cometadata/datacite-rtg-text-other-reclassification-records huggingface dataset:
On the road to peace : peace education as a driver for positive peace in post-agreement Colombia
Creators: name: Freitas, Isadora : Martins De
Publisher: name: My University
Year: 2017
Subjects: peace
Colombia
education
human rights education
conflict resolution

description: Second semester University: University of Graz
description: Although present since time immemorial, violence, unlike conflict, is not to be seen as a natural element of human interactions. It needs, instead, to be countered and replaced by a culture of peace. In November 2016, the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People’s Army (FARC-EP) signed an historical peace agreement that officially put an end to a conflict that lasted over half a century. To make the deal a reality, however, it is necessary to promote a wide societal transformation, so that the perception of violence as the normality is halted and positive peace can flourish. This is an endeavour of an education for peace. This thesis sustains that a true process of change is that which involves all agents of society and empowers children not only as peaceful human beings but also as peacebuilders. It has, thus, chosen an innovative educational model, named Escuela Nueva, as a case-study, for it has been widely recognised for its effectiveness in promoting social transformation and a culture of peace in Colombia. In accordance, it is herein highlighted the model’s component of community involvement and analysed, through surveys, its students’ capacity to actively participate in the construction of peace. This research, therefore, advocates that an education for peace with a component of peacebuilding is essential to ensure that the peace initiative in Colombia prospers and that a sustainable future is guaranteed. Key-words: positive peace; peace education; peacebuilding; Colombia.
The Effect of 10Hz Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation on the Stress-Immune Response
Creators: name: Parikh, Jhana
Publisher: name: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Libraries
Year: 2018

description: Stress is evolutionarily important to survival; however, high levels can lead to adverse health outcomes. Stress responses are characterized by the activation of two pathways: the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system (SNS). These pathways are regulated via a top-down mechanism, where reflexes in the brain produce physiological changes elsewhere in the body. Additionally, immune activity is closely related to stress, with cytokine markers reacting to SNS activation and entering a negative feedback loop with the HPA axis. This research sought to target the top-down mechanism of the stress pathways using 10Hz bifrontal Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) and investigate resulting changes in alpha amylase (indicator of SNS), cortisol (indicator of HPA axis), and a cytokine panel (indicator of immune functioning). 20 participants underwent 40 minutes of tACS or an active sham condition at two separate sessions in a double-blind, randomized, crossover study design. A set of surveys was administered to assess overall levels of stress and anxiety, and saliva samples were collected before and after stimulation to test for the physiological markers. Results demonstrated an effect of stimulation in reducing alpha amylase activity as well as two markers of the cytokine panel, indicating a decrease stress and immune response in the verum stimulation condition. This research adds to the understanding of the physiological effects of tACS, as well as provides a basis for tACS as a possible treatment for individuals with chronic stress.
Smart Pacing for Effective Online Ad Campaign Optimization
Creators: name: Xu, Jian
name: Lee, Kuang-chih
name: Li, Wentong
name: Qi, Hang
name: Lu, Quan
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2015
Subjects: subject: Artificial Intelligence (cs.AI)
subject: Computer Science and Game Theory (cs.GT)
subject: FOS: Computer and information sciences

description: In targeted online advertising, advertisers look for maximizing campaign performance under delivery constraint within budget schedule. Most of the advertisers typically prefer to impose the delivery constraint to spend budget smoothly over the time in order to reach a wider range of audiences and have a sustainable impact. Since lots of impressions are traded through public auctions for online advertising today, the liquidity makes price elasticity and bid landscape between demand and supply change quite dynamically. Therefore, it is challenging to perform smooth pacing control and maximize campaign performance simultaneously. In this paper, we propose a smart pacing approach in which the delivery pace of each campaign is learned from both offline and online data to achieve smooth delivery and optimal performance goals. The implementation of the proposed approach in a real DSP system is also presented. Experimental evaluations on both real online ad campaigns and offline simulations show that our approach can effectively improve campaign performance and achieve delivery goals.
description: KDD'15, August 10-13, 2015, Sydney, NSW, Australia
EUV and Visible Spectroscopy of Promethiumlike Heavy Ions
Creators: name: Kobayashi, Yusuke
name: Kubota, Kai
name: Omote, Kazuki
name: Komatsu, Akihiro
name: Sakoda, Junpei
name: Minoshima, Maki
name: Kato, Daiji
name: Li, Jiguang
name: Sakaue, Hiroyuki A.
name: Murakami, Izumi
name: Nakamura, Nobuyuki
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2015
Subjects: subject: Atomic Physics (physics.atom-ph)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: We present extreme ultraviolet and visible spectra of promethiumlike tungsten and gold obtained with an electron beam ion trap (EBIT). Although the contributions from a few charge states are involved in the spectra, the charge state of the ion assigned to the observed lines is definitely identified by the time-of-flight analysis of the ions performed at the same time with the spectroscopic measurements. Experimental results are compared with collisional-radiative model calculations as well as previous experimental and theoretical studies.
Let's have a baby boy!
Creators: name: Santelena, Costanza
Publisher: name: My University
Year: 2011
Subjects: gender
genetics
procreation
sex role

description: Second semester University: New University of Lisbon
description: The purpose of this research is to understand why one sex is preferred over the other one and if it is considered procreative autonomy, instead of simply being the choice made by the parents to ensure the sex of their future offspring. The study analyses how sex selection can be done; when it can be done, both with ancient and more modern techniques; and why it can be done, both from a medical point of view which regards the sex-linked diseases that can be inherited from one of the parents and from the point of view of achieving a certain status of life that a family can obtain if they have a boy or a girl. The analysis considers the different reasons that push one person and one society, in Western and Non-Western countries, to desire one sex and the legal systems that regulate this selection. The examination ends with the challenges that all countries must face in order to achieve gender equality and women’s rights.
The Relationship Between Career and Technical Education (CTE) and Adolescent Depression
Creators: name: Palmer, Jessie
Publisher: name: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Libraries
Year: 2018

description: Poor mental health in childhood can be chronic and have lasting effects on one’s life prospects. Despite its significant impact, many depressed adolescents underutilize healthcare resources. Recently, more research has been done looking at ways in which vocational education policies can provide students with a greater sense of self-efficacy, and therefore better mental health. This study adds to this current research by utilizing data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 (NLSY97) in multivariate regression analyses to examine whether participating in career and technical education (CTE) in secondary education may act as a protective measure against adolescent depression. Participation in CTE was defined by classifying secondary school students as either occupational investors, explorers, or concentrators. The depression level for adolescents was measured by a standardized score based on a five-question version of the Mental Health Inventory (MHI-5). The final analysis revealed that occupational investing and exploring is positively associated with better depression scores among high school seniors and occupational exploring is negatively associated with better depression scores among high school juniors. Implications include providing more support to CTE as a means to protect adolescents from depression as well as recruiting groups of students that are traditionally underrepresented in CTE and at a higher risk of developing depression during adolescence.
The truth behind intermittent work: impacts for gender (in)equality in Brazil. Lessons to be learnt from Portugal
Creators: name: Franca, Julia : De Castro
Publisher: name: My University
Year: 2018
Subjects: discrimination in employment
gender discrimination
Brazil
labour law
human rights
Portugal

description: Second semester University: New University of Lisbon
description: Over the past decades, gender equality has gained much emphasis as part of the scope of labour human rights. However, in 2017, the Intermittent Work Contract (IWC) was introduced in Brazilian labour laws, allowing more flexible working, but also threatening the human rights effectiveness regarding gender equality in labour. While society was convinced that IWC would be positive for gender representation, it will in fact, result in worse conditions of work for women. A similar process has occurred in Portugal, IWC was also recently introduced in the legal framework, causing a raise in precarity of work contracts especially for women. It reinforced the invisible process of feminine underemployment and accentuated gender inequality. Therefore, a comparison between the IWC systems in Brazil and Portugal allows to predict the impacts of flexible work relationships for gender equality in Brazil. After all, both nations have similar laws, a common historical and cultural background and experienced analogous social-economic contexts of IWC implementation. This work aims to explain via a legal and socialeconomic analysis which and how negative will be the impacts of IWC for women in Brazil based in the Portuguese experience, considering the similarities and differences between both nations. Keywords: Intermittent work, Gender equality, Labour Rights, Human Rights
Exploring the breeding process
Creators: name: Chavez JM
name: YP, Lin
Publisher: name: World Vegetable Center
Year: 2024
Subjects: subject: BREEDING
subject: GERMPLASM
subject: MALNUTRITION
subject: SOLANACEAE
subject: PEST CONTROL
subject: NUTRITION
subject: Prebreeding
subject: Agricultural breeding
subject: Germplasm banks
subject: Cultivar development
subject: World Vegetable Center
subject: Poverty alleviation
subject: Malnutrition
subject: Solanaceae family (potatoes, eggplants, capsicums, tomatoes)
subject: Breeding and education integration
subject: Market and environmental challenges
subject: Internship
subject: PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction)
subject: RNA extraction
subject: Seed Health
subject: Quarantine
subject: Conventional breeding
subject: Molecular breeding
subject: Disease management
subject: Pest control
subject: Seed purity
subject: Disease resistance
subject: Germplasm management
subject: Integrated pest management
subject: Nutritional education
subject: Agricultural practices

description: Prebreeding is a crucial component of modern agricultural breeding, bridging traditional and contemporary methods to introduce novel traits from germplasm banks into cultivar development. The World Vegetable Center aims to alleviate poverty and malnutrition by promoting vegetable cultivation and consumption, focusing on the Solanaceae family (potatoes, eggplants, capsicums, tomatoes) and integrating breeding with education to address market and Chavez 5 environmental challenges. An eight-week internship at the Center provided a holistic understanding of the breeding process through exposure to all eight departments. The internship included activities such as PCR and RNA extraction, exploring Seed Health and Quarantine, conventional and molecular breeding, disease management, and pest control. Key areas covered included seed purity, disease resistance, germplasm management, integrated pest management, and nutritional education. This comprehensive experience offered valuable insights into prebreeding processes and their practical applications in enhancing agricultural practices.
The Italian asylum system between effective legislation and failing practice : the case of unaccompained asylum seeking children
Creators: name: Novellino, Manou
Publisher: name: My University
Year: 2012
Subjects: asylum
Italy
asylum seekers
children
unaccompained migrant children

description: Second semester University: Université Libre de Bruxelles.
description: The phenomenon of unaccompanied asylum seeking minors who migrate to Italy caught public opinion's attention during 2011. In fact, 4.580 where the unaccompanied minors who arrived on the Italian coastal borders during that year1. From the several NGOs reports published in 2011, it stands out the crisis of the Italian asylum system. From this context stems the research question which wonders whether Italy is complying or violating the relevant provisions in the ECHR, in the CRC and in the European Directives. In order to answer the research question, the thesis follows and intersects each other three lines of analysis. The first one (chapter 1) proposes a legal perspective on unaccompanied asylum seeking children describing the international, European and Italian legal framework. Then, the second one (chapter 2) presents thoroughly the concrete situation of unaccompanied minors who seek asylum in Italy. In particular, it focuses on the Italian asylum system's capability to address the massive arrivals from North African countries.The third one (chapter 3), analysing the European Courts’ judgements, regarding minors’ detention and reception conditions, together with the current Italian organization and procedures on the matter, tries to provide an answer to the research question on which the thesis is based. The research carried out in the thesis aims at shedding light on the current conditions of the Italian asylum system concerning unaccompanied children.
The Regulation of Smooth Muscle-Specific Gene Expression by the Methyltransferase, PRDM6
Creators: name: Magin, Justin
Publisher: name: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Libraries
Year: 2019

description: Smooth muscle cell (SMC) differentiation is controlled by a variety of co-factors to activate SMC-specific gene expression. We identified the methyltransferase, PRDM6, as a myocardin factor binding partner. Interestingly, PRDM6 expression in mouse and humans is highly SMC-selective. Genome wide association studies (GWAS) identified a locus in the PRDM6 3rd intron that is associated with blood pressure (BP) and intracranial aneurysm. Since this locus is also associated with differences in PRDM6 expression in human aortic samples, we hypothesize that this locus affects the activity of a regulatory element in this region. Based upon several genome wide data sets, we identified a region in the PRDM6 3rd intron that drove Luciferase expression in a SMC-specific fashion. Furthermore, to identify the regions that regulate PRDM6 expression in SMC, we mutated transcription factor binding sequences in a highly conserved region of the PRDM6 3rd intron (Int3.1cons) and found that these mutations decrease PRDM6 activity in SMC. Through the use of Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays, we identified that the Int3.1cons region significantly bound to three known SMC differentiation transcription factors: SRF, RBPJ, and TEAD1. Preliminary data suggests that these transcription factors interact to coregulate PRDM6 expression. Altogether, this will help us to further understand PRDM6 function and effects as they relate to cardiovascular diseases.
UNVEILING THE QUARRIES WORLD: OUTREACH AND DISSEMINATION SESSION IN THE FRAMEWORK OF FISHTUNA FESTIVAL 2023
Creators: name: Gaglioti, Martina
Publisher: name: figshare
Year: 2023
Subjects: classificationCode: 370403
subject: Geoscience data visualisation
classificationCode: 370509
subject: Sedimentology
classificationCode: 401302
subject: Geospatial information systems and geospatial data modelling
classificationCode: 430208
subject: Intangible heritage
classificationCode: 430205
subject: Heritage and cultural conservation
classificationCode: 430203
subject: Cultural heritage management (incl. world heritage)
classificationCode: 330103
subject: Architectural heritage and conservation
classificationCode: 430207
subject: Heritage tourism, visitor and audience studies
classificationCode: 460105
subject: Applications in social sciences and education
classificationCode: 440107
subject: Social and cultural anthropology

description: During the last edition of Fishtuna festival I had the opportunity to share some insights from field-based research conducted in the Aegadian Islands MPA in 2016-2017. This event shed light on local traditions and on the intangible heritage of the Aegadian Archipelago, focusing on traditions from multiple perspectives: art, tourism and traditional food. On this perspective, I briefly introduced through a video projection, an extract of the work performed in collaboration with the Aegadian Islands MPA and the University of Rome in 2016-2017 dedicated to another relevant aspect of the cultural heritage of this place: the quarries of the eastern portion of Favignana island.
The children's right to development: contextualising children's right to development in developing countries under economic globalisation. Case study on child labour in Cambodia's export-oriented garment industry
Creators: name: Torres Maestro, Teresa
Publisher: name: My University
Year: 2016
Subjects: child labour
Cambodia
children rights
globalisation
international economic relations
right to development

description: Second semester University: University College Dublin, National University of Ireland.
description: With this thesis we aim to provide an analysis of the opportunities that the Right to Development offers to children’s development. The Right to Development was implemented in 1986 as a proposal to enhance individuals’ self-realisation and bring remedies to the injustices of economic globalisation. The traditional interpretation of this Right has neglected the particularities of children and hence, its potential to either benefit or damage their development has not extensively been examined. Therefore, this study hopes to provide a useful contribution to raise awareness of how adapting the features of this Right towards children could improve their development. It gives a special look to children in emerging countries because of the historical disadvantage in their development, which increases the potential of the Right. This thesis also insists on the need to focus on the specific child under study and to take into account the circumstances that shape his or her development, because of the harm the Right could produce if interpreted wrong. This study evaluates the phenomenon of child labour in the garment industry of Cambodia to prove the efficiency of the approach .
Profiting from punishment? : prison privatization in a globalized world
Creators: name: Breysem, Alexander
Publisher: name: My University
Year: 2018
Subjects: prison
privatisation
human rights
forced labour
slavery

description: Second semester University: Lund University
description: As recent decisions by policy makers show, there is now little doubt that a pivotal shift is being generated as the correctional system is propelled swiftly down the road of privatization. The privatization of correctional facilities has recently become subject to a growing body of academic research that seeks to understand and address this issue. While some argue that prison privatization can achieve correctional goals more effectively and at a lower cost, others maintain that it is profitmotivated, adversely affects prisoners’ rights and undermines the criminal justice system. The effects of prison privatization have been largely underestimated. Whereas it may be true that the adoption of free market policies have generated economic growth and increased socio-economic well-being in some countries, it is an indisputable fact that they have also resulted in corruption, severe austerity measures and economic crises which in turn have led to growing inequality and poverty on a global scale. Moreover, privatization policies have led to the growing inclusion of private entities in sectors that were traditionally administered by the state. This raises doubts about the regulatory ability of the state, because it becomes unclear whether the state is still competent to fulfill its international legal obligations to safeguard human rights in an increasingly globalized world. Thus, the privatization of public services can paradoxically become an obstacle for states to guarantee the protection of human rights for those people who are adversely affected by it. However, there exists little consensus and empirical evidence to support these claims. This research project aims to fill this gap in the literature by focusing on the political and legal aspects of prison privatization.
Integrating Integration? Policy analysis of multi-level governance approaches to integration
Creators: name: Schlotzhauer, Jan Hagen
Publisher: name: My University
Year: 2017
Subjects: European Union
integration
government
Netherlands
Germany

description: Second semester University: Lund University
description: This research analyses the effect of the current competences of the EU regarding the integration of refugees on the effectiveness of European integration policies in a multi-level governance framework. Through a positivist analysis of article 79(4) TFEU the competences of the EU are established. A comparative historical public policy analysis, using the multi-level governance approach, enables the author to formulate three normative priorities a central authority should follow for an effective integration policy. In this research the integration policies of Germany and the Netherlands are compared. The main priorities that were identified are [1] localisation, [2] coordination and [3] mainstreaming. Finally, through the analysis of the application of these priorities in the EU integration policy the effectiveness of that policy could be established. The lack of coordination was the main lacuna found in the current approach to formulate an EU integration policy. The author formulates a number of recommendations to rectify this.
Human rights defenders on the face of shrinking civil society space : the case of Russia and Hungary
Creators: name: Kamolli, Mandrit
Publisher: name: My University
Year: 2016
Subjects: civil society
Hungary
Russia
freedom of association
freedom of speech
human rights workers
NGOs

description: Second semester University: University of Nottingham.
description: Civil society has been acknowledged to be of increasing significance within the political science and the social research, emphasising its role in advancing democracy. However, in the recent years, civil society is facing an unpreceded space shrinking. Governments have worked on restricting public space, spying, found controlling and identifying the NGOs that do not comply with restricting laws as ‘foreign agent’. The present master's thesis intends to study and explore the aspects of shrinking space of civil society and its effects on human rights defenders with a comprehensive focus on Russia and Hungary as the case study. I have decided to analyse these two countries with the purpose of demonstrating that restricting civil society is not only a phenomenon in countries with problematic human rights records as Russia but also a practice of fully democratic and the European Union countries as Hungary. Keywords: Civil Society Space, Human Rights Defenders, freedom of speech, association and assembly, Russia, Hungary.
Does Changing Family Structure Mean Changing Meal Structure?  The Association between Family Composition, Family Meals, and Cooking at Home from 2003 to 2014
Creators: name: Lussier, Courtney
Publisher: name: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Libraries
Year: 2017

description: Obesity is a growing epidemic but health behaviors such as family dinners or home-cooked dinners
have been shown to have protective effects against obesity, especially among children. Family
structure has recently been transitioning away from dual-parent households with a heterosexual couple
occupying traditional gender roles and towards more varied styles, including a greater prevalence of single
parent households. In this study, we used data from the American Time Use Survey to analyze the associations
between family structure and dinner structures, including family dinners, home-cooked dinners, home-cooked
family dinners and restaurant dinners, across demographic variables.
Justifying punishment in International Criminal Law : the applicability of domestic principles to international crimes
Creators: name: Brouwer, Jelmer
Publisher: name: My University
Year: 2013
Subjects: domestic and comparative law
individual responsibility
international criminal law
punishment

description: Second semester University: Université de Montpellier.
description: The most salient characteristic of International Criminal Law (ICL) is its ability to inflict punishment on individuals. As punishment always requires justification, this study investigates what justifications ICL uses. Having concluded that ICL has heavily borrowed from domestic criminal law, chapter two outlines the various domestic justifications for punishment. Chapter three identifies retribution and deterrence as the main justifications of punishment in ICL. In chapter four and five the applicability of these two justifications for ICL is analyzed. It is found that the notion of individual moral culpability, so essential for the retributive justification, poses problems due to the collective nature and specific social environment of international crimes. These same circumstances also mean that a deterrent effect is hard to establish. However, political and military leaders are found to be more culpable and operate more rational, which means that punishment might have an deterrent effect on them. It is therefore concluded that ICL’s current focus on those bearing the greatest responsibility, born out of necessity, should be sustained for reasons of justifiability.
Violent extremism in Greece : a comparative analysis of the violence of the two extremes
Creators: name: Ralli, Theodora
Publisher: name: My University
Year: 2014
Subjects: left-wing extremists
political violence
right-wing extremists
Greece

description: Second semester University: Masaryk University, Brno.
description: Greece has had a long history of political violence, mostly perpetrated by groups and people faithful to extremist ideologies. In the last decade a number of attacks have been reported that have been attributed to extremists both from the far-left and -right. This study tests how much extremists diverge and converge by examining how they justify their own violent actions and general engagement with violence. I examined and analysed the written production of groups/organisations that have been participated and/or planned violent incidents during the last ten years in Greece and I discovered that they present a lot of common features, but they diverge in others. The central thought behind the study is to demonstrate that not only far left violent organisations, but also the actions of far right groups, like Golden Dawn, should neither be underestimated, nor ignored, but should instead receive a response which is proportionate to the threat they pose to a democratic state.
Modulating light with light via giant nano-opto-mechanical nonlinearity of plasmonic metamaterial
Creators: name: Ou, Jun-Yu
name: Plum, Eric
name: Zhang, Jianfa
name: Zheludev, Nikolay I.
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2015
Subjects: subject: Optics (physics.optics)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: From the demonstration of saturable absorption by Vavilow and Levshin in 1926, and with invention of the laser, unavailability of strongly nonlinear materials was a key obstacle for developing optical signal processing, in particular in transparent telecommunication networks. Today, most advanced photonic switching materials exploit gain dynamics and near-band and excitonic effects in semiconductors, nonlinearities in organic media with weakly-localized electrons and nonlinearities enhanced by hybridization with metamaterials. Here we report on a new type of artificial nonlinearity that is nano-opto-mechanical in nature. It was observed in an artificial metamaterial array of plasmonic meta-molecules supported by a flexible nano-membrane. Here nonlinearity is underpinned by the reversible reconfiguration of its structure induced by light. In a film of only 100 nanometres thickness we demonstrated modulation of light with light using milliwatt power telecom diode lasers.
description: 6 pages, 5 figures
Exploring the use of Vitamin C in the prevention of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: results of a systematic review, protocol design and randomised controlled feasibility study
Creators: name: TOUZELL, AMY
Publisher: name: Monash University
Year: 2024
Subjects: classificationCode: 320226
subject: Surgery

description: Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a debilitating condition that can occur after trauma or surgery. Patients experience severe, unrelenting pain which is not controlled with standard measures. There is some evidence that Vitamin C may prevent CRPS following surgery to the lower limb. This thesis presents a thorough review of the literature including current treatment, modalities and the effectiveness of Vitamin C in the prevention of CRPS following surgery to the lower limb. A protocol for a randomised control feasibility study was designed and the results of this trial are documented. In-depth discussion of the challenges associated with running a randomised control trial is undertaken and recommendations for a large scale, appropriately powered trial are made.
Supplementary document for TWINS: Improved spatial and angular phase calibration for holography - 6629625.pdf
Creators: name: Supikov, Alexey
name: Nentedem, Michael Mefenza
name: Grunnet-Jepsen, Anders
name: Azuma, Ronald
Publisher: name: Optica Publishing Group
Year: 2023
Subjects: Uncategorized

description: Supplementary materials
ManyPrimates
Creators: name: Bohn, Manuel
name: Schmitt, Vanessa
name: Sanchez-Amaro, Alejandro
name: Keupp, Stefanie
name: Hopper, Lydia
name: Völter, Christoph
name: Altschul, Drew
name: Fischer, Julia
name: Fichtel, Claudia
name: Beran, Michael
Publisher: name: Open Science Framework
Year: 2022

description: Collaboration project connecting primate researchers all over the world
The molecular H2 emission and the stellar kinematics in the nuclear region of the Sombrero galaxy
Creators: name: Menezes, R. B.
name: Steiner, J. E.
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2015
Subjects: subject: Astrophysics of Galaxies (astro-ph.GA)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: We analyze the molecular H$_2$ emission and the stellar kinematics in a data cube of the nuclear region of M104, the Sombrero galaxy, obtained with NIFS on the Gemini-north telescope. After a careful subtraction of the stellar continuum, the only emission line we detected in the data cube was H$_2 λ21218$. An analysis of this emission revealed the existence of a rotating molecular torus/disk, aproximately co-planar with a dusty structure detected by us in a previous work. We interpret these two structures as being associated with the same obscuring torus/disk. The kinematic maps provided by the Penalized Pixel Fitting method revealed that the stellar kinematics in the nuclear region of M104 appears to be the result of the superposition of a "cold" rotating disk and a "hot" bulge. Using a model of a thin eccentric disk, we reproduced the main properties of the maps of the stellar radial velocity and of the stellar velocity dispersion, specially within a distance of 0.2" from the kinematic axis (in regions at larger distances, the limitations of a model of a thin rotating disk become more visible). The general behavior of the $h_3$ map, which is significantly noisier than the other maps, was also reproduced by our model (although the discrepancies, in this case, are considerably higher). With our model, we obtained a mass of (9.0 +/- 2.0) x 10^8 Mo for the supermassive black hole of M104, which is compatible, at $1σ$ or $2σ$ levels, with the values obtained by previous studies.
description: 11 pages, 5 figures, 1 table, published online in ApJ
On the Role of Network Centrality in the Controllability of Complex Networks
Creators: name: Bof, Nicoletta
name: Baggio, Giacomo
name: Zampieri, Sandro
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2015
Subjects: subject: Optimization and Control (math.OC)
subject: FOS: Mathematics

description: In recent years complex networks have gained increasing attention in different fields of science and engineering. The problem of controlling these networks is an interesting and challenging problem to investigate. In this paper we look at the controllability problem focusing on the energy needed for the control. Precisely not only we want to analyze whether a network can be controlled, but we also want to establish whether the control can be performed using a limited amount of energy. We restrict our study to irreducible and (marginally) stable networks and we find that the leading right and left eigenvectors of the network matrix play a crucial role in this analysis. Interestingly, our results suggest the existence of a connection between controllability and network centrality, a well-known concept in network science. In case the network is reversible, the latter connection involves the PageRank, an extensively studied type of centrality measure. Finally, the proposed results are applied to examples concerning random graphs.
description: 11 pages, 5 figures. Revised version. To appear in IEEE Transaction on Control of Network Systems
The impacts of the European legal and policy framework on trafficking in human beings: a case study on Albania
Creators: name: Ruggeri, Damien
Publisher: name: My University
Year: 2013
Subjects: trafficked persons
trafficking
Albania
Europe

description: Second semester University: University of Graz.
description: The thesis is aimed at exploring the current European framework related to trafficking in human beings (THB), highlighting its strengths and weaknesses as well as focusing on a country of origin of THB, Albania. Overall, the works of the Council of Europe (CoE), the European Union (EU) and the Organisation for Security and the Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in the fight against THB are considered as complementary, despite numerous risks of repetitive work. The three institutions developed common approaches to eradicate THB but they are not the most suitable to address the phenomenon. The study suggests consequently including a new approach: a human security approach. The result of the study showed that adopting a human security approach can drastically re- duce THB. It is therefore primordial to prevent THB and tackle its roots, that is to say fostering access to education and create job opportunities. Albania is very active in the fight against THB. The Albanian authorities included the international and European legal frameworks on THB by amending its Criminal Code. However, several obstacles persist, notably in terms of implementation. Albania is currently facing new trends of THB, like labour exploitation and internal trafficking, and must adapt itself accordingly.
MPEC 2024-R101 : 2024 RG3
Creators: name: Minor Planet Center Staff
Publisher: name: The Minor Planet Center
Year: 2024
Subjects: subject: Small Solar System bodies
valueUri: http://astrothesaurus.org/uat/1469
subject: 2024 RG3

description: The Minor Planet Electronic Circulars contain information on unusual minor planets, routine data on comets and natural satellites, and occasional editorial announcements.  They are published on behalf of Division F of the International Astronomical Union by the Minor Planet Center, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A.
Amnesties for international crimes : between legality and reality
Creators: name: Schaiko, Guan
Publisher: name: My University
Year: 2010
Subjects: human rights
international law
international criminal law
International Criminal Court
amnesty

description: Second semester: University of Seville.
description: This thesis examines the question whether amnesties for international crimes are valid under international law both from a legal and normative perspective. It does so by putting the debate on amnesty in a broader context and assessing the normative developments in international human rights law and international criminal law. The conclusion is that there is nowadays a generally agreed anti-amnesty norm for genocide, war crimes committed in international armed conflicts and crimes against humanity. This position is also perceptible in legal doctrine, the UN and the case-law of human rights monitoring bodies. Although amnesties are not per se banned under the Rome Statute, it remains unclear how the ICC will deal with amnesties in future cases. This thesis also asserts that the current state of the law does not correspond with the reality of many transitional societies. A normative analysis reveals that the normative foundations of prosecution are not justified in the context of transitional societies. This thesis therefore proposes to de-emphasise the emphasis on prosecution and shift to the broader notion of accountability. Furthermore, it argues that the primer duty of the State in transitional societies is to bring basic security and a minimum rule of law in order to deliver justice, both as a thin and thick notion. Peace and justice are therefore not contradictory but mutually reinforcing. The validity of an amnesty should therefore be judged by the nominal contribution it makes towards basic security and the rule of law. This approach would grant transitional societies with more flexibility in dealing with past periods of violence.
Onset of the Meissner effect at 65 K in FeSe thin film grown on Nb doped SrTiO3 substrate
Creators: name: Zhang, Zuocheng
name: Wang, Yihua
name: Song, Qi
name: Liu, Chang
name: Peng, Rui
name: Moler, K. A.
name: Feng, Donglai
name: Wang, Yayu
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2015
Subjects: subject: Superconductivity (cond-mat.supr-con)
subject: Materials Science (cond-mat.mtrl-sci)
subject: Strongly Correlated Electrons (cond-mat.str-el)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: We report the Meissner effect studies on an FeSe thin film grown on Nb doped SrTiO3 substrate by molecular beam epitaxy. Two-coil mutual inductance measurement clearly demonstrates the onset of diamagnetic screening at 65 K, which is consistent with the gap opening temperature determined by previous angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy results. The applied magnetic field causes a broadening of the superconducting transition near the onset temperature, which is the typical behavior for quasi-two-dimensional superconductors. Our results provide direct evidence that FeSe thin film grown on Nb doped SrTiO3 substrate has an onset TC ~ 65 K, which is the highest among all iron based superconductors discovered so far.
description: 9 pages, 3 figures, updated reference list
An assessment of gravity as the basis of prosecutorial strategy at the International Criminal Court
Creators: name: McGowan, Malachy
Publisher: name: My University
Year: 2009
Subjects: International Criminal Court
jurisprudence
justice

description: Second semester University: KU Leuven.
description: The question of who should be prosecuted is fundamental for the success of the International Criminal Court. The Prosecutor has announced that to ensure objectivity and increase legitimacy, investigations and prosecutions will be selected on the basis of gravity. This paper investigates the concept of gravity, arguing that its subjective nature make it ill-suited to play the role of an objective standard, while also being insufficient to resolve both policy considerations and pragmatic constraints which must be addressed in prosecutorial selection. The Prosecutors definition of gravity and his application of the standard in practice are assessed using jurisprudence on gravity from previous courts, in the context of sentencing and Referral Decisions, in an attempt to resolve a number of controversies which have arisen over the Prosecutor’s selections. This highlights that gravity is too subjective to ensure legitimacy of decision making, but also demonstrates its inadequacy as a basis for prosecutorial discretion.This inadequacy is further demonstrated with an examination of additional policy considerations that must be addressed to contribute to the Court’s aim of ending impunity, and completed with a discussion of pragmatic constraints which would prevent the operation of a gravity standard in practice.
title: Approximation projektiver Tensornormen mit konvexer algebraischer Geometrie
Creators: name: Lang, Sandra
Publisher: name: UNSPECIFIED
Year: 2023

description: In dieser Arbeit untersuchen wir eine Methode zur Approximation der projektiven Norm auf reellen multipartiten Tensorprodukten durch sogenannte Thetakörper. Mit Thetakörpern kann die konvexe Hülle bestimmter reeller algebraischer Varietäten durch eine Kette von konvexen semialgebraischen Obermengen approximiert werden. Wir zeigen zunächst, dass die Einheitsproduktvektoren eines multipartiten Tensorprodukts, deren konvexe Hülle gleich der Einheitskugel der projektiven Norm ist, eine reelle algebraische Varietät bilden. Anschließend zeigen wir, dass die zu dieser Varietät gehörenden Thetakörper gegen die Einheitskugel der projektiven Norm konvergieren. Wir kommen zu dem Schluss, dass die Einheitskugel im Falle von reellen bipartiten Tensorprodukten bereits durch den ersten Thetakörper vollständig beschrieben werden kann. Zur Herleitung dieses Ergebnisses führen wir die zu Grunde liegenden mathematischen Konzepte ein, insbesondere Gröbnerbasen, reelle algebraische Geometrie, konvexe Geometrie und multipartite Tensorprodukte. Abschließend widmen wir uns dem Verständnis der Menge der Produktvektoren als algebraische Varietät und erhalten verschiedene Darstellungsweisen von Thetakörpern, beispielsweise als projizierte Spektraeder oder als Indikatoren für Positivität. Um den allgemeinen Fall multipartiter Tensorprodukte zu behandeln, entwickeln wir eine Software zur Annäherung der projektiven Norm durch Thetanormen. Für eine Fortführung dieser Arbeit siehe: Lang, Sandra: A Geometric Approach to the Projective Tensor Norm URN: urn:nbn:de:tuda-tuprints-203316 https://tuprints.ulb.tu-darmstadt.de/20331/
Democracy versus nation-state? : the Estonian case-study
Creators: name: Korsakoff, Alexandra
Publisher: name: My University
Year: 2011
Subjects: democracy
Estonia
ethnic and national groups
national state

description: Second semester University: Tartu University
description: This paper seeks to highlight if both concepts of polyarchy and ethnos nation-state may reconcile in practice despite their inner theoretical contradiction. Our Estonian case-study reveals that the definition of national identity according to ethnic cores prevents the state to take positive state duties towards ideal democratic conditions, and so any reconciliation to take place. Indeed, the consequent ethnic nationalism and monopoly of the cultural domain do undermine both inclusiveness and effective participation democratic conditions, while lessening non-members of the core nation's both psychological and material resources, thus entailing their selfwithdrawal
Modification of Triblock Copolymer Pluronic 123 for Protein Conjugation
Creators: name: Mac, My
Publisher: name: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Libraries
Year: 2015

description: Blood-brain barrier formed by tight junctions between capillary epithelial cells (astrocytes) establishes a significant inhibition for the delivery of many therapeutic proteins to the central nervous system. The impediment of therapeutic proteins to cross this physiological barrier hinders their potentially important impact on the diagnostic and treatment of many diseases of nervous system. To address this limitation, the modification of a model protein, horseradish peroxidase (HRP), with amphiphilic block copolymer poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(propylene oxide)-b-poly(ethylene oxide), commonly known as Pluronic, was successfully developed and proved to increases permeability of proteins at physiological barriers, such as blood-brain barrier (BBB) and nasal epithelium(1). This project primarily focused on the generation of monoamine Pluronic derivative P123, which upon the conjugation with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) previously showed a considerably enhanced cellular uptake of the conjugates (1). Pluronic 123 was reacted with 4-methoxytrityl chloride (MTr-Cl) to protect the hydroxyl group at one end of the polymer chain; the obtained mono-MTr–Pluronic was then activated using 1,1-carbonyldiimidazole (CDI), followed by a reaction with ethylenediamine (EDA). Using frequently employed analytical techniques such as gradient elution chromatography, gel permeation chromatography, and TLC analyses, modified monoamine-Pluronic 123 molecules were successfully synthesized and isolated with a percent yield of 54.8%. For future project, the modified Pluronic compound will be later adopted for the synthesis of the HPR-P123 conjugates.
The EU and election observation missions to Afghanistan, 2004-2014
Creators: name: Intini, Dario
Publisher: name: My University
Year: 2016
Subjects: election monitoring
Afghanistan
European Union
foreign relations

description: Second semester University: University of Cyprus.
description: The aim of this work is to contextualise and analyse EU Election Observation Missions to Afghanistan for the period 2004-2014. In so doing, I will answer the following research questions: a) What has been the EU's assessment both of the electoral process and the human rights situation surrounding elections in Afghanistan between 2004 and 2014? b) Which hypotheses may be raised to explain the EU's overall assessment of the electoral processes in Afghanistan? Does the assessment of the electoral process in Afghanistan reflect the EU's character both as a normative and strategic actor? This research work is mainly build on the theoretical and analytical framework of Judith G. Kelley and on the systematic study of both the preliminary statements and final reports of the election observation mission. This work suggests that in its election observation missions in Afghanistan, the EU has acted both as a normative and as a strategic actor.