Follow the Leader? The Internet has increased the likelihood that our decisions will be influenced by those being made around us. On the one hand, group decision-making can lead to better decisions, but it can also lead to "herding effects" that have resulted in financial disasters. Muchnik et al. (p. 647) examined the effect of collective information via a randomized experiment, which involved collaboration with a social news aggregation Web site on which readers could vote and comment on posted comments. Data were collected and analyzed after the Web site administrators arbitrarily voted positively or negatively (or not at all) as the first comment on more than 100,000 posts. False positive entries led to inflated subsequent scores, whereas false negative initial votes had small long-term effects. Both the topic being commented upon and the relationship between the poster and commenter were important. Future efforts will be needed to sort out how to correct for such effects in polls or other collective intelligence systems in order to counter social biases. A social news aggregation Web site was used to test whether prior ratings influence others to create bias in rating behavior. Our society is increasingly relying on the digitized, aggregated opinions of others to make decisions. We therefore designed and analyzed a large-scale randomized experiment on a social news aggregation Web site to investigate whether knowledge of such aggregates distorts decision-making. Prior ratings created significant bias in individual rating behavior, and positive and negative social influences created asymmetric herding effects. Whereas negative social influence inspired users to correct manipulated ratings, positive social influence increased the likelihood of positive ratings by 32% and created accumulating positive herding that increased final ratings by 25% on average. This positive herding was topic-dependent and affected by whether individuals were viewing the opinions of friends or enemies. A mixture of changing opinion and greater turnout under both manipulations together with a natural tendency to up-vote on the site combined to create the herding effects. Such findings will help interpret collective judgment accurately and avoid social influence bias in collective intelligence in the future.


I. INTRODUCTION Policymakers advanced the concept of universal service in an effort to ensure that all United States citizens receive widespread access to affordable telecommunications services. In developing the initiative, the Federal Communications Commission ("FCC") identified various areas that the universal service program should target, such as high-cost and rural areas. Regions that have fewer customers over which to spread fixed costs, and other factors such as less technologically advanced networks and rugged terrain, have inherently higher service costs. The universal service program provides subsidies to high-cost regions to ensure affordable telecommunications services to citizens in these areas. The FCC recently initiated an effort to reform the current universal service subsidy allocation system by implementing a computer model that determines eligibility for funding using specific cost inputs to calculate the cost of providing service to rural and insular areas. Although the initiative certainly has merits, the program determines eligibility for subsidies in a manner that will reduce the availability of universal service funding in certain high-cost regions. Without these subsidies, some high-cost areas will likely be excluded from technological advancements in the telecommunications industry. This Note explores the problems associated with high-cost subsidy reform, using recent developments in cable-telephony to demonstrate potential negative impacts. This Note provides a general overview of universal service in Part II, followed by a brief discussion of reform efforts for funding high-cost areas in Part III. A general discussion of recent innovations in cable-telephony follows in Part IV, along with reasons why high-cost areas will likely be excluded from these and other technological innovations, especially in light of the recent reform efforts. The discussion then shifts to the disproportionate impact that the reform will likely have upon local service providers and to the reality that many high-cost areas will likely be offered fewer technologically advanced services while rates for other telecommunications services will remain high. This Note concludes in Part V with recommendations for universal service reform, including the implementation of a specialized high-cost technology subsidy. II. BACKGROUND ON UNIVERSAL SERVICE "Universal service" refers to a public policy initiative designed to provide widespread access to telecommunications services. Ensuring that high-cost areas receive access to telecommunications services and technology provides great social benefits, including enhanced educational opportunities, improved medical care, widespread availability of information, and increased economic competitiveness.(1) Most simply defined, universal service is an intertwined web of state and federal programs and regulations designed to promote affordable access to telephone and other telecommunications services through a series of subsidies.(2) Originally, the program only targeted widespread residential telephone service,(3) but the nation's entry into an increasingly complex and digitized era has presented many interesting opportunities to expand universal service to other telecommunications technologies, such as cellular telephones, cable television, and the Internet. Although the fundamental concepts behind universal service emerged prior to congressional action,(4) statutory provisions form the basis for universal service today. Congress first discussed the principles of what is now referred to as universal service in the preamble to the Communications Act of 1934 ("1934 Act"), a statute primarily designed to affirm federal authority over the telecommunications industry. Although the term "universal service" never specifically appeared in the 1934 Act or in the corresponding congressional records, the preamble provided a strong affirmation of the concept--"For the purpose of regulating interstate and foreign commerce in communication by wire and radio so as to make available, so far as possible, to all the people of the United States . …


We describe the experimental setup and the results of RAuger, a small radio-antenna array, consisting of three fully autonomous and self-triggered radio-detection stations, installed close to the center of the Surface Detector (SD) of the Pierre Auger Observatory in Argentina. The setup has been designed for the detection of the electric field strength of air showers initiated by ultra-high energy cosmic rays, without using an auxiliary trigger from another detection system. Installed in December 2006, RAuger was terminated in May 2010 after 65 registered coincidences with the SD. The sky map in local angular coordinates (i.e., zenith and azimuth angles) of these events reveals a strong azimuthal asymmetry which is in agreement with a mechanism dominated by a geomagnetic emission process. The correlation between the electric field and the energy of the primary cosmic ray is presented for the first time, in an energy range covering two orders of magnitude between 0.1 EeV and 10 EeV. It is demonstrated that this setup is relatively more sensitive to inclined showers, with respect to the SD. In addition to these results, which underline the potential of the radio-detection technique, important information about the general behavior of self-triggering radio-detection systems has been obtained. In particular, we will discuss radio self-triggering under varying local electric-field conditions.


Effects of selected groundwater chemical traits on a salt marsh community Electrical conductivity, exchangeable sodium ratio and water depth have negative impacts, whereas soil organic matter concentration has a positive impact on Black Sea salt marsh vegetation. The most saline soils were characterized by Salicornia prostrata vegetation and associated with exchangeable sodium ratio. Alhagi pseudalhagi and Tamarix smrynensis populations were associated with water depth, while Juncus littoralis, Ammophila arenaria and E. paralias were associated with soil organic matter. Euphorbia paralias, Ammophila arenaria and Iris orientalis were associated with acidity.


Because of the variety of ecological and economic functions they perform, estuaries and mangrove swamps are recognised as amongst the most valuable habitats on earth. However, estuaries and related mangrove swamps are threatened by human expansion and exploitation which leads to changes in land cover change within and surrounding these sensitive ecosystems. Such land cover changes can either have desirable or undesirable effects on natural ecosystems. Examples of undesirable impacts of land cover change include soil erosion and degradation, the removal of indigenous vegetation for human development, and the pollution of water. Without an effective means of identifying, monitoring and managing land cover changes over time, these sensitive ecosystems face a bleak and uncertain future. The researcher sought to determine whether wetland bird species could be used as an effective method of monitoring the environmental health of estuaries and mangrove swamps. In particular, the research sought to determine whether analysing fluctuations in the populations of wetland bird indicator species, as evident in the CWAC Bird Census data, could assist in monitoring and assessing undesirable and desirable land cover changes within the Mgeni Estuary and Beachwood Mangrove Swamps. An examination of the archival aerial imagery of the study area for the years 1991, 1997, 2003 and 2008 provided by the University and private companies, revealed significant changes in land cover over the last two decades. The land cover changes identified represent an actual decline or increase in the suitable foraging, roosting or reproductive habitats of wetland bird indicator species within the study area. The research focused on investigating whether fluctuations in wetland bird populations can be correlated with the recorded changes in land cover over the last two decades. The research discovered a direct and comprehensive link between fluctuations in specific populations of wetland bird indicator species and the land cover changes identified within the study area over a 20 year period.


Models that enable efficient time allocation can be used to assist managers in understanding how to enhance their general efficiency. There are, however, few models that focus on the output efficiency of the public sector. This study investigates the concept of output efficiency in the South African Air Quality Departments. The primary purpose of the study is to develop a model to predict the extent to which organisational efficiency can be explained by the percentage of time allocated to a range of management activities. In this study, the development of a model using the logistic regression technique is discussed. Data were collected for two financial years (2005/6 and 2006/7) from the Air Quality Officers in the national, provincial and local departments (n = 228). The logistic regression model that was fitted indicated that the proportion of time spent on knowledge-management activities contributes most to the likelihood of a department being efficient.


We investigate a discriminatively trained model of person-object interactions for recognizing common human actions in still images. We build on the locally order-less spatial pyramid bag-of-features model, which was shown to perform extremely well on a range of object, scene and human action recognition tasks. We introduce three principal contributions. First, we replace the standard quantized local HOG/SIFT features with stronger discriminatively trained body part and object detectors. Second, we introduce new person-object interaction features based on spatial co-occurrences of individual body parts and objects. Third, we address the combinatorial problem of a large number of possible interaction pairs and propose a discriminative selection procedure using a linear support vector machine (SVM) with a sparsity inducing regularizer. Learning of action-specific body part and object interactions bypasses the difficult problem of estimating the complete human body pose configuration. Benefits of the proposed model are shown on human action recognition in consumer photographs, outperforming the strong bag-of-features baseline.


America's soaring prison population is separated from the outside world by the Concertina, the rigid spirals of razor wire that top the high chain-link fences of state and federal penitentiaries. For nearly two decades, educator Jan Walker crossed this line at medium and maximum correctional facilities to teach adult felons who had committed such crimes as murder, rape, assault, drug-related offenses, and child sexual abuse. In this beautifully crafted and moving memoir, Walker takes the reader inside the Concertina, offering a window on the unique rhythms of living and working in the isolated and harsh prison environment. She shares her striking experiences as a correctional teacher of innovative parenting and family courses, including a controversial class on how to parent from a distance, and as the coordinator of a pioneering program on personal and social responsibility. In stirring and intimate prose, Walker weaves together the true stories of male and female inmates with reflections on her own life and career to reveal the challenges, rewards, and emotional toll of her work. Through Walker's eyes, one sees her students not as hardened criminals, but as human beings struggling to survive behind bars, to reconsider their choices and behavior, to learn new skills, and to reconnect with their children. Walker's profound commitment to helping offenders rebuild their lives, as well as to preparing them for the return home to their families and communities, is evident as she relates how she coped with political and philosophical turmoil in the prison system, confrontational attitude from both inmates and corrections officers, moments of despair and doubt, and encounters with tough-on-crime taxpayers who berated her for wasting public monies to teach "scumbags, street rats, human garbage." At a time when budget cuts threaten programs such as those taught by Walker, the dramatic break-through stories in this honest yet compassionate account show that education does make a difference in a prisoner's rehabilitation and successful reintegration in society.


Background: As per WHO, it is important to measure quality of life indictors along with the clinical disease measurement. Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of different levels of caries experience on the quality of life of preschool children and their families assessed using the Marathi Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS). Materials and Methods: The Marathi version of ECOHIS was developed through a standard translation and back translation procedure. A total of 145 preschool children underwent an oral examination, and their caries experience was recorded (decayed, missing, and filled teeth [dmft]) and their parents filled the Marathi ECOHIS questionnaire. The overall ECOHIS score was calculated for each child. Based on the dmft scores, three groups were made (0, 1–3, >3). Impact was assessed by comparing the mean Marathi ECOHIS scores of the three dmft groups using Kruskal–Wallis test with post hoc analysis at 5% level of significance. Results: The overall prevalence of dental caries in the present study was 73.10%. Mean dmft was 3.16 ± 3.61. The overall child impact ECOHIS score was 7.54 ± 8.40, and family impact score was 2.50 ± 3.33. The child impact and family impact ECOHIS score significantly differed in the three dmft groups (P < 0.001). Children with dmft >0, significantly had higher child impact and family impact score as compared to those with dmft = 0. However, there was no difference in the scores between dmft 1 and 3 and dmft >3. Conclusion: This study showed that the Marathi ECOHIS significantly discriminates amongst children with and without caries but does not differentiate between children with lower dmft (1–3) and higher dmft (>3) levels.


Detailed geologic mapping, U-Pb zircon geochronology and whole-rock geochemical analyses were conducted to test the hypothesis that the southwestern extent of the Cat Square terrane continues from the northern Inner Piedmont (western Carolinas) into central Georgia. Geologic mapping revealed the Jackson Lake fault, a ∼15 m-thick, steeply dipping sillimanite-grade fault zone that truncates lithologically distinct granitoids and metasedimentary units, and roughly corresponds with a prominent aeromagnetic lineament hypothesized to represent the southern continuation of the terrane-bounding Brindle Creek fault. Results of U-Pb SHRIMP geochronology indicate Late Ordovician to Silurian granitoids (444–439 Ma) occur exclusively northwest of the fault, whereas Devonian (404–371 Ma) granitoids only occur southeast of the fault. The relatively undeformed Indian Springs granodiorite (three individual bodies dated 317–298 Ma) crosscuts the fault and occurs on both sides, which indicates the Jackson Lake fault is a pre-Alleghanian structure. However, detrital zircon signatures from samples southeast of the Jackson Lake fault reveal dominant Grenville provenance, in contrast to Cat Square terrane detrital zircon samples from the northern Inner Piedmont, which include peri-Gondwanan (600–500 Ma) and a prominent Ordovician-Silurian (∼430 Ma) signature. We interpret the rocks southeast of the Jackson Lake fault to represent the southwestern extension of the Cat Square terrane primarily based on the partitioning of granitoid ages and lithologic distinctions similar to the northern Inner Piedmont. Data suggest Cat Square terrane metasedimentary rocks were initially deposited in a remnant ocean basin setting and developed into an accretionary prism in front of the approaching Carolina superterrane, ultimately overridden by it in Late Devonian to Early Mississippian time. Burial to >20 km resulted in migmatization of lower plate rocks, forming an infrastructure beneath the Carolina superterrane suprastructure. Provenance patterns support ∼250 km of Devonian dextral translation of the composite Inner Piedmont, which places the northern portion of the Inner Piedmont adjacent to a suite of ∼430 Ma plutons in the Virginia Blue Ridge during deposition. The megascopic thrust-nappe structural style of the northern Inner Piedmont, combined with southwest-directed lateral extrusion at mid-crustal depths, may reconcile differences in timing of metamorphism between the Carolina and central Georgia Inner Piedmont and structural contrasts between the Brindle Creek and Jackson Lake faults.


Mainly used in ac grids, resistive-type superconducting fault current limiters may be still more interesting for dc systems due to their capability to reduce high short circuit currents appearing in case of dc cable fault. This limiter reduces the breaking capability, speed, and energy requirements of the required dc circuit breaker allowing the implementation of electromechanical breakers for fault current interruption. These breakers have lower breaking capability, on-load losses, and investment costs in comparison with hybrid circuit breakers based on power electronics. This paper presents a technical and economic analysis of a superconducting fault current limiter used in a radial three-terminal high voltage dc grid to protect a cable link. Based on simulation studies using an electromagnetic transient program, an effective system protection will be demonstrated with special attention to the continuity of power flow through healthy parts of the grid.


It is commonly assumed that when confronted with an imminent hazard that people will react rationally, and prepare for, or at least attempt to avoid, danger from pending disasters. However, this conventional wisdom is not as evident as it appears. People prepare for, react to, or take social action to avoid hazards when they perceive the risk of danger to be threatening enough to warrant action, providing one has the will, insight and resources to do so. However, not all people perceive risks similarly. Risk is perceived differently by different people which affects risk perception and responses to hazards. This dissertation explores the relationships between American Indian worldviews, risk perceptions and disaster planning. To carry out this research 28 American Indians were interviewed. The sample consists of 14 American Indians residing in a rural are on the northern plains and 14 urban American Indians. The results only partially support that worldview is linked to risk perception and subsequent disaster planning. Other factors found to relate to risk perception and disaster planning for this non-representative sample of American Indians include various forms of social vulnerability.


We present evidence from a survey of 197 experts on the determinants of the long-term social discount rate (SDR). The survey disentangles central discounting concepts and components. Alongside forecasts of real risk-free interest rates and experts' recommended SDRs, we elicit responses on the individual parameters of the Ramsey Rule's social rate of time preference: the elasticity of marginal utility of consumption, the pure rate of time preference, and a prediction of long-term per capita consumption growth. Obtaining disentangled data such as these is crucial because appropriate guidance on the SDR depends on how heterogeneous recommendations and forecasts on the SDR's determinants are combined. We find a mean (median) recommended long-term SDR of 2.25% (2%) and characterise empirical distributions of all other determinants. Besides providing this necessary raw data, which may also prove useful in other fields, we obtain three key results. First, while there is considerable disagreement on point SDRs, 92% of experts are comfortable with SDRs somewhere in the interval of 1% to 3%. Second, we find that the simple Ramsey Rule cannot predict the responses of the majority of experts. In fact, 81% of experts do not recommend a SDR equal to the Ramsey Rule's social rate of time preference. Furthermore, the SDR responses of only 25% of experts match their forecasted interest rates. This indicates that the prominence of the Ramsey Rule in policy guidance should be revisited. Finally, the rich body of qualitative responses we received underscores the more complex nature of social discounting. Among others, experts point to issues such as uncertainty, heterogeneity, relative price effects and alternative ethical approaches that policy guidance on social discounting should consider. Overall, our findings lead us to the conclusion that current policy guidance concerning social discounting and the evaluation of long-term public projects needs to be updated. This applies among others to the UK Treasury's Green Book and the Assessments of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.


Neurons are the signaling cells of the nervous system. To propagate signals, neurons elongate several neurites, which differentiate into a single axon and several dendrites during development. Among the factors that contribute to this differentiation process, the cytoskeleton and in particular the microtubules play a key role. For instance, the growth of the axon and the dendrites depends on dynamic microtubules and requires the formation of new microtubules. The centrosome is regarded as the primary source of microtubules in axonal and dendritic growth and has been proposed to direct axon formation. However, while microtubule nucleation from centrosomes enables efficient spindle-pole organization and cytokinesis during cell division, it is difficult to reconcile the distinct microtubule array in branching axons, dendrites and spines with such focal microtubule assembly. Thus, the exact role of the centrosome and centrosomal microtubule nucleation in axon growth is still unclear.

To address this question, my doctoral research focused on where microtubules are generated in developing neurons and what role centrosomal microtubule nucleation plays in axonal growth. Using rodent hippocampal neurons in culture as a model system, I found that the centrosome loses its function as a microtubule organizing center (MTOC) during neuronal development. The microtubule nucleating factor gamma-tubulin was depleted from the centrosome. Consequently, after depolymerization with nocodazole, microtubules did not regrow at the centrosome at later stages of development. Nevertheless, acentrosomal microtubule nucleation still occurred. Furthermore, axonal growth was unchanged after the centrosome has lost its activity. Moreover, when the axon was lesioned in mature neurons, a new axon grew out in the absence of centrosomal gamma-tubulin. As axons grow in mature neurons without a functional centrosome, I next asked the question of whether axon growth requires centrosomal microtubule nucleation in earlier stages of development, when the centrosome still functions as a MTOC. With the use of a two-photon laser ablation setup, the centrosome was removed in neurons that just started to form an axon. Intriguingly, the neurons retained the ability to grow an axon when the centrosome had been ablated by a laser. Thus, loss of centrosomal microtubule nucleation is not a limiting factor for axon growth and regeneration.

My research implies that acentrosomal microtubule assembly is a key feature to establish the sophisticated cytoskeleton of neurons, which is the source for their complex morphology. While the centrosome is necessary for cell cycle progression and neurogenesis, neuronal differentiation requires sophisticated architectural changes that may be incompatible with a large microtubule network emanating from a focal point. Thus, acentrosomal microtubule nucleation may be a key feature during differentiation of neuronal, but also of non-neuronal cells. Dismantling the centrosome and decentralizing microtubule nucleation may be essential to enable axon branching, dendrite formation and spine generation.


A practical and reliable diagnostic tool that has emerged over the past twenty-five years, kinesiology is the study of the mechanics of bodily motion, especially muscle movements and their relationship to our body systems. Viewing the body as a balanced triad of structure, chemistry, and mentality, applied kinesiology gauges muscle response to pinpoint underlying physical problems. Within 30 minutes, a competent kinesiologist can evaluate bodily functions and provide a readout on the workings of the glands, organs, lymphatic system, circulatory and nervous systems, circulation, and muscle-bone structure. "Applied Kinesiology" demonstrates how this technique can be of practical use for everyone.


Many parts of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are prone to land use and land cover change (LULCC). In many cases, natural systems are converted into agricultural land to feed the growing population. However, despite climate change being a major focus nowadays, the impacts of these conversions on water resources, which are essential for agricultural production, is still often neglected, jeopardizing the sustainability of the socio-ecological system. This study investigates historic land use/land cover (LULC) patterns as well as potential future LULCC and its effect on water quantities in a complex tropical catchment in Tanzania. It then compares the results using two climate change scenarios. The Land Change Modeler (LCM) is used to analyze and to project LULC patterns until 2030 and the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) is utilized to simulate the water balance under various LULC conditions. Results show decreasing low flows by 6–8% for the LULC scenarios, whereas high flows increase by up to 84% for the combined LULC and climate change scenarios. The effect of climate change is stronger compared to the effect of LULCC, but also contains higher uncertainties. The effects of LULCC are more distinct, although crop specific effects show diverging effects on water balance components. This study develops a methodology for quantifying the impact of land use and climate change and therefore contributes to the sustainable management of the investigated catchment, as it shows the impact of environmental change on hydrological extremes (low flow and floods) and determines hot spots, which are critical for environmental development.


These guidelines provide scientific information for policy development by state health departments considering appropriate use of newborn screening specimens after screening tests are finished. Information was collected, debated, and formulated into a policy statement by the Newborn Screening Committee of the Council of Regional Networks for Genetic Services (CORN), a federally funded national consortium of representatives from 10 regional genetics networks. Newborn screening programs vary widely in approaches and policies concerning residual dried blood spot samples (DBS) collected for newborn screening. Recognition of the epidemiological utility of DBS samples for HIV seroprevalence surveys and a growing interest in DBSs for DNA analysis has intensified consideration of issues regarding retention, storage, and use of residual DBS samples. Potentially these samples provide a genetic material "bank" for all newborns nationwide. Their values as a resource for other uses has already been recognized by scientists, administrators, and judicial officials. Programs should promulgate rules for retention and use of residual newborn screening DBS samples based on scientifically valid information. Banking of newborn samples as sources of genetic material should be considered in light of potential benefit or harm to society.


Two major transcripts of lymphoid enhancer factor-1 (LEF-1) have been described. The long isoform with β-catenin binding domain functions as a transcriptional enhancer factor. The short isoform derives from an intronic promoter and exhibits dominant negative activity. Recently, alterations of LEF-1 isoforms distribution have been described in colon cancer. In the current study we employed a quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR method (TaqMan) to analyze expression of LEF-1 isoforms in a large cohort of human tumor (n=304) and tumor-free control samples (n=56). The highest expression level of LEF-1 was found in carcinoma samples whereas brain cancer samples expressed little. Expression of LEF-1 was different in distinct cancer types. For example, the mRNA level of LEF-1 was lower in testicular tumor samples compared with tumor-free control samples. Besides epithelial cancers, significant LEF-1 expression was also found in hematopoietic cells. In hematological malignancies, overall LEF-1 level was higher in lymphocytic leukemias compared with myeloid leukemias and normal hematopoiesis. However,acute myeloid leukemia and acute lymphocytic leukemia showed a significantly increased fraction of the oncogenic LEF-1 compared with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and chronic myeloid leukemia. Taken together,these data suggest that LEF-1 is abundantly expressed in human tumors and the ratio of the oncogenic and the dominant negative short isoform altered not only in carcinomas but also in leukemia.


This paper presents results from simulation of green water loading including vessel motions. The simulation is performed through a domain decomposition: the far field and ship motions are calculated by potential theory and are used to simulate the local flow around the deck of an offshore floater using a NavierStokes solver. In the solver the free surface is displaced using a Volume of Fluid based method, improved by introducing a local height function. First, simulations of an irregular wave, where the velocities at the boundaries of the domain are prescribed using results of a linear diffraction code are performed in order to check wave propagation properties. Then, the same code is used to initiate the simulation of an FPSO in high waves, resulting in green water on the deck.


Aix-les-Bains (Savoie, France) owes its name and reputation to the thermal springs that occur along the eastern shore of Lake Bourget, France largest natural lake. Although the city waters have been exploited since Antiquity, scientific investigations into the nature and characteristics of the hydrothermal karst from which they emerge did not begin until the early 19th century. The present article traces the history of these investigations and summarizes the results of more than two centuries of scientific research.

Today, the only visible signs of karstification related to hydrothermal flows are to be found in the discharge zone in the Urgonian limestone anticline that rises above the city centre. These features are:

 - the Grotte des Serpents, which houses the Alun Spring, the system main natural discharge,
 - the Chevalley Aven, a blind chimney that was accidentally uncovered in 1996,
 - other hydrothermal springs that are too small to enter, including the Soufre Spring.

Although scientific investigation of the thermal springs at Aix-les-Bains began in the early 19th century, it was not until the 1920s that scientists started examining the relationship between karstification and the state of the aquifer. E.A. Martel was the first researcher to describe the Aix-les-Bains site as an active hydrothermal karst, in a pioneering study published in 1935. Sixty years later, the discovery of the Chevalley Aven during building work on a new hydrotherapy center gave fresh impetus to research into the karstification of the Aix-les-Bains thermo-mineral aquifer. Recent studies have also investigated the deep aquifer below the karst, using data provided by boreholes.

The Urgonian limestone karst at Aix-les-Bains is the site of mixing between thermal waters rising through the anticline and meteoric waters percolating from the surface. Meteoric infiltration is sufficiently high for the hydrological behavior of the thermal springs to be identical to that of exsurgences in gravity-fed, cold-water transmissive karsts.

The Chevalley Aven is a shaft that descends 30 meters below the surface, thereby providing access to the ground-water at depth. Monitoring of the water quality in the aven has shown that the Legionella contamination of the springs was due to high concentrations of the bacteria in upstream passages in the karst.

In 2006, dye-tracing tests confirmed the existence of a hydraulic connection between the Chevalley Aven and the Alun and Soufre Springs, the fact there is a single ascending hydrothermal conduit, which lies between the Chevalley Aven and the Alun Spring.

In addition to providing a valuable source of information about the functioning of the thermo-mineral aquifer, the cavities at Aix-les-Bains are of great karstological interest, especially for the study of hypogene speleogenetic processes. The circulation of warm (40°C), sulfur-rich waters and vapors through the system has led to the development of conduits with specific morphologies and the precipitation of characteristic deposits. These features include:

 - "beaded" chimneys and galleries formed by the linking of spheres produced by condensation-corrosion. Diffuse karstification along bedding planes around the main conduit;
 - deposition of non-carbonate minerals (gypsum, native sulfur);
 - formation of biothems and biofilms on walls subject to condensation.

The Grotte des Serpents is a horizontal cavity that formed at the upper limit of the water table.

The Chevalley Aven is a hypogene chimney that was sculpted under vadose conditions by the release of sulfuric acid-rich vapors above the thermal water table.

As well as a surface coating of microbial mats and the presence of bacterial flakes in the thermal water, the vadose parts of the Aix-les-Bains hydrothermal karst contain a characteristic microfauna and flora. These microorganisms are thought to play an active role in hypogene karstification processes.


In Rucho v. Common Cause, the Supreme Court ended its long struggle to formulate constitutional standards to regulate political gerrymandering by declaring that it was not up to the job. The Court held that it could come up with no manageable standards governing the controversy and that it therefore posed a nonjusticiable political question.

In this brief comment, I attempt defend this outcome. The task is not easy, and I hope that the reader will at least give me some points for degree of difficulty. There is no denying that partisan gerrymandering is a very serious evil and there is no defending Chief Justice Roberts' dreadful opinion justifying the Court's refusal to do anything about it. Still, I argue, on balance, we are better off without the Supreme Court mucking around with this problem. Moreover, the reasons why we are better off go beyond this particular issue and impeach some of the standard arguments for judicial intervention more generally.


Metallic engineering materials with facile tunable wetting performances are important for diverse applications. Here, copper oxide nanoneedle meshes with regulable lyophobicity are fabricated through the oxidation of copper meshes and surface modification. The continuous structural evolution of the copper oxidation process is systematically investigated. After surface modification, the wettability of the meshes show a good correlation to the structural features. This systematic research provides a reference for the goal-directed, precise design of copper engineering surface structures with controllable wettability.


To clarify a role of substance P (SP) in an endogenous pain control mechanism involving the rat striatum, striatal SP release was measured over time by microdialysis following intraplantar injection of 0.4% formalin. A slow-onset but significant increase of SP and neurokinin 1 receptor (NK1R) internalization in the contralateral striatum were observed following the second phase of formalin-induced nociceptive behaviors. Moreover, 60 min after formalin injection, preprotachykinin-A, the SP mRNA, and the immediate early gene cFOS were upregulated in the contralateral striatum. Continuous infusion of SP into the striatum by reverse microdialysis attenuated formalin-induced second phase, but not the first phase, nociceptive behaviors, and hind paw mechanical allodynia. Moreover, these anti-nociceptive effects of SP were completely inhibited by co-treatment with the NK1R antagonist CP96345. Acute microinjection of SP, however, at a dose that was similar to the total dose of SP continuously infused into the striatum, did not affect formalin-induced nociceptive behaviors. These data indicate that striatal NK1R activation leads to pain suppression rather than facilitation. Furthermore, volume transmission of SP in the striatum appears to be indispensable in the mechanism of pain control. Modulation of striatal NK1Rs could prove to be a useful method of inducing analgesia.


Objective: The current study assesses the fibrinogen and fibrin clot hydrolyzing activities of aqueous seed extract of Jackfruit (AqSEJ). Methods: The protein banding pattern of AqSEJ (100 μg) was analyzed on SDS-PAGE. The proteolytic activity of AqSEJ was confirmed by spectrophotometer and zymography experiments. Fibrinogen, fibrin and plasma protein hydrolyzing activities of AqSEJ were analyzed on SDS-PAGE under reduced conditions. Plasminogen activation and indirect hemolytic activities was analyzed using spectrophotometer. The non-toxic property of AqSEJ was tested by edema, hemorrhage in experimental mice. Results: AqSEJ exhibited proteolytic activity and the specific activity was found to be 1.04 units/mg/min. Furthermore, AqSEJ non-specifically hydrolyzed Aα, followed by Bβ and γ chains of human fibrinogen and specifically hydrolyzed α polymer and α chain of partially cross linked human fibrin clot without affecting β chain and γ-γ dimer even up to the tested dose of 30 μg for the incubation period of 8 hours. Importantly, AqSEJ did not hydrolyze other plasma proteins and devoid of plasminogen activation property. The proteolytic activity of AqSEJ was completely neutralized by PMSF and IAA, while EDTA, EGTA, 1,10-Phenanthroline did not, suggesting the presence of serine and cysteine family proteases. Moreover, AqSEJ did not cause edema and hemorrhage in experimental mice up to the tested dose of 200 μg and non-toxic to RBC cells. Conclusion: AqSEJ hydrolyzes fibrinogen and fibrin clot and non-toxic in nature. Hence, this work showcases the potential applications of Jack fruit seed proteases in the treatment of thrombotic disorders.


Fairy ring is the common name for a complex disease of turf encompassing the appearance of mushrooms, circles of stimulated grass, or rings of damaged or dead turfgrass maintained for lawns, athletic fields, or golf courses. Type-I fairy ring is especially destructive due to the development of water repellent or hydrophobic soil conditions and the subsequent decline and damage to the existing turfgrass. Fairy ring management strategies, particularly the control or suppression of Type-I fairy ring symptoms, has been inconsistent in effectiveness. The objective of this field study was to evaluate the efficacy of fungicides recommended for fairy ring control when applied alone and with a soil surfactant. This research was conducted on cool-season turfgrass in California in 2005, and in Pennsylvania in 2006. The same treatments were applied at both locations. The four fungicide treatments were evaluated at 620 g active ingredient (a.i.) azoxystrobin∙ha-1, 9757 g a.i. flutolanil∙ha-1, 310 g a.i polyoxin-D∙ha-1, or 558 g a.i. pyraclostrobin∙ha-1. Each fungicide was applied alone and in a tank-mix combination with the modified alkylated polyol soil surfactant (100 % concentration) at 19 L product∙ha-1. All treatments were applied at two water carrier volumes of 814 and 1628∙ L∙ha-1. At both locations, Type-I fairy ring symptoms were noticeably reduced in plots treated with fungicides plus soil surfactant at either water carrier volume versus plots treated with fungicides alone applied at 814 L water carrier ha-1. Therefore, the consistently best overall treatment for the control or suppression of Type-I fairy ring symptoms was fungicides plus soil surfactant at either water carrier volume. The application of plant protection products at the lower water volume is preferred by turfgrass managers and practitioners; thus the utility of soil surfactants applied with fungicides is a useful strategy for the chemical control of fairy ring in turf.


In this paper, we argue that localization solution based on cellular phone technology, specifically GSM phones, is a sufficient and attractive option in terms of coverage and accuracy for a wide range of indoor, outdoor, and place-based location-aware applications. We present preliminary results that indicate that GSM-based localization systems have the potential to detect the places that people visit in their everyday lives, and can achieve median localization accuracies of 5 and 75 meters for indoor and outdoor environments, respectively


Introduction: Our purpose was to determine the problems related with sleep quality and continuity, and also to investigate the physical, psychological and some demographic factors that can lead these problems. Materials and Method: This is a cross-sectional, descriptive study from January to December 2008 evaluating 448 elderly, living in Befliktafl district. The interviews were performed face to face. Sleep disorders were classified according to DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical manual of Mental Disorders). Results: 52,7% of the elders (n=236) have sleep problems, 40,3% have difficulties in falling asleep, 21,6% wake up in a short while after sleep, 8,5% wake up tired, 4,7% have an abrupt unresistable desire to sleep in the day time, 4,2% frequently wake up due to nightmares and 3,8% complain about disturbance in diurnal-nocturnal sleep patterns. The complaints about excessive sleeping during the day and restless legs were 2.5% each. 1.3% of elders complained that their breathing stops a short while after sleeping. The individuals with physical activity problems or any chronic disease have more sleep disorders. Among chronic diseases, depression, colitis, hypertension, reflux, gastritis, ulcers, osteoporosis have more negative consequences on sleep. Sleep disorders were more frequent in those with lower income. Conclusion: There is a relationship between sleep problems of the elderly and their physical disorders and/or psycho-social conditions.


Inequality measures are often used fot summarise information about empirical income distributions. However, the resulting picture of the distribution and of changes in the distribution can be severely distorted if the data are contaminated. The nature of this distortion will in general depend upon the underlying properties of the inequality measure. We investigate this issue theoretically using a technique based on the influence function, and illustrate the magnitude of the effect using a simulation. We consider both direct nonparametric estimation from the sample, and indirect estimation using a parametric model. In the latter case we demonstratge the application of a robust estimation procedure. COWELL, Frank, VICTORIA-FESER, Maria-Pia. Robustness Properties of Inequality Measures: The Influence Function and the Principle of Transfers. London : 1993, 48 p.


We present the in situ synthesis of Au nanoparticles within the Zr based Metal Organic Framework, UiO-66. The resulting Au@UiO-66 materials were characterized by means of N2 sorption, XRPD, UV-Vis, XRF, XPS and TEM analysis. The Au nanoparticles (NP) are homogeneously distributed along the UiO-66 host matrix when using NaBH4 or H2 as reducing agents. The Au@UiO-66 materials were evaluated as catalysts in the oxidation of benzyl alcohol and benzyl amine employing O2 as oxidant. The Au@MOF materials exhibit a very high selectivity towards the ketone (up to 100%). Regenerability and stability tests demonstrate that the Au@UiO-66 catalyst can be recycled with a negligible loss of Au species and no loss of crystallinity. In situ IR measurements of UiO-66 and Au@UiO-66-NaBH4, before and after treatment with alcohol, showed an increase in IR bands that can be assigned to a combination of physisorbed and chemisorbed alcohol species. This was confirmed by velocity power spectra obtained from the molecular dynamics simulations. Active peroxo and oxo species on Au could be visualized with Raman analysis.


Atezolizumab, a monoclonal antibody, is an immune checkpoint inhibitor. By inhibiting the programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1), atezolizumab enables T-cell activation, restoring their ability to effectively detect and destroy tumour cells. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved atezolizumab for the treatment of patients with metastatic NSCLC, whose disease progressed during or following platinum-based chemotherapy. Patients who progress following treatment for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) or anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) genomic tumour aberrations may also receive atezolizumab. The approval was based on two international, randomized, open-label trials, OAK (phase III) and POPLAR (phase II). OAK evaluated the comparative efficacy and safety of atezolizumab versus docetaxel in a total of 1,225 NSCLC patients after failure with platinum-based chemotherapy. Atezolizumab increased the primary endpoint of overall survival (OS) in the intention-to-treat (ITT) population by 4.2 months and duration of response (DOR) by 10.1 months, compared with docetaxel. Patients with higher PD-L1 expression derived the greatest improvement in median OS (+ 11.6 months) with atezolizumab, 20.5 months versus 8.9 months with docetaxel. Atezolizumab did not improve progression-free survival (PFS) or the proportion of patients with an objective response (OR) compared with docetaxel. While fewer patients had treatment-related AEs with atezolizumab compared to docetaxel, clinically significant immune-related AEs were reported including pneumonitis, hepatitis, colitis and thyroid disease. Overall, with the exception of those with EGFR mutations, atezolizumab increases OS and DOR in previously treated NSCLC patients regardless of PD-L1 expression or histology, with a favourable safety profile compared to docetaxel. There is no evidence regarding quality of life, patient reported outcome measures or patient reported experience measures to determine whether atezolizumab provides clinically significant improvement in the symptoms or severity of NSCLC. Results from OAK hold limited external validity as participants are not entirely generalisable to clinical practice. Longer trials are needed which directly compare the safety and efficacy of atezolizumab versus other immunotherapies such as nivolumab or pembrolizumab, or docetaxel in combination with nintedanib or ramucirumab.


In-depth coverage of all new software features of AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT AutoCAD is the leading drawing software, used by design and drafting professionals to create 2D and 3D technical drawings. This popular reference-tutorial has once again been revised by AutoCAD guru Ellen Finkelstein to provide you with the most up-to-date coverage of both AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT. You'll begin with a Quick Start tutorial so that even if you're brand new to AutoCAD, you can get started working with it right away. You'll then move on to the basics of creating drawings, using commands, and specifying coordinates. After developing a solid foundation on the essentials of AutoCAD, the book gradually builds upon early chapters as it covers more and more complex topics and techniques. Presenting the popular AutoCAD reference-tutorial, once again revised by Ellen Finkelstein a long-time AutoCAD instructor and advocate Starts with a tutorial on AutoCAD that covers the basics of creating drawings, using commands, and specifying coordinates Builds on early chapters to cover more complex 2D and 3D drawing techniques, including using layers, creating dimensions, 3D coordinates, solids, and rendering Discusses advanced topics such as customization of commands and toolbars, and programming AutoCAD using AutoLISP and VBA The DVD contains before and after drawings for each tutorial, bonus appendices, and a 30-day trial version of AutoCAD Packed with essential information on both AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT, this resource is a must-have if you're eager to get started creating 2D and 3D technical drawings. Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.


In this study we investigate how both local environment and individual characteristics explain incidence of corruption. More specifically, we explore how city size, and residing in a capital city influence the two aspects of corruption, notably in individuals? contact with officials, and in the use of courts. Building upon Storper?s argument (2013) we further analyse the effects of local institutional trust (bridging), and community embedded trust (bonding), on incidence of corruption. Finally, we also investigate how access to elements of information and communication technology, individually and spatially defined (within the local social neighbourhood), affect corruption. To test our hypotheses, we apply a multilevel Heckman selection probit model to European Bank for Reconstruction and Development survey data. The sample covers over 26,000 of individuals in 35 countries in 2010. While our results suggest that categories of some individuals, business owners in particular, are more likely to face corruption, and therefore need more policy attention, we also find that the differences in environment play a critical role. More specifically our results suggest that larger cities are more prone to officials? corruption than medium and small ones. However, we also show that capital cities are different from larger cities in that they seem to exhibit lower corruption levels for both, courts and officials. We interpret the latter association as related to the structure of social and political connections. Larger cities are often more fragmented than capital cities in terms of power. Larger cities with many small jurisdictions imply localities where consistent expectations are easier to achieve, so individuals more likely to adopt patterns that other individuals practice, including corruptive behaviour, being trapped in a circle of corruption, where corruption becomes a (local) social norm. At the same time, capital cities are typically less fragmented and more centralised in terms of power, having metropolitan governance structures; they have bigger, more internally heterogenous jurisdictions. Importantly, there is less scope for local social process of learning from other individuals to establish corruption as a local norm. We further show that the effect of the size of the city on corruption is mitigated by higher level of local institutional trust (bridging), and inbound trust proxied by trust in friends and acquaintances (bonding). The effect of the former is weaker compared to the effect of the latter. Where bonding and bridging are both present, this reinforces their moderating effect on the impact of city size on corruption. Finally, our results also suggest that in the neighbourhoods where on average individuals have higher access to elements of information and communication technology, corruption of both officials and courts is significantly lower.


Does the extent of competitive pressure industries face influence their productivity? We study a natural experiment conducted in the iron ore industry as a result of the collapse in world steel production in the early 1980s. For iron ore producers, whose only market is the steel industry, this collapse was an exogenous shock. The drop in steel production differed dramatically by region: it fell by about a third in the Atlantic Basin but only very little in the Pacific Basin. Given that the cost of transporting iron ore is very high relative to its mine value, Atlantic iron ore producers faced a much greater increase in competitive pressure than did Pacific iron ore producers. In response to the crisis, most Atlantic iron ore producers doubled their labor productivity; Pacific iron ore producers experienced few productivity gains. ; This article originally appeared in the American Economic Review. (c) American Economic Association. (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.)


In this work, a new fast variational sparse Bayesian learning (SBL) approach with automatic relevance determination (ARD) is proposed. The sparse Bayesian modeling, exemplified by the relevance vector machine (RVM), allows a sparse regression or classification function to be constructed as a linear combination of a few basis functions. It is demonstrated that, by computing the stationary points of the variational update expressions with noninformative (ARD) hyperpriors, a fast version of variational SBL can be constructed. Analysis of the computed stationary points indicates that SBL with Gaussian sparsity priors and noninformative hyperpriors corresponds to removing components with signal-to-noise ratio below a 0 dB threshold; this threshold can also be adjusted to significantly improve the convergence rate and sparsity of SBL. It is demonstrated that the pruning conditions derived for fast variational SBL coincide with those obtained for fast marginal likelihood maximization; moreover, the parameters that maximize the variational lower bound also maximize the marginal likelihood function. The effectiveness of fast variational SBL is demonstrated with synthetic as well as with real data.


In this thesis, we develop theoretical frameworks to characterize the performance of Random Linear Network Coding (RLNC), and propose novel communication schemes for the achievement of both reliability and security in wireless networks. In particular, (i) we present an analytical model to evaluate the performance of practical RLNC schemes suitable for low-complexity receivers, prioritized (i.e., layered) coding and multi-hop communications, (ii) investigate the performance of RLNC in relay assisted networks and propose a new cross-layer RLNC-aided cooperative scheme for reliable communication, (iii) characterize the secrecy feature of RLNC and propose a new physical-application layer security technique for the purpose of achieving security and reliability in multi-hope communications. At first, we investigate random block matrices and derive mathematical expressions for the enumeration of full-rank matrices that contain blocks of random entries arranged in a diagonal, lower-triangular or tri-diagonal structure. The derived expressions are then used to model the probability that a receiver will successfully decode a source message or layers of a service, when RLNC based on non-overlapping, expanding or sliding generations is employed. Moreover, the design parameters of these schemes allow to adjust the desired decoding performance. Next, we evaluate the performance of Random Linear Network Coded Cooperation (RLNCC) in relay assisted networks, and propose a cross-layer cooperative scheme which combines the emerging Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access (NOMA) technique and RLNCC. In this regard, we first consider the multiple-access relay channel in a setting where two source nodes transmit packets to a destination node, both directly and via a relay node. Secondly, we consider a multi-source multi-relay network, in which relay nodes employ RLNC on source packets and generate coded packets. For each network, we build our analysis on fundamental probability expressions for random matrices over finite fields and we derive theoretical expressions of the probability that the destination node will successfully decode the source packets. Finally, we consider a multi-relay network comprising of two groups of source nodes, where each group transmits packets to its own designated destination node over single-hop links and via a cluster of relay nodes shared by both groups. In an effort to boost reliability without sacrificing throughput, a scheme is proposed whereby packets at the relay nodes are combined using two methods; packets delivered by different groups are mixed using non-orthogonal multiple access principles, while packets originating from the same group are mixed using RLNC. An analytical framework that characterizes the performance of the proposed scheme is developed, and benchmarked against a counterpart scheme that is based on orthogonal multiple access. Finally, we quantify and characterize the intrinsic security feature of RLNC and design a joint physical-application layer security technique. For this purpose, we first consider a network comprising a transmitter, which employs RLNC to encode a message, a legitimate receiver, and a passive eavesdropper. Closed-form analytical expressions are derived to evaluate the intercept probability of RLNC, and a resource allocation model is presented to further minimize the intercept probability. Afterward, we propose a joint RLNC and opportunistic relaying scheme in a multi relay network to transmit confi- dential data to a destination in the presence of an eavesdropper. Four relay selection protocols are studied covering a range of network capabilities, such as the availability of the eavesdropper's channel state information or the possibility to pair the selected relay with a jammer node that intentionally generates interference. For each case, expressions of the probability that a coded packet will not be decoded by a receiver, which can be either the destination or the eavesdropper, are derived. Based on those expressions, a framework is developed that characterizes the probability of the eavesdropper intercepting a sufficient number of coded packets and partially or fully decoding the confidential data. We observe that the field size over which RLNC is performed at the application layer as well as the adopted modulation and coding scheme at the physical layer can be modified to fine-tune the trade-off between security and reliability.


Analytical expressions for the intensity and frequency/phase noise of single-mode semiconductor lasers based on quantum- mechanical rate equations are derived. Correlated photons, electrons, and phase Langevin noise sources and their auto and cross-correlation relations are presented, along with a novel self-consistent normalized laser model that includes the laser's correlated noise sources. A symboli- cally defined device (SDD) is constructed using the proposed normalized model and implemented in Agilent's advanced design system (ADS) CAD tool. Dynamic laser characteristics are predicted using the SDD implementation for 1300-nm InGaAsP/InP lasers. The results of time do- main dynamic simulations of photons, carriers, optical output power, and phase—with and without the effects of noise—are presented. Simulation results are used to show the effects of random noise on both the phase and optical power output of semiconductor lasers. Simulation results are analyzed to demonstrate the resonance frequency shift dependence on the bias current levels, the relation between the frequency response and the bias current, and the dependence of the laser line width broadening on the frequency fluctuations. Comparison between the presented re- sults and other published results (simulations and measurements) show good agreement while achieving simulation time enhancement. The suit- ability of the proposed models for the study and characterization of the performance of complete systems in both circuit and system simulations is examined. © 2004 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers.


Unconventional & Unexpected: Quilts Below the Radar 1950-2000 is a stunning collection of approximately 150 quirky, eccentric, maverick and extraordinary quilts made predominantly by anonymous quilters in the United States during the last half of the 20th century. Collected by renowned quilt authority and collector Roderick Kiracofe via eBay, flea markets, estate sales and other sources, they represent a 20th-century quilt movement that remains mostly undocumented. Unlike the quilts replicating traditional patterns of earlier centuries and the art quilts that we've become accustomed to seeing, these surprising quilts represent a much freer, more casual, utilitarian aesthetic that departs from (and returns to) a multitude of norms and standards. In Unconventional & Unexpected, Kiracofe presents the best quilts in his collection along with essays that help to contextualise them by experts in a variety of fields, including quilt-making, quilt history, art history, collecting, colour, photography and domestic life.


Abstract This research estimates the economic benefit of a water market within the Rio Grande Project (Project). Currently, water is released from Elephant Butte Dam for the purpose of agricultural production. Cities including Ciudad Juárez obtain municipal water from groundwater sources. Ciudad Juárez and El Paso are significantly depleting the underlying Hueco Bolsom and will need to find more expensive external sources of water if the Project water remains unavailable. This research constructed a large optimization model of water users in the Rio Grande Project. For agriculture, multiple water irrigation activities including deficit and trickle irrigation were defined. For municipalities, desalination, groundwater recharge and import of distant groundwater activities were also defined. The model incorporates concepts of consumptive and priority water rights. The net income from water use in agriculture (net income remaining after payment to other factors) and willingness to pay based on urban demand formed the objective function. Environmental benefits of water allocated to riparian restoration are considered in an additional scenario. The model simulates allocation and net benefits of water use that would occur with exchange of consumptive use water rights assuming trade is free of transaction costs. An international water market would have substantial benefits in aggregate to water users in the Project. In particular, the City of El Paso and Ciudad Juárez would have present value benefits of $490 million dollars. The water market would not kill off agriculture. By 2043, there would still be very active production in the Mesilla Valley. Net income to farmers in both Elephant Butte Irrigation District and El Paso Water Conservation District #1 would increase between 200% and 250% respectively from current levels when water sales are factored into net income. Under full trade, restoration of the riparian Bosque cottonwoods along the river banks (4,000 acres) is economically viable.


The Communications Decency Act (CDA) provides Internet platforms complete liability protection from user-generated content. This Article discusses the costs of this current legal framework and several potential solutions. It proposes three modifications to the CDA that would use a carrot and stick to incentivize companies to take a more active role in addressing some of the most blatant downsides of user-generated content on the Internet. Despite the modest nature of these proposed changes, they would have a significant impact.


The link between natural ion-line enhancements in radar spectra and auroral activity has been the subject of re- cent studies but conclusions have been limited by the spatial and temporal resolution previously available. The next chal- lenge is to use shorter sub-second integration times in com- bination with interferometric programmes to resolve spatial structure within the main radar beam, and so relate enhanced filaments to individual auroral rays. This paper presents initial studies of a technique, using op- tical and spectral satellite signatures, to calibrate the received phase of a signal with the position of the scattering source along the interferometric baseline of the EISCAT Svalbard Radar. It is shown that a consistent relationship can be found only if the satellite passage through the phase fringes is ad- justed from the passage predicted by optical tracking. This required adjustment is interpreted as being due to the vector between the theoretical focusing points of the two antennae, i.e. the true radar baseline, differing from the baseline ob- tained by survey between the antenna foot points. A method to obtain a measurement of the true interferometric baseline using multiple satellite passes is outlined.


Departing from the traditional focus on twentieth century federal electoral regulation and federal court decisions in election law, Adam Winkler examines the very first cases to decide the constitutionality of regulations governing political parties: those arising in the state courts from the 1880s to the 1910s. In these cases, which have escaped the notice of modern election law scholars, judges confronted the initial state regulations controlling the activities, nomination practices, membership rules, and internal governance mechanisms of political parties. Across the country, courts rejected the argument that political parties were private voluntary associations immune from state regulation on freedom of association grounds. Courts relied instead on a framework that melded an expansive understanding of the individual's right to vote, which included access to nomination practices and a say in party governance, with a profound fear of the corruption of party leaders, who were blamed for the chaos, violence, and fraud of late nineteenth century elections. Reforms were upheld to the extent they were perceived to advance these twin aims of expanding voters' rights and limiting parties' wrongs, regardless of the curtailment of party associational freedoms. Due to the widespread fear of party leaders' corrupting influence on elections, especially primaries and caucuses, the courts gave little weight to party claims of freedom of association. The impact of this history of the state court response to party and ballot reform on current electoral controversies -- such as two-party entrenchment -- and scholarly debates -- relating to the structure of political parties, the conservative character of Progressive era courts, and turn-of-the-century state-building is also assessed.


Forage yields are influenced by plant response to defoliation. We examined the photosynthesis and nutritive value of first (first leaves) and third (third leaves) fully expanded leaves (numbered from the apex) in three warm-season (C4) grasses. Net photosynthetic rates at uniform temperature and light both before and after a 2-wk exposure to full sunlight and the effect of leaf position on nutritive value were determined on vegetative tillers in well-established swards of bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon L. (Per.) cv. Tifton 44], Caucasian bluestem [Bothriochloa caucasica (Trin.) C.E. Hubb.], and Atlantic coastal panicgrass [Panicum amarum var. amarulum (Hitchcock and Chase) P.G. Palmer] growing on a Cedl clay loam (clayey, kaolinitic, thermic Typic Hapludults). Bermudagrass had the greatest level of crude protein (CP), followed by panicgrass and bluestem. Fiber was greater in the first leaves than in the third leaves for bermudagrass and panicgrass but not for bluestem. Photosynthetic rates of panicgrass and bluestem third leaves estimated 2 wk after defoliation of the surrounding canopy were less than estimates made before defoliation in the first leaves but were similar to the third leaves before canopy defoliation. The third leaves of bermudagrass 2 wk after defoliation had lesser photosynthetic rates per unit chlorophyll than the first or third leaves before defoliation. Photosynthetic rates were correlated with hemicellulose across leaf classes and species (r 2 = 0.93). The photosynthetic decline observed in third leaves of bermudagrass compared with panicgrass and bluestem is evidence of variation in leaf response after defoliation among warm-season grasses.


Background: Previous reports suffer from the problem that they simply pooled data using aggregate means or standard meta-analytic method. The aim of the current study was to re-estimate the point prevalence of comorbid depression and anxiety in people with diabetes. Methods: The estimates were calculated using recently introduced directly standardized effect estimate method, which gives corrected risk-adjusted estimates for the population of interests. Reported are global and regional burden of prevalence, presented as risk-adjusted prevalence estimates with 95% confidence intervals. Results: Globally, the burden of comorbid depression was higher than the burden of anxiety (23.36% vs. 17.58%) symptoms and/or disorder in people with diabetes. There was a higher burden of comorbid depression in people living in developing regions (26.32%), in women (15.41%), and when assessed by self-report scales (SRS) (22.66%). The burden of anxiety was higher in developed regions in people with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (20.15%) and when assessed by SRS (20.75%). No statistically significant differences were observed due to gross heterogeneity across countries. Conclusions: There are wide-ranging differences in studies in developed and developing regions, regarding the burden of comorbid depression and of anxiety among people with diabetes and both conditions affect approximately a fifth of the diabetic population.


Automated reasoning about the design of effective visual problem representations is possible when we adopt the view that visual problem representations, along with the pemeptual procedures that humans use to manipulate them, can be described using information-processing models of the sort introduced by Newell and Simon (1972). This approach provides us not only with a means of characterizing visual problem representations in a formal syntax but also with a means of automatically mapping between "logical" and "perceptual" problem representations and procedures. An automated system called BOZ is described that begins with a logical problem representation and solution procedure, and generates an informationally-equivalent visual problem representation and procedure that allows the human user to obtain the solution more efficiently. BOZ's representation mapping technique proceeds by: (1) replacing demanding logical inferences in the solution procedure with efficient perceptual inferences; and (2) structuring information the visual representation such that search is minimized. The extent to which the visual representations and procedures produced by BOZ agree with what users actually see and do is discussed.


The use of authentic literature, especially novels, has proven electrifying for teachers as well as students: a development mirrored in the success of related methodologies and the increasing availability of materials accompanying literature. The benefits of using novels as textbooks are numerous. Research consistently shows the benefits of extended reading; novels are motivating and authentic; and they can support any curriculum and be used in a variety of programs. Issues discussed in the article include a rationale for using novels as textbooks, selection criteria, ways of teaching discrete and integrated skills, and reflections on the pros and cons of using literature to teach English.


Big data benchmarking is particularly important and provides applicable yardsticks for evaluating booming big data systems. However, wide coverage and great complexity of big data computing impose big challenges on big data benchmarking. How can we construct a benchmark suite using a minimum set of units of computation to represent diversity of big data analytics workloads? Big data dwarfs are abstractions of extracting frequently appearing operations in big data computing. One dwarf represents one unit of computation, and big data workloads are decomposed into one or more dwarfs. Furthermore, dwarfs workloads rather than vast real workloads are more cost-efficient and representative to evaluate big data systems. In this paper, we extensively investigate six most important or emerging application domains i.e. search engine, social network, e-commerce, multimedia, bioinformatics and astronomy. After analyzing forty representative algorithms, we single out eight dwarfs workloads in big data analytics other than OLAP, which are linear algebra, sampling, logic operations, transform operations, set operations, graph operations, statistic operations and sort.


A few representations of a divine couple enthroned, the female figure sitting in the lap of the male, have survived in Mesopotamian iconography, on terracotta and stone plaques, on the Ur-Namma stela from Ur, and on a Syrian cylinder seal of the 19th–18th centuries BCE. In Egypt, the motif is mostly restricted to the  reign of Akhenaten, with a few objects probably figuring Akhenaten and Nefertiti in this fashion. The ancient oriental motif may have traveled to Egypt at a time when Mesopotamian mythological texts were used in Amarna schools, and other motifs of eastern origin seem to have been favored. The representation of a divine/royal couple sharing the same throne in a position usually reserved in Mesopotamian and Egyptian art for an adult figure with a child hints at a shared thematic surrounding the throne as a royal emblem, a locus of divine apparition and erotic symbolism.


To elucidate the role of glutamine synthetase (GS) in nitrogen assimilation in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii we used maize GS1 (the cytosolic form) and GS2 (the chloroplastic form) cDNAs as hybridization probes to isolate C. reinhardtii cDNA clones. The amino acid sequences derived from the C. reinhardtii clones have extensive homology with GS enzymes from higher plants. A putative amino-terminal transit peptide encoded by the GS2 cDNA suggests that the protein localizes to the chloroplast. Genomic DNA blot analysis indicated that GS1 is encoded by a single gene, whereas two genomic fragments hybridized to the GS2 cDNA probe. All GS2 cDNA clones corresponded to only one of the two GS2 genomic sequences. We provide evidence that ammonium, nitrate, and light regulate GS transcript accumulation in green algae. Our results indicate that the level of GS1 transcripts is repressed by ammonium but induced by nitrate. The level of GS2 transcripts is not affected by ammonium or nitrate. Expression of both GS1 and GS2 genes is regulated by light, but perhaps through different mechanisms. Unlike in higher plants, no decreased level of GS2 transcripts was detected when cells were grown under conditions that repress photorespiration. Analysis of GS transcript levels in mutants with defects in the nitrate assimilation pathway show that nitrate assimilation and ammonium assimilation are regulated independently.


Fourteen geotextile separators, with different in-service ages, were exhumed in western Washington and their short (survivability) and long-term (filtration/drainage) performances were evaluated. The geotextile samples, which included six woven slit-films, six needle-punched nonwovens, and two heat-bonded nonwovens, were taken back to the laboratory in order to evaluate their overall condition and to perform permittivity and strength tests on specimens of each fabric. Samples of the subgrade and base materials were also evaluated in the laboratory. The results indicated that all of the geotextile separators adequately performed their intended separation function, although they experienced very different levels of damage during construction. There was evidence of in-service mechanical damage at one of the sites. The damage to the geotextiles was influenced more by the base aggregate type, rather than the initial lift thickness, although both must be considered in design. All of the recovered geotextiles which were installed under an angular base aggregate sustained damage to some degree. Even two heavier weight fabrics, a 231 g/sq m woven slit-film and a 204 g/sq m needle-punched nonwoven, sustained damage under angular base material. All of the fabrics which were installed under subrounded to rounded base aggregate experienced minor to no damage. The woven slit-films and the needle-punched nonwovens experienced similar reductions in strength and both survived the installation conditions reasonably well (except for one lightweight needle-punched nonwoven fabric which was overstressed during installation and also may have been installed under too thin of a pavement section). The heat-bonded nonwovens were heavily damaged during installation; however, they were installed under some of the higher site survivability conditions. The results of the permittivity tests indicated that the woven slit-films and the needled-punched nonwovens both had similar percent increases after being washed. The heat-bonded nonwovens had the highest percent increases in permittivity after being washed, which suggests that they clog more than the other fabrics. There is evidence that the woven slit-films experienced much more blinding than the other fabrics, and that iron staining and caking could also have a detrimental effect on their drainage performance. In all but one case, the woven slit-film fabrics did not meet the Task Force 25 (1989) and Christopher and Holtz (1989) filtration requirements needed for the subgrade soils with which they were in contact. The unwashed (i.e., "undisturbed") permittivity results also indicate that most of the permeabilities of the woven slit-film fabrics fell well below WSDOT's required value. The presence of caked fines on the upper surface of three woven slit-films could have indicated that their pore openings were too large for the intended filtration function and they might be subject to fines migration, although this was inconclusive. There was no evidence of fines migration at any of the sites. All of the pavements were in good condition.


The methods of burial as practised by primitive races
are of distinct interest in assisting to trace their evolutionary
history. Owing to the lack of authentic information in
detail of the customs of the Tasmanian aborigines, our
knowledge is, in many matters, vague and uncertain. Often
the observations relating to the aborigines were made years
after their contact with the white race, and naturally their
customs had been affected.
Further, the more one studies the early records and
observations made by early colonists, the more one realises
their contradictory nature. The available evidence which
could be gathered from early records has been admirably
summarised by Ling Roth (1899, pp. 116-122).


Within the framework of the AeroCom (Aerosol Comparisons between Observations and Models) initiative, the state-of-the-art modelling of aerosol optical properties is assessed from 14 global models participating in the phase III control experiment (AP3). The models are similar to CMIP6/AerChemMIP Earth System Models (ESMs) and provide a robust multi-model ensemble. Inter-model spread of aerosol species lifetimes and emissions appears to be similar to that of mass extinction coefficients (MECs), suggesting that aerosol optical depth (AOD) uncertainties are associated with a broad spectrum of parameterised aerosol processes. Total AOD is approximately the same as in AeroCom phase I (AP1) simulations. However, we find a 50 % decrease in the optical depth (OD) of black carbon (BC), attributable to a combination of decreased emissions and lifetimes. Relative contributions from sea salt (SS) and dust (DU) have shifted from being approximately equal in AP1 to SS contributing about 2/3 of the natural AOD in AP3. This shift is linked with a decrease in DU mass burden, a lower DU MEC, and a slight decrease in DU lifetime, suggesting coarser DU particle sizes in AP3 compared to AP1. Relative to observations, the AP3 ensemble median and most of the participating models underestimate all aerosol optical properties investigated, that is, total AOD as well as fine and coarse AOD (AODf, AODc), Ångström exponent (AE), dry surface scattering (SCdry), and absorption (ACdry) coefficients. Compared to AERONET, the models underestimate total AOD by ca. 21 %± 20 % (as inferred from the ensemble median and interquartile range). Against satellite data, the ensemble AOD biases range from −37 % (MODIS-Terra) to −16 % (MERGED-FMI, a multi-satellite AOD product), which we explain by differences between individual satellites and AERONET measurements themselves. Correlation coefficients (R) between model and observation AOD records are generally high (R > 0.75), suggesting that the models are capable of capturing spatiotemporal variations in AOD. We find a much larger underestimate in coarse AODc (∼−45 %± 25 %) than in fine AODf (∼−15 %± 25 %) with slightly increased inter-model spread compared to total AOD. These results indicate problems in the modelling of DU and SS. The AODc bias is likely due to missing DU over continental land masses (particularly over the United States, SE Asia, and S. America), while marine AERONET sites and the AATSR SU satellite data suggest more moderate oceanic biases in AODc. Column AEs are underestimated by about 10 %± 16 %. For situations in which measurements show AE> 2, models underestimate AERONET AE by ca. 35 %. In contrast, all models (but one) exhibit large overestimates in AE when coarse aerosol dominates (bias ca. +140 % if observed AE< 0.5). Simulated AE does not span the observed AE variability. These results indicate that models overestimate particle size (or underestimate the fine-mode fraction) for fine-dominated aerosol and underestimate size (or overestimate the fine-mode fraction) for coarse-dominated aerosol. This must have implications for lifetime, water uptake, scattering enhancement, and the aerosol radiative effect, which we can not quantify at this moment. Comparison against Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) in situ data results in mean bias and inter-model variations of −35 %± 25 % and −20 %± 18 % for SCdry and ACdry, respectively. The larger underestimate of SCdry than ACdry suggests the models will simulate an aerosol single scattering albedo that is too low. The larger underestimate of SCdry than ambient air AOD is consistent with recent findings that models overestimate scattering enhancement due to hygroscopic growth. The broadly consistent negative bias in AOD and surface scattering suggests an underestimate of aerosol radiative effects in current global aerosol models. Considerable inter-model diversity in the simulated optical properties is often found in regions that are, unfortunately, not or only sparsely covered by ground-based observations. This includes, for instance, the Sahara, Amazonia, central Australia, and the South Pacific. This highlights the need for a better site coverage in the observations, which would enable us to better assess the models, but also the performance of satellite products in these regions. Using fine-mode AOD as a proxy for present-day aerosol forcing estimates, our results suggest that models underestimate aerosol forcing by ca. −15 %, however, with a considerably large interquartile range, suggesting a spread between −35 % and +10 %.


NUMERICAL SIMULATION MODEL ON IRREVERSIBILITY OF SHOCK-WAVE PROCESS Longhao Huang, B.S. Marquette University, 2013 The objective of this research is to develop a better understanding of the irreversibilities associated with the shock compaction of matter, especially as a result of impact. Due to complex shock processes, experimentation alone cannot fix the material state, since properties such as internal energy, entropy as well as the shock process are not measurable. Thus, in addition to experimentation, analytical and numerical methods are also used to completely characterize the shock process, although they are restricted by underlying constitutive assumptions. Instead of using artificial irreversibility, such as artificial viscosity to simplify and stabilize the numeric shock model, this work will directly incorporate and solve the correct constitutive relations that describe the sources of irreversibility. Shock wave processes in gas and water are simulated and two equations of state (EOS) are discussed. For a one-dimensional shock wave in gas, results from simulations at two different non-dimensional scales utilizing two different EOS are comparable to the idealized analytical solution and experimental data. Besides, the Mie-Grüneisen (M-G) equation of state, which has been used for solids, is extended to study gas and liquid. The value of Mie-Grüneisen constant, which is a function of atom oscillator frequency and specific volume, is hard to detect from experiment. Based on statistical mechanics, a relationship between the gas Mie-Grüneisen constant and specific heat ratio is derived analytically, which makes Mie-Grüneisen EOS available for gas. The M-G constant is also derived from shock jump condition and Mie-Grüneisen EOS for water and a sensitivity analysis is done based on the simulation result.


Recognizing the mental-state, i.e., the beliefs, desires, plans, and intentions, of other agents situated in the environment is an important part of intelligent activity. Doing this with limited resources and in a continuously changing environment, where agents are continuously changing their mind, is a challenging task. In this paper, we provide algorithms for performing reactive plan recognition and embed it within the framework of an agent's mental-state. This results in a powerful model for mental-state recognition and integrated reactive plan execution and plan recognition. We then apply this in an adversarial domain - air-combat modelling - to enable pilots to infer the mental-state of their opponents and choose their own tactics accordingly. The entire approach is based on using plans as recipes and as mental-attitudes to guide and contrain the reasoning processes of agents.


The Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee (RAC) of the National Institutes of Health has encountered setbacks in its attempt to increase its regulatory authority over genetic engineering ventures. Competing claims by the Environmental Protection Agency have been supported in a congressional report authored by Rep. Albert Gore, Jr. (D-Tenn.) which is critical of RAC's actions in approving experimental release of genetically-modified organisms into the environment. During a 6 Feb 1984 public meeting, RAC faced a barrage of criticism led by activist Jeremy Rifkin, and learned of a U.S. Court of Appeals decision blocking its consideration of a proposed field test with engineered bacteria.


On 22 September 2003 a Mw 6.4 earthquake occurred beneath the northern coast of Hispaniola near the resort city of Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. The earthquake caused extensive damage in Puerto Plata, as well as in the regional capitol of Santiago, located 30 km south of the coast (Figures 1 and 2). A large ( Mw 5.6) aftershock occurred about one hour after the mainshock, and felt aftershocks continued for more than a month. The large north-south extent of the aftershock zone, the mainshock focal mechanism, and geologic evidence for an active fold-thrust belt offshore of Hispaniola indicate that the 2003 earthquake occurred on the south-dipping thrust fault mapped offshore of and beneath Puerto Plata (Dolan et al. , 1998) (Figure 3). The Puerto Plata earthquake (as we refer to it) was thus the latest in a westward-propagating series of moderately large to great (M 6.4-8.1) earthquakes that have occurred along the Caribbean-North America plate boundary in Hispaniola since 1943 (Dolan and Wald, 1998). The occurrence of these earthquakes highlights the seismic risks affecting the rapidly developing and densely populated island of Hispaniola (which is shared by the Dominican Republic and Haiti). In particular, the occurrence of the 22 September 2003 earthquake focused attention on the nearby Septentrional Fault, a major left-lateral strike-slip fault that extends by various names for more than 1,000 km along the Caribbean-North America plate boundary (Mann et al. , 1984; Mann and Burke,1984; Calais et al. , 1992; Grindlay et al. , 1997; Dolan et al. , 1998; Mann et al. , 1998). Because of its proximity to major population centers in Hispaniola ( e.g. , Santiago, Dominican Republic and Cap Haitien, Haiti), the Septentrional Fault constitutes perhaps the most dangerous seismic source in the region. In this study, we …


Gastric cancer is considered one of the most lethal tumors. Even with the decline in its incidence, the mortality rate of this disease has remained high-gastric cancer ranks third in terms of cancer-related death worldwide. Patient survival is highly dependent on the tumor stage at the time of diagnosis. Yet, gastric cancer is often either asymptomatic or causing only nonspecific symptoms in its early stages. By the time the symptoms occur, the cancer has usually reached an advanced stage. The current management for advanced gastric cancer (AGC) is a multidisciplinary approach; nevertheless, the prognosis of AGC is poor. The primary tumor (T), regional nodes (N), and metastasis (M) (TNM) classification, which was validated as the best predictor of patient survival, has limited power to fully reflect the prognosis. In the last decade, several biomarkers are identified to ameliorate the accuracy of patient prognosis and subsequent treatment decision-making. Undoubtedly, the discovery of novel molecular biomarkers and their establishment in clinical practice make sense in the era of "personalized" oncologic practice. The purpose of this review is to discuss the prognostic significance of the currently well-known biomarkers as well as to highlight some of the new candidate prognostic molecular markers. These prognostic markers include conventional tissue-based genetic and epigenetic alterations, noncoding RNAs, and proteins. We will also discuss the non-invasive biomarker with the ability to monitor real-time tumor dynamics, such as circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and cell-free nucleic acids (cfNAs): DNA, microRNA and long ncRNAs (lncRNAs).


Peroxisomes are highly dynamic organelles of eukaryotic cells, carrying out essential oxidative metabolic processes. These organelles scavenge reactive oxygen species such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and catabolise fatty acids, which are particular hallmarks and highly conserved features of peroxisomes among different species. Peroxisomal proteins and enzymes are encoded by nuclear DNA and therefore, targeted post-translationally into the peroxisomal matrix. A special class of proteins, collectively called peroxins, perform certain cellular tasks, such as peroxisomal matrix protein import or membrane development in order to maintain peroxisome biogenesis as well as a constant flux of matrix proteins into peroxisomes. The type II AAA+ peroxins Pex1/Pex6 are a core component of the peroxisomal matrix protein import system. ATPases of the AAA+ family of proteins generally assemble into large, macromolecular machines, structurally remodelling their substrate protein, which is driven by the hydrolysis of ATP. The main function of Pex1/6 complexes is to release the receptor Pex5 from peroxisomal membranes after matrix protein import. This relocation of Pex5 into the cytosol ensures a constant pool of available receptor molecules for subsequent cycles of protein import into peroxisomes. Accordingly, certain mutations in mammalian Pex1/Pex6 proteins compromise peroxisome biogenesis and thus, lipid metabolism, causing severe genetic Zellweger diseases in humans.
In collaboration with Professor Ralf Erdmann and colleagues at the Ruhr-Universitat Bochum, we characterize the structure and function of the AAA+ Pex1/6 complex from yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Single particle electron microscopy (EM) in combination with biochemical assays allows us to analyze how ATP turnover is related to the biological function of the Pex1/6 complex. This study presents EM structures of Pex1/6 complexes assembled in the presence of ADP, ATP, ADP-AlFx and ATPγS, providing a comprehensive structural characterization of the heterohexameric type II AAA+ complex in different nucleotide states. Our EM reconstructions reveal an unexpected triangular overall shape, different than observed for the closely related and well-characterized homohexameric AAA+ protein p97. We show that the heterohexameric Pex1/6 complex is composed of a trimer of heterodimers with alternating subunit arrangement of Pex1 and Pex6 moieties. Furthermore, our results suggest that conserved aromatic residues, lining the central pore of the Pex1/6 D2 ring mediate substrate interactions. These residues correspond to substrate interaction regions in related AAA+ proteins. Comparing Pex1/6 EM reconstructions in different nucleotide states implicates that the mechanical function of Pex1/6 involves an N- to C-terminal protein translocation mechanism along the central pore. The Pex1/6 EM structures resolve symmetric and asymmetric large-scale domain motions, which likely create a power stroke during cycles of ATP binding and hydrolysis. We conclude that Pex5 is probably partially or completely unfolded while it is threaded through the central pore of Pex1/6 complexes.
In addition, ATP hydrolysis assays of Pex1/Pex6 complexes containing single amino acid exchanges in individual Walker B motifs reveal that not all active sites are functionally equivalent. In isolated complexes, ATP turnover mainly occurs in Pex6 D2 domains, while Pex1 subunits sustain the structural integrity of the complex. We further resolve the structures of Pex1/6 Walker B variants and observe mutually exclusive protomer-protomer communication. In the Pex1/6 complex, a Walker B mutation induces ATP hydrolysis in the adjacent D2 domain, presenting a structural framework of protomer-protomer communication in the AAA+ heterohexamer.


Yılmaz Ö, Türkeli A, Karaca Ö, Yüksel H. Does having an asthmatic sibling affect the quality of life in children? Turk J Pediatr 2017; 59: 274-280. Chronic illness in a family member leads to deterioration of quality of life in other members of that family. We aimed to investigate the influence of having an asthmatic sibling on a child`s quality of life (QoL). We enrolled 2-12 year aged healthy children with an asthmatic sibling in the study group and healthy children with a healthy sibling in the control group of this cross-sectional study. Sociodemographic characteristics of children and disease severity characteristics of asthmatic siblings were recorded. All parents filled in Turkish generic PedsQLTM short form appropriate for the child`s age group. Study and control groups had 114 children each. Total PedsQLTM scores were not significantly different in any of the age groups (p=0.23, p=0.13, p= 0.11 respectively). Emotional PedsQLTM sub-scores in children with an asthmatic sibling were significantly worse (83.0±16.5 vs 91.6±10.9 in the 2-4 year age group, 72.0±17.8 vs 92.2±11.6 in the 5-7 year age group, 73.7±24.1 vs 88.7±14.8 in the 8-12 year age group respectively, p≤0.002 for all). Similarly, psychosocial sub-score was significantly lower in the 2-4 and 5-7-year-olds but not the 8-12 year old groups (p=0.01, p=0.01, p=0.08 respectively). In conclusion, healthy children with asthmatic siblings have significantly lower emotional QoL and this needs to investigated for other chronic diseases in further research.


A forest simulation model (called EDEN) of eucalypt dynamics in southeastern Australia is presented to predict habitat quality for arboreal marsupials. The model is presented as a tool for testing alternative hypotheses of forest management in the study area, EDEN uses a forest gap simulation (IABOWA/FORET type) model as a pattern generator of habitat in different landscape positions and under different harvesting regimes and predicts the habitat quality of this habitat for arboreal marsupials, Application of the model is illustrated by simulating four environmental scenarios (gullies and ridges, at low and at high soil nutrient levels) and three harvesting regimes for each environmental scenario (no harvesting, low-intensity harvesting, and high-intensity harvesting), The changes in tree species composition and diversity and the changes in habitat quality for the arboreal marsupials are presented for the 12 scenarios. The predicted vegetation composition is different in the different environmental scenarios and agrees with empirical studies, suggesting that EDEN is a useful pattern generator in the study area, The simulation results suggest that there may be a harvesting level for which the habitat quality is not significatively reduced, but this will depend on the landscape position. The decline in habitat quality with increasing harvesting is stronger on ridges than in gullies,