Abstract. The performance of two numerical models of different complexity, i.e., a Shallow Ice Approximation (SIA) and a Full-Stokes Model (FSM), is studied by analyzing glacier evolutions at various bed geometries and by applying different climatic forcings. Glacier bed geometry changes from a constant slope and a uniform width to a superimposed Gaussian bump or ice-fall on a constant slope and an exponentially varying width. Constant slopes of 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 are chosen to study the evolution of a large, medium and small glacier, respectively. A specific mass balance serves as a climatic forcing. The steady state is reached 60, 30 and 10 years, respectively faster for large, medium and small glacier, when simulations are performed using SIA instead of FSM. Glaciers time response is studied by using step and periodic changes, and by imposing natural variability in the equilibrium-line altitude. Glacier length response time is up to 14 years longer when FSM is used compared to SIA. When periodic and natural variability are enforced, glaciers simulated using SIA lag in phase compared to the forcing up to 81.2° for glacier length and up to 56.5° for volume. Contrary to that, glaciers simulated with FSM show greater lag in phase compared to the forcing for glacier length and smaller lag for volume. The models differ in their treatment of glacier flow mechanics and differences in physical variables become apparent with increasing glacier bed slope and bed profile complexity.


Infection is the commonest cause of thrombocytopenia, thrombocytopenia associated with fever helps to narrow the differential diagnosis and management of fever. It also helps to know the various complications of thrombocytopenia and its management. 100 patients, ages >12 years with fever and thrombocytopenia between 1st September 2012 to 31st August 2014 were included for this study. Infection was the commonest cause of thrombocytopenia and Dengue was the commonest infection. Bleeding manifestations were seen in 15% of patients. 14% of patients had Petechiae/ purpura as the commonest bleeding manifestation followed by spontaneous bleeding in 10%. Good recovery was noted in 94% while 6% had mortality. septicaemia accounted for 5% of deaths, followed by dengue 1%. Infections, particularly Dengue was the commonest cause of fever with thrombocytopenia. In the majority of patients thrombocytopenia was transient and asymptomatic but in a significant number there were bleeding manifestations


The article considers the lessons that may be learned from the military and civilian court experiences with protected information under the provisions of Military Rule of Evidence 505 and the Classified Information Procedures Act. The paper then focuses on the potential consequences for endorsing the use of secret evidence, and we propose an amendment to Article 36(b) of the UCMJ that will more effectively allow Congress to provide a constitutional check on executive power in this area.


Issuers in registered securities offerings must disclose the expected tax consequences to investors investing in the offered securities ("nonfinancial tax disclosure"). This Article advances three arguments regarding nonfinancial tax disclosures. First, nonfinancial tax disclosure practice, as the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) has sanctioned it, does not fulfill its intended regulatory purposes. Currently, nonfinancial tax disclosures provide irrelevant information, sometimes fail to provide material information, create unnecessary transaction costs, and divert valuable administrative resources to the enforcement of largely-meaningless requirements. Second, the practical reason for this failure is the SEC and tax practitioners' unsuccessful attempt to address investors' heterogeneous tax preferences. Specifically, nonfinancial tax disclosure practice assumes the existence of a "reasonable investor" who is also an "average taxpayer," and tax disclosures are drafted for the benefit of this average taxpayer. The concept of an "average taxpayer," however, is not defensible. Third, the theoretical reason for the regulatory regime's dysfunctionality is the misapplication of mandatory disclosure theory to nonfinancial tax disclosure requirements. Mandatory disclosure theory, even if accepted at face value, does not support the current regulatory framework, due to the special nature of tax laws. To remedy this failure, this Article describes the types of tax-related disclosures that mandatory disclosure theory would support. Under the proposed regulatory reform, nonfinancial tax disclosures will only include issuer-level tax items (namely, tax items imposed on the issuing entity) that affect how "reasonable investors" calculate their own individual tax liabilities. Under such a regime, there is no need to rely on the "average taxpayer" construct.


The human body consists of a number of very complex, highly specialised organs which perform a variety of functions that are essential to life and health. One of the main functions of the skin, the largest of the human organs, is to maintain the integrity of the body. It does this by acting as a physical barrier, preventing micro-organisms and other potentially harmful substances from entering the body. When the integrity of the skin is damaged through injury, a self-protective mechanism is triggered and the reparative wound healing process begins. Under normal circumstances the wound healing process culminates in the skin recuperating its normal characteristics and functions at the site of the injury, with only a small visible mark being left behind. However, in some cases the wound healing process may become altered leading to the production of abnormal scars, such as keloids. Keloid scars are formed from scar tissue at the site of an injury, as a result of excessive tissue repair that extends beyond the boundaries of the original wound. These scars are characterised by excess collagen deposition produced during the wound healing process. It is estimated that as many as 20% of the black and Hispanic population are affected by keloid scarring. In addition to the aesthetic aspect, keloid scars can also be painful, itchy and prone to become infected. Keloid scar formation can be triggered by skin injuries caused by, for example, acne, wounds, shaving, burns, and surgical incisions. The mechanism by which keloid scars form is currently not well understood and consequently no effective treatments exist to date.This thesis describes an investigation into the mechanical properties of single keloid and normal skin fibroblast cells for the purpose of establishing if there is a quantitative difference between the two types of cells. This information will be of benefit to researchers looking for a better understanding of the keloid formation mechanism and for those seeking improved treatments. An atomic force microscope (AFM) was employed to indent single Keloid and normal skin fibroblast cells taken from five patients. Values for the apparent Young?s modulus of the cells were then calculated by fitting the experimental data using Hertz?s model. Apparent Young?s modulus values were then compared. The findings of the analysis indicate that statistically, there is a significant difference in the Young?s modulus values of normal and keloid cells, with keloid cells exhibiting substantially greater stiffness than normal skin fibroblast cells. To enable the keloid and normal skin fibroblast cells to be studied in as close to their natural, physiological environment as is possible the AFM experiments described in this thesis were undertaken in a phosphate buffered saline (PBS) solution. In such cases the use of a fluid medium presents additional complexities, not least of which is the introduction of a hydrodynamic drag force due to viscous friction of the cantilever with the liquid which can affect the experimental data obtained and consequently any material properties calculated as a result of using these data. In order to investigate the effect of dragging force on the experimental data obtained from the AFM a novel integrated finite element based model was developed. The model, described in this thesis, provides quantification of the drag force in AFM measurements of soft specimens in fluids, consequently enabling more accurate interpretation of the data obtained from AFM experimentation. The model is validated using extensive data obtained from AFM experimentation undertaken in a number of fluids of different viscosities, at a variety of tip velocities and platform-tip separations and by comparison with an existing analytical model. The novel model is shown to accurately account for drag forces in AFM in fluid media without the need for extrapolation of experimental data and can be employed over the range of tip geometries and velocities typically utilised in AFM experimentation.The work described in this thesis demonstrates that the AFM is a valuable tool that can be used to successfully investigate the mechanical properties of biological samples in fluids. It was shown that increased accuracy in the interpretation of data obtained from AFM experimentation can be obtained by taking into account the hydrodynamic drag force due to viscous friction of the cantilever with the liquid. The investigation into the mechanical behaviour of keloid cells described in this thesis significantly adds to the yet small body of research undertaken on keloid cells to date. The findings of the investigation will provide valuable information that will be of benefit in the future to researchers looking to develop effective treatments for the prevention, reduction or removal of keloid scars.


The citizens of Europe are facing increasingly complex challenges to their career development nowadays. Over the span of their lifetime, they need to manage their careers, and make numerous decisions concerning education, training and employment – decisions, which seriously impact their futures and their wellbeing. To prepare citizens for these challenges, and to support them in the progress, competent career practitioners are needed. But what kinds of career practitioners are we talking about? And what do they need to be able to do? How can the quality of their training be assured?
This handbook introduces common European competence standards for the academic training of career practitioners in Europe, together with some proposals and examples, of how to implement and establish such competence standards in practice. More than 200 experts from all across Europe have contributed to the development of these shared standards of the Network for Innovation in Career Guidance and Counselling in Europe (NICE). The standards are already being used in many countries for the development of degree programmes.


Human performance defines the standard that machine learning systems aspire to in many areas, including learning language. This suggests that studying human cognition may be a good way to develop better learning algorithms, as well as providing basic insights into how the human mind works. However, in order for ideas to flow easily from cognitive science to computer science and vice versa, we need a common framework for describing human and machine learning. I will summarize recent work exploring the hypothesis that probabilistic models of cognition, which view learning as a form of statistical inference, provide such a framework, including results that illustrate how novel ideas from statistics can inform cognitive science. Specifically, I will talk about how probabilistic models can be used to identify the assumptions of learners, learn at different levels of abstraction, and link the inductive biases of individuals to cultural universals.


Phosphorus is the central ingredient in fertilizer that allows modern agriculture to feed the world's population. This element, also critical in a host of industrial applications, is a nonrenewable resource that is sourced primarily from the phosphatic mineral apatite, hosted in sedimentary and igneous ores. World phosphate resources are estimated by the U.S. Geological Survey at ca. 300,000 Mt, of which 95% are sedimentary and 5% are igneous. Current known USGS reserve estimates are sufficient for a maximum of 200 to 300 years; the exploration and discovery of new resources, enhanced mining technologies, and new technologies aimed at the recovery and recycling of P from sewage and agricultural runoff will all contribute to extending P production. Igneous ores are generally associated with Phanerozoic carbonatites and silica-deficient alkalic intrusions that typically average 5 to 15 wt % P 2 O 5 , which can be beneficiated to high-grade concentrates of at least 30 wt % P 2 O 5 with few contaminants. Carbonatites are typically the smallest and youngest parts of a carbonatite-alkaline rock complex that formed during fractional crystallization of a calcic parental alkaline silicate melt, or from liquid immiscibility of a carbonate-rich nephelinite that underwent magmatic fractionation and differentiation during ascent from the mantle source. Fluorapatite generally crystallizes early, near the liquidus, and over a small temperature interval below the apatite saturation temperature that varies strongly with temperature, SiO 2 and CaO concentrations, and the aluminosity of the melt. Carbonatite-alkaline rock complexes commonly possess a concentric, zonal structure thought to reflect caldera volcanism. Pathfinder elements in soils, sediments, tills, and vegetation include Nb, rare earth elements (REEs), P, Ba, Sr, F, U, and Th, and in water, F, Th, and U are indicators. Remote sensing techniques with the ability to identify minerals rich in CO 3 , REEs, and Fe 2+ that are characteristic of carbonatites are also important exploration tools that may provide vectors to ore. Sedimentary phosphorite is a marine bioelemental sedimentary rock that contains >18 wt % P 2 O 5 . While small peritidal phosphorites formed in Precambrian coastal environments, economically significant upwelling-related phosphorite did not accumulate until the late Neoproterozoic and continued through the Phanerozoic. Coastal upwelling delivered deep, P-rich waters to continental shelves and in epeiric seas to drive phosphogenesis and form the largest phosphorites on Earth. High-grade deposits formed as a result of hydraulic concentration of phosphate grains to form granular beds with minimal gangue. The amalgamation of these beds into decameter-thick, stratiform ore zones is generally focused along the maximum flooding surface, which is a primary exploration target in upwelling-related phosphorite. In addition to P, other elements concentrated in igneous and sedimentary phosphorites are Se, Mo, Zn, Cu, and Cr, which are important agricultural micronutrients. Other saleable by-products include U and REEs. The U concentration in sedimentary phosphorite is generally between 50 and 200 ppm, but can be as high as 3,000 ppm, making it an increasingly important source of U for the nuclear industry. The concentration of REEs in some sedimentary phosphorites is comparable to the world's richest igneous and Chinese clay-type REE deposits. The source of the dissolved P in upwelling ocean water is ultimately derived from the chemical weathering of continental rocks, the process that links igneous and sedimentary phosphorites through time and space. The covarying temporal relationship of igneous and sedimentary deposits suggests that plate tectonics and the concentration of apatite in a progressively more felsic crust underpins the feedback processes regulating the biogeochemical cycling of P. Critical to the generation of greenfield exploration targets is the recognition that large P deposits emerged in the late Neoproterozoic. The geological environments conducive for exploration can be constrained from an understanding of ore-forming processes by the use of complementary petrological techniques, including fieldwork, petrography, sedimentology, sequence stratigraphy, and geochemistry.


Millions of hectares of temperate woodland and billions of trees have been cleared from Australia's agricultural landscapes. This has allowed land to be developed for cropping and grazing livestock but has also had significant environmental impacts, including erosion, salinity and loss of native plant and animal species. Restoring Farm Woodlands for Wildlife focuses on why restoration is important and describes best practice approaches to restore farm woodlandsfor birds, mammals and reptiles. Based on 19 years of long-term research in temperate agricultural south-eastern Australia, this book addresses practical questions such as what, where and how much to plant, ways to manage plantings and how plantings change over time. It will be a key reference for farmers, natural resource management professionals and policy-makers concerned with revegetation and conservation.


This dissertation assesses the effects of tax and expenditure limitations (TELs) on principal items of revenue, largest components of expenditure and the levels of public debt of local governments serving urban cores and suburban fringes of the largest metropolitan areas in the US. The first part of the dissertation consists of 4 chapters. Chapter 1 examines the formal aspects of TELs; Chapter 2 explores historical evolution of fiscal limits between 1800 and 2009; Chapter 3 examines substantive nature of TELs; and Chapter 4 reviews the extant research on TELs. The past research suggests that TELs are associated with increased centralization, diminished government responsiveness, and suboptimal outcomes of the entire local public sector. The second part of the dissertation, Chapters 5-6, presents the empirical study of the asymmetrical fiscal effects of TELs on different geographic segments of metropolitan areas. The study employs the quasi-experimental multiple comparison group time series research design and measures fiscal outcomes associated with the imposition of TELs. It relies on a standard fixed effects dummy variable OLS model with constant slope coefficients and variable intercept. The sample (N = 166,530) contains 7 periods of observation at 5 year intervals of 745 metropolitan counties from 270 metropolitan areas. The unit of analysis is the metropolitan county area. The study found that in the urban cores and suburban fringes of metropolitan areas: 1) overall fiscal effects of TELs follow general asymmetrical trends identified by past research; 2) specific fiscal effects varied by comparison group, type of TEL imposed, and measure of fiscal outcome; 3) local governments in the urban cores are more adversely affected by TELs; 4) general revenues and expenditures declined in all comparison groups but urban core local governments experienced larger declines; 5) in all comparison groups own source revenues declined, intergovernmental revenues increased, spending on public education and public safety declined with larger declines in the urban cores; 6) long-term debt (especially non-guaranteed) has been rising more quickly in the urban core segments of metropolitan areas; and 7) in general, the effects of TELs were more negative and more pronounced for local governments experiencing fiscal stress.


WHAT MAKES A PERSON a member of a cultural group? Is it something "essential" that separates, for instance, Greeks from Turks, Croatians from Slovenes? As peoples attempt to shape a destiny of their own, throwing off the repressions of colonization--as did the Irish at the end of the nineteenth century--these questions inevitably arise. To seek one's self in this context is to long for the discovery of what is unique to one's own ethnic group or culture. It is to sift authenticity from corruption. However, postmodernity offers the possibility that essentialism is a myth of the Romantic past, where self struggled to exist against environment: "Self" becomes a desire for coherence, and "identity" a collage of histories and contexts. J. M. Synge's The Playboy of the Western World, coming at the volatile juncture of the Irish Renaissance and the opening years of the twentieth century, provides a telling case in point. As we learn from Edward J. O'Brien in his 1911 introduction to Synge's The Aran Islands, Synge's excursions to the rugged west of Ireland comprised the writer's attempt to reject "the art of the decadents, based as it was on the complicated experience and adjustment of modern life, for a return to nature as fresh and sincere in its courage and originality as the previous return had been to Coleridge and Wordsworth ..." (viii). Thus, The Aran Islands, one of the central texts of the Irish Revival, can be read as a typical Romantic story of a man's search for his essential self among the "primitives." Like works by fellow Irish Revivalists such as Yeats and Lady Gregory, Synge's travel memoir helped to define as well as argue for an Irish identity at that moment when Ireland was struggling for its independence. Read in this context, the book offers the Aran Islanders as the last "authentic" Irish: resolute, moral, in touch with the world around them, and--above all--proud and defiant. However, one finds in Synge's more famous work, The Playboy of the Western World, a character who represents qualities far from authentic. Christy Mahon's main trait is his changeability as those he meets in a small western village create their idea of him based upon erroneous information as well as local values and fears. Mahon's identity matches others' expectations of him, undergoing literally overnight a complete reversal from weakness to strength. Judith Butler asserts in her influential book, Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity, that we should reconsider identity "as an effect, that is, as produced or generated" by context, rather than as essential to an individual (147). Expanding on Butler's concept, Jonathan Culler notes, "If identity is an effect, of subject positions and of actions, then to act is to take on a role, to take up a relation to it. Butler, writing of gender identities that are constructed and of gender as a performance or an act, locates agency in the variations of action, the possibilities of variation in repetitions that carry meaning and create identity" (221). Considering notions of identity within the parameters of this essay (Ireland as it struggles toward independence), one discovers that the nature of the variations to which Butler alludes will fluctuate with the shifting of situation; of cultures; of location; and, significantly, of preconceptions about identity itself. Meanings change as these various elements change, leaving characters, and the Irish, without stable centers of identity. "Irishness" cannot be defined; only context can be examined. Thus, balanced between Irish Romanticism / Nationalism and Postmodern fragmentations of the individual, Synge's Playboy represents a prescient exploration of identity as performante, a theme that appears in much modern Irish Literature. Although The Aran Islands has been read by most scholars and general readers as a Romantic text, the concept of "performative identity" appears there as well, albeit only briefly. …


Abstract The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) believes in a future where the mountain people of the Hindu Kush–Himalayas can experience enhanced livelihoods, equity, and social and environmental security; where they can adapt to environmental, socioeconomic, and climate change; and where future generations of mountain and downstream populations can enjoy the benefits and opportunities afforded by the region's natural endowment. ICIMOD is an intergovernmental center that develops and shares information and knowledge, facilitates learning, and uses innovation and effective communication to empower its eight regional member countries—Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan—and the women, men, and children living there. ICIMOD believes that interventions are most successful when they take into account the points of view of everyone in society, regardless of gender, caste, or ethnicity. Inclusiveness is the hallmark of ICIMOD's work.


Multi MeV ions and fusion neutrons were generated by focused radiation of the 3 TW Prague Asterix Laser System (PALS). The use of 8 μm Al foil as XUV filter positioned in front of an ion collector allowed measuring currents of 4-MeV protons emitted behind a thin target in the forward direction. The proton energy of 4 MeV generated by a PALS laser irradiance Iλ2~5×1016 W cm-2 μm2 on target is nominally reachable for picosecond lasers when they deliver the intensity Iλ2~3×1018 W cm-2 μm2. The enhanced maximum proton energy is favoured by a non-linear interaction of the laser beam with the pre-generated plasma. Nonlinear processes also cause enhancement in the yield of fusion neutrons per focused laser energy from the CD2 plasma. The obtained results show that an equivalent neutron yield was reached by ps- and sub-ps laser beams for Iλ2~1019 W cm-2 μm2. The hampering influence of the electromagnetic pulse generated within the interaction chamber on diagnostics signals was eliminated.


Treatment of capital assets in governmental accounting systems poses something of a theoretical dilemma. Recording all expenditures in the period of receipt, instead of the period of consumption, may sacrifice efficient management of assets with multi-period lives in favor of better cash control. The Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Working Capital Fund (WCF) seems to offer the best of both worlds. The WCF is a revolving fund dedicated to the purchase, maintenance and replacement of capital assets. BLM's operating entities pay the WCF for capital assets over the periods of the asset life in a manner similar to a lease. The problem of efficient capital asset management in the federal government is significant as capital assets exceed $1 trillion. This large investment has attracted the attention of the Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board (FASAB), which has defined plant, property and equipment as tangible assets that: have an estimated useful life of two or more years; are not intended for sale in the ordinary course of business; and are intended to be used or available for use by the entity. Accounting theorists have suggested using depreciation as a method of allocating the costs of long-lived assets to the shorter time periods for which financial statements are typically prepared. However, debate continues as to whether a historical valuation misstates the balance sheet or whether a current cost valuation misstates the profit and loss statement. These discussions, while useful to businesses, may have less relevance to government organizations. New Zealand, considered an innovator in governmental accounting, had trouble applying traditional depredation methodology to "social" assets, particularly those viewed as infrastructure? Significantly, FASAB recognized that the federal government was unique and that there was "no need to be constrained by the boundaries of traditional financial statements and reporting formats" if other reporting techniques "help users assess performance and accountability."3 The purpose of this article is to extend discussion of governmental asset accounting toward better achievement, rather than just assessment, of performance and accountability. A short case study will document a capital replacement and maintenance accounting process that seems to affect favorably the management of capital assets. Discussion will focus on the effects of the asset cost measurement process on management behavior. The Working Capital Fund's apparent success in improving the management of capital assets may broaden thinking concerning the role of capital asset accounting in government. A SHORT CASE STUDY: BLM'S WORKING CAPITAL FUND The Department of Interior's Bureau of Land Management (BLM) owns some 272 million acres of land, approximately one-eighth of the United States. The size of its domain and the 2,000 laws for which it is responsible have led the bureau to a highly decentralized organization. Budget formulation and budget management exist at the lowest level of an organizational hierarchy that goes from national to state to district and on down to functional offices. Capital equipment represents roughly 20 percent of BLM's budget and is second only to personnel cost. The Working Capital Fund (WCF), a national-level function, supports all BLM organizations that require extensive capital for equipment. For example, vehicles represent large capital expenditures at BLM, and the WCF handles roughly 90 classes comprised of 2,000 fire engines, bulldozers, graders and trucks. The WCF receives no direct appropriations and operates as a revolving fund that must cover expenses with revenue. The fund uses two revenue sources: maintenance fees and fixed ownership fees. Both fees are charged monthly to each district functional operation s appropriated budget authority. The maintenance fee covers all operating expenses for vehicles. Each vehicle is given a "credit card" to pay for fuel, oil, maintenance and repair. …


Aleksandrov, Y., 2017. New solution – refrigerators for fruits and vegetables with elastic wall protection. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 23 (1): 171–176 In this paper are reviewed several solutions for panel walls and panel connections, representing a part of the enclosing structure of the chambers of fruit storehouses, which are often subject to hits coming from various sources, including during extreme situations. The solutions represent patented inventions, representing an integral part of the dissertation of the author [1]. BG 401 (Y1) – "Connection between panels"; This solution integrates an elastic protective screen, which can be dismounted in case of premature runout; the hits produced by root fruits and vegetables, stored in bulk are absorbed by the screen, which is suspended over pins, which transfer the energy of the hits to the bearing construction of the wall panels. BG 62742 (B1) – "Wall panel"; the hit absorption is ensured with the help of elastic screens and coverings, suspended and connected to the sides of the panel. BG 63218 (B1) – "Multilayer panel with impact – protection and connection between panels." The covering of the panels is made of elastic materials and it integrates star-shaped elements, which are inserted into the surface layers of the panel. Membranes, stretched over tensegrity-structures are able to offer protection against harmful impact, e.g. acid rain, volcanic ash, overheating, etc., whereas the refrigerators for fruits and vegetables are situated under these membranes. The membranes are made of transparent materials, e.g. polyketone, reinforced by carbon fi ber, whereas the hothouse effect occurring beneath them can be used to maintain positive temperatures inside the chambers of the refrigerators for fruits and vegetables. Additional protection against premature runout of the external covering of the enclosing structure is ensured by transparent protective membranes. Positive temperature inside of the chambers of the refrigerators is a result of the use of solar energy. The protection of the refrigerators for fruits and vegetables with transparent membranes is especially important in case of extreme situations of various origin.


In this paper, we study a group key agreement problem where a user is only aware of his neighbors while the connectivity graph is arbitrary. In our problem, there is no centralized initialization for users. A group key agreement with these features is very suitable for social networks. Under our setting, we construct two efficient protocols with passive security. We obtain lower bounds on the round complexity for this type of protocol, which demonstrates that our constructions are round efficient. Finally, we construct an actively secure protocol from a passively secure one.


The purpose of the present study is to explore older adults' understanding and conceptualizations of the concept "psychological sense of community" (PSOC) as experiences of belonging and being part of seem to be important in old age. Twelve older informants from Oslo (the capital of Norway) were interviewed. A thematic and discourse analytical approach was used to identify and depict the most central themes in the older adults' meaning of PSOC in-depth and in relation to context. The findings show that there are important parts of Norwegian older adults' meanings of PSOC that goes beyond dimensions included in the predominant conceptualization of PSOC. "Individual responsibility for PSOC in old age", identified as the most salient theme, reflects core Norwegian cultural values and provides new insight to premises of PSOC and well-being in old age. Furthermore, the findings in this Scandinavian sample extend the understanding of older adults' efforts to maintain their PSOC and well-being through life-changing transitions.


We monitored social behaviour, nest site selection, clutch size and survival, and breeding success (number of fledglings per successful hen in late August) in two Alpine Rock Ptarmigan Lagopus mutus helveticus populationsin the South-central Alps, Italy, 1992-97. Phenology of flock formation and territory occupancy was similar as in northern populations, and, in spring, cocks outnumbered hens in most years. Not all cocks found a partner, but all paired cocks appeared to be monogamous. Few hens that lost their eggs during incubation laid a repeat brood. Adult hens (more than one year old) laid larger clutches than yearlings and clutch size was larger for first than for repeat broods. Nest losses were high (50%) and mainly due to predation of the incubating hen or her eggs. Probability of nest loss was not significantly affected by the amount of cover around the nest or nest type. Average clutch size, nest predation rates, and breeding success fluctuated annually, and clutch losses were higher in years with poor weather during incubation, suggesting that stochastic factors (weather, predators) strongly influenced brood survival in Alpine Rock Ptarmigan.


A quantitative micro-plaque reduction test using Keystone (KEY) virus disclosed the presence of neutralizing antibodies in the sera of 57/111 horses, 34/104 cattle, 22/119 dogs, and 0/9 swine collected in Florida in 1970. Similar results for neutralizing antibodies to California group viruses were obtained using the weanling mouse neutralization test with KEY, Trivittatus (TVT), LaCrosse, and California encephalitis (CE) viruses. Only 8 of 111 equine sera tested by the hemagglutination-inhibition test with CE virus exhibited this type of antibody. Viremia was not observed in any of 6 horses or 8 dogs inoculated with either KEY or TVT virus although 4 horses developed a persistent increase in neutralizing antibodies, as did 1 dog inoculated with TVT. Two dogs inoculated with KEY 28 days after TVT inoculation possessed KEY and/or TVT neutralizing antibodies 35 days after the second inoculation. Horses and cattle may be useful as monitors of KEY and TVT activity in Florida.


ABSTRACT Among sites of extrapulmonary growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the liver is the least infected. Our data suggest that this is due to the complete restriction of mycobacterial growth to liver macrophages. Unlike in organs more persistently seeded byM. tuberculosis, in the liver the bacteria do not infect cell types other than professional phagocytes.


The discovery and preclinical development of selective dopamine reuptake inhibitors as potential pharmacotherapies for treating cocaine addiction are presented. The studies are based on the hypothesis that a dopamine reuptake inhibitor is expected to partially substitute for cocaine, thus decreasing cocaine self-administration and minimizing the craving for cocaine. This type of indirect agonist therapy has been highly effective for treating smoking addiction (nicotine replacement therapy) and heroin addiction (methadone). To be an effective pharmacotherapy for cocaine addiction, the potential drug must be safe, long-acting, and have minimal abuse potential. We have developed several 3-phenyltropane analogs that are potent dopamine uptake inhibitors, and some are selective for the dopamine transporter relative to the serotonin and norepinephrine transporters. In animal studies, these compounds substitute for cocaine, reduce the intake of cocaine in rats and rhesus monkeys trained to self-administer cocaine, and have demonstrated a slow onset and long duration of action and lack of sensitization. The 3-phenyltropane analogs were also tested in a rhesus monkey self-administration model to define their abuse potential relative to cocaine. Based on these studies, 3β-(4-chlorophenyl)-2β-[3-(4'-methylphenyl)isoxazol-5-yl]tropane (RTI-336) has been selected for preclinical development.


The commercial mining of sand at coastal locations along California has been a continuing activity at some sites, sporadic at others and altogether discontinued at still other sites. This mining activity includes all methods of sand mining (dragline, self-propelled bottom-dump scrapers, diesel shovels, etc.) and may be classified by littoral zone location as (1) mining from a beach foreshore or backshore area wetted by the normal tidal range, (2) mining within a river mouth or other estuary upstream from the ocean but still within the tidal zone, and (3) mining from bluff or dune areas not wetted by the normal range of tides but still within the littoral system. Processing of the sand thus mined takes place when the material is transported from the mining site, usually by end dump trucks or belt conveyor to either a fixed or a portable plant. Commercial uses of the sand thus mined fall into two general categories, (1) construction and (2) special purposes. Construction usage includes aggregate for concrete, asphalt, mortar, plaster and stucco, base material in road construction, and fill and structural backfill. Specialty uses include sand blasting and filtration material, foundry and engine sands, and raw material for manufacture of glass and ceramics. Within the area studied (see Figure 1) the Monterey Bay area has the highest concentration of mining activity. To the north, the area around Fort Bragg yields significant quantities to the commercial miner. Most of the remaining coastal sand mining activity is concentrated in the San Francisco area.


The objective of the presented work is to study the operating parameters and their effects on the performance of an air breathing PEM fuel cell. In this study, we have theoretically calculated the losses associated with the fuel cells. The performance of the fuel cell can be determined by using the polarisation curve. Polarization curves from which the output voltage can be found are studied in detail. The drop in cell voltage occurs due to several irreversibility in the working environment. Reduction in resistance due to activation energy, mass transport and charge transport can help in increasing the performance of the Fuel cells. The performance of a fuel cell is also affected by the factors such as exchange current density, transfer coefficient. The operating parameters like pressure, temperature are varied and the performance of the PEM fuels cells is recorded.


From the Publisher:
This book is a brief introduction to PHP that shows readers with little or no previous Web programming experience how to empower their Web sites with PHP This book requires no previous programming experience. It provides realistic full-color screen shots and code examples. Demonstrates all the basic PHP language features. Shows how to create surveys and order processing systems. Shows how to write PHP scripts that can save data into files on a Web server. This book is designed for readers with limited programming skills who want to learn to use PHP; as well as students taking a Web design course where PHP is used.


This paper investigates the effect of an upcoming election on disorderly behaviour in two Houses of Representatives: that of the Australian Federal Parliament and that of the New Zealand Parliament. Two hypotheses are tested. The first hypothesis is that, notwithstanding their common origins in the Westminster parliamentary tradition, there are significant genrelectal differences in the way the two Houses respond to the impending election. The second hypothesis is that both will respond by becoming increasingly disorderly. The locus for measuring disorderly conduct is taken from the Wednesday parliamentary Question Time for the year 2007 in the case of Australia and 2008 in the case of New Zealand. All instances of disorderly conduct were tracked and a month-by-month measure was made of each kind of disorder as indicated by Standing Orders. All responses of the Speaker to disorder were also logged. The research shows that both hypotheses are corroborated.


Characterization of Military Aircraft Jet Noise Using Wavepacket Analysis and Other Array Processing Methods Blaine M. Harker Department of Physics and Astronomy, BYU Doctor of Philosophy Sound generation and radiation properties are studied of full-scale tactical jet engine noise. This is motivated by the high sound exposure levels from jet noise, particularly for tactical engines. Acoustic source reconstruction methods are implemented computationally on existing jet noise data. A comparative study is performed using numerical simulations to understand the capabilities of more advanced beamforming methods to successfully estimate the source properties of a distributed, partially correlated source distribution. The properties and limitations of each beamforming method are described. Having validated the methods, beamforming with regularization—via the Hybrid Method—is implemented on linear array measurements near an installed tactical engine. A detailed analysis of the correlation and coherence properties associated with the phased array measurements guides the implementation of the beamforming. When the measurements are used as inputs to the beamforming, they produce partially correlated, distributed sources in a full-order model representation. A processing technique is also implemented that increases the usable bandwidth of the array measurements to almost an order of magnitude above the array design frequency. To more appropriately study the equivalent sources, a decomposition technique is designed and implemented to create a reduced-order wavepacket model of the jet noise. The wavepacket model is modular and scalable to allow for the efficient characterization of similar jet noise measurements. It is also appropriate for its physical significance, as wavepackets are attributed to the turbulent flow as well as the hydrodynamic and acoustic properties of the radiation. The reduced order model can estimate the levels and coherence properties of the acoustic radiation and represents a significant step towards a complete jet noise prediction model.


Abstract. Several studies have shown that vegetation indexes can be used to estimate root zone soil moisture. Earth surface images, obtained by high-resolution satellites, presently give a lot of information on these indexes, based on the data of several wavelengths. Because of the potential capacity for systematic observations at various scales, remote sensing technology extends the possible data archives from the present time to several decades back. Because of this advantage, enormous efforts have been made by researchers and application specialists to delineate vegetation indexes from local scale to global scale by applying remote sensing imagery. In this work, four band images have been considered, which are involved in these vegetation indexes, and were taken by satellites Ikonos-2 and Landsat-7 of the same geographic location, to study the effect of both spatial (pixel size) and radiometric (number of bits coding the image) resolution on these wavelength bands as well as two vegetation indexes: the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI). In order to do so, a multi-fractal analysis of these multi-spectral images was applied in each of these bands and the two indexes derived. The results showed that spatial resolution has a similar scaling effect in the four bands, but radiometric resolution has a larger influence in blue and green bands than in red and near-infrared bands. The NDVI showed a higher sensitivity to the radiometric resolution than EVI. Both were equally affected by the spatial resolution. From both factors, the spatial resolution has a major impact in the multi-fractal spectrum for all the bands and the vegetation indexes. This information should be taken in to account when vegetation indexes based on different satellite sensors are obtained.


Lecture provided an overview of the opportunity that trails and routes offer for tourism, particulary those focused on cultural and heritage settings. The impact however is dependent on the scale of trail involved and the level of engagement with it. A conceptual model is presented to illustrate a number of trail engagement scenarios using different trail developments in Northern Ireland, including the Causeway Coastal Route, St Patrick Trail and the CS Lewis Trail. Stakeholder assessment of these three trails illustrate that the opportunity is still not being capitalised upon and that pressing matters remain in terms of their ongoing development (in the case of some) as well as how they are managed.


Dalbergia sissoo Roxb. popularly known as Sisam in India belongs to the family Fabaceae. It is an important plant of great economic importance. The objective of the present work was to compare different extract for the in-vitro anthelmintic potency of Dalbergia sissoo Roxb. leaves using Indian earthworms (Pheretima posthumad). The various extracts of Dalbergia sissoo roxb. includes petroleum ether, carbon tetrachloride, benzene and ethanol were used in different concentrations viz. 10, 25, 50 and 100 mg/ml of respectively for in-vitro testing of anthelmintic potency by determination of time of paralysis and time of death of worm. Piperazine citrate was used as standard. The result of present study of indicates Dalbergia sissoo potentiate to paralyze earthworm and also caused its death after some time. The shortest time of paralysis was observed at 100 mg/ml of carbon tetrachloride extract of Dalbergia sissoo which was 19min 14 sec and 48 min 15sec respectively. The results of the study were comparable to standard Piperazine citrate. The results of the present study demonstrate that carbon tetrachloride extract of Dalbergia sissoo leaves took less time to cause paralysis of the earthworm than other three extracts. Thus the present study demonstrates the traditional claim of Dalbergia sissoo Roxb. as an anthelmintic has been confirm as the ethanolic, benzene, petroleum ether and carbon tetra chloride extracts of leaves displayed activity against the earthworm used in study. While carbon tetrachloride extract demonstrated to highly potent anthelmintic activity compared to other three extract of Dalbergia sissoo Roxb.


Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was first reported in December 2019 and has accumulated nearly a hundred million reported infections thereafter. This highly transmissible and pathogenic coronavirus has caused a pandemic of acute respiratory disease, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which has caught extensive attention and greatly changed people's lifestyles all over the world. As an RNA virus, SARS-CoV-2 mutates rapidly as the virus replicates. The world health organization is now closely monitoring the emergence of a new variant, N501Y, on the spike protein. This N501Y variant is found to have higher transmission ability and infectivity, and is believed to be related to the rapid increase of COVID-19 cases in December 2020 in the UK. It was recently reported that the N501Y variants reduce neutralization sensitivity to convalescent sera and monoclonal antibodies. The Tyr mutation at 501 is located at the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein, the area that directly contacts human ACE2 (hACE2). It's urgent to figure out the driving force of the new mutant's enhanced infectivity. Thus, a computational aided binding profile prediction is made to investigate the binding affinity alteration and potential structural change of the N501Y mutant. The resulting structures of N501Y mutant from MD simulations could be used to develop drug inhibitors against hACE2/RBD binding.


This essay disputes G. A. Cohen's claim that John Rawls's argument for the difference principle involves an argument from moral arbitrariness to equality and then an illicit move away from equality. Moreover, the claim that an argument from moral arbitrariness establishes equality as the essential distributive justice ideal is found wanting. Rescuing Justice and Equality is an original, subtle, and astute work of ethical and political philosophy. From its justly renowned author, G. A. Cohen, we have come to expect no less. The work ranges over questions of ethical theory (metaethics) and normative political theory. My remarks address only the latter. Cohen's book tries to develop both a sustained critique of some ideas on justice that had been affirmed by John Rawls and a meditation on the ideal of socialism. This dual aim does not as one might fear force a split personality on the enterprise, which in fact shows a unified theme. Cohen interprets John Rawls as the quintessential liberal, urging that egalitarian justice can in principle be fully attained in a market economy setting. More important to Cohen is the way he sees Rawls distinguishing between public and private life in the just society. For Rawls, justice is a norm that mainly regulates the structure of major institutions—the basic structure of society. Individuals are bound by justice mainly to support just institutions when they exist or help bring them about when they do not, and to obey laws compatible with justice. Within just institutions, individuals are morally free to carry out their own projects and aims. This picture of the just society conjures up for Cohen the image of an economy in which selfish individuals try to do as well for themselves as they can within the just institutional rules. The image is defective, says Cohen, and the defect precludes our calling a society that fits the image a just society. According to Cohen, the distributive justice component of social justice requires that the distribution of benefits and burdens across individual persons is fair, and bringing about and sustaining the just distribution are the responsibilities of the individual members of society not merely the standard for choice of basic structural institutions. In Cohen's idea of a just society individuals make their choices in daily life, within the limits of an appropriate personal prerogative that each of us has to pursue her own projects and aims, with a view to contributing to the good of others and to bringing about a just distribution, which Cohen supposes to be roughly an equal distribution. The shape and structure of institutions must also satisfy principles of justice, but that's not enough. In this connection Cohen makes an apt comparison between the just society and the society that overcomes racism. To qualify as non-racist, it is not enough that a society's institutional rules should prevent people from acting on racial prejudice when they interact within basic institutions. 1 . See John Rawls, A Theory of Justice, rev. ed. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1999).


This Thesis is dedicated to computer simulation investigations of the phase behaviour
of binary and ternary liquid crystals mixtures represented using the LebwohlLasher
lattice model. The binary mixture is studied in the Canonical and Semi
Grand Canonical Ensembles over a comprehensive set of temperatures, concentrations
and the relative coupling constants. The ternary mixture is studied in the
Canonical Ensemble only, over a comprehensive set of temperatures and concentrations
and single set of coupling constants. In order to determine the boundaries between different phase regions in the Canonical
Ensemble, the thermal and concentration dependencies of three different observabIes
are used. The first observable is the potential energy of the system, the second
is the second rank orientational order parameter and the third is the short-range
radial distribution function. The long-range radial distribution function and the
system snapshots are used as auxiliary observables. In order to determine the phase boundaries in the Semi Grand Canonical Ensemble,
the concentration dependence of the chemical potential is used. The order parameter
is also used as an auxiliary observable in order to establish the symmetries of the
phases on each side of the various coexistence regions encountered. Some features of the phase diagram (e.g. phase re-entrance) are shown to be difficult
to determine in the Canonical Ensemble, whereas other features (e.g. the boundary
between two phase coexistence regions) are difficult to determine in the Semi Grand
Canonical Ensemble. The remaining data from both ensembles are found to be in
good agreement. As well as homogeneous nematic (N) and isotropic (I) phases, regions of N + I and
N + N phase coexistence are identified. For mixtures of similar particle types, two
distinct coexistence regions are found, but as the particle types are made increasingly
dissimilar, these two regions are found to coalesce. This leads to a distortion of the
I-N transition temperature curve away from the behaviour predicted by classical
ideal mixing rules. The ternary mixture results show further departures from ideal mixing behaviour,
while maintaining consistency with the data obtained from the equivalent binary
systems. Also, unexpectedly, the cooperative ordering and phase separating of the
intermediate particle type takes place at the same temperature for all concentrations
considered. Overall, the results from ternary mixtures provide a focus for future work
into the phase behaviour of multi-component and poly-disperse mesogenic systems.


Background
Earlier studies have shown that schizophrenic patients are more likely to be living in densely populated inner city areas, whereas bipolar patients are more widely distributed. These studies, however, were generally carried out in the pre-community psychiatry era.

Aim of this study
To examine the geographical distribution of cases of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in an urban area of West Yorkshire to see if the drive towards care in the community has led to wider dispersion of cases.

Method
Admissions of schizophrenic and bipolar patients to in-patient facilities of Leeds Mental Health Teaching NHS Trust over a 3-year period were mapped to the electoral wards in which they were living at the time of admission.

Results
949 cases of schizophrenia and 930 cases of bipolar disorder were hospitalized over this period. At the time of admission significantly more schizophrenic and bipolar patients were residing in inner city areas of Leeds.

Conclusion
Closure of large mental hospitals and the trend towards management of psychiatric patients in the community does not appear to have had an appreciable effect on the concentration of schizophrenic patients in densely populated inner city areas. Surprisingly, the bipolar population is also following the same trend.

Competing Interests
Nil

Details of contributors
This study was carried out by a group of 4th year medical students, as the Selected Study Component of their Psychiatry, Primary care and Public Health module. Dr T Mahmood, as supervisor, planned the study and critically revised the draft.


Abstract Patterns of participation in higher education (HE) in the UK, as elsewhere, have been marked by social inequalities for decades. UK Governments have responded with a plethora of policies and agendas aimed at addressing this broad social issue. However, little is known about how higher education institutions (HEIs) interpret and 'enact' these policies in relation to institution-specific contexts. Drawing on concepts from policy sociology this paper examines how HEIs in one nation state, Wales, enact its Government's policy on 'widening access' to higher education. Interviews with a range of 'policy actors' along with analyses of institutional 'widening access' policy documents, reveal divergences between HEIs in how this policy agenda is interpreted and delivered. These differences reflect institution-specific contexts – not least their internal politics and assumptions about the type of students they admit, but also their interests and priorities in relation to their positions within a global, marketised, HE system. The implications of this for the reproduction of university hierarchies in the UK, as well as social inequalities more generally are brought to the fore.


Traditional Japanese cuisine ("Washyoku" in Japanese) was added to the UNESCO's Intangible Culture Heritage list in 2013. Over the past 1,000 years, the use of fungal hydrolytic enzymes prevailed in the Japanese fermentation industries. Almost all characteristic flavors and tastes of these traditional fermented foods are developed using the malted rice with Aspergillus oryzae (" koji" in Japanese). In 2006, the Brewing Society of Japan certified A. oryzae , A. sojae and A. luchuensis as the national microorganisms of Japan. In this review, a novel enzymatic production of glutamate from glutamine and new Skn-1a/Pou2f3 umami taste receptors are discussed. Biological characteristics for Aspergillus , such as the AoSO protein accumulation at the septal pore, and the large non-conserved region of the tethering protein Leashin, are presented and described here, together with the analyses of  Α-amylase, ManR functions, S21 family glycine-D-alanine aminopeptidase (GdaA), and ionic interactions between the fungal hydrophobin RolA and cutinase CutL1. Furthermore, I discuss the development of antihypertensive peptide (GY, SY)-enriched soy-sauce-like seasoning and the bifidogenic effect of supplemental acid protease from A. oryzae .


Independent evidence from cultures, field studies, an: modeling suggests that cell size is a key factor determining the extent of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) damage of phytoplankton, with the greatest effects on small cells. We investigated this hypothesis in subarctic lake communities by measuring size‐dependent photosynthesis under different UVR treatments. Lakewater was exposed to near‐surface solar radiation in the presence or absence of UVA and UVB, and the phytoplankton was then fractionated into taxonomically distinct pico‐, nano‐, and microplankton size classes. The first part of the study was conducted in a large oligotrophic lake where UVA lowered photosynthesis on average by 32%, while UVB caused an additional 20% decrease. For the pooled data set, mean UVR inhibition of photosynthesis was lowest for the picoplankton and highest for microplankton, but the differences between size fractions were not significant. This photosynthetic assay was repeated in a shallow, mesotrophic coastal lake. This community was less inhibited by UVR (on average 10% inhibition); there was no difference in response between the pica‐ and nanoplankton fractions, whereas photosynthesis of the microplankton fraction was significantly enhanced under UVR. These results show that cell size is not a good index of UV sensitivity and that cyanobacteria‐dominated picophytoplankton are less sensitive to the impacts of rising UVB in the polar and subpolar regions than would be predicted from relationships based only on cell size.


A major turning point, the introduction of metalworking into prehistoric society saw the development complex political economies. There is, however, a particular nescience with regard to the metallurgy of Southeast Asia and the impact that its introduction had in this region. This is particularly true of the Lao PDR, for which there are no known archaeometallurgical sites. Metallurgical investigation in Southeast Asia has largely focused on Thailand for which we now have a rich panoply of data. Consequentially much of what we know about bronze metallurgy, its operation, spread and development in Southeast Asia comes solely from Thailand. Discoveries of metallurgical sites outside Thailand are therefore of considerable significance.

Contemporary copper and gold mining by Lang Xiang minerals in Savannakhet Province, Southern Laos, has unearthed what are thought to be two prehistoric archaeological sites Puen Baolo (PBL) and Dragon Field (DF). Their proximity to areas of known copper mineralisation are unlikely to be a coincidence and archaeological excavations conducted at each of these sites by Dr. Chang of James Cook University have uncovered material thought to be metallurgical in nature.

The aim of this report, conducted under the aegis of Dr. Chang and Lang Xiang Minerals, is to determine whether we now have the first metallurgical material from a prehistoric site in Laos and if so, the nature that this material takes. Confirming this material as metallurgical, and identifying the nature of their operation, would allow Laos to take a central stage in regional archaeology as well as providing a much needed new perspective on Southeast Asian archaeometallurgy and the debates surrounding the introduction and impact of bronze.

Using mainly optical and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), analysis has confirmed the material relates to a copper metallurgical industry with crucibles being the most abundant 'technofact.' Other materials include, slag, ore/gangue, and a leaded-copper ingot from Dragon Field.

Most importantly, these crucibles have been identified as being involved in the primary production of copper from its ores, by crucible smelting. This is usually restricted to easily smelted copper oxide ores, however, evidence suggests that the more difficult sulphide ores were also being smelted. Evidence from PBL suggests that its inhabitants were co-smelitng oxide and sulphide ores in a sophisticated, somewhat mechanical manner. Crucibles here were used as "reaction vessels" (cf. Bennett, 1989) whereby oxidic and sulphidic ores were combined and the oxygen and sulphur in each ore 'reacted' producing the gas SO2, removing both from the system, leaving slag and most importantly, metallic copper. At DF, however, we can be less certain of operation without further information. It is possible that its inhabitants were reduction smelting oxidic ores (smelting in the absence of oxygen using charcoal as reducing agent) (suggesting DF maybe older than PBL) or smelting sulphidic ores that had been processed to remove all sulphur (dead-roasting) prior to reduction smelting (suggesting DF later than PBL). Further research will provide more answers here.

This report represents a significant advancement in our knowledge of how prehistoric metallurgy was conducted in Southeast Asia. Given these findings, Laos can now take its place as a regional player in the spread and development of metallurgy throughout this colourful region.

Although this report has provided much information, further investigation is required, especially from Dragon Field in order to fully understand the industry including the relationships between DF and PBL and between PBL, DF and their surrounding landscapes, as well as identifying the important relationship between people and technology. The key point is whether the inhabitants of these sites were also mining the copper from the hills around them or were they merely smelting pre-mined material? Therefore the following recommendations ensue;

*Conduct a comprehensive archaeological survey of the surrounding areas of both Puen Baolo and Dragon Field. Especially for evidence of surface mineralisation, mining, beneficiation, slag deposits as well as for landscape modifications.

*Further excavate Puen Baolo but especially Dragon Field to retrieve further material for analysis.

*Conduct further analysis on retrieved material.

*Investigate the DF ingot by sectioning it for analysis under scanning electron microscope.

*Analyse portions of the possible ore/gangue retrieved from these sites.

*Of importance is the need to date these sites, therefore the final recommendation is to identify material that will provide radiometric dates for occupation.


Hannah Shah is an Imam's daughter. She lived the life of a Muslim but, for many years, her father abused her in the cellar of their home. At 16, she discovered a plan to send her to Pakistan for an arranged marriage, and she ran away. Hunted by her angry father and brothers, who were determined to make her an honour killing, she had to keep moving house to escape them. Then, worst of all, in her family's eyes, she became a Christian. Some Muslims say converting from Islam is punishable by death...One day a mob of forty men came after her, armed with hammers, sticks and knives...with her father at the front..."The Imam's Daughter" is Hannah's gripping - but ultimately inspiring - true story. How, through her courage and determination, she broke free from her background and found a new life beyond its confines - a new life of freedom and love.


For some scholars, International Relations (IR) theories possess universal explanatory power whereas for others Western (European-Atlantic) IR theories have hijacked other truths as if Western regimes of truths were universal. This led Western nations to embark on process of promoting liberal values in various parts of the world. Liberalism has ruled the world for many decades and has become the status quo. But with the rise of China –dubbed peaceful rise – there has been a kind of an "End to the End of History". This paper seeks to answer the question: Does China offer a new narrative and an alternative voice in International Relations? Schools within IR have been calling for recognition of voices other than Western ones. Africa is one of those areas that are embracing the Chinese mode of proceeding and where the peaceful rise is beginning to havea great impact. Having suffered from colonialism and the consequent dire poverty and economic decline for so many decades and failing to fully embrace Western liberal principles, many African countries have turned East mainly to China since it conforms to their authoritarian nature and at the same time indicates that it is possible to have economic growth without democratizing. This paper will show how China although not yet ready to uproot the liberal order with another kind of order draws on those liberal values that benefits China but at the same time turning away those elements of liberalism that do not serve it. In the era of multiculturalism, it seems adequate to accommodate non-Western voices into IR discourse. China may not challenge the existing order through violent ways like other would-be hegemonies did. But through its peaceful rise/development and soft power, China is set not only to become a new hegemony but it will provide a new narrative and alternative voice in IR. I will first of all give a sketch of the emerging Chinese IR theory. I will then show how the Beijing Consensus challenged the Washington Consensus. With clear cut examples from African nations, I will present China's model as a worthy alternative for African nations. The paper draws from my contact with Chinese workers in Africa and exposure to Chinese companies' activities.


Background Early stages of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)-like syndrome when only one limb is affected can be missed by physicians suggesting other unrelated disorders especially with evidenced concomitant pathology of the same limb, leading to diagnostic pitfalls and unnecessary procedures. Objective The aim of this study was to support the diagnosis of early stages of ALS-like disorders in clinically suspected patients by electrophysiological studies (EDX) including segments that may be clinically unaffected, and searching for the possible etiology. Patients and methods This study was conducted on 120 adult patients with unilateral limb symptoms associated with irrelevant imaging abnormalities. Diagnostic workup included history taking, general and neurological examination, and EDX using the El Escorial diagnostic criteria. Further investigations included laboratory studies and paraneoplastic and hormonal assays. Results Motor nerve conduction studies revealed reduced amplitude of compound muscle action potential in 62.5% of patients, borderline conduction velocities, normal distal latencies, conduction block in one case, and normal sensory nerve conduction studies. Electromyography of the cranial, cervical, lumbosacral, and dorsal segments showed acute denervation in 80% of patients and chronic denervation in all segments in 35% and in three body segments in 65% of patients. Laboratory investigations revealed 50.83% of patients with chronic hepatitis C, with significant statistical association between EDX and laboratory results, 30.83% with hyperthyroidism, 8.33% with paraneoplastic syndrome, one case with multifocal motor neuropathy with conduction block, one case with myasthenia gravis, and 8.3% with negative results. Conclusion ALS-like disorder should be investigated whenever ALS is suspected, and further laboratory workup might unveil a coexisting 'possibly causative' pathological condition.


This paper forms the United Kingdom's contribution to the International Banking Research Network's project examining the cross-border spillovers of prudential policy actions, where each participant in the network uses proprietary bank-level data available to central banks. We examine whether UK-owned banks' domestic lending is affected by prudential actions in other countries where they have exposures. We also examine the impact of a change in prudential policy in a foreign-owned UK-resident bank's home jurisdiction on its lending to the United Kingdom. Our results suggest that prudential actions taken abroad do not have significant spillover effects on bank lending in the UK economy as a whole. But there are more granular effects: for instance, when a foreign authority tightens loan-to-value standards, UK affiliates of banks owned from that country expand their lending to UK households and corporates.


The complex relationships between information technology investments and organizational practices have been the focus of intensive research in recent years. The research focus appears to have shifted to investigating the effects of various organizational practices and their interactions with information technology capital. There also is emerging evidence of recent emphasis on organizational factors and a greater shift toward IT complementarities in which value addition is linked to combining complementary organizational practices with IT investments. In this paper we focus on the contributions of IT use and organizational practices and their interactions. We use firm-level data to extend previous studies in three ways: (1) by using a large sample covering 3,299 firms spanning 11 industries, (2) by focusing on a large number of organizational practices, and (3) by augmenting the endogenous growth accounting framework with a data mining technique. Our findings indicate that the set of interrelated organizational practices that complement positively to IT use is different from the set of practices hindering IT use. We conclude that IT complementary factors that positively affect productivity growth do not necessarily have a reverse effect when they are reduced or removed. It appears that some organizational factors have asymmetrical effects on growth.


In many domains risky health behavior is still only poorly understood. Analysis is often plagued by incomplete data and a general lack of information. In this study; we try to understand the determinants of helmet use among motorcyclists in Delhi; a context in which road safety is very low. We use a very detailed data set collected especially for the purpose of the study. To guide our empirical analysis; we rely on a simple model in which drivers decide on their speed and helmet use. The empirical findings suggest that risk averse individuals are more likely to wear a helmet. We do not find any systematic effect of risk aversion on speed. Both findings are coherent with our theoretical model. Helmet use also increases with education. Drivers who show a higher awareness of road risks; because for instance; they are better informed about Delhi's actual road traffc accident fatality and injury rates; are both more likely to wear a helmet and to speed less. In turn; those drivers who show a high level of unawareness take the highest risks. Controlling for risk awareness; we observe that drivers tend to compensate between speed and helmet use. The most obvious solution to India's road safety problem and the related high social costs that result from it is to enforce the helmet law and speed limits. An alternative strategy; and probably more feasible in the current context; is to design interventions which raise awareness of road risks. Improvements to the road infrastructure are also a possible solution but these measures bear the risk that drivers will react to the improved road safety by either increasing speed or lowering helmet use.


Plasma from 14 diabetic and 6 nondiabetic BB Wistar rats along with plasma from 6 non-BB Wistar rats was evaluated for the presence of islet cells surface antibodies (ICSA) and antibodies to spleen lymphocytes by the protein-A radioligand assay. Dispersed Wistar rat islet cells incubated with plasma from diabetic rats bound 4255 ± 2208 cpm 125I-protein A/5 × 104 islet cells (mean ± SD) compared with 984 ± 454 cpm/5 × 104 islet cells in islet cells incubated with plasma from nondiabetic BB rats (P < 0.005). Twelve of the 14 diabetic rats with a duration of diabetes for 3–11 days bound radioactivity above the mean and 2 × SD of controls. The binding of 125I-protein A did not differ between nondiabetic BB rats and non-BB Wistar rats. Wistar rat spleen lymphocytes incubated in diabetic plasma bound 20,249 ± 10,783 cpm/2 × 106 spleen lymphocytes compared with 3460 ± 1809 in the controls (P < 0.005). Animals positive for ICSA correlated with those positive for spleen lymphocyte antibodies. It is concluded that ICSA and splenic lymphocyte antibodies are present in diabetic BB rats.


Substantial quantities of calcium oxalate annually reach the ground with the forest litter, primarily in the form of calcium oxalate monohydrate. More calcium oxalate is produced by soil fungi, in the form of both monohydrate and dihydrate. The quantities of calcium bound in calcium oxalate are notably high in litter as compared with the amounts of exchangeable calcium. In the case of humus, on the other hand, the corresponding proportion is usually small because oxalate breaks down rather rapidly in the soil. For some reason, however, it seems that calcium oxalate accumulates to a much greater extent in white rot than in brown rot. Despite the fact that a large number of basidiomycetous fungi are capable of using oxalate, they seem to be of only minor importance in the break-down of calcium oxalate.


BACKGROUND
Due to the aging population, there is an increase in the number of elderly patients with asthma. Although signs and symptoms are similar to those in younger patients, diagnosis can be challenging due to presence of coexisting conditions in this population.

OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this review was to highlight the challenges with regards to diagnosis, management, the high rates of medical costs and mortality in elderly asthmatics.

METHODS AND RESULTS
Scientific literature regarding asthma in the elderly population was reviewed. When compared to younger patients, elderly asthmatics have different drug responses, higher rates of bronchial hyper reactivity, more severe phenotype, and lower prevalence of atopy. In addition, there are issues with the adverse effects of asthma medications, use of proper inhaler technique and compliance.

CONCLUSION
There is an unmet need for research in elderly patients with asthma, specifically to facilitate diagnosis, and to investigate therapeutic strategies to improve quality of life in this population.


OBJECTIVE
Since the emergence of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the death toll has been increasing daily. Many risk factors are associated with a high mortality rate in COVID-19. Establishment of a common pathway among these risk factors could improve our understanding of COVID-19 severity and mortality. This review aims at establishing this common pathway and its possible effect on COVID-19 mortality.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
The current review was executed in five consecutive stages starting from determining the risk factors of COVID-19 mortality and trying to find a common pathway among them depending on the available literature. This was followed by proposing a mechanism explaining how this common pathway could increase the mortality. Finally, its potential role in managing COVID-19 was proposed.

RESULTS
This review identified this common pathway to be a low baseline of reduced glutathione (i.e., GSH) level. In particular, this review provided an in-depth discussion regarding the pathophysiology by which COVID-19 leads to GSH depletion, tissue damage, and acute respiratory distress syndrome. In addition, the current review demonstrated how GSH depletion could result in failure of the immune system and rendering the end organs vulnerable to damage from the oxidative stress.

CONCLUSIONS
This preclinical study shows that GSH depletion may have a central role in COVID-19 mortality and pathophysiology. Therefore, elevating the GSH level in tissues may decrease the severity and mortality rates of COVID-19.


The mechanisms by which two nitrogen monoxide (NO) generators, hydroxylamine and S-nitroso-L-cysteine (NO-CYS), induce hippocampal [3H]norepinephrine ([3H]NE) release was investigated. Neither hydroxylamine- nor NO-CYS-induced release was affected by the guanylate cyclase inhibitors, methylene blue or LY 83,583. The effect of hydroxylamine was completely dependent on extracellular Ca++ and reduced by 40% in the presence of omega-conotoxin GVIA, an N-type Ca(++)-channel antagonist; however it was unaffected by Ni++, nifedipine, caffeine or thapsigargin. The stimulatory effect of hydroxylamine on hippocampal cyclic GMP formation was not significantly affected by removal of extracellular Ca++, indicating that Ca(++)-dependent release is not due to inhibition of NO formation from hydroxylamine. However, the response to NO-CYS was reduced by 35 to 50% in either nominally Ca(++)-free or 10 mM MgSO4-containing buffer. Interestingly, buffer containing ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N'-tetraacetic acid dramatically enhanced the formation of NO from NO-CYS and potentiated the NO-CYS response. Both NO-CYS- and hydroxylamine-induced [3H]NE release was inhibited by NE transport blockers, indicating a prominent role for reverse transport. NO-CYS completely inhibited synaptosomal uptake of [3H]NE (IC50 approximately, 300 microM). NO generator-induced [3H]NE release has a glutamate-dependent component (see accompanying article). Inhibition of glutamate-evoked [3H]NE release by mazindol, an inhibitor of NE transport, suggests that the glutamate-dependent component also involves reversal of the NE transporter. These data suggest that NO produced from hydroxylamine or NO-CYS evoke both vesicular and nonvesicular release of hippocampal [3H]NE. Putative NO target molecules and the role of extracellular Ca++ are discussed.


Background: Although several studies have investigated the association between ABO blood type and risk of gastric cancer (GC), atrophic gastritis (AG), and Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection, no study has investigated these associations by using ABO genotype. Methods: We conducted a case–control study in 703 patients with GC and 1,465 noncancer patients. We also conducted a cross-sectional study by using 1,406 of these 1,465 controls, who were examined for pepsinogens and anti-HP IgG antibody levels in serum. ABO genotype was determined from single nucleotide polymorphisms in ABO gene. We used rs8176719 to mark the O allele, and rs8176746 and rs8176747 to mark the B allele. ORs and 95% CIs were calculated by a multivariate logistic model. Results: We observed significant associations between ABO genotype and GC, AG, and HP infection. ORs (95% CIs) of GC were 0.70 (0.50–0.99) for OO and 0.53 (0.36–0.77) for BO relative to AA genotype. An increased risk of GC was observed with addition of the A allele (Ptrend < 0.001), and a decreased risk with that of the B allele (Ptrend = 0.023). An OR of AG was 0.73 (95% CI, 0.53–0.99) for blood type B relative to blood type A, and an OR of HP infection was 0.39 (95% CI, 0.17–0.87) for BB relative to AA genotype. Conclusion: This study identified a statistically significant association between ABO genotype and GC risk. In addition, ABO gene locus may influence AG prevalence and HP infection. Impact: Further studies are necessary to confirm these findings. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 20(8); 1665–72. ©2011 AACR.


In this paper, we perform a structural Bayesian estimation of the contribution of anticipated shocks to business cycles in the postwar United States. Our theoretical framework is a real-business-cycle model augmented with four real rigidities: investment adjustment costs, variable capacity utilization, habit formation in consumption, and habit formation in leisure. Business cycles are assumed to be driven by permanent and stationary neutral productivity shocks, permanent investment-specific shocks, and government spending shocks. Each of these driving forces is buffeted by four types of structural innovations: unanticipated innovations and innovations anticipated one, two, and three quarters in advance. We find that anticipated shocks account for more than two thirds of predicted aggregate fluctuations.


We examine if, and under what conditions, disclosure of sustainability information identified as investor relevant by market-driven innovations in accounting standard-setting, is associated with stock prices reflecting more firm-specific information and thereby lower synchronicity with market and industry returns. We find that firms voluntarily disclosing more sustainability information, identified as material by the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), have lower stock price synchronicity. This result is stronger for firms with higher exposure to sustainability issues, institutional and socially responsible investment fund ownership and coverage from analysts with less firm-specific experience and lower portfolio complexity. Moreover, we find intra-industry information transfers to firms with low sustainability disclosure within industries with high sustainability disclosure. We also document that sustainability information not identified by the accounting standard setting process is not associated with stock price synchronicity. of of on


Much clinical and ethnographic evidence suggests that humans, like many other organisms, are selected to avoid close inbreeding because of the fitness costs of inbreeding depression. The proximate mechanism of human inbreeding avoidance seems to be precultural, and to involve the interaction of genetic predispositions and environmental conditions. As first suggested by E. Westermarck, and supported by evidence from Israeli kibbutzim, Chinese sim-pua marriage, and much convergent ethnographic and clinical evidence, humans negatively imprint on intimate associates during a critical period of early childhood (between ages 2 and 6). There is also much evidence that, like other social animals, humans do not seek to maximize outbreeding, but rather to maintain an optimal balance between outbreeding and inbreeding. Close inbreeding reduces fitness through inbreeding depression, but some inbreeding brings the benefits of nepotism. For simple, stateless, horticultural societies, the optimal balance seems to be achieved by a combination of precultural inbreeding avoidance of relatives with an r 2= .25 and cultural rules of preferential marriage with kin with r «£ .125. Adjustment of the coefficient of inbreeding to other ecological settings seems to be largely cultural. An interactive model of "culture in nature" is presented, in which culture is seen as coevolving with genes to produce the maximization of individual inclusive fitness.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the role of -174 G/C promoter polymorphism of interleukin 6 (IL-6) in the susceptibility to polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR). We also investigated whether this polymorphism modulates the circulating level of IL-6 and the risk of relapse/recurrence in a series of patients with PMR followed up prospectively.

METHODS
A prospective study of 112 consecutive, untreated patients with isolated PMR (i.e., without evidence of giant cell arteritis) who were followed up for at least 24 months. This cohort represented all patients diagnosed over a 5-year period in one Italian rheumatological secondary referral center. Patients were monitored for clinical signs/symptoms and acute-phase reactants. All PMR patients and 112 population-based controls from the same geographic area were genotyped for IL-6 polymorphism at position -174 by molecular methods. IL-6 serum levels were measured in 67 PMR patients and 43 population-based controls.

RESULTS
The distribution of the G/C 174 genotype was similar in PMR patients and controls. No significant associations with IL-6 promoter polymorphism at position -174 were found when PMR patients with and without relapse/recurrence were compared. Controls homozygous for the C allele had higher serum IL-6 levels than the carriers of the G allele (4.5 +/- 3.7 pg/ml vs 1.8 +/- 2.1 pg/ml, p = 0.01). Patients homozygous for the allele C had significantly higher values of IL-6 during followup than patients carrying GC or GG genotypes. CC homozygosity was significantly more frequent in patients with persistently elevated levels of IL-6 than in those without. The presence of persistently elevated IL-6 levels, but not the CC genotype, was associated with an increased frequency of relapse/recurrence.

CONCLUSION
Our findings show that the 174 G/C promoter IL-6 polymorphism is not implicated in susceptibility to PMR. However, CC genotype characterized PMR patients with persistently elevated levels of IL-6 who are at higher risk of developing relapse/recurrence. A genetically modulated pattern of IL-6 production could affect the longterm outcome of patients with PMR.


This research examined the critical path followed by women from 10 Latin American countries who suffer family violence. It identified the personal and social processes women experience as a result of their help-seeking actions and the kinds of responses found at local services. The study used an action-oriented qualitative methodology with a standard research protocol that was translated and adapted for the various ethnic groups. The results provided community actors with an understanding of the barriers women face in overcoming the obstacles, humiliation, and inadequate responses they encounter along their critical paths.


Athletic field playability and safety is a growing national concern, particularly at the high school sports level. Athletic field usage rates increase each year while field maintenance budgets are stagnant, if not reduced. Many municipal and high school athletic fields endure multiple practices and games per week, despite weather-related conditions detrimental to field integrity. For example, Friday night high school games cannot be rescheduled due to a past or pending rain event. Research is needed to improve current cultural practices and to maximize playability and safety of natural grass athletic fields, especially in reference to prolonging field surface integrity throughout the high school football season. The objective of this trial is to investigate the use of wetting agent products and application timings as part of a sand-capped natural grass athletic field management plan in preparation for a game event coinciding with a large rain event. Six products and three timings will be investigated to improve rootzone water content management


This Essay provides the first-ever scholarly investigation of the origins of "bounty hunting" as the practice exists in the United States. With an historical focus on British policies instituted around the turn into the eighteenth century, I argue that the scheme of regularized rewards for the arrest and prosecution of alleged criminal offenders constitutes the "roots" of American bounty hunting. This early system, whose practitioners were referred to as "thief-takers," formalized and legitimized the notion of incentivized pursuit of "fugitives" and—while eventually phased out in Britain—provides the historical and conceptual parallel for the for-profit, private sector-level apprehension of individuals wanted by the law in the United States today. These early policies are, in short, what let the "Dog" out in the Anglo-American tradition.


Power systems may split into several electrically disconnected islands following large disturbances caused by natural disasters such as hurricanes, storms and the like. Timely and accurate detection as well as identification of islanding is of utmost importance to the system operators in order for the system to be rapidly restored. This paper presents an islanding identification method using state estimation. Island identification is formulated as a multiple simultaneous line parameter error identification problem. This problem was solved by revising a previously developed method and applying it to cases involving synchronized phasor measurements. The method is capable of identifying the new network topology following islanding event. Simulation results obtained from IEEE 14- and 30-bus systems are provided as illustrations of the proposed method.


This collection of solved problems corresponds to the standard topics covered in established undergraduate and graduate courses in Quantum Mechanics. Problems are also included on topics of interest which are often absent in the existing literature. Solutions are presented in considerable detail, to enable students to follow each step. The emphasis is on stressing the principles and methods used, allowing students to master new ways of thinking and problem-solving techniques. The problems themselves are longer than those usually encountered in textbooks and consist of a number of questions based around a central theme, highlighting properties and concepts of interest. For undergraduate and graduate students, as well as those involved in teaching Quantum Mechanics, the book can be used as a supplementary text or as an independent self-study tool.


China is a success story of inclusive trade growth as a result of its participation in Global Value Chains (GVCs). It is in transition from a processing and assembly hub towards an innovation centre, and is becoming a regional supplier of research and development (R&D) intensive parts and components. The infrastructure projects under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a quasi-regional trade arrangement, are helping to improve regional connectivity and production linkage, also brings shocks to local production and employment. To achieve the full potential for job creation through production linkage with China, as well as to buffer the shocks, BRI countries may consider a special customs regime to help build labour-intensive assembly and processing manufacturing. China's processing trade regime is an innovation in this regard and could be part of the strategy of inclusive trade growth for other developing countries. Inclusive trade is becoming a policy imperative, not only because Governments in BRI countries need popular support for their foreign trade and investment policies, but also because it is in China's interest to establish mutually beneficial GVCs, in order to help lay the political economy foundation for BRI and other initiatives.


Home birth is as safe as hospital birth for women at low risk, according to the results of a Dutch cohort study of 529 688 women. But the authors say that a prospective study is needed ( British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 2009;116:1-8).

"In our research, we studied more than half a million women in primary care and compared planned home births with planned hospital births," said the lead researcher Simone Buitendijk, head of the child health programme at the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research.

All low risk women, who gave birth between January 2000 and December 2006, were included. Just over 60% planned to give birth at home, 30.8% in hospital, and the rest …


To achieve the perfect imitation pearl has been the goal of nu merous European beadmakers for over 700 years. In France, the art of making false-pearls spread rapidly after Jacquin discovered how to fill hollow glass beads with a pearl-like substance in the 17th century. Since that time, many. diverse recipes have been tried and used to satisfy the French pub lic's enormous appetite for affordable, yet elegant, imita tions of fine pearls. In ihe 19th and early 20th centuries, these types of beads became even more popular than before, as they emerged as the principal components of costume jew elry worn by celebrated stage personalities.


Background: Floods are the most common natural disaster in the world, affecting the lives of hundreds of millions. Flood forecasting is therefore a vitally important endeavor, typically achieved using physical water flow simulations, which rely on accurate terrain elevation maps. However, such simulations, based on solving partial differential equations, are computationally prohibitive on a large scale. This scalability issue is commonly alleviated using a coarse grid representation of the elevation map, though this representation may distort crucial terrain details, leading to significant inaccuracies in the simulation. Contributions: We train a deep neural network to perform physics-informed downsampling of the terrain map: we optimize the coarse grid representation of the terrain maps, so that the flood prediction will match the fine grid solution. For the learning process to succeed, we configure a dataset specifically for this task. We demonstrate that with this method, it is possible to achieve a significant reduction in computational cost, while maintaining an accurate solution. A reference implementation accompanies the paper as well as documentation and code for dataset reproduction.


This article presents findings from a study on the implementation of California's new Youth Offender Parole Hearing law, which aims to provide juvenile offenders with meaningful opportunities to obtain release from adult prison. It contributes to the debate surrounding how to apply the "meaningful opportunity to obtain release" standard that the Supreme Court deliberately left open to interpretation in Graham v. Florida and, to some extent, in Miller v. Alabama. The Supreme Court's recent opinion in Montgomery v. Louisiana reinforces the idea that juveniles who demonstrate that they are capable of change are entitled to release. The data contained in this Article was obtained by reviewing the transcripts of the first 107 Youth Offender Parole Hearings; this sample represents all but two of the Youth Offender Parole Hearings that took place between January 2014 and June 2014. In the first six months of the law's implementation, juvenile offenders were found suitable for parole at younger ages than the general population. Further, youth offenders appeared to have a more realistic chance of being released under the new law. This reform is, at the very least, an important step towards offering juvenile offenders more meaningful opportunities to earn their release from prison. At the same time, it does not go far enough. After discussing some limitations of the law, this Article concludes by recommending guidelines that would provide youth offenders more meaningful opportunities for release in parole hearings.


Long-term potentiation (LTP) is an experimental model for memory and learning in higher animals. It is a well-known fact that intracellular rise in Ca2+ is an essential requirement for generation of LTP. Little is known about the synaptic modulation triggered by the intracellular Ca2+ rise, though the involvement of protein kinase C, Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaM KII), and/or calpain are indicated experimentally. For the purpose of making the synaptic change clearer we tried to characterize the substrates for the protein kinases associated with isolated postsynaptic density (PSD)-enriched fractions. Four major groups of substrates for the CaM KII (250 k M(r), 200 k M(r), 180 k M(r), and 140 k M(r)) and one for kinase C (17 k M(r)) were identified. The 250 k M(r) substrate resembled P400 protein, IP3 receptor, in structure. The 17 k M(r) substrate was different from myelin basic protein which was electrophoresed nearly at the same distance. We made an antibody against the 140 k M(r) substrates to obtain biological and physicochemical properties of the protein. We also made an antibody specific to the Thr286-autophosphorylated and autonomous form of CaM KII. The latter antibody is an extremely useful reagent to understand the biological functions of the CaM KII, especially the role of autophosphorylation of the kinase in modulation of the synaptic function such as in LTP.