The myth of the “super-predator” offender was adopted by newspaper media in the mid-1990s characterizing “violent”, urban, and minority juvenile offenders. The phrase originated from newspaper headlines of the 1980s and 1990s, but limited research has identified whether this con-struct predated DiIulio and Fox’s crime surge prediction. This study sampled juvenile crime news items from The Chicago Tribune, The Los Angeles Times and The New York Times (N=2,008) 1985-1995 with defined search criteria of juvenile actors, “violent” juvenile crime, and/or juvenile drug crime. A descriptive analysis of the data determined reporting trends sought for a “period effect” caused by the publicity of the prediction and searched for the pre-existence of “super-predator” construct. Finally, a series χ2 test determined the statistical independence of “super-predator” offender, the victim, and crime characteristics, from variables of news article prominence. This study found support for identifiable trends in juvenile crime reporting, no identifiable “period effect” and mixed, but ultimately null findings, in pre-establishing the super-predator media construct. The χ2 test determined the statistical independence of “super-predator” offender, the victim, and crime characteristics, found some characteristics were statically independent of variables of article prominence, but that these relationships are weak.

Beginning with the discovery of graphene, two-dimensional materials have amassed a strong interest. Like graphene, transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) can be coaxed into atomically thin sheets which have some impressive properties. Unlike graphene, TMDs also has a change in their electronic band structure causing an indirect band gap to a direct gap transition in its monolayer form. Additionally, these materials lose their inversion symmetry as a monolayer. These unique properties make TMDs a strong candidate for being used in optoelectronic and valleytronic devices. In order for these devices to be successful, the optical properties of TMDs must be thoroughly understood. Due to this class of material's strong Coulomb interaction, the optical properties are dominated by excitons, a quasiparticle made up of an electron-hole pair. Therefore, the success of these devices relies, in part, on understanding and manipulating excitons. One key parameter of excitons is their dephasing rate which characterizes the lifetime of the coherent superposition of two states (i.e. how the coherence decays which is caused by excitons interacting with their environment). In this work, two optical properties are investigated: (1) How the linear absorption of the TMDs A-exciton peak varies as the material increases in thickness. By looking at how the absorption varies by sample thickness, the interaction between emitters can be understood. Experimental results for the diamagnetic shift are presented which are used to determine the lateral excitonic size. Through theoretical calculations, based on the semiconductor Maxwell-Bloch equations, additional insight into the radiative coupling of the systems are obtained. (2) How the coherence prole of the exciton changes in the presence of an external magnetic eld and specic valley excitation. By varying the polarization scheme in the four wave mixing measurement, specic valley excitation can be selected, allowing for insight into the dephasing mechanisms. By applying an external magnetic eld, the energy levels of the electron and hole can be discretized and the corresponding eects on the system's coherence seen. In conjunction with time-dependent density function theory calculations and the experimental results, a deeper understanding of exciton dynamics and multi-exciton complexes was obtained. Finally, a new system is proposed in which complex spectroscopic techniques can be performed on micron sized samples as well as devices in the presence of an external magnetic eld at cryogen temperatures. This system will allow for the investigation of the optical properties of stacked monolayers (heterostructures) as well as devices.

Procedural Content Generation is now used in many games to generate a wide variety of content. It often uses players controlled by Artificial Intelligence for its evaluation. PCG content can also be used when training AI players to achieve better generalization. In both of these fields, evolutionary algorithms are employed, but they are rarely used together. In this thesis, we use the coevolution of AI players and level generators for platformer game Super Mario. Coevolution's benefit is, that the AI players are evaluated by adapting level generators, and vice versa, level generators are evaluated by adapting AI players. This approach has two results. The first one is a creation of multiple level generators, each generating levels of gradually increased difficulty. Levels generated using a sequence of these generators also mirror the learning curve of the AI player. This can be useful also for human players playing the game for the first time. The second result is an AI player, which was evolved on gradually more difficult levels. Making it learn progressively may yield better results. Using the coevolution also doesn't require any training data set.

Cells require adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to drive the myriad processes associated with growth, replication, and homeostasis. Eukaryotic cells rely on mitochondria to produce the vast majority of their ATP. Mitochondria consist of a relatively smooth outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM) and a highly complex inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM), containing numerous invaginations, called cristae, which house the molecular machinery of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). Although mitochondrial form and function are intimately connected, limitations in the resolution of live-cell imaging have hindered the ability to directly visualize the relationship between the architecture of the IMM and its associated bioenergetic properties. Using advanced imaging technologies, including Airyscan, stimulated emission depletion (STED), and structured illumination microscopy (SIM), we developed an approach to image the IMM in living cells. Staining mitochondria with various ΔΨm-dependent dyes, we found that the fluorescence pattern along the IMM was heterogeneous, with cristae possessing a significantly greater fluorescence intensity than the contiguous inner boundary membrane (IBM). Applying the Nernst equation, we determined that the ΔΨm of cristae is approximately 12 mV stronger than that of IBM, indicating that the electrochemical gradient that drives ATP synthesis is compartmentalized in cristae membranes. Notably, deletion of key components of the mitochondrial contact site and cristae organizing system (MICOS), as well as OPA1, which regulate crista junctions (CJs), decreased ΔΨm heterogeneity. Complementing our super-resolution imaging of cristae in living cells, we also developed a machine-learning protocol to quantify IMM architecture. Tracking real-time changes in cristae density, size, and shape, we determined that cristae dynamically remodel on a scale of seconds. Furthermore, we found that cristae move away from sites of mitochondrial fission, and, prior to mitochondrial fusion, the IMM forms finger-like protrusions bridging the membranes of the fusing organelles. Lastly, we investigated the role of the motor adaptor protein, Milton1/TRAK1, in mitochondrial dynamics. Patient-derived Milton1-null fibroblasts not only had impaired mitochondrial motility but exhibited fragmentation corresponding to a roughly 40% decrease in mitochondrial aspect ratio and a 17% increase in circularity, associated with increased DRP1 activity. Conversely, we found that overexpression of Milton1 led to mitochondrial hyperfusion, decreased DRP1 activity, and aberrant clustering of mtDNA. Overall, our studies directly demonstrate that maintaining mitochondrial architecture is essential for preserving the functionality of mitochondria, the hubs of eukaryotic metabolism.

In Jane Austen’s renowned Pride and Prejudice, published in 1813, the reader encounters love and marriage in the British middle-class during the nineteenth century. While the main focus of the novel is the love story between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy, the reader also encounters the youngest Bennet sister, Lydia. Lydia is depicted as loud, vain, rude and ignorant and even though this is a correct description of Lydia’s behavior, there are underlying reasons for that foolish and naïve behavior. Thus, the aim of this essay is to examine and explain the underlying reasons as to why Lydia behaves as recklessly and selfishly as she does. By close reading of the novel and by using psychoanalysis and relevant Freudian concepts, mainly the id, the ego and the super-ego, the analysis concludes that there is an evident connection between Lydia’s unruly behavior and her dysfunctional relationship to her parents. Due to the lack of parental guidance, Lydia has been left uncontrolled and heavily ruled by her id. Moreover, this essay will demonstrate that there is a shift in Lydia’s behavior as the novel progresses. As a result of certain events in the novel, Lydia’s behavior shifts even further towards her being driven by the pleasure principle and her id.

The main purpose of this study is to find out how Swedish independent music labels survive in the music industry. The study aims to examine the independent music labels based on their resource assets and how they through these assets can compete within the music market for continued survival. The empirical data consists of interviews with 5 informants who all runs an independent music label in Sweden today. The data was analyzed using Pierre Bourdieus capital theory and the related field concept. Based on Bourdieu’s concept of capital, I have introduced the indie capital, which is a capital of information that grows with your time on the music industry field.   The results of this study shows that where the indie music labels lack economical capital, they use their cultural capital and convert it into economical capital with the help of super fans. It is also of importance to build a large song catalog from which the labels can receive a stable income. Further the results shows that the indie capital was essential when the labels were founded and remains essential for continued survival within the industry in forms of knowledge and experience. The social capital acts as en exchange of mainly the indie capital between the independent music labels. It turned out that the indie music labels acted as both competitors and colleagues within the field which means that the indie music labels can turn to each other when it is needed.

<div>Light in heavily scattering media such as tissue can be modeled with a diffusion equation. A diffusion equation forward model in a computational imaging framework can be used to form images of deep tissue, an approach called diffuse optical tomography, which is important for biomedical studies. However, severe attenuation of high-spatial-frequency information occurs as light propagates through scattering media, and this limits image resolution. Here, we introduce a super-resolution approach based on a point emitter localization method that enables an improvement in spatial resolution of over two orders of magnitude. We demonstrate this experimentally by localizing a small fluorescent inhomogeneity in a highly scattering slab and characterize the localization uncertainty. The approach allows imaging in deep tissue with a spatial resolution of tens of microns, enabling cells to be resolved.</div><div><br></div><div>We also propose a localization-based method that relies on separation in time of the temporal responses of fluorescent signals, as would occur with biological reporters. By localizing each emitter individually, a high-resolution spatial image can be achieved. We develop a statistical detection method for localization based on temporal switching and characterization of multiple fluorescent emitters in a tissue-like domain. By scaling the spatial dimensions of the problem, the scope of applications is widened beyond tissue imaging to other scattering domains. </div><div><br></div><div>Finally, we demonstrate that motion of an object in structured illumination and intensity-based measurements provide sensitivity to material and subwavelength-scale-dimension information. The approach is illustrated as retrieving unknown parameters of interest, such as the refractive index and thickness of a film on a substrate, by utilizing measured power data as a function of object position. </div>

In digital image correlation, an optical full-field analysis method that can determine displacements of an object under load, high-resolution images are preferable. One way to improve the resolution is to improve the camera hardware. This can be expensive, hence another way to enhance the image is by various image processing techniques increase the resolution of the image. There are several ways of doing this and these techniques are called super-resolution. In this thesisthe theory behind several different approaches to super-resolution is presented and discussed. The goal of this Thesis has been to investigate if super-resolutionis possible in a scene with moving objects as well as movement of the camera. It became clear early on that image registration, a step in many super-resolution methods that will be explained in this thesis, was of utmost importance, and a major part of the work became comparing image registration methods. Data has been recorded and then two different super-resolution algorithms have been evaluated on a data set showing that super-resolution is possible.

The work deals with the research of the influence of Free N bacterial preparations (contains selected strains of Azotobacter chroococcum) and Free PK (contains selected strains of Bacillus mulaginosus) and their combinations (Free N + Free PK) on the yield of apples during their intensive cultivation in the orchard. The research took place in 2018 in Agrosad Velké Bílovice on the cultivar 'Super chief', grown in medium-heavy soil and grown-up five-year-old trees. The following indicators were examined: the effect on the amount of five minerals in the fruit (nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, potassium and magnesium). Comparison with the Control showed that bacterial preparations had no effect on increasing the amount of all five substances studied in fruit. Similarly, it was at examining the amount of titratable acids in fruit, the amount of soluble solids, the amount of vitamin C in the fruit, the strength of the fruit peel, and the antioxidant capacity of the peel and pulp of the fruit. Only with the antioxidant capacity of the fruit peel, Free N exceeded the Control, but the comparison was statistically inconclusive. Further indicators were investigated: the effect of bacterial preparations on average apple weight in t/ha, also on apples below and above 70 mm, on average weight of apples in (g) and number of apples on trees. The check was always on the second, third and last place in the impact indicators. The effect of microbial agents (Free N, Free PK, and their combination) was slightly higher than Control. However, the differences were statistically inconclusive.

The way its future power systems are designed will have significant impact on sub-Saharan Africa's (SSA) aspirations to move from low electricity consumption rates to enhance life quality and further increase economic opportunity. At present, Africa is experiencing higher economic growth rates than other continents (including Asia). And so is its need for electric power. However, all too often the options that are chosen are the ones with lowest risk and that require little coordination. In part, this is because region-wide planning, coordination and institutions are in their infancy. “Low risk” power plants typically include oil generators that can be sited close to loads, other fossil fuel power plants, and hydro plants that can easily be connected to the continent’s grid. However, hydropower production has been limited due to changes in weather and climate and socio-economic impacts. Additionally, its potential has also not been reached as large sites are far from adequate grids. A restructuring of the energy system that considers both the potential for increased geographical integration while moving gradually towards more sustainable electricity generation may hold significant promise. This work considers the potential of another renewable technology namely concentrating solar power (CSP) and connecting supply and demand centers via high voltage direct current (HVDC) power lines. Specifically, the focus is on utility-scale solar power generation to supply the needs of growing urban centers of demand. It develops a Geographic Information System-based (GIS) model with a spatial resolution of 30 arc-seconds to calculate the cost evolution of the electricity produced by different technologies of CSP plants and the costs of grid development to selected centers of demand. The results show that major SSA metropolis can benefit from distant CSP economically attractive to compete with inlaid coal-based generation. In 2010, total imports of coal exceeded 1.4 million short tons with consequent economic and environmental costs. Solar towers plants endowed with thermal storage may become a leading technology for smoothing purposes with zero fuel costs. Furthermore, Africa’s vast solar resources are far from urban centers of demand and a transmission system capable to integrate high levels of renewable energy while improving reliability of supply is required. The results of this study point to the importance of SSA centers to rely on a Super Grid approach to take advantage from CSP least-cost potential and to discontinue expensive traditional sources. Overall, solar corridors can integrate with geographically-wide wind and hydro potentials to create clean energy corridors and encourage a transition towards more sustainable energy systems.