Exposure to particulate matter (PM) is associated with adverse respiratory health effects. Vehicles traveling along a highway represent a significant source of fine particulates that contribute to the aggravation and possibly to the development of asthma in children. Residential history information and lung function data from 89 children involved in the Fresno Asthmatic Children's Environment Study were used to quantify the impact of PM exposure from vehicles on lung health. The forced expiratory flow volume in one second (FEV1) was collected for each child using a spirometer during office visits between November 2000 and December 2001. Individual-level demographic and socioeconomic data as well as the exact locations of the children's residences were gathered during home interviews. Residential address data were incorporated into a geographic information system to determine the distances of each residence to the closest highway in Fresno, CA. The distances to only highway 99 were also calculated. The categorical distances reported by the study participants were also used to estimate exposure to vehicular PM. Using three stepwise linear regression models, the effects of proximity to a vehicular source of PM on the mean FEV1 values were evaluated. After adjustment for sex, household income level, race, standing height, parental smoking, mother smoking during pregnancy, time lived in residence, and time of FEV1 test, the measures of absolute distances to the highways were found to be insignificant in predicting changes in mean FEV1 values. The regression model using self-reported distance variables indicated that children who lived one to three blocks from the source of vehicular PM experienced a 10% increased in mean FEV1 values, as compared to children who resided immediately next to the pollution source. These results indicate that living in an area with high traffic density may negatively affect the lung function of children with asthma. Introduction The number of childhood asthma cases in the United States has increased dramatically in recent years. Current estimates indicate that 4.4 million children in the United States under 18 years old suffer from the respiratory problem (Centers for Disease Control 1996). Asthma is defined by sporadic respiratory symptoms, such as wheezing and coughing, and airway hyperresponsiveness (Balmes 1993). The severity of asthma can range from mild symptoms to life-threatening episodes. Complex combinations of factors contribute to the onset of asthma. There is strong evidence from epidemiological studies, however, that identifies air pollution as an aggravator of respiratory problems in urban areas. Prolonged exposures to an inflammatory agent, like particulate matter (PM), can result in chronic bronchial problems (Taggart et al. 1996, Rosas et al. 1998, Cassino et al. 1999, English et al. 1999). Lipsett et al (1997) found a positive association between emergency room visits and ambient levels of PM less than 2.5 μm in diameter. Continued investigations of the respiratory health effects from PM exposure are necessary in order to predict the risk factors that may cause an asthmatic response (Stone 2000). Research has confirmed the effects of air pollution on respiratory function of adults, however, current studies are focusing on the factors contributing to impaired lung function in children. Children are more susceptible to the damaging effects of air pollution for many reasons. Their higher levels of outdoor activity, as compared to adults, increases their exposure to harmful pollutants (Stone 2000). A Southern California study found children to have a greater response to air pollution than adults (McConnell et al. 1999). In addition, children's lungs are still developing which makes them more vulnerable to impairment (Bates 1995). Studies on children are particularly important because polluted childhood environments can lead to decreased adult lung function. Recently, a few studies have looked at the link between PM exposure and childhood asthma. A study in Switzerland found an increased relative risk of asthma incidence of 1.16 for a 20 μg/m increase in exposure to total suspended PM (Braun-Fahrlander et al 1992). Children in one study were more likely to develop coughs and other respiratory symptoms as a result of prolonged exposure to suspended particulates (Schwartz et al 1994). Proximity to industrial activity and roadways has been identified as a risk factor for the exacerbation of asthma (Stone 2000). Studies have shown a link between exposure to PM from vehicle exhaust and an increase in asthma symptoms in children. Research conducted in the United Kingdom found that children admitted to a hospital for respiratory problems were more likely to live within 500 meters of a main road with high traffic density (Edwards 1994). Another study found a positive relationship between self-reported asthmatic symptoms and traffic density in children in Germany (Duhme 1996). Recent studies indicate that children living near a vehicular source of PM experienced decreases in their lung functions (Brunekreef et al 1997 van Vliet et al 1997). However, some studies have not controlled for individual level confounders, such as socioeconomic factors or the time a child has lived near a source of PM, which could possibly confound the results. The city of Fresno, California was an ideal study site for the analysis of the link between exposure to vehicular PM and lung function in children. There was a high incidence of asthma among the inhabitants of Fresno and the level of PM in the ambient air has consistently exceeded state and federal air quality standards; for the past 12 years, the highest annual geometric mean at the monitoring sites within Fresno County was above the State of California's annual standard for PM less than 10 μm in diameter (California Air Resources Board 1999). Highway 99, a freeway used heavily by trucks and passenger vehicles, runs through residential areas of Fresno. Three other freeways, highways 41, 168, and 180 traverse the city. Researchers for the Fresno Asthmatic Children's Environmental Study (FACES) initiated a five-year cohort study to identify the possible environmental factors that influence the natural history of asthma. The study began in November 2000 and includes an examination of childhood exposure to PM both in indoor and outdoor environments. In-office and home-based interviews were conducted at the onset of the research to assess the pulmonary function and general respiratory health of the children as well as to collect demographic and home characteristic data. In this regression analysis, data from the FACES cohort study was used to investigate the long-term effect of living near a source of vehicular PM on the lung function of the asthmatic children in Fresno. This investigation used individual lung function tests, as opposed to hospital admissions data or self-reported symptoms, which were utilized in the above cited studies. The primary lung function outcome measure was forced expiratory flow in one second (FEV1) obtained during testing at the baseline office visit. The measured distance from the child's house to highways 99, 41, 168, or 180 served to estimate exposure to PM. In addition to investigating the effect of a calculated distance to a source of particulates, a regression model was fit using self-reported proximities in order to predict changes in the FEV1 values. Results from previous studies indicate that the FEV1 values for a child should be affected by proximity to a source of vehicular PM. Methods The data used for this study, including demographic variables, lung function tests, questionnaire data, and absolute distances to freeways were obtained from the researchers at UC Berkeley involved with the FACES project. Using these data and stepwise linear regression techniques, this study examined the effect of proximity to a source of vehicular PM on the lung function of asthmatic children. The Recruitment for the FACES Study Children were recruited by the FACES staff through a variety of ways, including television and radio advertisements, physician referrals, and community health fairs. The children were been between the ages of 6 and 11 at the time of the baseline interview, had a medical diagnosis of asthma and lived within 10 km of First Street in Fresno, a US EPA Enhanced Monitoring Platform. All of the children required the use of asthma medication, visited an emergency room because of asthma related problems, or experienced asthma symptoms, such as cough, wheeze, or chest tightness in the previous 12 months prior to their inclusion in the study. If the parent did not speak English or Spanish or the child did not speak English, they were not eligible for the study. Children were excluded if they did not live in a primary residence for at least five nights of the week. Families who planned to move away from Fresno within 24 months of the baseline interview or who did not have access to a telephone were not eligible. The FACES Baseline Interview The FACES researchers assessed the lung functions of the approved children during the baseline interviews. Tests were performed using a dry rolling seal volume spirometer (Morgan Scientific, Winchester, MA). A series of measures were obtained, including forced vital capacity (FVC) and FEV1 values. The results of the FEV1 tests were obtained from the FACES project and used for this analysis. This test provided the most information about airway hyperresponsiveness, and presented an accurate picture of the child's lung function (NHLBI 1995, Tager 2001, pers. comm.). For each child, eight values of FEV1 were obtained during the baseline visit. The results of each trial had been evaluated and graded "acceptable" by FACES researchers if the following conditions applied: 1. The peak expiratory flow time was reached in 120ms or less; 2. The child expired for 6 seconds or achieve a constant


Today's cities present new challenges, and ask for a different breed of designers. Who are these future designers; what are their responsibilities, values, and skills; and how do our design schools need to change in order to produce them? This book hypothesizes that interdisciplinary, intercultural education will be crucial for the preparation of the next generation of designers. It explores new models for design education, looking at the Next City joint studio as a first step.


We prove a nonstandard density result. It asserts that if a particular formula is true for functions in a set K of linear continuous functions between Banach spaces E and D, then it remains valid for functions that are limits, in the uniform convergence topology on a given class ℳ of subsets of E, of nets of vectors in K. We then apply this result to various class ℳ and setsK in the context of E‐valued Bochner integrable functions defined on a finite measure space.


ABSTRACT We explored progress on key indicators of adolescent health and wellbeing among New Zealand secondary school students over the last two decades. We analysed data from comprehensive surveys conducted in 2001, 2007, 2012 and 2019 (n = 9546, 9098, 8487, and 7311, respectively). Schools, and students within schools, were randomly selected. Prevalence estimates and adjusted odds ratios show large reductions in substance use (e.g. prevalence of past-month binge drinking declined from 41.5% to 21.8%), sexual experience (31.6% to 20.6%) and past-month risky driving (58.8% to 37.1%). However, from 2012–2019 there were rapid increases in symptoms of depression (13.0% to 22.8%; RADS-SF), suicide thoughts (15.3% to 20.8%) and suicide attempts (3.9% to 6.3%) and declines in emotional wellbeing (76.0% to 69.1%; WHO-5). Changes in family and school contexts were generally positive or minimal, although the proportion of students whose families worry about money for food increased from 2001 to 2019 (7.2% to 12.5%) and access to health services decreased from 2007 to 2019 (83.5% to 78.2%). This study demonstrates that health status and risks among New Zealand adolescents have changed dramatically over 20 years, with areas of large improvement. However, mental wellbeing requires urgent attention.


Petri Nets can represent static structure and dynamic change in a system, and reflect the state of a system and the development of event. It can express spread relationship of faults and identify the minimal cut sets (MCS) according to the relationship between inputs and outputs implied in the Incidence Matrix of Petri Nets. Petri Nets can also be used for qualitative analysis according to the program of the method and shows its advantage when dealing with models containing repeatable events. The proposed method differs from other cut sets-finding methods in fault tree analysis, and utilizes the property of Petri nets. It is easy for programming. In addition, failure detection using reachability concepts and state equation of Petri nets according to the number of tokens or initial states can predict the next state and final state of a system. A sample system is analyzed to show the process of the proposed method.


It is highly unusual for an exhibition of work by senior artists to induce a state of unravelling, to disturb narratives that have been constructed over decades. Often, retrospectives are consolidative affairs, hedging around an artist's practice some sort of enduring identity, something defining, like a signature. This is often achieved through the accumulation of words: catalogues, essays and explanations. It is rare to speak of intuition as anything other than accessory to the process of reasoning which disciplines history. Curator of 'Binns + Valamanesh', Toni Bailey, was hesitant to speak about the artists' work at all, unwilling to submerge their potency beneath a blanket of second-hand words. Her curatorial process was driven by intuition, which resisted articulation. As Vivienne Binns later reminded me, 'intuition' is defined as 'the ability to understand something immediately, without conscious reasoning'. To that, she added: 'maybe without words.'


ABSTRACT Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is well recognized as an essential component of angiogenesis and the increased proliferation and migration of endothelial cells. Bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are involved in VEGF-induced vessel formation during physiological and pathological states. Soya-cerebroside, an extract from Cordyceps militaris, reduces synovial inflammation and prevents cartilage damage in an osteoarthritis model. However, the role of soya-cerebroside in VEGF-regulated EPC angiogenesis is uncertain. Records from the Oncomine database demonstrate higher levels of VEGF in cancerous tissue compared with normal tissue. This study describes VEGF-induced promotion of EPC-associated angiogenesis in vivo and how the treatment of EPCs with soya-cerebroside inhibited VEGF-facilitated migration and tube formation. The study evidence shows that the c-Src, FAK and Runx2 signalling pathways are involved in the inhibitory effects of soya-cerebroside. This novel agent may therefore be used to inhibit EPC-associated angiogenesis.


Abstract Background Arginine family amino acids (AFAAs) include glutamine (Gln) plus glutamate (Glu), ornithine (Orn), proline (Pro), citrulline (Cit) and arginine (Arg). We aimed to quantitate these amino acids in the blood of full-term infants in relation to their birth weight (BW) perinatally. Methods Breastfeeding full-term infants (n = 2000, 1000 males, 1000 females) with a BW of 2000–4000 g were divided into four equal groups: group A, 2000–2500 g; B, 2500–3000 g; C, 3000–3500 g and D, 3500–4000 g. Blood samples as dried blood spots (DBS) were collected on the third day of life and analyzed via a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) protocol. Results Gln plus Glu mean values were found to be statistically significantly different between males and females in all studied groups. The highest values of these amino acids were detected in both males and females in group D. Orn mean values were found to be statistically significantly different between males and females of the same BW in all groups except the last one. The lower mean value was determined in group A, whereas the highest was determined in group D. Cit and Arg mean values were determined to be almost similar in all studied groups. Conclusions Gln plus Glu and Orn blood concentrations were directly related to infants' BW. Conversely, Cit and Arg did not vary significantly in all groups.


An ultrathin Terahertz Triple-band ideal meta material absorber with a brand-new design that is straightforward has been presented. The suggested terahertz meta material absorber has a unit cell that is made up of two D-shaped resonators with slots and a ground metallic plane. These elements are separated from one another by a polyimide dielectric substrate that has a thickness of 500 micrometers. The absorber construction that has been presented provides three distinct absorption peaks within the narrow frequency range of (0.4-0.46 THz) without producing any interference. In order to get a deeper comprehension of the mechanism behind the absorption process, an investigation into the electric field, the magnetic field, the surface current distribution, and the independence of the polarization angle has been carried out. It is anticipated that the configuration of the terahertz absorber that has been described would find use in applications relating to the lowering of radar cross-section, detection, imaging, and sensing. One of the contributions of this study is the description of a downsized and compact triple-band terahertz meta material absorber. In order to generate the unit cell of a terahertz absorber, an identical I-typed resonator, which is represented by a rectangular patch with two very small notches, is first deposited on top of a dielectric sheet and then a metallic mirror. The terahertz regime reveals three distinct frequency spots, and the design of the very small structure allows for virtually full absorption of all of them.


Since the early 1900's the Klamath Basin, in the western United States, has relied heavily on surface water for irrigation. A large infrastructure of dams, canals and pump stations has been developed to service approximately 1500 farms. In the summer of 2001, with drought conditions and a concern for endangered species, the United States Bureau of Reclamation completely cutoff all irrigation water from Upper Klamath Lake, leaving approximately 1500 farms without water for crops. A flurry of groundwater exploration ensued.


PURPOSE: An interference removing apparatus having a phase compensation circuit is provided to generate a reference(pilot) signal for removing an interference component which occurs in a receiving signal in a wireless communication transmission/reception system, detecting a component of a received signal, compensating a delay time, adjusting a phase and amplitude, generating a signal received based on a reference signal and a signal of the same phase and amplitude and mixing the generated signal with an original signal, and remove an interference. CONSTITUTION: A signal f1 transmitted from a base station(211) is received through an antenna1(212). The component of the received signal is detected by a bidirectional coupler1(213) connected at the next terminal of the antenna1(212) and is transferred to a delay line(214) of the interference removing apparatus(218). The delay line(214) compensates a delay of the signal f1 which is generated between the antenna1(212) in the direction of the base station and the antenna2(222) in the direction of the terminal.


We propose upper and lower bounds on the minimum code length of linear codes with specified minimum Hamming distance and dual distance. From these bounds we can estimate the minimum input length of Boolean functions with specified cryptographic strength constructed by the design method of Kurosawa et al.


The present study aimed to diagnose the Cryptosporidium parasite and identify the extent of the parasite's spread in people who suffer from diarrhea and its relationship to epidemiological factors in the holy Karbala Province using three different diagnostic methods. Microscopic examination, which includes staining the samples with the modified acid dye, as well as using the molecular examination using the technique of polymerase chain reaction, the collection of samples was carried out in Al-Hussein Medical City and Karbala Teaching Hospital for children. So, in the laboratories of the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Karbala for the period from the beginning of September 2020 until the end of February 2021, 320 stool samples were collected from persons suspected of having the parasite (those with diarrhea and not infected) and who came to Imam Hussein Medical City and Karbala Teaching Hospital. For children, of both sexes, and with age groups from (1-50) years, this was done. The first half of each sample was utilized to produce reasonably thick


An incredibly beautiful 1.17ct FireBall of a diamond. E-VS1 and full of life. This diamond definitely has the WOW! factor.


During the past two decades, the African continent witnessed a series of political and intellectual changes and calls for greater respect for the rights of individuals and peoples; yielded some effects on the levels of economic and social initiatives in the form of unity and integration. On the other hand, abrogating the principle of maintaining the borders inherited from colonialism -for the first time – and the approval of the secession of Southern Sudan from the North, pointed the conflict that has long been discussed by analysts between the principle of maintaining borders inherited and the principles of human rights and selfdetermination. Thus, it consolidated the international double standards in the application of those principles and the adoption of such a right in favor of the interests of the super powers and their vision. The first intellectual project that was presented to the African scene was the idea of African unity. The idea was originated outside the continent as a tool to confront the other in the Diaspora before to be a tool to cope with the colonizer, the pro-independence, and the unity of the Continent. However, the process was not enhanced because most of African countries decision makers stuck to the rule of the national state since the mid-fifties and early sixties of the twentieth century. Consequently, with the entrenched reality of the national state, national development projects started to emerge, mostly socialist and humanitarian.


In the DC zonal shipboard power system (DC-ZSPS), DC/DC power conversion module (DD-PCM) which is composed of ship service conversion module (SSCM) powers DC loads. This paper presents solutions to the coordination problems caused by the mismatch between the self-protection of DD-PCM and the time-overcurrent protection of the distribution network. The structure design of SSCM aims for the backup protection and the isolation of SSCMs one another. A current limiting control strategy of SSCM is presented to coordinate the time-overcurrent protection principle for the distribution network. A high fidelity DC-ZSPS model is established in PSCAD/EMTDC. Then, the faults in the SSCM and the distribution network are simulated. The results show that the method achieves rational coordination between the protection of DD-PCM and the downstream over-current protection and meets the requirements of selectivity and reliability.


This article aims to study the use of domestic wastewater, resulting from wastewater treatment plant, as a solution for irrigation in agriculture. In this regard, domestic wastewater was passed through an ion exchange process, using an ion exchange resin, with emphasis on removing nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) and not only, the wastewater resulting from regeneration process of ion exchange resin, having a possible reuse as irrigation water for plants. Experiments were done on ion exchange resin wich is not currently used for phosphorus removal but barrier filter (scavenger), for the reduction of average molecular weight organic substances, respectively for nitrate removal. For the experiment, a pilot ion exchange columns plant was used, and a comparative study, was performed using two different synthetic solutions, the study being focused on the growth of some plant species, placed in pots and watered regularly. The obtained data showed that the plant growth is significantly improved, in the case of using the wastewater resulting from ion exchange regeneration, and the process can be considered as a solution for irrigation in agriculture.


Pressure grouting under pile tip means that after a bored pile is poured,through the pipes embedded in the pile and the pressure-grouting device pre-placed at the pile end,cement mortar,which can be solidified,is continuously injected into earth under pressure so as to improve the pile's load bearing capacity and reduce the settlement of pile foundation.Vast engineering practice indicates that the adaptability of this technology varies in different soil layers.Site test proves that it has a very good performance in cobble layer,achieving a remarkable social and economical benefit.


We consider a thin layer of a viscous fluid flowing down a uniformly heated planar wall. The heating generates a temperature distribution on the free surface which in turn induces surface tension gradients. We model this thermocapillary flow by using the Shkadov integral-boundary-layer (IBL) approximation of the Navier–Stokes/energy equations and associated free-surface boundary conditions. Our linear stability analysis of the flat-film solution is in good agreement with the Goussis & Kelly (1991) stability results from the Orr–Sommerfeld eigenvalue problem of the full Navier–Stokes/energy equations. We numerically construct nonlinear solutions of the solitary wave type for the IBL approximation and the Benney-type equation developed by Joo et al. (1991) using the usual long-wave approximation. The two approaches give similar solitary wave solutions up to an $O(1)$ Reynolds number above which the solitary wave solution branch obtained by the Joo et al. equation is unrealistic, with branch multiplicity and limit points. The IBL approximation on the other hand has no limit points and predicts the existence of solitary waves for all Reynolds numbers. Finally, in the region of small film thicknesses where the Marangoni forces dominate inertia forces, our IBL system reduces to a single equation for the film thickness that contains only one parameter. When this parameter tends to zero, both the solitary wave speed and the maximum amplitude tend to infinity.


Under the sublinear expectation $\mathbb{E}[\cdot]:=\sup_{\theta\in \Theta} E_\theta[\cdot]$ for a given set of linear expectations $\{E_\theta: \theta\in \Theta\}$, we establish a new law of large numbers and a new central limit theorem with rate of convergence. We present some interesting special cases and discuss a related statistical inference problem. We also give an approximation and a representation of the $G$-normal distribution, which was used as the limit in Peng (2007)'s central limit theorem, in a probability space.


In order to meet the growing spiritual and cultural needs of contemporary people, more and more researchers are conducting translation studies from aesthetics. The essence of translation is the process of infinitely approaching aesthetics. With the development of information technology, the application of translation aesthetics is not limited to literature, art and other translation studies. Under the guidance of translation aesthetics theory, this paper uses case analysis to study scientific English texts, and studies the translation of scientific English from three aspects: precise beauty, logical beauty and rhetorical beauty, aiming to improve the translation quality of scientific English and appreciate the unique aesthetic characteristics of English for science and technology.


Topic: H2020-ICT-2018-2020/H2020-ICT-2018-3 Project Title: Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Vertical Applications' Trials Leveraging Advanced 5G Facilities Project Number: 857031 Project Acronym: Project Start Date: Project Duration: Contractual Delivery Date: Actual Delivery Date: Dissemination Level: Contributing Beneficiaries: 5G!Drones June 1 2019 42 Months M18 30.11.2020 PU OPL, EUR, AU, CAF, DEM, DRR, FRQ, MOE, NOK, ORA, THA, UMS, UO


The present study aims to analyze the magneto-electro-elastic (MEE) vibration of a functionally graded carbon nanotubes reinforced composites (FG-CNTRC) cylindrical shell. Electro-magnetic loads are applied to the structure and it is located on an elastic foundation which is simulated by visco-Pasternak type. The properties of the nano-composite shell are assumed to be varied by temperature changes. The third-order shear deformation shells theory is used to describe the displacement components and Hamilton\'s principle is employed to derive the motion differential equations. To obtain the results, Navier\'s method is used as an analytical solution for simply supported boundary condition and the effect of different parameters such as temperature variations, orientation angle, volume fraction of CNTs, different types of elastic foundation and other prominent parameters on the natural frequencies of the structure are considered and discussed in details. Design more functional structures subjected to multi-physical fields is of applications of this study results.


Abstract : This ASSERT award focused on investigating the operations in remanufacturing facilities, in particular military remanufacturing facilities such as the Corpus Christi Army Depot (OCAD) helicopter remanufacturing facility. The general area of the project was to investigate remanufacturing and develop tools to help plan, analyze, and operate remanufacturing systems.


Leucine‐rich repeat‐containing protein 59 (LRRC59) is an endoplasmic reticulum membrane protein involved in various cancers, but its role in bladder cancer (BC) has not been reported. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of LRRC59 protein in BC progression and prognosis.


A systematic study of the magneto-optical properties of semimagnetic (Cd,Mn)Se quantum dots is performed. The data proves the successful incorporation of the magnetic Mn ions into the QDs providing zero-dimensional magnetic entities for controlling single carrier spins.


This article investigates a two-link flexible manipulator (TLFM) that can be modelled utilizing a deep learning neural network. The system was classified under a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system. In the modelling stage of this study, the TLFM dynamic models were divided into single-input single-output (SISO) models. Since coupling impact was assumed to be minimised, the characterizations of TLFM were defined independently in each model. Two discrete SISO models of a flexible two link manipulator were developed using the torque input and the endpoint accelerations of each link. The input-output data pairs were collected from experimental work and utilised to establish the system model. The Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) algorithm optimised using Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) was selected as the model structure due to the system's high degree of nonlinearity. The identification of the TLFM system utilizing LSTM optimised by PSO was successful, according to the high-performance result of PSO. Using LSTM-PSO, it is demonstrated that both link 1 and 2 models are accurately identified and that their performance in terms of MSE for links endpoint acceleration 1 and 2 is within a 95% confidence interval.


This paper aims to establish an onto-epistemological connection between the realm of animals and the realm of human beings within the context of the narrative discourse of the novel Life of Pi. The binary and essential oppositions between reason and imagination, atheism and religion, human and non-human, subject and object, culture and nature are deconstructed in order to reveal a unity of homogeneous dichotomies. The concept of Material Ecocriticism is applied to this work with the goal to highlight the fact that the ethical energies of Ŗdoingŗ are pragmatically and semantically situated between the ontology of Ŗbeingŗ and the epistemology of Ŗknowingŗ. These shallow contraries ought to be comprehended through and within the larger context of immanence in which all beings and objects share the same existential substance and in which they are axiologically equal. Thus, the human and societal agencies encounter the agentive forces of Nature, which partially reshape and renegotiate the cultural discourse. The main character, Pi, represents the cosmopolitan thinker in terms of his multicultural and religious background. Through the agency of imagination, he unifies the plane of immanence with the mythical and religious state of the unconscious, and the ecology of society with the forces of animals and Nature. Keyeords: Material Ecocriticism, immanence, agency, religion, Life of Pi.


Abstract : This annual technical report covers the first year, Phase I activity of a research program initiated in January 1, 1983. The main objective of the present program is to investigate the influence of Reynolds stresses of organized origin - induced by discrete frequency disturbances - in deforming and affecting the steady internal flow of aircraft engines. In particular, attention of the present research is focused upon the effect of orderly disturbances such as (A) the vortex whistle upon the Ranque-Hilsch effects and (B) Karman vortex street in causing temperature separation within the wake of bodies.


The hypothesis was that sex and race will affect interracial dating preferences, one aspect of social distance. 64 subjects were selected from two different populations, 32 from New Jersey and 32 from Mississippi, to increase the external validity by using a more heterogeneous sample. An interracial dating-preference questionnaire was formulated and an item analysis was done to establish content validity. A 2-way analysis of variance showed sex and race were significant; blacks and black women in particular were more apt to prefer interracial dating.


The name of John Macmurray is creeping back into the public consciousness, after having lain forgotten for forty-odd years. While it may not be on everyone's tongue, it is common currency among those whose business it is to analyse 'New' Labour and its leader Tony Blair and to explain the party's perceived shifts of policy under his influence. Macmurray in turn is asserted to have been a significant influence on Blair's thinking. According to Blair's biographer, John Rentoul, Macmurray is Blair's 'philosophical mentor',1 and 'Blair's idea of community, which is perhaps his most distinctive theme as a politician, derives directly from Macmurray.'2 This claim is repeated and reinforced by Driver and Martell, who note that 'Blair read and discussed the communitarian philosophy of John Macmurray'3 while at Oxford, and who elsewhere refer to Macmurray as 'the Scottish philosopher who influenced Tony Blair'.4 In another biography of Blair, Jon Sopel notes that he 'became fascinated by [Macmurray's] work [which] introduced him to an idea that would later become central to his political thinking, the notion of "community"'.5 Sopel also refers to Macmurray as 'the Scottish philosopher ... whom Blair was so influenced by when


The pioneering innovative (PI) mode of management was identified from corporate policies data supplied by the top managements of 75 Indian organizations. It was found to be used by a wide variety of organizations. The paper presents the determinants and organizational consequences of the PI mode of management. Implications of the findings for Indian management, for management research and management education, and for organizational design and development are explored.


Objectives: This study investigated the antiviral efficacy of adefovir (ADV) rescue therapy and the feasibility of lamivudine (LAM) discontinuation in LAM-resistant chronic hepatitis B (CH-B) patients who had attained a virological response (VR) with LAM + ADV combination therapy. Methods: The VR and virological breakthrough (VBT) were analyzed in 106 consecutively enrolled LAM-resistant CH-B patients who received ADV rescue therapy during a mean follow-up period of 55.2 months. Seventy-four patients achieved VR, and were divided into the LAM-discontinuation group (n = 39) and the LAM-continuation group (n = 35). The VR and VBT between the 2 groups were compared. Results: For all 106 LAM-resistant CH-B patients, the overall cumulative probabilities of VR at 1, 2, 3 and 5 years of ADV rescue therapy were 40.6, 55.7, 64.6 and 81.3%, respectively. The cumulative probabilities of VBT at 1, 2, 3 and 5 years were 0, 2.9, 8.8 and 13.9%, respectively. Whether they discontinued or continued LAM after achieving VR on LAM + ADV therapy, VR and VBT were not significantly different during a mean follow-up period of 40.4 months. Conclusions: There was a good long-term VR with ADV rescue therapy for LAM-resistant CH-B patients. Moreover, discontinuing LAM was found to be feasible for patients who attained VR during ADV + LAM therapy.


Base on indicating that our medical aesthetic discipline originated from humanity medicine on 1980s,medical aesthetic has played a role to guide the formation and development of Chinese aesthetic medicine whole discipline as well as improving the development of itself,furthermore,walking to the world,effect the world and being ahead of the world on disciplinary concept together with aesthetic medical discipline.At last,medical aesthetic and aesthetic medical discipline will be classified to humanity medicine and applied medicine respectively after both entering to mature steps.


xtcse2 estimates the exponent of cross-sectional dependence in a panel with a large number of observations over time (T) and cross-sectional units (N). The estimation method follows Bailey, Kapetanios, Pesaran (2016). xtcse2 estimates the strength of the factor, for a residual or one or more variables. It outputs the point estimate, the standard error and confidence interval. It is intend to support the decision whether to include cross-sectional averages when using xtdcce2 and accompanies xtcd2 in testing for weak cross-sectional dependence. As a default it uses xtcd2 to test for weak cross-sectional dependence.


Hyperspectral unmixing is to decompose the mixed pixels into pure spectral signatures (endmembers) and their proportions (abundances). Recently, deep learning based methods have been applied to enhance the representation ability of unmixing models by extracting joint spatial-spectral characteristics of the hyperspectral data. However, most deep learning based unmixing methods usually conduct global smoothing by convolutions on the whole hyperspectral imagery, which may ignore the variations within the imagery and result in over-smoothing. In this paper, we propose a deep network for hyperspectral unmixing based on a new Global-Local smoothing Autoencoder (GLA). GLA is an unsupervised model which aims at exploring the local homogeneity and the global self-similarity of hyperspectral imagery. The proposed GLA network mainly include two modules: a Local Continuous conditional random field Smoothing (LCS) module and a Global Recurrent Smoothing (GRS) module. In LCS, we propose a conditional random field based smoothing strategy to describe the joint spatial-spectral information within a local homogeneity region, which also reduces the risk of abundance maps boundary blurry. In GRS, we follow the self-similarity assumption for hyperspectral imagery, and develop a recurrent neural network structure to exploit potential long-distance dependency relationships among pixels. The GLA is compared with several state-of-the-art unmixing metheds on both real and synthetic data, and the abundance estimation results indicate that our method is promising. We will publish the code of GLA if the paper has the honor to be accepted.


In micro-scale biological assay systems, the mixing of biomolecules becomes a critical issue because of their small diffusivity. Chaotic features in a novel micro-mixer designed for cell separation system based on magnetic beads (Suzuki and Ho, 2002) is investigated in detail by means of numerical simulation. The mechanism and the optimum condition to lead the motion of magnetic beads to chaos are clarified. It is found that the chaotic mixing would significantly facilitate the attachment of magnetic beads onto bio-molecules, which practically do not occur without an external perturbation. Active micro-mixers achieve rapid and efficient mixing even in the creeping flow regime, which is not accomplished with the passive micro-mixers.


In order to establish a detection method for avian influenza virus (AIV) infection in ducks, monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against the virus were produced. The virus used for the production of the monoclonal antibodies was AIV-H5N1 of Indonesian origin. Immortal mouse myeloma were fused with the lymphocytes derived from the spleen of mice immunized with the virus. The MAbs were tested for their specificity by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and western blotting using formaldehyde inactivated virus and normal allantoic fluid as a negative control. Twelve MAbs which were specific against AIV were isolated and 8 of them were used for detecting of AIV antigen in duck' s tissues. AIV antigen was detected in paraf fin embedded tissues of AIV-infected ducks by immunohistoch emistry using MAbs. AIV antigen was not detected in ducks, which were confirmed to be AIV negative. In the infected ducks, high intensity of AIV infection was detected in proventricle gland and small intestine. The AIV antigen with a lesser intensity was also detected in lungs, spleen, and bursa of Fabricius, but hardly detected in muscle, brain, and several other issues. This study shows a clear evidence that MAbs produced in this study are applicable for use in immunological detection of AIV in infected duck tissues.


The field equations in the neighbourhood of a particle for a spherically symmetric metric in the conformal theory of gravitation put forward by Hoyle & Narlikar are examined in detail. This metric is assumed to be of the usual form ds2 = evdt2—eλdr2—r2(dθ2 + sin2θ dψ2) where λ and v are functions of r only. Hoyle & Narlikar obtained a solution of the field equations under the assumption λ + v = 0. In this paper the case λ + v ǂ 0 is investigated, and it is shown that the only solution that satisfies all the boundary conditions is the special solution obtained by setting λ + v = 0. The significance of this result is discussed.


Facing a large amount of rich visual video information, conventional video search techniques such as fast forwardhewind are no longer suficient. Users want to be able to browse, to be selective at what they see just like how they have accessed textual information. In this papel; we propose a hierarchical metadata model to represent video information. This model consists of two separate hierarchies of metadata. The first hierarchy is a directed acyclic graph, captures the relationship between video segments at the semantic level. The second hierarchy is a object composition graph, holds objects that represent meaningful content appearing in the video. We have developed a Video Metadata Authoring and Browsing System that uses video segmentation result and generates the above mentioned hierarchical metadata output in XML. The metadata output uses some terminologies from the current MPEG-7 draft.


Monostability circuits are widely used,and most of them are relaized in resistance-capacitance method.The function is relaized in digital method,the precision is more higher then resistance-capacitance method,and three channel monostability are integrated in one chip.The design method of testability about very big value countesr and spi interface detecting internal registers are brought in this chip,so it is easy for test.


Social evolution in the order Carnivora may be investigated through comparative studies of behaviourally diverse extant carnivores. The family Hyaenidae serves as a useful model in such interspecies comparisons, as its member species display various degrees of sociality. However, the behaviour of one of the hyaenids, the striped hyaena, Hyaena hyaena, is poorly understood. Further research into its social ecology will enhance the utility of the family Hyaenidae in elucidating the origins of sociality in carnivores. This research is also critical in conserving this rare and globally declining species. To better understand social behaviour in striped hyaenas, we examined chemical signaling in a population of striped hyaenas in southern Kenya. Although often overlooked in behavioural studies, chemical communication plays a central role in the sensory world of many carnivores, including hyaenids. We tested three non-mutually exclusive hypotheses about the function of "pasting," a scent-marking behaviour unique to hyaenids, in striped hyaenas. We found that pasting did not function to control food or den resources. We found no evidence that females pasted to demarcate territories. Females pasted at higher rates where their home ranges overlapped with multiple conspecific home ranges; that is, females


Introduction: Complete adenoidectomy is the main goal for all surgeons. That is to obtain maximum improvement in all clinical findings associated with adenoid enlargement. Patients and Methods: This is a prospective clinical study including 120 patients with adenoid enlargement with a mean age of 6.5. Adenoidectomy was done by transoral curettage followed by transnasal and transoral endoscopic examinations and adenoidectomy of residual tissues. Results: Clinical findings were collected and evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively in both groups. These findings were nasal obstruction, mouth breathing, snoring, rhinorrhean nasal tone of voice and chronic cough. There was a significant improvement in all symptoms. Conclusion: Residual adenoid tissues was discovered and removed by the advent of combined intraoperative transnasal and transoral endoscopic procedures which become mandatory in all cases of adenoidectomy to obtain high degrees of improvement.


ABSTRACT Many models have been developed to predict the discomfort glare generated by one light source in the visual field. Some of them were generalized to predict discomfort glare from several sources, but they were not directly built from multi-source data. In their generalization, they do not consider the potential interactions due to the fact that the light sources are switched on together. In the present work, a psycho-visual experiment was conducted for a better understanding of the glare produced by several sources using a matching task at the Borderline between Comfort and Discomfort (BCD). A formula is proposed to compute the photometric and geometric characteristics of an equivalent source which generates the same level of discomfort glare as several sources switched on together. This formula is the first step towards a multi-source model of discomfort glare. The practical implications are discussed.


Objective: To examine income-related inequalities in access to dental services from 1975 to 2018. In Norway, dental care services for adults are privately financed. This might lead to income-related inequalities in access to dental services. However, over the last decades Norwegians have experienced a rapid growth in income, including people with lower income. This may have led to improved access to dental services for these people. Therefore, inequalities in access to dental services may have become less over the last decades. Research design: This was a prospective study. Statistics Norway collected samples of cross-sectional health survey data for the following years: 1975, 1985, 1995, 2002, 2008, 2012 and 2018. For each sample, individuals 20 years and older were drawn randomly from the non-institutionalized adult population using a two-stage stratified cluster sample technique. Inequalities were measured using the concentration index. The dependent variable was use of dental services during the last year and the key independent variable was equalized household income. Results: The concentration index for inequalities in use of dental services according to income decreased from 0.10 (95% confidence interval = 0.09, 0.11) in 1975 to 0.04 (95% confidence interval = 0.03, 0.05) in 2018. The decrease was particularly large from 2002 to 2012. This was a period with a large growth in gross national income. Conclusion: People with a low income had a marked increase in their purchasing power from 1975 to 2018. This coincided with an increase in demand for dental care for this low-income group.


INTRODUCTION: Many individuals suffer from entrapment neuropathies, such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, that cause significant morbidity. While surgical decompression can be successful for treating many of the symptoms, the outcomes are quite variable and reversal of motor weakness is limited necessitating the need to understand these injuries. Previous studies of CNC injury showed that during the initial injury phase, there is a dramatic Schwann cell turnover in the absence of any evidence of axonal pathology. In the current study, we demonstrate that there is a decrease in myelination along with a decrease in intermodal length with a corresponding loss in nerve conduction velocity over time in a murine model of CNC injury. In order to assess the possibility that the changes seen subsequent to compression are caused by inflammatory pathways, we looked for inflammatory cytokines Tumor via Western blot in comparison to the transection injury model. In addition, we induced chronic nerve compression in slow Wallerian degeneration mice (WLDs). These mice have a slowed response to acute nerve injury with a delay in axonal degeneration and clearance of myelin debris. Our hypothesis is that if Wallerian degeneration plays a defined role in chronic entrapment, then these mice would be protected from the effects of compression.


This research is part of the Teaching Innovation Project of the University of Oviedo "Reinforcement of basic mathematical concepts throughout engineering degrees. Detection of conceptual errors" (PINN18-A-087) Several authors note that certain errors are made by a high percentage of students in mathematics subjects, as has also been detected in this paper. This circumstance seems to be widespread not only in Spain, but also in several European countries. In the case of engineering students, several researchers have verified the existence of a deficient previous mathematical formation. The reasons why students make mistakes in math can be very diverse. But when these errors are very similar between very different students, from different schools and without having had previous contact, the reason or reasons for these errors may be more limited. From this study we intend to study these errors. In the studies carried out during the academic year 2018-19 by the Bacunimat group, formed by the teachers who applied for the Project referred to above, we highlight one of the conclusions obtained: "The first-year students of the Engineering degree in the first four-month period come from high schools with some lack of conceptual knowledge of mathematical analysis. In the present Project it is verified that these insufficiencies improve after taking the subject of Calculus. In addition, no significant differences have been detected by the type of centre of origin, although they do depend on gender". This paper analyzes the mathematical knowledge acquired by students of engineering degrees currently being studied at the Polytechnic School of Gijón (University of Oviedo), at the beginning of the second quarter of the first year. These students, therefore, have already taken the subjects of Calculus and Algebra and during the second term, they are taking Numerical Methods. The research carried out is based on the analysis of the results of a questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of a test on basic mathematical concepts, consisting of a total of 8 questions, which was passed on to the students in the first sessions of the Numerical Methods subject (January 2019). A total of 89 students responded to the questionnaire. The results obtained have made it possible to carry out an analysis of the degree of assimilation of the subjects of Calculus and Algebra by these students. In addition, this paper also analyzes the relationship between the errors in fundamental concepts shown by students and the way in which these concepts are taught in high school courses.


Effects of interlayer composition on bonding strength and interfacial microstruc ture of green joined CePO4-ZrO2 ceramics were studied. Green bodies of 25%C ePO4/ZrO2 and ZrO2 ceramics were joined by using interlayer composed of Ce PO4 and ZrO2 at 1450 ℃ for 120 min without applied pressure.The effects of CePO4/(CePO4+ZrO2) ratio on the bond strength of the joints were investiga ted. Under the experimental conditions, the grain size of the particles grown in the joint is smaller than those in joined ceramics. The microstructure of the joint is more homogeneous than that of the matrix and without obvious cracks, pores and other defects.


In this paper, we introduce a new counting function a(m) related to the Lucas number, then use conjecture and induction methods to give an exact formula Ar(N)=α(n), (r=1,2,3) and prove them.


The fast-growing literature on the new growth theory can be broadly divided into two categories (capital-based and idea-based models) according to the underlying sources of growth, as discussed in Romer [9]. Capital-based models base growth on endogenous accumulation of physical or human capital and correspondingly emphasize investment in physical or human capital (e.g., Lucas [5], Rebelo [6] and Romer [7]). Idea-based models take endogenous technological changes resulting from RD 3] and Segerstrom, Anant, and Dinopoulos [10]). The former focuses on the externalities of capital accumulation leaving aside the intentional R&D activity, which is the focus of the latter, while the latter assumes fixed factor endowments. Both categories capture one important aspect of economic growth and are able to generate sustained growth without relying on any exogenous factor growth. However, physical and human capital accumulation and technological changes driven by innovative R&D are two integrated elements in driving economic growth in a real world economy. On the one hand, physical and human capital are two essential factors in R&D activities and in applying the new technologies resulting from successful R&D to production. On the other hand, the new technologies open up new economic opportunities for investment in physical and human capital to take place. If these two can be integrated into one single framework,1 then we will be able to see the interaction between these two types of forces in pushing economic growth and therefore bring the theory a step closer to the reality. The objective of this paper is to develop a synthesized endogenous growth model, in which


A convection bond with its two independent efforts and single flow represents the simultaneous propagation of three types of energy: internal energy, kinetic energy and pressure energy, which sum as stagnation enthalpy energy. This would be extremely awkward using convectional bonds. Its advantages are particularly evident in dealing with fluid flow through a uniform-area channel or tube, which is represented in the THERMOSIM® simulation package by the IRS element. When the fluid is a highly compressible gas or saturated mixture, there could be a compressed liquid at one end, a saturated mixture in the middle and a pure vapor at the other end. A proper lumped model would require a very long cascade of alternating IRS elements and CS elements, which represent chambers with compressibility. Further, highly variable heat transfer between the fluid and the tube walls and between the tube walls and the environment becomes very important, in addition to the frictional wall shear. As a result, the author has sought a far simpler structure to approximate the behavior, trading a little accuracy for greatly reduced complexity. He has abandoned his first generation attempt because it was both too complex and too limited. The present paper proposes and demonstrates a new model in which the channel is divided into a fixed number of segments rather than the original variable number, and the external heat transfer is properly computed from available correlations, and the variability of the wall temperature along its length is more properly treated. Examples are given. Advances in the computation of viscosity and thermal conductivity, which also apply to heat transfer computations for the CS element, also are reported.


Summary. This study investigates the influence on children's moral judgment when, in Piagetian tasks, the structure of story-pairs and the behavioural area are altered. 60 boys, aged 6, 9 and 12, were interviewed using Piaget's clinical method in four areas (lying, stealing, aggression, obedience) with four structures (different intentions, equal small/large consequences; different consequences, equal good/bad intentions). Area and structure both were significant sources of variance: thus, children learn to evaluate bad behaviour before good, and are more likely to give mature responses when consequences are relatively small.


Background Corneal transplantation is the most reliable and effective means to treat the corneal blindness in the clinical,immune rejection is a major cause of corneal graft failure after the keratoplasty.Objective This study aimed to investigate the role of Tim-1 in the immune reaction following corneal transplantation in rats.Methods Forty clean female Wistar rats were randomized into normal control group,autologous corneal transplantation group and allogeneic corneal transplantation group.Penetrating corneal transplantation was performed with the Wistar rat donors and Wistar rat receipts in the autologous corneal transplantation group,while with the SD rat donors and Wistar rat receipts in the allogeneic corneal transplantation group.The corneal graft diameter was 3.5 mm and the plant bed diameter was 3.0 mm.The inflammatory response of the grafts was examined under the slit lamp microscope 7 days and 14 days after operation and scored based on the criteria of Larkin.Rejection index (RI),mean survival time and survival rate were calculated.The histopathological examination was performed 7 days and 14 days after surgery to evaluate the inflammatory manifestation,and the expressions of Tim-1 protein and mRNA were assayed by immnunochemistry and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR)in the time points mentioned above.Results Mild edema of the grafts were found 7 days after operation in both the autologous corneal transplantation group and the allogeneic corneal transplantation group.In postoperative 14 days,the grafts were clear in the autologous corneal transplantation group,but the thickening,neovacularization and cloudy of the grafts were exhibited in the allogeneic corneal transplantation group.The survival rate of the grafts was 100% in the autologous corneal transplantation group and that of the allogeneic corneal transplantation group was 0 with the survival time of (9.8±1.2) days.Histopathological examination revealed the stromal infiltration of inflammatory cells in both the autologous and allogeneic corneal transplantation groups in the seventh day,however,the inflammatory cells were obvious decreased in the autologous group but increased in the allogeneic corneal transplantation group in the fourteenth day.Immunochemistry showed a gradually declined positive cells for Tim-1 protein in the autologous corneal transplantation group,but the positive cells were exactly elevated in the allogeneic corneal transplantation group from 7 days through 14 days after operation;While only few positive cells were seen in the normal control group.The expression levels of Tim-1 mRNA in the grafts were 1.24 ± 0.03,5.85 ± 0.08 and 6.54 ± 0.20 in the normal control group,autologous corneal transplantation group and that of the allogeneic corneal transplantation group,respectively,in the seventh day,and in the fourteen day after operation,the expression level declined to 1.54 ±0.10 in the autologous corneal transplantation group and elevated to 8.62±0.24 in the allogeneic corneal transplantation group,showing significant differences among the different groups and various time points (Fgroup =3 277.590,P =0.000 ; Ftime =136.000,P =0.000).Conclusions Tim-1 may play an important role not only in the inflammatory response but also in the rejection reaction of the corneal transplantation.

Key words:
Cornea;  Keratoplasty;  Costimulatory molecule/Tim-1 ;  Immune reaction, reject


(57) Abstract: having a plurality of teeth facing radially (24), rotary electromechanical transducer for a stator core of high power density, which is formed from a plurality of segments (20). The stator core is a composite of two or more segments which are combined along a circumference so as to form an electric motor or a cylindrical stator or armature of the generator (20). Segment (20), when the segments (20) are arranged in a straight line, on a jig (50), or when it is arranged along a circumference around the cylinder, if any of the wires (37) is wound using. Wound stator may have to accommodate the outer rotor or inner rotor, the teeth (24) extending outwardly or radially inwardly.


In view of the width deviation of hot rolled medium-width strip,the width deviation of the strip is reduced from 0~+ 20mm to 0~+10mm by changing roughing rolling and finishing rolling vertical roll shape, decreasing steel pulled phenomena and alleviating black mark on hearth.


This survey of the recent literature is addressed to the proposition that the copious fluxes of high grade radiation from a fusion reactor can be used to decompose carbon dioxide. The carbon monoxide and oxygen produced in such a scheme can be separated, the oxygen sold as a valuable by-product, and the carbon monoxide shifted with water to yield hydrogen, the panacea of fuels. Both radiolysis and photolysis of CO/sub 2/ are considered, as well as work by two groups which suggests an important connection between these two areas. In particular, the development of a method of predicting G values theoretically is discussed.


This paper presents a model of dynamic response of essential oil extraction process using system identification approach. A collection of samples was collected from a pilot plant of essential oil extraction process using steam distillation technique. Input signal for the process is pseudo-random binary sequence (PRBS) and the output is temperature. The sample was separated into training and testing data by using interlacing technique. Based on Auto Regressive Exogenous Input (ARX) model validation, the results showed that partial data will produce adequate model to describe the full dynamic of essential oil extraction process.


The history of creating bitcoin cryptocurrencies has been considered, the main features of cryptocurrencies and cryptocurrency market have been identified. Based on the identification of features of the blockchain technology, the possibilities of making settlements outside the traditional financial system have been determined. Special attention has been paid to the issue of legal regulation of cryptocurrency in various countries. According to the results of a study of current trends in the cryptocurrency market, in the conditions of a significant decline in the market value of bitcoin in 2018, as the flagship of the cryptocurrency market, prospects for its development have been determined


In order to achieve high performance of robotic manipulators, light-weight and high manipulability are two essential indicators. In this paper, a model of UR5 (Universal Robot) manipulator is defined and analyzed with focus on optimizing the total mass and manipulability. The kinematics and dynamics for the robotic manipulator are used to calculate the joints torque and define quantitative measures of manipulability. Then, a design optimization problem is formulated for UR5 manipulator. It adopts the weight and manipulability of the manipulator as the objective functions. The drive train constraints associate with joint motors and gearboxes have also been considered. Finally, constrained multi-objective evolutionary algorithms (CMOEAs) are employed to solve the formulated problem. Several reasonable optimal combinations of geometrical parameters and type selection of motor and gearbox are provided. And compare them with the original structure of UR5.


The Politecnico di Torino Joint Committee for Teaching (CPD) has set up an observation system consisting of: a) extended course presentations, b) statistics on examinations, and c) student questionnaires. At the end of each academic year, the CPD publishes volumes containing statistics on examinations, where each course is described by a cumulative curve showing tne hu:_ber oz students passing the exam with time (examinatioli sessions); each course is followed for four years. The CPD has also developed a system of questionnaires on teaching quality to be distributed to the students. In these questionnaires, students provide information concerning their attendance rates, work required by the instructor, work load for the semester, classrooms, lecture hall and facilities, teaching abilities of the professor and teaching assistants, and timetables. Questionnaires and examination statistics provide the raw data or "descriptors" used to obtain a system of teaching quality "indicators," which is published yearly and made available to the academic authorities at many levels. (Author/ASK) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. Evaluation of Teaching Quality at Politecnico di Torino Muzio M Gola Politecnico di Torino 10129 Torino, Italy AbstractThe CPD has set up an observation system consisting of a) Extended course presentations, b) Statistics on examinations, and c) Student questionnaires. At the end of each academic year, the CPD publishes volumes containing statistics on examinations, where each course is described by a cumulative curve showing the number of students passing the exam with time (examination sessions); each course is followed for four years. The CPD has also developed a system of questionnaires on teaching quality to be distributed to the students. In these questionnaires, students provide information concerning their attendance rates, work required by the instructor, work load for the semester, classrooms, lecture hall and facilities, teaching abilities of the professor and teaching assistants, and timetables. Questionnaires and examination statistics provide the raw data or "descriptors" used to obtain a system of teaching quality "indicators", which is published yearly and made available to the academic authorities at many levels. The CPD has set up an observation system consisting of a) Extended course presentations, b) Statistics on examinations, and c) Student questionnaires. At the end of each academic year, the CPD publishes volumes containing statistics on examinations, where each course is described by a cumulative curve showing the number of students passing the exam with time (examination sessions); each course is followed for four years. The CPD has also developed a system of questionnaires on teaching quality to be distributed to the students. In these questionnaires, students provide information concerning their attendance rates, work required by the instructor, work load for the semester, classrooms, lecture hall and facilities, teaching abilities of the professor and teaching assistants, and timetables. Questionnaires and examination statistics provide the raw data or "descriptors" used to obtain a system of teaching quality "indicators", which is published yearly and made available to the academic authorities at many levels.


Let A and B be infinite sequences of nonnegative integers. For a positive integer n, let RA(n) denote the number of representations of n as the sum of two terms from A. Let sA(x) denote the maximum value of RA(n) up to x and dA,B(x) denote the distance of the sequences A and B. In this paper, we study the connection between sA(x), sB(x) and dA,B(x). We improve a result of Haddad and Helou about the Erdős–Turan conjecture.


1945-49 Peace and the new look 1950-54 Paris rules 1955-59 the rise of the teenager 1960-64 the Kennedy years 1965-69 Quant and the Kings Road 1970-74 retro mania 1975-79 Saturday night fever 1980-1984 swing to the right 1985-89 powerdressing and the new man 1990-1994 retro mania II 1995 clothes for the millennium.


Objectives were to test the hypothesis that nutritional extremes during prenatal development interact with postnatal nutrition during the juvenile period of heifers to impact KNDy neuron responsiveness to a neurokinin B (NKB) agonist (Senktide) during progesterone dominance. Heifers were selected from a larger population programmed nutritionally using a 3x2 factorial arrangement of pre- and post-natal diets. Bos indicus-influenced cows (n = 95) were fed to achieve body condition scores (BCS; 1-9 scale) of 3-3.5 (L; thin), 5.5-6 (M; moderate), or 7.5-8 (H; obese) by the onset of the third trimester and maintained thereafter. Heifer offspring were weaned at 3-3.5 mo of age and assigned to either a low- (L; 0.5 kg/day) or high-gain (H; 1 kg/day) diet until 8 mo of age, then fed a common diet until puberty. For the current experiment, heifers (n = 18; 6/group) representing LL, MH, and HH combinations were ovariectomized postpubertally (17.1 mo of age) and received estradiol (E2) replacement to maintain basal E2 concentrations at 2-4 pg/mL. To achieve progesterone dominance, 3 CIDR devices were placed intravaginally 6 days prior to the initiation of Senktide challenge. Heifers were sampled for a 4.5-h period and received intravenous injections of saline or Senktide (14.8 ug/kg I.V.) at 0, 90, and 180 min. Jugular blood samples were collected at 10-min intervals for radioimmunoassay of LH. Irrespective of Senktide treatment, heifers in the MH group had greater pulse amplitudes (P = 0.016) and mean concentrations (P < 0.0001) of LH compared with both the HH and LL groups. Senktide treatment increased (P = 0.003) concentrations of LH compared with saline in all groups; however, the response to Senktide was greatest in the MH group compared with HH and LL. Pre- and postnatal nutritional extremes appear to interact to impact KNDy neuron responsiveness to NKB receptor signaling in heifers.


Over 95% of the currently cultivated cotton was domesticated from Gossypium hirsutum, which originated and diversified in Mexico. Demographic and genetic studies of this species at its centre of origin and diversification are lacking, although they are critical for cotton conservation and breeding. We investigated the actual and potential distribution of wild cotton populations, as well as the contribution of historical and recent gene flow in shaping cotton genetic diversity and structure. We evaluated historical gene flow using chloroplast microsatellites and recent gene flow through the assessment of transgene presence in wild cotton populations, exploiting the fact that genetically modified cotton has been planted in the North of Mexico since 1996. Assessment of geographic structure through Bayesian spatial analysis, BAPS and Genetic Algorithm for Rule‐set Production (GARP), suggests that G. hirsutum seems to conform to a metapopulation scheme, with eight distinct metapopulations. Despite evidence for long‐distance gene flow, genetic variation among the metapopulations of G. hirsutum is high (He = 0.894 ± 0.01). We identified 46 different haplotypes, 78% of which are unique to a particular metapopulation, in contrast to a single haplotype detected in cotton cultivars. Recent gene flow was also detected (m = 66/270 = 0.24), with four out of eight metapopulations having transgenes. We discuss the implications of the data presented here with respect to the conservation and future breeding of cotton populations and genetic diversity at its centre of crop origin.


We study character sums over shifted powers modulo a prime p. Such sums can be viewed as generalizations of character sums over shifted multiplicative subgroups. We obtain some new results on upper estimates for absolute value of these sums. The case when the cardinality of subgroup is less than √p, it is a question of non-trivial upper bounds for such sums that remains open and is unsolved today. It was proposed by J. Burgain and M. Ch. Chang in the review of 2010. Nevertheless, some intermediate results were achieved by Professor K. Gong, who established non-trivial estimates of such sums in the case when the subgroup is much larger than √p. In this paper, we obtain some new results on the upper bound for the absolute value of the generalization of such sums, which are incomplete sums of character sums over shifted subgroups. Two proofs of the main result are given. The first one is based on reduction of this sum to the well-known estimate of A. Weil and the method of smoothing such sums. The method of estimating the incomplete sum through the full one is also applied. One result of M. Z. Garaev is also used. The second proof is based on the original idea of I. M. Vinogradov. This approach was proposed to refine the known inequality of Poya-Vinogradov and uses in its essence some geometric and combinatorial ideas. The second proof is not fully presented. We only prove a key statement, and for the rest of the calculations we refer the reader to the initial work of I. M. Vinogradov.


In this paper we report a hybrid quantum well (QW) and quantum dot (QD) structure to achieve a broad spontaneous emission and gain spectra. A single quantum well is introduced into a multi-layer stack of quantum dots, spectrally positioned to cancel the losses due to the second excited state of the dots. Attributed to the combined effect of QW and QDs, we show room temperature spontaneous emission with a 3dB bandwidth of ~250 nm and modal gain spanning over ~300 nm. We describe how this is achieved by careful design of the structure, balancing thermal emission from the QW and transport/capture processes in the QDs. We will also compare results from a QD-only epitaxial structure to describe how broadband gain/emission can be achieved in this new type of structure.


IN a preliminary report1 sixteen eases of acute abdominal lesions, including general peritonitis, intestinal obstruction, and pancreatitis, were described in which observations were made on the blood chemistry, including esti-mates of urea niitrogen and creatinine, before and after operation. Detailed analyses of the cases were made, co-relating the clinical and laboratory data. a


In the history of Korean Poetry, Jo Ji-Hun is the poet who has shown a variety of humanistic aspects for all his life of 48 years. This essay has searched for 'mourning heart', in other words 'ea-sang(애상,哀傷)', which is one of his aesthetic characteristics and has not been treated properly so far. This 'mourning heart' can be said to be related to lyric poetry from the viewpoint of evolution theory, and will be proved in this essay to have an important meaning over the poet's whole lives of writing poetry. Firstly, this essay has briefly examined the origin of the word 'ea-sang', and then presents a list of vocabularies relating to 'crying' to show how this word exists and explores the aspects of poems which have the relevant words in them through a simple statistical research. Thus, it finally finds out that these relevant vocabularies are seen more than once from more than half of his poems and also these vocabularies are seen more than once, on the average, from one poem with them inside. In addition, it is found out that his poems has continued to prefer such words. Secondly, this essay has pointed out the detailed aspects and changing process of various forms of 'crying' words by analyzing his representative poems with them in the chronological order. Examining his works like 'Bong-whang-su(鳳凰愁)', 'Nak-hwa(falling leaves)' and 'Seung-mu(a priest dance)' in the collection of Cheong-nok Jip(靑鹿集), it has been found out that the poet placed the colour of strong emotional 'crying' usually in the latter part, at the climax of his poems and he relied the aesthetic climax of the works on 'crying'. Afterwards, analyzing his works of 'Afternoon in the zoo', 'You, please put the crown of thorns on', and 'Facing the history', we have noticed that the poet revealed a kind of pride or confidence seen in his poems with social action but his uncomfortableness or unsatisfied mind for this though. Also, it has been found out that the poet has an idea which 'tears' can be helping to give the peaceful mind and the breadth of mind and 'sorrow' can be beauty by examining his poem 'The sunshine of mind' which is the ending work of 'crying' poems. We should add that this idea is an important change of aesthetic sense. This essay proves that aesthetics of 'mourning' significantly scatters around his works which has been honoured as completeness and literary accomplishment and it further explores them along the line of 'mourning'. It can be said that through this, there is a lyric poet with delicateness and sensitiveness placed inside the poet Jo Ji-Hun's humane features. He and his world of poetry would be valued when we examine thoroughly such aspects of the poet who is known as a patriot, a scholar, and a polemic writer.


A retrospective study was conducted on 514 dogs infected with ehrlichiosis of which 54.4% were males and 45.6% were females. The German Shepherd Dogs were over represented with 42.6%. The Spitz had the lowest incidence at 1%. Analysis showed the most common clinical signs in all dogs in this study were lymphadenomegaly 59.3%, congestion of mucous membranes 48.7%, inappetance 43.7%, a pounding heart 28.4%, pale mucous membranes 21.3%, harsh lung sounds 20.4% and vomiting 19.8%. Concurrent infections were identified in 36.4% of ehrlichia infected dogs.


The fundamentals of acid-base physiology underlie numerous pathological processes and treatments. The modern methods used to evaluate a patient's acid-base status are based on Lawrence J. Henderson's early work on the thermodynamics and kinetics of acid-base reactions. Henderson's work eventually culminated in two groundbreaking papers advancing our understanding and approaches to measuring a patient's acid-base status. However, Henderson's formula failed to provide information on the secondary compensation to primary acid-base disturbances. During the mid-20th century, two physicians, Horace W. Davenport and Robert W. Winters, revealed the physiological mechanisms and provided a mathematical description of acid-base physiology. In this paper, we discuss the history of acid-base physiology and revisit Winters's formula with respect to extreme disturbances in pH.


The goal of the present article is to comment and to potentially expand some of the arguments developed in Cresswell's (2011) Being faithful: Bakhtin and a potential postmodern psychology of self, published in Culture & Psychology. The original work presents the reader with the author's position about Bakhtin's elaborations on the meanings of self and on the implications of his elaborations for a Psychology of the self. Although the ideas disposed in the original article are evocative of creative analytical results, in terms of the social constitution of the sense of selfness, the present work presents a different perspective on the topic. Considering the material of a decade of research on verbal reports, I present an alternative proposition, sustaining (together with pragmaticists of the piercean legade) that the temporal organization of personal experience follows a bidirectional direction.


We have derived complete CNO abundances in four CH giants and using an assumed oxygen abundance, the C and N abundances in three additional stars. Whereas in normal G and K giants [C+N/Fe]≃0, the CH stars have [C+N/Fe]≃+1.0. However, the oxygen abundances follow the normal pattern found in field and cluster giants. This indicates that material rich in C and N has been added to the envelope of CH stars. In addition, there is a correlation between the 12 C/ 13 C and C/N ratios. If we accept the mass transfer hypothesis for the origin of CH stars, these abundance patterns indicate that material rich in 12 C has been accreted and subjected to CN processing


This paper proposes a suspended ultra-wideband and low-loss delay line working in DC-110GHz. Coupled rectangular loop lines are used to generate time delay. Non-coplanar complementary slot lines can improve the return loss. Large group delay can be achieved by cell cascading. The simulation results show that the delay line has the advantages of ultra-wide band, large time delay, low loss, small size and low cost. The return loss of this delay line in DC-110GHz is basically better than 30dB, and it has a wide application prospect in radar systems and other fields.


Applied the conceptions of fuzzy theory, this paper mainly concerns the evaluation issues about communication disturbance effects,establishes the fuzzy evaluation model on how to evaluate the factors of disturbance effects,puts forth a kind of evaluation method of disturbance effects based on the fuzzy theory.


The use of diesel engine powered equipment in underground mines across the globe has been increased considerably in the recent past to enhance the productivity and safety standards. However, the extensive use of diesel engine powered equipment caused severe health hazards because of the exposure to diesel particulate matter (DPM) and toxic gases discharged from the exhausts of these equipment. NIOH and IARC, USA, reported diesel exhausts including DPM are suspected as human carcinogen. The number of diesel equipment deployed in Indian underground mine has also increased exponentially, which resulted into significant level of DPM exposure. There have not been any comprehensive study on the exposure of DPM as well as any stipulation in the current mine safety legislation in India so far except a guideline from DGMS. The concentration of DPM depends upon many factors such as ventilation, engine designs, maintenance, types of fuel, condition of roadways, exhaust treatment arrangements etc. In the present study, field investigations were accomplished in the three underground metalliferous mines. Different parameters like quantity of air, power and life of engine and gradient of roadways were taken as independent variables to predict the concentration of DPM. Multivariate regression analysis was carried out for establishing the relation between DPM and these independent parameters, and a significant empirical equation has been derived. Thereafter, DPM values were measured by Airtec DPM monitoring instrument and the values predicted from the multivariate regression model and measured values from the instrument were validated through chi square test.


Dilepton spectroscopy in heavy ion collisions is one of the most promising tools to investigate hadron properties in hot and dense nuclear matter. Spectral functions of light vector mesons, in particular short lived ρ, are the key observables to study such effects. The connection of the mesons to virtual radiation from hot and dense nuclear matter is emphasized. Recent experimental results on dilepton production in relativistic heavy ion collisions obtained by various experiments at RHIC, SPS and low energy SIS/Bevelac facilities are presented and discussed.


Peace as research theme in New Testament studies. This research article investigates peace as an underdeveloped theme in New Testament studies. Its first part documents this situation by analysing the role of the Bible and biblical research in the extensive social, theological and ecclesiastical discourse on war, violence and peace. In following parts the article investigates some recent literature in New Testament studies on peace and evaluates its place in the discipline as representing a reversal of the limited attention to peace and as illustration of the need for more research. In a fourth part the reasons why peace as a theme is relatively underdeveloped, are spelled out, whilst a fifth section investigates the need for and challenges to exploring peace adequately within New Testament Studies.


Introduction Lung adenocarcinoma is a heterogeneous group of tumours with distinct molecular characteristics. The most significant genetic alterations are EGFR mutations and ALK translocation, which prevalence, age and gender distribution are unknown in Ukrainian population of lung cancer patients. In addition, considering the appearance of new anti-ALK antibodies, the sensitivity and specificity of the IHC method for detecting ALK translocation were assessed. Material and methods 267 patients with stage IV lung adenocarcinoma were included in the study. All patients underwent EGFR testing by Real-time PCR using EGFR Mutation Analysis Kit (Entrogen). 177 patients were tested for ALK translocation by FISH using ZytoLight SPEC ALK Dual Colour Break Apart Probe (Zytovision). Of these, 109 patients were co-tested for ALK by IHC using anti-ALK antibody clone 5A4 (Novocastra, Leica). Results and discussions EGFR mutations and ALK translocation were mutually exclusive among observed patients. EGFR mutations were detected in 52 patients (19.5%). The most of cases demonstrated exon 19 deletion (61%); in 27% patients L858R mutation was detected: 4% showed exon 20 insertion; 4% - G719X mutation; 2% - G719X+exon 20 insertion; 2% L858R+T790M (during anti-EGFR TKI treatment). EGFR mutations were more often found in women rather than men (68.25% vs 7.3%; p<0,0001), with no relation to age. ALK translocation was found by FISH in 17 patients (9.6%). There was no relation to sex, however, the strong association with age was found (p=0.0018): ALK-translocation were more often among patients under 50 y.o. Moreover, this relationship was significant among females only (p=0.0175). Assessment of ALK testing by IHC and FISH revealed high concordance between these methods. The accuracy of IHC method was 92.66% (95% CI 86.05% to 96.78%). The negative predictive value was high (98.85%), however the positive predictive value (PPV) was only 68.18% due to false positive results, that requires an additional assessment of IHC-positive samples by FISH. Conclusion The prevalence of EGFR mutations and ALK translocation among observed patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma was quite high (19.5% and 9.6%, respectively). EGFR mutations were more common in women comparing with men, whereas ALK translocation was associated with younger age. High accuracy of ALK-detection by IHC allows using it for screening, however due to low PPV, ALK-positive IHC results should be verified by FISH.


Glume surface, fruit surface, perianth bristles and pollen morphology in Scirpus L. and related genera from south-west Europe have been investigated by light and scanning electron microscopy. The results of this analysis confirm the heterogeneity of the group and provide further support to the current recognition of the genera Scirpus L., Bolboschoenus (Rchb.) Palla, Scirpoides Seg., Schoenoplectus (Rchb.) Palla, Isolepis R.Br., Trichophorum Pers. and Blysmus Panz. as well as to a re-appraisal of subg. Actaeogeton (Rchb.) Oteng-Yeb. of Schoenoplectus. © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2004, 145, 45–58.


Characterization of PILATUS single-photon-counting X-ray detector modules regarding charge sharing, energy resolution and rate capability is presented. The performance of the detector was tested with surface diffraction experiments at the synchrotron.


Amniotic membrane, the innermost layer of fetal (or placental) membrane, consists of a thick basement membrane and an avascular stroma. Its function is to protect the fetus from unwanted maternal insults during development. It has been commonly recognized that the incision made via the skin of the fetus during fetal surgery performed in the third trimester does not bear any scarring after birth. The phenomenon of "scar-less fetal wound healing" remains to be elucidated. It is not clear if amniotic membrane carries the same feature as the fetal tissue.


Fiber reinforced materials with a polymer matrix are frequently applied in highly strained components. Therefore, it is very important to reduce the risk of failure through understanding the damage mechanisms in these materials. In this work, experiments and simulations are described, based on a model material consisting of a tough matrix (polycarbonat) containing a single brittle ®ber (glass). Under thermal and tensile loading, ®ber fractures occur which are sources for acoustic emission. Two-dimensional simulations were carried out for single ®ber specimens. The dynamic behavior due to ®ber fracture is investigated using the ®nite element method. Parameter studies are carried out with di€erent material laws for the matrix, considering an elastic, a nonlinear-elastic and an elastic-plastic model. In another case the e€ect of di€erent ®ber positions was studied. The calculated acoustic signals are compared with available experiments. Ó 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.


Spirituality refers to a profound human dimension and quality which it is challenging, if not impossible, to define exactly. It is represented on the one hand by a spirituality realised through means of religion, focused on seeking the purpose and ultimate being of life, but also by all other culture of the spirit in quest of a meaningful existence. According to John Swinton, the realm of the spirit is that characteristically human, dynamic life-force which vitalises and invigorates a person and motivates him/her to seek God, values, meaning, purpose and hope. This dissertation makes holistic spirituality the object of its study, drawing attention to the connections by which the realm of the spirit is joined to other fundamental activities and dimensions of human life. These include 1) thinking 2) deeds and practical action 3) relationships and interactive networks 4) feelings and attitudes influencing behaviour 5) the dimensions of existence and being. It is in the realm of the spirit, in other words inwardly, as spiritual issues, that the meaning, value and significance of experiences are perceived. The primary sources of this study comprise six books published between 1892 and 1905, products of the later years of Ellen White, an American who lived 1827– 1915, and systematic analysis is employed as the method of study. A practical, down-to-earth touch is essential to White's way of discussing religious praxis. This study shows that the views of Martin Luther had a significant influence on White's thinking. The sources reveal a similarity between her views and the lines of thought in his literary production as highlighted by some of the most recent Finnish studies of Luther. Although White and Luther represent different levels of theological learning, both have a similar view of the essence of the relation between God and humankind: God's love and activity flowing from his grace lie at its basis. Secondly, the existential connection, "union" between a person and Christ is the foundation for God's acceptance of and care for him/her now and forever. Thirdly, this alliance and joining of Christ and the person is manifested as cooperation and companionship aimed at realising common goals in the world. White emphasises the interactive and active nature of the spiritual relationship between the person and Christ, which is expressed in unselfishness, consideration


PURPOSE: A mobility of a device supporting method in a 6LowPAN(IPv6 Low-power wireless Personal Area Network) based wireless sensor network is provided to support the mobility of the device by separately managing location information and an identifier of the device. CONSTITUTION: A gateway transmits access response messages to a device. The device transmits a registration request message to the gateway. The gateway transmits a location information update request message to a home mapping server. In case an identifier of the device is not registered in the home mapping server, the home mapping server transmits a searching request message to a device management server. The home mapping server transmits a location change request message to an external mapping server. The external mapping server transmits a location change response message to the home mapping server.


The working cycle of a MEMS dynamic heat engine has been acquired experimentally. The cycle approximates a vapor Carnot cycle and has a second law efficiency of 16%. A scaling analysis based upon a lumped parameter dynamic model was performed. The scaling analysis indicates that larger engines and different working fluids can lead to significantly higher efficiencies.


Objective The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neural stem cells (NSCs) were respectively or jointly implanted into transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) rats to study the effects of BDNF and NSCs transplantation on neurological function recovery in rats with ischemic stroke. Methods The hippocampal NSCs were isolated from neonate rats, cultured and labeled with BrdU. The model rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: group A (model group) ,group B (model and BDNF) ,group C (model and NSCs transplantation) and group D (model and BDNF, NSCs transplantation) (n = 16 in each group). The neurological deficits were evaluated with Neurological Severity Score (NSS) after transplantation. The brain was sectioned for immunohistochemical and immunofluoreseent staining. The statistical result were analyzed by a computer. Results The NSS at 2nd and 4th week after transplantation were 5.3±0.5 and 5.3 ±0.5 in group A,4.0±0.8 and 3.8±0.5 in group B,3.5 ±0.6 and 3.5±0.6 in group C, and 2.0±0.8 and 1.8±1.0 in group D, respectively. The NSS in group D were significantly lower than other other three groups (P < 0.05 ) and those in groups B and C were obviously lower than in group A ( P < 0.05 ). The number of BrdU-labeled and nestin-positive cells was (0.52 ± 0.68) and ( 1.24 ±1.13) in group A and ( 1.65±1.10) and (2.59 ±1.44) in group B, respectively (P < 0.05 ). The number of BrdU-labeled and BrdU/NSE double-positive cells was (6.08 ±1.52) and (1.74±1.04) in group C and ( 10.26 ±1.96) and (3.58 ± 1.20) in group D, respectively (P < 0.05). Conclusion The BDNF and NSCs transplantation respectively and jointly can improve the neurological function of rats after MCAo. The combined transplantation of BDNF and NSCs had a synergic effect. The BDNF can promote the endogenous NSCs activation and prolifeation and also improve the proliferation,migration and differentiation of the exogenous NSCs.

Key words:
Neural stem cells;  Brain derived neurotrophie factor;  Transplantation;  Middle cerebral artery occlusion


In the Paper, the three dimenaional flow field of billet mould has been calculated by the limit element difference method after research on 115mm×115mm billet in AISC No.2 Steelmaking Plant. The influence of strand deviation from the center line of mould in flow field in mould has been discussed in detall.


This document provides additional results for the authors paper "Inference under Covariate-Adaptive Randomization". It includes the proofs of the main theorems and auxiliary lemmas.


Modern mathematical physics often claims to make philosophy obsolete. This presentation aims to show that the modern concept of wisdom fundamentally diverges with the thinking of Descartes, that, strictly speaking , at least in his metaphysical first principles, if not in his chief aim, he may be a sophist and no philosopher at all. Descartes denies the classical understanding of philosophy and thereby reduces the human person to an intellect separate from the body. Descartes initiated a popular understanding of sophistry that reverberates to today in our modern institutions of philosophy and science. But St. Thomas Aquinas anticipated this divergence and gave a defense of true wisdom in his writing against Averroes. This presentation concludes with what constitutes real philosophy and science as presented by St. Thomas Aquinas, namely sense wonder that cre-ates a search for the true knowledge of the unity responsible for true causes of true effects. For a true restoration of philosophy and science we will need a re-emergence and recovery of this understanding of wisdom.


This study focuses on understanding the Pb adsorption kinetics from greywater using a composite of chitosan and ceramic waste (CCCW), which is suitable for preserving water quality. For ease and general application, a kinetic model with a simple expression and a manageable small set of parameters that nevertheless provides a fair adsorption description in the equilibrium state is still critical. Although some current kinetic models, such as the pseudo-second-order type, meet these conditions, their performance is still questionable, especially when applied to a variety of experimental data. Batch adsorption experiments were carried out with the predetermined value of the operational parameter such as adsorbent dosage, contact time, and shaking speed. Kinetic models such as pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order, intraparticle diffusion kinetic model, Avrami model, and the Bangham model were used in this study to understand the kinetics of removal of lead from greywater. The efficacy results of adsorbent's dose in lead removal process with increasing adsorption capacity with contact time from 0.0014 to 0.00277 mg/g, the removal efficiency increases from 45.90 to 90.83%. The most significant contribution of this work is an understanding of the optimal kinetics model that can describe the behaviour of lead adsorption on CCCW. Five models for the adsorption of Pb2+ have been identified to clarify the kinetics models' usefulness in accuracy based on rank order. This study may provide insight into understanding the ability and usability of the appropriate model in kinetics adsorption.