The Dynamical Mordell-Lang problem

Let X be a Noetherian space, let f be a continuous self-map on X, let Y be a closed subset of X, and let x be a point on X. We show that the set S consisting of all nonnegative integers n such that f^n(x) is in Y is a union of at most finitely many arithmetic progressions along with a set of Banach density zero. In particular, we obtain that given any quasi-projective variety X, any rational self-map map f on X, any subvariety Y of X, and any point x in X whose orbit under f is in the domain of definition for f, the set S is a finite union of arithmetic progressions together with a set of Banach density zero. We prove a similar result for the backward orbit of a point

THE RESILIENCE OF IRAQI CORRUPTION

For nearly four decades now, corruption has become widespread and deeply entrenched in Iraq. Iraq has also been the site of terrible violence and conflict over these same decades, and corruption has been a key contributor to this instability. The current Iraqi regime, led by Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, with the assistance of the international community, has attempted to reduce this corruption but without much success. This thesis seeks to understand why the anticorruption strategies Iraq has pursued have found so little success. To answer this question, this thesis uses official government documents and reports, scholarly research and analysis of corruption, nongovernmental organization (NGO) works published regarding corruption, and media reporting (particularly in Iraq) to further explore efforts taken at reducing corruption in Iraq and explaining the obstacles these efforts have encountered. This thesis finds that the anticorruption strategy in Iraq has been unsuccessful primarily because it has failed to address the underlying framework of incentives that motivates public officials to commit the corrupt acts while omitting important aspects of successful anticorruption regimes. This includes the positive incentives that encourage corrupt behavior, the lack of negative incentives to discourage it, and the exclusion of the public from anticorruption initiatives.Lieutenant, United States NavyApproved for public release. Distribution is unlimited

The \u3cem\u3en\u3c/em\u3e-Extent of \u3cem\u3eS\u3csup\u3e3\u3c/sup\u3e(p,m)\u3c/em\u3e

In this paper we estimate xtn (S3 (p, m)), the n-extent of various lens spaces. We give numerical evidence for extending certain results of D. G. Yang [Duke Math. J., 74 (1994), 531-545.] to primes p between 11 and 37. We explain the implication of our results for the topology of 4-dimensional manifolds of positive sectional curvature with nontrivial isometric Zp-actions

COMPARISON OF MOMENTS AND SHEAR FORCES OF THE HIP AND KNEE DURING STEP UPS AND SINGLE LEG SQUATS

The purpose of this study was to evaluate moments and shear forces at the hip and knee during step ups and single leg squats. Subjects were 12 weight trained adults. Each subject performed 3 repetitions of step ups and single leg squats using 70% of 1 repetition maximum. 2 X 2 (lift X phase (eccentric/concentric)) repeated measures ANOVAs were performed for each dependent variable. Significant interaction effects (

Telgo323: an H.323 Bridge for deaf telephony

We have developed a prototype bridge that relays text and speech between Teldem, a text telephone for the Deaf, and a standard telephone or H.323 endpoint. Telgo323 uses modified H.323 media gateways and open source Text to Speech and Speech to Text software. The approach allows for easy integration of new tools as the technologies mature. This paper presents the design of the implementation prototype, discusses Teldem tone decoding, and suggests directions for future work. The Telgo323 provides evidence that an automated relay bridge is imminently viable for the Deaf Community, and further demonstrates an attractive approach for building bridges over the Digital Divide.Telkom, Siemens, THRIPDepartment of HE and Training approved lis

Splashpads, Swings, and Shade: Parents\u27 Preferences for Neighbourhood Parks

Background Physical activity is a modifiable behavior that can help curtail the increasing worldwide problem of childhood obesity. Appropriate recreational opportunities, including neighborhood parks, are particularly important for promoting physical activity among children. Because children\u27s use of parks is mainly under the influence of their parents, understanding parents\u27 preferences is essential for creating the most inviting and usable park space to facilitate children\u27s physical activity. Methods Eighty-two intercept interviews were conducted with a heterogeneous sample of parents / guardians watching their children at neighborhood parks in London, Ontario. Parents / guardians were asked questions about how often they frequent the park, whether it is the closest to their residence, and their likes / dislikes for the park. Strategies to ensure trustworthiness of the data were employed. Results Interviewees attended their park of choice between 1–7 times per week with the average being 2.5 times per week. Only 49% of respondents frequented the park closest to their starting destination (home or daycare facility), and the majority traveled more than 4 km to get to the park. For those who chose to travel a significant distance to attend their park of choice, park location was not as important as the amenities they desired. Parents\u27 main reasons for choosing parks were: water attractions, shade, swings, and cleanliness. Conclusions The current study provides useful insights on park use with potentially important implications for increasing physical activity among children. Incorporating parents\u27 preferences into strategies for creating or modifying city parks will help to ensure that limited public resources are being targeted most effectively in support of children\u27s physical activity

Challenging the tyranny of citizenship:Statelessness in Lebanon

There are seventeen million people in the world who are stateless, not considered as citizens by any state. They suffer due to the current function of citizenship in the nation-state system, occupying a legal space outside of the system, yet, their lives are very much blighted by the system itself. This research examines the possibility that global citizenship could be a means to address statelessness. Global citizenship, unlike (national) citizenship, is, in theory, inclusive, and membership is based on our shared humanity. However, when approaching the global citizenship literature, two concerns became apparent. First, there is a significant lack of theorisation on the stateless in the discourse, and second, some scholars make the assumption that a global citizen has citizenship of a state – which the stateless do not. To begin to overcome these concerns, this research develops and implements a stateless centric perspective on global citizenship, using it to analyse the situation of the stateless in the case of Lebanon. The stateless centric approach developed here, views global citizenship through the actions and perspectives of those addressing statelessness. With four large and protracted stateless populations, Lebanon provides an empirically rich context, within which to undertake this research. The findings of the stateless centric perspective problematise the received wisdom of citizenship, the nation-state and allows for the exploration of the expressions and tensions in the practices of global citizenship. Drawing on a contextualised understanding of these practices, a ‘patchwork’ approach to global citizenship is proposed. This sees the creation of a public political space as an act of global citizenship, when it draws on universal principles. These universal principles are used to justify this space, taking on an instrumental role. It is a patchwork as these spaces can be seen in the wider global context, as either directly or indirectly connected, through their shared use of universal principles. By centralising the stateless in our conceptualisations of the nation-state, citizenship and global citizenship, the value of taking a stateless centric perspective, and its ability to draw out further nuances in the debate, is shown

Questioning de facto Statelessness: By Looking at de facto Citizenship

This article challenges the concept of 'de facto' (by fact) statelessness, often conceptualised as ineffective citizenship, from being included within the statelessness discourse. This is done by considering the nexus between 'de jure' (by law) statelessness and 'de facto' citizenship. The argument that if someone can have citizenship that is so ineffective they are 'de facto' stateless is extended to consider if a person can receive such effective ‘citizenship’, despite 'de jure' statelessness, that they should be considered a 'de facto' citizen, thus not stateless. By drawing upon the example of the stateless Estonians of Russian origin, the dangers of not recognising the centrality of the legal bond of citizenship, seen in attempts to incorporate 'de facto' statelessness into the statelessness debate, are reflected upon. 'De facto' ‘statelessness’ is shown not only to underutilise the plethora of human rights conventions available, but also to threaten the statelessness conventions themselves