Detailed karst terrain assessments require the identification and survey of surface features such as closed depressions, sinkholes, and cave entrances. Typically, surveys are carried out at sites encompassing several hundred acres or less; however, the traditional methods have proven impractical from a time and expense viewpoint for extensive, regional-level surveys in well-developed karst terrain. This subject survey covered a 76-mi (122.3-km) length of a natural gas transmission pipeline. The goal of the study was to assist the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in assessing habitat vulnerability for the Madison Cave Isopod, a federally protected threatened species found only in phreatic ground water of the Great Valley of Virginia and West Virginia. The survey used an integrated approach involving the evaluation of topographic maps, digital elevation models, shaded relief maps, satellite imagery, and historic aerial photographs to identify "concentrations" of karst features. Ground surveys were then undertaken by walking sections of the pipeline right-of-ways that occurred within karst concentrations, and documenting the features using GPS instrumentation. The karst survey encompassed 48,640 acres (19.2 hectares), and was the largest utility-associated karst assessment ever conducted in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Approximately 216 closed depressions and 28 cave entrances were located, identified, and described based on their geology, physical appearance, and drainage characteristics. The use of an integrated approach significantly reduced the time and cost of the study. The study's findings and recommendations have been used to develop conservation-based avoidance and minimization measures intended to limit the impact to the species' habitat.


The emerging area of e-textiles requires electrically conductive threads. We demonstrate that nylon, polyester, and cotton threads can be made conductive by coating their surfaces with random networks of solution-synthesized silver nanowires. A resistance per unit length of 0.8 Ω cm−1 was achieved and can be varied through the density of the nanowire coating. Because the nanowires are 35 nm in diameter, and the mesh structure does not cover the entire surface like a thin-film, less metal is used compared to conventional silver-coated conductive threads. This leads to a much lower weight and mechanically flexible coating. The functionality of the thread as a heater and the fabrication of stretchable conductive thread are also demonstrated.


Renowned throughout Renaissance Europe, Pieter Coecke van Aelst (1502-1550) produced works for the wealthiest and most important patrons of the time, including Emperor Charles V, Francis I of France, Henry VIII of England, the Habsburgs, and Cosimo de Medici. While he is best known for his magnificent tapestries, he was also a consummate artist in other media, and the output from his workshop included painted altarpieces, as well as designs and cartoons for stained glass. This lavish publication, the first comprehensive volume devoted to this Renaissance master since 1966, introduces Pieter Coecke van Aelst to a contemporary audience and places him among the great artists of the 16th century. New photographs, including fine details, reunite twenty of the splendid Renaissance tapestries made to his designs with some of his finest surviving drawings and panel paintings, while texts by thirteen prominent scholars explore Coecke's art and world. Both a feast for the eyes and an important reappraisal of a great Renaissance master, this important study will stand as the comprehensive volume on a major artist of the Northern Renaissance.


Defects and errors are common and occur repeatedly during construction projects. An effective management of non conformances is vital for a streamlined and efficient production progress. Large quantities of data and information are produced, which can be lost or misinterpreted. Several defect managing systems have been developed to facilitate measuring and correcting defects. However, few focus on data and information gathering and sharing, as well as providing an efficient communication tool for teams on site. Building Information Modeling (BIM) has proven to improve communication and information sharing. The lack of platforms that integrate BIM in the communication processes used on site is hindering the full exploitation of its potential in improving communication. The overarching aim of this research is to develop a unified real-time communication platform capable of providing richer information for the decision making in the non conformances management process. This study lays out the conceptual framework for the communication platform "C-BIM-thru-AR" (Communicating BIM through Augmented Reality). This platform integrates BIM models into the communication channels used on-site and offsite via Augmented Reality (AR) systems. To develop the "C-BIM-thru-AR", first the systems functional requirements had to be established. To accomplish this, the Integrated Definition for Function Modeling (IDEF0) technique was used to create as-is maps to analyze processes included in production management and establish functional requirements. With the functional requirements gathered and by applying a system thinking approach, the platforms framework and network architecture were developed. The proposed platform aims at enhancing the management and quality of all the information produced from the management of non conformances, ultimately improving the processes productivity. In future studies, the proposed platform could be exploited in the management of subcontractors' performance which could be stored automatically in the "C-BIM-thru-AR" platform.


BACKGROUND
A 26-item Resident Choice Scale was designed to assess service practices for promoting resident choice.

METHOD
The staff working with 560 UK/Irish adults with intellectual disability were interviewed. Specific examples of practices promoting resident choice were requested and independently rated by the interviewer.

RESULTS
The interrater reliability of Resident Choice items was found to be acceptable (subsample n = 50). The psychometric properties of the Resident Choice Scale total score and scores on eight subscales were also acceptable. Consistently strong associations were found between greater resident choice and greater resident ability and, to a lesser extent, fewer resident challenging behaviours. Few associations were found between resident choice and autism or mental health problems. Even when controlling for resident ability and challenging behaviour, consistent associations were found between greater resident choice and the concurrent variables of greater community presence, fewer institutional practices, and greater user self-reported satisfaction (subsample n = 50).

CONCLUSIONS
Taken together, this pattern of results indicates that the Resident Choice Scale shows promise as a measure of the environmental opportunities available for adults with intellectual disability to exercise self-determination. Areas for future research testing the reliability and validity of the Resident Choice Scale are outlined.


CONTEXT
Fibromyalgia is a syndrome characterized by chronic, diffuse musculoskeletal pain, and by a low pain threshold at specific anatomical points. The syndrome is associated with other symptoms such as fatigue, sleep disturbance, morning stiffness and anxiety. Because of its chronic nature, it often has a negative impact on patients' quality of life.

OBJECTIVE
To assess the quality of life and anxiety level of patients with fibromyalgia.

TYPE OF STUDY
Cross-sectional.

SETTING
Rheumatology outpatient service of Hospital das Clínicas (Medical School, Universidade de São Paulo).

METHODS
This study evaluated 80 individuals, divided between test and control groups. The test group included 40 women with a confirmed diagnosis of fibromyalgia. The control group was composed of 40 healthy women. Three questionnaires were used: two to assess quality of life (FIQ and SF-36) and one to assess anxiety (STAI). They were applied to the individuals in both groups in a single face-to-face interview. The statistical analysis used Student's t test and Pearson's correlation test (r), with a significance level of 95%. Also, the Pearson chi-squared statistics test for homogeneity, with Yates correction, was used for comparing schooling between test and control groups.

RESULTS
There was a statistically significant difference between the groups (p = 0.000), thus indicating that fibromyalgia patients have a worse quality of life and higher levels of anxiety. The correlations between the three questionnaires were high (r = 0.9).

DISCUSSION
This study has confirmed the efficacy of FIQ for evaluating the impact of fibromyalgia on the quality of life. SF-36 is less specific than FIQ, although statistically significant values were obtained when analyzed separately, STAI showed lower efficacy for discriminating the test group from the control group. The test group showed worse quality of life than did the control group, which was demonstrated by both FIQ and SF-36. Even though STAI was a less efficient instrument, it presented significant results, showing that fibromyalgia patients presented higher levels of anxiety, both on the state and trait scales. Thus, patients with fibromyalgia had higher levels of tension, nervousness, preoccupation and apprehension, and higher propensity towards anxiety.

CONCLUSION
The three instruments utilized showed efficiency in evaluating fibromyalgia patients. FIQ was found to be the most efficient instrument for discriminating and assessing the impact of fibromyalgia on their quality of life. It can be concluded that such patients have a worse quality of life and higher levels of anxiety.


The term psychogenic cough has been used to describe cough without obvious medical etiology, which is refractory to medical management and considered to have a psychiatric or psychological basis. However there are limitations in the research into psychogenic cough with limited empirical data on how to define the condition or differentially diagnose it from other forms of chronic cough. The term somatic cough syndrome was introduced by the American College of Chest physicians in 2015 during their revision of the 2006 guideline on psychogenic cough. Psychomorbidity can be present in chronic cough arising from a variety of etiologies and can impact on symptom perception and clinical management of the condition. Psychological symptoms can also improve after effective treatment of the chronic cough. The recently published American College of Chest Physicians cough guidelines recommended replacing the term psychogenic cough with the term somatic cough syndrome in order to be consistent with the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5) where the term psychogenic is no longer used. This paper outlines the current evidence regarding psychogenic cough, proposes a model for conceptualising psychological issues in chronic cough and discusses strategies for clinical management of psychological issues in patients with chronic cough.


Objective: The main objective of this case-controlled study was to determine the anatomic risk factors responsible for the appearance and severity of OSA. Subjects and methods: Lateral radiographies of 33 patients with OSA, whose diagnosis was already confirmed by PSG, were compared to those of 33 control subjects. Seven anthropometric and 20 cephalometric variables were studied. The statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS version 17 and the significance rate was set at 5%. Results: the findings of our study support the litterature data showing that patients with OSA are older and fatter [ BMI: 36,94kg/m² vs 23,21kg/m², p=0,000], and have more craniofacial anomalies manifested by an inferiorly positioned hyoid bone (H_MP: 20,13mm vs 13,48mm ; H_C3: 36,81mm vs 43,10mm ; H_ENA: 99,45mm vs 90,66mm ; p=0,000) and a narrower oropharynx associated with an increase of the tongue and soft palate length(p(UH)=0,010 and p(UL)=0,000, p(TgLt)= 0,000). Conclusion:  fatty subjects with craniofacial abnormalities are more predisposed to develop OSA.


We present a comprehensive calculation of 3D dynamic stabilization (DS) of ground-state hydrogen in superintense circularly polarized laser pulses. Three laser-pulse envelopes have been considered: Gaussian, sech, and Lorentzian. The ionization probability at the end of the pulse Pion was calculated for a range of high frequencies ω ranging from 0.65 to 8 au, for peak fields up to about 60 au (depending on ω), and for full width at half maximum pulse lengths τp extending from 0.25 to 100 cycles (depending on ω). This is a very accurate calculation, very much more time consuming than its linear polarization counterpart. For Gaussian and sech pulses we find prominent DS and substantial atomic survival under conditions where our nonrelativistic, dipole approximation calculation is expected to be valid. For Lorentzian pulses there is no DS in the range studied, and we explain the reasons. We find that the evolution of the atom is adiabatic and amenable to single-state Floquet theory, up to very large peak fields (several au), and down to very short pulses (few cycle, subfemtosecond). The general case of nonadiabatic pulses is interpreted in terms of the multistate Floquet theory. We compare the results for Pion in the cases of circular and linear polarization and find a surprising resemblance, when represented as a function of the peak intensity. Our results indicate the possibility of observing DS experimentally with the VUV–FEL light sources that are now in test operation, or with the attosecond pulses obtained from high harmonic generation, in a state-of-the-art experiment, however.


This paper addresses the implications of transitory changes in labor market conditions for low versus high educated workers on the decision to acquire education. To identify this effect, I use the improvement in the labor market prospects of low educated workers motivated by the increases in employment and wages in the construction sector during the recent housing boom. The estimation strategy is based on the fact that changes in the labor market driven by the construction sector affect only men. Increases in construction activity are found to increase men's propensity to drop out of high-school, relative to women. According to this finding, policies promoting education should strengthen when in the presence of transitory shocks in the labor market that make dropping out more attractive.


This paper considers the relationship between institutional quality, educational outcomes, and economic performance. More specifically, it seeks to establish the linkages by which government effectiveness affects per capita income, via its mediating effect on human capital formation. The empirical approach adopts a two-stage strategy that estimates national-level educational production functions that include government effectiveness as a covariate, and then uses these estimates as instruments for human capital in cross-country regressions of per capita income. The results identify a significant and positive effect of human capital on per capita income levels, and partially resolves the inconsistency between macro- and micro-level studies of the effect of human capital on income. The results also remain robust to alternative specifications, extension to a panel setting, subsamples of the data, and fully endogenous institutions.


This report describes some of the results of a visit to Russia between 7-17th June 2005 to study the Coal Mine Methane and Abandoned Mine Methane resources of the Kuznetsk (Kuzbass) Coal basin, Siberia, Russia. Coal Mine Methane (CMM) refers to gas drained from working coal mines and Abandoned Mine Methane (AMM) refers to mine gas derived from closed mines. This visit formed part of the UK – Russia Cleaner Fossil Fuel Technology Transfer Project: AMM/CMM Technology Transfer Opportunities in Russia. The UK team comprised experts from Wardell Armstrong, British Geological Survey (BGS), IT Power and Climate Mitigation Works; Uglemetan provided support whilst in Russia. The role of the BGS was to evaluate the CMM and AMM resources of the Kuzbass Coal Basin and, if possible, to apply the UK scheme for resources and reserves assessment on the basis of such data as was available in Russia. However, due to significant problems in obtaining suitable data whilst in Russia, a Kuzbass-wide assessment of AMM and CMM resources was not possible. Hence this report represents a review of existing published and non-published data and meetings held during the visit to Russia in 2005, where they impact on AMM and CMM resources. This report is not a definitive assessment of the CMM and AMM resources and reserves of the Kuzbass and the conclusions reached are tentative. Hence it is recommended that more detailed studies be carried out in order gain a better understanding of the CMM and AMM resources and reserves in the Kuzbass.
The Kuzbass Coal Basin covers an area of approximately 26,000 km and is thought to contain 263.7 billion tonnes of coal reserves. The main coal-bearing intervals are from the Permo-Carboniferous Kolchuginsky and Balakhonsky stages and, typically, the coal to overburden (non-coal) ratio is about 3.5:1. The area is geologically complex, with large folds and thrust folds dominating. The working underground mines generally operate around the western periphery of the basin, mostly exploiting coals with ranks varying from High Volatile C Bituminous to Low Volatile Bituminous. More than 100 seams, with an average thickness of 2.5 m, have been mined at depths varying from 300-800 m. Ash and moisture contents average about 20 % and 7 % respectively and the gas content averages 12 m3/t.
Coalbed methane resources of the Kuzbass coal basin are thought to be over 13 trillion cubic metres but so far there has been limited exploration for and exploitation of methane. There are presently about 36 working underground mines and there are considerable CMM resources. Annual methane emissions into the atmosphere from Kuzbass coal mines amount to 1-2 billion cubic metres, equal to the annual natural gas consumption in the region. In 1994, out of a total emission of approximately one billion cubic metres of methane, ventilation systems emitted 860 million cubic metres and methane recovery systems emitted 196 million cubic metres following collection. Four examples of potential CMM schemes are described within the report, from Abashevskaya, Chertinskaya, Komsomolets and Pervomaiskay mines. There appears to be a link between high coal productivity and increased methane emissions. In 2005 there are only 13 mines that use degasification systems. Most mines use air from the ventilation system to dilute the methane to safe (non-explosive) concentrations. Hence, for the majority of working mines, capturing the ventilation air methane (VAM) would be the most sensible approach to utilising the CMM.
There are 43 abandoned coal mines in the Kuzbass, many of which have potential for AMM utilisation. On closure it has been estimated that a typical Kuzbass mine emits 107 m3 of methane. The mine closure agency Gorsh is responsible for monitoring mines after closure. Of the 43 closed mines 13 are fully flooded, 15 are partially flooded, and 15 are maintained dry through pumping out of water. There are a further 17 mines that have no documentation or monitoring. Following mine closure and the cessation of pumping, groundwater levels rise quickly, with mines typically flooding within 3-7 years. Hence an understanding of minewater rebound is critical to any successful AMM scheme in the Kuzbass. Data provided by Gorsh show that 86% of the mines have 65% or more of their total volume flooded. Therefore the number of possible AMM schemes is severely limited as a result of minewater recovery and there are perhaps 5-7 suitable prospects.


ABSTRACT There is a growing body of research on the impact of the electoral system 'ballot structure' on the behaviour of politicians. We offer a clear, ordinal and rules-based three-way coding (closed, flexible, open) of the electoral systems used in European Parliament elections, taking into account both the ballot type and the intra-party seat-allocation rules. For the notoriously difficult group of flexible list-systems, we show how these operated in the 2004, 2009 and 2014 elections, and introduce an additional behavioural distinction between 'weakly flexible' and 'strongly flexible' subtypes at the party-list-level. We then illustrate how the type of ballot used in an election can influence individual policy representation by looking at the vote-splits between Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) in the European People's Party in a vote on tackling homophobia.


Clinical practice guidelines are recipes for how clinician can identify a specific medical condition in a patient, how to manage and provide treatment for such a patient. These are evidence based statements, which includes recommendations to optimize patient care. Well defined guidelines has shown the effect of improving the quality of health care at a lower cost, as well as reducing practice variability. Despite the positive effects of clinical practice guideline, they have shown a limited effect on changing the clinicians practice methods. Some clinician don't know that such guidelines exists, they are not familiar with the guideline content, they lack the self-confidence to execute the recommended treatment, the previous practice methods make it difficult to adapt to the new recommendations, or the guideline format itself is to cumbersome to read and use. The purpose of this master thesis is to address some of the reasons why the clinical practice guidelines haven't been put more into use. We propose a serious game which will contribute to awareness of the guidelines and training in the guideline content itself. We do present four models. A guideline model, which describes the workflow of the clinical practice guideline. A domain or entity model, which describes the patient, his symptoms, diagnosis and how the clinicians have managed his medical condition. A student learning model which keeps track of the student's performance at different quizzes. A game model which holds information about game elements and the ordering of the game/learning material. By using information from the game model and the student learning model, we can make the game adaptable to the knowledge and progression of the student, as well as flexible such that the student can choose different paths through the learning material.


Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl from cucurbitaceae family is a large, pubescent, climbing or trailing herb, cultivated throughout the India and the tropical regions of the world. Phytochemical investigations showed positive tests for phytosterols, these phytosterols were isolated from the methanol extract of fruits of plant Lagenaria siceraria and identified as Fucosterol, Stigmasterol, Racemosol and Stigmata-7, 22- dien - 3â, 4â - diol. The antihyperglycemic activity of isolated phytosterols and methanol extract was investigated in diabetic albino rats; diabetes was induced by intra-peritoneal administration of alloxanmonohydrate at a dose of 125mg/ kg to albino rats. Albino rats were divided into various groups as follows: Group I received salinewater,Group II receivedmetformine 10mg/kg served as diabetic control while group III, IV, V received phytosterols at a dose of 10, 20, 30 mg/kg respectively.While group VI, VII, VIII were treated with methanol extract at a dose of 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg of body weight, respectively. Blood samples were collected from tail vein and blood glucose was estimated in acute, sub-acute and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) study protocol. Oral administration of phytosterols at a dose of 30 mg/kg of body weight to alloxan induced diabetic rats resulted in significant (p < 0.001) decrease in blood glucose level in both acute and sub acute study protocol, it also significantly increase the glucose tolerance in OGTT test animals. These results indicate that the phytosterols exhibit significant anti-hyperglycemic activity.


The electro-optic coefficients for the chromophore nitroamino tolane [NAT:HOCH2CH2-N(C2H5)-ϕ-C≡ C-ϕ-NO2] attached to either a poly(methyl methacrylate) or an epoxy polymer have been measured by three different techniques: attenuated total reflection, ellipsometric reflection, and Mach–Zehnder interferometry. All the results for r33 and r13 were consistent and in agreement. A comparison of these experimental methods is given. The ratios between the electro-optic coefficients and the relationships between the coefficients and the second-harmonic components give additional information about these nonlinear-optical polymers. Interestingly, it was found that the observed electro-optic coefficients increased after the samples had aged a few months.


Women entrepreneurships important for the development of our country. A majority of the Indian women live in villages. Therefore, the development of rural women entrepreneurship is necessary for the true development of our country's economy. The Government of India and the Planning commission of India acknowledged that rural women entrepreneurship is to be promoted for the economic development. The rural women of India are trying to foray into entrepreneurship. However, the problems encountered by the rural women entrepreneurs are completely different from those of their urban counterparts. Tourism sector can provide lot of chances for the rural women development through entrepreneurship. This phenomenon of contemporary practices in tourism is deliberated about in this study bringing forward the four case studies of rural women entrepreneurs in tourism sector. The focus of the present paper is to gain insight into the concept of rural women entrepreneurship in tourism sector focusing on to examine the need of rural women entrepreneurs in tourism, barriers as well as difficulties experienced by rural women, issues and challenges in contemporary practices in tourism andto suggest measures for women empowerment from tourism.


PART 1. CATALOGING SOME IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS SINCE 1966 1966--MARC Pilot Project begins 1967--Ohio College Library Center formed as a regional processing center for academic libraries in Ohio 1968--Library of Congress begins distribution of machine-readable cataloging records 1970--Ohio College Library Center implements offline system for catalog card production 1971--Ohio College Library Center introduces online cataloging system 1971--University of Toronto Library Automation System (UTLAS) formed to extend automation initiatives begin by library's systems department 1972--Ohio College Library Center extends cataloging service to non-academic libraries in Ohio 1972--BALLOTS system becomes operational at Stanford 1973--Ohio College Library Center expands cataloging service to libraries outside of Ohio 1973--UTLAS introduces CATSS online cataloging system 1974--RLG formed 1974--MARC Applied Research founded; introduces MARCFICHE cataloging service 1976--BALLOTS cataloging service introduced to California libraries 1977--Ohio College Library Center changes name to OCLC Incorporated 1977--Washington Library Network (WLN) initiates online cataloging service for libraries in Pacific Northwest 1977--UTLAS becomes an ancillary enterprise of University of Toronto, separate from the library 1978--RLIN cataloging service initiated by RLG as outgrowth of BALLOTS 1979--OCLC signs first participating library outside of U.S. 1980--Informatics introduces MINI MARC turnkey cataloging system 1981--OCLC Incorporated changes name to Online Computer Library Center, but retains abbreviation 1981--OCLC Europe office established 1981--Auto-Graphics Interactive Library Exchange (AGILE II) system introduced 1982--Brodart introduces Interactive Access System 1983--Library of Congress replaces printed National Union Catalog with microfiche edition 1983--UTLAS incorporated as private company owned by University of Toronto 1983--OCLC establishes Enhance program as quality control initiative for contributed cataloging 1985--The Library Corporation introduces BiblioFile, first CD-ROM cataloging product 1985--UTLAS acquired by International Thomson Organization 1985--WLN becomes Western Library Network 1985--LSSI introduces videodisk implementation of MINI MARC turnkey cataloging system 1986--OCLC Asia-Pacific Services Office formed 1987--UTLAS introduces Japan CATSS implementation 1987--WLN introduces LaserCat CD-ROM cataloging product 1987--GRC International introduces LaserQuest CD-ROM cataloging product 1987--Gaylord introduces SuperCat CD-ROM cataloging product 1988--OCLC introduces CatCD cataloging product 1989--UTLAS introduces Chinese CATSS implementation 1990--WLN becomes private, not-for-profit corporation 1992--UTLAS introduces Korean CATSS implementation 1992--UTLAS acquired by ISM Information Systems Management Corporation 1992--Open DRA Net introduced on Internet 1995--OCLC Latin American and Caribbean Office established 1997--CATSS bibliographic utility acquired by Auto-Graphics; Impact/MARCit web-based cataloging service introduced by A-G Canada 1997--The Library Corporation introduces ITS.MARC web-based cataloging service 1999--OCLC acquires WLN BACKGROUND Cataloging is a mission-critical library operation. Reference, collection development, circulation, serials control, document delivery, resource sharing, and other library activities depend on informative, reliable descriptions of books, periodicals, and other library materials. Computerization of cataloging is consequently essential for successful automation of other library operations. …


In microelectrophoretic experiments, prostaglandins E1 and E2 antagonize the reduction in discharge rate of cerebellar Purkinje cells produced by norepinephrine. Slowing of discharge evoked by 3',5'-adenosine monophosphate or gamma aminobutyric acid is not antagonized. These data provide the first indication that endogenous prostaglandins may physiologically function to modulate central noradrenergic junctions.


We compare the DARKexp differential energy distribution, N(ε) ∝ exp(ϕ0 − ε) − 1, obtained from statistical mechanical considerations, to the results of N-body simulations of dark matter halos. We first demonstrate that if DARKexp halos had anisotropic velocity distributions similar to those of N-body simulated halos, their density and energy distributions could not be distinguished from those of isotropic DARKexp halos. We next carry out the comparison in two ways, using (1) the actual energy distribution extracted from simulations and (2) N-body fitting formula for the density distribution as well as N(E) computed from the density using the isotropic Eddington formula. Both of the methods independently agree that DARKexp N(E) with ϕ0 ≈ 4–5 is an excellent match to N-body N(E). Our results suggest (but do not prove) that statistical mechanical principles of maximum entropy can be used to explain the equilibrated final product of N-body simulations.


The following genera of Cymothoidae are recorded from Australia: Catoessa Schiodte & Meinert, Elthusa SchiOdte & Meinert, Enispa SchiOdte & Meinert, Ichthyoxenus Herklots, Livoneca Leach and Norileca n.gen. Full diagnoses are given for Enispa, Livoneca and Norileca n.gen. For the remaining genera provisional diagnoses are given. Idusa SchiOdte & Meinert is rediagnosed to allow separation from Catoessa. All the species described herein would have previously been placed in Livoneca. Examination of the type material of L. redmanii shows that all other species placed in the genus, except for L. bowmani Brusca, are not congeners, and are reassigned, where possible, to other genera. The genus Livoneca is found to belong to the Anilocrinae, and is most closely related to the Nerocila group of genera. The principal characters used in redefining these genera and assigning Livoneca and Norileca to the Anilocrinae are the morphology of the brood pouch, pleopods, pleon and cephalon. The species described are Catoessa ambassae n.sp., Elthusa myripristae n.sp., E. neocytta (Avdeev), E. propinqua (Richardson), E. raynaudii (Milne-Edwards), E. sacciger (Richardson), E. sigani n.sp., E. turgidula (Hale), Enispa irreqularis (Bleeker),lchthyoxenus minabensis (Shiino ),Norileca indica (Milne-Edwards) and Norileca triangulata (Richardson). Discussion is given of the genera treated and the problems present in attempting to diagnose subfamilies within the Cymothoidae. Keys are given to the Australian gill attaching genera and the Australian species of the genera Elthusa and Norileca. BRUCE, N.L., 1990. The genera Catoessa, Elthusa, Enispa, Ichthyoxenus, Idusa, Livoneca and Norileca n.gen., (Isopoda, Cymothoidae), crustacean parasites of marine fishes, with descriptions of eastern Australian species. Records of the Australian Museum 42(3): 247-300. 247


Executive Information Systems (EIS) grew out ofthe information needs oftop executives. The recent literature reports that EIS usage has spread throughout organisations. Web-based technologies are causing a revisit ofexisting IT implementation models, including those for EIS. These technologies include: Intranet, Internet, Extranet, e-Commerce: Business-to-Business (B2B), e-Comrnerce: Business-to-Consumer (B2C), Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) and other mobile technologies. The author conducts a field study of 31 well-established organisations in KwaZulu/Natal, South Africa, which have EIS experience. A validated survey instrument is administered to an EIS stakeholder in each organisation surveyed. This dissertation reports on (1) an investigation into previous research on IT adoption; (2) that there is little evidence to support that the theoretical usage aspects of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) are echoed in EIS implementations in KwaZulu/Natal; and (3) identifies and ranks Web-based technologies in order of their perceived impact on EIS currently and in the future. There is a positive impact level trend for all Web-based technologies on future EIS implementations. The results from this field study could be useful in formulating a set ofmanagement perspectives for organisations in South Africa wishing to embark on EIS implementation programs.


This a wide-ranging selection of 130 readings in Japanese law. The essays, extracted from previously published books and articles, cover subjects including historical context, the civil law tradition, the legal services industry, dispute resolution, constitutional law, contracts, torts, criminal law, family law, employment law, corporate law, and economic regulation. This unique collection of readings is accompanied by the texts of the Japanese constitution and other basic laws.


What makes each of us, as individuals, human to one another, or, more generally, what makes an individual creature human? We have not often had to ask the question because of the species line based on reproductive capacity and incapacity, although "degrees of humanness" were explored in the various eugenic programs of the last century. Now the biotechnological possibility of fusing human and other forms of life is presenting the question in a new and serious way. If the traditional biological means of defining species are no longer reliable, what other criteria might determine what is "human" and what is "nonhuman?" The issue is not just how to conceive of an individual hybrid presented to us, but how to act toward the creature, at the most basic level. Drawing on animal law and theory as well as the history of human eugenics in law and policy, this essay surveys criteria that may one day be used to gauge relative humanness, qualitative and quantitative. It observes that ultimately the difficulty of deciding or agreeing upon what identifies us as human will make even more problematic the current treatment of creatures deemed purely "animal." In the end it suggests that what the human distinctively brings to the sentient world is general responsibility itself, and that wider contemplation of the real possibility of human-animal hybridization may lead to new ways of thinking about animals, in law and beyond.


This book represents a critical examination of key aspects of crime and criminal justice in Northern Ireland which will have resonance elsewhere. It considers the core aspects of criminal justice policymaking in Northern Ireland which are central to the process of post-conflict transition, including reform of policing, judicial decision-making and correctional services such as probation and prisons. It examines contemporary trends in criminal justice in Northern Ireland as related to various dimensions of crime relating to female offenders, young offenders, sexual and violent offenders, race and criminal justice, community safety and restorative justice. The book also considers the extent to which crime and criminal justice issues in Northern Ireland are being affected by the broader processes of 'policy transfer', globalisation and transnationalism and the extent to which criminal justice in Northern Ireland is divergent from the other jurisdictions in the United Kingdom. Written by leading international authorities in the field, the book offers a snapshot of the cutting edge of critical thinking in criminal justice practice and transitional justice contexts.


Nanotechnology is an interdisciplinary science comprising of various disciplines such as physics, chemistry, electronics, material science, health science, biology and veterinary science. The ability to manufacture and manipulate material at nanoscale has offered opportunities to interface biological systems with outer world in new ways and with unprecedented precision. Veterinary science deals with all non human animals including wildlife and domesticated animals, livestock, working animals and companion animals. Nanotechnology has contributed in revolutionizing health and veterinary sciences by providing new tools and new materials for molecular and cellular biology that are beneficial for living organisms. The variety of nanomaterials that are used for diagnosis and treatment include metallic nanoparticle, quantum dots, carbon nanotubes, magnetic nanoparticles, fullerenes, liposomes, dendrimers and engineered hybrid nanoparticles. However, at present, little data is available on the ecotoxicological and toxicological effects associated with these nanomaterials and hence there is a need to address these issues as physiological properties of nanomaterials are expected to influence their biological response. It is believed that in the upcoming years, nanotechnology will reform the science and technology of the animal health and will help to boost up the livestock production. Nanotechnology based techniques like bioanalytical nanosensors, nanofluidics, targeted drug delivery etc has the potential to solve problems related to diagnosis and treatment of diseases. In this review, we emphasize on how nanotechnology is swiftly changing the diagnosis and treatment patterns at faster and low cost in less time duration. There can be numerous applications of nanotechnology in disease diagnosis, treatment, drug delivery, animal nutrition, animal breeding, tissue engineering and animal identity verification. The role of nanotechnology in veterinary sciences is chiefly discussed as how nanomaterials can modernize the present life. Copyright © 2013 VBRI press.


This article examines the morphosyntactic representation of the subject agreement marker (SM) in null subject constructions in the Bantu language Kinyarwanda. Three prominent analyses are compared. The first analysis treats the SM in null subject constructions as a pronoun which receives the subject theta role in the morphology. The second approach analyses the SM as a syntactic pronoun, i.e. as a determiner phrase (DP) which receives its theta role in [Spec, V] and then moves to [Spec, T]. The third analysis is based on the theory of pro, which assumes that the subject theta role in null subject constructions is assigned to a phonetically unrealised pronoun. According to the pro-theory, the SM is simply a reflex of agreement between the verb and the null subject pro. The paper shows that the first analysis, which treats the SM as a morphological pronoun, must be rejected for Kinyarwanda on empirical grounds. In contrast, the paper argues that both remaining alternatives represent feasible accounts. The study identifies the empirical predictions and theoretical consequences which are associated with each of these two competing alternatives.


This thesis is based on three inter-related studies: the first part deals with the microbial consortium, the identification of microbes and their volatiles, the second part deals with the study of bio-chemical control methods of two conifer pests; the pine weevil Hylobius abietis (L.) and the root rot fungi Heterobasidion spp., and the third part describes the production of styrene by a fungus using forest waste.The large pine weevil (Hylobius abietis L.) is an economically important pest insect of conifers in reforestation areas of Europe and Asia. The female weevils protect their eggs from feeding conspecifics by adding frass (mixture of weevil feces and chewed bark) along with the eggs. In order to understand the mechanism behind frass deposition at the egg laying site and to find repellents/antifeedants for pine weevils, microbes were isolated from the aseptically collected pine weevil frass. Microbial produced volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were collected by solid phase micro extraction and analyzed by GC-MS after cultivating them on weevil frass broth. The major VOCs were tested against pine weevils using a multi-choice olfactometer. Ewingella sp., Mucor racemosus, Penicillium solitum, P. expansum, Ophiostoma piceae, O. pluriannulatum, Debaryomyces hansenii and Candida sequanensis were identified as abundant microbes. Styrene, 6-protoilludene, 1-octene-3-ol, 3-methylanisole, methyl salicylate, 2-methoxyphenol and 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol were the VOCs of persistently isolated microbes. In behavioral bioassay, methyl salicylate, 3-methylanisole and styrene significantly reduced the attraction of pine weevils to their host plant volatiles. Heterobasidion spp. are severe pathogenic fungi of conifers that cause root and butt rot in plants. Bacterial isolates were tested for the antagonistic activity against fungi on potato dextrose agar. Bacillus subtilis strains significantly inhibited the growth of H. annosum and H. parviporum. Styrene is an industrial chemical used for making polymeric products, currently produced from fossil fuel. A strain of Penicillium expansum isolated from pine weevil frass was investigated for the production of styrene using forest waste. Grated pine stem bark and mature oak bark supplemented with yeast extract produced greater amounts of styrene compared to potato dextrose broth.


Background:Total lymphocyte count (TLC) and hemoglobin level have been suggested as useful and inexpensive parameters to indicate need for HAART in settings in which CD4+ cell counts are unavailable. If delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response predicts clinical response in persons using highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), it may also prove useful in resource-poor settings. Objective:To examine whether TLC, hemoglobin, and DTH response observed prior to initiation of HAART predict post-HAART clinical response. Design:Prospective cohort study. Participants:873 women in the Women's Interagency HIV Study. Measurements:TLC, hemoglobin, CD4+ cell counts, and DTH testing using mumps, candida, and tetanus toxoid antigens, performed within 1 year prior to HAART initiation; death; self-report of initiation of HAART use and AIDS-defining illness (ADI). Results:Three different multivariate analyses were performed: 2 models that excluded CD4+ cell count and assessed TLC at either <850 or <1250 cells/μL, and 1 model that excluded TLC and included CD4+ <200 cells/μL. TLC <850, TLC <1250, CD4+ <200 cells/μL, anergy to DTH testing, hemoglobin <10.6 g/dL, and a pre-HAART report of ADI were each consistently independently associated both with death and with incident ADI. Log likelihood χ2 values suggested similar power among the 3 models in predicting both death and incident ADI. Conclusions:Pre-HAART TLC, hemoglobin level, anergy to DTH testing, and clinical disease each independently predicted morbidity and death after HAART initiation. These findings support the use of TLC to guide decision-making for HAART initiation and suggest that further study of TLC, hemoglobin level, and DTH responses as an indication to provide HAART may be useful in resource-limited settings.


Research evaluations are essential for allocating resources, yet their deadlines can affect scientific output. We document increases in research output quantity – accompanied by decreases in quality – near the time of government-set deadlines for university evaluations. For such evaluations, researchers submit (on average) 35% more papers that were published in the year preceding a deadline than in the year following that deadline. This effect is more pronounced for slower-paced fields, and pre-deadline publications receive (on average) 12% fewer citations. We conclude that evaluation deadlines may reduce the quality of research, highlighting the importance of an appropriate length for evaluation periods.


Abstract. In ensemble Kalman filtering (EnKF), the small number of ensemble members that is feasible to use in a practical data assimilation application leads to sampling variability of the estimates of the background error covariances. The standard approach to reducing the effects of this sampling variability, which has also been found to be highly efficient in improving the performance of EnKF, is the localization of the estimates of the covariances. One family of localization techniques is based on taking the Schur (element-wise) product of the ensemble-based sample covariance matrix and a correlation matrix whose entries are obtained by the discretization of a distance-dependent correlation function. While the proper definition of the localization function for a single state variable has been extensively investigated, a rigorous definition of the localization function for multiple state variables that exist at the same locations has been seldom considered. This paper introduces two strategies for the construction of localization functions for multiple state variables. The proposed localization functions are tested by assimilating simulated observations experiments into the bivariate Lorenz 95 model with their help.


ABSTRACT Slow sand filtration has been used for decades for the removal of pathogens from water. A combination of roughing and slow sand filters has been evaluated for the removal of pathogen indicators from secondary effluent. The filter system was modified with the addition of slag and coal clinker ash. The filter system reached up to 100% removal of faecal coliforms, faecal streptococci, Escherichia coli and total coliforms after 17 weeks of treatment. Log reductions ranged between 0.0–4.1, 1.33–2.0, 1.34–2.37 and 1.4–4.5 for E. coli, faecal streptococci, faecal coliforms and total coliforms respectively. There was no strong correlation between pH and the bacterial counts as correlation coefficients were −0.15, 0.15, 0.38 and −0.07 in respect to E. coli, faecal coliforms, faecal streptococci and total coliforms. The correlation coefficients for temperature were −0.18, −0.14, 0.10, and −0.39 for E. coli, faecal coliforms, faecal streptococci and total coliforms respectively, suggesting that temperature did not influence the bacterial removal efficiency. For turbidity, the correlation coefficients were 0.64, 0.70, 0.68 and −0.06 respectively, for E. coli, faecal coliforms, faecal streptococci and total coliforms. Only total coliforms had no correlation with turbidity. There was a significant difference between effluent from holding tank and slow sand filter as p values of 0.008, 0.0006, 0.00000, and 0.00008 were observed for faecal coliforms, faecal streptococci, E. coli and total coliforms counts, respectively. The results obtained indicate that the combination of roughing and slow sand filters can successfully reduce microorganisms from secondary wastewater. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT


This commentary proposes an approach to asset measurement rooted in business valuation theory and practice. In the context of a business valuation, investors' information needs and the asset measurement investors find useful vary with the manner in which the assets are expected to realize value for the firm. After reviewing arguments made in economic and accounting theory, accounting research, accounting standards, and practitioner and business valuation literature, we conclude that for in-exchange assets, investors need to determine the value expected to be realized in exchange. Exit price in a hypothetical market exchange (i.e. fair value) less expected costs to sell provides investors with decision-useful information in this regard; replacement cost and historical cost do not. For in-use assets investors require information useful in forecasting cash flows generated by using such assets in combination. Based on arguments and data presented in the aforementioned literature, we conclude that historical cost generally provides investors with decision-useful information for forecasting purposes; fair value does not. In addition, replacement cost can provide decision-useful information provided holding gains and losses are separately disclosed, but its decision-usefulness can be constrained by verifiability concerns.


BACKGROUND
Identifying factors associated with effective treatment for childhood obesity is important to improving weight loss outcomes. The current study investigated whether child or parent motivation throughout the course of treatment predicted reductions in BMI.

METHODS
Fifty 8- to 12-year-old children with overweight and obesity (BMI percentiles 85-98%) and their parents participated in a guided self-help weight loss program, which included 12 brief sessions across 5 months. Parents and interventionists reported on child and parent motivation level at each session. Multilevel slopes-as-outcome models were used to examine growth trajectories for both child and parent BMI across sessions.

RESULTS
Greater interventionist-rated child motivation predicted greater reductions in child BMI; parent motivation did not. However, interventionist-rated parent motivation predicted greater reductions in parent BMI, and its impact on BMI became more pronounced over the course of treatment, such that sustained motivation was more important than initial motivation. Children who were older, Latino, or who had lower initial BMIs had slower reductions in BMI.

CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that motivation may be an important predictor of reduced BMI in child obesity treatment, with sustained motivation being more important than initial motivation. In particular, interventionist-rated, but not parent-rated, motivation is a robust predictor of child and parent BMI outcomes. Future research may evaluate whether motivational interventions can enhance outcome, with particular attention to improving outcomes for Latino children.


This review discusses the potential of gas-phase H/D-exchange (HDX) reactions for supramolecular chemistry. The exchange of labile H against D atoms can help unravel structural details of supramolecules—in particular when combined with other gas-phase experiments, e.g. ion-mobility MS. The presence of different, non-interconverting structures in an ion population can lead to bimodal exchange distributions. Since hydrogen bonding has an effect on the exchange rates, the number and positions of hydrogen bonds can often be determined. Zwitterionic and charge-solvated structures of amino acids and peptides can be distinguished. Beyond structure, dynamic features such as the mobility of building blocks within complexes can be investigated.


SW 152 | STRESS REDUCTION USING HUMOR AND SPIRITUALITY | 2 quarter hours (Undergraduate) Stress affects the body in dramatic ways, and is a major contributing factor in chronic and degenerative diseases. We will understand/describe the physiology and biochemistry of stress and, more importantly, apply effective methods to reduce and manage it. Effective stress reduction and burnout prevention then become important health, wellness, productivity and disease prevention strategies for individuals, schools, businesses, the medical industry and the culture. The effective stress reduction techniques include breathing, biofeedback, humor, spiritual exploration, connection and inspiration. The holistic paradigm of body, mind and spirit supports our informed search for meaning, connection, calm productivity and enhanced health. (2-4 quarter hours)


Hydroxyethyl starch (HES) 130/0.4 is an artificial colloid solution commonly used to treat shock in dogs. Adverse effects from this solution have been reported in people, including platelet dysfunction. It was unknown if HES 130/0.4 causes platelet dysfunction in dogs. Therefore, we investigated the in vitro and in vivo effects of HES 130/0.4 on platelet function in dogs. We used closure time (CT) using the platelet function analyser-100 and adenosine diphosphate-collagen cartridges as a platelet agonist, to measure platelet function in this report. In the in vitro study, two solutions were compared: HES 130/0.4 and HES 200/0.5. Citrated blood from ten healthy dogs was diluted 1:9 and 1:3 with HES 130/0.4, HES 200/0.5 and 0.9% sodium chloride (NaCl). Closure time of the diluted blood was measured. Only HES 200/0.5 increased the CT beyond the dilutional effect at the 1:3 dilution, to a median CT of 125 seconds (interquartile range, 117.5 to 139.5 seconds), suggesting that HES 200/0.5, but not HES 130/0.4, caused platelet dysfunction at this dilution. No effect of HES or dilution on CT was identified at the 1:9 dilution. In the in vivo study, haemorrhagic shock was induced by removing 48ml/kg of blood from eleven greyhounds under general anaesthesia. Dogs were randomised to receive either 20mL/kg of HES 130/0.4 or 80mL/kg of 0.9% NaCl intravenously over 20 minutes. Both the HES 130/0.4 and 0.9% NaCl group had a significantly increased mean CT after fluid administration to 91.4 seconds (95% CI 69.3-113.4) and 95.5 seconds (95% CI 78.2-112.8), respectively. The magnitude of change was significantly greater for the 0.9% NaCl group than the HES 130/0.4 group, indicating the increase in CT with HES 130/0.4 is most likely due to a dilutional effect. In this study we also investigated the effect of shock on platelet function by measuring CT before and after inducing haemorrhagic shock. We found haemorrhagic shock did not significantly change CT. This report suggests HES 130/0.4 does not cause significant platelet dysfunction in dogs.


We present a characterization of the close environment of GRB 980425 based on 5-160 μm spectro-imaging obtained with Spitzer. The gamma-ray burst GRB 980425 occurred in a nearby (z = 0.0085) SBc-type dwarf galaxy at a projected distance of 900 pc from an H II region with strong signatures of Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars. While this "WR region" produces less than 5% of the B-band emission of the host, we find that it is responsible for 45% ± 10% of the total infrared luminosity, with a maximum contribution reaching 75% at 25-30 μm. This atypical property is rarely observed among morphologically relaxed dwarfs, suggesting a strong causal link with the gamma-ray burst (GRB) event. The luminosity of the WR region (L_(8-1000 μm) = 4.6 × 10^8 L_☉), the peak of its spectral energy distribution at ≾100 μm, and the presence of highly ionized emission lines (e.g., [Ne III]) also reveal extremely young (<5 Myr) star-forming activity, with a typical timescale of only 47 Myr to double the stellar mass already built. Finally, the mid-IR over B-band luminosity ratio in this region is substantially higher than in star-forming galaxies with similar L_(IR), but it is lower than in young dust-enshrouded stellar clusters. Considering the modest obscuration measured from the silicate features (τ_(9.7 μm) ~ 0.015), this suggests that the WR region is dominated by one or several star clusters that have either partly escaped or cleared out their parent molecular cloud. Combined with the properties characterizing the whole population of GRB hosts, our results reinforce the idea that long GRBs mostly happen within or in the vicinity of relatively unobscured galactic regions harboring very recent star formation.


In the wake of the subprime crisis, there has been widespread discussion of the disproportionate risks posed to the financial system by large banks that may consider themselves 'too big to fail'. This has led in turn to suggestions that radical policies with the effect of reducing bank size and complexity may be needed. We present results of GMM estimation for 713 OECD banks which show that size is indeed related to risk taking, as measured by charge-offs, and that banks with large proportions of Tier 2 capital are particularly vulnerable to adverse incentives.


This paper examines U.S. investors' portfolio investment patterns since the global financial crisis, particularly since the European debt crisis that began in late 2009. The global financial crisis during 2007-2009 was accompanied by an increase in U.S. investors' home bias. U.S. investors experienced significant valuation losses and pulled back notably from their foreign investment, especially from foreign debt. In contrast, while they have also incurred sizable losses on cross-border investment during the European debt crisis, U.S. investors so far have not shown any increase in home bias, and they have not even pulled back from their long-term investments in Europe. Holdings data show that U.S. investors have continued to invest in European securities, particularly in government debt, but have made little new investment in the financial sector. This continued interest in European securities could owe to the fact that most of U.S. holdings of European debt have been concentrated in dollar-denominated debt issued by core euro area countries and the United Kingdom, which are deemed relatively safe. Changes in the composition of holdings over the past couple years suggest that U.S. investors have behaved in a way that reflects their diversity and differing objectives: while investors reached for higher yields in government debt, there also appears to be some shift toward safer investment in the financial sector.


As a student in the final throes of undergraduate work, I've begun to look back at my college career and consider the academic experiences that made me into the writer I am today. The element that most intrigues me is the role my professors have had in shaping my writing voice and approach, and as I move forward in academia, I can't help but wonder about the dynamic between the student writer and the professor reader. Academic writing, to me, has sometimes felt bound within the four walls of the institution, making the writing I have done for classes feel like it is meant for professors' eyes only. I wonder what effect this single audience has had in shaping me as an academic writer. Obviously there are times and classes where having a sole reader of work is both appropriate and freeing, and this is especially true in early composition classes where student writers are developing confidence. But, for me, this dynamic did not change much as I progressed through my undergraduate degree, and I have to imagine that this constant and familiar single audience played a part in molding who I am as an academic writer. So, I set out to discover the effects a professor has on student writing when acting as a terminal audience. Do students approach academic writing for a professor differently than they approach self-directed writing? How do students view their class assignments in terms of their validity for publication or even for sharing with loved ones? And what are the alternatives to having the professor act as a sole audience? These are the questions I intend to answer. Degree Type Open Access Senior Honors Thesis Department English Language and Literature First Advisor Derek N. Mueller Second Advisor Bernard A. Miller This open access senior honors thesis is available at DigitalCommons@EMU: http://commons.emich.edu/honors/307


The third-order nonlinear optical properties of polyaniline (PANI) solutions and films were investigated at 532 nm by use of Z-scan, power limiting, and optical Kerr gate techniques. The polymers studied were the undoped partially oxidized (emeraldine base) and fully reduced (leucoemeraldine base) forms of PANI. Our results demonstrate that the leucoemeraldine base is more suitable for use in devices such as all-optical switches and optical power limiters operating at 532 nm. The worse performance of the emeraldine base is due to the presence of defects inside the bandgap of the polymer.


Partially penetrating prefabricated vertical drain (PVDs) with a combined surcharge and vacuum preloading are considered in this paper. The analysis results can be used in cases where the soft soil clay is too deep and not economical to be penetrated to full depth, or the surcharge preloading is too small to justify full penetration of soft clay layer or the vacuum pressure can be lost, which is caused by the permeability of the bottom of the clay for the fully penetrated drain etc.. In this model, a virtual vertical drain is assumed to reflect the real three-dimensional seepage in the soil beneath the tip of PVD instead of using the traditional one-dimensional consolidation theory, and at the same time, the well-resistance and the smear zone can be also considered. The vacuum pressure distribution is assumed to be no loss along the drain, whereas a zero pore pressure boundary condition is assumed at the interface between the bottom clay layer and the lower drainage layer. The proposed solutions are then employed to analyze a case history.


Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major global cause of morbidity and mortality. Studies in urban areas have shown associations between air pollutants and hospital admissions for COPD. Whether temporal variations in air quality are associated with hospital admissions for COPD in a rural region with lower concentrations of air pollutants than previously studied was investigated. Methods: Daily COPD admissions were recorded for patients attending three hospitals in the county of Norfolk, UK, between January 2006 and February 2007. Records were combined with daily information on concentrations of six air pollutants (carbon monoxide, nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, oxides of nitrogen, ozone and fine particulates), airborne pollens, temperature and influenza incidence. A case–crossover analysis was used to examine the association between air pollution and daily admissions. Results: There were 1050 admissions for COPD over the study period. After adjustment for temperature, pollen and respiratory infections, each 10 μg/m3 increase in CO was associated with a 2% increase in the odds of admission. V3alues of 17%, 22% and 9% were observed for NO, NO2 and oxides of nitrogen respectively. No associations were observed with O3 or particulates. Conclusion: Among a population of a less urbanised area than previously investigated, this study found evidence that ambient pollutant concentrations were still associated with the risks of hospital admission for COPD.


An efficient, reliable very high resolution dynamical downscaling model, a regional climate model (Weather Research and Forecasting‐Advanced Research Weather Research and Forecasting) one‐way nested into skillful general circulation model (National Center for Atmospheric Research‐Community Climate System Model version 4), is configured and implemented for ecologically sensitive, densely populated west coast of India encompassing Western Ghats (WG) having complex, meridionally oriented orography and wide biodiversity. This model with 3 km resolution resolves orographic features enabling realistic simulation of physical and dynamical characteristics of present‐day Indian summer monsoon (ISM) and extreme events, particularly recent trends in ISM rainfall over WG as observed. Marked skill of this model provides confidence in its future climate projection at regional scale. Future ISM rainfall projection shows significant increase (reduction) over 50.7% (5.8%) of Indian grid points. Significant reduction (10–20% of mean) over WG is due to upper‐tropospheric warming effect that stabilizes the atmosphere. Projected changes in extreme events show overall increase in warm days and warm nights over India with maximum increase over South India. Projected changes show widespread increase in wet days over most of India and reduction over WG. Projection of consecutive dry days implies wetter future for most parts of India but strengthened drought conditions for WG. Wind extreme projection shows strengthened (weakened) low (high) winds probability over WG and increase (decrease) in very high (low) winds over central India. This study establishes the importance of (i) employing sufficiently high‐resolution model, (ii) using bias‐corrected boundary data, and (iii) configuring model for realistic present‐day climate over complex topographic coastlines such as the west coast, in order to obtain useful climate change information for adaptation measures.


The compelling challenges facing the food industry call for imminent action. Nutrition, obesity, food safety, and food and health are examples of unprecedented pressures that a single organisation is not in a position to address alone. In recognising the growing concern to address these challenges, this study has focused on the transference of knowledge from the Institute of Food Research (IFR) to food manufacturer SMEs in the UK. This study investigates three knowledge transfer projects within IFR by identifying the mechanisms driving them.
The study is positioned in the science-industry knowledge transfer literature. An analysis of this literature leads to the conclusion that current studies rely heavily on correlations with positivist assumptions, with a deficit of explanatory accounts. There is also a lack of studies that look at knowledge transfer at different levels of analysis. The aim of this study is to offer a mechanismic explanation for how and why knowledge transfer happened in these three projects. From empirical data from 52 interviews with individuals involved in the projects, observations from industry and science events, and document analysis, a novel process-tracing methodology was employed to trace the generative mechanisms for each project.
The data are analysed from a critical realist perspective. An explanatory account is provided through the incorporation of a multilevel framework that includes structure, agency and interaction levels. Through qualitative analysis, abductive reasoning and systematic combining, the findings move from what happened, to the mechanisms underlying each project, to a contextualised theoretical explanation.
Because this study problematises conventional research approaches, it is able to shed new light on the phenomenon under study: the generative mechanism that explain science-industry knowledge transfer. Methodologically, it offers a critical realist framework for the analysis of different ontological layers, and also a process-tracing approach that looks at analytically investigating empirical evidence. The practical contribution is a robust explanation that recognises the micro-foundations and structural constraints and opportunities in knowledge transfer relationships. The conclusion is that although there is no single ideal type of project, motivations or interactions that makes knowledge transfer successful, the predominant mechanisms tend to be rooted in social interactions and non-pecuniary rewards.


We investigate intimate proxemic zones of exhibits, which are zones that visitor will respect and hence not enter. In a first experiment we show that exhibits have, like humans, an intimate proxemic zone that is respected by exhibition visitors and which is 27cm. A zone around an exhibit that visitors will not enter can be increased through lines projected on the floor. In a second experiment we showed that for distances larger than 95cm, static lines will not protect the intimate zone of the exhibit anymore, but animated or color changing lines will do and allow for dynamically changing the zone size. This paper provides fundamental insight in intimate proxemic zones of exhibits and about how we can use interactive floor projections to manipulate these zones in the context of exhibitions. That might be used, for example, to increase the safety zone of exhibits if the room is crowded.


We use new longitudinal census microdata to provide the first causal evidence of how gentrification affects a broad set of outcomes for original resident adults and children. Gentrification modestly increases out-migration, though movers are not made observably worse off and neighborhood change is driven primarily by changes to in-migration. At the same time, many original resident adults stay and benefit from declining poverty exposure and rising house values. Children benefit from increased exposure to higher-opportunity neighborhoods, and some are more likely to attend and complete college. Our results suggest that accommodative policies, such as increasing the supply of housing in high-demand urban areas, could increase the opportunity benefits we find, reduce out-migration pressure, and promote long-term affordability


The dream of free trade in the Western Hemisphere suffered yet another blow on November 6, 2005, as the Fourth Summit of the Americas in Mar del Plata, Argentina concluded with no progress for the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) agreement. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, a vocal opponent of the United States, proclaimed the agreement dead, and many of his colleagues in the region tacitly agreed. Even US President George W. Bush conceded that the FTAA had taken a backseat to the more pressing matter of the December 2005 World Trade Organization (WTO) talks in Hong Kong. Hostile public opinion, supported by government resistance to FTAA policies and US-led free trade policies in general, was the main reason behind the failure of the FTAA. As early as June 1990, President Bush proposed the goal of ensuring hemispheric free trade by the year 2000. In pursuit of that vision, the FTAA began in 1994 with the first Summit of the Americas in Miami. The declaration that resulted from the summit called for the completion by 2005 of negotiations to implement a hemisphere-wide free-trade zone. In 1998 formal negotiations began in a second Summit of the Americas in Santiago, Chile. Though minister-level meetings moved the process along, progress did not come smoothly. At the third summit in Quebec City in 2001, the FTAA came to the forefront of media coverage amid massive protests against globalization and the practices of multinational corporations. What changed between 1994 and 2005? The political climates within member nations have started to turn against free trade. In the United States, 11 years after the implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement, public opinion has shifted to a more protectionist stance. Interest groups such as labor unions and farm lobbies undertook tremendous efforts to block the passage of the Central American Free Trade Agreement, which passed in July 2005 by only two votes in the US House of Representatives. Many Americans support free trade in principle but disapproved of the specific policies the US government was pursuing. A study by the Program on International Policy Attitudes polling 18,000 people across 19 countries showed that 56 percent of people supported the concept of increasing global trade but disagreed with the handling of specific consequences of trade, such as unemployment, the plight of the poor in other countries, and effects on the environment. While increased hostility toward trade in the United States has made President Bush's goals harder to attain, it has not scuttled the FTAA entirely. Latin American nations, many of which have resorted to outright protectionism, have affected the viability of the FTAA the most. …


1. Introduction. 2. Frankia inoculation, soil biota, and host tissue amendment influence Casuarina nodulation capacity of a tropical soil J.F. Zimpfer, et al. 3. An assessment of soil enrichment by actinorhizal N2 fixation using delta15N values in a chronosequence of deglaciation at Glacier Bay, Alaska S.J. Kohls, et al. 4. Effects of land irrigation with partially-treated wastewater on Frankia survival and infectivity W.F. Sayed. 5. The production and utilisation of monoclonal antibodies for identification of a Frankia strain utilised as inoculum for Casuarina equisetifolia A. Hahn, et al. 6. The effects of fire on soil nitrogen associated with patches of the actinorhizal shrub Ceanothus cordulatus B.B. Oakley, et al. 7. Alder and lupine enhanced nitrogen cycling in a degraded forest soil in Northern Sweden D.D. Myrold, K. Huss-Danell. 8. Germination and physiological properties of Frankia spores G.D. Krumholz, et al. 9. Improving dispersed growth of Frankia using Carbopol O.T. Harriott, A. Bourret. 10. Identification and expression studies of a catalase and a bifunctional catalase-peroxidase in Frankia strain R43 F. Tavares, et al. 11. Effect of electroporation conditions on cell viability of Frankia EuI1c A.K. Myers, L.S. Tisa. 12. Molecular cloning and characterization of adr and ivd genes from Frankia EuIK1 strain H.J. Kwon, et al. 13. Cloning, characterization and phylogenic analysis of the sigA s70 factor gene sequence from the actinomycete Frankia D. Blaha, B. Cournoyer. 14. An insertion sequence unique to Frankia strain ArI5 T.R. John, et al. 15. Genomic fingerprinting of Frankia strains by PCR techniques. Assessment of a primer based on the sequence of 16S rRNA gene of Escherichia coli J.M. Igual, et al. 16. Progress on the genetics of the N2-fixing actinorhizal symbiont Frankia C. Lavire, B. Cournoyer. 17. Ammonium assimilation in root nodules of actinorhizal Discaria trinervis. regulation of enzyme activities and protein levels by the availability of macronutrients (N, P and C) C. Valverde, L.G. Wall. 18. The regulation of nodulation, nitrogen fixation and ammonium assimilation under a carbohydrate shortage stress in the Discaria trinervis-Frankia symbiosis C. Valverde, L.G. Wall. 19. Seasonal flooding regimes influence survival, nitrogen fixation, and the partitioning of nitrogen and biomass in Alnus incana spp. rugosa C.M. Kaelke, J.O. Dawson. 20. Tripartite associations in an alder: effects of Frankia and Alpova diplophloeus on the growth, nitrogen fixation and mineral acquisition of Alnus tenuifolia T. Yamanaka, et al. 21. Nodulation potential of soils from red alder stands covering a wide age range K.J. Martin, et al. 22. A possible role for phenyl acetic acid (PAA) on Alnus glutinosa nodulation by Frankia Y. Hammad, et al. 23. Molecular phylogeny of Alnus (Betulaceae), inferred from nuclear ribosomal DNA ITS sequences E. Navarro, et al. 24.


In identifying whether universities provide opportunities for low-income students, there is a measurement challenge: different institutions face students with different incomes and preparation. We show how a hypothetical university's "relevant pool"–the students from whom it could plausibly draw–affects popular measures: the Pell share, Bottom Quintile share, and Intergenerational Mobility. Using a proof by contradiction, we demonstrate that universities ranked highly on the popular measures can actually serve disproportionately few low-income students. We also show the reverse: universities slated for penalties on the popular measures can actually serve disproportionately many low-income students. Furthermore, the Intergenerational Mobility measure penalizes universities that face relatively equal income distributions, which are probably good for low-income students, and rewards universities that face very unequal income distributions. In short, by confounding differences in university effort with differences in circumstances, the popular measures could distort university decision making and produce unintended consequences. We demonstrate that, with well-thought-out data analysis, it is possible to create benchmarks that actually measure what they are intended to measure. In particular, we present a measure that overcomes the deficiencies of the popular measures and is informative about all, not just low-income, students.


Abstract With increases in the heating and driving power in EAST, the present SiC-C plasma-facing components (PFCs) will be replaced by W coatings on actively cooled Cu heat sinks in the lower-heat-flux zone (first wall), prepared by vacuum plasma spraying, and by ITER-like W-Cu monoblocks in the higher-heat-flux zone (divertor). These components are provided with thousands of joints that should be assessed to demonstrate their integrity. An ultrasonic method named pulse echo using high-frequency probes and normal incidence of the ultrasonic beam to the joint interface has been developed. For the W-coating PFC, although the existence of porous structure, shrinkage cracks, and delamination in W coating can adversely affect the sensibility of detecting interface defects, the ultrasonic technique is able to detect, locate, and size them in certain conditions; for the W-Cu monoblocks, the ultrasonic technique is also able to detect, locate, and size defects in the W-oxygen-free high conductivity (OFHC) Cu interface, but further detecting and analysis should be carried out for the OFHC Cu-CuCrZr interface based on the preliminary work.


Unified Modeling Language (UML) is becoming widely accepted standard notation for expressing artifacts within software development process. One of basic activities performed within such development process is producing new or modifying existing artefacts. This activity can be viewed as performing transformations. This work presents problem area of UML model transformations. It starts with clarification of the notion of a transformation and classification of transformations. Further it includes an attempt to introduce a systematic way of defining and implementing UML transformations. Focus is on practical aspects of the definition and the implementation process. An example of the usage of the approach is presented. Advantages of the approach are highlighted and research problems are listed.


In 2017, Congress drastically reduced the corporate tax rate and provided an unprecedented deduction under section 199A for qualifying passthrough business income. Although purportedly necessary to maintain tax parity between income earned in corporate and noncorporate form, section 199A encourages active high-income passthrough owners to misclassify labor income as business profit, thereby reducing both income and employment taxes. This Article considers how section 199A is likely to affect choice of entity among different passthrough forms. Prior to the 2017 legislation, S corporations had an advantage over other passthroughs because of their ability to convert owner compensation into S corporation income not subject to employment taxes (or the section 1411 tax). Under the 2017 legislation, it is unclear whether S corporations will continue to represent the superior choice of passthrough entity. Section 199A provides a perverse incentive for S corporations to understate or overstate owner compensation depending on which technique minimizes combined income and employment taxes. The Treasury's decision to limit the reasonable compensation guardrail to S corporations highlights the anachronistic employment-tax treatment of passthrough entities, as well as the lack of any coherent rationale for preferential treatment of passthrough income. The Article concludes that section 199A offers a fertile field for income-shifting and potentially undermines the rationale for maintaining Subchapter S.


A real-world business book for the explosion of eBay entrepreneurs! Absolute Beginner's Guide to Launching an eBay Business guides you step-by-step through the process of setting up an eBay business, and offers real-world advice on how to run that business on a day-to-day basis and maximize financial success. This book covers determining what kind of business to run, writing an action-oriented business plan, establishing an effective accounting system, setting up a home office, obtaining starting inventory, arranging initial funding, establishing an eBay presence, and arranging for automated post-auction management.


This report details the discovery of a method for rhodium catalyzed asymmetric conjugate additions of heteroaryl nucleophiles to α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds. This work has successfully employed heteraryl titanates in enantioselective conjugate addition to α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds for the first time. Moreover, the utility of benzofuranyl, benzothiophenyl, and pyrrolo zinc reagents has been exemplified in enantioselective conjugate additions. We have found that the precatalyst [Rh(COD)acac]/OMeBIPHEP is broadly effective for enantioselective conjugate additions. Each heterocycle tested exhibited unique reactivity with respect to both conversion and enantioselectivity; reactivities of heteroaryl zinc reagents and heteroaryl titanates in enantioselective conjugate additions to α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds are sometimes complementary. Efforts directed towards the development of a method for rhodium-free enantioselective conjugate addition of furan to α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds are also described.


Metallic solid radioactive waste class low level - short lived Radioactive Waste (LL-SL RW) is the main type of radioactive waste generated from decommissioning operations. Transport, storage and disposal regulations require for gamma emitting radioactive waste (mainly by 137 Csisotope), that the dose rate in the proximity of the container should stand below a certain threshold. Also, the conditioning technique (using cementation technique) based on certain matrix with specific ratios should be able to attenuate the gamma radiation activity to the minimum level or to acceptable dosage rate at distance of 1m from the container. In this paper ,in absence of suitable labs for waste package assessment ,hypothetical method  present to assess dose rate in safe way, assumption based on metallic waste pieces  contaminated with ( 137 Cs), were conditioned with cement matrix and contained in carbon steel drum volume 220 liter  ,60cm diameter  then  dose rate measurement applied in vicinity of the container. Instead of real contaminated metallic waste, ( 137 Cs,D ∘ =20mR/hr)  gamma radioactive point  source was positioned in different places in front of cross section   of the cemented free metallic waste and gamma dose rates were measured on the outer side of the drum sample using NaI dose meter device. The readings showed good attenuation of gamma radiation activity (low dose rates), efficiency of the cement matrix to decrease the dose rate of ( 137 Cs,0.662Mev) gamma  radiation lower to acceptable values and with waste acceptance criteria and regulation.


A new expression for the radial dose distribution, tested against available data, and yielding good agreement with enzyme and virus cross sections, is used to calculate cellular inactivation cross sections from track theory models and parameters. We use a cellular model and radiosensitivity parameters, fitted to HILAC data 15 years ago, to represent mammalian cells irradiated at the UNILAC. The observed branching with Z and the decline in cellular action cross sections with an increase in ion LET are attributed to thindown; that is, to the limits imposed by the maximum radial penetration of delta rays. Target size and structure (hence the model) also play a role. Similar effects are observed with nuclear emulsions, scintillation counters, and thermoluminescent crystals at ion speeds approaching the Bragg peak, where, in the track width regime, the cross sections depend more on the ion speed than on LET.


Apart from the last 40 to 50 years, weed control in crops has always been a labour-intensive and time-consuming mechanical practice. Relief came in the form of chemical compounds that could control weeds, in particular selective herbicides. The development of highly effective selective herbicides has resulted in farmers becoming increasingly reliant on chemical weed control. Continuous application of herbicides with the same mode of action, however, selected for resistant mutations within weed populations to become dominant, rendering the herbicides less effective. Herbicide resistant weeds currently occur in 187 weed species distributed over 60 countries worldwide. South Africa is no exception and resistance in 15 weed species to herbicides in seven modes of action groups has been verified. This situation is compelling farmers to consider alternative weed control strategies and cropping systems. The most effective strategy to manage resistant weeds would most probably be an integrated weed management program that does not rely on any one type of weed control method alone. Farmers will therefore have to adapt weed management systems and cropping systems to delay the onset of herbicide resistance or, if it is already present, to manage it effectively in order to keep future crop production profitable and sustainable.


BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Human leukocyte elastase, proteinase 3 and cathepsin G are neutrophil granule proteins belonging to the hematopoietic serine protease superfamily. In addition to their established roles in inflammation, they have recently been implicated as regulators of granulopoiesis and mediators of apoptosis. We set out to characterize the individual biosynthetic profiles of these proteins in a neutrophil differentiation model.

DESIGN AND METHODS
CD34+CD38+ hematopoietic progenitor cells from 21 healthy human bone marrow donors were cultured in vitro in the presence of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). Biosynthetic radiolabeling was performed in cells from 13 subjects after various periods of differentiation induction. Following protein extraction, the proteins were specifically immunoprecipitated from cell lysates and media and run in gel electrophoresis. Biosynthetic profiles of azurophil granule proteins, in particular members of the neutrophil serine protease family, were examined during myeloid differentiation.

RESULTS
The onset of synthesis of myeloperoxidase, lysozyme, leukocyte elastase, and proteinase 3 occurred early after differentiation induction with G-CSF, while synthesis of cathepsin G, azurocidin, and bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein was detected somewhat later. Cathepsin G and proteinase 3 were retained intracellularly relatively efficiently, while leukocyte elastase and lysozyme were secreted to a greater extent. Cell morphology and positive immunocytochemistry for lactoferrin as well as flow cytometric analysis of selected surface antigens confirmed neutrophil-like maturation.

INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS
We demonstrate that azurophil granule proteins, including proforms of human leukocyte elastase, proteinase 3 and cathepsin G, are constitutively secreted to various degrees during in vitro myeloid differentiation of human hematopoietic progenitor cells, in addition to being stored intracellularly in active forms. These findings suggest protein-specific sorting mechanisms and may have implications for the regulation of granulopoiesis.


In Syria, seven years of conflict has been catastrophic. Thousands of qualified doctors and health workers have left since 2011. In neighbouring countries, informal employment among displaced Syrian health workers is broadly acknowledged. But the scale, scope and nature are poorly documented. This working paper details both the scale and the challenges Syrian healthcare workers face in Lebanon. It explores strategies Syrian health workers use to help cope with barriers such as formal labour market entry, the threat of deportation, ethical challenges in practice, and discrimination.

There is an urgent need to address legal barriers to registration to practise for Syrian healthcare workers. Key further research includes mapping health worker numbers, specialties and geographical distribution to support workforce planning, and research on current and potential training and development initiatives to further support Syrian health workers.


The process of European Union (EU) integration proceeds from economic to political integration. The economic integration itself proceeds from trade to financial to complete market integration. The sustainability of the process depends on some causal relation existing between economic and political integration. This causality is captured, in this paper, in the proposition that price-taking leads to policy-taking. This proposition of integration is defended against arguments from diverse sources and fields that maintain that homogeneity is necessary for integration or, in other words, that diversity stands in the way of integration. New developments in political philosophy (Rawls), social choice theory, macroeconomics and new institutional economics are reviewed with respect to their importance for the actual problems that EU integration and enlargement face. In the second part of the paper a converse of the proposition on integration is discussed. This proposition on disintegration states that policy-setters are price-setters too. Assuming the truth of the proposition, it follows that policy divergence, i.e., delayed integration, can be explained in terms of the political economy of the process. The benefits in the delay can be found in the possibility of relying on institutional and policy arrangements the use of which becomes feasible if integration is delayed. These benefits are mainly distributive and not allocative, i.e., they accrue from the use of less-than-democratic and other-than-market instruments of distribution of national resources. These political economy considerations apply mostly to those countries that are, actually or potentially, economically integrated with the EU, but are delaying or postponing their political integration. These are called 'stay-outs'. There are also those that can be classified as 'left-outs', i.e., countries that are not politically integrated with the EU because the EU is not ready to take them in. There are also 'opt-outs', which are countries that decide to stay out of one or the other facet of EU integration (e.g., from the monetary union). Apart from all these 'outs', there are countries that are outsiders. Examples are countries like Ukraine or Russia. These are countries which are, at the minimum, not economically integrated with the EU, temporarily or permanently. It is assumed that it is all but impossible for a country to be politically integrated into the EU and economically disintegrated from it. Given this complex political geography of the EU, the costs of stay-outs are studied. It is first illustrated that their actual or potential trade integration with the EU is quite high. Thus, these are countries that reveal inconsistent preferences their economic preferences are for integration, while their political preferences are against it. One would expect that their economic policy would be such as to stand in the way of their economic development. This fact is illustrated by looking at the divergence of their money markets from those in the EU. Given that they have significantly higher inflation than the EU and given that their interest rates are also significantly higher, their actual growth rate should be lower than the potential one. This lower than possible growth rate is the main cost of their policy of delaying integration.


In the Northern Patagonian gulfs of Argentina (Golfo Nuevo and Golfo San José), blooms of toxigenic microalgae and the detection of their associated phycotoxins are recurrent phenomena. The present study evaluated the transfer of phycotoxins from toxigenic microalgae to mesozooplankton in Golfo Nuevo and Golfo San José throughout an annual cycle (December 2014–2015 and January 2015–2016, respectively). In addition, solid‐phase adsorption toxin tracking (SPATT) samplers were deployed for the first time in these gulfs, to estimate the occurrence of phycotoxins in the seawater between the phytoplankton samplings. Domoic acid was present throughout the annual cycle in SPATT samplers, whereas no paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins were detected. Ten toxigenic species were identified: Alexandrium catenella, Dinophysis acuminata, Dinophysis acuta, Dinophysis tripos, Dinophysis caudata, Prorocentrum lima, Pseudo‐nitzschia australis, Pseudo‐nitzschia calliantha, Pseudo‐nitzschia fraudulenta, and Pseudo‐nitzschia pungens. Lipophilic and hydrophilic toxins were detected in phytoplankton and mesozooplankton from both gulfs. Pseudo‐nitzschia spp. were the toxigenic species most frequent in these gulfs. Consequently, domoic acid was the phycotoxin most abundantly detected and transferred to upper trophic levels. Spirolides were detected in phytoplankton and mesozooplankton for the first time in the study area. Likewise, dinophysistoxins were found in mesozooplankton from both gulfs, and this is the first report of the presence of these phycotoxins in zooplankton from the Argentine Sea. The dominance of calanoid copepods indicates that they were the primary vector of phycotoxins in the pelagic trophic web. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;38:2209–2223. © 2019 SETAC.


Circulating between different cycles Around a million years ago, large-scale ocean circulation changed dramatically during the switch from ∼41,000- to ∼100,000-year long glacial cycles. Pena and Goldstein analyzed the isotopic composition of neodymium in marine sediments from the South Atlantic. The results suggest how the contributions of deep water from northern and southern sources varied across the transition. The boundary between the two glacial states appears to have been marked by a dramatic weakening, perhaps even a shutdown, of deep-water currents. Science, this issue p. 318 Marine thermohaline circulation changed markedly during the mid-Pleistocene transition. The mid-Pleistocene transition (MPT) marked a fundamental change in glacial-interglacial periodicity, when it increased from ~41-thousand-year to 100-thousand-year cycles and developed higher-amplitude climate variability without substantial changes in the Milankovitch forcing. Here, we document, by using Nd isotopes, a major disruption of the ocean thermohaline circulation (THC) system during the MPT between marine isotope stages (MISs) 25 and 21 at ~950 to 860 thousand years ago, which effectively marks the first 100-thousand-year cycle, including an exceptional weakening through a critical interglacial (MIS 23) at ~900 thousand years ago. Its recovery into the post-MPT 100-thousand-year world is characterized by continued weak glacial THC. The MPT ocean circulation crisis facilitated the coeval drawdown of atmospheric CO2 and high-latitude ice sheet growth, generating the conditions that stabilized 100-thousand-year cycles.


Major mainly offered on the Northeast Campus however some courses are also taught at the Southeast campus and at NSU-BA


Seven herbs by irradiating with Cobalt-60 gamma irradiation. The microbial loads i.e., total bacterial count and total fungal count and the phytochemical analysis (total phenol contents, total flavonoids contents and antioxidant activity)of both control and irradiated herbs were determined. The gamma radiation with standard dosages from 1 kGy to 7 kGy decreases bacterial heaps of herbal material from 3 log cycles to 6 log cycles. A dosage of 5 kGy decrease the bacterial capacity by 4 log cycles to 7 log cycles in addition a dosage of 7 kGy removed microbial load from the whole herbal medicinal product. The more useful dosages of herbal medicinal product were expected to have in the range from 1 kGy up to 7 kGy. The more effective gamma irradiation between 1 kGy to 7 kGy improved the elimination of microbial load and also improved the quality of the herbal product and also enhanced the shelf life of herbal products for both the local and international marketplaces.


Two types of alkali-aggregate reaction (AAR) are currently recognized depending on the nature of the reactive mineral; these are alkali-silica reaction (ASR) and alkali-carbonate reaction (ACR). Both types of reaction can result in expansion and cracking of concrete elements, leading to a reduction in the service life of concrete structures. This handbook serves as an illustrated guide to assist users in detecting and distinguishing ASR in the field from other types of damages.


This study investigates the impact of alternative demographic futures on the Canadian pension system.

The Canadian population, disaggregated by age, sex, and marital status, is projected forward to the year 2051 under six alternative sets of assumptions, comprising four sets shared by all national studies (including the benchmark scenario) and two sets specific to this study (including the national scenario). According to these projections, the old age dependency ratio, or ratio of the old age to the working age populations, will be multiplied by about 2.5 between now and 2030 -- slightly less under the benchmark scenario (based on unchanged patterns of fertility, mortality, and marital status change but assuming no external migration) but slightly more under the national scenario (based on a further mortality decline and allowing for external migration at mid-eighties levels). In other words, socio-demographic changes are likely in the future to exert some tremendous pressures on the financing of public pensions.

Based on these demographic projections, use of the IIASA pension model reveals the ineluctability of a formidable increase in the contribution rate of workers to the Canada/Quebec Pension Plan so that contributions to this plan continue to counterbalance the benefits offered to retirees (old age benefits to which any Canadian aged 65 and over is entitled are paid out of the general budget). But the increase required could be mitigated by the adoption of accompanying policies, two of which (increase in the labor force participation of men and raise of the retirement age) are also briefly investigated.