This paper considers basic bounds on the overhead of link-state protocols in mobile ad hoc networks. Hierarchical protocols are known for their good scalability properties, and hence this paper considers a two-level hierarchical protocol. In such protocols, nodes need to keep track of shortest path information, link states and cluster membership. Two types of overheads are considered; the memory needed to store routing-related information, including link-states and cluster membership, and the control messages that need to be exchanged to keep track of the changes in the network. Memory overhead is important practically for dimensioning network nodes, while message routing overhead is important since it reduces the effective capacity of the network to carry user data (vis-a-vis control data). The scalability properties of the message routing overhead are analyzed for different modes of network scaling. Practical implications, such as optimal cluster size, average/fixed memory requirement and routing protocol parameter selections are discussed.


: It is essential to establish some clinical validity for the defining characteristics of the nursing diagnoses proposed to date. The application of one type of descriptive study to the nursing diagnosis of knowledge deficit is presented. Limited clinical support is provided for some defining characteristics, but no critical indicator is identified.


. As Internet advertising market expands, the number of ad-vertisements containing inappropriate language is increasing. Advertise-ments that exaggerate the efficacy of products may contravene the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law and the Act against Unjustifiable Premiums and Misleading Representations. Therefore, a system that can detect problematic expressions is required. Some advertisements cannot be classified using only the statistics of words. Therefore, embedding other information, such as word order and word period in the features is effective to categorize documents. However, the number of labeled data in advertising documents is limited; consequently, models with complex structures tend to overlearn. In addition, features and discriminant models with high generalization performance must be found even if the number of data is small. To address these severe issues, we propose a document feature based on the discrete Fourier transform(DFT) of word vectors weighted using an index previously proposed in a study that attempted to categorize Chinese online advertisements. We also propose a document discriminant model based on a complex-valued support vector machine. We demonstrate that the proposed model outperforms previous models in terms of discriminative performance of F-measure. We found that the proposed index emphasizes word vectors of specific nouns and verbs in Japanese advertisements. In addition, we found that DFT significantly increased the norms of document vectors of illegal documents. These factors contributed to the better performance of the proposed model.


ABSTRACT The pandemic has radically shifted how society is organised, with increased work from home, home-schooling, and intensification of online presence, all with specific (un)intended implications on paid and unpaid care work. These implications, like those of other crises, are gendered and manifest along sex, age, disability, ethnicity/race, migration status, religion, social class, and the intersections between these inequalities. While many studies have identified these unequal and negative impacts, and point to significant care-related inequalities, the specific contribution of this paper is a different one, namely to point towards inspiring practices as better stories of and in the care domain during the pandemic. The aim is to make these better stories visible and to think about these as ways forward to mitigate the unequal impacts of COVID-19 and its policy responses. Theoretically, the approach is based on 'better stories', as developed by Dina Georgis (2013, Better Story. Queer Affects from the Middle East, New York: State University). The paper uses both quantitative and qualitative data, gathered from the EU27, Iceland, Serbia, Turkey, and the UK, within the EU H2020 project RESISTIRÉ.


Cellular expression of keratins (intermediate filaments) can be demonstrated by immunocytochemistry using unfixed tissue. However, for practical reasons, provision of fresh tissue to the laboratory is often difficult. Recently a fresh tissue transport medium (Patent applied for) has been developed which allows keratin immunocytochemistry to be performed up to 4 days after biopsy. In this study oral mucosal biopsies from 10 patients were hemisected, half placed in the new transport medium at 4 degrees C and the other half immediately frozen in liquid nitrogen. After 4 days frozen sections of both halves of the biopsies were stained by immunocytochemistry using various antikeratin antibodies. The morphology and staining characteristics of the two halves of the biopsies were then assessed. No significant difference could be found in either morphology or preservation of keratin expression in specimens stored in transport medium, as compared to those in liquid nitrogen. This new transport medium may offer considerable advantage for the provision of a histologic and immunocytochemical diagnostic service.


This case study centres on the internationalisation policies of a Chinese university— University X—and examines how they are experienced and perceived by both this university's international and home students. The study focuses on how the institutional system promotes not only the students' development of intercultural communicative competence, but also their understanding and perceptions of their intercultural communication experience within this context.
The empirical findings of this study show first that 1) the internationalisation policies of this specific Chinese university relate to specific five areas. These relate to: the introduction of high-quality international education resources; attracting foreign students; faculty development; extracurricular (intercultural) activities; and management of the university's administration system. The university's policy initiatives and strategies correspond with three aspects of the theories that relate to the internationalisation of higher education These are: curriculum internationalisation; internationalisation at home; and, intercultural dialogue; 2) students' experiences of the institutional system in terms of their perceptions of: their teachers and learning experience; their intercultural communication experience inside the classroom; their intercultural communication experience outside the classroom and within the wider community; and, their experiences with the university's administrative system; and, 3) the variety of factors that influence both Chinese and international students' development of intercultural competence and their understanding of intercultural communication experience with one another. These include: language issues; differences in motivation and life style; attitudes towards intercultural communication; and, rapport with the local community.
The study's findings provide valuable insights into the development of students' intercultural competence as a result of the institution's internationalisation policy, and have practical implications for higher education internationalisation, especially in the context of China.


Stability equations were derived for Belle Fourche and Aberdeen montmorillonites. Both the composition of structural ions and the cation exchange capacity (CEC) were considered to be essential features of montmorillonite stability. However, montmorillonite stability was considered to be independent of the solution activity of exchangeable ions. Simultaneous solution of the stability equations for Belle Fourche and Aberdeen montmorillonites indicated the two minerals could be at equilibrium with one another, but only under solution conditions quite different from those of their original stability determinations. The two montmorillonites (with hematite to control pH — 1/3pFe³⁺, kaolinite to control H₄SiO₄ activity, and a constant high Mg²⁺ activity) were then equilibrated from both low pH (undersaturation) and from high pH (supersaturation). The agreement between experimental and predicted equilibria was well within the experimental error of the original montmorillonite stability determinations. The good agreement between calculated and experimental equilibria under solution conditions far different from those employed for the original stability determinations (about 4 pH units higher, for example) confirms the accuracy of the original stability determinations. Agreement between predicted and experimental equilibria also supports the view that structural ions such as Mg²⁺, Fe³⁺, Al³⁺, and Si⁴⁺, as well as the CEC, are essential features of the montmorillonite structure. The relationship between montmorillonite stability and the activities of constituent ions in solution permits the construction of several diagrams showing the variation in stability of Belle Fourche and Aberdeen montmorillonites with change in composition of the soil solution. From these diagrams, it is concluded that the various montmorillonite compositions encountered in nature are primarily a reflection of diverse solution environments rather than a chance incorporation of ions during the crystal growth process.


Infrared optothermal laser spectroscopy has been used to study the linear SCO–HCN complex. The observed spectrum corresponds to excitation of the C–H stretching vibration out of either the ground state or v=1 of the lowest frequency intermolecular bending state. Ab initio calculations have also been carried out for this system which give, at least for some properties, results which are in good agreement with experiment. A comparison between the SCO–HCN results and those of the linear CO2–HCN complex studied previously, reveals that the shifts in the C–H vibrational frequency upon complex formation are rather similar. This is despite the fact that OCS and CO2 have very different point multipoles, suggesting that the electrostatic part of the interactions are likewise different for these two partners. Nevertheless, a distributed multipole calculation shows that, at the intermolecular separations characteristic of these complexes, the electrostatic interactions are in fact quite similar at the oxygen ends of...


This article explores the volatility spillover effect between the Chinese stock index futures and spot markets, testing both conditional volatility and realized volatility frameworks using intraday high-frequency data from April 19, 2012 to April 19, 2013. Under the conditional volatility framework, the results strongly indicate bi directional volatility transmission at the intraday high-frequency level. However, under the realized volatility framework there is no evidence of daily realized volatility transmission. Two robustness tests, daily conditional volatility and the VAR approach, confirm the results. This study concludes that there is an intraday volatility spillover effect, but the expected spillover effect should equal zero at the daily aggregate level.


Few randomized controlled trials (RCT) that have thus far been published have not unequivocally found that early postpartum lifestyle intervention can prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes in women with prior gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) . The aim of the present large-scale, long-term RCT was to assess whether an early postpartum lifestyle intervention can reduce or delay type 2 diabetes risk in women with prior GDM in the Tianjin Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Prevention Program in China. A total of 1180 women who were diagnosed with GDM from 20to 20were randomly assigned to either a 4-year lifestyle intervention (n = 586) or a control group (n = 594) . Major elements of the intervention included six face-to-face meetings with study dietitians in the first year, and two additional sessions and two telephone calls in each subsequent year. The mean follow-up was 4.5 years. During the trial, overweight women with GDM in the intervention group compared with the control group were more likely to lose weight. The incidence of diabetes was 0.87 and 1.46 per 100 person-years in the lifestyle intervention and control groups, respectively; the lifestyle intervention reduced the incidence by 45 percent (P = 0.023) . An early postpartum healthy lifestyle management markedly reduced the incidence of diabetes among women with prior GDM.

 G.Hu: None. X.Yang: None. J.Tuomilehto: Stock/Shareholder; Orion Pharma. H.Liu: None. J.Leng: None. L.Wang: None. S.Zhang: None. W.Li: None. W.Li: None. L.Qi: None. Z.Yu: None.

 This study is supported by the grant from European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes (EFSD) /Chinese Diabetes Society (CDS) /Lilly program for Collaborative Research between China and Europe. Dr. Hu is partly supported by the grant from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (R01DK100790) and the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (U54GM104940) of the National Institutes of Health.


: A survey of the use of radioisotopes for research into the vitreous and the zonule is presented. gamma-Rays emitting isotopes are useful for the investigation of transport and diffusion of substances, while 3H-thymidine is the substance of choice for the investigation of cell kinetics. The formation of the vitreous and the zonule during and after embryonal development can be studied by histoautoradiography using labelled precursors of collagen and aminoglycans. Cell kinetic investigations shows that the cells usually found in the vitreous are macrophages which have migrated into the eye. Therefore the existence of a specific vitreous cell is unlikely. The development of the zonule can be readily traced by histoautoradiography which shows that it is neither topographically nor temporally related to regression of the primary vitreous. The incorporation of cystine and glucose into the zonular fibers is of special interest. This suggests that the zonular fibers are not made up of normal collagen; they may consist of some sort of procollagen which is perhaps secreted by the ciliary epithelium.


This paper focuses on leadership in the civic arena. Over the past four decades the field of leadership studies has moved away from a narrow leader-centric focus to a more expansive view that includes other dimensions such as the leader ' s relationship with followers and the fulfillment of the needs of both leaders and followers. But this progress within the field has not been matched by a similar shift in popular cultural conceptions of leadership. Our hypothesis is that the dominant cultural narrative of leadership with its central focus on the authority of the leader is inadequate for making progress in the civic arena. We need a more capacious and flexible conception of leadership to help address complex civic challenges. In this paper we explore the dominant cultural narrative of leadership and its communicative practices. We analyse the civic context to which leadership must respond. We discuss corrective experiments that attempt to make leadership more responsive to this context. We define the gap between how the dominant cultural narrative describes leadership and what ' s needed in this particular context. Finally, we ask the field to help reshape this dominant cultural narrative to reflect contemporary understandings of leadership within the field and to help advance the study of leadership in the civic context through research, pedagogy, and practice.


Abstract Magnetic susceptibility (MS) is commonly measured on lake sediments and used as a proxy for clastic input and soil erosion, for correlating among cores in the same lake basin and aligning successive overlapping drives of the same core. There are several common techniques for measuring MS, each with its own advantages. Here we compare three such techniques measured on a sediment core from Lake Pepin: (a) loop-sensor MS logging on wet sediment of the intact core; (b) point-sensor MS logging on wet sediment of a split (lengthwise) core; and (c) discrete MS measurements of dried subsamples using a susceptibility bridge. To obtain further information about the origin of downcore MS variability, additional magnetic measurements were performed on discrete samples to model ferrimagnetic sedimentary components. Overall trends and individual features in MS curves agree reasonably well between techniques; however, the amplitude of local minima and maxima varies according to the technique used. All three MS techniques captured distinct events c. 1900 and 1940, attributed to increases in allochthonous ferrimagnetic components. The ferrimagnetic particle flux has declined over the past half-century despite increasing sediment accumulation in Lake Pepin, suggesting a possible shift in sediment sources from fields to stream banks.


A face-to-face system of double-layer three-dimensional arrays of H-shaped plasmonic crystals is proposed, and its transmission and filtering properties are investigated in the terahertz regime. Simulation results show that our design has excellent filtering properties. It has an ultra-wide bandgap and passband with steep band-edges, and the transmittance of the passband and the forbidden band are very close to 1 and 0, respectively. As the distance between the two face-to-face plates increases, the resonance frequency exhibits a gradual blueshift from 0.88 THz to 1.30 THz. Therefore, we can dynamically control the bandwidths of bandgap and passband by adding a piezoelectric ceramic plate between the two crystal plates. Furthermore, the dispersion relations of modes and electric field distributions are presented to analyze the generation mechanisms of bandgaps and to explain the location of bandgaps and the frequency shift phenomenon. Due to the fact that our design can provide many resonant modes, the bandwidth of the bandgaps can be greatly broadened. This paper can serve as a valuable reference for the design of terahertz functional devices and three-dimensional terahertz metamaterials.


Hardening effect is often observed in either experiments or simulations. And several continuum models or semi-empirical theories have been proposed to explain the origin, such as constraint-counting theory, the bond-order-length-strength (BOLS) correlation mechanism, equations of state-Murnaghan relationship, etc. However, the validity of these models or theories at the nanoscale have not been tested. In this work, high-speed head-on impact between silicon nanoparticles were studied using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and their contact mechanics behaviours including contact force versus nominal displacement relationship were explored and the pronounced hardening effect was clearly observed. That's, apparent Young's modulus yielded is much higher than that of their bulk materials. The structure of silicon nanoparticles after compression was analysed in terms of bond length, bond angle, coordination number. The three existing relevant models were separately examined. The results show that any single of the three known theories cannot explain the higher elastic modulus obtained in present MD simulation. Probably, the three aspects contribute together to the hardening effect. This area awaits much more mature theory to explain the hardening effect under the influence of the dynamic effect. Copyright © 2019 VBRI Press.


This paper proposes a technique to improve the accuracy of recommender system result which employ collaborative filtering technique. The proposed method incorporates structural equivalence score of items in affinity network into collaborative filtering technique. Structural equivalence is one of important concept in social network analysis which captures the similarity of items regarding their structural position on the affinity network. Nowadays, various concepts within social network analysis are widely use in many domains to provide better analytical framework. In this paper, we will use structural equivalence of items to enhance the calculation of items similarity as a part of collaborative filtering method. We tested our approach on Netflix database. Then, based on our results we can conclude that considering the structural information of item in affinity network is indeed beneficial.


In order to work out a hygienic standard for classroom-noise, 149 school children 8-9 yrs of age were put to psychological cognitive tests under the quiet [42 +/- 1dB(A)] and various white noise levels [50-65dB(A)] classroom conditions in 1986. The main results were as follows: Students under the three white noise levels [greater than or equal to 55dB(A)], all obtained significantly higher means of error scores along with the raising of the noise levels, also lower means of brain work-ability index than under the quiet classroom condition [42 +/- 1dB(A)]. The differences obtained between the three white noise levels [greater than or equal to 55dB(A)] groups and the control group were all statistically significant.


This report presents summary findings from the Value for Money (VFM) analysis conducted for six DFID-funded programmes between September 2013 and April 2015. Based on these findings, the report formulates insights on how VFM analysis can be used to improve WASH programming. We identify challenges in doing such analysis and formulate recommendations to overcome these challenges to bring VFM analysis into the mainstream.


The effects of 35 weeks of extra-curricular, mainly aerobic, dynamic physical activity were analysed in overweight and obese 7-year-old boys contrasted with control groups. Body composition was estimated by using the body mass index (BMI) and skinfold thicknesses. Overweight or obesity was defined according to the suggestions of Cole and associates (2000). The activity program consisted of swimming and water games, folk dance, and soccer. Data were collected four times between September 2003 and October 2004. Thirty-one overnight or obese boys volunteered to participate in the activity program (weekly, to physical classes of 45 min. plus three extra-curricular activity sessions of 60 min. duration). The control subjects were 43 overweight or obese boys, and 75 non-overweight and non-obese ones. The controls had only two curricular physical education classes every week. Physical performance capacity was tested by 30 m dash, 400 m run, standing long jump, and fist-ball throw. Body fat content estimated by taking the sum of five skinfolds decreased significantly during the 35-week training program. However, body weight as well as skinfold thicknesses increased significantly during the four month non-active period that followed. Physical performance improved during the test period, but deteriorated between the third and fourth data collections. BMI, as well as the sum of five skinfolds increased in both control groups. Physical performance decreased in the overweight control subjects and increased moderately in the non obese ones. We inferred that more vigorous habitual exercise alone, i.e., without a program of dietary control, though effective, could not efficiently stabilise body fat, still less achieve a lasting reduction of it. Obese, but also overweight subjects need long term exercise programs of sufficient intensity, duration and frequency, plus dietary measures, to get rid of excess body fat.


ED/INDEXED IN ABI/Inform, CSA/Proquest: Environmental Science and Pollution Management, PAIS International, Risk Abstracts, Social Services Abstracts, Sociological Abstracts, Worldwide Political Science Abstracts, Dietrich's Index Philosophicus, EconLit, Elsevier: Scopus, International Bibliography of the Social Sciences, OCLC: WorldCat, Research Papers in Economics (RePEc). ISSN 1369-5258 · e-ISSN 1469-3569 All information regarding notes for contributors, subscriptions, Open Access, back volumes and orders is available online at http://www.degruyter.com/bap. RESPONSIBLE EDITOR Vinod K. Aggarwal, Department of Political Science and Haas School of Business, 802 Barrows Hall, 1970b, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720-1970, Email: firstname.lastname@example.com JOURNAL MANAGER Holger Kleessen, De Gruyter, Genthiner Straße 13, 10785 Berlin, Germany. Tel.: +49 (0)30 260 05-376, Fax: +49 (0)30 260 05-250, Email: email@example.com RESPONSIBLE FOR ADVERTISEMENTS Panagiota Herbrand, De Gruyter, Rosenheimer Str. 143, 81671 München, Germany, Tel.: +49 (0)89 769 02 – 394, Fax: +49 (0)89 769 02 – 350, Email: firstname.lastname@example.com TYPESETTING Compuscript Ltd, Shannon, Ireland PRINTING Franz X. Stückle Druck und Verlag e.K., Ettenheim © 2013 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin / Boston Printed in Germany Business and Politics 2013 | Volume 15 | Issue 4


The article focuses on a wide range of cybersecurity issues related to the use of digital technologies in healthcare. Many countries are increasingly adopting digital innovations into their national health systems and therefore raise their cybersecurity risks. The number of cyberattacks on health care organizations is steadily increasing; and the COVID-19 pandemic, which has required more frequent use of digital technologies to address public health challenges, has also influenced the proliferation of criminal cyberattacks. The aim of the study was to describe the main types of criminal, mostly digital, risks for digital health and identify the most important ways to counteract them. The article includes an analysis of international and national regulatory documents, foreign scientific literature, reports of organizations dealing with cybersecurity issues. In preparing it, the authors used general and specific scientific methods including analysis, synthesis, formal and legal analysis, historical method, interdisciplinary research, and expert assessment. The authors conclude that the increasing use of digital technologies in health care, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, expands the number of targets for cybercriminals. Three main types of digital health criminal risks are identified: attacks on health care organizations, attacks on devices used for medical purposes, including those associated with the Internet of Medical Things, and the theft and disclosure of digitally stored confidential medical information. The latter group of acts is committed by both outsiders and employees of healthcare organizations. The vast majority of registered cybercrimes are profit motivated ones, and the most common cybercrime is extortion with the use of malicious software (ransomware). To counter criminal risks for digital health, the authors propose a set of actions divided into three groups such as legal, technical, and educational. According to the authors, international and national criminal law should immediately respond to digital criminal threats to healthcare systems, in particular by making relevant international agreements and by including the manner in which such crimes are committed into criminal laws as an aggravating circumstance. In addition, the authors note the formation of a special direction in cybersecurity research and practice - healthcare cybersecurity - which requires the development of an appropriate industry, with respective hardware, software, informational and educational products that would be aimed at eliminating and reducing the risks for digital health.


Experimental investigations were carried out to determine the influence of cement-silica ratio on the moulding properties of Portland cement bonded sand. Test specimens, comprising silica sand and additives, namely wood flour and dextrin, as well as molasses, with varying cement to silica sand ratio (RCS), were prepared. The specimens were subjected to tests in accordance with American Foundrymen's Society (AFS) standard procedure to determine properties such as bulk density, mould hardness, permeability, compression strength and shear strength. Findings revealed that RCS and additives have significant effects on all properties developed in the moulding sand. As RCS increases, the bulk density, mould hardness, green compression strength and shear strength increases while permeability and shatter index decreases. However, RCS of 0.105 gives suitable properties for moulding work meant for iron castings.


Strongly reverberating diffuse-like ultrasonic waves can interrogate large areas of complex structures that do not support more easily interpreted guided waves. However, sensitivity to environmental changes such as temperature and surface wetting can degrade the performance of a structural health monitoring system using these types of waves. Surface wetting is investigated here with a simplified experiment where controlled amounts of water are applied to the surface of a specimen in conjunction with incrementally introduced artificial damage. A feature-based approach is taken whereby differential features between a signal and a baseline are defined that are sensitive to damage but less sensitive to surface wetting, and multiple features obtained from a spatially distributed sensor array are combined via a voting strategy. In addition, the features considered are insensitive to moderate temperature changes, which are unavoidable even in the laboratory. Experimental results show a probability of detection greater than 90% when detecting damage in the presence of modest surface wetting while maintaining a false alarm rate under 5%.


BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
The objective of this study was to evaluate epidemiology and outcomes of a large in-center nocturnal hemodialysis (INHD) program.

DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS
This case-control study compared patients who were on thrice-weekly INHD from 56 Fresenius Medical Care, North America facilities with conventional hemodialysis patients from 244 facilities within the surrounding geographic area. All INHD cases and conventional hemodialysis control subjects who were active as of January 1, 2007, were followed until December 31, 2007, for evaluation of mortality and hospitalization.

RESULTS
As of January 1, 2007, 655 patients had been on INHD for 51 +/- 73 d. Patients were younger, there were more male and black patients, and vintage was longer, but they had less diabetes compared with 15,334 control subjects. Unadjusted hazard ratio was 0.59 for mortality and 0.76 for hospitalization. After adjustment for case mix and access type, only hospitalization remained significant. Fewer INHD patients were hospitalized (48 versus 59%) with a normalized rate of 9.6 versus 13.5 hospital days per patient-year. INHD patients had greater interdialytic weight gains but lower BP. At baseline, hemoglobin values were similar, whereas albumin and phosphorus values favored INHD. Mean equilibrated Kt/V was higher in INHD patients related to longer treatment time, despite lower blood and dialysate flow rates.

CONCLUSIONS
Patients who were on INHD exhibited excellent quality indicators, with better survival and lower hospitalization rates. The relative contributions of patient selection versus effect of therapy on outcomes remain to be elucidated in prospective clinical trials.


Common bean is an interesting crop from the point of view of the consumer, farmer and processor. Consequently, breeding program objectives must be designed to address the needs of the farmers who will use the cultivars. An important challenge for dry bean breeders working with certain market classes is the negative association between seed size and seed yield potential. Correlation is a pragmatic approach to develop selection criteria for accumulating optimum combination of yield contributing traits in a simple genotype. To increase yield, the study of direct and indirect effects of yield and its components provide the basis for its successful breeding program and thus increase of bean yield can be more effective ely tackled on the basis of performance of yield components and selection for closely associated traits. The objective of this study was to evaluate the interrelationships between different yield traits in dry bean genotypes from Romania with the purpose to dignify the possibilities of combining these traits in an optimum proportion to improve the yield. For these genotypes about 98 % of the grains yield variability can be explained by the influence of the seven quantitative traits. The number of pods/plant has the highest distinctly significant contribution (54 %) on achieving yield, followed by pod weight with a contribution of 30 % on the total variability. Given the partial and semi partial correlations coefficients between grains weight/plant and other traits, it is noted that the individual relation of each trait is strongly controlled by the influences of the other traits included in the study. Grains weight/pod and grains number/plant have a positive and significant indirect influence on the contribution of other traits to yield achievement. Pod weight affects in a considerable and negative extent the contribution of different traits to yield achievement. It is recommended to obtain and cultivate bean genotypes that possess an optimal number of 4-5 seeds / pod, associated with a pod length of 8-9 cm, which provides more than 30 grains / plant.


In this paper, the authors document a pronounced trend toward deconcentration of metropolitan employment during the postwar period in the United States. The employment share of initially more dense metro areas declined and those of initially less dense metro areas rose. Motivated by this finding, the authors develop a system-of-cities model in which increase in aggregate metropolitan employment causes employment to shift in favor of less dense metro areas because congestion costs increase more rapidly for the initially more dense metro areas. A calibrated version of the model shows that the more-than-twofold increase in employment experienced by MSAs during the postwar period was indeed a powerful force favoring deconcentration.


Background: Blood pressure and cholesterol levels have been associated with risk for atherosclerosis in youth. Family history of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DMFam Hx) , and/or exposure to gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) have also been linked to higher cardiovascular disease (CVD) susceptibility. We investigated whether CVD predictors including systolic and diastolic BP, HDL-cholesterol (HDL-c) , LDL-cholesterol (LDL-c) , and triglycerides (Tg) were associated with CIMT and whether these relationships were influenced by DMFam Hx or exposure to in-utero GDM among children and adolescents with overweight and obesity.
 Methods: Participant data (N=209; age range 8-17; 38% African American and 62% Latino; BMI percentile ≥85th) were used for cross-sectional analysis. Status of DMFam Hx and GDM and were self-reported during an interview with a clinician. Systolic and diastolic BP were taken in a seated position in triplicate readings. Total cholesterol, HDL-c and Tg levels were determined via assays on fasting blood samples, while LDL-c was calculated using the Friedewald equation. CIMT was measured in millimeters with high-resolution B-mode ultrasound. Multivariable linear regression models were used to assess if the each of the CVD predictors was associated with CIMT while accounting for GDM and DMFam Hx, and adjusting for a priori covariates of age, sex, ethnicity, and height.
 Results: Higher systolic BP was associated with higher CIMT when adjusted for a priori covariates (β= 0.00092; 95% CI: 0.00004, 0.00181; p=0.04) . In further adjusted models, GDM and DMFam Hx did not contribute to, nor did it moderate this relationship (p>0.05) . Diastolic BP, HDL-c, LDL-c, Tg, were not associated to CIMT in adjusted models (p>0.05) .
 Conclusion: Independent of genetic predisposition, systolic BP may be a salient contributor of atherosclerosis risk in minority youth with overweight and obesity living in urban environments.

 V.Nunez: None. M.Weigensberg: None. C.M.Toledo-corral: None.

 NIH P60MD00254


Background: Accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau (pTau) protein is associated with synaptic dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease (AD). We previously demonstrated that neuroprotection in familial mouse models of AD could be achieved by targeting mitochondria complex I (MCI) and activating the adaptive stress response. Efficacy of this strategy on pTau-related pathology remained unknown. Objective: To investigate the effect of specific MCI inhibitor tricyclic pyrone compound CP2 on levels of human pTau, memory function, long term potentiation (LTP), and energy homeostasis in 18-month-old 3xTg-AD mice and explore the potential mechanisms. Methods: CP2 was administered to male and female 3xTg-AD mice from 3.5–18 months of age. Cognitive function was assessed using the Morris water maze. Glucose metabolism was measured in periphery using a glucose tolerance test and in the brain using fluorodeoxyglucose F18 positron-emission tomography (FDG-PET). LTP was evaluated using electrophysiology in the hippocampus. The expression of key proteins associated with neuroprotective mechanisms were assessed by western blotting. Results: Chronic CP2 treatment restored synaptic activity in female 3xTg-AD mice; cognitive function, levels of synaptic proteins, glucose metabolism, and energy homeostasis were improved in male and female 3xTg-AD mice. Significant reduction of human pTau in the brain was associated with increased activity of protein phosphatase of type 2A (PP2A), and reduced activity of cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5) and glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β). Conclusion: CP2 treatment protected against synaptic dysfunction and memory impairment in symptomatic 3xTg-AD mice, and reduced levels of human pTau, indicating that targeting mitochondria with small molecule specific MCI inhibitors represents a promising strategy for treating AD.


This paper presents a computer tool for automatic analysis of cell culture images. The program allows the extraction of relevant information from biological images for pre and post system analysis. In particular, this tool is being used for electrical characterization of electrode-solution-cell systems in which bio-impedance is the main parameter to be known. The correct modeling of this kind of systems enables both electronic system characterization for circuit design specifications and data decoding from measurements. The developed program allows cell culture image processing for geographic information extraction and sensor sizing, generating cell count and Analog Hardware Description Language (AHDL) equivalent circuits useful for whole system simulations.


The study of social environments is a neglected site of research not only in psychology, but across academic disciplines ranging from human geography to cultural studies. This paper will review contributions to studying social environments through academic writings, situationism and psychogeographical groups. It will be argued that disorientating walking practices can be used as a means to reflect on experiences of places in order to begin to think how social environments could be radically changed. It is important to question the taken for granted ways that people make sense of urban environments. It is argued that psychogeographic practice can be used to extend qualitative epistemologies and methods to argue for a 'turn to place' in psychology and to open up new methods and approaches in critical psychology. Finally, the implications for radicalizing critical psychological research methods will be considered in relation to the current status of critical psychology, which suffers from an apathetic vision of radicalism and criticality


Regulations that constrain firms' externalities in one dimension can distort incentives and worsen externalities in other dimensions. In Peru's industrial fishing sector, the world's largest, fishing boats catch anchovy that plants along the coast convert into fishmeal. Matching administrative, daily data on plant production, ground-level air quality data, hospital admissions records, and survey data on individual health outcomes, we first show that fishmeal production negatively affects adult and child health through air pollution emitted by plants. We then analyze the industry's response to a 2009 reform that split the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) into boat-specific, transferable quotas (ITQs) to preserve fish stocks and reduce overcapacity. As predicted by a two-sector model with heterogeneous plants, on average across locations, fishmeal production was spread out in time, for two reasons: (i) boats' incentive to "race" for fish was removed, and (ii) production fell in inefficient plants (and locations) and increased, in the time dimension, in efficient plants (and locations). The reform greatly exacerbated the industry's impact on health, causing a loss of about 1.4 million disability-adjusted life years. We show that the reason is that longer periods of moderate air pollution are worse for health than shorter periods of higher intensity exposure. Our findings demonstrate the risks of piecemeal regulatory design, and that the common policy trade-off between duration and intensity of pollution exposure can be critical for industry's impact on health.


To the Editor. —Gellert et al1declare that "pediatric lead poisoning is not a major problem affecting Orange County children" because only 7.25% of a sample of 5115 such children (aged 12 to 72 months) had blood lead levels of 0.50 μmol/L (10 μg/dL) or higher, and only 0.12% had blood lead levels higher than 1.20 μmol/L (25 μg/dL). They then suggest that in Orange County and other locales with such low prevalence rates universal screening for lead could be replaced by testing only those children with a history of lead exposure or a history of risk factors for lead poisoning. Gellert et al present no information on the percentage of children with elevated blood lead levels in their sample that would have been identified by such a history; experience and older literature2suggest that history is a poor predictor of children with elevated blood lead levels. In


To whom reprint requests should be addressed Crithidia oncopelti flagella were progressively solubilized by exposure to solutions containing the detergent Nonidet P42. During the course of the exposure, demembranated flagella were obtained that first had 9+2 axonemes, then 9+1, followed by 9+0. Finally, cylinders of A microtubules were obtained. The 9+2 and 9+1 flagella could be reactivated, indicating that the central complex does not have to be intact to allow wave propagation in this preparation. 9+0 axonemes could not be reactivated. Fourier analysis showed that the waveforms of the 9+2 and 9+1 axonemes were essentially the same, conforming to a meander shape. This shape is significantly different from the arc-line waves seen on in vivo flagella and indicates that (a) the membrane plays a significant role in the regulation of this parameter and (b) the passive elastic resistance of the microtubules in demembranated flagella has an important influence on bend patterns. The responses of 9+2 and 9+1 demembranated flagella to ATP were essentially the same, demonstrating that the extraction process had not affected the dynein-tubulin interaction. The central complex in Crithidia may be responsible for controlling the direction of wave propagation.


The chemotactic and growth-stimulatory effect of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) was investigated in the experimental mouse 5T2 multiple myeloma (MM) model. Chemotaxis was analyzed by classical checkerboard analysis. Bone marrow fibroblasts-conditioned medium exhibited a chemotactic effect on 5T2 MM cells that could be neutralized by adding a blocking antibody to IGF-1. On the other hand, exogenously added IGF-1 also had a chemotactic effect on the 5T2 MM cells. Moreover, in vitro analysis demonstrated that transmigrated 5T2 MM cells have a higher expression of IGF-1 receptor, both in bone marrow-conditioned medium and in IGF-1-induced chemotaxis, in comparison to cells before migration. When analyzed in vivo, 18 hours after injection of the heterogeneous 5T2 MM population, 5T2 MM cells present in the bone marrow show a higher expression of the IGF-1 receptor than their counterparts before injection. When the proliferative effect of IGF-1 was analyzed, no stimulation was observed, which is in contrast to the influence of bone marrow-conditioned medium and interleukin-6. Our results suggest a causal relationship between the presence of IGF-1 in the bone marrow and the chemotaxis of MM cells to and their subsequent presence in the bone marrow.


The effects of several sol–gel process parameters such as acid catalyst addition and the heat treatment procedure on porosity and anticorrosive properties were investigated for phosphosilicate sol–gel hybrid coatings prepared from 3-[(methacryloyloxy)propyl] trimethoxysilane (MEMO) and bis-[2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl] phosphate (BMEP). Three coatings, denoted SG/air (sol–gel coating without catalyst addition and dried under air), SG/HNO3/air (coating with HNO3 catalyst addition and dried under air) and SG/HNO3/vacuum–air (coating with HNO3 catalyst addition and dried using a two-step process vacuum/air), were prepared and analysed using different methods such as Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, ATR mode (ATR-FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Open Circuit Potential (OCP) as a function of time and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS). The results obtained by ATR-FTIR during MEMO sol preparation indicated that MEMO slowly hydrolysed at neutral pH, but rapidly in the presence of acidic catalysts by forming silanol Si–OH groups after a few minutes. ATR-FTIR spectra and SEM images also showed a less porous microstructure and a better cross-linked network with a low amount of non-condensed Si–OH groups in the case of SG/HNO3/vacuum–air coating in comparison with the two other coatings dried under air. EIS results in 3 wt% NaCl demonstrated that HNO3 addition and the drying process under vacuum pressure allow enhancement of the protection properties of hybrid coating by reducing its porosity.


The detection and recognition masking-level differences for the 36 individual CID W-1 spondaic words (Technisonic Studios) were established on 36 listeners with normal hearing. The masking for two conditions, SoNo and S pi No, was accomplished with 70-dB-SPL speech-spectrum noise. The word lists were administered in 2-dB decrements with the 36 words presented at each signal-to-noise ratio, which ranged from 9 dB to -19 dB for SoNo and from 3 dB to -25 dB for S pi No. The detection and recognition thresholds determined for each spondaic word under both masking conditions are presented. Additionally, the slopes of the psychometric functions for each word under both conditions are given. The mean masking-level difference (SoNo-S pi No) for the detection-response task was 9.4 dB (SD = .7 dB). The mean masking-level difference for the recognition task was 7.2 dB (SD = 1.4 dB). The recognition masking-level differences for the individual spondaic words ranged from 4.4 dB (stairway) to 10.0 dB (oatmeal). A list of 10 words that had the largest masking-level differences for recognition is suggested to enhance the clinical utility of the masking-level difference for speech.


Objective: To investigate the effects of metastasis associated gene 1 (MTA1) expression on the proliferation and apoptosis of human esophageal cancer Eca109 cells. Methods: MTA1 siRNA was transfected into human esophageal cancer Eca109 cells, and the control group and blank group were set up. The expression of MTA1 in Eca109 cells with different treatment was detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (RT-PCR) and western blot. The proliferation of Eca109 cells was detected by 3-(4, 5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2, 5-diphenyl-2H tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The cloning formation ability of Eca109 cells was detected by plate cloning assay. The apoptosis of Eca109 cells were detected by flow cytometry. The expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and apoptosis-related proteins, including cleaved caspase-3 and total caspase-3 protein in Eca109 cells were detected by western blot. Results: After 48 hours of transfection, RT-PCR result showed that the relative expression levels of MTA1 mRNA in Eca109 cells in the blank group, control group, and siRNA group were 1.00±0.10, 0.98±0.09 and 0.21±0.03, respectively. The expression of MTA1 mRNA in siRNA group was significantly inhibited (P<0.05), while no significant difference of MTA1 mRNA expression between the blank group and the control group has been found (P>0.05). Western blot results were consistent with those of RT-PCR. MTT array results showed that, compared with the blank group and transfection group, the absorbance values of Eca109 cells in siRNA group were dramatically reduced at 48, 72, and 96 h (all P<0.05). There were no significant differences of absorbance values between the blank group and the control group at 48, 72, and 96 h (all P>0.05). The results of the plate colony formation test showed that the number of colony formation in the blank group and control group were 58.64±6.86 and 60.02±7.04, respectively, significantly higher than 18.10±3.16 in siRNA group (P<0.05), while there was no significant difference between the blank group and control group (P>0.05). Flow cytometry results showed that the apoptosis rates in the blank group and control group were (2.13±0.54)% and (2.27±0.61)%, respectively, significantly lower than (32.61±5.28)% in siRNA group (P<0.05), while there was no significant difference between blank group and control group (P>0.05). Western blot results showed that the expression of PCNA protein was down-regulated while cleaved caspase-3 protein expression was upregulated in siRNA group, compared to the control group and blank group (P<0.05). Conclusions: Inhibition of MTA1 expression can inhibit the proliferation of Eca109 cells and induce apoptosis. This process may be related to the down-regulation of PCNA protein expression and activation of caspase-3 protein expression.


The Indus Fan derives sediment from the western Himalaya and Karakoram. Sediment from International Ocean Discovery Program drill sites in the eastern part of the fan coupled with data from an industrial well near the river mouth allow the weathering history of the region since ca. 16 Ma to be reconstructed. Clay minerals, bulk sediment geochemistry, and magnetic susceptibility were used to constrain degrees of chemical alteration. Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy was used to measure the abundance of moisture-sensitive minerals hematite and goethite. Indus Fan sediment is more weathered than Bengal Fan material, probably reflecting slow transport, despite the drier climate, which slows chemical weathering rates. Some chemical weathering proxies, such as K/Si or kaolinite/(illite + chlorite), show no temporal evolution, but illite crystallinity and the chemical index of alteration do have statistically measurable decreases over long time periods. Using these proxies, we suggest that sediment alteration was moderate and then increased from 13 to 11 Ma, remained high until 9 Ma, and then reduced from that time until 6 Ma in the context of reduced physical erosion during a time of increasing aridity as tracked by hematite/goethite values. The poorly defined reducing trend in weathering intensity is not clearly linked to global cooling and at least partly reflects regional climate change. Since 6 Ma, weathering has been weak but variable since a final reduction in alteration state after 3.5 Ma that correlates with the onset of Northern Hemispheric glaciation. Reduced or stable chemical weathering at a time of falling sedimentation rates is not consistent with models for Cenozoic global climate change that invoke greater Himalayan weathering fluxes drawing down atmospheric CO2 but are in accord with the idea of greater surface reactivity to weathering.


The Pacifi c oyster, Crassostrea gigas Thunberg, 1793 (2n = 20) is an economically important mollusc species cultured throughout the world. The most frequently used technique for molecular cytogenetic studies is fl uorescence in situ hybridisation which offers new opportunities for the identifi cation of oyster chromo- somes. In oysters, it has been used to locate telomeric sequences, satellite DNA, sim- ple sequence repeats, ribosomal RNA genes, and bacteriophage P1 clones. However, regarding chromosome identifi cation, no study has been done with histone H3 gene. Histone H3 is among the most conserved eukaryotic proteins. Most histone H3 genes are repeatedly organised into clusters, which make them an ideal chromosomal mark- er. In bivalves, some data exist concerning sequence information but little knowledge is available concerning the physical mapping of histone genes. The histone H3 gene was sequenced in C. gigas and phylogenetic analysis revealed that C. gigas was more closely related to Ostrea edulis Linnaeus, 1758 and species of the genus Mytilus Lin- naeus, 1758. In C. gigas, the histone H3 gene was mapped on two different pairs of chromosomes, one at an interstitial site on the long arm of chromosome pair 4, and the other on the telomeres of the smaller chromosome pair (pair 10). Polymorphism was detected on the telomeres of pair 10, once it was possible to observe single or double signals. Comparative chromosomal mapping should improve our understanding of bivalve genome organisation.


Presentation tools like PowerPoint® are used extensively (Park and Feigenson, 2013), but they are regularly criticised because they are poorly utilised (Schoeneborn, 2013). This research project was focussed on developing an integrated set of research-based guidelines, to help users enhance the application of these types of presentation software. The following steps were taken to develop these guidelines:

• A cross-discipline investigation of previous research was used to develop an understanding of the way the human brain processes visual information. This knowledge, and information from more than 1600 sources, was integrated to develop a set of tentative principles within a Unified Design Model (UDM). This UDM addresses visual attributes that include complexity, colour, background, layout, array, typography, graphics and animation. By addressing these aspects of the visualisation together the complex attribute synergies were able to be assessed, so their interactions could be managed more effectively.

• The validity of the tentative principles was assessed through an experimental program. These experiments tested a range of presentations and collected related viewer comprehension and impressions data, to determine the effects of differing visualisation techniques. Additionally, a subset of these presentations were tested through eye tracking experiments, to explore the effects of different visual treatments on viewer attention.

The collected data demonstrated that the integrated tentative principles generally facilitated good viewer comprehension and impressions. This outcome showed that previous research on this topic could be conjoined within a UDM to provide a cohesive visual design methodology. However, some suboptimal principles were identified from the experiments. These aspects were consequently addressed through the development of updated design guidelines. These give an empirically validated basis for applying tools like PowerPoint®, to enhance comprehension, attention and viewer impressions. Additionally, these guidelines supply a framework for conducting future integrated research on visual design.


The Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) currently attract a lot of attention. Many simulators and some testbeds have been proposed to validate new ideas and to guide new theoretical developments. Yet, to this date, simulator tools and testbeds evolve in disjoint research work. We developed Airplug-ns, an open source simulation environment, as a step towards bridging this gap. This environment allows to easily design new protocols, test them on the road in order to obtain real measures as well as study their scalability by simulation. It relies on a software suite dedicated to road experiments as well as add-ons in Network Simulator, allowing to replay the experiments in more complex scenarios without new development.


There is a continuous growth in various sectors of engineering and technology resulting in high demand for modern and innovative steps into providing solutions to overcome all barriers. With the increase in demand of modern age technology growing rapidly, the requirement of the advanced system has to keep up with this demand. The power required to drive such technology has one of its sources from the gas turbine propulsion system, which is capable to provide thrust and power to major components. In modern gas turbine applications, high power and thermal efficiency are of essential requirement. The two parameters that play a vital role in increasing the thermal efficiency of the gas turbine are its compression ratio and high turbine inlet temperature. The advanced gas turbine has inlet temperature, which exceeds the material thermal limitation of the blade. This high temperature has an impact on the performance and life of the blade employed for energy extraction in the turbines. The current study analyzes the methods dealing with increasing the cooling effectiveness of the turbine blade, which are working under very high-temperature hot gases that exit from the combustion chamber. This gas expands into the turbine region by which power is extracted. These high-temperature gases can have a considerable effect on the stresses developed that can lead to failure under the cyclic loading of these hot gases. Cooling effectiveness can increase the system working temperature from 800K up to 1000K inlet. The current research compares the means of reducing the heat transfer and improve cooling effectiveness with the help of the latest improved material coatings such as thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) and environmental barrier coatings (EBCs). The study focuses on the effect of these TBCs and EBCs employed on the surface of the blade. Analysis of results obtained from this conjugate heat transfer (CHT) study has shown good agreement with the experimental data. The comparison revealed the use of the SST k-ω model which was efficient and predicted similar trends as that of the experimental for pressure were as with 3% of deviation for temperature.


By coating a platinum layer of about 40 nm thickness to a copper substrate seeded with ultradispersed nanodiamond particles (UDDs), faceted diamond with high density was detected. It presents a novel nucleation mechanism – carbon in UDDs was dissolved in platinum and was transferred through the platinum interlayer, followed the formation of sp3‐bonded diamond clusters at the platinum surface, which was distinguished from UDDs without platinum modification layer. The diamond film was characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM) with energy‐dispersive X‐rays, and laser Raman spectroscopy, respectively. After 4 h diamond growth, diamond film developed into two different layers: one nanocrystalline and one microcrystalline. Such a composite structure was attributed to the platinum layer that modified the interface properties of diamond nuclei and copper substrate at high temperature.


We study how a pioneer of peer-to-peer rental, Airbnb, affects the local economy. Using venture capital infusions as plausibly exogenous shocks to Airbnb's expansion into a new county, we find that Airbnb expansion leads to poorer hotel performance in the local county. Meanwhile, Airbnb expansion appears to increase local employment and household income. Further analysis suggests that increased employment is concentrated in industries that are complementary to Airbnb's business and in employee groups with a lower level of skills. Our study highlights the impact of peer-to-peer rental marketplaces on the local economy and provides important policy implications.


To date, no effective treatment for patients with advanced androgen-independent prostate cancer is available, whereas androgen ablation therapy, surgery, and radiation therapy are effective in treating local, androgen-dependent tumors. The mechanisms underlying the differences between androgen-dependent and -independent prostate cancer remain elusive. Interleukin (IL)-6 is a pleiotropic cytokine whose expression under normal physiological conditions is tightly controlled. However, aberrant constitutive IL-6 gene expression has been implicated in prostate cancer progression and resistance to chemotherapy and has been directly linked to prostate cancer morbidity and mortality. Particularly striking is the large increase in the expression of IL-6 in hormone-refractory prostate cancer. IL-6, in addition to its role as an immunomodulatory cytokine, functions as a growth and differentiation factor for prostate cancer cells. To determine the molecular mechanisms that lead to deregulated IL-6 expression in advanced prostate cancer, we examined the regulatory elements involved in IL-6 gene expression in androgen-independent prostate cancer cells. We demonstrate that, in contrast to the androgen-sensitive LNCaP cells, androgen-insensitive PC-3 and DU145 cells express high levels of IL-6 protein and mRNA due to enhanced promoter activity. Deregulated activation of the IL-6 promoter is for the most part mediated by a combined constitutive activation of the nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB p50 and p65 and the activator protein 1 (AP-1) JunD and Fra-1 family members as demonstrated by electrophoretic mobility shift assays, site-directed mutagenesis, and transfection experiments. Mutation of the NF-kappaB and AP-1 sites drastically reduces IL-6 promoter activity in both androgen-independent prostate cancer cell lines. Additionally, inhibition of these transcription factors using adenovirus vectors encoding either the IkappaBalpha repressor gene or a dominant negative JunD mutant leads to a strong down-regulation of IL-6 gene expression at the mRNA and protein level as measured by real-time PCR and ELISA, respectively. Furthermore, the blockade of IL-6 gene expression results in drastic inhibition of the constitutively activated signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 signaling pathway in DU145 cells. Our data demonstrate for the first time that a combined aberrant activation of NF-kappaB p50 and p65 and AP-1 JunD and Fra-1 in androgen-independent prostate cancer cells results in deregulated IL-6 expression, suggesting a novel potential entry point for therapeutic intervention in prostate cancer.


Background: Rehabilitation of an edentulous patient nurtures satisfaction and this lies in the chewing ability provided by the prosthesis. Aim: To evaluate and compare the masticatory efficiencies of complete dentures with different occlusal schemes. Materials and Methods: Fourteen completely edentulous patients from the age group of 50-70 years were selected according to the inclusion criteria followed in this study. The dentures were made with three different occlusal schemes, i.e., anatomic occlusion without balancing, anatomic occlusion with balancing, and lingualized occlusion and stored in water till the date of denture insertion. Post-insertion instructions were given to the patients at the time of delivery of the dentures. Patients were recalled after seven days and then masticatory efficiency was performed. The test was performed using boiled peanuts and Sieve system. Statistical Analysis: One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test and unpaired t-test were carried out. Results: The obtained masticatory efficiency values with anatomic occlusion without balancing, anatomic occlusion with balancing, and lingualized occlusion LO were analyzed using one-way ANOVA test and unpaired "t" test. The tests showed that lingualized scheme had highest masticatory efficiency. Conclusion: Within the scope of this study, it can be concluded that the masticatory efficiency will be generally higher in patients provided with complete dentures fabricated using the lingualized occlusal scheme.


Head injury is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in the UK and is more prevalent among children and young adults. However, certain factors that contribute to deaths and brain damage can be audited. This article describes an audit of head injury management conducted by the Northern Regional Head Injury Group.


[reaction: see text]. Feeding experiments using a deuterium labeled C16 maleic anhydride and whole cell culture of ATCC 74256 led to the isolation of phomoidride B with deuterium incorporation at C(7) and C(19) as determined by 2H NMR and electrospray mass spectrometry. This result is in accord with a decarboxylative homodimerization of the C16 maleic anhydride as a key biosynthetic step leading to phomoidride B.


Collecting, storing, discovering, and locating are integral parts of the composition of the library. To fully utilize the library and achieve its ultimate value, the construction and production of discovery has always been a central part of the library's practice and identity. That is the reason why the new-generation (also called the next-generation discovery) discovery gets such striking effect since it came into library automation arena. However, when we talk about the new-generation of discovery in the library domain, we should see it in the entirety of the library as one of its organic parts and consider its progress along with the evolution of the whole library world. We should have a deeper understanding about its relationship and interaction with internet, network, the rapidly changing digital environment, and the elements and the chain of library services. To address above issues, this paper overviews the different versions of the definition for the new generation discovery by combining our own understanding. The paper also gives our own description for its properties and characteristics. The paper points out what challenges, which extends the technology domain to commercial interests and business strategy, are faced by the discovery applications, and how library and library professionals deal with those challenges. Finally, the paper elaborates on the promise brought by the new discovery development and what the next exploration might be for its future.


Abstract 3706 Despite the success of treatment of patients with refractory and relapsed Hodgkin9s lymphoma with combination chemotherapy, radiation and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, a significant fraction of patients will not respond to treatment or will subsequently relapse and succumb to Hodgkin9s lymphoma (HL). We have focused on CD25, the IL-2 receptor alpha subunit, as a target for systemic radioimmunotherapy of HL. The scientific basis for this choice is that with the exception of T regs, CD25 is not expressed by normal resting lymphoid cells whereas it is expressed on both a minority of Reed-Sternberg cells and also on regulatory T cells rosetting around the Reed-Sternberg cells. We have utilized the humanized monoclonal antibody, daclizumab that targets CD25 (IL-2R alpha) armed with yttrium-90 a radionuclide that provides strong beta emissions that kill tumor cells at a distance via a crossfire effect. Patients with histologically confirmed HL and expression of CD25 in at least 10% of the cells in the lymphomatous mass were eligible. Thirty consecutive patients with HL were entered. The patients had received a median of 4 prior chemotherapy regimens and were required to have had an autologous and/or allogeneic stem cell transplant or had refused a transplant. Patients were treated with an initial dose of 10 or 15 mCi of 90Y-daclizumab depending on transplant status. After the first cycle, patients could receive 90Y-daclizumab 15 mCi per cycle every 6 to 10 weeks to complete up to a maximum of 7 doses if tolerated. A total of 98 cycles of treatment were administered to 30 patients with a median aggregate radiation dose of 40 mCi. In 30 HL patients treated with 90Y-daclizumab there were 7 partial responses and 12 complete responses. Toxicities were limited to transient bone marrow suppression and the myelodysplastic syndrome (3 cases). Responses were seen among the 5 patients whose Reed-Sternberg cells expressed CD25 as well as in those whose neoplastic cells were CD25 negative provided that the associated rosetting T regs expressed CD25. The increased efficacy compared to alternative radioimmunotherapy strategies for HL appears to reflect the increase in the target antigen, CD25, in lymphomatous masses provided by the overexpression of CD25 by associated rosetting T cells, and the use of a high energy, beta-emitting radionuclide Yttrium-90 to arm the antibody that thereby does not have to come in contact with each tumor cell but can kill cells by crossfire at a distance. In conclusion, repeated 90Y-daclizumab infusions predominantly directed toward non-malignant T cells rosetting around Reed-Sternberg cells provided effective therapy for select HL patients. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


In this paper, we focus on multilevel parking facilities and propose a navigation system that minimizes the time required for cars to find vacant parking spaces. Parking zones at large parking facilities provide drivers conditions to drivers due to differences in distances from the entrance of the parking facility or to the entrances of the shopping ar- eas. This leads to many cars concentrating at some parking zones while other zones are not occupied. It is not easy for car drivers entering a large parking facility to know which parking zones are vacant. It is fairly common that parking facilities have indicators that show occupancy information to the drivers. However, since these indicators deliver the same information to all drivers, this method tends to make a new congested zone by sending many drivers to that zone. In this paper, we propose a system that provides each driver with a recommended route in the parking facility that minimizes the expected parking time. Our method estimates the occupancy of each zone from the information sensed by the cars that implement the proposed method. This information is collected to a server installed in the facility, and then the server disseminates the processed information to the cars. The cars then calculates the recommended route from this information. We conducted a simulation-based evaluation of the proposed method using a realistic model simulating a real parking facility in Nara. As a result, we confirmed that the proposed method reduced parking waiting time by 20%-70% even with low penetration ratio.


Reactive oxygen species (ROSs) play important physiological and physiopathological roles in the cardiovascular system. An imbalance between ROS and antioxidants, termed oxidative stress, can contribute to endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular remodel- ing. ROSs have been demonstrated to be increased and to regulate the following main pulmonary vasculature changes that occur at high altitude (hypobaric hypoxia): hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV), pulmonary hypertension, right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH), and ultimately, cardiac failure. Thus, ROS increases are a public health concern for the increasing number of people living or working at high altitudes. ROSs trigger the activation of different metabolic signaling pathways that alter the activity of redox-sensitive transcription factors and translational signals. Consequently, we provide a comprehensive review of the literature on the main factors, sources, and mechanisms of action of ROS and their effects on the cardiovascular system under hypobaric hypoxic conditions. Although ROS generation is a normal physiological activity, under hypo- baric hypoxia (high altitude) conditions, ROS levels are elevated. The principal sources of ROS are nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase-4 (NOX4) in the vascular system and NOX2 in cardiac tissue. Thus, the information presented in this review provides a broad view of the relationship between ROS and hypoxia.


Abstract A primary goal of taphonomy is to serve as a link between fossil assemblages and the original ecosystems from which they were derived. An important component of this endeavour is the estimation of bias or information loss in the fossil record. Previous approaches have focused on identifying abiotic and biotic sources of bias. Here we address how stochastic or random effects may have influenced the formation of the hominoid fossil collection and the total fossil hominoid assemblage from the middle Miocene site at Pasalar in Turkey. The fossil hominoid collection from Pasalar consists of over 700 isolated teeth of Griphopithecus (Hominoidea, Primates) that were derived from a total fossil hominoid assemblage representing a minimum of 35 individuals. We use computer simulations to test for stochastic effects in the fossil collection, and to develop a method (the Bilateral Equity Method) that can be used to estimate the completeness of any collection of isolated, antimeric elements. We also use computer simulations to determine whether stochastic effects could have influenced the composition of total fossil hominoid assemblage at Pasalar, and if so, to what extent. Results from this study indicate that stochastic effects, as an inherent component of abiotic and biotic taphonomic bias, played an important role in the formation of both the fossil hominoid collection and the total fossil hominoid assemblage at Pasalar.


Environmental concern, including environmental behaviour continues to receive attention in both the public media and academic research. The purpose of the paper is to investigate environmental behaviour (both purchasing and non-purchasing behaviour) in an African context. Use was made of a quantitative study among a convenience sample of selected Africans. Statements reflecting non-purchasing behaviour indicated lower mean scores when compared to purchasing behaviour statements. Statistically significant differences were found to exist between different age groups with respect to both purchasing and non-purchasing behaviour as well as between different nationalities with regard to their purchasing behaviour. The findings have the potential of impacting the strategies of organisations operating on the continent. The major contribution of this paper is that is provides insight in the behavioural aspects as seen in an African context, and consequently provides detail on both purchasing and non-purchasing behaviour and the role of marketing aspects (such as price) in influencing purchase behaviour of Africans.


As technology at the small scale is advancing, motile engineered microstructures are becoming useful in drug delivery, biomedicine, and lab-on-a-chip devices. However, traditional engineering methods and materials can be inefficient or functionally inadequate for small-scale applications. Increasingly, researchers are turning to the biology of the cytoskeleton, including microtubules, actin filaments, kinesins, dyneins, myosins, and associated proteins, for both inspiration and solutions. They are engineering structures with components that range from being entirely biological to being entirely synthetic mimics of biology and on scales that range from isotropic continuous networks to single isolated structures. Motile biological microstructures trace their origins from the development of assays used to study the cytoskeleton to the array of structures currently available today. We define 12 types of motile biological microstructures, based on four categories: entirely biological, modular, hybrid, and synthetic, and three scales: networks, clusters, and isolated structures. We highlight some key examples, the unique functionalities, and the potential applications of each microstructure type, and we summarize the quantitative models that enable engineering them. By categorizing the diversity of motile biological microstructures in this way, we aim to establish a framework to classify these structures, define the gaps in current research, and spur ideas to fill those gaps. This article is categorized under: Nanotechnology Approaches to Biology > Nanoscale Systems in Biology Nanotechnology Approaches to Biology > Cells at the Nanoscale Biology-Inspired Nanomaterials > Protein and Virus-Based Structures Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Emerging Technologies.


Malicious vehicle agents broadcast fake information about traffic events and thereby undermine the benefits of vehicle-to-vehicle communication in vehicular ad-hoc networks (VANETs). Trust management schemes addressing this issue do not focus on effective/fast decision making in reacting to traffic events. We propose a Partially Observable Markov Decision Process (POMDP) based approach to balance the trade-off between information gathering and exploiting actions resulting in faster responses. Our model copes with malicious behavior by maintaining it as part of a small state space, thus is scalable for large VANETs. We also propose an algorithm to learn model parameters in a dynamic behavior setting. Experimental results demonstrate that our model can effectively balance the decision quality and response time while still being robust to sophisticated malicious attacks.


It has been widely reported that Darrieus turbines cannot self-start and that they require external assistance to accelerate to their operating tip speed ratios. However, recent experiments have shown conclusively that H-Darrieus rotors with fixed-pitch blades that employ a symmetrical aerofoil can reliably self-start in steady controlled environments. Previous attempts have also been made to model the starting characteristics but there still exists a significant discrepancy between the experimental data and model prediction, suggesting that our understanding of this starting characteristic remains weak. The investigation and explanation of the starting characteristics is the focus of this paper.The investigation was made through a careful analysis of aerofoils that undergo Darrieus motion, giving some insights on how the blade experiences different flow conditions and how driving force is developed over the flight path. The analysis reveals that the aerofoil in Darrieus motion is analogous to flapping wing mechanism; the mechanism that fish and birds employ to generate propulsion. The explanation of flow physics and torque development can then be made through a simple pitch-heave concept.The investigation using this concept together with observations of flapping creatures suggests that the key feature that promotes driving torque generation and the ability to self-start is the unsteadiness associated with the rotor. This unsteadiness is related to chord-to-diameter ratio. This, together with blade aspect ratio, and number of blades, is the reason why H-Darrieus turbines that employ a symmetrical aerofoil can self-start.© 2012 ASME


After more than two decades of UN negotiations,
global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions continue
to rise, with current projections indicating the
planet is on a pathway to a temperature increase of
approximately 3.2°C by 2100, well beyond what is
considered a safe level. This has spurred scientific and
policy interest in the possible role of solar radiation
management (SRM) and carbon dioxide removal
(CDR) geoengineering activities to help avert passing
critical climatic thresholds, or to help societies recover
if global temperatures overshoot expectations of
safe levels. There are various proposals for SRM and
CDR marine geoengineering, but aside from ocean
iron fertilization (OIF) and marine cloud brightening
(MCB), none of these options have moved beyond
conceptual development and laboratory testing.
Marine geoengineering proposals show significant
diversity in terms of their purpose, scale of application,
likely effectiveness, requisite levels of international
cooperation and intensity of environmental risks. This
diversity of marine geoengineering activities will likely
place significant new demands upon the international
law system to govern potential risks and opportunities.
International ocean law governance is comprised
of a patchwork of global framework agreements,
sectoral agreements and customary international
law rules that have developed over time in response
to disparate issues. These include maritime access,
fisheries management, shipping pollution, ocean
dumping and marine scientific research (MSR). This
patchwork of oceans governance contains several
bodies of rules that might apply in governing marine
geoengineering activities. However, these bodies
of rules were negotiated for different purposes,
and not specifically for the governance of marine geoengineering. The extent to which this patchwork
of rules might contribute to marine geoengineering
governance will vary, depending on the purpose
of an activity, where it is conducted, which state is
responsible for it and the types of impacts it is likely
to have. Applying this patchwork to a specific marine
geoengineering activity is complex, and existing
rules may provide only limited concrete guidance as
to how an activity ought to be conducted. The 2013
amendment to the London Protocol on ocean dumping
provides the most developed and specific framework
for marine geoengineering governance to date. But the
capacity of this amendment to bolster the capacity of
international law to govern marine geoengineering
activities is limited by some significant shortcomings.
Negotiations are under way to establish a new global
treaty on conservation of marine biodiversity in areas
beyond national jurisdiction, including new rules
for area-based management, environmental impact
assessments (EIAs) and capacity building/technology
transfer. The potential provisions of this agreement
could be pertinent to marine geoengineering options.
This negotiation is both an opportunity and a risk
for marine geoengineering governance. A new
agreement has the potential to fill key gaps in the
existing patchwork of international law for marine
geoengineering activities in high-seas areas. However,
it is also important that this new treaty be structured
in a way that is not overly restrictive, which might
hinder responsible research and development
of marine geoengineering in high-seas areas.


Purpose of the study: Noting that the motive for shopping is located within the paradigm of buying behaviour of consumers; the study seeks to complement existing literature by examining whether a configuration of shopper motives could be developed, thereby revealing taxonomy of hypermarket (hyper-store) shoppers. In addition the study seeks to establish whether shopping motives is shaped by demographic variables. Problem statement: Although the motive for shopping and its antecedents has been approached from various perspectives, it has been accentuated in literature that traditional utilitarian aspects of product acquisition explanations may not fully reflect the totality of a shopping experience. With such affirmations, shopping may be harmonised with hedonic activities when considered within a hypermarket/hyper-store South African context. Methodology: The study adopted a conceptual framework for identifying relatable factors (using exploratory factor analysis) that influence consumer motivation for shopping within hypermarket (hyper-store) environments. Reliability and validity of the scale was established. Findings: A 13 item scale was developed. Shopping seems to be both a utilitarian and a hedonic consumption experience with three auxiliary categories of hedonic motivations, namely diversion, recreational and sensory stimulated shoppers. In examining the motives for shopping and demographic variables, diversion appears to vary with levels of education. Value of the research: Enhancing one's understanding of the "softer" issues of shopping, namely diversion, recreational and sensory stimulated shoppers is essential, as they represent possible differentiating factors in a highly competitive and often commoditised retail market. Acquaintance of distinct shopper segments is useful for retailers in assembling marketing communication strategies and designing appealing store environments. Conclusion: Whilst shopper typologies may hold several advantages in theory and practice for both the consumers and retailers; the study has made an unpretentious and encouraging start in the understanding of hypermarket/hyper-store shopper patronage.


: Native mass spectrometry seeks to probe noncovalent protein interactions in terms of protein quaternary structure, protein − protein and protein − ligand complexes. The ultimate goal is to link the understanding of protein interactions to the protein environment by visualizing the spatial distribution of noncovalent protein interactions within tissue. Previously, we have shown that noncovalently bound protein complexes can be directly probed via liquid extraction surface analysis from dried blood spot samples, where hemoglobin is highly abundant. Here, we show that the intact hemoglobin complex can be sampled directly from thin tissue sections of mouse liver and correlated to a visible vascular feature, paving the way for native mass spectrometry imaging. sampling of thin tissue sections, thus paving the way for native mass spectrometry imaging. We show native LESA mass spectrom-Received:


Pancreatic cancer is a highly fatal malignancy with overall 5-year survival of under 10%, within the context of increasing incidence rates worldwide (Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2020 Mar 5. pii: S1542-3565(20)30276-7 [Epub ahead of print]). Even among the minority of patients who are diagnosed with early stage disease and undergo resection, most survive less than 5 years (short-term survivors (STS), however a unique subset of patients survive >5 years post-surgery coined long-term survivors (LTS) (Clin Cancer Res 2015;21:1944-1950). Recent human and mice studies suggests that the gut microbiome may play a role in pancreatic cancer initiation and progression through immune system modulation (Cancer Discov 2018;8:403-416, Gastroenterology 2018;155:33-37). Intramural bacteria can also be detected within pancreatic tumor tissue and predict sensitivity to systemic cancer therapy (Science 2017;357:1156-1160). Riquelme et al. addressed this topic in work conducted at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC) and Johns Hopkins Hospital (JHH) to study the association between tumor microbiome and survival using the pancreatic tumor microbiome of LTS vs. STS (Cell 2019;178:795-806).


In the course of the milling experiments with the difficult-to-machine material 3Cr-1Mo-1/4V steel, we have found the substance of the adhering disrepair. In addition, we forecast the predominant capability of the waved-edge milling insert with complex 3-D grooves by the synthetically blurry judgement. Eventually, we give the mathematical model between the milling temperature and the maximal adhering disrepair depth of the rake face, and analyze the rule that the milling temperature affects the adhering disrepair. What's more, we testify the predominant capability of the waved-edge milling insert.


This paper is a philosophical examination of African forms of marriage, particularly the customary marriage practice of Kukumbira (asking for a bride/woman's hand in marriage from her parents, but with her informed consent) and adopts the Shona ethnic group of Zimbabwe as a case study. It investigates the perception of the Shona people towards the practice of the customary practice of Kukumbira. To establish the receptivity of the traditional African marriage custom, Kukumbira, a study was conducted. Fifty people (30 females and 20 males) from Masvingo and Manicaland provinces participated in the study. Ad questionnaire comprising closed and open items was used as a data collection tool. Data was summarized by means of frequency tables and analyzed qualitatively using evaluative descriptions. An overwhelming majority of respondents cited heft bride wealth charges, colonial legacy and modernity as reasons for the daunting of the custom, kukumbira, yet they wanted the custom to continue on the grounds that it is a valuable part of their culture, respects women's human rights, stresses prohibition of pre-marital sexual conducts and that it reinforces family ties/links. However, the respondents pointed out that the custom should not be commercialized as heft bride wealth leads to commodification of women. Those who favored abolishment of the custom and other forms of marriage where lobola is paid were a minority. They relegated the custom on grounds that it is at odds with gender equality that contemporary women are fighting for. They also perceived kukumbira and other forms of marriage where lobola is paid as institutions of patriarchy intended to serve males not the women concerned. This study concluded that respondents generally viewed the custom positively although they noted that it is vulnerable to abuse by some parents who charge heft bride wealth as well as by some husbands and in-laws who abuse the married women's rights on grounds that they bought her at a price. In view of this conclusion, it was recommended that the custom of kukumbira should be maintained but in such a manner that it builds affinity and social capital between families rather than creating animosity between them, and it do not expose women to abuse in marriage but respects their human rights.

 Key words: Customary marriage practice, Kukumbira, Shona, relevance, lobola, Zimbabwe, Africa.


: The paper identifies the relevance of party system in the third republic to national integration in a multi-ethnic Nigerian state and also, it identifies the implications of the transition (annulment) on the fourth republic. The study made use of secondary source of data in achieving its objectives. The study reveals that in a multi-ethnic state, like Nigeria, where ethnic group maintained geographical location and a distinct culture, language and quest for power (cultural, political, economic, etc.), political parties should be left to operate on democratic principle. The study further revealed that the annulment of the transition election and the consequent crises reveals the significance of ethnic identities to the issues of national integration in Nigeria. The paper concludes that democracy can be used to quench the fire of ethnic sentiment in Nigeria if the rules are obeyed and kept.


One hypothesis assumes that sexual ornamentation has evolved to reveal an individual's health and vigour. Therefore, choosy mates may use ornamentation as an indicator of the presence and effectiveness of genes for resistance against parasites (Hamilton & Zuk (Science, Wash. 218, 384(1982) ) ). However, the connection between parasites and sexual ornamentation may be more direct: the different characters of the ornamentation could reveal the contribution of each sexual hormone to the whole hormone mix that induced the ornamentation. As androgens and oestrogens are known to weaken specifically parts of the immune system (Grossmann 1985), and several parasites require a specific aspect of the immune system to be countered effectively, the hormone mix may reveal the actual use of an animal's immune system which depends on the presence and burden of, or even susceptibility to, different parasites. Therefore detailed information about a host's parasites could be available by studying its sexual ornamentation. Breeding tubercles, the sexual ornamentation of many fish, are induced by several androgens and at least one oestrogen (Wiley & Colette 1970). I studied four characteristics of the ornamentation of male roach (Rutilus rutilus) and found that two of them could be used to discriminate between males that are infected with either Diplozoon or nematodes, the two most severe parasites found. Furthermore, the number of parasites of each group correlates negatively with the expression of one or both of the other ornamental characters. A female roach could potentially decode a male's ornamentation to gather a sort of clinical picture of him and use this information in her choice of mate.


Offshore impact pile driving produces extremely high sound levels in water. Peak acoustic pressures from the pile driving operation of ~103 Pa at a range of 3000 m, ~104 Pa at a range of 60 m, and ~105 Pa at a range of 10 m have been measured. Pressures of these magnitudes can have negative effects on both fish and marine mammals. Previously, it was shown that the primary source of sound originates from radial expansion of the pile as a compression wave propagates down the pile after each strike. As the compression wave travels it produces an acoustic field in the shape of an axisymmetric cone, or Mach cone. The field associated with this cone clearly dominates the peak pressures. In this paper, we present an evaluation of the effectiveness of attenuating pile driving noise using an acoustic shield. In order to fully evaluate the acoustic shield, we provide results from finite element modeling and simple plane wave analysis of impact pile driving events with and without a noise shield. This effort is supported by the findings from a full-scale pile driving experiment designed to evaluate the effectiveness of the noise shield. Finally, we will discuss methods for improving the effectiveness of the acoustic shield.


Contrary to general public perception that environmental hazards are borne equally, the risks and accompanying burdens of exposure to environmental contaminants are distributed disproportionately along racial and class lines. The environmental justice movement has received much recent attention as being an extension of the civil rights movement, where advocates have demanded fair distribution of environmental benefits and burdens. This paper focuses on the difficulty that plaintiffs wishing to challenge hazardous waste siting in their communities have in proving that the siting decision was based on racial factors. Part 1 examines a North Carolina case that illustrates the potential that substantive and procedural requirements have in protecting communities from environmental injustice. Part 2 focuses on the emergence of the concept of environmental racism and early research studies that examined the phenomenon. Part 3 discusses the distinction between environmental racism and environmental justice. Part 4 examines the difficulties that surround the use of the Equal Protection Clause by plaintiffs who challenge hazardous waste siting in their communities. Part 5 examines Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as it has been used in environmental justice cases. Part 6 discusses Chester Concerned for Quality Living v. Seif, a Third Circuit Court environmental justice case in which plaintiffs challenged the siting of a hazardous waste facility in their community under Title VI. Part 7 focuses on post-Chester environmental justice developments. Finally, Part 8 explores substantive and procedural requirements designed to encourage community involvement in siting decisions.


The nictitating membrane of the frog is a semitransparent tissue which appears as an adaptation to terrestrial life and serves a protective function. The optical and electron microscopic studies indicate that it does not contain smooth muscle and that it is formed by an external stratified epithelium similar to that of frog skin, a thick stromal region containing vessels, nerves, and collagen organized in lamellae with fibers of uniform size with an arrangement resembling the corneal stroma, and an inner mucoid epithelium similar to the one of the conjunctiva. This membrane maintains a potential difference, positive inside (40 ± S.E. 5.6 mV. in vivo and in vitro. By means of Na fluxes a transport of sodium from outside to inside (0.568 fiEq hr cm.-) was found which is inhibited by ouabain and stimulated by vasopressin. This transport is located in the outer epithelium. The membrane does not swell remarkably in vitro, nor does it show a temperature reversal phenomenon. An extremely well-organized stroma and loss of pigmentation are the causes for its semitransparency. The amount of incidental light scattered by single fibers predicts complete opacity for the frog nictitans as much as in the case of the transparent cornea. The difference in fiber size and interfiber distance between the stromas of the nictitating membrane and that of the cornea could be related to their different degrees of transparency.


Laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) detrital zircon age data and detailed mapping of metasedimentary
and metavolcanic pendants in the central Sierra Nevada are used to examine the age and origin of the metasediments, and to search
for evidence of the location and history of the Cretaceous Mojave–Snow Lake fault. Quartzites from the Snow Lake, Benson Lake, May
Lake, and Quartzite Peak pendants yield age spectra that best match Neoproterozoic to Ordovician passive-margin strata, thus supporting
the presence of displaced passive-margin strata now preserved in Sierran pendants. Sediments at Cinko Lake, Strawberry Mine, and NE of
Snow Lake are interpreted to be Early Jurassic to Early Cretaceous and marine, and probably not equivalents of the Fairview Valley Formation
at Black Mountain as previously interpreted. Without this correlation, the suggested 400 km of displacement along the Mojave–Snow
Lake fault is unconstrained, the exact location of origin for these passive-margin and Jurassic marine metasediments is uncertain, and the
nature of the contact between these two sediment packages, which has been suggested to be an angular unconformity, is speculative and
deserving of a more detailed evaluation. The timing of displacement along the inferred dextral Snow Lake fault is constrained to be between
ca. 145 Ma, the maximum depositional age of Jurassic strata at Cinko Lake, and 102 Ma and 103–108 Ma, the age of the oldest intruding
pluton and the youngest volcanic rocks juxtaposed along the stratigraphic break with adjacent eugeoclinal rocks.