This debate is certainly far from over. There were also other critical reactions to Meinen's book2. As Lieven Saerens has already pointed out, historical research on this topic started later in Belgium than other European countries, but the last 30 years have witnessed a growing number of relevant publications. However, up to the present – as the reaction published here clearly indicates – the topic continues to elicit intense discussion. And beyond historiography, the issue of the responsibilities of Belgians and Germans, and their influence on the persecution and deportation of Jews, continues to feed public controversy. In 2007, CEGESOMA produced a substantial book (in 2 volumes) entitled "La Belgique docile"3. It was the result of an official request by the Belgian Senate, and as such its focus and research angle centered on the attitudes and responsibilities of Belgian authorities. These research results have also been made available in a book by Anne Roekens, aimed at a more general readership4. Unfortunately, none of the above-mentioned volumes is available in English. Both the book by Insa Meinen and La Belgique docile foreground elements related to the attitudes of the German occupier and the Belgian authorities, as well as the survival strategies of Jewish people themselves. But today, we are far removed from a consensus, and new research is underway. In its role as a platform for modern and contemporary history, the JBH will of course follow these ongoing debates and return to any new scholarly results. Pending this, we think it important to publish here the reaction of German historian Insa Meinen.


Let (Ω,Σ,μ) be a measure space such that 0 0). We prove that if Ω xydμ ψ 1 Ω(x) ϕ 1 ◦| x|dμ ψ2 Ω(y) ϕ 2 ◦| y|dμ for all nonnegative μ-integrable simple functions x,y :Ω → R (where Ω(x) stands for the sup- port of x), then then there exists a real p > 1 such that ϕ1(t)


A tool 50 for removing a hub assembly (6) from a chamber (14) in a gear housing (4) of an outboard engine (2) has a cylindrical body (52) with a first end (54) and a second end (56). Proximate the first end is a flange (98) for seated engagement over an opening (18) to the chamber to limit the depth the tool enters the chamber. At the second end is a bore (66) with protruding teeth (70) for engaging longitudinal grooves (26) of a shaft (8) of the hub assembly to prevent the shaft from rotating. A nut (78) with depending disc (82), a pair of washers (92) and a flat roller bearing (94) are disposed into a recess (72) that is concentrically aligned and congruent with the bore. The nut engages a threaded end (22) of the shaft and pulls the hub assembly axially within the chamber toward the tool until a bearing carrier (10) of the assembly engages the tool. The tool is removed from the hub assembly and the hub assembly is gently pulled from the chamber using nominal force.


On 12 November 1970, a severe tropical cyclone of moderate strength riding the crest of high tide lashed East Pakistan with a 20-ft storm surge and killed approximately 300,000 people. The official figures show 200,000 confirmed burials and another 50,000 to 100,000 missing. Preliminary unofficial estimates placing the death toll near one million now appear unrealistic as officials have found that many of those originally listed as missing turned up when relief supplies became available. Accurate fatality figures are difficult to determine because of the large influx of workers into the islands from the mainland at the time of the storm to harvest the rice crop. The November cyclone ranks as one of the most deadly, if not the deadliest, storm to ever devastate a coastal area. Table 1 lists the number of deaths associated with several noteworthy tropical cyclone/typhoon/ hurricane tragedies where death tolls were in excess of 5000. Prior to the November 1970 cyclone, there had been only 5 other storms where the loss of life equaled or was in excess of 100,000 and in one of these, the Japanese typhoon in 1923, most of the people perished in the earthquake and fire that occurred simultaneously with the storm. Countries bordering the Indian Ocean are confronted with one of the most serious storm surge problems of any place on the Earth. This is particularly true in the northern Bay of Bengal where the unique combination of a large astronomical tide, a funneling coastal configuration, low flat terrain and frequent severe tropical storms occasionally produce storm surges that kill thousands of people. This is dramatically illustrated in Table 1 where it is seen that 13 of the 19 disasters listed occurred in either India or East Pakistan. In contrast, the Western Hemisphere has experienced only three storms with comparable death figures. Even in the western Pacific where the most intense typhoons in the world develop, storm related fatalities generally do


The permanent magnet toroidal motor (PMTM) is a special motor that combines a permanent magnet motor with a deceleration mechanism. Because of the special structure of the PMTM, its reluctance torque includes cogging torque and end torque. In order to reduce the reluctance torque ripple of the PMTM and improve its output stability, the cogging torque and end torque of the motor are optimized, respectively. The structure of eccentric permanent magnet teeth improves the sine of the air gap magnetic induction of the motor, thereby effectively reducing the fluctuation of the cogging torque. It is proposed to add compensation windings at both ends of the central worm stator to reduce the fluctuation of the end torque. The dynamic compensation effect and the change in air gap magnetic induction intensity with the current applied to the compensation windings are analyzed by finite element simulation. The relationship between the compensation current and the structure parameters of the motor is derived. Finally, it is verified that the output torque ripple can be effectively reduced by adding the magnetic isolation material between the compensation winding and the three-phase winding. The research results show that the reluctance torque fluctuation can be greatly reduced by using eccentric permanent magnet teeth and compensation windings. It provides an important reference basis for the optimization design of the electromagnetic structure of the PMTM.


Objective To evaluate the application of multi-slice spiral CT perfusion imaging in the kidney and the influence of various injection rate on perfusion parameters. Methods Thirty-six health rabbits were randomly divided into three groups (A, B, C), the dose of contrast agent were 2 ml/kg (300 mgI/ml ), the injection flow rate in each group were 1ml/s, 2ml/s, and 3ml/s respectively to make a quantitative analysis for the parameter of renal perfusion imaging. Results Every perfusion parameter was no significant difference not only between group A and group B, but also between group B and group C (P 0.05 ), but there was a significant difference between group A and group C (P0.05). Perfusion parameters were significant difference in cortex and medulla of the same kidney (P0.05). Conclusion Multi-slice spiral CT can provide quantitative analysis to renal blood perfusion, but injection flow rate influence the perfusion parameters.


Glasses of the composition 0.20 Bi/sub 2/O/sub 3/-0.30 TiO/sub 2/-0.50 SrB/sub 4/O/sub 7/ and 0.30 Bi/sub 2/O/sub 3/-0.45 TiO/sub 2/-0.25 SrB/sub 4/O/sub 7/ have been fabricated by a conventional glass processing technique. These glasses have been characterized using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), differential thermal analysis (DTA) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The frequency response of the dielectric constant and the loss tangent of these glasses has been studied. The formation of the crystalline bismuth titanate, Bi/sub 4/Ti/sub 3/O/sub 12/ (BiT) phase in the heat treated samples has been confirmed by XRD and HRTEM studies. The measured /spl epsiv//sub /spl tau// of the glass-ceramics is found to be in good agreement with those predicted by the logarithmic mixture rule. Optical second harmonic generation (SHG) at 1064 nm has been observed in the heat treated samples and is attributed to the formation of the crystalline Bi/sub 4/Ti/sub 3/O/sub 12/ (BiT) phase in the SrB/sub 4/O/sub 7/ (SBO) matrix.


ABSTRACT Objective To prepare and evaluate a herbal antioxidant face cream which is made by the ethanol extract of Nardostachys jatamansi (Valerianceae). Methods Antioxidant activity of ethanol extract was assessed by previously reported 2, 2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl method. By discovering different types of formulations, such as oil in water, we were able to create several face creams respectively classified from F1 to F6, by incorporating different concentrations of stearic acid and acetyl alcohol. The evaluation of all formulations (F1 to F6) has been done by the analysis of different parameters like pH, viscosity, spread ability and stability. Results An ethanol fraction analyzed from a sample of Nardostachys jatamansi showed a significant antioxidant activity with an IC50 value of 58.39 μg/mL while for ascorbic acid the IC50 value was 46.68 μg/mL. Among the six formulations (F1-F6) F5 and F6 showed good spread ability, good consistency, homogeneity, appearance, pH; there is no proof of a separation phase and ease of removal. Also the formulations F5 and F6 showed no redness or edema or erythema and irritation during irritancy studies. Conclusions These formulations can be safely used on the skin. Hence, the study suggests that the composition of extract and the base of the cream F5 and F6 are more stable and safe, but it may produce synergistic action.


Abstract Accounting professionals, employers, and college graduates in accounting have expressed the concern that the recent accounting graduates are inadequately prepared in oral and written communication skills. Results of a survey of undergraduate accounting students at California State University, Los Angeles, revealed that students were not generally in favor of adding courses designed to improve communication skills to their curriculum but that they agreed on the importance of such skills in hiring. Non-native English speakers were more likely to select vocabulary as the area in which they needed most improvement, whereas native speakers desired improvement in speaking confidence and spelling skills. All students preferred maintaining their GPA to improving their communication skills.


This paper presents the design of a resonant converter with a switching frequency in the very high frequency range (30-300 MHz), a large step down ratio (ten times), and low output power (1 W). Several different inverters and rectifiers are analyzed and compared. The class E inverter and rectifier are selected based on complexity and efficiency estimates. Three different power stages are implemented; one with a large input inductor, one with a switch with small capacitances, and one with a switch with low on-resistance. The power stages are designed with the same specifications and efficiencies from 60.7-82.9% are achieved.


The palygorskite or attapulgite is a mineral clay that has a fibrous morphology with porous crystalline structure, hydrated of type 2:1, which is constituted by layer-shaped strips with two tetrahedral layers connected by a central octahedral layer through the sharing of common oxygens [. It presents in its structure low surface charge, high magnesium content and high specific surface area. This mineral clay together with the sepiolite belong to the class of fibrous clay minerals [.


ic inflammatory diseases, including OLP, involves in the activation of the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway. Baicalein (BAI) is an alcohol soluble flavonoid known for its anti-inflammatory effect. However, its effectiveness on keratinocytes in OLP remains unclear. In the present study, we examined inflammation in oral mucosa tissue from OLP patients. Hematoxylin and eosin staining showed denser subepithelial lymphocytes infiltration compared to the normal oral mucosa epithelium. TNF-α and IL-6 were up-regulated in oral mucosa tissue of OLP patients. We next stimulated humans keratinocytes (HaCaT cells) with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to create an inflammatory environment like that in the OLP tissue and assessed the effect of BAI on OLP and NF-κB signaling pathways. Our results showed that BAI treatment inhibited the level of TNF-α and IL-6 induced by LPS. However, the cells apoptosis was promoted after BAI treatment. Furthermore, BAI not only inhibited LPS-induced p38 MAPK and ERK1/2 phosphorylation, but also NF-κB activation by reducing IκBα phosphorylation and the nuclear translocation of NFκB-p65 and NFκB-p50 from cytoplasm to nucleus in keratinocytes. Our findings suggest that BAI inhibits the production of inflammatory cytokines by negatively regulating the NF-κB signaling pathway under LPS simulation in HaCaT cells.


Abstract Since the introduction of the first computerized information retrieval systems in libraries, librarians have attempted to gather statistical information on system usage. For Web sites, the most important source of this information is the Web server transaction log. This paper explores the reasons behind the search for Web usage statistics, the limitations of Web server logs and the methods used to analyze them, and possible ways to gather more meaningful Web usage statistics, taking into account the particular challenges Web servers present for electronic reserves.


During long-term research on bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops sp.) in Shark Bay, K'estern Australia, sevcral individuals were observed carrying sponges, lici,inodic!pum mesemterinum, on their rostra. Over multiple years, five regularly sighted individuals were usually carrying sponges when encountered (67-100 "%I of encounters). Four additional regularly sighted individuals were observed with sponges lust one timr each. All fix e individuals that routinely carried sponges were female. Two of the anomalous, one-timc carriers were female, one was likely female, and one was male. Most observations of sponge carrying occurred within a restricted .ires, a relati~ deep water channel (8-10 m deep). Surface observations of sponge carrying, including focal animal observations, revealed a stereotyped surfacing and diving pattern, and occasional indications of prey consumption. Three hypotheses are considered regarding the function of sponge carrying: 1. dolphins wcrc playing with the sptqes; 2. the sponges contain some compound of use to the dolphins (e.g. for medicinal purposes); and 3. the sponges were used as a tool to aid in foraging. The foraging tool hypothesis is hest supported, but thc exact manner in which sponges are used remains to be discovered. Sponge carrying is a beharioural specia'iTation, probably involving foraging, and regularly engaged in by onl! a small proportion of female dolphins in Shark BaJ-.


This article describes geomodel preparation and results of simulation studies on the effect on steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) performance of horizontal well orientation in inclined heterolithic stratification (IHS) units in point bar systems. Simulation results from models with inclined shale layers show that as the fraction of shale volume increases, the role of wellbore orientation with respect to the shale layers becomes important. At high shale volume fractions (e.g. 10%), the recovery factor for wellbores oriented across the inclined shale layers is higher than the recovery factor for wellbores oriented along the shale layers. It was found that modeling a reservoir that has inclined shale layers but is modeled using horizontal shale layers underestimates the performance of the SAGD process. This difference increases as the shale volume fraction increases. A 3D point bar system was modeled using non-orthogonal grid systems and a deterministic object base approach. Simulation results of the model show that horizontal wells across the dip of point bar beds yield higher SAGD recovery compared to horizontal wells that are parallel to the strike of the point bar beds.


We have analyzed the mutagenic specificity of an abasic site in DNA using the yeast oligonucleotide transformation assay. Oligonucleotides containing an abasic site or its analog were introduced into B7528 or its derivatives, and nucleotide incorporation opposite abasic sites was analyzed. Cytosine was most frequently incorporated opposite a natural abasic site (O) ('C-rule'), followed by thymine. Deletion of REV1 decreased the transformation efficiency and the incorporation of cytosine nearly to a background level. In contrast, deletion of RAD30 did not affect them. We compared the mutagenic specificity with that of a tetrahydrofuran abasic site (F), an abasic analog used widely. Its mutation spectrum was clearly different from that of O. Adenine, not cytosine, was most favorably incorporated. However, deletion of REV1 decreased the transformation efficiency with F-containing oligonucleotide as in the case of O. These results suggest that the bypass mechanism of F is different from that of O, although the bypasses in both cases are dependent on REV1. We also found that the mutagenic specificity of F can be affected by not only the adjacent bases, but also a base located two positions away from F.


Silicon oxide, SiOx (1≤x≤2), formed by molecular‐beam deposition (MBD) has many attractive optical, electrical, mechanical, and chemical properties which make it a suitable dielectric for many semiconductor device applications. It can be thermally evaporated at a much lower temperature than Si, SiO2, or Si3N4 and it condenses on cooler surfaces in uniform and adherent stoichiometric SiO (x=1) films when evaporated in high vacuum. At low deposition rates and at high pressures of oxygen, SiOx (1≤x≤2) films result. This allows variation of refractive index, stress, and other properties with x. MBD‐SiOx films are insensitive to moisture absorption. A high quality thin film of SiO2 formed on the surface of SiOx, when exposed to an oxidizing ambient, protects the SiOx film underneath from the environment. Dielectric breakdown strength of the SiO films is comparable to that of other high quality deposited dielectrics. In general, the SiO (x=1) films are under tensile stress of <100 MPa, which is significantly lo...


Jua (juá in Portuguese) is an underexplored fruit from Brazil's northeast. This fruit is rich in antioxidant substances. However, there is a dearth of information about jua's bioactive potential. The present study evaluated two extraction methods (continuous agitation and ultrasound-assisted extraction—UAE) and employed three different solvents (water, ethanol, and acetone) to efficiently recover soluble phenolic compounds. Aqueous extracts obtained by UAE showed the highest total phenolic content (TPC) and antiradical activity. Besides being an eco-friendly procedure, extraction and/or solubility in an aqueous medium is also important for food application. Ellagic acids were the predominant phenolics (80%) found in aqueous jua pulp extract obtained by UAE, as determined by HPLC, while its TPC was 405.8 gallic acid equivalent per gram of fruit. This extract also exhibited a higher scavenging activity towards peroxyl radicals when compared to that of several other fruits from the literature, including grape, strawberry, cranberry, and walnuts, which are known references in terms of antioxidants. This is the first report that demonstrates jua pulp's potential as an alternative source of ellagic acid and other phenolic acids and flavonoids. Therefore, the outcome of this study provides new information that can be useful for functional food and nutraceutical industries.


A central bank's inflation objective can be formulated using a point target, a target range or a combination of the two. In this blog, we show the disadvantages of a target range for anchoring inflation expectations and for macroeconomic stabilisation. The analysis thereby underpins the ECB's adoption of a clear and symmetric 2% inflation point target.


A recyclable, PEGylated N-heterocyclic carbene(NHC)–gold(i) catalyst was synthesized, which exhibited high reactivity and regio-selectivity in the cyclization of alkynoic acids and cascade reaction of tryptamine and alkynoic acids in water.


Abstract Objectives Omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are essential in fetal growth and development and have been shown to modulate inflammatory processes throughout the lifespan. Previous studies have demonstrated that individuals with lower socioeconomic status (SES) may be at risk for low intake of n-3 PUFAs, however, no research has compared the concentrations of these nutrients present in maternal and cord serum between markers of SES. The purpose of this study is to assess the relationship between markers of SES and levels of n-3 PUFAs in maternal and cord serum in a group of patients delivering at a Midwest Academic Medical Center. Methods An IRB-approved study enrolled mother-infant pairs (n = 55) at the time of delivery for collection of maternal and cord serum samples. n-3 PUFA levels quantified included Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and total n-3 PUFAs. Markers of SES include private vs public insurance, income ≤ 150% of the poverty line vs > 150%, and college degree earners vs no college degree. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to assess differences in n-3 PUFA levels between SES groups. A P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Median gestational age at delivery was 39.3 weeks. Significantly higher nutrient levels were present in college-educated mothers vs less than college-educated mothers in median maternal EPA (9.44 µg/mL vs 5.13 µg/mL, p = 0.010), cord EPA (1.88 µg/mL vs 1.40 µg/mL, p = 0.011), cord DHA (37.96 µg/mL vs 32.80 µg/mL, p = 0.014), and total cord n-3 PUFAs (44.23 µg/mL vs 39.34 µg/mL, p = 0.024). Median cord EPA levels were significantly higher in those with private insurance compared to public (1.79 µg/mL, 1.18 µg/mL, p = 0.022). Additionally, median cord EPA levels were significantly higher in those > 150% the poverty line (1.79 µg/mL, 1.10 µg/mL, p = 0.030). Conclusions Our findings suggest that individuals with lower SES may be at risk for lower serum levels of n-3 PUFAs in pregnancy, which could increase their susceptibility to adverse birth and pregnancy outcomes. Future studies should focus on replicating these results in a larger, more heterogeneous sample and should consider analyzing additional markers of SES. Funding Sources UNMC Pediatrics Department; Child Health Research Institute.


In a consignment contract between manufacturer and retailers, the manufacturer determines the final price and the sales channel and make the choice of whether adding a direct channel or not. Based on the framework of Stackelberg game, we analyze the optimal channel choice and pricing of manufacturer under environment of stochastic demand. We find the manufacturer will benefit from adding a direct channel when the operational cost is relatively low, and the increasing demand fluctuation (uniform distributed) will only strengthen both manufacturer and retailer's preferences for their channel choice. Only when the price elasticity is relatively small, adding direct channel can be beneficial to both the manufacturer and the retailer.


Ion acoustic waves are excited in a streaming-ion plasma. The comparison between the experimental results and the theory about the effects on the higher-order modes is made. Discussions on the wave mode and the ballistic mode are described in detail. On the basis of the discussions, we succeed in detecting of the wave mode among wave-like fluctuations by an ion-energy analyzer. Waves are excited by a grid immersed in a plasma. When the voltage applied to the grid is increased, oscillations of the amplitude are observed. In the course of the amplitude oscillations, multiple exchange of energy between resonant ions and the wave is detected by the ion-energy analyzer.


versity of Paris (Nanterre) and Visiting Professor at various American universities, Jean Baudrillard is famous, or infamous, worldwide. A sometime columnist for the French daily Libération, a television personality, an acclaimed conference speaker, a web-site guru, the subject (object) of dozens of features in 'trendy' magazines (Figaro Magazine, Les Inrockuptibles, The Face ...) Baudrillard has all the trappings and attracts all the hype of a media star. Within academia he escapes easy categorisation as he ranges across vast swathes of intellectual territory: sociology, philosophy, literature, history, politics, architecture, etc. The author of numerous books (for instance Sym bolic Exchange & Death (1976), Simulacra and Simulation (1981), Fatal Strategies (1983), America (1988), Seduction (1990), The Illusion of the End (1992), The Transparency of Evil(1993), Cool Memories(1995), The Perfect Crime (1995) ...) Baudrillard violates, in his ceaseless 'border crossings', the neat disciplinary boxes of scholarship to the discomfort, and sometimes to the disgust, of those firmly tucked-up inside them. Accordingly, such an irritating transgressor is easy to characterise, and then dismiss, as a scholarly lightweight, a gadfly lacking propriety, seriousness and rigour; a joker, a charlatan, 'The Walt Disney of contemporary metaphysics', a representative of postmodernism at its emptiest and wackiest, a hyper-relativist who, according to Christopher Norris, 'is lost in the funhouse'! It is not my intention here to 'correct' these possible misreadings which seem to pepper the Baudrillardian literature. Besides, as Baudrillard himself comments, such corrective ambitions are always ultimately impossible. For


The Association of Southeastern Research Libraries has instituted a distributed print archive program to share the costs and effort of long-term retention of print journals. Beginning with a review of the history of the project, the authors address the voluntary nature of participation in the program, methodologies for identifying journals to be retained, as well as methodologies for tagging retained journals so that an accurate record of current decisions is maintained over the 25-year length of the commitment. Policies and procedures continue to evolve as participation increases and lessons are learned with each step.


Many risk factors addressed by the AAP are more common in AI/AN communities. For example, AI/AN mothers report lower use of separate sleep surfaces for infants and more commonly report sleeping on a couch or armchair compared to the general population. AI/AN mothers are also less likely to avoid soft bedding and have higher rates of an infant sleeping with a blanket. In many cases, parents may be aware of safe sleep recommendations, but lack access to safe sleep spaces for their babies. Further, where and with whom babies sleep is a matter of long-held values, beliefs, and cultural practices, and this should be taken into consideration in safe sleep outreach efforts with AI/AN people.


Chlorophyll a and b, sulphur, zinc and lead contents were determined in annual and biennial needles of Scotch pine ( Pinus silevstris L.) exposed to flue dust-polluted air. Intoxication indexes were calculated on the basis of the obtained results.


For large-scale inverse problems in acoustics and electromagnetics,numerical schemes based on direct methods,e.g.FEM and meshless methods,often result in huge linear systems,and are not feasible in terms of computing speed and memory storage.In this work,the "inverse fundamental operator marching method"(IFOMM) is proposed based on the Dirichlet-to-Neumann map for solving large-scale inverse boundary value problems in range-dependent waveguides.


Realism of rendered human skin can be strongly enhanced by taking into account skin wrinkles. However, modeling wrinkles is a difficult task, and considerable time and effort are necessary to achieve satisfactory results. This paper presents a simple method to easily model wrinkles on human skin, taking into account the properties of real wrinkles. Wrinkles are specified using intuitive parameters, and are generated over a triangle mesh representing a body part, such as a hand or a face. Wrinkled skin surfaces are rendered at an interactive frame rate, dynamically modulating wrinkle amplitude according to skin surface deformation while animating the body part. We demonstrate the ability of our method to model realistic wrinkle shapes by comparing them with real wrinkles.


We prove rigidity results for large classes of corona algebras, assuming the Proper Forcing Axiom. In particular, we prove that a conjecture of Coskey and Farah holds for all separable C-algebras with the metric approximation property and an increasing approximate identity of projections.


of thesis entitled: Indoor White Space Network Design Submitted by ZHANG, Jincheng for the degree of Master of Philosophy at The Chinese University of Hong Kong in July 2014 The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released the final rule to approve of TV white spaces (TVWS), i.e., locally vacant TV channels, for unlicensed use in 2010. This TV spectrum will mitigate the shortage of wireless spectrum resources and provide opportunities for new applications. TVWS differ from the conventional Wi-Fi spectrum in three aspects: spectrum fragmentation, spatial variation, and temporal variation. These differences make the network design over TVWS challeng-


High resolution and high penetration depth OCT is demonstrated with Gaussian shaped, center wavelength tunable, 230 nm wide bandwidth, high power supercontinuum at 1.65–1.73 µm wavelengths region using ultrashort pulse fiber laser based system.


Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with increased risk of ischemic stroke and all‐cause mortality. Patients with AF are also at increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), but information on how AF impacts VTE‐related mortality is scarce.


Cutter is a common tool used in various cutting shape for a variety purposes. In this project, the improvement of cutter which is design and fabricate of a motorized cutter for mechanical part then integrate the system using a 24V DC motor to operate the system so it can cut the fruit brunches easily without using our own energy too much. This cutter can lift up until 3.5 m and above according the user height and it not too heavy to carry it because it weight is 2.2 kg including the electro-mechanical part. This cutter also safe to used because of the C-sickle is weld properly and tied with aluminum plate together with bolt and nut so it cannot easily falling down to the ground which is can get hurt. The design of this product is suitable with the electro-mechanical part and can work together. The operating for this system is control by the controller to moving the motor spindle. When press the ON button the motor spindle will move clockwise direction then roll the rope while it attract top rod which is it will through the hole until the spring retract is finish. Then, when press the OFF button, the motor spindle will released the rope and the spring will extend back to it normal position. However, this cutter needs to be handled by two persons because one person needs to hold the battery and the controller and the other person will hold the rod. Hence, this motorized cutter can help people to harvesting fruit bunches easily and also can used it in a long term.


Nanoscale phase separation was induced in the K‐doped RuCl3 van der Waals material by annealing, and studied with the goal to find a natural design strategy for the formation of two‐dimensional architectures as an alternative to the costly and time‐consuming experimental artificial growth methods. Phase conversion was traced by means of thermogravimetric analysis combined with mass spectrometry. The local crystal structure of co‐existing K3Ru2Cl9 domains with the sizes of about 100 nm was solved by 3D electron diffraction.


Banking is one of the oldest professions known to mankind. It is no exception to the rule of nature that change is the only thing permanent in this world. It has undergone many transitions since its inception and internet banking is one of the latest in the list of such transitions. It has helped the transition of traditional banking based on brick and mortar system to click and portal system. So, most of the customers have Internet banking for their banking activities. This paper, therefore, examines the extent of their utilisation of net banking and their awareness towards various services that can be availed through net banking. Analysis of variance is used to test the hypotheses. Results reveal that the demographic factors have a significant role in influencing the awareness and utilisation of certain services on internet banking. Further Mann Whitney U test and Kruskal Wallis test have been used to find out the relationship between the demographic factors and the problems perceived by the respondents in the usage of Internet banking. The results reveal the fact that there is no significant difference between the demographic factors such as age, marital status, education and monthly income and the problems perceived in using internet banking. Thus, banks have to educate them to get rid of their fears over net banking and make the utmost use of the services of internet banking.


A multi-period repetitive control system is a type of servomechanism for a periodic reference input. Even if a plant does not include time-delay, the transfer function from the periodic reference input to the output and that from the disturbance to the output of the multi-period repetitive control system generally have an infinite number of poles. The purpose of this paper is to propose the concept of robust stabilizing simple multi-period repetitive controllers for time-delay plants with uncertainty and to clarify the parametrization of all robust stabilizing simple multi-period repetitive controllers for time-delay plants with uncertainty.


With the methods of the chemical qualitative detection and the spectral analysis,the categories of the total flavonoids in the whole plant of H.himalaica was researched,and effect of four factors(volume fraction of ethanol,temperature,ratio of solid-liquid,extraction time) on the efficiency of extraction of the total flavonoids was also evaluated by orthogonal design L9(34).The results suggested that the total flavonoids consisted of flavones,flavonols,flavanones,flavanonols.The influencing degree of each factor on the efficiency was as follows: temperaturevolume fraction of ethanolratio of solid-liquidextraction time.The optimum extracting conditions are A1C3B2D3.The highest efficiency of extraction of the total flavonoids reached 1.479% under such optimal conditions.


An experimental method of applying in-plane combined tension-compression stresses to a sheet specimen is proposed. Comb-shaped dies are specially designed for the tension-compression test and are installed into a biaxial stress-testing machine developed by one of the authors [Kuwabara and Ikeda: J. JSTP, 40-457 (1999), 145-149]. To check the usefulness of the testing apparatus proposed in this study, we carried out biaxial stress experiments using a high strength steel with a tensile strength of 440MPa, and detailed measurements were made of the plastic work contours as below and the directions of the incremental plastic strain vectors at different levels of work-hardening for linear stress paths in the second and fourth quadrants of the principal stress space, as well as in the first quadrant. We found that the measured work contours are similar in shape, and that the directions of the incremental plastic strain vectors remain almost constant at each constant stress ratio. The work contours and the directions of the incremental plastic strain vectors are in close agreement with those predicted using the Hosford or Yld2000-2d yield function.


Hemorrhage occurring in craniopharyngioma, with clinical presentation similar to pituitary apoplexy, is a very rare event; with only 20 cases reported. Hyponatremia, hemiplegia and upper motor neuron facial palsy occurring in such a situation is still rarer. We report the case of a 60-year-old lady who presented with right hemiplegia, diminished vision, right upper motor neuron facial palsy and hyponatremia. Computed tomography showed a hypodense lesion in the sellar and supra-sellar region with hemorrhage extending to left basal ganglia. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a T2-hyperintense lesion with peripheral contrast enhancement in the sellar and suprasellar regions. The pre-operative diagnosis was pituitary macroadenoma with hemorrhage. The relatively avascular tumor was excised sub totally by craniotomy. Histopathological examination of the specimen revealed adamantinomatous type of craniopharyngioma. Literature review was based on 17 publications and a total of 20 patients. Their clinical features, locations of the tumor and histological types are tabulated. Keywords: Craniopharyngioma, Pituitary apoplexy, Hyponatremia, Adamantinomatous


The research was aimed to study the physicochemical and functional characteristics of egg replacer based on soy protein isolate, whey protein isolate, corn starch, guar gum, and xanthan gum. The research had been performed using non factorial completely randomized design with 12 levels and 3 repetition. Ratio of the threatment of soy protein isolate, corn starch, and guar gum (E 1 = 70% : 29,5% : 0,5% ; E 2 = 70% : 29,0% : 1,0% ; E 3 = 70% : 28,5% : 1,5%), soy protein isolate, corn starch, and xanthan gum (E 4 = 70% : 29,5% : 0,5% ; E 5 = 70% : 29,0% : 1,0% ; E 6 = 70% : 28,5% : 1,5%), whey protein isolate, corn starch, and guar gum (E 7 = 70% : 29,5% : 0,5% ; E 8 = 70% : 29,0% : 1,0% ; E 9 = 70% : 28,5% : 1,5%), whey protein isolate, corn starch, and xanthan gum (E 10 = 70% : 29,5% : 0,5% ;   E 11 = 70% : 29,0% : 1,0% ; E 12 = 70% : 28,5% : 1,5%), and whole egg powder. Parameters analyzed were water content, ash content, protein content, fat content, carbohydrate content, foam capacity, foam stability, emulsion capacity and activity, color, and density.The results showed that the egg replacer based on with  soy protein isolate, whey protein isolate, corn starch, and hydrocolloid (guar gum, and xanthan gum) had the different the physicochemical and functional characteristics. Egg replacer had the different physicochemical and functional characteristics with control. The egg replacer from soy protein isolate, corn starch and xantan gum with the ratio of 70%:29,5%:0,5% had the physicochemical and functional properties that comparable than those of egg flour. Keywords:, Corn starch, hydrocolloid, protein isolate


With the goal of identifying a CETP inhibitor with high in vitro potency and optimal in vivo efficacy, a conformationally constrained molecule was designed based on the highly potent and flexible 13. The synthetic chemistry efforts led to the discovery of the potent and selective 12. In high-fat fed hamsters, human CETP transgenic mice, and cynomolgus monkeys, the in vivo efficacy of 12 for raising HDL-C was demonstrated to be comparable to torcetrapib.


AbstractTo simulate and study hot corrosion in gas turbines various testing procedures have been developed. The first category of test corresponds to sample immersion in molten salt. These crucible tests were developed to allow fast ranking of the alloys. They have been almost totally abandoned in their original form, but they have led to more sophisticated testing methods involving electrochemical measurements. In the second category it is attempted to reproduce the conditions prevailing in burner rigs, i.e. continuous salt deposition on the testpieces. This is achieved using either sample contamination by spraying a Na2SO4 aqueous solution, followed by oxidation, or the modified Dean method (condensation of Na2S4 vapour produced in the hot zone of a gradient furnace).MST/289


We propose the cellular ad hoc augmented networks architecture where each mobile terminal can communicate with either the base station or to a peer mobile located within the ad hoc communication range. We introduce a set of schemes, which are designed towards enabling energy-efficient communications for all entities within the network. Furthermore, the solutions proposed distribute the load across all mobile units. We measure performance through simulations where the results suggest considerable reduction in the average overall power consumption in the network achieved by using CAHAN as opposed to conventional cellular operation. The savings applies to both the uplink and the downlink directions. It is also noted that transmit power reduction is particularly notable in case of large network density. Also, the mobile battery life is increased as a result of energy-efficient communications.


In Malaysia, the statistics in 2009 showed tourists' arrivals was over 23.6 million people in which their presence contributes to the economy. However, this sector generates both positive and negative impacts. This study was conducted to identify factors that encourage visitors to return and visitors' perception of the impact of tourism on environmental sustainability of coastal areas. The study was conducted at Pantai Cahaya Bulan (PCB) in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia. A total of 40 visitors were selected as respondents in the survey and questionnaires were used as instruments. The results showed that tourism activities do have an impact on PCB. One the positive impact is tourism activity increases the local socio-economic whereas the negative impact, it affects on the environmental sustainability such as cleanliness of the beach.


Cyrenaica is thought to have had extensive commercial links with the rest of the Greek world in the 4th and 5th centuries BC. This study aims to examine the nature, frequency and routes of trading between Cyrenaica and other regions through studying pottery evidence, primarily Red-Figure and Black-Glazed wares. A catalogue and description of different pottery types is summarised through historical conclusions.


A new robust nonlinear control scheme of a manipulator is proposed in this paper which is robust against modeling errors and unknown disturbances. It is based on the principle of variable structure control, with sliding mode control (SMC) method. The variable structure control method is a robust method that appears to be well suited for robotic manipulators because it requers only bounds on the robotic arm parameters. But there is no single systematic procedure that is guaranteed to produce a suitable control law. Also, to reduce chattring of the control signal, we replaced the sgn function in the control law by a continuous approximation such as tangant function. We can compute the maximum load with regard to applied torque into joints. The effectivness of the proposed approach has been evaluated analitically demonstrated through computer simulations for the cases of variable load and robot arm parameters. Keywords—Variable structure control, robust control, switching surface, robot manipulator.


This study applies the ethical theories of Emmanuel Levinas to the novels and short stories of the major New Woman novelists of the fin de siècle in England. Chapter One introduces the study and its theoretical framework. Chapter Two discusses how New Woman writers confront their protagonists with ethical dilemmas framed as face-to-face encounters that can be read as the moment of ethics formation. They also gesture toward openness and indeterminacy through their use of carnivalesque characters. In Chapter Three, Levinas's concepts of the said and the saying illuminate readings of polemical passages that interrogate the function of language to oppress or empower women. Chapter Four reads dreams, visions, allegories, and proems as mythic references to a golden age past that reframe the idea of feminine altruism. Chapter Five employs Levinas's vision of the tragic artist to read New Woman Kunstlerroman. Chapter Six, the conclusion to the study, summarizes the underlying framework, the process that initiated the study, and considers implications for further research. INDEX WORDS: Levinas, ethics, alterity, new, woman LEVINAS AND THE NEW WOMAN WRITERS: NARRATING THE ETHICS OF


Curricula that substantiate innovative pedagogies are crucial for sustaining and scaling up education reform efforts. However, when researcher-designed curricula are enacted by teachers, the results might not be what researchers expected. Both researchers and teachers need to understand national curriculum policies in order to align their selection, design, and enactment of certain curricula. A co-design strategy, thus, is ideal in order to address the challenges. In this paper, first we describe a tripartite model of curriculum co-design process for a secondary chemistry unit through collaboration among a Singapore MOE chemistry curriculum specialist, researchers, and teachers when developing an iMVT integrated curriculum. This was also intended as a means for teacher professional development to build teacher competence in adopting, sustaining, and scaling up our innovation. Secondly, we intend to find out a mechanism behind this tripartite collaboration to theorize a co-design model by analyzing the interactions among the three parties over about six months of time following a design research tradition. The study contributes to the literature by proposing and evaluating a tripartite model for curriculum development and teacher professional development.


technique for detecting trace amounts of target sequences bounded by specified primers. Triglia et al.2) and Ochman et al.3) introduced the inverted PCR technique (IPCR) for amplifying the sequences that lay outside the boundaries of knownsequences. We previously reported Southern blot analyses of transgenes in transgenic mice and showed that the integrated DNAsat the junctions with the host chromosomal DNAs were deleted and/or rearranged.4) More information concerning junctions between transgenes and their flanking chromosomal DNAs will help in the elucidation of insertional mutations caused by and integration mechanisms of foreign DNAs. The structures of some transgenes and their flanking mouse chromosomal DNAs were determined by cloning and sequencing.5~9) In this study, we


We used high-resolution SPOT 5 images acquired before and after the tsunami occurred in the Indian Ocean on December 26, 2004 to perform the damage assessment using image processing and GIS techniques to study the effects of the tsunami on coastal features. Our study area covers all tsunami affected regions along the western coast of Sumatra. A landuse map was created based on the pre-tsunami SPOT 5 images and a damage map was produced from pre and post-tsunami SPOT 5 images. IKONOS images of the affected areas were used as ground truth data. Our damage assessment map shows that much of the low land area, such as aquaculture ponds, cities and villages near the coast, paddy fields and mangrove etc., were severely damaged. Coastline features were significantly eroded and destroyed. This paper demonstrates that the integration of remote sensing and GIS is an effective approach for tsunami damage assessment.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence, clinical features and role of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) in patients with chronic acalculous cholecystitis (CAC) in comparison with a control group of patients who underwent cholecystectomy for chronic calculous cholecystitis (CCC).

MATERIAL AND METHODS
Prospective evaluation of 34 patients with CAC in contrast with 297 patients with CCC.

OUTCOME MEASURES
Clinical presentation, quality of life using the Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI), usefulness derived from the therapeutic procedure as measured in quality of life units by GIQLI, and clinical efficacy at one year of follow-up.

RESULTS
The incidence of complicated biliary disease was higher in CAC (27%), in comparison with CCC (13.8%). The histological study of the excised gallbladder revealed a higher incidence of cholesterolosis associated with chronic cholecystitis in the CAC group (64.9%). GIQLI showed significant differences between preoperative and postoperative measurements in both groups. The associated usefulness of LC was similar in both groups (73 versus 67.3 percent), confirming an important increase in quality of life for both categories.

CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of CAC is 11 per cent with a high association with cholesterolosis. Quality of life and LC usefulness are similar to those of patients with CCC. Due to the fact that cholecistogammagraphy is a technique not available in daily clinical practice, and that oral cholecystography and dynamic ultrasound are reliable when a positive result is obtained, extended clinical evaluation is still the most reliable indicator for cholecystectomy.


Fairness is well studied in the context of resource allocation. Researchers have proposed various fairness notions like envy-freeness (EF), and its relaxations, proportionality and max-min share (MMS). There is vast literature on the existential and computational aspects of such notions. While computing fair allocations, any algorithm assumes agents' truthful reporting of their valuations towards the resources. Whereas in real-world web-based applications for fair division, the agents involved are strategic and may manipulate for individual utility gain. In this paper, we study strategy-proof mechanisms without monetary transfer, which satisfies the various fairness criteria. We know that for additive valuations, designing truthful mechanisms for EF, MMS and proportionality is impossible. Here we show that there cannot be a truthful mechanism for EFX and the existing algorithms for EF1 are manipulable. We then study the particular case of single-minded agents. For this case, we provide a Serial Dictatorship Mechanism that is strategy-proof and satisfies all the fairness criteria except EF.


The paper selected old and new wheat seeds of Zhou 18 and Bainong AK 58 as the experimental material.First,old and new seed vigor were measured through the non-special processing germination experiment,aging treatment germination experiment and anti-freeze processing germination experiment of wheat.Then,with the method of measuring absorb light,the activities of peroxidase(POD),superoxide dismutase(SOD) and catalase(CAT) of old and new seeds were measured.Results demonstrated that the rate of germination of the new seed of the same kind of wheat under the three conditions was significantly greater than that of the old seeds.Also the new seeds' peroxidase,superoxide dismutase and catalase were more active than the old seeds'.This proved that the new seeds' vigor was greater than that of the old seeds and the seed vigor and activity of peroxidase,superoxide dismutase and catalase were positive correlation.In addition,from the related data of Zhou 18 and AK 58,it could be concluded that the seed's vitality and stability of AK 58 were obviously superior to Zhou 18.


The novel coronavirus is one of the most tragic epidemic diseases the world has ever faced thus far. Therefore, the governments of all countries have taken a range of measures against it. This article preforms a critical analysis on a political discourse, notably president Trump's March 11, 2020 speech about the global pandemic. Using a multidisciplinary approach as suggested by representatives of critical discourse analysis, it attempts to unpack or decipher the ideologies behind the discourse on the one hand, and to reveal how the discourse contributes to manipulating the public opinion through structural and contextual features of power and control, on the other hand.


Here, we exploit implementation of optical losses to develop innovative optical phenomena and devices, for example, mimicking exceptional points and their unique transport characteristics in optics at both nano and macro scales.


The sack of Constantinople by the Crusaders in 1204 and the Mongol invasion of Eastern Europe in 1237-1240 were catastrophic events which challenged the very existence of Eastern Christendom as a social and cultural entity. It survived, nevertheless, with a remarkable commitment to theological continuity. The same thirteenth century saw the emergence, in the Latin West, of a new and dynamic framework for intellectual creativity the universities and the religious orders, which changed radically the way in which Christian theology was "made".


Objectives.  Short-term intubation (<4 h) is common in elective surgery and has been associated with post-operative changes to the voice. Furthermore, short-term endotracheal intubation is often used in microlaryngoscopy. Therefore research into laryngeal physiology requires an understanding of the changes to mucosal biology that result from intubation. Very little is known of the early cellular processes involved in laryngeal injury. We aim to establish how the cells of the innate immune system in the larynx are influenced by short-term intubation.

Methods.  Biopsies were taken from the supraglottis and subglottis of five pairs of NIH minipigs fully matched at the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) locus. One of each pair was intubated 48 h prior to laryngeal biopsy; the other had not received previous intubation. Multiple-colour immunofluorescence histology was used to quantify the numbers of immunologically active mucosal cells at each site.

Results.  At 48 h following endotracheal intubation, there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in total number of myeloid cells immunologically active in the supraglottic or subglottic mucosa. In the subglottis there was a small increase in the number of CD14+ and CD16+ cells in three out of four pairs following intubation; largest percentage increase in CD14+ and CD16+ expression between pairs was 74% (P = 0.011) and 72% (P = 0.007) respectively.

Conclusions.  At 48 h post-intubation our results points to a continued innate immune response in the subglottis; this is consistent with previous histological and clinical studies that have identified the subglottis as the focus for post-intubation injury.

References.  1 Gould S.J. & Howard S. (1985) The histopathology of the larynx in the neonate following endotracheal intubation. J. Pathol. 146, 301–311

2 Beckford N.S., Mayo R., Wilkinson A. & Tierney M. (1990) Effects of short-term endotracheal intubation on vocal function. Laryngoscope 100, 331–336


This discussion includes the physiology of breastfeeding breastfeeding and prolactin production maternal nutrition in breastfeeding and things to be done that could help mothers breastfeed. Initial focus is on the human breast its development the establishment of lactation the maintenance of lactation and the milk ejection reflex. The human breast is highly developed in a sequential manner and it takes only a little stimulation to produce milk. The mothers breast is already in advanced development by the time the baby is born and it requires minimal stimulation to lactate. Throughout pregnancy there is a high level of prolactin in the bloodstream but it is prevented from acting on milk production by the placental steroids. Prolactin peaks at delivery but only after the placenta is delivered is the prolactin released in order to stimulate production. Once milk production has been established its physiological maintenance is called galactopoesis. The hormonal factor is only partially understood but it is known that prolactin is of primary importance. Its action in milk production appears to be controlled by the presence or absence of a hypothalamic prolactin inhibiting factor. This factor is thought to be Dopamine. Dopamine is released when the mother is very tired or very emotionally upset and it can actually block the secretion of prolactin. The recurrent stimulation of the babys sucking overrides the inhibiting factors and releases prolactin which affects the secretory cells at the cellular level to produce milk. At the time this is going on a 2nd hormone called oxytocin is released by sucking. A lactating mother should eat as well as she did during her pregnancy consuming 2000 calories with 80-100 gm of protein and she should continue with her prenatal vitamins through the period of active lactation. Such a course will insure her nursing an adequate intake of sufficient vitamins. The subject of infant feeding should be an integral part of prenatal care. At prenatal visits the doctor or counselor should discuss with the mother her feelings about infant feeding and give her correct information. From the 7th month on the mother should be shown how to hand express milk from her breast by gentile massage because this will help with the let-down reflex after birth. Early and continuous contact between the mother and the infant should be the norm not the exception. Breastmilk is the species-specific food for the human child and it has immense benefits to the child and its mother. Breastmilk is anallergic and breastfed children seem to be considerably healthier. The cost of caring for them in the 1st year of life is usually much less.


Hybrid halide perovskites combine top-notch optoelectronic properties with solution-deposition. This unprecedented combination has led to the development of solar cells approaching power conversion efficiencies achieved by industry staples such as poly-Si. The road towards these achievements has been marked by a constant improvement of perovskite deposition techniques fuelled by our increasing understanding of the crystallization processes, yet stability is still a challenge. Here, the dual ionic-electronic conductor nature of the materials poses a particular challenge. On the one hand, ion vacancies catalyse degradation and make perovskites particularly susceptible to moisture. On the other hand, ion accumulation at interfaces blurs interface energetics, giving rise to 'hysteresis' and making data interpretation from electronic measurements complicated. In


Acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (Vincent disease) is an inflammatory disease also known as ulcerative gingivitis, necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis, fusospirochetal stomatitis, Plaut-Vincent stomatitis, and trench mouth. In case of gingival lesions the Vincent gingivitis is diagnosed; in case of simultaneous lesions of the gingivae and oral mucosa the disease is considered the Vincent stomatitis, and in case of pharyngeal tonsil it is considered the Vincent angina. Rare case of the elderly woman with the disease involving gingival and palatal mucosa is reported. Main causes of the disease are discussed, differential diagnoses are listed, and preventive measures are outlined.


Six non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, metiazinic and niflumic acids, iburofen, indometacin, ketoprofen and phenylbutazone, were tested on two anaphylactic skin reactions to ovalbumin: the passive reaction in the rat and active anaphylaxis in the guinea pig. In the rat, only niflumic and metiazinic acids reduced very slightly the reaction. In the guinea pig, ibuprofen, phenylbutazone, metiazinic acid and ketoprofen had good activity. The results are discussed.


In this paper, some control methods of internal A/D in a new microcontroller 80c196kc is introduced. The emphases are placed on setting the conversion time and how PTS (Peripheral Transaction Server) working under A/D mode.


The title compounds were obtained from NiS + PPh4Cl + HCl in dichloromethane, from NiCl2 and PPh4Cl and from NiCl2 + Na2S + 15-crown-5 in acetonitrile or CH2Cl2, respectively. Their crystal structures were determined by X-ray diffraction. (PPh4)2[NiCl4]: monoclinic, space group C 2/c, Z = 4, a = 1094.9(3), b = 1946.1(4), c = 2033.5(5) pm, β = 91.48(3)°; R = 0.07 for 2895 unique observed reflexions. [Na-15-crown-5]2[NiCl4]: triclinic, space group P1̄, Z = 2, a = 987.6(1), b = 998.0(1), c = 1779.9(2) pm, α = 104.17(1), β = 95.43(1), γ = 109.95(1)°; R = 0.090 for 4155 unique observed reflexions. In both cases, the [NiCl4]2- ions have distorted tetrahedral structures. With PPh4+ as the cation the distortion corresponds to a twisted tetrahedron which fulfils the point symmetry D2, the deviation from a flattened D2d-tetrahedron being small. In (PPh4)2[NiCl4] cations and anions alternate in layers parallel to (001). In [Na-15-crown-5]2[NiCl4] two of the Cl atoms of the anion are coordinated to sodium ions; one of the crown ether molecules shows positional disorder.


Attention is drawn to the fact that although mucoviscidosis (cystic fibrosis of the pancreas) is rare in the Bantu population, it nevertheless does occur and should be borne in mind.


High speed flash analog-to-digital converters are used in modern high-performance telecommunication systems. Furthermore, high effective resolution of such converter should be provided. The paper presents a design of a flash analog-to-digital converter with high effective number of bits. As an example, the 8-bit flash ADC in 180 nm CMOS has been implemented. Simulation confirms efficiency of proposed design. The effective resolution of presented design achieves 6.9 bits.


Thou Shalt Play! What 60 Years of Controversy Over New Zealand's Sporting Contacts With South Africa Tells Us About Ourselves


There are many problems in the aspect of adult education in colleges at present,such as emphasizing the education with record of formal schooling instead of non—academic eduction,paying attention to the scale and economic benefits but not the quality and social returns with disordered management.To follow the development trend of adult education,colleges must bring forth new ideas from the aspects of education philosophy,training objective,administrative mechanism and market competition,which can solve the problems while developing and achieve the big development of adult education.


Based on Regulation of the function of heart and kidney,we made up a prescription of "Huan Yuanjina",the effects of which on thymocyte glucocorticoid receptor(GR)in trained rats were investigated The results show that:(1)in T rats,plasma GC increase significantly;the specific binding(Rs)of thymocyte GR is significantly lower than that in other groups;and (2)in T+M group,both plasma GC and thymocyte GR tend to return to normaly,which indicates that regulation of the function of heart and kidney may help to maintain the stability of endocrine function


This paper studies the effect of poly-ferric sulphate(PFS) on the concentration of arsenic in water under different conditions.Through the experimental study,the following results are obtained: the optimum range of pH is 6-8;the removal of arsenic increases with the increase of add-on of PFS and also increases with the increase of Fe and As ratios;Ca2+ and Mg2+ ate favorable to flocculate the settlement of arsenic,but the effects are not obvious;PO3-4 has adverse influences on the removal of arsenic,and the more the concentration of PO3-4,the greater the influence.


A novel single-ended primary-inductor converter (SEPIC)-based multi-input DC/DC converter is presented. The structure inherits all the advantages of the SEPIC converter such as step-up/down capability without inverting the polarity of the regulated output voltage and using a series capacitor to couple energy from the input to the output. The presented converter has a bidirectional input port, in which the energy storage system (ESS) can be connected, and several unidirectional input ports. Hybridising several alternative energy sources is achievable by the proposed converter. In addition, the load power can be flexibly divided among various power sources. Due to the buck-boost characteristic of the presented converter, it is suitable to charge-discharge the ESS and to extract maximum power from the photovoltaic panels. Based on the charging state of the ESS, two operation modes are defined. Steady-state and dynamic behaviour of the proposed converter is analysed thoroughly. Experimental results are also provided to verify the analysis and feasibility of the proposed converter.


A directed partially ordered abelian group (G, ≦ ) is a tight Riesz group if for a1, a2, b1, b2 ∈ G with ai < bj, i, j = 1,2, there is an x ∈ G with ai < x < bj, i, j = 1, 2. The open interval topology on G is the topology having as a base the set of all open intervals (a, b) = {x ∈ G|a < x < b}. For any x ∈ G, a neighborhood base at x is the set of all open intervals (x — a, x + a) = x + ( — a, a) for a > 0.


The invention relates to a device for intelligent fertilizing, watering, alarming and managing based on an environmental parameter and a method therefor, aiming at managing the fertilizing and watering for crops in an agriculture house. The device comprises an environmental parameter acquisition unit, a real-time monitoring unit, a control mainframe, a display unit and an input unit, wherein the environmental parameter acquisition unit comprises an air temperature and humidity sensor, a plurality of soil humidity sensors and a plurality of environmental parameter data conversion module, is incharged of acquiring the environmental parameters such as the environment air temperature and humidity, the soil humidity and the like in real time and transmits the environmental parameters into thecontrol mainframe as the analysis and judgment basis for alarming; the real-time monitoring unit comprises a real-time scan module and a timer module and is in charge of monitoring the environmental parameters in real time and analyzing, judging and alarming according to the data information of the crops; the control mainframe comprises an operation system supporting imaging display, a user operation control platform and a backstage timing scan service program, ensures the real-time alarming prompt under the system boot-up state and provides an interactive platform for the user to operate theinformation of the crops.


In this paper the transfer matrixes out plane of curved bridge are derivated.based on the FFT transform and the relationship between the quality and inertial force the point transfer matrix for vibration analysis is biult, and then establish the vibration transfer matrix and the total transfer matrix. Derivates the frequency domain transfer matrixes of single-span curved box bridges under uni-support or multi-support excitation, and offers a new method for seismic analysis of curved box bridges under multi-support excitation in frequency domain.


Water quality monitoring based on invertebrate aquatic life is capable of giving a short and easy approach to assess water quality status. In order to determine the quality of water, the method selected in monitoring is very important. Assessment is carried out through collection and identification of the indicator which comprises of invertebrate especially aquatic insect. This study focus on pollution level in Melana River, Skudai, Johor. The methods applied in this study including physical and chemical analysis and biological monitoring. The water quality parameters involved are dissolve oxygen (DO), pH, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonia nitrogen (AN) and total suspended solid (TSS), meanwhile the Water Quality Index (WQI) for each station were calculated. From the result, Melana River is classified into Class IV or polluted whereas the Biological Water Quality Index (BWQI) indicate Melana River as slightly polluted with the score in between 3.8 to 4.0, showing both of these river are rather- dirty. This method can be applied to any river to identify their pollution river.


Monolithic microwave integrated circuit structure is disposed on a microwave transmission line and an opposite surface having a cross-connection section for electrically interconnecting to said active element on a surface of the plurality of active devices and the input section and the output section and one and, covering the cross-connection section, includes a semiconductor substrate structure that includes the input region and a metal layer that does not cover the at least one of said output section.


Summary:Noonan's syndrome involves theassociation ofmultiple congenital abnormalities including neckwebbing, pectus excavatum, facial anomalies with avariety ofcardiac defects. Inthis paper the association ofNoonan's syndrome withalarge cerebral arteriovenous malformation isreported. Congenital cerebrovascular abnormalities arenotarecognized feature ofthesyndrome. Thepaper also reviews previous reports ofneurological associations with Noonan's syndrome, thecommonest being mild intellectual impairment andptosis.


Objective To improve the diagnosis and treatment of urachal tumor,and to explore the safety and feasibility of laparoscopic surgical for urachal tumor resection.Methods The data of one urachal mucinous tumor originated from malignant mesenchymal tissue accompanied with intra-abdominal bleeding were analyzed retrospectively.The patient was followed up for 1 year after operation.The related literature were reviewed.Results The surgery was well done to the patient.He got down the bed 1 day after operation,anal exhaust was recovered 4 days after operation,and he was discharged 9 days after operation.After one year follow-up and no recurrence was observed.Conclusion The examinations included ultrasonography,CT and MRI are necessary for preoperative diagnosis of urachal tumors.Urachal cancers were often reported in clinical,but the tumors which originated from mesenchymal tissue were rarely reported.Laparoscopic surgery is worthy of clinical application,because it is feasible and safty for urachal tumor resection and also meet the patients' needs for beauty for its small incision.


Foraminiferal isotopes are widely used to study past oceans, with different species recording conditions at different depths. Their δ18O values record both seawater oxygen‐18 and temperature according to species‐specific fractionation factors, while their Δ47 signatures likely depend only on temperature. We describe an open‐source framework to collect/combine data relevant to foraminiferal isotopes, by constraining species‐specific oxygen‐18 fractionation factors (18α) based on culture experiments, stratified plankton tows or core‐top sediments; compiling stratified plankton tow constraints on living depths for planktic species; extracting seawater temperature, δ18O, and chemistry from existing databases for any latitude, longitude, and depth‐range; inferring calcification temperatures based on the above data. We find that although 18α differs between species, its temperature sensitivity remains indistinguishable from inorganic calcite. Based on > 2,600 observations we show that, although most planktic δ18O values are consistent with seawater temperature and δ18O over their expected living depths, a sizable minority (12%–24%) have heavier‐than‐predicted δ18O, best explained by calcification in deeper waters. We use this framework to revisit three recent Δ47 calibration studies of planktic/benthic foraminifera, confirming that planktic Δ47 varies systematically with oxygen‐18‐derived temperature estimates, even for samples whose δ18O disagrees with assumed climatological conditions, and demonstrating excellent agreement between planktic foraminifera and modern, largely inorganic Δ47 calibrations. Benthic foraminifera remain ambiguous: modern benthic Δ47 values appear offset from planktic ones, yet applying equilibrium Δ47 calibration to the Cenozoic benthic foraminifer record of Meckler et al. (2022, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abk0604) largely reconciles it with δ18O‐derived temperatures, with discrete Δ47/δ18O discrepancies persisting in the Late Paleocene/Eocene/Plio‐Pleistocene.


N EURALLY regulated variables that affect blood pressure include not only the rate of discharge in vasomotor and cardiac nerves, but the rate of secretion of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), growth hormone, vasopressin, and renin. Adrenocorticotrophic hormone produces hypertension in sheep and some humans, and plays a significant role in the regulation of aldosterone secretion. Growth hormone does not appear to stimulate renin or aldosterone secretion, despite some claims to the contrary, but it does help maintain the sensitivity of the zona glomerulosa to stimuli that increase aldosterone secretion.' Vasopressin occupies a pivotal position in water and secondarily in electrolyte homeostasis, and there is some evidence that its secretion is inappropriately high in renal and deoxycorticosterone-salt hypertension.The relation of renin to hypertension is apparent. This paper is concerned primarily with the interactions between the nervous system and the renin-angiotensin system, with comments about vasopressin as it relates to renin. The secretion of vasopressin, ACTH and growth hormone are also discussed as they relate to the function of aadrenergic receptors in the brain. It is worth noting that the interactions between the nervous system and the renin-angiotensin system are multiple and complex. Not only is sympathetic output one of the main regulators of the release of renin from the kidney,' but the angiotensin II formed in the circulation by the action of renin and converting enzyme acts on the brain to increase water intake, increase the secretion of vasopressin and ACTH, and raise blood pressure. In addition, the brain may have a reninangiotensin system of its own. In this paper, the "brain renin-angiotensin system" is briefly reviewed,


Computer games have become one of the most significant digital applications due to the rapid improvement of software industry. Developers create computer games based on a combination of interleaving elements that contain technical and artistic aspects. Therefore, games development needs a comprehensive ideal path including different design considerations and usability issues than other typical software. In this research, we illustrate the general framework that helps developers to develop effective interactive games with an example of our developed contemporary computer game called Race for Freedom which was inspired by the Death Race film's story. The most significance game development challenges addressed in this research is adapting artificial intelligence techniques in the implementation phase and validating the usability of developed game in the evaluation phase.


Objective: To determine characteristics, treatment and outcome of children with electrical status epilepticus in slow wave sleep (ESES). Background ESES is a rare EEG finding associated with Landau Kleffner syndrome (LKS) and Continuous Spike Wave in Sleep syndrome (CSWS). These syndromes are potentially treatable causes of developmental regression. Design/Methods: All patients with ESES seen at Mayo Clinic 2007-2011 were retrospectively identified. All patients underwent detailed evaluation, neurological examination, and prolonged EEG monitoring during evaluation and follow up. Medical records, EEGs, and neuroimaging were reviewed to determine clinical presentation, treatment, and outcome. Results: 30 patients were identified. Average age at onset of regression was 5.4 years (range 13 months to 11 years). 6/30 patients met criteria for LKS. 24/30 patients met criteria for CSWS. Etiologies included unknown cause (14/30), symptomatic (16/30). Specific etiologies included thalamic injury (3), hydrocephalus (4), cortical dysplasia (3). EEG abnormalities in LKS were maximally present over the frontotemporal head regions; in CSWS, EEG abnormalities were more diffuse. Presenting symptoms included: regression of language, regression of motor skills, frontal lobe syndrome (inattention, impulsivity, difficulty with planning and sequencing activities), behavioral difficulties, autistic features, and decreased level of consciousness. 26/30 patients underwent treatment with followup at Mayo Clinic. Successful therapies include diazepam, corticosteroids, IVIG, ethosuximide, zonisamide, focal parietal resection, temporal lobectomy, although relapses did occur. Unsuccessful treatments include valproic acid, lamotrigine, levetiracetam, sulthiame, felbamate, deep brain stimulation, mycophenolate mofetil. 24/26 patients responded to treatment. 6/24 patients relapsed. 17/26 are currently in remission. Follow up time was 1.7 patient years. Conclusions: ESES is a rare but treatable cause of childhood developmental regression. It is important to screen children with seizures and regression for ESES as this is a treatable conditon. Effective treatments may include diazepam, prednisone, IVIG, ethosuximide, zonisamide, focal epilepsy surgery. Relapse is common, but terminal remission is possible. Disclosure: Dr. Martyanov has nothing to disclose. Dr. Wirrell has received research support from Mayo Foundation. Dr. Nickels has nothing to disclose.


During screening of potential bone marrow donors, a previously undescribed banding position for the serologically defined HLA-B7 antigen was identified in three unrelated families using one dimensional isoelectric focusing and class I specific Western blot analysis. The isoelectric point of the new variant is more acidic than the two HLA-B7 variants that had been defined before. In each family the new B7 variant was found linked to HLA-A2 and -Cw7. Cloning and sequencing of full-length clones of complementary DNA showed that the new allele (B*0704) differs from B*0702, the common allele encoding HLA-B7, by three nucleotide substitutions within the codon for residue 156 of the mature heavy chain. As a result of these differences amino acid 156 is changed from arginine to aspartic acid, a difference consistent with the isoelectric points. The group of three nucleotide substitutions that distinguish B*0704 from B*0702 is present in other HLA-B alleles.


OBJECTIVE To investigate the treatment for acute diabetic optic neuropathy with integrated traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine METHODS Injection xingnaojing(醒脑静),ligustrazine, compound injection salvia were applied by intravenous drop in the patients Moreover traditional Chinese medicine prescription studied and named by selves and dexamethasone iontophoresis were applied The changes of visual acuity, fundus, visual evoked potential (VEP), fluorescein fundus angiography (FFA), and visual field were investigated before and after treatment RESULTS There were 20 eyes of 11 cases in the treated patients Seventy eyes of ten cases were cured, and three eyes of two cases improved among them CONCLUSIONS Integrative therapy with traditional Chinese and western medicine could be an effective and simple method, and could shorten the course of treatment, abate system side effect of hormone for treatment of acute diabetic optic neuropathy


BACKGROUND
Gray mold caused by Botrytis cinerea Pers. is one of the most significant airborne diseases. It is capable of infesting a wide range of crops, causing significant losses in yield and quality worldwide. Pydiflumetofen, which is one of a new generation of succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors, is currently being registered in China for the control of gray mold in a variety of crops. Baseline sensitivity, resistance risk assessment, and resistant mechanism of Botrytis cinerea to pydiflumetofen was undertaken in this study.

RESULTS
A total of 138 strains of B. cinerea from 10 different regions were tested for their sensitivity to pydiflumetofen, and the mean EC50 value was 0.0056 μg mL-1 . Eight mutants were obtained by fungicide adaption from five sensitive parental isolates, and the resistance factor (RF) ranged from 51 to 135. The mutants exhibited strong adaptive traits in conidial production, conidial germination, and pathogenicity. Positive cross-resistance was only observed between other SDHIs (i.e. boscalid, fluopyram, and isopyrazam). Two different types of pydiflumetofen-resistant mutants were identified: point mutation P225L in sdhB, double mutation G85A and I93V in sdhC. In vivo control efficacy of pydiflumetofen on the resistant mutants carrying P225L in sdhB, as well as G85A and I93V in sdhC was significantly decreased to 52.62% and 32.27%, respectively.

CONCLUSION
The fitness was significantly higher for all pydiflumetofen-resistant mutants than for the corresponding parental. Two types point mutations, sdhB-P225L, sdhC-G85A and I93V, might confer resistance to pydiflumetofen in B. cinerea. A precautionary resistance management strategy should be implemented. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.


Continuous kneadings of composite conductive plastics were performed employing two kinds of electric conductive fillers, nickel coated glass fiber and stainless steel fiber, which have different fibrous strengths.Between the two kinds of fillers, the differences in the dispersion state and breakage state of the fillers in a matrix resin were investigated, and their influence on the electric conductivity of the kneaded material was estimated.In addition, it was suggested that the total number of paddle revolutions during residence time of kneading material was a factor affecting the dispersion and breakage states of the fillers.


The fluorescence of a single r.f.-trapped and cooled Ba+ ion, induced by the light of two lasers, shows a null at the S1/2-D3/2 resonance of the frequency difference. We have measured the Zeeman effect and power broadening of this "dark line", and also the shift of the associated "bright" line, which is related to the Raman light shift. A 75 kHz wide dark line was observed. Such a resonance might be used to control a 147 THz standard frequency free of systematic shifts in excess of 10-15.


Today we live in a world which is full of constraints. Energy consumption is a bottleneck for Information computing and communication. Internet has provided an unlimited potential with access to eBooks, multimedia content, news, new ideas, and information access in general but, due to poor broadband infrastructure and available grid power to support the Internet and ICT growth the, developing regions have actually been left even further behind. The basic requirements in any developing region are a reliable electric power grid, network infrastructure, education, jobs, and a stable government and banking system. Nothing works without the electric and network infrastructure in place. The saddest part is diesel generators are used to power everything instead a stable power grid and the other is most of these countries have tremendous amount of wind or solar energy that can be used in place of imported fossil fuels. Many articles are been released on how Cloud Computing helps the developing world by just lowering ICT costs but, here we introduce Green computing aiming to reduce energy cost and CO2 emissions as well as to effectively reuse and recycle power usage making the world go-green. This paper presents an approach for a low energy use data centers using cloud computing designed for developing regions, powered with renewable energy.


For the long time computation and the poor learning effect in application of BP algorithm in software defect predict model, an improved BP algorithm is presented in this paper. The improved algorithm combines the JCUDA technology and the BP algorithm, by learning the sample decomposition, multithreading and CPU-GPU processing mode, both learning speed and predicting time are optimized for the software defect predict model based on BP algorithm. The experimental results show that the improved JCUDA_BP algorithm optimizes the learning process, especially for the larger samples. Also, when the hidden node number reaches a certain number, the effect of the optimized algorithm is much better than the traditional BP algorithm.


Distributed File System is a key component in cloud computing application based on building block in Map Reduce Programming. In Distributed File System nodes are simultaneously serve computing and storage function and file are divided into number of chunk allocated in the distinct nodes In a large cloud we are able to add thousands of nodes together. The main aim of allocated files are not creating any significant load to any of the nodes, for the files are different partitioned squares measure off completely different modules. Another objective is to back the network traffic attribute and network inconsistencies to unbalancing hundreds of nodes. The result of reduction in network information measures in order than so man can run numerous such as large amount application run in it. Because of quantifiability property we are able to add, delete, update and new nodes in order that it supports heterogeneousness of the system. To enhance the potential of nodes we able tend to use Distributed file system in Cloud Computing Applications. Key Words—Cloud Computing, distributed Hash tables, load


After briefly analyzing the essence of Customer,which is an important concept of the marketing theory,the thesis brings forward a new definition of Customer.Meanwhile,it emphatically discusses the basic classification of Customer in terms of exchange,profit,business relation,the bound of an enterprise,etc.


To create and sustain a tailored support programme and comprehensive online resource hub for international medical graduates in the north-east of England.

The term international medical graduate (IMG) describes a doctor whose primary medical qualification was gained in a country outside the UK. The NHS relies on a significant proportion of IMGs, with the General Medical Council (GMC) estimating that 37% of registered doctors are IMGs. Despite such high numbers and the important contribution these doctors make, IMGs are poorly …


The contents and distributions of heavy metals in sediments and oysters from oyster culture beds of the Zhujiang River estuary were investigated.Sediments and Crassostrea rivularis samples were colleted from 9 sites along the coastal Zhujiang River estuary in January,2003.Contents of Cd,Cu,Zn,Pb,Cr and Ni in sediments and oyster samples were measured by a flame atomic spectrophotometer.Standard reference materials "Buffalo River Sediment"and "Standard Oyster tissue 1566a" were also digested and analyzed by a flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer for quality control.The results showed that the average contents of Cd,Cu,Zn,Pb,Cr and Ni in the sediments were 0.35—3.8,32.4—108.0,58—395,13.2—96.1,14.7—39.9 and 9.35—40.15μg·g~(-1)(dry weight),respectively,and those in the oysters were 0.11—12.07,128.8—380.6,1456.2—1938.4,0.43—0.98,(3.26)—10.53 and 1.44—3.31μg·g~(-1)(dry weight),respectively.The contents of Cd and Cr in the oysters were remarkably correlated with those in the sediments(p0.01,p0.05,respectively),thus the oysters can be used as bio-indicators of Cd and Cr.The results also showed that the contents of Pb and Cr in the oysters were all below the limits of hygeian evaluating criterion for edible oysters set by China.However,the content of Cd in the oysters from six sampling sites and the content of Cu from four sampling sites were above the limits(1.00 and 50.00μg·g~(-1),wet weight),which should be paid more attention by related branches.


In discussion regarding the sexual abuse of children by clergy and other employees of churches, it has been common to refer to the perpetrators as 'criminals' who have infiltrated the institutions. The import of this language has been to put the full blame for the abuses on the individuals. It has also encouraged a perspective which sees the solution to removing sexual abuse as better selection of clergy and others who work with children and greater vigilence in reviewing their behaviour.


In the paper, results of comparison of two different methods of exact solution of the Dirichlet problem for rectangle are presented, namely, method of conformal mapping and method of variables' separation. By means of this procedure normal derivative of Green's function for rectangular domain was expressed via Jacobian elliptic functions. Under approaching to rectangle's boundaries these formulas give new representations of the Dirac delta function. Moreover in the framework of suggested ideology a number of identities for the complete elliptic integral of the first kind were obtained. These formulas may be applied to summation of both numerical and functional series; also they may be useful for analytic number theory.


This paper presents an investigation on the cytotoxic activity in human tumor cell from dichloromethane, chloroform, methanol, ethanol, water extracts, and hexane and chloroform fractions from green, brown and red algae collected at Riacho Doce Beach, north coast of Alagoas, Brazil, against the cancer cells K562 (chronic myelocytic leukemia), HEp-2 (laryngeal epidermoid carcinoma) and NCI-H292 (human lung mucoepidermoid carcinoma) through the MTT colorimetric method. The dichloromethane extract and chloroform fraction of Hypnea musciformis showed the best cytotoxic activity against K562 (3.8±0.2 µg.mL-1 and 6.4±0.4 µg.mL-1, respectively). Dichloromethane extracts of Dictyota dichotoma (16.3±0.3 µg.mL-1) and the chloroform fraction of H. musciformis (6.0±0.03 µg.mL-1) and chloroform fraction of P. gymnospora (8.2±0.4) were more active against HEp-2 as well as ethanol extracts of P. gymnospora (15.9±2.8 µg.mL-1) and chloroform fraction of H. musciformis (15.0±1.3 µg.mL-1) against the cell NCI-H292. The constituents with higher anticancer action are present in the extracts of dichloromethane and chloroform and in the chloroform fraction of H. musciformis, Digenea simplex, P. gymnospora, and D.dichotoma. In the case of the seaweed S. vulgare, the anticancer constituents are present in the aqueous extract.


Aim: This study aimed to compare family planning (FP) services in urban and rural health facilities in Nigeria. Materials and Methods: The study is a cross-sectional study conducted in 204 rural and 198 urban health facilities comprising 182 primary and 216 secondary facilities in Nigeria. A FP client was randomly selected from each of the facilities, and structure questionnaires were used to collect information from them. Data collected include the various types of contraception available, waiting time, and satisfaction with services. Data were analyzed with IBM-SPSS Statistics Version 25.0. Results: The most requested contraceptives methods were injectables (48.2%) and oral contraceptives (22.6%). Most clients in both the rural (76.0%) and urban (76.3%) waited <30 min to see health providers. However, 20.1% of clients in urban health facilities waited for 30–60 min compared to 15.2% in rural areas (P < 0.05). The overall quality of service was 90.0% in rural and 92.9% in urban areas (P < 0.05). Over 90% of both rural and urban clients were satisfied with how providers received them, cleanliness of the facilities, and time spent with care providers but less than half (<50%) were satisfied with the services they received. Significantly higher quality of services was reported by clients in the northern parts of Nigeria (6.74/7) (P < 0.001), whereas client's satisfaction was slightly higher in the South (6.56/7) (P > 0.05). Conclusion: There is a need for an improvement in waiting time and quality of services offered in health facilities. Policymakers should to carry out regular supervision of health facilities and ensure availability of contraceptives in the health facilities at affordable prices in order to improve FP uptake in Nigeria.


Dear Sir, Placental Alkaline Phosphatase (PLAP) is an antigen first described by Holmgen and Stigbrand in human placenta. It was isolated in germ cell tumors and carcinoma in situ of the testis. In 1988 Shinoda et al. (1) described the presence of PLAP in patients affected by germinoma of the pineal region, a neoplasm strictly correlated with testicular semmoma. Placental phosphatase can be distinguished from other alkaline phosphatases produced by different tissues due to its heat resistance and its inhibition by Lphenylalanine (2, 3). In the present study PLAP levels were determined in 30 patients affected by pineal region neoplasms (Tab. I); PLAP determination was part of a preoperative screening protocol including preoperative neuroradiologic examinations, dosage of different tumor markers (AFP, BHCG, CEA and NSE) and stereotactic biopsy. This protocol is aimed at preoperative identification of radiosensitive lesions, of which pineal region tumors form a high percentage (according to the literature, germinomas represent about 30% of these lesions). Twenty-nine patients affected by different central nervous system pathologies were studied as control cases (Tab. II). Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were taken preoperatively in the majority of cases; in a few cases the liquor was tapered from the cisterns during surgery. CSF samples were frozen at -80°C until the tests were performed using an immunoenzymatic method. In this assay the sample was added to a precoated microtitration plate containing monoclonal antibodies against PLAP. After 24 hours' incubation, the reaction between anti-PLAP on the plate and PLAP in the sample was interrupted by a washing step. The enzymatic activity was determined by adding a substrate in pH 9.8 buffer, followed by incubation forO.5I hr at 37°C; subsequently the absorbance was measured. The absorbance was proportional to the enzymatic activity in the original sample and PLAP values were calculated from a calibration curve obtained with known concentrations of standard enzyme. The activity of the standard enzyme preparation was expressed in nkat/I. The lowest limit was zero. The results can be summarized in this way: in the control group (29 patients: 6 hydrocephalus, 2 aracnoidal cysts, 6 astrocytomas, 1 Chiari syndrome, 1 craniopharyngioma, 1 oligodendroglioma, 3 glioblastomas, 1 lymphoma, 2 ependimomas, 1 hematoma, 1 neurinoma, 1 teratoma, 1gangliocytoma, 1medulloblastoma and 1 epidermoid cyst) the levels ranged between 0 and 1.8 nkat/I, with a mean value of 0.3 nkat/ l , an SD of 0.4 (Tab. II). in the pineal region neoplasms group, globally considered, (30 patients: 8 germinoma, 8 astrocytoma, 1 glioblastoma, 1 lymphoma, 1 primitive neuroepithelial tumor (PNET), 4 pineocytoma, 1papilloma, 2 pineoblastoma, 2 teratoma, 2 metastasis) the levels ranged from 0 to 10 nkat/I, with an average value of 1.1 nkat/ I, an SD of2.2; the germinomas presented the highest values in this group (Tab. I). in the germinoma subgroup values ranged from 0.4 to 10 nkat/I with an average value of 3.7 nkat/I


Taking the course of "Mao Zedong Thought and Socialism with Chinese characteristics" as an example,it is discussed the teaching model of "ideological and political education" with intensive and practical teaching method so as to construct a effective teaching practice.


A series of vinyl ester (VE)/epoxy (EP) interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) were prepared by a simultaneous method. The change in characteristic groups, curing process, mechanical properties, damping properties, morphology, and thermal stability was studied. It was found that the damping ability, mechanical properties, and thermal stability were all enhanced through the introduction of VE into EP to form the IPN structure. Result of the dynamic mechanical analysis showed that glass transition temperature decreased and the tanδ peak shifted to a lower temperature with increased EP content in IPNs. Mechanical measurement revealed that the impact strength of the IPNs was higher than that of the EP matrix, and the tensile strength of the IPNs was impaired when the VE content was beyond 10%. Morphological investigation also proved that the brittle behavior was improved.


The primary focus of this paper is development of a new approach to control synthesis for robust robot operations in unstructured environments. To enhance control performance with full model information, we introduce the notion of terminal convergence, and develop control laws based upon a new class of sliding modes, denoted terminal sliders. We demonstrate that terminal sliders provide robustness to parametric uncertainty without having to resort to high frequency control switching, as in the case of conventional sliders [2]. In addition, stability analysis that is conducted to demonstrate terminal slider approach results in improved control performance and allows for simple robust design of control parameters. Further, improved (guaranteed) precision of terminal sliders is argued for through an analysis of steady state behavior.


Subcontracting is recently one of the most important features of industrial networks and industrial development. There are few studies in the area of subcontracting in garment industry in Sri Lanka. Jayaweera and Dias (1989) have only analyzed nature of subcontracting activities in the Sri Lankan garment industry. They however only focused on the impact on women. The proposed paper investigates the main characteristics of subcontracting activities and the nature of subcontracting linkages in garment industry in Sri Lanka in which subcontracting challenges will be identifies. We use data from field survey of garment firms in Sri Lanka in 2011. Field survey was conducted by the researchers and final year undergraduate students of department of Economics, Faculty of Arts, University of Colombo. In addition, case studies were conducted to get a deep understanding about subcontracting activities in the sector. Sri Lanka Journal of Advanced Social Studies, 2013; Vol 3(1); Page 54-75 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/sljass.v3i1.7128


High resolution X-ray diffractometry and topography have been employed for evaluation of crystalline perfection of GaSb epitaxial films on (100) GaAs substrate. A five crystal X-ray diffractometer, designed and developed at NPL was employed for these investigations in three crystal, (+,-,+) configuration. MoK α1 exploring beam and (400) diffracting planes in symmetrical Bragg geometry were used.The epitaxial layers were grown by Molecular Beam Epitaxy. Film thicknesses were in the range: 1.5 μm - 5 μm. A significant physical misorientation between film and substrate lattice planes was observed and found to be in the range: 37 arc sec - 103 arc sec. The values of Δd/d were found to be in the range: 0.071925 - 0.072639. Half widths of the diffraction curves of films varied in the range: 164 arc sec -310 arc sec. Lowest half width of diffraction curve for epitaxial film and least physical misorientation between film and substrate was observed when the film thickness was 5 μm. However, for the same thickness, the introduction of buffer layers has improved the crystalline quality of the film.