The hydroxyl radical (OH) plays a key role in the oxidation of trace gases in the troposphere. However, observations of OH and the closely related hydroperoxy radical (HO2) have been sparse, especially in the tropics. Based on a low-pressure laser-induced fluorescence technique (FAGE – Fluorescence Assay by Gas Expansion), an instrument has been developed to measure OH and HO2 aboard the Facility for Airborne Atmospheric Measurement (FAAM) BAe-146 research aircraft. During the African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analyses (AMMA) campaign, observations of OH and HO2 (HOx) were made in the boundary layer and free troposphere over West Africa on 13 flights during July and August 2006. Mixing ratios of both OH and HO2 were found to be highly variable, but followed a diurnal cycle: OH varied from 1.3 pptv to below the instrumental limit of detection, with a median mixing ratio of 0.17 pptv. HO2 varied from 42.7 pptv to below the limit of detection, with a median mixing ratio of 8.0 pptv. A median HO2/OH ratio of 95 was observed. Daytime OH observations were compared with the primary production rate of OH from ozone photolysis in the presence of water vapour. Daytime HO2 observations were generally reproduced by a simple steady-state HOx calculation, where HOx was assumed to be formed from the primary production of OH and lost through HO2 self-reaction. Deviations between the observations and this simple model were found to be grouped into a number of specific cases: (a) within cloud, (b) in the presence of high levels of isoprene in the boundary layer and (c) within a biomass burning plume. HO2 was sampled in and around cloud, with significant short-lived reductions of HO2 observed. Up to 9 pptv of Correspondence to: D. E. Heard (email@example.com) HO2 was observed at night, with HO2 above 6 pptv observed at altitudes above 6 km. In the forested boundary layer, HO2 was underestimated by a steady state calculation at altitudes below 500 m but overestimated between 500 m and 2 km. In a biomass burning plume, observed HO2 concentrations were significantly below those calculated.


The ANtarctic geological DRILLing Program (ANDRILL) successfully recovered 1138.54 m of core from drill hole AND-2A in the Ross Sea sediments (Antarctica). The core is composed of terrigenous claystones, siltstones, sandstones, conglomerates, breccias, and diamictites with abundant volcanic material. We present sedimentological, morphoscopic, petrographic, and geochemical data on pyroclasts recovered from core AND-2A that provide insights on eruption styles, volcanic sources, and environments of deposition. One pyroclastic fall deposit, 12 resedimented volcaniclastic deposits and 14 volcanogenic sedimentary deposits record a history of intense explosive volcanic activity in southern Victoria Land during the Early Miocene. Tephra were ejected during Subplinian and Plinian eruptions fed by trachytic to rhyolitic magmas and during Strombolian to Hawaiian eruptions fed by basaltic to mugearitic magmas in submarine and/or subglacial to subaerial environments. The long-lived Mount Morning eruptive center, located ∼80 km south of the drill site, was recognized as the probable volcanic source for these products on the basis of volcanological, geochemical, and age constraints. The study of tephra in the AND-2A core provides important paleoenvironment information by revealing that the deposition of primary and moderately reworked tephra occurred in a proglacial setting under generally open-water marine conditions.


At one time, the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley was covered by almost 25 million acres of forest. By the mid-1980s, all that remained of the valley's forested land was roughly 6.6 million acres. This report addresses a gap in data about this land by providing, for the first time since 1986, comprehensive new estimates of forest area, volume, carbon, and tree species stocking change.


Using the finite-difference time-domain method, three-dimensional scattering patterns are computed for cells containing multiple organelles. The scattering cross section and average cosine of the scattering angle are computed for cells as a function of volume fraction of melanin granules and mitochondria. Results show that small organelles play a significant role in light scattering from cells, and the volume fraction of organelles affects both the total amount of scattered light and the angular distribution of scattered light.


The neighbourhood reconstruction involves three key stakeholders—municipality, builders and residents. There are some conflicts among them due to their different standpoints, and the reasons of most conflicts relate to human needs of residents when they are not met. The main purpose of this study is to create a general socially sustainable neighbourhood reconstruction process through the lens of FSSD and Max-Neef's human needs theory. This new process will promote the collaboration among these three key stakeholders and help residents to have their basic human needs fulfilled. First of all, a vision of a sustainable neighbourhood reconstruction process is created and amended based upon literature review and authorities' feedback; then a summary of the current reality of the reconstruction process is addressed in light of a case study; followed by the analysis of the gap between vision and reality. At last, different suggestions are given with the purpose of eliminating the gap.


The length of productive life is of major economic importance in dairy cattle production. Simple breeding objectives such as selection for increased production in dairy cattle have led to a significant decline in fitness traits. The objective of the current study was to investigate whether direct selection for production resulted in an undesirable genetic response in longevity in the South African Jersey breed. Longevity was defined as survival in the first three lactations from first calving to culling or death, adjusted for the effect of milk yield. An observation for survival per lactation was denoted by 1 (survived) or 0 (culled) otherwise. Performance and pedigree records on purebred South African Jersey cows that participated in the National Milk Recording and Improvement Scheme were considered. A multiple-trait linear animal model was used to estimate breeding values. A complete (co)variance structure for the additive genetic and residual effects for the three traits were used. Heritabilities used in the current study were 0.034, 0.022 and 0.026 for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd lactations, respectively. Reliabilities were approximated using the effective number of daughters. The estimated breeding values for sires ranged from 79 to 114. The rate of genetic progress per year for the period 1985 to 2002 was statistically non-significant (b = 0.02 ± 0.05 per year). Results from the current study indicate that direct selection for production did not result in an undesirable correlated genetic response in longevity.


The main purpose of this essay is to examine newly discovered material by one of the great creative forces in the blues, Blind Lemon Jefferson. We will attempt to explain the material's peculiarities and try to solve certain problems it presents.1 By placing these new songs in the context of Jefferson's other known music and his blues in particular, as well as within the broader spectrum of American folk music tradition, we will try to show how they add to, confirm, or modify our understanding of Jefferson's life, personality, music, and artistic stature. In particular, we will investigate certain themes in the lyrics of these new songs. One of these is the theme of violent attacks and outbursts, either suffered or perpetrated by the blind singer. Another is the theme of blindness itself. As explained in an earlier article by Monge, the many cryptic visual references in Jefferson's lyrics unveil a psychological preoccupation with his blindness and constitute the sub-theme underlying the whole of his lyrical output.2 In order to corroborate this theory, a complete list of Jefferson's visual references in the new songs is provided in the Appendix for statistical comparisons with the results obtained in the earlier article. New Songs of Blind Lemon Jefferson Luigi Monge and David Evans


An in vivo model was used to investigate the regulation of tight junction (TJ) dynamics in the testis when adult rats were treated with CdCl2. It was shown that the CdCl2-induced disruption of the blood-testis barrier (BTB) associated with a transient induction in testicular TGF-β2 and TGF-β3 (but not TGF-β1) and the phosphorylated p38 mitogen activated protein (MAP) kinase, concomitant with a loss of occludin and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) from the BTB site in the seminiferous epithelium. These results suggest that BTB dynamics in vivo are regulated by TGF-β2/-β3 via the p38 MAP kinase pathway. Indeed, SB202190, a specific p38 MAP kinase inhibitor, blocked the CdCl2-induced occludin and ZO-1 loss from the BTB. This result clearly illustrates that CdCl2 mediates its BTB disruptive effects via the TGF-β3/p38 MAP kinase signaling pathway. Besides, this CdCl2-induced occludin and ZO-1 loss from the BTB also associated with a significant loss of the cadherin/catenin and the nectin/afadin protein complexes at the site of cell-cell actin-based adherens junctions (AJs). An induction of α2-macroglobulin (a non-specific protease inhibitor) was also observed during BTB damage and when the seminiferous epithelium was being depleted of germ cells. These data illustrate that a primary disruption of the BTB can lead to a secondary loss of cell adhesion function at the site of AJs, concomitant with an induction in protease inhibitor, which apparently is used to protect the epithelium from unwanted proteolysis. α2-Macroglobulin was also shown to associate physically with TGF-β3, afadin and nectin 3, but not occludin, E-cadherin or N-cadherin, indicating its possible role in junction restructuring in vivo. Additionally, the use of SB202190 to block the TGF-β3/p-38 MAP kinase pathway also prevented the CdCl2-induced loss of cadherin/catenin and nectin/afadin protein complexes from the AJ sites, yet it had no apparent effect on α2-macroglobulin. These results demonstrate for the first time that the TGF-β3/p38 MAP kinase signaling pathway is being used to regulate both TJ and AJ dynamics in the testis, mediated by the effects of TGF-β3 on TJ- and AJ-integral membrane proteins and adaptors, but not protease inhibitors.


A major benefit of graphical models is that most knowledge is captured in the model structure. Many models, however, produce inference problems with a lot of symmetries not reflected in the graphical structure and hence not exploitable by efficient inference techniques such as belief propagation (BP). In this paper, we present a new and simple BP algorithm, called counting BP, that exploits such additional symmetries. Starting from a given factor graph, counting BP first constructs a compressed factor graph of clusternodes and clusterfactors, corresponding to sets of nodes and factors that are indistinguishable given the evidence. Then it runs a modified BP algorithm on the compressed graph that is equivalent to running BP on the original factor graph. Our experiments show that counting BP is applicable to a variety of important AI tasks such as (dynamic) relational models and boolean model counting, and that significant efficiency gains are obtainable, often by orders of magnitude.


Some aspects of habitat seem to enhance the spread of disease whereas others inhibit it. Here, we illustrate and identify mechanisms that connect habitat to epidemiology using a case study of disease in plankton. We see a pronounced relationship between the basin shapes of lakes and fungal (Metschnikowia bicuspidata) disease in the Zooplankton grazer Daphnia dentifera. As we work through seven mechanisms that could explain why Daphnia in some lakes are sicker, we can eliminate some hypotheses (i.e., those relating an index of lake productivity to disease through host density, links between resource quality and transmission rate, and variation in host susceptibility) and find support for others involving food-web actors (e.g., selective predation on infected hosts by fishes, "sloppy predation" by an invertebrate, a possible dilution effect in V-shaped lakes). Furthermore, we identify physical mechanisms (gravity currents, turbulence) that could lead to greater transport of fungal spores to habitat occupied by Daphnia hosts in U-shaped lakes. These results highlight how habitat structure, through its effects on food-web structure and physical processes, can shape wildlife disease.


It is essential for a Navier-Stokes equations solver based on a projection method to be able to solve the resulting Poisson equation accurately and efficiently. In this paper, we present numerical solutions of the 2D Navier-Stokes equations using the fourth-order generalized harmonic polynomial cell (GHPC) method as the Poisson equation solver. Particular focus is on the local and global accuracy of the GHPC method on non-uniform grids. Our study reveals that the GHPC method enables use of more stretched grids than the original HPC method. Compared with a second-order central finite difference method (FDM), global accuracy analysis also demonstrates the advantage of applying the GHPC method on stretched non-uniform grids. An immersed boundary method is used to deal with general geometries involving the fluid-structure-interaction problems. The Taylor-Green vortex and flow around a smooth circular cylinder and square are studied for the purpose of verification and validation. Good agreement with reference results in the literature confirms the accuracy and efficiency of the new 2D Navier-Stokes equation solver based on the present immersed-boundary GHPC method utilizing non-uniform grids. The present Navier-Stokes equations solver uses second-order FDM for the discretization of the diffusion and advection terms, which may be replaced by other higher-order schemes to further improve the accuracy.


A search for dark matter is performed looking for events with large missing transverse momentum and a Higgs boson decaying either to a pair of bottom quarks or to a pair of photons. The data from proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, collected in 2015 with the CMS detector at the LHC, correspond to an integrated luminosity of 2.3 fb$^{−1}$. Results are interpreted in the context of a Z′-two-Higgs-doublet model, where the gauge symmetry of the standard model is extended by a U(1)$_{Z ′}$ group, with a new massive Z′ gauge boson, and the Higgs sector is extended with four additional Higgs bosons. In this model, a high-mass resonance Z′ decays into a pseudoscalar boson A and a light SM-like scalar Higgs boson, and the A decays to a pair of dark matter particles. No significant excesses are observed over the background prediction. Combining results from the two decay channels yields exclusion limits in the signal cross section in the m$_{Z ′}$ - m$_{A}$ phase space. For example, the observed data exclude the Z$^{′}$ mass range from 600 to 1860 GeV, for Z′ coupling strength g$_{Z ′}$ = 0.8, the coupling of A with dark matter particles g$_{χ}$ = 1, the ratio of the vacuum expectation values tan β = 1, and m$_{A}$ = 300 GeV. The results of this analysis are valid for any dark matter particle mass below 100 GeV.


Background: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common childhood psychiatric disorders that affect 2% to 14% of school age children. It is characterized by age inappropriate level of inattention with or without motor over activity and impulsivity in academic and social spheres. Boys are more affected than girls and male female ratio is 4:1. Although ADHD is the most common condition, the evidence from Indian studies is very less. Many studies are required in India to see the magnitude of ADHD. Evaluation of the prevalence of this condition in our country will help clinicians to consider the diagnosis of ADHD and related disorders. This study aims to determine the prevalence of ADHD among school going children (5 years to 12years) and to know the difference between government and private schools as well as to determine male to female ratio in Bengaluru. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study done in Bengaluru city by convenience sampling method. A total 18 schools comprising of both private and government were selected. 3120 Children aged between 5-12years studying in these schools were included in the study. Introduction about ADHD was given by Paediatrician to the teachers followed by screening for ADHD was done by teachers using Conner's teachers rating scale for all children. Positive cases in these were screened with Parents and Paediatrician by using Conner's parent rating scale. Children who were positive in Parents and Paediatrician rating scale were interviewed by the Psychiatrist at KIMS Hospital and ADHD was diagnosed by using DSM V criteria along with IQ assessment and treatment was started for the needy. Results: The prevalence of ADHD in our study was 1.3%. Male to female ratio was 1.6:1. Among the positive cases, children belonging to Hyperactivity type were 34.1%, inattention was 9.8% and combined type was 56.1%. Prevalence in private school was 1.25% and government school was 1.37%. Total dropouts were 2.5% who did not reach the hospital for the final diagnosis. Conclusion: ADHD is prevalent worldwide and it is also one of the emerging disorders in our country. It constitutes a significant mental health disorder in children and 50% of this disorder will be carried to adulthood. In our study we had prevalence of 1.3% ADHD and 2.5% dropouts due to lack of awareness of this disorder, their work pressure, distance, social and financial constricts. It is high time to identify the disorder and creating wide spread awareness about ADHD by the Paediatrician's among the Teachers, Parents and Primary care Physicians, in order to prevent the social and academic impact of the disorder. By introducing an ADHD standard screening methods in all schools along with the regular health check-ups will bring awareness in the society for the healthy future of the children. Lastly every school should have a counsellor to overcome ADHD and other related problems.


Having translated The Diamond Sutra and The Heart Sutra, and following with The Platform Sutra, Red Pine now turns his attention to perhaps the greatest Sutra of all. The Lankavatara Sutra is the holy grail of Zen. Zen's first patriarch, Bodhidharma, gave a copy of this text to his successor, Hui-k'o, and told him everything he needed to know was in this book. Passed down from teacher to student ever since, this is the only Zen sutra ever spoken by the Buddha. Although it covers all the major teachings of Mahayana Buddhism, it contains but two teachings: that everything we perceive as being real is nothing but the perceptions of our own mind and that the knowledge of this is something that must be realized and experienced for oneself and cannot be expressed in words. In the words of Chinese Zen masters, these two teachings became known as "have a cup of tea" and "taste the tea." This is the first translation into English of the original text used by Bodhidharma, which was the Chinese translation made by Gunabhadra in 443 and upon which all Chinese Zen masters have relied ever since. In addition to presenting one of the most difficult of all Buddhist texts in clear English, Red Pine has also added summaries, explanations, and notes, including relevant Sanskrit terms on the basis of which the Chinese translation was made. This promises to become an essential text for anyone seeking to deepen their understanding or knowledge of Zen.


Lake Naivasha a shallow, freshwater body and a Ramsar site is found in the eastern arm of the Kenyan Rift Valley. This paper used published, unpublished and analyzed data to assess the status, challenges and management options for the fishery. Lake Naivasha fishery is based on exotic species that fluctuates depending on fishing regime, lake water level and aquatic plant concentrations. The fishery has been dominated by different species with the current catch contribution consisting mainly of common carp, Cyprinus carpio, Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, blue-spotted tilapia, O. leucostictus and African catfish, Clarias gariepinus. The minimum and maximum catch of 21 t yr and 1181 t yr was reported in 1997 and 2015, respectively. The main threats to the lake fishery are anthropogenic influences emanating from within the lake and its basin. The factors include intense fishing, exotic species introductions, water abstraction, lake level fluctuations, wetland utilization, eutrophication, and land degradation. There are also several conflicts of interest amongst the stakeholders in agriculture, fisheries, wildlife, tourism, conservation and geothermal electricity generation. There is fear that if the current trend persists, the lake and its fishery may be headed for extinction. The management measures instituted in the lake do not seem to have arrested reduction in fish catches nor reversed deterioration in water quality. For sustainable utilization of Lake Naivasha and its fishery, there is a need to consider a holistic ecosystem approach of the basin management. Additionally, all the relevant stakeholders should be involved in formulation and implementation of the decisions to manage the fishery.


In this section 18 books are reviewed, presented in the following general order: children/family ministry, youth ministry, adult ministry, foundations, teaching-learning process, spirituality/ spiritual formation, and leadership/administration—although reviews may not appear for each area. A list of each area and responsible editors appears after the last review in this section. We invite readers to consider reviewing a book for CEJ. Guidelines are available in downloadable documents at www.biola.edu/cej under Publications Policy on the drop down menu.


Background: Chronic rejection leading to allograft loss remains a significant concern after facial allotransplantation. Chronic rejection may occur without clinical signs or symptoms. The current means of monitoring is histologic analyses of allograft biopsy specimens, which is both invasive and impractical. Prior data suggest that chronic rejection is associated with changes in intima and media thickness of vessels in arms and solid organ allografts; such data have not been published for face transplant recipients. Methods: The authors used a 48-MHz transducer to acquire images of the bilateral facial, radial, dorsalis pedis and, if applicable, sentinel flap arteries in five face transplant recipients (8 months to 4.5 years after transplantation) and five control subjects. The authors assessed the intima, media, and adventitia thickness plus lumen and the total vessel diameter and area. Results: Face transplant recipients had thicker intima in all sites compared with controls, but the ratio of the intimal thickness of facial and radial arteries was similar in face transplant recipients compared with controls (1.00 versus 0.95; p = 0.742). Intraobserver correlation showed reliable reproducibility of the measurements (r = 0.935, p ⩽ 0.001). Interobserver correlation demonstrated reproducibility of intima measurements (r = 0.422, p ⩽ 0.001). Conclusion: The authors demonstrate that ultrasound biomicroscopy is feasible for postsurgical monitoring, and have developed a new benchmark parameter, the facial artery–to–radial artery intimal thickness ratio, to be used in future testing in the setting of chronic rejection. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic, IV.


On the notion 'feature bundle' The study of the phonological aspect of human speech has advanced greatly over the past decades as a result of one of the fundamental discoveries of modern linguistics – the fact that phonological segments, or phonemes, are not the ultimate constituents of phonological analysis, but factor into smaller, simultaneous properties or features. The apparently vast number of speech sounds found in the languages of the world turn out to be surface-level realisations of a limited number of combinations of a very small set of such features – some twenty or so, in current analyses. This conclusion is strongly supported by the similar patterning of speech sounds in language after language, and by many extragrammatical features of language use, such as patterns of acquisition, language disablement and language change.


There is described in the present paper a method, discovered empirically, for computing the approximate number of "least perceptible differences" between any two colors of the same brightness whose specifications are available. This method has been stated in simple form as an empirical relation; it is shown to be in substantial agreement with extant sensibility data of the following types: (1) the least wave-length difference perceptible in the pure spectrum as a function of wave length (Steindler, Jones); (2) the least dominant-wave-length difference perceptible at constant purity as a function of purity (Watson, Tyndall); (3) the least purity difference perceptible at constant dominant wave length as a function of purity (Donath); (4) the least purity difference perceptible near zero purity as a function of dominant wave length (Priest, Brickwedde), and (5) the least color-temperature difference perceptible as a function of color temperature (Priest). A mixture diagram is included showing colors specified by their trilinear coordinates and by the dominant wave length and purity of their stimuli. From this diagram the number of "least perceptible differences" separating any two colors of the same brightness may be read with a degree of certainty indicated by the comparisons here presented.The empirical relation was originally expressed in terms of distribution ("sensation," "excitation") curves which suggest a three-components theory of vision (Young-Helmholtz); but it has been re-expressed in terms of curves which suggest an opponent-colors theory (Hering). Since this re-expression is nearly as convenient as the original expression, it is concluded that such success as has been demonstrated for the empirical relation can not be used as an argument for either form of theory; rather is a theory suggested which is more complex than either, such as that of G. E. Muller.


The predoctoral internship is a required component of training to complete a doctoral degree in the field of psychology. Most psychology students participate in the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) Match in hopes of securing an internship that meets their training needs and complements their developing professional identities. However, there are more applicants than there are positions available, and the imbalance rate is considered to have reached crisis proportions, with approximately a quarter of psychology students remaining unplaced following the Match. The implications of not matching to an internship are devastating to the applicants. The impacts of the imbalance are well-known statistically, including the high number of students who do not match each year, the financial and professional implications of postponing internship completion, and the percentage of growth in number of applicants compared to the smaller percentage of growth in number of internship positions available. A topic with little research has been the personal experiences of the applicants who do not match, and how not matching affects individual well-being and professional development. This dissertation is a research study designed to explore the experiences of students who, through their participation in the APPIC Match process, did not acquire an internship. A review of research on the internship crisis provided the background history of one of the most influential causes of "not matching," the imbalance in available internship sites. The experiences of unmatched applicants were gathered by means of a two-part electronic survey. The first part of the survey was conceptualized from research publications about the effects of the internship imbalance on unmatched applicants. The second part of the survey is the Brief COPE measure, a flexible assessment instrument designed utilizing Lazarus and Folkman's (1984) theory of stress, appraisal, and the coping process to assess the use of several different types of coping INTERNSHIP IMBALANCE 2 mechanisms. The first research question, "which consequences of not matching are most prominently stressful among students who do not find an internship through the APPIC Match?" was answered utilizing the responses of participants on the first part of the survey. The second research question, "which methods of coping are most prominently evident among students who do not find an internship?" was answered utilizing the responses of participants on the second part of the survey, the Brief COPE. Results indicate several stressful consequences of not matching, as well as several commonly utilized coping methods among unmatched applicants. This research is intended to (a) inform and empower students, doctoral programs, and other stakeholders to become advocates for increasing the number of available internships, and (b) provide information about how the internship imbalance affects unmatched applicants based on Lazarus and Folkman's theory of stress, appraisal, and the coping process.


This article considers two important issues in the statistical treatment of data from tobacco-treatment clinical trials: (1) data analysis strategies for longitudinal studies and (2) treatment of missing data. With respect to data analysis strategies, methods are classified as 'time-naïve' or longitudinal. Time-naïve methods include tests of proportions and logistic regression. Longitudinal methods include Generalized Estimating Equations and Generalized Linear Mixed Models. It is concluded that, despite some advantages accruing to 'time-naïve' methods, in most situations, longitudinal methods are preferable. Longitudinal methods allow direct effects of the tests of time and the interaction of treatment with time, and allow model estimates based on all available data. The discussion of missing data strategies examines problems accruing to complete-case analysis, last observation carried forward, mean substitution approaches, and coding participants with missing data as using tobacco. Distinctions between different cases of missing data are reviewed. It is concluded that optimal missing data analysis strategies include a careful description of reasons for data being missing, along with use of either pattern mixture or selection modeling. A standardized method for reporting missing data is proposed. Reference and software programs for both data analysis strategies and handling of missing data are presented.


Your one-stop guide to mastering the basics of Arabic Can one book have all you need to communicate confidently in a new language? Yes, and that book is Arabic Verbs & Essentials of Grammar. It offers a solid foundation of major verbal and grammatical concepts of the language, from pronouns to idioms and expressions and from irregular verbs to expressions of time. Each unit is devoted to one topic, so you can find what you need right away and get focused instruction immediately. Concise yet thorough, the explanations are supported by numerous examples to help you master the different concepts. And for those tricky verbs, Arabic Verbs & Essentials of Grammar includes a Verb Index of the most common verbs, cross-referenced with the abundant verb tables appearing throughout the book. This book will give you: An excellent introduction to the basics of Arabic if you are a beginner or a quick, thorough reference if you already have experience in the language Contemporary usage of verbs, adjectives, pronouns, prepositions, conjunctions, and other grammar essentials Examples that reflect contemporary usage and real-life situations


Background:Recent efforts by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education to standardize resident education and demonstrate objective clinical proficiency have led toward more accurate documentation of resident competencies. Particularly with regard to bedside procedures, hospitals are now requiring certification of competency before allowing a provider to perform them independently. The current system at our institution uses a time-consuming, online verification system. This study provided an alternative method through an identification card with a list of bedside procedures. Our aim was an easier verification method for nurses, allowing fewer delays of bedside procedures and more time for nursing to patient care. Methods:We performed a prospective, controlled study, using general surgical residents and surgical intensive care nurses. Subjects performed an initial survey of their experience with the current online system in place to identify resident bedside procedure competency. Phase I involved educating the subjects about this current system followed by another survey. Phase II involved introducing our proficiency card. After 3 months, we conducted a final survey to evaluate opinions on the proficiency card, comparing it with the online verification method. Results:Nursing postintervention responses indicated that significantly less time was required to validate a resident's proficiency (P = .04). Prior to the introduction of the proficiency card, only 15% of nurses reported a verification time of 5 minutes or less, compared with 64% postintervention. In addition, nurses rated the card validation as an easier, more efficient method of verification (P = .02). Conclusions:We believe that its continued use will not only improve the adherence to a mandatory hospital policy but also result in a less-cumbersome verification process, allowing more time for physician and nurse-to-patient care.


Lean is about waste elimination and value creation and prefabrication of houses seems to be one way to create structure and decreased complexity and waste generated by variation. However, prefabrication decreases some types of complexity and waste but introduces other ones through new roles of the actors and a shift of focus to manufacturing. The aim of this paper is to develop an understanding of a prefabrication strategy and to show the increased need for a novel comprehension in lean construction regarding different types of prefabrication deliveries and thus different types of complexity. Complexity as such, in this paper used in a contingency context, cannot be generalised and this study explores the differences in peculiarities of on-site construction, element prefabrication and volume element prefabrication. Peculiarities in volume element prefabrication are found to consist of two connected parts; Product complexity including building element design and product design (built-in knowledge) and process complexity including internal logistics, breadth of required knowledge and integration between product and process design. The sources of complexity in volume element prefabrication are thus connected to the in-house production system, differing from on-site construction and element prefabrication peculiarities connected to fragmentation and uncertainty among actors in the value chain.


Recently there has been an influx of postgraduate students in order to improve the quality of teaching and learning in Malaysian higher education institutions. These postgraduate students, who are mostly adults, learn differently from the traditional students and bring their previous learning experience to the classroom. Adult learners initiate their own learning and assume the responsibility to complete their learning process. Should their performance fail to correspond to the prescribed learning goals, feedback is delivered to reduce the gap. However, it has been reported that feedback scored the lowest percentage of student satisfaction in 2011 National Student Survey. Despite their desire to receive more feedback from the instructors, studies show that students are unable to make use of the feedback. Meanwhile, peer feedback is also useful to help students reflect and improve their work. This study examines adult ESL learners' understanding of oral assessment feedback and their experience in providing and receiving oral assessment feedback. Observations, written interviews, and structured interviews are employed in order to obtain qualitative data to answer the research questions in this study. A group of adult learners and their lecturer are selected as participants in this study as they have to engage in teacher feedback and peer feedback processes in the classroom. The findings reveal that adult learners in this study understand the need to receive oral assessment feedback and are aware of the characteristics of effective feedback. However, adult learners appear to lack the ability to self-direct their learning when it concerns peer feedback process, due to four factors: (a) Attitude, (b) Knowledge, (c) Culture and Face Value, and (d) Feedback Preference. Nevertheless, the students are able to self-regulate their learning by acting upon the oral feedback they receive in spite of the negative feelings that they initially experience when they receive the oral feedback. Implications for practice include a discussion of the rationale for peer feedback process between the instructors and adult learners, a proper training on how to provide peer feedback and to effectively use the feedback for the adult learners, and a refinement of the peer feedback activity by conducting the activity in small groups, awarding marks for student participation in the activity, and shifting the role of the lecturer from being the sole feedback provider to the facilitator in the feedback process.


This paper investigates algorithmic questions related to the possibility of managing UAV traffic with beacon-based navigation, which we dub BBTM - Beacon-Based Traffic Management. The specific problem addressed is: How to install the minimum number of beacons in a mountainous terrain to ensure connectivity among a given set of UAS terminals on the terrain? BBTM is relevant for low-cost UAVs operating in remote areas not on time-critical missions, and may also be used as a backup system for better-equipped UAS in case the precise positioning or control information is lost, spoofed or jammed. We give algorithms for the beacon tower placement and evaluate their performance both on synthetic and real-world terrain data; the experiments suggest that our solutions can be used to efficiently quantify costs of establishing direct-visibility routing networks for UAS management.


Water splitting is promising for energy storage and conversion, but the sluggish oxygen evolution reaction (OER) hinders its wide application. The search for efficient and low-cost electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution has been pursued owing to their significance for green energy generation and storage. Layered Double Hydroxide (LDH) based materials are promising for the OER to improve this weakness. However, the wide application of LDHs is limited by their electronic properties and active sites. Here we report a simple and promising method to improve the OER catalytic activity via an acid-base reaction, which resulted in an exfoliation process and multiple defects including Co, Fe and O vacancies. The acid etched LDHs exhibit better oxygen evolution performance than the pristine LDHs under alkaline conditions with a small Tafel slope and good durability. The acid etching improves the electronic structure and provides more active sites, which results in significant enhancement of OER activity. This work will open up a novel and inexpensive way to improve the catalytic performance in an alkaline substance.


The right or left anterior chamber of 12 dogs (ie, 24 eyes) was irrigated with 100 ml of 0.9% saline solution, balanced salt solution, or balanced salt solution with glutathione (8 eyes/solution) for 22 minutes. Changes in endothelial cell density and corneal thickness from pretreatment values were evaluated immediately after, and at 2 and 7 days after irrigation. Using specular microscopy and scanning and transmission electron microscopy, corneas were examined immediately after and at 2, 7, and 14 days after irrigation. Changes were not seen in endothelial cell density after irrigation with any of the solutions evaluated. Corneal thickness increased 4% immediately after irrigation with 0.9% saline solution and returned to normal by 1 week after irrigation; treatment with 0.9% saline solution was not associated with visible corneal edema. Ultrastructural changes attributable to differences in irrigating solution composition were not observed. The difference between the endothelium's response to limited irrigation with saline solution, balanced salt solution, and balanced salt solution with glutathione was small and irrigation with these solutions was not associated with permanent endothelial damage.


Speech-language pathology is an interdisciplinary field which began its development in the early XVIII century. Modern speech-language pathology, for its part, has arisen in postmodernity and is based on discoveries in classical sciences. The constructs of sciences, whether new, redefined or reinvented, are produced in and by a scientific community that agrees on the definitions, presuppositions and objectives of the knowledge being constructed (Fourez 1998). For this reason, interdisciplinarity can only be defined by enhancing the precision of terms that are still sufficiently vague to be considered as synonymous by some researchers and theorists. A clear understanding of this terminology requires a literature review and leads to the use of a common vocabulary that aims to increase the transparency and accessibility of concepts and models that stem from the precisions provided to these definitions. Over time, concepts evolve, are refined, are defined more precisely and they eventually circumscribe a previously unexplored reality. To frame speech-language pathology in an interdisciplinary perspective, a review of the literature was conducted to define terms that are sometimes used in parallel, at times positioned in a hierarchy or used interchangeably."


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Abstract The crystal structure of perhamite, (Ca,Sr)3Al7.7Si3P4O23.5(OH)14.1·8H2O, from the Emmons mine, Maine, USA, has been determined using single crystal X-ray data. The average structure has trigonal symmetry, P3̄m1, with cell parameters a = 7.021(1) Å and c = 20.218(1) Å. It was refined to R1 = 0.044 for 618 observed reflections. The structure comprises ordered blocks of crandallite-type structure, centred at z = 0, intergrown parallel to (001) with disordered aluminosilicate structure blocks centred at z = 1/2 to form a microporous structure containing large channels along [100]. These channels are bounded by 8-member rings of 6 tetrahedra (2 SiO4, 2 AlO4 and 2 PO4) and 2 AlO6 octahedra. Calcium atoms and water molecules are distributed in the [100] channels. A model was developed for the local ordering of silicon into the fractionally occupied sites in the (001) layer at z = 1/2 and this model was refined in space group P321 to R1 = 0.041 for 933 observed reflections. The dominant contributors to the local order are Si3O9 rings of corner-shared tetrahedra, together with Si2O7 pairs of tetrahedra. These units corner-link to (Al,Si)O4 tetrahedra above and below the plane at z = 1/2 to form 4-member rings, which in turn corner-share to PO4 tetrahedra in the crandallite blocks to give the 8-member rings. The analysis suggests that 5-coordinated Si may also be present in the (001) plane at z = 1/2.


Anti-graffiti protection is becoming a common practice in many urban areas, because of increasing danger to buildings and monuments. The main aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of four commercially available polymeric materials on a very porous stone substrate against graffiti. Physical and chemical properties of the polymers were studied in order to select a class of products able to protect the surface from soiling and to reduce the impact of graffiti on the stone. Experiments were performed on specimens of a very porous bio-calcarenite (Lecce stone, LS), treated with microcrystalline wax (Bresciani, Italy), an emulsion of paraffin polymers (Art Shield-1, C.T.S., Italy), a fluoroelastomer in organic solvent (Fluoline HY, C.T.S.) and a fluoroelastomer in water emulsion (Tecnoflon TN Latex, Solvay Solexis, Italy). Surface properties of treated specimens were evaluated by performing chromatic and gloss variation measurements, optical microscope analysis, water capillary absorption and water vapour permeability tests. In order to examine the anti-graffiti behaviour, treated samples were soiled by a permanent marker and the surface properties studied again after the cleaning. Colour changes were measured by determining the L*, a*, and b* coordinates of the CIELAB space. The overall chromatic changes (expressed as ΔE*) induced by treatments correspond to colour variations that cannot be detected by naked eye (ΔE* < 5), except for microcrystalline wax, which caused a higher variation (Figure). The most considerable gloss variations were observed on specimens treated with Latex TN and Art Shield-1. Water capillary absorption data indicated that water repellent behaviour of Latex TN was higher than the other polymers. The shielding effect exhibited by the other considered polymers was efficient only in the first few hours of contact with water and then it progressively decreased with increasing time. Water vapour permeability test indicated a considerable reduction of the vapour transmission rate only in the case of Latex TN. It should be noted that a low rate of vapour diffusion represents a drawback for surface treatments of stone. The anti-graffiti effectiveness was evaluated by measuring colour changes on specimens after the staining/cleaning process. Variations of chromatic coordinates observed on the "cleaned" stones can be ascribed to traces of residual ink and directly correlated to the efficiency of anti-graffiti action. After cleaning of specimens treated with microcrystalline wax or Art-shield-1 very high ∆E* values (≥ 30) were obtained, indicating a poor protecting action of these products against graffiti. Fluorinated polymers exhibited more satisfactory anti-graffiti performance. In fact, after removing ink stains, ∆E* values determined on stone surface were 3 and 10 for Latex TN and Fluoline HY, respectively.


The propagation of sound over finite impedance rough surfaces is investigated. Laboratory experiments have illustrated that roughness can be treated as an effective impedance in propagation models. This finding holds for high‐ and low‐impedance surfaces and is valid for propagation at grazing and nongrazing incidence. The purpose of this present work is to find out if these trends persist in the propagation of sound over rough soil surfaces outdoors. Of specific interest is the inverse problem of determining the roughness scale from the acoustic propagation. Previous field measurements were unable to separate the attenuation due to roughness and that due to the changes in the ground impedance caused by creating the roughness. Future experiments will examine surfaces that have been sufficiently weathered so that the parameters that influence impedance, such as porosity and flow resistivity, are comparable between rough surfaces and nearby smooth surfaces. [Work supported by USDA.]


Festuca trachyphylla (Hack.) Krajina is a morphologically variable species common in warm and dry habitats in various communities: xerothermic grasslands, dry meadows, sand dunes, scrub and well-lighted forest. The aim of this study was to determine the limits of morphological and anatomical trait variability of F. trachyphylla leaves. The study was conducted in 24 sub-populations (N-432 individuals) in the Lublin Upland, southeastern Poland. Plants in two localities were investigated: in calcium carbonate-rich xerothermic grasslands and on sand dunes. Variability of the F. trachyphylla leaf blades was demonstrated to be dependent on the habitat type. The following morphological and anatomical traits: the length of the leaf, width of the cauline leaf, number of ribs in the leaf, length of the cauline leaf, length of hair in the leaf, colour of the leaf, hairiness of the upper part leaf, cross-section of the leaf, and distribution of the sclerenchymatous tissue in the leaf blade exhibited high variability.


Fluoride is most electronegative and most reactive halogen. Fluoride in the form of fluorine is 17th most common element on earth crust1. Concentration of fluoride below 1 ppm are believed beneficial in the prevention of dental carries or tooth decay, but above 1.5 ppm, it increases the severity of the deadly diseases fluorosis, which is incurable in India2. This paper alarm the latest scenario of fluorosis pollution in fifteen district of Madhya Pradesh, India. All water samples were taken for study from hydrograph stations in Madhya Pradesh. Fluoride in groundwater samples was found to range between nil to 14.20 ppm, while 33 % of water samples are within permissible limit of 1.5 ppm prescribed by BIS (1991). The highest value of fluoride (14.20 ppm) has been recorded at Seoni district in southern part of state. In western part, 13.86 ppm fluoride has been found in Jhabua district. In northern part, the high range of fluoride affects Gwalior and Shivpuri district. In central part of the province, 4.43 ppm concentration of fluoride was found at Vidisha district. This study was done in year 2006 and the maximum and minimum concentrations of fluoride are shown in different districts. The conclusion of this work is to give information about the deleterious changes of fluoride concentration in groundwater of the state.


We describe a unique, versatile bioreactor consisting of two plates and a modified commercial porous membrane suitable for in vitro analysis of the liver sinusoid. The modular bioreactor allows i) excellent control of the cell seeding process; ii) cell culture under controlled shear stress stimulus, and; iii) individual analysis of each cell type upon completion of the experiment. The advantages of the bioreactor detailed here are derived from the modification of a commercial porous membrane with an elastomeric wall specifically moulded in order to define the cell culture area, to act as a gasket that will fit into the bioreactor, and to provide improved mechanical robustness. The device presented herein has been designed to simulate the in vivo organization of a liver sinusoid and tested by co-culturing endothelial cells (EC) and hepatic stellate cells (HSC). The results show both an optimal morphology of the endothelial cells as well as an improvement in the phenotype of stellate cells, most probably due to paracrine factors released from endothelial cells. This device is proposed as a versatile, easy-to-use co-culture system that can be applied to biomedical research of vascular systems, including the liver.


This Article examines the conditions under which acting as if one has a particular legal status is sufficient to secure that status in the eyes of the law. Legal determinations of common-law marriage, functional parenthood, and racial identity share striking similarities to adverse possession law – these doctrines confer legal status on those who are merely acting as if they have that legal status. In each case, the elements of a legal claim are strikingly similar: physical proximity, notoriety and publicity, a claim of right, consistent and continuous behavior, and public acquiescence. The reason public performance is critical is that these doctrines do not necessarily protect the immediate parties involved; rather, they aim to preserve third-party interests and the stability of the legal system against the threats of extra-legal forms of social ordering. This Article also examines what is at stake when legal doctrines acquiesce to public performances, a phenomenon I refer to as "performance reification." By recognizing mere performance, these doctrines suggest that there is no underlying, extralegal, stable essence to property, marriage, parenthood, and race, potentially opening space for contesting the social meanings of these institutions. However, this Article concludes that performance reification is more likely to preserve traditional social meanings. For example, a woman is not recognized as a common-law wife unless she meets traditional expectations for wifely behavior. By only counting certain performances as worthy of reification, courts condition the grant of rights on conformity to particular social norms. Additionally, by imposing legal forms onto ambiguous social phenomena, performance reification solidifies the dominance of such forms. The law makes a person either a stranger or a parent to a child; there are no other legally recognized relationships. I conclude that law should only recognize performance when the third-party interests at stake outweigh the loss of potential variability caused by imposing a standardized form. For instance, the interests of children may weigh in favor of recognizing a standard set of parental duties, while community interests may not be strong enough to justify marriage as the only form of intimate alliance between adults.


Private tutoring (PT) is becoming a worldwide phenomenon. In Israel too, about a third of elementary school students participate in PT. Based on sociological and school quality considerations, we examined school characteristics that are associated with PT intensity at school. The data encompassed a random state wide sample of 389 Israeli elementary schools collected by the Ministry of Education in 2012. The results showed that in high school socioeconomic status (SES) schools the percentage of students who participated in PT was higher compared to low SES schools. In high SES, schools with high PT intensity were characterized by high school achievements whereas in low SES, schools were characterized with low school achievements. PT seems to be a factor that increases the social distinction between high and low SES schools. In Israel, PT seems to create distinct 'school enclaves' that reproduce social inequality.


Previous analyses of diapause in insects have most often focused on the timing of the switch from non-diapausing to diapausing offspring in bivoltine populations and have assumed that diapause is irreversible or that the insect cannot survive winter if not in diapause. Many insects exhibit more flexibility in their life cycles, such as the age at which diapause begins, and facultative diapause, that may influence the evolution of different diapause strategies in different environments. The grasshopper Melanoplus sanguinipes F. (Orthoptera: Acrididae), has a very wide geographic range over which diapause characteristics vary greatly. Embryonic diapause in this species may be under maternal control, may be obligate or facultative (i.e., may be averted by cold temperature treatment of pre-diapause embryos), and embryos may enter diapause at different ages. Diapause traits were examined in two populations of M. sanguinipes from very different environments. In the population from a temperate climate (Idaho, USA), diapause was facultative, i.e., pre-diapause embryos averted diapause when held at 5° C for 90 days at all ages tested (7 days and older). The Idaho embryos entered diapause in late stage of development if held at 22° C for 30 days or more. In populations from subarctic Alaska, USA, embryos also entered diapause in a late stage of development, but diapause was obligate and could not be averted by chilling in the pre-diapause stages. Simulated evolution of these traits over a wide range of season-lengths showed that late stage diapause is an essential trait in very short season environments, resulting in early hatching, and a semivoltine life-cycle. Facultative diapause enabled bivoltinism to be a viable strategy in shorter seasons than when diapause was obligate. At transitions from semivoltine to univoltine, and from univoltine to bivoltine life cycles, populations with obligate diapause adopted a strategy of no diapause (via maternal effects) to enable univoltine life cycles. Correspondence: email@example.com Received: 3.13.2005 | Accepted: 10.3.2005 | Published: 4.7.2006


This book provides a uniquely personal look at the social worlds of a group of young male friends as they navigate the complexities of growing up Muslim in America. The book offers a compelling portrait of typical Muslim American teenage boys concerned with typical teenage issues—girlfriends, school, parents, being cool—yet who are also expected to be good, practicing Muslims who don't date before marriage, who avoid vulgar popular culture, and who never miss their prayers. Many Americans unfamiliar with Islam or Muslims see young men like these as potential ISIS recruits. But neither militant Islamism nor Islamophobia is the main concern of these boys, who are focused instead on juggling the competing cultural demands that frame their everyday lives. The book illuminates how they work together to manage their "culturally contested lives" through subtle and innovative strategies, such as listening to profane hip-hop music in acceptably "Islamic" ways, professing individualism to cast their participation in communal religious obligations as more acceptably American, dating young Muslim women in ambiguous ways that intentionally complicate adjudications of Islamic permissibility, and presenting a "low-key Islam" in public in order to project a Muslim identity without drawing unwanted attention. Closely following these boys as they move through their teen years together, the book sheds light on their strategic efforts to manage their day-to-day cultural dilemmas as they devise novel and dynamic modes of Muslim American identity in a new and changing America.


Childbirth education falls under the concept of health literacy. It is also referred to as prenatal, antenatal or perinatal education and aims at preparing women and their partners for childbearing and childrearing. Before westernisation and industrialisation women acquired knowledge on these issues by means of informal information sharing between female community members, but due to the breakdown of the "women's network", more formal methods of information sharing developed. This article will focus on the history of and the current trends in antenatal education and will attempt to find evidence to illustrate the aims and importance as well as the limitations of this subject. Childbirth education in the South African context will also be discussed.


Describes the State-of-the-Art in Spatial Data Mining, Focuses on Data Quality Substantial progress has been made toward developing effective techniques for spatial information processing in recent years. This science deals with models of reality in a GIS, however, and not with reality itself. Therefore, spatial information processes are often imprecise, allowing for much interpretation of abstract figures and data. Quality Aspects in Spatial Data Mining introduces practical and theoretical solutions for making sense of the often chaotic and overwhelming amount of concrete data available to researchers. In this cohesive collection of peer-reviewed chapters, field authorities present the latest field advancements and cover such essential areas as data acquisition, geoinformation theory, spatial statistics, and dissemination. Each chapter debuts with an editorial preview of each topic from a conceptual, applied, and methodological point of view, making it easier for researchers to judge which information is most beneficial to their work. Chapters Evolve From Error Propagation and Spatial Statistics to Address Relevant Applications The book advises the use of granular computing as a means of circumventing spatial complexities. This counter-application to traditional computing allows for the calculation of imprecise probabilities the kind of information that the spatial information systems community wrestles with much of the time.Under the editorial guidance of internationally respected geoinformatics experts, this indispensable volume addresses quality aspects in the entire spatial data mining process, from data acquisition to end user. It also alleviates what is often field researchers most daunting task by organizing the wealth of concrete spatial data available into one convenient source, thereby advancing the frontiers of spatial information systems.


In addition to its direct effects, income inequality may affect economic
growth indirectly through various transmission channels. Negative effects
may arise from a political economy, socio-political instability, and credit
market imperfections. In other words, inequality may have indirect effects
on economic growth through these transmission channels. In this article,
the focus is on testing the impact of income inequality through the political
economy channel, using several types of taxes as the proxy for redistributive
pressure. In order to test the possible effects through these channels, income
inequality, taxation, and related interaction terms are added into the growth
model. The results show that there is a significant negative interaction
between income inequality and tax channels. This interaction is also
justified with the tax index calculated by the PCA. Marginal effects of the
related tax channels are interpreted for different levels of income inequality.


Recent social science research suggests that many if not most judgments about criminal liability and punishment for serious wrongdoing are intuitional rather than reasoned. Further, such intuitions of justice are nuanced and widely shared, even though they concern matters that seem quite complex and subjective. While people may debate the source of these intuitions, it seems clear that, whatever their source, it must be one that is insulated from the influence of much of human experience because, if it were not, one would see differences in intuitions reflecting the vast differences in human existence across demographics and societies.This article explores the serious implications of this reality for criminal law and criminal policy. For example, it may be unrealistic to expect the government to reeducate people away from their unhealthy interest in punishing serious wrongdoing, as is urged by some reformer, for it seems unlikely that the shared intuition that serious wrongdoing should be punished can be changed through social engineering, at least not through methods short of coercive indoctrination that liberal democracies would find unacceptable. Second, a criminal justice system that adopts rules that predictably and regularly fail to do justice or that regularly do injustice, will inevitably be widely seen as failing in a mission thought important by the community, even foundational, unless the system's unjust operation can be hidden, something that would be hard to do without breaching notions of press freedom and government transparency to which liberal democracies aspire. Finally, an understanding of the nature of people's intuitions of justice can provide more effective strategies for changing them. For example, it appears that legal and social reformers would do better not to fight people's shared intuitions of justice but rather to harness them in service of their reform programs.


Unlike standard supply-side policies, the market stability reserve (MSR) can be used as a potent means of raising climate ambition. We calibrate an emissions trading model to the EU ETS and show that allowing firms to use rolling finite planning horizons can replicate past annual price and banking developments well compared to a standard infinite horizon, including the 2018 price rally. When firms have bounded foresight, indirectly raising ambition through the MSR is not equivalent to directly raising ambition through the emissions cap trajectory. Leveraging the MSR to raise ambition can be efficiency improving as it partially compensates for bounded foresight by frontloading abatement efforts so we analyze its interdependence with the cap trajectory to exploit synergies and minimize regulatory costs. Additionally, we quantitatively assess and compare changes in the MSR parameters for the 2021 review. In any case, MSR-induced resilience to demand shocks remains limited and one-sided by design.


Author(s): Hardy, Anthony R. | Abstract: The status of damage by vertebrate pests to growing and stored agricultural crops is reviewed in the light of changing patterns of agricultural practice and land use within the UK. Significant problems and existing management techniques are briefly discussed. The results of recent research by the Agricultural Department and Advisory Service (ADAS) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food are explored to indicate the future direction of vertebrate pest management to reduce crop damage. Recent changes in legislation and public altitudes impose constraints on some of the approaches to solving problems. The continued role of traditional control methods is considered together with new opportunities and requirements to exploit the ecology and behaviour of pest species in order to reduce damage.


This paper analyzes whether taxation can be successfully used to reduce the incidence of labor informality and achieve higher equality in a globalized economy. To this purpose, it develops a two-area model: a developed country and an emerging country. The two areas differ according to the size of the informal sector, which is characterized by a more flexible labor market and lower productivity. To illustrate the potential role of taxation in achieving a more fair income distribution, the paper introduces a trade shock to simulate the effects of trade liberalization. Trade expansion has often been blamed for leading to an expansion of the informal sector and a widening of wage income disparities. In this context, the paper analyzes whether a budget-neutral tax reform -- switching the tax burden from payroll taxes paid by firms operating in the formal sector to a consumption tax -- can mitigate possible adverse effects of trade liberalization and support labor formalization. The effects of taxation are seen in the context of the trade-offs between growth, labor formality and equity. The analysis suggests that small improvements in formalization, resulting from the tax reform, come at the cost of widening income inequality. To reduce the incidence of low-quality jobs, tax policy interventions should go hand in hand with more effective social protection systems and labor laws.


The main idea of the paper is based on L. S. Vygotsky's concepts of ZPD and collaboration of teacher and student. The special process between teacher and student, organised in child's zone of proximal development with using reflection and reflective questions as mail helping tools, leads to qualitative changes firstly in cognitive development of the student. Successes in learning activity create base for development of personal features. Thus, in such process, we may see strong connections between cognitive and personal developmental trajectories. Understanding of these connections gives an opportunity of mediative work with personal difficulties of a child, opportunity to turn simple processes of learning into counseling work, effecting all spheres of development.


Although researchers have studied the effects of aircraft noise on wild and domestic animals for many years, accurate descriptions of the noise levels received by the animals in many of the studies was not verified. Recent technology has allowed for the miniaturization of much of the hardware for noise monitoring devices, making it feasible to build a noise monitor small enough to fit on a large animal collar. An animal noise monitor (ANM) was designed and built to capture A‐ and C‐weighted noise levels above a programmable threshold, distinguishing aircraft noise from other sound sources. The device, weighing only 350 g, also captures onset rate, Leq, and gross movements of the animal via accelerometers after a noise event, while fitting on a large animal collar. The ANMs were also designed to function as stand‐alone, weatherproof units for up to 6 months. The ANMs have already been field tested under natural weather conditions at stationary locations by Peregrine Falcon aeries around Fairbanks, Alaska. ...


Ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun damages the DNA of our skin cells which could potentially lead to development of skin cancer (Mahroos, Yaar, Phillps, Bhawan, & Gilchrest, 2002). Sunscreen is used to protect our skin from this damage. The two most commonly used sunscreens are physical and chemical sunscreens. Physical sunscreens, also referred to as mineral sunscreens, work by sitting on top of your skin and reflecting UV light, whereas chemical sunscreens penetrate the skin and absorb UV light. There are many different brands of these sunscreens in the market. We hypothesized that the physical sunscreens would serve as better protection than the chemical sunscreens due to their high cost and natural ingredients. Brands that we used that represent physical sunscreens were Badger and Goddess Garden. Brands of chemical sunscreens were Aveeno, Hawaiian Tropic, and Up & Up Target Sports. All the sunscreens were creamy and had an SPF of 30. On average, the physical sunscreens were two times more expensive than chemical sunscreens. To test our hypothesis, we used the bacterium Escherichia coli (E.coli) as a model organism and exposed it to UV light while using the various sunscreens for protection. We then counted the survival rate of the E.coli colonies that were exposed. Our results demonstrated that there was no statistical significance in sunscreen protection. We concluded that physical sunscreens are not worth their price. Abstract Results Methods


BACKGROUND AND AIMS
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF), key constituents of the tumor microenvironment, either promote or restrain tumor growth. Attempts to therapeutically target CAFs have been hampered by our incomplete understanding of these functionally heterogeneous cells. Key growth factors in the intestinal epithelial niche, bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), also play a critical role in colorectal cancer (CRC) progression. However, the crucial proteins regulating stromal BMP balance and the potential application of BMP signaling to manage CRC remain largely unexplored.

METHODS
Using human CRC RNA expression data, we identified CAF-specific factors involved in BMP signaling, then verified and characterized their expression in the CRC stroma by in situ hybridization. CRC tumoroids and a mouse model of CRC hepatic metastasis were used to test approaches to modify BMP signaling and treat CRC.

RESULTS
We identified Grem1 and Islr as CAF-specific genes involved in BMP signaling. Functionally, GREM1 and ISLR acted to inhibit and promote BMP signaling, respectively. Grem1 and Islr marked distinct fibroblast subpopulations, and were differentially regulated by TGFβ and FOXL1, providing an underlying mechanism to explain fibroblast biological dichotomy. In CRC patients, high GREM1 and ISLR expression were associated with poor and favorable survival, respectively. A GREM1-neutralizing antibody or fibroblast Islr overexpression reduced CRC tumoroid growth and promoted Lgr5+ intestinal stem cell differentiation. Finally, adeno-associated virus 8 (AAV8)-mediated delivery of Islr to hepatocytes increased BMP signaling and improved survival in our mouse model of hepatic metastasis.

CONCLUSIONS
Stromal BMP signaling predicts and modifies CRC progression and survival, and can be therapeutically targeted by novel AAV-directed gene delivery to the liver.


This demo presents the ongoing effort to meld the stream query processing capabilities of Microsoft StreamInsight with the visualization capabilities of the WorldWide Telescope. This effort provides visualization opportunities to manage, analyze, and process real-time information that is of spatio-temporal nature. The demo scenario is based on detecting, tracking and predicting interesting patterns over historical logs and real-time feeds of earthquake data.


An accurate analysis of the perturbation methods of propagation constants and attenuation coefficients of TE and TM modes in an asymmetric metal/dielectric/dielectric layer structure and four-layer metal-clad waveguides is presented. Simple formulas are deduced, and numerical results and illustrations are given for several guide configurations. The results are in good agreement with exact solutions in the method of solving the eigenvalue equation in the complex plane. Approximate methods and formulas for analyzing metal-clad waveguides with buffer layers are also given.


Article type: Original Article Background: Behçet's disease (BD) is a multisystemic inflammatory vasculitis of unknown etiology, and vasculitis being its major pathological feature. Objectives: We studied the prevalence of microembolic signals (MES) in patients with diagnosis Behçet's disease. We also tried to determine the frequency of MES in BD patients with or without neurological involvement. Materials and Methods: This study enrolled 40 patients who fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of International Study Group for BD during 2012 to 2013. Bilateral transcranialDoppler ultrasound of the middle cerebral arteries was performed by multigate method. MES were identified based on the criteria of International Consensus group on Microembolus Detection. Results: We found MES in none of our patients with BD. We measured intimamedia thickness in all patients. Conclusion: It seems that in our population core histopathologic phenomenon to be other than MES andvasculiticphenomenonmay be implicated as a pathophysiologic factor for central nervous system involvement.The clarification of this subject needs further investigations on Iranian BD patients.


This paper investigates how artefacts and identities are textually constructed in an unpublished nineteenth-century epistolary exchange between the Director of the National Gallery, London, Sir Frederic Burton (1816–1900) and the painter, collector and dealer Charles Fairfax Murray (1849–1919). The analysis of this corpus will shed light on how artefacts can be identified in textual space; in addition, it will provide evidence of the negotiation of social identity and status within an atypical commercial context. The analysis is primarily qualitative, and is based on the formal notions of collocation (Stubbs 2001) and semantic sequences (Hunston 2008), with a view to isolating patterns of use which through their repetition and/or topic relevance signal typical descriptive/evaluative functions (Del Lungo Camiciotti 2009). It will thus be possible to investigate the development of practices used to achieve the specific aims of the discursive community of art dealers, and to textually construct identities both in the private and the public sphere; moreover, it will be possible to provide information about contemporary ways of perceiving identities of artefacts and people.


The seasonal upwelling along the west coast of India (WCI) brings nutrient-rich, oxygen-poor subsurface waters to the continental shelf, favoring very low oxygen concentrations in the surface waters during late boreal summer and fall. This yearly-recurring coastal hypoxia is more severe during some years, leading to coastal anoxia that has strong impacts on the living resources. In the present study, we analyze a 1/4° resolution coupled physical–biogeochemical regional oceanic simulation over the 1960–2012 period to investigate the physical processes influencing the oxycline interannual variability off the WCI, that being a proxy for the variability on the shelf in our model. Our analysis indicates a tight relationship between the oxycline and thermocline variations in this region on both seasonal and interannual timescales, thereby revealing a strong physical control of the oxycline variability. As in observations, our model exhibits a shallow oxycline and thermocline during fall that combines with interannual variations to create a window of opportunity for coastal anoxic events. We further demonstrate that the boreal fall oxycline fluctuations off the WCI are strongly related to the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), with an asymmetric influence of its positive and negative phases. Positive IODs are associated with easterly wind anomalies near the southern tip of India. These winds force downwelling coastal Kelvin waves that propagate along the WCI and deepen the thermocline and oxycline there, thus preventing the occurrence of coastal anoxia. On the other hand, negative IODs are associated with WCI thermocline and oxycline anomalies of opposite sign but of smaller amplitude, so that the negative or neutral IOD phases are necessary but not the sufficient condition for coastal anoxia. As the IODs generally start developing in summer, these findings suggest some predictability to the occurrence of coastal anoxia off the WCI a couple of months ahead.


Graphene oxide (GO) colloidal solution has been synthesised by the modified Tour method, in which the pH of the reaction medium has been increased to 2.0–2.2 at the final stage of graphite oxidation by adding NaOH solution. The solid-phase graphene oxide consists of multilayered graphene particles with a thickness of about 7.5 nm (9–10 layers of graphene) and an average size of about 7.7 nm. Reduced graphene oxide (rGO) has been prepared by hydrazine and microwave reduction. A comparative study of the structure, morphology, and electrical transport properties of rGO samples obtained by various methods has been carried out using XRD, SAXS, Raman spectroscopy, low-temperature nitrogen adsorption, and impedance spectroscopy. Structural analysis has shown the presence of two fractions of plate-like rGO particles for each reduction method, which consist of 4–6 layers of graphene in stacks and have a lateral size in the range of 7.1–7.6 nm. The BET specific surface area of the microwave-reduced rGO was higher than that of the chemically reduced one (296 and 237 m2 g−1 respectively). The frequency dependence (10−2–105 Hz) of the AC conductivity of the GO and rGO samples has been analysed in the temperature range of 25 °C–175 °C. For the GO sample, the proton exchange conductivity mechanism dominates. A Drude-like response of electrical conductivity at frequencies above 103 Hz with transition to Johnscher's law response at 175 °C has been observed for rGO samples obtained using both chemical and microwave routes. Changes in activation energies and relaxation times have been interpreted using a model of a thermally activated frequency-dependent electron hopping mechanism between randomly coupled conducting sp 2 rGO packages separated by disordered sp 3 rGO regions with correspondingly higher resistivity.


This paper examines the identification of rural occupation and the changing settlement pattern during late antiquity in the central part of Adriatic Italy. Archaeological field survey has proven to be the most efficient tool to map ancient settlement patterns on a regional scale. Although the methodological approach to map and classify Roman rural settlements has undergone many advances over the years, the identification of Late Roman occupation and the evaluation of the data remain problematic. Recent survey work in the Potenza Valley (Picenum) provides an excellent case study, demonstrating the problems and pitfalls connected with the identification of Late Roman rural settlements. To optimize site detection, the Potenza Valley Survey project invested in the exhaustive analysis of diagnostic finds from stratified contexts of the Roman colony Potentia. Following the study of the surface scatters, the settlements were classified according to a site typology, creating a third dimension in the detected occupation pattern. Broader historical questions could be addressed by integrating the survey results into a wider framework, making use of information from excavated sites and written documents. This approach allowed us to sketch the particularities of the central Adriatic countryside during late antiquity, demonstrating the relevance of regional diversity within this period of transformation.


Background Whether final kissing ballooning (FKB) is mandatory in the 1-stent technique is uncertain. Objective To evaluate the effect of FKB on long-term clinical outcomes in coronary bifurcation lesions treated with the 1-stent technique. Methods Consecutive patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention using drug-eluting stents for non-left main bifurcation lesions were enrolled from 16 centres in Korea between January 2004 and June 2006. In patients treated with the 1-stent technique major adverse cardiac events (MACE; cardiac death, myocardial infarction (MI), or target lesion revascularisation (TLR)) were compared between those undergoing main vessel stenting only (non-FKB group, n=736) or those undergoing FKB after main vessel stenting (FKB group, n=329). Propensity score-matching analysis was also performed in 222 patient pairs (444 from the non-FKB group and 222 from the FKB group). Results During follow-up (median 22 months), the FKB group had a higher incidence of MACE (HR 2.58; 95% CI 1.52 to 4.37; p<0.001) and TLR (HR 3.63; 95% CI 2.00 to 6.56; p<0.001), but not of cardiac death or MI. Most TLR occurred in the main vessel (HR 3.39 for the FKB group; 95% CI 1.86 to 6.19; p<0.001). The rate of stent thrombosis was similar in both groups (0.5% in the non-FKB group vs 0.6% in the FKB group, p=0.99). After propensity score matching, the FKB group still had higher rates of MACE and TLR than the non-FKB group (HR 2.13; 95% CI 1.15 to 3.95; p=0.02 and HR 2.84; 95% CI 1.45 to 5.55; p=0.002, respectively). Conclusions In patients treated with the 1-stent technique for bifurcation lesions, FKB after main vessel stenting may be harmful mainly due to increased TLR. Trial Registration Number clinicaltrials.gov number: NCT00851526.


In contrast to the common dismal view of China's environment, this article highlights local and national sustainability efforts in China and examines the location characteristics of China's Eco-Communities (Shengtai Qu), communities that achieved significant sustainability per the evaluation of the Chinese government. It explores what the Chinese experience implies to the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) concept in the context of nature–society relations and sustainability studies. The research was based on field research in eight Chinese provinces in 2001, 2004, and 2006, in addition to Chinese governmental and academic sources. At the national level, there appeared to be a positive environment–development relationship: The Eco-Communities tended to concentrate in more developed eastern China. The Eco-Communities displayed unique spatial patterns that are strikingly at odds with conventional wisdom, however. They were often found in the periphery of their provinces away from the wealthiest areas, poorer and smaller in economy and population compared to other communities in the provinces. Contrary to the EKC, the findings illustrate that communities can achieve environmental improvement along with economic growth, thus a win–win, nature–society relationship, at early stages of development. Natural resource endowments and environmental governance appear to be more important than development level in determining an area's sustainability. Environment–development research should move beyond the traditional EKC debate to better understand nature–society relations and sustainability.


From fires to ghosts, and from flowers to surrealist apparitions – the bombsites of London were both unsettling and inspiring terrains. Yet throughout the years prior to World War II, British culture was already filled with ruins and fragments. They appeared as content, with visions of tottering towers and scraps of paper; and also as form, in the shapes of broken poetics. But from the outbreak of the Second World War what had been an aesthetic mode began to resemble a proleptic template. During that conflict many modernist writers – such as Graham Greene, Louis MacNeice, David Jones, J. F. Hendry, Elizabeth Bowen, T. S. Eliot and Rose Macaulay – engaged with devastated cityscapes and the altered lives of a nation at war. To understand the potency of the bombsites, both in the Second World War and after, Reading the Ruins brings together poetry, novels and short stories – as well as film and visual art.


Nuclear hydrogen production is a technically feasible and economically viable option for addressing future energy needs. Several projects have been started on the co-generation of hydrogen and electricity from nuclear energy. In this report, the nickel sulphur iodine (NIS) cycle, a thermochemical water splitting cycle originally developed in ENEA for solar hydrogen production was studied to be coupled with a new generation nuclear reactor for massive hydrogen production.


Abstract. LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) mounted with static and mobile vehicles has been rapidly adopted as a primary sensor for mapping natural and built environments for a range of civil and military applications. Recently, technology advancement in electro-optical engineering enables acquiring laser returns at high pulse repetition frequency (PRF) from 100Hz to 2MHz for airborne LiDAR, which leads to an increase in the density of 3D point cloud significantly. Traditional systems with lower PRF had a single pulse-in-air zone (PIA) big enough to avoid a mismatch between pulse pair at the receiver. Modern multiple pulses-in-air (MPIA) technology ensures multiple windows of operational ranges for single flight line and no blind-zones; downside of the technology is projection of atmospheric returns closer to same PIA zone of neighbouring ground points and more likely to be overlapping with objects of interest. These characteristics of noise compromise the quality of the scene and encourage usage of noise filtering neural network as existing filters are not effective. A noise filtering deep neural network requires a considerable volume of the diverse annotated dataset, which is expensive. We developed simulation for data augmentation based on physical priors and Gaussian generative function. Our study compares deep learning networks for noise filtering and shows performance gain on 3D U-Net. Then, we evaluate 3D U-Net for simulation-based data augmentation, which shows an increase in precision and F1-score. We also provide an analysis of the underline spatial distribution of points and their impact on data augmentation, and noise filtering.


There is a shortage of accounting faculty and this shortage is predicted to worsen in the future. The number of new PhDs in accounting has declined from approximately 200 per year in the late 1980's and early 1990's to just over 100 per year in recent years. Currently, we expect approximately 400 to 500 new accounting faculty positions to open up annually over the next to five to ten years. We believe that there has been a narrowing of the number of PhD candidates coming from fields other than accounting and other business related fields. If this is true, we believe that the number of accounting PhDs could be increased and the shortage could be reduced by increasing the number of nonaccounting/nonbusiness bachelor degree holders in accounting PhD programs. In this study, we examined patterns in the undergraduate majors of accounting doctorates over a forty-year time period to determine whether there was such a narrowing and how it related to the total number of accounting doctorates issued. We find that the percentage of non-accounting undergraduates was highest when the number of accounting PhDs granted annually was the highest. We also analyze the frequency of topics and research methods used in accounting dissertations to determine whether shifts in topics and research methods are related to changes in the total number of accounting doctorates. Results indicate that topics addressed and methodologies used in dissertations have become less diverse. Thus, we could


In the present study the traction resistance and histological features of incisional colopexys made by open or laparoscopic surgery were evaluated. For this purpose, 15 mongrel dogs were located in two groups. In the GL group (n= 8) the colopexy adhesion was made by a laparoscopic surgery, and in GA group (n= 7) by a celiotomy. For the laparoscopic procedures the dogs were positioned in dorsal decubitus and four trocars were introduced in the left and right position of umbilical region. The incisions produced in descendent colon and in the abdominal wall were sutured in two layers of intracorporeal suturing. In the GA group the colon suture was similar to the realized in GL group. Fourteen days after the surgeries the dogs were killed to collect samples of abdominal wall and colon descendent, which were used in resistance tests and in histological evaluations. The total surgery time and colon fixation time were higher in the GL group (p 0.05), and the rupture force in GL segments was 43.68±16.45N and in GA was 39.70±15.15N. No differences were found in histological examination between GL and GA groups, and in all dogs the fibers of collagen were mature. The results verified for the laparoscopic technique of colopexy, that presented surgical adhesions with similar quality of the provoked by a conventional technique, allow concluding that the laparoscopic procedure may be utilized as an alternative for rectal prolapse treatment in dogs.


Successful grassland restorations are influenced by the diversity of seed mixes initially sowed in the restoration. Two common seed mixes used in grassland restorations are high‐ and low‐diversity mixes. The type of seed mixture used in restorations may affect invertebrate diversity and abundances that occur in restorations. We compared terrestrial invertebrate diversity and abundances between high‐ and low‐diversity restorations in south‐central Nebraska. Pitfall trap and sweep net sampling were used to assess invertebrate communities from six low‐ and six high‐diversity plantings. Our results did not clearly demonstrate that terrestrial invertebrate assemblages respond better to high‐diversity plantings than low‐diversity plantings. There was no difference in total abundance, family richness, or diversity of invertebrates between the plantings. Composition of invertebrate communities was similar between plantings. Araneae and Acrididae were the only major taxa that differed in abundances between plantings. Similarity of invertebrate communities in plantings is likely attributed to lack of plant architectural complexity, absence of host‐plants, and time‐lag effects in high‐diversity plantings. Because recovery time of high‐diversity plantings lagged considerably behind low‐diversity plantings, invertebrate communities in high‐diversity plantings were likely to be in early stages of development, but will likely become more diverse and abundant as the planting matures. Consequently, our results emphasize the need for long‐term monitoring of invertebrate and plant communities in grassland restorations. Additionally, discrepancies in types and abundances of captured invertebrates between pitfall trapping and sweep netting emphasizes the need to use more than one sampling method when using invertebrates to monitor and assess restoration success.


This Article identifies the key role that institutions play in moving toward an effective cross-border regime in property law. Property is based on an in rem principle, which should provide a single system for ranking rights, powers, and priorities in assets that applies to all interested parties. In a global context, this feature of property law requires a cross-border legal ordering by an array of domestic and supranational institutions: legislative, administrative, and adjudicative. The Article argues that the present fragmentation of property norms across national borders, and the incompleteness of supranational institutions that deal with property law, may place limits on the ability to create and enforce a comprehensive global ordering of property rights. This current deficiency impacts a broad plethora of assets: land, tangible goods, monetary claims, intellectual property and other intangible assets, and resources uch as tradable emission rights. Whereas "soft law" instruments do not require binding supranational institutions, the need for such institutions proves critical for more ambitious strategies for globalization, such as increasing attempts to provide supranational constitutional protection of the right to property, or establishing a property law infrastructure for a global market in capital, goods, and


Using a delta-doped GaAs/AlGaAs heterostructure with a 10 nm spacer layer, we exploit the metastable nature of the DX centers at low temperatures to control electrostatically their net frozen charge density. The concentration of DX(-) centers at 77 K is only determined by the applied gate voltage V-c during the cool-down of the sample to 77 K, i.e., it is independent, on the time scale of noise experiments, of the subsequent change in the gate bias V-GS. The sheet carrier concentration n(s) of the two-dimensional electron gas is varied through the application of V-GS. Hall experiments performed at 77 K on gated Hall-bar structures show that V-c strongly affects both, the threshold voltage V-t and the exponent k, which enters into the observed power-law dependence of the Hall mobility mu on n(s). These dependencies were also studied directly on modulation doped field effect transistors from the analysis of their transfer characteristics I-DS-V-GS and g(me)-V-GS at low drain bias V-DS. The 1/f drain-current noise was investigated and, after subtraction of the noise arising from the series resistances, quantified by the extracted value of the channel-associated Hooge parameter alpha(ch). This parameter is found to depend on n, and exhibits the same power-law dependence as the reciprocal mobility 1/mu(n(s)). This striking correlation was established for various values of k and reveals screening effects on the 1/f noise. This correlation qualitatively supports the idea that the dominant mechanism of 1/f noise in modulation doped field effect transistors, at 77 K, is due to mobility fluctuations induced by screened fluctuations of Coulomb scattering, generated either by fluctuations of charge-state and/or motion of defects.


Two of the most distinctive creations of American culture would have to be American music (jazz, ragtime, and blues) and American silent comedy. Both are delightfully combined and celebrated in Eastern Kansas every autumn. The fans of Buster Keaton gathered once again in Iola, KS, at the end of September 2007 to "celebrate" the achievements of a local son made good. Well, at least the nearest thing to a "local" son. This most American of silent film comedians (more "American" than Chaplin, who was born in Britain), was actually born in Piqua, KS, 7.5 miles down the road from Iola, when a medicine show came to town by rail. But you will not find much of interest in Piqua these days, beyond a closed-down gas station, a three-legged dog, and, of course, the Keaton Museum. Hence, the fans of Buster migrate these days to Iola, a larger, thriving town, that features a wonderful auditorium in the Thomas H. Bowlus Fine Arts Center, where silent films can be shown, along with music provided by the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra from Colorado, who have become regulars at the Keaton Celebration. Originally, the "Celebration" was called a "Symposium," in order to get funding from the Kansas Humanities Council, a group that did not want anything to do with a "Festival" (those of us who have attended year after year continue to think of it as a Festival none the less, but what a good excuse, by any name, to "celebrate" some really great classic silent movies). Over the years this Celebration has developed from a one-day event, tied to the screening of a classic Keaton film (with appropriate introductions and serious discussions), to a weekend outing, drawing more and more people year after year, from all across the Midwest, from New York City, and even from London, England. For some years Buster Keaton's widow, Eleanor, attended; and this year Keaton's grand daughter, Melissa Talmadge Cox, came all the way from California to join the celebrants. The Iola Keaton event takes place a week before the meeting of the "Damfinos" (as the American fans of Buster Keaton prefer to call themselves) in Muskegon, Michigan. I hesitate to say that the Iola group is more "serious," but it is certainly more "academic," and less keyed to a fanzine crowd. Aside from a few pork-pies and flat hats, most attendees in Iola do not dress up and are not in costume. The original steering committee consisted of Iola lawyer Clyde Toland, Mary Martin, director of the Bowlus Fine Arts Center, Fred Krebs, a faculty member from Johnson County Community College in Kansas City, and John Carter Tibbetts, Associate Professor of Theatre and Film at the University of Kansas. Tibbetts was very instrumental in getting some high-profile guests to attend the Celebration in years past, such as the world-famous film archivist Kevin Brownlow and comedian-composer Steve Alien, who, along with Jack Paar, just about invented what later became "The Tonight Show," (later still) with Johnny Carson. Tibbetts enabled that to happen by persuading the University of Kansas to schedule Mr. Alien for a performance at the lied Arts Center in Lawrence, on his way to Iola, where he spoke about comedy and was given the "Buster" Award, which became an inducement for well-known speakers to attend. (Currently, the fate of the "Buster" Award is apparently uncertain; I hope the current committee is clever enough to recognize its importance and somehow to maintain and continue the award.) Spearheading the enterprise this year was Dr. Frank Scheid of the University of Arkansas and Susan Raines, who recently replaced the retired (but never retiring!) Mary Martin as Executive Director of the Bowlus. John Tibbetts and Fred Krebs are still on board, as they must be. For example, Tibbetts is simply too valuable to lose, since he has played piano accompaniment for the films (such as the early 1917 Fairbanks feature Down to Earth this year) and has additional talents as an announcer (one of the best; he has produced syndicated radio programs for classical stations, syndicated out of Chicago) and as posterboy and sign-painter. …