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In the autumn of 2014, with the 2013–16 West Africa Ebola epidemic spiralling out of control, the United Kingdom announced a bespoke military mission to support—and in some ways lead—numerous Ebola response functions in Sierra Leone. This study examines the nature and effect of the civil‐military relationships that subsequently developed between civilian and military Ebola response workers (ERWs). In total, 110 interviews were conducted with key involved actors, and the findings were analysed by drawing on the neo‐Durkheimian theory of organisations. This paper finds that stereotypical opposition between humanitarian and military actors helps to explain how and why there was initial cooperative and collaborative challenges. However, all actors were found to have similar hierarchical structures and operations, which explains how and why they were later able to cooperate and collaborate effectively. It also explains how and why civilian ERWs might have served to exclude and further marginalise some local actors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent policy discourse on the localisation of disaster management and humanitarian assistance lacks attention to the culture, history, and traditions of the Global South. This special issue of Disasters argues that it is imperative to recognise the dynamic, interactive, contested, and negotiated nature of local knowledge. Such local knowledge saves lives by enabling responders to situate ad hoc, one‐off events such as disasters in the broader and deeper context of community relationships, thereby providing more appropriate and more effective aid. Through the cases of China, Japan, Indonesia, and the Philippines, this special issue examines such dynamic local knowledge using an analytical framework consisting of three manifestations of local knowledge, namely: social capital; contextual historical memories; and adaptation to new ideas. These three manifestations show the ways in which local knowledge creates local capacity, via which local, national, and international disaster respondents can centre their response coordination, and in turn, demonstrate how local capacity reformulates local knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chinese humanitarian actors have worked frequently with the Chinese diaspora in disaster‐affected areas, but little, if any, research has been conducted into the important role of the diaspora in disaster response and humanitarian assistance. This paper investigates what local knowledge the Chinese diaspora has offered to humanitarian actors from the People's Republic of China (PRC), and how this has contributed to their effectiveness. Based on a case study of the semi‐autonomous Indonesian province of Aceh in the aftermath of the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004, this paper argues that the diaspora can serve as a linchpin in local and international humanitarian action. It can do so by strengthening networks and bringing together local ethnic communities, local governments, and the PRC's humanitarian actors, while also offering local knowledge in the form of contextual memory. Such local knowledge may have to be fully utilised to address any underlying ethnic tensions in disaster‐affected areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breakthroughs in international biomedical science circa 1900 meant that plague could be contained through strict quarantine regulations. These measures were successfully deployed with help from local governments during outbreaks of pneumonic plague in Manchuria (1910–11), Shanxi (1918), and elsewhere in North China. This containment shows the effectiveness of uniting international knowledge and local cooperation in disaster response. Yet, in later outbreaks in similar locations, control measures identical to those instituted a decade earlier were rejected, and plague spread largely unchecked. Historical case studies of the control and spread of infectious disease in North China reveal the complexities of the relationship between global knowledge and its broader, local integration, variation in what constitutes effective 'local' cooperation in adopting international knowledge, and the paramount importance of the locality to the landscape of disaster response. History can reveal critical issues in localisation of disaster response still salient today. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years discontinuous Galerkin (DG) methods have received increased interest from the geophysical community. In these methods the solution in each grid cell is approximated as a linear combination of basis functions. Ensemble data assimilation (DA) aims to approximate the true state by combining model outputs with observations using error statistics estimated from an ensemble of model runs. Ensemble data assimilation in geophysical models faces several well‐documented issues. In this work we exploit the expansion of the solution in DG basis functions to address some of these issues. Specifically, it is investigated whether a DA–DG combination (a) mitigates the need for observation thinning, (b) reduces errors in the field's gradients, and (c) can be used to set up scale‐dependent localisation. Numerical experiments are carried out using stochastically generated ensembles of model states, with different noise properties, and with Legendre polynomials as basis functions. It is found that strong reduction in the analysis error is achieved by using DA–DG and that the benefit increases with increasing DG order. This is especially the case when small scales dominate the background error. The DA improvement in the first derivative is, on the other hand, marginal. We think this to be a counter‐effect of the power of DG to fit the observations closely, which can deteriorate the estimates of the derivatives. Applying optimal localisation to the different polynomial orders, thus exploiting their different spatial length, is beneficial: it results in a covariance matrix closer to the true covariance than the matrix obtained using traditional optimal localisation in state space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on research with key stakeholders, this paper draws on theories of organisational and political listening to analyse the critical emergence of 'localisation' during the 2016 World Humanitarian Summit. The central focus is the two‐year pre‐summit consultation process, engaging 23,000‐plus people, mainly from the Global South, and organised specifically to bring different views and experiences to the task of reforming the global humanitarian agenda. This research explores 'voice and listening' during the consultations, investigating how these were framed by, and have framed, power differentials within the humanitarian system. The consultations were a unique event, evoking optimism among participants that change might be possible. However, the space to speak, and the listening that occurred, struggled to breach the political sphere. The 'Grand Bargain', some interviewees claim, amounted to a re‐silencing. Notably, the localisation debate happened when a largely coherent message from the Global South and allies emerged, making unmet but heard claims on powerful actors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent policy changes to the regulation of international schooling for Chinese nationals in China have seen restrictions on curriculum, admissions and ownership. While there is evidence of the impact of these changes at the institutional level, it is not clear how recent regulation has impacted the actors at the phenomenological level. In order to address this gap, we situate recent regulation within the concept of cosmopolitan nationalism, which highlights the interplay of local and global forces and places lived experience at the forefront of analysis. We also draw on qualitative survey and in‐depth interview data with teachers from an international school in China that explored their understandings of international schooling. By analysing the teachers' understandings of international schooling, we were able to gain an insight into the impact of regulation at the level of lived experience. Overall, we found little evidence that regulation had impacted the teachers' beliefs about international schooling, suggesting either the normalisation of regulation or a lag between its implementation and internalisation. Our findings also suggested two main configurations of cosmopolitan nationalism held by the teachers. The first, which we refer to as 'cosmopolitanism with national characteristics', positions international schools as a more diverse and care‐free alternative to domestic schooling. The second configuration of cosmopolitan nationalism, which we refer to as 'nationalism with cosmopolitan characteristics', positions the nation as the foundation and cosmopolitan‐related aspects as peripheral. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asymptotic homogenisation offers a way to efficiently analyse the mechanical behaviour of multiscale configurations. But near a multiscale boundary, the homogenisation strategy should be modified, as the underlying periodicity assumption breaks down there. In this article, we introduce a machine‐learning‐based asymptotic homogenisation and localisation scheme to formulate such boundary layer effects. To this end, we define a set of boundary layer cells, where external loading conditions are imposed on one side of the cell, and matching conditions with the interior periodic cells are imposed on the opposite side. The formulation is also extended to cover situations where the multi‐scale structure is not fully periodic, but spatially varying. Implied from the asymptotic results, neural networks can be trained to memorise the interrelationship between key local quantities, such as the magnitude of the local maximum von Mises stress, and the local mechanical and geometric features. Equipped with the trained neural networks, the online calculation for key (boundary‐localised) quantities of interest under arbitrary loading conditions is expected to be accelerated substantially. Numerical examples are further presented to show the reliability of the proposed work for boundary stress prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2030 Agenda and its integrative and indivisible sustainable development goals (SDGs) challenge traditional ways of governing. Hence, collaboration across sectors, actors, and levels is fundamental in SDG localisation, where subnational levels (actors at regional and local levels) play key roles in forwarding societal transformation. The paper sheds light on the complexity of collaboration by exploring the early stages of developing multi‐actor collaboration for SDG implementation at a county level in Sweden. The analyses depart from interviews and observations. One of the main conclusions is that it is important to discuss the involved organisations' understanding and ambitions more in‐depth early on in such collaboration processes. To be able to do so, the actors need to have the capacity to see beyond their traditional roles. Moreover, the study indicates that leadership is essential in this context, but this leadership needs to be based on neutrality, which, in practise, is a challenge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the World Humanitarian Summit in 2016, debates about the localisation of humanitarian aid have intensified. Dominant discourse focuses on reform, although calls for the broader decolonisation of aid are mounting. This paper examines the impact of neoliberal‐inspired competition that incentivises institutional expansion and clashes with localisation. It introduces the concept of the 'conflict paradox' to illustrate how armed conflict and restricted humanitarian access for international actors can both empower and disempower local and national humanitarian actors (LNHAs). These themes are then demonstrated using case studies of Myanmar, Somalia, and Somaliland, revealing the potential for LNHAs to demand humanitarian system change, as well as the challenges to doing so. The paper concludes that for localisation to progress towards decolonisation, fundamental ideological shifts away from the neoliberal competitive mindset are essential. Notably, there is a need to move from low‐quality localisation (subcontracting) to high‐quality localisation grounded in solidarity and an emancipatory agenda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contributions on localisation often focus on interactions between local organisations and the international community, with limited attention paid to dynamics within the locally‐led part of the response. The humanitarian operation in non‐government‐held areas of Syria is considered a key example of localisation, in which the health sector has assumed a leading role. Drawing on fieldwork among Syrian medical‐humanitarian organisations conducted in southern Turkey in 2017, this paper offers a view from below on the localisation debate. It provides a nuanced perspective on 'the local', showcasing how localisation is interpreted and expressed among Syrian non‐governmental organisations (NGOs) themselves, and in their interaction with each other. The paper shows how most organisations have moved to a hybrid model that emphasises their local and international character, resisting simplistic classifications. However, despite the sometimes strategic nature of its invocation, localisation does not lose its relevance as a lived experience, especially for local field staff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local ensemble transform Kalman filters (LETKFs) allow explicit calculation of the Kalman gain, and by this the contribution of individual observations to the analysis field. Though this is a known feature, the information on the analysis contribution of individual observations (partial analysis increment) has not been used as systematic diagnostic up to now despite providing valuable information. In this study, we demonstrate three potential applications based on partial analysis increments in the regional modelling system of Deutscher Wetterdienst and propose their use for optimising LETKF data assimilation systems, in particular with respect to satellite data assimilation and localisation. While exact calculation of partial analysis increments would require saving the large, five‐dimensional ensemble weight matrix in the analysis step, it is possible to compute an approximation from standard LETKF output. We calculate the Kalman gain based on ensemble analysis perturbations, which is an approximation in the case of localisation. However, this only introduces minor errors, as the localisation function changes very gradually among nearby grid points. On the other hand, the influence of observations always depends on the presence of other observations and settings for the observation error and for localisation. However, the influence of observations behaves approximately linearly, meaning that the assimilation of other observations primarily decreases the magnitude of the influence, but it does not change the overall structure of the partial analysis increments. This means that the calculation of partial analysis increments can be used as an efficient diagnostic to investigate the three‐dimensional influence of observations in the assimilation system. Furthermore, the diagnostic can be used to detect whether the influence of additional experimental observations is in accordance with other observations without conducting computationally expensive single‐observation experiments. Last but not least, the calculation can be used to approximate the influence an observation would have when applying different assimilation settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the importance of localisation in various applications such as healthcare, smart cities, and transportation. It highlights the challenges faced in achieving accurate and timely position data, particularly in indoor settings. The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning techniques is seen as a way to enhance indoor wireless localisation effectiveness. The article presents four papers that explore different methods and algorithms to improve localisation accuracy and efficiency in sensor networks. The authors encourage further research and contributions to address the evolving challenges in this field. [Extracted from the article]

Local state and third sector actors routinely provide support to help people navigate their right to social security and mediate their chequered relationship to it. COVID‐19 has not only underlined the significance of these actors in the claims‐making process, but also just how vulnerable those working within 'local ecosystems of support' are to external shocks and their own internal pressures. Drawing on qualitative fieldwork with organisations providing support to benefit claimants and those financially struggling during COVID‐19, this paper examines the increasingly situated nature of the claims‐making process across four local areas in the United Kingdom. We do so to consider what bearing 'local ecosystems of support' have on income adequacy, access and universality across social security systems. Our analysis demonstrates how local state and third sector actors risk amplifying inequalities that at best disadvantage, and at worst altogether exclude, particular social groups from adequate (financial) assistance. Rather than conceiving of social security as a unitary collection of social transfers, we argue that its operation needs to be understood as much more fragmented and contingent. Practitioners exhibit considerable professional autonomy and moral agency in their discretionary practice, arbitrating between competing organisational priorities, local disinvestment, and changing community needs. Our findings offer broader lessons for understanding the contemporary governance of social security across welfare states seeking to responsibilise low‐income households through the modernisation of public services, localism, and welfare reforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local actors are promoted as important agents in the humanitarian sector's latest reform efforts. Opinions on the exact meaning and the best means of implementing localisation differ, however. Applying an interface perspective, this paper analyses how the Rohingya response in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, became an arena of contestation, competition, and sometimes convergence among different actors in relation to localisation. It shows how misconceptions and divergent understandings of localisation and the best methods of achieving it were prevalent and hampered the joint endeavours of international and local humanitarian bodies. Although both sides sought common ground, conflicting views, interests, and perceptions of 'self' and 'other' stood in the way. A lack of trust between international and local organisations intensified divisions. The paper argues, therefore, that the humanitarian sector needs to engage in trust‐building between the various entities involved in humanitarian response if localisation is to be realised, including addressing underlying structural and systemic issues of (neo)colonialism, racism, and classism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global staffing is a crucial factor for the success of the overseas operations of multinational corporations (MNCs). This study examines the contextual and organisational factors that affect the localisation of subsidiary staffing in the overseas operations of Japanese multinational companies. Using panel data containing more than 15 000 observations of Japanese overseas subsidiaries and a random‐effects logit model, we found that the cultural distance between the home country and the host country has a significant impact on the localisation of subsidiary staffing. In addition, the strategic importance of subsidiaries, as well as the local market orientation and business experiences in the host country, but not research and development (R&D) intensity of Japanese parent firms, have a significant impact on the localisation of foreign subsidiary staffing. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article we show how the dipole moment of a single molecule in a cluster can be calculated and used for describing the polarization effect. Additionally, we review the accuracy of the calculation of the dipole moment of several simple protic and aprotic molecules. It is shown that the dipole moment of polar (water, methanol, formamide, acetone and acetonitrile) molecules in the neighborhood of a cation is increased primarily by polarization from the bare electrostatic charge of the cation, although the effective value of the latter is somewhat reduced by "back donation" of electrons from neighboring polar molecules. In other words, the classical picture may be viewed as if a point charge slightly smaller than the nominal charge of the cation would be placed at the cation site. It was found that the geometrical arrangement of the polar molecules in the first solvation shell is such that their mutual polarization reduces the dipole moments of individual molecules, so that in some cases they become smaller than the dipole moment of the free protic or aprotic molecule. We conjecture, for the first time, that this behavior, namely the about 10%–20% decrease of the dipole moment of water in the first shell of cations, with the cation itself removed, is essentially a manifestation of the Le Chatelier–Braun principle. We also remark that if the cation‐molecule bond order is too large then the calculated dipole moment for these complexes can be questionable, due to the questionable definition of a single molecule within the "supermolecule"‐like cluster. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), agreed to by all member countries of the United Nations, require urgent action on the world's most pressing problems. Success requires bottom‐up participation of local stakeholders. This case study of Timor‐Leste—a fledgling, fossil fuel‐supported economy—maps the awareness and commitment of grassroots stakeholders to the SDGs and the roadblocks to localisation. Guiding this paper is Habermas' view of societal evolution and communicative action, which aids analysing the socio‐political and structural dynamics affecting SDGs localisation in a developing nation. This study reveals stakeholder inability to articulate a clear vision for the SDGs, lack of human capital and funds, a weak public‐administrative system, strong socio‐political nuances, and poor governance infrastructure to support multi‐stakeholder relationships. This paper provides insights for developing a more nuanced and robust public intervention to support local stakeholders that will enable knowledge, cultural and communication transformations required for successful SDGs localisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: To evaluate current use of breast biopsy markers (BBM) amongst Australian and New Zealand radiologists.Methods: Radiologists attending a national breast conference were invited to complete an online survey addressing demographics, BBM use following ultrasound, stereotactic, tomosynthesis and MRI-guided biopsy, frequency of early BBM displacement, preoperative lesion localisation (PLL) and axillary BBM use.Results: Overall response rate was 52% (60/115). The majority (n = 45) 75% practiced in Australia. 98% had BBMs available in their practice, 40% reported BBM costs weren't covered by insurance. 27% would use BBMs more often if they were, with some utilising smaller gauge devices for lesion sampling to minimise need for BBM use and patient out-of-pocket costs. Ultrasound-guided procedures were associated with lower rates of clinically significant BBM displacement (P = 0.001). Considering PLL, 44% were able to perform US-guided PLL in <25% of cases. Poor sonographic visibility was the commonest reason why this wasn't possible. In the axilla, BBMs were mainly used to mark positive nodes in pre-neoadjuvant chemotherapy patients.Conclusion: This survey is the first to provide data on BBM use amongst a sample of predominantly Australian and New Zealand radiologists, and provides compelling evidence of significantly lower incidence of BBM displacement with US-guided procedures. Our results suggest some radiologists may hesitate to use BBMs due to cost, and this can influence their choice of biopsy technique. Provision of a Medicare item Number for BBMs may lead to increased adoption of best practice guidelines for preoperative diagnosis of breast lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 and the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals call for action to build back better in ways that leave no one behind. At the same time, ensuring a local voice is increasingly central to humanitarian engagement. These aims contrast with limited analysis of how local actors might be supported in these respects during response and recovery, and how far recommendations are specific or generalisable across richer and poorer national contexts. The paper begins by comparing lessons learnt by survivors and community organisations in Sint Maarten, Dutch Caribbean, following a high‐income state‐led response to Hurricane Irma in 2017 with the priorities of lower income, humanitarian‐led endeavours. The differences reveal the importance of economic resources as the basis for individual self‐reliance and a fragmented civil society with limited leadership ambitions in Sint Maarten. Strong cross‐cultural alignment nevertheless allows for a globally‐relevant and yet contextually‐sensitive framework for survivor‐led action and reconstruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metal allocation and the mechanism(s) of metal sequestration in different clonal organs, micro‐domains and subcellular structures has not been systematically studied for rhizomatous perennial plants. It is thus pertinent to investigate knowledge of the speciation and distribution characteristics of Cu in Phragmites australis to elucidating the mobility of metals in wetland plants after their uptake via root systems so as to facilitate development of strategies to enhance Cu tolerance.This study investigated the distributions of Cu in P. australis root, stem and leaf using ICP‐MS, synchrotron‐based X‐ray micro‐fluorescence and X‐ray absorption spectroscopy, then evaluated the effects of Cu on cellular structure and ultrastructure via transmission electron microscopy.The results indicate a clear preferential localisation of Cu in the roots as compared with the shoots (stems and leaves). The intensity of Cu in the vascular bundles was higher than that in the surrounding epidermis and the endodermis and parenchyma outside the medullary cavity. The dominant chemical form of Cu in P. australis was similar to Cu citrate.The results suggest that although Cu can be easily transported into the vascular tissues in roots and stems via Cu citrate, most of the metal absorbed by plants is retained in the roots because if its high binding to the cell wall, thus preventing metal translocation to aerial parts of the plants. Therefore, P. australis showed a high capacity to accumulate Cu in roots, being therefore a suitable species for phytostabilisation interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human rights is in crisis in the UK. It lacks significant political backing and public support. This 'insider account' of York becoming a human rights city suggests that there is a need to rethink approaches to human rights. The article looks at the strategies adopted in the city; the annual city‐based indicator report which provides the key reference point for all local activities; and the declaration of York as a 'human rights city' in 2017 alongside its subsequent impact. The discussion is linked to two debates within human rights: how to define and build a culture of human rights, and what it means for human rights to be truly relevant at a local level. The new approach advocated can be summarised as participatory, locally informed, and related to everyday concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tesco withdrew from the Korean market in September 2015. The withdrawal of Tesco has not generally been seen as being due to management failure, but instead as a strategic reallocation of resources by Tesco in the UK. Yet there may still be more to understand about this development. The tale of Tesco's arrival in and departure from Korea has not ended. We consider the relative performance of Tesco (Homeplus) stores and those of rival E‐Mart. We find that, in attempting to be authentically local, Tesco may have hampered its own long‐term success in an important overseas market. In an empirical study, we utilised the Logit model to contrast selection factors employed by local consumers in respect of both Tesco/Homeplus and E‐Mart. Our analysis reveals that product range (including private brands), store accessibility and convenience were the main factors on which consumers discriminated between these rivals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposes a new method to detect and locate the fault in a DC distribution system in the presence of distributed generators. As the mesh‐type network provides good continuity of service during faults and the bipolar system transmits high power at low‐voltage level to the end user, the proposed scheme has utilised 1200 V mesh‐type bipolar DC microgrid network. The proposed scheme detects a fault by comparing the calculated value of fault current and pole‐to‐pole voltage with the pre‐defined threshold values and then distinguishes internal or external fault based on an estimation of line parameters. In case of an internal fault, the estimated parameters yield the exact location of the fault. The modelling of the aforementioned DC microgrid network has been carried out in PSCAD/EMTDC environment and various faults involving pole and ground have been performed with variable fault resistance and location. The simulation results clearly indicate that the proposed technique is not only capable to detect the fault rapidly but also able to disconnect the faulty section speedily (around 1.25 ms). As the proposed method detects fault by utilising local voltages and currents, its reliability is better than the previous algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estimating cloud motion with complex background through the sequence of satellite images plays an important role in weather forecasting. This motion can be used for characterization of clouds and predicting storms. Optical flow is used here for motion estimation which gives horizontal and vertical velocity components. Velocity field vector alone is not sufficient to analyze the cloud behavior for predicting extreme weather conditions and there is a need to develop some visual features for enhancing the weather prediction strategies. In this paper, we utilize the optical flow to localize the high alert regions. To have a better localization and motion signatures, we develop a fractional order technique to compute optical flow. Also, the localization is characterized by brightness of image, magnitude, directions, vorticity and irrotational components of the optical flow. We did analysis on sequence of images for Mumbai, India heavy rain that happened during August 28–29, 2017, cyclonic data sets for May 16, 2018, September 19–20, 2018 and October 14, 2018. Visual features show different patterns for extreme and normal weather situations. A study on interpolation and extrapolation of the image sequence is also presented. Optical flow based interpolation and Advection‐anisotropic‐diffusion based extrapolation model give promising results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Humanitarian governance is usually understood according to the classic, Dunantist paradigm that accords central importance to international humanitarian agencies. However, this is increasingly paralleled by 'resilience humanitarianism' that focuses, among other things, on including national actors in humanitarian governance. This article views humanitarian governance as emerging through interactions between authorities, implementing agencies and communities. It is based on interactive ethnography in five countries by Partners for Resilience (PfR). Using the Theory of Change (ToC) tool, it analyses the various interpretations and priorities of actors involved in humanitarian problems, solutions and programme governance. For example, PfR had a 'software' focus, aiming to unlock communities' potential for resilience, whereas communities and authorities preferred to receive tangible 'hardware' support. The findings highlight the crucial role of local authorities in shaping humanitarian aid. This is especially pertinent in view of the international agenda to localise aid, which requires the understanding and support of national actors in order to responsibly protect the vulnerable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the crucial part that faith‐based organisations (FBOs) play in acting as intermediaries between international donors and local faith communities (LFCs) implementing humanitarian relief projects for Syrian refugees. Humanitarian responses to the mounting Syrian refugee crisis have coincided with greater collaboration between international donors and LFCs. This cooperation often is facilitated by a complex web of non‐state intermediaries at the international, national, and local level. This study probes the breadth of roles of these intermediaries, drawing on primary data from case studies of two Christian intermediaries supporting Christian LFCs as they deliver aid primarily to Muslim Syrian refugees in Jordan and Lebanon. The results of the study are connected to the wider literature on LFCs in humanitarian response, revealing how intermediaries address issues of accountability, capacity‐building, impartiality, neutrality, and professionalism. The paper concludes by offering suggestions for further research on intermediaries as key actors in the localisation of humanitarian assistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The abscission of tomato leaves occurs in the petiole abscission zone, and its late stage includes two spatially divided processes: cell separation and programmed cell death (PCD). Both of these processes are regulated by ethylene. The last step in ethylene biosynthesis is conversion of 1‐aminocyclopropane‐1‐carboxylic acid to ethylene, which is catalysed by the enzyme 1‐aminocyclopropane‐1‐carboxylate oxidase (ACO); however, the location of ACO in the leaf petiole abscission zone is not known. The tomato gene LeLX encodes ribonuclease LX, which is a marker for PCD and is induced by ethylene during abscission, but its association with ACO has not been explored. In a tomato transgenic line 1‐7 with inhibited expression of LeLX showing delayed leaf abscission, the morphology and ultrastructure of the leaf petiole abscission zone was examined. In this zone of the cv.’VF36’ and of a transgenic line 1‐7, spatiotemporal differences in expression of LeACO1 and LeACO4 were analysed and ACO protein was detected immunohistochemically. In comparison to wild‐type plants, there were no obvious morphological and ultrastructural features in the abscission zone of plants of a transgenic line 1‐7 before and after abscission induction. LeACO1 expression was low before abscission induction, and increased 24 h after induction, although with no apparent spatial pattern. In contrast, LeACO4 was expressed before abscission induction, and its transcript level declined 24 h after induction on the distal side of the abscission zone fracture. In the LeLX‐inhibited transgenic line, there were no significant differences in LeACO1 and LeACO4 expression in the petiole abscission zone, in comparison to wild‐type plants. In addition, the ACO protein was immunolocalised to the vascular tissues that traverse the petiole abscission zone in plants of wild type and of a transgenic line 1‐7; and additionally in the plane of future abscission zone fracture of transgenic‐line plants. The results suggest temporal differential expression of the LeACO genes in tomato leaf petioles and vascular localisation of ACO1 protein. Additionally, the results indicate that expression of LeACO genes is not affected by suppression of the LeLX expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy efficiency is an important requirement in wireless sensor networks in order to achieve cost‐effectiveness and practical implementation. The present work deals with the problem of minimising node power consumption in the context of moving‐node localisation and tracking. Time‐of‐arrival measurements are sent from anchor nodes to a powerful, usually sophisticated, central node, called the fusion centre, where all computations are performed. Low data rates are desirable to economise on node energy but result in sub‐optimal localisation accuracy. It makes sense, therefore, to sample measurements at a low data rate while interpolating the data stream at the fusion centre to improve localisation. The localisation error is remarkably reduced and energy efficiency increased by using this conventional sample rate conversion technique. A further improvement in terms of localisation error is achieved using compressive sensing (via random sampling and interpolation), whereby the localisation error function is shown to decrease with higher‐average random sampling periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposes a method to predict the amount of edge displacement ( ED) caused by brightness difference in imaging. ED is a measure of the deviation of imaged edges from their true edge locations in the real world. A set of target sheets were designed to obtain reference lines and collect edge profiles for a given image contrast. A total of 330 target-sheet images of varying contrast and camera-to-object distances were used, with their EDs estimated using a Gaussian function. The EDs and pixel values of dark and light areas either side of an edge were then used as observations to predict EDs at a regular grid of pixel values using kriging, which is shown to be an effective method to fit the ED observations to a surface with high prediction accuracy. In addition, simulations indicate the need to correct EDs for accurate space intersection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The underlying spatial forces of firm networking practices are understudied in the literature of economic geography. This paper aims to reveal patterns and mechanisms of networking practices and relates them to China's transitional context based on empirical data from a firm survey in the Pearl River Delta. It addresses the localisation effect as the primary factor in explaining the selection of networking partners. The results of this paper suggest a strong tendency towards networking with local government agencies vis-à-vis weak linkages with business partners. Furthermore, it reveals that the intent of bonding with local authorities through interpersonal relationships increases with the localisation of customers. Meanwhile, firms are more likely to pursue learning-oriented networks with competitors as the number of suppliers in the same city increases. The findings add to the understanding of network relations in China, in particular to the rationales behind relations to local government officials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a comparison between algorithms (Oriented FAST and Rotated BRIEF (ORB) and Aruco) for the detection of fiducial markers placed throughout a smart environment. A series of activities of daily living (ADL) were conducted while monitoring a first-person perspective of the situation; this was achieved through the usage of the Google Glass platform. Fiducial markers were employed, as a means to assist with the detection of specific objects of interest, within the environment. Each marker was assigned unique Identification (ID) and was used to identify the object. Three activities were performed by a participant within the environment. On subsequent trials of the solution, lighting conditions were modified to assess fiducial marker detection rates on a frame-by-frame basis. This paper presents the results from this investigation, detailing performance measure for each object detected under various lighting conditions, motion blur and distance from the objects. An intelligent system was developed to specifically consider distance estimation in order to aid with the filtering out of false interactions. A linear filtering method was applied along with a fuzzy membership function to estimate the degree of user interaction, which assists in removing false positives generated by the occupant. The intelligent system returns an average precision, recall and an F-Measure of 0.99, 0.62 and 0.49, respectively. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores Korea's national-level post-2015 process via contextualising the political economy of Seoul's aid architecture. We examine the global-local discrepancy manifested in its uneven domestic processes where the global development ideas are localised and a uniquely Korean development experience is globalised. In doing so, the paper highlights the vertically and horizontally fragmented system and the lack of capacity, coordination and consistency at the heart of an uneven post-2015 process. An in-depth analysis of Korea's ODA architecture and Saemaul ODA demonstrates how global debates become subject to arbitrary localisation and further divergence to suit vested interests of various actors within Seoul's ODA. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Lichens are self-sustaining partnerships comprising fungi as shape-forming partners for their enclosed symbiotic algae. They produce a tremendous diversity of metabolites (1050 metabolites described so far). Objectives A comparison of metabolic profiles in nine lichen species belonging to three genera ( Lichina, Collema and Roccella) by using an optimised extraction protocol, determination of the fragmentation pathway and the in situ localisation for major compounds in Roccella species. Methods Chemical analysis was performed using a complementary study combining a Taguchi experimental design with qualitative analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry techniques. Results Optimal conditions to obtain the best total extraction yield were determined as follows: mortar grinding to a fine powder, two successive extractions, solid:liquid ratio (2:60) and 700 rpm stirring. Qualitative analysis of the metabolite profiling of these nine species extracted with the optimised method was corroborated using MS and MS/MS approaches. Nine main compounds were identified: 1 β-orcinol, 2 orsellinic acid, 3 putative choline sulphate, 4 roccellic acid, 5 montagnetol, 6 lecanoric acid, 7 erythrin, 8 lepraric acid and 9 acetylportentol, and several other compounds were reported. Identification was performed using the m/z ratio, fragmentation pathway and/or after isolation by NMR analysis. The variation of the metabolite profile in differently organised parts of two Roccella species suggests a specific role of major compounds in developmental stages of this symbiotic association. Conclusion Metabolic profiles represent specific chemical species and depend on the extraction conditions, the kind of the photobiont partner and the in situ localisation of major compounds. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Akari Software offers a family of software products supporting curriculum management in higher education. The work started with one specific commission, but within 4 years, a small product suite had been developed, with ten organisations using customised variants of those products. In effect, a product family had been created but without the underlying structure and processes needed to ensure the efficient creation and maintenance of variants. This is a common issue faced by software companies as their product range expands. In 2010, Akari began making internal changes to develop a product range infrastructure that was suitable both for its existing products and its plans for future growth. The purpose of this paper is to describe the product line transition that occurred, both to share the experience involved and to identify a number of general lessons learned. The work was supported by a FUSION project, funded by InterTradeIreland, undertaken in collaboration with the University of Ulster. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pivotal role of LYRIC/AEG‐1 in malignant transformation, tumourigenesis and chemo‐resistance has previously been demonstrated in different cell types and sub‐cellular compartments. The localisation of LYRIC/AEG‐1 appears crucial to its function and is regulated by three lysine‐rich nuclear localisation signal regions, one of which was previously demonstrated to be modified by ubiquitin. Here we show that mutation of LYRIC/AEG‐1 at K486 and K491 results in a loss of ubiquitination. A K486/491R double mutant that is incapable of ubiquitination shows reduced binding to the NFκB subunit p65 or importin‐β resulting in a distinctive peri‐nuclear localisation of LYRIC/AEG‐1. We also provide evidence to suggest that TOPORS, an E3 ligase that also regulates p53 modification may be responsible for LYRIC/AEG‐1 ubiquitin modification. Overall we demonstrate that specific sites of LYRIC/AEG‐1 ubiquitination are essential for regulating LYRIC/AEG‐1 localisation and functionally interacting proteins. Highlights: LYRIC/AEG‐1 is an important oncogene.2 specific lysine residues in exNLS‐2 are ubiquitinated.Deletion of both lysine residues changes localisation and interaction with p65.LYRIC/AEG‐1 interacts with TOPORS, a known E3 ligase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, following the deployment of wavelength division multiplexing networks, fault detection and localisation has become a challenging issue in networks with high reliability. Optical layer monitoring schemes based on monitoring trails (m ‐trail) are considered an efficient way to localise a single fault unambiguously in all‐optical networks. In spite of the extensive work on the m ‐trail concept, the issue has not been validated from the feasibility point of view. Previous works on the m ‐trail monitoring scheme have focused mainly on algorithm design for minimising the number of monitors, however, none of them have observed that length limitations should be considered as well. The authors investigate the physical constraints of launching m ‐trails, mainly focusing on the maximum length that each m ‐trail may have and describe an algorithm that solves the length constrained m ‐trail formulation problem. Numerous simulations were implemented in a physical layer simulator for observing qualitative parameters in different m ‐trail lengths. The authors propose 15 000 km as a length limit for each m ‐trail for out‐of‐band monitoring. Finally, an algorithmic solution is provided for monitoring trail design problem satisfying these physical constraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Activin A, a stimulator of follicle-stimulating hormone secretion from the pituitary, acts as a neurotrophic and neuroprotective factor in the central nervous system. Activin receptor-interacting protein 1 ( ARIP1) has been identified as a cytoplasmic protein that interacts with the type II receptor of activin ( Act RII). However, the distribution pattern and function of ARIP1 are not well characterised in the brain. In the present study, we confirmed the existence of m RNA and protein of ARIP1 in the mouse brain, and found that ARIP1 was mainly localised at the hippocampus and hypothalamus in the cerebrum, granular layers in the cerebellum (especially in Purkinje cells of the cerebellum) and choroid epithelial cells by immunohistochemical staining. Furthermore, in contrast to the significant increase of activin A m RNA, ARIP1 m RNA and protein expression decreased in the mechanically lesioned brain of the mouse. Using neuroblastoma-derived Neuro-2a cells to investigate the function of ARIP1, we found that overexpression of ARIP1 down-regulated the activin A-induced signal transduction and significantly decreased the voltage-gated Na+ current ( INa). These data indicate that ARIP1 is a key molecule for the regulation of the action of activin in neurones, and also that decreased ARIP1 expression in the lesioned brain may be beneficial to the neurotrophic and neuroprotective roles of activin A in recovery after brain injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article assesses whether knowledge spillovers are localised and then examines the determinants of localisation using patent citations of Australian patents registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Advances in communications technologies have reduced the cost of information transmission, particularly in the last three decades. However, tacit knowledge is still costly to transmit over geographical distance. The literature suggests that those individuals that are close to the source of the invention benefit more than distant ones. Australia, with its geographical isolation and large distances between its major cities, is used as testing ground for this hypothesis. The results show that there is evidence for geographical localisation of knowledge flows at various levels of geographical aggregation, the localisation effects diminish over time, and the more general patents are less localised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

GPR50, formerly known as melatonin-related receptor, is one of three subtypes of the melatonin receptor subfamily, together with the MT1 and MT2 receptors. By contrast to these two high-affinity receptor subtypes and despite its high identity with the melatonin receptor family, GPR50 does not bind melatonin or any other known ligand. Specific and reliable immunological tools are therefore needed to be able to elucidate the physiological functions of this orphan receptor that are still largely unknown. We have generated and validated a new specific GPR50 antibody against the ovine GPR50 and used it to analyse the neuroanatomical distribution of the GPR50 in sheep, rat and mouse whole brain. We demonstrated that GPR50-positive cells are widely distributed in various regions, including the hypothalamus and the pars tuberalis of the pituitary, in all the three species studied. GPR50 expressing cells are abundant in the dorsomedial nucleus of the hypothalamus, the periventricular nucleus and the median eminence. In rodents, immunohistochemical studies revealed a broader distribution pattern for the GPR50 protein. GPR50 immunoreactivity is found in the medial preoptic area (MPA), the lateral septum, the lateral hypothalamic area, the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, the vascular organ of the laminae terminalis and several regions of the amygdala, including the medial nuclei of amygdala. Additionally, in the rat brain, GPR50 protein was localised in the CA1 pyramidal cell layer of the dorsal hippocampus. In mice, moderate to high numbers of GPR50-positive cells were also found in the subfornical organ. Taken together, these results provide an enlarged distribution of GPR50 protein, give further insight into the organisation of the melatoninergic system, and may lay the framework for future studies on the role of the GPR50 in the brain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The dengue virus membrane (M) protein is a key component of the mature virion. Here, we characterised the cellular behaviour of M using a recombinant protein construct to understand its inherent properties. Using confocal microscopy, we showed that M and its intracellular precursor, prM, localised to the endoplasmic reticulum. M protein was also detected on the cell surface and secreted, suggesting that M can enter the secretory pathway. In addition, cross-linking studies showed that M can form dimers and tetramers. These findings suggest that M behaves as a secretory protein analogous to the major envelope protein E. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The aim of this study is to verify the effectiveness of ordinary phenomenological constitutive relation of NiTi shape memory alloy under mechanical loading at a constant temperature, sufficiently. First, finite element analysis is performed by using ordinary phenomenological constitutive relation for rectangular plate with double notch under tensile loading at a constant temperature. Next, uniaxial tensile loading is carried out for 50.5Ni49.5Ti rectangular plate with double notch. At the same time, macroscopic stress-strain curve and local strain distribution are measured by using in-house measurement system on the basis of digital image correlation. As a result, it is found that the stress-strain curve obtained from finite element analysis is much different from those obtained experimental measurement, especially during stress-induced martensite transformation. The result can be derived from the phenomena of local strain band behavior arising in NiTi under mechanical loading. The phenomenological constitutive model used in present finite element analysis is constructed under assumptions that the material has isotropic characteristics and shows homogeneous deformation. However, this experimental result suggests that the material itself has anisotropy microscopically. Furthermore, material shows unique inhomogeneous deformation. Also, there is possibility that these anisotropic characteristic and inhomogeneous deformation behaviour may derive from its microstructure. In future, to sufficiently describe the macroscopic stress-strain curve of NiTi we should take into consideration the material microstructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In-plane Electronic Speckle Pattern Interferometry (ESPI) has been successfully used during tensile tests on SMA-treated (Surface Mechanical Attrition Treatment) and as-received 316L stainless steel in order to measure the strain rate field. The heterogeneity in the strain rate field can be observed from a stage of deformation which doesn't coincide with the classic Considère's criterion (dF = 0) for the diffuse neck initiation (or plastic instability). The initiation of this heterogeneity strongly depends on treatments undergone by the material. In this paper, a comparison was performed about the heterogeneity initiation of specimens SMATed during 30 min with 2 mm shot, 3 mm shot and a non-treated sample. The formation of the two slip band system until fracture of the tensile specimen was also studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, electron microscopy (EM) has allowed the generation of three-dimensional structure maps of several spliceosomal complexes. However, owing to their limited resolution, little is known at present about the location of the pre-mRNA, the spliceosomal small nuclear ribonucleoprotein or the spliceosome's active site within these structures. In this work, we used EM to localise the intron and the 5′ and 3′ exons of a model pre-mRNA, as well as the U2-associated protein SF3b155, in pre-catalytic spliceosomes (i.e. B complexes) by labelling them with an antibody that bears colloidal gold. Our data reveal that the intron and both exons, together with SF3b155, are located in specific regions of the head domain of the B complex. These results represent an important first step towards identifying functional sites in the spliceosome. The gold-labelling method adopted here can be applied to other spliceosomal complexes and may thus contribute significantly to our overall understanding of the pre-mRNA splicing process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article estimates urbanisation and localisation economies for two digit manufacturing and service industries. The analysis is based on estimation of a translog production-inverse input demand system using data on British firms. We use distance-based measures of localisation to test for the spatial transmission of externalities. We identify positive localisation economies for 13 of the 27 sectors examined. The results indicate that where localisation economies exist, they tend to attenuate fairly rapidly with distance. All localisation externalities are identified within a 10 kilometre radius of the firm. Positive elasticities of productivity with respect to urbanisation are identified for 14 sectors. The weighted average localisation elasticity for manufacturing industries is 0.03 and for services 0.01. The mean urbanisation elasticities are 0.07 and 0.19 respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temperature and strain fields have been observed during superelastic tensile tests on NiTi tubes. They show strong localisations that take the shape of helical bands with characteristics that depend on global tensile strain and strain rate. To obtain quantitative energy information, allowing a better recognition of the deformation mechanisms involved inside and outside the helical bands, an estimation of the local heat sources based on image processing of the temperature fields is proposed in the present paper. This processing method is first calibrated and validated on numerically simulated temperature fields calculated using theoretical heat sources close to those associated with martensitic phase transformation. It is then applied to experimentally observed temperature fields during a typical superelastic tensile test of an NiTi tube. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the productivity gains associated with the geographic concentration of industry (i.e., localisation) are by now well-documented, little work has considered how those gains are distributed across individual workers. This article offers evidence on the connection between total employment and the relative wage earnings of high- and low-skill workers (i.e., inequality) within two-digit manufacturing industries across the states, and a collection of metropolitan areas in the U.S. between 1970 and 1990. Using measures of overall, between-education-group and residual inequality, I find that wage dispersion falls significantly as industry employment expands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the localisation of organic farms in Denmark for the three years 1994, 1997 and 2001, on a county and parish level. Spatial concentration is found in counties with a high share of milk producers, but also in the counties, which contain the two largest urban centres. General regional specialisation of the agricultural sector in Denmark contributes to the explanation of concentration patterns of organic conversion, but other factors such as a regional favourable policy climate and support also appear to play a role. Major variations in concentration within regions are found, suggesting that local factors play an important role for the explanation of spatial patterns of organic conversion and diffusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 18aa 2A self-cleaving oligopeptide from foot-and-mouth disease virus can be used for co-expression of multiple, discrete proteins from a single ORF. 2A mediates a co-translational cleavage at its own C-terminus and is proposed to manipulate the ribosome into skipping the synthesis of a specific peptide bond (producing a discontinuity in the peptide backbone), rather than being involved in proteolysis. To explore the utility of the system to target discrete processing products, self-processing polyproteins comprising fluorescent proteins flanking 2A were constructed, permutating both the type of signal sequence and the location within the polyprotein. A polyprotein comprising a protein bearing an N-terminal signal sequence, 2A, then a protein lacking any signal sequence, was constructed. Interestingly, both proteins were translocated into the endoplasmic reticulum. Despite the discontinuity in the peptide backbone, the mammalian ribosome:translocon complex did not disassemble – the second protein (lacking any signal) ‘slipstreamed’ through the translocon formed by the first (signal-bearing) protein. These polyprotein systems provide a novel method of targeting proteins to different subcellular sites by transfection with a plasmid encoding a single ORF. The inclusion of a fluorescent reporter enables visualisation of expression levels, whilst inclusion of a selectable marker enables stable cell-lines to be established rapidly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Problem: Human in vitro fertilization (IVF) embryo transfer is accompanied by a low implantation rate even after a very successful IVF, and there are a certain number of ‘idiopathic sterilities’ which are due to repeated implantation failures. In the very same vein, the question of improving implantation rates is of prime importance in agricultural research to improve the management of livestock. Pre-implantation prenatal diagnosis cannot be accomplished in individuals who have a high rate of implantation failure, whether women undergoing IVF, or animals, during genetic cloning. Implantation cytokine networks need to be known in such a perspective. Methods: We review the evolution and theories in reproductive immunology, briefly deal with the complexity of implantation as a step by step developmental event, and then present some of our recent data in mice and human. Conclusions: We conclude that the T helper cell type 1/2 (Th1/Th2) paradigm, as useful as it has been to explain pregnancy, is no longer sufficient in view of the emerging complexity of the cytokine network at the materno-fetal interface. This is peculiarly true for implantation, which, as a step by step developmentally regulated process, involving inflammatory molecules, cannot fit into such a scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]