Functional Large Deviations for Cox Processes and Cox/G/∞Cox/G/\infty Queues, with a Biological Application

We consider an infinite-server queue into which customers arrive according to a Cox process and have independent service times with a general distribution. We prove a functional large deviations principle for the equilibrium queue length process. The model is motivated by a linear feed-forward gene regulatory network, in which the rate of protein synthesis is modulated by the number of RNA molecules present in a cell. The system can be modelled as a tandem of infinite-server queues, in which the number of customers present in a queue modulates the arrival rate into the next queue in the tandem. We establish large deviation principles for this queueing system in the asymptotic regime in which the arrival process is sped up, while the service process is not scaled.Comment: 36 pages, 2 figures, to appear in Annals of Applied Probabilit

On the Trail of Student Participants: Identifying Barriers to Hunting and Developing a Hunter Recruitment Profile for College Students in Kentucky

Over the past several decades the number of individuals participating in hunting has decreased dramatically. This issue is important as hunting plays a major role in the US economy, is also the basis for the modern model of wildlife conservation, and can serve as a conduit for individuals to experience nature. The purpose of this research was to identify barriers to hunting for college students, as well as identify lifestyle factors that can be used to create a profile for college students who are ideal for hunter recruitment efforts. Students at Eastern Kentucky University, Northern Kentucky University, and Western Kentucky University were surveyed for this study. Researchers discovered that 70% of those surveyed had not participated in hunting in the past three years. However, results also showed that a 71% of respondents approved of hunting while 30% had participated in hunting. The largest barriers for college students to hunter were Time and Lack of Interest. Cluster analysis also revealed an Environmentally Inclined group (EINC) of college students who were slightly more interested in hunting than the Environmentally Indifferent group (EIND). A Potential Hunter (PH) group was also made up of individuals who expressed some interest in hunting but had not participated in hunting in the three years prior to this study (2011-2013). This (PH) group accounted for 30% of the overall sample of college students

U-Pb Detrital Zircon Geochronology within the Cape Fold BeltKaroo Basin System

U-Pb detrital zircon geochronology, in addition to sandstone petrography and heavy mineral analysis are used to constrain the provenance of the Ecca and Beaufort lithologic Groups within the Tanqua, Laingsburg, and Ripon sub-basins of the southern Gondwanan Karoo Basin. Zircon ages were acquired using Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) on 553 grains from seven hand samples. Results show two major age populations exist in all samples including an abrupt 245-295 Ma population and a broad 350-750 Ma population. Other minor age populations are present between 300-350 Ma, 850-1200 Ma, and \u3e 2000 Ma in some samples. These age populations coincide with the age of regional source terranes and tectonic events which consist of: Gondwanide (southern magmatic arc: 245-290 Ma), Pan African (488-1100 Ma), and Pampean (525-550 Ma) Orogenies as well as the Cape Supergroup (400-2700 Ma), Dwyka Glacial Group (500-3500 Ma), North Patagonian Massif (235-580 Ma), Deseado Massif (344-521 Ma), Namaqua-Natal Province (800-2200 Ma), and the Kaapvaal/Kalahari Craton (\u3e 1800 Ma).;U-Pb zircon ages within the Tanqua, Laingsburg, and Ripon sub-basins are relatively uniform throughout the middle to upper Ecca Group succession. Middle Ecca Group zircon samples contains the same major age populations as other samples, however, the proportion of Permian zircons are more prevalent than samples collected in the Upper Ecca and Beaufort Groups whereas \u3e1000 Ma zircon are rare and only exist as either minor populations or single grains. The Cambrian to Neoproterozoic age population also varies within samples with an overall increase in grain abundance upwards into the Beaufort Group.;The CFB-Karoo basin has been identified as a fold-thrust belt/foreland basin system; however, the Karoo basin sediment composition is inconsistent with derivation from the fold-belt leading to the hypothesis that the fold-belt may not have existed during Karoo basin development (300-250 Ma). Thin-section petrography of 18 sandstone samples does not fully support some previously proposed paleogeographic models. All analyzed samples generally lie in the mixed affinity and dissected arc QmFLt diagram fields. This is interpreted to indicate that the Karoo basin fill was sourced by multiple eroding source terranes causing data to plot as a mixture of multiple contributing sediment sources.;In order to further understand sediment distribution within the Tanqua, Laingsburg and, Ripon sub-basins based on north-northeast Permian paleocurrent indicators acquired from previous studies and paleogeographic reconstruction, two primary sediment pathways were hypothesized. The Ceres syntaxis, which separates the N-S and E-W trending branches, may serve as a sediment pathway connecting the hinterland and the main depocenter within the Karoo basin The formation of the Ceres syntaxis is likely responsible for the formation of and deposition into the Tanqua and Laingsburg sub-basins. The other sediment pathway, the Port Elizabeth antitaxis, may be associated with convergence of the Deseado Massif and southern Gondwanna and later associate with the Gulhas-Falkland fracture zone. The formation of this antitaxis was likely responsible for routing sediment into the Karoo Basin. The north-northeast paleocurrent direction also allows northern source terranes surrounding the Kalahari Craton can be eliminated as potential primary sediment sources, therefore grains matching the age of Kalahari Craton rocks that are found in Karoo basin-fill were likely the result of erosional recycling of the Cape Supergroup

Beneficiary participation in subsidy-based housing development : a comparative case study analysis of three housing projects in the Cape Metropolitan Area

Bibliography: leaves 108-112.In this dissertation, it is proposed that the level of satisfaction experienced by the beneficiaries of subsidy-based housing is strongly dependent on the degree of involvement by the beneficiaries in the decision-making process associated with housing development initiatives. A comparative case study analysis of three subsidy-based housing developments in the Cape Metropolitan Area (CMA) has been undertaken. One of the case studies was a housing project in Philippi East that forms part of the Integrated Serviced Land Project (iSLP), while another was a cross-subsidised housing project that forms part of an integrated development initiative at Westlake. The third case study was a People's Housing Process (PHP) project in Ocean View. The major obstacles to effective beneficiary participation in the three case study projects have been identified and discussed in this dissertation. It is suggested that many of these obstacles would be applicable to other subsidy-based housing developments in the CMA. Key lessons have been drawn as to how these common obstacles to participation in subsidy-based housing development could be overcome. The key lessons that emerged are as follows: * It is important that the housing development process is effectively facilitated. * There is a need for capacity building to form an integral component of all subsidy-based housing development projects. * Beneficiary control over the finances for subsidy-based housing development projects should be promoted. It is proposed that, if these suggestions are taken into account in subsidy-based housing developments, a relatively high degree of beneficiary participation should be realised and, subsequently, increased levels of satisfaction should be experienced amongst beneficiaries. This dissertation also proposes that subsidy-based housing projects implemented by means of the PHP (as opposed to the conventional developer-built route) should be characterised by effective process facilitation, relatively high levels of capacity building and a high degree of beneficiary control over development finances if they are carried out properly. Consequently, many of the common obstacles to beneficiary participation in subsidy-based housing development in South Africa could be overcome by effectively following-the inherently participatory PHP route to housing delivery

Inclusivity and the (un)civil paradox : critiquing and needing civility in the public sphere

Scholars have turned toward Deliberative Democracy in recent decades in part because of its potential for including more voices in decision making processes that affect an increasingly diverse polity. Inherent in Deliberative Democracy’s models, though, are what can be understood as prescriptions of certain types of civility, as consensus is posited as only happening under particular circumstances. Valuing radical inclusion, this study investigates historical negative effects of civility policing before exploring a more agonistic approach’s potential for the inclusion of all voices, especially those previously marginalized.Englis

Missouri\u27s Law on Admissibility of Other Crimes Evidence: Increasing Inclusivity

Evidence of other crimes, or uncharged misconduct evidence as it is commonly called, has been important in many criminal trials, including such well-publicized trials as that of O.J. Simpson for murder and those of William Kennedy Smith and Mike Tyson for rape.2 Furthermore, this type of evidence is important because studies have shown that admission of uncharged misconduct evidence greatly increases the likelihood that a jury will find the defendant guilty.3 State v. Skillicorn4 presents a look at the current state of the law concerning admission of other crimes evidence in Missouri. The case illustrates the difficulty in applying current rules on the admission of such evidence and the need for more definite guidelines on admission of other crimes evidence