chickahominy River JAI values were significantly lower than their respective historic averages. Although lower JAI values were reported for the James and Mattaponi rivers, annual JAI confidence intervals overlapped with historic confidence intervals suggesting juvenile abundance in these two rivers was not significantly different from the longterm average abundance. Based on our sampling of auxiliary stations juvenile Striped Bass generally did not occupy sites outside of the core nursery zone during 2012. Pilot sampling prior to the 2012 field season revealed that juvenile Striped Bass and White Perch of the size commonly encountered in early July were available to the seine in early June. Therefore, seine survey sampling commenced one week earlier than the traditional start period to ensure sampling of similar sized individuals. The historic average is now properly reported as the geometric mean of annual juvenile abundance estimates in this report and that for 2011. Previous to 2011, the historic average was calculated as the mean abundance across all stations sampled over all years; this method effectively weighted the mean by the number of stations sampled in any given year, and because the survey sampled fewer stations prior to 1988, positively biased the historic mean towards recent abundance estimates. A JAI has been provided for Atlantic Croaker for 2012. Also new to the 2012 report is the use of the revised naming convention for common names of fishes recently adopted by the American Fisheries Society and the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists