Fourteen rhesus monkeys, aged 1 to 24 years, underwent permanent implantation of a bipolar stimulating electrode into the Edinger-Westphal nucleus and complete unilateral or bilateral iridectomy. Slit-lamp Scheimpflug videography of the lens and slit-lamp goniovideography of the lens equator, zonule, and ciliary body allowed direct real-time observation and video recording of the movements of these structures during centrally stimulated accommodation and during disaccommodation. Scalloping of the lens capsule at the zonular insertion sites was clearly visible during disaccommodation and even during accommodation when the zonules were folded. During accommodation, the lens became axially thicker, the ciliary ring narrowed, and, at high levels of accommodation, the zonular fibers slackened and even folded and the lens moved downward. With increasing age and concomitantly decreasing accommodative amplitude, these excursions all diminished, so that in the oldest animals, they were very minimal or absent. Maximum centrally stimulated accommodative amplitude declined with age on a time scale similar to that for cholinomimetic drug-induced accommodation in the rhesus monkey and voluntary accommodation in the human.


Title: Use of different types and amounts of dietary fats to redesign pork.
Background: Using high energy fat-supplemented diets in pork production can offer several economic advantages to producers when fat sources are cost effectively priced. Because of a decreased heat increment, dietary fat supplementation allows a greater proportion of dietary calories to be available for tissue synthesis when pigs are maintained at or above the thermo neutral zone. Previous research has indicated that diets that have increasing dietary saturated fatty acids (SFA) cause hypercholesterolemia, atherosclerosis development, and greater coronary heart disease risk in humans. When dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are substituted for saturated fatty acids (SFA), decreased blood cholesterol concentration occurs. This information has caused the consumer to question the consumption of meat products, such as pork, which are perceived as being rich in SFAs. The objective of this study was to alter the polyunsaturated (PUFA) to saturated fatty acid (SFA) ratio in pork for better human nutrition.
Methods and findings: Pigs were fed either choice white grease or soybean oil at 10, 20, 30, or 40% of total dietary calories. All diets were based on corn and soybean meal. The study used 54 pigs with six pigs per treatment. Initial and slaughter weights were 54 and 110 kg, respectively. Skeletal muscle samples were taken from the longissimus dorsi, biceps femoris, and triceps brachii muscles. Adipose tissue samples were taken from the outer, middle, and inner 10th rib backfat layers, perirenal adipose tissue, and an inter muscular adipose deposit within the ham. Total lipids were extracted; fatty acid methyl esters were formed by trans esterification and quantified by gas chromatography. Adding choice white grease or soybean oil to diets fed growing swine did not alter animal growth rates. The PUFA from the outer 10th rib backfat layer showed linear increases (P < 0.05) when pigs were fed diets with increasingly greater soybean oil content, whereas the backfat from pigs fed diets containing greater choice white grease contents resulted in a linear increase (P < 0.05) of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA). Including soybean oil in the low-fat control diet at 30 and 40% increased the PUFA to SFA ratios (P:S) to 0.9 and 1.26 (P < 0.05), respectively, in longissimus muscle. The MUFA content in the longissimus muscle was decreased by 30% (P < 0.05) with the 40% soybean oil diet. Myristate, palmitate, and total SFA in longiIIssimus muscle decreased 27 (P < 0.05), 30 (P < 0.05), and 29% (P < 0.05), respectively, with the 40% soybean oil diet.
Conclusions: Including choice white grease in the diet had minimal effects on the unsaturated to SFA muscular lipid ratios. In conclusion, high fat diets rich in unsaturated fatty acids can be used effectively to redesign pork for consumers wanting to decrease their consumption of saturated fatty acids.


The redox state of the apoplast has a profound influence on cellular metabolism. Apoplastic events such as monolignol oxidation and lignin polymerization are difficult to study in intact trees. To investigate the role of apoplastic hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in gymnosperm phenolic metabolism, an extracellular lignin-forming cell culture of Norway spruce (Picea abies) was used as a research model. Scavenging of apoplastic H2O2 by potassium iodide repressed lignin formation, in line with peroxidases activating monolignols for lignin polymerization. Time-course analyses coupled to candidate substrate-product pair network propagation revealed differential accumulation of low-molecular-weight phenolics, including (glycosylated) oligolignols, (glycosylated) flavonoids, and proanthocyanidins, in lignin-forming and H2O2-scavenging cultures and supported that monolignols are oxidatively coupled not only in the cell wall but also in the cytoplasm, where they are coupled to other monolignols and proanthocyanidins. Dilignol glycoconjugates with reduced structures were found in the culture medium, suggesting that cells are able to transport glycosylated dilignols to the apoplast. Transcriptomic analyses revealed that scavenging of apoplastic H2O2 resulted in remodulation of the transcriptome, with reduced carbon flux into the shikimate pathway propagating down to monolignol biosynthesis. Aggregated coexpression network analysis identified candidate enzymes and transcription factors for monolignol oxidation and apoplastic H2O2 production in addition to potential H2O2 receptors. The results presented indicate that the redox state of the apoplast has a profound influence on cellular metabolism.


Traffic-responsive plan selection (TRPS) is one of the two major closed-loop system modes of operation. The TRPS mode is more beneficial than its competitor (time-of-day mode) because of its ability to accommodate abnormal traffic conditions such as incidents, special events, and holiday traffic. However, no guidelines are available for optimal setup of TRPS systems. Improper configuration of a TRPS system can result in inefficient system performance or unstable operation in which the closed-loop system operates in a perpetual transitioning state. The TRPS mechanism implemented in current traffic signal controllers is described, and a Bayesian-based methodology for selecting an optimal set of TRPS factors, parameters, and thresholds is proposed. The proposed methodology was tested with data from a closed-loop system in Texas and resulted in 100% classification accuracy.


The taxonomy, diversity, evolutionary lineages, and stratigraphical distributions of Middle and early Late Triassic conodonts are reviewed and re‐evaluated. Twenty‐five genera are recognized in the Middle and early Late Triassic, including a new genus cited in open nomenclature. Of these, 24 genera are assigned to two families and seven subfamilies. The family Gondolellidae consists of the subfamilies Cornudininae, Epigondolellinae, Neogondolellinae, Novispathodinae, Paragondolellinae and Pseudofurnishiinae. The family Gladigondolellidae is monotypic, consisting of the subfamily Gladigondolellinae. The genus Neostrachanognathus is not assigned to any family or subfamily as its origin is unclear. Conodont provincialism was low in the early Anisian, but from the late Anisian faunistic differences started to increase and became stronger during the early Ladinian, reaching a peak around the mid‐Ladinian. Provincialism remained strong until the earliest Carnian and changed to an all‐Triassic low in the early Tuvalian. The provincialism between North America and Tethys rebounded on the specific level during the late Tuvalian. Diversities on generic and specific levels have been established, and two major conodont diversity cycles are recognized: the first ranges from the Bithynian (early Anisian) to the Julian (late early Carnian), and the second is restricted to the Tuvalian (late Carnian).


—In multi-user millimeter wave (mmWave) multiple- input-multiple-output (MIMO) systems, hybrid precoding is a crucial task to lower the complexity and cost while achieving a sufficient sum-rate. Previous works on hybrid precoding were usually based on optimization or greedy approaches. These methods either provide higher complexity or have sub-optimum performance. Moreover, the performance of these methods mostly relies on the quality of the channel data. In this work, we propose a deep learning (DL) framework to improve the per- formance and provide less computation time as compared to conventional techniques. In fact, we design a convolutional neural network for MIMO (CNN-MIMO) that accepts as input an imperfect channel matrix and gives the analog precoder and combiners at the output. The procedure includes two main stages. First, we develop an exhaustive search algorithm to select the analog precoder and combiners from a predefined codebook maximizing the achievable sum-rate. Then, the selected precoder and combiners are used as output labels in the training stage of CNN-MIMO where the input-output pairs are obtained. We evaluate the performance of the proposed method through numerous and extensive simulations and show that the proposed DL framework outperforms conventional techniques. Overall, CNN-MIMO provides a robust hybrid precoding scheme in the presence of imperfections regarding the channel matrix. On top of this, the proposed approach exhibits less computation time with comparison to the optimization and codebook based approaches.


Through successive industrial revolutions, the geography of innovation around the globe has changed radically, and with it the geography of wealth creation and prosperity. Since the Third Industrial Revolution, high incomes are increasingly metropolitan, leading to a renewal of inter-regional divergence within countries. These metropolitan areas are also hotbeds of innovation. At the same time, global networks for the production and delivery of goods and services have expanded greatly in recent decades. The globalization of production is mirrored in the globalization of innovation. The paper argues that the emerging geography of innovation can be characterised as a globalized hub-to-hub system, rather than a geography of overall spread of innovation and illustrates these trends using patent data. Although much attention has been given to explaining the rise and growth of innovation clusters, there is as yet no unified framework for the micro-foundations of the agglomeration and dispersion of innovation. In addition, there appear to be strong links between growing geographical inequality of innovation and prosperity, particularly within countries. This is particularly relevant in the context of declining overall research productivity, which could be driving growing geographical concentration. All in all, there is a rich agenda for continuing to investigate the relationship between the geography of innovation, economic development and income distribution.


This issue's special section serves to launch one of the new PAGES Foci. Past Human-Climate-Ecosystem Interactions (PHAROS) has evolved from the former "Focus 5". It ventures beyond paleoclimate reconstruction to ask questions about how climate, ecosystems and human activities have interacted in the past, and how this knowledge can provide information about the functioning of modern
environmental systems. This is a timely focus as there have been a number of recent international initiatives promoting or arguing
the need for improved long-term environmental perspectives. The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (www.maweb.org/) has drawn attention to the extent of degraded ecosystems worldwide and how we often lack a temporal perspective or trajectory against which to gauge the modern condition. The Earth System Science Partnership (www.essp.org/), through the International Geosphere-
Biosphere Programme (IGBP), has embarked on a Cross-Cutting Theme called IHOPE (Integrated History of People on Earth) to reconstruct
socio-ecological interactions through time, with the prime purpose of understanding better how society interacts with environmental change. The recent IPCC reports are underlining the need for improved long-term data for key Earth system attributes, like land cover, which can feed into regional and global climate models. In each case, the demand is for accurate information about past environmental states and interactions, using case studies as the fundamental data-gathering unit coupled with careful integration and upscaling of datasets. First in the special section there is a summary by John Dearing and Rick Battarbee of the PHAROS Focus with its four Activities,
INTEMODS, HITE, LIMPACS and LUCIFS. Kathy Hibbard and Bob Costanza then give a summary of the linked program IGBP-IHOPE. These two program summaries are followed by science highlights chosen to demonstrate the wide range of science questions, case studies and scales covered by PHAROS. There are four contributions dealing with regional scales. Hamisai Hamandawana shows how careful use of geomorphic and documentary evidence can help define the timescale of historical desiccation in the Okavango Delta, Botswana, and its causes. Peter Gell and Roger Jones provide a regional synthesis of the causes in the decline of water quality in southeastern Australia based on several case studies. Neil Rose reviews the paleolimnological approach to studying past atmospheric pollution with special emphasis on the leads and lags within lake-catchment systems. Peter Houben and colleagues provide a synthesis of changes in the Rhine River system over the period of major human impact, addressing methodological issues of how to quantify past human pressures and sediment budgets. And finally, there are three contributions dealing with the challenges of producing global syntheses. Richard Bradshaw and John Boyle review the challenges of producing databases of Holocene land-cover, fire and carbon fluxes. Thomas Hoffmann leads a review of the means and scope of producing databases of Holocene erosion and paleohydrological change. Finally, Rick Battarbee describes the first steps taken in the compilation and analysis of records of surface acidification and eutrophication covering recent centuries.


The present study was performed to evaluate the effect of cromakalim on human vein in vitro. Branches of human saphenous vein (leftovers), obtained from patients undergoing heart revascularization surgery, were cut into rings and suspended in an organ chamber filled with Krebs-Ringer solution for the measurement of isometric contractile force. Concentration-response curves to norepinephrine and serotonin were constructed before and after pretreatment with cromakalim. The concentration-response curves to norepinephrine and serotonin were displaced to the right, and the maximal responses to both agonists were significantly inhibited by cromakalim in a concentration-dependent manner. Following sustained contraction induced by prostaglandin F2 alpha or 20 mM KCl, the cumulative addition of cromakalim to the organ chamber produced a concentration-dependent relaxation. However, in veins precontracted with 60 mM KCl the addition of cromakalim in concentrations of up to 10(-5) M did not induce relaxation. The relaxation induced by cromakalim in veins precontracted with prostaglandin F2 alpha was significantly inhibited by glibenclamide. These results indicate that cromakalim has a dilator effect in human vein that may play a helpful role in the treatment of angina. The venodilator effect of cromakalim in human saphenous vein probably involves activation of adenosine triphosphate-regulated potassium channels.


This is the first comprehensive study of the history of Asia Minor in antiquity to be written for nearly fifty years and the first attempt to treat Anatolian history as a whole over the millennium from the time of Alexander the Great to the hey day of the Byzantine Empire. The first volume is in two parts. The first examines the region in the Hellenistic period, when it was dominated by Celtic tribes who settled in the interior of Asia Minor in the first half of the third century BC. The second covers the period of the Roman Empire and looks in detail at the changes brought about by imperial rule. Two relationships dominated every aspect of Asia Minor's history throughout the period: that of the people to the land and that of men to the gods. An enormous quantity of information derived from written sources, archaeological remains, inscriptions, and coins make it possible to explore these relationships at a level of detail which is hardly possible for any other part of the ancient world. Both themes have a significance which reached far beyond the boundaries of Anatolia.


It is demonstrated that a naphthalene diimide core disubstituted with triphenylamine can be used as a thermally activated delayed fluorescence emitter in organic light emitting diodes. Detailed spectroscopic studies demonstrated unusual host effects on the photophysical properties of this material. In particular, we were able to deduce recombination pathways and the role of the host and temperature in increasing/decreasing the TADF contribution in overall emission. Furthermore, stemming from these host effects on the geometry of the emitter we discover different local triplet states involved in the TADF mechanism. We elucidate this confusing situation to show that simply measuring low-temperature phosphorescence does not always give the energy of the local triplet involved in TADF. The studies carried out in a non-polar polymer and the OLED host were completed by NIR OLED fabrication showing promising characteristics.


Tsunamis are extraordinary occurrences that are difficult to identify; most of the incidents have no recorded predictions and tsunamis are generally infrequent events with poor data acquisition. The development of a tsunami database system has become important for improving the management of information with regard to a tsunami early warning system for vulnerable communities along coastline areas. Numerical modelling is usually employed to simulate the wave height and travel time of a wave arriving at a coastline area. However, numerical modelling for tsunami prediction is too time-consuming to be useful as an early warning system for the mitigation of tsunami-related damage and loss. Therefore, this model was used to develop a tsunami database system, based on hypothetical data, in order to develop a recognition pattern for a neural network learning process that will improve the speed and accuracy of tsunami prediction. To improve the accuracy of numerical modelling and observation, an adjustment was established for an advanced training process which used a generalised regression neural network. In other words, the training and testing datasets were obtained by correcting near-field tsunami numerical models from hypothetical earthquakes. The case study was performed on part of the Southern Pangandaran coastline in West Java, Indonesia.


Herein, we report a protocol for the synthesis of [(99m)TcO(3)(tacn)](+) ([1](+)) (tacn = 1,4,7-triazacyclononane) that is suitable for clinical translation. Bioconjugates containing pharmacophores ([TcO(NO(2)-Imi)(tacn)](+); [3](+)), artificial amino acids ([TcO(Fmoc-allyl-His)(tacn)](+); [5](+)), and glucose derivatives ([TcO(allyl-tetraacetylglucose)(tacn)](+); [7](+)) were synthesized by cycloaddition strategies and fully characterized ((99)Tc and (99m)Tc). These new technetium complexes are stable at neutral pH and demonstrate the potential and flexibility of the [3+2] cycloaddition labelling concept. In addition to the synthetic work, the first biodistribution studies of [1](+) and the small [3+2] cycloadduct [(99m)TcO(NO(2)-Imi)(tacn)](+) ([3](+)) were completed. The biodistribution studies suggest the stability of these complexes in vivo. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that the high hydrophilicity of the [(99m)TcO(3)(tacn)](+) building block is a complement to the complexes of the fac-{Tc(CO)(3)}(+) core.


Extensive studies on 5 plants, Garcinia penangi&, Garcinia nitih, Mesua
daphnifolia, Mesua beccariana and Jatropha podagrica have resulted in the isolation
of twenty one compounds. Out of these compounds two are new. All these
compounds were isolated by means of chromatographic method and their structures
derived on the basis of spectroscopic evidence, mainly 1D and 2D NMR
SPectrO~PYChemical
investigations on the stem bark extracts of Garcinia penangiana yielded a
flavonoid, catechin (86) and a steroidal triterpene, stigmasterol (85) whereas the stem
bark extracts of Garcinia nitida yielded two triterpenoids, stigmasterol (85) and
stigmasterol acetate (87) plus a total of five xanthones, inophyllin B (88),
osajaxanthone (89), 1,3,7-trihydroxy-2,4-bis(3-methylbut-2-enyl)xanthone (90),
rubraxanthone (91) and 3-isomangostin (92). Meanwhile, studies on the stem bark
extracts of Mesua daphnifolia yielded three triterpenoids, fiedelin (93), ftiedelan 1,3-dione (94) and lup-20(29)-en-3P-o1(96), three known xanthones, ananixanthone
(95), cudraxanthone G (97) and euxanthone (52) and a new xanthone, daphnifolin
(98). On the other hand, the stem bark extracts of Mesua beccariana gave two
triterpenoids, stigmasterol (85) and fiiedelin (93) and a phenylcoumarin, isocalanone
(99). Jatrophu podagrica afforded two triterpenoids, &sitosterol (61) and
acetylaleuritolic acid (77), a cournarin, fiaxidin (101), a new ferulic acid ester, nheptyl
f d a t e (100) and sucrose (102).
Acetylation on rubraxanthone (91) gave two new compounds which were never
reported before. These are rubraxanthone monoacetate (103) and rubraxanthone
diacetate (104). The known rubraxanthone triacetate (105) was also synthesized.
Cytotoxic assay was performed using CEM-SS (T-lymphoblastic leukemia) cell line.
All the crude extracts of Garcinia penangiana and Jaheophu jwdagrica, the crude
hexane extract of Mesua beccariana and the crude hexane and chloroform extracts of
Garcinia nitida were found to show significant growth inhibitory activities with ICso
values of less than 30 pg/ml.
Cytotoxic assays were also carried out on the pure compounds towards the CEM-SS
(T-lymphoblastic leukemia), HeLa (cervical carcinoma), MDA-MB-231 (human
estrogen receptor negative breast cancer) and CaOV3 (human ovarian cancer) cell
lines. Cudraxanthone G (97) and fiiedelan-13-&one (94) were found to show strong
inhibitory activities toward the HeLa cell line with ICso values of 4.0 and 4.6 pg/ml
respectively. Both cudraxanthone G (97) and rubraxanthone (91) gave moderate
inhibitory activities with ICso values of 6.7 and 9.4 pg/ml respectively towards the CEM-SS cell line. The MDA-MB-231 cell line was found to be very susceptible
towards most of the prenylated xanthones tested: cudraxanthone G (97) (ICSo = 1.3
pghl), inophyllin B (88) (ICso = 1.4 pg/ml), 1,3,7-trihydroxy-2,4-bis(3-methylbut-
2enyl)xanthone (90) (IC9 = 2.2 pg/ml) and ananixantone (95) (ICso = 4.6 pg/ml).
Meanwhile, emanthone (52) gave a moderate activity (ICso = 9.0 pg/ml) towards the
CaOV3 cell line. Most of the compounds tested indicated selective activity towards
the cancer cell lines except for cudraxanthone G (97) which was found to have a
broad spectrum of activities.
Antimicrobial assays were carried out towards four pathogenic bacteria: Methicillin
Resistant Staphylococcus awes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimurium
and Bacillus subtilis. Most of the crude extracts tested against these microbes gave
only moderate or weak activities except for the ethyl acetate extract of Jah-opha
podagrica, which was strongly active against the microbe Pseudomonas aeruginosa
with an inhihition width of 15 ram which is close to that of the standard,
streptomycin sulphate (1 6 mm).
Larvicidal tests were carried out against the larvae of Aedes aegvpti. The larvae were
strongly susceptible to the hexane and chloroform extracts of Mesua daphnifolia
with LCso values of as low as 9.7 and 6.0 pprn respectively while the other crude
extracts gave LC5() values of more than 60 ppm. The pure compound, rubraxanthone
(91) indicated a strong larvicidal activity with LCso value of 15.5 ppm Antifungal assays were also carried out on the crude extracts of Mesua &phn#iolia
towards the microbes, Candida albican, Aspergillus ochraceaus, Sacchoromyces
cerevisiae and Candida lypolytica. All the crude extracts of Mesua daphnifolia
exhibited moderate activities towards the microbe Candida lpolyta but they were
not active against the other targeted microbes.


Professor R J JARREuT (Department of Clinical Epidemiology, United Medical and Dental Schools of Guy's and St Thomas's Hospitals, London SEl 9RT) writes: In their otherwise commendable and properly critical account of the treatment of high blood pressure Dr R J Wilcox and others (16 August, p 433) could not resist going ex cathedra: "thus weight control is essential as it may be sufficient to control raised blood pressure." Studies ofweight loss induced by various means have certainly shown concomitant falls in blood pressure, but these studies have generally been of excessively fat people, short, and too small to detect benefit in terms of morbidity or mortality. Furthermore, two recent prospective studies have clearly shown that the relative risk of both cardiovascular mortality and mortality from all causes in relation to blood pressure declines with increasing body mass index.'2 Both papers provide several references to earlier investigations which produced compatible findings. To quote Cambien et al, "The results presented in this paper strongly support the relevance of considering body mass index when studying the relationship between blood pressure and cardiovascular death. We suggest that the prognostic heterogeneity of hypertension in relation to other factors should be investigated more systematically in epidemiologic surveys and clinical trials to allow a better therapeutic strategy."2 In the latter context, as Dr Wilcox and others commented, the Australian study showed an increasing benefit from treatment with decreasing body weight.3 While an interaction with smoking was apparent in the Australian trial, it was not so in the Californian study. ' Whither weight control?


Iraq passed through many destructive wars where the country infrastructures have been destroyed. Consequently, various types of hazardous wastes generated from 1991 and 2003 wars are exposed in different parts of Iraq without any aspect of human and environment considerations. Contaminants are found in the form of contaminated rubble with depleted uranium (DU). Landfill disposal is still an economical and vital solution that should serve between 300-1000 years for confining hazardous wastes like DU. The longevity of a hazardous waste landfill is mainly controlled by clay based liners. There are many factors affecting the performance of clay liners. These factors were discussed. The main requirements of hazardous waste landfills were listed according to USEPA and German regulations. Finally, the main aspects of landfill siting criteria in Iraq were suggested.


Abstract The data acquisition (DAQ) and management system of the Large Helical Device (LHD), named the LABCOM system, has been in development since 1995. The recently acquired data have grown to 7 gigabytes per shot, 10 times bigger than estimated before the experiment. In 2006 during 1-h pulse experiments, 90 gigabytes of data was acquired, a new world record. This data explosion has been enabled by the massively distributed processing architecture and the newly developed capability of real-time streaming acquisition. The former provides linear expandability since increasing the number of parallel DAQs avoids I/O bottlenecks. The latter improves the unit performance from 0.7 megabytes/s in conventional CAMAC digitizers to nonstop 110 megabytes/s in CompactPCI. The technical goal of this system is to be able to handle one hundred 100 megabytes/s concurrent DAQs even for steady-state plasma diagnostics. This is similar to the data production rate of the next-generation experiments, such as ITER. The LABCOM storage has several hundred terabytes of storage in double-tier structure: The first consists of tens of hard drive arrays, and the second some Blu-ray Disc libraries. Multiplex and redundant storage servers are mandatory for higher availability and throughputs. They together serve sharable volumes on Red Hat GFS2 cluster file systems. The LABCOM system is used not only for LHD but also for the QUEST and GAMMA10 experiments, creating a new Fusion Virtual Laboratory remote participation environment that others can access regardless of their location.


In this paper a thermodynamic approach is presented to the problem of convergence of evolutionary algorithms. The case of the Simulated Annealing algorithm for optimisation is considered as a simple evolution strategy with a control parameter allowing balance between the probability of obtaining an optimal or near-optimal solution and the time that the algorithm will take to reach equilibrium. This capacity is analysed and a theoretical frame is presented, stating a general condition to be fulfilled by an evolutionary algorithm in order to ensure its convergence to a global maximum of the fitness function.


A suite of models was used to examine the links between climate, fuels and fire behaviour in dry eucalypt forests in south‐eastern Australia. Predictions from a downscaled climate model were used to drive models of fuel amount, the moisture content of fuels and two models of forest fire behaviour at a location in western Sydney in New South Wales, Australia. We found that a warming and drying climate produced lower fine fuel amounts, but greater availability of this fuel to burn due to lower moisture contents. Changing fuel load had only a small effect on fuel moisture. A warmer, drier climate increased rate of spread, an important measure of fire behaviour. Reduced fuel loads ameliorated climate‐induced changes in fire behaviour for one model. Sensitivity analysis of the other fire model showed that changes in fuel amount induced changes in fire behaviour of a similar magnitude to that caused directly by sensitivity to climate. Projection of changes in fire risk requires modelling of changes in vegetation as well as changes in climate. Better understanding of climate change effects on vegetation structure is required.


Kerala Legislature Library during 1980-84 extracting documents related to Constitution, Parliament, Legislature etc available in its different sections created a special Reference Collection on Constitutional and Parliamentary Studies. This bibliography is a by-product of that work. It lists the books on the above subjects available for reference in the library. The Bibliography has three parts. In the main sequence of each part entries are arranged in a classified order based on the mutual relations between them; under different subject headings and are numbered serially. Each entry provides information about author, title, place of publication, publisher, year of publication of the latest edition available in the library and call number of the book in the same order. An alphabetic author index is provided at the end of each part; which directs to the serial number of the book. Each entry directs the user to the location of the book. This compilation is intended as a guide useful and time saving to both the members and the staff of the Kerala Legislature and to encourage the members to use the Library. The bibliography lists very rare materials which may be of interest to those who work on constitutional and legislative history of Kerala and its earlier princely States Travancore and Cochin.


In dependent type theory, impredicativity is a powerful logical principle that allows the definition of propositions that quantify over arbitrarily large types, potentially resulting in self-referential propositions. Impredicativity can provide a system with increased logical strength and flexibility, but in counterpart it comes with multiple incompatibility results. In particular, Abel and Coquand showed that adding definitional uniqueness of identity proofs (UIP) to the main proof assistants that support impredicative propositions (Coq and Lean) breaks the normalization procedure, and thus the type-checking algorithm. However, it was not known whether this stems from a fundamental incompatibility between UIP and impredicativity or if a more suitable algorithm could decide type-checking for a type theory that supports both. In this paper, we design a theory that handles both UIP and impredicativity by extending the recently introduced observational type theory TTobs with an impredicative universe of definitionally proof-irrelevant types, as initially proposed in the seminal work on observational equality of Altenkirch et al. We prove decidability of conversion for the resulting system, that we call CCobs, by harnessing proof-irrelevance to avoid computing with impredicative proof terms. Additionally, we prove normalization for CCobs in plain Martin-Löf type theory, thereby showing that adding proof-irrelevant impredicativity does not increase the computational content of the theory.


Africa has long been known as the oral continent, at once the home of oral literature, orature and orality, the oral background to the postcolonial literatures of today, and the inspirer of the voiced traditions of the diaspora. But does this image of Africa and orality still stand up to scrutiny?
In this new synthesis of her earlier and most recent work Ruth Finnegan illustrates the continuing interest of African verbal arts and performances and reflects on the related development of 'orality' studies through the decades since the 1960s. Her provocative conclusion is that it is time to abandon the long-entrenched image of Africa as 'the oral continent' and to adopt a more critical comparative perspective on 'the oral'


Framing health problems in terms of the social determinants of health aims to shift policy attention to nonmedical strategies to improve population health, yet little is known about how the public responds to these messages. We conducted an experiment to test the effect of a news article describing the social determinants of type 2 diabetes on the public's support for diabetes prevention strategies. We found that exposure to the social determinants message led to a divergence between Republicans' and Democrats' opinions, relative to their opinions after viewing an article with no message about the causes of diabetes. These results signify that increasing public awareness of the social determinants of health may not uniformly increase public support for policy action.


Thin films of Mn2Sb were prepared by solid state mutual reactions in multilayered films consisting of Mn and Sb which were made by ion beam sputtering. Microstructure of the films was investigated by means of small and large angle X-ray diffraction (XRD), and cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Modulation wavelength of the multilayered films and discharging power for an ion source during sputtering determined the microstructural feature in the interdiffused region between the Mn and Sb layers, which was a dominant factor governing the texture development of the Mn2Sb phase on annealing. It can be concluded that the oriented nucleation process during deposition plays a significant role for the development of preferred orientation of the reacted compounds.


This study presents, for the first time, a comprehensive dataset that documents the range of inter- and intraspecific otolith variation in aplocheiloid killifish, based on a total of 86 individuals representing five extant species of Nothobranchius PETERS, 1868, from East Africa: the sympatric pairs N. rubripinnis SEEGERS, 1986 and N. ruudwildekampi COSTA, 2009 (Eastern Tanzania), and N. orthonotus (PETERS, 1844) and N. furzeri JUBB, 1971 (Southern Mozambique), and two isolated populations of N. korthausae MEINKEN, 1973 (Eastern Tanzania). Otolith characters were analysed based on SEM images, and otolith morphometry was conducted using uni- and multivariate statistics. Two ancient clades of probably Early to Middle Miocene age in eastern Tanzania and southern Mozambique can be recognized based on otolith morphologies, which is consistent with previous work based on molecular data. The distinctive sulcus morphologies in the otoliths of sympatric species may be linked to species-specific hearing capabilities, perhaps constituting a case of character displacement in an area of secondary sympatry. The otoliths of the studied species of Nothobranchius are diagnostic at the species level, even in the case of closely related species diagnosable otherwise only by minor differences in coloration. The two populations of N. korthausae also displayed some differences in their otolith characters. The new data may facilitate future recognition of fossil species of Nothobranchius. As no fossil remains of extant aplocheiloid killifishes have yet been described, the discovery of fossil otoliths of Nothobranchius would significantly advance understanding of the evolutionary history of this interesting group of fishes.


Service improvement ("servitisation") and digitalisation are two megatrends that affect healthcare and public services along with other sectors in general. A new model is needed to prescribe how governance in an increasingly changing world of modern healthcare could be undertaken in a successful manner by embracing the power of Co-Creation. The concept of good worklife ergonomics is studied, both as a prerequisite, the 'What', and as a success factor in this context, the 'Why'. This article proposes that the moderating, risk mitigating, factor of broadly based employee involvement in all phases from planning and design to implementation will greatly improve quality in both innovation-process, and outcomes. A case-study from a public homecare living lab eHealth-project in Norway is visited to highlight some of the challenges ahead. Having established that employee co-creation can contribute to successful digital transformation of healthcare services, the 'How' question is studied. The question of how to enable effective employee co-creation is under-researched. Employee participation in co-creation is stated as an important enabler of digitalisation and service improvements. The Nordic Model for employee participation has proven successful for enhancing working life effectiveness and innovation. This article propose that these principles of employee participation can be further enhanced by using web 2.0 technologies for Enterprise Social Networks. The article concludes with a discussion of consequences for the digital transformation of healthcare services as well as implications for research and practice.


Realizing six-degree-of-freedom movement for spindle tools in any posture is an important research direction for CNC machines. Existing spindle systems with parallel or cascaded structure, due to their complex mechanical structure, lead to serious abrasion on mechanical supports when rotating at a high or ultra-high-speed, which heats joint parts and worsens the dynamic characteristics. In light of technologies of motor and magnetic levitation, this paper proposed a multi-degree-of-freedom machine spindle system built on a maglev spherical active joint, and analyzed working principles of a three-dimensional rotating magnetic field generated by the rotor of maglev spherical active joint rotating around an arbitrary axis passing through a fixed spatial point. This paper also explored the effects of flow field of air gap formed in the maglev spherical active joint on the dynamic & static characteristics of joint based on aerodynamics, established mathematical models for the dynamic & static pressures and kinetic parameters of flow field of air gap, and, with simulation and experiment, investigated how the flow field of air gap impacts the static load-carrying capacity and the dynamic characteristics of joint. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.mech.24.5.19492


This paper sets out the research agenda of the Kolleg-Forschergruppe "The Transformative Power of Europe. The European Union and the Diffusion of Ideas". The diffusion of ideas has become a central research theme in political science, sociology, law, history, and economics. In this context, the KollegForschergruppe focuses on the theoretical and methodological challenges of identifying scope conditions for and interaction effects between the various causal mechanisms by which ideas are spread across time and space. We concentrate on the European Union (EU) as an almost ideal laboratory for investigating processes and outcomes of diffusion. First, European integration itself can be described as an effort to promote the diffusion of ideas across Europe and beyond. Second, European societies and polities emulate each other through mimetic processes. Third, Europe and the EU also serve as active promoters of diffusion processes toward the outside world. Last not least, European integration is embedded in and responds to larger global diffusion processes. The Kolleg-Forschergruppe will explore the diffusion of ideas in three thematic areas: "identity and the public sphere," "compliance, conditionality, and beyond," and "comparative regionalism and Europe's external relations".


Hospitals in the United States generate over one million tons of waste each year, approximately a quarter of which is classified as hazardous medical waste. There are environmental, infectious, and financial burdens associated with this waste, and those burdens increase significantly when the waste is hazardous. Managing waste can be difficult, but training is an effective approach to reducing waste. We conducted a quality improvement project at the Johns Hopkins Hospital Pathology Core Laboratory from 2015 through 2017. We hypothesized that improved staff training is an effective way to reduce the amount of general waste in a medical facility that is incorrectly classified as hazardous. Two interventions were identified and implemented, the first being a series of classroom-based training sessions and the second being a simple informational poster that was displayed over waste bins. The impact of the training and posters was measured by two surveys that were performed before and after the interventions. The first survey was a web-based instrument that was completed by laboratory staff, while the second survey was observational and measured how many bins contained improperly disposed waste. Some of the data from these interventions supports the hypothesis. The observational survey, in particular, recorded an increase in proper waste disposal from 7.5% to 71.9% following the classroom intervention. Future studies can help determine if these improvements can be increased and sustained over time by assessing the cost and benefit of different interventions and measuring how long the gains from each can be sustained.


We examine the practice of share repurchases in the UK. We find that an important regulatory reform in 2003, which relaxed previously strict rules about repurchases, was followed by a significant increase in repurchase activity by UK listed firms. However, unlike in the US, repurchases remain a small proportion of total distributions to shareholders. We test five key hypotheses from prior literature. Our analysis of a large sample of firms from 2000 to 2016 provides strong support, across both regulatory regimes, for both the free cash flow and the investment hypotheses. We find some support for both the undervaluation and the leverage/capital structure hypothesis in the first regime only. In contrast to the US, the dividend substitution hypothesis is not supported. In the UK, the extent of share repurchases remains relatively small, and they appear to be used as a complement to regular dividends, being made regularly, in an amount positively associated with dividends paid.


Cancer refers to a group of diseases in which cells display uncontrolled growth. Chemotherapy options are usually conditioned by generating resistance which is explained in part by the intrinsic heterogeneity of the population in the tumor. Because the study of resistance requires biosensors able to report the response at the single cell level, we propose to use fluorescently labeled SL to estimate pathway dynamics at the single cell level and investigate its possible application as gemcitabine (GMZ) response sensor in pancreatic cancer by comparing the dynamics between GMZ resistant (Panc-1, MiaPaca-2) and sensitive (BxPC3) cell lines. We used imaging flow cytometry to extract multiple image features and classify cells using gaussian-mixture model (GMM) to generate response fingerprints upon known perturbations. The results suggest that GMZ inhibits the Sphingomyelin-Synthase of BxPC3. Also, we constructed and fitted a dynamical mathematical model to simulate these perturbations and formulate cell line models revealing a striking heterogeneity among them. Predictions of the model respect the effect of GMZ in the accumulation of ceramide in BxPC3 and glucosyl-ceramide in MiaPaca-4 were confirm experimentally. Altogether, these results indicate that fluorescent-SL analogues can be used as sensors of chemotherapy in pancreatic cancer and reveal pathway dynamics between different cell lines, and its potential usage for the development of in vitro chemosensitivy assays able to dissect pathway dynamics to overcome resistance.


We present the first results of high-spectral resolution (0.023 km s−1) N2H+ observations of dense gas dynamics at core scales (∼0.01 pc) using the recently commissioned Argus instrument on the Green Bank Telescope (GBT). While the fitted linear velocity gradients across the cores measured in our targets nicely agree with the well-known power-law correlation between the specific angular momentum and core size, it is unclear if the observed gradients represent core-scale rotation. In addition, our Argus data reveal detailed and intriguing gas structures in position–velocity (PV) space for all five targets studied in this project, which could suggest that the velocity gradients previously observed in many dense cores actually originate from large-scale turbulence or convergent flow compression instead of rigid-body rotation. We also note that there are targets in this study with their star-forming discs nearly perpendicular to the local velocity gradients, which, assuming the velocity gradient represents the direction of rotation, is opposite to what is described by the classical theory of star formation. This provides important insight on the transport of angular momentum within star-forming cores, which is a critical topic on studying protostellar disc formation.


Endozoochory and fire are crucial ecological factors determining germination success and recruitment in many plant species. Fire is a well‐known germination trigger while endozoochory may allow seed dispersal along with an increase in germination. Their interaction has rarely been addressed, however, even though both factors are pervasive in human‐transformed ecosystems like most Neotropical Dry Forests (NDF). For three common Mesoamerican tree species (Acacia pennatula, Enterolobium cyclocarpum, and Guazuma ulmifolia), we used feeding trials to assess the preference of cattle, which are their main seed dispersal agent. We also experimentally tested the interaction between gut passage and fire as triggers of germination. The fruits of the three species were eaten by cattle, but the small seeds of G. ulmifolia were ingested 10‐fold more than those of the other species. While gut passage did not have any effect on germination, heat‐shocks above 90 °C increased the number of germinating seeds by 15 percent. These results suggest that cattle may be a key dispersal vector in NDF, but that fire may be an important germination trigger. Physical dormancy in these species may have been selected for by extinct megaherbivores because it was a key trait ensuring seed survival after gut passage. However, in light of the recent expansion of cattle‐ranching and fire occurrence in NDF, it has become a useful exaptation facilitating the colonization of disturbed areas.


Diminishing worldwide fossil fuel reserves coupled with the negative impact of their use on the environment has led to increased research and development of renewable energy sources. Renewable liquid biofuels are in demand for the transport sector, particularly if they can be used directly in existing internal combustion engines. Jatropha curcas L. is a perennial plant which belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family. J. curcas seeds contain about 30% oil which is suitable for biodiesel production, and therefore it has received global interest as a source of biofuel. However, to date J. curcas has not been put through any stringent breeding program for traits improvement and thus has not reached its full potential. Improving seed yield, seed oil quality and quantity is necessary for large scale biodiesel production, and developing other by products will add to the economic value of this crop. Apart from oil, J. curcas seeds also contain a high percentage of proteins, which makes the seed meal potentially useful as animal feed. However, seeds from most of the current global J. curcas plantations in Asia and Africa are characterized as non-edible, due to the existence of a few toxins or antinutrients. Phorbol esters have been considered as the main toxic agent. Edible provenances exist in Mexico which are devoid of phorbol esters. Among the other toxins, curcin (a type I ribosome inactivating protein) levels have not been reported for the edible and non-edible varieties.

To improve our understanding of J. curcas natural variation and biochemical composition, seed samples were collected from a variety of locations in Madagascar, Mexico, and purchased from five other countries. Seed oil content, fatty acid composition and phorbol esters content were measured to establish the diversity in these traits. Seed oil content and fatty acid composition was found to vary in seeds collected from different sites, and oleate and linoleate composition were found to correlate strongly with cultivation site temperature indicating the importance of environmental conditions for the production of an optimal feedstock for biodiesel. Phorbol esters were found to be present in all seed samples originating from outside Mexico, and in the Mexican provenance Rosario Chiapas. All other Mexican samples lacked phorbol esters. This suggests that the presence of phorbol esters is a qualitative trait. AFLP analysis revealed that most genetic variation was present in Mexican samples, with all material originating from outside Mexico showing very limited genetic diversity. Edible samples and non-edible samples were found to be genetically distinct, with the edible samples forming a single cluster. The large amount of variation in oil quantity and quality in Madagascan samples, together with the limited genetic diversity in these samples, implies that J. curcas seed oil is largely influenced by environmental factors.

Seed curcin levels were determined in the edible and non-edible varieties. The results showed that curcin levels are equally abundant in both varieties. This demonstrates that curcin is not playing any significant role in determining seed edibility and is consistent with the predominant role understood to be played by phorbol esters in determining this trait. The spatial and temporal expression of different curcin genes was further examined. Four curcin genes showed different patterns of expression with seed and leaf specific patterns of expression being identified. Further analyses revealed that CURCIN2 is induced in mature leaves in response to various abiotic stresses. Furthermore it appears that the induction of CURCIN2 in response to wounding is regulated via the JA (jasmonic acid) signalling pathway.

Together these results represent a valuable addition to the knowledge base underpinning the development of J. curcas as an industrial crop through molecular breeding.


The development of fruit colour in the sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) is a cultivar characteristic affected by climate and environment. Although external colour is not always an indication of internal quality or maturity, it is probably the most important factor determining consumer acceptance. In the present investigation, efforts were made to determine the biochemical basis of colour as an aesthetic quality in C. sinensis 'Navel' and 'Valencia'. Furthermore, the changes in pigment content and composition during the period of colour development were recorded. Finally, in an attempt to manipulate citrus colour, the effect of dehydrating agents (alcohols), plant hormones, micro-nutrients and low temperature on flavedo carotenoid content was determined. Saponification of the two major colour-imparting components resolved by thin layer chromatography, followed by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography revealed that the principal colour-imparting pigments in C. sinensis flavedo are the yellowcoloured xanthophyll 9-Z-violaxanthin and the red C30 apocarotenoid (3-citraurin. Both pigments occur in the flavedo in esterified form. Identification of the chromophores was based on co-chromatography and online spectral analysis. The colour quality of mature fruit was dependant on the content and relative amounts of 9-Z-violaxanthin and Pcitraurin. Quantitative results revealed that increased colour intensity of citrus flavedo was associated with a decline in the 9-Z-violaxanthin : p-citraurin ratio from greater than 50 to below 10, and an increase in 9-Z-violaxanthin and (3-citraurin content. Measurement of the mass and ratio of these pigments can be used to accurately colour-grade orange fruit for local and export markets. These parameters will also aid in the evaluation of colour manipulatory techniques. Visual colour break in C. sinensis appears to be associated with a minimum in total pigment as well as total carotenoid content. The period prior to colour break is characterised by a reduction in chlorophylls, carotenes and free xanthophylls usually associated with photosynthetic activity. Following colour break, a massive increase in xanthophyll acyl esters (particularly 9-Z-violaxanthin) is observed. Efforts were made to manipulate carotenoid content of citrus flavedo in vivo, with a view to manipulate fruit colour commercially. It was shown that the micro-nutrients tungsten and molybdenum, and the plant hormones abscisic acid and jasmonic acid increased carotenoid content of flavedo discs; whereas the plant hormone gibberellic acid decreased carotenoid levels. The dehydrating agents ethanol and butanol increased carotenoid content in whole fruit flavedo and flavedo discs. Optimum concentrations were shown to be 20-30% (v/v) for ethanol and 5-10% (v/v) for butanol.


Today women are still struggling to climb the corporate ladder. While existing gender studies have focused on individual workers or C-suite executives, why men climb the corporate ladder faster than women remains a mystery. To fill this void in the literature, we explore gender differences and disparities in low-level management by empirically investigating the performance of frontline managers in a large sportswear retail chain. We observe a substantial performance gap between male and female managers—stores with male mangers generate 34.4% higher sales than stores with female managers. Meanwhile, we find male managers are more likely assigned to stores with high sales potential than female managers. After matching stores based on sales-potential characteristics, the performance gap becomes quantitatively and statistically insignificant. These results suggest that the seemingly large gender gap in managerial performance reflects the fact that store assignment is inequitable across genders. This interpretation is supported by a triple differences (DDD) estimation—we find no evidence that manager gender changes associated with manager changes affect store sales. We rule out an alternative hypothesis that differential manager ability across genders contributes to the gender gap. We conduct a maximum likelihood estimation of a discrete-time Markov chain that models the processes of store assignment and manager turnover, and we rule out the possibility that inequitable store assignment can be explained by a gender preference hypothesis. We develop a resource inequity index to measure gender inequity in store assignment and link it to the gender pay gap based on manager compensation data.


The motivation for our study is to investigate how English-acquiring toddlers are guided by the mapping between intonation and information structure during on-line reference resolution and in novel word learning tasks. We ask whether specific pitch movements ( deaccented , monotonal , bitonal ) more systematically predict patterns of attention and subsequent novel word learning abilities depending on the referring or learning condition ( new , given, contrastive ). Experiment 1 examines the attentional patterns of 18-month-old toddlers when referents are either new or given in the discourse, and carry one of the three pitch movement types. Contrary to previous work, results show increased attention to the target in the deaccented condition if the referent is new to the discourse. Also, both monotonal and bitonal pitch movements direct attention to the target even when the target is given . Thus, pitch type interacts with information structure in directing toddler attention. Experiment 2 tests two-year-olds in a novel word learning task, varying pitch type and contrastiveness during learning. Preliminary results show that learning is aided when the novel word is introduced in contrast to a previous referent. Together, these two experiments demonstrate the role of pitch type and information structure in guiding attention and aiding early word learning.


Social health inequalities (or inequities) continue to represent a great challenge for public health research worldwide. Since 1991, the World Health Organization established that the study and analysis of health inequalities represented a priority for all countries. To better guide methodological and practical implications of health inequalities, research on this topic should present a solid theoretical model, able to impact future public health policies.  Previous studies of health inequalities in Latin America are often inspired from abroad experiences, encouraging the reproduction of mainly European theoretical positions and methodologies. However, especially when it comes to  this topic, it is known the important role of the social context and culture, playing an important role in promoting differences in health outcomes. From this perspective, to operationalize the different social determinants in health, a critical perspective and thoughtful analysis of the context is mandatory.  In order to provide a critical analysis and useful tools for both research and health decision making, we recommend that the theoretical and methodological approaches used in social health inequalities research must be well adapted to the specific contexts; that health social stratification must be assessed as a priority; that individual and the wider health determinants must be well characterized; and that the theoretical justification of the methodological decisions made in the studies and the selected measures must be explicit and should answer specific hypotheses.  This research provides a brief historical background, to share the basis for the conceptual evolution of social health inequalities; the main underlying concepts related to the definition of health inequalities (social determinants, equity, justice, stratification and social gradient in health); and some recommendations for the future perspectives of health inequalities research in Latin America.


Abstract : This Revised Anthology is about the future of military operations in the opening decades of the 21st century. Its purpose is not to predict the future, but to speculate on the conduct of military operations as an instrument of national policy in a world absent massive thermonuclear and conventional superpower confrontation characteristic of the Cold War. Also absent are indirect constraints imposed by that confrontation on virtually all political-military relationships, not solely those between superpower principals. Most of these essays are attempts to define military operational concepts that might be employed to execute such an engagement strategy.


PROTOTYPES: EXEMPLAR BASED VIDEO REPRESENTATION Özge Yalçınkaya M.S. in Computer Engineering Advisor: Selim Aksoy June 2016 Recognition of actions from videos is a widely studied problem and there have been many solutions introduced over the years. Labeling of the training data that is required for classification has been an important bottleneck for scalability of these methods. On the other hand, utilization of large number of weakly-labeled web data continues to be a challenge due to the noisy content of the videos. In this study, we tackle the problem of eliminating irrelevant videos through pruning the collection and discovering the most representative elements. Motivated by the success of methods that discover the discriminative parts for image classification, we propose a novel video representation method that is based on selected distinctive exemplars. We call these discriminative exemplars as "prototypes" which are chosen from each action class separately to be representative for the class of interest. Then, we use these prototypes to describe the entire dataset. Following the traditional supervised classification methods and utilizing the available state-of-the-art low and deep-level features, we show that even with simple selection and representation methods, use of prototypes can increase the recognition performance. Moreover, by reducing the training data to the selected prototypes only, we show that less number of carefully selected examples could achieve the performance of a larger training data. In addition to prototypes, we explore the e↵ect of irrelevant data elimination in action recognition and give the experimental results which are comparable to or better than the state-of-the-art studies on benchmark video datasets UCF-101 and ActivityNet.


RAHMAN, M. H., B. K. DAS, M. A. J. MIAH and H. AHMAD, 2008. Fixation of urea to poly (acrylamidemaleic acid) and nitrogen release behaviour of the product – a comparison with urea and control. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 14: 373-380 The growth and yield from green chilli Capsicum annuum plants in presence of a newly prepared slowrelease N-fertilizer was investigated. The slow-release fertilizer was prepared by covalently immobilizing urea on a biodegradable polymer matrix consisting of acrylamide (AAm) and maleic acid (MA). The resulting product, abbreviated as P (AAm-MA) U was characterized by FTIR and NMR spectral analyses, thin layer chromatography measurement and elemental analyses. Results showed that P (AAm-MA) U contained 32.85% N and the solvency in aqueous media reduced by 297 times as compared to urea. To clarify the performance of P (AAmMA) U in agriculture, a comparative study was then carried out on the growth of green chilli plants using urea and control (without N-fertilizer) as the basis. P (AAm-MA) U showed improved yield in terms of average plant size over the cultivation period. The N release behaviour in soil during cropping and plant uptake of N suggested that P(AAm-MA)U can be used as slow-release N-fertilizer.


Green tea extracts from the indigenous South African rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) and honeybush (Cyclopia species) plants were evaluated as potential antifungal agents against the plant pathogen Botrytis cinerea. When applied at 10 mg/ml, the tea extracts stimulated biomass production in B. cinerea by more than 3-fold after 24 hrs. This induction could not be linked directly to the presence of selected micro- and macronutrients or antioxidants in the extracts, suggesting a complex set of yet unidentified factors that may act synergistically to enhance cell growth. However, when applied at 100 mg/ml, the A. linearis and C. genistoides extracts reduced spore germination of B. cinerea by 33.3% and 16.7%, respectively. This suggests that the tea extracts contain active compounds that should be further investigated for their potential as natural anti-fungal agents.


I examine the dynamics of oligopolies when firms derive subjective value from being the market leader. In equilibrium, prices alternate in tandem between high levels and occasional price wars, which take place when market shares are similar and market leadership is at stake. The stationary distribution of market shares is typically multi-modal, that is, much of the time there is a stable market leader. Even though shareholders do not value market leadership per se, a corporate culture that values market leadership may increase shareholder value. From a competition policy point of view, the paper implies that price regime change dynamics and parallel pricing are consistent with competitive behavior -- in fact, hyper-competitive behavior.


The major aim of our research is to assess the occurrence, within the serpentinites and serpentinite-derived soils located in the area of Sila Piccola (northern Calabria), of asbestiform minerals that could be potentially harmful for human health. At this purpose, nine serpentinite rock samples and three agricultural soils have been collected nearby two inhabited centres (Gimigliano and Conflenti towns) and characterized in detail by means of Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM), X-Ray Powder Diffractometry (XRPD), Scanning Electron Microscopy combined with Energy-Dispersive Spectrometry (SEM/EDS). Further characterization by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Thermogravimetric (TG) and by μ-Raman spectroscopy (μ-R) have allowed the discrimination among the three serpentine polytypes. Serpentinites from Gimigliano mainly consist of lizardite, antigorite while chrysotile is the dominant asbestos phase in the samples from Conflenti. Moreover in both investigated sample groups asbestos tremolite- actinolite was also detected. Furthermore, high amounts of chrysotile and asbestos tremolite-actinolite were found in agricultural soils, suggesting that human activities can disturb and provoke the release of inhalable asbestos in the atmosphere, triggering thus mechanisms of hazardous exposition for population.


Our concern in this paper is to solve the pricing problem for American options in a Markov-modulated jump-diffusion model, based on a cubic spline collocation method. In this respect, we solve a set of coupled partial integro-differential equations PIDEs with the free boundary feature by using the horizontal method of lines to discretize the temporal variable and the spatial variable by means of Crank-Nicolson scheme and a cubic spline collocation method, respectively. This method exhibits a second order of convergence in space, in time and also has an acceptable speed in comparison with some existing methods. We will compare our results with some recently proposed approaches. Keywords: American Option, Regime-Switching, Crank-Nicolson scheme, Spline collocation, Free Boundary Value Problem.


The housing policy is based on the selection of the concept of participation of a state in meeting the housing needs of citizens. A scope of an intervention depends on a part of the responsibility for creating appropriate housing taken over by the state, and the reported housing needs. Analyzing data collected by parties responsible for the implementation of housing policies in different EU countries, you can come to the conclusion that the level of an aid granted by public bodies, both governmental and local is insufficient in relation to the reported needs, because millions of people are waiting for housing assistance. In Poland the official data indicating a low number of citizens waiting for social and municipal housing give an impression that the housing situation is in this country very good, but it is not well founded assessment. Both the quality and quantity of the Polish housing stock differ negatively from the standards in EU countries. The low number of applicants for the housing assistance is a result of the housing policy for the last 27 years. On the one hand an apartment has been considered as a free-market commodity and citizens should gain it by own effort, an ownership is a priority. On the other hand communal housing stock has been used by people who lived in it in transition, regardless of current income, thus blocking the possibility of exchange of tenants. A lack of new social housing and awareness of the long-term queue for housing allocation cause resignation from applying for housing assistance. This article is an attempt of a summary of the scope and tools of housing policy conducted in Poland since 1989. Authors focus on their economic and social impacts.


Hidradenitis suppurativa also known as Verneuil's disease is a chronic inflammatory and recurrent disease that occurs in the apocrine glands. It results in recurrent abscesses with purulent secretion, fistulae formation, unaesthetic and retractable scars. The most common sites involved include the axilla, inguinoperineal regions, nipple-areolar complex, and umbilicus. Here, we report a case of severe Verneuil's disease of the axillary region managed with wide excision surgery, and thoracodorsal fasciocutaneous flap and bilateral coverage. This method provides good results for reconstruction of the axillary region.


In the paper, two examples of embedded vision m odules are described. Firstly, it is demonstrated how fiducial marker tracking algorithm can be adopted for operation on Raspberry Pi. Usage of proposed ideas allows to achieve around 60fps speed of binary marker tracking. Secondly, we describe the problem of text detection and recognition in outdoor environment. Experimental results indicate on acceptable results and good potential to provide low-cost and efficient embedded vision system for this purpose. Technical details of both embedded vision modules are comprehensively discussed.


The expansion of oil palm plantations in Papua province, Indonesia, involves the conversion of forests, among other land types in the landscapes, which are a source of clan members' livelihoods. The way in which this expansion occurs makes it necessary to understand the factors associated with why companies look for frontier lands and what externalities are generated during both the land acquisition and plantation development periods. Using a spatial analysis of the concession areas, along with data from household surveys of each clan from the Auyu, Mandobo, and Marind tribes who release land to companies, we find that investors are motivated to profit from timber harvested from the clearing of lands for plantations, activity that is facilitated by the local government. Land acquisition and plantation development have resulted in externalities to indigenous landowners in the form of time and money lost in a series of meetings and consultations involving clan members and traditional elders. Other externalities include the reduced welfare of people due to loss of livelihoods, and impacts on food security.


Over the last three decades, the principles of service management have become widely accepted. These call for an integrated approach to marketing, operations, and human resource management (HRM). The scholarly and business press routinely point to the importance of customer loyalty and customer relationship management for corporate profitability. Advances in marketing concepts and information systems make it possible to capture more precisely the demand characteristics of customers and to tailor solutions to meet their needs. Why is it, then, that measures of customer satisfaction have declined steadily in the last decade, websites for consumer complaints have proliferated, and media accounts of bad service appear with regularity? In this chapter, I explore this paradox. I focus particularly on the private sector and on interactive service activities, defined as those that are produced through the interaction of employees and customers (Leidner 1993). Service management is important because the expansion of service activities and contraction of manufacturing in advanced economies means that management in services covers an ever increasing number and range of operations and employment. In addition, competing on the basis of customer service has become central to competitiveness in manufacturing as well as service industries. This is particularly true in supply chain management, where quality and productivity depends importantly on how vendor contracts with major customers are managed. However, it also applies to consumer markets, where after-sales service and service warranties and agreements have become a major source of revenues in goods production, particularly durable goods. Finally, there is growing empirical evidence that companies that compete on the basis of customer quality and customization do generate higher revenues and profits. Customer satisfaction does, in fact, matter; and the evidence is consistent with the widespread rhetoric of the importance of long-term customer relationships.


Because criminal verdicts provide no clue as to how the jury reached its decision, jury instructions are crucial indicators of how a deductive device operates. Deductive devices are mechanisms that allow or require the fact-finder to assume the existence of a fact when proof of other facts are shown. Any deductive device, whether permissive or mandatory, has pernicious possibilities that imperil the rationality of fact-finding. The controlling method of review for deductive devices in criminal cases simply require a rational connection between the basic fact and the presumed fact. However, the Supreme Court in Allen broke new ground in exempting permissive inferences from facial review—an innovation that finds no support in the cases cited by the Allen majority.

Sandstorm demonstrates a heightened sensitivity to the way a presumption device sounds to the ear of the juror. There, the Court's primary concern was the propensity for the instruction to mislead the jury into regarding the presumption as conclusive or as shifting the burden of persuasion. The Court unanimously held that the mere possibility that the jury reached its decision in an impermissible manner requires reversal, even if the jury might have reached the same result in a constitutionally acceptable fashion. The combined impact of Allen and Sandstorm will undoubtedly encourage the use of permissive, rather than mandatory, presumptions. Sandstorm will discourage any deviation from permissive language so as to provide clarity and avoid reversal, while Allen will exempt the carefully drafted inference from facial appellate review, withdrawing it from meaningful review if all formalities are observed.


Abstract A realistic, efficient and robust technique for the control of amplifier flows has been investigated. Since this type of fluid system is extremely sensitive to upstream environmental noise, an accurate model capturing the influence of these perturbations is needed. A subspace identification algorithm is not only a convenient and effective way of constructing this model, it is also realistic in the sense that it is based on input and output data measurements only and does not require other information from the detailed dynamics of the fluid system. This data-based control design has been tested on an amplifier model derived from the Ginzburg–Landau equation, and no significant loss of efficiency has been observed when using the identified instead of the exact model. Even though system identification leads to a realistic control design, other issues such as state estimation, have to be addressed to achieve full control efficiency. In particular, placing a sensor too far downstream is detrimental, since it does not provide an estimate of incoming perturbations. This has been made clear and quantitative by considering the relative estimation error and, more appropriately, the concept of a visibility length, a measure of how far upstream a sensor is able to accurately estimate the flow state. It has been demonstrated that a strongly convective system is characterized by a correspondingly small visibility length. In fact, in the latter case the optimal sensor placement has been found upstream of the actuators, and only this configuration was found to yield an efficient control performance. This upstream sensor placement suggests the use of a feed-forward approach for fluid systems with strong convection. Furthermore, treating upstream sensors as inputs in the identification procedure results in a very efficient and robust control. When validated on the Ginzburg–Landau model this technique is effective, and it is comparable to the optimal upper bound, given by full-state control, when the amplifier behaviour becomes convection-dominated. These concepts and findings have been extended and verified for flow over a backward-facing step at a Reynolds number $\mathit{Re}= 350$ . Environmental noise has been introduced by three independent, localized sources. A very satisfactory control of the Kelvin–Helmholtz instability has been obtained with a one-order-of-magnitude reduction in the averaged perturbation norm. The above observations have been further confirmed by examining a low-order model problem that mimics a convection-dominated flow but allows the explicit computation of control-relevant measures such as observability. This study casts doubts on the usefulness of the asymptotic notion of observability for convection-dominated flows, since such flows are governed by transient effects. Finally, it is shown that the feed-forward approach is equivalent to an optimal linear–quadratic–Gaussian control for spy sensors placed sufficiently far upstream or for sufficiently convective flows. The control design procedure presented in this paper, consisting of data-based subspace identification and feed-forward control, was found to be effective and robust. Its implementation in a real physical experiment may confidently be carried out.


We investigate the low temperature (T $<$ 2 K) electronic structure of the heavy fermion superconductor CeCoIn5 (T$_c$ = 2.3 K) by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES). The hybridization between conduction electrons and f-electrons, which ultimately leads to the emergence of heavy quasiparticles responsible for the various unusual properties of such materials, is directly monitored and shown to be strongly band dependent. In particular the most two-dimensional band is found to be the least hybridized one. A simplified multiband version of the Periodic Anderson Model (PAM) is used to describe the data, resulting in semi-quantitative agreement with previous bulk sensitive results from de-Haas-van-Alphen measurements.


A reliable and robust means of continuously monitoring the integrity of mooring systems for FPSOs and FPUs is required in the offshore industry. The consequences and costs associated with a seriously degraded mooring system, resulting in an undetected failure, can result in a riser system failure, extended production downtime and environmental damage from hydrocarbon spillage.This paper presents a novel method to continuously track and predict the performance of a moored floating body under the full spectrum of metocean conditions, and uses this capability to rapidly detect a change in the system's performance (eg a single mooring line failure or a loss of station event.) These events are often not identified offshore when they occur, as a small change in displacement from a nominal mooring center is difficult to detect without a reference point, especially when the facility is subjected to a sustained mean offsets due to the prevailing metocean conditions.Conventional methods of predicting the motions of a floating body usually involve simulating wind, wave, current and sea level in a hydrodynamics packages. These packages are cumbersome to use in the real time assessment of FPSO response due to live measurements of metocean conditions, as these packages are typically complex to set-up a model and are subjected to lengthy computational run time. An alternative is a "black-box" system; one that uses machine learning algorithms to predict the motions of the floating body by being trained with the measured metocean inputs and the FPSO response. Several algorithms were investigated for this purpose, and two leading candidates investigated further; Kriging and Neural Networks. Both methods were used to as they perform well when used predict complex multivariate systems.To train both these learning algorithms metocean and GPS data from an FPSO was available. This dataset contained two distinct parts; a phase where the mooring system was degraded and a phase when the mooring configuration changed due to the repair of some of the mooring legs. This mooring configuration change provided a distinct change in the systems, which was taken to be analogous to a mooring line failure event. It would be expected that a change in vessel response would occur due to a change in the mooring system configuration, especially if the system responds due to second order wave forcing.Both learning methods were trained on a subset of the collected data and the accuracy of each validated by a second distinct subset of the data, with the same mooring configuration. Both models were able to accurately predict the motions of the FPSO in the time and frequency domain. Models that were trained on the original data were then passed data for the changed mooring configuration. Both methods were able to successfully identify the mooring system change by accurately predicting the motion of the FPSOs for the mooring configuration they were trained on, and did not predict a similar response for the dataset with the different mooring configuration.The methods investigated were found to reliably predict the motions of the FPSO as the learning algorithms provided a means of detecting changes in state of the mooring system. These predictions using the studied learning algorithms provided a more robust means of continuously monitoring the integrity of mooring systems for FPSOs and FPUs than subsea instrumentation systems or resorting to real-time computing using classical hydrodynamic analyses.Copyright © 2016 by ASME


The floodplain sector under analysis is located in the south-western extreme part of Romania, covering a distance of about 260 kilometres between the towns of Drobeta Turnu-Severin (westwards) and Bechet (eastwards) and extending on variable breadths, from a few tens of meters to more than 14 kilometres (with greater extension near the settlements of Ciuperceni and Cârna). In the framework of its strategic and economic importance, of the food sources offered by the Danube floodplain and ponds, the human interventions within this unit were diverse and affected the balance and the metabolism of the natural ecosystems. In numerous cases, this type of intervention, under its multiple forms, led to irreversible changes of the environmental features. The present paper aims at analysing the theoretical and actual conservation status of the most important flora, fauna and habitat elements that are characteristic to the Danubian environment, as well as presenting some examples of good practices or financing sources that might contribute to the improvement of this approach in the prospect of the region's sustainable development. The SWOT analysis allowed for a general, synthetic assessment of the quality of the environmental sub-systems within the Danube Floodplain sector under analysis and of their development possibilities in concordance with the sustainability principles.


In magnetic particle imaging (MPI), simultaneous excitation and signal acquisition leads to direct feedthrough problems.  While this direct-feedthrough can be mitigated up to some extent with passive compensation, this may not be sufficient given the time-variant nature of the system. Active compensation methods are proposed to overcome this challenge. In magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), we have recently proposed a promising active compensation technique that uses a vector modulator-like structure to modify a copy of the transmitted signal and use it for subtracting the direct-feedthrough in analog domain. In this work, this technique is adapted to MPI for active compensation of the direct-feedthrough. We demonstrate a significant increase in detection sensitivity at the fundamental harmonic on an in-house arbitrary waveform relaxometer.

Int. J. Mag. Part. Imag. 6(2), Suppl. 1, 2020, Article ID: 2009065, DOI: 10.18416/IJMPI.2020.2009065


Background Adolescence is a key stage of the life course when lifelong health behaviours and attitudes to healthcare may be established. Poor experience of GP consultations is common among adolescents, but little is known about whether poor experience in this group is associated with worse health status or outcomes. This study aimed to investigate this association using data from the 2014 Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (HBSC) survey (England). Methods We used logistic regression to analyse data on 5335 participants aged 10–17 years in the HBSC survey. Four aspects of recent GP experience were studied: feeling at ease; being treated with respect; quality of GP explanation; and feeling able to talk about personal matters. Five dichotomized measures of health status/outcome were used (ever self-harmed; fair/poor self reported health; frequent (at least weekly) low mood, sleeping problems or headaches). We adjusted for participants' gender, age, ethnicity and family affluence score. Of 5335 participants, 1187 (22.3%) had not visited their GP within the last year and were excluded from the analysis. Findings In total, 92% of adolescents felt treated with respect, 54% could talk about personal matters, 41% were satisfied with explanations and 31% felt at ease. Participants who reported poorer experience of GP care were more likely to have poor health outcomes. For example, those who did not feel at ease with their GP were more likely to report: self-harm, Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) 2.65 (95% CI 1.69–4.15); fair/poor health, AOR 1.64 (1.28–2.10); low mood, AOR 1.51 (1.25–1.82); and sleeping problems, AOR 1.41 (1.19–1.66). All GP indicators were associated with self-harm (AOR range 1.64–2.70, GP's explanation: p = 0.006, all others: p < 0.001) and feeling low (AOR range 1.46–2.11, all p < 0.001). The association with GP experience was less consistent for the other three health outcomes. Interpretation This cross-sectional, observational study demonstrates that young people who report worse health symptoms, typically also report a poorer experience of care. Further research is needed to investigate whether GP experience influences health outcomes – suggesting that improving GP experience may improve health outcomes in this group – or whether poor health status leads to more negative perceptions of care.


In this paper the data registration module being a component of semantic simulation engine is shown. An improved implementation of ICP (Iterative Closest Point) algorithm based on GPGPU (General-purpose computing on graphics processing units) is proposed. The main achievement is on-line aliment of two data sets composed of up to 262144 3D points, therefore it can be used during robot motion. The algorithm uses GPGPU NVIDIA CUDA for NNS (Nearest Neighborhood Search) computation and to improve the performance all ICP steps are implemented also on GPU. Experiments performed in INDOOR and OUDROOR environments show benefits of parallel computation applied for on-line 3D map building. Empirical validation using new generation CUDA architecture, named Fermi is shown.


The first edition of this dictionary, "Elsevier's Dictionary of Horticulture", edited by J. Nydam and A. de Jong was published in 1970. Since that time, horticulture has expanded and developed spectacularly and the aim of this second edition is to meet a worldwide need to develop close contacts and to keep up with the developments in the horticultural world. Numerous terms have been introduced, covering a far broader field than the previous dictionary. Again, English was chosen as the basic language and Portuguese has been added with Latin for the scientific names of organisms. Apart from the traditional subjects like vegetables, fruits, arboriculture, floriculture, mushrooms, crop science, plant breeding, botany and soil science, it now also includes tropical and subtropical horticulture, herbs and spices, landscaping, arable farming and grasses. More attention has been paid to market planning, economics, education, and extension and labour management. A number of terms relating to apiculture, meteorology and informatics have been introduced. Technology has been given more prominence, but so many new terms have been coined in this field that a selection had to be made. Regarding plant diseases, only general terms are mentioned; specific pests and diseases are not listed in view of the existence of specialized dictionaries. The same goes for weeds. A list of international organizations is included, with translations in English and French.


Assimilative capacity is the ability of natural systems to assimilate humankind's wastes. Wastes (output) of some species in natural systems are the resources (input) of other species. Before the Industrial Revolution, this concept of input and output held true for human activity, but industrialization created wastes that were qualitatively and quantitatively different from those of natural systems. The unique nature of some persistent wastes that accumulate in organisms over long periods of time makes estimates of safety problematic. An even larger problem is the devastating effects that global heating and other types of climate change are having on the integrity of ecosystems. An ecosystem in disequilibrium probably has no assimilative capacity. Since greenhouse gas emissions are increasing rapidly, the already bad situation will worsen. Another factor diminishing the probability of the effective use of the assimilative capacity concept is ecological overshoot (i.e., humankind's failing to live on ecological services and using ecological capital as a substitute), which is an unsustainable practice. Biotic impoverishment (i.e., loss of biodiversity) also increases the probability of ecological disequilibrium. Finally, exponential growth of the human population, about 1.5 million additional people weekly, means a steadily increasing loss of space for natural systems and more acquisition of natural resources for human use. In short, present waste disposal practices are no longer suitable.


The statistical process control applied in the irrigation systems allows the visualization of process to reduce wastage of inputs, such as water and energy quality, which contributes to assessing its proper functioning, and feasibility of implementation and operation. That is why it is necessary to evaluate the self-compensating emitters using saline water at different concentrations. This experiment was applied in the greenhouse, agricultural engineering academic unit, Federal University of Campina Grande. The treatments consisted of five salinity levels of irrigation water (ECwi) (0.6, 1.5, 2.5, 3.5 and 4.5 dS m-1 at 25°C), set in pressure of 160 kPa during 15 irrigation  trials for new  emitters, with 350 h of operation. The use of statistical process control tool has shown promise in identifying emitters' problems due to the use of lower quality water for irrigation. The inferior quality of water does not influence the flow and Christiansen uniformity coefficient of self-compensating emitters, but after 350 h of operation, there is need management operations and maintenance of the system to be made. The uniformity coefficient Christiansen (CUC) for new and used emitters above 90% was rated as excellent in all treatments saline. The Shewhart control charts allowed diagnosing of about 350 h of operation which is necessary for the maintenance of the irrigation system when operating with saline water.

 Key words: Quality engineering, Shewhart charts, electrical conductivity.


We developed a model of 545 components (nodes) and 1259 interactions representing signaling pathways and cellular machines in the hippocampal CA1 neuron. Using graph theory methods, we analyzed ligand-induced signal flow through the system. Specification of input and output nodes allowed us to identify functional modules. Networking resulted in the emergence of regulatory motifs, such as positive and negative feedback and feedforward loops, that process information. Key regulators of plasticity were highly connected nodes required for the formation of regulatory motifs, indicating the potential importance of such motifs in determining cellular choices between homeostasis and plasticity.


This article provides a partial defence of the Court of Appeal's controversial view in Re R and Re W that there can be concurrent powers to give effective consent to medical treatment in parent and child, and suggests how those cases might be distinguished in a future case. The defence is based on emphasising the distinction between a refusal to consent and a refusal of treatment. The article argues that this distinction explains why in some cases a parent can have the power to consent, even where the child has refused to consent. The article also considers ethical arguments in support of this approach.


Many institutions of higher education are hesitant to consider themselves as customer-driven entities. It is common to view the student as the customer but this notion is not universally accepted. This paper reviews the debate in the education and marketing literature about students as customers and reveals the difficulty in using the word customer to describe the student/university relationship. The author argues that the debate must move away from identifying the customer and focus on the university as a service provider. An emerging perspective on market orientation suggest that strategic insights may be gained when firms take into account their customers' view on the organization's level of market orientation. Even the suggestion of the term customer can arouse many emotions, preconceptions, and misconceptions. The idea that students are partners in developing and delivering quality education threatens the historic, traditional academic role of faculty as purveyor of knowledge. Nevertheless, one fact has been proven over and over again. Customer-driven organizations are effective because they are fully committed to satisfying and anticipating customer needs. The future success of colleges and universities will increasingly be determined by how they identify and satisfy their various customers. This paper accentuates the subject by initially reviewing a number of theoretical viewpoints as to why a customer perspective should be sought when assessing organizational phenomena such as market orientation. The findings showed that all the proposed relationship were significant. The result further demonstrated that service quality acts as a partial mediator where customer satisfaction was not derived completely by service quality. This paper eventually concludes by elaborating the various conclusions derived from the study.


Purpose
To visualize and quantify lymphatic drainage of aqueous humor from the eye to cervical lymph nodes in the dynamic state.

Methods
A near-infrared tracer was injected into the right eye anterior chamber of 10 mice under general anesthesia. Mice were imaged with photoacoustic tomography before and 20 minutes, 2, 4, and 6 hours after injection. Tracer signal intensity was measured in both eyes and right and left neck lymph nodes at every time point and signal intensity slopes were calculated. Slope differences between right and left eyes and right and left nodes were compared using paired t-test. Neck nodes were examined with fluorescence optical imaging and histologically for the presence of tracer.

Results
Following right eye intracameral injection of tracer, an exponential decrease in tracer signal was observed from 20 minutes to 6 hours in all mice. Slope differences of the signal intensity between right and left eyes were significant (P < 0.001). Simultaneously, increasing tracer signal was observed in the right neck node from 20 minutes to 6 hours. Slope differences of the signal intensity between right and left neck nodes were significant (P = 0.0051). Ex vivo optical fluorescence imaging and histopathologic examination of neck nodes confirmed tracer presence within submandibular nodes.

Conclusions
Active lymphatic drainage of aqueous from the eye to cervical lymph nodes was measured noninvasively by photoacoustic imaging of near-infrared nanoparticles. This unique in vivo assay may help to uncover novel drugs that target alternative outflow routes to lower IOP in glaucoma and may provide new insights into lymphatic drainage in eye health and disease.


This review of copepod crustaceans associated with reef-dwelling cnidarians, sponges and echinoderms of the Greater Caribbean is based on published records, systematically arranged by the classification of symbiotic copepods and their hosts, sampling sites, coordinates, depth and date of sampling, literature sources, and three recent surveys (Cuba, St. Eustatius in the Eastern Caribbean and Curaçao in the Southern Caribbean). This resulted in totals of 532 records of 115 species of symbiotic copepods (47 genera, 17 families, three orders) hosted by 80 species of invertebrates, representing scleractinians (47%), octocorals (9%), echinoderms (3%), and sponges (1%). Among ten Caribbean ecoregions, the Greater Antilles (with 64 species of symbiotic copepods) as well as the Southern and Eastern Caribbean (with 46 and 17 species of copepods, respectively) are the most studied and best represented, whereas only six species of copepods are known from Bermuda, one from Southwestern Caribbean and none from the Gulf of Mexico. The absence of poecilostomatoid copepods (Anchimolgidae, Rhynchomolgidae and Xarifidae) on Caribbean stony corals as noted by Stock (1988) is confirmed. The results indicate that the diversity and ecology of Caribbean symbiotic copepods are still poorly investigated.