Ichnology, paleopedology, & sedimentology of the Cubango Megafan core: Using bioturbation to interpret environment, soil formation, sediment accumulation rate, hydrology, & climate

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How is the concept of hybridity useful in thinking about third party humanitarian interventions? Case Studies: Bougainville and Solomon Islands

How one should carry out state-building humanitarian interventions responsibly and with positive outcomes has been called one of the primary problems of international relations today (Fry and Kabutaulaka 2008, 2-3). In the Pacific region, this is further complicated by recent colonial history, extreme power differences between states and increasing regionalism. The aim of my study is to assess two peace-building interventions, one in Bougainville and one in the Solomon Islands, in terms of their ability to build stable governance and lasting peace. To do this, I will be looking through the lens of hybridity - a term recently popularised in peace studies literature (Clements et al 2007; Mac Ginty 2011; Richmond 2009 & 2010). Using 'hybrid-sensitivity' as a way of assessing interventions could be a way forward in terms of assessing how foreign interventions can deal with the problems associated with national sovereignty, post- and/ or neo-colonialism and our responsibility to protect others elsewhere - and to secure security within the region

Mercedes-Benz symphony

Mercedes-Benz Symphony describes a vision for Mercedes-Benz Design inspired by music. The inspirational and experimental nature of the project serves the purpose of inspiring people and creating a connection between Music and Automotive Design. Placing the focus on the creative process of experimentation with the transition from an audible to visual experience the ob- server is introduced to a fabulous journey of design perception. The result of this research is illustrated by an automotive form study following this design philosophy. The complexity of the front of the car visualises the introductory beginning of a musical piece with various instruments, rhythmi- cal patterns and melodies. The side is kept solid and sculptural as a song progresses it will be experienced as an exciting whole. The rear end represents the conclusive statement, with quota- tions from previous elements. The vehicle itself becomes a mu- sical piece

How is the concept of hybridity useful in thinking about third party humanitarian interventions? Case Studies: Bougainville and Solomon Islands

How one should carry out state-building humanitarian interventions responsibly and with positive outcomes has been called one of the primary problems of international relations today (Fry and Kabutaulaka 2008, 2-3). In the Pacific region, this is further complicated by recent colonial history, extreme power differences between states and increasing regionalism. The aim of my study is to assess two peace-building interventions, one in Bougainville and one in the Solomon Islands, in terms of their ability to build stable governance and lasting peace. To do this, I will be looking through the lens of hybridity - a term recently popularised in peace studies literature (Clements et al 2007; Mac Ginty 2011; Richmond 2009 & 2010). Using 'hybrid-sensitivity' as a way of assessing interventions could be a way forward in terms of assessing how foreign interventions can deal with the problems associated with national sovereignty, post- and/ or neo-colonialism and our responsibility to protect others elsewhere - and to secure security within the region

Mercedes-Benz symphony

Mercedes-Benz Symphony describes a vision for Mercedes-Benz Design inspired by music. The inspirational and experimental nature of the project serves the purpose of inspiring people and creating a connection between Music and Automotive Design. Placing the focus on the creative process of experimentation with the transition from an audible to visual experience the ob- server is introduced to a fabulous journey of design perception. The result of this research is illustrated by an automotive form study following this design philosophy. The complexity of the front of the car visualises the introductory beginning of a musical piece with various instruments, rhythmi- cal patterns and melodies. The side is kept solid and sculptural as a song progresses it will be experienced as an exciting whole. The rear end represents the conclusive statement, with quota- tions from previous elements. The vehicle itself becomes a mu- sical piece

A Novel, User-Friendly Indoor Mapping Approach for OpenStreetMap

The community project OpenStreetMap (OSM), which is well-known for its open geographic data, still lacks a commonly accepted mapping scheme for indoor data. Most of the previous approaches show inconveniences in their mapping workflow and affect the mapper's motivation. In our paper an easy to use data scheme for OSM indoor mapping is presented. Finally, by means of several rendering examples from our Android application, we show that the new data scheme is capable for real world scenarios

Development of Indoor Environments with a Novel Indoor Mapping Approach for OpenStreetMap

The community project OpenStreetMap (OSM), which is well-known for its open geographic data, still lacks a commonly accepted mapping scheme for indoor data. Most of the previous approaches show inconveniences in their mapping workflow and affect the mapper's motivation. In our paper, an easy to use data scheme for OSM indoor mapping is presented. Finally, by means of several rendering examples from our Android application, we show that the new data scheme is capable for real world scenarios

Effects of carriers for oils in compound feeds on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and gut microbiota in broiler chickens

ABSTRACT: Carrier materials for oils in compound feeds may be used in animal nutrition to supply liquid feed additives. However, implications of such carriers for the digestibility of the contained oil are unknown. This study investigated the potential of oil carriers in compound feed and their effect on performance, metabolizable energy, fatty acid (FA) retention, amino acid (AA) digestibility, and gut microbiota in broiler chickens. Six experimental diets were formulated following a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement with 20 g/kg or 40 g/kg of rapeseed oil supplied with no carrier or bound in a silica-based (SC) or lignocellulose-based (LC) carrier in a 1:1 mass ratio. The diets were assigned to 48 metabolism units with 15 animals each based on a randomized complete block design and fed from d 18 to 28 of the trial. Total excreta were collected from d 24 to 27 and used to determine total tract retention (TTR) of FA and MEn. On d 28, AA digestibility both by the distal half of the jejunum and the distal half of the ileum was determined, and microbiota of ileal and cecal digesta was analyzed using 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing. There were significant interactions for ADG, ADFI, the gain:feed ratio (G:F), MEn, and the TTR of crude fat and most fatty acids (P ≤ 0.046) except for C18, C18:2, and C22:0. Addition of SC decreased ADG, ADFI, and G:F (P < 0.001), while LC at 40 g/kg oil inclusion increased G:F and MEn (P < 0.001) for both inclusion levels. The TTR of crude fat and the FA C18:1, C18:2, C18:3, and C22:0 was increased by the addition of SC (P ≤ 0.016), while LC increased the TTR of the FA C18:1 and C18:2 as well as the TTR of C18:3 at 20 g/kg oil inclusion (P ≤ 0.016). Adding SC and LC increased the digestibility of 7 and 2 AA by the distal half of the jejunum, respectively, and the digestibility of 8 and 13 AA by the distal half of the ileum, respectively (P ≤ 0.039). The β-diversity and abundance of some taxa were altered by addition of LC and SC in the ceca while no treatment effect on the ileal microbiota was found. The results give no indication of an incomplete release of the oil from the carriers because the TTR of most FA was increased upon addition of SC and LC. LC may be used to supply liposoluble feed additives without drawbacks for nutrient digestibility and growth while SC requires further examination

Chronic antipsychotic treatment targets GIRK current suppression, loss of long-term synaptic depression and behavioural sensitization in a mouse model of amphetamine psychosis

Background: Antipsychotic drugs (APDs) are the mainstay of the pharmacological treatment of psychotic disorders like schizophrenia. While the clinical efficacy of APDs has long since been established, the neurobiological mechanisms underlying their therapeutic benefits are still not well understood. Methods: Here, we used an escalating amphetamine regimen to induce a psychosis-like state in mice. To achieve clinically relevant drug concentrations in amphetamine-pretreated mice, the typical APD haloperidol or the atypical APD olanzapine were chronically administered via subcutaneously implanted osmotic mini-pumps. Results: Demonstrating their therapeutic efficacy, both drugs dampened amphetamine-induced hyperlocomotion and restored normal behaviour in the light-induced activity test. Whole-cell recordings from dopaminergic neurons of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) in ex vivo brain slices revealed two pronounced aberrations associated with the psychosis-like state: Strongly enhanced spontaneous firing and a substantial loss of G protein-gated inwardly rectifying potassium (GIRK) current upon activation of GABAB receptors with baclofen. Chronic haloperidol and olanzapine restored normal firing and partially rescued the GIRK current response to baclofen. In ex vivo slices containing the nucleus accumbens, which receives a dopaminergic projection from the VTA, abrogation of long-term synaptic depression (LTD) and enhanced excitatory drive onto medium spiny neurons were identified as synaptic consequences of amphetamine-induced psychosis. Again, both alterations proved amenable to chronic APD treatment. Conclusion: Our data provide evidence for aberrant neuronal function and plasticity in the mesolimbic dopamine system during an induced psychotic state and identify these alterations as targets of chronic APD treatment