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The collection of essays on classroom research for second language teachers includes: "Teachers as Researchers in the Language Classroom: An Overview" (Anthony J. Liddicoat, Louise M. Jansen); "A Visit to the Art Gallery: An Oral Exercise in a Second Language" (Meri Dragicevic); "Encouraging Class Cohesiveness in the LOTE Classroom" (Corine Cordes); "Can Card Games Promote the Sustained Use of LOTE Between Students?" (Therese Dupe); "Evaluating Information Gap Activities for Profiling Oral Interaction Skills" (Fiona Arthur); "What Factors Have Inhibited Second Language Development for an 'Unsuccessful' Language Student?" (Barbara Cairns); "Second Language Acquisition and Its Implications for Teaching: Teaching Word Order in Indonesian" (Melissa Gould); "Students' Approaches to Reading Comprehension" (Mary Nicolson); "Reading Activities in Early Childhood Classes" (Melanie Hobbs); "Introducing a Reading Strategy to ESL Students" (Lorna Fleetwood); and "Teaching Students to Communicate: An Examination of the Discourse Forms Modelled in Current Texts" (Livia Tigwell). (MSE)

This book is designed to be the go-to source for information on mathematical motivation. It presents the full body of research on motivation in a useful, interesting, and provocative matter.

In this book, 16 authors from Europe, Africa, and the United States reflect on the transformations that are currently taking place in the field of adult and continuing education. The 12 chapters are "Reconciling the Irreconcilable? Adult and Continuing Education Between Personal Development, Corporate Concerns, and Public Responsibility" (Matthias Finger, Theo Jansen, Danny Wildemeersch); "Modern Field and Post-Modern Moorland: Adult Education Bound for Glory or Bound and Gagged" (Richard Edwards, Robin Usher); "The Education of Adults as a Social Movement: A Question for Late Modern Society" (Peter Jarvis); "Flexibilization or Career Identity?" (Frans Meijers, Gerard Wijers); "Different Views on Literacy" (Max van der Kamp, Laurenz Veendrick); "Learning for Sustainable Development: Examining Life World Transformation Among Farmers" (Joke Vandenabeele, Danny Wildemeersch); "In Defense of Education as Problematization: Some Preliminary Remarks on a Strategy of Disarmament" (Jan Masschelein); "Adult Education and Training in the Framework of Reconstruction and Development in South Africa" (Astrid von Kotze); "The Transformation of Community Education" (Ruud van der Veen); "Civil Society as Theory and Project: Adult Education and the Renewal of Global Citizenship" (Michael Welton); "Empowerment and Social Responsibility in the Learning Society" (Cees A. Klaassen); and "Reframing Reflectivity in View of Adult Education for Social Responsibility" (Theo Jansen, Matthias Finger, Danny Wildemeersch). (YLB)

Teachers are looking for new ways to respond to challenging behaviour. The premise of the book is that teachers can make a difference and that schools and early childhood education settings can be places where behaviour is addressed with courage and conviction. Both the education sector and wider society are increasingly exploring culturally responsive and relationship-based principles and practices. This book sets out the theory and practice of a range of restorative practices and shows they can work in education settings. There is discussion of issues such as building systems-level engagement, leadership approaches and adults modelling restorative practice. The editors have drawn together educators and researchers who are experts in their field and who care deeply about students and teachers.

This book describes the teaching of reading in Denmark. Topics discussed are the holistic educational approach to reading (essentially an eclectic reading method), reading instruction techniques used from kindergarten through high school, remedial instruction, individualization, and speed reading. An individualized speed reading method for adults and a survey of reading problems as described by students are also described. Appendixes include information about the Danish sytem of education and language, information about books and libraries in Denmark, content analysis of children's books and educational materials, and descriptions of national television programs in reading instruction. (MKM)

A chapter of the book "Political Theologies: Public Religions in a Post-Secular World," edited by Hent de Vries and Lawrence E. Sullivan, is presented. It explores the modern intellectual and cultural history following the complex French debates on the politics of republican secularism. It states that the debate has been resulted to the 2004 legal ban on headscarfs and religious signs in state-run schools, including Muslim veils, Jewish yarmulkes, and outsized Christian crucifixes.

The aim of this study was to establish if patients with hemodynamically relevant or irrelevant stenoses of the extracranial internal carotid artery have different intracranial arterial oxygen saturation as measured by transcranial pulse oximetry using near infrared spectroscopy. Patients with unilateral stenosis ≥70% according to North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial (NASCET) were included. Hemodynamic relevance was assessed using ultrasound criteria. Transcranial spectroscopy recordings were taken before and after surgical or interventional treatment of the stenosis. Optodes were placed bilaterally on the intact frontoparietal aspect of the skull. Oxygen saturation and diversion angle alpha from the hemoglobin plane were measured. There were no significant differences regarding arterial oxygen saturation between the two groups. Oxygen saturation ranged from 0.910 ± 0.08 to 0.957 ± 0.028 in the subgroups (all values asmean± S.E.). These values are consistent with previous studies and theoretical values. In smokers we found a significantly shifted diversion angle from the hemoglobin plane to the negative side. This indicates the presence of an absorber other than oxy- and desoxyhemoglobin in the optical field. Weconclude that transcranial pulse oximetry cannot distinguish between patients with hemodynamically relevant and irrelevant stenosis of the internal carotid artery. However it seems to be capable of distinguishing smokers from non-smokers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paraoxonase (PON1) is a high density lipoprotein-associated enzyme capable of hydrolyzing multiple substrates, including several organophosphorus (OP) insecticides and nerve agents, oxidized lipids and a number of drugs or pro-drugs. Several polymorphisms in the PON1 gene have been described, which have been shown to affect either the catalytic efficiency of hydrolysis or the expression level of the enzyme. Animal studies have shown that PON1 is an important determinant of the toxicity of certain OPs. Evidence for this was provided by cross-species comparisons, by administration of exogenous PON1 and by experiments in PON1 knockout and transgenic mice. Low PON1 plays also a role in the higher susceptibility of the young to OP toxicity. Recent findings also suggest that PON1 may modulate the toxicity resulting from exposure to mixtures of OP compounds [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several respiratory diseases, as well as surgical procedures, introduce pathological alterations in the thoracoabdominal motion. The aim of the present study is to investigate alterations in respiratory mechanics of healthy people, under different breathing patterns by using a real-time implementation of the Forced Oscillation Technique. Twenty individuals were submitted to a protocol in which they performed different breathing patterns for a period of 18 seconds. The results suggest that alterations in the normal breathing pattern can increase the mechanical load of the respiratory system, especially in men and during the exhalation phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of Forced Oscillation Technique (FOT) in the diagnosis of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). A total of 84 individuals were analysed, 28 healthy, 28 mild and moderate COPD and 28 severe COPD. The clinical usefulness of the parameters was evaluated by the analysis of receiver operating characteristic curves, investigating sensibility (Se), specificity (Sp) and the area under the curve (AUC). In the mild and moderate group, 4 of the 7 studied parameters obtained appropriate accuracy for clinical use (AUC>0.8), while in the diagnosis of patients in the severe group, 1 parameter obtained appropriate accuracy and 6 presented high accuracy (AUC>0.9). In conclusion, the parameters obtained by FOT presented adequate Se and Sp, indicating that this technique can be helpful in the evaluation of the respiratory mechanical alterations in patients with COPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work investigates the potential of the Forced Oscillation Technique (FOT) in the analysis of the respiratory mechanics in asthmatic children. The results obtained in 30 asthmatic children classified as normal to the spirometric exam and 27 asthmatics with mild obstruction were compared with 14 controls. The parameters obtained by FOT described an increase in respiratory system resistance (p<0.0003), as well as reductions in homogeneity (p<0.001) and dynamic compliance (p<0.002). These results were coherent with the physiological process under study. ROC analyses confirmed the clinical usefulness of FOT parameters and confirmed the high potencial of this technique in the proposed application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work describes a new methodology dedicated to the real-time evaluation of the respiratory impedance in awake subjects. After the description of the hardware and software, the results obtained comparing controls and asthmatics subjects were presented and discussed. These analyses revealed higher impedances at the beginning the inhalation (10.55±5,27 cmH2O/L/s) comparing with exhalation (8.23±3.78 cmH2O/L/s) in asthmatics. Impedances measured during the inhalation and exhalation phases were higher in asthmatics comparing with controls (p<0.0001). These results are consistent with recently published theories and physiological fundamentals, confirming the potential of this method in the study of asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following the detection of the harlequin ladybird, Harmonia axyridis, in 2003 in potato crops in Belgium, a study was carried out between 2004 and 2006 on the phenology of this species compared to native species in potato. The results confirmed the success of H. axyridis, with high population levels in 2004 and 2005. In 2006, aphid populations were very low and no H. axyridis larvae were sampled in potato, but the indigenous species Coccinella septempunctata and Propylea quatuordecimpunctata were detected. A species by species comparison of the date of first larvae detection, the larvae population peak, and the difference between this peak and the aphid population peak was performed. Results showed a clear correlation between C. septempunctata and P. quatuordecimpunctata and potato aphids, with a delay of 3.5 and 6.5 days between the aphid and ladybird population peaks for the two native species. H. axyridis arrived 7-8 days after the two indigenous species and the larval peak population occurred 15.8 days after the aphid population peak. This meant that H. axyridis had to complete its larval development with very low aphid populations or even with no aphids at all. The reason for its late arrival and the possible food resources used by H. axyridis larvae are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring of continental hydrology by measuring gravity variations is one of the primary aims of the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) mission. We proposed to combine the GRACE measurements with GPS time series provided by the IGS to strengthen the long wavelengths of the hydrology solution. This strategy is necessary because GRACE monthly gravity solutions not yet match the targeted baseline accuracies at the lower spherical harmonic degrees. The method of GPS inversion has been proposed by Blewitt et al (2001), and sensitivity studies have shown that GPS could contribute up to 60% to degrees 2-4, and up to 30% for selected higher degrees in a combination. New in our approach is a) the introduction of a physically motivated regularization method that guarantees stable GPS-inversions up to higher degrees, while minimizing spatial aliasing, and b) the combination with GRACE in a weighted least-squares sense. We find geocenter estimates which are consistent with previous studies. We estimate a variation in the Earth's flattening term which closely resembles independent estimates from SLR. Finally, we provide some low-degree combined GPS+GRACE mass redistribution grids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current uniform contribution and accrual system, all members - irrespective of their age - receive the same pension accrual for the same contribution rate. This leads to large transfers between various groups of members, which makes the pension system vulnerable. The decreasing accrual system that we have analysed, in which each member pays the same contribution rate and in return receives a decreasing accrual depending on their age, does not suffer from these transfers. However, a switch to this system may entail undesirable social effects. Compensation for insufficient pension accrual for active members - upto a maximum of 20% of the liabilities - must be taken into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A case study in Albania is presented based on the EU Phare Land Use Policy II project results where GIS-oriented instruments and innovative methodologies were implemented to support decision making for land-use policy and planning. The developed Land-Use Information System for Albania allows the logical and functional hierarchical arrangement of land uses and data harmonisation with other land-use description systems. It is linked to the object-oriented Land-Use Change Analyses methodology that groups changes into conversions and modifications. The preferred change patterns indicate that land users take rational decisions when changing land use, even in the absence of any regulating plan, as is the case in post-communist Albania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A biological pacemaker might be created by generation of a cellular construct consisting of cardiac cells that display spontaneous membrane depolarization, and that are electrotonically coupled to surrounding myocardial cells by means of gap junctions. Depending on the frequency of the spontaneously beating cells, frequency regulation might be required. We hypothesized that application of Kir2.1 expressing non-cardiac cells, which provide IK1 to spontaneously active neonatal cardiomyocytes (NCMs) by electrotonic coupling in such a cellular construct, would generate an opportunity for pacemaker frequency control. Non-cardiac Kir2.1 expressing cells were co-cultured with spontaneously active rat NCMs. Electrotonic coupling between the two cell types resulted in hyperpolarization of the cardiomyocyte membrane potential and silencing of spontaneous activity. Either blocking of gap-junctional communication by halothane or inhibition of IK1 by BaCl2 restored the original membrane potential and spontaneous activity of the NCMs. Our results demonstrate the power of electrotonic coupling for the application of specific ion currents into an engineered cellular construct such as a biological pacemaker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Innovation is one of the most important phenomena for the further development of industry and the resulting effects on society. Over the last fifty years the speed of changes has gradually increased. To be able to participate in this world of fast changes, it is necessary to thoroughly think about the current methods of product development and its future issues. A number of research activities are illustrated to show important future directions of development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a significant need for therapies to enhance healing in large skeletal defects because there exist over 1 million cases each year of patients requiring bone graft procedures to correct such defects1. These defects can arise for a variety of reasons including trauma, congenital deformity, and tumor resection and thus exist in a wide range of shapes, sizes, and functional locations. The most successful of current treatments for large bone defects is autologous bone graft. This therapy is attractive because there is no risk of immune rejection to the transplanted tissue; however, there are two major drawbacks associated with this procedure. First, there is a limited supply of donor bone, which is harvested primarily from the trabecular bone of the iliac crest, or from a whole rib or fibula. Thus, there may not be enough donor tissue for proper shape reconstruction of the defect that can also support the necessary mechanical load during healing.2 Second, autologous bone graft therapies are associated with a risk of morbidity at the donor site which was healthy to begin with. Due to these issues, there is a need for alternative strategies to bone healing that allow exact shape reconstruction, are mechanically strong, and are biocompatible in both the short and long term. To this end, bone tissue engineering has evolved as a practical method of regenerating large bony defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Off-the-shelf packages such as SAP need to be configured to suit the requirements of an organization. Reference models support the configuration of these systems. Existing reference models use rather traditional languages. For example, the SAP reference model uses Event-driven Process Chains (EPCs). Unfortunately, the choice construct within traditional process modeling languages like EPCs do not capture different scopes or impacts of decisions. That means they offer no opportunities to distinguish between decisions made for a single case (i. e. process instance) when executing the process and decisions made in advance for numerous cases impacting bigger parts of the company. This paper discusses the need for configurable process models. An analysis of configuration from a theoretical perspective provides a solid fundament for such models. Within the analysis a link is made to inheritance of dynamic behavior and previously defined inheritance concepts. By applying these concepts to process models the essence of configuration is determined, which enables the development of more mature configurable process modeling languages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy diversity and security have been evaluated using Stirling's (1994, 1996, 1997b, 1998) multi-criteria diversity analysis (MDA) as well as more classical Markowitz meanvariance portfolio (MVP) theory (Awerbuch and Berger, 2003; Awerbuch, 2005). Each of these approaches is capable of producing an efficient frontier (EF) that shows optimal generating mixes - those that maximize performance (i.e. minimize cost) while minimizing risk or uncertainty (i.e. maximizing diversity). MDA covers the full spectrum of "incertitude," reaching into areas where little is known about the range of possible outcomes, let alone their probabilities. However, MDA does not exploit statistical information that is available in certain parts of the risk spectrum where historic means, variances and co-variances of outcomes are known and can be used to make inferences about the future. MVP operates precisely in this space, although, like other capital market models, its prescriptive value rests on the idea that the past is the best guide to the future and that. As such MVP can be blind to unforeseen events that create future structural change. Used in isolation, therefore, neither model offers a fully satisfying result. An MVP analysis of energy technologies tells us how to create generating portfolios with minimum cost and risk (cost-variance), assuming historic ranges predict the future well enough. The solutions are fine - as long as decision makers are confident that market prices fully reflect all relevant considerations and that past values, ranges and variances provide a reliable guide to the future. Yet it is unlikely that relevant technology and portfolio attributes are fully reflected purely by the level and variability of their accounting costs. MDA recognizes that performance aspects are incompletely addressed in market prices and that concern about the future extends to so-called unknown risks, that is possible future events of a kind or scale that has not occurred before. This chapter articulates the two approaches to make it potentially applicable to a full range of decision-making contexts. Using a combined MVP+MDA optimization we map the space between optimal MVP and MDA solutions for a given set of input assumptions. Placing 100% of the emphasis on MVP, produces results based purely on market prices and historic trends. These may suffice for narrower financial purposes or short planning horizons. On the other hand, giving MDA a 100% weighting produces portfolios that remain efficient even under conditions of uncertainty, ambiguity or ignorance, where policy makers need to consider broader notions of performance and have less confidence in their knowledge of future events and their consequences. The full-spectrum uncertainty model enables policy makers to evaluate how the EF changes as their confidence in historic-based statistical risk measures is reduced while uncertainty, ambiguity and ignorance are given more weight. The full-spectrum model provides a basis for systematically exploring sensitivity to changes in the underlying qualitative assumptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We implement the algorithm for the max-min resource sharing problem described in [7], using a new line search technique for determining a suitable step length. Our line search technique uses a modified potential function that is less costly to evaluate, thus heuristically simplifying the computation. Observations concerning the quality of the dual solution and oscillating behavior of the algorithm are made. First numerical observations are briefly discussed. In particular we study a certain class of linear programs, namely the computational bottleneck of an algorithm from [8] for solving strip packing with an approach from [10, 13]. For these, we obtain practical running times. Our implementation is able to solve instances for small accuracy parameters ε for which the methods proposed in theory are out of practical interest. More precisely, the technique from improves the known runtime bound of O(M6ln 2(Mn/(at))+M5n/t+ln (Mn/(at))) to the more favourable bound O(M(ε-3(ε-2+ln M)+M(ε-2+ln M))), where n denotes the number of items, M the number of distinct item widths, a the width of the narrowest item and t is a desired additive tolerance. Keywords: Algorithm Engineering, Implementation, Testing, Evaluation and Fine-tuning, Mathematical Programming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Probabilistic methods have advanced the design of algorithms in algorithmic discrete mathematics and theoretical computer science. Many notoriously hard algorithmic problems have been solved with randomized algorithms or probabilistic methods, either optimally or in a satisfactory approximative way. One of the powerful tools in analyzing randomized approximation algorithms is the Lovász-Local-Lemma, a sieve method with many nice applications. In this article we show its impact on job shop scheduling and resource constrained scheduling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The k-median problem is a central problem in Operations Research that has captured the attention of the Algorithms community in recent years. Despite its importance, a non-trivial approximation algorithm for the problem eluded researchers for a long time. Remarkably, a succession of papers with ever improved performance ratios have been written in the last couple of years. We review some of the approaches that have been used to design approximation algorithms for this problem, and we also present some of the known results about the hardness of approximating the optimum solution for the k-median problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many approximation results for single machine scheduling problems rely on the conversion of preemptive schedules into (preemptive or non-preemptive) solutions. The initial preemptive schedule is usually an optimal solution to a combinatorial relaxation or a linear programming relaxation of the scheduling problem under consideration. It therefore provides a lower bound on the optimal objective function value. However, it also contains structural information which is useful for the construction of provably good feasible schedules. In this context, list scheduling in order of so-called α-points has evolved as an important and successful tool. We give a survey and a uniform presentation of several approximation results for single machine scheduling with total weighted completion time objective from the last years which rely on the concept of α-points. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider a general classification problem, also known as labeling problem, which is strongly related to several standard classification frameworks and has applications in various computer science domains. In this chapter, we put together and review known results coming from application domains as well as recent advances on the approximability of the problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider the classical problem of scheduling jobs in a multiprocessor setting in order to minimize the flow time (total time in the system). The performance of the algorithm, both in offline and online settings, can be significantly improved if we allow preemption: i.e., interrupt a job and later continue its execution. Preemption is inherent to make a scheduling algorithm efficient [7,8]. Minimizing the total flow time on parallel machines with preemption is known to be NP-hard on m ≥ 2 machines. Leonardi and Raz [8] showed that the well known heuristic shortest remaining processing time (SRPT) performs within a logarithmic factor of the optimal offline algorithm on parallel machines. It is not known if better approximation factors can be reached and thus SRPT, although it is an online algorithm, becomes the best known algorithm in the off-line setting. In fact, in the on-line setting, Leonardi and Raz showed that no algorithm can achieve a better bound. In this work we present a nicer and simpler proof of the approximation ratio of SRPT. The proof presented in this paper combines techniques from the original paper of Leonardi and Raz [8] with those presented in a later paper on approximating total flow time when job preemption but not job migration is allowed [2] and on approximating total flow time non-clairvoyantly [3], that is when the processing time of a job is only known at time of completion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we present a general technique to solve min-max and max-min resource sharing problems and show how to use it for two applications: scheduling jobs on unrelated machines, and strip packing. First we consider the following general type of min-max resource sharing problems. Given a non-empty convex set and a set of M non-negative convex functions fi(x), the goal is to find a vector x ∈ B that minimizes the value . In the max-min resource sharing problem, the functions fi(x) are non-negative and concave and the goal is to find a point x ∈ B that maximizes . In both cases we assume to have a fast subroutine to solve a simpler optimization problem (called the corresponding block problem): to minimize or to maximize a non-negative convex or concave cost function over B, respectively. The subroutine is called the block solver. The feasibility variants to find a vector x ∈ B such that f(x) ≤ e or f(x) ≥ e, where e is the vector of all ones and the functions fi are non-negative and linear, are called the fractional packing and covering problem, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This chapter surveys on-line and approximation algorithms for the maximum independent set and coloring problems on intersection graphs of disks. It includes a more detailed treatment of recent upper and lower bounds on the competitive ratio of on-line algorithms for coloring such graphs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the maximum edge-disjoint paths problem (MEDP) the input consists of a graph and a set of requests (pairs of vertices), and the goal is to connect as many requests as possible along edge-disjoint paths. We give a survey of known results about the complexity and approximability of MEDP and sketch some of the main ideas that have been used to obtain approximation algorithms for the problem. We consider also the generalization of MEDP where the edges of the graph have capacities and each request has a profit and a demand, called the unsplittable flow problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of the path coloring problem is motivated by the allocation of optical bandwidth to communication requests in all-optical networks that utilize Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM). WDM technology establishes communication between pairs of network nodes by establishing transmitter-receiver paths and assigning wavelengths to each path so that no two paths going through the same fiber link use the same wavelength. Optical bandwidth is the number of distinct wavelengths. Since state-of-the-art technology allows for a limited number of wavelengths, the engineering problem to be solved is to establish communication minimizing the total number of wavelengths used. This is known as the wavelength routing problem. In the case where the underlying network is a tree, it is equivalent to the path coloring problem. We survey recent advances on the path coloring problem in both undirected and bidirected trees. We present hardness results and lower bounds for the general problem covering also the special case of sets of symmetric paths (corresponding to the important case of symmetric communication). We give an overview of the main ideas of deterministic greedy algorithms and point out their limitations. For bidirected trees, we present recent results about the use of randomization for path coloring and outline approximation algorithms that find path colorings by exploiting fractional path colorings. Also, we discuss upper and lower bounds on the performance of on-line algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this chapter we review the main results known on local search algorithms with worst case guarantees. We consider classical combinatorial optimization problems: satisfiability problems, traveling salesman and quadratic assignment problems, set packing and set covering problems, maximum independent set, maximum cut, several facility location related problems and finally several scheduling problems. A replica placement problem in a distributed file systems is also considered as an example of the use of a local search algorithm in a distributed environment. For each problem we have provided the neighborhoods used along with approximation results. Proofs when too technical are omitted, but often sketch of proofs are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aim to present current trends in the theoretical computer science research on topics which have applications in data mining. We briefly describe data mining tasks in various application contexts. We give an overview of some of the questions and algorithmic issues that are of concern when mining huge amounts of data that do not fit in main memory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Off-the-shelf packages such as SAP need to be configured to suit the requirements of an organization. Reference models support the configuration of these systems. Existing reference models use rather traditional languages. For example, the SAP reference model uses Event-driven Process Chains (EPCs). Unfortunately, traditional languages like EPCs do not capture the configuration-aspects well. Consider for example the concept of "choice" in the control-flow perspective. Although any process modeling language, including EPCs, offers a choice construct (e.g., the XOR connector in EPCs), a single construct will not be able to capture the time dimension, scope, and impact of a decision. Some decisions are taken at run-time for a single case while other decisions are taken at build-time impacting a whole organization and all current and future cases. This position paper discusses the need for configurable process models as a basic building block for reference modeling. The focus is on the control-flow perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the last decade, many mutations present in myeloid leukemias have been molecularly characterized. Several of these mutations have clear prognostic impact. The molecular screening of these mutations has now become an essential part in several risk-adapted international clinical trials. Here we describe protocols for the qualitative and quantitative detection of leukemic cells that are characterized by a CBFB-MYH11 gene fusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this chapter, methods to isolate RNA and DNA from human leukocytes for the subsequent use in molecular diagnostic tests are described. In addition, protocols for cDNA synthesis are given, both for the use in conventional reverse transcription (RT)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and for the use in quantitative RT-PCR reactions. Because sensitive PCR methods are commonly used in molecular diagnostics, measures to avoid contamination are described. Finally, a simple procedure to control the quality of isolated RNA is described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chapter 6 of the book "International Poverty Law: An Emerging Discourse" is presented. It analyzes the relationship between the international instrument and the policy and legal framework of South Africa to make concrete suggestions on how to eradicate and alleviate poverty. It also explores the social security dimension of addressing poverty in South Africa.

Purposes of standardization in information system are interoperability, interpretability, exchangeability, and sustainability of information. Standards in geographic and hypermedia information systems are the results of complex and tedious negotiation processes on an international scale. This chapter gives an overview of the existing standards in the both fields and tries to bridge the gap between the fields. These standards include OGC OpenGIS specifications for geographic information, as well as Dublin Core, MPEG-7 and MPEG-21 for hypermedia. Meanwhile MIDAS, CIDOC and Object ID for cultural heritage will be discussed, because cultural heritage standards work with geographic hypermedia standards closely. By combining the key concepts of these technologies in an open and generic metadata framework, comprehensive geographic hypermedia systems can be deployed in various areas of applications such as cultural heritage management, e-tourism, e-government, and e-learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultural heritage management is an excellent application domain for geographical hypermedia information systems. Many people with different tasks and levels of profession like fieldworkers, researchers, project and campaign officers, cultural bureaucrats etc. collaboratively producing and consuming different media like photographs, video, drawings, books, etc. must deal with exact geographic information about moveable or unmovable objects of interest. Implemented information systems must obey all standards in the different domains to overcome classical failures of isolated solutions which do not scale beyond the scope of a single project. We present a conceptual approach which integrates geographic information, multimedia information, cultural heritage information and collaborative aspects in a single information model. This conceptual approach was used to design and implement a web-based information system on top of a single commercial database covering all mentioned aspects. This information system was deployed for a project in the conservation of cultural heritage in Afghanistan to prove the validity of the concepts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]