Background: Cartilage has limited capacity for self-repair in case of defect. Stem cell based tissue engineering has become an alternative therapy for the treatment of cartilage defect. The use of decellularized cartilage bovine can serve as scaffold to support proliferation dan differentiation of the stem cell.Purpose: This research is to compare the effect of decellularization technique on collagen type II and matrices porosity of cartilage bovine scaffold.Methods: This experimental laboratory research used cartilage bovine scaffold which was decellularized using physical, chemical and enzymatic techniques with different time and concentration variations, then collagen type II measurement was performed by immunohistochemical method and evaluation of porosity size with electron microscopy.Results: In the preparations with the highest concentration and the longest immersion time of 5% SDS for 72 hours, the decellularization process occurs perfectly. The collagen type II content was found to have significantly higher concentrations than the controls and other preparations, and have interconnected porosities in large size.Conclusion: High concentrations of collagen type II  and large diameter of pores after decellularization process in cartilage bovine scaffold confirm that this scaffold still has optimum biochemical cues that can be a good mechanical framework and microenvironment stem cell in effort to repair the cartilage defects. This result was expected to become a standard for the decellularization making of cartilage bovine scaffold.


The utility model discloses a tape dividing and paper winding device of a printing machine, wherein a narrow paper tape spacer assembly is arranged between a dividing and cutting device and a wrap-up device, and the narrow paper tape spacer assembly is used to separate a certain gap between adjacent narrow paper tapes after cutting, the wrap-up device comprises a wind-up shaft, a plurality of narrow paper tape rolls are winded around on the wind-up shaft in interval, and the generation of diving gap avoids the mutual occlusion of raw edges among the narrow paper tapes, and makes the single-shaft winding into probability, and the diameter of a paper roll is no longer limited, thereby greatly increasing the production efficiency and the reliability of devices.


This study analyzes, from a comparative and historical perspective, the clash between state statutory law and native customary law and the consequential effects of that rivalry on ethno-legal categories. It adopts a long-term perspective on Chinese society, with a particular focus on its history over the last three centuries. Although the imperial Chinese state had a centralized legal code, many non-Han subjects followed different legal standards and systems. Such conditions became the basis of legal pluralism and the structural constraint for full-fledged legal uniformity. It is argued that state-imposed ethnic categories in China have been institutionalized to determine those who should be protected, or even privileged, by their own native law. This is especially true during the alien dynasties of conquest, which purposely emphasized the principle of personal law to preserve legal prerogatives of ruling ethnicity. Similarly, indigenes on the frontier carried a variety of legal exemptions on grounds of the principle of territorial law. Such conditions could leave room for individual agency and provide incentives for both acculturated Han settlers and sinicized indigenes to claim native status. Several examples, including an 18th-century homicide case in China's southwestern frontier, substantiate how individuals manipulated their ethnicity for their self-advantage and how these behaviors complicated the personality and territoriality principles of imperial law. In this sense, ethnic law served as an institutionalized distillation of ethnic group boundaries, which were realigned by shifts in self-identity. The legacy of China's imperial practices of particularistic jural relations continues today.


Introduction: Diabetic vascular complications are associated with impaired hypoxia-driven angiogenesis. We recently found that reconstituted high-density lipoproteins (rHDL) rescue diabetes-impaire...


AbstractConventional deformation measurement techniques, such as utilizing a LVDT, a demountable mechanical strain gauge (demec gauge), and an electrical strain gauge, despite their vast usage in experimental studies, suffer several disadvantages, including high cost, time-consuming specimen preparation, and the inability to obtain the whole displacement or strain fields. The aforementioned drawbacks on one hand and the importance of deformation measurements in all civil engineering laboratory tests on the other hand have led researchers to develop other measurement techniques, especially image-based techniques, capable of evaluating whole deformation fields. Among all of these recently developed methods, particle image velocimetry (PIV) has attracted much interest in all branches of civil engineering experimental investigations; PIV is a powerful image-based technique for evaluating both displacement and strain fields by analyzing successive digital images of a field undergoing deformation. Despite its g...


Abstract. Triaenonychidae Sørensen in L. Koch, 1886 is a large family of Opiliones with ∼480 described species broadly distributed across temperate forests in the Southern Hemisphere. However, it remains poorly understood taxonomically, as no comprehensive phylogenetic work has ever been undertaken. In this study we capitalise on samples largely collected by us during the last two decades and use Sanger DNA-sequencing techniques to produce a large phylogenetic tree with 300 triaenonychid terminals representing nearly 50% of triaenonychid genera and including representatives from all the major geographic areas from which they are known. Phylogenetic analyses using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods recover the family as diphyletic, placing Lomanella Pocock, 1903 as the sister group to the New Zealand endemic family Synthetonychiidae Forster, 1954. With the exception of the Laurasian representatives of the family, all landmasses contain non-monophyletic assemblages of taxa. To determine whether this non-monophyly was the result of Gondwanan vicariance, ancient cladogenesis due to habitat regionalisation, or more recent over-water dispersal, we inferred divergence times. We found that most divergence times between landmasses predate Gondwanan breakup, though there has been at least one instance of transoceanic dispersal – to New Caledonia. In all, we identify multiple places in the phylogeny where taxonomic revision is needed, and transfer Lomanella outside of Triaenonychidae in order to maintain monophyly of the family.


Scintillation is the rapid signal fluctuations of amplitude and phase of a radiowave which can cause signal loss in the transmission path with time. Other propagation factors that contribute to the signal fluctuations must be omitted before using the raw data for scintillation studies. Scintillation occurs continuously whether it is under clear sky condition or raining. Therefore, during raining event, the scintillation data will be accompanied by the signal level attenuation caused by the rain. Hence, attention must be given when analyzing scintillation data during raining event. This paper presents the data analysis of the tropospheric scintillation for earth to satellite link at Ku-band. Eight months (May 2011 till December 2011) data were collected and were analyzed to see the effect of tropospheric scintillation during morning, midday, evening and midnight. In this paper, the scintillation data were analyzed during clear sky condition. Any spurious signals caused by other propagation factors were eliminated accordingly. The experimental data were collected using 2.4 m dish antenna through MEASAT 3 at 10.982 GHz. The elevation angle of the dish antenna is stationed at 77.5°. The findings show that scintillation amplitude during midday is highest if compared to morning, evening and midnight. During midnight, the scintillation amplitudes drop significantly.


Mario D. Fantini University of Massachusetts, Amherst D uring this century, the concept individualization of instruction has become one of the central tenets of education. Many of our school reforms have been waged in its name. More recently, individualization has also been referred to as "personalized learning," reflecting the influence of humanistic psychology over the past decade. While individualization or personalized learning as conceptions are deep rooted in our history, it is the daily convergence of diverse learners into the schools and classrooms of this nation


The disadvantages of China's higher education originate from excessive bureaucratization of the management system.China's university bureaucratization is embodied in the bureaucratization of government management to universities and university self-management.University bureaucratization in China will result in academic corruption,loss of university spirits,etc.The origin of university bureaucratization is due to highly-centralized education administration system and appropriate personnel and legal institution,and traditional social values of 'official based' aggravate bureaucratization trend.University de-bureaucratization in China should define the right and responsibility of the government,university and its members.However,real conditions lead to university de-bureaucratization unusual difficult.


The answer depends on the location, of course. The beaches of southern California generally have mineral grains derived from the weathering of rocks in nearby mountains to the east, mixed with similar grains from the sandy deposits that make up the cliffs rising landward of the beaches. The mountains are largely made of igneous and metamorphic rocks, that is, the minerals they deliver upon weathering were made deep inside the Earth. Material locally derived from cliff erosion is commonly marine sediment, with ground-up shell mixed in. Some beaches hardly have any sand but consist of pebbles. Off Scripps, the beach consists of a layer of well-sorted sand, several feet thick, with pebbles at the base of the sand layer. The beach rests on a terrace cut into the land by waves. The terrace grows as the cliffs keep retreating. In turn, this retreat threatens houses built on the edge of cliffs.


Caldicellulosiruptor species are regarded as the best microorganisms to produce hydrogen due to their ability to break down many types of sugars and hydrogen yields near the theoretical maximum. The major drawback is their low volumetric hydrogen productivity (QH2), which makes the current process setup economically non-viable. In this study, the natural capability of Caldicellulosiruptor species were exploited, i.e., through biofilm formation in the presence of a natural polymer called chitosan in a CSTR to achieve higher QH2. Co-cultures of C. saccharolyticus and C. owensensis were used to perform a continuous cultivation with two conditions (with and without chitosan). The QH2 was higher in case of the cultivation without chitosan that lasted until D= 0.7 h-1, but in case of cultivation with chitosan the QH2 was slightly lower, which lasted until D=0.9 h-1. Biofilm formation was observed in both the cases from D= 0.2 h-1 onwards. Properties of chitosan such as antimicrobial activity, solubility and degradation were investigated and applied during the study. To sum up, chitosan has the potential to increase the QH2 levels but not solely. However, it needs to be combined with other factors, such as another reactor configuration, and additional carrier materials to aid in improving the QH2. (Less)


One year into the implementation of the Equality Act 2010, the Department of Health has developed a system to help organisations integrate equality into their mainstream business.


INTRODUCTION The tribes in India have been influenced by certain traditions of the communities around them. Major neighboring community in all the areas has always been Hindus. As a result from the very period there have been several points of contact between the Hindus of the area and tribal communities living within it. The nature and extent of contact the pattern of mutual participation and characteristics of revitalization movements have been different in different parts of India. The ethnographic records establish that the contacts varied from semi-isolation to complete assimilation. The numerous castes among Hindus have emerged out of the tribal stratums. The recent studies of tribes of Himalayan western and middle India have left no doubt that some of the tribes are Hindu zed to the extent that they have been assimilated with the different castes at different levels in the caste system. The study of two major Central Himalayan tribes Tharu and Khasa reveal that though they have a tribal matrix and continue to practice certain distinctive tribal customs they have been accepted as Kshatriya. Their culture have been modeled on the ways of living of the Rajputs and Brahmins of the neighbor plain areas. With their fast adoption of the Hindu names and establishment of social connections with the Rajputs and Brahmins of the plains.


The present study investigates possible dif- ferences in quality of life impairment of patients with psoriasis vulgaris and psoriatic arthritis. One hundred and sixteen patients who were admitted for inpatient rehabilitation to the Fach- klinik Bad Bentheim were asked to fi ll in a self- assessment questionnaire. This questionnaire comprised the SF-12, the German version of the Health Assessment Questionnaire, questions regarding the occupational and the social situa- tion as well as additional questions for identifi - cation of specifi c disease-related burden. Altoge- ther, both groups exhibited impairments of the qual ity of life. As was to be expected, the arthritis patients suff ered from considerably more func- tional impairment than the patients who only had skin involvement. Interestingly, however, the psychic burden attributable to the disease is equal in patients with isolated skin involvement in comparison to patients with additional arthri- tis. Summarizing, a diff erent proportion between the extent of psychic and physical impairment is found in the two groups, which might be due to a diff erent pattern of coping with the disease. Taking this aspect into account is imperative when assessing the severity of the disease.


Abstract Objectives We evaluated various facets of sexual health in Canadians across phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Online questionnaires every four weeks from April–August 2020. Results Higher COVID-19 stress predicted higher baseline dyadic sexual desire, lower relationship satisfaction, higher desire for solitary sexual behavior, and higher likelihood of experiencing sexual coercion among people with a live-in romantic partner. Dyadic sexual desire and pandemic-related stress both decreased with time, whereas solitary sexual behavior decreased and dyadic sexual behavior increased among participants without a live-in romantic partner. Conclusions Our findings reveal differential impacts of COVID-19 related stress on sexual outcomes.


Aims: To show that heparin cryoprecipitation (HCP), an in vitro method of plasma purification, reduces the levels of in vivo modified proteins and non-traditional risk factors from plasma of atherosclerotic hemodialysis (HD) patients. Methods: HCP was applied to plasma obtained from HD patients and controls, forming a precipitate – cryogel. Levels of fibrinogen, albumin, CRP, TNF-α, IL-6, advanced oxidation protein products, carbonylated fibrinogen and carbonylated albumin were determined in plasma before and after applying HCP and in the cryogel. Results: Treatment of HD plasma with HCP, beyond the significant reduction of the increased levels of all the above-mentioned molecules, reduced fibrinogen, TNF-α, carbonylated fibrinogen and carbonylated albumin to control levels which were simultaneously found in the cryogel. Conclusions: HCP applied to plasma enables the simultaneous precipitation of modified molecules and circulating non-traditional risk factors for atherosclerosis. This study may serve as a base for the future development of a clinical purification technique.


Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus is responsible for a variety of infections in humans and is frequently involved in the etiology of bacterial tonsillitis. Its resistance to macrolides is a growing public health problem. objectives: to analyse the antimicrobial susceptibility rate of group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus and to evaluate its temporal evolution, especially for macrolides. methods: We analysed the antimicrobial susceptibility tests for group A beta-hemolytic streptococci isolated from patients hospitalized in the National Institute of Infectious Diseases "Prof. Dr. Matei Balş", during July 2009 -June 2010. The temporal evolution of the antimicrobial resistance was studied for the two semesters of the analyzed period, and the evolution of macrolide resistance was further analyzed for shorter periods (four quarters). results: 172 bacterial strains were analyzed; most of them were isolated from pharyngeal swabs (88.37%). For five classes of antibiotics the susceptibility rate was 100%: penicillin, glycopeptides, linezolid, rifampin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Lower rates of susceptibility were found to macrolides (86.47%), clindamycin (85%), fluoroquinolones (98.65%), cyclins (26.16%). The temporal evolution of the susceptibility had no statistical significance for any of the antibiotics that have shown activity under 100% (fluoroquinolones: p = 0.38, macrolides: p = 0.30, clindamycin: p = 0.28). conclusions: Penicillin remains the antibiotic of choice for the treatment of beta-hemolytic group A streptococcal infections. The current resistance level of beta-hemolytic streptococci to macrolides and clindamycin requires the limitation of their use and, pending the regaining of their efficiency, other therapeutic solutions need to be defined.


This paper introduces the monetary transmission channels and gives special attention to credit channels and the asymmetric effects of monetary policy. In addition, an overview of recent empirical findings with respect to the monetary transmission process in the EU-countries Germany, France, Italy, the United Kingdom, Belgium and the Netherlands is provided. Finally, monetary policy lessons are drawn from the introduction and overview.


In this paper, we evaluated and proposed an adaptive frame length switching for the enhanced uplink dedicated channel in UMTS. Different alternatives to achieve the frame switching are presented and discussed accompanied by results from simulated system throughput performance. The results show improvement by switching between 2 ms and 10 ms TTI transport channels for EDCH. A fixed 10 ms or 2 ms TTI transport channel structures have advantages and limitations in different areas of the radio channel conditions, scheduling strategies, and resource management. Different strategies looking to exploit the existence of a single configurable transport channel the E-DCH to perform adaptive switching is examined and results identifying the projected performance gains of a user geometry approach are presented


Aiming at the problems of low total grid-connected capacity of wind power and high wind curtailment rate existing in the current wind farm energy storage configuration method. In this paper, a distributed wind farm energy storage optimization configuration method under the constraint of cost minimization is designed. The self-adjustment interval of the wind farm is set, and the probability density function of Weibull distribution with single peak and two parameters is used to describe the wind speed. Utilize the flexible response of energy storage and the two-way regulation of charge and discharge to enhance power regulation capabilities, establish a distributed energy industry value chain, and calculate energy storage benefits. Construct a cost measurement model under the constraint of cost minimization, and design an optimal allocation method for energy storage. Experimental results: The total grid-connected capacity of wind power and the average value of abandoned wind rate under the method of this paper are: 970.5MW and 28.26%, respectively. At the same time, the mean value of the profit critical power difference and the discount rate under the method of this paper are: 0.786 yuan/Kwh and 73.248% respectively. It shows that the method fully considers the cost constraints, making it more practical.


Simulated Annealing, a wide-spread technique for combinatorial optimisation, is employed to find the optimal candidate in a candidate set, as defined in Optimality Theory (OT). Being a heuristic techniques, simulated annealing does not guarantee to return the correct solution, and yet, some result is always returned within a constant time. Similarly to language production, this time framework can be diminished with the cost of diminishing correctness. We demonstrate how simulated annealing can model linguistic performance, built upon a competence theory, namely, OT. After having applied simulated annealing to OT, we attempt to reproduce empirical observations on metrical stress in Dutch fast speech. Simulated annealing necessitates defining a topology on the candidate set, as well as an exact formulation of the constraint OUTPUTOUTPUT CORRESPONDENCE.


Laser surgery gives the possibility to work remotely which leads to high precision, little trauma and high level sterility. However these advantages are coming with the lack of haptic feedback during the laser ablation of tissue. Therefore additional means are required to control tissue-specific ablation during laser surgery supporting the surgeon regardless of experience and skills. Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy provides a straightforward and simple approach for optical tissue differentiation. We measured diffuse reflectance from four various tissue types ex vivo. We applied Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) to differentiate the four tissue types and computed the area under the ROC curve (AUC). Special emphasis was taken on the identification of nerve as the most crucial tissue for maxillofacial surgery. The results show a promise for differentiating soft tissues as guidance for tissue-specific laser surgery by means of the diffuse reflectance.


International tourism is influenced by both small and big 'P' politics. Political factors influence who can visit a country and who is not welcome. As Artal-Tur et al. (2015) note, the impact of diplomatic relations on tourism flows is immense. Political relationships influence international air service agreements and through the General Agreement of Trade in Services, controlled by the World Trade Organization (WTO), influence the internationalization of tourism in all areas. To understand international tourism, then, you need a general understanding of the international trade dimensions that guide it and the politics behind some of them.


The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between functions of thinking styles and academic achievement motivation among master students majoring in different fields in Payame Noor University, Rasht. This was an applied descriptive study. The statistical population consisted of 7000 master students in Rasht Payame Noor University in 2013-2014 academic years. According to Morgan Table, 365 individuals were selected using stratified random sampling method. Sternberg Standard Thinking Styles Questionnaire was used to examine functions of thinking styles. Hermans Standard Achievement Motivation Questionnaire was used to examine academic achievement motivation. Face and content validities of the questionnaires were also examined. Reliability of the questionnaires was examined by implementing a pilot study on 30 individuals with Cronbach's alpha. In the questionnaire of functions of thinking style, the Cronbach's alpha was obtained as 0.822 for legislative thinking style, as 0.890 for executive thinking styles, as 0.792 for judicial thinking styles. The alpha coefficient was estimated as 0.86 for achievement motivation questionnaire. In inferential statistics, Kolmogorov Smirnov Test, Pearson correlation coefficient, stepwise multiple regressions were used to analyze the collected data. The results showed the positive relationship of legislative, executive and judicial thinking styles with academic achievement motivation among students. In other words, the greater the legislative, executive and judicial thinking styles of the students, the greater their academic achievement motivation.


Abstract Much of the theoretical and empirical research devoted to affective organizational commitment has been based on the assumption that this form of commitment develops with tenure, displaying a rapid decrease after entry, followed later by a steady increase. The present study used the cross-sequential design, advocated in the life-span development literature, to examine changes in commitment with tenure and found evidence for a developmental trend in affective organizational commitment. However, contrary to theory and past results, the developmental function indicated a steady, persistent decrease with increasing tenure (from 1 to 9 and 15 to 19 years) in a sample of 479 Australian police officers. This is the first study designed explicitly to examine how commitment changes over an extended period of tenure, therefore replications are required to test for similar or other nonconforming trends in other organizations. If persistent decreases in commitment, resulting in low levels of commitment in groups of experienced employees, are found in other organizations, managers will need to be aware that low commitment norms may impact on new employees and will need advice on ways to improve commitment levels. If different trends are found, the influence of various characteristics of the culture or structure of organizations will need to be given greater consideration in theories devised to explain the development of commitment.


PURPOSE: A navigation terminal and a route information guiding method using the same are provided to offer navigation service of a high quality while maintaining safe driving because mode switching is accomplished with one touch. CONSTITUTION: A navigation terminal comprises a flight path provision unit(180). The flight path provision unit comprises a spot information extracting module(1831) and a simplicity module(1833). The spot information extracting module extracts predetermined numbers of representative points as an actual route to a predetermined destination or a specific actual route around a present position of a navigation terminal. The simplicity module resets the representative points based on the distance between the representative points adjoining each other. The simplicity module produces a simplified route.


A Before fully implanted, provide a vertebral staple capable of adjusting the position relative to the vertebra. An implantable vertebral staples and devices for use therewith are provided. Generally, typical vertebral staple according to the present invention there is staple body having at least one long spike, long spike, when partially inserted into the bone, and is formed so body can rotate there. Staple body also provides one or more short spike formed in the staple body, is configured to prevent rotation of the body when the long spikes and short spike is fully inserted into the bone it may have a short spike portions. The present invention, insertion tool that can be used to insert the vertebral staples also provided, also in alignment with one or more holes formed in the vertebral staples to pierce the bone, and preferably inserting tool combination drill guide that can be used are also provided. .FIELD 1


AIM: The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate (MARCKS) and p-MARCKS during cerebral ischemia. METHODS: The multi-cerebral infarction model was established by method of Kaneko. The stroke symptoms and signs scoring system were used to evaluate the animal model. Microscope and electronic microscope were used to watch the structure of rat brain. The expression of MARCKS and p-MARCKS was measured by Western blotting. The expression pattern of these proteins was further analyzed for their distribution at cellular level by immunohistochemistry staining of the tissues. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The expression of MARCKS and p-MARCKS protein in acute ischemic brain were elevated compared with the normal and control group (P0.05), and the overexpression of these proteins may be correlated with injury of brain tissues. [


Degradation of salicylic acid (SA) with thin film photocatalyst, titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) and nitrogen-doped TiO(2) (TiO(2-x)-N(x)) combined with ultraviolet (UV) radiation was studied. TiO(2) film with thickness of 15 and 65 nm was tested. The TiO(2-x)-N(x) film had thickness of 15 nm on top of TiO(2) (50 nm). Photocatalysts were prepared on glass substrate by atomic layer deposition (ALD) technique. The effect of initial pH (3-10) was studied with SA concentration of 10 mg/l. Decomposition of SA was fastest at pH 6 with both films and the rate was equal at initial pH values 3 and 4.3. However, at higher pH values the non-doped film was more efficient.


Chapter X explores the various strategies and preparations that are necessary to ensure effective and reliable coding of industry and occupation responses, and also considers the costs and advantages of the different alternatives. It outlines the objectives and main strategic choices to be made and presents the main organizational factors determining the effectiveness and success of the coding and processing tasks. The chapter describes the development of the major tools, the coding indices and how to use them effectively.


Nanocrystalline NdFeB magnets were prepared by spark plasma sintering (SPS) and SPS followed by HD using melt spun ribbons as the starting materials. The microstructure of SPSed and HDed magnets were analyzed. The effects of process including temperature and compression ratio on the microstructure and properties were investigated. High magnetic properties were obtained in anisotropic HDed magnets. The combination of Zn and Dy additions was successfully employed to improve the coercivity and thermal stability of the SPSed magnets. Open recoil loops were found in these magnets with Nd-rich composition and without soft magnetic phase for the first time. The relationship between the recoil loops and microstructure for SPS and HD NdFeB magnets were investigated. The investigations showed that the magnetic properties of SPS+HDed magnets are related to the extent of the aggregation of Nd-rich phase, which was formed during HD due to existence of porosity in SPSed precursor. Large local demagnetization fields induced by the Nd-rich phase aggregation leads to the open loops and significantly reduced the coercivity. By reducing the recoil loop openness, the magnetic properties of HDed NdFeB magnets were successfully improved.


We have developed a method that enables loading a magneto-optical trap (MOT) in an ultrahigh vacuum environment. Nearly 1.0 × 108 atoms of 87Rb are trapped in the MOT at [Formula: see text] Torr base pressure in the chamber. After the MOT loading, we have successfully demonstrated the working of a quadrupole magnetic trap in this chamber with a lifetime of [Formula: see text] s.


The recent development of the device,technological research and industrial applications of laser beam welding at home and abroad is summarized in this paper.It is discussed that the main feature of the laser beam welding is different from that of the common welding methods.The demands for the laser device.the laser mode and the guiding beam system for welding as well as the effect of the main para- meters during laser beam welding are also analyzed in detail.It is estimated that the industrial applications of laser beam welding will be greatly developed in the next three or five vears.


In Jeong et al. (2011) 'hesperetin' was erroneously spelled as 'hesperedin' throughout the paper. In the second paragraph of the Introduction, the sentence 'Orally administered hesperedin is converted to a de-glycosylated metabolite, hesperedin, by intestinal microflora in vivo' should have read 'Orally administered hesperidin is converted to a de-glycosylated metabolite, hesperetin, by intestinal microflora in vivo'. All other instances of 'hesperedin' should be read as 'hesperetin'.


Micron-scale free standing structures were generated via the laser decal transfer process using high viscosity Ag nanoinks without the use of any sacrificial or release layers. Both cantilevered (34×10×0.46 μm3) and doubly suspended beams (38×5×0.46 μm3) were fabricated. Laminate composites were then generated by selectively coating the underside of these structures with silicon using a focused ion beam deposition technique. The static responses of the composite structures were characterized via fitting nanoindentation induced beam deflections with a derived closed-form solution yielding Young's modulii of the Ag and Si layers as EAg≈40 GPa and ESi≈16 GPa, respectively. The dynamic response of these structures was also characterized via laser vibrometry revealing quality factors of approximately 400 and 800 for cantilevers and microbridges, respectively. Several techniques (static and dynamic) to ascertain the residual stress state of these structures were also employed revealing an average residual stres...


An encoder scale is a piston rod for use in a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder. The method includes the steps of providing a mask defining a required groove pattern on an encoder scale member that is formed from a first material (e.g. steel) and etching material from the encoder scale member, through the mask, to form a plurality of grooves in the outer surface of the encoder scale member. A second material such as copper is then deposited on to the encoder scale member to substantially fill the grooves, the second material having a different magnetic permeability than the first material. A machining process (e.g. grinding) is then used to remove any excess second material and thereby provide an encoder scale member having a substantially smooth outer surface. A step of coating the outer surface of the encoder scale member with a metal, such as chronium, is then performed.


"In the framework of efforts to fight extreme poverty and recognising the importance and need to protect the poor and vulnerable population, in 2007 Mozambique approved Law No. 4/2007 which structured social protection into three levels, including basic social security. In 2010 the first National Basic Social Security Strategy (ENSSB I) was approved for the period 2010–2014, including a set of old (e.g. the Basic Social Security Programme—PSSB) and new (e.g. the Productive Social Action Programme—PASP) non-contributory social protection programmes, all implemented by the National Institute for Social Action (INAS) under the policy guidance of the Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Action (MGCAS). Between 2010 and 2014 there were significant advances: the number of beneficiary households of INAS programmes increased from 254,000 to 427,000; the amount paid by PSSB increased threefold in real terms between 2007 and 2014; and the PASP—a public works scheme—was introduced to cater for poor, labour-unconstrained households. All these changes implied a substantial increase in government expenditures in the area, which rose from 0.22 per cent to 0.51 of gross domestic product (GDP) between 2010 and 2014". (...)


Galvanic distortion of the regional electric field bY near-surface heterogeneities leads to disturbance in the measured MT impedance tensor. This tensor is expressed as the product of a local galvanic distortion tensor and a two-dimensional regional impedance tensor. In this paper, we present a method to remove the effect of galvanic distortion and extract the regional impedances. This method is based essentially on single value decomposition of the distortion tensor and can be used for two or three-dimensional surface heterogeneities. The recovered regional impedances are shifted by a real constant in such a way that neither the shape of regional apparent resistivity curve nor the phases are altered. A synthetic model with conductive hemispherical heterogeneity embedded in a two-dimensional regional structure (Groom and Bailey, 1988) demonstrates the utility of the method.


Microwave irradiation in dry media induces pyrazolylla and pyrimidinil-2azadiene lb to undergo hetero-Diels-Alder reaction with 3-dimethylaminopropiophenone hydrochlorides 2 within 2-3 minutes to give good yields of 5-aroylpyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridines 3a-c and 6-aroylpyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidinones 4a-c. The structure of compounds 3 and 4 and regiochemistry of reaction were determined on the basis of nmr measurements. Introduction The Diels-Alder cycloaddition is a convenient and versatile method for the synthesis of sixmembered rings [1]. Continuing the study of reactions of aminopyrazoles and aminopyrimidines with compounds α,β-unsaturated and its precursors [2-9], we carried out experiments on the interaction of 5-dimethylaminometilenamino-3-methyI-lphenylpyrazole (la) and 6-dimethylaminometilenamino-2-methylthio-3-methyl-4pyrimidinone (lb) with 3-dimethylaminopropiophenones (2) under microwave irradiation. Results and Discussion Equimolar amounts of 2-azadiene compounds (la,b) and 3-dimethylaminopropiophenone hydrochlorides (2) were placed in a simple beaker and irradiated in a domestic microwave oven for 1.5-3 minutes (at 600 watts), then treated with ethanol, filtered and recrystallized from a dimethylformamide-water mixture (Scheme 1). In other experiment, by classical Vol. 6, No. 4, 2000 Synthesis ofpyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridines andpyridol[2,3-d]pyrimidinones by hetero-Diels-Alder reaction heating of reactants la,b and 2 in DMF for 25-145 minutes, this reaction afforded the same products (3 and 4) in minor yield (Scheme 1). ο


Telemedicine now finds itself at a crossroads and the robotic use over distance for medical diagnosis and treatment has now become a reality. Many kinds of medical deformity on patients at a remote location can be corrected in a non-surgical way, by using robotic medical assistive devices, under telerehabilitation technology. The present work gives an overview of telerehabilitation, along with its application. The paper follows the main characteristics of telerehabilitations. Finally, a conceptual telerehabilitation model for the correction of a clubfoot deformity in newborn babies is presented. This model gives a clear indication that the proposed model can be implemented in real life, to give a standard method for better health care of the child and hence to society.


Two types of documents, — licencia celebrandi in diocesi and comissio cura animaram , -, that form part of the Register of Common Acts kept at the Diocesan Archive of Zaragoza, have been taken as the corpus for the study of the presence of foreign clergy in the diocese of Zaragoza. The paper also analyses the clergy's geographical mobility while they governed, as regents, a good number of their parishes in the last decade of Don Garcia Fernandez de Heredia's pontificate (1400-1411).


The author investigates the kinematic instability problem associated with some well-known force control approaches. His intent is to establish qualitative evaluations of the stability of hybrid control and stiffness control. He first constructs a state-space model and then demonstrates the kinematic stability or instability of the two force control formulations by making use of a necessary and sufficient condition for a multivariate linear system. The author also discusses issues such as critical damping in stable force control approaches and stabilizing measures for unstable force control methods.<<ETX>>


This article develops a novel unknown system dynamic estimator-based funnel control scheme for nonlinear quadrotor attitude regulation with preassigned convergence subject to parametric uncertainties and external perturbations. An invariant manifold equipped with first-order filtering is established. To online identify the lump disturbances, an unknown system dynamic estimator is employed with a simple formula, which need a lower computation burden. Based on aforementioned estimator, a novel funnel control via utilizing funnel variable is investigated, where an exponentially decaying funnel function is preset with a prior preassigned convergence for regulation angle error. The angle tracking errors are proved to be ultimately uniformly bounded, and angle regulation error can evolve within the preset funnel boundary. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the developed control scheme.


The present study was conducted to estimate the association of the scores on the subscales of the Defense Mechanisms Inventory to the Denial Score on the COPE for 91 volunteers who were undergraduates and 7 graduate students. There were 31 men and 67 women; 77 were white and 21 were nonwhite. Both inventories were administered in a group format. The intercorrelations of COPE—Denial and subscales of the Defense Mechanisms Inventory did not approach significance; this supports the Haan/Kroeber hypothesis suggesting that a qualitative difference be made between coping and defensiveness and the Lazarus/French hypothesis suggesting a dichotomy of "problem-focused" coping and "emotion-focused" coping.


A 37-year-old male patient with fever, mild respiratory distress, diffuse goiter, and hepatosplenomegaly was admitted to our hospital. Clinical and laboratory findings showed that he had recurrent respiratory tract infections—namely bronchiectasis—due to common variable immunodeficiency disease (CVID) and AA-type amyloid deposition in the thyroid gland. Although recurrent infections as a consequence of inadequate gammaglobulin (IVIG) substitution therapy are regarded as the main cause of the development of amyloidosis, amyloidosis in a patient with hypo/agammaglobulinemia is extremely rare. In this report we discuss the association of CVID and recurrent respiratory tract infections with secondary amyloidosis restricted to one organ, the thyroid gland, which is an uncommon site for amyloid deposition.


Aronia melanocarpa is a woody shrub of the Rosaceae family. Its fruits are used for consumption either fresh, or as juice, jam and wine. The aim of the present study was to measure the concentration of some biologically active substances and the antioxidant activity of two samples of Aronia melanocarpa fruit juice (AMFJ). The juice was prepared from fresh fruits. One of the samples was produced using a juice centrifuge and was preserved with potassium sorbate (1.0 g/l). The other sample was produced by crushing and squeezing of fruits after which the juice was filtered and sterilized at 100 °C for 10 min. The contents of biologically active substances in the juice samples were measured by spectrophotometric and high-performance liquid chromatography methods. The antioxidant activity of the two juice samples was measured by the ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) and HORAC (hydroxyl radical аverting capacity) methods. The results showed that both samples were extremely rich in polyphenolic substances, amongst which the highest was the concentration of procyanidins followed by phenolic acids (chlorogenic and neochlorogenic) and anthocyanins. Sample 1 had higher concentration of total phenolics and contained higher quantities of most polyphenolic substances with the exception of anthocyanins. It also contained micro-quantities of cyanogens. The variations in the composition of the two samples could be attributed to the different methods of juice production and conservation. Both juice samples showed very high ORAC and HORAC values which were higher for sample 1 (the sample with the higher concentration of polyphenolic substances). The high antioxidant activity of the two AMFJ samples could be attributed to their polyphenolic ingredients.


Epithelial cysts of the eye, particularly the intra-ocular ones, have been the subject of numerous and extensive studies. The fundamental principle involved in the formation of these cysts, the proliferation of surface epithelium within the deeper lying tissues, has been established early and is applicable to any of the ocular structures involved. However, depending on the part of the eye invaded by epithelium, the clinical aspects of the resulting cystic formation vary to a considerable extent. Cysts arising in the anterior chamber, in the iris, in the cornea or in the sclera differ materially in appearance, course and significance for the affected eyeball. In the sclera epithelial cysts are observed comparatively seldom. Since 1853 twenty cases of this type of cyst have been reported by seventeen authors, three of whom—MacKenzie, 1 Lauber 2 and Mattos 3 —described two cases each. In the last few years I have had the


We consider an SH-type wave, emitted by a source in a half-space, incident on a plane semi-infinite crack. The incident wave is obtained as a solution of an inhomogeneous wave equation. The diffracted field is found using the Wiener-Hopf technique. The far-field is calculated using asymptotic approximations.


●ADDITIONAL INDEX WORDS. carotene, Daucus carota, nutrient uptake, plant nutrition, plant tissue analyses, soil testing, sugars SUMMARY. Potassium (K) is required for successful carrot (Daucus carota) production on sandy soils of the southeastern United States, yet there is little published research documenting most current university Cooperative Extension Service recommendations. Soil test methods for K in carrot production have not been rigorously validated. Excessive fertilization sometimes is practiced by carrot growers to compensate for potential losses of K from leaching and because some growers believe that high rates of fertilization may improve vegetable quality. Carrots were grown in three plantings during the winter of 1994‐95 in Gainesville, Fla., to test the effects of K fertilization on carrot yield and quality on a sandy soil testing medium (38 ppm) in Mehlich-1 soil-test K. Large-size carrot yield was increased linearly with K fertilization. Yields of U.S. No. 1 grade carrots and total marketable carrots were not affected by K fertilization. K fertilizer was not required on this soil even though the University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service recommendation was for 84 lb/acre K. Neither soluble sugar nor carotenoid concentrations in carrot roots were affected by K fertilization. The current K recommendation for carrots grown on sandy soils testing 38 ppm Mehlich-1 K could be reduced and still maintain maximum carrot yield and root quality.


Synopsis. The messenger RNA hypothesis serves as a concrete model of gene function which may be of real use to the developmental biologist. The hypothesis posits that the product of a gene is an RNA molecule with a base sequence complementary to the sequence of nucleotide bases in the DNA. The operations and restrictions which define a messenger are discussed. Animal and embryonic cells, while conforming in general to the predictions, display certain variations from the original hypothesis, such as difficulties in obtaining directed synthesis of protein in vitro, greater stability of the messenger RNA, association of active ribosomes with lipoprotein membranes, and a possible heterogeneity of ribosomes. Some recent studies on messenger RNA in sea urchins and frog embryos are dis? cussed, with special reference to the nature and importance of the RNA synthesized during cleavage, the significance of new ribosome synthesis, and the potential impor? tance of control mechanisms at the translational level for regulation of new protein synthesis. The latter point is illustrated further by a discussion of the initiation of synthesis of hemoglobin in the chick embryo. The application of drugs and antimetabolites which derange and inhibit RNA synthesis (actinomycin, 8-azaguanine, 5-fluorouracil, and 5-bromodeoxyuridine) shows that 8 hours prior to its onset, the synthesis of hemoglobin is independent of the synthesis of RNA of high molecular weight. The initiation of hemoglobin synthesis is probably regulated at the translational level. Preliminary experiments using the heme precursor, delta-amino-levulinic acid, show that heme may be limiting for the onset of hemoglobin synthesis.


yield good results with little uncertainties, it has some limitations that may propagate errors in the final determination of the full energy peak efficiency, arising from the following: i. Inconsistency of photon emission probabilities used by different researcher ii. Specification of source date/time not précised, may affect measurement accuracy and iii. Employ many different sources to cover the low, intermediate, and high energy regions, which may lead to the existence of energy gaps, thereby creating large uncertainty through fitted curves (interpolations). It is against these limitations that the application of the -IAEA program becomes progressively desirable. Besides, the -IAEA simulation program affords unique opportunity of investigating the interaction of photons with the sensitive detector volume excluding the effect of the cryostat since detectors are usually sealed from the factory by the manufacturers. This sealing procedure could be very useful in analyzing poor performances if the reference k


South Africa's use of temporary trade barriers (TTBs) shows many similarities with other emerging economies: An increase in use of antidumping measures during the 1990s and a shift in the incidence of antidumping policy towards India, China and other emerging economies in recent years. Yet there are important differences that reflect the unique domestic characteristics of South Africa's antidumping policy. This paper examines South Africa's use of TTBs over the past two decades and draws the following insights. While South Africa was a world leader in the use of antidumping measures during the 1990s, in recent years it has dramatically reduced the number of products subject to TTBs. Most recently, South Africa responded to the financial crisis by revoking over a third of all antidumping measures. This, however, was not a proactive response by the government to the crisis, but rather the consequence of a High Court ruling that various antidumping measures had exceed the five-year period allowed under the WTO. We also find that antidumping measures were not primarily used to offset or reverse the multilateral tariff liberalisation of the 1990s. Antidumping investigations were more likely to be initiated on products that already had high tariffs and faced relative low tariff reductions suggesting common political economy determinants of South Africa's tariff and antidumping policy. Finally, there is little evidence that the political economy determinants of antidumping policy have changed, despite the inclusion of previously unrepresented interests into the policy space after the demise of Apartheid in 1994.


of the overall stra tegy. Every year there are changes both in the economy of the country and in enterprises, in the economic environment, as well as in personnel policy. In this regard, more and more often there are new requirements for the selection, development, motivation of personnel, which comprehensively solve for the successful implementation of organizational strategy. The staff is the main basis for increasing the competitiveness of the enterprise. Therefore, the overall strategy of the enterprise and the strategy of personnel management should act as a whole. Purpose . The aim is to generalize the system of strategic personnel management and develop recommendations for improving the strategic personnel management of the enterprise. The main tasks of the work are to familiarize with the theoretical and methodological foundations of the essence of the personnel management strategy and the basis of its implementation and analysis of foreign experience. Results . In the article the features and main aspects of strategic personnel management are investigated, the expediency of strategic personnel management as an important direction in the development of the enterprise as a whole and the formation of a competitive team is substantiated. It analyses tasks and functions of strategic personnel management, considers elements of strategic management and typical strategies of personnel management. It marks out main stages of development of the strategy of personnel management of an enterprise. It analyses foreign experience of personnel management and, in particular, its motivational component as an important element in strategic management. Originality. The article analyses modern approaches to strategic personnel management and identifies and summarises the main stages of development of the personnel management strategy. A thorough analysis of foreign experience made it possible to formulate the main features in strategic personnel management. Conclusion. Strategic human resource management is a way of thinking and management that ensures the alignment of both the goals and capabilities of the enterprise and the interests of the employees of the enterprise. This involves not only determining the main course of the enterprise, but also increasing the motivation and interest of all employees in its implementation.


Pimozide has been successfully used in the treatment of delusions of infestation; however, it is not widely available in the United States. Similarities in both chemical structure and degree of potency suggest that haloperidol may be an alternative treatment for this syndrome. Three cases of delusions of infestation successfully treated with haloperidol are described. In all three the symptoms were relieved acutely; in two the improvement was maintained.


Due to clearly distinguishable damage symptoms, it is differentiated between the surface and sub‐surface failure mode of rolling bearings. Material states red out by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) residual stress measurements point to a variety of loading conditions especially at raceway surfaces that are associated with several competing failure mechanisms. The corresponding lifetime reduction can range from the lower fatigue strength region to material ratcheting in extreme cases. Relevant position of the microstructural changes and nature of the failure mechanisms are characterized. The time alteration of the XRD material parameters measured at or near the surface and at the depth of the maximum equivalent stress correlates, in a different manner, with the statistical parameter of the 10 % bearing life. Both failure modes are illustrated by concrete examples. Contaminated lubricant and boundary lubrication, which represent practically important surface‐induced failures, are discussed in more detail. Gray staining, i.e. shallow pitting, often occurs without distinct indication of global material aging by means of XRD characteristics. Here, scanning electron microscopy observations and electron microprobe analyses point to corrosion fatigue as acting surface failure mechanism. The interaction between material and lubricant under complex loading regimes particularly of mixed friction and corrosion opens further failure research areas in the field of tribology.


Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) combined with cervical spine anatomy abnormalities could be an underestimated clinical problem. Here are two cases of this kind reported to draw attention to this issue.


The banking sector reforms initiated in India in the early 1990's revitalized the banking sector. The private and foreign banks brought new technologies and rendered technology-based world class quality services to customers through ATMs, Credit cards, Internet banking (IB) and Mobile Banking (MB).The present study is a customer centric study on Internet Banking in Kerala with special reference to Alappuzha District.The district is a widely known tourist destination, and is well known for its coir factories.The District is dotted with many industries, which promote international business. The banking sector therefore plays a vital role in the efficient functioning and smooth operation of the industries in and around this district. Remarkable progress in economy is identified after the introduction of technology banking services especially internet banking services. Therefore a study has made an attempt to study the individual's perception about the usefulness, ease of use and attitude towards the use of Internet Banking among banking customers in Alappuzha District.The problems encountered during internet banking service delivery were identified and some of these problems have negative effect on customer satisfaction.


In recent and upcoming years new lasers are being constructed withever higher intensity. These lasers open up the possibility of probingthe high intensity regime of particle physics, which will lea ...


Recovery of kidney function following acute renal failure with prolonged oliguria is an unusual event. This report describes five patients with acute tubular necrosis who remained oliguric for longer than 30 days, but who eventually underwent diuresis. One patient achieved normal renal function. In the remaining four, recovery of function was incomplete but sufficient to permit a comfortable existence independent of hemodialysis. In acute tubular necrosis, even when oliguria is prolonged, an eventual diuresis and return of adequate renal function should be anticipated.


Objective To explore the effect of the traumatic brain injury on the fracture healing and the related mechanism.Methods 64 12-week-old SD rats were randomly divided into 2 groups: The femoral fracture with a brain injury group and the femoral fracture group.The bone callus was obtained 1,2,3 and 4 week after operation respectively,and observed with the HE staining.The vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) and VEGF mRNA in the callus were detected with immunohistochemical staining and hybridization in situ.Results The formation and reforming of the callus in group with brain injury were ahead to only fracture.The percentages of the cells positive for VEGF and VEGF mRNA in the callus were more in group with brain injury than in pure fracture group at the same time point(P0.05).Conclusion Traumatic brain injury can promote the healing of fracture,which is probably related to an increase in the expression of VEGF.


This invention provides a high-output lithium ion rechargeable battery that can realize high capacitance and, at the same time, can maintain a high discharge voltage and can realize the repetition of large current charge/discharge. The lithium ion rechargeable battery comprises a group of electrodes and a lithium salt-containing nonaqueous electrolyte in which the group of electrodes are immersed. The group of electrodes are formed by stacking or winding a negative electrode material layer containing a material, which can occlude and release a lithium ion, and a positive electrode material layer containing a lithium-containing metal oxide through a synthetic resin separator. The lithium ion rechargeable battery is characterized in that the positive electrode material layer comprises a fluoridized lithium-containing metal oxide as a main component and the separator contains a hydrophilic group. Preferably, the positive electrode material layer comprises a main component of LiNixCoyMnzO2 wherein 0.4 <= x <=1, 0 <= y <= 0.2, 0 <= z <= 0.2, and x + y + z = 1.


The state of the art of the MMP (multiple multipole) codes is examined, and different possible combinations with other methods are described. The basic principles of the MMP codes and of the combination with the Floquet theory are considered, and an overview of the analytical basis path of resolution is given. A simple example involving a finite or infinite chain of perfectly conducting 2-D cylinders is presented. The comparison between the normal MMP code and the one with the Floquet processor shows that, on the one hand, the number of cylinders is strongly dependent on the frequency (low frequency needs more). On the other hand, it is necessary to take many Floquet modes to get an accurate field representation.<<ETX>>


Bremsstrahlung processes in ion–dust grain Coulomb scatterings in dusty plasmas are investigated using the classical trajectory method. Attractive interaction between the projectile ion and its own image charge inside the positively charged dust grain is included to obtain the total interaction potential between the projectile ion and the dust grain. The classical straight-line trajectory method is applied to represent the differential radiation cross section as a function of the scaled impact parameter, projectile energy, and photon energy. The result shows that the induced image charge enlarges the bremsstrahung cross section near the dust surface.


Gyumri was destroyed by a devastating earthquake in 1988. Today the city is in the reconstruction stage, and noticeable traces of earthquake are a significant pollution source of the urban environment by heavy metals (HM). To assess HM pollution levels, to identify their possible sources and evaluate the potential impact to human health soils survey of Gyumri was done. Totally, 443 soil samples were collected, and the contents Fe, Ti, Mn, Co, Cu, As, Zn, Hg, Pb, Cd, Ag, Ba, and Mo have been determined by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (Olympus Innov-X-5000 (USA)). Geospatial mapping and multivariate geostatistical analysis showed that there exist a significant spatial correlation between pollution sources and hot spots of studied elements. According to the Principal component analysis, four groups were generated explaining 73.4% of the total variance. PC1 including Cu, Zn, Ba, Pb and Mo, PC3: Ag and Cd, and PC4: Cu, Co and As were identified as an anthropogenic group. Risk assessment showed that observed contents of HM pose a non-carcinogenic risk to children health. The riskiest element was Pb which HI>1 in 1.6% of city territory. The results of this study highlight the need for further medico-ecological investigations and development of risk reduction measures.


Nowadays road vehicles have 70~100 ECUs and the complexity are getting higher and higher to provide more safe and convenient services. This growing complexity makes the traditional development methods used no longer sufficient to validate the safety of vehicles. It is generally accepted that a new safety argument needs to show that the system is safe for its intended application. To cope with this issue, the ISO 26262 is under development by ISO TC22/SC3/WG16, which is planned to be released by June 2011. It emphasis on comprehensive safety management and documentation of the safety arguments with its supporting evidence during the whole lifecycle of vehicle in addition to hazard analysis, risk assessment, This paper introduces an automotive development methodology, FOAM (Functional safety Oriented Automotive development Methodology), which fulfils the ISO 26262 developed by ETRI.


In this paper, we consider the problem of the classical and quantum movement of a charged particle in a two-dimensional Lobachevsky space in the presence of analogues of uniform magnetic and electric fields. Based on this consideration, equations for the conductivity for the classical and quantum Hall effect are obtained. It is shown that in Lobachevsky space the presence of a small electrical field leads to a shift of the stair structure of the quantum Hall conductivity.


Objective: Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are widely used as an antimicrobial agent. Due to the toxicity concerns related to the synthesis of the AgNPs, there is an urgent need of the novel green techniques to synthesis the AgNPs. In the light of the above, we had synthesized the AgNPs with the help of the Tectona grandis commonly known as teak wood.Methods: The aqueous wood floor extract of the T. grandis was used as a reducing agent in the synthesis of the AgNPs. The NPs were synthesized and characterized using different techniques such as ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, Dynamic light scattering (DLS), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The synthesized NPs were then evaluated for their antimicrobial efficacy against the Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and antifungal activity. Further, in vitro antioxidant efficacy of the AgNPs was calculated using 2,2'-azino-bis(3- ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic) acid and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay.Results: From the above analyses, the formation of spherical NPs with an average size of 100 nm was confirmed. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal biocidal concentration (MBC) of the AgNPs were calculated, MIC and MBC values ranged from 0.50 to 1.8 μg/mL and 0.91 to 3.6 μg/mL, respectively.Conclusion: The prepared NPs were found to be uniform in size with smooth topography. The antibacterial and antifungal efficacy of the NPs was found to be effective on the broad spectrum of microbes. The antioxidant activity of AgNPs was comparable to ascorbic acid.


The classic image of the French intellectual that emerged from the Dreyfus Affair is in crisis as a result of the exhaustion of the revolutionary tradition and France's difficulties in coming to terms with new particularism.Judt makes a significant contribution to the history of the intellectual in France,accusing Sartre and others of betraying their proclaimed ideals by failing to denounce unequivocally Soviet show trails and labour camps.The study is flawed by the author's failure to contextualize issues and by a tendentious use of source material.


A 68-year-old woman was seen at the dialysis department with progressive dyspnea over the last 3 weeks. Furthermore, she noticed progressive edema of the left arm. Her medical history included dermatomyositis and thrombotic microangiopathy resulting in ESKD. Her dermatomyositis was treated with rituximab and prednisone, and she was currently in remission.

Fifteen months before presentation, she started hemodialysis via a central venous catheter in the right internal jugular vein. Because she developed a catheter-associated thrombosis, a central venous catheter was placed in the left internal jugular vein and therapeutic anticoagulation was started. After 6 weeks, ultrasound showed reduction of the thrombus in the right internal jugular vein (from 4 to 2.4 cm); the left internal …


ABSTRACT This novel pilot study assesses if Trauma-Informed Yoga (TIY) provides a platform for promoting the preparatory and regulatory skills necessary for EMDR when treating PTSD. Nine clients completed two EMDR sessions per week for three weeks. One EMDR session was preceded by TIY. Surveys and exit interviews were administered to therapists and clients following each EMDR session. We found that practicing TIY prior to EMDR encouraged interoception, mind-body connectedness, tolerance, and relaxation, thus suggesting it is beneficial to EMDR.


The study of the Toulouse Aa, founded in the XVIIth century, within the pale of the Paris Aa, must be understood as part of a more general movement of spiritual apostolic reform of the French clergy at the time. Discarding its rules, obsolete as they now appear, the history of that Aa reveals the spirit of priestly brotherhood as was lived by its members : thus may be explained its exceptional long life, the positive effects of which will especially be seen during the revolutionary decade. It is fitting to rercord that the connections with the Paris Aa and the seminary of the Foreign Missions were the subject of an important article by Pere Cavallera in the B.L.E. in 1933-1934.


Las Animas is a northern Andean community where potters have been making copies of archaeological artefacts for the last 30 years. Dual organiz ation characterizes this village. Here, potters live on one side of the com munity, comerciantes (distributors) on the other. Ethnotechnological studies show that two distinct production sequences are used for this pottery. Men in the high-status upper barrio use one, women and men in the lower-status barrio use the other. This new craft offers a vivid example of the dynamic role of technologies in shaping social forms and categories and the ways in which those forms and categories shape technological choices: here, gender and status distinctions are manifest through technical practices. Animeños link their work to that of the Antiguos, their prehistoric predecessors. These beliefs may partly explain why pottery production has become a powerful vehicle for social expression.


Problem statement: We have previously analyzed the interaction of BSA with flavonoids by using FRET. In this study, the role of BSA on increasing in solubility and on carrying the quercetin derivatives thus enhanced their anticancer efficacy against drug-sensitive and drug-resistant cells were conducted. Approach: The macroscopic (KD) and microscopic (kd) binding constant of the complexation and the cellular partition of molecules were analyzed using FRET and HPLC method, respectively. Results: The KD values reflex the stability of complexes was in the order of rutin > quercetrin > quercetin. BSA was a suitable carrier of quercetin (KD = 1.68×105 M−1) which spontaneously release the molecule into solutions and cells. The substitution of rhamnoside (KD = 1.37×105 M−1) and rutinoside (KD = 5.0×104 M−1) at C3 yielded an increase in stability of the complexes. Rutin was tightly bound to BSA resulting in the changes in mode of action. Conclusion: The macroscopic binding constant was directly influenced on the cellular uptake of molecules and the suitable range of binding constant was KD≥105 M−1 by which the carrier can be useful for increasing the solubility of drug and also spontaneously release the drug into the solution and cells.


Human tumors are grown on the chorioallantoic membrane (CAN!) of the chick embryo for chemotherapy studies. The tumors used in these studies are established transplantable human tumors with rapid growth rates. Due to the relatively short time interval between chorioallantoic implantation and evaluation of the results, it is desirable to use tumors with rapid growth rates for chemotherapy studies. The use of the CAM of the chick embryo for heterologous tumor growth dates back to the classic studies of Murphy (1912). Today the CAM implantation technique for heterologous tumor growth embodies many modifications introduced by various investigators: the removal of a square of shell and the cutting away of the shell membrane to expose the CAM, by Clark (1920); the preference for nine-day-old embryos for tissue grafting and the selection of the point of junction of two or more large blood vessels as a favorable graft site, by Willier (1924); and the creation of an artificial air space above the chorioallantois, by Burnet (1933). The chick embryo has been used to grow tumors originating in a variety of animals (Stevenson, 1918, and Schrek and Avery, 1937), including man (Dagg et al., 1954). Human tumors grown on the CAM have been shown to respond to certain potential antitumor agents (Dagg et al., 1954 and 1955, and Harris, 1956). The procedures we employ in experimental chemotherapy utilizing human tumors grown on the CAM of the chick embryo are presented below. Experimental results are discussed here only to the extent that they illustrate how this testing method may be utilized. The results presented have a bearing on issues frequently discussed regarding this testing method: the response of different tumor types to a given agent, the response of a given tumor to different agents, the relationship between inhibition of embryo growth and that of tumor growth, and the reproducibility of results.


Several studies are reviewed which relate the daily variation in total nonstructural carbohydrates
(TNC) to hay quality, implications for animal preference studies and hay tests, forage intake by
animals, and resulting animal production. From these results we conclude that TNC concentrations
in alfalfa can increase linearly during the day. Alfalfa forage samples taken for animal preference or
TNC analyses should be taken within lh to control daily variation within 5%. We estimate 136 (first
cutting) and 81 lbs TNC/ac (fourth cutting) increase by PM- versus AM-cutting. Increasing windrow
width in heavy hay from 48 to 60 in windrow allows for faster dry-down, however in light hay
increased windrow width is not necessary. The "super conditioner" may provide faster dry-down of
alfalfa hay in some conditions.


The problems of wavelet-based data and image fusion design for on-board control equipment of the locomotive are highlighted. Development of a new algorithmic supply for the locomotive on-board hardware to process images obtained in different spectrum sub bands to create a fused image of high quality is required. It allows the algorithms for object detection and recognition to be efficiently applied to the fused image. Paper describes some our methods to the fusion of multispectral images, which are degraded not only by bad weather conditions, but also the internal noise of the sensors. The results of modeling and comparison are presented.


This paper attempts to identify the 'real offshore' by analyzing the regulatory systems and business structures of Hong Kong and Singapore; and distinguishing the two jurisdictions from classic tax havens. It argues that these jurisdictions are genuine offshore financial centers with value in fighting against the 'real offshore'.As to strategy against the real offshore, this paper disagrees with William Brittain -- Catlin's 'blanket disengagement' from the real offshore, but recommends 'partial disengagement' from jurisdictions that refuse to cooperate. While supportive of Rolan Palan's strategy of international cooperation and limiting sovereignty rights, this paper is doubtful of its effect, particularly in respect of classic tax havens.This paper recommends international consensus on the critical concepts of international cooperation and highlights the importance of understanding cultural barriers to effective international cooperation in the formulation of appropriate strategies for international actions, using Singapore as an example.As a conclusion, this paper re-affirms the importance of distinguishing genuine offshore financial centers, while acknowledging the legitimate concerns about tax, evasion and money laundering activities in these centers. It queries the effectiveness of the adoption of international standards by these centers and stresses the importance of continuous international cooperation to attack secrecy.


Abstract Ornithonyssus hypertrichus n. sp. is described from four localities over a large area of the western nearctic region. Species characteristics include a high degree of hypertrichy on the opisthonotal portion of the female dorsal shield and the unarmed cuticule of the protonymph and adults, thus far unique within the genus. All specimens were collected from species of the cricetine rodent genus Peromyscus. A revised diagnosis is given for the genus Ornithonyssus. Keys are given to adult females, adult males, and protonymphs of the 6 species recognized as belonging to the genus Ornithonyssus in the nearctic region.


The orange red phosphor CaCO3:Eu3+ ,Li+was prepared in the presence of boric acid as a flux by high temperature solid-state method. It belongs to the calcite type structure of CaCO3. The main excitation peak of CaCO3:Eu3+ ,Li+is located at 275 nm,and its main emission peaks are located at about 595 nm,which is attributed to the5D0→7F1transition of :Eu3+ . The phosphor emits orange red light. The effects of molar fraction of :Eu3+ ,Li+and H3BO3 on emission spectra were investigated. The results show that the best molar fraction of :Eu3+ ,Li+and H3BO3 was 2%,8% and 3%,respectively. Addition of 3% H3BO3 increased the relative luminous intensity of the powder by 165%.


The paper discusses the mechanism of hard and brittle material processing by ultrasonic processing.The multilateral-edge ultrasound machine and the system of tool position adjustment are designed.This paper also studies the ultrasound-edge acoustic multilateral system and carries on the test of the ultrasonic processing of multilateral-edge.The results show that,multilateral can be processed effectively by ultrasonic processing technology.


As a literary interpretative theory,Frye's Archetypal Criticism was heavily influential in the western world.This paper analyzes Frye's Archetypal Criticism in details by using the method of contrast.On one hand,archetypal criticism contributes much to the western literary criticism.On the other hand,it has its own limitations.


Influence maximization is the problem of selecting a subset of individuals in a social network that maximizes the influence propagated in the network. With the popularity of social network sites, and the development of viral marketing, the importance of the problem has been increased. Finding the most influential vertices, called seeds, in a social network graph is an NP-hard problem, and therefore, time consuming. Many heuristics are proposed to find a nearly good solution in a shorter time. In this paper, we propose two heuristic algorithms to find a good seed set. We evaluate our algorithms on several well-known datasets and show that our heuristics achieve the best results (up to 800 improvements in influence spread) for this problem in a shorter time (up to 10% improvement in runtime).


This article explores and mobilises the concept of 'internet politics' as an analytical entry point for understanding how politics emerge in the digital media world targeted to the public conversation and constituents believe to promote engagement and participation. Understanding political communication to public in digital platform is strategic in a digital era where exposure to political message is inevitable. Some leading academic databases are searched within a methodology of literature review to report a review of studies on internet politics. The result shows that research in this area incline towards utilization of a specifc platform in digital world. We conclude that political communication in the digital world started in the west and followed by non-western researcher. Technological advancement makes possible for people to communicate and gather virtually as in social media platform, thus any digital platform accessible for a substantial number of people is a potential channel for political communication where further research in this area needs to be directed.


Ethernet has been applied in the Intranet after its real-time technology was improved. It is yet the major obstacle that the Ethernet is not a real-time communication technology when the Ethernet is tried to be used in the infranet. In this paper, several real-time communication technologies of industrial Ethernet were discussed, then the solution of Ethernet Powerlink belonged to deterministic industrial Ethernet was introduced. Ethernet Powerlink can work in the infranet.


The target of this article is disclosing the same practically remarkedparticular traits, determined peculiar properties of process concerningartist's self-actualization into synthetic spice of art for artistic culture ofthe second half of the 20th – the beginning of the 21st centuries. Thepurpose of proposed scientific disquisition is also delineating ofprofessionally necessary mechanism in reference to the most maximalactivity for liberation of individual potential, establishing of the specificlevel as touching a self-actualization of creative personality. The methodsof this investigation are forming as the result from including the series ofempirical approaches in the studying of the artist's self-actualizationphenomenon into the context of art synthesis. The methods observationand generalization are applying in the first place, which discover thepractical traits of the self-actualization's appearance, the self-expression ofcreative personal in the synthetic spice of art. The scientific newness ofrepresented investigative theme is conditioned by detection, the first of all,practical part of the artist's self-actualization process into circulation fromsynthesis of culturally creative pallet of the contemporaneity.Conclusions. The particularity of artist's self-actualization in the modernspice of multicultural synthesis has the bright expressive artisticallypractical and, in to the total, actively complex character, which engagesartistically performing confidence, emotionally sensual frankness ofcreative performing process and, certainly, conviction, in reference to theartistically creative act. Herewith, emphasize, that above-mentionedprocesses generate the high level of artist's self-actualization only onsituation of creatively active accentuation of over-personal life categories,which bring to the condition of decentralization concerning the own "meˮ,to the generalization by creator-individual of over-personal existentpositions.


For the next generation of distributed systems it is foreseen to enable new powerful applications based on system collaboration for dynamic integration of functionalities. This requires a certain level of autonomy for self-managing systems to change their effective and deterministic behavior during operation. In many application domains, however, collaboration processes for new higher-level functionalities are safety critical and an appropriate safety assurance approach is still missing. To ensure that the current operational situation based on an adapted system behavior is safe, we propose a safety evaluation with dynamic safety contracts between involved parties. The approach is based on a continuous monitoring, sharing and calculation of safety related quality characteristics of systems at runtime. We demonstrate the feasibility of our approach with a use case from the automotive domain.


Bordetella pertussis, the etiological agent of whooping cough, has the ability to modulate its phenotype in responsetoenvironmentalconditionsbyusingtheBvgASsensorytransductionsystemwhichisencodedbythe virlocus (now known asbvg). The BvgAS system is part of a large family of two-component sensory transduction systems which are common to a number of pathogenic bacteria. Although much is known about the proteins which exist in theB. pertussisvirulent (X-mode or phase I) phenotype, relatively little is known about the proteins produced in the avirulent (C-mode or phase III) phenotype. We used sodium dodecyl sulfatepolyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing techniques to demonstrate the existence of at least 22vir-repressed molecules which are increased in the avirulent phenotype. In addition, a series of monoclonal antibodies which are specific for the surface of avirulentB. pertussiswere developed. Using immunological and protein techniques, we characterized two of these antigens as surface-exposed proteins. One of these antigens is expressed only inB. pertussisbut not in the related speciesB. parapertussisandB. bronchiseptica. The other antigen is also present inB. parapertussisandB. bronchisepticabut is expressed at lower levels which are not regulatedbybvg.Theidentificationandcharacterizationofvir-repressedproteins(andthegeneswhichencode and regulate them) may help elucidate a physiological role for modulation of this obligate human pathogen. Bordetella pertussis, the etiological agent of whooping cough, is known to possess an array of virulence factors which con


have reported 17O-depletion in terrestrial silicates compared with that in hydrospheric H2O such as seawater and meteoric water (Pack et al., 2016; Sharp et al., 2016). The ∆′17O value of mantle-derived silicates ranges from –70 to –30 × 10−6; however, the mean ∆′17O value of meteoric water is +33 × 10−6 and that of seawater collected at various depths is –5 ± 1 × 10−6 (Luz and Barkan, 2010). This difference in ∆′17O between the lithosphere and hydrosphere has been explained by kinetic fractionation of oxygen isotopes during degassing from the magma ocean on the early primitive earth (Tanaka and Nakamura, 2013) or oxygen isotope exchange between the seawater and lithospheric components such as seafloor basalt and continental crust (Pack and Herwartz, 2014; Sengupta et al., 2020; Sengupta and Pack, 2018). The latter explanation has been proposed on the basis of findings that the equilibrium fractionation exponent θ [=ln17α/ln18α; αA-B = RA/ RB where iR corresponds to the abundance ratio of the heavy isotope (iO where i = 17 or 18) to the light isotope (16O).] between silicates and H2O is a funcHigh-precision ∆′17O measurements of geothermal H2O and MORB on the VSMOW-SLAP scale: evidence for active oxygen exchange between the lithosphere and hydrosphere


If a robot is supposed to roam an environment and interact with objects, it is often necessary to know all possible objects in advance, so that a database with models of all objects can be generated for visual identification. However, this constraint cannot always be fulfilled. Due to that reason, a model based object recognition cannot be used to guide the robot's interactions. Therefore, this paper proposes a system that analyzes features of encountered objects and then uses these features to compare unknown objects to already known ones. From the resulting similarity appropriate actions can be derived. Moreover, the system enables the robot to learn object categories by grouping similar objects or by splitting existing categories. To represent the knowledge a hybrid form is used, consisting of both symbolic and subsymbolic representations.


In 1995, Nadirashvili and subsequently Ashbaugh and Benguria proved the Rayleigh Conjecture concerning the first eigenvalue of the bilaplacian with clamped boundary conditions in dimension $2$ and $3$. Since then, the conjecture has remained open in dimension $d>3$. In this document, we contribute in answering the conjecture under a particular assumption regarding the critical values of the optimal eigenfunction. More precisely, we prove that if the optimal eigenfunction has no critical value except its minimum and maximum, then the conjecture holds. This is performed thanks to an improvement of Talenti's comparison principle, made possible after a fine study of the geometry of the eigenfunction's nodal domains.


The purpose of this study was to develop practical problem-based home economics teaching learning process plans about a unit 'the youth and consumer life' of middle school eighth-grade Technology and Home Economics by applying blended learning(BL) strategy. According to ADDIE instructional design model, this study was conducted in the following procedure: analysis, design/development, implementation, and evaluation. In the stage of design and development, the selected unit was converted into a practical problem-based unit, and practical problem-based teaching learning process plans were designed in detail by using BL strategy. An online study room for practical problem-based home economics instruction grounded in BL strategy was prepared by using Edunet(http://community.edunet4u.net/~consumer2). Eight-session lesson plans were mapped out, and study aids for students and materials for teachers were prepared. In the implementation stage, the first-session teaching plans that dealt with a minor question 'what preparations should be made to become a wise consumer' were utilized when instruction was provided to 115 eighth graders who were in three different classes. Out of the classes, two belonged to a middle school in the city of Cheongju, north Chungcheong province, and the other one was in a middle school in the city of Daejeon. The experimental teaching was implemented for two weeks in the following procedure: preliminary program, pre-online learning, main instruction and post- online learning. The preliminary program was carried out in a session in the classroom, and pre-online learning was provided before the main instruction was given in a session in the classroom. After the main instruction was completed, post-online learning was offered. In the evaluation stage, a survey was conducted on all the learners and teachers to find out their opinions and suggestions.


I have carried out spectrum synthesis of R = 120,000 spectra of several A and B stars having v sin i less than about 6 km/s. The following conclusions emerge: (1) As T_e descends from 12,000 to 8,000 K, microturbulent velocity xi deduced from abundance analysis rises steadily from 0 to about 5 km/s. (2) Stars with xi >= 1 km/s show direct evidence in their line profiles of the presence of macroscopic gas motions in the form of line asymmetry (bisector curvature) which grows with increasing xi. (3) Above T_e ~ 9000 K, both weak and strong spectral lines can be modelled with reasonable accuracy by conventional LTE spectrum synthesis with a single assumed model atmosphere, abundance table, v sin i, and an appropriate (constant) value of xi. (4) In contrast, at T_e ~ 8,000 K the weak spectral lines are much narrower than the strong lines. If the synthesis model is constrained in v sin i and xi by the weak lines, NO satisfactory model can be found for the strong spectral lines. Consequently, chemical abundances for such stars based only on strong lines may be significantly in error.


Traditional plants used for medicine exist for several thousand years ago in India to solve human health problems. The Ayurveda concept involved in the balancing of five basic elements including earth, water, fire, air, and space (ether) because of various active ingredients in remedies. Nowadays, traditional plant uses in veterinary medicine in many regions have been documented and reported such as in Spain, Italy, Argentina, Brazil and Kenya. Catharanthus roseus (Apocynaceae) is an important medicinal plant containing vincristine used in veterinary medicine for treatment of canine transmissible venereal tumor and canine lymphoma. Additional evidences in China showed that Salacia oblonga root in Ayurvedic recipe was able to ameliorate hypertriglyceridemia and excessive ectopic fat accumulation in laying hens. Moreover, crude extract from Terminalia arjuna L. (Combretaceae) bark decreased blood pressure in anaesthetized dogs. However, World Health Organization (WHO) recently focuses in standardization, safety and efficacy of Ayurveda medicine to establish this herbal medicine system. Ayurveda in veterinary medicine still need further clinical research to provide more clear, comprehensive, and practical pharmacological information to improve constantly therapeutic qualities.


The properties of PZT (lead zirconate titanate) thin films can be modified by low-energy oxygen ion bombardment. The degree of


Despite the encouraging trend in public awareness of the need for psychological support, there are indications that psychologists in Ethiopia face a widerange of challenges to keep up with the growing demand. One gap concerns the availability of measures. As part of the needed effort to bridge this gap, the present study attempts to adapt and validate an existing measure, the Sensory Processing Measure Preschool (SPMP), for use in the Ethiopian context. The study selected 676 participants who were typically developing children and 29 children with special needs aged between two and five years and selected from kindergartens in Addis Ababa. The SPM-P is a rating scale with home and school forms, each containing 75 items which are completed by the parent/caregiver and teacher/day-care provider respectively. Stratified random sampling and availability sampling techniques were employed to select the typicallydeveloping group and children with special needs, respectively. The results indicated good reliability coefficients for both forms (Home form, .93 and School form, .92) of the SPMP Amharic Version (SPMP-AV) and for the subscales (ranging from .60 to .90). Besides, SPMP-AV significantly discriminated between typically-developing children and children with special needs (p< .001), indicating the scale's discriminant validity. The scale's convergent validity was further established. Overall, SPMP-AV demonstrated good psychometric characteristics; with careful use, it can play a significant role in the development of evidence-based practices to address sensory processing disorders in Ethiopia.


There is much controversial in the jurisprudential circle about the rule of mediation first in Article 122 of the new Civil Procedure Law. The word "first"can show its meaning by compared with a specific time. From the perspective of system interpretation and the using rule of the terms,mediation first is such kind of mediation which is carried on after the parties file the lawsuit and before the case is registered. The applicable condition "suitable for mediation"stresses to prohibit illegal mediation or the consumption of mediation resources in vain. We can make the judgment in every single case. The people's courts can implement the mediation first either by the case acceptance tribunals,the specialized agencies and the delegated organization,administrative agencies. The conciliation agreement has the effectiveness just the same as the common civil contract,but the parties can voluntarily entrust the mediation agreement with enforceable effectiveness by making a mediation record or initiating a judicial confirmation process.


The main purpose of this article is to explore the powers of national identity, cultural globalization, sport commodification behind Taiwan baseball fans. The semi-structured in-depth interview was used as the research method. The findings of this research indicates that, firstly, Taiwan baseball fans reduced the national identity of baseball, but they increased the identity to the baseball team nearby their living location; Secondly, although Taiwan baseball fans thought that the Major League Baseball (MLB) is reverend, they still loved the local values of the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL); thirdly, the Taiwan baseball fan's national identity is not affected by the levels of sport commodification. In conclusion, local people identified the local sport culture more than global sport culture.


Solid-state topochemical polymerization (SSTP) requires well-defined geometries and space symmetries between the starting monomers and resulting polymer, and diacetylenes are excellent precursors, ...


Desiccated spleen and red bone marrow combined in equal proportions by weight contain, on the average, 2.4 mgm. of water-soluble iron per gram, and 28.9 mgm. of lecithin-phosphatids per gram. Unless these substances represent integral components of the physiologically active agents in desiccated spleen and marrow, it is doubtful whether they can be considered much of a factor in the erythropoietic effects observed after the administration of spleen-marrow compound. In spleen and red bone marrow, erythropoietic agents are found which ( a ) withstand desiccation; ( b ) are thermostable at 100°C.; ( c ) are water-soluble; ( d ) are inactivated by alcohol and ether; ( e ) are capable of oral administration; ( f ) are capable of biological assay; ( g ) do not deteriorate on standing in sterile solution, and ( h ) have no untoward accessory actions.


Abstract This paper discusses a diode-laser-array end-pumped Nd:YVO4/BIBO green laser. Using a three-mirror folded cavity (V-shaped), a 1.06 W CW green output was obtained at an incident pump power of 8.5 W; the corresponding optical conversion efficiency was 12.5%. The relationship between the green output and the temperature of the BIBO crystal was investigated. The laser damage threshold of BIBO crystal was measured to be 600 MW cm−2 and 400 MW cm−2 at 1064 nm and 532 nm, respectively.


Persistent plant viruses may be the most common viruses in wild plants. A growing body of evidence for mutualism between such viruses and their hosts, suggests that they play an important role in ecology and agriculture. Here we present the structure of a plant-specific partitivirus capsid at 2.9 Å resolution by Cryo-EM. Structural features, including the T=1 arrangement of 60 coat protein dimers, are shared with fungal partitiviruses and the picobirnavirus lineage of dsRNA viruses. However, the topology of the capsid is markedly different with protrusions emanating from, and partly comprising, the binding interface of coat protein dimers. We show that a disordered region at the apex of the protrusion is not required for capsid assembly and represents a hypervariable site characteristic of the plant-specific partitiviruses. These results suggest a structural basis for the acquisition of additional functions by partitivirus coat proteins that enables mutualistic relationships with diverse plant hosts.


The Duffing equation has been widely used to detect weak periodic signals. The transition threshold is the key to detect. Unfortunately, there is no effective method to determine the critical threshold. To solve this problem, a new method based on the QR decomposition to calculate Lyapunov exponent is presented. The accuracy of the algorithm will gradually improve with the sampling time increasing or the sampling period decreasing. The experimental results show that the method can determine the interval which contains the threshold, and detect the mutation acts of chaotic systems.


Information retrieval has been paid much attention and it is widely studied and applied in real world paradigms. For various aspects of information retrieval, various approaches have been proposed from various perspectives. It is necessary to provide a formally-unified and physically-interpretable model for classical problems in information retrieval (e.g., document classification, authority-page selection, and keyword extraction, etc.). In this paper we propose a theoretical model, called semantic field, inspired by the theories of lexical semantics and electrostatic field. Based on this physical model, information retrieval can be viewed from a theoretical perspective and interpreted by people's physical intuitions and natural heuristics. Centered on the concept of semantic field, we give some relevant properties, including semantic affinity, semantic coacervation degree and radiation of a semantic source. As the representative application of the proposed semantic field model, a novel method for automatic keyword extraction is discussed, and the feasibility is verified by corresponding experiments.