The aim of the work is to observe the changs of nitric oxide (NO) and endothelin (ET) and the role of L Arg and L NAME on injuried gastric mucosa in newborn rats with asphyxia. Result shows that level of serum ET, content of gastric NO and lesion index(LI)in asphyxia group were signifcant higher than those of controls (P 0.01 ); The level of serum ET and LI in L Arg group were significant lower than those of asphyxia group(P 0.01 ), NO level increased signifcantly (P0.01); The level of serum ET and LI in L NAME group were significant higher than those of controls and L Arg group(P0.01), NO level was significant lower than that of L Arg group (P 0.01 ). This study confirmed that both change of ET and NO in asphyxia are related with gastric mucosa injury., NO can reduce the injury and ET can worsen the injury.


This article is founded on the assumption that cluster analysis can be used to complement regressionbased techniques to obtain further improvement in systematic understanding of the nexus of politics, economics, and conflict. It assumes such variables form part of a yet to be understood, non-linear, timedependent interactive system. Cluster analysis is used to classify entities into groups and aims toward explanations based on characteristics cutting across the objects in which they are embedded; thus, the analysis seeks a more compelling account of the complex linkages between and among economic, political, and conflict-related variables. Cross-sectional data for 1967, 1974, 1981, 1988, and 1995 from the Dataset on National Attributes is used in the cluster analysis. The data analysis identifies clusters of states based on a range of characteristics. As expected within a time-dependent system, there is evidence of consistent clustering of countries within and across years, along with evidence of change. Several clusters, such as the advanced states, are very stable and indicate patterns that should be explored further with regression analysis.


The utility model relates to a low-noise power steering pump which comprises a pump casing provided with a pump chamber. An oil inlet channel and an oil outlet channel are formed on the pump casing; a rotor, a stator, a blade and a rotating shaft are arranged in the pump chamber, wherein one end of the rotating shaft is connected with an engine, and the other end of the rotating shaft is connected with the rotor; a plurality of rotor slots for the blade to be inserted in are distributed on the rotor along the circumferential direction; an inner hole is formed on the stator; the rotor and the blade are positioned in the inner hole; flow distribution discs are arranged on the side end surfaces of the rotor and the stator; a bearing and a bearing pedestal are also arranged in the pump chamber; a bearing pedestal hole for the bearing to be placed in is formed on the bearing pedestal; the rotating shaft is connected with the pump casing through the bearing and the bearing pedestal; a plurality of vibration reduction slots are formed at the bottom of the bearing pedestal hole; and a buffer backflow slot for connecting the oil inlet channel and the pump chamber is additionally formed on the pump casing. With the adoption of the technical scheme, the mechanical noise and the fluid noise generated by the low-noise power steering pump during the work are low; and when the low-noise power steering pump is assembled and connected with the engine, the resonance can not be generated.


Clouds in a Glass of Beer Genies in Jars, Clouds in Bottles, and a Bucket with a Hole in It Happy Ducks, Like Happy People, Perform Best with Cool Heads Sugar and Spice: The Dirty Wet-Bulb Temperature Mixing Clouds Conceptions and Misconceptions of Pressure Dew Drops on a Bathroom Mirror Temperature Inversions Have Cold Bottoms A Murder in Ceylon The Freezing of Lakes Mad Dogs and Englishmen Go out in the Midday Sun The Greenhouse Effect Black Clouds Once in a Blue Moon The Green Flash Multiple Scattering at the Breakfast Table Multiple Scattering at the Beach On a Clear Day You Can't See Forever A Serendipitous Iridescent Cloud Physics on a Manure Heap: More About Black Clouds Polarization of Skylight Colors of the Sea Indoor Rainbows Why Rainbows are Not Impossible in Winter The Doppler Effect.


Abstract Small area estimation is receiving considerable attention due to the high demand for small area statistics. Small area estimators of means and totals have been widely studied in the literature. Moreover, in the last years also small area estimators of quantiles and poverty indicators have been studied. In contrast, small area estimators of inequality indicators, which are often used in socio-economic studies, have received less attention. In this article, we propose a robust method based on the M-quantile regression model for small area estimation of the Theil index and the Gini coefficient, two popular inequality measures. To estimate the mean squared error a non-parametric bootstrap is adopted. A robust approach is used because often inequality is measured using income or consumption data, which are often non-normal and affected by outliers. The proposed methodology is applied to income data to estimate the Theil index and the Gini coefficient for small domains in Tuscany (provinces by age groups), using survey and Census micro-data as auxiliary variables. In addition, a design-based simulation is carried out to study the behaviour of the proposed robust estimators. The performance of the bootstrap mean squared error estimator is also investigated in the simulation study.


Sequence of family 19 chitinase was cloned from Drosera capensis. Implemented expression in different strains of E.coli and developed a refolding method. Describes the primary biochemical characteristics of the full-length chitinase and its shape without chitin-binding domain.


Although a study of insects is admittedly of outstanding importance as a unit of the high school course in biology, the laboratory approach to this subject is often confined to an evaluation of the external features of a single example such as the grasshopper. Moreover, even this limited illustrative material usually involves preserved specimens only. A proper appreciation of the amazing adaptations of insects, and the consequent success which insects enjoy as competitors of mankind, cannot be attained through the use of such limited material. Field studies of living insects could add much to the student's understanding and appreciation of the fitness of insects to survive and compete with man. But such field studies are impractical for many high school biology classes for a number of


The commercialization of dicamba-resistant (DR) crops and subsequent increase in post-emergent applications of dicamba has contributed to millions of acres of dicamba injury to sensitive plant species since 2016. The research presented in this dissertation is designed to provide a better understanding of the environmental conditions and transport mechanisms that influence dicamba volatility and off-target movement and also evaluate the spectral response and yield effects following dicamba and 2,4-D exposure in sensitive soybean. The first study evaluates the effect of soil pH on the volatility of dicamba products. In this study, three commercially-available and one experimental dicamba formulation were applied to trays containing soil at 5 distinct pH values. These trays were placed near sensitive soybean plants to evaluate dicamba volatility. The results of this research found that dicamba applied to soil with lower pH had a higher likelihood of volatilization. The experimental formulation, dicamba choline, had a reduction in volatility compared to the other formulations tested. The second study evaluates the potential of atmospheric accumulation and subsequent rainwater scavenging as a mechanism for dicamba off-target movement. Weekly combined rainwater and dry deposition samples were collected from 12 regions of Missouri. The results of this research found that it is common for dicamba to accumulate in the atmosphere in Missouri and that regional adoption of DR crops is largely responsible for detected concentrations. Stable atmospheric conditions also increased detected concentrations. Lastly, the levels of dicamba detected in regions of Missouri with the highest DR trait adoption were sufficient to cause injury symptoms to sensitive soybean. The final study evaluated the utility of UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) mounted sensors to predict end of season yield loss in soybean following sub-lethal 2,4-D and dicamba exposure. The results of this research determined that the normalized difference red-edge index was the most consistent vegetative index for predicting end of season yield loss in soybean.


A non-switching mode Class J power amplifier (PA) is presented. Its output power capability is improved by driving the active device into the non-linear region to generate extra harmonics. The output matching circuit is also structured to filter out unwanted harmonics to let the PA retain high efficiency and high linearity concurrently. A GaN Hetero-junction Field Effect transistor has a low output capacitance. Therefore, combining with a reactive load, a relatively broadband resonance circuit at GHz frequencies is designed. A fully integrated Class J PA., which has an area of 1.8 × 1.3 mm., is realized with measured 12% overall efficiency at the 2 dB compression point (P2dB), 3 GHz bandwidth, and 20.3 dBm output referred 1 dB compression.


Increasing efficiency in the clinical trials development process ensures a vibrant clinical trials system that makes best use of resources, and keeps pace with scientific discoveries in the field of cancer research.


Angiostatin, the N-terminal four kringles (K1–4) of plasminogen, blocks tumor-mediated angiogenesis and has great therapeutic potential. However, angiostatin's mechanism of anti-angiogenic action is unclear. We found that bovine arterial endothelial (BAE) cells adhere to angiostatin in an integrin-dependent manner and that integrins αvβ3, α9β1, and to a lesser extent α4β1, specifically bind to angiostatin. αvβ3 is a predominant receptor for angiostatin on BAE cells, since a function-blocking antibody to αvβ3 effectively blocks adhesion of BAE cells to angiostatin, but an antibody to α9β1 does not. ε-Aminocaproic acid, a Lys analogue, effectively blocks angiostatin binding to BAE cells, indicating that an unoccupied Lys-binding site of the kringles may be required for integrin binding. It is known that other plasminogen fragments containing three or five kringles (K1–3 or K1–5) have an anti-angiogenic effect, but plasminogen itself does not. We found that K1–3 and K1–5 bind to αvβ3, but plasminogen does not. These results suggest that the anti-angiogenic action of angiostatin may be mediated via interaction with αvβ3. Angiostatin binding to αvβ3 does not strongly induce stress-fiber formation, suggesting that angiostatin may prevent angiogenesis by perturbing the αvβ3-mediated signal transduction that may be necessary for angiogenesis.


Aiming at the problem of process data update and working procedure model, the three-dimension CAPP (Computer Aided Process Planning) based on three-dimension CAD (Computer Aided Design) is proposed. The core of the system is the process model that is used to transfer data between CAPP and CAD system. This system can solve the problem of two-dimension CAPP based on parameter feature modeling of three-dimension CAD and has been applied to some aviation enterprises in china.


A number of applications require estimates of the levels of earthquake shaking that are likely to occur concurrently at multiple locations. Examples include the evaluation of extended lifelines networks and the estimation of damage costs in a region. Uniform hazard maps are not appropriate for these purposes because the earthquake sources that are the principal contributors to the hazard generally vary between locations. Unless the hazard at all locations in a region is dominated by a single fault, the mapped values at different locations are likely to be produced by different earthquakes. Scenario maps are often used to assess the levels of motion that are likely to occur together (i.e. in the same earthquake) across a lifelines network or region. The usual implementation of the scenario approach is that the motions in a given earthquake are uniformly high or low at all locations with respect to the median motion for each location e.g. at the 50-percentile or 84-percentile level everywhere. This corresponds to an implicit assumption that the random variability in earthquake motions is contributed totally by variations between different earthquakes of the same magnitude and location (between-earthquake variation), with none of the random variability occurring between different locations within a single earthquake (within-earthquake variation). Modern attenuation relations indicate that most of the variation in fact consists of within-earthquake variation. This paper discusses the methodology for assessing the joint probabilities of exceedance of given ground motions at multiple locations. It presents examples of the sometimes large differences between the levels of motion occurring jointly at multiple locations compared to those indicated by scenario approaches, and their different implications for redundant and non-redundant networks. It also indicates how joint probabilities affect estimated damage costs in a region.


This study evaluated the effect of cooking temperature and residual alkali on kraft pulp yield, bleachability, and quality. We cooked Eucalyptus grandis wood chips to kappa number 16-17 using high and low residual alkali (14-18 g/L and 3-4 g/L) and high and low temperatures (170°C and 160°C). We then quantified process yield and evaluated pulp quality through measurement of strength properties, carbohy- drate composition, hexenuronic acid content, alkali-leachable lignin content, and residual lignin nature. After oxygen delignifying the pulps and bleaching them to full brightness with the sequences D(EOP)DD and D(EOP)(ZE)D, we determined their bleachability and brightness stability. Low temperature and low residual alkali during pulping resulted in the highest screened yield (54.2%) and viscosity (64.6 mPas). Pulps cooked at low residual alkali showed about 1.7%-2.1% higher yield, 20%-30% higher viscosity, and higher strength properties (except for tear index) than those cooked at high residual alkali both at 160°C and 170°C. Lower temperature and/or residual alkali during pulping favored pulp refining. Pulps produced at high residual alka- li showed slightly lower oxygen delignification efficiency (2%-3%), but significantly higher (10%-15%) bleach- ability, as measured by active chlorine consumption, regardless of cooking temperature. Pulps cooked at high residual alkali showed higher initial brightness (6-8% ISO) for a fixed kappa, which carried on across oxygen delignification and ECF bleaching processes. Oxygen delignification filtrates of pulps cooked at low residual alkali contain substantially more COD and color than those cooked at high residual alkali because the former pulps are richer in alkali-leachable lignin. Pulping conditions did not affect pulp brightness stabil- ity. Pulps produced at high residual alkali showed lower contents of xylans and of hexenuronic acids and higher quantities of lignin containing carboxyl and aliphatic hydroxyl groups. Pulps cooked at 160°C pre- sented higher xylan and hexenuronic acid content in relation to those cooked at 170°C.


Solar panels have a nonlinear voltage-current characteristic, with a distinct maximum power point (MPP), which depends on the environmental factors, such as temperature and irradiation. This paper presents MATLAB simulations done with Perturb & Observe ( P&O ) maximum power point tracking (MPPT) method and incremental conductance (IncCond) MPPT method used in solar array power systems. Performance of MPPT methods 'Perturb and Observe' and 'Incremental Conductance' is observed for rapidly changing temperature, rapidly changing solar radiation, constant temperature and constant solar radiation. The simulation results are presented and the results are compared for both MPPT methods. Index Terms – Maximum power point tracking, Perturb and Observe method, Incremental conductance method.


Due to the proliferation of social media data and user-ge- nerated content available, monitoring trends or using this data in other scenarios becomes more interesting. Our research focuses on the extrac- tion of information on health events from user generated content with the objective to support Epidemic Intelligence. Speciflcally, we describe and evaluate a method for identifying sentences relevant for event extrac- tion. Labeled data is unavailable for this task and manual annotation is expensive. Therefore, in order to reduce the number of labeled examples, we apply a bootstrapping algorithm for this task. In more detail, we will study the suitability of a classifler trained on one text type (e-mails) for the classiflcation of texts of another text type (blogs).


Those who are becoming paranoid about the lack of interest and support for current laser biomedical research technology'-7 must find some better techniques or lines of communication and presentation to make not only the granting agencies but also the physicians themselves aware of the important recent developments in laser biomedical technology. Many of these developments offer applications for many phases of the current cancer program. It is only the cynic who says that there are ten reasons why there has not been interest in the biomedical applications of laser technology: The first nine are financial and the last is not important. While this is true to some extent in this present era of what is called the poverty-stricken background of basic science support, there are many other factors, such as lack of interest and communication, conservatism, and of course expense, which may influence research and development of these applications. For those who are impressed by the current philosophy of overemphasis on applied research in the cancer program, we can point out that the laser has a number of important applications. Many of these are presented, fortunately, at this conference. One of the important phases of research of interest to cancer workers is the concept of photoactivation of tumors by low-output argon laser impacts as detailed in this conference by Tomson, Emmett, and Fox.' This photoactivation of tumors with selective take-up of dyes shows photodestruction by the laser without damage to the adjacent areas. The two therapeutic goals of this program are the selective localization of so-called vital or nontoxic dyes, and then the accessible impact of low-output laser on these dye areas. Current research includes attempts to find nontoxic dye systems for preferential localization in tumors. Present research in our laboratory includes the use of hematoporphyrin and lasers for the treatment of experimental gliomas induced in mice. Besides the need for finding nontoxic dyes, the other requirement is for the tumor be accessible to the impact of the laser. Because of recent developments in flexiblefiber-optics systems for laser transmission, our research will not be limited merely to experimentally accessible tumors, such as the skin tumors of animals, Another example of this recent photoactivation technology is the present use of psoralens in the currently fashionabIe ultraviolet light therapy for psoriasis. Our experiments with an ultraviolet laser have been unsuccessful because the output of these systems is too low for use in clinical trials. Another research project now being undertaken in our laboratory and of interest to cancer researchers is the use of colloidal iron particles for selective absorption of lasers in the visible light range.' The use of these iron particles in cancer has provided not only for increased laser reaction in cancer tissue but also for the added effect of induced tissue hyperthermia by microwave absorption. Hyperthermia is an effective technique for the localized destruction of cancer tissue. Here we have the additive effects of lasers and microwaves. Another laser program for cancer research is that of laser cytofluorometry. lo


Aims: Elevated homocysteine (HCY) level might increase the risk of diabetic nephropathy, particularly in hypertensive patients with albuminuria. The aim of the study was to investigate the association between homocysteine level, hypertension and albuminuria, as well as therapeutic possibilities associated with the above parameters in the prevention of nephropathy. Methods: A total of 266 type 2 diabetic patients (54.4 p 10.8 years old ; diabetes duration 12.1 p 7.4 years) were studied during a one-year follow-up. Patients were randomized to receive either atorvastatin (n = 59), pravastatin (n = 41), simvastatin (n = 48), folic acid (n = 44) or lisinopril (n = 35). The control group included 39 patients. HCY, atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), pulse pressure (PP) and albumin excretion rate (AER) were determined. The patients were assigned to groups based on AER ( 300 mg/24 h) and PP ( 65). Among-group differences were tested by one-way ANOVA and differences between the beginning and the end of the study using Wilcoxon signed ranks test. Results: ANOVA revealed significant differences in initial HCY and AIP (P = 0.001 and P = 0.041, respectively) according to AER, and in HCY and AIP (both P < 0.001) according to PP. PP and AER were significantly reduced in the lisinopril-treated group (P < 0.001) (Wilcoxon test). Both AIP and PP were significantly reduced in simvastatin- (P < 0.001 and P = 0.002, respectively) and atorvastatin– (P < 0.001 and P = 0.009, respectively) treated groups. HCY was significantly reduced in simvastatin– , pravastatin– and folic acid-treated groups (P = 0.012, P = 0.005 and P = 0.001, respectively), primarily in the group of patients with normoalbuminuria (P < 0.05). The reduction in HCY was most pronounced in the folic acid-treated group (P < 0.01). Conclusion: In addition to an effect of lisinopril on AER and PP, folic acid, reducing HCY, and statins, reducing HCY, AIP and PP, might be a support in the prevention of diabetic nephropathy.


Haematologica vol. 85(3):March 2000 4. Mason PJ, Sonati MF, MacDonald D, et al. New glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase mutations associated with chronic anemia. Blood 1995; 85:1377-80. 5. Poggi V, Town M, Foulkes NS, Luzzatto L. Identification of a single base change in a new human mutant glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase gene by polymerase-chain-reaction amplification of the entire coding region from genomic DNA. Biochem J 1990; 271: 157-60. 6. Vulliamy T, Mason P, Luzzatto L. The molecular basis of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. Trends Genet 1992; 8:138-43. 7. Aluoch JR, Kilinç Y, Aksoy Y, et al. Sickle cell anemia among Eti-Turks: hematological, clinical and genetic observations. Br J Haematol 1986; 64:45-55. 8. Beutler E. G6PD deficiency. Blood 1994; 84:3613-36.


The facility interest rate is one of the most important macroeconomic variables. The bank facility interest rate is associated with other macro-economic variables, one of which is the bank deposit interest rate. Using the time series data of the 1973-2017 period and the simultaneous equation system, the researchers estimated four equations using the three-stage least squares method.The result of estimation of the first equation indicates that there is a significant positive relationship between the bank deposit interest rate and the facility interest rate in the Iranian economy during this 45-year period, in that a decrease in the facility interest rate follows an increase in the inflation rate.The result of estimation of the second equation, in which the deposit interest rate is the dependent variable, shows that there is a significant positive relationship between the facility interest rate and the deposit interest rate.. The result of estimation of the third equation, where the inflation rate is the dependent variable, indicates that there is a significant positive relationship between the liquidity level and the inflation rate,The result of estimation of the last equation where the credit risk of banks is the dependent variable shows that there is a significant positive relationship between the facility interest rate and the credit risk.


There are no sufficient data to evaluate the relationship between high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hs‐CRP) and uncovered stent struts on optical coherence tomography (OCT) after drug‐eluting stent (DES) implantation.


We present a unified and interactive web-based visualization of various classical and non-classical algorithms at http://www.comp.nus.edu.sg/∼stevenha/visualization. Our collection of algorithm visualizations has the following advantages over many other web- based algorithm visualizations in the Internet - (1) it has visualizations of various non-classical algorithms that currently cannot be found elsewhere in the Internet; (2) it is interactive; users (usu- ally students) can enter their own input data to test the behavior of the algorithm; (3) it has a consistent user interface across different algorithm visualizations that are currently available; (4) it is built with HTML5 making it accessible on modern portable PCs including tablets and smart- phones. User studies in two algorithm classes in NUS show that our visualizations is of immense help to some students who prefer to learn visually.


The excess depletion of carbon‐rich fossil fuels and agroforest biomass resources has aggravated the energy crisis and environmental pollution, causing increased CO2 emissions. Accordingly, the goal of "peak CO2 emissions and carbon neutrality" is proposed to alleviate global warming. CO2‐to‐fuel conversion is considered as a preferable move for reducing the atmospheric CO2 concentration and further upgrading to chemical feedstocks. However, the highly efficient CO2 conversion remains challenging due to the thermodynamic limits and kinetic barriers, which require high energy input through conventional thermocatalysis. Inspired by "artificial photosynthesis," photocatalytic CO2 transformation has received tremendous attention and makes remarkable progress over the past decades, although it is still far from practical application. Recently, the integrated photothermocatalysis has emerged as an intelligent strategy to utilize solar energy to induce local heating and energetic hot carriers, which synergistically promote CO2‐to‐fuel conversion. The key to the success of CO2 upgradation is catalysts' development with improved activity, selectivity, and stability. This review highlights the recent advancements in materials designing for practical CO2 conversion through thermocatalysis, photocatalysis, and photothermocatalysis during the past five years, emphasizing the reaction pathways and mechanism on the CO bond activation and intermediates formation. Finally, the current challenges and future opportunities are described.


This paper presents a computer application to assist in decisions about sustainability enhancement due to the effect of shifting demand from less favorable periods to periods that are more convenient for the operation of a microgrid. Specifically, assessing how the decisions affect the economic participation of the aggregating agent of the microgrid bidding in an electricity day-ahead market. The aggregating agent must manage microturbines, wind systems, photovoltaic systems, energy storage systems, and loads, facing load uncertainty and further uncertainties due to the use of renewable sources of energy and participation in the day-ahead market. These uncertainties cannot be removed from the decision making, and, therefore, require proper formulation, and the proposed approach customizes a stochastic programming problem for this operation. Case studies show that under these uncertainties and the shifting of demand to convenient periods, there are opportunities to make decisions that lead to significant enhancements of the expected profit. These enhancements are due to better bidding in the day-ahead market and shifting energy consumption in periods of favorable market prices for exporting energy. Through the case studies it is concluded that the proposed approach is useful for the operation of a microgrid.


In this paper, I report the results of tests that I designed to show how Andean Spanish(AS) word order is affected by language contact with Quechua. In AS the object appears in preverbal position more frequently than in Standard Spanish(SS). The main syntactic properties of focus-fronting in SS are weak-crossover and long-distance movement. I constructed tests to check for these syntactic properties and the pragmatics of focus in AS and Quechua. The results show that AS and SS are syntactically identical, but that there is pragmatic transfer from Quechua into AS. The study has implications for language contact and syntax.


ABSTRACT The conductances of sodium perfluorooctanoate (SPFO), sodium dodecylsulphate (SDS), dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB), and tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide (TTAB) in 18-crown-6 ether + water (CR+W), p-cyclodextrin + water (CY+W), and 1,10-phenanthroIine + water (Phen+W) mixtures with fixed 4 mM of each additive were determined over the temperature range of 5-55 °C. The conductivity plots for all the surfactants showed single break from which the critical micellization concentration (cmc) and degree of micelle ionization (x) were computed. From the pre and the post micellar slopes of the conductivity curves, the equivalent conductivities of the monomeric (Aass) and the micellar states (Amjc), respectively, were calculated and discussed with respect to the surfactant-additive complexation. It was observed that the micelle formation of all the ionic surfactants irrespective of the nature of their head groups were delayed in CYC+W in comparison to that in CR+W and Phen+W systems over the temperature range studied. The micelle formation of SPFO and SDS in CR+W and Phen+W systems showed stabilization of the respective micelles due to the adsorption of Na+-CR and Na+-Phen complexes at the micelle solution interface in comparison to that of DTAB and TTAB.


Abstract Pollen analysis, AMS 14C measurements and varve counting, carried out on a sequence of Late Weichselian lacustrine sediments in Blekinge in southeastern Sweden, show that the area was deglaciated during the middle part of the B⊘lling, at c. 12,500 14C years BP + c. 200 varve years. This date fits well with the regional deglaciation chronology. The deglaciation was accompanied by a typical late glacial vegetation succession. The varve chronology for the site is correlated to the regional chronology for Blekinge, and the ice recession rate is calculated to c. 100 m/year. The palaeomagnetic secular variation analyses show a characteristic westerly declination swing at c. 11,500-10,300 14C years BP, which is in accordance with curves from other sites in southern Sweden.


Aim: To evaluate and compare the antimicrobial efficacy of Andrographis paniculata and sodium hypochlorite with diode laser on endodontic pathogen Enterococcus faecalis. Materials and Methods: An in vitro study in which 40 freshly extracted single rooted anterior teeth with no root caries, apical fractures are collected. A sample size was calculated using GFNx01Power Software. All the teeth are decoronated and prepared by using ProTaper Gold (DENTSPLY) rotary file system. The apex is then sealed and waterproofed by applying nail varnish. Precultured inoculum of E. faecalis strain is inoculated and then teeth are randomly divided into four groups with 10 teeth in each group; each group is irrigated with 0.5% of A. paniculata, 3% of sodium hypochlorite, laser-activated 3% sodium hypochlorite, and laser-activated 0.5% A. paniculata, respectively. Pre- and postirrigation colonial count is obtained. Statistical analysis of all the data was analyzed using SPSS 20.0 (Armonk, NY, USA); Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was performed for comparing variation between groups and multiple comparison tests performed for intergroup comparison. Results: The reduction of colony count postirrigation of about 96% in group 4, 90% in group 3, 48% in group 1 with a least reduction of about 24% in group 2 is observed (P = 0.000). Conclusion: All four irrigation methods included in this study proved to be effective against E. faecalis, but A. paniculata with diode laser came off as an equally efficient method of disinfection compared to sodium hypochlorite with diode laser combination and highly efficient than plain A. paniculata and sodium hypochlorite.


Abstract : The fluorescence spectra of toluene and p-cresol from ab initio calculations were interpreted on the ground states and the lowest excited singlet states of the two molecules. Determination was made on the energy minima and the optimized geometries of the ground states and the lowest excited singlet states from 4 in 4 CASSCF computations using 6-31G basis set. Also computed was the vibrational frequencies of both molecules in the two states. It is believed that this work constitutes the first complete calculation of the vibrational spectra of both ground and excited states of aromatic molecules.


The infinite dilution and mutual diffusion coefficients for the CO2/bitumen system were predicted using existing correlations. Out of seven semi-empirical correlations tested, the Umesi-Danner correlation was found to be best suited for the prediction of gas-liquid infinite dilution diffusion coefficient. For the mutual diffusion coefficient, Teja's method based on the generalized corresponding states principle was successfully used. The predictions are compared with the limited CO2/bitumen diffusivity data available in the literature.

On a predit a partir de correlations existantes les coefficients de diffusion mutuelle et le coefficient de diffusion a dilution infinie du systeme CO2/bitume. Sur les sept correlations semi-empiriques testees, c'est la correlation d'Umesi-Danner qui s'est averee la plus appropriee pour predire le coefficient de diffusion a diffusion a dilution infinie d'un systeme gaz-liquide. La methode de Taja basee sur le principe des etats correspondants generalise a pu ětre appliquee avec succes dans le cas du coefficient de diffusion mutuelle. Ces predictions sont comparees aux quelques resultats existants sur la diffusivite du systeme CO2/bitume.


The pulse measuring instrument was designed on the character of pulse signal of humanbody.The wrist pulse signal that was measured by SC0073B pulse sensor was send to the microcontroller processing after the amplification circuit,low pass active filter circuit and a shaping circuit conditioning.The result of the signal can be displayed on the LCD screen.The measuring also can be connected to the wireless monitoring web that based on Zigbee protocol which can be monitored remote.


The title compound 2-benzylamino-6-methyl-3-cyano-8-phenyl-5H-bispyrazolo[3,4-d,3',2'-b]pyrimidine crystallizes in orthorhombic, space group Pbca with a = 17.945(7), b =10.862(4), c = 19.481(7)(。A), β = 90°, Z = 8, V = 1151.8(4)(。A)3, Mr = 379.43, Dx = 1.327 g/cm3,μ(MoKα) = 0.084 mm 1, F(000) = 1584, the final R = 0.0513 and wR = 0.1128 for 2608 observed reflections (I > 2σ(I)).X-ray analysis reveals that the tricyclic portion of the molecule is effectively planar.In addition, there exist three intermolecular hydrogen bonds.


This paper investigates the income distributional implications of different value-added tax (VAT) schemes in Bangladesh. The results indicate that a revenue-neutral uniform VAT is regressive (relative to the pre-reform situation) in its impact on the income of different households. This paper explores the income distributional impact of an alternative policy package, consisting of a basic rate of VAT with exemptions and excise taxes for certain commodity groups, chosen on the basis of their distributional characteristics. The welfare consequences of the alternative package are found to be superior to those of the uniform VAT.


Large hydrodynamic and morphodynamic changes have taken place in the western Dutch Wadden Sea due to the closure of the Zuider Sea in the early 1930s. Hydrodynamic simulations for three situations, viz. just before the closure, just after the closure and at present, have been carried out in order to investigate the hydrodynamic changes since the closure and to improve our understanding of the observed morphodynamic changes. The model results show a large increase in tidal range after the closure of the Zuider Sea. This increase continued to grow after the closure due to bathymetric change and sea level rise. The morphodynamic analysis focuses on the changed behavior of the ebb-tidal deltas of the Texel Inlet and the Vlie Inlet. Both ebb-tidal deltas have undergone a re-orientation in up drift direction. Two possible explanations based on the literature for this change are discussed with the help of the hydrodynamic simulations.


Using grant funding, some prominent creators of digital libraries have promised users of networked resources certain kinds of access. Some of this access finds a ready-made vehicle in USMARC, some of it in the TEI header, some of it has yet to find the most appropriate vehicle. In its quest to provide access to what users need, the cataloging community can show leadership by exploring the strength inherent in a metadata-providing system like the TEI header.


Abstract Objective  The research aims to determine the suitability of the trabecular pattern in the assessment of the dental implant osseointegration process through two-dimensional (2D) digital and three-dimensional (3D) cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) radiographs. Materials and Methods  This is a correlation description that explains the relationship between variables. The population consisted of 24 data points on 3D CBCT and 2D digital radiographs from the procedure after dental implants were inserted into the tibia of a New Zealand white rabbit ( Oryctolagus cuniculus ) on days 3, 14, and 28. The radiograph was selected based on the region of interest (ROI), which covers the peri-implant area with a width of 1 mm and length following the height of the implant. The ROI was analyzed for trabecular thickness (Tb.Th), separation (Tb.Sp), number (Tb.N), and fractal dimension. Statistical Analysis  The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to statistically test the data to assess the consistency of intraobserver measurements and the r value (Pearson's correlation coefficient). This determines the correlation between trabecular patterns in both radiographic modalities and the Bland–Altman plot to observe the limits of acceptable discrepancies. Results  The ICC test showed high intraobserver consistency in trabecular pattern measurements on 2D digital radiographs and 3D CBCT. The trabecular space pattern and number showed an r value of 0.88 with radiographic modalities of 0.72 mm and 0.018, respectively. Additionally, the trabecular thickness and fractal dimension had an insignificant correlation, with an r value of 0.22, and the mean of the 2D radiograph was lower than that of CBCT. Conclusion  The 2D radiograph and 3D CBCT showed correlations in the trabecular number and space results but had no correlation in the trabecular thickness and fractal dimension results. Based on intraclass correlation analysis, 3D CBCT appeared to be more reliable for measuring trabecular patterns (Tb.Th, Tb.Sp, Tb.N, and fractal dimension) than 2D radiograph.


and his mother he often spoke with high regard. He was educated in Glasgow High School, and showed special proficiency in mathematical subjects. After leaving school he became an Arts student at Glasgow University, graduated M.A., with first class honours in Mathematics and Natural Philosophy, in 1889, and gained the Eglinton Fellowship. Thereafter he began the study of Medicine, and here, as in his Arts course, he was member of a year which included an unusually large number of able men. In 1894? he graduated M.B., with commendation, and was appointed to a resident post in the Victoria Infirmary. It is still remembered that during the great frost of the following winter he suggested the plan of supplying water to the Infirmary from a distant hydrant, by means of a fire-engine with a quarter of a mile of hose.


In the Czechoslovak Register of Laws No. 120 of October 13, 1976, texts were published of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which were signed on behalf of our republic in 1968, reiterated at Helsinki in 1975 and came into force in our country on March 23, 1976. From that date our citizens have enjoyed the rights, and our state the duties, ensuing from them. The human rights and freedoms underwritten by these covenants constitute features of civilized life for which many progressive movements have striven throughout history and whose codification could greatly assist humane developments in our society.


Abstract We show that triangular families of Boolean functions comprise an exponentially small fraction of proper families of a given order. We prove that if F is a proper family of Boolean functions, then the number of solutions of an equation F(x) = A is even. Finally, we describe a new class of proper families of Boolean functions.


This paper explores the concept of reflection and reflective practice in teacher education. Teaching is a complex achievement that brings together a number of conceptual, practical, and physical resources in an individual's professional practice. Achievement in teaching is an amalgam of at least four different discourses--science, craft, art, and social/moral activity; success and development in teaching depend on forms of reflection si,ecific to those discourses. To illustrate this conceptual approach, the TENET project, an attempt in preservice training to develop reflection on the promotion of equality of opportunity in the classroom is described. The paper concludes with five principles for teacher education: (1) give students tasks that require them to reflect on important findings of educational research, assess the quality of evidence offered for claims concerning education, and understand how to gain and use evidence about their own and others' practice; (2) let students become apprentices to experienced teachers, and practice their craft with appropriate feedback and reflection built into the experience; (3) facilitate the appreciation of personal style in teaching, provide help to develop a language of critical appreciation, and give students opportunities to compare their approach with that of their peers and experienced teachers; (4) ensure that radical moral reflection is legitimated explicitly and structurally, facilitate peer discussion of moral issues, and provide opportunities for cognitive, experiential, affective, and practical exploration of moral issues; and (5) provide explicit, well informed, strongly argued views of the moral responsibilities of teachers. (Contains 28 references.) (ND) Teaching as an Amalgam of Discourses and the Consequent Need for Appropriate Modes of Reflection John Caldron and Robin Smith School of Education Sheffield Hallam University Colegiate Crescent Campus Sheffield SIO 2 BP England


Viscosity data were measured at 298.15 K and 308.15 K for formamide + 1-propanol, 2-propanol, 1-butanol, 2-methyl-1-propanol or 2-methyl-2-propanol mixtures. For an equimolar mixture, deviation in viscosity follows the sequence: 2-methyl-2-propanol >2-methyl-1-propanol>1-butanol>2-propanol>1-propanol. The viscosity data were further analyzed in terms of graph theory. Free energy of activation was also calculated from experimental viscosity data along with previously reported excess volume data. The deviation in viscosity and free energy of activation were fitted to Redlich-Kister polynomial equation. The viscosity data were also correlated by correlations like Grunberg-Nissan, Tamura-Kurata, Hind- McLaughlin-Ubbelohde, and Katti-Chaudhari relation. Various adjustable parameters, G 12 , T 12 , H 12 , and W vis /RT, of various correlations were used to predict viscosity deviation of binary mixtures. Positive value of G 12 indicates strong interaction in the studied systems. Grunberg-Nissan relation has lowest deviation among the four correlations for formamide + 1-propanol or 2-propanol mixtures; and for mixtures of formamide with 1-butanol or 2-methyl-1-propanol, Tamura- Kurata has lowest deviation. Grunberg-Nissan gives lowest deviation for formamide + 2-methyl-2-propanol mixtures.


In this paper we investigated the practices by which IT can contribute to the business as well as how to measure its maturity. Main objective of this paper is to stress the importance of evolving IT Governance activities. After analyzing IT Governance components and elements we explained external and especially national IT Governance regulation framework in the Republic of Croatia and construct the research model upon the strategic IT/Business alignment issues. On the sample of selected Croatian small banks, the organizational position and the role of IT in the business has been investigated, while specific research interest was to get the clear view of the maturity level of IT usage. We hoped that such approach could be useful when trying to answer the posed research question: can national IT Governance regulatory framework help to start to measure IT Governance maturity and are such initiatives helpful in aligning IT and business?


Background: T-cell-mediated rejection (TCMR) occurs in 10%–12% of renal allografts. TCMR manifests as a rise in serum creatinine, decreased urine output, fever, and graft tenderness. It has a negative impact on long-term allograft function. Hence, we did a retrospective analysis of patients with TCMR to know the pattern, risk factors, and treatment outcome. Materials and Methods: We analyzed retrospectively clinical characteristics, laboratory data, renal biopsy reports, precipitating factors, treatment modalities, and outcomes from case records and biopsy registers of 30 patients with TCMR between July 2019 and June 2021 in our institution. Results: Out of 30 patients studied, 80% were males and 20% were females. The mean age was 29.67 ± 8.8 years. Live-related renal transplantation accounted for 80% of patients. Native kidney disease was not known in 63%. The mean duration of rejection was 21.73 ± 23.24 months. Among the various risk factors studied, low tacrolimus levels were seen in 56.7%, which was statistically significant (P < 0.05). All the patients were treated for rejection, and improvement was seen in most and 10.7% showed no improvement. Conclusion: Most patients with TCMR improved with treatment. Inadequate immunosuppression was the risk factor for TCMR in the maximum number of our patients. Compliance was good in most patients.


INTRODUCTION. High digestive bleeding remains as health problem and together with acute abdomen, wounds and traumatisms is practically the main responsibility of a surgery rounds. METHODS. A cross-sectional, descriptive and observational study was conducted in a sample including all patients with this diagnosis admitted in "Joaquín Albarrán" Clinical Surgical Teaching Hospital between January, 2006 and December, 2007 (two years). RESULTS. The more frequent ages were between the patients aged 70 and 79 and also in male sex and the background was the cardiovascular disease. Melena was the leading clinical manifestation. Endoscopy was only performed in the 25,16% of cases noting mainly the presence of duodenitis and gastritis. Among the commonest therapeutical measures were hydration and the use of Levine's stents. Only the 20,48% of patients was treated against Helicobacter pylori. Average hospital stay was of 6 days or more. CONCLUSIONS. The application of general measures of hemodynamic support and a close surveillance of patients may to achieve safeguard their lives although there was not an accurate diagnosis. Helicobacter pylori and its association with erosive or ulcerous lesions of gastroduodenal mucosa haven't been assimilated in the physician's mind. The surgery role is decreasing in the high digestive bleeding therapy in spite of to be one the fundamental pillars for its confrontation.


The process known as the single server queue has been intensively studied in recent years, and various solutions have been obtained. We here consider the case in which the inter-arrival times t of customers are independently and identically distributed, as are the service times u. For this problem Smith(l) has obtained a formal solution for the distribution of the queueing time v of a customer, when the system is in equilibrium. When the traffic intensity p = E(u)jE(t) is near its critical value unity, the queue will be long and the queueing time large. The purpose of the following analysis is to show that the variable V=(l-p)v (1)


Optical properties of the deposited germanium–oxide (Ge–O) prepared from the laser ablation of GeO2 were investigated. When the GenOm clusters, having the compositions mainly at n=m, were deposited onto a substrate as a precursor, strong visible photoluminescence peaked at 500 nm was observed under the excitation of 325 nm laser light. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy for the deposited Ge–O on the substrate consistently shows the substantial component of the oxidation state of Ge2+, which shows the contributions from 1:1 composition of Ge2+-O2−. Correspondingly, the electronic structures of the germanium–oxide cluster were studied by using photoelectron spectroscopy in gas phase. Our developed method of the halogen atom doping enables us to determine the highest occupied molecular orbital–the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital gap of the corresponding neutral GenOn clusters experimentally, and it was found that the gap of the GenOn (n=2–5) clusters reasonably corresponds to the energy of the visible ligh...


Nowadays, land conversion become a problem for farmers, because its can cut off the farmers economy. The main problem due to agricultural land decrease is difficult to find another job or a new job. The purpose of this study are to analyze agricultural land use and farmers' livelihood strategies for land conversion in Karangrejo Village, Sumbersari Subdistrict, Jember District . This research is a qualitative study using purposive location determination method. Data collection methods in this study are indepth interviews, observation, and documentation. Data analysis using Miles and Huberman. The research results are (1) horizontal and vertical agricultural land use, (2) the application of farmers' livelihood strategies is a dual income strategy.


Ecological colored cellulose material was prepared via UV initiated photografting of acrylic acid/cationic dye system in this study. The colored cellulose material was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The effects of monomer concentration, photoinitiator amount, dye amount, pH value, grafting time, heating temperature and grafting method on the coloration of cellulose material were discussed. The results showed that the optimum process was as follows: the monomer concentration of 50wt%, photoinitiator amount of 3o.w.m.%, grafting time of 4min, and heating temperature of 70.


Staphylococcus aureus is an important pathogen. Both community-associated and hospital-acquired infections with S. aureus have increased in the past 20 years. Infection of host tissues by S. aureus requires a specific group of staphylococcal adhesive proteins with serine-asparate dipeptide repeats (SDRs). Pathogenic staphylococci express several SDR proteins that are heavily glycosylated by two glycosyltransferases, SdgA and SdgB. In this study, the structure of SdgB from S. aureus was determined in apo. The structure of S. aureus SdgB is similar to that of typical glycosyltransferases, despite having an extra ?-sheet domain. Superimposition of the S. aureus SdgB structure with typical glycosyltransferase structures, we found that one of the SO42- binding sites is very similar to that of UDP binding site in typical glycosyltransferases. In addition, we propose some positive residues, such as Arg43, Arg47, Arg73, Lys92, Arg101, Lys118, Arg120, Arg132, Lys134, Arg137 and Arg150 located in the ?-sheet domain serve as important residues responsible for binding with SDR. In summary, the structure of S. aureus SdgB provides an opportunity to investigate the mechanism of SdgB-mediated glycosylation.


Abstract : The United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) is a vital component of our nation's defense that is called upon daily to accomplish a wide variety of unique and challenging missions throughout the world. A critical element of USSOCOM's success is its ability to acquire the finest equipment available to achieve these missions. This research analyzes USSOCOM's acquisition process to determine its level of success at delivering this equipment, and focuses primarily on its ability to incorporate acquisition reform initiatives of the past decade into the process. In developing this analysis, the following areas are discussed: the roles and missions of USSOCOM, acquisition reform initiatives of the past decade beginning with the Packard Commission, the findings and recommendations of the USSOCOM Acquisition Process Action Team Report and the acquisition process at USSOCOM. Based on the research conducted, it is clear that, overall, USSOCOM has done a superb job incorporating reform initiatives into its acquisition process. Areas determined to be non-compliant relate primarily to the concept of empowerment of the Program Executive Officers (PEO). Recommendations for correcting these weaknesses include giving PEOs the authority to execute reprogramming and realignment in accordance with established legal thresholds.


Large language models are increasingly improving in their ability to generate convincing, human-like texts. While replicating human language has beneficial applications, it also allows for misuse, with for instance language models facilitating fraud and the spread of misinformation. For these reasons, detector models have become an active area of research. Although with some success, the accuracy of existing detector models highly depends on the combination of generation model and detector and moreover they give no direct insights into what actually distinguishes artificial from natural texts. Therefore, this thesis aims to construct a more general approach to detecting machine-generated text, and to this end identifies statistical aspects of language in terms of how artificial and natural texts differ. From experiments concerning the frequency distributions within human-written and machine-generated text, three tests were constructed to establish whether a corpus is human-written or machine-generates: the first two involve performing the Mann-Whitney test on the frequency distributions of both a corpus' top-40 words and its top-40 ranks, and the third uses a corpus' optimal Zipf parameters as its classificatoin feature. The three tests achieved accuracies of 99%, 95% and 93% respectively when classifying corpora of 10.000 tokens, therefore proving reliable methods in artificial text detection. For classification of smaller corpus sizes and different language models, future research directions concerning other statistical properties is proposed. Acknowledgements. First and foremost, I would like to thank my supervisors, Jelle, Valentin and Bas, who have all contributed to this thesis turning out the way it did. Jelle, for his continuous support through, for inspiring and exciting me to explore new directions, and for always being enthusiastic about my work. Independently working on a thesis during a pandemic has not been an easy ride, but your optimism during our weekly meetings always supplied me with the renewed dose of motivation for me to pull through. Valentin, for always being there to help; even when my curiosity made me ask detailed questions beyond the scope of this project, you extensively answered them by explaining exactly what I needed to know and beyond, and encouraged me in my curiosity to learn more. Without you, I would not have had the extensive knowledge that I now have concerning this research topic and statistics in general. Bas, for repeatedly giving detailed feedback on both the quality and style of my work, and making me aware of how to better convey my story. My final thanks go out to my friends and family, for always being curious and thrilled about my project—even when the technical details went over their heads. Your enthusiasm continuously reminded me of the relevance of this research.


This research project looks at the marketing language and brand integration strategies used with electric vehicles (EVs) by traditionally internal combustion-based (ICE) automobile manufacturers. A comprehensive keyword and thematic analysis of manufacturer webpages was conducted to understand the current market positioning of EVs compared with their ICE counterparts. Identified keywords and themes were then considered alongside an NLP sentiment analysis and keyword analysis of 60,291 Twitter tweets. Results indicate Twitter users express more polarized viewpoints with regard to EVs than ICEs, and that EV advertising language is less market specific then that of ICEs. In public discourse, functional attributes highlighted by manufacturers feature more prominently than sustainability-focused attributes, such as environmental impact and the use of sustainable materials. It is apparent manufacturers are still struggling to differentiate their EV products and are being used as a marketing tool by manufacturers to conceptually justify personal automobile ownership and promote CSR priorities.


The application of biochar to agricultural soils to increase nutrient availability, crop production and carbon sequestration has gained increasing interest but data from field experiments on temperate, marginal soils are still under‐represented. In the current study, biochar, produced from organic residues (digestates) from a biogas plant, was applied with and without digestates at low (3.4 t ha−1) and intermediate (17.1 t ha−1) rates to two acidic and sandy soils in northern Germany that are used for corn (Zea mays L.) production. Soil nutrient availability, crop yields, microbial biomass and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from heterotrophic respiration were measured over two consecutive years. The effects of biochar application depended on the intrinsic properties of the two tested soils and the biochar application rates. Although the soils at the fallow site, with initially low nutrient concentrations, showed a significant increase in pH, soil nutrients and crop yield after low biochar application rates, a similar response was found at the cornfield site only after application of substantially larger amounts of biochar. The effect of a single dose of biochar at the beginning of the experiment diminished over time but was still detectable after 2 years. Whereas plant available nutrient concentrations increased after biochar application, the availability of potentially phytotoxic trace elements (Zn, Pb, Cd, Cr) decreased significantly, and although slight increases in microbial biomass carbon and heterotrophic CO2 fluxes were observed after biochar application, they were mostly not significant. The results indicate that the application of relatively small amounts of biochar could have positive effects on plant available nutrients and crop yields of marginal arable soils and may decrease the need for mineral fertilizers while simultaneously increasing the sequestration of soil organic carbon.


A method for authenticating an external storage device connected to a port on the host computer, to which the host computer performs the external storage device and the authentication acknowledgment to retrieve the authentication key from the external storage device. Wherein the host computer is electrically isolated from the case of at least one of the authentication keys it is not provided in time set the authentication key and a group that does not conform the retrieved authentication key, the external storage device from the host computer. Said host computer when at least one of authentication keys provided in the period during which the retrieved authentication key matches the authentication key and the preset, allows the external storage device is accessible to the host computer. Further, it is disclosed a device and a corresponding system. A host computer, an external storage device, an authentication key, an authentication module, a look-up table


Fatigue failure is the most common failure mode of structural materials.
In this study, the high-cycle fatigue properties at different
temperatures, fracture surface morphologies and corresponding damage
mechanisms of a widely used vermicular graphite cast iron RuT450 were
investigated. It is found that the fatigue strength of RuT450 decreases
with the increase of temperature, and the decreasing rate is affected by
the change of morphology and content of graphite. In general, the cracks
initiated from the graphite phase boundary and propagated through the
pearlite lamellae. In addition, according to the change of matrix
micro-structure and the slight change of graphite morphology at
different temperatures, and combined with the change of crack
propagation threshold value under different temperature conditions, a
fatigue strength prediction method for vermicular graphite cast iron at
different temperatures was proposed in this work, which has high
prediction accuracy.


'Huibai 88'is a mid-late maturing Chinese cabbage hybrid,developed by crossing a self-incompatible line 0301-2-8-8 and a inbred self-compatible line 0419-10-4-4.It takes 88-90 days from sowing to harvesting.Its growth is vigorous,its plant height is 68-70 cm,and its expansion is about 65 cm.The outer leaves are erect,dark green and slightly wrinkled,with light green petioles.Its leaf head is cylindrical and slightly twist.The head shape index is 4.3,with longitudinal diameter 63-65 cm and transverse diameter 14-15 cm.The leaf heads are firm.The average head weight is 3.0-3.5 kg.It has less fiber and tastes good.It is of high quality.It does not easily bolt.It is suitable for storage.It is highly resistant to virus disease and black rot and soft rot,and resistant to downy mildew.The yield is 86.75-93.38 t · hm-2.It is suitable for cultivation in Shanxi,Beijing,Hebei,Tianjin,Shandong,Liaoning regions in autumn as mid-late maturing Chinese cabbage.


Crohn's disease,a kind of gastrointestinal illness with chronic inflammation,has no clear causes.Western medicine has the disadvantages about dependence,side effects and expensive cost.Traditional Chinese medicine possesses characteristics and advantages because syndrome differentiation and treatment can identify deficiency and excess sydnromes as well as cold and heat syndromes.


Primary dentists at the era of the National Health Insurance are only paid IDR2,000 each patient. The Capitation funds can not cover the cost of services that must be spent. The payment system must be improved because it is related to the quality of service. The aims of this study to analyze the management and utilization of  dental capitation funds including the bottlenecks and to generate solutions in the implementation of JKN. This research was descriptive with qualitative approach. The informants of the study were 16 (sixteen) dentists as an independent practitioners and pratama clinics in Palembang and Lubuklinggau with highest and lowest capitation coverage. Data were analyzed by data reduction, data presentation, conclusion drawing and verification. The result showed that t here was a disparity in capitation fund income received by dentists both as an independent practitioners and pratama clinic. Not all dentists get the ideal number of participants 1: 10,000. Dentists with low capitation norms have difficulty to set their operational funds. The budget for operational cost is bigger than services cost. Revenues compared to capitation funds are still lacking. Most capitation funds for primary dentists are insufficient and still rely on fee for service patients. The government  should set dental capitation norm and regulation for National Health Insurance era. Key words : dentist, capitation, clinic, utilization, regulation


sprouting and myelination, slowdown of dendritic spines remodeling, and overall loss of synaptic plasticity. Cross-sectional and longitudinal studies have demonstrated that plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of BACE1 closely correlate with each other. Methods: We conducted both cross-sectional and longitudinal explorative studies in a large mono-center cohort of individuals with subjective memory complaint (SMC), a condition at risk for AD, to investigate whether plasma BACE1 concentrations may impact baseline and longitudinal changes of plasma neurofilament light chain (NFL) concentration, a candidate marker of axonal damage of large-caliber myelinated fibers and a reliable predictor of neurodegeneration. We carried out a linear mixed model (adjusted for age, sex, and the presence of APOE ε4 allele) and tested the effect of both plasma BACE1 baseline concentrations and the interactions between it and time. Results: We found a significant effect of both plasma BACE1 and plasma BACE1*time on plasma NFL at baseline (p 1⁄4 0.001 and p 1⁄4 0.003 respectively). Such association was irrespective of sex, age, and presence of APOE ε4 allele. We explored for a potential effect of the same predictors on longitudinal change of plasma NFL, finding that plasma BACE1 * time interaction significantly impacts the rate of change of NFL over time (p < 0.06; after controlling for age, sex, and APOE ε4 allele). Conclusions: BACE1 may have a critical role in synaptic homeostasis and synaptic remodeling dynamic in cognitively normal individuals at risk of AD. The association we have found encourages to further investigate the rate of impact of plasma BACE1 (both expression levels and enzymatic activity) on plasma NFL which is the strongest candidate biomarker for charting neurodegeneration. Such findings may have a relevant potential to inform outcomes and study design of next clinical trials targeting BACE1.


ABSTRACT The problem faced by the family, any household that does not have a problem. That is the standard formula which is believed all the family consultation. But what distinguishes namely how the attitudes of each family in the face of these problems. However, not all marriages in bestowed offspring. Their spouses who have difficulties and obstacles in getting a child. If the couple does not get offspring when they do not use contraceptives, it could be the couple experiencing infertility. This study aims to determine how the couple without children make sense of the absence of the child and how the efforts of couples who do not have children in maintaining marital relationships. With research sites in the village of Ulee Ue, Lamsiot, and Jruek Indrapuri subdistrict, Aceh Besar district. This study used a qualitative approach with descriptive method of analysis, with a view to obtaining a comprehensive overview and a deeper-related thesis. The results of research that marriage is a process of integration of the two individuals who live and mutual.exchange occurs in some form in the matrix, among other things, direct transfer / exchange generalized and productive exchange. In exchange directly (Direct Exchange), reciprocity is limited on both the actors involved. Exchange of generalized (Generalized Exchange) involves reciprocal indirect. Someone gave it to others, and recipients respond but not to the first person. In a direct exchange and generalized, one person benefited by the value that is owned by another person. One person received the award, while the other suffered a sacrifice. In exchange earning (Productive Exchange), two people have sacrifice and awarded simultaneously. The conclusion is generally couples trying to have children in various ways. Attempts to get the child for couples who have been married for a long time, attempts were made in terms of modern and traditional, the gynecologist also shaman-healer in the region. With the advice and support that is needed to strengthen the spirit of couples eliminate loneliness that is felt for a long time. Although every effort has been made to be able to have children, even though it did not come. Keywords: Effort, Marriage, Kids. ABSTRAK Masalah –masalah yang di hadapi keluarga, tidak ada rumah tangga yang tidak memiliki masalah. Itulah rumus baku yang diyakini semua konsultasi keluarga. Tetapi yang membedakan yaitu bagaimana sikap masing-masing keluarga yang dalam menghadapi permasalahan tersebut. Akan tetapi tidak semua pernikahan di anugerahkan keturunan. Adanya pasangan suami istri yang mempunyai kesulitan dan hambatan dalam mendapatkan anak. Jika pasangan tersebut tidak mendapatkan keturunan padahal mereka tidak menggunakan alat kontrasepsi,bisa jadi pasangan tersebut mengalami infertilitas. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui bagaimana pasangan suami istri tanpa anak memaknai ketidakhadiran anak dan bagaimana upaya pasangan suami istri yang tidak memiliki anak dalam mempertahankan hubungan perkawinan. Dengan lokasi penelitian di Desa Ulee Ue, Lamsiot, dan Jruek Kecamatan Indrapuri Kabupaten Aceh Besar. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif dengan menggunakan metode deskriptif analisis, dengan maksud untuk memperoleh gambaran yang komprehensif dan lebih mendalam terkait penulisan skripsi. Hasil penelitian yaitu Perkawinan merupakan proses integrasi dua individu yang hidup dan tinggal bersama.Pertukaran terjadi dalam beberapa bentuk dalam matriks, antara lain, pertukaran langsung/ pertukaran tergeneralisasi dan pertukaran produktif. Dalam pertukaran langsung (Direct Exchange), timbal balik dibatasi pada kedua aktor yang terlibat. Pertukaran tergeneralisasi (Generalized Exchange) melibatkan timbal balik yang bersifat tidak langsung. Seseorang memberikan kepada orang lain, dan penerima merespon tetapi tidak kepada orang pertama. Dalam pertukaran langsung dan tergeneralisasi, satu orang diuntungkan oleh nilai yang dimiliki oleh orang yang lainnya. Satu orang menerima penghargaan, sementara yang satunya mengalami pengorbanan. Dalam pertukaran produktif (Productive Exchange), kedua orang mengalami pengorbanandan mendapatkan penghargaan secara simultan. Kesimpulannya adalah Pada umumnya pasangan suami istri berusaha memiliki anak dengan berbagai cara. Usaha untuk mendapatkan anak bagi pasangan yang telah menikah sejak lama, diupayakan dari segi modern dan tradisional, ke dokter kandungan juga kedukun-dukun di daerahnya. Dengan saran yaitu dibutuhkan semangat dan dukungan untuk menguatkan pasangan menghilangkan kesepian yang dirasakan sejak lama. Meskipun segala upaya telah dilakukan untuk dapat mempunyai anak, meski hal tersebut tak kunjung datang Kata Kunci : Upaya, Perkawinan, Anak ABSTRACT The problem faced by the family, any household that does not have a problem. That is the standard formula which is believed all the family consultation. But what distinguishes namely how the attitudes of each family in the face of these problems. However, not all marriages in bestowed offspring. Their spouses who have difficulties and obstacles in getting a child. If the couple does not get offspring when they do not use contraceptives, it could be the couple experiencing infertility. This study aims to determine how the couple without children make sense of the absence of the child and how the efforts of couples who do not have children in maintaining marital relationships. With research sites in the village of Ulee Ue, Lamsiot, and Jruek Indrapuri subdistrict, Aceh Besar district. This study used a qualitative approach with descriptive method of analysis, with a view to obtaining a comprehensive overview and a deeper-related thesis. The results of research that marriage is a process of integration of the two individuals who live and mutual.exchange occurs in some form in the matrix, among other things, direct transfer / exchange generalized and productive exchange. In exchange directly (Direct Exchange), reciprocity is limited on both the actors involved. Exchange of generalized (Generalized Exchange) involves reciprocal indirect. Someone gave it to others, and recipients respond but not to the first person. In a direct exchange and generalized, one person benefited by the value that is owned by another person. One person received the award, while the other suffered a sacrifice. In exchange earning (Productive Exchange), two people have sacrifice and awarded simultaneously. The conclusion is generally couples trying to have children in various ways. Attempts to get the child for couples who have been married for a long time, attempts were made in terms of modern and traditional, the gynecologist also shaman-healer in the region. With the advice and support that is needed to strengthen the spirit of couples eliminate loneliness that is felt for a long time. Although every effort has been made to be able to have children, even though it did not come. Keywords: Effort, Marriage, Kids.


Normal-state specific heats between 1 and 4.4 K and superconducting transition temperatures of pure indium and In-Tl alloys have been measured. Excellent agreement with previous results was found. N/sub bs/(0) was extracted using our ..gamma.. values and Dynes's lambda values and shows a large variation. The measured variation of lambda was also obtained from Dynes's results and found to be nearly linear in spite of the large variation of N/sub bs/(0). This is shown to be a consequence of the fact that the ratio of the calculated average screened pseudopotential form factor to electron density of states, /N/sub bs/(0), is nearly constant across the alloy series for each element. No anomaly was found in the specific heat of In/sub 0.69/Tl/sub 0.31/ at the expected martensitic transition temperature.


From the Publisher:
With the release of DOS 6, users will have an entire new group of file and memory management utilities to learn. This book covers them all plus such special topics as automating DOS, networking, using DOS with Windows, hardware configuration and customization techniques. Features numerous tips, shortcuts, functions and hardware and software troubleshooting advice. Illustrated.


in various modes, from the upper room to Pentecost: this is necessary to the full soteriological work&dquo; (55). From the point of view of universality, however, is not the ascension of some significance? And may not the oft-abused doctrine of the parousia suggest that in the end the distinction between &dquo;knowledge&dquo; on the part of all and &dquo;effective action&dquo; on behalf of all will be blurred, or even be transcended?


Global food consumption patterns have changed over time. Our eating regimens consistently are altogether different from what our parents or grandparents consumed. The food people consume, in the entirety of their social assortment, define to a large extent people's well-being, growth, and development. Traditional, generally plant-based diets have been gradually replaced by high-fat, energy-dense diets with a significant amount of animal-based foods. There are several health conditions that can be caused or aggravated by such a shift from the traditional dietary practices. This is identified as one of the chief factors contributing to the increasing prevalence of noncommunicable diseases. Conditions such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart ailments, gout, and even cancer are directly linked with an individual's diet. The present review is intended to explore the health hazards of unhealthy food practices prevalent today by providing scientific reasons. Our food practices are the chief factors for the preservation and promotion of good health throughout the life course and it may also determine whether or not a person is going to suffer from the diseases in future life.


Constitutional pluralism seems to be one of the most inspiring theories of European constitutionalism. It can account for the multilayered institutional framework of the Union. Therefore, it is a natural candidate for explaining how to track the European public interest. Pluralism may serve as the best methodology for keeping into account and for respecting the multiple perspectives on the common good represented by every institutional layer of the Union. After having examined the theories of two of the most influential authors of constitutional pluralism, Mattias Kumm and Miguel Maduro, this essay tries to show how pluralism might improve its highly potential explanatory and normative force, that is, by including in the institutional picture not only courts but also political institutions. In this way, the constitutional dialogue between the European and the national layers would be enriched, and every European and national voice might have a say in the interactions between institutions, securing a fairer way of tracking the European common good.


After investigating the concept of congruences and formation of quotient of [Formula: see text]-semigroups, some semigroups like isomorphism theorems on [Formula: see text]-semigroups have been proved.


In this paper, based on the study of the Two-Dimensional Principal Component Analysis (2DPCA), Two-Dimensional Principal Component Analysis (2DPCA) and fuzzy set theory, we propose a new face recognition algorithm integrating 2DDCT, 2DPCA and fuzzy 2DLDA. This method can make good use of the advantages of each single method, and also can make up for the defect of each other. The comparison of the results of the different methods identification effect on the ORL, YALE and FERET face database show, the integrated method proposed in this paper improves the recognition rate, and it also reduces the training and classification time as well.


This paper has as main goal the evaluation of lhe effect of nitrogen application on the yield of no tillage com crop, planted over black oats. Experiments were conducted m the agricultural year of 1996/97 in three experimental units of the ABC Foundation located in the Campos Gerais Region of the state of Parana. The experimental design was a split-plot randomized block, being the plot treatments the two doses of N applied to the oats crop (O and 30kg ha-1 in the planting time) as the main plots and as the time of application of N in the com crop (no nitrogen; 30kg ha-1 in the planting plus 90kg ha-1 broadcasting in the 6a leaf time; 90kg ha-1 during the oats crop management plus 30kg ha-1 in the com planting; and 120kg ha-1 during the oats crop management plus 30kg ha-1 in the com planting) as split plot treatments. It was verified the oats crop fertilization dia not influenced com yield. The com yield was not affected by anticipated N application usually used in corn's broadcasting.


Human fibrosarcoma cells, HT-1080, feature extensive adherens junctions, lack mature desmosomes, and express a single known desmosomal protein, Desmoglein 2 (Dsg2). Transfection of these cells with bovine Desmocollin 1a (Dsc1a) caused dramatic changes in the subcellular distribution of endogenous Dsg2. Both cadherins clustered in the areas of the adherens junctions, whereas only a minor portion of Dsg2 was seen in these areas in the parental cells. Deletion mapping showed that intact extracellular cadherin-like repeats of Dsc1a (Arg 1 -Thr 170 ) are required for the translocation of Dsg2. Deletion of the intracellular C-domain that mediates the interaction of Dsc1a with plakoglobin, or the CSI region that is involved in the binding to desmoplakin, had no effect. Coimmunoprecipitation experiments of cell lysates stably expressing Dsc1a with anti-Dsc or -Dsg antibodies demonstrate that the desmosomal cadherins, Dsg2 and Dsc1a, are involved in a direct Ca 2 1 -dependent interaction. This conclusion was further supported by the results of solid phase binding experiments. These showed that the Dsc1a fragment containing cadherin-like repeats 1 and 2 binds directly to the extracellular portion of Dsg in a Ca 2 1 -dependent manner. The contribution of the Dsg/ Dsc interaction to cell–cell adhesion was tested by coculturing HT-1080 cells expressing Dsc1a with HT-1080 cells lacking Dsc but expressing myc-tagged plakoglobin (MPg). In the latter cells, MPg and the endogenous Dsg form stable complexes. The observed specific coimmunoprecipitation of MPg by anti-Dsc antibodies in coculture indicates that an intercellular interaction between Dsc1 and Dsg is involved in cell–cell adhesion. S tructurally related desmosomes and adherens junctions, collectively termed adhering junctions, are involved in anchoring the cytoskeleton to the plasma membrane, intercellular cell type–specific adhesion, and signaling (Geiger and Ayalon, 1992; Schmidt et al., 1994; Klymkowsky and Parr, 1995; Peifer, 1995; Cowin and Burke, 1996; Gumbiner, 1996). Classic and desmosomal cadherins are featured in both adherens and desmosome junctions. It is widely accepted that classic cadherins mediate homophilic calcium-dependent cell–cell adhesion (Nose et al., 1990; Grunwald, 1993; Shapiro et al., 1995; Brieher et al., 1996; Nagar et al., 1996). An exception to this rule, heterophilic binding of the chicken B-cadherin to LCAM, has been documented (Murphy-Erdosh et al., 1995). On the intracellular face of the plasma membrane, cadherins are integrated into plaques consisting of junctional-specific proteins. These proteins function in the formation of anchoring sites for microfilaments and intermediate filaments (in adherens junctions and desmosomes, respectively) and are critical for adhesion and signaling properties of cadherins (Nagafuchi and Takeichi, 1988; Ozawa et al., 1989; Green and Jones, 1990; Geiger and Ayalon, 1992; Schmidt et al., 1994). In contrast with adherens junctions that may contain only one cadherin isoform, desmosomes always include cadherins from two subfamilies, desmogleins (Dsg1–3) 1 and desmocollins (Dsc1–3). Alternative splicing increases Dsc diversity producing long (Dsc a) and short (Dsc b) isoforms that differ in their intracellular domains (Garrod, 1993; Koch and Franke, 1994). Recent experiments with chimeric proteins consisting of the gap junction protein connexin32 and the intracellular regions of desmosome cadherins indicate that Dsg and Dsc have different functions. The CoDsc chimera containing the intracellular portion of Dsc1a nucleated the formation of the intracellular desmosomal plaques. The cytoplasmic domain of Dsg1, in a similar construct, displayed a dominant negative effect on desmosome formation (Troyanovsky et al., 1993, 1994 a , b ). Involvement of the desmosomal cadherins in cell–cell adhesion was underscored by cell culture observations that antibodies against the extracellular regions of Dsc interfered with the formation of the epithelial sheet (Cowin et al., 1984). Also, auto anti-Dsg antibodies caused a blistering skin disease (Stanley, 1995). Perturbation in epidermal Please address all correspondence to Sergey Troyanovsky, Division of Dermatology, Washington University Medical School, Campus Box 8123, 660 South Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110. Tel: (314) 362-8154. Fax: (314) 362-8159. 1. Abbreviations used in this paper : Dsc, desmocollin; Dsg, desmoglein; MPg, myc-tagged plakoglobin. on A uust 3, 2017 jcb.rress.org D ow nladed fom


A MULTIDIMENSIONAL MEASUREMENT ApPROACH AND ANALYSIS OF CHILDREN'S MOTIVATION FOR READING, ATTRIBUTIONAL STYLE, AND READING Sara Michelle Fulmer Brock University, 2008 ACHIEVEMENT Advisor: Professor J. C. Frijters The present study investigates the usefulness of a multi-method approach to the measurement of reading motivation and achievement. A sample of 127 elementary and middle-school children aged 10 to 14 responded to measures of motivation, attributions, and achievement both longitudinally and in a challenging reading context. Novel measures of motivation and attributions were constructed, validated, and utilized to examine the relationship between ~ motivation, attributions, and achievement over a one-year period (Study I). The impact of classroom contexts and instructional practices was also explored through a study of the influence of topic interest and challenge on motivation, attributions, and persistence (Study II), as well as through interviews with children regarding motivation and reading in the classroom (Study III). Creation and validation of novel measures of motivation and attributions supported the use of a self-report measure of motivation in situation-specific contexts, and confirmed a three-factor structure of attributions for reading performance in both hypothetical and situation-specific contexts. A one-year follow up study of children's motivation and reading achievement demonstrated declines in all components of motivation beginning at age 10 through 12, and particularly strong decreases in motivation with the transition to middle school. Past perceived competence for reading predicted current achievement after controlling for past achievement, and showed the strongest relationships with reading-related skills in both elementary and middle school. Motivation and attributions were strongly related, and children with higher motivation


The microstructural changes associated with the reduced dependence of critical current density (Jc) versus thickness of thick, epitaxial YBa_2Cu_3O_7–δ (YBCO) films on rolling-assisted biaxially textured substrates (RABiTS) were investigated. Pulsed laser deposited YBCO films varying in thickness from 1.0 to 6.4 ?m on RABiTS with an architecture of Ni–3 at.% W/Y_2O_3/yttrium-stabilized-zirconia/CeO_2/YBCO were prepared for cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy studies. Dramatic improvements in physical properties and microstructural quality were observed resulting from the use of Ni–3 at.% W substrates, which provided a sharper texture over earlier Ni substrates, and replacement of CeO_2 with Y_2O_3 as the seed layer within the buffers. The YBCO films showed exceptional orientation up to 6.4 μm thickness, with no misoriented grains or dead layers observed and only limited reaction between the YBCO and CeO_2 cap layer. The high quality of the films was also attributed in part to the formation of a tungsten oxide layer forming at the top of the Ni–3% W substrate, limiting the growth of deleterious NiO into the conductor.


ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate diaphragmatic mobility in relation to lung function, respiratory muscle strength, dyspnea, and physical activity in daily life (PADL) in patients with COPD. Methods: We included 25 patients with COPD, classified according to the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease criteria, and 25 healthy individuals. For all of the participants, the following were evaluated: anthropometric variables, spirometric parameters, respiratory muscle strength, diaphragmatic mobility (by X-ray), PADL, and the perception of dyspnea. Results: In the COPD group, diaphragmatic mobility was found to correlate with lung function variables, inspiratory muscle strength, and the perception of dyspnea, whereas it did not correlate with expiratory muscle strength or PADL. Conclusions: In patients with COPD, diaphragmatic mobility seems to be associated with airway obstruction and lung hyperinflation, as well as with ventilatory capacity and the perception of dyspnea, although not with PADL.


In Indonesia rural society, remittance sent to families is more economical and routine since it is used to meet the families' life necessities, education, and health, as well as to support the life necessities of whom are taking care of the family during the migrants are in destination areas. Remittances sent to families in migrants' homelands are ideally using for production and investment activities. This usage of remittances gives a positive impact on homelands development, especially can be seen clearly in rural areas. This research will consider the relationship of remittance and rural development. The data collected included qualitative data from in-depth interviews and supported by study works of literature. Expectations of this research are remittances from migrants will improve rural development. This research showed that remittance is not only eagerly by migrants' families, but also giving advantages for their homelands. Improvement of rural economy will strengthen the national economy and development.


ABSTRACT:In 1862 the Qing government established the Tongwen Guan 同文館 (School of Combined Learning), a foreign language school in Beijing. This well-financed school adopted a series of admissions reforms to recruit intellectually promising students. It also developed a comprehensive curriculum, which included language study and modern science. Despite these efforts, it failed to supply specialists in either foreign affairs or science and engineering for China's modernization. Scholarship has attributed the failure of the school to the hostility of Chinese literati toward the West and their contempt for science and technology, but an in-depth discussion of the structure and actual operation of the school is lacking, meaning that other possible causes for its failure have not been adequately investigated. This article therefore takes an institutionalist view to uncover the internal factors leading to the school's failure and argues that the promising effect of the educational reforms was largely constrained by the school's institutional weakness.


Polypyridazine films with electrical conductivity as high as 6 S/cm and blue in color have been prepared by the electrochemical oxidation of pyridazine monomer for the first time. Reducing the as-grown film by electrochemical or chemical means, a semiconducting film with optical absorption edge of 1.8 eV and a brown color is obtained.


Means for setting the waiting period to elapse in a clock-controlled memory circuit (1) after the start of a particular operation until a subsequent operation may be started, arranged with a in the memory circuit (1) timer that turns on at the initiation of the special operation, and after a specified period of time allows the start of the subsequent operation, wherein the timer a digital counter (51) and a wait time setting means (M6: 10), which is accessible via external terminals of the memory circuit to set the desired number of counts, having characterized, in that that the digital counter (51) having an activation input (EN) and a counting input (CN) to (= ACT "1") upon the appearance of an activation signal of the specific operation on the enable input (EN), the pulses one at the counting input (CN) abutting clock signal (CLK) to be counted and that the wait time setting means (M6: 10) a mode register (40) having a plurality of register cells (M0: 15) for storage of setting information, wherein a set of m cells (M6: 10) of the mode register (40) is selected for a m-bit word storage (A6: 10) containing a desired count, and that a comparator (53) is provided to said digital counter (51) and a mode register (40) is connected to compare appearing one at counting outputs of the counter (51) count the stored with in the mode register (40) value and er sign in this numerical value, an output signal output to trigger the subsequent operation (PRE = "1").


Water generation from the atmosphere is an environmentally friendly alternative and a sustainable process to extract pure and fresh water. An atmospheric water generator (AWG) is a device that uses dehumidification to generate potable water out of moisture present in the air. The moisture or humidity present in the air is cooled below the dew point temperature and as a result, water vapor is condensed into water droplets. The collected water droplets are filtered and re-mineralized to produce fresh and potable drinking water. Using these principles, we have designed and fabricated a prototype system for extracting clean drinking water from atmospheric air using a vapor compression refrigeration cycle. An AWG is fabricated by using a secondhand window air conditioning unit with a capacity 18000 Btu/h. The device consists of an air filter, compressor, condenser, throttling device, and cooling coils. In addition, the device utilizes the dehumidified cool air to cool the condenser and improves its effectiveness considerably. During two operating days, the system was able to collect 5800 mL. Initially it was employed for two days starting from 12 noon, on October 3, 2020 to 12 noon, October 5th 2020. After that, the AWG was employed for two more days, staring from 12:30 pm, October 5th 2020 to 12 noon, October 7th 2020. During this run, 4100 mL of water was collected. It was found that the quality of collected water from the AWG was on par with that of normal drinking water. The quality of the collected water was assessed by an Oakton PC 450 waterproof portable meter with a combination probe and calibration system. The instantaneous temperature and relative humidity values are represented on the psychrometric chart to understand the possibility of water generation and are shown in results and discussions. During the aforementioned trial between 12:30 pm, October 5th 2020 and 12 noon, October 7th 2020, temperature and relative humidity readings were recorded.


Drug-induced hyperpigmentation (DIH) accounts for up to 20% of acquired hyperpigmentation. 1 Commonly implicated drugs include antimicrobial, antiarrhythmic and cytotoxic agents. 1 Despite its prevalence, no validated diagnostic criteria exist for DIH, making unequivocal diagnosis and epidemiologi-cal study challenging. To address this gap, we assessed the validity of using International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD) codes for hyperpigmentation in the setting of drugs associated with hyperpigmentation to generate a DIH cohort. We queried Mass General Brigham Research Patient Data Registry for adult patients evaluated 1997 to 2020 at Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Hospital, Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Hospital or associated satellite hospitals with (a) a prescription for one of fourteen medications known to cause hyperpigmentation and (b) a clinic visit appended with an ICD-9 or (cid:1) 10 code for hyperpigmentation ( n = 80 158) (Fig. 1). 2 Included medications consisted of amiodarone, amitriptyline, chloroquine, chlorpromazine, cyclophosphamide, doxycycline, hydrochlorothiazide, hydroxychloroquine, hydroxyurea, minocycline, phenytoin, tetra-cycline, tigecycline and zidovudine. 1, 2 Included ICD-9 codes consisted of 709.0 (dyschromia), 709.00 (dyschromia, unspeci-fied) and 709.09 (other dyschromia). Included ICD-10 codes consisted of L81.0 (postinflammatory hyperpigmentation)


Changing population demographics and slow economic growth are forcing Japan to reassess its optimum power sector fuel and technology mix. It seems to spell the end of the country's nuclear era.


Sustainability of learning environments is a key pillar of all societal development frameworks. A variety of research address the development of education as a fine balanced relation between flexibility, adaptability, innovation, and efficient resource allocation. The main limitation of current approaches is the lack of correlation between various efficiency analyses and budget expenditure of learning environments. The current research aims at undertaking a comparative evaluation of a sustainable framework in STEM intensive programs for secondary and tertiary education. This was done using several established methods like the Plan, Do, Check, Act cycle for the development main framework, the Analytic Hierarchy Process for efficiency evaluation and Value Analysis for budget expenditure allocations and improvement identification. The main framework is based on learning objectives defined in accordance with Blooms' revised taxonomy and student feedback was collected through surveys and group feedback. The main results of the study show that the framework had overall efficiencies over the 80% threshold in both secondary and tertiary education, whilst some of the components scored under 65%, identifying immediate improvement features. Further research involves the transition to an online and mixed teaching environment, by adapting the content and framework structure with the aid of smart learning environments.


A pristine compact Dual-band Rectangular Dielectric Resonator Antenna (RDRA) with Defected Ground Structure (DGS) has been presented. The proposed antenna has been designed with HFSS simulation software for wireless applications with high radiation efficiency. The input and far field characteristics of RDRA have been analysed at their respective resonant frequencies. A defected ground structure has been incorporated and optimized to achieve maximum impedance matching. The DRA and the patch, over a substrate, together contribute to give Dual bands. The antenna is excited with the help of a microstrip feed. The Microstrip patch acts as a monopole due to the Defected Ground structure and thus resonates. Similarly, the DRA placed over the substrate resonates at its resonant frequency. Thus, multiple resonating frequencies are obtained. These frequencies correspond to the WiMAX (5.8 GHz), WLAN (5.2 GHz) for wireless devices, S- band for airport surveillance, and C-Band (4-8 GHz) for satellite applications.