Introduction: With the rapid scale-up of antiretroviral therapy (ART) to treat HIV infection, there are ongoing concerns regarding probable emergence and transmission of HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) mutations. This scale-up has to lead to an increased need for routine HIVDR testing to inform the clinical decision on a regimen switch. Although the majority of wet laboratory processes are standardized, slow, labor-intensive data transfer and subjective manual sequence interpretation steps are still required to finalize and release patient results. We thus set out to validate the applicability of a software package to generate HIVDR patient results from raw sequence data independently. Methods: We assessed the performance characteristics of Hyrax Bioscience's Exatype (a sequence data to patient result, fully automated sequence analysis software, which consolidates RECall, MEGA X and the Stanford HIV database) against the standard method (RECall and Stanford database). Exatype is a web-based HIV Drug resistance bioinformatic pipeline available at sanger.exatype.com. To validate the exatype, we used a test set of 135 remnant HIV viral load samples at the National HIV Reference Laboratory (NHRL). Result: We analyzed, and successfully generated results of 126 sequences out of 135 specimens by both Standard and Exatype software. Result production using Exatype required minimal hands-on time in comparison to the Standard (6 computation-hours using the standard method versus 1.5 Exatype computation-hours). Concordance between the 2 systems was 99.8% for 311,227 bases compared. 99.7% of the 0.2% discordant bases, were attributed to nucleotide mixtures as a result of the sequence editing in Recall. Both methods identified similar (99.1%) critical antiretroviral resistance-associated mutations resulting in a 99.2% concordance of resistance susceptibility interpretations. The Base-calling comparison between the 2 methods had Cohen's kappa (0.97 to 0.99), implying an almost perfect agreement with minimal base calling variation. On a predefined dataset, RECall editing displayed the highest probability to score mixtures accurately 1 vs. 0.71 and the lowest chance to inaccurately assign mixtures to pure nucleotides (0.002–0.0008). This advantage is attributable to the manual sequence editing in RECall. Conclusion: The reduction in hands-on time needed is a benefit when using the Exatype HIV DR sequence analysis platform and result generation tool. There is a minimal difference in base calling between Exatype and standard methods. Although the discrepancy has minimal impact on drug resistance interpretation, allowance of sequence editing in Exatype as RECall can significantly improve its performance.


In the present work, transient CFD simulations of full wood log combustion cycles have been performed to study the time dependent behavior in cast iron and soapstone wood stoves. A model for the gas release is developed and implemented. The gas release model takes into account that the fuel gas release is transient, where both mass flow rate and gas composition as well as gas temperature changes with time. The effect of the wood stove material and its thermal inertia and conductivity on the combustion process and the transient heat release to the surroundings has been studied. In addition, transient variation in gas and wall temperatures as well as the combustion performance, was also studied. The simulations clearly show the effect of stove type on the transient heat release, which is controlled by the outer wall temperatures and the amount of heat transferred into the walls and their heat storage capacity. Due to the long real time duration of a full combustion cycle, these simulations are computationally very expensive and therefore only twodimensional simulations were performed. The results show that the cast iron stove has higher outer wall temperatures and heat release during the combustion cycle than the soapstone stove. The soapstone stove has flatter profiles for outer wall temperatures and heat release to the surroundings and have a longer heat release period after the combustion cycle has ended.


The availability of reliable commercial information is considered a key feature of inter-regional trade if the Roman economy was highly integrated. However, the extent to which archaeological and historical sources of inter-regional trade reflect the degree of economic integration is still not fully understood, a question which lies at the heart of current debates in Roman Studies. Ceramic tableware offers one of the only comparable and quantifiable sources of information for Roman inter-regional trade over centuries-long time periods. The distribution patterns and stylistic features of tablewares from the East Mediterranean dated between 200 BC and AD 300 suggest a competitive market where buying decisions might have been influenced by access to reliable commercial information. We contribute to this debate by representing three competing hypotheses in an agent-based model: success-biased social learning of tableware buying strategies (requiring access to reliable commercial information from all traders), unbiased social learning (requiring limited access), and independent learning (requiring no access). We use approximate Bayesian computation (ABC) to evaluate which hypothesis best describes archaeologically observed tableware distribution patterns. Our results revealed success-bias is not a viable theory and we demonstrate instead that local innovation (independent learning) is a plausible driving factor in inter-regional tableware trade. We also suggest that tableware distribution should instead be explored as a small component of long-distance trade cargoes dominated by foodstuffs, metals, and building materials.


This article discusses when an ERISA plan may, and when it must, comply with directions of (1)an attorney in fact under a power of attorney, or (2) a court-appointed guardians. Such issues are not limited to cases in which an ERISA plan participant or beneficiary lacks the capacity to act on his or her own because a person able to act on his own may wish to appoint a third-party agent to act on his behalf, such as an investment manager. Moreover, lack of capacity may result not only from a participant's disability, but also if there is a dispute about the identity of the beneficiary or a gap between the time of the death of the participant and the time a beneficiary assumes those responsibilities. There are issues about the plan investment responsibilities for self-directed plans if the participant or beneficiary lacks capacity, but the plan has not accepted an agent appointed by such person when he had capacity. Administrators of employee benefit plans governed by ERISA, often have to deal with third-party agents who have been designated to act on behalf of participants and beneficiaries with respect to the certain aspects of the plans, including powers of attorney and court-appointed guardians. This article discusses (1) when a third party may act on behalf of an ERISA plan participant or beneficiary who may, but need not, be unable to act on his or her behalf, and (2) the responsibilities of an ERISA plan to a participant or beneficiary unable to act on his or her behalf if no third party is authorized to act on his or behalf. There may be issues regarding at least the following eight general rights: (1) to pursue a benefit claim; (2) to obtain plan and benefit information; (3) to make beneficiary designations; (4) to invest plan assets and to obtain information about the principal's investment options; (5) to select the time and form of benefit payment; (6) to assign benefit rights and thereby create a beneficiary; (7) to determine to whom the plan makes a benefit payment; and (8) to make employee contributions to the plan. Furthermore, there may be issues for ERISA healthcare plans about the authority of agents to make healthcare decisions for participants, and for healthcare reimbursement plans about the applicability of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act ("HIPPAA").


Neurorraphy, conventional nerve grafting technique, and artificial nerve conduits are not enough for repair in severe injuries of peripheral nerves, especially when there is separation of motor nerve from muscle tissue. In these nerve injuries, reinnervation is indicated for neurotization. The distal end of a peripheral nerve is divided into fascicles and implanted into the aneural zone of target muscle tissue. It is not known how deeply fascicles should be implanted into muscle tissue. A comparative study of superficial and deep implantation of separated motor nerve into muscle tissue is presented in the gastrocnemius muscle of rabbits. In this experimental study, 30 white New Zealand rabbits were used and divided into 3 groups of 10 rabbits each. In the first group (controls, group I), only surgical exposure of the gastrocnemius muscle and motor nerve (tibial nerve) was done without any injury to nerves. In the superficial implantation group (group II), tibial nerves were separated and divided into their own fascicles. These fascicles were implanted superficially into the lateral head of gastrocnemius muscle‐aneural zone. In the deep implantation group (group III), the tibial nerves were separated and divided into their own fascicles. These fascicles were implanted around the center of the muscle mass, into the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle‐aneural zone. Six months later, histopathological changes and functional recovery of the gastrocnemius muscle were investigated. Both experimental groups had less muscular weight than in the control group. It was found that functional recovery was achieved in both experimental groups, and was better in the superficial implantation group than the deep implantation group. EMG recordings revealed that polyphasic and late potentials were frequently seen in both experimental groups. Degeneration and regeneration of myofibrils were observed in both experimental groups. New motor end‐plates were formed in a scattered manner in both experimental groups. However, they were more dense in the superficial implantation group than the deep implantation group. It was concluded that superficial implantation has a more powerful contractile capacity than that of deep implantation. We believe that this might arise from the high activity of glycolytic enzymes in peripheral muscle fibers of gastrocnemius muscle, decrease in insufficient intramuscular guidance apparatus, and intramuscular microneuroma formation at the insufficient neuromuscular junction since the motor nerve had less route to muscle fibers. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. MICROSURGERY 22:242–248 2002


Kinesin-5s are essential members of the superfamily of microtubule-dependent motors that undertake conserved roles in cell division. We investigated coevolution of the motor-microtubule interface using cryo-electron microscopy to determine the near-atomic structure of the motor domain of Cut7, the fission yeast kinesin-5, bound to fission yeast microtubules. AMPPNP-bound Cut7 adopts a kinesin-conserved ATP-like conformation, with a closed nucleotide binding pocket and docked neck linker that supports cover neck bundle formation. Compared to mammalian tubulin microtubules, Cut7's footprint on S. pombe microtubule surface is subtly different because of their different architecture. However, the core motor-microtubule interaction that stimulates motor ATPase is tightly conserved, reflected in similar Cut7 ATPase activities on each microtubule type. The S. pombe microtubules were bound by the drug epothilone, which is visible in the taxane binding pocket. Stabilization of S. pombe microtubules is mediated by drug binding at this conserved site despite their noncanonical architecture and mechanochemistry. Highlights S. pombe Cut7 has a distinct binding footprint on S. pombe microtubules The core interface driving microtubule activation of motor ATPase is conserved The neck linker is docked in AMPPNP-bound Cut7 and the cover neck bundle is formed Epothilone binds at the taxane binding site to stabilize S. pombe microtubules eTOC text To investigate coevolution of the motor-microtubule interface, we used cryo-electron microscopy to determine the near-atomic structure of the motor domain of Cut7, the fission yeast kinesin-5, bound to microtubules polymerized from natively purified fission yeast tubulin and stabilised by the drug epothilone.


"In geographic information systems (GIS) the collection, combination, analysis and visualization of spatial data is carried out in digital maps. Due to the significance of the location for this spatial data basis a commercial use of GIS seems to be suitable for the real estate economy. In German practice however, this is only true for isolated, heterogeneous and little transparent individual applications. The practical problems today result less from technology, but rather arise from the data obtaining and availability. For this reason the possible use of GIS applications is evaluated on the basis of existing empirical analyses of the value relevance of spatial data parameters for real estate decisions. Applications, target groups and requirements of property-related GIS are developed thereupon systematically following the value-added chain in the life cycle of real estate. Decision makers only will use and pay for property-related GIS, if the specific application solutions generate an ""added value"" for them. Based on this central assumption, the range of application extends from value inquiries in the context of financing and portfolio decisions in the letting phases of real estate to the use in location and market analysis in the developmental stages of real estate. The latter is shown exemplarily with the modeling of an GIS to forecast the supply and demand of office property areas."


ABSTRACT This article considers the provision of modern foreign languages (MFL) in England since the 1970s in the context of wider curricular change and also taking into account Europe-wide developments in MFL. It charts the changes implemented over almost three decades to England's National Curriculum for MFL at secondary level (from ages 11 to 16) and highlights the significant role – particularly before 2010 – of Her Majesty's Inspectors of Schools (HMI) in evaluating curricular innovation and support for MFL teacher development. Perennial issues over this period include: the range of languages studied; the gender bias in the uptake of MFL; the low uptake of MFL after the age of 14; use of the target language and the role of grammar. The article highlights the limitations for MFL in England resulting from restricted time allocations; the lack of coherence and continuity in policy implementation; and the recent loss of support infrastructure for MFL teachers. Finally, the author reflects on the UK's participation in Council of Europe and European Union projects and the extent to which MFL in England has been influenced by these.


Several different sintering systems about the formation of C3A ,by mixing CaO and Al2O3 powder, are studied in this experiment. The sample is characterized by glycerol ethanol method, X-ray powder diffraction and TG-DTA. The experimental results show that: reducing the react time cannot boost the formation of C3A, but traditionally electrical heating combined microwave heating can romote the formation of C3A rapidly .In terms of phase equilibria of CaO-Al2O3 system, pure C3A cann't be synthesized by sintering . Except the samples also contain minor amounts of CA and C12A7.


We show that elliptic classes introduced in \cite{annals} for spaces with infinite fundamental groups yield Novikov's type higher elliptic genera which are invariants of K-equivalence. This include, as a special case, the birational invariance of higher Todd classes studied recently by J.Rosenberg and J.Block-S.Weinberger. We also prove the modular properties of these genera, show that they satisfy a McKay correspondence, and consider their twist by discrete torsion.


[1] Secondary transient luminous events (TLEs) recorded by the ISUAL-FORMOSAT2 mission can either be secondary jets or secondary gigantic jets (GJs), depending on their terminal altitudes. The secondary jets emerge from the cloud top beneath the preceding sprites and extend upward to the base of the sprites at ∼50 km. The secondary jets likely are negative electric discharges with vertically straight luminous columns, morphologically resembling the trailing jet of the type-I GJs. The number of luminous columns in a secondary jet seems to be affected by the size of the effective capacitor plate formed near the base of the preceding sprites and the charge distribution left behind by the sprite-inducing positive cloud-to-ground discharges. The secondary GJs originate from the cloud top under the shielding area of the preceding sprites, and develop upward to reach the lower ionosphere at ∼90 km. The observed morphology of the secondary GJs can either be the curvy shifted secondary GJs extending outside the region occupied by the preceding sprites or the straight pop-through secondary GJs developing through the center of the preceding circular sprites. A key factor in determining the terminal height of the secondary TLEs appears to be the local ionosphere boundary height that established by the preceding sprites. The abundance and the distribution of the negative charge in the thundercloud following the sprite-inducing positive cloud-to-ground discharges may play important role in the generation of the secondary TLEs.


Colleges of Business have experienced high growth rates in the past decade and many colleges are imposing minimum grade point average (GPA) requirements for students entering and remaining in the College. A primary reason for this requirement, presumably, is that students with a high GPA are of a high caliber and are more inclined than those with a low GPA to demonstrate higher-order cognitive skills. However, it is not clear whether the link is valid. This study hypothesizes that, compared to students with a lower GPA, students with a high GPA, and who are taught in the same way, will have a greater tendency to perceive improved higher-order cognitive skills. We conducted an experiment in which use of multimedia instructional materials was the common method of instruction to groups of students with high GPA and low GPA at two large universities. We obtained the students' perceptions on improved higher-order cognitive skills from their answers to questions on a survey. A regression analysis of the data revealed that the relationship between the GPA and perceived higher-order cognitive skills improvement was highly significant (p = 0.001). This leads to several conclusions and recommendations for the College of Business faculty members and administration.


Awareness of climatic information relevant for future decisions through climatic forecasts is not enough to support farmer's decision-making. It is necessary to look for agricultural management alternatives that allow farmers to adapt to climatic conditions and implement efficient and sustainable management systems, within a framework of effective communication with farmers (Jones, 2003; Pulwarty et al., 2003). In Latin America are very few the initiatives related to climatic forecasts. The Project "Agroclimatic services and food security information for improved decision-making – AgroClimas" aims to support private and public sector actors in Colombia, Guatemala and Honduras to implement and use agro-climatic risk management tools, validated and adjusted to the needs of final users. This info note presents results from a mapping of actors and agro-climatic information needs in crops important for food security (maize and bush beans), in pilot sites of the project in Colombia. The hypothesis underlying the study is that through mapping actors who transmit information (climatic, prices, technical and financial) to farmers, knowing if this information is considered reliable, identifying unattended information needs and preferred formats to receive it that would support production decisions, one can devise useful, relevant, reliable, sustainable applicable solutions.


"Dr Martin replies below: Sir, I would agree with some of the statements made by Drs Cook and Lipsedge: for instance, my article describes improvement only in isolated areas and in some patients. I also agree that in other studies a lower mortality was achieved by a non-prescribing policy. However, when considering the outcome of care of patients who are abusing drugs, there are many factors to be considered, not least the closeness and care of supervision of each patient. The figures quoted in my article were, in fact, collected a year before publication: since then none of the patients involved has been in trouble with the police; the patient who was taking 150standard drinks of alcohol is now teetotal; and the woman who was pregnant now has a healthy child and a stable family life. Again, I realize that these results are anecdotal. We have discussed our policy with the consultant at our regional addiction unit and have his support for our treatment plan. We have also discussed the problem with the Bedford Drug Squad, who have told us that they have no problems in accepting our treatment policy. What is more, they have agreed to let us know if they consider that drugs that we prescribe are leaking on to the black market. To date, they have not told us that this is happening. They have also told us that whereas theft and burglary in Luton increased by 25% last year, these crimes actually fell slightly in Bedford. The detective with whom we spoke considered it possible that this was related to the fact that three practices in Bedford prescribe for patients who are addicted to drugs, whereas none in Luton does so. As we have experience only within one practice and care for a relatively small number of patients, any results that we produce will be statistically meaningless. However, we have devised a treatment policy which has the support of our regional consultant. Since we have been caring for patients in this way we can recount what can only be anecdotes, such as 3 patients having had a longer period out of prison than ever before since they were 15 years old; one patientgiving up a highly damaging intakeofalcohol; one family reforming and getting their children back from care; and a couple having a baby and caring for it responsibly. Even though these must remain as anecdotes, we would suggest that perhaps the subject should be looked at again. E MARTIN General Practitioner Bedford


Mainstream cancer treatments, which include radiotherapy and chemotherapeutic drugs, are known to induce oxidative damage to healthy somatic cells due to the liberation of harmful free radicals. In order to avert this, physiological antioxidants must be complemented with external antioxidants. We performed a preliminary phytochemical screen to identify alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, polyphenols, and tannins in all parts of the Amaranthus spinosus Linn. plant. Based on the hits we obtained, we combined the methanolic extract of the leaves with the acetonic extract of the inflorescence, which resulted in a highly potent formulation which was abundant with the all the desired phytocomponents such as saponins, tannins, polyphenols, flavonoids, alkaloids. We hypothesised that this crude herbal extract, AS20, will exhibit high antioxidant properties. Using the 2,2′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) assay, we found that the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of this formulation was 85.27 μg/mL. This paper describes the preparation of this crude extract and assesses its antioxidant properties for potential use in complementary cancer treatment.


Abstract This case series included a tomographic, microbiological, and histopathological description of 15 secondary apical periodontitis (SAP) lesions obtained by apical microsurgery performed in 10 patients to better understand the etiology and pathogenesis of SAP. Preoperative tomographic analyses were performed through Cone beam computerized tomography - Periapical index (CBCT-PAI), and apical microsurgeries were then carried out. The removed apices were used for microbial culturing and for molecular identification using PCR for the detection of 5 strict anaerobic bacteria (P. gingivalis, P. intermedia, P. nigrescens, T. forsythia, and T.denticola) and 3 viruses Herpes simplex viruses (HSV), Cytomegalovirus (CMG) and Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) by nested PCR. The removed apical lesions were histologically described. Univariate statistical analyses were performed by using STATA MP/16 (StataCorp LLC, College Station, TX, United States). CBCT-PAI analyses revealed PAI 4 and PAI 5 score lesions that involved cortical plate destruction. Eight SAPs were positive by culture, while nine SAP lesions were positive by PCR. Fusobacterium species were the most frequently cultured organisms in 7 SAP lesions, followed by D. pneumosintes in 3. In contrast, by single PCR, T. forsythia and P. nigrescens were detected in 5 lesions, T. denticola in 4 lesions, and P. gingivalis in 2 lesions. Twelve periapical lesions were granulomas, and the remaining three SAP lesions were radicular cysts. In conclusion, this case series study revealed that secondary apical lesions presented tomographic involvement of PAI 3 to 5, and that most SAP lesions were apical granulomas containing anaerobic and facultative microorganisms.


This volume draws together a body of work spanning the last twenty years. It includes poems from six major collections, from "Standing Female Nude" (1985) to "Feminine Gospels" (2002), and a handful of 'other poems', collected here for the first time. It shows a writer who hit the ground running, emerging into the world a fully formed and utterly distinctive voice, and who, twenty years later, can be counted among the foremost of the poets of any generation. From the outset, the world is her oyster. Carol Ann Duffy's curiosity takes her across continents, and into the minds of psychopaths, babies, queens and giggling schoolgirls with equal relish. It is a strange yet disarmingly familiar world, shot with mythic, fabulous and popular histories. Language is turned inside out and upside down, its riches and exoticism found in the demotic of the everyday as much as in foreign parts. She has a quicksilver intelligence that can move from ribald mimicry one moment to an intensely tough and affecting lyricism the next. This physical, visceral poetry gives true meaning to the concept of a body of work, and will provide a perfect introduction to new readers and a glorious sum of parts to old acquaintances.


Anthropogenic activities generate pollutants that are often discharged, untreated, into bodies of water. The drainage system, known as the Caleta in Ciudad del Carmen, Mexico, is surrounded by an urban area and receives immense amounts of industrial and sewage discharge. Physicochemical analyses were conducted for the water and sediment samples taken along this drainage system to understand its hydrological dynamic and pollutant load. The drainage channel communicates with Terminos Lagoon, a Natural Protected Area, and the Gulf of Mexico. Water and sediment samples were taken at fifteen stations along the drainage channel during the three local seasons: northwinds (January); dry (May); and rainy (October). Physicochemical parameters (pH, temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and total dissolved solids), as well as biological oxygen demand (BOD5), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total suspended solids (TSS) were measured in the water samples. Heavy metals concentrations (Fe, Cr, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb) were quantified in the sediment samples. No differences were observed in the physicochemical parameters between sample stations, although differences (P < 0.05) were observed between seasons. Dissolved oxygen levels at all stations and in all seasons were near or below hypoxia levels (< 2.0 mg/l). Biological oxygen demand and COD were highest during the rainy season, particularly near industrial effluent discharges. Heavy metals concentrations varied spatially, with higher levels nearest the drainage outlet and lower levels further inland. Lead and iron levels were extremely high, and all heavy metals concentrations far exceeded legal limits. The Caleta is clearly heavily impacted by discharge from the surrounding urban area containing pollutants generated by anthropogenic


Approximately one third of the world's population is infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which was responsible for about 1.6 million deaths in 2005. In spite of continuing advances in understanding host response to this infection, generation and maintenance of the host immune response remains unclear. In this thesis, we investigate molecules involved in the generation and maintenance of the host response, specifically the granuloma, to M. tuberculosis. We investigated the role of TNF antagonists in reactivation of tuberculosis, and showed that while anti-TNF antibody is superior to TNFR2-Fc fusion molecule in penetrating the granuloma, any blockade of TNF compromises control of acute tuberculosis. We hypothesized that TNF is required for priming T cell responses and that TNF-inducible chemokine receptors function redundantly, allowing one chemokine to compensate in the absence of another. Here, we show that TNF is not required to prime the adaptive immune response, and that TNF-inducible chemokines CXCR3 and CCR5 are simultaneously expendable, refuting the compensation hypothesis in these two chemokines. Reports have implicated unexplored inflammatory molecules in host response to M. tuberculosis infection. We hypothesized that the small chemotactic molecule LTB4 and its receptor BLT1 increase pathology during M. tuberculosis infection. We also hypothesized that osteopontin is required for mediating an effective immune response to tuberculosis by mediating Th1 priming and lymphocyte migration. We show here that neither BLT1 nor osteopontin play a significant role in the inflammatory response to M. tuberculosis. Finally, we investigated the role of ICAM-1 in priming effector and regulatory T cells in response to tuberculosis. We report that ICAM-1 is dispensable for priming and migration of effector T cells, but that ICAM-1 is required for production of inducible Foxp3+ T regulatory cells via TGFâ1 stimulation. We hypothesize that the reduction in T regulatory cells exacerbates the immune response, allowing greater inflammation in the lungs, potentially causing overwhelming inflammation. This body of work contributes to the understanding of the host response to tuberculosis by investigating activity of cytokines, chemotactic molecules and adhesion molecules in balancing the host response to M. tuberculosis infection.


Abstract. Estimates of the rate of production of excited oxygen atoms due to the photolysis of ozone (J(O1D)) have been derived from radiation measurements carried out at Cape Grim, Tasmania (40.6° S, 144.7° E). The individual measurements have a total uncertainty of 16 % (1σ). These estimates agree well with model estimates of clear-sky photolysis rates. Observations spanning 2000–2005 have been used to quantify the impact of season, clouds and ozone column amount. The annual cycle of J(O1D) has been investigated via monthly means. These means show an interannual variation (monthly standard deviation) of 9 %, but in midsummer and midwinter this reduces to 3–5 %. Variations in solar zenith angle and total column ozone explain 86 % of the observed variability in the measured photolysis rates. The impact of total column ozone, expressed as a radiation amplification factor (RAF), is found to be ~ 1.53, in agreement with model estimates. This ozone dependence explains 20 % of the variation observed at medium solar zenith angles (30–50°). The impact of clouds results in a median reduction of 30 % in J(O1D) for the same solar zenith angle range. Including estimates of cloudiness derived from long-wave radiation measurements resulted in a statistically significant fit to observations, but the quality of the fit did not increase significantly as measured by the adjusted R2.


Abstract. Stream water mean transit time (MTT) is a fundamental hydrologic parameter that integrates the distribution of sources, flow paths, and storages present in catchments. However, in the tropics little MTT work has been carried out, despite its usefulness for providing important information on watershed functioning at different spatial scales in (largely) ungauged basins. In particular, very few studies have quantified stream MTTs or have related these to catchment characteristics in tropical montane regions. Here we examined topographic, land use/cover and soil hydraulic controls on baseflow transit times for nested catchments (0.1–34 km2) within a humid mountainous region, underlain by volcanic soil (Andisols) in central Veracruz (eastern Mexico). We used a 2-year record of bi-weekly isotopic composition of precipitation and stream baseflow data to estimate MTT. Land use/cover and topographic parameters (catchment area and form, drainage density, slope gradient and length) were derived from geographic information system (GIS) analysis. Soil water retention characteristics, and depth and permeability of the soil–bedrock interface were obtained from intensive field measurements and laboratory analysis. Results showed that baseflow MTTs ranged between 1.2 and 2.7 years across the 12 study catchments. Overall, MTTs across scales were mainly controlled by catchment slope and the permeability observed at the soil–bedrock interface. In association with topography, catchment form and the depth to the soil–bedrock interface were also identified as important features influencing baseflow MTTs. The greatest differences in MTTs were found both within groups of small (0.1–1.5 km2) and large (14–34 km2) catchments. Interestingly, the longest stream MTTs were found in the headwater cloud forest catchments.


In the Name of Mental Health should produce a seismic tremor within the organizational and institutional bastions of psychiatry. Its subtitle, The Social Functions of Psychiatry , is, however, something of a misnomer for the book is not really an objective study of the sociology of psychiatry but is, instead, a treatise on the social misuse of psychiatry. It is also an indictment of the medical model of psychiatry, which the author unmasks as the subterfuge employed by society in utilizing psychiatry as an institution to accomplish certain anti-individual purposes which society would prefer not to look at too closely. In his dissection, the author employs logic and the analysis of concepts and language in a merciless but, it must be said, effective manner to strip away many of the unexamined assumptions operating at the interface between psychiatry and society. The attack he mounts on


A case of autohemicastration in a 19-year-old patient with schizophrenia is reported. Orthotopic replantation of the testis under local hypothermia was performed. One pair of arterial, two pairs of venous vessels and vas deferens ends were anastomosed micro-surgically end-to-end. Surgical reinnervation of the testis was carried out. Peculiarities the operation technique, expediency of local hypothermia and surgical reinnervation of the testis in replantation are discussed. Language: en


This paper examines the use of soft law in the field of EU competition policy. It recognises the trend towards softer forms of governance and that soft law plays an important role as an information source for individuals and undertakings in the market. The paper investigates the pros and contras of the ever increasingly use of soft law. In addition a classification of the instruments is attempted. The focus is mainly on the European Commission's use of soft law since it is the major developer and user of these measures.
The paper begins with a discussion of the concept of soft law. It also examines the practical and legal effects of these quasi-legal measures. Furthermore the paper shows how individuals and undertakings comply with soft law even though they are not obligated to do so as a matter of law. The paper also discusses soft law's contribution to the development of legislation. It recognises that these measures play an important role in the development of new competition policy.
Furthermore the paper shows that the instances of discretion inherent in the legal framework makes the Commission's use of soft law possible as well as desirable. It concludes by pointing out that despite its negative features soft law will play an even more central role in the future. Soft law aids the understanding of the complex antitrust rules developed through case law and individual decisions by the European Commission. It makes the system more transparent. The soft law approach combines a flexible regulatory system with enhanced legal certainty.


[ 27 ] The First National Bioethics Conference, November 25-27, 2005 (NBC, 2005), organised by the Indian Journal of Medical Ethics (IJME), brought together a diverse group of organisations and individuals in an effort to give a platform for bioethics discourse from across the country. The conference was organised around four issues: ethical challenges in HIV/AIDS; ethics of life and death in the era of high-tech health care; ethical responsibilities in violence, conflict and religious strife; and ethics and equity in clinical trials. Three cross-cutting themes that emerged during discussions were ethical challenges in biomedical and social science research, ethical responsibilities of clinical care providers, and the intersections of bioethics and public health/ clinical medicine.


Abstract In the past 150 years, with the discovery of petroleum and the invention of the gasoline-powered internal combustion engine, the rate of extraction of minerals from the Earth has made humans a geologic agent for the first time in the history of the planet. Unprecedented changes have resulted in human society as a result of this extraordinary use of minerals, and perhaps no mineral illustrates that linkage more than the mineral apatite; even the exponential growth of the human population to seven billion Earth inhabitants has been allowed by the extraction of sufficient P from apatite ore to provide fertilizer to feed the planet's population. Apatite is used extensively in various geological applications, including dating techniques and studies of rare earth element variation in rocks, and is also widely used in material science and medical applications. Apatite forms virtually all hard parts of the human body, and the bioengineering of anion exchange in the apatite material of human tooth enamel through fluoridation is considered one of the top 10 public health achievements of the twentieth century by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. In addition, the carbonate content of apatite calcifications is currently being investigated as a non-invasive tool in distinguishing between benign and malignant breast tumors. In material applications, apatite is the principle raw material in the fluorescent lighting industry, and its unique crystal chemical properties make it useful in the production of lasers with controllable properties. Apatite is increasingly being employed in the environmental remediation industry through the process of phosphate-induced metal stabilization (PIMS), and its properties make it a useful material for the storage of radioactive waste as substituents in the Ca sites. Despite its remarkable utility and its fundamental role in feeding the world's population, the details of the apatite atomic arrangement are not fully understood. The Ca phosphate apatites are an anion solid solution (F = fluorapatite; OH = hydroxylapatite; Cl = chlorapatite), and the anion positions in binary and ternary members of the solid solution are not predictable from the anion positions in the pure end-members because of steric effects of anion-anion interactions. Recent attention has focused on a more complete understanding of the apatite atomic arrangement and its properties, both in inorganic and biominerals apatites, and knowledge of the atomic arrangement is advancing. Apatite illustrates the role of minerals in the evolution of modern society, and also the importance of research in the mineral sciences in the broadest sense.


Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC) is characterized by transient systolic and diastolic dysfunction, ventricular wall motion abnormalities and troponin elevation. The most common presenting symptoms are acute chest pain and dyspnea. The etiology is unknown but believed to be related to a surge in catecholamines as it is commonly associated with a preceding physical or emotional stress. Due to the lack of specific treatment, recurrence occurs in 2-12% of patients per year. We present a case of a patient with TC subsequently treated with an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) and beta-adrenergic blocker (beta-blocker). A repeat TC episode 4 months later showed less severely abnormal cardiac enzymes, echocardiogram and overall hospital course. Because our patient experienced a classic episode of TC and a recurrent episode with milder symptoms and lower troponins, we hypothesize her medication regimen was a contributing factor to the milder manifestation of this cardiac syndrome. J Med Cases. 2018;9(7):201-203 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jmc3079w


Continuous, real-time monitoring of the level of pH and free chlorine in drinking water is of great importance to public health. However, it is challenging when conventional analytical instruments, such as bulky pH electrodes and expensive free chlorine meters, are used. These instruments have slow response, are difficult to use, prone to interference from operators, and require frequent maintenance. In contrast, microfabricated electrochemical sensors are cheaper, smaller in size, and highly sensitive. Therefore, these sensors are desirable for online monitoring of pH and free chlorine in water. In this review, we discuss different physical configurations of microfabricated sensors. These configurations include potentiometric electrodes, ion-sensitive field-effect transistors, and chemo-resistors/transistors for electrochemical pH sensing. Also, we identified that micro-amperometric sensors are the dominant ones used for free chlorine sensing. We summarized and compared the structure, operation/sensing mechanism, applicable materials, and performance parameters in terms of sensitivity, sensing range, response time and stability of each type of sensor. We observed that novel sensor structures fabricated by solution processing and operated by smart sensing methodologies may be used for developing pH and free chlorine sensors with high performance and low cost. Finally, we highlighted the importance of the concurrent design of materials, fabrication processes, and electronics for future sensors.


In web search, recency ranking refers to the task of ranking documents while taking into account freshness as one of the criteria of their relevance. There are two approaches to recency ranking. One focuses on extending existing learning to rank algorithms to optimize for both freshness and relevance. The other relies on an aggregated search strategy: a (dedicated) fresh vertical is used and fresh results from this vertical are subsequently integrated into the search engine result page. In this paper, we adopt the second strategy. In particular, we focus on the fresh vertical prediction task for repeating queries and identify the following novel algorithmic problem: how to quickly correct fresh intent detection mistakes made by a state-of-the-art fresh intent detector, which erroneously detected or missed a fresh intent shift upwards for a particular repeating query (i.e., a change in the degree to which the query has a fresh intent). We propose a method for solving this problem. We use online exploration at the early start of what we believe to be a detected intent shift. Based on this exploratory phase, we correct fresh intent detection mistakes made by a state-of-that-art fresh intent detector for queries, whose fresh intent has shifted. Using query logs of Yandex, we demonstrate that our methods allow us to significantly improve the speed and quality of the detection of fresh intent shifts.


UNLABELLED
In Alzheimer's disease, the Primum Movens is amyloid production on precapillaries: dysphoric angiopathy, and capillaries: senile plaques. Cerebral amyloid alone may be asymptomatic. Clinical symptoms of amnesia appear when amyloid induces neighbouring neuritic alterations: paired helical filaments and distant neuronal body lesions: neurofibrillary tangles.

HYPOTHESIS
the amyloid induces zinc deficiency which produces the tangles. In Alzheimer's disease, cerebral zinc decreases particularly in the hippocampus. Without amyloid, neurofibrillary tangles are produced by metalotoxicity and therefore probably brain zinc displacement: by lead: encephalopatia saturnica, by calcium deficiency: Guam's encephalopathy, by aluminium, by blood-brain-barrier disturbances probably leading to an abnormal entry of metals in the brain (dementia pugilistica, viral encephalitides). Neurofibrillary tangles may be produced by deficiency of the following zinc enzymes: 1) those of DNA metabolism inducing abnormal DNA and therefore abnormal protein synthesis: paired helical filaments and neurofibrillary tangles; 2) of glutamate-dehydrogenase resulting in an excitotoxic increase of glutamate, which may produce neurofibrillary tangles, particularly in the hippocampus rich in glutamate pathways; 3) those of neuronal detoxication: superoxide-dismutase, carbonic anhydrase, lactate-dehydrogenase leading to neuronal toxicity particularly in the hippocampus normally rich in superoxide dismutase; 4) those of neurotransmitters metabolisms (opioid peptides, GABA, acetylcholine). Therapeutic implication: a non-toxic zinc complex crossing the Blood-Brain-Barrier should be useful.


Claims that the results of a national survey of patients may result in many general practices losing tens of thousands of pounds in funding were dismissed this week by a Cambridge academic who defended the survey, saying that it would improve services for patients.

The survey, now in its third year, has angered the BMA because its design fails to take into account the number of people who respond. For the first time this year, funding to practices will be allocated according to the number of positive responses to two questions about access to appointments, even if only a handful of patients respond.

The BMA has criticised the survey for being "fundamentally flawed" and too long for many people to bother with. It has warned that general practices stand to lose tens of thousands of pounds in funding, which could adversely affect services for patients.

However, Martin Roland, professor of health services research at Cambridge University and an adviser to Ipsos-MORI, which conducted the survey, says that the number of practices that stand to lose funding "will be very small."

Professor Roland expressed surprise that the BMA …


The motivation for this research is the synthesis and characterisation of nanostructured oxide materials for potential applications in renewable energy generation or storage. In particular, the research in this thesis addresses the development of nanostructured oxide materials which could be exploited as photovoltaics and transparent conductive oxides.
The exploitation of anodised aluminium oxide (AAO) to fabricate nanostructured semiconductor pn-junctions as the basis photovoltaic devices is investigated. Various microstructures are modelled with the aim of identifying ones with high interface area and consequently high energy conversion efficiencies. Experiments reveal that AAO prepared using an oxalic acid electrolyte could be achieved with a growth rate of 5.7μm/h. The uniformity and size of the hexagonal cross-section pores is influenced by the first-step anodisation time. Atomic layer deposition (ALD) was used to coat commercially available AAO, to synthesise conformal nanotubes or wires. It was observed that the uniformity of the nanostructures breaks down towards the bulk of the AAO, without high exposures, due to the lack of precursor penetration. However, the proposed geometric mass-gain model to understand the process is supported by experimental mass gain measurements and how deposition occurs within the templates.
A second materials system based on copper / copper oxide is also explored as a method of synthesising and controlling the formation of nanostructured oxide materials. The surface preparation of the starting copper sheet material was investigated and it was found to be pivotal in the nanoscale morphology achievable with subsequent heat treatment to grow nanowires and porous layers. Thermal growth of CuO and Cu2O on pre- treated copper foils at 500°C exhibited growth of high aspect ratio CuO nanowires. Further studies on the growth process disproved the vapour-liquid-solid and vapour-solid growth mechanisms for the nanowires and showed that tensile strain within the Cu substrate was the driving force behind the nanowire growth. The use of nanometre-scale ALD alumina barrier layers was employed to suppress spallation and preserve the nanowire surfaces. It was found that for samples with alumina layers between ~3 and 15nm the oxide spallation was significantly reduced and that for samples with ~20nm of alumina the diffusion of Cu atoms to the surface was hindered. Photovoltaic measurements were made on electrolytically synthesised Cu2O surfaces coated with ALD TiO2, ZnO and Ga-doped ZnO to form pn-junctions. The samples showed only weakly rectifying behaviour which was attributed to short-circuits between the n-type layers and the back contact. Several of the samples did show some difference in electrical response when under illumination indicating that, at least in some parts of the device, the pn-junction had formed.
Lastly the growth and characterisation of ALD Ga-doped ZnO was investigated to determine the optimal doping levels for the growth of highly conductive and transparent oxides, to be used as a front contact for photovoltaic devices. It was found that Ga doping at around 1at% in ZnO produced film with the lowest resistivity. CdTe films were then grown onto substrates coated in 1at% Ga-doped ZnO and subjected to AM1.5 photovoltaic IV testing, yielding photovoltaic cells with conversion efficiencies ~10.8% and fill-factors of ~65%.


This paper develops a framework for analyzing the effects of fiscal policy on the real exchange rate. The short-run impact of various types of fiscal measures are considered as well as the dynamics of adjustment to long-run steady states. The analysis and related simulations suggest that the effect of fiscal policy changes on the real exchange rate can vary widely and will depend closely on a number of structural features, including the degree of asset substitutability,the composition of government spending, and the initial size of the public debt and net external position.


ABSTRACT Ultrasound is an emerging technology that can be applied to monitor food processes. However, ultrasonic techniques are usually limited to research activities within a laboratory environment and they are not extensively used in industrial processes. The aim of this paper is to describe a novel ultrasonic sensor designed to monitor physical–chemical changes that occur in wines stored in industrial tanks. Essentially, the sensor consists of an ultrasonic transducer in contact with a buffer rod, mounted inside a stainless steel tube section. This structure allows the ultrasonic sensor to be directly installed in stainless steel tanks of an industrial plant. The operating principle of this design is based on the measurement of ultrasonic velocity of propagation. To test its proper operation, the sensor has been used to measure changes of concentration in aqueous samples and to monitor the progress of a malolactic fermentation of red wines in various commercial wineries. Results show the feasibility of using this sensor for monitoring malolactic fermentations in red wines placed in industrial tanks.


In this work, a critical analysis of the recent change in the Galician law of budgetary discipline has been carried out. It's main point of difference consists of establishing a maximum variation rule relating to the non-financial expenditure of the autonomous community in the deci- sive phase of the economic cycle..A retrospective application of the rule to the period 2002-2010 indicates that the law would imply an intense control of the expenditure and a remarkable reduc- tion in debt of the autonomous community. Nevertheless, some problems in the application are detected. Firstly, the independent variable is the forecast of expansion of the gross domestic product, introducing a bias of discretion, as it is the responsibility of the government. It is proven that this would happen when using an objective rule, as the evolution passed from the product. Finally, the possibility of budgetary balance throughout the cycle and the ability to make the des- tination of the surplus flexible is considered.


The global demand for corrugated fiberboard is projected to experience a significant upsurge in the near future. Based on the end-use, packaging for processed and fresh food categories accounted for approximately 39% of the overall consumption of corrugated fiberboard in 2015. With key advantages such as providing an uninterrupted bottom, laminated corners for higher stacking strength, increased material use efficiency, side cutout options for display at retail and a wide range of styles over other styles of containers, Bliss style boxes find prominence in the agriculture sector. While numerous predictive strength models associating corrugated fiberboard material specifications to the box compression strength (BCT), and ultimately the stacking strength of corrugated containers, have been developed over the past century, there is a considerable lack of studies that include Bliss style containers. The overall aim of this empirical study was to develop a mathematical relationship based on the simplified McKee formula towards predicting BCT of four styles of Bliss boxes. Effects of box styles, length of load-bearing walls and number of internal corners on the overall BCT were explored using data collected from lab-based testing. The proposed mathematical model includes a box design constant (k), edge crush test values, board thickness, and three lengths of load-bearing walls (total, single-wall, and double-wall) of the containers. The k-values for each bliss box design, explored through linear regression analyses, explain up to 98.1% of the differences in BCT between the styles. The proposed mathematical model can assist practitioners with accelerating packaging development cycle times and optimizing packaging designs.


In this paper, vibration characteristics of a Vertical Roller Mill (VRM) are studied by using physical parameters of an operating VRM. The mathematical model is derived and simulated for a set of working parameters. Mechanical properties of the grinding material and the physical properties of the mechanical construction are used in the vibration model in order to obtain more realistic results. Simulation results are presented which give critical frequencies of the VRM. The effects of the hydraulic compressive force to the vibration characteristics are investigated. The effects of the material feeding rate (which affects the mineral thickness to be grinded) to the vibration characteristics are also simulated.In order to validate the mathematical model, a set of experimental vibration tests are performed on the VRM. Vibrations are measured during the run-down procedure of the VRM in order to determine natural frequencies of the mill as well as excitation frequencies of the system. The measurements showed the validity of the proposed mathematical model for the vibration analysis of the VRM.© 2014 ASME


SplitPro is a tool that processes the code of large SystemC modules and splits them into two or more smaller ones without affecting functionality. The purpose of this process splitting is to overcome some inherent inefficiencies of the SystemC 2.1 scheduler, such as unnecessary process wake-up calls, and unnecessary evaluation of portions of code that do not change the output of the system at the end of the simulation clock cycle. These two phenomena negatively affect the simulation speed. SplitPro automatically traces signal dependencies and generates the split processes. The generated code is in standard SystemC notation. In this paper, we present the main idea of SplitPro, and outline its advantages as well as its limitations. We focus on specific experimental results obtained on a number of SystemC processes to illustrate the method, showing up to 92% increase in simulation speed.


Thirty major storms that passed over Goodwin Creek, a small research watershed in northern Mississippi, were analyzed to assess the bias between radar rainfall estimates at rain gauge locations and the gauge amounts. These storms, each contributing at least 10 mm of storm total rainfall, accumulated approximately 785 mm of rain, which corresponds to about half the average annual rainfall amount for the area. The focus of this study was to demonstrate the importance of (1) bias adjustment of the radar rainfall estimates and (2) the quality control of the rain gauge data used for bias adjustment. The analyses are based on Memphis Weather Surveillance Radar—1988 Doppler radar data, tipping‐bucket rain gauge data, and raindrop spectra information collected within the Goodwin Creek catchment. Because of measurement and rainfall estimation uncertainties, radar observations are often combined with rain gauge data to obtain the most accurate rainfall estimates. Rain gauge data, however, are subject to characteristic error sources: for Goodwin Creek, malfunctioning of the tipping‐bucket rain gauges was frequently caused by biological and mechanical fouling, and human interference. Therefore careful quality control of the rain gauge data is crucial, and only good quality rain gauge information should be used for adjusting radar rainfall estimates. By using high‐quality gauge data and storm‐based bias adjustment, we achieved radar rainfall estimates with root‐mean‐square errors (RMSE) of approximately 10% for storm total rainfall accumulations of 30 mm or more. Differences resulting from radar data processing scenarios were found to be small compared to the effect caused by bias adjustment and using high‐quality rain gauge data.


Background: l-Methionine (Met) is an essential amino acid for humans and is important for protein synthesis and the formation of polyamines and is involved in the synthesis of many metabolites, including homocysteine. Free-Met supplements have been claimed to have multiple positive effects; however, it remains unclear what the exact tolerance level is. With aging, Met metabolism changes, and increased plasma homocysteine is more apparent. High plasma concentrations of homocysteine are assumed to be associated with a high risk of developing atherosclerosis.Objective: We estimated the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) and the lowest-observed-adverse-effect level (LOAEL) of supplemented, oral, free Met in healthy older adults by examining the increase in plasma homocysteine as the primary determinant.Design: We provided capsules with free Met to 15 healthy older adult subjects for 4 wk at climbing dosages of, on average, 9.2, 22.5, 46.3 and 91 mg · kg body weight-1 · d-1 with washout periods of 2 wk between each intake. Before, at 2 and 4 wk during, and 2 wk after each dosage, we studied a complete panel of biochemical blood variables to detect possible intolerance to increased Met intake. Plasma homocysteine and body composition were measured, and tolerance, quality of life, and cognitive function were assessed via questionnaires.Results: Plasma homocysteine was elevated with the highest dose of supplemented Met. The estimated NOAEL of supplemented Met was set at 46.3 mg · kg body weight-1 · d-1, and the estimated LOAEL of supplemented Met was set at 91 mg · kg body weight-1 · d-1 (on the basis of the actual intakes) in subjects independent of sex. No signs of intolerance were observed via questionnaires or other blood variables at the LOAEL. There were no meaningful changes in body composition.Conclusions: On the basis of plasma homocysteine, the NOAEL of supplemented Met intake is 46.3 and the LOAEL is 91 mg · kg body weight-1 · d-1 in healthy older adults. Both the NOAEL and LOAEL are not associated with meaningful effects on health and wellbeing. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02566434.


Sociological theories of gendered "emotional labor" have often been examined in relation to domestic work, sex work, and jobs that demand emotional caretaking and physical "pampering" of clients (e.g., hairdressers, nail salon workers, medical workers). The concepts of emotional labor have been used far less often to address inequalities within private interpersonal relationships, particularly heterosexual romantic relationships. This paper utilized thematic analysis of qualitative data from a community sample of 20 women (mean age = 34, SD = 13.35) from a wide range of backgrounds. We identified four areas of emotion work present in these women's sexual lives, including 1) faking orgasms; 2) tolerating sexual pain; 3) defining sexual satisfaction based on the partner's pleasure; and 4) narrating sex they call "bad sex" as acceptable because of a partner's satisfaction. Nearly all women mentioned emotion work as part of their current or past sexual experiences, as women described frequently enduring unsatisfying sex to provide their (male) partners with feelings of power, sexual skillfulness, and dominance, particularly during heterosex. We discuss the implications for gendered elements of sexual satisfaction, feelings about sex that women do not expect to feel pleasurable, expectations about deservingness and entitlement to sexual pleasure, sexual agency, and diverse interpretations of the significance of orgasm.


Global habitat degradation heightens the need to better understand patterns of genetic connectivity and diversity of marine biota across geographical ranges to guide conservation efforts. Corals across the Red Sea are subject to pronounced environmental differences, but studies so far suggest that animal populations are largely connected, excepting evidence for a genetic break between the northern‐central and southern regions. Here, we investigated population structure and holobiont assemblage of two common pocilloporid corals, Pocillopora verrucosa and Stylophora pistillata, across the Red Sea. We found little evidence for population differentiation in P. verrucosa, except for the southernmost site. Conversely, S. pistillata exhibited a complex population structure with evidence for within‐reef and regional genetic differentiation, in line with differences in their reproductive mode (P. verrucosa is a broadcast spawner and S. pistillata is a brooder). Analysis for genomic loci under positive selection identified 85 sites (18 of which were in coding sequences) that distinguished the southern P. verrucosa population from the remainder of the Red Sea population. By comparison, we found 128 loci (24 of which were residing in coding sequences) in S. pistillata with evidence for local adaptation at various sites. Functional annotation of the underlying proteins revealed putative roles in the response to stress, lipid metabolism, transport, cytoskeletal rearrangement, and ciliary function (among others). Microbial assemblages of both coral species showed pervasive association with microalgal symbionts from the genus Symbiodinium (former clade A) and bacteria from the genus Endozoicomonas that exhibited significant differences according to host genotype and environment. The disparity of population genetic and holobiont assemblage patterns even between closely related species (family Pocilloporidae) highlights the need for multispecies investigations to better understand the role of the environment in shaping evolutionary trajectories. It further emphasizes the importance of networks of reef reserves to achieve conservation of genetic variants critical to the future survival of coral ecosystems.


We investigate the effect of the intrinsic spin of a fundamental spinor field on the surrounding spacetime geometry. We show that despite the lack of a rotating stress-energy source (and despite claims to the contrary) the intrinsic spin of a spin-half fermion gives rise to a frame-dragging effect analogous to that of orbital angular momentum, even in Einstein-Hilbert gravity where torsion is constrained to be zero. This resolves a paradox regarding the counter-force needed to restore Newton's third law in the well-known spin-orbit interaction. In addition, the frame-dragging effect gives rise to a long-range gravitationally mediated spin-spin dipole interaction coupling the internal spins of two sources. We argue that despite the weakness of the interaction, the spin-spin interaction will dominate over the ordinary inverse square Newtonian interaction in any process of sufficiently high energy for quantum field theoretical effects to be non-negligible. PACS numbers: 04.20.-q, 04.20.Cv, 04.25.-g, 04.25.Nx, 04.40.-b


Development of low-nitrogen (N) tolerant and N-responsive durum wheat genotypes is required since nitrogen efficiency has emerged as a highly desirable trait from economic and environmental perspectives. Two hundred durum wheat genotypes were evaluated at three locations under optimum (ON) and low (LN) nitrogen conditions to screen genotypes for low-nitrogen tolerance and responsiveness to an optimum N supply. The results showed significant variations among the durum wheat genotypes for low-N tolerance and responsiveness. The average reduction in grain yield under the LN condition was 48.03% across genotypes. Only 17% of the genotypes tested performed well (grain yield reduction <40%) under LN conditions. Based on the absolute grain yield, biomass yield, and normalized difference vegetative index value, on average, 32, 14, 17, and 37% of the tested genotypes were classified as efficient and responsive, efficient and nonresponsive, inefficient and responsive, and inefficient and nonresponsive, respectively. Considering the absolute and relative grain yield, biomass yield, normalized difference vegetative index values, and stress tolerance indices as selection criteria, 17 genotypes were chosen for subsequent breeding. Among the screening indices, geometric mean productivity, stress tolerance index, yield index, and stress susceptibility index exhibited positive and significant correlations with grain yield under both N conditions; hence, either of these traits can be used to select low-N-tolerant genotypes. The common genotypes identified as LN-tolerant and responsive to N application in this study could be used as parental donors for developing N-efficient and responsive durum wheat varieties.


SUMMARY 1. Tamm-Horsfall (T-H) glycoprotein has been measured by a specific radioimmunoassay method in the urine of patients with chronic renal failure, cadmium nephropathy and Lignac-Fanconi syndrome, and in renal and bladder calculi. 2. Total T-H glycoprotein excretion/24 h was markedly reduced in patients with chronic renal failure compared with normals. A highly significant correlation was observed between T-H excretion rate and creatinine clearance corrected for surface area, in both normals and patients with renal impairment. However, the mean T-H excretion per functioning nephron unit did not differ significantly in patients with renal failure compared with normals. 3. Total T-H excretion/24 h was in the normal range in patients with cadmium nephropathy despite reduced glomerular filtration rates, owing to a highly significant increase in T-H excretion per functioning nephron unit. Similar findings were obtained in a group of children with LignaoFanconi syndrome whose T-H excretion per functioning nephron unit was much higher than that of normal children in the same age range. This indicates an increased T-H glycoprotein excretion per functioning nephron unit in both these conditions. 4. T-H glycoprotein content of bladder and renal calculi ranged from 0.002 to 5-07 mg/g of calculus. There was no correlation between T-H glycoprotein content and either the total protein content or the qualitative inorganic composition of the stones.


In phase change memories, the crystalline to amorphous phase transition is strongly affected by the cell geometry. In this paper, we study the amorphization process by analyzing the effects of amorphizing (RESET) pulses on the phase distribution inside the active chalcogenide portion of the memory cell. The purpose is to investigate how the shape and the volume of the amorphous cap are affected by the cell structure. In particular, the analysis is carried out considering two of the most popular cell architectures, namely, the Lance and the Pillar structures.


In this paper, a hybrid filter structure, which consisting of a passive and a shunt-connected DC active power filter, is proposed for a special high precision, low ripple and large power DC stable/pulse power supply. The main circuit configuration of DC active power filter and its basic concept for suppression harmonics are analyzed in detail. A novel control strategy of DC active power filter with detecting the output ripple voltage, i.e. the reference signal of the DC active power filter is obtained by detecting the output ripple voltage across the DC load, is presented. The advantage of the control approach is that, it is very easy to meet the requirements of low current ripple and fast response in DC stable/pulse power supply, whereas the precision of the circuit transducer and components is not need special request. To validate the proposed concept, a prototype of 12-pulse rectifier system and DC active power filter are manufactured and corresponding experiment investigation is done. Tested by a 120 kW practical industrial application stable/pulse power supply with the DC active power filter and adopting the control approach proposed, its output current ripple factor achieves 8.87/spl times/10/sup -6/ (peak to peak), in addition to others advantages include fast dynamic response, high efficiency and low cost.


Scrutinizing the Israeli military, medical, and religious establishments, Susan Sered discloses the myths, policies, and pressures that encumber and endanger Israeli women in their roles as soldiers, brides, and mothers. Framed by the question of why the life expectancy and health status of Israeli women is poor in comparison to women in other developed countries, What Makes Women Sick? conjoins medical anthropology, gender studies, and women's health to show how female bodies in Israel are controlled through public policy, symbolic discourses, and ritual performances. Looking at issues such as disputes over women serving in combat, the rape of a former "Miss Israel," and government incentives for bearing children, Sered develops a passionate ethnography of Israeli society that resonates universal truths about women, power, and authority.


The analysis of the legal components of the boarding agreement shows that this contract, in fact, is an individual employment contract concluded for a fixed period, with a particular suite of elements determined by very specific of the sailor profession. The individual boarding agreement is an undefined legal concept, which incidentally regulates the meaning of "individual employment contract concluded for a fixed period" by employees who are part of the crew


In the context of hadrontherapy, whilst ions are capable of effectively destroying radio resistant, deep seated tumors, their treatment localization must be well assessed to ensure the sparing of surrounding healthy tissue and treatment effectiveness. Thus, range verification techniques, such as online positron-emission-tomography (PET) imaging, hold great potential in clinical practice, providing information on the in vivo beam range and consequent tumor targeting. Furthermore, emitting radioactive ions can be an asset in online PET imaging, depending on their half-life, compared to their stable counterparts. It is expected that using these radioactive ions the signal obtained by a PET apparatus during beam delivery will be greatly increased, and exhibit a better correlation to the Bragg Peak. To this end, FLUKA Monte Carlo particle transport and interaction code was used to evaluate, in terms of annihilation events at rest and dose, the figure of merit in using emitter, radioactive ion beams (RI). For this purpose, the simulation results were compared with experimental data obtained with an openPET prototype in various online PET acquisitions at the Heavy Ion Medical Accelerator in Chiba (HIMAC), in collaboration with colleagues from the National Institute of Radiological Sciences' (NIRS) Imaging Physics Team. The dosimetry performance evaluation with FLUKA benefits from its recent developments in fragmentation production models. The present work estimated that irradiations with RI, produced via projectile fragmentation and their signal acquisition with state-of-the-art PET scanner, lead to nearly a factor of two more accurate definition of the signals' peak position. In addition to its more advantageous distribution shape, it was observed at least an order magnitude higher signal acquired from 11C and 15O irradiations, with respect to their stable counterparts.


Objective Our aim was to identify patients with probable anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis among historical medical cases. Method A case report published in leading Hungarian-, German- and Italian-language medical journals in the early 1840s was revisited. Results In 1830, an 18-year-old, healthy woman suffered epileptic seizures, followed by a 6-day-long state characterized by catalepsy, unresponsiveness, motionless, and light breathing. Her symptoms regularly returned in the following 1.5 years. Meanwhile, a progressively growing huge abdominal tumor appeared. One day, she suddenly started vomiting a large amount of foul-smelling pus mixed with blood, accompanied by bone fragments. Pus mixed blood with some membranous substance was also evacuated through the anus and vagina. After this event, she completely recovered; 1.5 years later, she married and later gave birth to 3 healthy children. The patient remained healthy during the 11-year follow-up. Conclusions We suggest that in the description of a paraneoplastic case, an anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis can be dated back as far as to the 19th century, with an especially rare type of resolution: the disappearance of the symptoms after the spontaneous elimination of an ovarian teratoma.


The ubiquity of on-demand cloud computing resources enables scientific researchers to dynamically provision and consume compute and storage resources in response to science needs. Whereas traditional HPC compute resources are often centrally managed with a priori CPU-time allocations and use policies. A long term goal of our work is to assess the efficacy of preserving the user environment (compilers, support libraries, runtimes and application codes) available at a traditional HPC facility for deployment into a VM environment, which can then be subsequently used in both private and public scientific clouds. This would afford greater flexibility to users in choosing hardware resources that suit their science needs better, as well as aiding them in transitioning onto private/public cloud resources. In this paper we present work in-progress performance results for a set of benchmark kernels and scientific applications running in a traditional HPC environment, a private VM cluster and an Amazon HPC EC2 cluster. These are the OSU MPI micro-benchmark, the NAS Parallel macro-benchmarks and two large scientific application codes (the UK Met Office's MetUM global climate model and the Chaste multi-scale computational biology code) respectively. We discuss parallel scalability and runtime information obtained using the IPM performance monitoring framework for MPI applications. We were also able to successfully build application codes in a traditional HPC environment and package these into VMs which ran on both private and public cloud resources.


Objective: Parents initiate conversations with their preschoolers about everyday experiences in which they share thoughts, feelings, and intentions. The ability to efficiently treat attachment relevant-information and organize attachment behavior beyond infancy is likely to be scaffolded by the parent in the context of parent-child discourse. The objective of this study was to examine mother-child conversation styles as a function of child attachment and test the the role of mother-child conversation as a mediator in the transmission of attachment from mother to child. Methods: The sample included 111 dyads of mothers and their preschool children (3-5 years of age). Child attachment was assessed using the Preschool Attachment Coding System. Mothers' attachment state of mind was coded using the Adult Attachment Projective. Mother-child conversation styles were assessed during a 10-minute snack time. Results: Analyses indicated a significant correspondence between maternal and child attachment classifications. Moreover, autonomous mothers and secure children were more inclined to integrate affective information during verbal exchanges, while dyads involved in insecure avoidant, ambivalent, or disorganized relationships were more inclined to minimize, exaggerate, or be overwhelmed with affective information. Finally, children's ability to integrate affective information mediated the link between mother and child attachment security. Conclusion: Overall, results emphasize the importance of the quality of mother-child conversation for the development of internal working models of child attachment during the preschool period. In addition, results are also informative for the development of attachment-based intervention for parents and their preschoolers.


How do we manage to step into another person's shoes and eventually derive the intention behind observed behavior? We propose a connectionist neural network (NN) model that learns self-supervised a prerequisite of this social capability: it adapts its internal perspective in accordance to observed biological motion. The model first learns predictive correlations between proprioceptive motion and a corresponding visual motion perspective. When a novel view of a biological motion is presented, the model is able to transform this view to the closest perspective that was seen during training. In effect, the model realizes a translation-, scale-, and rotation-invariant recognition of biological motion. The NN is an extended adaptive resonance model that incorporates self-supervised error backpropagation and parameter bootstrapping by neural noise. It segments and correlates relative, visual and proprioceptive velocity kinematics, gradually refining the emerging representations from scratch. As a result, it is able to adjust its internal perspective to novel views of trained biological motion patterns. Thus, we show that it is possible to take the perspective of another person by correlating proprioceptive motion with relative, visual motion, and then allowing the adjustment of the visual frame of reference to other views of similar motion patterns.


Boolean satisfiability (SAT) and its extensions have become a core technology in many application domains, such as planning and formal verification, and continue finding various new application domains today. The SAT-based approach divides into three steps: encoding, preprocessing, and search. It is often argued that by encoding arbitrary Boolean formulas in conjunctive normal form (CNF), structural properties of the original problem are not reflected in the CNF. This should result in the fact that CNF-level preprocessing and SAT solver techniques have an inherent disadvantage compared to related techniques applicable on the level of more structural SAT instance representations such as Boolean circuits. Motivated by this, various simplification techniques and intricate CNF encodings for circuit-level SAT instance representations have been proposed. On the other hand, based on the highly efficient CNF-level clause learning SAT solvers, there is also strong support for the claim that CNF is sufficient as an input format for SAT solvers. In this work we study the effect of CNF-level simplification techniques, focusing on SatElite-style variable elimination (VE) and what we call blocked clause elimination (BCE). We show that BCE is surprisingly effective both in theory and in practice on CNF formulas resulting from a standard CNF encoding for circuits: without explicit knowledge of the underlying circuit structure, it achieves the same level of simplification as a combination of circuit-level simplifications and previously suggested polarity-based CNF encodings. We also show that VE can achieve many of the same effects as BCE, but not all. On the other hand, it turns out that VE and BCE are indeed partially orthogonal techniques. We also study 2 the practical effects of combining BCE and VE for reducing the size of formulas and on the running times of state-of-the-art SAT solvers. Furthermore, we address the problem of how to construct original witnesses to satisfiable CNF formulas when applying a combination of BCE and VE.


A new process for ammonium removal from wastewater using zeolite has been developed. The zeolite (chabazite) serves the dual purpose of an ion exchanger and a physical carrier for nitrifying bacteria which bio-regenerate the ammonium-saturated mineral. The entire process is carried out in a single, compact reactor and takes place in two phases: ion-exchange phase and bioregener ation phase. This paper describes the effects of the biofilm on ion-exchange capacity and kinetics. Batch and continuous experiments sho wed a reduction of about 25 to 30% in the ion-exchange rate in biofilm covered chabazite as compared to virgin chabazite, while the ion-exchange capacity did not change. Experiments conducted indicated that the rate-controlling step for ion exchange shifted f rom pore diffusion in the virgin chabazite to film diffusion in the biofilm-covered chabazite. The diffusion rate of NH 4 + inside biofilms is of the same order of magnitude as diffusion rate of NH 4 + in water and 3 to 4 orders of magnitude greater than typical pore diffusion rates reported in zeolites. Therefore, the biofilm coverage of the chabazite was originally not expected to affect the ion-exch ange rate. In addition, chemical precipitation was experimentally found not to be the cause for the ion-exchange rate reduction. It was hypothesised that the rate-limiting factor for ion exchange was caused by the part of the biofilm adjacent to the ch abazite which differs from the rest of the biofilm and is characterised by a much higher density which impedes diffusion.


Guided by insights from interpretive sociology, Mad Studies, and Disability Studies, this paper explores the role of universities in a psycho-social politics of resilience. I examine how the concept of resilience is used to rationalize the removal of the perspectives of university students with lived experience of disability and madness. Focusing on the University of Toronto, Canada, as a case, I trace the systematic exclusion, silencing, and erasure of the perspectives of people with lived experience within the University to the University's inception as a colonialist project. The analysis is supported by a theorization of resilience and a brief genealogical analysis of the University of Toronto's history as "Temporary Asylum for Female Lunatics" (or "University Asylum") from 1856–1869. This paper illustrates the integral role that the concept of resilience plays in the social order of the University, and in the exploitation, oppression, and forcible displacement of mad-identified people by the University. Although the University Asylum building is now demolished, the colonial project that leveled it lingers on in resilience-based, success-oriented, university disability programs and initiatives.


ABSTRACT Kim, J. and Choi, J, 2016. Data-driven modeling of coastal water quality using the Bayesian method for coastal management. In: Vila-Concejo, A.; Bruce, E.; Kennedy, D.M., and McCarroll, R.J. (eds.), Proceedings of the 14th International Coastal Symposium (Sydney, Australia). Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue, No. 75, pp. 647–651. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. To understand and a predict a coastal water quality system, a data-driven statistical model has been proposed using the Bayesian method and applied to the Saemangeum tidal lake. To describe a coastal water quality system, a multivariate statistical model was derived by determining observed variables and their interrelationships such as sea surface temperature, salinity, Chl-a, DO, pH, TN, TP, COD, NH4N, NO2N, NO3N, PO4O, and SiO2Si for parameters of coastal marine environments, coastal water quality, and nutrients using observed field data. To estimate this statistical model, a Bayesian approach using Markov chain Monte Carlo method was applied to identify an optimal data-driven model. There are no limitations of statistical assumptions for samples using the Bayesian method, which is required in a frequentist approach, such as the maximum likelihood method. The Saemangeum tidal lake's coastal water quality system was quantitatively described and assessed by interpreting coefficients of model parameters with relation among variables from a derived structural equation model. Moreover, a prediction for coastal management was possible by Bayesian inference. Thus, there are new findings on the salinity threshold necessary to maintain optimal water by improving degraded water quality. Based on the findings, a quantity of water mixing (exchaning fresh water through sluice gates) can be applied while continuing construction of land reclamation.


This study aims to improve student learning outcomes through the collaboration of Mind Mapping learning with Modeling The Way. This type of research is classroom action research (CAR). The subjects of this study were students of class VII MTs. Nurul Islam. The data collection methods used was test, observation, interview and documentation methods. This research was conducted in two cycles, namely cycle I and cycle II. Based on the results of the research conducted, it was obtained data on student learning outcomes before the study was 42.3%, in the first cycle it was 65%, and in the second cycle it was 80%. Based on the results obtained, it can be concluded that the colaboration of  Mind Mapping learning with Modeling The Way can increase student learning outcomes.
Keywords: learning outcomes, mind mapping, modelling the way


ABSTRACT Today's news media are once again filled with stories concerning the escalating levels of ethics violations in American business. Although much of the concern is directed at large corporation, in the day-to-day activities of small business, owners and mangers face ethical dilemmas and necessary decisions which may compromise their ethical reasoning for the health of the business. There is increasing evidences that small business managers may in fact face greater pressure than big business to act unethically or compromise principles given their lack of resources and competitive environment. With over ninety-five percent of American business classified as small business, business and public leaders are turning to our educational systems to begin a renewed emphasis on ethical reasoning in their curricula. Yet, there is little agreement as to what methods of educational intervention are most effective in improving ethical reasoning. The focus of this study was to determine the effectiveness of classroom experiences intended to facilitate the development of ethical reasoning skills in the training of students of small business and entrepreneurship. Implications of this study are discussed along with recommendations for the use of a discussion teaching style in a dedicated class in applied ethics in small business, and longitudinal studies to measure the effectiveness of these educational interventions. INTRODUCTION Officials and managers have been paying more attention to ethical issues in recent years due in part to increases in external controls and to the media's increased attention to publicintegrity issues. Another factor drawing attention to ethical issues in small business is the everincreasing use of new technology and a dramatically changing environment in which small businesses operate, both demographically and politically (Welsh & Birch, 1997). Margaret Blunden (1984, p.418) observed that "science, technology and industry have come to form a positive feedback system of accelerating change, and the pace of technological change means that increases in what is possible run ahead of public debates about what is desirable". Finally, as reported in the Chronicle of Higher Education article, "The Ethics of Business Schools', "the idea that the most important goal of business is to maximize wealth has permeated the whole notion that business is about profit and competition and trying to defeat your opponent; while ethics implies that there's some social good at stake, and if you worry about social good, you'll end up being clobbered by the competition" (The Chronicle, 2002, p. 6). Even students of Small Business and Entrepreneurship learn that their careers are made or broken on whether they can come up with the next innovation or creative break-through. Thus, we should not be surprised by these stunning failure rates among small and start-up businesses. This is what we taught our students to do. This study examines the effectiveness of class room experiences intended to facilitate the development of ethical reasoning skills utilizing data from the entrepreneurship emphasis area program, training students in the Business Administration degree program offered by the University of Missouri at Kansas City (UMKC). UMKC's Small Business Management Program does not contain a class specifically to develop ethical reasoning skills. Rather, it includes several courses which incorporate ethical reasoning. This is consistent with Kohlberg's (1976) concept of content related moral development. A major tenet of Kohlberg's theory is that moral reasoning occurs in sequential process and progresses through six stages. As a person matures, they will progress through the various stages of moral reasoning without the benefit of formal training. Educators have long been influenced by these theories and have developed educational interventions that attempt to facilitate students' understanding of justice and cooperative reciprocity, the basis of the more advanced levels of moral reasoning. …


: Experimental testing of ITER scenarios on the DIII-D (US) and WEST (France) tokamaks, approaches for simulation and realization of ITER plasma control systems, the preparation of ITER plasma control systems for starting and exploitation are presented. The roadmaps that are known in Europe for the development and creation of the first fusion power plant DEMO (the next step after ITER) are reported. These maps show two directions of DEMO development: (i) based on conventional tokamaks with relatively large aspect ratio and (ii) based on spherical tokamaks of module type giving a chance to noticeably reduce the time needed to create the DEMO and to get cheap competitive electrical energy. The basic trends in the design of DEMO poloidal systems, as well as the initial version of the DEMO plasma vertical position control system, are given.


Collaborative governance By its nature, environmental governance requires collaboration. However, studies have shown that various types of stakeholders often lack the willingness to deliberate and contribute to jointly negotiated solutions to common environmental problems. Bodin reviews studies and cases that elucidate when, if, and how collaboration can be effective and what kind of environmental problems are most fruitfully addressed in this way. The piece provides general conclusions about the benefits and constraints of collaborative approaches to environmental management and governance and points out that there remain substantial knowledge gaps and key areas where more research is needed. Science, this issue p. eaan1114 BACKGROUND Current and future generations are confronted with the complex task of devising sustainable solutions to environmental problems. The coming decade might determine whether humanity will be able to set a course toward a future of continued prosperity on a planet whose ecosystems will deliver the needed goods and services. A crucial piece of this puzzle is achieving effective collaboration among different public and private actors and stakeholders. Calls for solving environmental problems through collaborative governance emphasize benefits from local to global scales—from artisanal fishermen avoiding the overfishing of local fish stocks by together agreeing upon sustainable practices, to states jointly committing to implement adequate measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Although commonly advocated, achieving successful collaborations when confronted with complex environmental problems spanning geographical scales and jurisdictional boundaries is an area where substantial knowledge gaps remain. ADVANCES A growing amount of empirical evidence shows the effectiveness of actors engaged in different collaborative governance arrangements in addressing environmental problems. However, studies also show that actors sometimes collaborate only as a means of advocating their own interests, while largely lacking a willingness to contribute towards jointly negotiated solutions to common problems. Hence, collaboration is sometimes unable to deliver any tangible outcomes, or merely produces symbolic outcomes such as aggregated wish lists where conflicts of interest are left untouched. Clearly, no single blueprint exists for how to succeed by using collaborative approaches to solve environmental problems. One way of approaching this puzzle is through the lenses of the participating actors and the ways in which they engage in collaboration with each other. This approach entails directing attention to who the actors are, what their interests and motives are, who they collaborate with, and how the structures of such "collaborative networks" relate to the actors' joint abilities to address different environmental problems. Emerging insights from recent research suggest that the effectiveness of different collaborative network structures in addressing environmental problems depends on how those problems unfold with respect to the following characteristics: (i) varying levels of risk that actors free-ride on others' efforts; (ii) varying levels of knowledge gaps, signifying different needs for social learning and deliberation among actors with different backgrounds, experiences, and interests; and (iii) whether these problems are, for all practical purposes, permanent or just temporary. Also, long-standing research questions regarding whether governance structures that are adequately aligned with ecosystem structures and processes are more effective have recently been addressed empirically. Early results suggest several ways in which misalignments between the structure of a collaborative network and the biophysical environment reduce the ability to address environmental problems effectively. OUTLOOK A more nuanced understanding of whether collaborative governance is the most effective way of solving environmental problems is needed. The capacity of collaborative governance to deliver sustainable solutions for any given environmental problem ranges from highly effective to essentially worthless. Future efforts must establish which factors determine the exact location of any collaborative arrangement on this continuum. Emerging insights suggest that where a collaborative arrangement falls on the spectrum results from a complex interplay between several factors. The characteristics of the underlying collective action problem are one factor. Others are the characteristics of the underlying biophysical system and how these align with the ways in which collaborative governance arrangements are constructed, institutionally embedded, and managed. Finally, the patterns in which actors collaborate with each other (or do not) is a factor that potentially determines the effects that the other factors have on a collaborative arrangement's ability to solve environmental problems. Small-scale fishermen preparing their nets. Although collaborative approaches to environmental governance are increasingly advocated, a better understanding of if and how multiactor collaboration in interlinked social-ecological systems is able to effectively address various environmental problems is urgently needed. Photo: Nature Picture Library/Alamy Stock Photo Managing ecosystems is challenging because of the high number of stakeholders, the permeability of man-made political and jurisdictional demarcations in relation to the temporal and spatial extent of biophysical processes, and a limited understanding of complex ecosystem and societal dynamics. Given these conditions, collaborative governance is commonly put forward as the preferred means of addressing environmental problems. Under this paradigm, a deeper understanding of if, when, and how collaboration is effective, and when other means of addressing environmental problems are better suited, is needed. Interdisciplinary research on collaborative networks demonstrates that which actors get involved, with whom they collaborate, and in what ways they are tied to the structures of the ecosystems have profound implications on actors' abilities to address different types of environmental problems.