Since the tremendous discovery of induce-pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) in 2006 (1,2), investigators have been trying to induce somatic cell reprogramming into certain lineage cells following the basic method, in which lineage-related critical genes are initially screened out of numerous candidates and several master genes are then selected by transduction of multiple genes with appropriate culture conditions in somatic cells confirming transdifferentiation of the transduced cells. The technique is called as "direct reprogramming" which can avoid generating iPSCs and previous studies have successfully demonstrated lineage reprogramming into a variety of differentiated cell types such as neuronal cells (3), hepatocytes (4), and cardiomyocytes (5). Despite of the achievement of direct lineage reprogramming, investigators next challenged the generation of progenitor cells rather than terminally differentiated cells by direct reprogramming, because progenitor cells are generally proliferative and have advantage of large scale expansion as a tool for regeneration therapy. Indeed, recent reports exhibited that reprogrammed progenitors of neuronal cells (3), hepatocytes (6), and cardiomyocytes (7) were capable of proliferation.


The properties and performance of TiN thin films are closely related to the concentration and mobility of lattice defects in the thin film structures of TiN. This makes a local atomic scale study of TiN thin films an ever-growing demand. Emission Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy (eMS) is a powerful tool in this regard, which we apply here to study an ultrathin TiN film epitaxially grown on MgO (100). With the help of theoretical calculations, our results show that most implanted Fe ions adopt a 2 valence state and locate at the Ti sublattice in the bulk-like single crystalline grains, with the rest Fe residing at the grain boundaries as interstitials. A small percentage of nitrogen point defects (vacancy VN and interstitial NI) are observed in the bulk-like crystalline grains. A temperature-dependent, interstitial NI mediated siteexchange between NI and VN inside the crystal grain are deduced via a N2 dimmer like diffusion of NI through the crystal grains in the temperature range of 540 620 K. This is interesting in the perspective of exploring the catalytic property of TiN nanostructures. The titanium vacancy (VTi) is only detected at the grain boundaries. Annealing up to 813 K, both the VN and NI are annihilated in the crystalline grains and the VTi is fully recovered with healing of the grain boundaries. However, no evidence of ferromagnetism due to dilute implantation of Mn/Fe and or structural defects in the film is obtained. This suggests that the so far reported dilute magnetism and defect-induced ferromagnetism in TiN nanostructures requires a further systematic investigation.


Ants use multiple sources of information to navigate, but do not integrate all this information into a unified representation of the world. Rather, the available information appears to serve three distinct main navigational systems: path integration, systematic search and the use of learnt information—mainly via vision. Here, we report on an additional behaviour that suggests a supplemental system in the ant's navigational toolkit: 'backtracking'. Homing ants, having almost reached their nest but, suddenly displaced to unfamiliar areas, did not show the characteristic undirected headings of systematic searches. Instead, these ants backtracked in the compass direction opposite to the path that they had just travelled. The ecological function of this behaviour is clear as we show it increases the chances of returning to familiar terrain. Importantly, the mechanistic implications of this behaviour stress an extra level of cognitive complexity in ant navigation. Our results imply: (i) the presence of a type of 'memory of the current trip' allowing lost ants to take into account the familiar view recently experienced, and (ii) direct sharing of information across different navigational systems. We propose a revised architecture of the ant's navigational toolkit illustrating how the different systems may interact to produce adaptive behaviours.


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Background Symptom burden among MPN patients is severe compared to age-matched controlled and other individuals with cancer. MPN-Related Fatigue (MRF) is among one of the most frequent and debilitating of symptoms among MPN patients and contributes greatly to the loss of quality of life. To date, little is known regarding the breadth and efficacy of strategies to reduce or palliate MRF.

Methods A 17-item internet-based survey was hosted on the MPN Forum website during February of 2013. The survey included data on demographics, type of fatigue (chronic, sporadic, or both), strategies to reduce fatigue, and symptom burden using the MPN-SAF TSS. The MPN-SAF TSS also included a validated 1-item measure to assess worst fatigue in the last 24 hours (scored on a 0 (absent/as good as it can be) to 10 (worst-imaginable/as bad as it can be) scale).

Results 879 MPN patients responded to the online survey. The majority of patients had been diagnosed with their MPN for more than one year (5.8% less than one year, 34.4% one to five years, 30.3% five to ten years, and 27.6% more than 10 years). Mean age of MPN diagnosis was 49.3 (range 12-84). A near equal mix was seen of chronic (35.3%), sporadic (29.9%) and both chronic and sporadic fatigue (28.8%). Average symptom burden was very severe (mean MPN-SAF TSS =31.9), with an average worst 24-hr fatigue rated as 5.9/10.

Many strategies to reduce MPN-related fatigue were mentioned via open and categorical responses ([Table 1][1]). Exercise was the most commonly mentioned fatigue reduction strategy, followed by diet and social interaction. Diet strategies included the consumption of fruits and vegetables and using foods to combat specific nutrient deficiencies (e.g., iron). Interventions to increase rest included obtaining >8 hours of sleep at night, taking frequent naps if needed, and strategically timing naps (e.g., sleeping prior to activity). Timing strategies were implemented to maximize energy levels, including scheduling activities at time periods during the day when patients felt most awake. Stress-reduction strategies included massages, meditation and yoga. Some respondents felt work was both source of energy and motivation, although others mentioned cutting back work hours or obligations in order to reduce fatigue. New activities such as gardening and enjoying the outdoors were also mentioned. Use of non-prescription supplementation, including caffeine and over-the counter energy supplementation, was common. Prescription energy stimulants included MPN-specific treatments (e.g., ruxolitinib, hydroxurea, ASA, interferon), steroids, noradrenergic stimulants (e.g., methyphenidate, modafinil), prescription vitamin supplements (e.g., vitamin B12 injections), erythropoietin analogues, and blood thinners.

View this table:

Table 1
Frequency of strategies to reduce MPN-related fatigue among 879 MPN patients.

![Graphic][2]

Conclusions Overall patients were very symptomatic of disease (previously reported MPN-SAF TSS scores 18.7 ET, 21.8 PV, and 25.3 MF) and worst 24-hr fatigue (previously reported as 4.0 ET, 4.4 PV, and 5.0 MF) than previously published MPN cohorts (JCO 2012 20;30(36):4590). Many intervention strategies are utilized to reduce MRF. Future trials investigating pharmacologic, psychosocial, and activity-related interventions to reduce MRF are needed.

Disclosures: Harrison: NOVARTIS: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Sanofi: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; YM Bioscience: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Honoraria; Shire: Speakers Bureau; Sbio: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Gilead: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.

 [1]: #T1
 [2]: T1/embed/inline-graphic-1.gif


We develop a learning framework for building deformable templates, which play a fundamental role in many image analysis and computational anatomy tasks. Conventional methods for template creation and image alignment to the template have undergone decades of rich technical development. In these frameworks, templates are constructed using an iterative process of template estimation and alignment, which is often computationally very expensive. Due in part to this shortcoming, most methods compute a single template for the entire population of images, or a few templates for specific sub-groups of the data. In this work, we present a probabilistic model and efficient learning strategy that yields either universal or conditional templates, jointly with a neural network that provides efficient alignment of the images to these templates. We demonstrate the usefulness of this method on a variety of domains, with a special focus on neuroimaging. This is particularly useful for clinical applications where a pre-existing template does not exist, or creating a new one with traditional methods can be prohibitively expensive. Our code and atlases are available online as part of the VoxelMorph library at this http URL.


We have built two types of instruments for near-infrared Raman spectroscopy studies of human tissues, one for laboratory measurements and one for clinical use. The laboratory systems are designed to collect the highest quality spectra possible and allow different excitation/collection wavelengths to be studied. The clinical systems are designed to collect spectra via optical fibers within a few seconds and to be mobile and hospital-compatible. These systems are capable of detecting weak near-infrared Raman bands hidden in large background signals. Calibration and background subtraction procedures are described, and system performance is evaluated.


Changes in the distribution of banks' reserve balances are important since they may impact conditions in the federal funds market and alter trading dynamics in money markets more generally. In this post, we propose using the Lorenz curve and Gini coefficient as a new approach to measuring reserve concentration. Since 2013, concentration, as captured by the Lorenz curve and the Gini coefficient, has co-moved with aggregate reserves, decreasing as aggregate reserves declined (such as in 2015-18) and increasing as aggregate reserves increased (such as at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic).


Introductions: Super absorbent polymer gel bead (SAPGB) is increasingly available as toys for children. When ingested it swells by absorbs water and leads to acute intestinal obstruction. Diagnosis and surgery is challenging as its radiolucent, fragile and slippery. We present outcome of our innovative technique of stabilization and removal SAPGBs by laparoscopy minimal invasive surgery (lap-MIS).
Methods: This retrospective analyse of outcome of lap-MIS in intestinal obstruction caused by ingestion of foreign body, the SAPGBs, in children who were managed at Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, China. The outcome variables included removal of SAPGBs, length of hospital stay and postoperative occurrence of anastomotic leak, wound infection, wound dehiscence, re-surgery, or mortality.
Results: There were 15 children, male 9 (60%), average age 2 years, and duration of ingestion of SAPGBSs 1.5 days (range 2-4 days), parents gave history of accidental ingestion in 6 (40%). All children had uneventful postoperative recovery after lap-MIS removal of foreign body with no wound infection, anastomotic leak, re-surgery or mortality. Average hospital stay was 4 days (range 3 to 5 days).
Conclusions: We had successful outcome lap-MIS with our innovative technique to stabilize and extract foreign bodies, the super water absorbent gel beads, ingested by children.
Keywords: children, foreign body, gastrointestinal obstruction, laparoscopy minimal invasive surgery, super absorbent polymer gel beads


A general synthetic route, via phosphonium salts and phosphine oxides has been developed for the preparation of unsymmetrical triphosphine ligands, which necessarily contain one central chiral phosphorus atom. The ttparent" tridentate phosphine is (2- diphenylphosphinoethyl)(3-diphenylphosphinopropyl) phenylphosphine, Ph2P(CH2)3PPh(CH2)2PPh2, "eptp". Other tridentates were prepared by varying the substituents at one phosphorus atom to form the analogous
ligands with a general formula of R2P(CH2)3PPh(CH2)2PPh2 where R=p-FC6H4, p-C1C6H4, o-CH30C6H4.
The ligands were found to complex readily with nickel(Il) and palladium(ll) to form air-stable complexes containing square planar species such as [NiI(eptp)]+ in solution. Complexes were isolated using C104, PF6- and 1 as counterions, and were characterised by elemental analysis, magnetic and conductance measurements, infrared spectroscopy, and especially by 31 P nmr spectroscopy where the three non-equivalent phosphorus nuclei, all coupled to one another, provided a wealth of
useful data.
Crystals were grown for a single-crystal X-ray crystallographic study of the Ni12 complex of eptp, which showed one weakly bonded iodo ligand at the apex of a square pyramid. This is the site at which a substrate molecule would be expected to coordinate in any asymmetric homogeneous catalytic application; the other side of the square plane was sterically crowded. The unit cell contained four molecules, two of each enantiomer.
The nickel(II)-triphosphine complexes were screened for catalytic activity in the hydrogenation of alkenes. In this investigation they were all found to be inactive for hydrogenation at ambient conditions. However addition of a little NaBH4 produced colourless solutions, presumably nickel(0) complexes, which in air were found to be excellent oxidation catalysts, rapidly oxidising added phosphines to phosphine oxides.
The phosphine oxide intermediate in the tridentate phosphine ligand synthesis, Ph2P(0)(CH2)3P(0)Ph(CH2)2PPh2, teptp02, provided an attractive stage at which to investigate resolution of the two enantiomers, since the final trichlorosilane reduction stage of the phosphine oxides to phosphines is known to be stereospecific. 31P nmr studies showed strong chiral recognition between eptp02 and (+)-camphorsulphonic acid in CDCI3.
The novel mixed phosphine/phosphine oxide ligand eptp02 was found to coordinate exclusively via phosphorus to palladium(Il) in [PdC12(eptpO2)21 or via the phosphine oxide groups to lanthanum(lII). It would also coordinate simultaneously to both, and so is ideally suited to the preparation of very unusual heterobinuclear complexes containing
one oxophilic f-block metal ion (e.g. La 3 ) and one 'soft' d-block metal ion (e.g. Pd2+). Such complexes presumably contain macrocyclic rings involving both types of metal ion.
Various other routes to unsymmetrical tridentate ligands were investigated which involved some unusual mixed bidentate ligands. A new route to bisphosphine monoxides, Ph2P(CH2)P(0)Ph2, has been developed in this programme. These monoxides provided a simple route to new tn- and tetra- phosphine oxides such as eptp03 and the "2,3,2"-tetraoxide , Ph2P(0)(CH2)2P(0)Ph(CH2)3P(0)Ph(CH2)2P(0)Ph2.
In collaboration with The University of Barcelona, (Campus of Tarragona), the bisphosphine monoxides with -(CH2)2- and -(CH2)4- backbones were converted to ligands containing both a phosphine sulphide and a phosphine oxide group e.g. Ph2P(S)(CH2)2P(0)Ph2. This ligand and the bisphosphine monoxide, were found to coordinate to tin(II) chloride through the phosphine oxide only.
Whereas various alkyl and aryl substituents at phosphorus have been extensively investigated in polyphosphine ligands by previous workers, the pyridyl substituent has not been used in this way. This would be an interesting substituent as it is sterically similar to phenyl but electronically quite different. New routes to a pyridyl substituent at phosphorus were investigated, producing the previously unknown pyridyltriphenyiphosphonium salt [PPh3(2-py)]Br and the ligand
6-bromo-2(diphenylphosphino)pyridine. When hydrolysed phosphonium salts containing a pyridyl group were found to lose the pyridyl group in preference to phenyl, so elaboration to di- and tri-phosphines was not possible.


The dynamics of infectious diseases spread via direct person-to-person transmission (such as influenza, smallpox, HIV/AIDS, etc.) depends on the underlying host contact network. Human contact networks exhibit strong community structure. Understanding how such community structure affects epidemics may provide insights for preventing the spread of disease between communities by changing the structure of the contact network through pharmaceutical or non-pharmaceutical interventions. We use empirical and simulated networks to investigate the spread of disease in networks with community structure. We find that community structure has a major impact on disease dynamics, and we show that in networks with strong community structure, immunization interventions targeted at individuals bridging communities are more effective than those simply targeting highly connected individuals. Because the structure of relevant contact networks is generally not known, and vaccine supply is often limited, there is great need for efficient vaccination algorithms that do not require full knowledge of the network. We developed an algorithm that acts only on locally available network information and is able to quickly identify targets for successful immunization intervention. The algorithm generally outperforms existing algorithms when vaccine supply is limited, particularly in networks with strong community structure. Understanding the spread of infectious diseases and designing optimal control strategies is a major goal of public health. Social networks show marked patterns of community structure, and our results, based on empirical and simulated data, demonstrate that community structure strongly affects disease dynamics. These results have implications for the design of control strategies.


This paper reveals that there has been a continuous political confrontation between two archrival political forces in Bangladesh since independence in 1971. In the course of the confrontation, the country has seemingly been divided into two forces: BAL forces and anti-BAL forces. The democratic development in this country since 1991 is a by-product of this confrontation. In 1991, because of the continued mistrust between the two confronting forces, a unique system of interim government (non-party caretaker government) was produced that kept working as a catalyst of power transfer in a democratic way from one government to another till 2008 election from 1991.


Is Academic Feminism Dead?2000-10-01 What role does theory play in academia today? How can feminist theory be made more relevant to the very real struggles undertaken by women of all professions, races, and sexual orientation? How can it be directed into more effective social activism, and how is theory itself a form of practice? Feminist theory and political activism need not—indeed cannot—be distinct and alienated from one another. To reconcile the gulf between word and deed, scholar-activists from a broad range of disciplines have come together here to explore the ways in which practice and theory intersect and interact. The authors argue against overly abstract and esoteric theorizing that fails its own tests of responsible political practice and suggest alternative methods by which to understand feminist issues and attain feminist goals. They also examine the current state of affairs in the academy, exposing the ways in which universities systematically reinforce social hierarchies and offering important and intelligent suggestions for curricular and structural changes. Is Academic Feminism Dead? marks a significant step forward in relating academic and social movement feminism. It recognizes and examines the diverse realities experienced by women, as well as the changing political, cultural, and economic realities shaping contemporary feminism.


O a∗ ABSTRACT. We study optical trapping of nanotubes and graphene. We extract the dis- tribution of both centre-of-mass and angular fluctuations from three-dimensional tracking of these optically trapped carbon nanostructures. The optical force and torque constants are measured from auto and cross-correlation of the tracking signals. We demonstrate that nanotubes enable nanometer spatial, and femto-Newton force resolution in photonic force microscopy by accurately measuring the radiation pressure in a double frequency opti- cal tweezers. Finally, we integrate optical trapping with Raman and photoluminescence spectroscopy demonstrating the use of a Raman and photoluminescence tweezers by in- vestigating the spectroscopy of nanotubes and graphene flakes in solution. Experimental results are compared with calculations based on electromagnetic scattering theory.


This statement of general principles of occupational regulation examines the types of benefits and costs that occupational regulation may confer on the community. Accordingly, the statement serves two functions. In the first place it presents a framework within which the regulation of particular occupations may be analysed and evaluated. Secondly, it will provide a framework which a government may adopt in its consideration of requests for further extensions of occupational regulation and in its reviews of current systems.


Typically, light interacts with matter via the electric field and interaction with weakly bound electrons. In a magnetic mirror, a patterned nanowire is fabricated over a metallic layer with a dielectric layer in between. Oscillation of the electrons in the nanowires in response to the magnetic field of incident photons causes a re-emission of photons and operation as a "magnetic mirror." By controlling the index of refraction in the dielectric layer using a local applied voltage, the phase of the emitted radiation can be controlled. This allows electrical modification of the reflected wavefront, resulting in a deformable mirror that can be used for wavefront control. Certain applications require wavefront quality in the few-nanometer regime, which is a major challenge for optical fabrication and alignment of mirrors or lenses. The use of a deformable magnetic mirror allows for a device with no moving parts that can modify the phase of incident light over many spatial scales, potentially with higher resolution than current approaches. Current deformable mirrors modify the incident wavefront by using nano-actuation of a substrate to physically bend the mirror to a desired shape. The purpose of the innovation is to modify the incident wavefront for the purpose of correction of fabrication and alignment-induced wavefront errors at the system level. The advanced degree of precision required for some applications such as gravity wave detection (LISA - Laser Interferometer Space Antenna) or planet finding (FKSI - Fourier-Kelvin Stellar Interferometer) requires wavefront control at the limits of the current state of the art. All the steps required to fabricate a magnetic mirror have been demonstrated. The modification is to apply a bias voltage to the dielectric layer so as to change the index of refraction and modify the phase of the reflected radiation. Light is reflected off the device and collected by a phase-sensing interferometer. The interferometer determines the initial wavefront of the device and fore optics. A wavefront correction is calculated, and voltage profile for each nanowire strip is determined. The voltage is applied, modifying the local index of refraction of the dielectric under the nanowire strip. This modifies the phase of the reflected light to allow wavefront correction.


Bayesian reward learning from demonstrations enables rigorous safety and uncertainty analysis when performing imitation learning. However, Bayesian reward learning methods are typically computationally intractable for complex control problems. We propose Bayesian Reward Extrapolation (Bayesian REX), a highly efficient Bayesian reward learning algorithm that scales to high-dimensional imitation learning problems by pre-training a low-dimensional feature encoding via self-supervised tasks and then leveraging preferences over demonstrations to perform fast Bayesian inference. Bayesian REX can learn to play Atari games from demonstrations, without access to the game score and can generate 100,000 samples from the posterior over reward functions in only 5 minutes on a personal laptop. Bayesian REX also results in imitation learning performance that is competitive with or better than state-of-the-art methods that only learn point estimates of the reward function. Finally, Bayesian REX enables efficient high-confidence policy evaluation without having access to samples of the reward function. These high-confidence performance bounds can be used to rank the performance and risk of a variety of evaluation policies and provide a way to detect reward hacking behaviors.


Porosity, permeability, and formation factor are among the most important rock properties since they can be used for evaluation of hydrocarbon recovery. Pore size distribution and throat size distribution have direct effect on porosity and a major effect on the permeability and formation factor of the medium. By being able to replicate the properties of the porous media, it can be possible to model and predict single phase and two phase flow properties. The goal of this work is to find the right pore body structure and distribution along with the corresponding throat size distribution in order to match the topology of said porous media and then use it for predicting multiphase flow properties. Full pore scale modeling (digital core analysis) is computationally expensive and time consuming. Laboratory measurements are considerably more expensive and considerably more time consuming than digital core analysis. The approach taken in this study is to represent pore space using 3D network models, and to tune these network models to be able to predict flow behaviour in tight rocks.


Satire has traditionally been a masculine genre, with satirists assuming positions of authority and power deemed appropriate to the male gender, and focusing much of their outrage and ridicule on women. Conventional scholarship on British satire written during the Restoration and eighteenth century assumes that the genre was entirely the provenance of men. Felicity Nussbaum, among others, has argued that the female has been the object, not the subject, of satire since classical times. (1) However, some female writers did participate in the genre, and Aphra Behn's contributions not only show her familiarity with the masculine conventions of satire but also reveal her original contributions to the development of the complex theory and practice of satire that characterizes a major component of eighteenth-century literature in England. Reading Behn's satires helps us understand the complex nature of eighteenth-century satire, for her works highlight the areas where the genre is under pressure, needing to change. Ralph Cohen observes that we need to look at what changes and what remains in a genre if we are truly to understand its literary history and significance: "literary history ... necessarily involve[s] ideological conflicts since genres as they change nevertheless have some continuous elements." (2) The female satirist, Behn, presents an ideological conflict by virtue of her gender; her very act of satirizing demonstrates the need for the genre to question the satirist's own traditional authority, destabilizing conventional literary, social and political assumptions simultaneously. Behn's satires on poetry, and particularly on the contemporary male poets she reads, reveal an attitude that integrates the distinctions carved out by writers and critics as disparate as Dryden, Collier, Steele and Pope. As she does in many of her poems of different genres, Behn experiments in her satire with different relationships with masculine power and authority. Without losing satire's essential emphasis on difference, she challenges the assumptions of power in the gendered language of her contemporaries, the poet "Bavius" (Joseph Baber), the unidentified "Alexis," and the poet laureate John Dryden. Rather than attacking the male poets for their gender, as male satirists traditionally attacked women, Behn critiques the social relations between men and women, seeking to expand the poetic arena in areas where male poets have excluded women. 1 As we will see in some of Behn's poems, her satire functions to crack open our minds, compel us to sustain disparate meanings simultaneously. But she is not always so subtle. There are moments in her satire when she moves into lampoon, where the speaker's intellectual superiority is announced and then wielded as a club to beat the subject into submission. Behn seldom goes on the attack so overtly, but when she does, she is deadly. In her response poem to the poet Joseph Baber (Bavius), Behn displays her most vituperative lampoon, enriching the male poet's meaning with her female knowledge of linguistic doubleness. Superior, angry, and mocking, the speaker in "To Poet Bavius; Occasion'd By His Satyr He Writ in his Verses to the King, Upon the Queens Being Deliver'd of a Son," (3) turns Baber's words back onto their author to reveal his inept appropriation of the organic metaphor of pregnancy and his deplorable attempts to rhyme and reason. As she highlights Baber's incompetence in sexual and poetic matters, Behn demonstrates his analogous lack of authority in politics, and stands to correct Bavius's errors by modeling her own expertise in issues of femininity, poetry, and policy. Joseph Baber's instigating poem may have been motivated in part by Behn's earlier poem "A Congratulatory Poem of her Most Sacred Majesty, on the Universal Hopes of All Loyal Persons for a Prince of Wales," in which Behn presents the possibility of a male Roman Catholic heir with hope and faith. …


We demonstrate an improvement by more than 1 order of magnitude of the figure of merit (FoM) of plasmonic nanoparticle sensors by means of the diffractive coupling of localized surface plasmon resonances. The coupling in arrays of nanoparticles leads to Fano resonances with narrow line widths known as surface lattice resonances, which are very suitable for the sensitive detection of small changes in the refractive index of the surroundings. We focus on the sensitivity to the bulk refractive index and find that the sensor FoM scales solely with the frequency difference between the surface lattice resonance and the diffracted order grazing to the surface of the array. This result, which can be extended to other systems with coupled resonances, enables the design of plasmonic sensors with a high FoM over broad spectral ranges with unprecedented accuracy.


Ehrenreich uncovers the origins of communal celebration in human biology and culture. She discovers that the same elements come up in every human culture throughout history: a love of masking, carnival, music-making and dance. Although sixteenth-century Europeans began to view mass festivities as foreign and 'savage', Ehrenreich shows that they were indigenous to the West, from the ancient Greek's worship of Dionysus to the medieval practices of Christianity as a 'danced religion'. Exhilarating in its scholarly range, humane, witty and impassioned, "Dancing in the Streets" will generate debate and soul searching.


This paper presents the results of measurements of the spectral characteristics of samples of porous and two-phase glasses in transmitted and reflected light. The spectral ranges in which Rayleigh scattering predominates are determined for samples of porous glasses. Estimates of the absorption coefficient and refractive index are obtained for weakly absorbing and scattering samples. The porosity and the size of the porous structures are estimated in the effective-medium model. Estimates obtained from the Gurevich-Kubelka-Munk formula are used for scattering porous glasses.


The controversies surrounding intellectual property protection are most obvious when it comes to protecting indigenous knowledge. The firmly entrenched patenting laws in the developed world provide recognition and economic monopoly to individual inventors. Consequently, large and small companies have been able to appropriate the economic benefits from the technological knowledge protected through patents. Many of them however have exploited knowledge that has existed in indigenous cultures for thousands of years. An example of this is the neem tree, well renown for its properties since ancient times. The paper argues that the current models for protecting intellectual property cannot be used for indigenous knowledge. Firstly, indigenous knowledge is holistic by nature and collectively owned; and secondly, an appropriate protection model should allow for maintaining the cultural and physical environment that has generated indigenous knowledge. After examining the failure of the patent system to recognise indigenous input (using examples from the US Patent and Trademark Office data), the analysis in the paper is directed towards exploring alternative models for indigenous intellectual property protection. The world-first case study of indigenous intellectual accreditation through the partnership between Mt Romance (Australian sandalwood company), Aveda (US-based multinational cosmetics corporation) and the Kutkabubba community (represented by the Songman Circle of Wisdom), is presented. The accreditation allows for the indigenous people to be recognised as traditional owners of the land, and for their care and knowledge about the sandalwood trees. It also gives them a share of the profits made from the contemporary use of the pure sandalwood oil. The paper concludes that sustainability provides a conceptual framework for a change in the model of protecting intellectual property. This implies that appropriate policies should be put in place for businesses to re-examine their value systems and feel responsible towards the community. Indigenous sustainability, in particular, requires addressing the disadvantages experienced by indigenous people in all aspects of society. A new intellectual property model should reflect care for the economic, social and environmental aspects of the world where indigenous knowledge is created.


Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is a wireless technology that is emerging in consumer products as a method for input and interaction. Although RFID is relatively well known from a technical perspective, the methods and for designing with RFID are less well understood, particularly the tangible and physical aspects of RFID form. Using a practice-driven design approach we explore the possibilities for richer design of RFID objects in everyday contexts. Through sketching, making and form-explorations we build a visual and physical design vocabulary for RFID forms. This includes properties such as direction, balance, ergonomics and geometry that are communicated through design-focused language and visualisations.


The whole point of exact arithmetic is to generate answers to numeric problems, within some user-speci1ed error. An implementation of exact arithmetic is therefore of questionable value, if it cannot be shown that it is generating correct answers. In this paper, we show that the algorithms used in an exact real arithmetic are correct. A program using the functions de1ned in this paper has been implemented in 'C' (a HASKELL version of which we provide as an appendix), and we are now convinced of its correctness. The table presented at the end of the paper shows that performing these proofs found three logical errors which had not been discovered by testing. One of these errors was only detected when the theorems were validated with PVS. c 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.


Abstract The Middle Devonian hypogene evaporite dissolution, karst collapse resulted in the fragmentation of the Upper Devonian strata into a mosaic of differentially subsided fault blocks underlying the northern area of the Athabasca Oil Sands Deposit. Regional salt dissolution collapse developed structural troughs up to 50 km long on the sub-Cretaceous unconformity. The structural depressions formed above collapsed collinearly aligned, brine-filled, evaporite dissolution chimneys extending up to 100 m high within the Prairie Evaporite salt beds. Individual and coalesced arrays of dissolution chimneys developed along fault lineament dissolution trends that dissected the 10 km wide Prairie Evaporite salt scarp. 3D seismic images of chimney collapse structures in the Middle Devonian evaporite basin depocenter across central Saskatchewan are analogues used to interpret collapse structures evident in the Upper Devonian succession and the overlying Lower Cretaceous McMurray Formation. The Devonian-Cretaceous fault bound blocks located above the dissolution chimneys were gravity driven collapse structures. These structures included oblique rotational trajectories during the descents towards and into underlying dissolution voids. Breccia pipes were impinged along the deeper reaches of the inter-block fault planes as adjacent blocks obliquely rotated apart and towards each other, resulting in zones with compressional and extensional bed deformations during the variable but often rapid rates of vertical descent. The breccia pipes pass upward, along fault planes, into oblique shear zones with twisted beds and zigzag suture welding between adjacent blocks. Upper reaches of the collision zone, between adjacent blocks, were dominated by compressional deformations that resulted in sinkhole development bound on one side by the fault plane. Continued bed compression deformed and fragmented many sinkhole structures. Some of these collapse-induced fault block collisions suggest cataclysmic events, and caused seismicity triggered fluidization in the upper intervals of breccia pipes with mobilization as debris flows that spread across adjacent fault block surfaces.


Objective: This study aims to evaluate students' knowledge and attitudes about COVID-19 and its precautionary measures. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among dental students in their clinical practice years in two Palestinian universities. An online questionnaire was sent out using students' in mid-May, 2020. The questionnaire assessed students self-reported knowledge about the COVID-19, and students' attitudes towards providing clinical care during the pandemic. Results: A total of 305 dental students completed the questionnaire. Fifty-nine percent (n = 180) reported having updated training on infection control measures in dental settings and 29% (n = 89) reported having attended a training course regarding COVID-19. Eighty-two percent of students (n = 250) preferred to avoid working with suspected COVID-19 patients. Almost 89% (n = 269) admitted fear of transmitting the virus to their families. This fear was related to their perception that using regular standard precautions is unsafe in dealing with COVID-19 patients and their perception of their schools' preparedness to update infection prevention measures (χ2 = 50.45, p < 0.001) (χ2 = 9.77, p = 0.021). Conclusion: Students in this sample are aware of COVID-19 and its precautionary measures. Adherence to new, stricter infection control protocols and periodic orientation of students to these protocols are ways to guarantee a safer environment for both patients and students.


New 238U-230Th and Sr isotope data from 40Ar/39Ar-dated mafic lavas of the composite cone, A.D. 1902 dacitic tephra, and 1922–present dacitic dome lavas from the Santa Maria–Santiaguito volcanic complex in northwestern Guatemala indicate that genesis of magma beneath the western end of the Central American volcanic arc requires sources much different than previously envisioned. Although U-series data from historical lavas along the Central American volcanic arc, including Guatemala, show variable but small degrees of either 230Th or 238U excess, 72–35 ka basalts and basaltic andesites from the Santa Maria cone have 15%–26% 238U excesses, among the largest measured in Central America. This implies that the mantle wedge beneath this sector of the arc was significantly modified by slab-derived fluids. A decrease in 87Sr/86Sr and (238U/230Th) ratios over the past 72 k.y. as basaltic andesite gave way to dacite is consistent with fractional crystallization coupled with progressive assimilation of crust that has relatively unradiogenic, mid-oceanic ridge basalt–like Sr isotope composition. Overall, our U-series data along with published 238U/230Th isotope results from Central America demonstrate that (1) slab-fluid flux can be high throughout Central America, including regions of relatively thick crust, and (2) the middle to lower crust beneath northwestern Guatemala may not be dominated by ancient metamorphic and granitic rocks.


THE CONFLICT BETWEEN FAITH AND EXPERIENCE AND THE EDITING OF PSALMS 73–83 Stephen John Smith, Ph.D. The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2019 Chair: Dr. Duane A. Garrett This study evaluates Psalms 73–83 from an editorial-critical standpoint. Chapter 1 focuses on methodology. Chapter 2 highlights aspects of precedent research that demonstrate this study's need: (1) lack of consensus over the collection's structure; (2) lack of consensus over the message(s) communicated in it; (3) methodological weaknesses of previous studies. Chapter 3 investigates the crisis of a conflict between faith and experience in the lament psalms. It lays an important foundation for the collective argument of chapters 4 through 9: Psalms 73–83 have been shaped to resolve different manifestations this singular faith crisis. Chapters 4 through 7 argue the literary unity of Psalms 73–78. Psalms 74–76 and 77–78 are two deliberate psalm groupings that constitute a larger unit, Psalms 74–78. Correspondences between this unit and Psalm 73 indicate that Psalm 73 serves as its programatic introduction. These chapters conclude that Psalms 73–78 are shaped to resolve a conflict of faith and experience precipitated by the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple. The message that Psalms 73–78 communicates is that "faith sticks to God's selfrevelation amid conflicting evidence." Chapters 8 and 9 argue the literary unity of Psalms 79–82. This second major unit likewise consists of two smaller groupings (Pss 80–81; 79/82), which are arranged in an A (Ps 79), B (Ps 80), B' (Ps 81), A' (Ps 82) pattern. These chapters conclude that Psalms 79–82 are shaped to resolve the same faith crisis as the first, and to communicate the same basic theological message. Chapter 9 ends by showing that Psalm 83 is a fitting conclusion to Psalms 74–82. Chapter 10 discusses conclusions and implications. The most important is that Psalms 73–83 give a sustained and coherent answer to a disorienting conflict of faith and experience precipitated by God's absence in the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in the sixth century B.C.E: "Faith sticks to God's self-revelation amid conflicting evidence." Consequently, Psalms 73–83 are the high point of Psalmic faith, not a low point as is often believed. VITA Stephen John Smith EDUCATION B.A., Grand Canyon University, 2006 M.Div., Reformed Theological Seminary (Jackson), 2011 ACADEMIC Garrett Fellow, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2013–2015 Adjunct Professor of Old Testament Interpretation, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2014 Instructor of Koine Greek/Academic Assistant to the Dean, The Sovereign Grace Pastors College, 2013 ORGANIZATIONAL The Evangelical Theological Society The Society of Biblical Literature


At the forefront of interoperability using XML in an Internet environment is the issue of semantic trans-lation; that is, the ability to properly interpret the elements, attributes, and values contained in an XML file. In many cases, specific domains have standardized the way data are represented in XML. When this does not occur, some type of mediation is required to interpret XML formatted data that does not adhere to pre-defined semantics. The prototype X-Map was developed to investigate what is required to mediate semantic interoperability between heterogeneous domains. An essential component of this system is structural analysis of data representations in the respective domains. When mediating XML data between similar but non-identical domains, we cannot rely solely on semantic similarities of tags and/or the data content of elements to establish associations between related elements, especially over the Internet. To complement these discovered associations one can attempt to build on relationships based on the respective domain structures and the position and relationships of evaluated elements within those structures. For this purpose, the domains are represented as hierarchical trees in XML syntax; a more general solution handles arbitrary graphs. A structural analysis algorithm builds on associations discovered by other analysis, using these associations to aid in discovering further links that could not have been discovered by purely static examination of the elements and their aggregate content. A number of methodologies are presented by which the algorithm maximizes the number of relevant mappings or associations derived from the XML structures. The paper concludes with comparative results obtained using these three methodologies.


The influence of various polymeric matrices on the phosphorescence of organic molecules is illustrated for the case of 1,2,5,6-dibenzanthracene. The phosphorescence spectra and decay times are compared with low-temperature glasses. Interaction of the aromatic hydrocarbon with the plastic matrices is shown to be greater than with the low-temperature glasses. This interaction is manifested by a higher quantum yield of phosphorescence (relative to fluorescence), but shorter decay times. The effect of the polymer on the triplet state is interpreted in terms of the vibrational structure of the phosphorescence spectra. The degree of polarization and decay time of the phosphorescence emission was studied in the range 77°–365°K and the results are related to the temperature dependence of rotation of the molecule in the matrix. The quenching action of oxygen on phosphorescence is demonstrated with film samples of 20-μ thickness.The relevant physical properties of the plastics employed are discussed and details of sample preparation are presented.


Both ionospheric and weather radar communities have already adopted the method of transmitting radar pulses in an aperiodic manner when measuring moderately over- spread targets. Among the users of the ionospheric radars, this method is called Aperiodic Transmitter Coding (ATC), whereas the weather radar users have adopted the term Si- multaneous Multiple Pulse-Repetition Frequency (SMPRF). When probing the ionosphere at the carrier frequencies of the EISCAT Incoherent Scatter Radar facilities, the range extent of the detectable target is typically of the order of one thou- sand kilometers - about seven milliseconds - whereas the characteristic correlation time of the scattered signal varies from a few milliseconds in the D-region to only tens of mi- croseconds in the F-region. If one is interested in estimat- ing the scattering autocorrelation function (ACF) at time lags shorter than the F-region correlation time, the D-region must be considered as a moderately overspread target, whereas the F-region is a severely overspread one. Given the technical restrictions of the radar hardware, a combination of ATC and phase-coded long pulses is advantageous for this kind of target. We evaluate such an experiment under infinitely low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) conditions using lag profile inversion. In addition, a qualitative evaluation under high- SNR conditions is performed by analysing simulated data. The results show that an acceptable estimation accuracy and a very good lag resolution in the D-region can be achieved with a pulse length long enough for simultaneous E- and F- region measurements with a reasonable lag extent. The new experiment design is tested with the EISCAT Tromso VHF (224 MHz) radar. An example of a full D/E/F-region ACF from the test run is shown at the end of the paper.


ABSTRACT We describe here a side-by-side comparison of murine respiratory infection by Bordetella pertussis and Bordetella bronchiseptica strains whose genomes are currently being sequenced (Tohama I and RB50, respectively). B. pertussisand B. bronchiseptica are most appropriately classified as subspecies. Their high degree of genotypic and phenotypic relatedness facilitates comparative studies of pathogenesis. RB50 and Tohama I differ in their abilities to grow in the nose, trachea, and lungs of BALB/c mice and to induce apoptosis, lung pathology, and an antibody response. To focus on the interactions between the bacteria and particular aspects of the host immune response, we used mice with specific immune defects. Mice lacking B cells and T cells were highly susceptible to B. bronchiseptica and were killed by intranasal inoculation with doses as low as 500 CFU. These mice were not killed by B. pertussis, even when doses as high as 105 CFU were delivered to the lungs. B. bronchiseptica, which was highly resistant to naive serum in vitro, caused bacteremia in these immunodeficient mice, while B. pertussis, which was highly sensitive to naive serum, did not cause bacteremia. B. bronchiseptica was, however, killed by immune serum in vitro, and adoptive transfer of anti-Bordetella antibodies protected SCID-beige mice fromB. bronchiseptica lethal infection. Neutropenic mice were similarly killed by B. bronchiseptica but not B. pertussis infection, suggesting neutrophils are critical to the early inflammatory response to the former but not the latter. B. bronchiseptica was dramatically more active than B. pertussis in mediating the lysis of J774 cells in vitro and in inducing apoptosis of inflammatory cells in mouse lungs. This side-by-side comparison describes phenotypic differences that may be correlated with genetic differences in the comparative analysis of the genomes of these two highly related organisms.


Political theorist and cultural critic, novelist and cricket enthusiast, C. L. R. James (1901 - 1989) was a brilliant polymath who has been described by Edward Said as "a centrally important 20th-century figure." Through such landmark works as The Black Jacobins, Beyond a Boundary, and American Civilization, James's thought continues to influence and inspire scholars in a wide variety of fields. "There is little doubt," wrote novelist Caryl Phillips in The New Republic, "that James will come to be regarded as the outstanding Caribbean mind of the twentieth century." In his seminal work of literary and cultural criticism, Mariners, Renegades and Castaways, James anticipated many of the concerns and ideas that have shaped the contemporary fields of American and Postcolonial Studies, yet this widely influential book has been unavailable in its complete form since its original publication in 1953. A provocative study of Moby Dick in which James challenged the prevailing Americanist interpretation that opposed a "totalitarian" Ahab and a "democratic, American" Ishmael, he offered instead a vision of a factory-like Pequod whose "captain of industry" leads the "mariners, renegades and castaways" of its crew to their doom. In addition to demonstrating how such an interpretation supported the emerging US national security state, James also related the narrative of Moby Dick, and its resonance in American literary and political culture, to his own persecuted position at the height (or the depth) of the Truman/McCarthy era. It is precisely this personal, deeply original material that was excised from the only subsequent edition. With a new introduction by Donald E. Pease that places the work in its critical and cultural context, Mariners, Renegades and Castaways is once again available in its complete form.


We report performance characteristics of a thulium doped ZBLAN waveguide laser that supports the largest fundamental modes reported in a rare-earth doped planar waveguide laser (to the best of our knowledge). The high mode quality of waveguides up to 45 um diameter (~1075 μm(2) mode-field area) is validated by a measured beam quality of M(2)~1.1 ± 0.1. Benefits of these large mode-areas are demonstrated by achieving 1.9 kW peak-power output Q-switched pulses. The 1.89 μm free-running cw laser produces 205 mW and achieves a 67% internal slope efficiency corresponding to a quantum efficiency of 161%. The 9 mm long planar chip developed for concept demonstration is rapidly fabricated by single-step optical processing, contains 15 depressed-cladding waveguides, and can operate in semi-monolithic or external cavity laser configurations.


Background Growing evidence shows links between septicaemia and non-multiple sclerosis demyelinating syndromes (NMSDS); nevertheless, epidemiological data are still very limited. This study aimed to explore the relationship between septicaemia and NMSDS in a general population. Methods The study included 482 781 individuals diagnosed with septicaemia and 1 892 825 age/sex-matched non-septicaemia patients for the comparison. Data were drawn from a population-based nationwide National Health Insurance Research Database Taiwan, from 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2011. The two cohorts of patients with and without septicaemia were followed up for the occurrence of NMSDS. The Cox-proportional hazard regression model was performed to estimate adjusted HR after multivariate adjustment. Results Individuals with septicaemia had a 4.17-fold (95% CI 3.21 to 5.4, p < 0.001) higher risk to develop NMSDS compared with those without septicaemia. Patients aged <65 years had a greater NMSDS risk (<45 years: HR = 6.41, 95% CI 3.65 to 11.3, p < 0.001; 45–64 years: HR = 6.66, 95% CI 3.98 to 11.2, p < 0.001). Furthermore, females with septicaemia and individuals with higher severity of septicaemia were associated with increased risks of developing NMSDS. Conclusions Our results indicated that patients with septicaemia were likely to develop NMSDS. A possible contributing role of septicaemia in increasing the hazard of NMSDS is proposed, based on the outcome that individuals with higher severity of septicaemia carried elevated threat of encountering NMSDS.


Aristotle's De Anima is the first systematic philosophical account of the soul, which serves to explain the functioning of all mortal living things. In his commentary, Ronald Polansky argues that the work is far more structured and systematic than previously supposed. He contends that Aristotle seeks a comprehensive understanding of the soul and its faculties. By closely tracing the unfolding of the many-layered argumentation and the way Aristotle fits his inquiry meticulously within his scheme of the sciences, Polansky answers questions relating to the general definition of soul and the treatment of each of the soul's principal capacities: nutrition, sense perception, phantasia, intellect, and locomotion. The commentary sheds light on every section of the De Anima and the work as a unit. It offers a challenge to earlier and current interpretations of the relevance and meaning of Aristotle's highly influential treatise.


The role of information communication technologies (ICT) growth in citizens' political participation, socio-economic development, and poverty alleviation is an active area of study within information systems (IS) research in developing countries. This dissertation contributes in (1) developing an historical perspective of ICT growth, (2) identifying antecedents of ICT growth, (3) proposing extensions in 'design-actuality gaps framework' (for ICT policy analysis), (4) extending dimensions of ICT based socio-economic development, and (5) in integrating relationship between ICT growth and socio-economic development. The data collection was done in three phases from December 2006 to January 2009 in Pakistan. A total of 54 officials who made or influenced government's ICT policies and 46 citizens participated. The qualitative analysis shows that government's policies play an important role in ICT growth. However, political instability and lack of citizens' involvement in policy design leads to inconsistent policies which can impede realization of the benefits of ICT growth. The findings have practical implications for government's ICT policy design and evaluation, understanding of the antecedents of ICT growth, and ICT based socio-economic development. The recommendations for ICT policy design in this research can potentially benefit governments in increasing citizens' quality of life, socio-economic development, and poverty alleviation. The validity of this research is evaluated against a set of guidelines for grounded theory research.


"Pacing in sport and exercise: a psychophysiological perspective" is the first book which comprehensively examines the way humans pace exercise and sporting activities. This concept represents an exciting opportunity to combine the latest physiological and psychological theories with practical sport and exercise applications. The book will be an essential read for sport and exercise science academics, students, coaches, athletes and general exercise enthusiasts.

Pacing is the strategy by which effort is managed across an exercise bout in relation to a specific goal and in the knowledge of the likely demands of the task. It is widely recognised that individuals distribute effort across a task and this is in evidence during all non-reflex exercise situations where individuals are able to receive and act upon neural feedback from peripheral physiologic systems. As such, pacing across a wide range of sport and exercise contexts is investigated and explained. Sporting activities as diverse as sprinting, soccer, triathlon, rowing and cycling are discussed. In addition, training methodologies to improve the ability to self-pace exercise are reviewed and a self-regulatory system to optimize training across all exercise types is proposed. Templates for consolidating training sessions, design and monitoring strategies are included. Pacing in relation to specific population groups such as children, overweight/obese individuals and those with chronic or acute illnesses is also discussed. Finally, it is hoped this new book will stimulate further research, growth and awareness of this important topic.


This paper proposes and describes a computational system for the automatic analysis of thematic structure, as defined in Systemic Functional Linguistics, in written English. The system takes an English text as input and produces as output an analysis of the thematic structure of each sentence in the text. The system is evaluated using data from The Wall Street Journal section of the Penn Treebank (Marcus et al. 1993) and the British Academic Written English corpus (Gardner & Nesi 2013). An experiment using these data shows that the system achieves a high degree of reliability in regard to both identifying theme-rheme boundaries and determining several of the linguistic properties of the identified themes, including syntactic nodes, theme function, markedness, mood types, and theme roles. To illustrate how the system is used, we describe an example application designed to compare collections of novice and expert academic writing in terms of thematic structure.


We have experimentally studied the unstable dynamics of a harmonically trapped Bose-Einstein condensate loaded into a 1D moving optical lattice. The lifetime of the condensate in such a potential exhibits a dramatic dependence on the quasimomentum state. This is unambiguously attributed to the onset of dynamical instability, after a comparison with the predictions of the Gross-Pitaevskii theory. Deeply in the unstable region we observe the rapid appearance of complex structures in the atomic density profile, as a consequence of the condensate phase uniformity breakdown.


Simulation is often viewed as a modeling methodology of last resort. This is due to the lack of automated algorithms and procedures that exist to aid in the construction and analysis of simulation models. Jacobson and Yucesan (1994) present four structural issue search problems associated with simulation model building, and prove them to be NP-hard, hence intractable under the worst-case analysis of computational complexity theory. In this article, three new structural issue search problems are presented and proven to be NP-hard. The consequences and implications of these results are discussed.


Although morphine is highly effective against pain, its effective long-term use is limited by its ability to induce tolerance and dependence--both likely associated with up-regulation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) signaling and adaptive changes in the expression of target genes. Morphine analgesia and tolerance are mediated through the μ opioid peptide receptor (MOP), which is also activated by endogenous opiates and methadone; however, unlike these other opiates, morphine does not stimulate endocytosis of the MOP receptor. He and Whistler found that concentrations of methadone that alone would not stimulate endocytosis, when administered with saturating concentrations of morphine, promoted MOP receptor endocytosis in both rat brain and human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells stably transfected with the MOP receptor. The authors interpreted this as due to the dimeric or oligomeric nature of the MOP receptor and proposed that, when the other protomers are occupied by morphine, occupation by methadone of a single protomer could engage the endocytotic machinery. When administered with morphine, such low concentrations of methadone reduced morphine-induced up-regulation of the cAMP pathway in HEK293 cells. In rats, methadone inhibited the development of morphine tolerance (assessed by tail-flick) and dependence (assessed by the behavioral response to pharmacologically induced opiate withdrawal) at concentrations that did not affect acute morphine analgesia. Methadone also prevented an increase in the striatal abundance of the NR2A subunit of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor that occurred with chronic morphine treatment. Thus, the authors suggest that promotion of receptor endocytosis by coadministered methadone inhibits adaptive changes associated with chronic exposure to morphine and may thereby enhance the effectiveness of morphine in treating chronic pain. L. He, J. L. Whistler, An opiate cocktail that reduces morphine tolerance and dependence. Current Biology 15, 1028-1033 (2005). [PubMed]


"For those who would rather die than do leglifts to a Whitney Houston soundtrack, here's the ultimate alternative. "-Boston Magazine. * Would you flee in terror if confronted with a room full of sweaty people in spandex thongs?* Are you not immune to the occasional Van Halen-style air guitar jump?* Have you been known to push aside your coffee table and dance like crazy in your living room?If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, here at last is your workout book. As simple as throwing on that old Ramones (or even White Stripes) record, punk meets a high- and low-impact workout in an exercise craze that is spreading like wildfire amongst teens and aging rockers alike: Punk Rock Aerobics. Unlikely bedfellows though they seem, punk has always been about image-from Iggy's abs to the Sex Pistols' carefully cultivated outfits. Back in the good old days cigarettes would suffice to keep rockers slim, but to have real punk energy, say these rockers-turned-certified- aerobics-instructors, you need to drop those chips and get off the couch. Chock-full of easy-to-follow moves in an accessible, home-exercise-friendly format, Punk Rock Aerobics contains photos and instructions for DIY, heart-pumping (and thigh-slimming) retro moves like the "Air Guitar," the "Skank," and the "Fire Hydrant," while suggesting songs by the Sex Pistols, Blondie, and the Stooges for a perfect workout soundtrack. With sidebars and Q&A's with rockers like J. Mascis and Evan Dando, this is definitely "not your mom's aerobics class" (Boston Globe).


Bipolaris hawaiiensis has been reported on bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) and other Cynodon spp. from subtropical areas around the world (2). This pathogen has not previously been reported on bermudagrass in North America (1) nor has its virulence been compared with that of other Bipolaris spp. on this host. In July and October 1999, frequencies of dematiaceous hyphomycetous pathogens in live but symptomatic leaves of bermudagrass were determined on two poultry waste application sites in Smith and Covington counties, MS, where foliar disease symptoms were widespread. Common bermudagrass was being grazed in Covington County, and cv. Alicia was being grown for hay in Smith County. At each date and site, 100 stems with leaves exhibiting symptoms of chlorosis and necrosis were collected, and a single leaf with well-developed symptoms from each stem was assayed for pathogens by surface-disinfesting, plating on water agar, and observing fungal sporulation. Multiple species of pathogens were detected on most leaves. Identities and mean frequencies of observed pathogen species across both sites and sampling dates were Exserohilum rostratum (62%), Bipolaris cynodontis (98%), Curvularia lunata (28%), C. geniculata (20%), B. spicifera (3%), and B. hawaiiensis (3%). B. hawaiiensis was detected at both sites and on both sampling dates. It was distinguished from B. cynodontis by smaller conidia (14 to 28 μm long) and from B. spicifera by more than three pseudosepta per conidium. Virulence of B. hawaiiensis on bermudagrass, compared with B. cynodontis and B. spicifera, was assessed in two identical inoculation experiments using three pathogen-inoculated treatments plus an uninoculated control. In each experiment, foliage of 12-week-old plants in five replicate pots per treatment was sprayed with 4 × 104 conidia per ml of water of each pathogen. The pots were incubated under 12-h plant-growth lights at 25°C for 3 days in a water-saturated atmosphere to initiate infection and then grown for seven additional days in ambient air under plant-growth lights at 25°C. All three pathogens induced symptoms of chlorosis and necrotic lesions. Symptoms induced by B. hawaiiensis were similar in severity to those produced by B. spicifera and less severe than those produced by B. cynodontis. To our knowledge, this is the first report of B. hawaiiensis on bermudagrass in North America. The site in Smith County also apparently represents its northernmost known point of occurrence on this continent (2). References: (1) D. F. Farr et al. Fungi on Plants and Plant Products in the United States. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN, 1989. (2) A. Sivanesan. Graminicolous Species of Bipolaris, Curvularia, Drechslera, Exserohilum and their Teleomorphs. Mycol. Pap. No. 158, CAB International Mycological Institute, Wallingford, U.K., 1987.


My second novel, The Game is Altered (hereafter TGiA), is a hybrid literary form. Its distinctiveness arises out of the fact that it successfully draws on a mixture of genres, tropes and linguistic devices to delineate the spatio-temporal textual environment as well as the fictive space of the novel. This, the accompanying exegesis, examines the associated issues of genre that hybridity brings, with particular focus on dystopian, outsider and existential fiction. It goes on to examine issues of space and time in the novel with an emphasis on linguistic forms and how they define and depict fictive representations of the real and the virtual and concludes that TGiA has, to a greater or lesser extent, successfully defined its temporal, psycho-social and fictive spaces and in doing so has expressed the techno-dystopian concepts that conform to the emerging speculative, posthuman literary phenomenon.

Chapter one begins by locating TGiA within dystopian, outsider and existentialist fiction. The analysis focuses on narratives that encompass techno-dystopian visions such as Neuromancer (Gibson, 1984) and "The Machine Stops" (Forster, 1909) and goes on to examine the case for TGiA as a quasi-migration/diasporic narrative, as well as comparing TGiA with existential novels that deal with authenticity and identity. Chapter two analyses issues of time and space in TGiA with specific reference to Bakhtin's theory of the literary chronotope (1937) and Elena Gomel's notion of timeshape (2010). There is further analysis of the relationship between utopian and dystopian places as well as virtual spaces as an escapist (or anti-alienation) tool that connote a non-hegemonic safe space in the vein of Foucault's concept of heterotopia (1967). The chapter moves to issues of language and outlines various types of invented language from full grammatical/syntactical creations to more stylised, compound formations including code poetry from practitioners such as Mez Breeze. The chapter also recounts how the language in TGiA evolved and makes comparisons with Riddley Walker (Hoban, 1980) and Cloud Atlas (Mitchell, 2004). Here, I propose that what sets the novel apart from other speculative narratives is that rather than using more traditional, temporal or culturally anchored language shifts, the language transformations in TGiA delineate real and virtual spaces as well as the fictive space of the novel.

Finally, the exegesis concludes that through the elision of dystopian, existential and outsider tropes the novel represents a significant contribution to existing and emerging literary oeuvres and successfully delineates temporal, psycho-social and fictive spaces through the use of alternating standard and stylised language.


Real estate investments as an industry has always been a domestic field, however, following many other asset categories, investments in real estate expands to the international level. The currency differs depending on where investments are made and as a result of this real estate investors also face currency risks in addition to all other real estate related risks they already need to manage. The management of currency risk can have different forms, and the purpose of this thesis is to find out how and if property purchasers in Cyprus hedge this risk. To create an understanding of the issue, a summary of some theories on the currency market and real estate market can be found in the thesis. Only a small amount of research exists on the subject in Cyprus and the theories are mainly from foreign studies and the currency risk management from other business sectors. These theories, combined with the research questions, have formed the questions for the interviews and questionnaire used in this research. The present research shows that currency fluctuation risk does not affect a buyers' willingness to purchase property in Cyprus. The hedging strategies used on the market seem to primarily be future contract approach and diversification. The risk is well understood by property purchasers; however, it does not affect the property purchase in Cyprus. Most of the property purchasers have a basic understanding of the currency risk; nevertheless, the majority does not use any hedging vehicles. Most of the respondents held or currently hold investments in foreigner denominators. All the respondents stress the necessity of real estate intermediaries to have expertise in currency fluctuations risk. Real estate market intermediaries suggest that in the recent years investors and individual buyers are more aware of this risk and keep it in mind when making decision to purchase property here in Cyprus. The significant role in this change of currency risk perception played rouble crash in the beginning of this year. The interviews also imply a shared idea of real estate intermediaries' lack of knowledge in applying risk hedging strategies and difficulty to forecast any market perspectives.


There is strong evidence that older adults greatly benefit from regular physical activity. Yet, older age is consistently associated with lower levels of aerobic physical activity and strength training and higher levels of sedentary behavior, underscoring the need to better understand physical activity behavior in this population. Reviews of interventions to increase physical activity have overall yielded promising results. Interventions based on behavior theory appear to be more effective than non-theory-based interventions, yet strategies from these theories are underutilized in both research and practice. This paper discusses the importance of behavioral interventions, cites findings from the Active for Life initiative to illustrate several key concepts, and provides recommendations to address significant gaps in the literature, including the use of theory, mediation analyses, physical activity maintenance, diversity of participants, and dissemination and translational research.


An event (like corporate action) can or cannot have information content.  If the event has the information content, hence the investor will react to the information.  It is said that the information content will bring positive/negative signal.  Hereinafter the signal will instruct the investor decision whether it will invest, hold, or will not invest.  In generalizing a phenomenon, especially to measure the impact of an event toward something (usually toward the shareholder wealth/abnormal return), sometimes it can generate a wrong conclusion if we use common method.  In order to avoid the above problems, we can use the method of event study.  This method can assist to catch the impact of an event that happened in capital market having completely quick and instant characteristics. Keywords: abnormal return, event study, information content, market efficiency


Today's largest supercomputers have 100,000s of processor cores and offer the potential to solve partial differential equations discretized by billions of unknowns. However, the complexity of scaling to such large machines and problem sizes has so far prevented the emergence of generic software libraries that support such computations, although these would lower the threshold of entry and enable many more applications to benefit from large-scale computing. We are concerned with providing this functionality for mesh-adaptive finite element computations. We assume the existence of an "oracle" that implements the generation and modification of an adaptive mesh distributed across many processors, and that responds to queries about its structure. Based on querying the oracle, we develop scalable algorithms and data structures for generic finite element methods. Specifically, we consider the parallel distribution of mesh data, global enumeration of degrees of freedom, constraints, and postprocessing. Our algorithms remove the bottlenecks that typically limit large-scale adaptive finite element analyses. We demonstrate scalability of complete finite element workflows on up to 16,384 processors. An implementation of the proposed algorithms, based on the open source software p4est as mesh oracle, is provided under an open source license through the widely used deal.II finite element software library.


This dissertation is devoted to the study of environmental valuation with three independent topics. The first topic investigates the consistency of consumer preferences over time and revealed versus stated preference data. This study draws on data from the Iowa Lakes Project, which provides information on recreational usage patterns over several years and for approximately 130 lakes, along with detailed information on the water quality for each lake. This allows examination of the extent of convergence in how individuals respond to changing site characteristics. In addition, because of the nature of the data, this study was able to investigate the consistency of consumer preferences over time and between actual versus anticipated visitation patterns. The second topic examines how housing prices were impacted by this unexpected event, while controlling for pre-existing flood risk (as captured by 100- and 500-year floodplains). Both difference-in-differences (DID) and triple differences (DDD) techniques are used to isolate the impact of the 2008 flood. The results show prices for houses within the 100-year floodplain were discounted prior to the flood and no significant changes occurred in prices for those houses inundated by the 2008 flood. However, the results find a significant rebounding in post-flood prices in areas not actually inundated by the flood. On the other hand, the prices of properties in both the 500-year floodplains and outside the floodplains were not significantly discounted before the flood. There was a significant decrease in price after the flood, if the area was inundated. These findings imply as new information on flooding occurs, the housing market updates the risk perception for properties, as indicated by a change in housing prices. Finally, the third topic analyzes state dependence in recreational demand using panel data on lake visitation patterns from the Iowa Lakes Project. When calculating the welfare effect of an environmental policy, the estimation can be misleading--either by ignoring state dependence or by dealing with state dependence incorrectly. To avoid this problem, this topic adopts the approach proposed by Wooldridge. This approach starts with a single site case and then extends the analysis to a multiple site setting. For the single site case, a dynamic random effect (RE) logit model is utilized. In the multiple site setting, a RE two-step nesting structure model is used, capturing state dependence in terms of overall trip taking, although not in terms of the specific sites selected. For both the single and multiple site cases, a RE Poisson model is also estimated as an alternative approach to compare the results and as a robustness check. Also, a Monte Carlo simulation exercise is used to show the biases that can arise either from neglecting state dependence entirely or from treating it incorrectly.


Community-based small nonprofit organizations face unique challenges to capacity building. The Capacity Building Institute, initiative under the Center for Public and Nonprofit Management at the University of Central Florida, has developed an ambitious, innovative, team approach to capacity building in two groups of eight small, nonprofit, minority Community-Based Organizations (CBOs). The first project, completed in 2005, and the second project, completed in 2008, offers a fertile resource for examination by both academics and practitioners. Research confirms that a number of factors may influence the successful outcomes of capacity building initiatives of CBOs. This article focuses on community support and internal and external stakeholder development as keys to successfully building the capacity of CBOs. The findings and implications are critical reflections of field experience, survey data, participant observations, and interviews. The article proposes modest actions and lessons learned of relevance to others in the fields of nonprofit capacity building.


We define the probabilistic planning problem in terms of a probability distribution over initial world states, a boolean combination of goal propositions, a probability threshold, and actions whose effects depend on the execution-time state of the world and on random chance. Adopting a probabilistic model complicates the definition of plan success: instead of demanding a plan that proovably achieves the goal, we seek plans whose probability of success exceeds the threshold. This paper describes a probabilistic semantics for planning under uncertainty, and presents a fully implemented algorithm that generates plans that succeed with probability no less than a user-supplied probability threshold. The algorithm is sound (if it terminates then the generated plan is sufficiently likely to achieve the goal) and complete (the algorithm will generate a solution if one exists).


By some estimates, underfunded public retirement systems in the United States represent liabilities that could impose $4 trillion on taxpayers and municipal employees, depending on how governments choose to respond to shortfalls resulting from a system's inability to meet its pension obligations. While there has been a wide range of responses (and nonresponses) to state and local pension underfunding, it is instructive to examine Massachusetts, where in 2007, the state government enacted legislation to identify underperforming local systems and require them to cede control of their pension investments to the state's Pension Reserves Investment Management (PRIM). The decade that has passed since enactment of this reform provides an opportunity to evaluate its economic impact. This article evaluates and quantifies the effect that PRIM management has had on the investment returns received by the local systems that transferred assets to PRIM after 2007, with a focus on within-system effects. Results indicate that underperforming local systems received substantial benefits from the shift to PRIM's investment management. These findings provide lessons for other states in which locally managed pensions have fallen into a position of severe underfunding. TOPICS: Long-term/retirement investing, pension funds, performance measurement, retirement, wealth management Key Findings • After the Massachusetts state government enacted legislation ("Chapter 68") in 2007 to identify underperforming local retirement systems, a substantial number of local systems transferred all, or nearly all, of their pension assets to the state's Pension Reserves Investment Management (PRIM). • It is estimated that, on average, local systems that transferred assets to PRIM experienced an increase in annual gross returns of 8.9 basis points for every 10% of their assets transferred to PRIM. • In dollar terms, it is conservatively estimated that these local systems collectively gained $321 million (nearly 7% of their total unfunded liability in 2016) as a result of transferring their assets to PRIM after the implementation of Chapter 68.


We show that gold nanoparticles catalyse the oxidation of organosilanes using water as oxidant at ambient conditions. Remarkably, monodispersions of small gold particles (3.5 nm diameter) and large ones (6–18 nm diameter) give equally good conversion rates. This is important because separating large nanoparticles is much easier, and can be done using ultrafiltration instead of nanofiltration. We introduce a simple setup, constructed in-house, where the reaction products are extracted through a ceramic membrane under pressure, leaving the gold nanoparticles intact in the vessel. The nominal substrate/catalyst ratios are ca. 1800 : 1, with typical TONs of 1500–1600, and TOFs around 800 h−1. But the actual activity of the large nanoparticles is much higher, because most of their gold atoms are "inside", and therefore unavailable. Control experiments confirm that no gold escapes to the membrane permeate. The role of surface oxygen as a possible co-catalyst is discussed. Considering the ease of product separation and the robustness of the ceramic membrane, this approach opens opportunities for actual applications of gold catalysts in water oxidation reactions.


Objective To inform selection of physical measures for studies of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) survivors within 12 months of ARDS. Methods Secondary analysis of data from 6-month survivors participating in a US multicentre prospective study (ARDSNet Long-Term Outcome Study, N=134) or a multisite prospective study in Baltimore, Maryland, USA (Improving Care of Acute Lung Injury Patients, N=99). Physical measures, assessed at 6-month follow-up, were categorised according to the WHO's International Classification of Disability and Health: body functions and structures, activity and participation. Patient-centred outcomes were evaluated at 6 and 12 months: survival, hospitalisation, alive at home status and health-related quality of life. Pearson correlation, linear and logistic regression models were used to quantify associations of physical measures with patient-centred outcomes. Main results No 6-month body functions and structures measure demonstrated consistent association with 6-month or 12-month outcomes in multivariable regression. The 6 min walk test, an activity measure, was associated with 6-month Short-Form 36 (SF-36) physical component scores (PCS, β range: 0.99 to 1.52, p<0.05). Participation measures (Functional Performance Inventory, FPI; Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, IADLs) were associated with SF-36 PCS (β range: FPI, 1.51–1.52; IADL, −1.88 to −1.32; all p<0.05) and Euro-QOL-5D utility score (β range: FPI, 2.00–3.67; IADL, −2.89 to −2.50; all p<0.01) at 6 and 12 months. Conclusions Participation measures better reflect patient's quality of life than measures of body functions and structures within 12 months of ARDS among 6-month survivors, and are recommended for inclusion as a core measure in future studies.


An algorithm of estimating Vertical distribution of Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) was evaluated based on Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) method in Hokkaido field in the northwest of Pacific Ocean. The algorithm applied to the data of SeaWiFS on OrbView-2 and AVHRR on NOAA off Hokkaido, has been applied on September 24, 1998 and September 28, 2001. Ocean color sensor provides the information of the photosynthetic pigment concentration for the upper 22% of the euphotic zone. In order to model a primary production in the water column derived from satellite, it is important to obtain the vertical profile of Chl-a distribution, because the maximum value of Chl-a concentration used to lie in the subsurface region. A shifted Gaussian model has been proposed to describe the variation of the chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) profile which consists of four parameters, i.e. background biomass (B0), maximum depth of Chl-a (zm), total biomass in the peak (h), and a measurement of the thickness or vertical scale of the peak (cr). However, these parameters are not easy to be determined directly from satellite data. Therefore, in the present study, an ANN methodology is used. Using in-situ data from 1974 to 1994 around Japan Islands, the above four parameters are calculated to derive the Chl-a concentration, sea surface temperature, mixed layer depth, latitude, longitude, and Julian days. The total of 6983 profiles of Chl-a and temperature are used for ANN. The correlation coefficients of these parameters are 0.79 (B0), 0.73 (h), 0.76 (cr) and 0.79 (zm) respectively. A site called A-linc off Hokkaido is used to evaluate Chl-a concentration in each depth. After comparing with in-situ data and ANN model, the results show good agreement relatively. Therefore, the ANN method is applicable and available tool to estimate primary production and fish resources from the space.
Keywords : Ocean color, Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a), Vertical structure, Artificial Neural Networks (ANN).


The establishment of competitive electricity markets worldwide, the deregulation of the electricity industry, and the response of the industry to the U.S. Energy Policy Act of 2005 have resulted in both very large and very small Balancing Authorities, greater operational complexities, and new reliability management needs at the wide-area level. Both the industry and government organizations responsible for different aspects of reliability management are adapting and responding to these new developments. This ongoing evolution of the industry and the increasing numbers of major blackouts around the world spotlight the need for wide-area visibility of the health of power systems and real-time monitoring of electrical grid reliability performance in order to prevent blackouts. Traditional real-time monitoring tools, real-time hardware-software architectures, and user interfaces all developed for vertical integrated environments have proven to be inadequate for the development of the new wide-area intelligent tools and visualizations required to operate and manage the evolving electrical grid. This paper describes the new reliability management needs and organizations emerging at the wide-area level; new hardware-software user-interface configurations; intelligent alerts and alarming and geo-graphic multi-view visualization technologies resulting from the Consortium for Electric Reliability Technology Solutionspsila (CERTS) research, and tailored and applied by the North American Electric Reliability Corporationpsilas (NERC) functional organizations for wide-area real-time resources adequacy monitoring, and intelligent alert and alarming tools currently in use by about 75 operational organizations in North America.


Objective: To investigate differences in movement behaviors (physical activity, sleep, screen time) in both parents and children during the early stages of COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, compared to pre-COVID-19 national data; and, estimate associations between these movement behaviors with parent and child mental health. Methods: We used cross-sectional baseline data from the COVID-19 Pandemic Adjustment Study (CPAS; N=2,365). Participants were parents of children aged ≤18 years, residing in Australia. We drew on nationally representative pre-COVID data from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC; N=9,438). In both studies, parents provided the same self-report measures of physical activity, sleep quality, as well as measures of child physical activity and screen time. Parents reported on their own and their child's mental health. Results: Compared to LSAC, children in CPAS had more sleep problems (17.4% vs 8.9%, p<.001) and more weekend screen time (3.98 hours vs 3.35 hours, p<.001), while more parents had poor sleep quality (56.7% vs 21.0%, p<.001) despite increased weekly physical activity (3.86 days vs 2.85 days, p<.001). Children's sleep problems were associated with increased depression, anxiety and irritability symptoms, after accounting for physical activity and screen time (all p<.001). Poorer parent sleep quality and lower levels of physical activity were associated with poorer mental health across all indicators (all p≤.001).Conclusion: Government funded mental health programs to implement evidence-based sleep interventions for children and their parents, along with targeted messaging around physical activity should be considered to promote mental health within the family context during lockdown restrictions.


In earth's history, large assemblies of continental masses, so-called supercontinents,
occurred episodically. The last ones, Pangaea and Gondwana, broke up in Triassic to
Jurassic times. The distribution of the landmasses has major influences on the climate
and biosphere on earth. To have detailed knowledge about the timing and devolution of
the assembling and decomposition processes of these large continents is thus important
as framework for many earth-related scientific disciplines.
This study deals with the movements between Africa and Antarctica in Middle
Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous times. Only a thin stripe of seafloor, the Africa-Antarctica
corridor, provides direct evidence of these movements. Although the kinematic history
between the two continents is quite well constrained for Cenozoic times, little is known
about the Jurassic processes, mainly due to the lack of data on the conjugate continental
margins. New wide-angle seismic and potential field data were thus acquired
on both conjugate margins during four scientific campaigns between 2006 and 2010
by AWI and co-operation partners to gather information about the age and origin of
the crust in the Africa-Antarctica corridor. On both conjugate sides, aseismic plateaus
exist, whose origin is unclear. The assumption of continental crust underneath the
Mozambique Ridge, the Northern Natal Valley and the Mozambique Coastal Plains
produces significant overlaps with Antarctica in many Gondwana reconstructions. On
the conjugate margin, the Astrid Ridge is a poorly studied feature whose history is apparently
related to the formation of the oldest crust in the Africa-Antarctica corridor.
Aeromagnetic measurements in the southwestern Enderby Basin/Cosmonauts Sea
east of the Gunnerus Ridge were conducted in 2006. The data clearly image the
continent-ocean-transition offshore Prince-Harald Coast. No magnetic spreading
anomalies can be seen in the data, however. The oceanic crust is thus interpreted
of having formed during times of the Cretaceous Normal superchron. India and Sri
Lanka were thus attached to Antarctica up to these times.
Two wide-angle seismic profiles across the Central Mozambique continental margin
as well as magnetic and gravity data were acquired in the Mozambique Channel in 2007.
P-wave velocity and density modelling of the seismic refraction profiles reveals continental
crust, thinning seawards by 50% over a distance of 130 km. From a pronounced
negative magnetic anomaly near the shoreline southwards, slightly thickened to normal
oceanic crust is present. Lowermost sediments with high P-wave velocities around
1
Abstract
4.8 km/s overlie the oceanic basement. An extensive lower crustal high-velocity-body
with P-wave-velocities 7.0 km/s has been found in both profiles. The identifications
of magnetic spreading anomalies in the Mozambique Channel have been extended to
the north, revealing that the continent-ocean-transition is located closer to the coast
than supposed so far. M41n is interpreted to be the oldest existing magnetic spreading
anomaly near the Central Mozambique shoreline.
Extensive and systematic magnetic and gravity measurements have been made on
the Mozambique Ridge and the Natal Valley in 2009. The data show magnetic spreading
anomalies with different trends on the Mozambique Ridge and in the Northern
Natal Valley, which are thus mainly underlain by oceanic crust. The similarity of the
magnetic and gravity field between the Mozambique Coastal Plains and the new data
farther south and the absence of signs for a continent-ocean-boundary give evidence
for a mainly oceanic nature of the Mozambique Coastal Plains as well.
In 2009/2010, systematic aeromagnetic measurements were made across the Astrid
Ridge and the southwestern Riiser-Larsen Sea, Antarctica. The Astrid Ridge is subdivided
by the Astrid Fracture Zone into a northern and a southern part with different
magnetic signatures. The southern part is weakly magnetized as is the southwestern
Riiser-Larsen Sea. It is interpreted to consist of oceanic crust. Parallel anomalies on
this part of ridge point to a formation by seafloor spreading in another direction than
the Riiser-Larsen Sea. The northern part of the Astrid Ridge shows strong positiv
magnetic anomalies, pointing to a different and younger formation history than the
southern part.
The regional results were interpreted within the context of Gondwana breakup and
implemented into a new kinematic model between Africa and Antarctica, which is
presented in this study. This model adapts a tight continental fit for Gondwana and
postulates a two-stage breakup. During the first stage, Antarctica rotated anticlockwise
with respect to Africa, the Grunehogna Craton clearing the Mozambique Coastal
Plains and occupying a position east of the Mozambique Fracture Zone around 168
Ma. Afterwards, Antarctica moved southwards during stage 2 and oceanic crust in the
Mozambique Channel formed. The Mozambique Ridge and the Northern Natal Valley
were formed by seafloor spreading on a spreading centre that changed its position two
times by jumps to the south.
The new kinematic model is in agreement with the known geological and geophysical
findings and explains the formation of the Jurassic and Early Cretaceous crust in the
Africa-Antarctica Corridor without contradictions and overlapping problems.


All available evidence indicates that the admonitions of Moses not to eat the flesh of swine and that of public-health officials to cook pork until it is well done have not been followed. In the United States, reports of various samples of the population reveal zoologic infections of Trichinella spiralis of from 10 to 20 per cent. There is sufficient evidence to warrant the conclusion that such infections have produced no clinical manifestations.
In spite of the many-times repreated warnings about the thorough cooking of pork and even laws forbidding the feeding of raw garbage to hogs, zoologic trichinosis in hogs and man persists. Accordingly, other means of controlling parasitism by this worm have been suggested, and prominent among them is the suggestion of Gould, Gomberg and Bethell (1954) that pork intended for consumption be irradiated. Aside from the cost and difficulty of establishing this process in the country, the question must be raised as to whether the low grade of the zoologie infection in question actually is not beneficial, conferring an immunity on the public and even the hogs to such an extent that the development of clinical symptoms, heavy infections and even death often is precluded.


A method has been developed allowing the direct inversion of near source · strong motion records to obtain an estimate of the seismic source from . a moment tensor. The inversion is implemented in the time domain, and the least-square method is used to estimate the source mechanism: Significant verification using synthetic seismograms including artificial noise was done. The inversion of synthesized data suggests that with this method it may be possible to retrieve the source information of local earthquakes using only a few high-quality, three-component seismograms. This method has been ap plied to the study of the source parameters of the ML= 5.4 event of May 28, 1992 in southeastern Taiwan using only the strong motion data recorded at Chengkung. The retrieved-source mechanism is in agreement with the distri bution of the few observed first P motion of short-period network data and is similar to the CMT solution. The advantage of this method is its capability for fast determination of the source mechanisms for locally felt events using strong motion data from the currently distributed seismic stations.