Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a clustering of traditional cardiovascular risk factors including central obesity, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and hypertension. The prevalence of MetS increases risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes and increases with age.
Purpose: To compare prevalence and correlates of MetS (and components) in Canadian and Korean older adults.
Methods: This study consisted of secondary data analysis, using data from the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) (cycle 1) and the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (cycle 4). The study sample included adults aged 60 to 79 years and who provided fasting blood samples. To compare prevalence of MetS between countries, the same diagnostic criteria (Harmonizing definition) were used. Similar measures of potential explanatory variables for MetS, such as physical activity, dietary patterns, comorbidity, gender, household income adequacy, education, marital status, alcohol consumption, smoking, psychological distress, and duration of sleep were also used where possible. Univariate and multiple logistic regression models were used to examine the cross-sectional relationship between these study variables and MetS. Principal component and cluster analyses were conducted to derive dietary patterns.
Results: Included were 550 (weighted N=4,886,039) and 3,040 (weighted N=4,267,182) Canadians and Koreans aged 60 to 79 years, respectively. The prevalence of MetS was 42.0% and 52.2% in the Canadian and Korean sample, respectively (p<.0001). The prevalence of MetS in Korean women was 60.5% and explained the overall increased prevalence in the Korean sample. Results of the descriptive analysis, as well as the univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses indicated that the prevalence and pattern or joint distribution of explanatory variables differed across the two populations. In the Canadian sample, the final multivariate model comprised household income, marital status, alcohol consumption and psychological distress, with evidence of an interaction between adequacy of household income and marital status. In the Korean sample, the final multivariate model comprised comorbidity, gender, education, marital status, physical activity, and dietary pattern, with evidence of an interaction between comorbidity and marital status and between gender and education.
Conclusions: Findings of this study provided insight into possible underlying mechanisms that might lead to between-country differences in prevalence of MetS and to inconsistent measures of association between MetS and an individual factor like physical activity or dietary intake across studies.


The nature of price dynamics has long been thought important for the origin and duration of business cycles. To investigate this topic, we construct a dynamic stochastic general equilibrium macroeconomic model in which monopolistically competitive firms face fixed costs of changing the nominal prices of final goods. These prices are thus changed infrequently and discretely. The framework captures major features of the price dynamics stressed by the New Keynesian research program, particularly work on (s, S) pricing rules. However, by treating firms as heterogenous with respect to the size of fixed costs of price adjustment, we are able to study a wider range of issues than in the prior literature. For example, we explore how the nature of optimal price-setting depends on (i) the extent of persistence of variations in the money stock and (ii) the interest elasticity of money demand. Further, our model can be used to study a wide range of aspects of the positive and normative economics of monetary policy. We illustrate these topics by considering the consequences of changing the rate of inflation and by evaluating alternative policy rules.


ABSTRACT Lewis Harcourt, who was Colonial Secretary in Britain's Liberal government, from 1908 to 1915, kept a political journal for many years, some earlier parts of which have already been published. Reproduced below is the whole neat version of the journal from 26 July 1914, when Harcourt first mentions the events of the 'July Crisis', until 4 August, when Britain declared war on Germany. Originals of the entries are kept at the Bodleian Library, Oxford in file Ms. Eng. c. 8269 of the 'Further Papers of Lewis Harcourt', which only came to light in 2008. Historians can be grateful that Harcourt kept such a record of ministerial discussions during the July Crisis, because no official records were taken of Cabinet meetings before 1916, apart from short reports by the Prime Minister to the King. There are some diary entries, letters and memoranda from those involved, but the only source with comparative detail to Harcourt's is the diary kept by the education minister, Jack Pease, which has already been published.


As the two-step Chevron approach to determining when courts should defer to agency interpretations of statutes has expanded in influence, questions about when the Chevron doctrine applies have proliferated. This article identifies fourteen questions about Chevron's domain that remain unresolved. The article argues that two background principles are important in answering these questions, each suggesting that Chevron has a relatively narrow domain. First, there are two deference doctrines - mandatory deference as recognized in Chevron, and discretionary deference as reflected in Skidmore - and Skidmore deference is always available as a fallback when Chevron does not apply. Second, Chevron deference rests most plausibly on implied congressional intent to delegate primary interpretational authority to an agency, and hence the scope of Chevron deference is subject to ultimate control by Congress. These two background principles lead in turn to three more specific operational principles: (1) agencies are entitled to Chevron deference when Congress has authorized them to make decisions that bind persons outside the agency with the force of law; (2) an agency interpretation is entitled to Chevron deference only insofar as it is rendered in a format having the force of law; and (3) Chevron deference does not apply if the statutory circumstances suggest that Congress had a clear intent to the contrary. The article concludes by showing how these operational principles can be used to provide principled answers to each of the fourteen questions about Chevron's domain that remain unanswered.Reprinted with permission of the publisher, Georgetown Law Journal © 2001.


Learners have personal data, such as grades, feedback and statistics on how they fair or compare with the class. But, data focusing on their personal learning is lacking, as it does not get updated regularly (being updated at the end of a taught session) and the displayed information is generally a single grade. Consequently, it is difficult for students to use this information to adapt their behavior, and help them on their learning journey. Yet, there is a rich set of data that could be captured and help students learn better. What is required is dynamically, regularly updated personal data, that is displayed to students in a timely way. Such 'personal data' can be presented to the student through 'personal visualizations' that engender 'personal learning'. In this paper we discuss our journey into developing learning systems and our resulting experience with learners. We present a vision, to integrate new technologies and visualization solutions, in order to encourage and develop personal learning that employs the visualization of personal learning data.


This paper discusses findings from research that explores the role of higher education in the emergence of developmental leaders and the formation of networks among leaders in the Philippines.

The study uncovered highly complex relationships between education, family background, politics and religion, which combined in a range of ways to determine positioning as a leader of reform. However, participants all saw their own education as having played a significant role in their trajectory to becoming a leader, albeit sometimes in unexpected ways.

Educational experiences alone were not sufficient to pave the way to a leadership role. Navigating the Philippines' elitist system requires a mixture of talent, determination and opportunity.
Extra-curricular activities and political activism were far more significant than the formal curriculum and pedagogy. They provided valuable political leadership skills, and enabled future leaders to share and discuss different conceptions of development and reform.
Emerging leaders were able to draw on a range of educational and other networks as they navigated elite positions and powerful roles.
Higher education was for many of the leaders their first opportunity to mix and create networks with people from other backgrounds ('bridging' capital), and this proved a highly significant asset for changemakers aspiring to successful leadership of democratic reform and pro-poor movements.
A key implication of these findings is that the purposes of higher education need to be seen 'in the round', beyond the current emphasis on teaching and learning.


Abstract The electron cyclotron resonance heating (ECRH) system on the Large Helical Device (LHD) has been in stable operation for ~11 yr in numerous plasma experiments. During this time, many upgrades to the system have been made, such as reinforcement of the gyrotron tubes, modification of the power supply depending on gyrotron type, and increase in the number of transmission lines and antennas. These efforts allow the stable injection of millimeter-wave power in excess of 2 MW. In parallel, various transmission components were evaluated, and antenna performance was confirmed at a high power level. The coupling efficiency of the millimeter wave from the gyrotron to the transmission line and the transmission efficiency through the waveguide were further improved in recent years. The feedback control of the wave polarization has also been tried to maximize the efficiency of wave absorption. The gyrotron oscillation frequency was reconsidered in order to extend the flexibility of the magnetic configuration in plasma experiments. The development of 77-GHz gyrotrons with the output of 1 MW per few seconds in a single tube is currently taking place in collaboration with the University of Tsukuba. Two such gyrotron tubes already have been installed and were used for plasma experiments recently. An ECRH system with a capability of the steady operation is required, because the LHD can continuously generate confinement magnetic fields using superconducting magnets. Not only the gyrotron but also the transmission system and components must withstand continuous power operation. Further acceleration of both the power reinforcement and a steady-state capability will allow the sustainment of high-performance plasmas.


This clinical trial evaluated whether whole exome sequencing (WES) and RNA sequencing (RNAseq) of paired normal and tumor tissues could be incorporated into a personalized treatment plan for newly diagnosed patients (<25 years of age) with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG). Additionally, whole genome sequencing (WGS) was compared to WES to determine if WGS would further inform treatment decisions, and whether circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) could detect the H3K27M mutation to allow assessment of therapy response. Patients were selected across three Pacific Pediatric Neuro‐Oncology Consortium member institutions between September 2014 and January 2016. WES and RNAseq were performed at diagnosis and recurrence when possible in a CLIA‐certified laboratory. Patient‐derived cell line development was attempted for each subject. Collection of blood for ctDNA was done prior to treatment and with each MRI. A specialized tumor board generated a treatment recommendation including up to four FDA‐approved agents based upon the genomic alterations detected. A treatment plan was successfully issued within 21 business days from tissue collection for all 15 subjects, with 14 of the 15 subjects fulfilling the feasibility criteria. WGS results did not significantly deviate from WES‐based therapy recommendations; however, WGS data provided further insight into tumor evolution and fidelity of patient‐derived cell models. Detection of the H3F3A or HIST1H3B K27M (H3K27M) mutation using ctDNA was successful in 92% of H3K27M mutant cases. A personalized treatment recommendation for DIPG can be rendered within a multicenter setting using comprehensive next‐generation sequencing technology in a clinically relevant timeframe.


Catalytic transesterifications of cellulose were studied under homogeneous conditions using the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (BMIMCl) as a solvent. Cellulose was thus efficiently converted into cellulose esters employing various methyl esters and 10 mol% of 1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-ene (TBD) as catalyst. 1H NMR analysis of the products revealed up to 2.3 turnovers of the methyl esters per catalyst molecule, leading to degrees of substitution (DS) of up to 0.69. Although a comparatively low turnover number (TON) is observed, the developed methodology represents the first successful homogeneous catalytic reaction on cellulose. Furthermore, the new method is an important step forward in terms of sustainability, since the BMIMCl–DMSO mixture can be recycled and reused for the reaction, and toxic and corrosive chemicals commonly employed for cellulose esterification (such as anhydrides, acid chlorides and bromides, organic bases, all in overstoichiometric amounts) are avoided. To demonstrate the versatility of this transesterification, an aromatic (cellulose benzoate), an aliphatic (cellulose butyrate), and a fatty acid containing cellulose ester (cellulose 10-undecenoate) were prepared. Additionally, cellulose 10-undecenoate was successfully used for thiol–ene grafting onto reactions employing two thiols for efficient thiol–ene addition reactions.


In a prospective, non-randomized, pilot study, we evaluated the efficacy of hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination in inhibiting HBV replication of chronic hepatitis B. Fourteen consecutive chronic HBs antigen carriers received standard vaccination with three injections of the GenHevac B vaccine, one month apart. All the patients had active HBV replication with chronic hepatitis but not cirrhosis. They were compared to a historical group of 34 patients who fulfilled the same inclusion criteria. Over the 6-month follow-up period after the first injection, serum HBV DNA became undetectable in 3 patients (21.4%). Four additional patients (28.6%) showed a significant decrease in HBV replication. In 4 cases, the disappearance of or decrease in HBV DNA was preceded by an increase in transaminase activities, which was also observed in one patient who did not modify his viral replication. Vaccination was otherwise uneventful. By contrast, during a mean follow-up of 40 months, only 3 (9%) of the 34 unvaccinated patients who served as controls lost serum HBV DNA, giving a 6-month HBV DNA disappearance rate of 1%. In sum, vaccination appeared able to reduce or stop HBV replication in half of the chronic HBsAg carriers with chronic hepatitis. This additional therapeutic tool may enhance the rate of response to interferon-alpha therapy, which is dependent on the level of HBV replication. Thus, immunotherapy should be considered of potential importance for the treatment of HBV infection.


Title of Document: THE AMERICAN BANKER AS INTERNATIONAL INVESTOR: HAVE THE NEW BANKING POWERS IN THE U.S. INCREASED THE VOLATILITY OF LENDING INTO EMERGING ECONOMIES? Hyun Koo Cho, Doctor of Philosophy, 2007 Directed By: Professor I.M. Destler Maryland School of Public Policy Using U.S. cross-border bank exposure data, this study establishes a line of arguments and findings, which together constitute the following observation: "Deregulation of U.S. banks, via consolidation and a volatile earnings stream, increased volatility in bank lending to emerging economies, and, in due course, worsened the financial crises in emerging economies." The volatility of U.S. bank lending to emerging economies has increased during the past twenty years. To explain the across-the-board, increasing volatility of U.S. bank emerging market claims, this study turns to the supply side of the equation: the deregulation in the U.S. banking sector that imparted this commonality to their banks' investment patterns to emerging economies. In so doing, it unveils the linkages through which U.S. banking deregulation ratcheted up the volatility of U.S. bank lending into emerging economies. It starts with the detection of a particular feature of U.S. bank emerging market lending that warrants further attention — increasing volatility over time. Unlike bank lending from Europe or Japan, U.S. bank lending exhibited the unique feature of increasing volatility over time, regardless of its destination. By looking into domestic push factors that could have contributed to this characteristic, this study identified a temporal association between important deregulation initiatives in the U.S. banking industry and the volatility of emerging market lending by U.S. banks during the same period. This association was then explained by the linkages between the major outcomes of deregulation — consolidation of the banking industry and diversification of banking activities — and the increased volatility of lending into emerging economies. Together, it argues that the U.S. banking deregulation had the unintended and unanticipated side effect of increasing the volatility of U.S. bank lending into emerging economies. THE AMERICAN BANKER AS INTERNATIONAL INVESTOR: HAVE THE NEW BANKING POWERS IN THE U.S. INCREASED THE VOLATILITY OF LENDING INTO EMERGING ECONOMIES?


This paper describes the full procedure adopted in the context of the Clavius on the Web project, which aims to help Web users to appraise the importance of specific manuscripts by going beyond their digital reproduction. The proposed approach is based on the multilayered explication of linguistic, lexical and semantic data representing the innermost nature of the analyzed manuscripts. The final purpose of the project is to gather and display the results of the three layers of analysis through interactive visualization techniques and export them as Linked Data. All the analyses rely on the XML/TEI encoding of the text, followed by a CTS-based tokenization. As a working example for this paper, the analysis of a portion of a manuscript provided by Historical Archives of the Pontifical Gregorian University will be illustrated. The text is a letter written in Latin and sent by Botvitus Nericius to Christophorus Clavius in 1598 from Madrid.


The mechanical and flow behaviors of unsaturated soil are affected by the degree of soil saturation, the load carrying capacity of pile foundations supported on unsaturated soils are affected as well. This paper describes a geotechnical centrifuge testing procedure developed for evaluating the effect of degree of saturation on the static and dynamic response of pile foundations. Specifically, the specimen preparation, testing procedure, and sample test results are presented. A uniform degree of saturation profile with depth was obtained by spraying water from the top of the model. The water was stored in a pre-pressurized inflow tank attached to the centrifuge platform. The flow rate was controlled using servo valves, and the model dimensions were scaled using centrifuge scaling laws. The experiments were conducted in Ottawa sand at 50 g centrifugal accelerations. Results from 24% and 28% degree of saturations are presented with important suggestions based upon our experience.


A good understanding of the nature of a property requires knowing whether that property is relational or intrinsic. Gabriel Segal's concern is whether certain psychological properties -- specifically, those that make up what might be called the "cognitive content" of psychological states -- are relational or intrinsic. He claims that content supervenes on microstructure, that is, if two beings are identical with respect to their microstructural properties, then they must be identical with respect to their cognitive contents. Segal's thesis, a version of internalism, is that being in a state with a specific cognitive content does not essentially involve standing in any real relation to anything external. He uses the fact that content locally supervenes on microstructure to argue for the intrinsicness of content. Cognitive content is fully determined by intrinsic, microstructural properties: duplicate a subject in respect to those properties and you duplicate their cognitive contents. The book, written in a clear, engaging style, contains four chapters. The first two argue against the two leading externalist theories. Chapter 3 rejects popular theories that endorse two kinds of content: "narrow" content, which is locally supervenient, and "broad" content, which is not. Chapter 4 defends a radical alternative version of internalism, arguing that narrow content is a variety of ordinary representation, that is, that narrow content is all there is to content. In defending internalism, Segal does not claim to defend a general philosophical theory of content. At this stage, he suggests, it should suffice to cast reasonable doubt on externalism, to motivate internalism, and to provide reasons to believe that good psychology is, or could be, internalist.


In this novel of 1989, Ugandan literary scholar Timothy Wangusa explores the cultural incompatibility of missionary Christianity as manifested in Anglican endeavours in eastern Uganda and certain folkways of the Gisu people of that region. The principal character is a young convert who strives for intellectual and spiritual maturity at a Christian boarding school while maintaining close ties to his village near Mount Eigon, where circumcision is upheld as an indispensable rite de passage to manhood. Wangusa explores dimensions of this protagonist's dilemma and criticises the moral hypocrisy and cultural myopia of the Anglican missionaries in question. ""Upon this mountain"" is primarily a reconstruction of religio-cultural conflicts and an account of disaffection with both mandatory male circumcision and missionary Christianity.


The music of Jacques Hetu mixes modern and traditional elements, often using classical forms, uncomplicated rhythms, repetition, and sequence in a mix of tonal and atonal pitch structures. The opening section of his Prelude et danse, op. 24, is exemplary. Pitch is organized into the 'modes of limited transposition' used by Messiaen, with whom Hetu studied in Paris. However, these modes are not always apparent to the ear. More obvious are the (0126) tetrachords superimposed over the modal layer and whose reiteration unifies the piece. An analysis that focuses only on that motivic unity cannot account for the contrasts present in the Prelude: contrasts between different modes from one passage to the next, surface-level and background-level events, and different emphasized transformations. The key to understanding both unity and contrast in the Prelude lies in Hetu's own description of his work. He identifies two sonic planes corresponding to melodic (motivic) and harmonic (modal) dimensions of the music. A new approach to conceptualizing pitch structure--transformational theory--is employed to interpret these compositional decisions. This demonstrates how symmetrical collections and atonal tetrachords ornament an underlying structure based on the augmented triad, and how this interpretation is strengthened through instances of this sonority on both the surface and in the background of the Prelude. Thus, three sonic planes coexist. The change of focus between these three planes creates contrast adding interest and motivating the work. The Prelude manages to present new material through repetition, and contrast through similarity, all the time effectively merging these aspects into a unified whole.


In order to study the effect of liquid-solid interaction and surface temperature on drag reduction and heat transfer, non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulation is performed to investigate the density profile, velocity profile, velocity slip and temperature profile of fluid by changing liquid-solid interaction factor α and surface temperature. The result shows that there is a low density layer near the surface when α is small (weak liquid-solid interaction), larger α (strong liquid-solid interaction) can induce density oscillation and solid-like layer near the surface. Velocity slip will decrease as the increases of α. It's worth noting that for α < 0.02, the density oscillation becomes more obvious as the rises of temperature, which impairs drag reduction; For α > 0.02 , the rises of temperature will impair the oscillation, which enhances drag reduction. Due to the existence of low density layer, the heat transfer capacity is very weak when α is small, but the capacity will be enhanced as the increases of α.


One critical factor for success in characterizing metals polluting mining environments so as to be able to eliminate them and subsequently recover these areas depends upon a speedy and correct response in the analysis of samples. Rapid, simultaneous, multi-element analysis can be undertaken using X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, a versatile, non-destructive analytical technique commonly employed to identify both major and minor elements in samples related to environmental studies. An additional advantage of this technique is the possibility of conducting the analysis directly on solid samples, which is extremely convenient when dealing with environmental samples that are difficult to dissolve, such as soils, sediments and mining wastes. Moreover, in recent years the development of spectrometers equipped with digital-signal processors combined with enlarged X-ray production, using better designs for excitation-detection, has contributed to an improvement in instrumental sensitivity, thus allowing us to detect important polluting elements such as Cd and Pb at trace levels. In this paper the authors describe, on the basis of their own experience, some interesting applications of XRF spectrometry for the analysis of several types of environmental samples related to the study of the dispersion of metals within mining environments: (A) analysis of mining wastes, soils and sediments; (B) analysis of samples of vegetation used as bioindicators or related to phytoremediation studies; and (C) analysis of water samples related to mining operations.


Background in music psychology The development of singing involves not only the acquisition of melodies and words but also precise attunement to the timing structure and melodic features given by the social environment, which leads to a considerable conventionalization of performance. Background in linguistics In the course of language development, children adapt their phonetic output to the sound patterns of the target language. In singing songs, the rendition of the lyrics naturally leans on these native language sound patterns, even if the semantic content of the lyrics plays little role. Aims We report a long-term study of a child with infantile autism and severe mental handicap who sings songs but has no language. The only aspect of speech she produces is the phonetic realization of the songs she sings. This exceptional case in which musical development is dissociated from language development bears relevance to the question of the interrelationship of singing and speaking. Method The material consists of two hours of audio data or 269 reproductions of familiar songs extracted from a long-term video documentation of the single case covering the period from age 3–15. Based on phonetic and musical transcriptions, the girl's musical abilities were qualitatively assessed by expert rating. Her phonetic repertoire was quantitatively assessed. Her vocal production (phonetic and musical) was examined longitudinally with respect to its approximation to the original songs. Results At three years the autistic girl displays precocious musical competence in singing, which, however, does not grow further from this initial level. Musical creativity and expressiveness grow to a peak in middle childhood and then decline again in adolescence. The girl's phonetic inventory of sounds is highly restricted and shows no progression, but her articulation grows more and more deliberate and, within her bounds, nearer to the original words. The non-verbal girl apparently has a mental representation of the lyrics. Conclusion Musical competence, creativity and expressiveness in singing can reach a high level even in the total absence of language, and by singing, some residual language-like capacity like articulatory control may be enhanced.


High tunnels are gaining popularity for their use in horticultural crop production. However, little is known about the effect of high tunnel orientation on plant growth and development. In this set of studies, we show tunnel orientation does not necessarily affect the production of cut sunflower (Helianthus annuus) and culinary herbs oregano (Origanum vulgare), marjoram (Origanum majorana), and garlic chive (Allium tuberosum). Two high tunnels, one with the long axis oriented north-south (NS) and the other east-west (EW), were used to test the effects of high tunnel orientation on several crops over a 5-year period: cut sunflower (2012 and 2016); marjoram, oregano, and garlic chive (2013 and 2014); and garlic chive (2015). The tunnels are 12 × 16 ft, smaller than those used in commercial production. The size would be appropriate for hobby and seasonal production of horticultural crops for local markets. Cut sunflower stems were similar lengths both years in both high tunnels. Sunflower times to harvest were different between cultivars but not between high tunnels. Oregano fresh weight yields were highest in the NS tunnel in 2013 but similar between tunnels in 2014. Marjoram fresh weights were highest in 2013 in the EW tunnel but highest in 2014 in the NS tunnel. Garlic chive fresh weights were similar between tunnels all 3 years. We show that differences are more a function of innate cultivar characteristics than which way small high tunnels are oriented.


We introduce a set of sequential integro-difference equations to analyze the dynamics of two interacting species. Firstly, we derive the speed of the fronts when a species invades a space previously occupied by a second species, and check its validity by means of numerical random-walk simulations. As an example, we consider the Neolithic transition: the predictions of the model are consistent with the archaeological data for the front speed, provided that the interaction parameter is low enough. Secondly, an equation for the coexistence time between the invasive and the invaded populations is obtained for the first time. It agrees well with the simulations, is consistent with observations of the Neolithic transition, and makes it possible to estimate the value of the interaction parameter between the incoming and the indigenous populations.


We prove the existence of an affine paving for the three-step flag Hilbert scheme that parametrizes flag of three 0-dimensional subschemes of length, respectively, n, n+1 and n+2 that are supported at the origin of the affine plane. This is done by showing that the space stratifies in smooth subvarieties, the Hilbert-Samuel's strata, each of which has an affine paving with cells of known dimension, indexed by marked Young diagrams. The affine pavings of the Hilbert-Samuel's strata allow us to prove that the Poincare polynomials for our spaces satisfy a generating function. In the process of proving the formula for the generating function we relate combinatorially the homology of our spaces with that of known smooth subspaces of another Hilbert scheme of flags, this time of length n and n+2. As a corollary we find an affine paving and a combinatorial formula for the Poincare of these last ambient spaces.


It is conventional wisdom that the last continental ice sheet in North America extended beyond the southern margins of the Great Lakes basins during both early (ca. 75 ka) and late (<30 ka) phases of Wisconsin glaciation. This model hinges on the presence of a regionally extensive diamict, traditionally interpreted as a subglacial till, exposed in the Ontario Basin at Toronto between last interglacial lacustrine sediments and late Wisconsin tills. The discovery of an in situ lacustrine ostracode fauna confirms previous sedimentological and geophysical investigations which concluded that the early Wisconsin diamict is not a subglacial deposit but a stony mud deposited on the floor of an extensive glacial lake. The unit, together with younger mid-Wisconsin sediments, was only overridden by the Laurentide Ice Sheet during the late Wisconsin, after 30 ka. We argue that during the early phase of Wisconsin glaciation the Laurentide Ice Sheet was thin, highly dynamic, and of insufficient volume to extend fully across the Great Lakes basins, a situation more closely in accordance with the marine 18O/16O record and other proxy climatic data that show maximum cooling and global ice volumes at about 20 ka.


Digital abuse is on the rise. People increasingly use technology to perpetrate and exacerbate abusive conduct like stalking and harassment, manipulating digital tools to control and harm their victims. By some accounts, 95% of domestic-abuse cases involve technology, while a sizeable chunk of the U.S. population now admits to having suffered or perpetrated serious abuse online. To make matters worse, people often trivialize digital abuse or underestimate its prevalence. Even among those who do appreciate its severity, there remains ample disagreement about how to address it.

Although law can be a powerful tool to regulate digital abuse, legal responses are by no means the only option. This Essay explores how both computer code and social norms can prevent and mitigate forms of digital abuse that aren't easily addressed through law. These regulatory responses should be grounded in empathy for victims of digital abuse. Empathy demands imaginatively putting oneself in a victim's place and attempting to feel as they feel—a trying task made easier by heeding victims' stories. We can neither understand nor address digital abuse unless we view technology in a deeper social context and grapple with how and why digital abuse is harmful. This Essay urges key figures to exhibit greater empathy in developing code and norms to help victims, proposing ways that technologists, police officers, educators, employers, and victims can use these extralegal means to combat an increasingly pervasive form of abuse.


A small molecule specifically kills cancer cells with APC truncations and spares cells with wild-type APC. Truncating colorectal cancer The adenomatous polyposis gene (APC), which is a tumor suppressor, is commonly mutated in colon cancer and cannot be directly targeted by existing therapeutics. Zhang et al. identified a drug called TASIN-1, which specifically targets cells with APC truncations, the most common APC mutation seen in colorectal cancer. The authors showed that this drug interferes with cholesterol biosynthesis and that it selectively kills APC-truncated cancer cells in vitro and in mouse models without any detectable toxicity, paving the way for further development of TASIN-1. Mutations in the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene are common in colorectal cancer (CRC), and more than 90% of those mutations generate stable truncated gene products. We describe a chemical screen using normal human colonic epithelial cells (HCECs) and a series of oncogenically progressed HCECs containing a truncated APC protein. With this screen, we identified a small molecule, TASIN-1 (truncated APC selective inhibitor–1), that specifically kills cells with APC truncations but spares normal and cancer cells with wild-type APC. TASIN-1 exerts its cytotoxic effects through inhibition of cholesterol biosynthesis. In vivo administration of TASIN-1 inhibits tumor growth of CRC cells with truncated APC but not APC wild-type CRC cells in xenograft models and in a genetically engineered CRC mouse model with minimal toxicity. TASIN-1 represents a potential therapeutic strategy for prevention and intervention in CRC with mutant APC.


The purpose of traffic law enforcement is to encourage compliant driver behaviour. That is, the threat of an undesirable sanction encourages drivers to comply with traffic laws. However, not all traffic law violations are considered equal. For example, while drink driving is generally seen as socially unacceptable, behaviours such as speeding are arguably less so, and speed enforcement is often portrayed in the popular media as a means of lrevenue raisingr. The perceived legitimacy of traffic law enforcement has received limited research attention to date. Perceived legitimacy of traffic law enforcement may influence (or be influenced by) attitudes toward illegal driving behaviours, and both of these factors are likely to influence on-road driving behaviour. This study aimed to explore attitudes toward a number of illegal driving behaviours and traffic law enforcement approaches that typically target these behaviours using self-reported data from a large sample of drivers. The results of this research can be used to inform further research in this area, as well as the content of public education and advertising campaigns designed to influence attitudes toward illegal driving behaviours and perceived legitimacy of traffic law enforcement.


Background: The association between alcohol and caffeine intakes and risk of multiple sclerosis (MS) is unclear; no prospective studies have examined this relationship. Objective: We examined intakes of alcohol and caffeine in relation to risk of multiple sclerosis. Methods: Intakes of alcohol and caffeine were examined in relation to the risk of MS in two large cohorts of women, the Nurses' Health Study (NHS; 92,275 women followed from 1980 to 2004) and Nurses' Health Study II (NHS II; 95,051 women followed from 1991 to 2005). Their diet was assessed at baseline and every four years thereafter. During the follow-up, 282 cases of MS were confirmed with onset of symptoms after baseline. Twenty-four cases were missing information on alcohol intake, leaving a total of 258 cases for the alcohol analyses. Results: Neither total alcohol consumption, nor consumption of beer, wine, or liquor was related to MS risk. The multivariable-adjusted pooled relative risk (RR) found by comparing categories of alcohol intake to 0 gm/day was 1.07 (95% CI: 0.32–1.99) for 0.1–4.9 gm/day, 1.01 (0.32–1.99) for 5.0–14.9 gm/day, 1.21 (0.69–2.15) for 15.0–29.9 gm/day, and 0.80 (0.32–1.99) for 30+ gm/day; (p for trend=0.89). Caffeine intake was also not significantly associated with MS risk. The multivariable adjusted pooled RR comparing highest to lowest quintile of caffeine intake was 1.14; 95% CI: 0.79–1.66; p for trend=0.71. Consideration of caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee separately also yielded null results. Conclusion: These results do not support an association between alcohol and caffeine intakes and MS risk.


The results of a 6-year behavioral study of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus Virginianus) treated with two immunocontraceptive vaccines, porcine zona pellucida (PZP) and gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) are summarized. Does were immunized late summer and early fall. In November, does were exposed to bucks and observations were made 2-3 times daily for one half hour through the end of February. Does were considered to be in estrus when they were the object of intensive sexual interest by the buck. Compared to controls, PZP-treated does had a significantly lower fawning rate and an increase in the average number of estrous cycles observed per doe. The average breeding days each year for the control group was 45, whereas in some years some PZP treated does were breeding more than 150 days. When previously treated PZP does were not treated in subsequent years, antibody titers declined and fertility was gradually restored. GnRH immunization also induced a decrease in fawning rate, although the average estrous cycles observed per doe were comparable to averages observed for control animals. There was no indication that the GnRH treatment caused repeated estrous cycling as with the PZP treated does. Based on limited observations GnRH treatment has a negative impact on males, resulting in immunological castration, compromised libido and abnormal antler development.


The 2′,3′-cyclic nucleotide 3′-phosphodiesterase (CNPase) is a highly abundant membrane-associated enzyme in the myelin sheath of the vertebrate nervous system. CNPase is a member of the 2H phosphoesterase family and catalyzes the formation of 2′-nucleotide products from 2′,3′-cyclic substrates; however, its physiological substrate and function remain unknown. It is likely that CNPase participates in RNA metabolism in the myelinating cell. We solved crystal structures of the phosphodiesterase domain of mouse CNPase, showing the binding mode of nucleotide ligands in the active site. The binding mode of the product 2′-AMP provides a detailed view of the reaction mechanism. Comparisons of CNPase crystal structures highlight flexible loops, which could play roles in substrate recognition; large differences in the active-site vicinity are observed when comparing more distant members of the 2H family. We also studied the full-length CNPase, showing its N-terminal domain is involved in RNA binding and dimerization. Our results provide a detailed picture of the CNPase active site during its catalytic cycle, and suggest a specific function for the previously uncharacterized N-terminal domain.


There are three main themes running through this volume. First, basic methods for measurement of cell proliferation are introduced and explained with reference to various systems, primarily in vitro, but in vivo procedures are also illustrated. The second theme is growth signalling, and is exemplified by methods for the analysis of transduction pathways for growth, beginning at the cell membrane and leading to the cell nucleus. The last theme presented here is growth cessation, illustrated by several systems for induction of cell differentiation, and of cell senescence. The emphasis throughout the book is on human cell systems, making it particularly relevant to scientists interested in human disease, especially cancer. Importantly, well proved methods for studying cell growth are supplemented by some novel approaches, e.g., studies of cell cycle checkpoints, cell spheroids, and nuclear architecture. Only two chapters have been retained, in an updated form from Cell Growth and Apoptosis, the predecessor volume. The book is written by a team of scientists highly experienced in procedures they describe, and offer details and hints found valuable in their own laboratories; thus, variants of the same general methods can be found in different chapters. These should be helpful to beginning as well as experienced investigators, and are designed to stimulate new approaches to old and new questions.


There is evidence that ever since early prehistory, textiles have always had more than simply a utilitarian function. Textiles express who we are - our gender, age, family affiliation, occupation, religion, ethnicity and social, political, economic and legal status. Besides expressing our identity, textiles protect us from the harsh conditions of the environment, whether as clothes or shelter. We use them at birth for swaddling, in illness as bandages and at death as shrouds. We use them to carry and contain people and things. We use them for subsistence to catch fish and animals and for transport as sails. In fact, textiles represent one of the earliest human craft technologies and they have always been a fundamental part of subsistence, economy and exchange. Textiles have an enormous potential in archaeological research to inform us of social, chronological and cultural aspects of ancient societies. In archaeology, the study of textiles is often relegated to the marginalised zone of specialist and specialised subject and lack of dialogue between textile researchers and scholars in other fields means that as a resource, textiles are not used to their full potential or integrated into the overall interpretation of a particular site or broader aspects of human activity. Textiles and Textile Production in Europe is a major new survey that aims to redress this. Twenty-three chapters collect and systematise essential information on textiles and textile production from sixteen European countries, resulting in an up-to-date and detailed sourcebook and an easily accessible overview of the development of European textile technology and economy from prehistory to AD 400. All chapters have an introduction, give the chronological and cultural background and an overview of the material in question organised chronologically and thematically. The sources of information used by the authors are primarily textiles and textile tools recovered from archaeological contexts. In addition, other evidence for the study of ancient textile production, ranging from iconography to written sources to palaeobotanical and archaeozoological remains are included. The introduction gives a summary on textile preservation, analytical techniques and production sequence that provides a background for the terminology and issues discussed in the various chapters. Extensively illustrated, with over 200 colour illustrations, maps, chronologies and index, this will be an essential sourcebook not just for textile researchers but also the wider archaeological community.


We have shown that human thymic epithelial (TE) cells produce IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, and TE cells bind to thymocytes by CD2 and LFA-1 molecules on thymocytes and LFA-3, ICAM-1 on TE cells. We investigated whether ligand binding to LFA-3 on human TE cells can modulate TE cell IL-1 production. First, we investigated the ability of human thymocytes to regulate IL-1 release by TE cells. Both autologous and allogenic emetine-treated thymocytes when cultured with TE cells augmented IL-1 release by TE cells. The augmentation of IL-1 release was cell density dependent. Inasmuch as the interaction between thymocytes and TE cells is mediated in part by CD2 molecules on thymocytes and LFA-3 molecules on TE cells we next determined the effect on IL-1 release of ligand binding (anti-LFA-3 mAb TS2/9) to TE cell surface LFA-3. Purified anti-LFA-3 mAb augmented IL-1 release in a concentration-dependent fashion. The anti-LFA-3-mediated augmentation of IL-1 release required both new protein and RNA synthesis as shown by the ability of cycloheximide and actinomycin-D to inhibit augmentation of IL-1 production by TE cells, and by direct quantitation of IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta mRNA by Northern blot analysis. Both F(ab)'2 and Fab' fragments of anti-LFA-3 mAb augmented IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta mRNA production, indicating that monovalent binding to cell surface LFA-3 was sufficient to provide the inducing signal. The identification of LFA-3, the cell surface ligand for thymocyte CD2 molecules, as a molecule via which TE cell-derived cytokine production may be regulated suggests a mechanism at the cell surface by which direct TE cell-thymocyte interaction might result in the triggering of local IL-1 release within the human thymic microenvironment.


The application of DNA barcoding to distinguish between two or more closely related taxa has been used more frequently in recent years. The typical approach has been to isolate, amplify and sequence cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI), a mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) encoded subunit of respiratory Complex IV. COI has proven useful as a marker for identification purposes because the frequency of mutations for this gene is relatively high. Thus, conserved mutations and variability in the COI sequence can be used to determine relatedness of individuals. Many valid criticisms about the practice have arisen, not the least of which is that intraspecific COI variability has not been examined and compared across the entire range of a given species. Rather, most studies employing DNA barcoding focus on relatively few individuals and even fewer sites. Together, this may underestimate intraspecific variance, confounding efforts to distinguish between intraspecific and interspecific differences. Therefore, criteria for delimiting species may need revision. To test whether intraspecific differences at COI are influenced by geographical scale, a COI-barcode library was constructed for three species of North American mayflies (Ephemeroptera) across their natural distribution. This order is important for water quality monitoring of streams and rivers and hence species level identifications have the potential for great application. These three species were chosen because they had relatively wide distributions (i.e., throughout eastern North America) yet were presently considered single species based on morphological characters. Sampling sites included in the study were widespread and represented a range of geographical diversity. Two of three species examined (i.e., Eurylophella funeralis and Leptophlebia cupida) exhibited genetic differences between individuals that frequently exceeded 2% base pair deviation at the COI locus. There were three or more distinct barcode clusters within each of these two species. Our data suggests that these two species may represent species complexes that are morphologically cryptic. In contrast, genetic differences between individuals for species (Siphloplecton basale) did not greatly exceed the 2% base pair deviation at the COI locus. The presence of morphologically cryptic species within Eurylophella funeralis and Leptophlebia cupida illustrates the need for a robust library of barcodes with morphological vouchers for North American mayflies to resolve the phylogenetics of this group so their contributions in water quality assessments can be maximized. Disciplines Environmental Sciences | Physical Sciences and Mathematics This thesis or dissertation is available at ScholarlyCommons: http://repository.upenn.edu/mes_capstones/59 DNA BARCODE EXAMINATION OF NORTH AMERICAN MAYFLIES ACROSS THEIR NATURAL DISTRIBUTION REVEALS CRYPTIC SPECIES COMPLEXES Robert J. George Fall 2013 University of Pennsylvania John K. Jackson, PhD, Stroud Water Research Center Sarah A. Willig, PhD, University of Pennsylvania


In order to reduce building energy consumption, Chinese government has revised the Chinese building design standard. In the new guide the use of individual room temperature control is highly recommended for new and refurbishment buildings.
However, critical evidence on how this improvement can have an impact on the building energy consumption is not clear. This paper is aiming to explore how the upgrading residential standards affect the building energy performance. In order to
evaluate its impact on the building energy
consumption, two buildings were chosen: one
complying with the old Chinese building design standard, while the other complies with the new standard. Additionally, the real time measured data from a typical residential building in China are used
to validate a dynamic building performance
simulation.


Abstract Human activities dramatically change the abundance, diversity, and composition of species. However, little is known about how the most intense human activity, urbanization, alters food webs and trophic structure in biological communities. Studies of the Phoenix area, situated amid the Sonoran Desert, reveal some surprising alterations in the control of trophic dynamics. Species composition is radically altered, and resource subsidies increase and stabilize productivity. Changes in productivity dampen seasonal and yearly fluctuations in species diversity, elevate abundances, and alter feeding behaviors of some key urban species. In urban systems—in contrast to the trophic systems in outlying deserts, which are dominated by limiting resources—predation by birds becomes the dominant force controlling arthropods on plants. Reduced predation risk elevates the abundance of urban birds and alters their foraging behavior such that they exert increased top-down effects on arthropods. Shifts in control of food web dynamics are probably common in urban ecosystems, and are influenced by complex human social processes and feedbacks.


Until recently, I was employed by an international bank doing business in Africa, Asia and the Middle East, and tasked with managing legal and regulatory risks across 14 African jurisdictions. I had been invited to attend a round table conference, which a leading London law firm hosted for its associates across Africa in Dubai. On the agenda was a discussion on business trends and legal developments across Africa, the Middle East and Asia and how best the needs of domestic and international customers may be served.


NOVEMBER 15, 2013 The war of 1914-1918 - the 'Great War' as it was called at the time -- left great swathes of northern France and western Belgium almost totally destroyed. The destruction wrought by shell-fire was immeasurable and the ground was churned into miles of waterfilled shell-holes. Complete villages had been razed to the ground and every forest blown to pieces. The former rich arable land had not only been pulverised but was now contaminated with the detritus of war. Trenches,dugouts,thousands of miles of barbed wire,abandoned equipment ,the smashed remains of hundreds of thousands of horses and men and the hidden threat of unexploded shells all created an indescribable landscape.In this book Gail Ramsey sets out to show how the Western Front has been transformed over the past hundred years by juxtaposing aerial photographs, trench maps of the period, with present-day matching comparisons, courtesy of Google Earth. Aerial photography was then in its infancy but it began in earnest in 1915 and thereafter became an essential tool to produce the trench mapping which has now made it possible to pinpoint the precise locations depicted in the photographs taken during the war. Places covered include: Houthulst, Vlamertinghe, Bailleul, Armentieres, Houplines, Wulvergem, Crete des Eparges, Hill 60, Souchez/Cabaret Rouge, Montauban/Carnoy, Hohenzollern Redoubt, Loos-en-Gohelle, Verdun, Sanctuary Wood, Maricourt, Hebuterne, Serre, Beaumont-Hamel, Delville Wood, Fromelles, Pozieres, Siegfried Line, Bellenglise, Agny, Thiepval, Mouquet Farm, Ginchy, Nuremberg Salient, Vermandovillers, Morval, La Bassee Canal, Haisnes, Givenchy-les-la-Bassee, Ornes, Fort de Tavanne, Vaux/Vauquois, Hindenburg Line, Fampoux, Vimy Ridge, Bullecourt, Wytschaete, Oosttaverne, Vierstratt, St Eloi, Spanbroekmolen, Zonnebeke, Passchandaele, Lens, Dury, Cherisy, Polygon Wood/Black Watch Corner, Bapaume, Kemmel, Soyecourt/Lihons, Gheluvelt, Bois de Malancourt, St Quentin Canal, Vigneulles and Dannevoux.


The concept of the smart city is emerging as a topic of interest. Since the implementation of technology in urban space it is becoming the present reality in many cities globally. This study investigates how the smart city project, known as The Smart City Búzios, in Brazil affects everyday life in terms of habits in, and relationships with, urban public spaces. The Smart City Búzios project involves the implementation of a smart grid infrastructure which purports to achieve energy efficiency for the city. The study also explores the different 'smart' mechanisms used in this city, and attempts to understand the process of implementing the Internet of Things (IoT) infrastructures. This exploration includes the identification of both the groups of actors who were involved in the project, and the societal groups who benefited from it. To do this, a case study approach has been applied to investigate how the technological platforms that are used in the Smart City Búzios project could be considered as a process of 'smartness', and consider if these tools have the potential to change the urban sector. The analysis searches traits of changes in the living spaces and in the lifestyles with the inception of new technologies. The focus is on the project's results since its implementation, explaining how these results are articulated in relation to the urban image portrayed in the project's marketing strategies, based on extracts of media news and interviews. The analyses showed that that the strategies of marketing surrounding the project played a key role in the consolidation process. This study thus holds that urban intelligence must simultaneously be a process and a purpose, and that organizations from the public, private and voluntary sectors that are directly affected by the project should be partnered with and brought into inclusive processes of dialogues.


We generated mice lacking Cks2, one of two mammalian homologs of the yeast Cdk1-binding proteins, Suc1 and Cks1, and found them to be viable but sterile in both sexes. Sterility is due to failure of both male and female germ cells to progress past the first meiotic metaphase. The chromosomal events up through the end of prophase I are normal in both CKS2–/– males and females, suggesting that the phenotype is due directly to failure to enter anaphase and not a consequence of a checkpoint-mediated metaphase I arrest.


The reprogramming of somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) is a major challenge for medical applications such as regenerative medicine since iPSCs can be used to generate different types of functional differentiated cells. Up to now, strategies aiming at reprogramming somatic cells have been mainly conducted toward the targeting of factors modifying gene expression at the transcriptional level. However, gene expression is a multistep process involving epigenetic and transcriptional regulators, as well as RNA binding proteins and miRNAs regulating mRNA splicing, stability or translation. The different steps of the gene expression process are physically, spatially and temporally interconnected, and each factor involved in this process may itself be controlled by other regulators within that chain of molecular mechanisms. Therefore, understanding the interplay between the different gene expression layers during cell differentiation and cell reprogramming is expected to improve strategies aiming at producing both pluripotent stem cell and differentiated cells.


In this paper I review the empirical evidence on the effects of incarceration on the subsequent employment and earnings of less-educated young prisoners. In this discussion I include evidence from: 1) Employer surveys and audit studies of hiring; 2) Survey data (mostly from the NLSY79) and administrative data; and 3) state-level incarceration data linked to micro employment data for young black men. The strengths and weaknesses of each type of analysis are discussed as well. The preponderance of the evidence considered suggests that, all else equal, spells of incarceration do tend to reduce subsequent employment and earnings for those with criminal records.


Well distributed point sets play an important role in a variety of computer graphics contexts, such as anti-aliasing, global illumination, halftoning, non-photorealistic rendering, point-based modeling and rendering, and geometry processing. In this paper, we introduce a novel technique for rapidly generating large point sets possessing a blue noise Fourier spectrum and high visual quality. Our technique generates non-periodic point sets, distributed over arbitrarily large areas. The local density of a point set may be prescribed by an arbitrary target density function, without any preset bound on the maximum density. Our technique is deterministic and tile-based; thus, any local portion of a potentially infinite point set may be consistently regenerated as needed. The memory footprint of the technique is constant, and the cost to generate any local portion of the point set is proportional to the integral over the target density in that area. These properties make our technique highly suitable for a variety of real-time interactive applications, some of which are demonstrated in the paper.Our technique utilizes a set of carefully constructed progressive and recursive blue noise Wang tiles. The use of Wang tiles enables the generation of infinite non-periodic tilings. The progressive point sets inside each tile are able to produce spatially varying point densities. Recursion allows our technique to adaptively subdivide tiles only where high density is required, and makes it possible to zoom into point sets by an arbitrary amount, while maintaining a constant apparent density.


In this study, nonlinear three-dimensional finite element analysis has been used to conduct a numerical investigation of the effect of applied impact load on the foundation based on sandy soil using the finite element method by ANSYS (Version 11) computer program. The 8-node brick elements are used to represent the concrete of foundation and the soil under the foundation which are denoted by Solid 65 for concrete and Solid 45 for the soil and the interface is modeled by using three-dimensional surface-to-sur face (Target 170 and Contact 174) contact elements connected with concrete and soil. As a case study, a concrete foundation with dimensions (3×3×0.3) m placed on the soil 15 m deep and 9 m away from the edge of foundation is subjected to impact load. A parametric study is carried out to investigate the effect of several parameters including: foundation dimensions (geometry) and amplitude of impact load. It was concluded that as the foundation thickness increases, the time for maximum displacement to take place increases due to geometrical damping induced by the foundation. When the length of foundation increases, the oscillation of vertical displacement decreases, which means that the foundation becomes more stable.


After describing a newly assembled dataset consisting of almost 9,000 local appropriations made by the U.S. Congress between 1789 and 1882, we test competing accounts of the politics surrounding them before offering a more nuanced, historically contingent view of the emergence of the pork barrel. We demonstrate that for most of this historical period—despite contemporary accusations of crass electoral motives—the pattern of appropriations is largely inconsistent with accounts of distributive politics grounded in a logic of legislative credit-claiming. Instead, support for appropriations in the House mapped cleanly onto the partisan/ideological structure of Congress for most of this period, and only in the 1870s produced the universalistic coalitions commonly associated with pork-barrel spending. We trace this shift to two historical factors: the emergence of a solid Democratic South, and growth in the fraction of appropriations funding recurrent expenditures on extant projects rather than new starts.


By most accounts, the December 2012 Doha Round negotiations achieved little. The continued failure of member governments to reach consensus increases the risk of a catastrophic rise in global emissions. The current impasse is due in no small measure to the expressed concern of the United States that a climate change treaty will end up transferring enormous wealth from the United States to China. Analyzing the relevant market data, this Article concludes that there is little or no evidence to support the notion that ratification of the Kyoto Protocol will lead to the massive wealth transfers feared by the United States. Indeed, the market study demonstrates the opposite. By deconstructing the "China myth," this Article achieves two tasks. First, it rebuts the principal argument that U.S. policy-makers and the Senate have offered to justify the United States' refusal to ratify the Kyoto Protocol. Second, in taking China out of the equation, it enables U.S. climate justice theory to resume the arrested conversation about the obligations of the United States, and other developed nations, to address the problem of global emission.


David Kendall was the father of modern probability theory in Britain, a powerful and scholarly mathematician equally at home in abstract theory and in perceptive applications to diverse fields. Through his own research, his influence on generations of students, and from 1962 his leadership of the Cambridge Statistical Laboratory, he inspired the parallel developments of stochastic analysis and applied probability, as well as the statistical analysis of complex structured data.


The Department of Defense has attempted to use recent advances in modeling and simulation to improve the acquisition process for weapons systems. This Simulation Based Acquisition brought advances in the process, but considerable disagreement remains over the universal applicability of this approach. This paper focuses on the challenges of applying modeling and simulation to the Test and Evaluation of a weapon system with significant Pilot-Vehicle interface concerns. The Standoff Land Attack Missile Expanded Response (SLAM ER) is an aircraftlaunched missile with GPS/INS guidance for navigation to the target area and Man In The Loop (MITL) control in the terminal phase. The MITL control is conducted through a two way video and control data link which transmits infrared video from the missile seeker to the control aircraft and guidance update commands from the pilot back to the missile. After initial fielding of the weapon system, two preplanned product improvement programs were begun to add both an Automatic Target Acquisition (ATA) functionality to aid in pilot target identification as well as a capability to engage moving targets at sea (ASuW). Both Software in the Loop and Hardware in the Loop simulations were available for the testing of both these SLAM ER improvements. This paper focuses on the utility of this simulation support in the Test and Evaluation prior to delivery to the operational users. Though the management issues of cost and schedule can be large drivers in the use of modeling and simulation, this paper will focus on the performance aspect of weapon system evaluation. Through the course of both the ATA and ASuW evaluations, simulation was able to provide very limited contributions to evaluations of system performance when MITL control was a concern. Simulation was useful in providing data on easily quantifiable parameters, such as seeker scan rates. However, flight tests with a physical prototype provided the only effective data when subjective measures such as pilot workload and pilot target identification were a concern. The simulators available did not effectively replicate the pilot interface or workload environment to the level required for valid MITL data. Only when an issue with the pilot interface was easily defined in quantifiable engineering data was simulation useful in identifying a possible solution – one that had to be further evaluated in subsequent flight testing. As the quality of models and simulations continue to improve with advances in computing, modeling of the pilot vehicle interfaces may improve in the future. Until that time, management controls will be essential to correct application of modeling and simulation in areas where MITL is a concern. The development of models and simulations should begin early in the acquisition effort with robust verification and validation devoted to the pilot interface. Early identification of the areas in which simulations can contribute to the MITL evaluation effort as well as recognition of the limitations of models and simulations. Finally, the validated simulations should be viewed as an enhancement to the evaluation effort with live testing of the physical prototype forming the basis of the MITL evaluation, particularly when the system approaches the final phases of Developmental Testing and prepares for Operational Testing.


Tubular products are among the most critical items in a well, and the threaded connection can represent one of the more complicated and limiting mechanical features for tubular products. Previous tubular design methodology did not specifically address threaded connections, rather it applied safety factors to pipe body ratings. In contrast, Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) methods specifically, address connection performance. This work is a discussion of how the limit performance is being defined and quality systems are being revised for API connections in accordance with the objectives of the LRFD method for OCTG.


One of the core goals of the Semantic Web is to store data in distributed locations, and use ontologies and reasoning to aggregate it. Social networking is a large movement on the web, and social networking data using the Friend of a Friend (FOAF) vocabulary makes up a significant portion of all data on the Semantic Web. Many traditional web-based social networks share their members' information in FOAF format. While this is by far the largest source of FOAF online, there is no information about whether the social network models from each network overlap to create a larger unified social network, or whether they are simply isolated components. If there are intersections, it is evidence that Semantic Web representations and technologies are being used to create interesting, useful data models. In this paper, we present a study of the intersection of FOAF data found in many online social networks. Using the semantics of the FOAF ontology and applying Semantic Web reasoning techniques, we show that a significant percentage of profiles can be merged from multiple networks. We present results on how this affects network structure and what it says about the success of the Semantic Web.


ABSTRACT The multi-objective optimization procedure of geometry of TiAlN/TiN/Cr multilayer coatings was created. The procedure was applied to the multilayer coatings subjected to constant tangential and normal loads (Hertzian contact). In physical model Cr, TiN and TiAlN layers were treated as a continuous medium, thus in mathematical description of the stress and strain states in the coatings a classical theory of stiffness was used. Decisional variables used in procedure were thicknesses of Cr, TiN and TiAlN layers and decisional criteria were functions of the stress and strain fields in the coating and substrate. Using created optimization procedure, Pareto set of optimal values of layers' thicknesses were determined. Additionally, two methods of analysis of Pareto-optimal set were introduced and discussed.


Background and Aim: Nowadays pain sedation and faster healing of surgical wounds is more challenging to researchers. The aim of the present study was to evaluate histopathological effects of acetaminophen, as a non-opiod analgesic without anti-inflammatory effects, on healing of stomach surgical wounds in the rats. Materials and Methods: Fifteen male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to three groups (sham, negative control and experimental) with five subjects in each. A gastrotomy incision with one cm in length was made in the greater curvature of stomach in the rats, which was thereafter sutured in 2 layers. The experimental group was orally given acetaminophen (30 mg/kg) solved in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) 5% (10 mL/Kg) daily for 15 days. The negative control and sham groups received DMSO 5% (10 mL/Kg) and normal saline (10 mL/Kg) respectively in the same manner as the experimental group. Histopathological studies and comparison of wound healing among the groups were carried out considering the more effective factors on wound healing such as proliferation of fibroblasts, angiogenesis, re-epithelialization and collagen production. Significant differences among the groups were determined by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) using SPSS statistical software at the significant level of P<0.05. Results: There were no significant differences among the groups regarding the number of fibroblasts, capillary buds, epithelial gap size, and collagen content in healing of surgical wounds. Conclusion: The results indicated that acetaminophen has no adverse side-effects on surgical wound healing of the stomach in rats; thus, it can be used as a pain relief after stomach surgery.


Worms with reduced protein production capacity live longer, according to Popi Syntichaki, Kostoula Troulinaki, and Nektarios Tavernarakis (IMBB, Foundation for Research and Technology, Heraklion, Greece). The reduction appears to save energy—energy that can be put to work in fixing life-threatening damage.

Protein translation rates decrease with age. Tavernarakis wondered if increased translation might increase turnover of damaged proteins and thus slow aging. But, he says, "what we found was the opposite."

The group knocked down the levels of IFE-2, one of the five isoforms of the eIF4E translation initiation factor in worms. The development and eating patterns of the worms were normal, but they had an extended lifespan.

Other longevity-promoting pathways, such as the insulin and caloric restriction pathways, may modulate the eIF4E pathway (e.g., caloric restriction may reduce protein synthesis by down-regulating eIF4E). But ife-2 knockout was additive with mutation of these other pathways, suggesting that a simple linear relationship is unlikely.

Animals with less eIF4E had higher ATP levels and were more able to resist oxidative damage. "If we reduce the rate of protein synthesis we allow the cell to invest some extra energy in maintenance and repair functions," says Tavernarakis. "By repairing damage the cells can now survive for longer."

This benefit is only relevant in the soma. In the germline, by contrast, translation is already near a minimum and a further reduction in eIF4E activity was lethal. "The germline invests in repair and maintenance but not so much in building," says Tavernarakis. "If we make our soma look a little more like our germline…then we might prolong the life of the soma."

Reference:

Syntichaki, P., et al. 2007. Nature. doi:.10.1038/nature05603 [PubMed] [Cross Ref]


Purpose: To evaluate the impact of a new angiographic imaging technology on radiation dose during visceral embolization procedures involving both fluoroscopy and digital subtraction angiography. Material and Methods: A retrospective analysis from a single-center consecutive series of patients was performed comparing 2 angiographic imaging systems. The AlluraClarity (CIQ; Philips Healthcare, Best, the Netherlands) was used in 100 patients (n = 59 male, mean age: 70.6 years) from July 2013 to April 2014 and compared to the former AlluraXper (AX) technology used in 139 patients (n = 71 male, mean age: 70.1 years) from May 2011 to June 2013. Patients were categorized according to body mass index (BMI [kg/m2])—group 1: BMI <25, group 2: BMI ≥25 and <30, and group 3: BMI ≥30. Fluoroscopy time, the total dose of iodinated contrast administered, and procedural AirKerma (Ka, r [mGy]) were obtained. Results: Mean BMI was 26.4 ± 5.0 kg/m2 in the CIQ and 26.4 ± 7.1 kg/m2 in the AX group (P = .93). Fluoroscopy time and the amount of contrast media were equally distributed. Ka, r was 1342.9 mGy versus 2214.8 mGy (P < .001, t test) when comparing CIQ to AX. Comparing CIQ to AX, BMI subgroup analysis revealed a mean Ka, r of 970.1 to 1586.1 mGy (P = .003, t test), 1484.7 to 2170.1 mGy (P = .02, t test), and 1848.8 to 3348.9 mGy (P = .001, t test) in BMI groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Conclusion: The CIQ technology significantly reduced mean radiation dose by 39.4% for visceral embolization procedures when compared to fluoroscopy time and contrast media dose. This dose relationship was consistent across all BMI groups.


Abstract Objectives Obesity is associated with several somatic diseases and increased psychological burden. This study focused on two potential psychological predictors of the body mass index (BMI), childhood trauma and depressive symptoms. Methods We used three independent populations: two general population samples (Study of Health in Pomerania, SHIP-2, N = 1,657; SHIP-TREND-0, N = 3,278) and one patient sample (GANI_MED, N = 1,742). Childhood trauma was measured with the childhood trauma questionnaire (CTQ) and depression with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) in SHIP-2 and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) in SHIP-TREND-0 and GANI_MED. We investigated the impact of childhood trauma and depression on BMI. Furthermore, we used mediation analysis to assess whether depression was a significant mediator on the path from childhood trauma to adult BMI in each of the three samples. Results In all the three populations, depressive symptoms exhibited a significant association towards higher BMI (p < 0.05). Childhood trauma was positively associated with BMI with significant associations in SHIP-TREND-0 (p < 0.001) and GANI_MED (p = 0.005). The relationship between CTQ and BMI was significantly partially mediated (p < 0.05) by depressive symptoms in SHIP-TREND-0 (38.0%) and GANI_MED (16.4%), in SHIP-2 results pointed in the same direction. All the trauma sub-dimensions, except sexual abuse, exhibited at least one significant association towards increased BMI in one of the samples. Conclusions Childhood trauma and depressive symptoms may be considered as causes of obesity. These results suggest that psychological treatments against obesity should address childhood maltreatment as well as depressive symptoms in their diagnostic assessment and could facilitate psychotherapeutic treatment when necessary.


Given renewed interest in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease, we comprehensively reviewed the utility of the electrocardiogram (ECG) for screening considering the seminal epidemiologic studies. It appears that conventional risk factors relate to long-term risk, while ECG abnormalities are better predictors of short-term risk. For individual ECG abnormalities as well as for pooled categories of ECG abnormalities, the sensitivity of the ECG for future events was too low for it to be practical as a screening tool. This almost certainly relates to the low prevalence of these abnormalities. However, all ECG abnormalities increase with age and pre-test risk. Also screening with the ECG is of minimal cost and likely to decrease further as stand-alone machines are replaced by integration into personal computers (PC). Another potential impact on performing screening ECGs would be distribution and availability of digitized ECG data via the World Wide Web. For clinical utility of ECG data, comparison with previous ECGs can be critical but is currently limited. PC based ECG systems could very easily replace many of the ECG machines in use that only have paper output. PC-ECG systems would also permit interaction with computerized medical information systems, facilitate emailing and faxing of ECGs as well as storage at a centralized web-server. Web-enabled ECG recorders similar to the new generation of home appliances could follow this quick PC solution. A serious goal for the medical industry should be to end the morass of proprietary ECG digital formats and follow a standardized format. This could lead to a network of web-servers from which every patient's ECGs would be available. Such a situation could have a dramatic effect on the advisability of performing screening ECGs.


OBJECTIVE;To know about surgical outcome of benign intracranial hypertension in terms of improvement of vision.METHODOLOGY ; This Prospective observational study was conducted at of 22 patients operated in neurosurgery unit lady reading hospital Peshawar from Jan 2011 to Jun2014. Written consent was obtained from all the patients or their relatives All patients of either age and sex with Diagnosed cases of BIH were included in the study, Patients with depressed conscious level, malignant hypertension, space occupying lesion in brain on MRI and those Patients unfit or unwilling for surgery were excluded from the study. Patients particulars like age ,gender , and post operative outcome was documented on predesigned proforma . All the results were analyzed by spss version 16 and represented in the form o graphs/charts and tables. RESULTS;Total 22 patients of BIH were studied which were all females (100%) having age range of 18 to 58 years with mean of 38 ± 5 years SD. Headache was present in all (100%) patients followed by visual deterioration having 20(90.90%) cases. CSF manometery showed opening pressure from 28cm of H2O to 50 cm of H2O, with mean of 39. 19. Post operatively headache improved in 16(72%) patients, Papilledema in 18(81.81%) caseswhile 4(18%) patients did not improved. In 2(9.09%) cases there was and CSF leak was in 1(4.54%) case.CONCLUSION; BIH has good surgical outcome in terms of improvement in vision, if managed before advanced stage of Papilledema


Seismic resolution significantly affects the quality of seismic interpretation. Processing parameters that effect resolution such as picking velocities in the presence of interbed multiples benefit from an understanding of the underlying geology. Three-dimensional migration is almost always performed by an external service company or internal specialty processing group, with the "final" product being migrated gathers and the final migration-stack section. In the Chicontepec Basin, Mexico, we have evaluated improvements in data quality made after 3D prestack time migration. By first mapping shallow volcanics that generated strong interbed multiples, we performed a new velocity analysis to better image the weaker, underlying primaries of interest. We remove the local migration stretch through an inverse NMO correction, followed by a nonstretch NMO correction and prestack structure-oriented filtering. Such compensation for migration stretch improves the vertical resolution and preserves far-offset data valuable to subsequent prestack inversion that would otherwise need to be muted. Because S-impedance inversion depends heavily on the farther offsets, the resulting S-impedance images have resolution that is in general equivalent to and, in the target area of rapid S-impedance seen in the well logs, exceed that of the P-impedance images. Attributes such as coherence and curvature show improved fault resolution, whereas noisy areas look more chaotic because of the increased frequency content.


The level of profile similarity between the new leader and the former one matters and will affect subsequent strategic change and thus performance. An excess of exploration as well as an excess of exploitation are detrimental to future performance. When replacing a leader, owners should take into consideration the profile and experience dissimilarities between the predecessor and the successor.


The assessment of radiation dose from computed tomography has become an important issue due to the increased utilization of computed tomography in a large number of clinical applications, from CT urography to cardiac CT. The traditional metrics used for CTdose assessment (CTDI‐100) have come under assault from a number of investigators, because of its limitations in describing the radiation dose in realistic CT examinations. While there remains no real consensus in the field, a number of groups are working on the development of CTdose metrics which convey a better understanding of the radiation dose received by individual patients for specific CT examinations. In this presentation, the perspective of a number of groups will be presented. Primarily, the work of a committee of the International Commission of Radiological Units (ICRU) commissioned in 2005 will be discussed. The ICRU committee has preliminarily defined a multi‐tier system for the assessment of radiation dose metrics in computed tomography. At the first level, machine‐dependent performance factors are described and measured, and these include the traditional CTDI‐100 metric for the 16 cm and 32 cm diameter polymethylmethacrylate dosimetry phantoms, at the center and at the periphery. There is a consensus amongst the ICRU community that radiation dose to patients undergoing CT examinations is best established using the known geometry of the CT examination, coupled with measured output characteristics of the specific CT scanner (including bow‐tie characteristics), combined with Monte Carlo computations. In the rare instance in which the CTdose to a specific patient needs to be computed, image‐based methodologies will be presented which enable these computations with a high degree of accuracy. It is emphasized that the effective dose (measured in milliseiverts) is not an appropriate measure for individual patient doses, as this metric includes population‐based radiation epidemiological data which may not be applicable to a specific individual. Therefore, the ICRU efforts towards radiation dosimetry of the individual patient focus on dosimetric units which are physical in nature, and describe the individual organdoses and the overall average dose to the patient, depending upon the specific CT examination and the patient's physical characteristics. Educational Objectives: 1. Convey some of the issues in accurate dose assessment in CT. 2. Describe some of the ongoing efforts of the ICRU committee on CT towards dose assessment.


Sampling from hierarchical Bayesian models is often difficult for MCMC methods, because of the strong correlations between the model parameters and the hyperparameters. Recent Riemannian manifold Hamiltonian Monte Carlo (RMHMC) methods have significant potential advantages in this setting, but are computationally expensive. We introduce a new RMHMC method, which we call semi-separable Hamiltonian Monte Carlo, which uses a specially designed mass matrix that allows the joint Hamiltonian over model parameters and hyperparam-eters to decompose into two simpler Hamiltonians. This structure is exploited by a new integrator which we call the alternating blockwise leapfrog algorithm. The resulting method can mix faster than simpler Gibbs sampling while being simpler and more efficient than previous instances of RMHMC.


A strategy for the preparation of smart polymer gels with gradient weak polyacid distribution that exhibit pH-induced bending/straightening behaviour is reported. Gradient distribution of acid units inside the gel sample is obtained by copolymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide with acrylic acid sodium salt between two surfaces with different degrees of hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity. The reversibility of pH-induced bending is demonstrated.


A hands-on guide to audio programming in game development with the FMOD audio library and toolkit Overview Add audio to your game using FMOD and wrap it in your own code Understand the core concepts of audio programming and work with audio at different levels of abstraction Work with a technology that is widely considered to be the industry standard in audio middleware In Detail Audio plays a fundamental role in video games. From music to sound effects or dialogue, it helps to reinforce the experience, convey the mood, and give feedback to the player. Presently, many games have achieved commercial success by incorporating game sounds that have enhanced the user experience. You can achieve this in your games with the help of the FMOD library. This book provides you with a practical guide to implementing the FMOD toolkit in your games. Getting Started with C++ Audio Programming for Game Developers is a quick and practical introduction to the most important audio programming topics that any game developer is expected to know. Whether you need to play only a few audio files or you intend to design a complex audio simulation, this book will help you get started enhancing your game with audio programs. Getting Started with C++ Audio Programming for Game Developers covers a broad range of topics from loading and playing audio files to simulating sounds within a virtual environment and implementing interactive sounds that react to events in the game. The book starts off with an explanation of the fundamental audio concepts, after which it proceeds to explain how to use the FMOD Ex library, how to implement a 3D audio simulation, how to use the FMOD Designer toolkit, and how best to work with multi-layered sounds with complex behaviors attached to them. The final part of the book deals with working with audio at a much lower level by manipulating audio data directly. This book will provide you with a good foundation so that you can successfully implement audio into your games and begin pursuing other advanced topics in audio programming with confidence. What you will learn from this book Design complex generative /interactive sounds Simulate an environment with 3D audio and effects Load and play audio files in several formats Control audio playback and many sound parameters Adapt an audio API to fit the needs of a game Approach This book is a standard tutorial targeted at game developers which aims to help them incorporate audio programming techniques to enhance their gameplay experience. Who this book is written for This book is perfect for C++ game developers who have no experience with audio programming and who would like a quick introduction to the most important topics required to integrate audio into a game.


In this study, we test whether we can significantly (p < 0.05) distinguish cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) fields from maize (Zea mays L.) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) fields in smallholder agricultural landscapes of the Mid-Zambezi Valley, Zimbabwe, using a temporal series of 16-day Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer – normalized difference vegetation index (MODIS NDVI) data. We test this hypothesis at different phenological stages over the growing season, that is, early green-up onset, late green-up onset, green-peak, early senescence and late senescence. We also statistically compare the rate of change in the greenness of the three crops at the three phenological stages. Results show that we can significantly (p < 0.05) distinguish cotton fields from maize and sorghum fields using 16-day MODIS NDVI data during the late green-up onset as well as during the green-peak stage of the three crops. Our results indicate that cotton can successfully be distinguished from maize and sorghum in spatially heterogeneous smallholder agricultural landscapes using temporal MODIS NDVI.


Water has been declared a human right by the United Nations, thus urging countries who have ratified the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to ensure supply with drinking water for their populations1. However, supply of drinking water in developing countries underlies different constraints than those met in industrialized countries. An example is the dependency on treatment chemicals that may pose problems in these countries regarding importation and distribution2. In pioneering work in the Darfur region (Sudan) S.A.A. Jahn has instructed rural people how to use local natural coagulants, that had been used traditionally by parts of the population, for the preparation of water for household use with special emphasis on the seeds of the Moringa oleifera tree3. The implementation of water supply for the population on the other hand demands centralized water treatment for villages and cities and thus traditional techniques will reach their limitations. The present work tries to identify and characterise the coagulating principle present in the seeds and press-cake of M.oleifera, in order to produce quantities of a standardized coagulant that could be used in small treatment works. Therefore, different extraction methods, reported in the literature, are compared regarding extraction efficiency and composition. All extracts contained a large proteinaceous moiety, which differed from proteins described before as Mo 2.1 (flocculating proteins4) in the way that two proteins were detected under reducing conditions, both not co-migrating with a synthetic protein having the amino acid sequence of Mo 2.1. Moreover a different group of proteins with higher molecular weight was only present during the first two days of storage of the liquid extract. An optimized extraction procedure is presented, resulting in a total protein yield of 40g/L. Separation of proteinaceous components present in the seed and press-cake extracts lead to the determination of relative molecular masses of two protein components present (4 and 8 kDa) which form a 12 kDa heterodimer under non-reducing conditions, such as those found in the raw extracts. Further evidence is presented that the number of different proteins present in the extracts using the reported techniques may be an artifact due to sample degradation, oxidation and reaction with non-proteinaceous substances present in the extracts. The presence of glucosinolates and of their derivatives that belong to the reactive group of isothiocyanates was show in the extracts of M.oleifera seeds and press-cake, thus increasing the risk of protein stability problems during storage of the potential product. Furthermore, a method for protein isolation which reduces interference of isothiocyanates has been developed for extraction from M.oleifera. In order to compare the coagulating activities of different components present in fractions after separation of the seed extracts a miniaturized assay has been developed. Highest coagulating activities were found for the 8 kDa protein chain. Partial sequencing of different preparations of the 8 kDa chain indicated the presence of several forms of the protein having slight sequence differences. The protein chain is very similar to the published Mo 2.1 protein, but appears to contain 70 amino acid residues instead of the 60 residues reported for Mo 2.1. These results clearly indicate that the original protein Mo 2.1 is only a fragment of the proteins present in extracts from M.oleifera seeds. Experiments for pilot scale production were conducted involving extraction of the coagulant from M.oleifera press cake. Different possible technologies for the preparation of coagulant from M.oleifera press-cake are compared. Difficulties were encountered in solid-liquid separation after initial extraction, due to high solid loads and very slow settling, and during concentration of extracts by ultrafiltration. Alternatively tests for percolation of press-cake were carried out, which resulted in high extraction efficiencies. Finally an extraction process using sequential percolation with two different solvents, in order to separate glucosinolates and proteins is proposed, followed by a precipitating concentration step of the product. ------------------------------ UN, Substantive issues arising in the implementation of the international covenant on economic, social and cultural rights. 2002, United Nations, Economic and Social Council, Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Folkard, G. and J. Sutherland, Development of a naturally derived coagulant for water and wastewater treatment. Water Science and Technology: Water Supply, 2002. 2(5-6): p. 89-94. Jahn, S.A.A., Proper use of African natural coagulants for rural water supplies research in the Sudan and a guide for new projects. 1986, Eschborn: Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit. 541 S. Gassenschmidt, U., et al., Isolation and Characterization of a Flocculating Protein from Moringa- Oleifera Lam. Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta-General Subjects, 1995. 1243(3): p. 477-481.


Several environmental/physical variables derived from satellite and in situ data sets were used to understand the variability of coccolithophore abundance in the subarctic North Atlantic. The 7‐yr (1997‐2004) time‐series analysis showed that the combined effects of high solar radiation, shallow mixed layer depth (>20 m), and increased temperatures explained >89% of the coccolithophore variation. The June 1998 bloom, which was associated with high light intensity, unusually high sea‐surface temperature, and a very shallow mixed layer, was found to be one of the most extensive (>995,000 km2) blooms ever recorded. There was a pronounced sea‐surface temperature shift in the mid‐1990s with a peak in 1998, suggesting that exceptionally large blooms are caused by pronounced environmental conditions and the variability of the physical environment strongly affects the spatial extent of these blooms. Consequently, if the physical environment varies, the effects of these blooms on the atmospheric and oceanic environment will vary as well.


Significance The patterns and incidences of developmental abnormalities and anomalies through Pleistocene human evolution may provide insights into issues of survival, stress, consanguinity, and mortuary behavior among these foraging populations. A synthesis of these developmental variants through the Homo fossil record provides 75 cases from 66 individuals, an exceptional total given the small paleontological samples. These are primarily from the past 200,000 years, given better preservation through burial, but are known from up to 1.5 million years ago. One-third of them have moderately low probabilities (P < 0.05), yet 14% are very rare (P < 0.0001), and 19% have no known etiology. No single factor accounts for the extremely low cumulative probability of finding these abnormalities, but this raises questions concerning the natures of Pleistocene human populations. Diverse developmental abnormalities and anomalous features are evident in the Pleistocene Homo fossil record, varying from minor but rare dental, vertebral, and carpal variants to exceptional systemic disorders. There are currently 75 documented anomalies or abnormalities from 66 individuals, spanning the Pleistocene but primarily from the Late Pleistocene Middle and Upper Paleolithic with their more complete skeletal remains. The expected probabilities of finding these variants or developmental disorders vary from <5% to <0.0001%, based on either recent human incidences or relevant Pleistocene sample distributions. Given the modest sample sizes available for the skeletal or dental elements in question, especially if the samples are appropriately limited in time and geography, the cumulative multiplicative probability of finding these developmental changes is vanishingly small. These data raise questions regarding social survival abilities, differing mortuary treatments of the biologically unusual, the role of ubiquitous stress among these Pleistocene foragers, and their levels of consanguinity. No single factor sufficiently accounts for the elevated level of these developmental variants or the low probability of finding them in the available paleontological record.