Abstract Environmental companies face the risk of liability claims that can, significantly, affect their resources and financial future. At the same time most small- and medium-sized companies do not rely on sophisticated risk-management procedures. We propose here a method that allows for distribution of the liability risk among different projects and which can be applied in a straightforward manner by this type of companies. This procedure relies on incorporating the cost of future claims within a project's revenue, thus treating liability costs as legitimate business revenues. Part of the premium charged, denoted as risk price, is to be used to meet future claims and part to administer the funds collected. Projects of similar magnitude awarded during the same fiscal year share the same risk price, administrative expenses, and risk markup. For projects of similar magnitude that are (or will be) initiated at various years these variables are weighted according to a project's exposure horizon from an expected occurrence of a liability claim. For proposals of variable revenue, awarded at different time-periods, liability costs are distributed proportionally to a project's budget and time-lag from a claim. Our procedure does not render small or recent projects non-competitive and it provides an easy-to-implement risk-management tool to environmental companies.


Primary production and decomposition of organic substances were investigated in a tropical lagoon during the rainy season. Production and mineralization were measured using the oxygen method. Total bacteria numbers and biomasses were estimated with epifluorescence microscopy, and the enzymatic degradation capacity of model substrates was determined photometrically. These parameters were measured in the water and sediment of the lagoon itself and also in its effluents and incoming waters. The aim of the study was to determine the sites of highest microbial activity in the lagoon and to compare its activity with other coastal water bodies. Since the shallow water lagoon contains a large amount of particulate matter, it was of special interest to study the degradation of this material and its influence on the microbial population. It was found that up to 14 % of the bacteria colonized the particles and that 62 % of the respiration originated in the particle fraction >8 μm. Highest exoenzymatic activities were measured in the sediment and water of the mangrove belt. It is concluded that decomposition and conditioning of particulate organic matter play dominant roles in the recycling of organic carbon in the lagoon.


Large Solar Energetic Particles (SEPs) are closely associated with coronal mass ejections (CMEs). The significant correlation observed between SEP intensity and CME speed has been considered as the evidence for such a close connection. The recent finding that SEP events with preceding wide CMEs are likely to have higher intensities compared to those without was attributed to the interaction of the CME-driven shocks with the preceding CMEs or with their aftermath. It is also possible that the intensity of SEPs may also be affected by the properties of the solar source region. In this study, we found that the active region area has no relation with the SEP intensity and CME speed, thus supporting the importance of CME interaction. However, there is a significant correlation between flare size and the active region area, which probably reflects the spatial scale of the flare phenomenon as compared to that of the CME-driven shock.To search for other articles by the author(s) go to: http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html


The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of different duration and frequency of swimming on endothelin-1 and Endothelin-1 receptor in renal tissue in aged rats.The subjects are 2 and 9~10 month old rats divided into 8 groups randomly,that is sedentary control group,one hour exercise group (six days per week),two hour exercise group (six days per week),0ne hour exercise (three days per week).ET-1 protein in renal tissue is determined by radioimmunoassay.The concentration of ETA-R in renal tissue is measured by ELISA.The level of SOD,MDA is determined.The result shows that with the age increasing,the concentration of ET-1 in renal tissues increases significantly ( P0.01 ),but that of ETA-R reduces significantly,and SOD/MDA has no change significantly.Comparing with control group,the concentration of ET-1 in renal tissue has no change significantly for six months swimming training rats,but reduces significantly in 13~14 month rats ( P0.01 ).ET-1 decreases lower in swimming 6 days per week than 3 days per week.Swimming training does not affect the concentration of ETR-R in renal tissue.With the increasing of age,the concentration of ET-1 in renal tissue increase significantly,while that of ETA-R reduces significantly.Swimming training can reduce renal ET-1 level.Swimming training does not have any effect on ETA-R level.There is no cause-effect relation among ET-1,ETA-R level and SOD/MDA.


This paper describes experimental investigations of a three-stage high pressure research turbine at various operating conditions. The experimental investigation is carried out in a three-stage turbine facility at the Turbomachinery Performance and Flow Research Laboratory (TPFL) at Texas A&M University. Its rotor includes non-axisymmetric endwall contouring on the first and second rotor row. Experimental data were obtained using interstage aerodynamic measurements at three measurement stations, namely, downstream of the first rotor row, the second stator row and the second rotor row. Measurements were conducted using five-hole probes traversed in both circumferential and radial directions to create a measurement window. Performance measurements were carried out within a rotational speed range of 1800 to 3000 RPM. Interstage measurements were obtained at 3000 rpm. Moreover, the impact of the purge flow injection on the aerodynamic and performance behaviour of the turbine for five coolant-tomainstream mass flow ratios of 0.0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5% and 2.0% were investigated. Interstage results exhibit the evidence of the mitigation of secondary flow intensity due to endwall contouring. INTRODUCTION The secondary flow and its impact on efficiency and performance of turbine components are described extensively by (Lakshminarayana, 1995) and (Schobeiri, 2012). As explained in detail by (Schobeiri, 2012), turbomachinery losses can be divided into endwall or secondary losses, profile losses and leakage losses. Profile loss is considered loss effects due to boundary layer development on suction and pressure surfaces of the blade. Analyses for profile loss often assume a primarily two-dimensional flow, and losses at the trailing edge are often included into the profile loss category. Endwall losses are commonly referred to as secondary flow losses and arise due to secondary flows generated as the annulus boundary layers in the blade passage. Tip leakage losses arise from leakage type flows across the blade tip for a rotor or stator hub, and depend on whether the blades utilize shrouds or do not. Leakage flows as stated by (Denton, 1993) interact strongly with the secondary flow patterns in the passage, thus it is generally considered that there is large degree interplay between the various types of losses encountered in turbomachinery. Focusing on the secondary flow loss mechanisms, the fluid particles within the endwall boundary layers are exposed to a pitchwise pressure gradient in the blade channel. The particles move from the pressure side to the suction side and generate a system of vortices. These vortices induce drag forces that are the cause of the secondary flow losses. In addition, their interaction with the main flow causes angle deviation inside and outside the blade channel, resulting in additional losses due to angle deviation (Schobeiri & Lu, 2013). In recent years, numerous papers have been published that deal with the effect of endwall contouring and leading edge filleting. With a few exceptions of rotating rig investigations that deal with the endwall contouring of LP-turbines, most of the published studies are either numerically or experimentally performed in turbine cascades with steady inlet flow conditions. Numerical and experimental studies by (Hartland & Gregory-Smith, 2002), (Ingram, et al., 2002), (Eymann, et al., 2002) and (Sauer, et al., 2001) show a reduction of total pressure losses by as much as 50%. In contrast to the tremendous multitude of the cascade endwall papers, from which only a few have been discussed above, there are only a few investigations of the impact on endwall contouring in rotating turbines. Brennan et al. (Brennan, et al., 2003) redesigned the HP turbine of the RollsRoyce Trent 500 engine with the application of nonaxisymmetric endwalls. The profiled endwall shape was determined by six control stations which were fixed at specified axial distances along the mean camber line of the airfoil. The addition of profiling to the endwalls of the HP Turbine is predicted to reduce secondary loss by 0.24% of the


A compound capable of inducing skipping of exon 44 of the dystrophin gene, which is (a) an oligonucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence shown in any of SEQ ID NOs 30, 36, 37, 31, 32, 33 , 38, 35, 34 and 39, wherein at least one of the sugars constituting the oligonucleotide is modified, and wherein said sugar is D-ribofuranose and at least one modification of the sugar is 2'-O, 4'-C alquilenacion the Dribofuranosa, or (b) a compound represented by any one of general formulas (I '), (II') and (III ') or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof; wherein said general formulas are defined as follows: BT''1-BM''1-BB''1 (I '') where BT''1 is a group represented by any one of the following (1a '') to (1m '): (1a' ') HO-, (1b' ') HO-Bt, (1c' ') HO-Bt-Bt, (1d') HO-Bt Bt-Bt, (1e '') HO-Ba-Bt Bt-Bt, (1f '') HO-Bt-Ba-Bt Bt-Bt, (1g '') HO-Bg-Bt-Ba-Bt Bt -Bt-, (1h ') HO-Bt-Bg-Bt-Ba-Bt Bt-Bt, (1i') HO-Bt Bt-Bg-Bt-Ba-Bt Bt-Bt, (1j ') HO-Bt Bt-Bt-Bg-Bt-Ba-Bt Bt-Bt, (1k') HO-Ba-Bt Bt-Bt-Bg-Bt-Ba-Bt Bt -Bt-, (1l ') HO-Ba-Bc-Bt Bt-Bt-Bg-Bt-Ba-Bt Bt-Bt, (1m') HO-Bc-Bc-Bt Bt-Ba- -Bt-Bg-Bt-Ba-Bt Bt-Bt, BM''1 is a group represented by the following formula (1 '): -Ba-Bg-Ba-Bc-Bt-BG- (1' ') ~ BB''1 is a group represented by any one of the following (101a' ') to (101m'): (101a '') -CH2CH2OH, (101b '') -Bt-CH2CH2OH, (101c ' ') -Bt-Bt-CH2CH2OH, (101d') -Bt-Bt-Bc-CH2CH2OH, (101e ') -Bt-Bt-Bc-Bc-CH2CH2OH, (101f' ') -Bt-Bc-Bt -bc-Bc-CH2CH2OH, (101g '') -Bt-Bt-Bc-Bc-Bc-Ba-CH2CH2OH, (101h '') -Bt-Bt-Bc-Bc-Bc-Ba-Ba-CH2CH2OH, ( 101i '') -Bt-Bt-Bc-Bc-Bc-Ba-Ba-Bt-CH2CH2OH, (101j '') -Bt-Bt-Bc-Bc-Bc-Ba-Ba-Bt Bt-CH2CH2OH, ( 101k ') -Bt-Bt-Bc-Bc-Bc-Ba-Ba-Bt Bt-Bc-CH2CH2OH (101L' ') -Bt-Bt-Bc-Bc-Bc-Ba-Ba-Bt Bt -bc-Bt-CH2CH2OH, or (101m ') -Bt-Bt-Bc-Bc-Bc-Ba-Ba-Bt Bt-Bc-Bt-Bc-CH2CH2OH where Bg is a group represented by the following formula ( G1) or (G2); Ba is a group represented by the following formula (A1) or (A2); Bc is a group represented by the following formula (C1) or (C2); and Bt is a group represented by the following formula (U1) or (T2): ** ** Formula where X is each independently a group represented by the following formula (XI) or (X2): Y is each independently one hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group or an alkoxy group with 1-6 carbon atoms; and Z is each independently a single bond or an alkylene group having 1-5 carbon atoms; with the proviso that at least one of the nucleosides constituting the compound represented by formula (I '') have a 2'-O, 4'-C-alkylene group; BT "3-BM" 2-BB "2 (II") where BT "2 is a group represented by any one of the following (2a") to (2g "): (2a") HO-, (2b ") HO-BG-, (2c ") HO-Bt-BG-, (2d") HO-Ba-Bt-BG-, (2e ") HO-Ba-Bc-Bt-BG-, (2f ') HO- bg-Ba-Bc-Bt-BG-, or (2g ") HO-Ba-bg-Ba-Bc-Bt-BG-, BM" 2 is a group represented by the following formula (2 "): -Bt- Bt-Bc-Bc-Bc-Ba-Ba-Bt Bt-Bc-Bt-BC- (2 ") BB" 2 is a group represented by any one of the following (102a ") to (102g"): ( 102a ") -CH2CH2OH, (102b") -Ba-CH2CH2OH, (102c ") -Ba-Bg-CH2CH2OH, (102d") -Ba-Bg-Bgl-CH2CH2OH, (102e ") -Ba-Bg-BG- Ba-CH2CH2OH, (102f ") - Ba-Bg-Bgl-Ba-Ba-CH2CH2OH, or (102g") -Ba-Bg-Bgl-Ba-Ba-Bt-CH2CH2OH where Bg, Ba, Bc and Bt are as defined above; with the proviso that at least one of the nucleosides constituting the compound represented by formula (II ') have a 2'-O 4'-C-alkylene group; BT "3-BM" 3-BB "3 ( III ") where BT" 3 is a group represented by any one of the following (3a ") to (3m"): (3a ") HO-, (3b ') HO-BC-, (3c') HO-Ba -Bc-, (3d ') HO-Ba-Ba-BC-, (3e') HO-Ba-Ba-Ba-BC-, (3f ') HO-Ba-Ba-Ba-Ba-BC-, ( 3g ") HO-Bg-Ba-Ba-Ba-Ba-BC-, (3h ') HO-Bt-Bg-Ba-Ba-Ba-Ba-BC-, (3i') HO-Bt-Ba-Bg -Ba-Ba-Ba-Ba-BC-, (3j ') HO-Ba-Ba-Bt-Bg-Ba-Ba-Ba-Ba-BC-, (3k') HO-Bt-Ba-Ba-Bt -bg-Ba-Ba-Ba-Ba-BC-, (3l ") HO-Bt-Ba-Ba-Ba-Bt-Bg-Ba-Ba-Ba-Ba-BC-, or 35 (3m") HO -bc-Ba-Ba-Ba-Bt Bt-Bg-Ba-Ba-Ba-Ba-BC- BM "3 is a group represented by the following formula (3"): -bg-Bc-Bc-BG- bc-BC- (3 ') BB' 3 is a group represented by any one of the following (103a ") to (103m"): (103a ") -CH2CH2OH, (103b") -Ba-CH2CH2OH, (103c " ) -Ba-Bt-CH2CH2OH, (103d ") -Ba-Bt Bt-CH2CH2OH, (103e") -Ba-Bt Bt-Bt-CH2CH2OH, (103f ") -Ba-Bt Bt-Bc-Bt -CH2CH2OH, (103g ") -Ba-Bt Bt-Bt-Bc-Bt-CH2CH2OH, (103h") -Ba-Bt Bt-Bt-Bc-Bt-Bc-CH2CH2OH, ~ (103i ") -Ba -Bt-Bt Bt-Bc-Bt-Bc-Ba-CH2CH2OH, (103j ") -Ba-Bt Bt-Bt-Bc-Bt-Bc-Ba-Ba-CH2CH2OH, (103k") -Ba-Bt -Bt-Bt-Bc-Bt-Bc-Ba-Ba-Bc-CH2CH2OH (103L ") -Ba-Bt Bt-Bt-Bc-Bt-Bc-Ba-Ba-Bc-Ba-CH2CH2OH, or ( 103m ") -Ba-Bt Bt-Bt-Bc-Bt-Bc-Ba-Ba-Bc-Ba-Bg-CH2CH2OH where Bg, Ba, Bc and Bt are as defined above; with the proviso that at least one of the nucleosides constituting the compound represented by formula (III ') have a 2'-O, 4'-C-alkylene group.


ABSTRACT
Rheumatoid arthritis is frequently associated with chronic pain that still remains difficult to treat. Targeting nerve growth factor (NGF) seems very effective to reduce pain in at least, osteoarthritis and chronic low back pain but leads to some potential adverse events. Our aim was to better understand the involvement of the intracellular signalling pathways activated by NGF through its specific tyrosine kinase type A (TrkA) receptor in the pathophysiology of rheumatoid arthritis using the complete Freund adjuvant model in our knock-in TrkA/C mice. Our multimodal study demonstrated that knock-in TrkA/C mice exhibited a specific decrease of mechanical allodynia, weight bearing deficit, peptidergic (CGRP+) and sympathetic (TH+) peripheral nerve sprouting in the joints, a reduction in osteoclast activity and bone resorption markers, and a decrease of CD68 positive cells in the joint with no apparent changes in joint inflammation compared to WT mice following arthritis. Finally, transcriptomic analysis show several differences in DRGs mRNA expression of putative mechanotransducers such as ASIC3 and TRAAK as well as intracellular pathways such as c-Jun in the joint/DRGs. These results suggest that TrkA specific intracellular signalling pathways are specifically involved in mechanical hypersensitivity and bone alterations following arthritis using TrkA/C mice.


This research aims to the obstacles faced by the alumni of the 2015PPKn study program in relation to the relevance of the 2013 curriculum tothe job needs of alumni.This research is qualitative descriptive with purposive samplingtechnique. Data collection which includes online structured interviewsconducted with questions that were arranged and linked and developedtheoretical literature. The subjects of this study were alumni of the 2015PPKn FKIP, University of Palangka Raya.The results showed that the obstacles experienced by alumni of the2015 PPKn Study Program were the lack of soft skills in preparingthemselves to apply for jobs, either as teachers or other jobs relevant to the discipline of knowledge that alumni have. The effort that needs to be done toovercome these difficulties is the optimization of work in the form of softskills or products that can be a selling point for the alumni themselves.


In order to elucidate the etiology of the loose shoulder, biochemical characteristics of deltoid and major pectoral muscles and skin collagen from patients with loose shoulder have been investigated. Amounts of soluble collagen, reducible cross-links of collagen and their precursors in both muscles and skin from the loose shoulder were found to be higher than those in the control. These data suggest that soft tissues, especially deltoid muscles, of patients with loose shoulder contain relatively immature collagen fibers compared with normal shoulders. In re-operation cases of the loose shoulder, the collagen fibers in skin were more immature, which may reflect the clinical features of the disease.


Hypergroups are lifted to power semigroups with negation, yielding a method of transferring results from semigroup theory. This applies to analogous structures such as hypergroups, hyperfields, and hypermodules, and permits us to transfer the general theory from universal algebra. Special attention is given to the examples from Baker's article.


The past and present work of the Maternal Health Program at the University of Puerto Rico (begun in 1961 by Gregory Pincus) is described, with emphasis on the pill's relationship to cancer. Patients in the program are either given oral contraceptives (2.5 or 5.0 mg doses of a norethynodrel-mestranol pill) or instructed in the use of other contraceptive methods excluding intrauterine devices. 43.9% of the 4,846 women in the oral group and 44.3% of the 4,788 women in the normal group experienced 1 or more changes in cervical cytology during the 8 years of observation. No evidence exists suggesting progestational agents cause or accelerate precancerous growths in the cervix. In fact, oral progestins, especially in higher dosages, may inhibit the early stages of cancer. Studies planned or in progress concern factors predisposing a patient to cervica dysplasia; traits of children of oral contraceptors; the effect of oral agents on thyroid function, hypertension, and endocrine function; and menopausal and postmenopausal behavior in oral and nonoral women.


Since a long time, it is known that singing helps persons who stutter to produce their utterances more fluently. The prosodic characteristics of spoken and sung utterances differ considerably in their rhythmic and tonal structure. Therefore, it has been proposed that song prosody helps stutterers to improve their rhythmic planning of verbal material [1]. In order to investigate this idea, we examined temporal aspects, namely Voice Onset Time (henceforth, VOT) of voiceless plosives, in sung and spoken utterances of young German stutterers and non-stuttering controls. VOT tends to be reduced in song compared to speech. We expected a more important reduction in the stuttering group as voice onset timing should be facilitated in song compared to speech. Eight stuttering adolescents and eight normal fluent peers read and sang an altered version of "Happy Birthday" with test words containing the three voiceless stops /p/, /t/, /k/. Results showed that stuttering as well as non-stuttering adolescents reduced VOT during singing compared to speech. In contrast, only adolescents who stutter were less variable in their VOT production in song compared to speech. Additional analyses indicated further group differences in vowel duration following the stop consonant. These findings suggest that young stutterers benefit from sung prosody in their timing


Abstract: Fibrids are materials of a complex fibrous, film-like, or intermediate form. The diameter of the particles var-ies between 20–50 µm, and 100–10,000 µm. The optimal form and size of the particles depends in each case on thearea of application. The fibrid form is the result of two processes, viz. a wave process and diffusion. The life span andbreak-up pattern of the polymer depend on the interphase surface tension, the viscosity of the polymer, and the diffu-sion speed ratio of the polymer and medium. In this study, m-aramid was polymerized at low temperature and in solu-tion with an equal molar ratio of MPD and IPC in DMAc. The meta-aramid solution was prepared by dissolution inDMAc, and ethanol was used as a coagulation bath. The rotation speed was the main factor affecting the formation andmorphology of the fibrid. Meta-aramid paper was produced from m-aramid fiber with meta-aramid fibrid by wet lay-ing. The results showed that fibrid particle sizes decreased with increasing rotation speeds and decreasing concentra-tions of m-aramid in the solution. The properties of the m-aramid fibrid as a function of the processing conditions wereinvestigated using an image analyzer, optical microscopy, and SEM. The resulting meta-aramid paper was analyzed interms of its morphology, thickness, air permeability, and mechanical properties.Keywords: fibrid, m-aramid, ethanol, meta-aramid paper


Acrylic-based coatings are produced in formulations to suit all the major markets within the coatings industry. Industrial, decorative, printing inks, powder, and wall coverings are some of the market areas where acrylic-based coatings are widely used. Water emulsion and film-forming acrylic-based coatings are of particular importance due to their relative high performance and extremely low volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions.


The paper
is devised to combine the approximated semi-Lagrange weighted essentially
non-oscillatory scheme and flux vector splitting. The approximated finite
volume semi-Lagrange that is weighted essentially non-oscillatory scheme with
Roe flux had been proposed. The methods using Roe speed to construct the flux
probably generates entropy-violating solutions. More seriously, the methods
maybe perform numerical instability in two-dimensional cases. A robust and
simply remedy is to use a global flux splitting to substitute Roe flux. The
combination is tested by several numerical examples. In addition, the
comparisons of computing time and resolution between the classical weighted
essentially non-oscillatory scheme (WENOJS-LF) and the semi-Lagrange weighted
essentially non-oscillatory scheme (WENOEL-LF) which is presented (both
combining with the flux vector splitting).


In calmodulin depleted membranes from human erythrocytes, the Ca2+-dependent phosphatase showed different sensitivity to calmodulin and ATP with variable affinity towards free calcium concentrations: a calmodulin-dependent activity with high calcium affinity, K1/2 = 1.2 X 10(-7) mol/l calcium, that was fully activated at submicromolar calcium concentrations, higher concentrations being rather inhibitory; an ATP-dependent activity with lower calcium affinity, K1/2 = 10(-6) mol/l calcium, that was fully activated at 10(-5) mol/l calcium in the presence of 50-200 mumol/l ATP and was insensitive to calmodulin, and a calcium dependent phosphatase that was active at a wider ranger of free calcium, 10(-8)-10(-5) mol/l, and required the presence of both calmodulin and ATP.


The theme session initially attracted more than 50 contributions and thus was the most "popular" session during this year's science conference. There were ultimately 22 posters and 21 oral talks in the session. Participants in the session ranged from about 80 in the beginning to about 30 at the end; most sub-sessions had around 50 participants. The stage was set by an invited keynote lecture by Lesley Rickards, entitled "Marine Data - A big issue", which was attended by approximately 200 – many of whom are not normally involved in data handling. Theme session M was structured with 3 major sections. There were two papers section "(1) Policies and general approaches to the problem of data access and integration". Julie Gillin (ICES) provided an introduction to the ICES data centre and the new ICES data policy, and how the data centre intends to serve the marine community in the future. In a second presentation, Fergal Nolan (EC) described current enforcement data collection within the EU (namely VMS-data) and ways in which they might be made available to the research community. The EU commission intends to amend their regulations to make the data available to science with unrestricted access in the near future. There were a number of papers presented in section "(2) Data integration - worked examples" which was structured into three subsections with a total of sixteen papers. Four papers were addressing "(a) general" issues, with presentations on the Netherlands' NODC-I infrastructure, a Canadian approach to fisheries data management, the UK marine data and information partnership, and an example from the ICES data centre's DOME database. Six papers demonstrated different approaches to the integration of (b) environmental data. Several of these papers showed innovative GIS based visualization systems and one showed how this could be used in spatial planning of marine area use. One paper specifically addressed the issue of using near real-time data to create an environmental status report that was intended for use by assessment groups. Another six papers provided examples of (c) fish and fisheries data. Two methods for aggregating fisheries data were described and are expected to increase the quality of assessment input data. The issue of quality indicators was discussed in one talk, and the use of a web site with a WIKI designed to reach a consensus (about a definition or the meaning of a flag) was promoted. The last talk in this sub-section provided conceptual thoughts on visualisation of complex marine data sets. The last section consisted of three papers dealing with "(3) Technical approaches to data integration". Most of them stressed the need for interoperability (by the use of common vocabularies) for the integration of data. The fourth scheduled paper was not presented. In addition to the presentations, there were three animated discussion periods, two for twenty minutes each and the final one for an hour. A number of issues raised in the presentations focused the discussions. Highlights of the discussion are:


Fiscal Policy and Interest Rates in the European Union is a comprehensive study concerned with the potential effects of fiscal policy on financial markets in the European Union. It takes into account the gradual liberalization of capital movements throughout Western Europe and the institutional framework of the European Monetary System.


Time-related trends in the prevalence of dental caries in 3-year-old Japanese children were determined by employing the Annual Statistics of Dental Health Checkup for 3-year-olds, extending over a span of two decades from 1963 to 1983 by prefectures. Geographic distribution of caries prevalence was compared at two-year intervals in computing mean numbers of dmf primary teeth. A significant increase in mean dmf was statistically observed during the first decade (1963-1972) without any consistent geographic variations. A substantial decline of caries experience among 3-year-old children has been seen since 1975 throughout the country, but marked geographic difference in caries prevalence has remained. Caries prevalence was much higher in the regions of Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kyushu, and Okinawa, ranging from 4.1 to 5.9 dmf per child, as compared to the nationwide figure of mean dmf (3.4) in 1983.


We show that electrostriction can dominate the nonlinear refraction in CS/sub 2/ for nanosecond pulses. We use this effect in a new cascaded limiter geometry to make an extremely high performance optical limiter. We adopt an approach that uses two quite different nonlinear processes in separate focal planes. In one focal plane, we place a reverse saturable absorber (RSA) material. To protect this, we place a cell of CS/sub 2/ in another focal plane. Due to the strong electrostriction in CS/sub 2/ for ns pulses, the limiter performs well.


With the recent improvements in the technology of inlegrated circuits there has been increasing interest in task-oriented computer architectures. At Carnegie-Mellon University we have built a multi-microprocessor architecture tailored to the execution of the Harpy speech understanding system (Harpy Machine). While doing this, we have been confronted with the non-trivial problem of developing software for a lask-oriented multiprocessor. This paper is concerned with one approach to the problem of software development: the use of an ad-hoc simulator as a cheap software development tool (as opposed to the typical use of a simulator as a design evaluation tool). The experience made with the simulator in the development of the software for the Harpy Machine is also discussed.


Employing low-cost high borosilicate glass capillaries, self-expanding bubble resonator fabrication method based on air thermal expansion is demonstrated. Detected quality factor Q is as high as 105. 54 pm light perturbation mode shift was sensed.


The invention discloses a surface treatment method for strengthening an aluminum process metal layer and light resistance adhesive force, which is used in a method of coating photoresist on the metal layer. The metal layer and a metal barrier layer covering on the metal layer are manufactured on a substrate. The method mainly comprises the steps of gas containing oxygen is led in a reaction cavity chamber and conducted equal electrolytic dissociation, a metal stopping layer covering on the metal layer is conducted high temperature plasma oxidation process, a metallic oxide film on the surface of the metal stopping layer covering on the metal layer is generated, silicon substrate organic matter compound gas is led in the reaction cavity chamber, an adsorbed layer is generated by conducting chemisorption on silicon substrate organic matter compound on the surface of the metallic oxide film, redundant silicon substrate organic matter compound gas in the reaction cavity chamber is pumped out, only the adsorbed layer is retained, a first bonding intermediate layer is generated by the adsorbed layer under plasma activation reaction.


Background: Hyperthyroidism is a common endocrine disorder in the sub- region and Graves' disease is the commonest cause. Previous epochs have alluded to a steady rise in its prevalence in the sub-region. Method: This paper is a retrospective review of outcomes in the management of hyperthyroid patients with or without ophthalmic manifestations in a tertiary hospital in a resource-limited environment. Results: A total of 228 hyperthyroid patients managed by the endocrinology, endocrine surgery, nuclear medicine and ophthalmology units over a 7 year period were reviewed. Four-fifth of the patients were females. Graves' disease was the commonest cause. The three standard modalities of care were available during the period of review, while the ophthalmology department was involved in the management of those with thyroid associated ophthalmopathy (TAO). Remission was achieved with Anti-Thyroid Medications (ATD) in two-thirds of patients. Patients subjected to surgical intervention (Total thyroidectomy) had no recurrence, while Radio-Active Iodine (RAI) treatment achieved remission in more than half of patients treated. All patients referred for ophthalmology care were managed successfully with conservative methods. Conclusion: All current therapies have both advantages and disadvantages. The presence of all modalities of care will be most beneficial if a multidisciplinary approach is employed, where the best treatment option for each patient is jointly decided by relevant specialties, rather than the existing practice, where each specialty focuses on an 'ideal' treatment modality within their field. Total thyroidectomy remains a safe treatment modality in Low income countries. of Graves' disease suggest monoclonal antibody (anti CD 20) as another viable modality of care Thyroid Associated Ophthalmopathy (TAO) and the ophthalmic manifestations of hyperthyroidism are caused, most often, by an autoimmune related orbital inflammation, which causes deposition of Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in the soft tissues of the orbit and


Context. In the queueing theory, the studies of G/G/1 systems are relevant because it is impossible to obtain solutions for the waiting time in the final form in the general case with arbitrary laws of distributions of the input flow and of the service time. Therefore, the study of such systems for particular cases of input distributions is important. The problem of deriving a solution for the average waiting time in a queue in closed form for a pair of systems with ordinary and with shifted Erlang and hyperexponential input distributions is considered. Objective. Obtaining a solution for the main system characteristic – the average waiting time in queue for two queuing systems of type G/G/1 with conventional and with shifted second-order Erlang and Hyperexponential input distributions. Method. To solve this problem, we used the classical spectral decomposition method for solving the Lindley integral equation, which plays an important role in the theory of G/G/1 systems. This method allows obtaining a solution for the average waiting time for the considered systems in a closed form. For the practical application of the obtained results, the well-known probability theory moments method is used. Results. For the first time, spectral expansions of the solution of the Lindley integral equation are obtained for two systems, with the help of which the formulas for the average waiting time in the queue are derived in closed form. Conclusions. Spectral expansions of the solution of the Lindley integral equation for the systems under consideration are obtained and their complete coincidence is proved. Consequently, the formulas for the average waiting time in the queue for these systems are the same, but with modified parameters. It is shown that in the system with a delay in time, the average waiting time is less than in a conventional system. The resulting for waiting time formulas expand and supplement the known queuing theory incomplete formula for the average waiting time for G/G/1 systems with arbitrary laws distributions of input flow and service time. This approach allows us to calculate the average latency for these systems in mathematical packages for a wide range of traffic parameters. All other characteristics of the systems are derived from the waiting time. In addition to the average waiting time, such an approach makes it possible to determine also moments of higher orders of waiting time. Given the fact that the packet delay variation (jitter) in telecommunications is defined as the spread of the waiting time from its average value, the jitter can be determined through the variance of the waiting time. The results are published for the first time.


Additivity methods for heats of vaporization of organic liquids have been developed using both bond and group additivity parameters. For the bond level parameters, 429 compounds could be fitted using 36 parameters, with a weighted standard deviation of 0.32 kcal/mol, and only 23 deviations of more than 1 kcal/mol. For the group level parameters, 388 compounds could be fitted using 57 parameters, with a weighted standard deviation of 0.19 kcal/mol, and only 7 deviations of more than 1 kcal/mol. The problem of correlation among parameters is discussed and the significant terms in the correlation matrix are given. The new parameters are compared to previous parameterization schemes.


The nature and the difference between the concepts "national" public and "civilian" control are examined. The distinction in the use of these concepts and reasoning for the position that the best suited to the Russian reality concept is "social control" is given.


Insects are the dominant group of organisms and act as indicators of biodiversity, ecosystem health, and landscape degradation. The research objective was to determine the spread of insects in the Mount Nona Ambon Protected Forest. The research was conduct in January March 2020 using Pitfall traps, light traps, Sweep nets, Bait traps, namely detergent, sugar solution and tuna fish. The research was carried out in 2 ha as many as five lanes with a systematic inventory sampling method where the length of the line was 100 meters, 20 m wide and 20 m spacing between lanes. The analysis use descriptively quantitative by calculating the Diversity Index (H ') of Shannon Winner, Abundance Index (K), Dominance Index (C) and Evenness Index. The results of the study found 4063 individuals, 13 species in five orders. The Hymenoptera order dominated the spread of insects in the protected forest of Mount Nona, the Formicidae family with the smallest number of 12 individuals, namely Isodontia auripes from the order Hymenoptera family Sphecidae, and the largest number of them was Anoplolepis gracilipes with 401 individuals from the order Hymenoptera family Formicidae. The difference in insects' spread in the observation path is thought to be caused by differences in microclimate, altitude, vegetation cover, insect movement, light intensity and food availability.


In a mass production environment where resources such machines are shared, a balanced and scheduled production flow line can play a pivotal role through the enhancement of line efficiency by minimizing production time. Balancing of production flow line is a classical OR problem which has been addressed extensively during the last few decades. But
only few researches focused on the resource constrained line balancing problem (RCLBP) where the elementary tasks
can be performed by a single and/or multiple resources. In reality utilization of the limited capacities of such special machines, equipment, or resources, due to the prohibitively high investment cost, is a very common shop-floor phenomenon. For such cases, an integrated model capable of balancing, scheduling and allocating the resources sequentially to the appropriate task(s) is necessary. In this paper instead of treating the RCLBP in a traditional manner, we introduced a new dimension to it by formulating a relevant mathematical model through application of integer programming method for production environment where several tasks are performed using a particular resource through incorporation of the positive zoning and the shared resource constraints. The model allows the paralleling of workstations to cope with the tasks having processing times exceeding the local work-station cycle time.


AbstractThe ocean mixed layer response to a tropical cyclone within and immediately adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico Loop Current is examined. In the first of a two-part study, a comprehensive set of temperature, salinity, and current profiles acquired from aircraft-deployed expendable probes is utilized to analyze the three-dimensional oceanic energy evolution in response to Hurricane Lili's (2002) passage. Mixed layer temperature analyses show that the Loop Current cooled <1°C in response to the storm, in contrast to typically observed larger decreases of 3°–5°C. Correspondingly, vertical current shear associated with mixed layer currents, which is responsible for entrainment mixing of cooler water, was found to be up to 50% weaker, on average, than observed in previous studies within the directly forced region. The Loop Current, which separates the warmer, lighter Caribbean Subtropical Water from the cooler, heavier Gulf Common Water, was found to decrease in intensity by −0.18 ± 0.25 m s−1 over an appro...


With the declaration of the competence and compellability of a spouse to give evidence against a violent partner it was hoped that a significant barrier to the effective prosecution of domestic' assault had been removed. Examination of the theoretical arguments for and against compulsion suggests that these are finely balanced. Empirical investigation reveals that, partly for pragmatic and partly for humani tarian reasons, the compellability provision is not enforced. This means that assailants still deem their victims responsiblefor the continuance or otherwise of a criminal prosecution against them, while from the point of view of the prosecuting authorities the woman's withdrawal of co-operation continues to lay her open to criticism. Itfollows that prosecutions for 'domestic' assault are still characterized by a sense of frustration and failure on all sides. Section 80(3) (a) of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 made a wife a compe tent and compellable witness against her spouse where 'the offence charged involves an assault on, or injury or a threat of injury to, the wife ... of the accused'.1 A wife who refuses to give evidence may be punished for contempt (Brownlee 1990).2 It follows that there is no longer any distinction between married and unmarried partners in domestic violence cases. Any woman may be compelled to give evidence against a husband, partner or ex-partner accused of assault upon her. Prior to PACE it had been accepted that a married woman should not be instrumental in the conviction of her husband, even where she had been the victim of his violence. The principle of non intervention in family matters (Moody and Tombs 1982; Wasoff 1982; Edwards 1989?>) had been sufficiently accepted for it to have been deemed inappropriate for the criminal law to be brought to bear on 'everyday violence' by a husband against his wife. Such delicacy, if that is what it was, was reinforced by a belief that it was wrong for the criminal law to promote the breakdown of a marriage. With the declaration of the competence and compellability of spouses the 'sacred realm' disappeared—and with it the paramount importance of maintaining marriage even in the face of violence. It was observed that the new statute 'represents a balance


Globally, there is an increase in online attacks on journalists with gender dimensions to these attacks. Also, it is established that digital innovations have augmented free expression and the augmentation allows means for online attacks. Though evidence submits that studies on the problem of online attacks on journalists abound, there is dearth of such studies in Ghana and this chapter attempts to fill this gap. Using the feminist theory, this chapter explores the types and sources of online attacks on male and female journalists in Ghana and investigates whether an increase in free expression is a contributing factor to the problem. To achieve this aim, the study employs qualitative methods of in-depth interviews and document reviews and offers a thematic analysis of the qualitative data to understand the lived experiences of Ghanaian journalists. Findings revealed that journalists frequently experience psychological and sexist online attacks when perpetrators express their views on unfavourable coverage from the media.


(mononuclear), pro-tein concentration 54 mg/dl and glucose 63 mg/dl. PCR for herpes simplex virus (HSV) DNA was negative. He was treated with acyclovir (30 mg/kg/day for 14 days) and betamethasone (16 mg/day for 7 days) based on the diagnosis of limbic encepha-litis. His symptoms and MRI abnormali-ties gradually disappeared by the second hospital month, and he was discharged without any sequelae. In November 1995, the patient again experienced a week of fever, headache and disorientation. At second admission, the patient was disoriented with memory im-pairment, including anterograde and ret-rograde amnesia. His Mini-Mental State Examination score was 17/30. FLAIR MRI again revealed hyperintense lesions in the bilateral hippocampal structures (f ig. 1B ). CSF examination showed 6 cells/mm


We study the time-dependent propagator for an electron which moves in a plane and which is subject to quadrupolar electric fields with certain reflection symmetries, and to a uniform magnetic field perpendicular to the plane. It is shown that the electric potential, which has a saddle point at the origin, can be produced by voltages applied to four symmetrically configured cylindrical electrodes whose axes are perpendicular to the plane. We use path-integral methods to derive a closed-form expression for the propagator, and comment in some detail on the structure of its normalization factor.


The article analyzes the mechanism of public-private partnership as a source of attracting extra-budgetary funds in order to implement investment projects at the regional level. Particular attention is paid to concession agreements, as a classic form of public-private partnership, which implements most of the projects in this area. The authors note that despite the fact that in Russia in recent years the mutual interest of state bodies and the private sector in expanding mutual cooperation has increased and the number of PPP projects is constantly expanding, there are a number of restrictions that have a constraining effect on the implementation of this form of partnership, including, legal and institutional factors. A number of measures have been proposed, aimed not only at supporting ongoing projects, but also at stimulating programs for launching new project initiatives.


The chemical compound nitric oxide is a gas with chemical formula NO. It is one of the impotant signaling molecules, in the body of mammalians including humans, one of the few gaseous signaling molecules known. The NO molecule is a free radical, which is relevant to understanding its high reactivity. It reacts with the oxygen in air to form nitrogen dioxide. NO plays a key role in the regulation of numerous vital biological functions: immunology, cardiovascular system, peripheral nervous system, cell proliferation. Humans lose ability to produce NO with aging. Loss of endothelian NO function is associated with several cardiovascular disorders, including atherosclerosis. Dietary nitrate metabolism is dependent upon bacteria and stomach acid.


The spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 is the first target identified by researchers on COVID-19 vaccines. The locus as a homotrimer in the virus envelope consists of two subunits, namely, S1 and S2. In MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2, the receptorbinding domain (RBD) in the S1 subunit binds to host cells, whereas the S2 subunit is needed for viral entry through membrane fusion. The S1 subunits of certain CoVs consist of an N-terminal domain (NTD) and a C-terminal domain (CTD). The NTD is utilized for directed receptor binding to host cells, such as in mouse hepatitis virus, or undirected receptor binding through sugar molecules, such as in Infectious bronchitis virus, transmissible gastroenteritis virus, and bovine coronavirus [1]. Moreover, the NTD is involved in pre – and postfusion of virus proteins and RNA. By contrast, the RBD region located at the CTD, like the S2 subunit, is composed of several regions, such as a connecting region (CR) and fusion peptide (FP) heptad repeats 1 and 2. Crystal structure modeling proposed a model for the configuration of the SARS-CoV-2 S protein after the identification of host cell receptors. FP constraints are released when S1 and S2 are cleaved. Interactions between human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 and RBDs contribute to the detachment of the S1 subunit and the refolding process as an extended helical bundle of the S2 subunit, leading to protrusions to FP in the membrane of host cells [2]. In theory, neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) target the S protein during the entry phase of the virus to prevent viral infection at multiple levels. The key target for nAbs and binding in viral receptors is RBD [3,4]. Interestingly, the pioneering work of Xiangyang et al [5]. demonstrated that the 4A8 monoclonal antibody from convalescent Covid-19 patients has a high neutralization potency against both authentic and pseudotyped SARSCoV-2. By utilizing cryo-electron microscopy, the authors identified the epitope of 4A8 as the NTD of the S protein complex with the S protein with a local resolution of 3.3 angstroms and an overall resolution of 3.1 angstroms [5]. As the antibody binds to the S protein, the 4A8 epitope overlaps the ganglioside binding region, stopping the virus from entering lipid rafts [6]. In addition, spike inactivation by antibody-induced destabilization of the coronavirus's prefusion structure has been identified as an alternative method of coronavirus neutralization by RBD-targeting antibodies [7]. MRBD-Fc vaccination of human ACE2 transgenic mice acted as a broad-spectrum vaccine and offered adequate protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection [8]. The nAbs targeting NTD have also been observed in MERSCoV and SARS-CoV-2. This process is another possible option that has implications in vaccine development. Given that the S2 subunit and FP are necessary for membrane fusion in host cells, they may be a second target for nAbs. Moreover, T cells targeting the S protein have been identified in SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2. Both CD4 + and CD8 + T cells target S protein epitopes [9]. Four vaccine candidates for COVID-19 based on the adenovirus–vector strategy that analyzes the full length of the S protein have reached phase III clinical trials and exhibited the ability to stimulate helper cell (TH1) responses and nAb production. The first such vaccine, called ChAdOx1 (Table 1), which is based on recombinant chimpanzee adenovirus, was developed in the UK. The second such vaccine was developed in Russia. This vaccine integrates recombinant human Ad5 and Ad26 in a prime– boost vaccine regimen. The third such vaccine was developed in China. This vaccine uses human adenovirus type 5 (Ad5). Preliminary results showed that the ChAdOx1 vaccine induces nAb production immune responses in nonhuman primates (NHPs), and this vaccine reduces viral loads in the respiratory tract and bronchoalveoli and prevents COVID-19 pneumonia [10,11]. A single dose of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 was used to induce a TH1-biased response characterized by CD4 + T cell secretion of interferon and tumor necrosis factor, as well as antibody generation primarily of IgG1 and IgG3 subclasses. Monofunctional, polyfunctional, and cytotoxic phenotype CD8 + T cells were also induced [11]. The second vaccine was developed in Russia via integrating the recombinant human Ad5 and Ad26 in a prime–boost vaccine regimen. The heterologous rAd26 and rAd5 vectorbased COVID-19 vaccine has a good protection profile and induced high humoral and cellular immune responses in participants at day 28 by upregulating the median cell proliferation of CD4+ and CD8 + T cells in both frozen and


This study explores the myriad of perceptions, perspectives, attitudes, approaches and conceptions about the module Communication Skills (CUACE101) which is a campus-wide compulsory course taught to all Chinhoyi University of Technology first year first semester (1.1) students. The motivating factor for this study has been an endless debate on the merits of the course to a university curriculum whose niche and mandate is predominantly technology-oriented, hence the need to establish the rationale for a communication course appropriately packaged to yield not only a fully qualified graduate but also a wholesome citizen whose harmonious combination of well-accentuated faculties fits them for an indelible impress on a career terrain tilted in the direction of twenty-first century global imperatives. The research thus motivates for a perceptive shift from a fragmented and compartmentalized view of a university graduate, embracing rather the merits of higher education's systemic vision driven by a synthesis of multi-disciplinary curriculum design dynamics. Inspired by the Reconstructionist philosophy, this qualitative exploratory study yields a taxonomy of themes and trends by respondents from various disciplines at Chinhoyi University of Technology, necessitating a broad-based and holistic approach to university curriculum programming. The global currents have triggered a paradigm shift from the instruction of communication as a course in commonplace literacy fundamentals (reading, speaking and writing skills) to a more nuanced discipline that factors in a host of globalization-compliant dynamics like information literacy skills, critical thinking skills, people skills, cultural literacy, technopreneurial skills, communicative competence and corporate wisdom. The study deploys focus group discussions (for CUACE101 students) and CUT schools deans questionnaires, triangulating qualitative methods to establish key internal stakeholder perceptions on the campus-wide course (Communication Skills). The study's findings map out a blue-print for influencing policy and practice in curriculum design, implementation and review


A digital method for calculating the diameter of the scan circle by measuring the phase of the signal was discussed. The real time data acquisition system of the coordinator gyrorotor which is applied to measuring the scan circle is described in detail, including the hardware configuration and soft design. The analysis of the result of this method is presented at last.


The utility model relates to a seat back-rest inclination controlling mechanism. A back board connected to a seat back-rest is arranged on a seat body connected with a seat pad by a pivot; the seat body is provided with a concave groove; a front clapboard and a back clapboard with centric holes are arranged in the groove; an adjusting shaft connected to the bottom end of the front clapboard and the back clapboard by a pivot is arranged between the centric holes; the adjusting shaft is sheathed with a bolt lock spring in front of the back clapboard; the other end of the bolt lock spring is pressed on a bolt lock piece whose central part is provided with an annular hole whose diameter is bigger than the shaft diameter of the adjusting shaft so that the spring can have a loose fit on the adjusting shaft; a bulge formed by extending one side of the bolt lock piece is arranged in a seat hole of the side of the groove; the side of the groove is penetrated with a rotatable handle whose bottom end is provided with a bulge which can contact with the bolt lock piece; and a return spring is arranged between the bulge and the front clapboard so that the gradient angle of the back board can be controlled for the engaged status between the annular hole of the bolt lock piece and the adjusting shaft can be adjusted when rotating the handle.


One of the major problems in today's hectic world is that people have no time to think about the man and his role in the universe. They are constantly trying to move forward without paying any attention to the detail, the correctness of the step, and everything which is ahead of them. It seems that previous philosophers have more time and patience in this matter and have given more attention to it. One of these philosophers and poets which has the power of language and use it to explain his lofty thoughts is Hakim Nezami Ganjavi. He has paid attention to public concerns and given recommendations for their improvement in all his five treasures which are ordered in succinct wise words. One of Nezami's pivotal thought through his works, especially in Khusrow and Shirin and Leili and Majnoon, is love, the love which exists in all particles and leads to the continued existence of the universe. The love that alters the existence of those people trapped in low intentions and aspirations and transforms them to the world of kindness. This paper discusses this issue and its impact on two poems, Leili and Majnoon and Khusrow and Shirin, as Nezami's global message.


Binahong leaf (Anredera cordifolia (Ten.) Steenis) are species of crops
which good to heal some kinds of diseases. Binahong leaves contains flavonoid,
alkaloid, saponin and terpenoid that have antibacterial activity. This study aims to
determine the antibacterial activity of the fraction of n-hexane, ethyl acetate and
water from binahong leaves ethanol extract against Escherichia coli ATCC 25922.
Binahong leaves powder was extracted by maceration method by
ethanol 70%, and then it was fractionated by solvent n-hexane, ethyl acetate and
water which have different polarity. Antibacterial activity test was performed
using diffusion and dilution methods. The concentration used in the diffusion
method was 50%, 25% and 12,5% aimed to determine the most active fraction.
The most active fraction is continued dilution test to determine the MBC
(Minimum Bactericidal Concentration) with concentration 50%, 25%, 12.5%,
6.25%, 3.12%, 1.56%, 0.78%, 0.39%, 0.19%, 0.09%. Statistical analysis using
oneway ANOVA to determine whether there is a significant difference between
the test preparation.
The results shows that all the fractions and extracts of Anredera
cordifolia (Ten.) Steen had antibacterial activity. Water fraction is most active
fraction with concentration of 50% (19.1 mm), concentration of 25% (15.83 mm)
and concentration of 12.5% (13.26 mm). Dilution test results water fraction
showed antibacterial activity with MBC 6.25%. The results of phytochemical
identification showed fractions of water containing flavonoid, alkaloid and
saponin.
Keywords : Binahong leaves, fraction of n-hexane, ethyl acetate fraction, fraction
of water, Escherichia coli.


Background: A poorly performed inhalation technique is a well-known problem in adult patients but it is less documented in paediatric patients. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the proper use of pressurized metered dose inhalers (pMDI) and dry powder inhalers (DPI) in children and their parents. Method: Thirty-nine children with chronic respiratory disease and already under inhalation therapy for at least three months were recruited prospectively during routine clinics. These children had received a training when treatment was started. A specific questionnaire evaluated their knowledge regarding the inhaled treatment and inhalation technique. The inhalation manoeuver was divided in maximum 17 steps and each step was assessed separately (score of 0 (=not performed) to 2 (=perfectly performed)). Results: Children (20F/19M) were 4.8±4.9 years old. Eighty seven per cent used a pMDI, 64% of whom with an aerosol chamber. Fifty six and 26% of children did not know the medication name and the colour of the device, respectively. The steps of the manoeuver were incorrectly or not performed in 9% and 27% of children using a pMDI. This proportion was similar (8% vs 31%) with the use of an aerosol chamber. The manoeuver was correct in 83% of steps for children using DPI. No error was detected for 50, 73 and 74% of children using pMDI, pMDI + chamber and DPI, respectively. Conclusion: The knowledge and technique of inhalation therapy is imperfect in children even after a routine education.


This paper defines the concept of Tianjin locals and introduces their works in chronological order and by category,which makes it easy forreaders to search them.Some of theirworks are a supplement to Survey of Literature and Art of Tianjin County and greatly help to list systematically the ancient books of Tianjin and to perfect The Collection of Tianjin Locals' Literary Works and The Collection of Tianjin Locals' Poems.


This article acknowledges the intricate nature of higher education, recognizing its complexities and the multiple interactions among various stakeholders such as teachers, students, policymakers, parents, professional associations, politicians, the economy, and society. While briefly touching upon the Bologna reforms, the article primarily focuses on several crucial aspects of education. First, it delves into the realm of brain science to explore learning and teaching. Second, it addresses prevailing myths and misconceptions about learning and thinking that continue to be widely believed by teachers. Third, it examines biases present among both teachers and education policy makers. Fourth, it discusses the working conditions experienced by academics, and fifth, it outlines a project and a teaching method that could ignite transformation of HEIs.


An elevator group with safety doors comprises at least two elevators, wherein each elevator comprises an elevator car (1) and a driving system, and at least one personnel in/out door (2) is arranged in the elevator car (1). The elevator group with the safety doors is characterized in that safety doors (3) are arranged on the adjacent side walls of the elevator cars (1) of every two elevators; and the safety doors become one part of the side walls of the elevator cars when the elevators operate normally, and can be opened for personnel to go in and out when the elevators break down and stop. The elevator group with the safety doors has the advantages of simplicity in structure and use, is free of risks, can assist the personnel in a stopped elevator to leave the elevator car by the utilization of a trouble-free elevator.


Deep sea observatories, based on sensor networks, provide new features to the ocean survey like a continuous observation of the ocean. The sensors used in these observatories provide environment data and also insure new functionalities or services due to the permanent running of this network. The nominal behavior of each sensor must be extended to feet with this concept of deep sea observatory. So in this paper, we present our smart sensor metamodeling approach for deep sea-observatory. This work aims at specifying a Domain Specific Language (DSL) dedicated to smart sensor networks in a goal to model the behavior of the sensor and to produce automaticaly the software which is embedded in the network infrastructure. This DSL includes three modeling levels of smart sensor: static properties, interface and behavior. The sensor interface provides to observers and scientific researchers a set of services dedicated to ocean measures that the sensor can do, based on internal or external event detections. The sensor behavior permits observers to know how the sensor behaves.


The problem of evaluating the M\"ossbauer line shape in the presence of ion-phonon interactions has been considered. By means of a perturbation procedure it is shown how a limited number of matrix elements of the relaxation operator are relevant. Moreover, the restrictions imposed by the symmetry are also taken into account. In the case of ${\mathrm{Fe}}^{3+}$ in ${C}_{3}$ symmetry one has to diagonalize a 288\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}288 matrix. By taking into account the results obtained in this paper we have reduced the problem of deriving the line shape of the M\"ossbauer spectrum to that of diagonalizing three matrices of dimensions 16, 16, and 15.


Near-infraredsurfacephotometryofsixspiralgalax- ies is used to separate the main stellar components and derive mass models whose predicted rotation curves are compared to observedgaskinematics.Forthreeofthegalaxies,centralstellar velocity dispersions are also used. For these intrinsically bright objects, the mass-to-light ratio of the disk, in the K band, is found to be ' 1, as expected. In four Sb-Sc galaxies, there is some evidence that the mass-to-light ratio of the bulge may be on average ' 20 % smaller, but the a priori assumption that these ratios are identical does not signicantly bias the disk masses. Early-type spirals with a prominent bulge, in which the apparent central mass-to-light ratio is known to be often low, can need a signicant correction to the bulge mass.


The CRC-FORGE method enables the derivation of quantile estimates of rare to extreme rainfalls by pooling the annual maximum rainfalls from a region. The inter-site dependence of the observed maximum rainfalls affects the AEPs assigned to them, and is provided for by computing an effective number of independent stations (Ne). A spatial dependence model, which allows Ne to vary with the average correlation and the AEP, was developed for this calculation, and is based on the information from the observed and generated data.


We propose several exponential inequalities for self-normalized martingales similar to those established by De la Pe\~{n}a. The keystone is the introduction of a new notion of random variable heavy on left or right. Applications associated with linear regressions, autoregressive and branching processes are also provided.


Many studies have been conducted on air pollution in Ulaanbaatar city. However, most have focused on the sources of pollutants and their characteristics and distribution. Although the location of the city subjects it to unavoidable natural conditions where air pollution accumulates during the cold season, nature-based solutions have not yet been considered in the projects implemented to mitigate air pollution levels. Therefore, this study aims to determine the combined influence of geography and atmospheric factors on cold season air pollution. The spatiotemporal variations in the variables were investigated using meteorological observation data from 1991 to 2020 in the different land-use areas. Then, atmospheric stagnation conditions and air pollution potential parameters were estimated from daily radiosonde data. Subsequently, the temporal variations in air pollutants were studied and correlated with estimates of the above parameters. In the Ulaanbaatar depression, the stable cold air lake (colder than −13.5 °C), windless (34–66% of all observations), and poor turbulent mixing conditions were formed under the near-surface temperature inversion layer in the cold season. Moreover, due to the mountain topography, the winds toward the city center from all sides cause polluted air to accumulate in the city center for long periods. Air pollution potential was categorized as very high and high (<4000 m2·s−1), in the city in winter, indicating the worst air quality. Thus, further urban planning policy should consider these nature factors.


Augmented reality (or computer augmented environments as it is sometimes called) uses computers to enhance the richness of the real world. It differs from virtual reality in that it doesn't attempt to replace the real world. Our prototype automated tour guide superimposes audio on the world based on where a user is located. We propose this technique for use as an automated tour guide in museums and expect it will enhance the social aspects of museum visits, compared to taped tour guides.


An electronic display system comprising a communication system including modulator means (2) arranged to modulate electromagnetic radiation inadvertently radiated from an electronically operated display (1) with which said modulator means (2) is operatively associated, (e.g. radiation emanating from an electronic screen), for the purpose of transmitting information to portable receivers (3) (e.g. appropriately adapted mobile phones, MP3 players, Personal Digital Assistants, portable radios, music players or the like), whereby the portable receivers (3) are enabled to receive the information.


For quick and targeted rescuing of individuals in emergency situations indoors an accurate knowledge of the current floor-level by the injured and rescue personnel is essential. In this paper, we investigate detection and characterization of transportation platforms like elevators and escalators using foot-mounted inertial measurement units including magnetometer and barometer data for applications in 3D pedestrian navigation. Several data sets including elevator and escalator rides in various environments and allowing for superposed activities by the pedestrian are recorded for this purpose. A variety of features and the selection of feature subsets are analyzed for classifying among static environments, elevator environments (up/down), and escalator environments (up, down). The features are compared via an information gain metric and selected classifier concepts are analyzed with focus on fast response times necessary for dead-reckoning navigation. We identified features exploiting statistical characteristics of the magnetic intensity and the acceleration to be most promising taking into account fast response times. The resulting feature space is highly non-linear and is best approximated locally.


Editor—Macleod et al's comment that bone scans were abnormal if stress fractures or shin splints were present1 is inaccurate. Shin splints are a clinical feature (posteromedial tibial pain and tenderness) rather than a diagnosis.

Isotope bone scanning forms part of the investigation of tibial pain. The three commonest causes of such pain are stress fracture; periostitis near the origin of the flexor digitorum longus or soleus, or both; and chronic exertional compartment syndrome. These give rise to different findings on isotope bone scanning: localised increased uptake (stress fracture), linear streaking over the posteromedial tibia (periostitis), and essentially normal findings (chronic exertional compartment syndrome).

Clinical assessment is essential for differentiating between these three conditions, and isotope bone scanning undoubtedly plays a part in this assessment. Taking the findings of such scanning in isolation, however, is flawed.


The phospholipid and fatty acid contents of developing rod photoreceptor cells were determind in dissociated photoreceptor cells obtained from normal mice and from rd mice exhibiting an inherited retinal degeneration. Photoreceptors were dissociated from retinas by mechanical agitation after mild protease treatment and characterized by light and electron microscopy. Phospholipid classes were isolated by thin‐layer chromatography, and fatty acyl groups separated and quantitated by capillary gas‐liquid chromatography. Developing photoreceptor cells of normal retinas accumulated all phospholipid classes, but in proportions which shifted with age. The mole % contents of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylinositol (PI) decreased with age, whereas phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylserine (PS) increased. The content of the polyunsaturated fatty acid docosahexaenoate (22:6), expressed as nmol/μg lipid phosphorus, increased rapidly during development, whereas arachidonate (20:4) content tended to decline. Mono‐unsaturated fatty acid levels (palmitoleate, 16:1; oleate, 18:1) declined with age. Among saturated fatty acids, palmitate (16:0) decreased during normal development, whereas stearate (18:0) increased. The total mass of phospholipid/photoreceptor cell in the normal, adult mouse retina was estimated to be approximately 14 pg.


This final report addresses the following topics: Market Impact Analysis (1) assessment of general aviation, including commuter/regional, aircraft market impact due to incorporation of advanced technology propulsion system on acquisition and operating costs, job creation and/or manpower demand, and future fleet size; (2) selecting an aircraft and engine for the study by focusing on the next generation 19-passenger commuter and the Williams International FJ44 turbofan engine growth. Propulsion System Analysis Conducted mission analysis studies and engine cycle analysis to define a new commuter mission and required engine performance, define acquisition and operating costs and, select engine configuration and initiated preliminary design for hardware modifications required. Propulsion System Benefits (1) assessed and defined engine emissions improvements, (2) assessed and defined noise reduction potential and, (3) conducted a cost analysis impact study. Review of Relevant NASA Programs Conducted literature searches using NERAC and NASA RECON services for related technology in the emissions and acoustics area. Preliminary Technology Development Plans Defined plan to incorporate technology improvements for an FJ44-2 growth engine in performance, emissions, and noise suppression.


This paper designs and realizes a synchronous platform on the basis of JXTA framework.Based on JXTA basic services,the synchronous module offers four services: synchronous message transformation,peers management,group management and share space management.By means of these services,it can set up synchronous collaboration teams on different topics on JXTA virtual network.Meanwhile,it can make different kinds of sharing application programs needed in developing synchronous cooperation easy.


Gaetano Benedetti, co-founder of the ISPS with Christian Müller (1921–2013) in 1956, died in Riehen/Basel (Switzerland) on 2 December 2013, at the age of 93. On 13 December he was buried in the cemetery close to his home, beside his wife Annette, who had suddenly and unexpectedly died on 25 February 2004, and a Protestant service took place at the Riehen Church, at which more than 200 people convened. His children Christoph, Conrad, Jürg and Dorothea remembered him as a sweet and very busy father, who had to struggle for much of his life against the handicaps brought about by the successful operation of a cranial nerve tumor at the age of 40, and whose last years of life were very much shadowed by the death of their mother. Benedetti's colleague Raymond Battegay, who had known him since 1956, and had worked with him at the Basel University Department of Psychiatry, emphasized "the revolution in psychiatry" which Benedetti brought about through his humane, scientific and optimistic approach to patients diagnosed with "schizophrenia". Maurizio Peciccia thanked him for the therapeutic and research work done together for the last 25 years, one of the outcomes of which was the foundation in Perugia (Italy) of the Benedetti Institute, a training institute centered around his teaching and legacy. Eugenia Lamparelli remembered Benedetti as a very open, generous and thoughtful analyst and thanked him in the name of all his patients. Brian Martindale, the current ISPS Chairperson, thanked him on behalf of everyone in ISPS, which still works according to the interdisciplinary and international criteria set forth by its founders, and named him "the Mandela of psychosis". Marco Conci thanked Benedetti in the name of both the Milan Associazione di Studi Psicoanalitici, which he had founded together with Johannes Cremerius (1918–2002) in 1971, and which became an essential setting and motor for the development of his ideas, and of the German Psychoanalytic Society, of which he had become a training analyst in the 1970s and a honorary member in 1983. Last but not least, Patrick Faugeras, the French colleague who translated Benedetti's masterpiece 1983 Todeslandschaften der Seele (Benedetti, 1983) into French in 1995, reminded us how important it is to keep translating and publishing Benedetti's work on an international scale. Born in Catania on 26 June 1920, as the oldest of the three sons (Calogero, 1921, and Eugenio, 1929) of a famous surgeon and of a very well-educated and religious mother, Gaetano Benedetti grew-up experiencing the contradictions between the aristocratic character of his early life (he and his older brother were privately taught at home until the age of 14) and the democratic ideas of his parents and extended families, who all contributed to the anti-fascist front. As he wrote in his 1994 autobiography (Benedetti, 1994), many reasons motivated him to study medicine (at the University of Catania), but his sympathy for and empathy with psychiatric patients was the most important one. Because psychiatry was not


Background/Objectives: The purpose of present study is to develop a new body shape classification method, that can be used for the mass customization of men's formal jackets, using variables measured on the men's flattened body surfaces.
Methods: Male participants in their 20s-50s were extracted from the 5th Size Korea database. The body surfaces were flattened into three-panels according to the conventional structure of men's formal jackets. Variables were measured on the flattened panels, and those were inputted into the PCA. K-means clustering was conducted to categorize the flattened figure types. A logistic regression model was established to predict the body surface types.
Results: 152 individuals were extracted for the body surface flattening. The 3D meshes were formed on the body surfaces, and those were flattened using distortion minimizing algorithm. Seventeen angles and two size differences were measured on the flattened figures, and five factors were extracted by the PCA. Five flattened figure types were extracted through k-means clustering: "normal", "sway-back", "bend-forward" "lean-back-b" and "lean-back-I". The correspondence between the logistic regression model and K-means clustering was 90.79%.
Conclusion/Implications: The classification method developed in the present study enable the quick and convenient decision of apparel customer's body shape type. It is optimized for mass customization of men's jackets because the variables were measured by converting the body surface into a jacket pattern structure.


Relationships between distribution patterns and body size have been documented in many endothermic taxa. However, the evidence for these trends in ectotherms generally is equivocal, and there have been no studies of effects in crocodylians specifically. Here, we examine the relationship between latitudinal distribution and body mass in 20 extant species of crocodylians, as well as the relationships between seven important reproductive variables. Using phylogenetically independent contrasts to inform generalized linear models, we provide the first evidence of a latitudinal effect on adult female body mass in crocodylians. In addition, we explore the relationships between reproductive variables including egg mass, hatchling mass and clutch size. We report no correlation between egg mass and clutch size, upholding previously reported within-species trends. We also find no evidence of a correlation between measures of latitudinal range and incubation temperature, contrasting with the trends found in turtles.


15 Study question: Do freezing and in vitro culture procedures enhance the expression of 16 proteins involved in apoptotic or autophagic pathways in murine pre-pubertal testicular 17 tissue? 18


Abstract Callicarpa formosana is a species of beauty-berry with large medicinal value belonging to the family Verbenaceae. In this study, the complete chloroplast genome of C. formosana was sequenced using Illumina Hiseq X Ten platform. The chloroplast genome was 1,54,210 bp in length, containing two short inverted repeat (IRa and IRb) regions of 25,701 bp, which was separated by a large single copy (LSC) region of 84,938 bp and a small single copy (SSC) region of 17,870 bp. The GC content of the whole chloroplast genome was 38.1%. The chloroplast DNA of C. formosana comprised 113 genes, including 79 protein-coding genes, 4 ribosomal RNA genes, and 30 transfer RNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the genus Callicarpa L. was located in the basal position within the family Verbenaceae. The chloroplast genome (cpDNA) of C. formosana was closely related to Callicarpa nudiflora.


A short introduction to Quantum Computing, regarded as a paradigm of "parallel computing based on exterior algebras", is presented from the point of view of its main algorithms including the primitive functions, the compositional schemes and the input and output data coding. In this study the Exterior Algebra notation is used in lieu of the more conventional Dirac's ket notation. The basic notions of Exterior Algebra and Hilbert Spaces are sketched in order to show the qubits as points in the unit circle in the two‐dimensional complex Hilbert space H1, and any word consisting of qubits as a point in the unit sphere of a external product of H1. The computing procedure is illustrated through the classical Deutsch‐Josza's algorithm, followed by the quantum algorithm to compute the Discrete Fourier Transform in linear time and the famous polynomial‐time Shor's Algorithm for integer factorization. Finally, basic notions in Quantum Cryptography and Quantum Communication Complexity are discussed.


We use a Lagrangian descriptor (the so called function M) which measures the length of particle trajectories on the ocean surface over a given interval of time. With this tool we identify the Lagrangian skeleton of the flow and compare it on three datasets over the Gulf of Mexico during the year 2010. The satellite altimetry data used come from AVISO and simulations from HYCOM GOMl0.04 experiments 30.1 and 31.0. We contrast the Lagrangian structure and transport using the evolution of several surface drifters. We show that the agreement in relevant cases between Lagrangian structures and dynamics of drifters depends on the quality of the data on the studied area.


It is demonstrated that anemia per se can have a marked influence on the absorption of iron that is independent of the effects of alterations in the rate of erythropoiesis and the body iron content.

Evidence is presented which suggests that the effects of anemia, the rate of erythropoiesis and the body iron content on the absorptive mechanism for iron are, to some extent, additive.


A pilot field study evaluated whether adding solid peroxygen materials during land treatment could cost effectively accelerate cleanup at a site contaminated with petroleum-related compounds. Five test cells were constructed containing approximately five cubic yards of soil contaminated with 300–400 mg/kg of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH). Three cells received treatment with solid peroxygen materials (either MgO2 or CaO2), while the other two cells served as controls (no peroxygen amendment). Adding solid peroxygen compounds effectively reduced the hydrocarbon contamination in the soils and decreased the treatment time. During this time, the concentration of TPH in soil in the three treatment cells decreased. In contrast, there was little loss of TPH from the two control cells simulating traditional land treatment. Adding the solid peroxygen materials reduced the total site remediation time, thereby reducing the overall costs.


Interlocked molecules have captured chemists' imagination owing to their nontrivial topology and the promise of their potential nanotechnological uses as molecular machines[1] and in chemical sensor applications.[2] The synthesis of such sophisticated architectures is a challenge, and as a consequence this has necessitated the implementation of imaginative cation,[3] anion,[4] and neutral[5] templation methodologies, which use a combination of complementary Lewis acid–base, electrostatic, and hydrogen-bonding interactions for component assembly. Halogen bonding (XB) is the attractive highly directional, noncovalent interaction between an electron-deficient halogen atom and a Lewis base.[6] The scope of XB in solid-state crystal engineering has been intensively explored for a number of years,[7] however, in spite of the complementary analogy to ubiquitous hydrogen bonding, it is only in recent times that investigations into the application of solution-phase XB interactions to molecular recognition processes, self-assembly, and catalysis have resulted in this field developing rapidly.[8] Indeed, in conjunction with anion templation, we have used XB to assemble interpenetrated and interlocked molecular frameworks.[8b–d]


..................................................................................................1 1. GENERAL INTRODUCTION ..................................................... .................3 1.1 The organization and the motor control of the voluntary movement .................................................3 1.2 Functional Anatomy of frontal motor cortex ..................................................................4 1.3 Anatomy and Functional Properties of F5 area ...............................................................8 1.4 Mirror Neurons System ...............................................................................11 1.5 Action and Intention Understanding ...........................................................15 2. STUDY 1 ..................................................... ...........................................19 2.


This paper presents a new control concept for automatic track guidance of industrial trucks in intralogistic systems. It is based on Reinforcement Learning (RL), a method of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The presented approach is able to adapt itself to different industrial truck variants and to the associated specific vehicle parameters. In order to avoid starting the whole training of the controller for each truck variant from scratch, the training process is divided into two steps. In the first step, the controller is trained on a model using parameters of a nominal vehicle variant. Based on this, the control parameters are only fine-tuned in the second step. In this way the controller is adapted to the actual truck variant and the corresponding parameter values. Moreover, the influence of the disturbance variable of the system (path curvature) is compensated by considering this a priori knowledge within the control design. Therefore, the Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) of the RL controller and the observation vector are suitably adjusted. In this way, the occurring path curvatures can be considered in both training steps and the control parameters can be optimized accordingly. Thus, the influence of the disturbance variable can be compensated, which significanlty improves the control quality. In order to demonstrate this, the new approach is compared to a RL control concept, not considering the disturbance variable and to a classical two-degrees-of-freedom (2DoF) control approach.


The breast cancer expert, in an interview with CancerNetwork®, discussed advances in the field of breast cancer and what we can expect to see in the pipeline moving forward.


A method for switching between at least two modes of operation of a processor unit having at least two execution units, characterized in that a change from a first mode to a second operating mode is triggered by the fact that is accessed by the processor unit to a predetermined memory address.


Reading this book on a long train journey was a mistake. The constant interruptions and announcements were increasingly vexing as the text proved more and more interesting and enticing. Not only was it reminding me of my own long-ago youth, it was referring to my similarly long-ago dreams of a feminist future. What was captivating about these were that they seemed entirely new and fresh, yet equally strongly held by young Swedish women and men today. On a dreary and over-crowded commuter train, in what for me was usually a pretty dismal frame of mind, I was able to glimpse some optimism in the presentation and analysis of research around young people and sexuality. This book is about young people's constructions of their own and their contemporaries' sexual identities. It draws together data from a survey undertaken in Sweden in 2000–2001 of over 1000 16–19-year-olds, with findings from other's research across Europe, and places this in a theoretically rich and relevant academic context. It is divided into five sections. The first provides a useful scene-setting with some of the key theories of Elias, Foucault, Freud and others, and offers a clear view of some of the recent historical underpinnings to our contemporary and important concerns around for example, regulation, normality, freedom and desire. The second section presents an overview of literature about young people and sexuality, looking at research findings and how these have traditionally been gendered and based in educational or youth-work-type settings. The third section of the book explores five crucial areas in greater detail:


The case of the African "colonists" of Montevideo illustrates the rebirth of slave trading networks between the Portuguese and Spanish of the South Atlantic. These networks, which had legally and illegally brought slaves to the colonial Rio de la Plata, were still active in the years 1830s. They contributed to the arrival of slaves in Rio de Janeiro just as the British anti-slave trade policy and the Brazilian government tried to end this traffic. This article uncovers a slave trading operation designed by Brazilian merchants which connected Luanda, Mozambique, Rio de Janeiro and Montevideo by the 1830s. The African "colonists" of Montevideo were not only the last generation of slaves directly brought from Africa to Uruguay, but also the last enslaved Africans who arrived in any of the new republics of mainland Spanish America.


The Cahn-Hilliard phase-field (or diffuse-interface) model has a wide range of applications where the interest is the modelling of phase segregation and evolution of multiphase flow systems. In order to capture the physics of these systems, diffuse- interface models presume a nonzero interface thickness between immiscible constituents, see [1]. The multiscale nature inherent in these models (interface thickness and domain size of interest) urges the use of space-adaptivity in discretization. In this contribution we consider the a-posteriori error analysis of the convective Cahn- Hilliard [4] model for varying Peclet number and interface-thickness (diffusivity) parameter. The adaptive discretization strategy uses mixed finite elements, a stable time-stepping algorithm and residual-based a-posteriori error estimation [2, 5]. This analysis for the convective model forms a basic step in our research and will be helpful to the coupled Cahn-Hilliard/Navier-Stokes system [3] which is the desired model for future research.


In some families, the tendency to produce twins is passed down on the male side - a finding that has French fertility experts baffled. There is no obvious mechanism for male determination of twin pregnancies as these normally depend on the woman producing two ova or a fertilised ovum splitting in two.


ABSTRACT The spectral characteristics of different drugs i.e. sulfanilamide, sulfanilic acid, sulfosalicylic acid dihydrate (SSAD) and sulfamethoxazole in aqueous α-cyclodextrin (CD) have been investigated at neutral pH. The formation of inclusion complexes of sulfa drugs with α-CD leads to the changes in fluorescence and absorption spectra which further enable the calculation of association constant of the bind processes by implementing the non-linear regression on the experimental data. The standard Gibbs energy ΔG was also calculated for the systems in which complex formation was observed. The α-CD study indicates that the sulpha drugs form 1:1 inclusion complex with α-CD.


Planetary exploration missions and deep space probes require electrical power management and control systems that are capable of efficient and reliable operation in very low temperature environments. At present, spacecraft operating in the cold environment of deep space carry radioisotope heating units in order to maintain the surrounding temperature of the on-board electronics at approximately 20/spl deg/C. Electronics capable of operation at cryogenic temperatures will not only tolerate the hostile environment of deep space but also reduce system size and weight by eliminating or reducing the radioisotope heating units and their associated structures; thereby reducing system development as well as launch costs. In addition, power electronic circuits designed for operation at low temperatures are expected to result in more efficient systems than those at room temperature. This improvement results from better behavior and tolerance in the electrical and thermal properties of semiconductor and dielectric materials at low temperatures. The Low Temperature Electronics Program at the NASA Glenn Research Center focuses on research and development of electrical components, circuits, and systems suitable for applications in the aerospace environment and deep space exploration missions. Research is being conducted on devices and systems for reliable use down to cryogenic temperatures (as low as -243/spl deg/C or 30 K). Some of the commercial-off-the-shelf as well as developed components that are being characterized includes passive and active devices and circuits. An overview of the NASA Glenn Research Center Low Temperature Electronic Program is presented in this paper. Selected data obtained through in-house components and circuits testing is also discussed.


Background: The manual muscle test (MMT) is the traditional method to assess the intrinsic hand muscle test. However, this test is qualitative and subjective. A device capable of rapidly measuring motor output along a linear scale may be of value in the evaluation of hand recovery from any neurological impairment. Objective: To demonstrate inter-rater reliability of the Peg Restrained Intrinsic Muscle Evaluator (PRIME) device for measuring intrinsic hand muscle strength in adults with impaired hand functions. Methods: 16 subjects (2 female, 14 male, mean age=47±15 years) with cervical spinal cord injury were enrolled. Intrinsic hand muscle strength of adults were performed by two-tester with use of PRIME device and manual muscle testing, within the same session. Inter-tester correlation was tested by Pearson's correlation and Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Results: Intraclass correlation coefficients for hypothenar, first dorsal interosseous, abductor pollicis brevis and opponence pollicis muscles ranged from 0.7 to 0.8 with hypothenar muscle test being lowest ICC=0.7 and thumb opposition highest, ICC=0.81. Conclusion: Results from this study suggest that PRIME device demonstrates good reliability within testers for quantified measuring of intrinsic hand muscle strength. Further use of PRIME in clinic will aid in diagnostics, medical decision making and evaluation of rehabilitation progress in patients with cervical spinal cord injury.


Objective:To evaluate the effect of thrombocytosis and metastasis in patients with gastric carcinoma.Methods:Platelet count(PLT) and pathological sample measurements were analyzed retrospectively in 277 patients with gastric carcinoma from Jan.2003 to Dec.2006.PLT at or PLT≥300×109/L was defined as thrombocytosis.The pathological sample measurements involved lymph node metastasis,distant metastasis,and vascular endothelial cell growth factor(VEGF).The defference of the pathological sample measurements of normal PLT group was compared with that of thrombocytosis group.Results:There was a positive correlation between lymph node metastasis,VEGF and P-selectin.In the thrombocytosis group(P0.05),the rate of lymph node metastasis was 80.7%,the rate of VEGF 75.4%,P-selectin 64.9%.Conclusion:The gastric carcinoma was easy to metastasize,in patients with thrombocytosis,and the prognosis was poor.


The principle and methods of building Guizhou digital Biological Specimen Museum were discussed in this paper.The information standardization system for keeping the specimens was described and successfully achieved.Guizhou digital Biological Specimen Museums was made of a specialized Management Information System and a database,which was built with Powerbuilder 9.0 as the client development tool and SQL Server as the server development tool.The system and database could be used to handlle the information for at least 400 000 specimens.There were 8435 specimens in the system now.At present,the information of the Biological Specimen Museum was partly distributed on the web.In addition,some of the encountered problems and difficulties were discussed.


Over the last decade the South African government housing programme has produced large numbers of small, core houses which have changed the country's landscape. This paper compares the original intentions of the housing policy (as framed in the 1994 White Paper and the Urban Development Framework), with the physical outcomes that have materialised through the production of around 1.6 million houses by 2004. Drawing on research data collected from more established core housing areas built in the 1980s [1], and comparing these to more recent delivery patterns, the paper will discuss the mismatch between intention and outcome. It will seek to answer why originally well intentioned policy and financing instruments led to a series of unintended consequences, where a participative housing format became rather a mass roll out of infrastructure with little engagement of the interests of residents. It develops an interpretation of core housing as a delivery system which is constrained in its ability to open up space for participation and choice for residents. The paper uses theoretical and empirical information generated as part of a PhD thesis and then discusses this in light of recent policy developments in South Africa (the recent adoption of the new "Comprehensive Plan" developed by the national Department of Housing).


OBJECTIVE To observe the protective effects of hydrogen rich saline on rats with acute carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. METHODS 42 Sprague-Dawley ( SD) male rats were divided into three groups including control group, CO group and H2 rich saline group. Morris water maze experiments were monitored for cognitive function. Death rate of neurons was assessed by Nissl's staining. Ultramicrostructure of neurons was observed by electron microscope. RESULTS Compared with control group, the escape latency was longer (P﹤0.05) and the swimming time in Ⅰquadrant (P﹤0.05) was shorter in CO group. However, H2 rich saline treatment made the escape latency shorter (P﹤0.05) and the swimming time in Ⅰ quadrant longer (P﹤0.05) than CO group. The ultramicrostructure of neurons stayed normal and the death rate was small in control group. The death rate increased in the CO group and the rate in H2 rich saline group decreased obviously more than CO group (P﹤0.05). The ultramicrostructure observed in the control group stayed normal, the ischemic change occurred in the CO group and the ultramicrostructure stayed normal in H2 rich saline group. CONCLUSION H2 rich saline treatment improves the cognitive function, decreases the death rate of neurons and lessenes neuron ultramicrostructure changes after acute CO poisoning. It suggests that H2 rich saline is effective to acute CO poisoning.


The electronics industry has become the main target of counterfeiting. Integrated circuits (ICs) are highly vulnerable to various types of counterfeiting such as recycling. The recycled ICs do not have the performance and service lifetime of the genuine ones, which poses a threat to reliability of electronic systems. In this paper, we propose a novel recycled IC detection method. An authentication mechanism and a parallel circuit unit structures, as an aging sensor, are used to distinguish recycled ICs from fresh ICs. Due to degradation in the field, the path delay of used circuit unit (scan-flip flop for example) will become larger than that in fresh circuit unit, which inspire us to use an authentication procedure to "freeze" the circuit unit-ref, and utilize SR-latch to compare the transmission speed of two circuit channels. Both HSPICE simulation and FPGA silicon implementation results show that this is a cost-effective method with high detection accuracy and secure again standard attacks.