Purpose - The discussion of climate change and energy problems is generally based on the assumption that technical solutions are possible and that the task is essentially to determine the most effective ways. This view relies heavily on the expectation that renewable energy sources can be substituted for fossil fuels. The purpose of this paper is to improve on an earlier attempt to estimate the investment cost that would be involved in deriving total world energy supply from renewable sources. Design/methodology/approach - This discussion improves on an earlier attempt to estimate the investment cost that would be involved in deriving total world energy supply from renewable sources. It takes common assumptions re future energy demand and estimates of future output and capital costs of major renewable energy sources and explores four strategies for supplying global energy demand in 2050. Findings - This paper finds that the greenhouse and energy problems cannot be solved by action on the supply side, i.e. by technical developments which promise to provide quantities taken for granted in energy-intensive societies. This general "limits to growth" perspective is that these and the other major global problems can only be solved by action on the demand side, i.e. by moving to ways, values, institutions and systems which greatly reduce the need for materials, energy and ecological resources. Research limitations/implications - Confidence in the conclusions is limited mainly by the lack of evidence at this point in time on the actual difficulties set by the problem of integrating the intermittent sources, and the resulting need for redundant plant. Practical implications - Each of the four strategies explored requires large amounts of redundant plant to be able to cope with the intermittency problem. Each leads to total system capital costs which are well beyond affordable levels. Social implications - The findings add to the general "limits to growth" case that solutions to the global energy and other sustainability problems cannot be achieved within consumer-capitalist society but must be sought via dramatic reductions in production, consumption and GDP. This would require radical system change from the commitment to growth, market systems and affluent lifestyles, to what is described as The Simpler Way. Originality/value - It does not seem that this approach has previously been taken to the specific issue of the potential and limits of renewable energy. Little or no attention has been given to the thesis that global sustainability and justice require transition to some kind of Simpler Way.


HIV testing is a 'gateway' technology, enabling access to treatment and HIV prevention. Biomedical approaches to prevention, such as pre-exposure prophylaxis and treatment as prevention, require accurate and regular HIV test results. HIV testing also represents a powerful 'teachable moment' for behavioural prevention. An increasing range of HIV tests and the emergence of self-managed diagnostic technologies (e.g. self-testing) means there is now considerable diversification of when, where and how results are available to those who test. These changes have profound implications for intervention development and, indeed, health service redesign. This paper highlights the need for better ways of conceptualising testing in order to capitalise on the health benefits that diverse HIV testing interventions will bring. A multidimensional framework is proposed to capture ongoing developments in HIV testing among men who have sex with men and focus on the intersection of: (1) the growing variety of HIV testing technologies and the associated diversification of their pathways into care; (2) psychosocial insights into the behavioural domain of HIV testing; and (3) better appreciation of population factors associated with heterogeneity and concomitant inequities. By considering these three aspects of HIV testing in parallel, it is possible to identify gaps, limitations and opportunities in future HIV testing-related interventions. Moreover, it is possible to explore and map how diverse interventions may work together having additive effects. Only a holistic and dynamic framework that captures the increasing complexity of HIV testing is fit for purpose to deliver the maximum public health benefit of HIV testing.


International trade agreements are reshaping economies around the world by allowing freer flow of investments, goods and services. Energy and electricity products have the particular characteristic of ranging over both good and service classifications. How is electricity, in particular, treated within these trade agreements, which clearly distinguish between goods and service sectors? How can the electricity sector be affected by new agreements? We answer these questions with a specific focus on the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). We start in section 2 by setting the international trade context and then study, in section 3, how electricity is considered in the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and in the FTAA. An analysis on the possible consequences of the FTAA on the electricity sector is made in section 4.


1. Joy Wiltermuth
 1. is the managing editor of totalsecuritization.com, an online news service from Institutional Investor, Inc., in New York, NY. (jwiltermuth{at}iinews.com)

1. To order reprints of this article, please contact Dewey Palmieri at dpalmieri{at}iijournals.com or 212


We present a new method for retrieving temperature from Pure Rotational Raman (PRR) lidar measurements. Our Optimal Estimation Method (OEM) used in this study uses the full physics of PRR scattering and does not require any assumption of the form for a calibration function nor does it require fitting of calibration factors over a large range of temperatures. The only calibration required is the estimation of the ratio of the lidar constants of the two PRR channels (coupling constant) that can be 5 evaluated at a single or multiple height bins using a simple analytic expression. The uncertainty budget of our OEM retrieval includes both statistical and systematic uncertainties, including the uncertainty in the determination of the coupling constant on the temperature. We show that the error due to calibration can be reduced significantly using our method, in particular in the upper troposphere when calibration is only possible over a limited temperature range. Some other advantages of our OEM over the traditional Raman lidar temperature retrieval algorithm include not requiring correction or gluing to the raw lidar 10 measurements, providing a cutoff height for the temperature retrievals that specifies the height to which the retrieved profile is independent of the a priori temperature profile, and the retrieval's vertical resolution as a function of height. The new method is tested on PRR temperature measurements from the MeteoSwiss Raman Lidar for Meteorological Observations system in different sky conditions, compared to temperature calculated using the traditional PRR calibration formulas, and validated with coincident radiosonde temperature measurements in clear and cloudy conditions during both day and night time. 15


Background: Strong family bonds are part of the Indonesian culture. Family members of patients with cancer are intensively involved in caring, also in hospitals. This is considered "normal": a societal and religious obligation. The values underpinning this might influence families' perception of it. Aim: To explore and model experiences of family caregivers of patients with cancer in Indonesia in performing caregiving tasks. Design: A grounded theory approach was applied. The constant comparative method was used for data analysis and a paradigm scheme was employed for developing a theoretical model. Setting/participants: The study was conducted in three hospitals in Indonesia. The participants were family caregivers of patients with cancer. Results: A total of 24 family caregivers participated. "Belief in caregiving" appeared to be the core phenomenon. This reflects the caregivers' conviction that providing care is an important value, which becomes the will power and source of their strength. It is a combination of spiritual and religious, value and motivation to care, and is influenced by contextual factors. It influences actions: coping mechanisms, sharing tasks, and making sacrifices. Social support influences the process of the core phenomenon and the actions of the caregivers. Both positive and negative experiences were identified. Conclusion: We developed a model of family caregivers' experiences from a country where caregiving is deeply rooted in religion and culture. The model might also be useful in other cultural contexts. Our model shows that the spiritual domain, not only for the patient but also for the family caregivers, should be structurally addressed by professional caregivers.


Domestic violence may be less representative of a unique form of violent behavior and more indicative of an overall tendency toward violence. This article explores this issue with two years of police data from a Mid-South city. Findings revealed that domestic violence histories were more likely in any type of homicide case, and that there were both similarities and differences in predicting general and domestic violence homicide cases. Further implications of these findings within the context of law enforcement strategies and responses to domestic violence are discussed.


The effect of sintering temperature on phase structure, densification and room temperature dielectric properties of B2O3 doped (Bi0.5Na0.5)0.94Ba0.06TiO3(BNBT) lead-free ceramics prepared by a solid-state mixed oxide method was investigated and presented in this work. The X-ray diffraction analysis of the ceramics suggests that all samples exhibited a single perovskite structure without any secondary phase. The coexisting of both rhombohedral and tetragonal phases was identified over the entire sintering temperature range. The optimum sintering temperature for preparation of high-density BNBT + 2 wt% B2O3 ceramic was found to be 1050°C. Room temperature dielectric measurement data showed that the dielectric constant and dielectric loss values were increased with increasing the sintering temperature. Keywords: BNBT, Lead-free ceramics, Sintering, Phase, Dielectric Properties


BACKGROUND Major peripheral vascular trauma is managed by several surgical specialties. The impact of surgical specialty training and certification on outcome has not been evaluated. We hypothesized that general surgeons without specialty training in vascular surgery would have outcomes equivalent to surgeons with vascular training in the management of extremity arterial injuries requiring interposition grafting. METHODS We performed a multicenter, retrospective study of patients undergoing interposition grafting for peripheral vascular injury between 1995 and 2010. Specialty was defined by training and certification. Outcomes were recorded at the time of discharge from the index hospitalization. Factors affecting limb salvage were determined using logistic regression. RESULTS From the 11 participating centers, 615 patients were identified. General surgeons performed 69.9%, cardiac/vascular surgeons performed 27.3%, and surgeons of other specialties performed 2.8% of the grafts. There were 32 amputations (5.2%). Outcomes did not differ by institution. Factors associated with amputation were blunt mechanism, older age, female sex, hospital length of stay, and Injury Severity Score (ISS). There was no significant difference in limb salvage among specialty groups (general surgeons, 94%; cardiac/vascular, 95%; other, 100%). CONCLUSION Limb salvage following major peripheral vascular injury is independent of surgeon specialty training. The majority of complex repairs are performed by general surgeons. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic/care management, level III.


The evolution of intrinsically disordered proteins has been studied primarily by focusing on evolutionary changes at an individual position such as substitution and conservation, but the evolutionary association between disordered residues has not been comprehensively investigated. Here, we analyze the distribution of residue-residue coevolution for disordered proteins. We reveal that the degree of coevolved residues significantly decreases in disordered regions regardless of the sequence propensity, and the degree distribution of coevolved and conserved residues exclusively differs in each functional category. Consequently, the coevolution information can be useful for predicting intrinsic disorder and understanding biological functions of a disordered region from the sequence.


An investigation has been carried out, studying the interaction of various bioactive anions, particularly phosphorylated species, with well-defined chiral lanthanide complexes. In each ternary anion adduct, proton NMR analysis revealed a distinctive pattern for the most high frequency shifted resonances. Furthermore, the mean chemical shift of these four resonances can be used to identify the anion adducts present in solution and indicate the binding mode exhibited towards the lanthanide(III) centre. Similar differentiation of anion binding modes is also available from luminescence spectroscopy, via observation of the splitting pattern for the (^7)F(_1) ← (^5)D(_0)transition in europium complexes. Thulium and ytterbium complexes display the greatest affinity towards anions. With 0֊phosphorylated amino acids and peptides, amino acid or N-terminal chelation is a competitive binding mode. In contrast, the corresponding europium complexes display a significant preference towards the phosphate binding mode and such complexes may be considered to function as selective receptors for phosphorylated peptides or proteins. For all the lanthanides, complexes involving an N-methylated ligand show an increase in competition from the chelating binding modes. This effect is most significant for the smaller lanthanide(III) ions. Parallel investigations into the suitability of 1-azaxanthone derivatives as long wavelength sensitisers for europium(III) and terbium(III) emission were performed. The introduction of electron donating groups into the 1-azaxanthone compound led to an increase in the absorption wavelength maximum. However, perturbation of the excited states was accompanied by competitive fluorescence emission and in certain cases quenching of the excited states via intramolecular hydrogen bonding. Formation of the TV-oxide derivative of 1-azaxanthone also led to a significant red shift in the absorption maximum. The related 1 ֊aza-10-thioxanthone compound displayed the greatest potential as a lanthanide(III) sensitiser, and its incorporation into a phosphate selective europium receptor was investigated with the aim of achieving optical detection of low concentration of anions.


As programs evolve, newly added functionality sometimes no longer aligns with the original design, ending up scattered across the software system. Aspect mining tries to identify such cross-cutting concerns in a program to support maintenance, or as a first step towards an aspect-oriented program. Previous approaches to aspect mining applied static or dynamic program analysis techniques to a single version of a system. We exploit all versions from a system's CVS history to mine aspect candidates; we are about to extend our research prototype to an Eclipse plug-in called HAM: when a single CVS commit adds calls to the same (small) set of methods in many unrelated locations, these method calls are likely to be cross-cutting. HAM employs formal concept analysis to identify aspect candidates. Analysing one commit operation at a time makes the approach scale to industrial-sized programs. In an evaluation we mined cross-cutting concerns from Eclipse 3.2M3 and found that up to 90% of the top-10 aspect candidates are truly cross-cutting concerns.


Background: Insulin resistance (IR) is a metabolic disorder related to atherosclerosis. Its measurement is of great importance not only as a marker of diabetes but also for cardiovascular disease. The aim of this research study was to evaluate the relationship between various IR indices and coronary risk in an adult population from Maracaibo city, Venezuela. Methods: The Maracaibo City Metabolic Syndrome Prevalence Study is a descriptive, cross-sectional study with random and multi-stage sampling. In this sub study, 1272 individuals of both genders were selected with the measurement of basal insulin and coronary risk according to the Framingham-Wilson formula calibrated for our population. The insulin resistance indices evaluated were HOMA2-IR, triglycerides and glucose index (TyG) and triglycerides/HDL ratio (TG/HDL). The predictive capacity and association between each index and the coronary risk event in 10 years were determined. Results: Of the evaluated population, 55.2% were female, 34.8% had a coronary risk ≥5% in 10 years, with the TG/HDL and TyG indices showing the highest AUC 0.712 (0.681-0.743) and 0.707 (0.675-0.739), respectively; compared to HOMA2-IR. Both were also the indices most associated with increased coronary risk, especially TG/HDL ≥3 with a higher association [OR = 2.83 (1.74-4.61); p<0.01] after multivariable adjustment. Conclusions: TyG (≥4.5) and TG/HDL (≥3) indices showed a great predictive capacity of higher coronary risk, with being TG/HDL more associated even after adjusting for abdominal obesity and hs-CRP. Therefore, these represent useful tools for determining IR.


In this report, the effect of 100 MeV Au ion irradiation on diffusion in Ni/Bi bilayers has been studied. Normally, both of the layers across the interface need to reach their molten state to observe ion beam induced diffusion and mixing. However, we experimentally observed enhanced diffusion at the interface, though the thermal spike model calculations suggest that Ni does not reach its molten state at this energy regime. Spontaneous formation of a NiBi3 layer at the interface of Ni/Bi was found via the reaction–diffusion mechanism during the deposition. The evolution of porous like structures on the surface has been observed after irradiation of the films. This porous structure evolution was driven by the possible out-diffusion of Bi, as it reaches the molten state. The interface NiBi3 layer improves the mixing of the Ni and Bi layers and increases the ion fluences observed in the depth profiles obtained using cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy and Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy. Such an enhancement can be attributed to the combined swift heavy ion induced athermal effects and ballistic effects. The detailed mechanism of the ion induced surface and interface modifications were explained on the basis of thermal spike model calculations.


Audio notifications are an important means of prompting users of electronic products. Although useful in most environments, audio notifications are ineffective in certain situations, especially against particular auditory backgrounds or when the user is distracted. Several studies have used behavioral performance to evaluate audio notifications, but these studies failed to achieve consistent results due to factors including user subjectivity and environmental differences; thus, a new method and more objective indicators are necessary. In this study, we propose an approach based on electroencephalography (EEG) to evaluate audio notifications by measuring users' auditory perceptual responses (mismatch negativity) and attention shifting (P3a). We demonstrate our approach by applying it to the usability testing of audio notifications in realistic scenarios, such as users performing a major task amid ambient noises. Our results open a new perspective for evaluating the design of the audio notifications.


Heart disease has become a major global health concern that is affecting millions of people worldwide. The situation is particularly critical in developing countries where the access to medical facilities is limited. This barrier to health care leads to increased fatalities from heart disease. Early diagnosis of cardiovascular conditions can be lifesaving. However, personal medical-grade equipment can be expensive and not easily accessible for people living in these areas. It is important to expand the same level of medical care to these communities at an affordable price. Our research aims to investigate the performance of a machine learning model on a low-cost embedded system. This study will evaluate the accuracy, run time, and overall performance of the model in diagnosing cardiovascular diseases. The results will help us determine the feasibility of using machine learning models for classifying cardiovascular disease in low-cost embedded systems. A selected machine learning model has been trained, modified, and compiled into the embedded system. The model returns the classification results based on preprocessed input data. Multiple metrics are collected to measure the performance of the model and the embedded system. The preliminary results are promising with accuracy levels similar to the original model. If these results hold up in multiple trials, it is expected that the machine learning model for classifying cardiovascular diseases on the embedded system will be practical and useful in extending affordable medical care to developing countries.


Treatment with picolinic acid blocked Neurospora crassa nuclei in G1, and recovery from the treatment allowed a synchronous wave of deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis to occur. Nuclei, which appeared as compact globular bodies during the period of blockage, assumed a ring shape during the following S phase, which was also maintained in the G2 phase. The proportion of compact globular nuclei was much higher in hyphae growing at lower rates, whereas that of ring nuclei increased when the hyphae were growing at higher rates. Horseshoe nuclei (probably mitotic nuclei) and double ring nuclei were also observed in growing hyphae, but their frequencies were low and fairly independent of the rate of growth. The length of the S phase of the Neurospora nuclear division cycle was determined to be about 30 min. From the frequencies of the phase-specific nuclear shapes, the durations of the G1 phase and the combined S plus G2 phases were calculated. The results showed that variations in the growth rates of the mycelia were mainly coupled with variations in the G1 phase of the nuclear division cycle. For mycelia growing in minimal sucrose, the lengths of all of the phases of the nuclear division cycle were estimated.


This article examines expressions of difference and sameness and peer relations among children (aged 5–7) in school. The article concludes that children do not generally relate sameness or difference to their peer relations or to ethnicity or gender. Furthermore, the article demonstrates that the school setting plays a crucial role for children's peer interactions: The purpose of school activities directs children's expressions of difference and sameness, and the structures for peer interaction enable some relations and restrict others.


Real-world time series are characterized by intrinsic non-stationarity that poses a principal challenge for deep forecasting models. While previous models suffer from complicated series variations induced by changing temporal distribution, we tackle non-stationary time series with modern Koopman theory that fundamentally considers the underlying time-variant dynamics. Inspired by Koopman theory of portraying complex dynamical systems, we disentangle time-variant and time-invariant components from intricate non-stationary series by Fourier Filter and design Koopman Predictor to advance respective dynamics forward. Technically, we propose Koopa as a novel Koopman forecaster composed of stackable blocks that learn hierarchical dynamics. Koopa seeks measurement functions for Koopman embedding and utilizes Koopman operators as linear portraits of implicit transition. To cope with time-variant dynamics that exhibits strong locality, Koopa calculates context-aware operators in the temporal neighborhood and is able to utilize incoming ground truth to scale up forecast horizon. Besides, by integrating Koopman Predictors into deep residual structure, we ravel out the binding reconstruction loss in previous Koopman forecasters and achieve end-to-end forecasting objective optimization. Compared with the state-of-the-art model, Koopa achieves competitive performance while saving 77.3% training time and 76.0% memory.


Disease in natural ecosystems of Australia, caused by the introduced plant pathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi, is listed as a key threatening process under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). The Act requires the Australian Government to prepare and implement a threat abatement plan for nationally coordinated action to mitigate the harm caused by P. cinnamomi to Australian species, particularly threatened flora, fauna and ecological communities. The .National Threat Abatement Plan for Dieback Caused by the Root-Rot Fungus Phytophthora cinnamomi. (NTAP) was released in 2001 (Environment Australia, 2001). The NTAP is designed to promote a common understanding of the national threat P. cinnamomi poses to biodiversity in Australia.

This project, funded by the Australian Government Department of the Environment and Heritage (DEH), is one of the most significant actions to be implemented from the NTAP to date. The project has two major components:

 * to review current management approaches and identify benchmarks for best practice
 * the development of risk assessment criteria and a system for prioritising management of assets that are or could be threatened by P. cinnamomi.

The project outputs are presented in a four-part document entitled Management of Phytophthora cinnamomi for Biodiversity Conservation in Australia:

Part 1 - A Review of Current Management
Part 2 - National Best Practice Guidelines
Part 3 - Risk Assessment for Threats to Ecosystems, Species and Communities: A Review
Part 4 - Risk Assessment Models for Species, Ecological Communities and Areas.

A model of best practice was developed which encompasses all the components necessary for an informed and integrated approach to P. cinnamomi management, from strategic through to on-ground management. The current document (Part 1 . A Review of Current Management) thoroughly reviews the approaches to P. cinnamomi management in Australia within the context of the best practice model.


Two series of amino‐1,4‐benzoquinones (AQ1–18) based on the structural analogs of plastoquinones were synthesized and the structure–activity relationship against chronic myelogenous leukemia activity was examined. All of the synthesized compounds were tested for their cytotoxic effects on different leukemic cell lines. Of interest, AQ15 exhibited a better selectivity than the reference drug imatinib on cancer cells. Owing to this, AQ15 was selected for a further apoptosis/necrosis evaluation where AQ15‐treated K562 cells demonstrated similar apoptotic effects like imatinib‐treated cells at their IC50 values. The inhibitory effects of AQ15 and the other three compounds with various activities against eight tyrosine kinases, including ABL1, were investigated. AQ15 showed weak activity against ABL1, and a correlation was observed between the anti‐K562 and anti‐ABL1 activities. The binding mode of AQ15 into the ATP binding pocket of ABL1 kinase was predicted in silico, showing the formation of some key interactions. In addition, AQ15 was shown to suppress the downstream signaling of BCR‐ABL in K562 cells. Finally, AQ15 obviously cleaved DNA in the presence of an iron(II) complex system, indicating that this can be the major mechanism of its antiproliferative action, whereas the mild inhibition of ABL kinase is just in‐part mechanism of its overall outstanding cellular activity.


This project is a continuation of the Grigoryan Lab's exploration of TERMs. A TERM is a tertiary structural motif, which is a fragment of a protein that includes the secondary, tertiary, and quaternary environments around a certain residue. As displayed in past publications discussing TERMs, they are a useful way of decomposing proteins into smaller components that help in understanding design and prediction of protein structures.[1][2][3] The Grigoryan Lab developed a database that keeps track of naturally occurring overlaps between TERMs, which gives a user the information they would need to put these TERMs together into complex structures. These events led to the development of this project: The Protein Builder. The Protein Builder is a plugin for the molecular visualization software PyMOL that allows a user to build protein structures out of TERMs based on the database of overlaps. The Protein Builder is a Python program that implements a PyQt UI. Using the program's menu and PyMOL's interactive display of atomic structures, users can build structures from scratch, or save/load structures to build off of. The PyMOL client communicates with a server that contains the database, manages the state of a user's project session, and provides recommendations of TERMs to continue building with. The program is very useful to users with research needs, such as users wishing to use TERMs to learn more about protein structure & design or users that wish to design proteins that include certain residues or certain functionality.


Gearbox is the core component of wind power train,the operating of which directly affects the normal operation of wind power system, therefore, it is of great significance to carry out the dynamic characteristics of wind power gear box. The finite element model of coupling system composed of gear-rotor-bearing-box is established. By using Lanczos method,natural frequencies and vibration models are obtained. According to the method of experimental modal analysis,the MW wind power gearbox is tested by using SIMO method, the result of which agrees with theoretical calculation. Both of them verify the reliability of finite modal analysis of MW wind power gearbox.


Since 9/11, the United States has created a framework that allows for indefinite detention under the law of war and prosecution in military commissions as alternatives to charging terrorism suspects in federal court. These alternatives have affected how federal courts are represented and perceived. Proponents of using federal courts, for example, increasingly emphasize their toughness as a way of demonstrating their continued viability as a forum for terrorism prosecutions. At the same time, federal courts are criticized for risking disclosure of classified or other sensitive information, infringing on executive prerogatives, and undermining military and intelligence operations. These criticisms have not only helped legitimize military alternatives to federal criminal prosecution for the long-term incapacitation of terrorism suspects; they have also supplied justifications for denying civil litigants - particularly, victims of torture, arbitrary detention, and other forms of mistreatment - a judicial remedy and for dismissing legal challenges to controversial government programs under various justiciability doctrines. This Article explores how Guantanamo and the war on terror more generally have altered the perception and operation of federal courts. Part I describes the growth after 9/11 of a new type of military detention system that provides an alternative to Article III-court prosecutions of terrorism suspects. Part II examines how this parallel military detention system has affected the way federal courts are defined and represented as a forum for terrorism prosecutions. Part III looks at federal courts from the perspective of their role in providing a forum for plaintiffs seeking redress for torture, unlawful detention, and related abuses. It describes how many of the same reasons cited in opposition of federal criminal prosecution of terrorism suspects are invoked - often by federal judges themselves - to prevent federal court adjudication of civil damages litigation arising out of government misconduct during counterterrorism operations. Part IV examines federal courts from another vantage point, describing their engagement with the new, post-9/11 military detention system through the exercise of habeas corpus jurisdiction. Here, federal courts have performed two, inter-related functions: first, articulating general rules and principles to govern military detention and trial, and second, acting as quasi national security courts by reviewing the validity of individual prisoners' military confinement. While federal courts have imposed some constraints on the government's ability to hold terrorism suspects outside the criminal justice system, they have largely accommodated the new forms of military detention that emerged after 9/11 under the rubric of the war on terrorism and have shown considerable deference to the government's allegations in individual cases.


Ecological restoration is practiced worldwide as a direct response to the degradation and destruction of ecosystems. In addition to its ecological impact it has enormous potential to improve population health, socioeconomic well‐being, and the integrity of diverse national and ethnic cultures. In recognition of the critical role of restoration in ecosystem health, the United Nations (UN) declared 2021–2030 as the Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. We propose six practical strategies to strengthen the effectiveness and amplify the work of ecological restoration to meet the aspirations of the Decade: (1) incorporate holistic actions, including working at effective scale; (2) include traditional ecological knowledge (TEK); (3) collaborate with allied movements and organizations; (4) advance and apply soil microbiome science and technology; (5) provide training and capacity‐building opportunities for communities and practitioners; and (6) study and show the relationships between ecosystem health and human health. We offer these in the hope of identifying possible leverage points and pathways for collaborative action among interdisciplinary groups already committed to act and support the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. Collectively, these six strategies work synergistically to improve human health and also the health of the ecosystems on which we all depend, and can be the basis for a global restorative culture.


Increased protein kinase B (PKB; c-Akt) activation is a hallmark of diverse neoplasias providing both proliferative and antiapoptotic survival signals. In this study, we investigated the effect of chronic PKB activation on cellular survival and proliferation using cytokine-dependent bone marrow– derived Ba/F3 cells, in which PKBA activation can be directly, and specifically, induced by addition of 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4-OHT). Direct activation of PKB rescued Ba/F3 cells from cytokine withdrawal–induced apoptosis; however, surprisingly, these antiapoptotic effects were short lived, cells only being protected for up to 48 hours. We observed that activation of PKB in survival factor–deprived cells led to a dramatic increase of Foxo3a on both the transcriptional and protein level leading to expression of its transcriptional targets Bim and p27. High levels of PKB activity result in increased aerobic glycolysis and mitochondrial activity resulting in overproduction of reactive oxygen species. To determine whether oxidative stress might itself be responsible for Foxo3a up-regulation, we utilized hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as an artificial inducer of oxidative stress and N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a thiol-containing radical oxygen scavenger. Addition of NAC to the culture medium prolonged the life span of cells treated with 4-OHT and prevented the upregulation of Foxo3a protein levels caused by PKB activation. Conversely, treatment of Ba/F3 cells with H2O2 caused an increase of Foxo3a on both transcriptional and protein levels, suggesting that deregulated PKB activation leads to oxidative stress resulting in Foxo3a up-regulation and subsequently cell death. Taken together, our data provide novel insights into the molecular consequences of uncontrolled PKB activation. (Cancer Res 2006; 66(22): 10760-9)


Heating by induction is a promising technology for processing circular semiconductor wafers because it offers quick and high temperature heating. Heat develops inside the work piece hence losses due to conduction and radiation is reduced. It is rather difficult to attain uniform temperature distribution in the work piece using single coil induction heating method. In this paper, a multi coil induction heating system for processing circular semiconductor wafers is proposed. The working coil or inductor is divided into a number of multi turn coils. The paper presents ANSYS Maxwell 3D modelling and simulations of the four coil induction heating system. The phase angle between the currents differs by 90o to generate a travelling wave magnetic field that can uniformly heat the subsector.


The investigation of spiritual/religious factors in health is clearly warranted and clinically relevant. This special section explores the persistent predictive relationship between religious variables and health, and its implications for future research and practice. The section reviews epidemiological evidence linking religiousness to morbidity and mortality, possible biological pathways linking spirituality/religiousness to health, and advances in the assessment of spiritual/religious variables in research and practice. This introduction provides an overview of this field of research and addresses 3 related methodological issues: definitions of terms, approaches to statistical control, and criteria used to judge the level of supporting evidence for specific hypotheses. The study of spirituality and health is a true frontier for psychology and one with high public interest.


Background: The risk of microbial contamination of cellular products can be reduced when cultured in the presence of antibiotics. This however, may impact the sensitivity of microbiological tests. Given that the addition of antibiotics to cell/tissue products does not guarantee sterility but may just reduce the proliferation rate of microorganisms, microbiological testing of medicinal products remains obligatory. Thus, an appropriate method to test for microbial contamination of antibiotic-containing products has to be validated. Objectives: In the context of microbiological testing of a cellular advance therapy medicinal product, the method was validated and approved by German competent authorities for four different matrices with three matrices containing antibiotics. The paper shall provide help for establishing test methods for other investigational medicinal products which contain antibiotics. Methods: Matrices were spiked individually with Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pyogenes, Escherichia coli, Clostridium sporogenes, Propionibacterium acnes, Candida albicans, and Aspergillus brasiliensis. Samples were pretreated with penicillinase for 1 h before inoculation and incubation in BacT/ALERT iFA Plus and iFN Plus culture bottles using 3D BacT/ALERT automates. Microorganisms within positive BacT/ALERT bottles were specified. The procedure was performed in two different laboratories to prove robustness of test. Results: All nine tested microorganisms were detected within 14 days of incubation in accordance with requirements of the European Pharmacopoiea in terms of sensitivity, specificity and robustness of the test. Penicillin and streptomycin did not have any influence on specifications defined within the investigational medicinal product dossier. Conclusions: Culturing cellular products in the presence of antibiotics can serve as an effective method to reduce contamination risk but only if the chosen antibiotics neither have any influence on specifications of the investigational medicinal product nor interfere with microbiological tests. Consequently, cells and tissues primarily contaminated with microorganisms, like placenta, may be considered as a source of cellular therapeutics when cultured for a sufficient time with antibiotics and tested with a validated method. The choice of microorganisms for the validation of the microbiological test should always consider all conceivable scenarios and should not be reduced to minimal criteria defined in European Pharmacopoiea, wrongfully believing to thus save time and effort.


This paper presents a stochastic model for spatially embedded social networks based on the ideas of spatial interaction models. Analysing empirical data, we find that the probability to accept a social contact at a certain distance follows a power law with exponent -1.6. With a simulation where the spatial distribution of vertices is defined by a synthetic population of Switzerland, we can reproduce the edge length distribution observed in the empirical data as well as some other typical properties of social networks.


This paper develops a social insurance accounting model for a notional defined contribution (NDC) scheme combining retirement and long-term care (LTC) contingencies. The procedure relies on standard double-entry bookkeeping and enables us to compile a "Swedish" type actuarial balance sheet (ABS) following a framework equivalent to an open group approach. This methodology is suitable for reporting the system's solvency status and can show periodical changes in the system's financial position by means of an income statement. The information underpinning the actuarial valuation is based on events and transactions that are verifiable at the valuation date, without considering expected future trends. The paper also contains an illustrative example to make it easier for policymakers to understand the main advantages and difficulties of our proposal. The policy conclusions stress the need to properly report social insurance benefits to enhance transparency and sustainability and to improve decision-making because it is in the public interest to do so.


The question of how economic inequality changed during the centuries leading up to the industrial revolution has been attracting a growing amount of research effort. Nevertheless, a complete picture of the tendencies in economic inequality throughout pre-industrial Europe has remained out of our grasp. This paper begins to resolve this problem by comparing long-term changes in inequality between Central and Northern Italy on the one hand and the Southern and Northern Low Countries on the other hand. Based on new archival material, we reconstruct regional estimates of economic inequality between 1500 and 1800 and analyze them in the light of the Little Divergence debate, assessing the role of economic growth, urbanization, proletarianization, and political institutions. We argue that different explanations should be invoked to understand the early modern growth of inequality throughout Europe, since several factors conspired to make for a society in which it was much easier for inequality to rise than to fall. We also argue that although there was apparently a 'Little Convergence' in inequality, at least some parts of southern and northern Europe diverged in terms of inequality extraction ratios. Keywords Economic inequality; early modern period; Sabaudian State; Florentine State; Italy; Low Countries; Belgium; The Netherlands; inequality extraction; wealth concentration; fiscal state; proletarianization


The EU has, for a long time, portrayed itself as an international leader on climate change. Previous studies have tended to focus on the characteristics of EU leadership, but have failed to examine the extent to which EU leadership generates "followership". Going beyond these existing approaches, this dissertation analyzes not just EU attempts at leadership but also the response of two potential followers: China and India. Based on extensive fieldwork, the dissertation explains the pattern of EU engagement and the response to engagement in each case, and makes three key arguments. First, EU engagement was driven by a desire to build the international role of the EU, but also from 2000 onwards in particular by growing normative concern and material interest within the EU regarding combating climate change. The development of engagement was also conditioned by the broader development of EU relations with China and India. Second, EU engagement took the form of institutionalized dialogue and capacity-building projects. These were generally more extensive in the EU-China case; the EU-India relationship was significantly more limited. Both cases were characterized by a lack of EU capacity—particularly the EU-India case and to some extent by inconsistency and incoherence. Third, the Chinese Government responded through limited normative emulation and limited but growing lesson-drawing through bilateral cooperation in specific sectors. While the Indian Government also responded through limited normative emulation, the principal Indian response was resistance. Moreover, both the Chinese and Indian Governments resisted the EU approach to the international climate change negotiations. This pattern of engagement and significant resistance stemmed partly from the EU's failure to develop sufficient capacity for effective engagement, but also partly due to significant differences in the way each side has framed the issue of climate change. Based on these findings, the dissertation concludes that while the EU was not entirely a leader without followers, it has acted as a highly restricted leader in its relations with China and India on climate change.


We studied the role of natural (common reed) and artificial substrata (bamboo) in structuring the abundance and taxonomic composition of periphyton assemblages. Investigations were conducted in a shallow, hypertrophic lake situated in the area of Polesie Lubelskie (Eastern Poland). Periphyton communities (algae, ciliates, small metazoa and chironomids) on both types of substratum were sampled monthly, from May to November of 2007. Water samples for chemical analysis were collected together with biological samples. We selected the group of ten environmental variables which are the most important in determining the habitat conditions in highly eutrophic lakes: temperature, Secchi disc visibility, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, periphytic chlorophyll-a, N-NO3, N-NH4, TP, P-PO4 and total organic carbon (TOC). The abundances of periphytic algae, ciliates, metazoa and chironomids were significantly affected by season and substrate. On natural substrata, in all studied months, periphyton communities showed higher abundances. The results of PCA analysis confirmed the distinction between periphyton communities on natural and artificial substrata. The Monte Carlo permutation test showed that the periphyton communities on common reed were the most significantly affected by temperature, N-NO3, Secchi disc visibility and TOC. The communities on artificial substrata were significantly influenced by temperature, P-PO4 and TOC. On natural substrata biomass of periphytic algae was significantly negatively correlated with abundances of all groups of potential grazers (ciliates, metazoa, chironomids). On artificial substrata the relations between components of periphytic food web were stronger; correlation coefficients between algae, protists and chironomids were significant at P<0.01. The results of analysis indicate that periphytic algae can play an important role as food source for higher trophic levels. These interactions are less significant on natural (reed) substrata, where algae during their growth may use nutrients releasing by plants. On inert substrata intensive feeding activity of grazers (ciliates, metazoan, chironomids) can markedly reduce algal biomass and affect their taxonomic composition.


Metabolism intensity and development rate have different pattern of dependence on temperature. Oxygen intake and several other metabolic processes bear an exponential relationship to temperature. The pattern of this relationship is similar in different poikilothermal species. On the contrary, the relationship between the rate of development and temperature is species-specific and more complex. Hence, the curves obtained by plotting oxygen intake per developmental stage against temperature resemble parabola and the minimum values of oxygen intake correspond to optimal temperatures. Such a correspondence is almost solely determined by parameters of the relationship between the rate of development and temperature. Therefore, the efficiency of metabolism does not determine the range of optimal temperatures. It is suggested that adaptive alterations of this range during evolution proceed via changes of the parameters of relationship between the rate of development and temperature dependence. Relatively small number of mutations is required to produce such changes.


The woman subculture study is widely conducted through several decades since the beginning of the second wave feminist movement in 1960s. This paper intends to explain the woman subculture development in view of the woman language. First, it gives the definition of subculture. Second, it explains why woman culture is considered as a subculture. Third, with reference to sociolinguistic studies of woman language, it offers further clarification of some important feminist theories like gendered knowledge, standpoint theory and muted group theory. Also some key conceptions which are closely tied to woman subculture are expounded through the analysis of woman language. Last, the paper explains how woman subculture is transmitted through feminist theories and literary criticism works and how it is divided into three phases.


A photoconductive semiconductor switch (PCSS) with a gap of 0.018 m was fabricated from semi-insulating GaAs. Illuminated by a laser pulse with varying optical energies at a wavelength of 1064 nm, the photoconductivity tests of the PCSS were performed at different bias voltages. In nonlinear mode, by comparing the charge initially stored in the capacitors and the charge through the switch, it is found that the end of lock-on phase is not always due to the fact that the energy has been dumped from the charging system. The threshold of incident optical energy and the ON-state resistance are analyzed and calculated. The PCSS failed at a bias voltage of 32 kV because of surface flashover.


The objective of this research paper is to examine the effects of various factors like violence, stock exchange performance and exchange rate on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflow into Pakistan. For econometric analysis monthly secondary data ranging from 2003 to 2011 has been used. Regression and correlation are used as analytical tools for the empirical estimation. In addition, for time series data analysis Augmented Dickey Fuller test and Phillips-Perron test have been used. This study finds that the violence in the country and Karachi Stock Exchange- 100 Index are statistically significant factors with a positive sign. Moreover, the exchange rate has also been found to be statistically significant factor with negative sign. This study uses monthly time series data from 2003-2001, which enables a deeper understanding of FDI inflow in Pakistan. Results suggest that in order to enhance FDI inflow to a desirable level, the government should ensure the existence of a peaceful environment, efficient capital markets and a stable exchange rate in the country.


Recent studies suggest an association between higher latitude, a proxy of vitamin D (VD) status, and allergic diseases. Chile provides an ideal setting to study this association due to its latitude span and high rates of VD deficiency in southern regions. The aim of this study is to explore the associations of latitude and solar radiation with anaphylaxis admission rates.


Aim To assess compliance with ACT standards (ACT 2004) in respect of end of life (EOL) planning for children who died from life-limiting conditions between October 2008 and March 2010 (defined geographical area). Methods Retrospective case note review. A standardised data collection tool was used and eligible children were identified from Child Death Overview Panel data. Results 42 sets of National Health Service notes were reviewed, relating to 20 children. The notes of 75% children contained EOL 'care plans'. In most cases, these child and family choices were found buried among the narrative of the case notes. Discussions about what to do in the case of acute life-threatening event were common (75%). Discussions about wishes during life (25%) and wishes after death (25%) were rare. In 50% cases location of death was either not discussed or no location other than hospital was considered. There were several areas of good practice. Timely and comprehensive discussions were particularly likely where staff had training or expertise in palliative care. Factors causing EOL discussions to be avoided or delayed were diagnostic or prognostic uncertainty, outstanding investigations or any element of ongoing curative management. Conclusions The ACT standards in relation to EOL planning are being met to varying degrees and specific areas for development are identified. A locally developed tool exists for facilitating the discussion and documentation of child and families' choices with regard to EOL. Clearly defined indications about when to consider using this tool and how to ensure that the information it gathers is effectively disseminated, will be crucial to its successful implementation. Funding has been secured to provide training in the use of this tool.


As first London Missionary Society (LMS) President of African Missions in South Africa, J.T. van der Kemp came into conflict with the settler farmers on the South African  frontier (1799-1811). This revolves around the fact that the settler farmers saw  themselves as settled in South Africa (and not as a temporary phenomenon as  perceived by the D.E.I.C.), that they supported the patriot and revolutionary  movements in the Netherlands/ Europe, and America, and were critical of both the British and the Dutch governments of their time. They in actual fact rebelled against these government, were slave holders, participated in the slave trade, and manifested 'cruelty' towards the Khoi and Xhosa on the frontier. This article unpacks these issues with specific reference to Van der Kemp's South African texts as published by the LMS in their Transactions of the London Missionary Society Volumes I – III. Theoretically, I draw on some insights from works of Michel Foucault, especially with regard to  eighteenth and early nineteenth century 'representational thought', where 'idea' and 'object' are directly related. Keywords : J.T. van der Kemp, settler farmers, frontier, patriot, rebellion, slavery, baptism, cruelty, Black Circuit Court


COVID -19 is an infectious disease caused by the newly discovered coronavirus As there is no vaccine discovered, the only way to prevent the spread is through following the practice of social isolation Objectives:Prolonged isolation may also lead to psychological stress and problems Hence the scenario is to measure the level of awareness among the people about psychiatric problems created due to prolonged social isolation The aim of the survey is to measure the level of awareness among the participants on the psychological stress created due to social isolation through the imposed lockdown Materials And Methods: A questionnaire was prepared and administered to a hundred participants through google form an online platform The study participants included people belonging to the general population of Tamilnadu The answers obtained from the participants are recorded and analysed and the answers given by each participant to each question were represented in the form of flow charts Results: Around 70% of people said that social isolation affects mental health and 72% of people said that social isolation creates stress 60% of people were aware that prolonged social isolation can create psychiatric problems Conclusion: The level of awareness among the participants is moderate and hence a complete awareness on social isolation and its consequences must be created among the study population © 2020 Ubiquity Press All rights reserved


In this study, pre-shear and ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) were introduced to suppress the skin–core structure of injection-molded high density polyethylene (HDPE) parts. The structural characteristics of the injection-molded parts were systematically elucidated through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), two-dimensional wide-angle X-ray diffraction (2D-WAXD) and two-dimensional small-angle X-ray scattering (2D-SAXS). The results showed that oriented lamellae were formed in the core region upon pre-shear, and the orientation level of oriented lamellae in core region was further enhanced with increasing concentration of UHMWPE. More interestingly, a much narrowed orientation gap between the shear region and core region was obtained if the UHMWPE concentration was increased to 5 wt%. Moreover, crystallinity, long period, and lamellar thickness also increased with increasing UHMWPE concentration upon pre-shear. Naturally, the tensile strength of the blend parts was promoted due to the narrowed orientation gap between the shear region and core region along with an enhanced orientation level and increased crystallinity, long period, and lamellar thickness.


A telecommunication system makes communicating more comfortable if it ensures that parties involved in distant communication feel as if they are located in the same space during their conversation. By applying physically accurate sound field reproduction, we aim to develop a telecommunication system which enables us to feel the presence of a conversational partner. In pursuit of physically accurate sound field reproduction, we have developed a sound field reproduction system based on the boundary surface control principle. We have also developed a two-party sound field sharing telecommunication system using that reproduction system. In this paper, we describe an extension of that system to three-party system and conduct the subjective assessment of its voice reproduction. In pursuit of decreasing the amount of real-time convolution calculations, we applied Gram-Schmidt orthogonalization to reduce the number of secondary sound sources. In a three-party conversation, it is important to know "who talks to whom". Accordingly, when one of conversational partners turns towards another partner in three-party conversation, we reproduce natural changes in voice directivity caused by head rotation by detecting facing angle through image recognition and by adjusting the voice filter to suit that angle. However, this requires the voice reproduction with accuracy enough to acoustically perceive "who talks to whom". Thus, we conducted subjective assessments of the speaker's facing angle both in real environment and in sound reproduction environment. As a result of average angle error in sound reproduction environment, we found out that the system reproduced voice with accuracy enough to perceive who talks to whom. And we also found that there was little difference in the voice facing angle between perception in the real environment and in the sound field reproduction environment for a half of the subjects.


Mixed convection heat transfer in enclosures has been studied in order to enhance the associated heat transfer performance through the use of either different convective fluid types, domain configurations, boundary conditions, or combinations thereof. Analysing the enhancement in heat transfer has been accomplished through the isotherm and streamline contours, temperature isosurfaces, flow vectors, mean and root mean square velocity profiles, turbulence kinetic energy profiles and Nusselt number profiles. Firstly, laminar mixed convection in a lid-driven trapezoidal cavity using different nanoparticle types and various parameters other than configuration parameters has been investigated. It was found that any nanofluid types can provide greater heat transfer than water, especially, at high nanoparticle volume fraction and low diameter. Heat convection can be affected by changing either rotational and inclination angles, aspect ratio, or flow direction. Secondly, turbulent mixed convection due to the moving sidewalls of a lid-driven cuboid has been analysed. Remarkable enhancement in heat transfer has been achieved by either increasing the turbulent flow circulation or using nanofluids. Thirdly, turbulent mixed convection in a top wall lid-driven cuboid containing a clockwise- or anticlockwise-rotating cylinder has been studied. Significant enhancement in heat convection was noticed with the use of the rotating cylinder, especially when the direction of rotation can enhance the top wall movement. In addition, the Reynolds number and nanofluids have a positive impact on the heat transfer in the presence of the rotating cylinder. Finally, the study has been extended by artificially roughening the heated wall in order to increase the heat transfer rate. A noteworthy enhancement has been found due to the use of two rib shapes, particularly in combination with the rotating cylinder. Overall, in terms of the comparison between the URANS and LES predictions, even though both methods have performed well, the LES approach is more successful in capturing more detail of the secondary eddies.


Background: Osteoporosis is a significant risk factor for morbidity, and its high prevalence among Saudi women should be considered to be a public health problem. Quantitative ultrasound was recommended for bone mineral density (BMD) screening. Receptor activator of nuclear factor kappaB ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) and their ratio are critical for physiological bone remodelling, and related abnormalities may lead to several osteopathies. Methods: The BMD of 499 Saudi females aged 20 to 65 years was measured using quantitative ultrasound from the beginning of October 2013 to the end of March 2014 at the female medical unit of Taibah University, Madinah, KSA. Possible associated risk factors for low BMD were studied. Blood RANKL and OPG were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: No significant differences were found between participants with normal and low BMD regarding the studied risk factors. However, there was a significant association (p < 0.05) between BMD and regular physical activity among participants aged 20 years to less than 35 years, and women aged 35–50 years with higher body mass index (BMI) had higher BMD. The RANKL/OPG ratio was inversely associated (p = 0.04) with BMD. Conclusions: Regular physical activity is crucial for maximizing BMD in young females and decreasing the possibility of developing osteoporosis with ageing. The RANKL/OPG ratio might be considered a useful and easy-to-use tool for the prediction of low BMD.


This study presents electrospun niobium carbide/carbon (NbC/C) hybrid nanofibers, with an average diameter of 69 ± 30 nm, as a facile precursor to derive either highly nanoporous niobium carbide-derived carbon (NbC–CDC) fibers for supercapacitor applications or niobium pentoxide/carbon (Nb2O5/C) hybrid fibers for battery-like energy storage. In all cases, the electrodes consist of binder-free and free-standing nanofiber mats that can be used without further conductive additives. Chlorine gas treatment conformally transforms NbC nanofiber mats into NbC–CDC fibers with a specific surface area of 1508 m2 g−1. These nanofibers show a maximum specific energy of 19.5 W h kg−1 at low power and 7.6 W h kg−1 at a high specific power of 30 kW kg−1 in an organic electrolyte. CO2 treatment transforms NbC into T-Nb2O5/C hybrid nanofiber mats that provide a maximum capacity of 156 mA h g−1. The presence of graphitic carbon in the hybrid nanofibers enabled high power handling, maintaining 50% of the initial energy storage capacity at a high rate of 10 A g−1 (64 C-rate). When benchmarked for an asymmetric full-cell, a maximum specific energy of 86 W h kg−1 was obtained. The high specific power for both systems, NbC–CDC and T-Nb2O5/C, resulted from the excellent charge propagation in the continuous nanofiber network and the high graphitization of the carbon structure.


Previous research in the area of expert-novice comparisons of mathematical problem solving has focused on the differences in categorization of and performance on math problems. These studies have led to the conclusion that while solving or categorizing problems, experts focus on deep processing and novices focus on surface structure. Other research dealing with true/false multiplication equations has shown that adults (considered experts in multiplication) can reject false answers before processing the equation. This study attempts to extend these findings by looking at the differences between experts and novices in the recognition of errors in true/false calculus verification expressions. The participants were professors (experts) and students (novices). The experiment consisted of participants answering 68 true/false calculus expressions (equations or conditionals) at three levels of difficulty. Reaction time, accuracy, and level of confidence were recorded. Experts were found to be quicker and more accurate overall. The experts were not able to reject the false problems more quickly than accepting the true ones. However, there was still some support for the hypothesis that experts are not only quantitatively better at task performance, but qualitatively different from novices in the type of processing they employ.


BACKGROUND Ocular alkali burns can be associated with a poor visual outcome. The release of collagenases and proteases after the injury leads to corneoscleral melting. The role of topical steroids in such patients is controversial as they have been postulated to exacerbate corneoscleral melting. METHODS 30 patients were reviewed retrospectively after admission to King's College Hospital with alkali burns between 1990 and 1993. All patients were treated with an intense and prolonged regimen of topical steroids and topical and systemic vitamin C. RESULTS 22 patients had mild injuries and eight had severe injuries as estimated by the Roper-Hall grading system. 23 patients were treated with topical steroids for > 10 days and 22 patients were treated with topical vitamin C for more than 10 days. One patient with a severe injury developed corneoscleral melting. CONCLUSION Prolonged treatment with topical steroids when used in conjunction with topical vitamin C is not associated with corneoscleral melting.


At the heart of many econometric models are a linear function and a normal error. Examples include the classical small-sample linear regression model and the probit, ordered probit, multinomial probit, tobit, interval regression, and truncated-distribution regression models. Because the normal distribution has a natural multidimensional generalization, such models can be combined into mul- tiequation systems in which the errors share a multivariate normal distribution. The literature has historically focused on multistage procedures for fitting mixed models, which are more efficient computationally, if less so statistically, than maxi- mum likelihood. Direct maximum likelihood estimation has been made more prac- tical by faster computers and simulated likelihood methods for estimating higher- dimensional cumulative normal distributions. Such simulated likelihood methods include the Geweke–Hajivassiliou–Keane algorithm (Geweke, 1989, Econometrica 57: 1317–1339; Hajivassiliou and McFadden, 1998, Econometrica 66: 863–896; Keane, 1994, Econometrica 62: 95–116). Maximum likelihood also facilitates a generalization to switching, selection, and other models in which the number and types of equations vary by observation. The Stata command cmp fits seemingly un- related regressions models of this broad family. Its estimator is also consistent for recursive systems in which all endogenous variables appear on the right-hand sides as observed. If all the equations are structural, then estimation is full-information maximum likelihood. If only the final stage or stages are structural, then estima- tion is limited-information maximum likelihood. cmp can mimic a score of built-in and user-written Stata commands. It is also appropriate for a panoply of models that previously were hard to estimate. Heteroskedasticity, however, can render cmp inconsistent. This article explains the theory and implementation of cmp and of a related Mata function, ghk2(), that implements the Geweke–Hajivassiliou–Keane algorithm. Copyright 2011 by StataCorp LP.


Abstract. Ice core data from Antarctica provide detailed insights into the characteristics of past climate, atmospheric circulation, as well as changes in the aerosol load of the atmosphere. We present high-resolution records of soluble calcium (Ca2+), non-sea-salt soluble calcium (nssCa2+), and particulate mineral dust aerosol from the East Antarctic Plateau at a depth resolution of 1 cm, spanning the past 800 000 years. Despite the fact that all three parameters are largely dust-derived, the ratio of nssCa2+ to particulate dust is dependent on the particulate dust concentration itself. We used principal component analysis to extract the joint climatic signal and produce a common high-resolution record of dust flux. This new record is used to identify Antarctic warming events during the past eight glacial periods. The phasing of dust flux and CO2 changes during glacial-interglacial transitions reveals that iron fertilization of the Southern Ocean during the past nine glacial terminations was not the dominant factor in the deglacial rise of CO2 concentrations. Rapid changes in dust flux during glacial terminations and Antarctic warming events point to a rapid response of the southern westerly wind belt in the region of southern South American dust sources on changing climate conditions. The clear lead of these dust changes on temperature rise suggests that an atmospheric reorganization occurred in the Southern Hemisphere before the Southern Ocean warmed significantly.


Collecting information has always been both a necessity and a challenge for the United Nations. The timely and accurate knowledge of relevant facts is undoubtedly a necessary prerequisite when exercising its functions. However, given the lack of autonomous sources of information, the United Nations is more often than not reliant upon States to acquire information before they take any action. Recent practice in this respect is marked by informality and opaqueness. These traits come into sharp focus particularly in the context of investigations led by United Nations. What this article will attempt to show is that flexibility, or at least good-functioning, does not necessarily imply informality. By taking similar examples of exchanges of information at the international, European and domestic levels, it will be argued that a formal legal basis stressing a limited number of conditions for the exchange of information has already been established and thus may be possible in the context of the United Nations.


We consider the problem of learning Bayesian networks (BNs) from complete discrete data. This problem of discrete optimisation is formulated as an integer program (IP). We describe the various steps we have taken to allow efficient solving of this IP. These are (i) efficient search for cutting planes, (ii) a fast greedy algorithm to find high-scoring (perhaps not optimal) BNs and (iii) tightening the linear relaxation of the IP. After relating this BN learning problem to set covering and the multidimensional 0-1 knapsack problem, we present our empirical results. These show improvements, sometimes dramatic, over earlier results.


Pancreatic cancer is a malignancy with a very poor prognosis, even when radically resected. In advanced disease chemotherapy has a role in terms of clinical benefit and symptoms palliation, more than survival advantage. Gemcitabine as a single agent is the first-line standard treatment since 1997. Several trials failed to demonstrate a survival advantage of chemotherapy doublets or gemcitabine combined with biological agents versus gemcitabine alone in phase III trials. Erlotinib was the only agent to produce a statistically significant improvement of survival when combined with gemcitabine versus gemcitabine alone. Nevertheless, the clinical application of these literature data remains controversial. However, a meta-analysis showed that combination chemotherapy is superior to gemcitabine alone in terms of survival and clinical benefit in selected subgroups of patients. In unresectable locally advanced disease chemotherapy is active, whereas no high level evidence exists about a possible superiority of chemoradiation. Chemotherapy followed by chemoradiation represents a promising treatment schedule, resulting better than chemotherapy alone in a retrospective analysis. Adjuvant chemotherapy is nowadays a standard treatment, with both 5-FU and gemcitabine resulted superior to observation. Instead adjuvant chemoradiation is not a standard, even though it can be suggested in selected subgroups of patients. In resectable locally advanced disease neoadjuvant therapy is still investigational. Chemoradiation or chemotherapy followed by chemoradiation produced promising results in phase II trials. Possible future gain in terms of survival could come from better neoadjuvant treatments in potentially resectable pancreatic carcinoma. Therefore, this setting should stimulate studies with new drugs and combinations and potential biological predictive factors.


In Israel, approximately 25,000 Thai laborers are contracted for agricultural work in all parts of the country, following
 a series of bilateral agreements between the governments of Israel and Thailand. Various NGOs and agencies have documented numerous
 violations of labor laws in many Israeli farms, including the lack of safety measures, poor working and living conditions, and extremely low
 salaries. Israeli discourse on the topic vacillates between the interests of farmers, workers, consumers, and the government (Or & Shohamy, 2020), and the occasional appearance of reports about the abuse of workers
 reignites the debate and tensions surrounding these issues. This longitudinal qualitative study, spanning from 2013 to 2019, focuses on the
 linguistic landscape (LL) of the Central Arava region – an arid, sparsely populated subdistrict in Southern Israel. What makes this region
 unique is that the number of Thai migrant workers there equals or slightly exceeds that of Hebrew-speaking Jews. Using an LL approach (Jaworski & Thurlow, 2010; Shohamy & Gorter, 2009;
 Shohamy, 2012), the 2013 study sought to explore the visibility and vitality of the Thai
 language as well as its interactions with other languages. The roles that Thai, Hebrew, English, Arabic, and other languages played in the
 public space clearly revealed the power relations between the speakers of these languages. The 2018–19 follow-up to the original 2013
 findings seeks to track the impact on the public space of recent developments such as population changes, the advent of speakers of other
 languages to the region, the economic crisis, and the public controversy about the exploitation of workers. The study shows that the number
 of Thai signs has been significantly reduced in recent years, not only pointing to changes in the multilingual reality of the region, but
 also raising a series of questions about labor conditions, regulation, informal labor markets, and cases of potential mismatch between
 reality and perceptions.


http://journals.cambridge.org/ets Ergodic Theory and Dynamical Systems focuses on a rich variety of research areas which, although diverse, employ as common themes global dynamical methods. The journal provides a focus for this important and flourishing area of mathematics and brings together many major contributions in the field. The journal acts as a forum for central problems of dynamical systems and of interactions of dynamical systems with areas such as differential geometry, number theory, operator algebras, celestial and statistical mechanics, and biology. To subscribe contact Customer Services


Inhomogeneous optical slab and channel waveguides are basic devices for realization of interconnections in the optical integrated circuits as a fundamental alternative for all-optical signal processing systems. Usually, the numerical methods are used for determination of the waveguide characteristics such as the mode functions, the index of refractions and the wave vectors in engineering problems. We will obtain a new set of exact solutions for the propagating modes in slab waveguides. Using our proposed approach, one can obtain a large class of inhomogeneous media with position dependent permittivity and permeability with exact solutions for TM modes.


Blight-MOP
Late blight (caused by Phytophthora infestans) is the most devastating fungal disease affecting organic (and conventional) potato production in the EU. It kills the foliage and usually results in losses of yield which can be very large when infection is severe and occurs early in the season. The disease may be transmitted to the tubers which become unmarketable and these can lead to complete deterioration of the stored crop if put into storage with healthy tubers. To a great extent, conventional production systems rely upon frequent applications of synthetic fungicides with different modes of action for late blight control, but this is seldom completely successful. However, in organic systems, the availability of chemical fungicides is currently restricted to those which are 'considered to be traditional organic farming practices': these include copper hydroxide, copper oxychloride (tribasic), copper sulphate and cuprous oxide that have a protectant action and are reasonably effective. Their use is restricted by national legislation and organic certifying authorities and pressure has been mounting to withdraw them not only because of possible adverse effects on wildlife, the environment and human health but also their incompatibility with organic production principles. This led to a proposed ban on the use of copper fungicides for control of late blight in organic farming in the EU from March 2002 which had potentially serious implications for the potato crop. The resultant losses of yield and hence income in the absence of copper-based fungicide sprays were expected to threaten the economic viability of both organic potato enterprises and/or whole organic farming businesses in many areas of the EU in the medium to long term until effective, alternative methods are developed.
In the meantime, two major approaches were adopted. One was to set a limit to the amount of copperbased fungicides permitted for application: until 31 December 2005, the maximum application was restricted to 8kg of elemental copper/ha/year for annual crops, declining to 6kg/ha/year from 1 January 2006 (but this could be changed at any time in the light of developments in viable alternatives or should there be proposals for withdrawal under the EC Review programme for existing active substances).
Another was to promote further research to identify and develop effective alternative late blight control methods and strategies without the undesirable effects associated with copper-based fungicides.
The Blight-MOP project – 'Development of a systems approach for late Blight (caused by Phytophthora infestans) Management in EU Organic Production systems' was initiated in March 2001 to achieve this aim and maintain yield and quality and hence commercial viability of organic potato crops without the use of copper fungicides. Such an approach involves integrated use of (i) resistant varieties (ii) existing agronomic strategies (iii) alternative treatments that can replace synthetic and copper-based fungicides (iv)
use of existing blight forecasting systems to optimise control treatments and to maximise synergistic interactions between (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv).
The specific objectives were to:
1. Assess the socio-economic impact of late blight and 'state-of-the-art' blight management practices in EU organic potato production systems
2. Assess varietal performance in organic production systems in different EU regions and interactions with local blight populations
3. Develop within field diversification strategies to prevent/delay blight epidemics
4. Optimise agronomic strategies for the management of late blight
5. Develop alternative control treatments to copper-based fungicides that comply with organic farming standards
6. Evaluate novel application and formulation strategies for copper- free/alternative and copper-based late blight treatments
7. Integrate optimised resistance management, diversification, agronomic and alternative control treatment strategies into existing organic potato management systems.

To pursue these objectives, experiments were conducted over 4 seasons from 2001 to 2004 under organic cropping system conditions in seven countries (Denmark, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland and United Kingdom) spanning a wide range of aerial, soil, production and marketing environments. The rate and severity of the late blight epidemics in 2001, 2002 and 2004 gave a rigorous test of the different components of the integrated management system which gave broadly similar effects in the three years. In 2003, the very hot, dry summer (and August in particular) severely restricted the disease making it difficult to evaluate the efficacy of treatments in some regions, but in others where infection did occur the general trends were similar to those observed in other years.


The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is responsible for controlling grasshopper populations on public rangelands. Under current guidelines, control of grasshoppers on rangeland should occur if grasshopper densities are at least eight per square yard. This article evaluates the concept of an economic threshold relative to the value of forage saved from destruction during a grasshopper outbreak. It is shown that financial justification for treating grasshopper outbreaks depends upon grasshopper density, rangeland productivity, climate factors, livestock cost and return relationships, and the efficacy of treatment options.


A combined gamma scintillation/liquid scintillation technique for the sequential determination of two radioactive tracers is described. The method was developed using a combined gamma/beta-emitter (57Co) and a pure beta-emitter (45Ca). First, the 57Co radioactivity was determined by counting the samples in a gamma scintillation analyzer in the energy region 80-165 keV. Next, the samples were counted in a liquid scintillation analyzer. Only one energy region was used to count both isotopes to maximize the counting efficiencies. From the difference between quenched and unquenched beta-spectra, the counting region was set from 0 to 256 keV. The counting efficiency was related to a quench-indicating parameter (tSIE) for both nuclides by fitting a rectangular hyperbola to the quench data. By subtracting the 57Co counts from the observed counts in the total window, 45Ca dpm values were obtained. It is shown that the method presented gives reliable and consistent results. The recoveries of both isotopes are independent of the quench level in a large tSIE range, although five times more radioactivity is required for 45Ca than for 57Co to obtain accurate and reproducible results. The method has been used to study mechanisms of metal transport across biological interfaces.


OBJECTIVE To investigate the localization and expression of protein kinase C (PKC)-betaI, betaII in diabetic nephropathy (DN) mouse kidney and its relation to angiotensin receptor blocker telmisartan (Micardis). METHODS Eighteen mice were divided into three groups: normal group, DN group and Micardis-treated group (n = 6, each group). The expression of PKC-betaI, betaII, transforming growth factor- beta 1 (TGF-beta1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in glomeruli was measured by semiquantitative immunofluorescence histochemistry, the localization of PKC-betaI, betaII was detected by confocal immunofluorescence laser scanning microscopy and the expression of PKC-betaI, betaII in renal cortex, outer and inner medulla were evaluated by semiquantitative Western blotting. RESULTS Compared to normal mice, the expression of PKC-betaI and betaII on apical membrane of proximal tubule epithelial cells of DN mice was significantly increased, whereas the expression of PKC-betaII on cortical and inner medullary collecting duct was decreased. Western blotting detected increasing expression of PKC-betaI in the renal cortex and outer medulla (P < 0.01), and decreasing expression of PKC-betaII in renal cortex of DN mice (P < 0.01). Enhanced expression of PKC-betaI as well as TGF-beta1 and VEGF (P < 0.01) were shown in the glomeruli of DN mice, where the expression of PKC-betaII was decreased (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, PKC-betaI exhibited a positive correlation to TGF-beta1 (r = 0.649, P = 0.030), but no correlation to VEGF (r = 0.387, P = 0.079). Micardis could partly attenuate above changes. CONCLUSION The localization and expression of PKC-betaI, betaII are altered in DN mice, PKC-betaI, betaII may change the function of proximal tubule and PKC-betaI may contribute to glomerular hypertrophy through influencing the expression of glomerular TGF-beta1. Treatment with Micardis can partly improve the abnormal expression and distribution of PKC-betaI, betaII in kidneys of DN mice, which suggests that renin-angiotensin-system is implicated in the pathogenesis of DN by regulating the expression and activation of PKC-betaI, betaII isoforms.


This paper briefly examines the evidence for a link between creativity and curiosity and argues that one way to better support creative processes is to develop computational systems that incorporate models of curiosity. Empirical evidence about curious behaviour provides some useful guidance in the development of simple computational models of explorative curiosity. Existing agent-based models of curiosity are presented and discussed with reference to models of individual creativity. A scenario for supporting creativity is presented where a curious agent models a user's preference for novelty. Limitations this approach are discussed and a ways to overcome them suggested.


The need to define more comprehensive the concept of soil fertility, but also to offer a practical tool to measure it, both for natural and agricultural soils without penalty interdictions and for soils affected by anthropogenesis processes, respectively urban soils, has led to elaboration of a complex indicator for assessing fertility (CIF). In order to quantify fertility, major soil features were grouped into two categories: potentiating and penalty indicators. The first category includes: climatic indicators (precipitation, temperature), indicators to characterize the nutritive space, also for water and air regime (edaphic volume, and the level of gleyzation and pseudo - gleyzation), physical indicators (texture, bulk density), chemical indicators (pH, humus content and the content of macro elements). The second category includes levels of salinization, alkalization, carbonation, pollution and artifacts content. Analytical values and morphological observations of each of the indicators mentioned above, are appreciated by giving points (notes) from 1-5, depending on their role in increasing soil fertility. The difference between the sum of notes granted to potentiating indicators and the sum of notes accorded to penalty indicators represents the value of complex indicator for assessing fertility (CIF). CIF values are interpreted according to a scale of values which separates soils into classes, from those with low fertility to high fertility. The calculation procedure and interpretation of CIF values for four soil types contrasting in terms of fertility level are exemplified. Three soil types, contrasting in terms of fertility, and an urban soil were selected. For each soil type, on the genetic horizons up to a depth of 60 cm, notes for each potentiating or penalty features were calculated.By summing the potentiating notes and, eventually, subtracting the amount of penalty notes was obtained the value for complex index of fertility. The results showed that: the Cambic Chernozems from Sârca has high fertility, with CIF value by 39, Fragic Alisol 1 and Gleyc Salic Vertic Cambisol have an average fertility, and with CIF value of 33, 25 respectively, and finally, Urbic Regosol has a low fertility, CIF value being only 21.


Technological platforms, such as social media, are disrupting traditional journalism, as a result the access to high-quality information by citizens is facing important challenges, among which, disinformation and the spread of fake news are the most relevant one. This study approaches how journalism students perceive and assess this phenomenon. The descriptive and exploratory research is based on a hybrid methodology: Two matrix surveys of students and a focus group of professors (n = 6), experts in Multimedia Journalism. The first survey (n = 252), focused on students' perception of fake news, the second (n = 300) aims at finding out the type of content they had received during the recent confinement caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Results show that most of the students prefer online media as a primary source of information instead of social media. Students consider that politics is the main topic of fake news, which, according to the respondents, are mainly distributed by adult users through social networks. The vast majority believe that fake news are created for political interests and a quarter of the sample considers that there is a strong ideological component behind disinformation strategies. Nonetheless, the study also reveals that students do not trust in their ability to distinguish between truthful and false information. For this reason, this research concludes, among other aspects, that the promotion of initiatives and research to promote media literacy and news literacy are decisive in the training of university students.


This paper proposes a new method to optimize cold strip rolling schedule by means of self-adaptive learning based particle swarm optimization (SLPSO). Multiple strategies may be adopted based on their previous behaviors in the searching. This particle swarm optimization version is robust and effective in solving complex problems. Function of power cost was constructed to heuristically direct the SLPSO searching, based on the consideration of power distribution, speed and rolling constraints. The results of simulation demonstrate that SLPSO is more efficient in calculating than others, and provides a new valid method for the intelligent optimum design of scheduling tandem cold strip mill.


Tris buffer was utilized in the prevention or treatment of profound metabolic acidosis which developed during, and immediately after, extended periods of extracorporeal circulation. In 16 patients (group I), buffer was added to the 24-hour-old heparinized priming blood prior to initiation of bypass, to counteract a low pH and high lactic acid concentration. The success of this therapy was manifested by the stability of all acid-base parameters during and following operation. In the second group of 11 patients (group II), severe metabolic acidosis developed despite preliminary buffering of the priming blood. Here, the administration of additional buffer successfully restored acid-base equilibrium prior to the termination of perfusion. The buffer also proved effective in the treatment of two patients who developed severe respiratory acidosis in the immediate postperfusion period, and was instrumental in the resuscitation of a final patient following a prolonged period of cardiac arrest. It is suggested that...


Skin melanocytes harbor a complex photosensitive system comprised of opsins, which were shown, in recent years, to display light- and thermo-independent functions. Based on this premise, we investigated whether melanopsin, OPN4, displays such a role in normal melanocytes. In this study, we found that murine Opn4KO melanocytes displayed a faster proliferation rate compared to Opn4WT melanocytes. Cell cycle population analysis demonstrated that OPN4KO melanocytes exhibited a faster cell cycle progression with reduced G0–G1, and highly increased S and slightly increased G2/M cell populations compared to the Opn4WT counterparts. Expression of specific cell cycle-related genes in Opn4KO melanocytes exhibited alterations that corroborate a faster cell cycle progression. We also found significant modification in gene and protein expression levels of important regulators of melanocyte physiology. PER1 protein level was higher while BMAL1 and REV-ERBα decreased in Opn4KO melanocytes compared to Opn4WT cells. Interestingly, the gene expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) was upregulated in Opn4KO melanocytes, which is in line with a higher proliferative capability. Taken altogether, we demonstrated that OPN4 regulates cell proliferation, cell cycle, and affects the expression of several important factors of the melanocyte physiology; thus, arguing for a putative tumor suppression role in melanocytes.


China University of Petroleum (CUP) was founded in 1953 and celebrated its 60th anniversary last year in Houston and Beijing, a moment in its history of development. As professor and dean, I was invited to give a luncheon talk at the 83rd Annual International Meeting of SEG in Houston last fall. Now it is worthwhile to sort out a timeline for this history of exploration geophysics at China University of Petroleum. Several universities in China provide exploration-geophysics education, among which China University of Petroleum is unique with all its virtue and merits.


Inferior olive (IO) neurons are electrically coupled by cytosolic pores formed by the neuron-specific connexin 36 (Cx36). Electrical coupling in the IO figures prominently in current views about brain control of movement. However, a role for Cx36 in movement has been questioned and not definitively demonstrated. Previous reports have shown that embryonic deletion of the Cx36 gene resulted in almost complete loss of cytosolic and electrical coupling in the IO without an obvious deficit in movement, possibly due to developmental compensations in ionic conductances that can confound the approach of embryonic gene deletion. We used a replication-incompetent lentiviral vector to stably express a dominant-negative Cx36 mutant in the IO of adult rats. We show that interneuronal cytosolic coupling is severely reduced by the mutant Cx36, without effect on neuron morphology or electrical properties. Multisite electromyography revealed that blocking Cx36 in the IO impaired the coherence of muscle firing during harmaline tremor without affecting its rhythm. The data demonstrate that gap junction coupling within the IO mediated by Cx36 adds 10-20 ms of precision to the fine temporal coordination of muscle firing during movement.


In The History and Character of Calvinism, John T. McNeill dismisses the story of English Presbyterianism in the eighteenth century with the following statement: Here we may return for a brief reference to Calvinism in England, where the Presbyterian … nonconformity carried its banners but weakly in the eighteenth century… After the death of Matthew Henry (1714) … Presbyterian leadership was undistinguished. A tincture of rationalism and Socinianism entered the nonconformist academies, and many of the Presbyterian ministers rejected the Westminster standards and doctrines … Those who remained orthodox were in general dull and ineffective ministers. The result was a decline in numbers and significance. This decayed Presbyterianism was restored, or more accurately replaced by the activity of Scots in England, including both those of the Kirk and those of the secessions1.


ABSTRACT Upper Paleozoic shallow-water (algal) bioherms were sensitive to changes in accommodation, and thus preserve potentially high-resolution records of the (glacio)eustatic and tectonic perturbations that prevailed during late Paleozoic time. Detailed field and petrographic study of a high-relief (> 100 m), well-exposed mound complex of the western Orogrande basin (New Mexico) indicates that it consists of a series of stacked high-frequency sequences bounded by surfaces of paleo-subaerial exposure. Facies within and proximal to this complex include (1) boundstones (cement-, algal-, peloidal-, and foraminiferal-rich variants) within mound-core regions, (2) packstones (skeletal-, foraminiferal-, algal-, and peloidal-rich debris) within mound-flank regions, and (3) auxiliary facies (oncoidal wackestone, algal bindstone, carbonate mudstone) formed in low-relief off-mound regions. Sequence stacking in this system was the result of high-frequency, high-amplitude glacioeustasy that prevailed during late Paleozoic time. Paleorelief on subaerial exposure surfaces records glacioeustatic amplitudes in excess of 80-100 m; preserved paleoslopes locally exceeding 40° (compactionally corrected) indicate that the mounds were cemented geologically instantaneously and not easily eroded, even at lowstands. Timing of stratal accretion within a given sequence varied significantly as a function of both spatial and temporal position within the biohermal complex. Stratal accretion in mound-nucleation stages produced late-falling-stage ("catch-down") sequences both on- and off-mound. During the "acme" phase of mound growth in this complex, accretion occurred during sea-level rise and maximum inundation phases, nearly pacing production of short-term (glacioeustatic) accommodation and producing an anomalously thick, near keep-up sequence in the mound-core region. Subsequent sequences of the mound core nucleated atop significant paleobathymetric relief, accreted during maximum inundation to incipient fall, and therefore display thicknesses that likely reflect long-term accommodation potential. In a shallow-water biohermal system capable of accretion rates commensurate with production of short-term accommodation space, very thick near keep-up sequences are laterally offset from one another in progradational, retrogradational, or random shifting patterns owing to the limits of short-term accommodation production in any given locality. Sequence thicknesses in shallow-water biohermal systems vary substantially laterally as a result of variable sedimentation (accretion) rates as well as other environmental factors. Accordingly, sequence thicknesses should never be used as faithful and consistent proxies for calculations of accommodation space or eustatic magnitudes.