The spatial arrangement of functionally important ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) in activated sludge flocs is largely unknown and activated sludge flocs are regarded as heterogeneous agglomerations of bacterial communities. This study aimed to determine both the location of AOB microcolonies within flocs and the size variation of these microcolonies based on their location. Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) was used in combination with a confocal scanning laser microscope (CSLM) to achieve these goals. Grab samples taken from a full-scale plug flow wastewater treatment plant were examined with probes targeted to AOB b-Proteobacteria (Nso1225) and a genus specific probe targeted to the genus Nitrosospira (Nsv443). Frequencies of AOB microcolonies were observed to increase towards the center of activated sludge flocs (ASFs). In addition, the size of AOB microcolonies was found to rise from the edges to the centers of flocs. This study indicates that ASFs might have a non-random agglomeration of AOB microcolonies. However, FISH is a relatively preliminary method for the aims targeted in this study and the results are not sufficient to justify definite conclusions.


The cranial base is formed by endochondral ossification and is characterized by the presence of the synchondrosis growth centers. The aim of this study was to describe the histological development of the mouse midsagittal cranial base area from embryonic day 10 (E10) to the postnatal age of 2 months. The Bmp family of signaling molecules serves important functions in embryo and bone development and may therefore play a significant role in the early formation of the cranial base. To investigate this, we analyzed the mRNA pattern of expression of Bmp2-6 in the mouse cranial base from E10 to 5 days postnatally using radioactive in situ hybridization. We found that the formation of the mouse cranial base corresponds to that of rat and proceeds in a caudorostral sequence. Moreover, all Bmps studied showed distinct and overlapping developmentally regulated expression domains. Bmp2, Bmp5, and Bmp6 were expressed in the early mesenchymal condensations. Later, Bmp2, Bmp3, Bmp4, and Bmp5 were detected in the perichondrium and in the adjacent mesenchyme. Subsequently, Bmp2 and Bmp6 expressions were confined to hypertrophic chondrocytes, while Bmp3, Bmp4, and Bmp5 were expressed in the osteoblasts of the trabecular bone and bone collar. Interestingly, Bmp3 was uniquely expressed postnatally in the resting zone of the synchondrosis growth center, suggesting a role in the regulation of cranial base growth. These results suggest that Bmp signaling may serve specific and synergistic functions at different key stages of cranial base development and growth.


ABSTRACT Net ecosystem carbon dioxide (CO2) exchange (NEE) is a key parameter for understanding the terrestrial plant ecosystems, but it is difficult to monitor or predict over large areas at fine temporal resolutions. In this research, we estimated the hourly NEE using a combination of the integrated neural network (NN) model with geostationary satellite imagery to overcome the limitations of existing daily polar orbiting satellite-derived carbon flux products. Two sets of satellite imageries (i.e. the meteorological imager (MI) and geostationary ocean colour imager (GOCI) aboard communication, ocean, and meteorological satellite (COMS)) and CO2 flux data derived from eddy covariance measurements were used to verify the feasibility of applying hourly geostationary satellite imagery with an NN-based approach for estimating NEE at high temporal resolutions. For the NN model, the optimum neuronal architecture was established using an NN with one hidden layer that was trained using the Levenberg–Marquardt back propagation algorithm. The hourly NEE values estimated in test period from the NN model using the combined COMS MI and GOCI imagery and ground measurements as model inputs were compared with the eddy covariance NEE values from the measurement tower, which yielded reliable statistical agreement. The hourly NEE results from the NN model based on COMS MI and GOCI imagery and ground measurement data had the highest accuracy (RMSE = 2.026 μmol m−2 s−2, R = 0.975), while the root mean square error (RMSE) and the regression coefficient (R) generated by the NN model based on satellite imagery as the sole input variable were relatively lower (RMSE = 3.230 μmol m−2 s−2, R = 0.952). Although the simulations for the satellite-only NEE were showed as lower accuracy than the NN model that included all input variables, the hourly variations in NEE also appeared to describe its daily growth and development pattern well, indicating the possibility of deriving hourly-based products from the proposed NN model using geostationary satellite data as inputs.


Rapid development in pattern design technology is currently being seen within the fashion industry. The integration of these digital tools into the pattern cutting process by the pattern designer requires them to obtain new computer–based knowledge. Knowledge that introduces alternative protocols into the pattern creation processes and presents opportunities for innovative pattern cutting practice.
Participants will get an opportunity to see a demonstration providing an overview of the processes that take place when cutting an abstract piece by hand and integrating the use of computerised pattern software into the creative pattern process.
This demonstration is based on the results of a practice-based research project examining the pattern activity that takes place whilst cutting a series of abstract designs/artifacts using both traditional and digital tools. It compares the pattern cutting activities when using different tools and notes the points where there is a perceived advantage to switching tools. Results indicate that the development of patterns is supported through the integration of digital technology in the pattern design process. That digital pattern technology integrated into the pattern development stages provide scope for innovation in creative pattern practice. Thus the combination of the tradition and digital can enhance the creative experience.


Abstract Magmas erupted at convergent margins consist of components from both mantle wedge and subducted slab. In an effort to quantify the relative contributions of these sources, we have determined 19 trace element partition coefficients (D values) for orthopyroxene and clinopyroxene, in equilibrium with spinel and hydrous high-MgO melt under conditions appropriate to melting in the mantle wedge, i.e., 1.3 GPa, 1245 °C, and fO2 of NNO + 1. All trace elements are more incompatible in clinopyroxene during hydrous melting than during anhydrous melting of fertile and depleted peridotite. Orthopyroxene D values are relatively insensitive to pressure, temperature, and phase composition. The new D values are used to calculate the trace-element composition of the mantle wedge, which produced primitive South Sandwich Islands and St. Vincent (Lesser Antilles) arc basalts. Both sources correspond to previously depleted mantle that has been enriched in LILEs and LREEs by slab-derived fluids. In the case of the South Sandwich Islands, the calculated source is in very close agreement with dredged fore-arc lherzolites. Our partitioning data confirm that hydrous melting of wedge peridotite itself cannot produce the characteristic enrichments of LILEs over REEs and HFSEs. Our estimates of the slab component in South Sandwich Islands and St. Vincent are consistent with estimates from other arcs, derived by alternative methods.


This paper introduces a very challenging dataset of historic German documents and evaluates Fully Convolutional Neural Network (FCNN) based methods to locate handwritten annotations of any kind in these documents. The handwritten annotations can appear in form of underlines and text by using various writing instruments, e.g., the use of pencils makes the data more challenging. We train and evaluate various end-to-end semantic segmentation approaches and report the results. The task is to classify the pixels of documents into two classes: background and handwritten annotation. The best model achieves a mean Intersection over Union (IOU) score of 95.6% on the test documents of the presented dataset. We also present a comparison of different strategies used for data augmentation and training on our presented dataset. For evaluation, we use the Layout Analysis Evaluator for the ICDAR 2017 Competition on Layout Analysis for Challenging Medieval Manuscripts.


A simulation is used to examine the impact of government farm program and crop revenue coverage insurance on the probability distribution of returns to land. When combined, marketing loan program payments, agricultural market transition act payments, and market loss assistance payments substantially increase the value that risk averse producers place on the residual returns to land. Crop revenue coverage (CRC) insurance was found to have a positive certainty equivalent value for most risk averse producers. However, the risk-reducing effects of current farm program payments substantially reduced the certainty equivalent value of CRC.


In the last few decades, photovoltaics have contributed deeply to electric power networks due to their economic and technical benefits. Typically, photovoltaic systems are widely used and implemented in many fields like electric vehicles, homes, and satellites. One of the biggest problems that face the relatability and stability of the electrical power system is the loss of one of the photovoltaic modules. In other words, fault detection methods designed for photovoltaic systems are required to not only diagnose but also clear such undesirable faults to improve the reliability and efficiency of solar farms. Accordingly, the loss of any module leads to a decrease in the efficiency of the overall system. To avoid this issue, this paper proposes an optimum solution for fault finding, tracking, and clearing in an effective manner. Specifically, this proposed approach is done by developing one of the most promising techniques of artificial intelligence called the adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system. The proposed fault detection approach is based on associating the actual measured values of current and voltage with respect to the trained historical values for this parameter while considering the ambient changes in conditions including irradiation and temperature. Two adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system-based controllers are proposed: (1) the first one is utilized to detect the faulted string and (2) the other one is utilized for detecting the exact faulted group in the photovoltaic array. The utilized model was installed using a configuration of 4 × 4 photovoltaic arrays that are connected through several switches, besides four ammeters and four voltmeters. This study is implemented using MATLAB/Simulink and the simulation results are presented to show the validity of the proposed technique. The simulation results demonstrate the innovation of this study while proving the effective and high performance of the proposed adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system-based approach in fault tracking, detection, clearing, and rearrangement for practical photovoltaic systems.


For the last ten years, CAPTCHAs have been widely used by websites to prevent their data being automatically updated by machines. By supposedly allowing only humans to do so, CAPTCHAs take advantage of the reverse Turing test (TT), knowing that humans are more intelligent than machines. Generally, CAPTCHAs have defeated machines, but things are changing rapidly as technology improves. Hence, advanced research into optical character recognition (OCR) is overtaking attempts to strengthen CAPTCHAs against machine-based attacks. This paper investigates the immunity of CAPTCHA, which was built on the failure of the TT. We show that some CAPTCHAs are easily broken using a simple OCR machine built for the purpose of this study. By reviewing other techniques, we show that even more difficult CAPTCHAs can be broken using advanced OCR machines. Current advances in OCR should enable machines to pass the TT in the image recognition domain, which is exactly where machines are seeking to overcome CAPTCHAs. We enhance traditional CAPTCHAs by employing not only characters, but also natural language and multiple objects within the same CAPTCHA. The proposed CAPTCHAs might be able to hold out against machines, at least until the advent of a machine that passes the TT completely.


Introduction: Hindgut symptoms are common among patients with obesity. Data on the clinical/ physiologic changes in anorectal function with obesity remain limited. We aimed to examine the relationship between obesity and (1) metrics on high-resolution anorectal manometry (HRAM), and (2) hindgut symptoms using validated instruments. Methods: Consecutive adults referred for HRAM at a tertiary center were included. Validated surveys were prospectively collected at time of HRAM, including Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) symptom scales for incontinence, constipation and diarrhea, and the 12-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12) for health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Patients were classified based on BMI into normal (, 25 kg/m2), overweight (25-29.9 kg/ m2), Class I obese (30-34.9 kg/m2), and Class II1III obese ( .35 kg/m2). Statistical analyses were performed using Chi-squared or student t-test and Spearman correlation (univariate); and general linear or logistic regression (multivariate). Results: 220 patients (83% female, 52.2 yrs) were enrolled, including 25% overweight, 9.6% Class I obese, and 9.1% Class II1III obese. BMI correlated with higher PROMIS incontinence (r50.31, p50.0002) and diarrhea (r50.19, p50.027) scores, but not constipation, and lower physical component score (PCS) on SF-12 (r5-0.27, p50.004). On HRAM, BMI correlated with higher first rectal sensation (r50.20, p50.014), urge (r50.19, p50.021), and maximal tolerated (r50.18, p50.03) volumes, but not other metrics. When categorized, Class II1III obesity had worse PROMIS incontinence score and PCS, and more rectal hyposensitivity on HRAM per London classification ($2 elevated sensory volumes) compared to other categories (Figure 1). On separate multivariable models constructed adjusting for age, sex, thyroid dysfunction, IBS, and diabetes, BMI remained correlated with more severe incontinence (b50.109, p50.0065) and rectal hyposensitivity (OR51.067, p50.01). Class II1III obesity was also an independent predictor of worse incontinence (b51.82, p50.049), PCS (b5-13.6, p50.0023), and rectal hyposensitivity (OR52.81, p50.038). Conclusion: Obesity, particularly class II1III, independently correlated with worse fecal incontinence, rectal hyposensitivity, and HRQOL. Changes in anorectal physiology and sensory function may contribute to bothersome hindgut symptoms among patients with obesity. Anorectal physiology testing should be considered to help guide management.


Mountain lions (Puma concolor) throughout North and South America are infected with puma lentivirus clade B (PLVB). A second, highly divergent lentiviral clade, PLVA, infects mountain lions in southern California and Florida. Bobcats (Lynx rufus) in these two geographic regions are also infected with PLVA, and to date, this is the only strain of lentivirus identified in bobcats. We sequenced full-length PLV genomes in order to characterize the molecular evolution of PLV in bobcats and mountain lions. Low sequence homology (88% average pairwise identity) and frequent recombination (1 recombination breakpoint per 3 isolates analyzed) were observed in both clades. Viral proteins have markedly different patterns of evolution; sequence homology and negative selection were highest in Gag and Pol and lowest in Vif and Env. A total of 1.7% of sites across the PLV genome evolve under positive selection, indicating that host-imposed selection pressure is an important force shaping PLV evolution. PLVA strains are highly spatially structured, reflecting the population dynamics of their primary host, the bobcat. In contrast, the phylogeography of PLVB reflects the highly mobile mountain lion, with diverse PLVB isolates cocirculating in some areas and genetically related viruses being present in populations separated by thousands of kilometers. We conclude that PLVA and PLVB are two different viral species with distinct feline hosts and evolutionary histories.


Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) applications leverage pervasive sensing and ambient intelligence technologies to enable older people to live independently and to support their social inclusion and connectedness. Wearable sensors can be used to gather the elderly's activities of daily living (ADLs) data, thus enabling remote monitoring. Lately, ambient displays have been deployed to relay activity information in the periphery of the caregivers' attention in order to increase awareness of the activities of the elderly and to create a sense of connectedness. Moreover, there is accumulated evidence demonstrating the ability of ambient displays to influence and promote social connectedness between the elderly and their caregivers. In recent years, intelligent ambient lighting, a subclass of ambient displays, is emerging as an effective tool for conveying physical activity information. Existing literature suggests lighting encodings or configurations combining color, rate of change, position and brightness to communicate such information. Within AAL, there is little empirical evidence surrounding ambient lighting encodings that support this cause effectively. In this paper, we present an exploratory study investigating how potential caregivers perceive and interpret ambient lighting configurations for presenting activity information of the elderly. User preference, change noticeability and accuracy of the interpretation of three ambient lighting configurations were evaluated.


TauTona Mine (the renamed Western Deep Levels East) is using a longwall mining method with stability pillars to extract the Carbon Leader Reef at a depth ranging from 2097 metres to 3456 metres below surface. Seismic activity and the complexity and hazards associated with negotiating geological features at great depth pose the most severe hazard to deep level gold mining in South Africa. It impacts negatively on safety and the profitability of the mining. The critical success factors in longwalling at depth are: * Sound mining strategies and face shape control * Ensuring follow behind development infrastructure is kept up to date * Support system design as a strategy to effectively limit the serious effects of damaging seismicity. This paper descriptionbes the following: * Implementation of the required mining strategies * The evolution of a new stope support system and problems associated with its development and implementation. How this support system was adapted for the successful negotiation of major geological features with known seismic potential and problems encountered * Current initiatives to optimize follow behind development infrastructure * Current initiatives in designing a new gully support system and problems experienced with its development and implementation. Finally, this paper will deal with the way forward, briefly covering areas like the above-mentioned gully support system, the proposed phased introduction of technology, and the use of alternative mining layouts.


Objective— To evaluate the frequency and correlates of glomerular hyperfiltration in NIDDM patients without overt proteinuria. Research Design and Methods— A cross-sectional study was conducted. Seventy-one consecutive NIDDM patients attending an outpatient clinic, with Albustix-tested negative urine and a 24-h AER <200 μgrams/min, were examined for long-term complications of diabetes. We measured their GFR (51Cr-EDTA single-injection method), 24-h AER (RIA), plasma creatinine, HbA1c, total cholesterol, triglycerides, urinary glucose, and urea. Results— GFR above the upper limit of the normal range for age-matched control subjects (137.1 ml·min−1 · 1.73 m2) was present in 15 of 71 (21%) NIDDM patients. Subjects with normal and hyperfiltration did not differ in terms of age, sex distribution, BMI, duration of NIDDM, BP, AER, or frequency of long-term complications. Plasma glucose was significantly higher in subjects with hyperfiltration (mean [range]: 12.8 [4.3–18.7] vs. 8.7 [2.6–17.5] mM). HbA1c failed to reach statistical significance, although it tended to be higher in the group with hyperfiltration (10.4 [6.7–13.9] vs. 9.4 [4.2–16.5]%, P = 0.10). Age (rS −0.37, P = 0.002), FPG (rS 0.45, P < 0.0005), total cholesterol (rS −0.31, P = 0.008), and glycosuria (rS 0.40, P = 0.001) correlated significantly with GFR. In a stepwise multiple regression analysis, FPG, age, and total cholesterol emerged as significant correlates of the dependent variable GFR. Conclusions— Hyperfiltration occurred in 21% of NIDDM patients without overt proteinuria. FPG and age significant correlates of the GFR in these patients. Cholesterol is significantly (although only modestly) correlated with the GFR.


ABSTRACT Rapidly developing viral resistance to licensed human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) protease inhibitors is an increasing problem in the treatment of HIV-infected individuals and AIDS patients. A rational design of more effective protease inhibitors and discovery of potential biological substrates for the HIV-1 protease require accurate models for protease cleavage specificity. In this study, several popular bioinformatic machine learning methods, including support vector machines and artificial neural networks, were used to analyze the specificity of the HIV-1 protease. A new, extensive data set (746 peptides that have been experimentally tested for cleavage by the HIV-1 protease) was compiled, and the data were used to construct different classifiers that predicted whether the protease would cleave a given peptide substrate or not. The best predictor was a nonlinear predictor using two physicochemical parameters (hydrophobicity, or alternatively polarity, and size) for the amino acids, indicating that these properties are the key features recognized by the HIV-1 protease. The present in silico study provides new and important insights into the workings of the HIV-1 protease at the molecular level, supporting the recent hypothesis that the protease primarily recognizes a conformation rather than a specific amino acid sequence. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the presence of 1 to 2 lysine residues near the cleavage site of octameric peptide substrates seems to prevent cleavage efficiently, suggesting that this positively charged amino acid plays an important role in hindering the activity of the HIV-1 protease.


Graph transformation is often used to transform domain models from one domain specific language (DSML) to another. In some cases, the DSMLs are based on a formalism that has many implementation variants, such as Statecharts. For instance, it could be necessary to transform iLogix Statechart models into Matlab Stateflow models. The preservation of behavior of the models is crucial in such transformations. Bisimulation has previously been demonstrated as an approach to verifying behavior preservation, and semantic anchoring is an approach to specifying the dynamic semantics of DSMLs. We propose a method to verify behavior preservation, using bisimulation in conjunction with semantic anchoring. We will consider two hypothetical variants of the Statecharts formalism, and specify the operational semantics of each variant by semantic anchoring, using Abstract State Machines as a common semantic framework. We then establish bisimulation properties to verify if the behavior models of the source and target Statechart models are equivalent for a particular execution of the transformation.


Stockholm Convention defined polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) as a group of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) such as dioxin/furan, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, polychlorinated biphenyls, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, aldrin, polychlorinated dibenzofurans and organometallic compounds (such as organotin and organomercury) which share the same characteristics of being persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic and can travel long distance through various media. They have diverse health impacts with different underlined molecular mechanisms. Recently, PCBs were referred as potent carcinogens with persistent existence in the environment. As the liver is the organ of detoxification, it is the major target organ for toxic effects induced by environmental contaminants, including PCBs. PCBs, furan and dioxin exert their hepatocarcinogenic effect through different mechanisms such as induction of oxidative stress, an increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS), mutagenic induction to oncogenes and epigenetic alteration to hepatic cells. In this chapter, we will provide an updated overview about PCBs, furan and dioxins, their impact on liver cancer initiation and progression on various in vivo and in vitro systems and its underlined molecular mechanisms. Also, a special emphasis will be directed to highlight zebrafish as in vivo model system to analyse the hepatocarcinogenic effect of these pollutants.


Atom migrations in single-layer 1H-MoTe2 are studied with Cc/Cscorrected high-resolution transmission electron microscopy at an electron energy of 40 keV using the electron beam simultaneously for material modification and imaging. After creating tellurium vacancies and vacancy lines, we observe their migration pathways across the lattice. Furthermore, we analyze phase transformations from the 1Hto the 1T′-phase associated with the strain induced due to the formation of Te vacancy lines. Combining the experimental data with the results of first-principles calculations, we explain the energetics and driving forces of pointand line-defect migrations and the phase transformations due to an interplay of electron-beam-induced energy input, atom ejection, and strain spread. Our results enhance the understanding of defect dynamics in 2D transition metal dichalcogenides, which should facilitate tailoring their local optical and electronic properties.


Two-dimensional (2-D) electrical resistivity tomography data were acquired across and in proximity to active sinkholes at two highway construction sites in Missouri. Site 1 is located in Greene County in southwestern Missouri; site 2 is located in Jefferson County in east-central Missouri. Eleven 2-D electrical resistivity tomography profiles were acquired along a suite of parallel traverses (spaced at 7.5 m intervals) at site 1 as part of the geotechnical investigation of a proposed interchange. The primary objectives were to identify and map air-filled karstic cavities (if present) and the top of bedrock. The resistivity data from site 1 were processed as both conventional 2-D data and as three-dimensional (3-D) data using two different inversion schemes. The top of bedrock was imaged, and five prominent north-trending, clay-filled, solution-widened fractures were identified. Interpreted air-filled voids were not imaged. At site 2, a pattern of 17 parallel electrical resistivity tomography profiles was acquired across and in proximity to a preexisting sinkhole (approximately 15 m × 10 m × 5 m L/W/D). During construction of the highway, the soil was emptied from the sinkhole overnight following a heavy rainstorm. Electrical resistivity tomography data were acquired to determine if the sinkhole was underlain by a large air-filled cavity. Interpretation of the 2-D and 3-D resistivity images from site 2 showed that the sinkhole was not underlain by a substantive cavity. Rather, the soil in the sinkhole appears to have "flowed" into the subsurface through solution-widened fractures that do not pose a significant risk to the overlying roadway.


Background There are two approved biological drugs, infliximab and adalimumab, for the treatment of Crohn´s disease (CD). For patients who lose their initial response, consideration can be given to dose intensification (DI) to regain therapeutic benefit. Purpose Evaluation of the occurrence and effectiveness of DI of infliximab and adalimumab in CD patients who were primary responders. Material and methods Observational retrospective study in a second level hospital, which included patients with CD on treatment with infliximab or adalimumab, from January 2004 to December 2013, and who responded to an induction regimen of the anti-TNF-α drug. The variables collected were: anti-TNF-α drug, patient's response, requirement for DI and time of follow-up. The effectiveness of DI was determined by the numbers of patients responding to anti-TNF-α drugs at an intensified dose. This variable and the numbers of DI were calculated as the percentage of patient-years of follow-up. Results A total of 40 primary responders to infliximab and 15 to adalimumab were included, who provided 125.2 and 23.1 patient-years of follow-up, respectively. The proportion of patients who required intensified infliximab treatment was 8.8% (11/125.2) per patient-year and for adalimumab 8.6% (2/23.1) per patient-year. The times with intensified treatment were 18.8% and 5.3% patient-years follow-up, for infliximab and adalimumab, respectively. The percentage of patients maintaining a response to intensified doses of the drugs was 16% (3/18.8) per patient-year for infliximab and 37.7% (2/5.3) per patient-year for adalimumab. Conclusion The proportion of patients who required DI was similar for the two drugs and it was less than 10% per patient-year. The effectiveness of DI was relatively low, due to the fact that the proportion of patients maintaining a response to DI was less than 40% per patient-year. In other studies (Gisbert and Billioud et al.), the proportion of patients who needed intensified infliximab was similar to our results (13% per patient-year) and the annual risk of DI for adalimumab was greater (24.8% per patient-year). References and/or Acknowledgements No conflict of interest.


The Flexner report of 1910 resulted in the closing of many marginal medical schools and opened a new era in medical education in the United States. Caught in Abraham Flexner's net were several old schools with long histories and, as he said, "traditions and a certain present dignity" that lacked the minimum resources needed to meet the standards of the Council on Medical Education of the American Medical Association. One example was the Medical College of the State of South Carolina. It was consigned to oblivion in Flexner's plan, but survived. Dean Robert Wilson, MD, in his efforts to save his school, turned politician, enlisted the aid of the state's highly controversial governor, and initiated an effective lobbying campaign in the state legislature. The Council on Medical Education became involved unofficially in the person of its secretary, Nathan P. Colwell, MD. His presence in South Carolina was turned to advantage by Wilson and others and contributed substantially to the success of their efforts.


Abstract Birds have tails, bats do not. Does this fundamental difference in flight morphology reveal a difference in flight capability, and if so are birds or bats better fliers? I use Munk's stagger theorem, and Prandtl's relation for the induced drag of a biplane to show that for a given lift, and given wingspan, the induced drag of the wing-tail combination is lower that the induced drag of a wing alone. However the same reduction in induced drag could be achieved by slightly increasing the wingspan. While increasing the wingspan reduces induced drag, it can also increase profile drag and wing inertia. Induced drag is dominant at low speeds and during turns. Profile drag dominates at high speeds. The tail allows birds to have the wings needed for efficient cruising and high speed flight (when the tail can be furled giving little drag), at the same time the tail can be spread at low speeds or during turns to reduce induced drag. The tail can play a role in maintaining stability and balance, and it appears that the stability of birds is tailored so that the tail is required to generate lift at low speeds, when the interaction between the wings and the tail can also most effectively reduce induced drag.


Onion (Allium cepa L.; 1C=15,000 Mb) is an agriculturally important plant. The genome of onion has been extensively studied at the conventional cytogenetic level, but molecular analyses have lagged behind due to its large genome size. To overcome this bottleneck, a partial bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library of onion was constructed. The average insert size of the BAC library was about 100 kb. A total of 48,000 clones, corresponding to 0.32 genome equivalent, were obtained. Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) screening resulted in identification of BAC clones localized on centromeric, telomeric, or several limited interstitial chromosomal regions, although most of the clones hybridized with entire chromosomes. The partial BAC library proved to be a useful resource for molecular cytogenetic studies of onion, and should be useful for further mapping and sequencing studies of important genes of this plant. BAC FISH screening is a powerful method for identification of molecular cytogenetic markers in large-genome plants.


Human induced pluripotent stem (IPS) cells overcome several disadvantages of human
embryonic stem cells, including host specificity and ethical issues. These cells can be
generating from different cell types of each donor making them suitable tool for autologous
cell therapy and tissue engineering. Furthermore, iPS cells generated from patients with
genetical disorders capture the disease genotype in the cell. These cells are good model for
studying pathology of the diseases and testing different therapies. One approach is cell
therapy by using specific cell types from genetically corrected IPS cells
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), one of the most common inherited
myopathies, is caused by a contraction within a subtelomeric array of D4Z4 repeats 4q35.2. It
is characterized by uneven and progressive weakness and atrophy of facial, shoulder and
upper arm muscle.
36
To develop cell based study model for FSHD and relevant source for cell therapy we
generated IPS cells from FSHD myoblasts and myoblasts from healthy donors. To induce
myogenic differentiation FSHD-IPS cells were transduced with Myf5, one of the key myogenic
transcriptional factors. Under certain conditions Myf5 modified cells differentiated in
myoblasts and fused to form myotubes. DUX4 expression was detected in all stages of IPS
myogenic differentiation, pluripotent, mesenchymal and myogenic stage. By this, we
established relevant diseases model to study FSHD. However, to overcome the issues of
comparison of IPS clones from different donors and variations acquired prior reprogramming,
and in same time to generate adequate cells for tissue engendering, we genetically corrected
FSHD-IP cells by removing 4qA161 allele. We targeted FSHD-iPS cells with a linear targeting
vector bearing a single homology arm of 500 bp followed by the neo cassette and human
artificial telomeric repeats (T2AG3), using zinc finger nucleases. Expression analyses reveled
that corrected FSHD-IPS clones do not express DUX4.


Rock-climbing performance is largely dependent on the endurance of the forearm flexors. Recently, it was reported that forearm flexor endurance in elite climbers is independent of the ability to regulate conduit artery (brachial) blood flow, suggesting that endurance is not primarily dependent on the ability of the brachial artery to deliver oxygen, but rather the ability of the muscle to perfuse and use oxygen, i.e. skeletal muscle oxidative capacity. Purpose : The aim of the study was to determine whether an index of oxidative capacity in the flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) predicts the best sport climbing red-point grade within the last 6 months. Participants consisted of 46 sport climbers with a range of abilities. Methods: Using near infrared spectroscopy, the oxidative capacity index of the FDP was assessed by calculating the half-time for tissue oxygen re-saturation (O 2 HTR) following 3-5 min of ischemia. Results: Linear regression, adjusted for age, sex, BMI and training experience, revealed a 1s decrease in O 2 HTR was associated with an increase in red-point grade by 0.65 (95% CI: 0.35-0.94, Adj R 2 = 0.53). Conclusions: Considering a grade of 0.4 separated the top 4 competitors in the 2015 International Federation Sport Climbing World Cup, these findings suggest that forearm flexor oxidative capacity index is an important determinant of rock climbing performance.


Signal transmission in Wireless Networks suffers considerably from many impairments, one of which is channel fading due to multipath propagation. Cooperative communication is a technique which could be employed to mitigate the effects of channel fading by exploiting diversity gain achieved via cooperation between nodes and relays. To achieve transmit diversity, a node would generally require more than one transmitting antenna which is not too common due to the limits in size and complexity of wireless mobile devices. However by sharing antennas with other single-antenna nodes in a multi-user environment, a virtual multi-antenna array is formed and transmit-diversity is accomplished. Subsequently, radio coverage is extended without the need to implement multiple antennas on nodes and increased transmission reliability is achieved. In this scenario, a network containing a sender, a destination and a relay is analyzed. Two cooperative communication schemes which include Amplify and forward and Decode and forward are employed with different combining techniques are investigated and results obtained from simulations with respect to variable relay positioning are presented.


In this work we consider various aspects of recurrence times in stochastic processes and dynamical systems. The first part of the thesis is set in the context of zero-one stochastic processes. Here, by a zero-one stochastic process is meant a sequence of functions on a given set where each function takes values of either zero or one. The discussion is primarily concerned with stationary processes and is a rigourous and, in some aspects, a more general discussion of work of P. Kasteleyn. A connection between notions of recurrence in zero-one stochastic processes and dynamical systems admitting an invariant probability is established. The later part of the thesis presents new results in some special dynamical systems. These results are mainly to do with calculating the standard deviation of recurrence times and discussing the finiteness of the standard deviation, and are related to the existing literature.


To create embodied agents which exhibit realistic behaviour, we should first examine how humans behave with each other in the same context. In this paper, we define the context as navigating a virtual environment and using body movement as signals for communication. We undertake a novel experiment in which two humans play virtual basketball as a team in distributed locations, using only their bodies to navigate and execute tasks. Participants interact mainly through moving throughout the virtual world while passing a virtual ball. We propose that joint activity theory concepts are prevalent in virtual world communication, find evidence to support this hypothesis, and generate insights which can be used to create effective agents in the same type of environment. Even with a limited communication channel, it was found that the intention of players was able to be understood, which shows the existence of various joint activity theory concepts.


Understanding the association between glycemia and A1c by race can improve screening for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes (T2D) . This association was examined cross-sectionally in 1016 Black and 2658 White persons screened for D2d (mean age 60; fasting glucose [FG] 1mg/dL; A1c 5.9%) . Of these, 22with at least 2-of-3 ADA glycemic criteria for prediabetes (mean age 60, FG 1mg/dL, A1c 5.9%, 28% Black) were followed longitudinally for median 2.5 years with annual OGTT and semi-annual FG and A1c. Numerical integration methods were used for the estimation of area under the OGTT-derived glucose curve (AUC) . Mean A1c was estimated for a given AUC quintile using linear regression for Whites, Blacks, and Asians. Adjusting for covariates, the A1c was higher by 0.2-0.25% among Black vs. White participants with similar glycemia in all AUC quintiles. During follow-up, Black participants were more likely to be diagnosed with T2D based on A1c; White participants were more likely to be diagnosed by FG. The absolute increase in A1c over time according to baseline AUC-glucose quintiles differed by race. Compared to White participants, Black participants in lower baseline AUC quintiles had greater increases in A1c over time, while A1c increased similarly in White and Black persons in the two highest baseline AUC quintiles.
 In summary, Black participants had higher A1c than White participants for similar degree of glycemia defined by AUC; the glycemic criteria contributing to the diagnosis of T2D differed by race; and there were AUC by racial interactions in A1c increase over time.

 E.S.Leblanc: n/a. S.Dagogo-jack: Consultant; AstraZeneca, Bayer AG, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Medtronic, Merck & Co., Inc., Sanofi. J.P.Nelson: None. D.S.Hsia: None. D2d research group: n/a. A.G.Pittas: None. R.Chatterjee montgomery: Research Support; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Epigenomics AG. N.Rasouli: Advisory Panel; Eli Lilly and Company, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, Research Support; Allergan, Eli Lilly and Company, Novo Nordisk. M.K.Rhee: Research Support; Kowa Company, Ltd. R.E.Pratley: Other Relationship; Bayer AG, Corcept Therapeutics, Dexcom, Inc., Hanmi Pharm. Co., Ltd., Merck & Co., Inc., Metavention, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer Inc., Poxel SA, Sanofi, Scohia Pharma Inc., Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. C.Desouza: Advisory Panel; AstraZeneca, Bayer AG, Novo Nordisk A/S, Consultant; Asahi Kasei Corporation. L.M.Neff: Employee; Eli Lilly and Company, Research Support; Amryt Pharma Plc, Novo Nordisk, Stock/Shareholder; Eli Lilly and Company. A.L.Peters: Advisory Panel; Abbott Diabetes, AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly and Company, Novo Nordisk, Shouti, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, Zealand Pharma A/S, Other Relationship; Omada Health, Inc., Research Support; Abbott Diabetes, Dexcom, Inc., Insulet Corporation, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, Stock/Shareholder; Teladoc Health.

 American Diabetes Association (1-14-D2d-01) ; National Institutes of Health National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and Office of Dietary Supplements (U01DK098245)


The Internet is becoming increasingly mobile, with not only smartphones outnumbering stationary hosts, but also cars, buses, trains and airplanes all coming online. This makes Internet mobility support more important than ever. However the existing standard mobility support protocols, mainly Mobile IPv6 and Network Mobility (NEMO), suffer from triangle routing problem. In this paper we present a new mobility support protocol called SAIL that provides an effective and efficient solution to the triangle routing problem while being completely compatible with Mobile IP. SAIL is built upon the Global HAHA protocol which uses multiple distributed home agents to minimizes triangle routing, but removes its high overhead by one-hop DHT. We evaluate the SAIL design through extensive simulations and our results show that SAIL can provide superior performance over Mobile IP while keeping the overhead low.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the influence of mental stress on the neuroendocrine-immune system in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODS
Twenty-two patients with RA and 8 patients with osteoarthritis (OA) who underwent total knee or hip arthroplasties under general anesthesia were enrolled in the study. The blood levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6) and other substances related to stress were measured just before administering anesthesia on the day of the operation when the patients lay on the operating table and roughly 30 min later when the patients were under general anesthesia without mental stress. These values were compared with those at the same time on the day before the operation, which were considered the control levels.

RESULTS
In patients with RA, the levels of IL-6, cortisol, and epinephrine in the peripheral blood were significantly increased under mental stress, before anesthesia (p < 0.01). However, under general anesthesia, the IL-6, cortisol, and epinephrine were significantly decreased, compared with the levels before anesthesia (p < 0.01). Such changes were not apparent in patients with OA. The levels of other substances in the peripheral blood known to be related to stress, such as corticotropin-releasing factor, dopamine, and norepinephrine, showed no changes in patients with RA or OA.

CONCLUSION
In patients with RA, excessive mental stress should be eliminated to modify the interaction between the stress-immune system and stress-endocrine system as a method to better control disease activity.


The problem of the relation between the Ahronov-Bohm effect and traditional postulates of electrodynamics, which claim that only electric and magnetic fields are observable, is resolved by denial of the statement about validity of the Maxwell equations for microscopic fields. We proceed from the idea that the Maxwell equations, as the generalization of experimental data, are valid only for averaged values. We show that microscopic electrodynamics should be based on postulation of the d'Alembert equations for four-vector of the electromagnetic field potential. The Lorentz condition is valid only for the averages and provides the implementation of the Maxwell equations for averages. This concept eliminates the problem of electromagnetic field quantization and provides the correctness of all known results of quantum electrodynamics. Therefore, the "virtuality" of the longitudinal and scalar photons has a formal mathematical character, conditioned by the Maxwell equations for averaged fields. The longitudinal and scalar photons provide not only the Coulomb interaction of charged particles, but also allow the electrical Aharonov-Bohm effect.


Abstract The Platte River of Nebraska, central USA, has been used by sedimentologists as a type example of a sandy, braided river system for some forty years. Despite this designation, however, the details of the river's subsurface stratigraphy have never been evaluated, and so the extant facies model for the Platte River remains unvalidated. This paper analyzes the Holocene stratigraphy of the central and lower Platte River. It utilizes newly acquired data from wireline logs, sediment cores, aerial photography, and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) traverses to characterize subsurface geology, in addition to surface sediment and geomorphic mapping, sampling, and analysis of serial aerial imagery. Cores and GPR profiles show that the lithosome of the active Platte is 6–8 m in thickness and consists predominantly of medium sand. Although macroform features are common on the surface of the modern (active) central and lower Platte River in Nebraska, the shallow subsurface stratigraphy is dominated by mesoform cross-bedding and planar stratification overlying channel scour fills. This differs markedly from the vertical succession predicted by the Platte River facies model of Miall (1977). Data from inactive portions of the central and lower Platte River, however, show macroform cross-bedding indicative of the downstream and cross-stream migration of linguoid and transverse bars, which would be predicted by the published model. The typical architecture of the Holocene channel-belt sand body in the areas studied thus comprises a lower unit dominated by macroform-scale cross-bedding, overlain by an upper unit dominated by mesoform-scale cross-bedding and scour fills. Furthermore, time-series analysis of aerial photography of the river in the vicinity of Grand Island, Nebraska, shows that: (1) the river has become dominated by aggressively vegetated subaerially exposed channel-bed domains (termed "vegetated channel islands") that superficially resemble bars; and (2) that this stretch is no longer dominated by downstream-accreting macroform bars, which were abundant in the 1960s and 1970s. Contraction of the active channel in this region has accompanied these changes, somewhat independently of discharge variation. New vertical sequence facies models are presented to account for these differences. Our data show the futility of seeking to characterize a fluvial system by means of a single vertical sequence model, and furthermore indicate that the Holocene facies architecture of the sandy, braided Platte River varies both in space and in time. The dominance of mesoform-scale structure in the shallow subsurface of the central and lower Platte River likely reflects the ongoing process of gradual abandonment of the system. It further highlights the need for caution in interpreting subsurface structure from surface geomorphology in fluvial systems.


In this paper, we present corpus data that questions the concept of native speaker homogeneity as it is presumed in many studies using native speakers (L1) as a control group for learner data (L2), especially in corpus contexts. Usage-based research on second and foreign language acquisition often investigates quantitative differences between learners, and usually a group of native speakers serves as a control group, but often without elaborating on differences within this group to the same extent. We examine inter-personal differences using data from two well-controlled German native speaker corpora collected as control groups in the context of second and foreign language research. Our results suggest that certain linguistic aspects vary to an extent in the native speaker data that undermines general statements about quantitative expectations in L1. However, we also find differences between phenomena: while morphological and syntactic sub-classes of verbs and nouns show great variability in their distribution in native speaker writing, other, coarser categories, like parts of speech, or types of syntactic dependencies, behave more predictably and homogeneously. Our results highlight the necessity of accounting for inter-individual variance in native speakers where L1 is used as a target ideal for L2. They also raise theoretical questions concerning a) explanations for the divergence between phenomena, b) the role of frequency distributions of morphosyntactic phenomena in usage-based linguistic frameworks, and c) the notion of the individual adult native speaker as a general representative of the target language in language acquisition studies or language in general.


In this study, a transfer function methodology is employed for mapping simulated internal pump dynamics, such as piston forces and bending moments, on to audible noise. Using these transfer functions, it is possible to predict how, for instance, changed valve plate timing affects simulated piston forces and bending moments and in turn how that will affect audible noise. Hence, it is possible to design an objective function that directly reflects audible noise. The transfer functions are experimentally obtained and are valid for a specific machine shell and to some minor extent the room's acoustical properties. Simulation of the internal pump dynamics, and optimisations, are carried out using a pump model developed in the simulation tool HOPSAN. The design application is a fixed hydraulic machine of bent axis type with seven pistons. The theory outlined and the method proposed in the paper can also be applied to other types of hydraulic machines. The paper shows how different noise reduction features affect the sound pressure level and also motor mode compared to pump mode.


Many published machine vision algorithms are designed to be real-time and fully automatic with low computational complexity. These attributes are essential for applications such as stereo robotic vision. Motion Picture Digital Visual Effect facilities, however, have massive computation resources available and can afford human interaction to initialise algorithms and to guide them towards a good solution. On the other hand, motion pictures have significantly higher accuracy requirements and other unique challenges. Not all machine vision algorithms can readily be adapted to this environment. In this paper we outline the requirements of visual effects and indicate several challenges involved in using image processing and machine vision algorithms for stereo motion picture visual effects.


Although animal welfare issues have become increasingly important to the economic fortunes of many producers the interests of animals themselves are absent from standard economic analysis. By contrast scholars from other disciplines such as philosophy and law have examined animal issues in considerable detail. This paper outlines a simple way of formally incorporating the insights of these discipines within a traditional economics framework. If animals have economic standing then current practice makes excessive use of animals as production inputs and is thus economically inefficient. However efficiency would not in general entail zero use. Optimal usage depends on the costs to animals and the benefits to humans and thus reflects the usual cost-benefit tradeoff inherent in economics. Even if animals are accorded no economic standing externalities imposed on human producers leads to similar qualitative conclusions.


In active queue management (AQM), core routers signal transmission control protocol (TCP) sources with the objective of managing queue utilization and delay. It is essentially a feedback control problem. Based on a recently developed dynamic model of TCP congestion-avoidance mode, this paper does three things: 1) it relates key network parameters such as the number of TCP sessions, link capacity and round-trip time to the underlying feedback control problem; 2) it analyzes the present de facto AQM standard: random early detection (RED) and determines that REDs queue-averaging is not beneficial; and 3) it recommends alternative AQM schemes which amount to classical proportional and proportional-integral control. We illustrate our results using ns simulations and demonstrate the practical impact of proportional-integral control on managing queue utilization and delay.


The would-be microprocessor user is currently confronted with a large and increasing number of different devices, each characterized by a unique architecture, instruction set, and hardware conventions, and provided with a varying, usually small degree of software support. Consequently, microprocessor systems reflect to a major extent the hardware and software idiosyncracies of the specific microprocessor(s) they incorporate; any attempt to replace a microprocessor with a newer or improved type, however inexpensive, entails a major system redesign. The work described in this article–MUMS, for Modular-Unified-Microprocessor-System–is an ongoing research project to overcome these limitations, having a modular, standardized, and versatile structure that is nevertheless commensurate with the low cost of the microprocessors themselves. Basic to this idea is a relatively simple micro-bus (the MUMS bus) that carries generic signals only, and over which a microprocessor communicates with its environment. Each microprocessor and all other modules, whether memory or I/O devices, connect to the MUMS bus through simple interfaces that standardize to the bus protocol. Simplicity is retained by having one microprocessor per MUMS bus, but flexibility is provided by allowing for MUMS busses to connect through a communications unit for the purpose of interprocessor communication or shared resources, or both. By this technique MUMS can be used in a standalone configuration or in conjunction with other processors. The insertion of a new nicroprocessor requires only one new MUMS bus interface and an associated software utility package in a ROM module; the rest of the system is unmodified.


An analytical expression for calculating the reflection-peak wavelengths (RPWs) of a uniform sampled fiber Bragg grating (SFBG) with the multiple-phase-shift (MPS) technique is derived through Fourier transform of the index modulation. The new expression can accurately depict the RPWs incorporating various parameters such as the duty cycle and the DC index change. The effectiveness of the derived expression is further confirmed by comparing the RPWs estimated from the expression with the simulated reflective spectra using the piecewise uniform method. And the reflective spectrum has been well optimized by introducing the Gaussian apodization function to suppress the sidelobes without any wavelength shift on the RPWs. Then, a high-channel-count comb filter based on MPS is proposed by cascading two or more SFBGs with different Bragg periods but with the same RPWs. Noticeably, the RPWs of the new structured SFBG can also be accurately calculated through the expression. Furthermore, the number of spectral channels can be controlled by choosing gratings with specified difference Bragg periods.


Abstract The pharmaceuticalisation of sleep is a contentious issue. Sleep medicines get a 'bad press' due to their potential for dependence and other side effects, including studies reporting increased mortality risks for long‐term users. Yet relatively little qualitative social science research has been conducted into how people understand and negotiate their use/non‐use of sleep medicines in the context of their everyday lives. This paper draws on focus group data collected in the UK to elicit collective views on and experiences of prescription hypnotics across different social contexts. Respondents, we show, drew on a range of moral repertoires which allowed them to present themselves and their relationships with hypnotics in different ways. Six distinct repertoires about hypnotic use are identified in this regard: the 'deserving' patient, the 'responsible' user, the 'compliant' patient, the 'addict', the 'sinful' user and the 'noble' non user. These users and non‐users are constructed drawing on cross‐cutting themes of addiction and control, ambivalence and reflexivity. Such issues are in turn discussed in relation to recent sociological debates on the pharmaceuticalisation/de‐pharmaceuticalisation of everyday life and the consumption of medicines in the UK today.


Understanding the role of globalisation in promoting introduction and establishment of alien species is an important step towards successful management of biological invasions. We aimed to quantify the taxon-dependent association of globalisation with the introduction and establishment of alien species in Europe. The availability of the KOF index of globalisation that measures all economic, social and political dimensions of global connectivity enables a study of this factor. Based on an extensive database of alien species, we used model selections based on the Akaike information criterion and hierarchical partitioning to identify the importance of globalisation in predicting the number of all introduced species and established species of ten mainly terrestrial taxa in countries across Europe. The association of globalisation with alien species establishment varied depending on taxon type. While the gross domestic product (GDP) of countries was a strong predictor for all but one taxon, globalisation was also found to be an important predictor for three taxa including those of high (e.g. insects) and low mobility (e.g. magnoliophyta). Globalisation explained 3.1 to 22% independently, and 5.5 to 35% jointly with other variables, of among-country variations in the number of established alien species. The effect of globalisation on the distribution of all introduced species is not substantially different from that on the established alien species. This study highlights how globalisation among habitat availability and environmental conditions can determine the patterns of alien species introduction and establishment across Europe. The results also emphasise the varying degree of importance between different taxa. Knowledge of the relative significance of various pathways with regard to different taxa is important for correctly focusing efforts to reduce the spread of these species.


From precontact to the end of colonial order, recovering lost voices, and exploring issues both intimate and institutional, this sweeping examination of Spanish California illuminates Indian struggles against a confining colonial order and amidst harrowing depopulation. To capture the enormous challenges Indians confronted, Steven W. Hackel integrates textual and quantitative sources and weaves together analyses of disease and depopulation, marriage and sexuality, crime and punishment, and religious, economic, and political change. As colonization reduced their numbers and remade California, Indians congregated in missions, where they forged communities under Franciscan over-sight. Yet, missions proved disastrously unhealthful and coercive, as Franciscans sought control over Indians' beliefs and instituted unfamiliar systems of labor and punishment. Even so, remnants of Indian groups still survived when Mexican officials ended Franciscan rule in the 1830s. Many regained land and found strength in ancestral cultures that predated the Spaniards' arrival. At this study's heart are the dynamic interactions in and around Mission San Carlos Borromeo between Monterey region Indians (the Children of Coyote) and Spanish missionaries, soldiers, and settlers. Hackel places these local developments in the context of the California mission system, and draws comparisons between California and other areas of the Spanish Borderlands and colonial America. Concentrating on the experiences of the Costanoan and Esselen peoples during the colonial period, "Children of Coyote" concludes with an epilogue that carries the story of their survival to the present day.


Bop1 is a conserved nucleolar protein involved in rRNA processing and ribosome assembly in eukaryotes. Expression of its dominant-negative mutant Bop1Δ in mouse cells blocks rRNA maturation and synthesis of large ribosomal subunits and induces a reversible, p53-dependent cell cycle arrest. In this study, we have conducted a deletion analysis of Bop1 and identified a new mutant, Bop1N2, that also acts as a potent inhibitor of cell cycle progression. Bop1N2 and Bop1Δ are C-terminal and N-terminal deletion mutants, respectively, and share only 72 amino acid residues. Both mutant proteins are localized to the nucleolus and strongly inhibit rRNA processing, suggesting that activation of a cell cycle checkpoint by Bop1 mutants is linked to their inhibitory effects on rRNA and ribosome synthesis. By using these dominant-negative mutants as well as antisense oligonucleotides to interfere with endogenous Bop1, we identified specific rRNA processing steps that require Bop1 function in mammalian cells. Our data demonstrate that Bop1 is required for proper processing at four distinct sites located within the internal transcribed spacers ITS1 and ITS2 and the 3′ external spacer. We propose a model in which Bop1 serves as an essential factor in ribosome formation that coordinates processing of the spacer regions in pre-rRNA.


ECOLOGISTS' can learn easily to communicate effectively, persuasively and concisely using all common forms of print and electronic media. In this chapter you will see how, in an incredible 30 seconds, you can grab and keep the attention of readers, viewers or listeners, tell a compelling story, ask for what you want and get it! You will be able to make your point to colleagues, journalists, business executives, public servants and politicians and the whole range of the general public. In the long term you will even save time 'and improve your productivity. The steps and techniques to achieve this are simple and even fun.

Actually, the above paragraph is not my purpose in this chapter at all. It is a parody of the "30 second message" championed by Frank (1986) as a communications strategy for many walks of life. However, as you shall see argued with wit and conviction elsewhere in these proceedings (Kelly 1998), its central elements of interest, brevity and action are virtues in the communications media. The concept of a 30 second snatch on television or radio news may sit uneasily with scientists who are accustomed to longer discourse involving careful examination of methods, data and interpretations and who are instinctively suspicious of approaches that seem to value rhetoric over, substance. However, if one accepts the view that communicating ecology via the media is vital, then it will be necessary to accept the constraints and work effectively within them. This means that except for those lucky few who have the opportunity of a feature in the press or a major interview on radio or television, we are stuck with the "30 second message". Fortunately, there are many sources, including the two given above, giving clear guides on constructing and presenting these vital snippets.

How, though, do you reach the position where you have the chance to deliver your message and what pitfalls should you beware' of on the way? When I raised this point with the editors, their response was to invite me to research the topic and contribute this piece. Although my media experience is restricted to a few "letters to the editor", a handful of radio interviews and a couple of nervy appearances on television, for those in the same position there may be value in sharing what a novice finds important when entering this arena. It might also encourage colleagues with greater experience and insights to share these with other ecologists via the Ecological Society of Australia (ESA) electronic bulletin board. Contributions highlighting further specialist references would be especially valuable. The plan of the chapter is simple. It begins with a brief survey of the characteristics of print, radio and television media, overviews issues of organizational, policy, confidentiality and ethics on the part of ecologists dealing with the media, outlines methods such as media releases, media events and direct contact with journalists for offering news to the media, summarizes presentation techniques appropriate to the different media, suggests how to respond to unsolicited contacts from the media and concludes with ideas for further debate/action by the ESA on these important topics.


In the 1920s, Oskar Schlemmer, artist in the Bauhaus movement, created the Triadic Ballet costumes. These re-strict movement of dancers, creating new expressions. In-spired by this, we designed an interactive wire costume. It restricts lower body movements, and emphasizes arm movements spurring LED-light 'sparks' and 'waves' wired in a tutu-like costume. The Wire Costume was introduced to a dancer who found that an unusual bond emerged be-tween her and the costume. We discuss how sensory altera-tion (sight, kinesthetic awareness and proprioception) and bodily training to adjust to the new soma, can result in nov-el, evocative forms of expression. The interactive costume can foster a certain mood, introduce feelings, and even embody a whole character -- only revealed once worn and danced. We describe a design exploration combining cul-tural and historical research, interviews with experts and material explorations that culminated in a novel prototype.


Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) was shown to have therapeutic potential for some neurological and psychiatric disorders. Previous studies reported that low-frequency rTMS (≤1 Hz) affected synaptic plasticity in rats, however, there were few investigations to examine the possible effects of rTMS on structural synaptic plasticity changes in rats, which included the effects on synaptic morphology in the hippocampus, synaptic protein markers and Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein II (CaMKII). Sprague-Dawley rats were subject to 500 pulses of 0.5 Hz rTMS for 15 days, or sham stimulation. After last stimulation, transmission electron microscope (TEM) and real-time PCR were used to determine the effects of rTMS on synaptic plasticity. Results showed that rTMS could cause the change of structural synaptic plasticity, increase the expression of synaptic protein markers: synaptophysin (SYN) and increase the expression of CaMKII, relative to normal rats. suggesting a modulatory effect of chronic rTMS on synaptic plasticity that may be attributed to the increased expression of CaMKII in rats.


Background Clinicians are increasingly using social media for professional development and education. In 2012, we developed the St.Emlyn's blog, an open access resource dedicated to providing free education in the field of emergency medicine. Objective To describe the development and growth of this international emergency medicine blog. Method We present a narrative description of the development of St.Emlyn's blog. Data on scope, impact and engagement were extracted from WordPress, Twitter and Google Analytics. Results The St.Emlyn's blog demonstrates a sustained growth in size and user engagement. Since inception in 2012, the site has been viewed over 1.25 million times with a linear year-on-year growth. We have published over 500 blog posts, each of which attracts a mean of 2466 views (range 382–69 671). The site has been viewed in nearly every country in the world, although the majority (>75%) of visitors come from the USA, UK and Australia. Summary This case study of an emergency medicine blog quantifies the reach and engagement of social-media-enabled learning in emergency medicine.


Cardiovascular disease is the leading complication of type 2 diabetes and approximately half of the patients with type 2 diabetes will die of a cardiovascular cause. To prevent the occurrence of cardiovascular disease, effective diabetes treatment is necessary. Up-titrating diabetes medication by addition of an oral drug or commencement of insulin improves glycemic control. However it has been suggested that glucose lowering agents are associated with weight gain, which could increase the incidence of cardiovascular disease. In our study medication combinations including insulin or thiazolidinedione were associated with increase in weight of 3 kg, while sulphonylureas and metformin were weight neutral. Moreover we assessed the effect of blood pressure lowering agents among moderate-high and very high cardiovascular risk groups. Absolute treatment effects tended to be different between the two risk groups with greater absolute risk reduction for the very high risk group, but this did not reach significance. To accurately examine the cardiovascular risk of a patient general practitioners often use risk scores. Performing a systematic review of the literature 12 cardiovascular risk scores were identified specifically designed for diabetes patients, and 33 prediction models applicable to diabetes patients because they included diabetes as a factor. Even though many risk scores have not been validated or after validation performed only moderately to poor, several risk scores have been included in clinical practice guidelines. A complete assessment of all cardiovascular risk scores designed specifically for diabetes patients was conducted. Discrimination of all risk scores was poor to moderate. Most risk scores severely overestimated the risk except for the ADVANCE risk score which underestimated the risk. After recalibration, the calibration of all models was good, (all p-values>0.05) with a slight overestimation of the actual risk. The model with the best calibration in our cohort was the Swedish NDR risk score which was then used to assess the added prognostic value of Heart-type Fatty Acid-Binding Protein (h-FABP) for the prediction of cardiovascular disease among diabetes patients. A non-significant positive association between H-FABP and CVD was observed. The small improvement in the discrimination has only little clinical value for cardiovascular risk assessment. Patients with type 2 diabetes routinely visit their physician regularly, so in clinical practice repeated risk factor information is collected over time. We assessed how to incorporate repeated measurements in clinical prediction models and if this affected the predictive performance using cardiovascular risk assessment among diabetes patients as an example. This study suggests that use of a baseline model is as predictive as recalculating the risk at new time points or fitting a new model using repeated measurements. Only small changes in discrimination were observed for models using updated information.


Polycythemia vera (PV) causes thrombosis. Erythrocytosis and cell adhesiveness are responsible for thrombosis. JAK2V617F causes inflammation and autoimmunity; however, whether or not autoimmunity or inflammation causes thrombosis has yet to be proven. In 60 PV patients, we analyzed JAK2V671F and its allele burden, autoimmune Th17 cells, interleukin-17 (IL-17), anti-endothelial cell antibodies (AECAs), endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule-1 (ELAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and von Willebrand factor antigen (VWF:Ag). Fifty blood donors were used as the controls. All patients were on phlebotomy-maintaining hematocrit <45% and aspirin. Of the 60 patients, 40 had thrombosis. Those patients with thrombosis had a higher JAK2V617F allele burden than those without thrombosis, andTh17 cells and IL-17 were also higher in patients with thrombosis. Interestingly, we observed a high AECA IgG ELISA ratio (ER) in patients with thrombosis, which was normal in patients without thrombosis. We found high ELAM-1 and ICAM-1 as well as high VWF:Ag in patients with thrombosis compared to patients without thrombosis. AECA-positive sera from patients with thrombosis showed enhanced binding to cytokine-treated HUVEC and a positive antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, suggesting that AECA may contribute to vascular injury. A positive correlation between AECAs, allele burden, and thrombosis was found. These results suggest that autoimmunity may be an additional mechanism in PV thrombogenesis.


The contribution of renewable energies to the reduction of the impact of fossil fuels sources and especially energy supply in remote areas has occupied a role more and more important during last decades. The estimation of renewable power plants performances by means of deterministic models is usually limited by the innate variability of the energy resources. The accuracy of energy production forecasting results may be inadequate. An accurate feasibility analysis requires taking into account the randomness of the primary resource operations and the effect of component failures in the energy production process. This paper treats a novel approach to the estimation of energy production in a real photovoltaic power plant by means of dynamic reliability analysis based on Stochastic Hybrid Fault Tree Automaton (SHyFTA). The comparison between real data, deterministic model and SHyFTA model confirm how the latter better estimate energy production than deterministic model.


Purpose: To examine the relationship between body fat percentage (BFP) and N-K cell activity (NKCA) in Korean breast and rectal cancer patients just after diagnosis. Methods: With 35 subjects enrolled between November 2002 and May 2003, Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis was used to estimate BFP. FACS Analysis was used to measure N-K cell activity. The relationships between BFP and NKCA were identified by using curve estimation, simple regression, and multiple regression. Results: The mean BFPs of the subjects and all the sub-groups were higher than acceptable BFPs. Both the mean NKCAs of male and female subjects were lower than that of healthy women. NKCA was explained by BFP with a 14.9% variance in the total subjects (p<.05). There were significant negative relationships between BFP and NKCA after controlling age, type of cancer, and stage of cancer while no significant relationship was found after controlling for gender. The relationships between BFP and NKCA in the sub-groups of female, breast cancer, and stage I, and II were significant. The relationships between male, rectal cancer, and the stage III, and VI sub-groups were not identified, but they revealed a mild to moderate steep in curve estimation. Conclusion: Weight reduction could prevent the risk and advancement of breast and rectal cancer in Koreans.


Soil carbon dynamics and plant-soil interactions are an integral part of ecosystem function and understanding the effects of perturbations on these processes is vital if we are to predict the future of ecosystems under global environmental change. However, it is often challenging to study complex processes at the ecosystem-scale, due to high natural variability. Microcosm experiments offer a way to study soil processes under controlled conditions but common techniques to reduce environmental heterogeneity in laboratory microcosms can also alter soil properties, which may affect the outcome of experiments. This provides a challenge for research to develop a robust understanding of soil processes and to establish how scale and context may alter the outcome of experiments. The overarching aim of this thesis was to explore the effect of context and experimental scale on the outcome of experiments investigating soil carbon dynamics and plant-soil interactions. I conducted a series of microcosm experiments exploring the effect of common soil processing techniques on soil properties and function, as well as a comparative study across three experimental scales. Soil pre-treatment by sieving and air-drying dramatically altered soil properties compared to fresh soil. None of the measured soil properties recovered to fresh soil values during a 60-day microcosm experiment. Despite consistent overall trends in soil properties, the recovery trajectories varied among soils from different sites, which presents a challenge for comparative studies using sieved and air-dried soils. Importantly, sieving and drying also increased soil respiration, ion exchange rates and the magnitude of the respiratory response to litter addition treatments. Finally, soil respiration and soil properties differed substantially across experiments at different scales. Peak soil carbon release by priming effects in response to litter addition was ten-fold higher in microcosms compared to in situ mesocosms or field plots, and experimental scale had a greater effect on soil respiration than litter addition treatments. Microcosm studies remain a crucial part of ecological research into soil carbon dynamics and plant-soil interactions. However, my results show that experimental scale and context-dependency can alter the outcome of experiments. Future research should aim to find a compromise between a reductionist approach to test detailed mechanisms and representative experiments that better simulate in situ conditions.


Until 2006, BKPyV and JCPyV were the only known human polyomaviruses. A third polyomavirus, simian virus 40 whose natural host is the macaque was accidently introduced into man because of contaminated poliovirus vaccines, although there is epidemiological evidence that SV40 may be transmitted between man independently from contaminated vaccines. Since 2007, 10 new human polyomaviruses have been identified: KIPyV, WUPyV, Merkel cell polyomavirus, trichodysplasia spinulosa‐associated polyomavirus, and human polyomaviruses 6, 7, 9, 10, STL, and 12. Moreover, the DNA of the monkey lymphotropic polyomavirus has been amplified from human peripheral blood. Seroepidemiological studies frequently based on the presence of antibodies against the major capsid protein VP1 or virus‐like particles indicate that most human adults have been exposed to many, if not all, human polyomaviruses. However, because of the high amino acid sequence identity between VP1 of some human polyomaviruses, cross‐reactivity of antibodies is occasionally observed. In addition, human sera possess reactivity against VP1 of polyomaviruses from other species, suggesting serological cross‐reaction with known or closely related, yet unidentified human polyomaviruses and/or the possibility of zoonotic transmission. Thus, current serological results should be interpreted with caution, and controls excluding cross‐reactivity with other polyomaviruses are required. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


With the advances in resuscitation, infection control, and metabolic management, the treatment strategies for burn patients have improved remarkably in the last half century. As a result, more patients with deep burn wound survived, and how to optimize the burn wound care aiming at recovery of the normal appearance and physiologic function of patients has been investigated and discussed widely through both the whole treatment strategy making and the new techniques performing. In the present discussion, early tissue reconstruction as well as early wound covering and repair are emphasized by summarizing the improved aesthetic and functional effects obtained by applying the principles of plastic surgery in early burn wound repair, the use of composite skin grafting, the grafting with split-thickness autografts on the preserved denatured dermis or on the preserved healthy fat tissue, etc. Besides these, more attention should be given to the repair and reconstruction in specialized functional parts of the body, such as head and face, neck, hand, female breast, perineum, and joint areas, after a deep burn. The role of rehabilitation during and after the burn wound treatment process is elucidated by demonstrating its potential biophysical mechanism and preventing scar deformity. Adequate treatment of deep burn wound demands a number of important measures including the timing of surgery, adoption of essential techniques, suitable types of wound covering materials, motivated rehabilitation, and necessary psychological therapy. The optimal recovery of damaged part of body after burn should depend on the similarity of rebuild tissue structure to simulate the nature of the original tissue in the cellular, histological, anatomic characteristics, which is the aim of all burn wound care and the basis of the appearance and function repair or reconstruction.


We explored the behaviour of a series of phenolic acids used as enhancers or inhibitors of luminol chemiluminescence by three different methods to determine if behaviour was associated with phenolic acid structure and redox character. All the phenolic acids inhibited chemiluminescence when hexacyanoferrate (III) was reacted with the phenolic acids before adding luminol. The redox character of these compounds was clearly related to structure. When hexacyanoferrate(III)-luminol-O2 chemiluminescence was initiated by phenolic acid-luminol mixtures some phenolic acids behaved as enhancers of chemiluminescence, and others as inhibitors. We propose a mechanism to explain these findings. We found direct relationships between the redox character of the phenolic acids and the enhancement or inhibition of the chemiluminescence of the luminol-H2O2-peroxidase system and we propose mechanism to explain these phenomena.


Introduction Since the events of September 11, 2001, the United States HAS RESPONDED to the threat of terrorism with legislation that arms the government with greater powers over citizens and non-citizens. Many features of the war on terror have proven controversial since they undermine individual freedoms, civil liberties, and human rights (Cole, 2003; Parenti, 2003). Among the measures that have drawn considerable concern is the arbitrary use of detention of foreign nationals. Detention is among the gravest acts the state can take against people, especially if for long periods of time. The seriousness increases if persons are held not on criminal or immigration charges, but rather after fleeing persecution. This article dwells on how asylum seekers entering the U.S. are being subjected to unnecessary detention in harsh conditions of confinement. The unjust detention of foreign nationals has drawn considerable public attention, especially in the wake of the September 11 attacks (Human Rights Watch, 2002; Talvi, 2003a, 2003b), yet the plight of asylum seekers in a post-September 11 world has been neglected. Between September 11, 2001, and December 2003, more than 15,300 asylum seekers were detained at U.S. airports and borders. From the port of entry, asylum seekers are transported to jail, often in handcuffs, and usually without any clear understanding of why they are being detained. Asylum seekers are legally eligible for parole if they satisfy the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) criteria (i.e., community ties, no risk to the community, and that identity can be established). However, in practice, even asylum seekers who meet those criteria remain in detention (Asylum Protection News, 2004). Immigration officials too often ignore or selectively apply the parole criteria, which exist in guideline form rather than as formal regulations. Compounding matters, when an asylum seeker's parole request is denied by DHS officials, they have no meaningful recourse; they cannot appeal the decision to an independent authority, or even an immigration judge (Asylum Protection News, 2003c; Jones, 2003; Lawyers Committee for Human Rights, 2004). (1) As this article reveals, detaining asylum seekers is not an effective antiterrorist tactic. Its continued use, however, prompts sociological questions over why such policies and practices persist. The detention of asylum seekers suggests that certain aspects of the war on terror serve more to control immigration than to control crime, producing an array of human rights predicaments. Along with key human rights reports, this work looks at government rhetoric on national security that is used to justify blatant violations of international law written to protect persons fleeing persecution. The discussion briefly reviews quiet constructions and their role in formulating government policies and practices for the confinement of those seeking asylum. Quiet Constructions In the realm of social constructionism, a sociological framework aimed at revealing the nature of claims making, differences remain between the "strong" or "strict" constructionists and those regarded as "weak" or "contextual" (Cohen, 2002). The former insists that there are nothing but constructs, with a sociologist just one among many claims makers. Attempting to offer a more objective view, the latter proposes that a sociologist can (and should) issue reality checks while detecting and documenting exaggeration. In doing so, a sociologist unveils the social construction process, but is committed to understanding and resolving social problems. Further refining these approaches, Cohen distinguishes between noisy and quiet constructions. As the name suggests, high levels of public, political, and media attention accompany noisy constructions. Quiet constructions typically emerge in more muted forms in which the claims makers are professionals, government officials, and bureaucrats operating in an organization with little or no public or media exposure. …


This paper develops an analytical model to estimate the dynamic responses in end milling, i.e., dynamic milling cutter deflections and cutting forces, by using the finite element method along with an adequate end milling cutting force model. The whole cutting system includes spindle, bearings and cutter. The spindle is structurally modeled with the Timoshenko-beam element, the milling cutter with the pretwisted Timoshenko-beam element due to its special geometry, and the bearings with lumped springs and dampers. Because the damping matrix in the resulting finite element equation of motion for the whole cutting system is not of proportional damping due to the presence of bearing damping, we use state-vector approach and convolution integral to find the solution of equations of motion. To assure the accuracy of dynamic response predication, the associated cutting force model should be sufficiently precise. Since the dynamic cutting force is proportional to the chip thickness, a quite accurate algorithm for the calculation of chip thickness variation due to tool geometry, runout and spindle-tool vibration is developed. A number of dynamic cutting forces and tool deflections obtained from the present model for various cutting conditions are compared with the experimental and analytical results available in the literature, and good agreement is demonstrated for these comparisons. Therefore the present model is useful for the prediction of end milling instability. Also, the tool deflections obtained by using the pretwisted beam element are found smaller than those by straight beam elements without pretwist angle. Hence, neglecting the pretwist angle in the structural model of milling cutter may overestimate the tool deflections


Complex pattern queries play a critical role in many applications that must efficiently search databases and data streams. Current techniques support the search for multiple patterns using deterministic or non-deterministic automata. In practice however, the static pattern representation does not fully utilize available system resources, subsequently suffering from poor performance. Therefore a low overhead auto-reconfigurable automaton is needed that optimizes pattern matching performance. In this paper, we propose a dynamic system that entails the efficient and reliable evaluation of a very large number of pattern queries on a resource constrained system under changing stress-load. Our system prototype, Morpheus, pre-computes several query pattern representations, named templates, which are then morphed into a required form during run-time. Morpheus uses templates to speed up dynamic automaton reconfiguration. Results from empirical studies confirm the benefits of our approach, with three orders of magnitude improvement achieved in the overall pattern matching performance with the help of dynamic reconfiguration. This is accomplished only with a modest increase in amortized memory usage.


What the National Institutes of Health (NIH) did was unique in the history of federal support of research in the biosciences. The uniqueness was called to my attention in 1959 when I visited the Soviet Union as one of five American biochemists on an exchange program between our National Academy of Sciences and theirs. After a month of our observing the management of research in the major Soviet universities and institutes, the Minister of Science asked us to compare the Soviet and American systems.

We said diplomatically: "Your system is different. You place authority for direction of research in the hands of a Director of Research. In the United States, the individual scientist is in control. After applying for a research grant, the scientist is judged in competition with other applicants by a group of peers outside his institution. With the award of a grant, he becomes his own boss. His success or failure depends on what he accomplishes." Our Russian host was puzzled: "It is your system that is different. Our system is the same as that practiced in all other countries, in Europe and Japan." He was right, and it is still true that in most of the world, direction of research is vested in a relatively few senior people, whereas in the United States the bulk of research money in biomedical science goes to thousands of individual investigators.

The independence of scientists to initiate and pursue their own research programs in the biomedical sciences was achieved because the NIH designated research grants to individual scientists, thus making them unbeholden to department heads, deans, and university politics. The university had no choice but to grant independence in order to compete for the grantees, their teaching contributions, and the considerable income from indirect costs attached to their grants. However, the very competition for grantees, essential to the success of the NIH grants program, does depend on the independence of the private and public universities from centralized state controls, virtually unique in the United States.

Of current concern is whether this remarkable NIH program can withstand budgetary limitations and the increasing pressures to distribute block grants. Already, a considerable fraction of the NIH research budget is obligated to program projects in some of which a director can select the investigators and choose projects that might not withstand peer review. While many of these projects serve legitimate purposes, the outlay to support them has in effect become a fixed "entitlement" expenditure. By contrast, the percentage of awards for investigator-initiated projects (R01's), the "discretionary" component of the budget, has declined sharply.

Trends to centralize and collectivize bioscience research support are worldwide. Japan should be applauded for initiating and sustaining the Human Frontier Science Program. However, grants are made only to a group of investigators assembled from several countries who can devise a project advanced enough to be divided among them. In Europe, the European Union requires that investigators from three or more countries find a consensus project that can be parceled up, leaving no room for a scientist to do something utterly original and unpopular. In the United Kingdom, the Medical Research Council is planning to consolidate grants along similar lines. And in Italy, the powerful baronial organization of research-granting agencies perpetuates fragmentation and favoritism.

An oft-stated reason for block grants and collective efforts is the expensive equipment and resources needed to solve the problems of major diseases. A common illusion is that strategic objectives are necessary to discover the cures for cancer and AIDS and that groups of sufficient size need to be mobilized for wars and crusades against these enemies. Nothing could be more misguided. In the history of triumphs in biomedical science such wars and crusades have invariably failed because they lacked the necessary weapons-the essential knowledge of basic life processes. Instead, some of the major advances-x-rays, penicillin, polio vaccine, and genetic engineering-have come from the efforts of individual scientists to understand Nature, unrelated to any practical objective. Basic research has been the province of the individual investigator and remains the lifeline of medicine.


This paper develops an ontologically rich explanation of the inner mechanics of the annihilation process, starting from a non-local hidden-variable (NLHV) design. This explains the process in terms of the handedness of matter and antimatter, the interaction of the electron and antielectron as they approach, the collapse of their discrete force structures and their reformation into photon structures. The process is more one of remanufacture than destruction. The resulting Cordus theory successfully explains paraand ortho-positronium annihilation. It explains the different photons output, the relative difference in lifetimes, and why Bhabha scattering sometimes happens instead. The theory exposes a deeper common mechanism for annihilation, pair-creation, and bonding.


Electronic properties of V$_2$OPO$_4$ have been investigated by means of hard x-ray photoemission spectroscopy (HAXPES) and subsequent theoretical calculations. The V 1$s$ and 2$p$ HAXPES spectra are consistent with the charge ordering of V$^{2+}$ and V$^{3+}$. The binding energy difference between the V$^{2+}$ and V$^{3+}$ components is unexpectedly large indicating large bonding-antibonding splitting between them in the final states of core level photoemission. The V 1$s$ HAXPES spectrum exhibits a charge transfer satellite which can be analyzed by configuration interaction calculations on a V$_2$O$_9$ cluster. The V 3$d$ spectral weight near the Fermi level is assigned to the 3$d$ $t_{2g}$ orbitals of the V$^{2+}$ site. The broad V 3$d$ spectral distribution is consistent with the strong hybridization between V$^{2+}$ and V$^{3+}$ in the ground state. The core level and valence band HAXPES results indicate substantial charge transfer from the V$^{2+}$ site to the V$^{3+}$ site.7 figure


This paper investigates borrowing decisions of rural households from a microfinance in Tigray, Ethiopia using household panel data on 5 years and a dynamic panel probit model. The theoretical model takes two types of risk involved in joint-liability lending explicitly into account: risk of partner failure and the risk of losing future access to credit. Empirical results show that these risks are important in explaining borrowing decisions. Another finding is that the probability of repeat-borrowing is higher than the probability of new participation, with possible implications that perceived joint-liability threats deter participation and easing stringent punishments might help poor households' access to credit.


In this article we argue that two recent trends in Enlightenment studies are useful for understanding the establishment of the Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences in 1760. First, recent research has presented an understanding of the Enlightenment as an event in the history of mediation. Inspired by this we claim that Enlightenment practices and tools were transposed to Trondheim by the work of Johan Ernst Gunnerus and the others that took part in establishing the Society. Second, we are inspired by works that stress the importance of geography to Enlightenment thought and claim that geographies were produced by, as much as in, Enlightenment practices. By this we argue that Trondheim was neither an obvious place for setting up a Society of Science in the eighteenth century nor a peripheral town. Through means of mediation it could set itself up as central, but it could also be rendered more peripheral by these practices, and this is what happened after the founding fathers of the Society left town or passed away. However, we argue that it is useful to look at the particularities of what happened in Trondheim as part of the practicesof the Enlightenment.