Oxygen isotopic compositions were determined for coexisting mixed-layer serpentine-chlorite (Sp-Ch) and illite-smectite (I-S) from 5 Tuscaloosa Formation sandstone cores sampled between 1937 and 5470 m burial depth. High gradient magnetic separation (HGMS) was used to concentrate Sp-Ch and I-S from the <0.5 μm fraction of each core sample into fractions with a range in the Sp-Ch: I-S ratio, and end-member δ18O compositions were determined by extrapolation. The Sp-Ch δ18O values range from + 10.4 to 13.7% and increase with burial between 3509 and 5470 m. The only exception is Sp-Ch from 1937 m, which has an anomalously high δ18O value of +12.6‰ The I-S δ18O values range from +16.1 to 17.3% and do not change significantly between 3509 and 5470 m burial depth.

Pore water δ18O compositions calculated from Sp-Ch and I-S values and measured borehole temperatures range from −2.6 to +10.3‰ The isotopically light values indicate that Sp-Ch formed at shallow burial depths in the presence of brackish to marine water and/or meteoric water. The depth-related increase in δ18O of Sp-Ch is attributed to oxygen exchange between mineral and pore water during diagenetic mineral reactions. Increasing δ18O values, in conjunction with XRD and SEM data, indicate that transformation of serpentine layers to chlorite layers and Ibb polytype layers to Iaa polytype layers occurred on a layer-by-layer basis when individual layers dissolved and recrystallized within the confines of coherent crystals. Possible explanations for the variation in I-S δ18O values include depth-related differences in pore water δ18O values present at the time of I-S crystallization, contamination by detrital 2M, mica and 1M polytype rotations that facilitated oxygen exchange.

Established chronologies indicate a long-term ‘Hoabinhian’ hunter-gatherer occupation of Mainland Southeast Asia during the Terminal Pleistocene to Mid-Holocene (45 000–3000 years ago). Here, the authors re-examine the ‘Hoabinhian’ sequence from north-west Thailand using new radiocarbon and luminescence data from Spirit Cave, Steep Cliff Cave and Banyan Valley Cave. The results indicate that hunter-gatherers exploited this ecologically diverse region throughout the Terminal Pleistocene and the Pleistocene–Holocene transition, and into the period during which agricultural lifeways emerged in the Holocene. Hunter-gatherers did not abandon this highland region of Thailand during periods of environmental and socioeconomic change.

Background: Brain tumors present unique challenges to patient and family quality of life (QOL). Cognitive dysfunction is common and functionally limiting, with no established treatments. These studies evaluate feasibility and preliminary efficacy of behavioral interventions developed for neuro-oncology patients. Study 1: A randomized controlled trial (N=25 primary brain tumor patients) compared an adapted version of Goal Management Training (GMT, a neuroscience-based integration of mindfulness and strategy training) and a newly-designed supportive psychoeducational intervention (Brain Health Program, BHP) to standard of care. Each intervention comprised 8 individual sessions and at-home practice between sessions. GMT patients’ executive functions improved immediately (p=.077, d=1.13), with maintenance at 4-month follow-up (p=.046, d=1.09). Both intervention groups reported improvements in everyday cognitive functioning immediately (p=.049; d’s GMT=0.43, BHP=0.79) and at follow-up (p=.001; d’s GMT=0.22, BHP=1.01). BHP patients also reported improved mood (p’s=.026 & .012, d’s=0.61 & 0.62). Study 2: Following a needs assessment about cognitive concerns and QOL in brain metastases patients (N=109) and caregivers (N=31), we developed a novel, brief (3 sessions + homework) Cognitive Support Program to provide education and strategy-training in key areas of concern: executive functions, memory, and communication. Options include caregiver co-training, and in-person or web-based delivery. Preliminary data from a pilot trial in progress demonstrate objective and subjective improvements. Conclusions: Cognitive rehabilitation may be a feasible and effective option for primary or metastatic brain tumor patients, addressing a need that is largely unmet in standard cancer care. Further development and larger trials appear warranted, with capacity for remote delivery recommended.

Host–parasite dynamics can play a fundamental role in both the establishment success of invasive species and their impact on native wildlife. The net impact of parasites depends on their capacity to switch effectively between native and invasive hosts. Here we explore host-switching, spatial patterns and simple fitness measures in a slow-expanding invasion: the invasion of Asian house geckos (Hemidactylus frenatus) from urban areas into bushland in Northeast Australia. In bushland close to urban edges, H. frenatus co-occurs with, and at many sites now greatly out-numbers, native geckos. We measured prevalence and intensity of Geckobia mites (introduced with H. frenatus), and Waddycephalus (a native pentastome). We recorded a new invasive mite species, and several new host associations for native mites and geckos, but we found no evidence of mite transmission between native and invasive geckos. In contrast, native Waddycephalus nymphs were commonly present in H. frenatus, demonstrating this parasite's capacity to utilize H. frenatus as a novel host. Prevalence of mites on H. frenatus decreased with distance from the urban edge, suggesting parasite release towards the invasion front; however, we found no evidence that mites affect H. frenatus body condition or lifespan. Waddycephalus was present at low prevalence in bushland sites and, although its presence did not affect host body condition, our data suggest that it may reduce host survival. The high relative density of H. frenatus at our sites, and their capacity to harbour Waddycephalus, suggests that there may be impacts on native geckos and snakes through parasite spillback.

Belize contains important habitat for Antillean manatees (Trichechus manatus manatus) and provides refuge for the highest known population density of this subspecies. As these animals face impending threats, knowledge of their dietary habits can be used to interpret resource utilization. The contents of 13 mouth, six digestive tract (stomach, duodenum and colon) and 124 faecal samples were microscopically examined using a modified point technique detection protocol to identify key plant species consumed by manatees at two important aggregation sites in Belize: Southern Lagoon and the Drowned Cayes. Overall, 15 different items were identified in samples from manatees in Belize. Five species of seagrasses (Halodule wrightii, Thalassia testudinum, Ruppia maritima, Syringodium filiforme and Halophila sp.) made up the highest percentage of items. The red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) was also identified as an important food item. Algae (Ulva sp., Chara sp., Lyngbya sp.) and invertebrates (sponges and diatoms) were also consumed. Variation in the percentage of seagrasses, other vascular plants and algae consumption was analysed as a 4-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) with main effects and interactions for locality, sex, size classification and season. While sex and season did not influence diet composition, differences for locality and size classification were observed. These results suggest that analysis of diet composition of Antillean manatees may help to determine critical habitat and use of associated food resources which, in turn, can be used to aid conservation efforts in Belize.

Whole apples have not been previously implicated in outbreaks of foodborne bacterial illness. We investigated a nationwide listeriosis outbreak associated with caramel apples. We defined an outbreak-associated case as an infection with one or both of two outbreak strains of Listeria monocytogenes highly related by whole-genome multilocus sequence typing (wgMLST) from 1 October 2014 to 1 February 2015. Single-interviewer open-ended interviews identified the source. Outbreak-associated cases were compared with non-outbreak-associated cases and traceback and environmental investigations were performed. We identified 35 outbreak-associated cases in 12 states; 34 (97%) were hospitalized and seven (20%) died. Outbreak-associated ill persons were more likely to have eaten commercially produced, prepackaged caramel apples (odds ratio 326·7, 95% confidence interval 32·2–3314). Environmental samples from the grower's packing facility and distribution-chain whole apples yielded isolates highly related to outbreak isolates by wgMLST. This outbreak highlights the importance of minimizing produce contamination with L. monocytogenes. Investigators should perform single-interviewer open-ended interviews when a food is not readily identified.

The characteristics of intra-lymphocytic Theileria isolated from African buffalo and from cattle that were infected with buffalo-derived parasites were evaluated using anti-schizont monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and DNA probes. Antigenic differences were revealed by the reactivities of 27 mAbs with the buffalo-derived parasites isolated from different animals. Antigenic diversity was also seen with Theileria-infected lymphoblastoid cell isolates taken from the lymph nodes and blood of the same animals. Two DNA probes, selected from a genomic library of T. parva piroplasm DNA cloned in λgt11, showed specific hybridization to parasite DNA in Southern blots of restriction enzyme-digested, lymphoblastoid cells infected with buffalo-derived theilerial parasites. Genotypic differences between the buffalo-derived parasites were revealed by the restriction fragment length polymorphisms seen with hybridization of those probes to DNA from cloned and uncloned Theileria-infected cell lines. The evaluation of theilerial parasites derived from buffalo and from cattle which underwent typical T. p. lawrencei reactions, after being infected with buffalo-derived theilerial parasites, did not show any specific phenotypic or genotypic characteristics of these parasites that would distinguish them from T. p. parva and T. p. bovis parasites. The validity of these subspecies distinctions is discussed.

A Neospora sp. was isolated from the brains of two aborted bovine foetuses and grown continuously in vitro in bovine cell cultures. A comparison of the antigenic reactivity of in vitro cultivated tachyzoites with polyclonal antisera to Neospora caninum, Hammondia hammondi or Toxoplasma gondii revealed that the bovine protozoal isolates were similar to N. caninum and antigenically distinct from T. gondii. Tachyzoites of both bovine isolates had similar ultrastructural features, including an apical polar ring, conoid, electron-dense rhoptries and micronemes. The orientation of the micronemes, presence of micropores and a large number of electron-dense granules in the posterior portion of the bovine isolate tachyzoites differed from previous descriptions of N. caninum in vivo. Tachyzoites of the bovine isolates were ultrastructurally more similar to in vitro cultivated N. caninum tachyzoites than to tachyzoites of T. gondii or H. hammondi. The antigenic and ultrastructural similarities between N. caninum and the protozoal parasites isolated from aborted bovine foetuses in this study support the proposition that these parasites belong to the genus Neospora.

Different stocks and stabilates within a stock of Theileriaparva were analysed for genotypic differences and for their effect on the expression of host cell surface antigens following infection of BoT8+ T lymphocyte clones. The parasites were characterized in vitro by hybridization of T. parva- specific DNA probes to Southern blots of endonuclease-digested DNA from the infected T cell clones. Phenotypic changes in the host lymphoblastoid cells before and after infection were examined using lineage-specific monoclonal antibodies which reacted with the differentiation antigens BoT2, BoT4, Bo6, BoT8 and a null cell marker on bovine T cells. Expression of Class I and Class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens on the cell populations was also assessed. Results of this study indicate that genotypically different parasites exist among and within T. parva stabilates and that the expression of Bo6, BoT8 and the null cell marker was differentially altered by infection with parasites from different stocks or from different stabilates of the same stock. Expression of Class II antigens was significantly increased after infection. Moreover, clones that were derived from the same cell line but had genotypically distinct T. parva parasites, also showed differences in expression of Bo6 and BoT8 and the null cell marker.

Characteristics of strained layer superlattices (SLS) consisting of alternating layers InxGa1-xAs and GaAs1-yPy are examined for use in high efficiency solar cells. The effects of SLS quantum barrier widths on tunneling probability and short circuit current are discussed through analysis of J-V and spectral response measurements. Results indicate a threshold barrier thickness for which tunneling effects are deleterious. Effect of the number of SLS periods incorporated into a p-i-n structure and maximum number of periods are presented through spectral response and CV analysis. It is demonstrated that SLS show increasing responsivity with increasing number of periods due to higher absorption. CV analysis is performed to determine zero bias depletion widths for verifying appropriate number of SLS periods and fully depleted SLS region.

InGaAs can be used to enhance the response of solar cells past the 1.43 eV cutoff of GaAs. Strained-layer superlattice (SLS) structures with high indium and phosphorus compositions (up to 35% and 68% respectively) have been grown successfully. SLS solar cells with indium and high phosphorus compositions (up to 15% and 85% respectively) have been grown successfully. The spectral response of the solar cells has been extended to as low as 1.27 eV. This enhancement is also shown by an increase in the short circuit current, with a small reduction in the short circuit voltage as compared to standard GaAs p-n junction for AM1.5 and one sun.

Dark current curves show the extent of recombination in the superlattice. The reverse saturation current in the recombination region (0.2-0.8 V) was determined using a non-linear least squares fitting routine. An Arrhenius plot was generated by finding the reverse saturation current over a temperature range of 300-370 K. The low recombination devices show non-ideality constants of 1.7 with activation energies of 1.3-1.4 eV. The high recombination devices have non-ideality constants (˜2.3) and lower activation energies of 1.1 eV.

Research in computer-assisted language learning (CALL) has neither traditionally nor recently had a language or setting-specific emphasis, one that would have established a distinction between second language learning (SLL) as opposed to foreign language learning (FLL) applications in its attempts to answer principled CALL questions. For example the two anthologies of essays, studies, and reports on CALL theory and practice by Smith (1987; 1989), the papers on CALL research compiled by Dunkel (1991b), and the collection of international perspectives edited by Pennington and Stevens (1992) summarize work done in the 1980s and provide directions and guidelines for work to be done in the 1990s with implications for both SLL and FLL. As this continues to be the case in recent CALL research, an FLL emphasis in the chapter of non-English L2 instructional context has been maintained exclusively for the discussion of software; whenever the rationale for the design and implementation of FLL software was based on second language acquisition theory or findings from empirical ESL-oriented CALL investigations, the respective research source was examined and cited.