2,222 research outputs found

    Raison d\u27ETAT and the American Philosophy of Realism in World Affairs. (Volumes I and II).

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    The purpose of this study is to determine the extent to which the heritage of political thought shaping European raison d\u27etat is significant for the theory and practice of post-World War II realism in American foreign policy. Analysis is guided by the hypothesis that the response of postwar realists to the issues raised by an interdependent multistate system differs from the traditional rationale of raison d\u27etat intended for a Eurocentric international society characterized by common diplomatic objectives and values. Consideration is given to how the continental legacy has been modified and adapted by realist spokesmen to the exigencies of America\u27s postwar foreign policy agenda. An opening chapter examines some of the leading European proponents of raison d\u27etat (Thucydides, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Richelieu, and Bismarck). The following four chapters provide a number of case studies by which four prominent American thinkers (Walter Lippmann, Reinhold Niebuhr, Hans J. Morgenthau, and George F. Kennan) can be compared and evaluated with regard to the basic assumptions and principles of raison d\u27etat. The four general criteria for evaluation include: (1) political philosophy and methods of analysis; (2) conceptualization and definition; (3) realism and moral choice in foreign policy; and (4) contemporary foreign policy developments. A concluding chapter assesses the intellectual orientation of American realism by noting both similarities and differences with respect to how the four American thinkers critique the methods and principles of raison d\u27etat. Specifically, realist scholars have more often exemplified a pragmatic perspective in seeking to reconcile universal moral principles with the necessities of national survival and security. Moreover, the continuing significance of national interest and balance of power illustrates the tension between the persistence of state sovereignty and the need for political realists to forcefully address the emergence of new domestic and transnational variables that have become relevant for the role and responsibilities of American power in world politics

    MAP Estimation for Hyperspectral Image Resolution Enhancement Using an Auxiliary Sensor

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    This paper presents a novel maximum a posteriori (MAP) estimator for enhancing the spatial resolution of an image using co-registered high spatial-resolution imagery from an auxiliary sensor. Here we focus on the use of high-resolution panchomatic data to enhance hyperspectral imagery. However, the estimation framework developed allows for any number of spectral bands in the primary and auxiliary image. The proposed technique is suitable for applications where some correlation, either localized or global, exists between the auxiliary image and the image being enhanced. To exploit localized correlations, a spatially varying statistical model, based on vector quantization, is used. Another important aspect of the proposed algorithm is that it allows for the use of an accurate observation model relating the “true” scene with the low-resolutions observations. Experimental results with hyperspectral data derived from the Airborne Visible-Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) are presented to demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed estimator

    Building Community, Fostering Collaboration, and Engaging Bridge Program Students with a college’s historical archives

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    Similar to smaller archives, this college’s archives have not been traditionally accessible online. Two instructors sought to teach summer bridge program (Boot Camp) students basic archival practices and quantitatively measure their information literacy skills through using the Information Literacy Skills (ILA) and Students’ Perceptions of their Information Skills-Questionnaire (SPIL-Q) instruments (cite). Boot Camp students’ average perceived confidence with IL skills as assessed by the SPIL-Q instrument increased from 4.00 to 4.77 (+19.2%) on the post-training SPIL-Q. By adding the ILA and SPIL-Q instruments to the course curriculum, combined with end of course reflection questions, the instructors were able to quantitatively determine if the students’ comprehension of evaluating information improved after handling, processing, and digitizing primary source documents. This study demonstrates the opportunities for community building and collaboration afforded by archivists and librarians engaging faculty and students with primary source exploration through college archives

    Point-to-Point Multicast Communications Protocol

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    This paper describes a protocol to support point-to-point interprocessor communications with multicast. Dynamic, cut-through routing with local flow control is used to provide a high-throughput, low-latency communications path between processors. In addition multicast transmissions are available, in which copies of a packet are sent to multiple destinations using common resources as much as possible. Special packet terminators and selective buffering are introduced to avoid a deadlock during multicasts. A simulated implementation of the protocol is also described

    The Biogeochemistry of Hydrogen Sulfide: Phytoplankton Production in the Surface Ocean

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    Hydrogen sulfide can exist in oxic waters in the form of a dissolved gas, dissociated ions, dissolved metal sulfide complexes, and particulate metal sulfides. The sum of the dissolved species is termed total dissolved sulfide (TDS). In addition to the hydrolysis of carbonyl sulfide, it has been speculated that phytoplankton may produce TDS. We present results from preliminary culture studies which demonstrate that phytoplankton produce TDS and particulate acid-volatile sulfide (pAVS). The phylogenetic order of TDS + pAVS production (per unit cell volume) for the oceanic species examined is Synechococcus sp. \u3e Emiliania huxleyi ≈ Pyramimonas obovata \u3e Thalassiosira oceanica. Moreover, TDS and pAVS production increases when the concentrations of uncomplexed trace metals in culture media are also increased, suggesting metal detoxification via the formation of metal sulfide complexes

    Standardised self-management kits for children with type 1 diabetes: pragmatic randomised trial of effectiveness and cost-effectiveness:pragmatic randomised trial of effectiveness and cost-effectiveness

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    Objective To estimate the effectiveness of standardised self-management kits for children with type 1 diabetes. Design Pragmatic trial with randomisation ratio of two intervention: one control. Qualitative process evaluation. Setting 11 diabetes clinics in England and Wales. Participants Between February 2010 and August 2011, we validly randomised 308 children aged 6–18 years; 201 received the intervention. Intervention We designed kits to empower children to achieve glycaemic control, notably by recording blood glucose and titrating insulin. The comparator was usual treatment. Outcome measures at 3 and 6 months Primary: Diabetes Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL). Secondary: HbA1c; General PedsQL; EQ-5D; healthcare resource use. Results Of the five Diabetes PedsQL dimensions, Worry showed adjusted scores significantly favouring self-management kits at 3 months (mean child-reported difference =+5.87; Standard error[SE]=2.19; 95% confidence interval [CI]) from +1.57 to +10.18; p=0.008); but Treatment Adherence significantly favoured controls at 6 months (mean child-reported difference=−4.68; SE=1.74; 95%CI from −8.10 to −1.25; p=0.008). Intervention children reported significantly worse changes between 3 and 6 months on four of the five Diabetes PedsQL dimensions and on the total score (mean difference=−3.20; SE=1.33; 95% CI from −5.73 to −0.67; p=0.020). There was no evidence of change in HbA1c; only 18% of participants in each group achieved recommended levels at 6 months. No serious adverse reactions attributable to the intervention or its absence were reported. Use of kits was poor. Few children or parents associated blood glucose readings with better glycaemic control. The kits, costing £185, alienated many children and parents. Conclusions Standardised kits showed no evidence of benefit, inhibited diabetes self-management and increased worry. Future research should study relationships between children and professionals, and seek new methods of helping children and parents to manage diabetes

    Update and critical reanalysis of IUPAC benchmark propagation rate coefficient data

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    The dataset used to generate IUPAC benchmark Arrhenius parameters for propagation rate coefficients in radical polymerization is extended and reanalyzed, taking into account systematic interlaboratory variation
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