Abstract Oulipo, the Ouvroir de Litterature Potentielle,1 dedicated to the use of constraints as a mechanism for the production ofliterary texts, was founded in 1960 by Raymond Queneau and a group of other writers and mathematicians. Constraints could be applied to existing works, as in Queneau's transformation of sonnets by Mallarmé into haikus, an effect achieved by discarding all but the rhyming sections.2 They could also be used to generate new works, such as Georges Perec's novel La Disparition,3 which embodies the principle of the lipogramme, the suppression of one or more letters, through its exclusion of the letter 'e'. Virtuoso examples such as these have attracted the interest of artists outside the field of literature, and various Ou-X-po based on, for example, painting (Oupeinpo) and cinema (Oucipo), have come into existence since the 1960s.4


The invention relates to detergents which are used for machine dishwashing and which are advantageous with regard to resistance to hydrolysis, stability in storage, and to performance when they contain phosphates with nitrogenous cations, especially pentaguanidinium triphosphate and/or penta[(3-amino-5-alkyl-1,2,4-triazole)-ium]triphosphate.


Human brain activity during memory Animal studies suggest that sequence replay of neuronal activity may underlie memory retrieval and consolidation. However, there is no direct evidence that the replay of spiking activity sequences is important for these processes in the human brain. Vaz et al. simultaneously recorded single-unit spikes, local field potential, and intracranial electroencephalography signals in the brain while participants performed a memory task. Sharp wave ripple oscillations in the temporal lobe cortex reflected bursts of neural spiking, and these bursts of spikes organized into sequences during memory formation. These sequences were replayed during successful memory retrieval. The extent of sequence replay during correct recall was related to the extent to which cortical spiking activity was coupled with ripples in the medial temporal lobe. Science, this issue p. 1131 Human single-unit and local field potential recordings of encoding-related activity sequences during long-term memory formation and retrieval are investigated. Episodic memory retrieval is thought to rely on the replay of past experiences, yet it remains unknown how human single-unit activity is temporally organized during episodic memory encoding and retrieval. We found that ripple oscillations in the human cortex reflect underlying bursts of single-unit spiking activity that are organized into memory-specific sequences. Spiking sequences occurred repeatedly during memory formation and were replayed during successful memory retrieval, and this replay was associated with ripples in the medial temporal lobe. Together, these data demonstrate that human episodic memory is encoded by specific sequences of neural activity and that memory recall involves reinstating this temporal order of activity.


As a primary problem of researches on Knowledge Management (KM), the enterprise knowledge organization lays the foundation for the sequent researches such as knowledge acquisition, knowledge sharing, knowledge innovation, etc. From the view of system science, network is an effective structure to model knowledge within an enterprise, and a knowledge organization network can integrate KM researches in different perspectives and conduct much more effective and all-sided KM applications. In this paper, an enterprise knowledge organization network model is issued and constructed. In detail, four sub networks representing different aspects of the enterprise knowledge are constructed respectively to compose the knowledge organization network together, and a social relation measuring model is proposed. Then, applications such as matching of knowledge about demand and supply and knowledge value-adding based on the enterprise knowledge organization network are studied.


A new approximate formula of fundamental frequency(base frequency of bengding and torision) for the longspan cable-stayed bridge is developed based on the theoretical derivation and many global bridge analysis cases.This formula not only improves the accuracy,but also has simple expression.The recommend formula is a critical improvement for the fundamental frequency from Wind-resisitent Design Specification for Highway Bridges(JTG/T D60-01-2004).It has unified expression form with the vertical bending formula,and reveals the true relationship between the structure bending frequency and torsion frequency.Comparison between the finite element dynamic analysis results and the calculated results,shows that our formula is reliable and has high precision for the real engineering practice on the twin-tower cable-stayed bridge with a span over 400 m.


The electron impact induced fragmentations of the endo- and exo-octahydro-4,7-methano-1H-indene systems have been studied. The principal decomposition reactions have been elucidated by deuterium labelling. Two generic fragmentation patterns appeared: one involved the bisection of the molecule and the second involved the loss of various alkyl fragments.


Background and Objectives: Cancer survivors are less likely than comparably-aged individuals without a cancer history to develop Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). We investigated the association between cancer history and structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) markers for ADRD risk, using linear mixed-effects models to assess differences at the mean values of MRI markers and quantile regression to examine whether the association varies across the distribution of MRI markers of brain aging. Methods: Among UK Biobank participants with [≥]1 brain MRI, we considered total gray matter volume, total brain volume, hippocampal volume, white matter hyperintensity volume, and mean cortical thickness in the Alzheimer's disease (AD) signature region. Cancer history was ascertained from national registry and self-report. We first specified linear mixed models with random intercepts to assess mean differences in MRI markers according to cancer history. Next, to examine whether effects of cancer history on these markers varies across the ADRD risk distribution, we specified quantile regression models to assess differences in quantile cut-points of the distribution of MRI markers according to cancer history. Models adjusted for demographics, APOE-{varepsilon}4 status, and health behaviors. Results: The sample included 42,242 MRIs on 37,588 participants with no cancer history (mean age 64.1 years), and 6,073 MRIs on 5,514 participants with a cancer diagnosis prior to MRI (mean age 66.7 years). Cancer history was associated with smaller mean hippocampal volume (b=-19 mm3, 95% confidence interval [CI]=-36, -1) and lower mean cortical thickness in the AD signature region (b=-0.004 mm, 95% CI=-0.007, -0.000). Quantile regressions indicated cancer history had larger effects on high quantiles of white matter hyperintensities (10th percentile b=-49 mm3, 95% CI=-112, 19; 90th percentile b=552 mm3, 95% CI= 250, 1002) and low quantiles of cortical thickness (10th percentile b=-0.006 mm, 95% CI=-0.011, -0.000; 90th percentile b=0.003 mm3, 95% CI=-0.003, 0.007), indicating individuals most vulnerable to ADRD were more affected by cancer history. Discussion: We found no evidence that cancer history was associated with less ADRD-related neurodegeneration. To the contrary, adults with cancer history had worse MRI indicators of dementia risk. Adverse associations were largest in the highest-risk quantiles of neuroimaging markers.


Abstract Few attempts are available in the literature on utilising the trilayer low density polyethylene (LDPE) film as new generation of greenhouse cover to substitute the monolayer film that is often used. This paper investigates and compares the degradation behaviour and durability of both covers. The covers are exposed to 7 months of natural withering. The results revealed that the degradation resistance of trilayer film is better than the monolayer film in terms of their mechanical and optical properties. The service lifespan, based on 50% reduction in the property criterion, of the trilayer film is found to be double the service lifespan of the monolayer film.


The design and implementation of a framework that facilitates the development of Mobile Health applications to manage the communications with biomedical sensors in compliance with the CEN ISO/IEEE 11073 standard family are presented. The framework includes a set of functional modules that are responsible, among other tasks, of the communication of sensors and the processing and storage of data. The mobile terminal acts as an intermediary or hub, collecting and presenting the data received in a standardised way, regardless of the sensor type used. In this context, as proof of concept it is presented a mobile app built on the top of the framework to manage the communications with a smart fall detector.


Plectranthus scutellarioides (synonym: Coleus blumei ) is a popular garden plant, cultivated worldwide and is known to be infected with several viroids of the genus Coleviroid , family Pospiviroidae . Coleus blumei viroid 1 (CbVd-1) is the…


The traditional screw drive has the difficulty of precise position and complex program control, which increases the difficulty of technical personnel's development. Aiming at this pain point, this paper proposes a fixed stroke lead screw transmission mechanism with self positioning function. After the technical improvement, the lead screw no longer needs the travel switch and the corresponding switch state judgment circuit, which simplifies the circuit composition of the whole system. It simplifies the mechanical structure layout of the whole system, and does not need to reserve the installation position and wiring position of the travel switch, especially for the limited space environment. For the screw transmission structure which needs to be used in the sealed environment, the stroke distance in the closed cavity reserved due to the installation of the travel switch can be saved, and the length of the instrument can be shortened. In addition, it is no longer necessary to judge the status of the travel switch and issue control commands in the program. It only needs to reserve enough motor rotation time according to the motor speed, which simplifies the program structure. The starting and ending positions and travel distance of the whole travel are accurate and reliable, which can avoid the over travel, blocking and impact caused by the damage of the travel switch, and ensure the safety of the instrument, equipment and operators.


Tunable temperature dependent terahertz photonic band gaps (PBGs) in one-dimensional (1-D) photonic crystal composed of alternating layers of graded index and semiconductor materials are demonstrated. Results show the influence of temperature, geometrical parameters, grading profile and material damping factor on the PBGs. Number of PBG increases with increasing the layer thickness and their bandwidth can be tuned with external temperature and grading parameters. Lower order band gap is more sensitive to the temperature which shows increasing trend with temperature, and higher order PBGs can also be tuned by controlling the external temperature. Band edges of PBGs are shifted toward higher frequency side with increasing the temperature. Results show that the operational frequencies of PBGs are unaffected when loss involved. This work enables to design tunable Temperature dependent terahertz photonic devices such as reflectors, sensors and filters etc.Tunable temperature dependent terahertz photonic band gaps (PBGs) in one-dimensional (1-D) photonic crystal composed of alternating layers of graded index and semiconductor materials are demonstrated. Results show the influence of temperature, geometrical parameters, grading profile and material damping factor on the PBGs. Number of PBG increases with increasing the layer thickness and their bandwidth can be tuned with external temperature and grading parameters. Lower order band gap is more sensitive to the temperature which shows increasing trend with temperature, and higher order PBGs can also be tuned by controlling the external temperature. Band edges of PBGs are shifted toward higher frequency side with increasing the temperature. Results show that the operational frequencies of PBGs are unaffected when loss involved. This work enables to design tunable Temperature dependent terahertz photonic devices such as reflectors, sensors and filters etc.


ABSTRACT Long-term droughts significantly impact surface and groundwater resources in India, however, observed changes in major river basins have not been well explored. Here we use Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) at three different time scales (24, 48, and 60 months) to identify long-term droughts in India for the observed record of 1951–2015. Drought characteristics (extent, events, frequency, and intensity) are analyzed for different river basins in India. Increasing trend in the areal extent of droughts is observed in two methods with three time scales in the maximum area (63.66%) in India. We use the data from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) to estimate the changes in the terrestrial water storage (TWS) during the period 2002–2015. We identify that major long-term droughts in India occurred from 1966 to 1969, 1972, 1986–1987, and 2002–2004. The all-India average TWS shows a negative trend from 2002 to 2015 with prominent decline in north Indian river basins and positive trend in south Indian river basins. SPI and SPEI at longer time scales are positively associated with TWS indicating the adverse impacts of droughts on surface and groundwater resources in such a populated region.


The retrospective study of hospitalized neonatal outcomes was performed at Newborn Unit, Chaoprayayomaraj hospital during October 1992 to September 1995. There were 2,147 patients, with 78.80 percent from Labour Unit of Chaoprayayomaraj hospital and 21.20 percent from referal system. (38.09 percent were low birth weight infants. 1,841 patients (85.75%) could return home ; 50 patients (2.33%) were refered to higher center. 256 patients died (11.92%) and 58.98% of them were low birth weight. The common significant causes of Early neonatal death included Respiratory Distress Syndrome and Birth asphyxia. Infection was the most common cause of Late neonatal death. Concerning with the patients from referal system, 26 percent died mostly in Early neonatal period. In order to reduce the incidence of low birth weight infants and the neonatal death rate. we should improve antenatal, perinatal and neonatal care and should have an effective referal system.


Tracking locations of vehicles such as forklifts in warehouses and factories is crucial since it contributes to the safety of personnel and the output performance of manufacturing and logistics activities. It is necessary to develop a method of locating the vehicles by attaching generic inertial measurement units (IMUs) without any modifications. In this research, we have aimed at providing technologies to estimate locations of the vehicles with the IMUs simply attached to the vehicles based on vibration analysis. We have also developed a novel method of automatic calibration between the proposed vibration signatures and the road conditions without any manual procedures. Integration of acceleration in short terms (within 0.5-2 seconds) and observation of vibration signatures in long terms (> 30 seconds) are fused in the extended Kalman filtering framework to stably estimate the correlation parameters and can also be used to detect changes in the road conditions. In this research, we confirmed that accuracy of localization is below 1-5% of distance travelled on average for electric wheelchairs and handy wagons without any manual calibration procedures by using the smartphones. With aids of generic Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons, we also confirmed that the error of location can be bounded to below 2 meters on average.


Reconfiguration is the process of applying planned changes to the communication, interconnection, componentization, or functionality of a deployed system. It is a powerful tool for achieving a variety of desirable properties of large-scale, distributed systems, including evolvability, adaptability, survivability, and continuous availability. Current approaches to reconfiguration are inadequate: some allow one to describe a system's range of configurations for a relatively broad class of system architectures, but do not provide a mechanism for actually carrying out a reconfiguration; others provide a mechanism for carrying out certain kinds of limited reconfigurations, but assume a specialized system architecture in order to do so. This paper describes our attempt at devising a reconfiguration mechanism for use with the popular and widely available Enterprise JavaBean (EJB) component container model. We describe extensions to the basic services provided by EJB to support the mechanism, a prototype implementation, and a case study of its application to a representative component-based distributed system.


1.The natural stock of large woody debris (LWD) in the afforested Douglas River (Fermoy, Co. Cork) is very low relative to old-growth forests, which seems to arise from deficiency both of supply and retention. Woody debris is important to the ecology and physical structure of forest streams, so its abundance is relevant to aquatic conservation and the maintenance and size of salmonid fish stocks.
2.The physical characteristics and fish stocks of 16 contiguous segments of two 200 m stream reaches were surveyed in spring 1998 prior to the installation of 12 partially spanning debris structures on four of the segments. This study investigated the effect of debris structures on the heterogeneity of flow and substratum, and the distribution of brown trout (Salmo trutta), and assessed the potential use of woody debris manipulation as a tool in the management of forest streams.
3.Surveys of stream habitat conditions over a 2 year period following the installation of woody debris showed a change in stream architecture. This created more suitable habitat for trout through development of additional pools in which beds of fine sediment developed, and constraining the main current, increasing the amount of eddies and slack water areas.
4.There were significant increases in trout density and biomass in the debris segments relative to control segments without debris dams 1 and 2 years after debris addition, although trout condition was not modified by the addition of LWD. These results suggest that the addition of woody debris offers a positive and practical management technique for enhancing fish in plantation forest streams.

Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


Gender based violence (GBV) consequences on women economic empowerment within Kenya are immensely widespread. Nakuru East Sub County, in particular has reported many cases of GBV. The aim of this study was to examine effects of gender-based violence on the women access to education. This investigation was guided by Ecological theory and a descriptive survey design was adopted in this study. Using a questionnaire, focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews, the results are based on achieved response of a group of 40 women, 2 chiefs and 2 officers in charge of children protection unit and 3 CSOs Staff. Study findings indicate that there was notable impact of GBV on women access to education in Nakuru East. Cases of school dropout as a result of teenage pregnancies, Early marriage, child labour, and giving preference to boys in education were top on the findings. Empowerment of women reduces the unequal power relationship between women and men which has been identified as the root cause of GBV.


Research on customer switch back intention in the telecommunication sector provides insights into customer behaviour, identifies key drivers, assesses satisfaction levels, evaluates competitors, enhances customer retention strategies, and enables predictive analytics. Such research is crucial for telecommunication companies to understand their customers better, improve their offerings, and effectively retain customers in a highly competitive market. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the impact of post-purchase regret, relational bonds, and prior experience on switch back intentions among prepaid mobile subscribers. Additionally, it examines the moderating role of the worth of win-back offer on this relationship. The study employs Attribution Theory as a theoretical framework to develop and test the research model. Data were collected from 345 prepaid mobile subscribers, and the structural equation modelling technique was used for data analysis. Results indicate that post-purchase regret, relational social capital, and prior experience have a significant impact on switch back intentions. The study also finds that the worth of win-back offer moderates the relationship between prior experience and switch back intentions. However, it does not moderate the relationship between post-purchase regret and switch back intentions. These findings provide valuable insights for mobile service providers to understand the factors that influence customers' switch back intentions and to develop effective win-back strategies..


The previous enzymatic characterization of wild type Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase (RT) and mutant RTs, Q151N and V148I, clearly demonstrated the contribution of RT dNTP binding affinity (Kd) to the completion of DNA synthesis at low dNTP concentrations. The two mutant RTs, Q151N and V148I, were shown to have 234.2 and 25.6-fold lower binding affinity to the incoming dNTP, respectively. The follow-up experiments examined the cell-type specificity of HIV-1 vectors encoding these mutant RTs and demonstrated that while wild type vector could successfully transduce both high (i.e. CD4+ T cells) and low (i.e. macrophages) dNTP concentration cell-types, the mutant vectors' ability to transduce low dNTP concentration cell-types was severely impaired. These data suggest that Kd of RT is one of the mechanistic elements involved in the target cell-type specificity of HIV-1. The presented collection of work describes two more systems that further characterize the role of Kd in retroviral celltype specificity as well as a potential novel role of the HIV-1 central polypurine tract (cPPT) in rescuing replication and transduction in viral vectors with enzymatically


Immunogenic method is provided. The method comprises sequential administration of recombinant adenoviral vectors and recombinant adeno-associated virus vectors, each delivering a heterologous expression cassette encoding the same immunogenic product or cross-acting immunogenic product. Products containing a vector for use in the method of the present invention are also provided.


Background: Effective anaesthesia is required to overcome complications of epidural anaesthesia and relieve the patients undergoing lower limb surgeries such as total knee replacement from severe pain.
Aims and Objective: The current study was aimed to study combined spinal- epidural anaesthesia (CSEA) and spinal plus single shot femoral nerve block (SSFNB) for post-operative analgesia in total knee replacement surgeries.
Materials and Methods: This prospective observational and randomized study included 60 subjects undergoing Total knee replacement which were randomized into two groups and administered combined spinal epidural block and single shot femoral nerve block as per standardised protocol for post-operative pain management. Pain as per visual analogue scale and need of rescue analgesia and other haemodynamic parameters were compared between two groups and at different time interval.
Result: Two study groups were found to be matched for age, gender, weigh, height and ASA grading. SSFNB group showed significantly high VAS score at 6 Hr, need for rescue analgesia, compared to CSEA group. CSEA group had significantly high number of patients with motor block. significant difference in the variation of pulse rate was observed within both the groups. Significantly higher systolic blood pressure at 6h, 12h, 24h and 36h., diastolic blood pressure at 6h, 24h and 48h and in mean arterial pressure at 6h, 24h and 36 h was observed in SSFNB group compared to CSEA group.
Conclusion: We concluded that, patients undergoing total knee replacement show better analgesia and hemodynamic stability with CSEA in comparison to SSFNB, but at the cost of more motor blockade on non-operative limb and delayed recovery.


The authors investigated the present needs for physical education and for reform of physical education.They found that students are interested in sports classes and participate in sports activities.The students are conscious of the bodybuilding functions of the sports activities.They also have their own opinions about teaching contents,methods and means.Therefore,they ask for reform of physical education.The authors put forth that the reform of physical education is necessary,which can ensure the functions of sports classes and lay a solid foundation for developing the students habit of lifelong sports.


Objective of this paper is to provide design recommendations to improve the performance and power density of a 400kVA salient-pole synchronous generator, without exceeding the limitations due to critical parameters such as total harmonic distortion of the no-load voltage. Preliminarily, a finite-element analysis of the considered machine is carried out, aiming at validating the inherent model against experiment measurements. An in-detailed sensitivity analysis of the machine's design parameters that mostly affect the performance of the platform under investigation is performed. It has been found that the position and the shape of axial ventilation ducts, as well as the stator slot shape do not affect the electromagnetic performance in a significant way and it can be highly beneficial from a thermal point of view, resulting in reduced rotor temperatures. Additionally, the shape of the salient poles and the damper winding arrangement can produce positive effects on the general performance, particularly allowing for an improved voltage THD and power density of the machine being studied in this paper.


In this paper a method is introduced for finding all proportional integral differential (PID) controllers that satisfy a robust performance constraint for a given transfer function of any order with time-delay by using the frequency response. The H-infinity index of additive weight uncertainty on the basis of robustness stability condition of closed loop system is first got by small gain theorem. Then, based on the boundary crossing theorem, the parameter boundaries with the expected decay ratio index of PID controller are derived. PID control method that simultaneously stabilize the system and robustly meet the performance requirements by choosing PID controllers parameter in the stability region. The proposed method avoids the complexity of stability regions of PID parameters, the closed-loop system has strong robustness for any order time-delay system with no accurate model. The simulation results demonstrate the validity of this method.


ABSTRACT Introduction: During Ramadan Muslims fast for a month and most research have reported significant decrease in weight and body mass index (BMI). The objective of this study was to observe the body composition changes in the decreased BMI during Ramadan fasting among a group of overweight and obese Muslims. Methods: Forty-eight overweight and obese Muslims working in Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia volunteered to participate in the program. They were brief on the appropriate quantity of food to be consumed according to Malaysia Dietary Guideline 2010. They were also briefed the correct fasting and eating ethics according to the teachings of Islam which mainly stresses on the prohibition over consumption of food. Using a sensor body composition monitor, their baseline body composition were assessed pre Ramadan and reassessed at the end of Ramadan. Results :  There were significant reduction in weight, BMI, body fat and subcutaneous fat percentages, visceral fat level, resting metabolism rate and body age (p<0.01). However no significant changes in skeletal muscle percentage were noted. Conclusion: There were significant improvements in body compositions during Ramadan following Ramadan weight loss in this group of overweight and obese respondents. Ramadan weight loss may serve as a yearly opportunity to improve health. Keywords: Ramadan, weight loss, body composition


Mitochondrial membrane of the liver from vitamin D deficient rats was found to be more fragile, when exposed to calcium ion, than that from normal rats. Malate dehydrogenase (MDH: EC 220.127.116.11), released from isolated mitochondria, was used as a parameter to assess the disruption of mitochondrial membrane.Oral supplementation with vitamin D3 restored the fragility of mitochondrial membrane toward normal, suggesting that vitamin D3 or its active metabolites play a role in maintaining the integrity of mitochondrial membrane.


Background : Probiotics and medicinal plants have been used to support human and livestock health. This research aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Moringa oleifera Lam. leaf extract on the growth of P. pentosaceus, L.acidophilus and L. plantarum during starter period on nutrient intake, body weight gain, FCR and feed efficiency in broiler chicken. Methods: This study consisted


Eastern spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana Clemens (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), is a major pest of eastern North American forests. Outbreaks of spruce budworm occur every 30–40 years, causing high tree mortality. Researchers have established that higher proportions of hardwood trees within stands (higher hardwood content) may reduce the defoliation and mortality of balsam fir and spruces during spruce budworm outbreaks. One mechanism posited to explain these patterns is that hardwood trees positively impact the parasitoids of spruce budworm. Indeed, parasitism of spruce budworm by parasitoids has been found to be impacted by hardwood content. However, more research is needed to understand how hardwood content impacts the parasitoid community as a whole. In this study, we trialled the use of two analyses, phylogenetic community structure and stable isotope analysis, to examine how hardwood content influenced the parasitoid community associated with spruce budworm. We found that phylogenetic community structure differed between forest stands with different hardwood content. Furthermore, the trophic relationships between several parasitoids and caterpillars on balsam fir or hardwood trees changed within and between years. Our study highlights the potential of these two analyses for understanding how hardwood content influences the parasitoid community associated with spruce budworm.


This study explored physicians' interactions with EHRs to understand the qualities that contribute to patient satisfaction with their use of the technologies and patient satisfaction with physician. Video-taped observations of 100 medical consultations were used to distinguish interaction patterns between physicians and EHRs. Quantified observational methods were used to contribute to ecological validity. Ten primary care physicians and 100 patients from five clinics participated in the study. Visits were videotaped and coded using an objective coding methodology to understand how physicians interacted with electronic health records. Results indicate, a variety of EHR interaction styles may be effective in providing patient-centered care.


Molting is an essential process in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans during which the epidermal apical extracellular matrix, termed the cuticle, is detached and replaced at each larval stage. The conserved NIMA-related kinases NEKL-2/NEK8/NEK9 and NEKL-3/NEK6/NEK7, together with their ankyrin repeat partners, MLT-2/ANKS6, MLT-3/ANKS3, and MLT-4/INVS, are essential for normal molting. In nekl and mlt mutants, the old larval cuticle fails to be completely shed, leading to entrapment and growth arrest. To better understand the molecular and cellular functions of NEKLs during molting, we isolated genetic suppressors of nekl molting-defective mutants. Using two independent approaches, we identified CDC-42, a conserved Rho-family GTPase, and its effector protein kinase, SID-3/ACK1. Notably, CDC42 and ACK1 regulate actin dynamics in mammals, and actin reorganization within the worm epidermis has been proposed to be important for the molting process. Inhibition of NEKL–MLT activities led to strong defects in the distribution of actin and failure to form molting-specific apical actin bundles. Importantly, this phenotype was reverted following cdc-42 or sid-3 inhibition. In addition, repression of CDC-42 or SID-3 also suppressed nekl-associated defects in trafficking, a process that requires actin assembly and disassembly. Expression analyses indicated that components of the NEKL–MLT network colocalize with both actin and CDC-42 in specific regions of the epidermis. Moreover, NEKL–MLT components were required for the normal subcellular localization of CDC-42 in the epidermis as well as wild-type levels of CDC-42 activation. Taken together, our findings indicate that the NEKL–MLT network regulates actin through CDC-42 and its effector SID-3. Interestingly, we also observed that downregulation of CDC-42 in a wild-type background leads to molting defects, suggesting that there is a fine balance between NEKL–MLT and CDC-42–SID-3 activities in the epidermis.


Wetlands in Eastern Africa present an important and so far largely undocumented potential in terms of area and agricultural production. This potential is linked to the availability of water and the quality of soil resources. This study characterized representative wetlands and categorizes their diversity based on soil, hydrology and socio-economic attributes. A multidisciplinary regional assessment of more than 50 wetlands and over 150 wetland subunits was conducted in 2008 and 2009 in four regions of East Africa. The wetlands were located within the major landscape units comprising (i) the floodplain in the semi-arid highlands; (ii) floodplain in the sub-humid lowlands; (iii) inland valley swamps in the humid mid-hills; and (iv) inland valley swamps in the humid highlands. Based on multivariate statistical approaches of their biophysical and socio-economic attributes, the wetlands were categorized into five cluster groups which were further differentiated based on land use intensity, soil parameters and hydrology. These cluster groups included (i) permanently flooded wetlands under extensive use with moderate C and N contents; (ii) permanently flooded swamps located in remote areas that were largely unused and had high contents in C and N; (iii) seasonally flooded wetlands under medium use intensity for upland food crops and rainfed lowland rice and which had low to moderate soil nutrient and C contents; (iv) completely drained wetlands under intensive subsistence crop production and low soil N and P; and (v) seasonally wet valley bottoms under permanent and year-round horticultural production and high input use hence high C and N contents. Thus, the permanently flooded wetland soils and those under subsistence food production with organic inputs had more C and N than seasonally flooded, completely drained and intensively cultivated wetlands.


Elevated c‐Jun levels result in apoptosis and are evident in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and dementia and after global cerebral insults including stroke and epilepsy. NMDA receptor (NMDAR) antagonists block c‐Jun upregulation and prevent neuronal cell death following excitotoxic insults. However, the molecular mechanisms regulating c‐Jun abundance in neurons are poorly understood. Here, we show that the synaptic component Proline rich 7 (PRR7) accumulates in the nucleus of hippocampal neurons following NMDAR activity. We find that PRR7 inhibits the ubiquitination of c‐Jun by E3 ligase SCFFBW7 (FBW7), increases c‐Jun‐dependent transcriptional activity, and promotes neuronal death. Microarray assays show that PRR7 abundance is directly correlated with transcripts associated with cellular viability. Moreover, PRR7 knockdown attenuates NMDAR‐mediated excitotoxicity in neuronal cultures in a c‐Jun‐dependent manner. Our results show that PRR7 links NMDAR activity to c‐Jun function and provide new insights into the molecular processes that underlie NMDAR‐dependent excitotoxicity.


This study aimed at examining the ability of individuals with blindness to create cognitive maps through the use of audio-tactile maps. Twenty adults with blindness (14 males and 6 females) took part in the research. The age ranged from 20 years to 61 years. The visual impairment was congenital for 12 participants and acquired for 8 participants. The procedure was started off by the participants reading the audio-tactile map of an unknown city area which was neither known nor walked down by them in the past and then the participants depicted their cognitive map. The findings of the present study reflect the positive effect of audio-tactile maps on the cognitive map creation and, thus, their effect on the spatial knowledge of people with blindness. More than half of the participants appeared cognitive maps in precision, while the rest performed well with reference to the variables examined.


ECG feature extraction has an important role in identifying a number of cardiac diseases. Lots of work has been done in this field but the most important challenges faced in previous work are the selection of proper R-peaks and R-R intervals due to the lack of appropriate pre-processing steps like decomposition, smoothing, filtering, etc., and the optimization of the features for proper classification. In this article, DWT-based pre-processing and ABC is used for optimization of features which helps to achieve better classification accuracy. It is utilized for initial diagnosis of abnormalities. The signals are taken from MIT-BIH arrhythmia database for the analysis. The aim of the research is to classification of six diseases; Normal, Atrial, Paced, PVC, LBBB, RBBB with an ABC optimization algorithm and an ANN classification algorithm on the basis of the extracted features. Various parameters, like, FAR, FRR, and accuracy are measured for the execution. Comparative analysis is shown of the proposed and the existing work to depict the effectiveness of the work.


The contribution of InterPARES Terminology Task Force to Archival Terminology and Practice in Brazil is shown with the analyses of key terms like record, document, set aside, archival bond, bounded variability, chain of custody and chain of preservation. This analysis is preceded by brief considerations about the act of conceptualizing, the concept of concept and the differences between concept and notion and concept and definition. The reflections on the terms mentioned above take in consideration those which can be conciliated with the terms adopted by Brazilian archival community and those which should be absorbed by it. Finally, the importance of taking part of InterPARES Terminology Task Force, from InterPares Project and CLAID Team, is mentioned from the collective and personal perspective. Introduction The challenge of presenting this paper on terminology must, in our conception, be preceded by the presentation of some reflections about the act of conceptualizing. This is what we propose to do in a few words now. According to Yeo, "definitions have had a bad press in recent years. Many philosophers and cultural theorists no longer believe in them. Many linguists are unsure of their value. In archives and records management, as in many other professional disciplines, writers and practitioners debate how far it is possible to provide adequate definitions of the key concepts with which the profession is concerned." Then, Yeo makes some considerations about the influence of the decline of positivism and essentialism on definitions. He also mentions Wittgenstein to whom "... the meaning of words and concepts is not absolute, but is determined by social custom and by the way that words are used". 1 Yeo, Geofrey. Concepts of Record (1): Evidence, Information, and Persistent Representations. The American Archivists, v. 70, 2007, p. 315. 2 Wittgenstein, Ludwig (apud Yeo, Geofrey 2007) Philosophical Investigations (Oxford: Blackwee, 1953). The influence of postmodernist ideas is considered by Yeo too. According to these ideas "...all definitions are dangerous". However, Yeo really believes in definitions. According to him, sharing meanings, mainly among professional communities, is a legitimate action. He argues that "definitions are necessarily shaped by the cultural epochs to which they belong, but they are effective in demonstrating how concepts are perceived and understood within the professional community where they are employed." Another preliminary reflection which we consider necessary to do is on the concept of concept. According to Brentano in the words of Safranski, "concepts are not something purely intern but are always concepts 'of something'. They are the awareness of something. An entity that exists, or more precisely, that offers and exposes itself to me". Brazilian author Minayo goes further and makes the difference between concept and notion. According to her, notion is related to ideas that are not clear enough to explain something real. So they are "mental operations" that have not been formalized yet, while concept is the opposite. Good examples are terms coined by information technology such as metadata whose meaning in the very beginning was not clear to many archivists and then, it was a notion, but now it is a formalized concept. There is still a difference between concept and definition made by Campos, another Brazilian author. Campos argues that concept is an idea that we have about an object while definition is the description of the concept. Let's consider the following example: table – an object we use as a support to have meals, to write and so on. In this case "table" is the term that materializes the concept, that is, the idea that we have about this object, while definition is the explanation that comes after the term. Once made these preliminary considerations, let's turn to the very theme of this lecture itself which is "The contribution of InterPARES Terminology Task Force to Archival Terminology and Practice in Brazil. Conciliating old terms and absorbing new ones Concerning terminoly, InterPARES Project started with a glossary (Interpares 1), then evolved to a Terminology data base with a dictionary and a glossary (Interpares 2 and 3) and arrived to Interpares 4 with a Terminology data base constituted by a glossary, a dictionary, an ontology and a multilingual 3 Yeo, Geofrey. Concepts of Record (1): Evidence, Information, and Persistent Representations. The American Archivists, v. 70, 2007, p. 316. 4 Safranski, Rüdiger. Heideguer, um mestre na Alemanha entre o bem e o mal. (Geração Editorial, São Paulo, 2005), p. 52. 5 Minayo, Maria Cecília de Souza. O desafio do conhecimento: pesquisa qualitativa em saúde. (Hucitec-Abraso, São Paulo, 1992), p. 92. 6 Campos, Maria Luisa de Almeida. Linguagem documentária: teorias que fundamentam sua elaboração. (Eduff, 2001, Niterói), p. 71. work which is the Multilingual Archival Termiology, organized in partnership with the International Council of Archives. This lecture focuses only on the glossaries of the four phases of the project and on some of the three hundred and six (306) terms sent to us to be translated to Portuguese. How was expected, our terminology group worked hard trying to conciliate some terms to our archival practice and to assimilate new ones as well. It's important to highlight that, for the purpose of this lecture, we took in account only the terms in the scope of diplomatics and archival science, that is, we did not consider information technology terms since we think they have a more universal meaning.


This study aimed to characterize the in-situ mechanical property and morphology of

individual collagen fibril in osteoarthritic (OA) cartilage using indentation-type

atomic force microscopy (IT-AFM). The specimens with intact articular cartilage

(AC), mild to severe degenerated OA cartilage were collected with informed consent

from the postmenopausal women who underwent hip or knee arthroplasty. The fresh

specimens were cryo-sectioned by layers with 50m thick for each from the articular

surface to calcified cartilage, and then processed for AFM imaging and

nanoindentation test. For each layer, a total of twenty collagen fibrils were randomly

selected for testing. AFM tips with the nominal radius less than 10 nm were employed

for probing the individual collagen fibril, and the obtained cantilever deflection signal

and displacement were recorded for calculating its elastic modulus. Besides AFM

nanoindentation, AFM and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images,

haematoxylin & eosin (H&E) staining and micro-indentation were performed on AC

to study the changes of ultrastructure and composition between intact AC and OA

cartilage. Results showed that an intact AC exhibited a gradation in elastic modulus of

collagen fibrils from surface region (2.65±0.31GPa) to bottom region (3.70±0.44GPa).

It was noted in the initial stage of OA cartilage that the coefficient of variation for

mechanical properties of collagen fibers, ranging from 25~48%, significantly

increased as compared with intact one (12%). The thickened and stiffened collagen

fibrils initially occurred at either surface region (3.11±0.91GPa) or bottom region

(5.64±1.10GPa) with OA progression. Besides thickens, alteration of D-periodic

banding patterns of collagen fibrils was observed. It was echoed by fibrotic changes

of surface region and tidemark irregularities. On the contrast, the micromechanical

properties of cartilage decreased while AC suffered from OA. This result revealed the

different approachs of nano and micro-mechanical properties changes in AC. In

summary, the alteration of mechanical properties of collagen fibrils started from

calcified cartilage as well as articular surface during OA onset, and the low

compliance of thickened collagen fibrils deteriorated along disease progression. This

study also reveals that the outstanding ability by AFM, in investigating the structure

and mechanical properties of collagen fibrils and AC in nanometer scale, is

impressive and this nanotechnological instrument is worth to be expected in further

development for clinical use.


A cross-linked starch xanthate was prepared by graft copolymerization of acrylamide and sodium acrylate onto starch xanthate using potassium persulfate and sodium hydrogen sulfite initiating system and N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide as a cross-linker. As this kind of cross-linked potato starch xanthate can effectively absorb heavy metal ions, it was dispersed in aqueous solutions of divalent heavy metal ions (Pb2


Product line development is a successful approach to software re-use and can save a large amount of project resources when applied. At SEMC a product line strategy was introduced in 2002. Since the introduction resource saving has been successful mainly during the development phase, leaving the testing phase an important area in which all the benefits from the product line architecture needs to be further exploited. The purpose of this Master Thesis was to explore the advantages of product lines during system testing. The goal was to produce a testing strategy that optimizes the system testing used at SEMC by taking full advantage of the benefits of product lines. First of all, a pre-study was made of how software is developed at SEMC, with a special focus on testing and the product line architecture. Focus group meetings were then held in order to identify and prioritize areas in which testing needed to be improved. A study was made based on these improvement areas and a product line test strategy was formulated. The three most important improvement areas were the following: keeping track of differences between products; selecting the right test cases to run; creating exact and complete test specifications. Product differences are used to define the test object and by selecting test cases that exercise all of the code in the test object, testing can be made more efficient. If the test cases are complete and exact these three improvement areas can be used to optimize testing. The results from the study have been formulated into a system testing strategy that can be used when working with software product lines. The strategy is based on the most important improvement areas and shows how the combination of these can improve testing in a product line environment. Foreword Conducting this Master Thesis has been an exciting journey that begun in September 2005 and ended in February 2006. The initial assignment was to compare the return rate to the amount of system testing performed on products in one specific product family. The underlying goal was to optimize system testing of product families. The initial assignment was eventually transformed into development of a System Test Strategy that takes advantage of the benefits of products lines at a company with a growing product portfolio. The reactions on the Master Thesis project at Sony Ericsson Mobile Communication (SEMC) have been very positive. The Master Thesis emphasised …


This paper investigates the orbital stability of periodic traveling wave solutions to the generalized Long-Short wave equations iεt+εxx=nε+α|ε|2ε, nt=(|ε|)x, x∈R. Firstly, we show that there exist a smooth curve of positive traveling wave solutions of dnoidal type with a fixed fundamental period L for the generalized Long-Short wave equations. Then, combining the classical method proposed by Benjamin, Bona et al., and detailed spectral analysis given by using Lamé equation and Floquet theory, we show that the dnoidal type periodic wave solution is orbitally stable by perturbations with period L. As the modulus of the Jacobian elliptic function k → 1, we obtain the orbital stability results of solitary wave solution with zero asymptotic value for the generalized Long-Short equations. In particular, as α = 0, we can also obtain the orbital stability results of periodic wave solutions and solitary wave solutions for the long-short wave resonance equations. The results in the present paper improve and extend the previous stability results of long-shore wave equations and its extension equations.


[Objective]To compare cemented prosthesis stability fixed between bioactive bone cement,the strontium containing hydroxyapatite(Sr-HA) and conventional polymethyl methacrylate(PMMA) bone cement at the early stage after total hip replacement(THR) surgery. [Methods]Nine patients with ten knees received THR in Hong Kong Queen Mary Hospital during May 2008 to December 2009.They were randomly divided into experimental and control groups(5 knees in each group),receiving cemented THR with Sr-HA and PMMA bone cement respectively.Prosthesis migration was measured with radiostereometric analysis(RSA) technique at 1 week,3 months,6 months and 12 months after surgery.Meanwhile,Harris hip score(HHS) was also taken.Additionally,cement porosity was scanned and analyzed with Micro-CT for both cements.[Results]None of nerve,vesse 1 injury or pulmonary embolism was observed.The migration of 3 prostheses in Sr-HA group exceeded 1 mm,while all prosthesis in in PMMA group migrated within 1 mm.The HHS improved significantly in all patients.Micro-CT scan revealed that cement porosity in Sr-HA group was significantly higher than in PMMA group(p0.01).[Conclusion]Significant complication was not observed in all patients.The relative higher prosthesis migration of Sr-HA group at early stage after THR surgery was probably due to higher porosity of Sr-HA cement.


Closed mark-recapture experiments are widely used to estimate population size even though the assumption of "closed population" is often violated (immigrations and emigrations) compared to open population models. This work investigates various methods in closed population models (Petersen estimator, maximum likelihood estimation with mixtures, and Huggins model) to estimate the number of injection drug users (IDU) in Victoria, B.C. Model selection methods used to choose a final model as well as goodness-of-fit options are discussed. We use data from the 2003 and 2005's I-Track survey program to compare these estimators.


Determining the role of bureaucracy in a democracy has always remained a key concern in the public administration literature. Discussion on this particular concept has highlighted two important issues. First, it specifically points out that in a democratic political system, the public administrators are in effect, "unelected officials," and they are bestowed with responsibilities which deeply affect the citizens' lives. Second, it acknowledges the fact that the bureaucrats can never be only "passive instrument" of the elected officials and they do have the ability to exercise certain discretion in carrying out their duties. Therefore, contemporary public administration literature has indeed devoted a certain degree of effort in analyzing bureaucratic discretion and whereas some scholars call for the elimination of discretion, others conclude, "excising the discretion from the bureaucracy is impossible" (Meier &O 'Toole, Jr., 2006). However, a key limitation of the existing literature is in almost all cases, the analysis of bureaucratic discretion and possible methods of control have always been limited to the developed democracies. As a result, the scholars have mainly concentrated on the countries where the process of democratization has already gone a long way. Given that these countries enjoyed the opportunity of designing and redesigning bureaucratic principles according to the need of the democracy, their context is different than the developing ones which "had a long experience of bureaucratization first, and the demand for subordination of the civil service became part of an internal struggle for power, rather than fulfillment of the democratic goal of responsiveness to the people" (Carino, 1990: 66). Therefore, these studies do not explore the impact of democratic transition on bureaucratic discretion. In this paper, we make an effort to identify this relationship and while doing that limit our discussion to the discretion enjoyed and exercised by the street level bureaucrats. We have used Bangladesh as a case study to develop our theoretical argument.


The eomposition and polymerization activity of a given catalyst system (TiCI4-Et2AlCl) were determined. The solid particles formed by the reaction of the catalyst components were separated at two given times, which were characteristic of the polymerization kinetics. The polymerization activities of the catalyst precipitates were determined in the presence of Et2AlCl and other cocatalysts. It was established that the measured polymerization activities of the catalyst precipitates are higher in the initial system than in the presence of other cocatalysts. The composition of the liquid phase of the catalyst was studied and it was found to contain certain dissolved Ti compounds, the titanium content of which could be determined after hydrolysis as trivalent Ti. The concentration of this titanium compound depends on the solvent used. The polymerization kinetic studies provided evidence that the maximum polymerization rate, i.e., the process of polymerization as a whole, depends on the kind of the solvent used and thus on the quantity of dissolved titanium compounds in the liquid phase.


Total columnar ozone (TCO) variability is studied over tropics (0°N-25°N, 65°E-95°E) and subtropics (25°N-45°N,65°E95°E) for the period 1979-2012 (except data gap 1993-96) using satellite data. Annual cycle of TCO is examined. The maximum values of TCO over tropics are found in the summer whereas the maxima values over subtropics are in the winter season. Seasonal variation in subtropical TCO shows higher gradient (140 DU) than that of the tropical TCO (gradient is 60 DU). The conclusions arrived over tropical and subtropical region are found to be valid over micro scale domain as seen from the analysis over smaller region surrounding Thiruvananthapuram (7.5°N-9.5°N,75.6°E-78.1°E), Pune (17.5°N-19.5°N,73.1°E-74.4°E) and Delhi (28.5°N-29.5°N,76.9°E-78.1°E) using same satellite data sets for 30 years. Further, the seasonal behavior of TCO over global tropical (0°N-25°N) and subtropical (25°N-45°N) domain are not affected by changing longitudinal belt.


Highly mesoporous, transparent γ-alumina particulates were successfully prepared through a new method that circumvents drying processes in sol–gel-based synthetic methods. Upon using a biorenewable oil, the new method affords high porosity (80–88%), high surface area (295–375 m2 g−1) γ-alumina products with controlled pore sizes (average pore diameter = 11–21 nm), by achieving rapid solvent removal and calcination simultaneously through a single combustion step. The products were characterized by elemental analysis, powder X-ray diffraction, solid-state NMR, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy with selected area electron diffraction for morphology and structure identification, ATR-IR spectroscopy for surface chemistry and functional groups, and nitrogen adsorption/desorption analysis for pore properties. The promising results indicate that the new method may be suitable for high-volume production of highly porous metal oxides with aerogel-like pore architectures.


Fifty years ago President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked the Congress to pass legislation that would "increase the purchasing power of our farmers and the consumption of articles manufactured in our industrial communities." He said: "I tell you frankly that it is a new and untrod path, but I tell you with equal frankness that an unprecedented condition calls for the trial of new means to rescue


The importance of insight processes after brain injury is stressed. Research in a general rehabilitation population has shown relations between insight and rehabilitation gain only when insight is defined in terms of pessimism or optimism, with optimists making more progress. The aim of this study was to examine these findings within a brain-injured population. Eighteen subjects with acquired brain injury completed ratings across four domains of function: cognitive, physical, executive and psychosocial. These ratings were compared with professional ratings on the same scales. Despite the use of carefully defined and measured indices of insight, no correlations were found with rehabilitation gain. Previous studies are re-examined in the light of these findings and it is concluded that the concept of insight requires further elaboration and research before definitive statements can be made about its influence on rehabilitation gain.


The research aimed to determine the optimal population ratio at each frequency of weeding for the growth and yield of maize. It was carried out from February to May 2020 in the field. There are 2 treatment factors tested arranged in a splite plot design, which was repeated 3 times using a completely randomized block design (CRBD). The first factor is the frequency of weeding as the main plot (Main Plot) consisting of no weeding, 1 x weeding (21 DAS), 2 x weeding (21 DAS and 42 DAS). The second factor is the ratio of the population as sub-plots, consisting of 100% corn + 0% peanuts, 80% corn + 20% peanuts, 60% corn + 40% peanuts, 40 % corn + 60% peanuts, 20% corn + 80% peanuts. The results showed that the growth and yield of maize in the intercropping system with peanuts gave the same response to the population ratio at all weeding frequencies. The planting density of 40% maize + 60% peanuts produced the highest response on the variables of stem diameter (24.675 mm), plant fresh weight (667.51 grams) and biomass weight (79.924 grams). While the highest response to weeding frequency was 2 times (21 DAS and 42 DAS) only on plant fresh weight (588.08 grams).


Calculations on the S-wave LAMBDA -N and LAMBDA - LAMBDA interactions, binding energies for the p-shell hypernuclei, and the mesic decay and nonmesonic de-excitation of the A-particle are discussed. The theory behind the calculations, as well as the results and their interpretation, are considered. (D.C.W.)


Objective:To study the theraputic efficacy of combination Na DMPS and a huge dose of Vitamin B 6 in treatment of critical tetramine intoxication. Methods: Na DMPS 0.25 g and IV Vitamin B 61000~2000 mg were immediately Intramuscular injected.Sedative was used as necessary. Results: 4 of 15 patients were freed from twitching immediately and recovered their consciousness.6 patients were freed from twitching in about 30 minites. Conclusion:The combination of Na DMPS and huge dose of Vitamin B 6 has a fine effect on treating the teramine intoxication.


My goal is to create a 3D animation that illustrates the movements and patterns produced in the air when Bach's Chromatic Fugue is played on a pipe organ. By combining the visual element of swirling patterns inspired by pipe organ acoustics simulation with imagery that the music evokes in the mind, I aim to present a surrealistic soundscape that visually depicts the boundless creative energy and freedom of music and mind combined. I hope to create an animation that is aesthetically interesting and to inspire imagination in viewer. Background When we hear music, the effect of traveling vibrations on surrounding air molecules creates what we perceive as sound. In some cases, invisible patterns are formed by the disturbance in the air that these moving vibrations create when musical instruments are played. When a pipe organ produces sound, swirling vortex patterns form in the air. This effect cannot be seen by the eye, but experiments using high speed film have captured the movements of black smoke from the pipes of an organ and reveal that visually interesting forms are produced. The physics of this phenomenon have also been visualized in scientific simulations with the use of fluid dynamics. Research shows a possible connection between the appearance of scientific visualizations of musical acoustics and the results of music visualization studies based on a synesthetic association of sounds with visual forms.


The presentation of study findings, whether through a detailed technical report or through public presentations, is a critical part of the engineering study process. There is no doubt that visual aids, in the form of tables, charts, drawings, slides, photographs, and computer animation, are powerful tools that can help the audience understand what is attempting to be conveyed through words, but selection of the appropriate visual aid for the intended audience is of the utmost importance. This article discusses the types of graphics presentation tools available today, and provides guidance as to how to select the most appropriate presentation aids for various audiences.


Effects of the elevation of railway road for 4.9 km in Osaka on the living environment of the neighboring residents were investigated by subjective evaluation. The profiles of mood states were also considered. Results: 1) "Not crowded", "Remarkable", "Good", "Comfortable", "Effective", "Beautiful", "Free", "Bright", "Artificial", "Urban", "New", "Maintained" and "Clean" were the impressions of the railway elevation. 2) Many residents thought the elevation "Necessary", "Good for environment", and "Decreasing the congestion". Actually, 70% of the respondents approved the elevation. 3) "Sunshine" and "Ventilation" of the dwellings, "Natural environment" of the region and "Favor to the region" are related to the evaluation of the elevation. 4) Anger- hostility (POMS A-H), Vigor (POMS V), and Fatigue (POMS F) were also related to the evaluation. 5) Sex, age, living floor space, and means of daily transportation were not related to the evaluation. Railways in Japan play a central role for passengers and bulk shipments as a basic means of conveyance by land. The JR Hanwa Line abolished a railroad crossing and made an approximately 4.9 km elevated bridge section. This study shows the influence on living environmental evaluation of the resident in the surrounding by this elevated bridge, and clarifies residents' impressions. Moreover, the realities of consideration to the elevated bridge of the resident in the surrounding in the city are understood by clarifying the relation between the living environment and the impression evaluation and the relations between POMS and the impression evaluation. Furthermore, the relation between the living environmental evaluation and POMS is considered; it is intended for contributing helpful information when the elevated bridge of the future is designed and operated. The impression evaluation uses the SD method. The Profile of Mood States (POMS) evaluation is an attitude profile inspection used in the clinical psychology field.


Peter Matthiessen's Wildlife in America says little about the bodily connections between humans and wildlife. But environmental historians' growing interest in health should be extended to wildlife stories because humans' relationships with wildlife have shaped environmental health ideas, policies, and inequalities. Embodied wildlife histories would also encompass many common creatures that are not typically considered wildlife, such as Norway rats. The same processes of urbanization and landscape change that endangered many of the more charismatic species in Matthiessen's account also supported synanthropic species like rats and white-tailed deer, and increased contact between them and human communities. Histories of zoonotic diseases such as plague and encephalitis that jump from wildlife to humans in cities and exurbs can shed light on similar threats that have recently arisen, including Lyme disease and West Nile virus.


Statement of Problem: Among periodontal defects, the furcation involvement represents one of the most chalenging scenarios due to the difficulty of achieving a predictable improvement regardless of the type of periodontal therapy. Moreover, the presence of furcation involvement has been demonstrated to considerably affect tooth prognosis. Thus, treatment of furcation defects is a challenge in clinical periodontics. The aim of periodontal treatment is not only to control infection but also to regenerate periodontal tissues lost as a consequence of periodontal disease.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare Bio-oss (Bo), an anorganic bovine bone Xenograft, in combination with coronally positioned flap to open flap debridment surgery with coronally positiond flap alone in human mandibular class II furcation defects.
Materials and Methods: In this clinical trial and interventional study 24 furcations, which provided 12 pairs of similar periodontal defects were evaluated. Each defect was randomly assigned to treatment with Bio-Oss in combination coronally positioned flap or open flap debridment and coronally positioned flap alone. Following basic therapy, baseline measurements were recorded including probing depth (PDD), clinical attachment level (CAL), gingival recession (REC), keratinized gingiva (KG) and closed horizontal probing depth (CHPD). After 6 months, all sites were re-entered and hard tissue measurements were recorded. Hard tissue measurements were performed during surgery to determine open horizontal probing depth (OHPD) and open vertical probing depth (OVPD). The data was analyzed using t-test paired sample.
Results: Vertical probing depth reduction of 3.17±1.32 mm and horizontal probing depth reduction of 4.42±1.02 mm were noted for the BO group, with 2.87±0.83 mm and 2.31±0.49 mm reductions, respectively, noted for CPF alone. Both surgical procedures resulted in statistically significant probing depth reduction and gain clinical attachment levels, with no significant difference between groups. Recession didn't have significant differences between groups. Hard tissue measurements (after Re-entry) showed 4.17±1.66 mm of vertical furcation bone fill (OVPD) for test group (BO) and 0.83±0.72 mm for CPF alone. The test (BO) group had 3.87±0.88mm of horizontal furcation bone fill (OHPD), and the CPF group had 1.21±0.8mm.
Conclusion: There was a statistically significant difference between test (BO) group and CPF group in all soft and hard tissue measurements with the exception of attachment level, recession, and keratinized gingiva. The use of Bio-oss improved horizontal and vertical defect resolution in mandibular class II furcation defects.


INTESTINAL SAND. ON reading the interesting explanation of the origin of intestinal sand published in the BRuTISH MEDICAL JOURNAL of February 7th, p.3II, it seems hardlynecessary to go as far back as the birds, or rather the common ancestors of birds and mammals, for corroboration of the theory which is brought forward. At the present day there exist certain creatures-such as the duckbill and the echidna or porcupine anteater-which, though undoubted mammals, habitually lay eggs. These animals are highly-specialized forms, but nevertheless their organization retains many primitive traits, for not only is the cochlea straight and the sclerotic partly cartilaginous, but, as in birds and reptiles, the body has but one excretory aperture or cloaca. Ann egg of the common echidna which I examined at Amsterdam last year was about the size of that of a sparrow, and rounded at both ends; when broken into, these curious eggs are seen to resemble those of birds in the relatively small size of the embryo as compared with that of the yolk sa;C. We thus see that the mammalian genital apparatus still retains the power of producing true eggs enclosed in a definite shell, and that one need not go outside the class to which man himself belongs to find an explanation of the origin of intestinal sand. 9ale,lManchester. GRAHAM RENSHAW, M.B.


Objective To Construct a eukaryotic expression vector carrying VEGF gene.Methods VEGF gene was cloned from tissue by using RT-PCR method and was inserted into pMD18-T to constrcuct pMD18-T/VEGF plasmid,and to construct pEGFP-N1/VEGF plasmid by using restriction enzyme.To identify the plasmid by sequencing and restriction enzyme.Results The eukaryotic expression vector pEGFP-N1/VEGF was constructed and identified.Conclusion It provides the base of engineering bone modified by VEGF gene,revived the blood vessel.


Seagrasses form the foundation of many coastal ecosystems, but are rapidly declining on a global scale. The Dutch Wadden Sea once supported extensive seagrass meadows that almost completely vanished during the 20th century. Seagrass restoration trials have been conducted on and off in the Netherlands since the early 1990s, with most restoration projects drawing the same conclusion: Intertidal seagrass restoration is very challenging. Here, we report on the setbacks and successes of the latest round of intertidal seed-based restoration experiments in the Dutch Wadden Sea (2014-2020). We have conducted research-based, adaptive eelgrass (Zostera marina) restoration, yearly adjusting methods based on previous results. We have applied various seeding methods trying to find the most suitable method for our restoration sites and needs– from Buoy Deployed Seeding (BuDS) (Pickerell et al. 2005), to a newly developed 'Dispenser Injection Seeding' (DIS)-based technique. Our adaptive experimental approach revealed a high seed loss in winter (>99.9%), which was mitigated by controlled harvest and storage of seeds throughout fall and winter, followed by Dispenser Injection Seeding in spring. These innovations and the optimization of the DIS-method, have resulted in 4750 times higher plant densities in the field (0.012 to 57 plants/m2) and a substantial reduction in seed loss (99.93 to 88.6%). Our outcomes suggest that an iterative, researchbased restoration approach may result in advancing knowledge and the development of novel methods that may greatly improve seed-based seagrass restoration.


Chinese Abstract: 本研究應用行為經濟學觀點,說明公司除息日至發放日間隔週期決策是根據某個參考點延續或適度修正而來。對於首次發放股息之公司,參考點是同業或同集團之其他公司;再度發放股息時,參考點是公司過去之經驗,形成所謂的維持現狀偏好。本研究透過分析台灣上市櫃公司之發放股息資料 (2009至2012年),證明:雖然經濟面因素導致上市公司發放股息傾向高於上櫃公司,但間隔週期決策導因於行為面因素,因此上市與上櫃公司形成相同之分佈特徵。本研究說明:一個月左右之間隔週期是公司依據經驗法則決策產生。雖然,一個月左右之間隔週期普遍被投資人認為是公平且正常之現象,卻未必是合理或最佳化之決策結果。就投資人與股東權益角度,合理之間隔週期應在28天之內。English Abstract: This study examines the corporate decision of the periods between the ex-dividend date and the payment date from the perspective of behavioral economics. We find that the decision is based on a reference point from which an adaption is made to the market. The reference point for a firm initiating dividend payments is derived from that firm's past experience and other firms' past behavior, resulting in a status quo bias. By analyzing the payout policy by TWSE and OTC firms over the period 2009 to 2012, we find that TWSE firms are more likely to pay dividends based on financial factors, whereas the pattern of the periods between the two dates is consistent across the two markets. This similarity can be justified by behavioral reasoning. Although periods between the ex-dividend date and the payment date of one month are widely recognized as fair among market participants, it is not necessarily a just or optimal outcome. We demonstrate that decisions about periods between the ex-dividend date and the payment date are based on heuristics and argue that a just period should be less than 28 days.


With the rise of the governmental studies, a theoretical debate inside the German Critical Psychology began. Members of Critical Psychology criticized that for Michel Foucault subjectivization and subjection is the same. In their opinion this theoretical frame undermines the idea of autonomous agency. In this paper there will be argued that Michel Foucault's concepts of power, governmentality and discourse can be productively used in the theory of Critical Psychology without giving up the basic assumption of the autonomous subject. In the first chapter the 'constellation of meaning' based on Holzkamp's concept of 'conduct of life' will be described. Up next, there will be a short exposition of Michel Foucault's concepts of power, governmentality and discourse. In the final chapter there will be asked which aspects of Michel Foucault's concepts are interesting for the Critical Psychology as a further socio-theoretical approach.


COVID 19 pandemic is a top priority for researcher"s community of the world. An alarm raised by world class institutions has engendered collective effort to mitigate the emergency besides raising the existential fears among nation states. And why not, expert declarations are destined to raise alarm, as societies are conditioned to take expert alarms seriously. We don"t negate the seriousness of the pandemic, rather we argue that why at least equally important emergencies confronted by world are not emergencies of the first order? why same intensity of effort has not emerged over the other important issues like global hunger, terrorism, armed conflicts and more fatal diseases like cardiovascular( being number one killer disease) and environmental deterioration threatening society existentially. We explore "sociology of knowledge" and "social construction of reality" approach to address the above questions. We adopt a synthetic approach, to integrate findings from covid 19 and tenets of social construction of reality to arrive at a sociological explanation of the pandemic. This study also raises certain research questions to be explored, hence incubates potential research efforts in social sciences in general and sociology in particular.


BACKGROUND:  The Pall third‐generation enhanced bacterial detection system (eBDS) was recently approved for detection of bacterial contamination in leukoreduced platelets (PLTs). The method is based on the measurement of the oxygen content as a marker for bacteria. eBDS incorporates major modifications including removal of the sample‐set filter, modification of the culture medium, and incubation with agitation of the sample pouch.


Preflight and flight battery system problems in flight programs at NASA created high-level concern and interest in the current battery technology status. As a result, NASA conducted an in-house review of problems experienced both internally and by other government users. The derived issues which encompassed the programmatic scope from cell manufacturing to in-flight operations of the system are discussed. From the identified deficiencies, a modestly scaled battery program was established to alleviate or minimize the risks of future occurrences.


With the improvement of environmental standards, fine particle control technology has put forward a severe test. Lamination and impregnation which are two main methods for PTFE modified filter materials at present were studied in this research. By comparing the SEM result, classification efficiency of two modification methods, the influence rules of humidity and corrosive environments, filter performance was investigated. Research indicates that two modification methods have different improvements in filter materials filter performance. Filter material after lamination porosity is high and pore size is small, the average pole diameter is around 2.3μm which is 1/10 of that after impregnation, so surface filtering is easily formed. The laminated filter material can effectively withhold the yardstick of microscopic dust micron. Attachments on the surface of composite filter material fiber noticeably increased, surface density and thickness of composite filter material all increased slightly after emulsion impregnation treatment which can increase the filter material strength under normal conditions. The pressure loss of lamination filter material is higher than that of impregnation filter material. Lamination filter material has higher filtering classification efficiency for fine particles. Impregnation is conducive to enhance the strength of the filter. Two kinds of modified filter materials have good resistance to acids, but break in 85°C and alkali conditions, strength retention disappears entirely. The study provided a reference for the stable and efficient application of modified filter material in the dust removal field.


1 We examined among‐ and within‐species effects of seed mass for seedling establishment from seed to 5 years of age in a field experiment at Paracou, French Guiana. 2 Six seeds of each of eight species were weighed and planted into each of 120 plots (1 m2) throughout closed‐canopy forest along 12 100‐m transects in 1998. 3 We described the microhabitat of each planting site using principal components derived from measurements of light availability, soil moisture, carbon and nitrogen content, and soil phosphorus availability. Although both survival and relative growth rate (RGR) increased with increasing light availability, no other microhabitat variable significantly affected seedling performance. Nor did the magnitude of microhabitat effects on survival or RGR differ among species. 4 Larger‐seeded species were more likely to survive from germination to 1 year as well as from 1 to 5 years of age. RGR for seedling height during the first year post‐germination was not related to seed mass, but smaller‐seeded species did grow slightly faster thereafter. Path analyses revealed that correlations between seed mass and performance were explained in part because larger seeds produced larger initial seedlings, which tended to survive better but grow more slowly. 5 We also analysed within‐species effects of seed mass for the larger‐seeded Eperua grandiflora and Vouacapoua americana (both Caesalpiniaceae). Larger seeds produced larger seedlings in both species, but larger seeds survived better only for Eperua. Larger seedlings grew more slowly in both species, but did not offset the early (Eperua) and later (Vouacapoua) positive direct effects of seed mass on RGR that may represent contrasting strategies for reserve deployment. 6 Our results demonstrate that seed size influences performance within and among species in part because of indirect effects of initial seedling size. However, we suggest that traits tightly correlated with seed mass at the species level, such as specific leaf area, leaf longevity and photosynthetic capacity, may also contribute to interspecific performance differences.


A heating apparatus having one heating body is provided to prevent a thermistor from being broken by absorbing stress applied from the outside through plural stone guides and a concave-convex joint. A heating apparatus includes a heating unit(100), an insulating buffer layer, and a first plate electrode. The heat unit includes a heating body(120) and a heating plate(140). The heating body has a curved shape to the inside of the body. The heating body is equipped with an inner space(160). Left and right terminals of the heating body are joined to a first holder(200) and a second holder(300). The heating body is made of a metal having high heat conductivity. The heating body is preferably made of aluminum, an aluminum alloy, or a copper alloy. The insulating buffer layer electrically intercepts the heating body and the first plate electrode of the heating body from each other. The first plate electrode is made of a conductive metallic material.


Four centuries ago, on March 31, 1596, Rene Descartes was born. The man who attempted to found a scientific school of thought based on metaphysics is admired for his philosophy to this day. However his scientific work does not attract enough attention. Yet his research on analytical geometry and optics are such exemplary models that his rules for optics may actually find new industrial applications. Jean-Claude Amblard, who heads research at Megalux, devised reams of equations during years of hard work. His efforts have apparently paid off. Indeed there is a flurry of excitement these days surrounding the small company that considers that optics are still not fully exploited.


Out of the 15 hamlets in Desa Manunggal, Kec. Lab.  Deli, Kab. Deli Serdang is only one hamlet that owns the Dasa Wisma group, namely VII A Hamlet with the name Dasa Wisma Matahari Group. The Dasa Wisma group in VII A Hamlet consists of 10 (ten) groups, starting from the Matahari Group I - X. The number of members in each group is 10 (ten) people, so the total number of members is 100 (one hundred) members. This is a resource that can be empowered to help improve the family economy. However, currently the existing Dasa Wisma group does not have activities to increase the skills capacity of its group members. So, there needs to be an effort to design activities that can overcome these problems through community partnership programs (PKM). The lack of knowledge and skills in utilizing rope kur into bag products with various motifs is the main problem of concern of the program. Therefore, the solution offered is to hold a workshop (training) on rope kur crafts to increase the skills of the dasa wisma group members so that they can become the capital of opening new businesses. At the end of the program, the results obtained were the implementation of training activities for crafting rope kur into bags of various economic-value motifs.


T HE EXPERIENCE of the first five years of follow-up in this study raises some questions that have no answer at present; some of them may be resolved in the second five years, which are expected roughly to triple the number of deaths and CHD incidence cases available for analysis. But some other questions will undoubtedly remain even after all ten years of follow-up are completed in 1973. Physical Activity In regard to the relationship between physical activity or its lack and the incidence of CHD, the results both in Europe and in the U.S. railroad workers are consistent in at least one point. If a sedentary life actually promotes CHD, the difference between CHD incidence in sedentary and physically active men would seem to be so small, according to the present material, that even 120,000 manyears of experience may not allow an accurate evaluation. Smoking The effect of cigarette smoking raises questions of a different type. In the present study the experience of the U.S. railroad men proved to be closely similar to that reported from other studies in the United States. Smokers had a much higher incidence of CHD and a higher all-causes death rate than nonsmokers, and the degree of penalty associated with smoking was directly related to the intensity of smoking. However, there was little or no indication of such relationships in the other 10,00(-plus men in the study. It has been noted before that heavy smoking is extremely common among Japanese men in Japan and many of the colored and black groups in Africa who prove, nevertheless, to be relatively rarely afflicted with CHD (Bronte-Stewart et al. 1955, Keys, Kimura et al. 1958). To explain such observations, it could be suggested that the ill effects of smoking on CHD are exercised only in the presence of much coronary atherosclerosis or of high levels of cholesterol in the blood. That


The new century, China ushered the largest and the most difficult music curriculum reform of basic education in the history. In this paper, under the background of basic education music curriculum reform, we study the piano teaching situation in Normal University and propose that we should implement music curriculum reform in Normal University as soon as possible to further advance Piano Teaching comprehensive, in-depth reform and to promote the further development of piano pedagogy.


By the development of scientific technology, the electronic application becomes popular. The application and management of electronic files by institutes become more urgent. The paper presents the detailed demands on application and management of the electronic files. The emphasis lays down on practical operation.


Searching one of the most important reservoirs of the Cretaceous in Iraq is the aim of many researchers. The studied sequences are in the Mishrif Formation in southern Iraq. The goal is to define fauna and design biostratigraphic zoning. Forty genus and species were identified as associated with the most capable reservoir facies (the biostrome). Identification of biostrome facies mainly was in the Late Cenomanian part of the studying sequences. Suggested biozones are based on eight biomarkers, two of which appear and disappear together, leading to four interval biozones. They are; (1) Nezzazata simplex and Nezzazata conica concurrent biozone delineating the Middle Cenomanian age. (2) Praealveoilina cretacea and Pseudorhapydionian concurrent biozone. (3) Praealveolina tenuis and Cisalveolina lehneri concurrent biozone. (4) Chrysalidina gradate and Pseudolituonella reicheli concurrent biozone delineating the Late Cenomanian.


A white light phase shifting method for interferometry with sub-nanometer resolution based on the combination of Carre phase shifting and white light vertical scanning was proposed,which can conduct the measurement fast,accurately and non-contact.The system was composed of a Mirau driven by a high precision piezoelectric transducer.The phase extraction with Carre phase shifting method on white light interferogram was firstly analyzed and several numerical simulations under various scanning step lengths and signal to noise ratios were followed to determine the parameters of the measurement.Then,the centre of mass gravity method was employed to locate the phase computation directly on the zero-order fringe so that the phase unwrapping was no longer needed.The performance of the new method was illustrated through the measurements of the micro-resonator and a 44 nm standard step height,and the comparison of the results of the 44 nm standard step height measurement by white light phase shifting inter-ferometry,white light vertical scanning and phase shifting interferometry was also made.


Vietnam's increased integration into the global market economy entails rapid and dynamic changes that foster new ways of acting, interacting and rendering the world meaningful. This article addresses the ways in which an ongoing process of transformation in contemporary Vietnam is epitomised by the ambivalence and ambiguity with which female sexuality is imbued. Female sexuality is ideally restricted to marriage and motherhood, meaning that females' premarital or extramarital sexual relations tend to be associated with the category of 'social evils' (te nan xa hoi). The category of 'social evils' is vague in definition and was introduced into Vietnamese society by virtue of what was seen as the country's increased involvement in a morally polluted world. By drawing on two periods of fieldwork (1994–1995 and 2000–2001) in a northern rural Vietnamese commune, this article highlights the ways in which female sexuality in a local field site is intertwined with anxieties about the forces of a global and 'poiso...


Visual Abstract Significance Statement The deceased donor Kidney Allocation System prioritizes transplant candidates with top 20% Estimated Post-Transplant Survival (EPTS) scores (signifying longest expected survival post-transplantation) to receive optimal deceased donor kidneys. An analysisof United States Renal Data System data found that fewer than half of eligible patients with ESKD with top 20% EPTS scores were placed on the transplant waiting list. Nonlisted patients were disproportionally Black, lacked commercial insurance, and resided in lower-income communities. Many patients, particularly those initiating dialysis before waitlist placement, lose EPTS status over time, narrowing the window to receive an optimal deceased donor kidney on the basis of top EPTS status. These findings highlight the existence of barriers to transplant among some patients with excellent prognoses, and a need for efforts to expedite their access to transplantation. Background Kidney transplantation is associated with the best outcomes for most patients with ESKD. The national Kidney Allocation System prioritizes patients with Estimated Post-Transplant Survival (EPTS) scores in the top 20% for expedited access to optimal deceased donor kidneys. Methods We studied adults aged ≥18 years in the United States Renal Data System with top 20% EPTS scores who had been preemptively waitlisted or initiated dialysis in 2015–2017. We evaluated time to waitlist placement, transplantation, and mortality with unadjusted and multivariable survival models. Results Of 42,445 patients with top 20% EPTS scores (mean age, 38.0 years; 57% male; 59% White patients, and 31% Black patients), 7922 were preemptively waitlisted. Among 34,523 patients initiating dialysis, the 3-year cumulative waitlist placement incidence was 37%. Numerous factors independently associated with waitlisting included race, income, and having noncommercial insurance. For example, waitlisting was less likely for Black versus White patients, and for patients in the lowest-income neighborhoods versus those in the highest-income neighborhoods. Among patients initiating dialysis, 61% lost their top 20% EPTS status within 30 months versus 18% of patients who were preemptively listed. The 3-year incidence of deceased and living donor transplantation was 5% and 6%, respectively, for patients who initiated dialysis and 26% and 44%, respectively, for patients who were preemptively listed. Conclusions Many patients with ESKDqualifying with top 20% EPTS status are not placed on the transplant waiting list in a timely manner, with significant variation on the basis of demographic and social factors. Patients who are preemptively listed are more likely to receive benefits of top 20% EPTS status. Efforts to expedite care for qualifying candidates are needed, and automated transplant referral for patients with the best prognoses should be considered. Podcast This article contains a podcast athttps://www.asn-online.org/media/podcast/JASN/2021_07_30_JASN2020081146.mp3


: This research aimed to understand how the decision-making process regarding the internationalisation of Brazilian franchise chains occurred. This article intended to find out the motivation for internationalisation and the methods used in decision-making. The results we obtained from two franchise chains revealed the adoption of two different decision-making processes: one in which the decision was induced by a party that was interested in obtaining the international franchise and the other was stimulated by the franchiser. The entry modes these chains chose were distinct (establishment of a wholly-owned unit and of a franchised unit); these choices conditioned the steps they followed in the internationalisation process.


To improve basic knowledge about the neurochemical organization of the urodele brain, and to study discrepancies in the localization of monoaminergic markers, we immunohistochemically charted the distribution of four such markers (tyrosine hydroxylase, aromatic L‐amino acid decarboxylase, dopamine, and serotonin) in the axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) forebrain. Catecholaminergic and serotoninergic systems were found in similar locations to those seen in other Urodela. As seen in other vertebrates, the localization of the different monoaminergic markers reveals some inconsistencies. Cells that are exclusively tyrosine hydroxylase‐immunoreactive are observed in the olfactory bulb, anterior olfactory nucleus/nucleus accumbens region, the epichiasmatic portion of the preoptic nucleus, and in the pars intercalaris thalami, whereas cells that are only labelled by aromatic L‐amino acid decarboxylase are seen in the anterior olfactory nucleus/nucleus accumbens region, the bed nuclei of the anterior commissure, the posterior portion of the preoptic nucleus, the ventral hypothalamus, and the pars intercalaris thalami. The presence of cells solely serotonin (5‐HT)‐immunoreactive is suggested for the nucleus infundibularis dorsalis. Conversely, there were no areas that appeared to be exclusively immunoreactive for dopamine. Double‐labelling for aromatic L‐amino acid decarboxylase/tyrosine hydroxylase and aromatic L‐amino acid decarboxylase/serotonin, together with cell counting, confirmed the existence of neurons that express only one monoaminergic marker in amphibian, supporting the hypothesis that these cells are universally present in the central nervous system of vertebrates. J. Comp. Neurol. 391:227–247, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


Leukocyte recruitment into pancreatic islets is believed to play an important pathophysiological role in autoimmune diabetes. Previous reports have suggested that the chemokine stromal‐cell derived factor‐1 (SDF‐1) controls maturation, trafficking, and homing of certain subsets of lymphoid cells including immunogenic B and T cells. Moreover, SDF‐1 has been shown to be either chemo‐attractant or ‐repellant depending on concentration. Here we examined the hypothesis that SDF‐1 regulates the adhesion of autoimmune lymphocytes to islet microvascular endothelium in autoimmune diabetes. Islet microvascular endothelial cell monolayers were stimulated with 10 ng/ml TNFα and subsequently coated with varying concentrations of SDF‐1 (1 ng/ml, 50 ng/ml and 100 ng/ml) and subjected to parallel plate flow chamber analysis for T‐cell/endothelial cell interactions. TNFα stimulation alone caused a 2 fold increase in NOD CD3+ T‐cell adhesion, which was completely blocked by 100 ng/ml SDF‐1. However, 50 ng/ml SDF‐1 elicited a slight but significant increase in adhesion, while 1 ng/ml SDF‐1 treatment had no affect on TNFα stimulated adhesion. In contrast, SDF‐1 treatment did not demonstrate a chemorepulsive effect on TNFα stimulated C57BL/6J CD3+ T‐cell adhesion. Moreover, the chemorepulsive effect of SDF‐1 on TNFα stimulated NOD CD3+ T‐cell adhesion was blocked by the G‐protein coupled receptor antagonist Pertussis Toxin (100 ng/ml). These data illustrate a novel function for SDF‐1 in mediating chemorepulsion of autoimmune T cells suggesting that SDF‐1 may be useful in disrupting leukocyte recruitment into pancreatic islets seen in autoimmune diabetes.


The curriculum construction is one of the important strate gies to promote the school development.Under the guidance of the vision of Curriculum Reform Ⅱ in Shanghai,Jinhua Middle School adhere to the mission of laying the foundation for the stud ents lifelong development,starting from the curriculum development,and gradually formed the new education model of playing the mathematical discipline "leading effect",culti vating the students ability to innovate by specialty education,training the students practical abil ities by the pottery education,Promoting the students all-round development by the integrated practi cal courses,so that let the curriculum construction as the cornerstone for the students develop ment,and the support platform for the teachers professional development,and promoting the co mprehensive and sustainable development of the school


Fiber based optical sensors have been widely used in many industries today to detect parameters such as temperature, pressure, vibrations, concentrations and many more. A Mach-Zehnder Interferometer (MZI) is well known for its compact structure and small size which are advantageous for sensing purposes. In this project, an MZI with a singlemode-multimode-singlemode-multimode (SMSM) structure is developed for measuring acetone concentration in reverse osmosis (RO) water. The MZI consists of two single mode fibers (SMF) and two multimode fibers (MMF) spliced together using an arc fusion splicer machine to produce a SMSM structure. The MZI generates a good, reflected interference spectrum where the dip wavelength is red-shifted with the increase of acetone concentration. The sensitivity of the fiber sensor is 1.5391 nm/M within the range of 0M until 4M of acetone concentration. Based on the result, the sensor has a linear response towards the changes of concentration of 94.38%. This preliminary result shows that the proposed sensor can be used to detect acetone concentration to avoid contaminated water that may be of potential concern for human health.