As early as I can remember, my mother told me that because I am black, I would face difficulties and complications in situations that other people wouldn't face. She would say to me, "Because your father is white, you may try to think that you're not black, or you'll get treated differently from other black people,, but everyone who looks at you will see a black man, and you have to be prepared for that." That's my earliest memory about race, and that is how I've thought about it ever since.


A new method for the synthesis of complex metal oxides, based on hydrodynamic cavitation, was used to prepare pure phase, nanostructured solid-state materials. The continuous process afforded a wide variety of metal oxides in grain sizes of 1-10 nm. Catalysts, ceramics, superconductors, piezoelectrics, and zeolites were prepared by cavitational synthesis. The method enabled the synthesis of fine particles of metals and metal oxides supported on high surface area supports such as silica, and the synthesis of fine particles of cubic zirconia without ion modification.


Epoxidation of styrene for preparing styrene oxide was studied using NaCl-modified Ag/SiO_2 as catalysts and molecular oxygen as oxidant.The effects of some factors such as loading of Ag and NaCl,calcination temperature,reaction temperature and the mole ratio of styrene/O_2 are investigated.The result indicated that loading of 10% Ag and 1% NaCl and baking temperature of 600℃ are best respectively.Under the conditions of n(styrene)/n(O_2)=10,N_2 acting as balance gas,SV=3600 h~(-1) and 250 ℃,conversion of styrene and selectivity of styrene oxide were 35% and 68% respectively with best catalysis performance.


L-Cysteine was condensed with glyoxylic acid monohydrate in acetic acid at 30°C to give (4R)-2,4-thiazolidinedicarboxylic acid [(4R)-TDA] as a mixture of two diastereoisomers, (2R,4R)- and (2S,4R)-TDA. An attempt was made to separate (2S,4R)-TDA from the diastereoisomeric salts of (4R)-TDA with 1-propylamine, 2-methyl-2-propylamine, benzylamine, and (R)- and (S)-1-phenylethylamines [(R)- and (S)-PEA]. The salts of (2S,4R)-TDA were preferentially crystallized as less soluble diastereoisomeric salts. When the salt with (R)-PEA was employed, the separation was successfully achieved to afford optically pure (2S,4R)-TDA in a yield of 41%, based on the starting amount of the diastereoisomeric mixture of (4R)-TDA. Chirality 11:326–329, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.


Objective: Access to, and reliance upon, high quality data is an enabling cornerstone of modern health delivery systems. Sadly, health systems are often awash with poor quality data which contributes both to adverse outcomes and can compromise the search for new knowledge. Traditional approaches to purging poor data from health information systems often require manual, laborious and time-consuming procedures at the collection, sanitizing and processing stages of the information life cycle with results that often remain sub-optimal. A promising solution may lie with semantic technologies — a family of computational standards and algorithms capable of expressing and deriving the meaning of data elements. Semantic approaches purport to offer the ability to represent clinical knowledge in ways that can support complex searching and reasoning tasks. It is argued that this ability offers exciting promise as a novel approach to assessing and improving data quality. This study examines the effectiveness of semantic web technologies as a mechanism by which high quality data can be collected and assessed in health settings. To make this assessment, key study objectives include determining the ability to construct of valid semantic data model that sufficiently expresses the complexity present in the data as well as the development of a comprehensive set of validation rules that can be applied semantically to test the effectiveness of the proposed semantic framework. Methods: The Semantic Framework for Data Quality Assessment (SemDQ) was designed. A core component of the framework is an ontology representing data elements and their relationships in a given domain. In this study, the ontology was developed using openEHR standards with extensions to capture data elements used in for patient care and research purposes in a large organ transplant program. Data quality dimensions


1. Senior Resident, Post Graduate Department of Orthopedics, GMC Jammu. 2. Lecturer, Post Graduate Department of Orthopedics, GMC Jammu. ...................................................................................................................... Manuscript Info Abstract ......................... ........................................................................ Manuscript History Received: 05 July 2020 Final Accepted: 10 August 2020 Published: September 2020 Introduction: Chronic cervical pain constitutes one of major orthopedic ailment that is unpleasant to both patient and surgeon. A study is done to analyse the various modalities being practiced to mask the symptoms complex arising out of it. Methods: The study conducted between May 2019 to December 2019 involve retrospective analysis of 300 patients aged between 30 to 60 years visiting orthopedic OPD since last 2 years and had used some form of treatment modality whether non-operative or operative for chronic neck pain. Patients were divided into 4 groups involving a) Neck muscle strengthening exercises (NMS) b) Pharmacological regime c) Combined muscle strengthening and drug regime (CMD) d) surgical intervention. Results:On analysis of results with 90 patients each in group a, b, c and 30 patients in group d, the patient relief was higher in group c planned for CMD regime followed by group b, group a and group d in decreasing order of response rate. The pain relief was not as good as expected in group d comprising of patients planned for surgical intervention comprising decompression with dissectomy. Conclusion: It is seen that chronic neck pain being one of very common disease complex is very disabling to patient and irritates the surgeon also because of nonrespondness of patient to treatment and complexity of surgical intervention if undertaken. Our study analyses that among the various methods given in literature CMD regime respond best to majority of cases. The regime is cheap, easy to follow and had best response rate as compared to other modalities compared.


The aim of this article is to relate some ethical aspects concerning the use of new pharmacological agents and modern technologies in the field of otorhinolaryngology and their implications in malpractice. The objective is to point out some aspects identified in clinical practice which need particular attention, concerning the approach of the doctor-patient relation. As a method we chose to analyze clinical cases and their history with emphasis on the "route" the patient followed up to the moment of admission to the hospital. These data will be associated with lecturing relevant literature concerning bioethical issues. The results concern practical aspects which aim to prevent a non-ethical behavior of the surgeon, especially related to the applications of new pharmacological agents and modern technologies in surgical practice that can lead to malpractice.


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We use a sample of 23 galaxy clusters to test the predictions of emergent gravity (EG) as alternative to dark matter. Our sample has both weak-lensing inferred total mass profiles as well as x-ray inferred baryonic gas mass profiles. Using nominal assumptions about the weak-lensing and x-ray mass profiles, we find that the EG predictions (based on no dark matter) are acceptable fits only near the virial radius. In the cores and in the outskirts, the mass profile shape differences allow us to confirm previous results that the EG model can be ruled out at $>5\sigma$. However, when we account for systematic uncertainties in the observed weak-lensing and x-ray profiles, we find good agreement for the EG predictions. For instance, if the weak-lensing total mass profiles are shallow in the core and the x-ray gas density profiles are steep in the outskirts, EG can predict the observed dark matter profile in $0.3 \le r \le 1$R$_{200}$, where R$_{200}$ is the radius which encloses 200$\times$ the critical density of the Universe. The required x-ray and lensing shapes are within the current observational systematics-limited errors on cluster profiles. We also show that EG itself allows flexibility in its predictions, which can allow for good agreement between the observations and the predictions. We conclude that we cannot formally rule our EG as an alternative to dark matter on the cluster scale and that we require better constraints on the weak-lensing and gas mass profile shapes in the region $0.3 \le r \le 1$R$_{200}$.


Textural segmentation and its usage for region-wise image quality improvement unfold a new chapter for texture-dependent image processing in association with fractional order calculus (FOC). Along with intensity variation, texture variation is also equally important for human as well as machine vision to discriminate between surfaces and objects even having the same intensity. Most of the vision applications deal with intensity-wise segmented frames as their raw input. The power of textural analysis along with conventional intensity-based processing can enhance the system's capability in a remarkable manner. To address the textural nature of the image and for imparting texture-dependent image restoration or enhancement fractional-order high-boost filtering (FoHBF) the framework is essentially relevant irrespective of the image domain. Spatial entropy quantile-based textural segmentation and region-wise FoHBF is employed in this paper for imparting total quality enhancement, especially for remotely sensed images.


The present invention is a pharmaceutical composition, a cosmetic comprising a sugar alcohol, or a sugar alcohol produced by the while the flowability of the solid phase surface area and / or the porosity is increased or decreased that is controlled novel sugar alcohol production method of the production process as the carrier composition, food composition, to a feed composition. Method of producing sugar alcohols of the present invention (A) step of the solid-state sugar alcohol is not dissolved by the solvent (S) reacts with the solvent (S) as a solid dispersion and (B) removing the solvent (S) It includes. The sugar alcohols produced by the production method of the present invention is, that is, adjusting the surface area and / or porosity is increased or decreased compared to the conventional sugar alcohols. When using a sugar alcohol produced by this method of production of a composition of the components, such as carriers or blood coating material such as that used as it is, or this drug, food, cosmetic, animal feed, it is possible to control the ratio of active ingredient to carrier It can be utilized in the formulation / manufacture or production of a composition.


In this article, we have explained the necessity of creating precise adaptive energy-saving technologies for use on the milk production enterprises. There are defined the main problems that reduce the enterprises efficiency and milk quality. Many of these problems can be solved if there is organized correctly the information flow through the creation of complex programs and databases. Regardless to the size and structure of the milk production enterprises, they have the following main information streams: animal productivity data; information about the herd composition and structure; information about the diet composition; information about the quality of milk and others. For the storage of this information there is a developed database consisting of 66 tables and 10 diagrams. The article includes information on some charts. To meet the challenges of manufacturing processes modeling there was offered a bunch of "Mathematical package Database Management System." Within the developed automated enterprise management system we have selected MATLAB and MS SQL Server. There are presented models of thermal balance; heat generated by animals; heat loss from the feed coming from outside and so on. We have also grounded the applicability of the structural processes modeling in conjunction with the possibilities of modern database management system that allows you to convert a wide range of energy saving tasks to automated analysis and forecasting. This approach has the modularity and implementation ease, all of which allows you to build complex information systems, which at the same time are easy to change, expand and renovate


With considering a simple and almost exact models, a III-nitride based spherical quantum dot cascade laser has been analyzed, where the generation of the terahertz waves are obtained. With self-consistent solution of the Schrodinger, Poisson, and the laser rate equations, including all effects such as piezoelectric and spontaneous polarization in nitride-based QDs and the effects of the temperature, the exact value of the lasing frequency and also the other parameters such as the energy levels, the wavefunctions, and the lifetimes of subbands are calculated. Also the laser parameters such as the optical gain, the output power and the threshold current density have been calculated at difference temperatures (© 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)


Methods are described for analysis for glucose, nonprotein nitrogen, inorganic phosphorus, calcium, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, sodium, potassium, pH, chloride, cephalin flocculation, total cholesterol, total protein and albumin. The quantities of plasma or serum required for analysis range from 0.02 to 0.1 ml. and the performances of the analyses are simple enough to enable them to be used in clinical laboratories.


Received Jan 14, 2020 Revised Apr 3, 2020 Accepted May 4, 2020 This paper presented single DC bus single phase seven level cascaded Hbridge (CHB) inverter for multi-panel photovoltaic grid-connected applications. A single DC bus supplying flyback converters to produce DC link voltages for CHB cells is suggested. A balanced operation of CHB inverter cells is obtained irrespective to power unbalance occurred by individual maximum power point tracking boost converter of photovoltaic (PV) panels due to the non-uniform irradiation and partial shading. A DC bus voltage control system with addition of estimated DC bus ripple voltage to the reference is proposed to eliminate the second order harmonic contained in the feedback voltage of DC bus enabling to design high bandwidth of DC voltage control loop. This produces fast dynamic response, low total harmonic distortion (THD) of grid current and smaller DC bus capacitance. Mathematical modeling of bus voltage control system is presented. PSIM simulation program is used and the simulation results are obtained to validate the proposed control system.


WT5"BZ]The squire class in the Ming dynasty consists of two groups of people.One group are those Shengyuan,Jiansheng and Juren who did not become officials but had quasiofficial qualifications.The other group are those who became officials by imperial examinations.The two groups of people constitute the groups of intellectuals in ancient China and the majority of landlord class.Such political activities as Donglin Qingyi and Fushe Movement in which they participated exerted negative influence on and was harmful to the stability of political situation.


PURPOSE: A handover method of a femto cello capable of performing handover to the femto cell is provided to remove inconvenience about registering femto cell to a macro base station and install the femto cell without limiting the number of macro cells. CONSTITUTION: A handover method of a femto cello capable of performing handover to the femto cell is as follows. A plurality of femto cells is connected to core network through a femto cell controller(150). A measurement report for measuring the electric wave radio signal strength of adjacent cells of the macro cell from the terminal is received(S311). A scrambling code for an intrinsic cell ID and the femto cell allotted in the femto cell included in the adjacent cell is included. A radio network controller selects the target base station based on a report(S313).


Observing the land with radiometer,the land parameters, such as soil moisture,soil roughness and vegetation layer,have great influences on the soil microwave emission.Calibration for the soil roughness parameters is very important for land surface parameters retrieval with radiometer.Soil roughness parameters(h and Q) vary with the observing frequency.In the past studies,h was considered to vary in the world and Q was considered to be a fixed value.Then,usually,h was assigned to zero and Q was derived over desert.In fact,both h and Q are affected by the land surface conditions and vary globally.This paper takes AMSR-E data as sample data and presents a new parameter Γ,which is computed from MPDI and independent on the soil moisture.Γ is dependent on soil roughness and vegetation water content,and it has the potential to calibrate the soil roughness parameters and estimate the vegetation water content,vegetation growth/variety.In this paper,Γ is used to calibrate soil roughness parameters over the desert in the north of Africa,and the calibration results are compared with the results from the past studies.


On 20 October 1934 more than 250 people from all over the world gathered in the grand hall of the Japanese Red Cross building in Shiba, central Tokyo, for the official opening of the Fifteenth International Conference of the Red Cross.1 The meeting took place at a crucial moment. The Great Crash of 1929 had provoked increasing economic rivalry between the countries of the world and military tensions were rising. Against this background, the main aim of the conference was to strengthen the international rules surrounding the conduct of war, and particularly to extend those rules to the protection of civilians in conflict zones. In the days that followed, the imposing Shiba building, with its grey slate turrets and red-and-white brick facade, became a venue in which the world's most eminent humanitarians struggled to find responses to a source of massive human suffering, and sought solutions to problems that still beset the international community today.


Adaptive modulation is introduced in the field of optical OFDM to motivate the current research carried out in infrared wireless technologies. The proposed all optical OFDM system is described in Section II. Section IV presents the IM/DD systems for the cost effective solution of the optical OFDM system design considerations that should be followed to calculate the system's parameters. Here optical orthogonal frequency division multiplexing systems using direct detection (DD) individually are also described which are suitable for cost-effective applications. A scheme based on discrete Hartley transform (DHT) is proposed and compared to standard Optical OFDM implementation. Both asymmetrically clipped (AC) and DC biased solutions are given in this paper for intensity-modulated DD systems. We show that AC is a power efficient technique that can be implemented without Hermitian symmetry constraint. For the purpose of getting same performance level the FFT-based Optical OFDM is achieved.


What is the central question of this study? Does applying blood flow restriction during the rest periods of repeated sprint exercise in a hypoxic environment lead to greater local hypoxia within exercising muscles without compromising training workload? What is the main finding and its importance? Repeated sprint exercise with blood flow restriction administered during rest periods under systemic hypoxia led to severe local hypoxia within the exercised muscles without a reduction in power output. The maintained power output might be due to elevated neuromuscular activation. Accordingly, the proposed repeated sprint exercise in the current study may be an effective training modality.


The application of Steel Fibre Reinforced Self-compacting Concrete (SFRSC) in the construction of structural elements is seen as an alternative solution to the complication in placing the reinforcement and compaction of normally vibrated concrete. The main advantage of SFRSC is the ability to be properly poured in place, filling the formwork corners and small voids between reinforcement bars by means of its own weight. Many research had been done in exploring the structural performance of SFRSC due to the enhanced engineering and mechanical properties. The incorporation of steel fibres in the mix has been found to enhance the hardened properties of self-compacting concrete in terms of its tensile strength, ductility, toughness, energy absorption capacity and as well as fracture toughness. The objective of this paper is to review the work done by previous researchers on the performance of SFRSC in slab structures. The knowledge could be used as a guide in expanding the application of SFRSC as the main mate...


In this paper, we de ne Bäcklund transformations of curves according to Bishop frame which preserving the natural curvatures under certain assumptions in Euclidean 3-space.


The EM38 electro-magnetic induction instrument is widely used for soil mapping in precision agriculture. Added value can potentially be obtained by using the instrument to detect soil layering by depth sounding. Layer conductivities can be estimated from depth sounding data by an optimization procedure called inversion. Inversion is based on a geophysical forward model, which calculates apparent conductivities (measured from the surface) from specific conductivities of the soil layers. Results of inversion can be non-unique due to the fact that different combinations of layer conductivities can generate the same apparent conductivity (principle of equivalence). This also causes high sensitivity to measurement errors. Synthetic data and measurements from fifty plots on two test-sites were analysed. 1D depth sounding with the EM38 cannot sufficiently detect detailed vertical soil variation within 1 m depth but is suitable to indicate the general trend within 2 m depth.


Abstract : The main purpose of this paper is to investigate the sub-multiplicativity of the l sub p norms for matrices.


The paper provides an insight into the Charter's objectives and what it aims to achieve. It does not only highlight the key maritime transport challenges facing the continent and South Africa, but also offers the Charter's concrete propositions on policy, strategy and institutional framework for the regulation and management of maritime programmes, resources and infrastructure. Correctly, the paper identifies the Charter's proposition to a ring-fenced public sector driven financing approach for maritime transport provision and management. The paper further highlights the Charter's concern on the need for the development of the African shipping line and then provides a case for cabotage policy approach. The paper laments the state of aids to navigation along the continent and the Charter's call for more cooperation at continental level to pull resources together for the common interest of developing and maintaining this marine tools and infrastructure supporting global trade and maritime safety and security in particular. With the vast areas of maritime restructuring propagated by the Charter it can be concluded that once coming into effect, the Charter will remain the legitimate mechanism with a potential to restructure and rejuvenate maritime transport sphere of influence in the Continent. The Charter will bring to the end the piecemeal approach adopted so far in dealing with matters maritime by the Continent. INTRODUCTION "...The African Maritime Charter is adopted by the Assembly of AU few minutes ago in Kampala... Now we have the legal framework for ratification by countries...". These were the words in a message received from Mr. A. BABA-MOUSSA Director for Infrastructure and Energy, African Union Commission on 26 July 2010. Earlier, a message had been sent suggesting the establishment of a small group of experts to help accelerate the ratification of the African Maritime Transport Charter. The national interest encompasses sovereignty national unity, safety, security, sustainability and the well-being of all people. In the South African context, the Constitution of the Republic is the embodiment of the national interest. Maritime objectives should therefore contribute in meeting the national interests of a country. It can be suggested that the Charter is about the meeting of the maritime interest of each country making the continent. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND Abstracts of the 32nd Southern African Transport Conference (SATC 2013) Proceedings ISBN Number: 978-1-920017-62-0 Produced by: Document Transformation Technologies cc 330 8-11 July 2013 Pretoria, South Africa Conference organised by: Jacqui Oosthuyzens of the 32nd Southern African Transport Conference (SATC 2013) Proceedings ISBN Number: 978-1-920017-62-0 Produced by: Document Transformation Technologies cc 330 8-11 July 2013 Pretoria, South Africa Conference organised by: Jacqui Oosthuyzen The original Charter was adopted in 1994 by the predecessor to the African Union, the Organization of African Unity. The 1994 Charter never came into force resulting in the African Union (AU) embarking on a process to review it, with the aim of introducing new elements and removing those provisions regarded as being obstacles to its early ratification and coming into effect. The need for its review was firstly raised by experts forming the African Maritime Advisory Group (AMAG). The AMAG is an informal forum proposed by South Africa and established in 2005 by African representatives at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) based in London. The meeting of African Union Ministers responsible for Maritime Transport which met in Abuja, Nigeria, from 22 to 23 February 2007 adopted the Abuja Declaration and Plan of Action on Maritime Transport in Africa which formally concluded that it was urgent that the 1994 Charter was reviewed. Decision N° EX.CL/Dec.358 (XI) of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union endorsed the Abuja Declaration and Plan of Action on Maritime Transport in Africa, particularly authorised the review of the 1994 Charter. In a process initiated during the 2 part of 2007, the Charter was finally reviewed and updated in 2009 following series of 'maritime pilgrimages' to the Headquarters of the African Union in Addis Ababa. As a formal process, it was agreed that the updated Charter was to be adopted during the 2 meeting of Ministers responsible for Maritime Affairs under the auspices of the African Union Commission. Indeed at the invitation of the then Honourable Minister of Transport for the Republic of South Africa, Mr S. Ndebele, the Conference of Ministers was convened and held from 9-15 October 2009 in the port City of Durban, South Africa. As lead negotiator on behalf of South Africa in negotiations that lasted over four (4) days, the Charter was adopted with a plan of Action and the Durban Resolution on Maritime Safety, Security and Protection of the Marine Environment. SCOPE AND OBJECTIVES The Charter seeks to restructure the present state of the maritime affairs of countries making the African Union. Maritime state of a nation is the totality of the maritime sector's organisation, governance, management and performance of specific and or related functions and activities for the protection and advancement of the country's sovereignty, and socio economic interests respectively. It therefore becomes paramount that the preservation of the country's maritime state must be governed by sound policies and strategies and the Charter aims to fill this gap. There is no doubt that the Charter is an ambitious legal framework which does not only aim to highlight key maritime transport challenges facing countries making the Continent, but it also offers concrete proposals to establish appropriate programmes and appropriate institutions to support implementation of such programmes. Generally, the scope of the Charter encompasses maritime transport and related activities in the coastal, inland waterways, territorial seas including the Exclusive Economic Zones of Member States and by further extension, to related activities in landlocked Member States. As an instrument, the Charter is conscious of the need to establish, inculcate and strengthen cooperation in order to coordinate and harmonize maritime, port and inland waterways policies, regulations and procedures both in our mutual relations within the continent and in our relations with third States; and it further accepts the fact that, there exist an interdependence between economic development and a sustainable policy for the protection and preservation of the marine environment. Abstracts of the 32nd Southern African Transport Conference (SATC 2013) Proceedings ISBN Number: 978-1-920017-62-0 Produced by: Document Transformation Technologies cc 331 8-11 July 2013 Pretoria, South Africa Conference organised by: Jacqui Oosthuyzens of the 32nd Southern African Transport Conference (SATC 2013) Proceedings ISBN Number: 978-1-920017-62-0 Produced by: Document Transformation Technologies cc 331 8-11 July 2013 Pretoria, South Africa Conference organised by: Jacqui Oosthuyzen The Charter recognises the critical role of maritime transport in the facilitation and development of trade between the Continent and other parts of the world and in this regard the need to develop and implement an effective maritime transport policy with a focus to promoting intra-African trade and trade between African States and other Continents; This recognition is made against the backdrop of the noticeable decline in intra-African trade.


the removal of chemical oxygen demand (coD), lignin and phenol from paper mill effluents was experimentallyinvestigatedusinganelectrodecellconsistingofgraphiteelectrodeandpowder-activated� carbon (as working electrode). the effects of electrolyses time, voltage, initial ph, activated carbon (ac), NaClamountandairflowwereselectedasparameters.�Theexperimentalresultsshowthatremovaleffi- ciency significantly depends on the applied cell voltage, airflow, time, salt amount and ph. For electrolyses under the conditions of 25.0v cell voltage, 5.0 min, in presence of air 2.0 minl -1 , nacl 5.0gl -1 �atlowpH� andAC�20gl -1 , it can be said that the removal of coD, lignin and phenol from the paper mill effluent were almost higher than 90%. the present study proves the effectiveness of electrochemical treatment for the highlyconcentratedorganicpollutantspresentinpapermilleffluents.


A description is given of a semi-empirical, deterministic analysis for prediction and correlation of fatigue crack growth, residual strength, and fatigue lifetime for fiber composite laminates containing notches (holes). The failure model used for the analysis is based upon composite heterogeneous behavior and experimentally observed failure modes under both static and fatigue loading. The analysis is consistent with the wearout philosophy. Axial cracking and transverse cracking failure modes are treated together in the analysis. Cracking off-axis is handled by making a modification to the axial cracking analysis. The analysis predicts notched laminate failure from unidirectional material fatique properties using constant strain laminate analysis techniques. For multidirectional laminates, it is necessary to know lamina fatique behavior under axial normal stress, transverse normal stress and axial shear stress. Examples of the analysis method are given.


Inhomogeneity for A7N01 alloy welded joint was investigated in terms of microstructure,microhardness,tensile properties and fatigue life.Experiment results show that microstructure and microhardness of base metal,weld metal and HAZ are much different.Microhardness for weld metal is about HV75 which is the lowest compared with HV110 for base metal and HAZ in which microhardness changes significantly.The ultimate tensile strength and yield strength of base metal is higher than that of weld metal and HAZ.Notched specimens were used in fatigue test to study the inhomogeneity of the joint.Experiment results demonstrate that there is less difference in fatigue crack initiation life for the three micro-zones,and the ratio of fatigue initiation life to the total faitgue life is contant for each micro-zone.However,the difference of fatigue life is remarkable that weld metal has the shortest total fatigue life and base metal has the longest one.


At what point does a song become an act of protest? Lila Ellen Gray examined the protest songs that sparked youth protests in 2010-13 during the first Faculty Research Lunch session of the year.


Spaceborne SAR(synthetic aperture radar) imaging requires real-time processing of enormous amount of input data with limited power consumption. Designing advanced heterogeneous array processors is an effective way to meet the requirements of power constraints and real-time processing of application systems. To design an efficient SAR imaging processor, the on-chip data organization structure and access strategy are of critical importance. Taking the typical SAR imaging algorithm-chirp scaling algorithm-as the targeted algorithm, this paper analyzes the characteristics of each calculation stage engaged in the SAR imaging process, and extracts the data flow model of SAR imaging, and proposes a storage strategy of cross-region cross-placement and data sorting synchronization execution to ensure FFT/IFFT calculation pipelining parallel operation. The memory wall problem can be alleviated through on-chip multi-level data buffer structure, ensuring the sufficient data providing of the imaging calculation pipeline. Based on this memory organization and access strategy, the SAR imaging pipeline process that effectively supports FFT/IFFT and phase compensation operations is therefore optimized. The processor based on this storage strategy can realize the throughput of up to 115.2 GOPS, and the energy efficiency of up to 254 GOPS/W can be achieved by implementing 65 nm technology. Compared with conventional CPU+GPU acceleration solutions, the performance to power consumption ratio is increased by 63.4 times. The proposed architecture can not only improve the real-time performance, but also reduces the design complexity of the SAR imaging system, which facilitates excellent performance in tailoring and scalability, satisfying the practical needs of different SAR imaging platforms.


This paper presents mathematical analyses of steady walking states in underactuated limit cycle walking. We introduce an underactuated rimless wheel with a torso to analyze target steady walking states. Then the formula of boundary conditions are derived and the properties of the steady gaits are analyzed. The transition function of state error is derived from the properties of the steady gaits, and an optimal steady walking state is generated. In addition, we generate the target steady walking speed on the underactuated rimless wheel model and verify our results using numerical simulations. As a conclusion, optimal steady states can be discovered and generated based on the mathematical analysis of dynamic walking states.


in the posterior region showed no significant difference between the two groups ( p = 0.187). There was no difference in the degree of protrusion (<25%, 25 - 50%, ≥ 50%) in the capsular protrusion group ( p = 0.868), but the difference in tumor size was significant ( p <0.001). Conclusion Preoperative US is a useful tool for predicting gross ETE and is more predict-able when the thyroid tumor is located anteriorly.


The community service which was done to the community in the Batu Asak village aims at helping the community to improve the skill in providing the jajanan Lokal hygienically, attractive packing model, and marketing management. This village is a new village that requires many supports including human resources to establish a skilled community in the future. The service program was done for three months starting from September to November in 2021. to complete this program, the team passes some phases, namely; planning, coordinating, socializing, training, and mentoring. the method used is Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) the activity was done through training and mentoring to maintain the skill of the community in producing jajan Lokal hygienically. The result shows that the communities are able to provide the jajanan lokal hygienically, the products have been packed accompanied with the label. Hence, in the future, the team expects much support from University, people and government, in order, the lecturers can do more collaboration.


We study the empirical relation between an astronomical object's angular momentum J and mass M, J = βMα, the J–M relation, using N-body simulations. In particular, we investigate the time evolution of the J–M relation to study how the initial power spectrum and cosmological model affect this relation and to test two popular models of its origin—mechanical equilibrium and tidal torque theory (TTT). We find that in the ΛCDM model, α starts with a value of ∼1.5 at high redshift z, increases monotonically, and finally reaches 5/3 near z = 0, whereas β evolves linearly with time in the beginning, reaches a maximum and decreases, and, finally, stabilizes. A three-regime scheme is proposed to understand this newly observed picture. We show that the TTT accounts for this time-evolution behavior in the linear regime, whereas α = 5/3 comes from the virial equilibrium of halos. The J–M relation in the linear regime contains the information of the power spectrum and cosmological model. The J–M relations for halos in different environments and with different merging histories are also investigated to study the effects of a halo's nonlinear evolution. An updated and more complete understanding of the J–M relation is thus obtained.


Flashover failure of the epoxy insulator in DC gaseous insulated pipeline (GIL) is a major problem limiting the development of the power transmission system. The electric field distortion is the main reason for flashover faults. Effective electric field regulation and flashover enhancement methods are in urgent need. In this paper, the surface conductivity graded material ($\sigma$ -SFGM) was applied in cone-type insulator by surface fluorination technology, which was conducted in a sealed reactor connected with the gas pipelines and the temperature test probe. A fluorinated layer with a different thickness was formed at different portions of the insulator surface. The flashover tests were conducted under DC condition. The SFGM presents an ability of electric field regulation. Besides, the flashover voltage of the insulator with SFGM is higher than that of the original one by over 33 % whether there is a preload or not, indicating highly increased property by the design of SFGM. Compared with the traditional field control methods, the insulator proposed in this paper possesses a wide application prospect and provide a reference for the DC GIL.


Objective: To reinforce the cognition of clinical characteristic with acute rheumatic fever(ARF),decrease the complication and provide scientific basement for clinical treatment.Method: We analyzed retrospectively the clinical manifestation,auxiliary examination,therapy and turnover of 68 cases children with ARF.Result: Average age of patients from 4 to 14 average is(10.25±1.50) years.Their clinical symptoms were not typical example.The main appearance of arthritis was arthrodynia(35.29%).Though cardiac disease was more often,but the degree of cardiac disease was not severe,and the rate of myocarditis was 35.29%.Conclusion: ARF as a connective disease,could be found in children more often,should be paid great attention.Primary prevention should be increased to prevent the advancement and recur of disease.


Over the last decade, interoperability appeared as a key enabler towards unlocking the full potential of enterprises, products, processes, and systems. With methods to support their lifecycle, contributing towards removing communication barriers, and fostering a new-networked business culture in industrial domains, Enterprise Interoperability (EI) requires tangible scientific foundations. This chapter recognizes that, in terms of content, any scientific field exists in an ecosystem of neighboring domains and presents a methodology to identify EI's relationship with its neighbors, thus supporting the foundations of EI Science Base (EISB). It can be agreed that formalisms like logic and mathematics are an integrant part of every science, but others also share relationships such as application fields' boundaries, methodologies, techniques, or even tools. With the support of the European Commission, through the Future Internet and Enterprise Systems (FInES) cluster of research projects, the authors have initiated an analysis of comprehensive domains (e.g. complexity and software).


Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is a cereal crop that is grown in large quantities in Australia and is considered underutilised, as it is used mainly as animal feed (up to 60% of the crop). For human consumption sorghum grain is usually decorticated or milled to whole flour which contain substantial level of beneficial components, for example, slowly digestible starch, resistant starch and polyphenols. These components have been shown to be of benefit in modifying biomarkers for type 2 diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease (CVD). The presence of these beneficial components therefore make sorghum a promising candidate for the development of functional foods to reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Nevertheless, for such foods to deliver health benefits, they also need to be palatable so that they will be consumed repeatedly. Currently there is only scant data examining the role of whole grain sorghum flour in regards to its palatability and physiological functionality. Therefore the aim of this thesis was to evaluate the potential of whole grain sorghum flour as a palatable health beneficial ingredient through a series of product development, in vitro and clinical studies using pasta as a model food to examine the effect of sorghum on biomarkers for type 2 diabetes and obesity. In study 1 (chapter 3), pasta was prepared using different substitution levels (20, 30 and 40%) of either whole grain red sorghum flour (RSF) or whole grain white sorghum flour (WSF) for durum wheat semolina (DWS). These sorghumcontaining pasta samples were compared to pasta made from 100% DWS (control) for resistant starch content, phenolic profile and antioxidant capacity. The addition of both RSF and WSF at all incorporation levels increased the resistant starch


Tajindra Singh Saluja 1 Vijay Kumar 2 Monika Agrawal Abhilasha Tripathi 4 Rajesh Kumar Meher 5 Kamini Srivastava 1 Anurag Gupta 1 Anjana Singh 6 Arun Chaturvedi 2 Satyendra Kumar Singh 1 1Stem Cell/Cell Culture Unit, Center for Advance Research, King George's Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India; 2Department of Surgical Oncology, King George's Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India; 3Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, King George's Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India; 4Department of Pharmacology, King George's Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India; 5Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Sambalpur University, Sambalpur, Odisha, India; 6Department of Biochemistry, AIIMS, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India Introduction: Despite improved therapeutics in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), tumor cells that are either quiescent and/or endowed with stem cell–like attributes usually survive treatment and recreate tumor load at relapse. Through this study, we aimed strategically to eliminate these stem cell–like cancer cells using a combination drug approach. Methods: Primary cultures from 15 well–moderately differentiated OSCC were established, and the existence of cancer cells with stem cell–like characteristics using five cancer stem cell (CSC) specific markers — CD44, CD133, CD147, C166, SOX2 and spheroid assay was ascertained. Next, we assessed quiescence in CSCs under normal and growth factor–deprived conditions using Ki67. Among several gene signatures regulating quiescent cellular state, we evaluated the effect of inhibiting Dyrk1b in combination with topoisomerase II and histone deacetylase inhibitors in targeting quiescent CSCs. Multiple drug-effect analysis was carried out with CompuSyn software to determine combination-index values. Results: We observed that CD44CD133 showed the highest level of SOX2 expression. CSCs showed varying degrees of quiescence, and inhibition of Dyrk1b decreased quiescence and sensitized CSCs to apoptosis. In the drug-combination study, Dyrk1b inhibitor was combined with topoisomerase II and histone deacetylase inhibitors to target quiescent CSCs. In combination, a synergistic effect was seen even at a 16-fold lower dose than IC50. Furthermore, combined treatment decreased glutathione levels and increased ROS and mitochondrial stress, leading to increased DNA damage and cytochrome c in CSCs. Conclusion: We report marker-based identification of CSC subpopulations and synergy of Dyrk1b inhibitor with topoisomerase II and HDAC inhibitors in primary OSCC. The results provide a new therapeutic strategy to minimize quiescence and target oral CSCs simultaneously.


The effects of the strength of natural and recycled aggregate,practical water-to-cement ratio and nominal water-to-cement ratio on the compressive strength of concrete are studied in a quantitative manner.Experimental results show that the compressive strength of concrete is closely related not only to the water-to-cement ratio,but also to the crushing value of aggregate.Through further analysis,it is found that a good linear correlation between the compressive strength of concrete and the cement-to-water ratio and the crushing value of aggregate exists and a unified Bolomey's formula is established for concrete made with both natural and recycled aggregate.


Virtual reality is a computer technology,which creates a virtual environment in front of the users and makes people feel that the virtual environment is real.According to the characteristics of virtual reality,virtual reality is used in the classroom and laboratory teaching of the "Ship Structure and Equipment" in order to meet the insufficiency.It improves the teaching methods and teaching effectiveness greatly.


Objective: This study was aimed to evaluate the causative maternal antenatal factors of low birth weight babies and to suggest necessary recommendations to decrease incidence of low birth weight babies and to improve their survival. Material and Methods: 500 mothers with documented pre term labor and their babies weighing less than 2.5 kg were included in this study and all maternal risk factor were evaluated which may cause low birth babies. Results: Out of 500 mother 68% were not registered to ANC clinic. Maximum mothers were from rural class i.e. 66.6%. 41% of mothers were from teenage group. 58.8% mothers were illiterate. Maximum mothers belonged to lower socio-economic status i.e. 56.8% and Muslim class i.e. 57.80%. Majority of mothers were Multipara i.e. 72.6%. Conclusion: A number of maternal antenatal factors like ANC status, Age, Height, Weight, Religion, High-Risk pregnancy contributes to pre term birth as evident from the above study. Today's health system requires more information about Maternal antenatal factors, more antenatal interference for proper management of high risk mothers and advancement in perinatal and neonatal expertise, provision of good neonatal ICU facilities to ensure intact new born survival.


Objective To design and assess the emergency priority system to release the retard conditions of emergency patients.Methods Of 23 088 emergency patients,the average number of patients 'admission within 24 hours per month,the average time of patients' detention before admission and the average number of rescuing patients per month by the emergency record from March of 2009 to March of 2010 ( before the application of the emergency priority system) and from April of 2010 to April of 2011 (after the application of the emergency priority system ) were recorded and compared.Results The average number of patients'admission from emergency department within 24 hours per month increased by 20.7%,the average time of patients' detention in emergency department before admission decreased by 33.2% and the average number of rescuing patients in the emergency department per month increased by 14.1% by the application of the emergency priority system.Conclusions The emergency priority system can solve the problem of the detention of the emergency patients,and eliminate the hidden dangers because of the emergency patients detention.

Key words:
Emergency service,hospital; Emergency channels; Emergency priority system; Detention


With widespread applications of the Wechat,companies and individuals can easily communicate with each other.As the e-commerce growing,the online-to-offline (O2O)model forms a new and precision marketing mode of social interaction in the form of fragmentation,con-sidering marketing,trading and user experience.Combining Wechat and the O2O mode,the paper presents a platform solution of co-coffee.The solution not only brings convenience to users,but also gives companies a new business growth.


A fuzzy grading approach to physical education assessment is given by using symmetric triangular fuzzy numbers.Compared with traditional grading approach by ranking scalar,fuzzy grading approach overcomes the problems that the grades of students from different classes cannot be compared.


The present invention relates to a sample sequence information analysis method based on a single sample, and more specifically relates to an analysis method for sample sequence information, for example the purity or copy number of a sample sequence, which can detect somatic cell variation by measuring at least one parameter required when analyzing sequence information comprising the single nucleotide polymorphism or copy number for an experiment sample, by using only an experiment sample without a control group sample.


The un-contacting damage measurement technology of a low-k film by surface photo voltage (SPV) measurement using Quantox made from KLA-Tencor was developed. By SPV measurement, it was found that hysteresis exists in the low-k film, and that this hysteresis corresponded with the damage of the low-k film, i.e., the k-value increases. By using this phenomenon, the un-contacting in-line monitor of the low-k film is realized.


ABSTRACT The goal of this paper is to challenge the standard view that Socrates of the early Platonic dialogues is an intellectualist with respect to virtue. Through a detailed analysis of the educational theory laid out in the early dialogues, it will be argued that Socrates believes that the best way to cultivate virtues in his interlocutors is not to convince them of ethical truths by way of reason and argument alone, but to encourage them to participate in the practice of virtue. Habit and practice are essential to the cultivation of virtue because they mould the desires and dispositions of the agent and promote a kind of knowledge that cannot be achieved discursively – craft-knowledge. Only when agents have achieved craft-knowledge can they be counted on to act virtuously on every occasion; and craft-knowledge can only be achieved by way of practice and habituation.


In this letter, the performance of non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) is compared with conventional orthogonal multiple access (OMA) over multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) channels. It is proved analytically that for a simple scenario of two users, MIMO-NOMA dominates MIMO-OMA in terms of both sum rate and ergodic sum rate. Furthermore, for a more practical scenario of multiple users, with two users paired into a cluster and sharing a common transmit beamforming vector, the conclusion still holds. Numerical simulations are conducted, which corroborate the analytical findings.


This paper describes a new species of the genus Thagria , from Guizhou province, China. The type, specimens are deposited in the Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, China. Thagria vastestyla Wang et Li, sp. nov. (Figs 1-6). Body length (incl. tegm.): ♂8.0mm,♀9.1mm. This species is closely related to Thagria emeiensis Zhang, but is distinguished from the latter by the body bigger; vertex without pale orange streak of T shape; the apex area expanded at style. Holotype ♂, paratype 1♂, Xishui (28°20′N, 106°12′E), Guizhou province, China, 24-V-2000, coll. Li Zizhong.


In the modern era, aesthetic dentistry is becoming famous. The demand of tooth bleaching is increasing day by day and it has become the treatment of choice for tooth discoloration. If there is deposition of chromatogenic material into dentin and enamel during the tooth development stage or after eruption, it leads to intrinsic tooth discoloration [1]. Among various bleaching techniques for intrinsic tooth discoloration, vital and non-vital bleaching techniques are common one. They use oxidizing agents such as hydrogen peroxide to remove intrinsic stains. They are widely used agents as they have safe to use. These properties have made them popular. Further modifications in these agents have opened multiple options for dentists in managing tooth discoloration [2]. Carbamide peroxide (CP) is a perhydrol-urea and hydrogen peroxide carbamide compound which degrades to urea and hydrogen peroxide. This agent with ''night guard'' bleaching technique, have proved effective and efficient in providing good results. However, altered surface morphology, decreased microhardness and loss of dental hard tissue volume are among few side effects of bleaching as shown by various authors. 10% CP has been proved to decrease the enamel microhardness as compared to higher level [3]. However, a study performed by Potocnik et al. [4] found that 10% CP causes local microstructural changes and there is no affect on enamel microhardness. 10% CP is a safest bleaching agent as demineralization is not clinical evident, moreover, it is soon followed by remineralization. Fluoridated bleaching agents are considered to reduce the adverse effects of tooth whitening. Topical fluoride is used to increase the hardness and acid resistance of demineralized teeth. It may be used in tooth sensitivity peripherally by occluding the dentinal tubules and reducing dentinal fluid flow. Hence, fluoride application may be used for treating post-bleaching sensitivity [5]. The present study was conducted to assess the effects of bleaching agents with and without fluoride as well as the post-bleaching fluoridation on bovine surface enamel.


It has been more than 50 years since the first description of ocular dominance plasticity—the profound modification of primary visual cortex (V1) following temporary monocular deprivation. This discovery immediately attracted the intense interest of neurobiologists focused on the general question of how experience and deprivation modify the brain as a potential substrate for learning and memory. The pace of discovery has quickened considerably in recent years as mice have become the preferred species to study visual cortical plasticity, and new studies have overturned the dogma that primary sensory cortex is immutable after a developmental critical period. Recent work has shown that, in addition to ocular dominance plasticity, adult visual cortex exhibits several forms of response modification previously considered the exclusive province of higher cortical areas. These "higher brain functions" include neural reports of stimulus familiarity, reward-timing prediction, and spatiotemporal sequence learning. Primary visual cortex can no longer be viewed as a simple visual feature detector with static properties determined during early development. Rodent V1 is a rich and dynamic cortical area in which functions normally associated only with "higher" brain regions can be studied at the mechanistic level.


In orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, OFDM, pilot-symbol distribution can be viewed as a 2D sampling problem related to the channel frequency response. Current pilot patterns with a common notation are formulated and a novel hexagonal pilot geometry proposed. Which is optimum in terms of sampling efficiency and provides better performance than any other patterns.


A new consumption scenario has been developed during the past years due to the movement of immigrants around the world. In this global scene, a group of immigrants that stay short periods of time in the host country has been continuously growing over the past decades. This is one of the reasons why this group, known as sojourners, is increasingly attracting the attention of academics, scientists, practitioners and policy makers worldwide. Within this context, this Doctoral Thesis aims at addressing a research gap regarding the role of food during academic sojourns by international students. More specifically, this research mainly analyses how food values, dietary acculturation and ethnocentrism affect international university students? food buying decisions. It also assesses the influence of ethnocentrism, perceived risk and external influences on dietary acculturation. With this intention, this Doctoral Thesis provides an in-depth review of relevant literature and suggested hypotheses pertaining to the influence of: (i) food attributes, dietary acculturation and ethnocentrism on the different stages of the buying decision process of academic sojourners, considering gender differences and the continent of origin; and (ii) ethnocentrism, perceived risk and external influences on the dietary acculturation of this group of sojourners. Although it has commonly suggested that acculturation should be measured with qualitative methods as it is largely contingent upon specific contexts, the goal of this study is not to address acculturation itself; but to analyse how dietary acculturation relates to other variables intervening in the food buying process of these sojourners. For this reason, highly validated scales are to be used for assessment of the latter variables. With these ideas in mind, we gathered a wide sample from a population of 683 international university students enrolled in a Spanish university, and conducted factorial principal component analysis and linear parametric regressions for food attributes, dietary acculturation and ethnocentrism variables. In addition, in order to better understand the effects of ethnocentrism, perceived risk and external influences on these sojourners? dietary acculturation, it was also carried out a structural equation analysis. The main findings show how: (1) the greatest influence of food values occurs in the choice stage; (2) sojourners show a strong tendency to purchase products that reflect sustainable practices; (3) whereas European students exhibit a higher propensity to value sustainable production practices in the food choices, American students emphasize flavor and exhibit a greater degree of adaptation; (4) the influence of ethnocentrism is much greater in the food buying decision process for male sojourners; (5) the ethnocentrism is significant only in the second stage of sojourners? dietary acculturation process; (6) the level of perceived risk decreases along the adjustment process and depends on the features in common with the host culture; and (7) the external influences represent a high influence in all stages. These results provide key insights about the influence of food attributes, dietary acculturation and ethnocentrism on purchasing decisions, as well as about how ethnocentrism, perceived risk and external influences impact on dietary acculturation. No doubt that this information can serve to support more effective decisions along food distribution channels. Moreover, universities and local authorities can use these findings to design and develop improved strategies for attracting greater numbers of international students adequately ?and also for dealing with them more effectively. It is also essential that public and private operators ? e.g., key stakeholders such as food manufacturers, importers, and retailers ? understand the dietary adaptation process of sojourners and develop particular strategies personalized to their needs. Keywords: sojourners; international university students; buying decision process; food values; dietary acculturation; ethnocentrism; perceived risk; external influences.


ODS is an emerging clinical problem, especially for adult female patients (80%–90%). The pathophysiology of ODS remains to be clearly defined. This is because anatomic defects, such as internal rectal prolapse and rectocele, may be associated with functional alterations, such as paradoxical puborectalis contraction and spastic external sphincter contraction.

 Obstructed defecation syndrome (ODS) is a type of constipation characterized by fragmented stools, need for straining at defecation, sense of incomplete evacuation, tenesmus, urgency and pelvic heaviness. This study is aimed to assess and compare and matching the role of Dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI defecography) with the cilincal diagnosis in such patients.

 This retrospective, case-control study was conducted on twenty patients suffering from obstructive defecation syndrome that have been diagnosed clinically. The patients age is ranged between 16 and 69 years old.

 Statistically MRI study showed significant anatomical defects (p < 0.05) as the followings: Most of patients had Rectocele (65%), Disenergic Pelvic Syndrome (DPS) because of pelvic floor descents in (55%) of patients. Intossusception(45%),Cystocele (30%), interocele(25%), Anismus(15%) and uterine prolapsed (15%)

 MRI has good value to detect abnormalities pertinent to posterior compartment in pelvis. Results of MR imaging showed positive agreement with clinical diagnosis of ODS in65% of patients. MRI showed 90% sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values as well as accuracy. MRI assessment of the posterior pelvic compartment can be indicated to detect the anatomical defects and lead to more successfully patient management and subsequently decreases the rate of postoperative recurrence.


"COURSE and Prognosis of Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease: A prospective study of 200 patients," in the current issue, indicates a rather unfavorable outlook for these patients in spite of standard treatment. Burrows and Earle have studied many factors, singly and in combination, as they may influence the five-year survival of subjects with chronic airways obstruction, the common, disabling and often fatal complication of both emphysema and chronic bronchitis. They found that two general conditions profoundly influence prognosis: the presence and severity of cor pulmonale, especially when complicated by congestive heart failure; and severe ventilatory impairment, especially with alveolar hypoventilation as . . .


ABSTRACT Rheological and structural behavior of dough prepared with two Argentinean flours (FI and FII) of different dough extensibilities were studied. Flours were analyzed by composition and rheological assays. Structural properties of dough prepared at different mixing times were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, free sulfhydryls quantification, and yield of different protein fractions, as well as their protein surface hydrophobicity. Size of high molecular weight glutelin soluble aggregates was analyzed through multistacking gel electrophoresis. Dynamic viscoelasticity of dough was also studied. Flours FI and FII presented similar physicochemical properties but different rheological properties. Structural properties of both flour components were different. Starch from FI flour generated a more viscous paste than that of FII. FI presented a higher glutenin-to-gliadin ratio and a higher content of free sulfhydryls than FII. The resulting dough of FI showed a high development time and was more st...


We consider linear maps T : X→ Y, where X and Y are polar local convex spaces over a complete non-archimedean field K. Recall that X is called polarly barrelled, if each weakly∗ bounded subset in the dual X′ is equicontinuous. If in this definition weakly∗ bounded subset is replaced by weakly∗ bounded sequence or sequence weakly∗ converging to zero, then X is said to be `∞-barrelled or c0-barrelled, respectively. For each of these classes of locally convex spaces (as well as the class of spaces with weakly∗ sequentially complete dual) as domain class, the maximum class of range spaces for a closed graph theorem to hold is characterized. As consequences of these results, we obtain non-archimedean versions of some classical closed graph theorems. The final section deals with the necessity of the above-named barrelledness-like properties in closed graph theorems. Among others, counterparts of the classical theorems of Mahowald and Kalton are proved.


This study will focus on Toru Watanabe's forms of existential crisis reflected in Haruki Murakami's Norwegian Wood (1987). To analyze the existential crisis experienced by Toru Watanabe, Jean-Paul Sartre's theory of existentialism is applied. Furthermore, Butėnaitė-Świtkiewicz's theory of components of existential crisis is also used to describe the components of existential crisis, namely emotional, cognitive, and behavioral components. This study applies the descriptive qualitative method. In addition, philosophical and psychological approaches are employed in this study due to the fact that this study is concerned with the existentialism in philosophy and existential crisis in psychology. The results of the study show that Toru Watanabe suffers from an existential crisis because of his inability to seek meaning for his existence. His existential crisis is indicated through the emotional, cognitive, and behavioral components.


Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text Objectives: Adequate blood pressure (BP) control is pivotal for managing chronic kidney disease (CKD). The optimal approach for monitoring BP to delay CKD progression is not yet clear. Methods: Patients with hypertension and CKD stage 3–4 were randomized into ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) or office BP groups. All patients had ABPM at baseline and 18 months, and the ABPM group additionally underwent ABPM at 3 and 6 months. Each ABPM result was notified only for the ABPM group. The BP target was daytime ABP less than 135/85 mmHg for the ABPM group and office BP less than 140/90 mmHg for the office BP group. The primary outcome was decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) during 18 months. Results: A total of 146 patients were randomized into the ABPM (n = 69) and office BP groups (n = 77). Although office BP was comparable in the two groups at baseline, daytime ABP was higher in the ABPM group (median 140 vs. 132 mmHg). Initial eGFR was 35.7 ± 12.5 ml/min per 1.73 m2 in the ABPM group and 34.6 ± 12.0 ml/min per 1.73 m2 in the office BP group. eGFR change was −5.5 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) −7.7 to  −3.4] ml/min per 1.73 m2 in the ABPM group and −5.0 (95% CI −6.9 to −3.0) ml/min per 1.73 m2 in the office BP group (P = 0.704). Renal events occurred in 10 patients (15.6%) from the ABPM group and five (7.1%) from the office BP group (P = 0.120). Conclusion: The present study did not show a beneficial effect of ABPM for controlling hypertension in CKD compared with conventional office BP monitoring in terms of renal outcomes.


The article introduces the construction of FM12232C model Graphics lattice liquid crystal module and its application in the numberical control incising system, and the interface methods with the microcomputer through extend of I/O interface. Through building-up the self-made word library the author realizes the displaying of digits and words with microcomputer. The graphics lattice liquid crystal module has the characters such as small, cheap, convenient, etc. And the interface circuit is very simple to set up to the microcomputer. So it suits to be wide spread in the fields such as some numerical control incising system, automatic control apparatus, supervisory control apparatus and test meters, etc.


Ratio power is one of the important performance parameters of compressor. The paper researched the compressor automatic test technology based on Virtual Instrument and then designed a convenient and high efficiency compressor ratio power tester with additional condition protection function applied in industry field. In the paper, a test scheme with PXI bus hardware and LabVIEW software was proposed. Then, based on research of vibration signal process method, realization arithmetic of automatic computational parameters tables search and theory of wavelet packet frequency band divided energy, an intelligent ratio power tester was introduced in detail. The instrument can monitor compressor running condition before or in the process of testing the value of ratio power, obtain each relate tested parameter automatically and show change trend, compute values of multi-type compressor ratio powers with automatic tables search and also give the compressor performance estimate results. The testing field running results with a water-cooling two level compressor shows that the tester has exact and fast calculation and has virtues of high efficiency, reliable performance and convenient use.


IN light of the present situation without mature formulations to calculate the loading of multi-arch tunnel for highway in China, the formulation of the earth pressure is derived based on the loading feature of multi-arch tunnel and PU'S equilibrium arch theories. Considering the division altitude of deep tunnel and shallow tunnel specified in the tunnel code, the division altitude and the loading formulation are proposed. Thus a fully calculation system is formed here. Lots of analyses and calculations validate that the formulation presented is reasonable by comparing with other formulations. Good effects are achieved when applying this formulation in the design of both multi-arch tunnel and bifurcation tunnel for the highway from Shanghai to Chengdu.


Fusing multimodal heterogeneous data plays a vital role in recognition and prediction tasks in various fields, e.g., action recognition and traffic accident forecast. Yet, there remain some key challenges, such as heterogeneous feature interaction and feature redundancies, that significantly affect the performance of multimodal fusion. To tackle these challenges, we first devise a Unified Feature Interaction Module (UFIM) in which a novel orthogonal attention component is designed to obtain fine-grained inter-modal interaction information among heterogeneous features. Then, we propose a novel Self-Correcting Transformer Module (SCTM) which employs a modified transformer to obtain the one-to-many correlation information between the current modal feature and the merged features of other modalities to alleviate the redundancy problem. Extensive experiments on four cross-domain tasks demonstrate the effectiveness and generalization ability of our proposed method.


The concepts of eco-friendly building are getting more attention today. The standard materials of concrete that used such as cement and aggregate are not totally environmentally friendly. Thus, many materials from natural sources can be an alternative to the realization of the green building concept. As a result, many researchers have devoted their attention towards identifying eco-friendlier substitutions to be used in concrete. This study was conducted to investigate the efficiency of two different types of waste materials which are palm oil clinker (POC) and cockle shell (CS) as partial replacement of cement on durability aspects. The POC and CS materials were ground to achieve a small particle size to fit with the concrete mix as cement replacement. The replacement of cement was at different levels (10% and 20%). Six mix proportions were made with different percentage of palm oil clinker powder POCP and cockle shell powder CSP. The specimens were cured by immersing in water for 7 and 28 days. The tests that were conducted were acid resistance test and water absorption test. Therefore, the experiment result showed that the POC had a negative impact to the concrete in both tests while the CSP proved it is resistance to acid.


The use of intracaval devices has become popular in the prevention of primary and recurrent pulmonary emboli. The indication for placement of an IVC filter is a recurrent pulmonary thromboemboli despite adequate anticoagulation, or when there is a contraindication to anticoagulation [1, 2]. Early complications after IVC filter placement can occur at the time of insertion, e.g., filter deformation, filter fracture, and improper placement such as in the heart or in the renal, hepatic, iliac or spermatic veins [3-9]. Late complications include migration to higher levels of the IVC, right heart chambers, the pulmonary circulation, the renal, hepatic, intestinal, and iliac veins, or perforation into extra-vascular tissue, such as peritoneal cavity, biliary tree or retro-peritoneal space [3-7. 10, 11]. We report the case of a 51 -year-old man whose MobinUdin' IVC filter migrated to a location not previously described for this type of filter.


The paper deals with the problem of evolution of theory of constitutionalism and problem of sovereignty of the people in political literature of France during the wars of religion of XVIth century. The authors insist that the traditional concept due to wars of religion became more radical and new concepts formed such as people's right to struggle and theory of contract, used also by political propaganda in France.


Objective To investigate the protective effect of clodronate SPIO liposomes on liver injury of rats with severe acute pancreatitis(SAP)and the role of MRI in evaluating the extent of liver injury.Methods Superparamagnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles were prepared by chemical coprecipitation.Clodronate-SPIO-containing liposomes was prepared by the thin-film method.SAP models were prepared by a uniform injection of sodium taurocholate(2 ml/kg body weight)into the subcapsular space of the pancreas.SD rats were randomly divided into control group,SAP plus SPIO group, and clodronate-SPIO-containing liposome group.Six hours after SAP models were available,T2-weighted MRI scanning(in the same plane)of the liver of rats in each group were performed.At the end of the scanning,blood samples were taken from the supcrior mesenteric vein to measure the contents of serum ALT and AST.Meanwhile, The pathological changes in the liver and pancreas were observed.Results Transmission electron microscopic examination showed that liposomes had a uniform size.No changes in the pancreas of rats in control group were noted.The pathological changes in the pancreas and liver of rats in SAP plus clodronate-SPIO-containing liposome group were significantly milder than those in SAP plus SPIO liposome group.The contents of serum ALT and AST in rats in SAP plus SPIO liposome group were significantly higher than those in control group(P〈0.01), while the contents of serum ALT and AST in rats in SAP plus clodronate-SPIO-containing group were significantly lower than those in SAP plus SPIO liposome group(P〈0.01).The MRI signal intensity of the liver in SAP plus SPIO liposome group and SAP plus clodronate-SPIO-containing liposome group was significantly lower than that in control group.The significant changes in the MRI signal intensity of the liver in SAP plus SPIO liposome group and SAP plus Clodronate-SPIO liposome group were noted(P〈0.01).Conclusion Clodronate-containing liposomes have protective effects against liver injury in SAP rats and SPIO can be used as a tracer for MRI examination.

Key words:
Acute pancreatitis ;  Liver injury;  Liposome ;  Clodronate disodium;  Magneticresonance imaging;  Superparamagnetic iron oxide


The utility model relates to an electronic device of the ems memory expansion groove cover body which can prevent the electronic wave. The utility model comprises a shell and a cover body; the shell is provided with a circuit board; the circuit board is provided with an ems memory expansion groove and a plurality of earthing points in the round of the groove; the shell is provided with an opening in the position which is corresponding with the ems memory expansion groove; the cover is combined with the shell separately to seal the opening and is provided with a metal thin plate which is stuck in the inner side to make the metal thin plate have a plurality of connecting feet which are corresponding with the earthing points of the contact circuit. The utility model can reduce the material cost and the product cost, and has a good electromagnetic wave prevention effect.


A method of predicting scintillation fading occurring on Earth-space paths is proposed that is based on the data obtained from a low-elevation 14/11 GHz wave propagation experiment at Yamaguchi, Japan. This model includes parameters representing meteorological conditions that have not been covered in existing models and can be applied to broad regions with varying climates. The prediction accuracy of the method is evaluated using experimental data collected at four sites in the western part of Japan, as well as data reported thus far on a worldwide basis. Although data used for evaluation are limited, the model shows good prediction accuracy for frequencies from 7 to 14 GHz and elevation angles from 4 degrees to 30 degrees . >


The term of Social Enterprises (SE) is a complex concept at various level (ICSEM Project, 2012). As part of the development of the questionnaire for data collection on social enterprises (ICSEM Project, 2013), the objective of this note is to provide some context explaining the diversity of financial statements and terminology for social enterprises, to present a 'simplified' version of financial statements for not-for-profit organizations (NPO) and profit oriented organizations (FPO) and to propose a 'universal' list of financial information distinguishing both types of organizations (NPO / FPO). A 'universal' financial statements is very difficult with the diversity of organizations and accounting standards. Some French terminology is added to help understanding the concepts.


Basnou C., Pino J. & Smilauer P. (2009): Effect of grazing on grasslands in the Western RomanianCarpathians depends on the bedrock type. – Preslia 81: 91–104.This study correlated the floristic compositionof grassland communities with environmentalvaria-tion in the Western Romanian Carpathians, focusing on the effect of grazing. Grasslands were sam-pled using 231 plots each 0.25 km


Objective To investigate the role of abnormal expression of DNA methyltransferases (DNMT1,DNMT3A,DNMT3B)and CD11a genes in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).Methods Semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction was applied to detect the mRNA expression levels of DNMTs and CD11a in PBMCs of relieved(n=17),active(n=17)SLE patients and healthy controls(n=17).The correlations were further analyzed between these parameters. Results The expression of DNMT1 was significantly lower in PBMCs of both relieved and active SLE patients than that of health controls(t=5.90,P0.0001;t=2.26,P=0.0001 respectively).No signifi- cant difference was observed in DNMT1 expression between relieved and active SLE patients(t=1.75,P= 0.089),or in the expression of DNMT3A in PBMCs between relieved,active SLE patients and healthy control.The expression of DNMT3B in PBMCs was extremely low.The expression of CD11a was signifi- cantly higher in relieved SLE patients than in the healthy controls(t=5.35,P0.0001),in active SLE patients than in relieved SLE patients(t=2.99,P=0.006)and healthy controls(t=6.57,P0.0001). No significant correlation was observed between the decrease of DNMT1 and SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI)(r=-0.34,P0.05),or between the expression level of DNMTI and CD11a(r=-0.18, P0.05).The increase of CD11a positively correlated with SLEDAI(r=0.48,P0.05).Conclusion The decreased expression of DNMT1 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of SLE,but not the only factor contributing for DNA methylation status.


Power supplies are sold as AC/DC switchers and DC/DC converters, standard off-the-shelf products through distribution and custom products through direct sales, high volume products to blue-chip customers and low-volume products to small companies. Some companies make only one type of product and use only one sales method, while some make all types of products and use all types of sales methods to sell products to a wide variety of customers, large and small. In each case, the power supply business model (profit/loss statement) varies according the type of the business a power supply company pursues. Depending on the choice of the power supply business, a company is considered as high-growth or high-profit-margin company. This paper analyzes all these business models from the financial viewpoint.


In order to increase the velocity of the armature, it needs lots of driving coils to discharge, and accelerates the armature continuously. It conducted theoretical analysis of the three-stage reluctance coil launcher, and established the model of the three-stage reluctance coil launcher. At the same time, it conducted dynamic simulation by the way of position trigger with the Ansoft software, and analyzed the influence of the trigger position to the properties of the three-stage reluctance coil launcher in the point. The analysis shows that the trigger position has the bigger influence to its properties in the design of the multi-stage reluctance coil launcher. Each driving coil has the best trigger position to make the armature muzzle velocity and energy conversion efficiency maximum. The research would conduct the follow-up design and experiment of multi-stage reluctance coil launcher.


We show an algorithm that finds cliques of size (log n/log log n)2 whenever a graph has a clique of size at least n/(log n)b for an arbitrary constant b. This leads to an algorithm that approximates max clique within a factor of O(n(log log n)2/(log n)3), which matches the best approximation ratio known for the chromatic number. The previously best approximation ratio known for max clique was O(n/(log n)2).


Because of existence of various kinds of disturbances, layover effects, and shadowing, it is difficult to extract road from high-resolution SAR images. A new road center-point searching method is proposed by two alternant steps: local detection and global tracking. In local detection step, double window model is set, which consists of the outer fixed square window and the inner rotary rectangular one. The outer window is used to obtain the local road direction by using orientation histogram, based on the fact that the surrounding objects always range along with roads. The inner window rotates its orientation in accordance with the result of local road direction calculation and searches the center points of a road segment. In global tracking step, particle filter of variable-step is used to deal with the problem of tracking frequently broken by shelters along the roadside and obstacles on the road. Finally, the center-points are linked by quadratic curve fitting. In 1 m high-resolution airborne SAR image experiment, the results show that this method is effective.


For an antiferromagnetic Cu 15 Mn 85 single crystal, strong diffuse scattering with 0.28 a * FWHM was observed around the {1/2 1 0} reciprocal lattice points at room temperature. The study on their scattering vector dependence as well as their temperature variation revealed that the atomic short range correlation of D0 22 type gives large contributions to diffuse scattering and that the magnetic contribution is small even if it exists.


1: Psychoneuroimmunology today: current concepts and relevance to human disease. 2: Neural and endocrine links between the brain and immune systems. 3: Control logic, nutrition of cells, and mechanisms in psychoimmunology. 4: Psychotherapy, stress and survival in breast cancer. 5: Synergistic interaction between psychosocial and physical factors in the causation of lung cancer. 6: Unconventional therapies in cancer care. 7: Life events and the outcome of breast cancer. 8: Does psychological status influence cancer patient survival? A case still in need of evidence. 9: The role of psychological factors in cancer onset and progression: a critical appraisal. 10: Anti-tumour immune mechanisms. 11: Short-term psychiatric intervention for patients with malignant melanoma: effects on psychological state, coping and the immune system. 12: Correlation of psychological, endocrine, and immune parameters in cancer patients: the WITTEN study. 13: The effects of psychological intervention on cortisol levels and leukocyte numbers in the peripheral blood of breast cancer patients. 14: Immunological responses to Self-Regulation training in stage I breast cancer patients. 15: Modulation of anti-tumour immunity by enkephalins. 16: Psychoneuroimmunology: a critical analysis of the implications for oncology in the twenty-first century


Introduction: Electrolyte abnormalities are among the most common complications among the patients admitted with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID 19) pneumonia and maybe contributed to its course of disease and severity. Objectives: The current study aims to assess the prevalence and association of electrolyte imbalance among patients with COVID 19 pneumonia. Patients and Methods: The current observational study has been conducted on 323 patients with COVID 19 pneumonia. On-admission blood samples were taken to assess electrolytes (sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium), complete blood count and differentiation (CBC with diff), and other biomarkers. Further measurements of electrolytes were conducted during the period of hospitalization if needed. The frequency and association of electrolyte imbalance with diverse demographic, clinical, laboratory, and in-hospital characteristics was assessed. Results: Hypo/hypernatremia, hypo/hyperkalemia, hypo/hypermagnesemia and hypo/ hypercalcemia were presented in 14.5%/9.4%, 3.8%/10.3%, 7.9%/9.3%, and 10.9%/10.8%, respectively. Time to discharge was remarkably higher among the patients with hypernatremia (P=0.031). The patients with hypermagnesemia were significantly younger than the other cases (P=0.016). The C-reactive protein (CRP) level was statistically less among the patients with hypercalcemia (P=0.025). There was no associative outcome between potassium abnormalities and patients' characteristics. Conclusion: The present study showed that electrolyte imbalances are common laboratory abnormalities during COVID-19. However, we found no associative role, since ions balance plays a crucial prognostic role for COVID-19.


AIM: To investigate the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) distribution of NOD2/CARD15 (R702W, G908R), OCTN1 1672C/T and OCTN2-207G/C in Chinese patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). METHODS: A total of 61 patients with Crohn's disease (CD), 151 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), and 200 unrelated healthy controls were genotyped. Genotyping was performed by sequence specific primer polymerase chain reaction (PCR-SSP) or by restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis. RESULTS: Among the subjects in our study groups, including patients with CD, UC and healthy controls, none had OCTN and CARD15 variants and very rare IBD family history was found in our patients with the percentage of 0 (0/61 with CD) and 1.3% (2/151 with UC). CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that although OCTN or CARD15 var iat ion is assoc iated with susceptibility to IBD in Western populations, these might be rare and may not be associated with susceptibility to IBD in Chinese patients. © 2008 The WJG Press. All rights reserved.


Effective leadership by setting values and participative decision- making process is key not only to achieve the vision, mission and goals of the institution but also in building the organizational culture. The formal and informal arrangements in the institution to co-ordinate the academic and administrative planning and implementation reflects the institutions efforts in achieving its vision. This paper focus on the vision, mission and the objectives identified for a higher education institution and needs to be addressed through its distinctive characteristics by considering Srinivas Institute of Management Studies as an example. The role of top management, principal and faculty in design and implementation of its quality policy and plans both in Teaching and Services are identified. The involvement of the leadership in ensuring the policy statements and action plans for fulfillment of the stated mission, formulation of action plans for all operations and incorporation of the same into the institutional strategic plan, Interaction with stakeholders, Proper support for policy and planning through need analysis, research inputs and consultations with the stakeholders, Reinforcing the culture of excellence, and Champion organizational change. The various procedures adopted by the institution to monitor and evaluate policies and plans of the institution for effective implementation and improvement from time to time are discussed. Details of the academic leadership provided to the faculty by the top management, the college strategy to groom leadership at various levels, How does the college delegate authority and provide operational autonomy to the departments / units of the institution and work towards decentralized governance system, and the strategy of college to promote a culture of participative management are elaborated.


Thelinearity ofCMOSbuffer amplifiers isdiscussed. Itis shownthatenhancing theamplifier gaintoreduce non-linearity presents limitations duetosmall signal gainmismatches between thetwoamplifier inputs. An amplifier structure andassociated design precautions areproposed toovercome these limitations to someextent. Asaresult, afully differential buffer usedina12bit 1OMSamplesls videochainhasbeensuccessfully designed to achieve 16bits linearity inalow-voltage CMOS0.35pm process.


Fullerene (C60) single crystals with exceptionally low defects and nearly perfect translational symmetry make them appealing in achieving high‐performance n‐type organic transistors. However, because of its natural 0D structure, control over continuous crystallization of C60 over a large area is extremely challenging. Here, the authors report a solution‐phase epitaxial approach for wafer‐scale growth of continuously aligned C60 single crystals. This method enables the rational control of the density of nucleation event at meniscus front by confining the size and shape of meniscus with a microchannel template. In this case, a single nucleus as seed crystal can be formed at the front of meniscus, and then epitaxial growth from the seed crystal occurs with continuous retreat of the meniscus. As a result, highly uniform C60 single‐crystal array with ultralow defect density is obtained on 2‐inch substrate. Organic field‐effect transistors made from the C60 single‐crystal array show a high average electron mobility of 2.17 cm2 V−1 s−1, along with a maximum mobility of 5.09 cm2 V−1 s−1, which is much superior to the C60 polycrystalline film‐based devices. This strategy opens new opportunities for the scalable fabrication of high‐performance integrated devices based on organic crystals.


The study surveyed, by means of a questionnaire, teachers' knowledge and perception of listening comprehension and its teaching in some junior secondary schools in Gaborone, Botswana. The findings are that the teachers, in the schools surveyed, perceive listening comprehension as important; understand the stages involved in its teaching, although they find while-listening the most difficult to teach; and do not understand how to employ the Communicative Approach in the teaching of listening – they do not, in particular, understand what authentic texts mean nor do they understand what to do with students' listening errors. There is thus need to discuss the place of listening comprehension in the English syllabus and provide in-service training for the English teachers who teach it.


The error robustness of digital communication systems using source and channel coding can be improved by iterative source-channel decoding (ISCD). The turbo-like evaluation of natural residual source redundancy and of artificial channel coding redundancy makes step-wise quality gains possible by several iterations. The maximum number of profitable iterations is predictable by an EXIT chart analysis. In this contribution, we exploit the EXIT chart representation to improve the error correcting/concealing capabilities of ISCD schemes. We propose new design guidelines to select appropriate bit mappings and to design the channel coding component. A parametric source coding scheme with some residual redundancy is assumed. Applying both innovations, the new EXIT-optimized index assignment as well as the appropriately designed recursive nonsystematic convolutional (RNSC) code, allows to outperform known approaches to ISCD by far in the most relevant channel conditions.


that the two concepts are contradictory or alternatively simply incompatible. If they are simply incompatible one might expect to find one or the other dominant in different societies. In spite of all these uncertainties, however, the second concept of community would seem to capture more easily the spirit of the tradition for which Taylor speaks. Furthermore, it would appear to offer a conceptual framework more compatible with the kinds of group rights arguments which have become so much a part of the contemporary political scene. Much more could obviously be said on all these topics. However, I want to conclude with one final observation. Whatever might be said for the orientation which Taylor has attempted to articulate in Radical Tories, evaluation of the kinds of values he finds embedded in the conservative tradition must inevitably come under scrutiny as philosophical attention is devoted to contemporary moral issues as they find their expression in Canada. To that extent at least, the political outlook which Taylor has advanced is bound to be evaluated more seriously than has been the case in the past and in ways which may well benefit both philosophy and the wider community.


Muramyl dipeptide (MDP) is the minimal structure responsible for adjuvant activity of peptidoglycans. Early clinical trials of vaccines formulated with MDP revealed adjuvant-induced pyrogenic response. Here we studied signaling pathway leading to production of mediator of fever, PGE2, in human monocytes activated with MDP.
 MDP alone induced nuclear translocation of NF-kB but only minimal levels of COX-2 mRNA expression and PGE2 production in monocytes. T cell conditioned medium (TCM) prepared from CD3 bead-purified T cells dramatically upregulated COX-2 mRNA and PGE2 in MDP-activated monocytes but did not increase nuclear NF-kB. COX-2 mRNA expression and PGE2 production in monocytes activated with MDP and TCM were sensitive to the inhibitors of ERK1/2, p38, and JNK MAPK. Western blotting confirmed that MDP alone and TCM alone induced phosphorylation of p38 and SAPK/JNK and of ERK1/2, respectively. In addition to MAPK, the role of p300 histone acetyltransferase (HAT) was studied by ChIP assay. TCM induced binding of p300 to a COX-2 promoter. Inhibition of p300 blocked binding of p300 to COX-2 promoter, acetylation of H3 and H4 histones, upregulation of COX-2 mRNA and of PGE2 in monocytes activated with MDP/TCM. Importantly, inhibitors of either p38 or ERK1/2 prevented recruitment of p300 to COX-2 promoter. Taken together these results suggest cooperation between two signaling pathways in monocytes: nuclear translocation of NF-kB and activation of SAPK/JNK and p38 MAPK are induced by MDP, while activation of ERK1/2 and recruitment of p300 to COX-2 promoter are induced by TCM. These two pathways are equally important for p300-facilitated acetylation of H3 and H4 histones at the COX-2 promoter and for up-regulated COX-2/PGE2 production.


Poor regulated fishery, pollution, fragmentation and loss of habitat are most
 important factors influencing decline of sterlet population worldwide. In
 Middle and Lower Danube region, this species still have significant economic
 importance since wilde populations are commercially exploited, while Upper
 Danube populations are dependent on stocking efforts in order to maintain
 their presence in open waters. Aim of present study is to analyze genetic
 diversity of sterlet populations from the Middle and Lower Danube and Lower
 Tisza rivers, as a prerequisite for their effective conservation and
 management. Analysis of a highly variable D-loop fragment of mitochondrial
 DNA detected five new haplotypes, while the eight previously identified
 haplotypes had extended their previous range. Genetic variability could be
 attributed almost entirely to individuals, with observed lack of population
 structure. Negative values of neutrality test indicate recent expansion on
 some sampling locations. Adittionaly, gene flow analysis between Lower and
 Middle Danube region showed intensive exchange of speciemens. At the same
 time analysis showed some influence of Tisza dam on gene flow between samples
 from Tisza and Middle Danube section.Our study indicated the need for a
 careful planning of sterlet stocking programmes and inclusion of demographic
 data or catch time-series. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br.
 173045]


Patterns of drug misuse in the European Union are changing, with a chronically ageing population among heroin addicts and a wider use of cocaine, cannabis, and combinations of amphetamines, ecstasy, and medicines.

The picture is contained in the annual report of the European Union's European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction in Lisbon. It estimates that the number of drug addicts has …