The foundations of a nation : framing Pakistan from 1940-1971 through international relations theory and postcolonialism

This paper explores the emerging integration of international relations theory with postcolonial scholarship and uses Pakistan’s state formation and history as a case study. It is argued that international relations theory privileges European experiences and history, which results in inaccurate assumptions about the outcomes of colonialism and origins of postcolonial independence. Pakistan’s unique development as a state founded on ideology and build out of an imperial/colonial system offers an opportunity for destabilizing Eurocentrism in international studies. Rather than favoring a singular outcome or conclusion, this paper demonstrates the plurality necessary for an inclusive historical analysis of state-power.Asian StudiesGlobal Policy Studie

Response suppression as a function of a vacation from punishment

Response suppression as function of vacation from punishment in pigeon

Bridge 2018 Information Literacy Curriculum Report

A uniform curriculum has been in place in Bridge Information Literacy (IL) sessions since Fall 2015. To assess the curriculum and student learning, multiple evaluations are implemented: a student end-of-class evaluation; a faculty end-of-Bridge evaluation; and an in-class worksheet. This report summarizes student performance in Bridge as well as student and faculty evaluation responses

Subsonic flight test evaluation of a propulsion system parameter estimation process for the F100 engine

Integrated engine-airframe optimal control technology may significantly improve aircraft performance. This technology requires a reliable and accurate parameter estimator to predict unmeasured variables. To develop this technology base, NASA Dryden Flight Research Facility (Edwards, CA), McDonnell Aircraft Company (St. Louis, MO), and Pratt & Whitney (West Palm Beach, FL) have developed and flight-tested an adaptive performance seeking control system which optimizes the quasi-steady-state performance of the F-15 propulsion system. This paper presents flight and ground test evaluations of the propulsion system parameter estimation process used by the performance seeking control system. The estimator consists of a compact propulsion system model and an extended Kalman filter. The extended Laman filter estimates five engine component deviation parameters from measured inputs. The compact model uses measurements and Kalman-filter estimates as inputs to predict unmeasured propulsion parameters such as net propulsive force and fan stall margin. The ability to track trends and estimate absolute values of propulsion system parameters was demonstrated. For example, thrust stand results show a good correlation, especially in trends, between the performance seeking control estimated and measured thrust

Fear and Loathing of the Corruption Perception Index: Does Transparency International Penalize Press Freedom?

Depuis que la gouvernance compte, l’Indice de perception de la corruption construit par Transparency International (TI) est devenu l’indicateur le plus influent dans son domaine. Chaque année, un classement est ainsi établi, pointant du doigt les pays perçus comme les plus corrompus par les experts de TI. Cet indice est un outil puissant de lutte contre le fléau de la corruption, permettant effectivement de mettre une réelle pression politique sur des régimes « mal gouvernés ». L’influence de ce classement sur l’économie des pays concernés peut être importante, rendant parfois plus difficile l’accès aux financements, qu’il s’agisse de l’aide internationale ou des investissements directs étrangers. Bien souvent, il s’agit d’une double peine pour des populations déjà victimes au quotidien de services publics gangrenés par la corruption et le clientélisme. La mesure de la corruption, à l’image des différents outils mis en place pour évaluer la gouvernance, est une mesure qualitative, issue de perceptions. Comme toute perception, elle est sujette à la disponibilité de l’information et subit l’influence des médias. Nos analyses ont montré que le niveau de liberté de la presse pouvait avoir une influence importante sur ces perceptions, pénalisant les jeunes démocraties et l’ouverture progressive des médias. Transparency International’s annual Corruption Perception Index (CPI) has become the single most effective advocacy tool in the global fight against fraud, embezzlement and other abuses of public office for private gain. Countries relegated to the bottom tier of the CPI rankings are not only embarrassed (usually), but penalized financially, as the stigma makes it harder to secure aid and investment. For any multilateral loan officer or multinational plant-siting team, checking a country’s CPI rating is now basic due diligence. As well it should be: Corruption is a development scourge, acting as a stubborn brake on growth, a regressive tax on the poor, and - often - a corrosively effective enemy of democratization. Corruption assessment, not unlike governance assessment tools, is qualitative and the result of perceptions. Therefore, it suffers from the influence of information availability and media freedom. Our analysis, demonstrated that the media freedom extent may have a strong influence on corruption perceptions, penalizing young democracies and progressive media aperture.(Full text in french)

Dupilumab for bullous pemphigoid with intractable pruritus

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an autoimmune blistering disorder that predominantly affects the elderly. Treatment regimens typically include topical and systemic immunosuppressive medications. Although effective, systemic corticosteroids are sometimes poorly tolerated in the elderly patient, contributing to the overall morbidity and mortality of BP. Dupilumab is a monoclonal antibody targeting interleukin 4 receptor alpha (IL4R?), approved for the treatment of atopic dermatitis, as well as moderate to severe asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis. In recent reports, dupilumab has been successfully used off-label to treat a variety of pruritic disorders, including chronic spontaneous urticaria [1], anal and genital itch [2], allergic contact dermatitis [3], and prurigo nodularis [4, 5]. We report here a case of an elderly patient with refractory BP whose symptoms of pruritus and blistering became well-controlled with the addition of dupilumab to the treatment regimen

Connecting Past and Present: A Rhetorical Analysis of How Forensics Programs Use Storytelling to Promote Team Legacy

Given forensics programs\u27 status as organizations at academic institutions, these teams experience changes in membership far more often than typical organizations. Each year, a team will graduate a class of seniors who, through their four years as a competitor, have helped shape the program\u27s culture and legacy in numerous ways. Yet this void left by the graduating members is then filled by the incoming freshman or transfer student competitors who will now play a part in reshaping the team\u27s culture. This constant change in organizational culture makes it vital that forensic programs go to extra lengths to ensure that their historic legacy survives the constant changes. Therefore, forensics programs present themselves as an interesting case in which to study the use of narrative in constructing organizational culture