The goal of this study was to investigate the efficient use of role-taking embodied conversational agents in the facilitation of creative cognition during collaborative activities. Two factors were investigated through an experimental design addressing the number of conversational agents (one vs. two), and method of communication (voice vs. text). Participants engaged in a simple interpretation game with embodied conversational agents. The agents made suggestions on the quality of the participants' interpretations. We investigated how the two factors enhanced the quality and quantity of interpretations in collaborative activities. Results showed that the use of single agents and text-based interfaces enhanced the quantity of the creative interpretations, and the synergy created by the use of multiple agents along with a voice communication method enhanced the quality of creative interpretations. These results suggest that the number of agents and the method of communication are important in the effective use of embodied conversational agents as collaborating peers.


A major obstacle to the development of new treatments for venous leg ulcers is the difficulty in generating evidence for their effectiveness. Randomised controlled trials using complete healing as the endpoint are seldom powered to be successful, owing to the heterogeneity of cohorts. A novel approach to the evaluation of treatments is presented, using a self‐controlled trial model and two metrics of short‐term healing rate as alternate endpoints: rate of wound margin advance, and percentage area reduction over 4 weeks. Two different treatment regimens are compared: multi‐layer compression alone, versus multi‐layer compression combined with activation of the venous leg pump by neuromuscular stimulation. With 60 patients, adding neuromuscular stimulation to multilayer compression resulted in a significant two‐fold increase in the rate of wound healing over a 4‐week period, both in terms of wound margin advance and in terms of percentage area reduction. The use of these short‐term intermediate endpoint metrics together with a self‐controlled study design offers potential for distinguishing between the relative efficacies of interventions more rapidly, with greater sensitivity, and with fewer subjects than a conventional RCT cohort model.


Chapter 1 ? Review of MySQL Basics Chapter 2 ? MySQL Column and Table Types Chapter 3 ? Keys, Indexes, and Normalization Chapter 4 ? Optimizing Queries with Operators, Branching, and Functions Chapter 5 ? Joins, Temporary Tables, and Transactions Chapter 6 ? Finding the Bottlenecks Chapter 7 ? MySQL Programming Chapter 8 ? Looking Ahead


The possibility for more confidential predictions, leaning on scientific methods and accomplishments of information technology leaves more time for the realization of logistic needs. Longstanding ambitions to acquire desired levels of efficiency within the system with minimal costs of resources, materials, energy and money are the features of executive structures of logistic systems. A successful logistic process is based on validation of technological development, indicating the need for a faster and more confidential integration of logistic systems and "instilling confidence" with military units that provide critical support (supply, transport and maintenance) will be reliably realized according to relevance and priority. Conclusions like these impose the necessity that the decision-making process of logistic organs is accessed carefully and systematically, since any wrong decision leads to a reduced state of readiness for military units. To facilitate the day-to-day operation of the Army of Serbia and the completion of both scheduled and unscheduled tasks it is necessary to satisfy the wide range of transport requirements. In this paper, the Adaptive Neuro Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) is described, thus making possible a strategy of coordination of transport assets to formulate an automatic control strategy. This model successfully imitates the decision-making process of the chiefs of logistic support. As a result of the research, it is shown that the suggested ANFIS, which has the ability to learn, has a possibility to imitate the decision-making process of the transport support officers and show the level of competence that is comparable with the level of their competence.


Abstract The hyperbolic distance function (HDF) reduces all inputs and increases all outputs simultaneously and at the same rate. Although the corresponding data envelopment analysis (DEA) model is non-linear, for constant returns to scale it can be linearised and for variable returns to scale an efficient iterative approach based on the directional distance function (DDF) model can be used. However, HDF does not necessarily project onto an efficient target. To remedy this, lexicographic hyperbolic DEA (LexHDEA) is proposed in this article. Thus, before solving the HDF model, the input or output dimensions that can be improved are determined. A reduced HDF model is then solved, looking for improvements only in these dimensions. If the corresponding target is efficient, then no further steps are necessary. Otherwise, a reduced HDF model that improves only those dimensions that can be further improved is solved. If this improved target is efficient the process stops. Otherwise the process is repeated until eventually the efficient frontier is reached. In addition to guaranteeing an efficient target the proposed approach also computes an efficiency measure that has indication of efficiency and units invariance. The proposed approach can be extended to handle a preference structure, non-discretionary variables and undesirable outputs.


To review the effects of exercise and other physical activities on intraocular pressure, which can lead to glaucomatous damage to the optic nerve. This can help in the prognosis in the early stages of glaucoma. Intraocular pressure reduction is currently the only treatment available for decreasing the risk of glaucoma progression so it is important to find additional ways to control it. This was the Perspective study after a literature review and Analysis of pertinent publications in the peer-reviewed literature. In this study, various findings have shown that intraocular pressure can be decreased or raised depending on the workouts and activities performed. Although we have not compared the amount of IOP drop or rise in different workouts, a general concept of which exercise/activity is beneficial or risky for glaucoma patients may be derived. When compared to isometric workouts, dynamic exercise has a greater effect on lowering IOP. The relative intensity of the exercise is the metric that most closely corresponds to the IOP-lowering impact. Activities including bungee jumping, yoga in a head-down posture, swimming goggles, and coffee ingestion soon before exercise, on the other hand, have been demonstrated to elevate IOP readings. Valsalva Maneuver performed soon after a hard workout can offset the activity's IOP-reducing effect. To avoid additional glaucomatous damage, glaucoma patients should avoid these activities that raise IOP.


Background The effect of topical mometasone for adenoid hypertrophy treatment is well established. Nevertheless, the influence of atopy on this treatment remains ill defined. Objective This study aims to compare the effects of topical mometasone furoate treatment on the adenoid tissue between atopic and nonatopic children. Methods Fifty-one children with obstructive respiratory complaints underwent a semistructured clinical questionnaire on nasal symptoms, prick test, and nasoendoscopy. Nasoendoscopic images were digitalized, and both adenoid and nasopharyngeal areas were measured in pixels; the relative adenoid/ nasopharyngeal area was calculated. Patients were initially treated for 40 days with nasal saline solution. In a subsequent 40-day period, topical mometasone furoate (total dose, 100 μg/day) was used. Results Topical mometasone significantly improved nasal obstruction, snoring, and apnea and also significantly reduced the adenoid tissue area related to the nasopharynx (p < 0.0001). Treatment with this glucocorticoid was not influenced by atopy, neither for symptoms nor for adenoid area. Conclusion Topical mometasone furoate significantly reduced the adenoid tissue area and led to a supplementary improvement ofnasal symptoms. This improvement was similar for atopic and nonatopic patients.


Community education is an organized and integrated educational and social activity in a certain region.For RTVU's involvement in community education,it should take its own advantages,enhance its links and relevance with the local community,emphasize the development of non-credit education,enrich its educational resources that can satisfy public needs for life-long learning,and provide personalized learning support service for community members.


abstract Sexual and reproductive health is recognised as an essential component of good health and personal development. However, a number of studies suggest that persons with disabilities (PWD) are often marginalised by sexual and reproductive health programmes. In this study in-depth interviews were conducted with sexually active women and men of reproductive ages with different types of disabilities in order to examine access to sexual and reproductive health services in Durban, South Africa. The majority of respondents revealed that sexual and reproductive health services are a big part of their lives. However, there seemed to be a huge gap between their need for services and their rights to access these services. Gender compounded the negative experiences for women with disabilities. Women mentioned that health providers appear surprised that they will need family planning services, and they are not given choices about suitable birth control methods. The findings reveal a need to address access to sexual and reproductive health services for PWD.


In this paper, we discuss the test for multiple outliers in an exponential sample with the upper outliers and lower outliers. We derive the test statistics and their approximate distributions. At last, we use an example to illustrate our method.


Standard plasmas having a known concentration of the coagulation factors determining the one-stage prothrombin time are evaluated from the standpoint of factor assays, stability, and reproducibility. The problem of standardizing the one-stage test and commercial thromboplastins is reviewed, and it is proposed that these plasma standards be used for that purpose.


This work presents a method to calibrate the reference wavefront generated by an IDP. This wavefront is considered for quantitative evaluation of a plano-convex aspheric surface. Preliminary experimental results are presented.


The preparation of N,N'-Bis(p-(trimethoxysilyl)benzyl)-4,4'-bipyridinium dichloride and the characterization of electrode surfaces functionalized with it are reported. Pt, W, n-Si, and SnO/sub 2/ electrodes derivatized with the named compound were characterized by electrochemical techniques and surface-sensitive spectroscopic techniques. Reaction mechanisms are proposed.


Cell suppression is one method that is commonly used to reduce disclosure risk when data are published in hierarchical tables. A form of optimality is achieved for 2-dimensional tables by formulating the cell suppression problem as a minimum cost flow problem. There are issues with this approach in general, and for its application to 3-dimensional tables in particular. First, cell suppression is fundamentally an integer programming problem with a non-smooth cost function. Secondly, the minimum cost flow approach is not directly applicable to 3dimensional tables. A stochastic search approach is presented that is guaranteed to generate closed paths in 3-dimensional tables. Although no claim of optimality can be made, this method is capable of finding good solutions with respect to the non-smooth cost function associated with the cell suppression problem.


Type I strong arcs, Type II strong arcs, left feeble arcs, right feeble arcs and weak arcs in an Interval Valued Fuzzy Graph (IVFG) are introduced in this paper. We obtain a characterization of weak arcs. If every two arcs are comparable in an IVFG, then it contains only α strong arcs and weak arcs. An arc in an IVFG is a weak arc if and only if it is the unique weakest arc of at least one cycle in it.


In Solid-State Chemistry, a well-known route to obtain new compounds and modulate their properties is the formation of solid solutions, a strategy widely exploited in the case of classical inorganic perovskites but relatively unexplored among emergent hybrid organic–inorganic perovskites (HOIPs). In this work, to the best of our knowledge, we present the first dicyanamide-perovskite solid solution of [TPrA][Co0.5Ni0.5(dca)3] and study its thermal, dielectric and optical properties, comparing them with those of the parent undoped compounds [TPrA][Co(dca)3] and [TPrA][Ni(dca)3]. In addition, we show that the prepared doped compound can be used as a precursor that, by calcination, allows CNTs with embedded magnetic Ni:Co alloy nanoparticles to be obtained through a fast and much simpler synthetic route than other complex CVD or arc-discharge methods used to obtain this type of material.


Varjago-russian issue is one of the most topical and controversial in science. Its rich historiography requires careful study of all aspects. Great importance is given to the analysis of disputes over the origin of the Old Russian state. In this respect, the controversy of two major historians of the XIX century, Mikhail Petrovich Pogodin and Dmitri Ivanovich Ilovaisky is indicative since it is characterized by including the full range of evidence relied on by the supporters of the Norman theory and their opponents. The article presents brief arguments of Pogodin and Ilovaisky, which served for both of them as confirmation of the truth of their own view on the history of Russia. We also consider the value and place of this debate in studies of D.I. Ilovaisky views and M.P. Pogodin.


This work aims to perform a microbiological analysis of places and objects used in places where physical activitypractices such as schools, academies and squares occur and suggest procedures for asepsis and prophylaxis against thesecontaminants in favor of society. Samples will be collected following the Standard Operational Procedure - POP / Microbiology.The city will be divided into 5 (five) macro regions. The collection sites will be selected geographically divided into five regions:North, South, East, West and Center, in order to obtain a reliable profile of the reality of the capital Joao Pessoa of the state ofParaiba, having a collection in a public place (square) and one private (academy) and one (public or private) school for eachregion totaling 15 (fifteen) collection sites in several areas of each one that will be identified in the presentation of the results andat the time of collection and presented in attached letters of agreement . All work will be governed by CNS Resolution 466/12dealing with scientific research. Bacillus ssp, Esherichia coli, Enterobacter spp., Bacillus spp., Bacillus ssp, Escherichia coli,Enterobacter spp., Bacillus spp. Staphylococcus coagulase negative and Klebsiella spp, these microorganisms have a widevariety of species and are quite resistant to adverse conditions, are widely distributed throughout the world but cause greaterconcern in developing countries due to issues such as infrastructure, basic sanitation and other factors which makes it difficult tocombat or prevent these agents, which can pose a huge risk to health.


The basic discharge mechanisms pertinent to ion plating process are reviewed and some recent findings are highlighted, relating in particular to thermionically enhanced ion plating with an evaporative vapor source. By enhancing the discharge, the cathode sheath can approach collisionless conditions, which allows most of the energy to be transported to the substrate by ions. The energy distribution is also improved, this being significant if a critical energy E* is thought to be required in order to achieve high-quality coatings. It is suggested that E* is about 40 to 70 eV, and that higher bombarding energies may not necessarily improve coating quality, this being alternatively achievable by increasing the ionization efficiency. The role of metal vapors is outlined with reference to evidence from enhanced discharges that clusters of metal atoms exist in the vapor phase and that most of the ion current is transported to the substrate by the metal species. Further practical aspects are discussed such as the spatial distribution of bombardment intensity, which is shown to decrease exponentially with distance from the thermionic emitter used for discharge enhancement. It is suggested that positioning the thermionic emitter in close proximity to the vapor source will provide a more consistent ratio between energetic bombardment effects and vapor arrival rates throughout the deposition volume. >


Summary Karyological studies on 16 species of Vicia L., including 10 species from the Egyptian flora are presented. Chromosome counts are observed for two species for the first time (2n=10 in V cinerea and V nigra). A diploid number of 2n=10 (x=5) has been found in 4 species, 2n=12 (x=6) in 2 species and 2n=14 (x=7) was recorded in 10 species V hirsuta was found to have 2 B-chromosomes. The karyotype in the examined species is more or less symmetric. However, considerable variations exist in chromosome size among the species studied. The results of the present study confirm that x=7 may be considered the basic number in the genus.


A new theoretical approach to the problem of describing the nonlinear behavior of non‐Newtonian materials is presented. The theory is based upon the assumption that the nonlinear characteristics can be associated with some structural change of the material, and that reaction kinetics can be applied to this breakdown. The theory allows treatment of time‐dependent (thixotropic) materials, and in a limiting form (equilibrium) can be applied to time‐independent materials. The theory has been applied to a variety of materials, including polymer latex solutions, polyethylene polymer melts, and a heavy thixotropic mineral oil. The results are gratifying.


The control of crystallization is important at all processing stages of the PET bottle industry, from the manufacture of bottle resins to the fabrication of preforms and bottles. In this work, we sought to evaluate critically three methods of crystallinity measurement. We have used density, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), and Modulated Differential Scanning Calorimetry (MDSC) to study the crystallinity of PET chips, preforms, and bottles. The accuracy, precision, and general validity of each technique and the problems of interpretation are discussed.


The tensor product of triangular monomial algebras and the characterization of its quivers are considered.Moreover,the relations between the modules of the original algebras A,B and the one of new extension algebra A kB are dicussed by the representations of quivers,such as indecomposable modules,projective modules,injective modules,flat modules and so on.


One of the economical ways to satisfy the quality of service desired by the user in a web service environment is to adjust the size of the object. To this end, this study finds the maximum size of objects that satisfy this constraint when the mean response time is given below an arbitrary threshold for quality of service. It can be inferred that in the steady state of system, the mean response time in the deterministic model by using the round-robin will be the same as that of the queueing model following the general distribution. Based on this, analytical formulas and procedures for finding the maximum object size are obtained. As a service distribution of web traffic, the Pareto distribution is appropriate, so the maximum object size is computed by applying the M/G(Pareto)/1 model and the M/G/1/PS model using exponential distribution as computational experience. Performance evaluation through numerical calculation shows that as the shape parameter in the Pareto distribution increases, the M/G(Pareto)/1 model and M/G/1/PS model have the same maximum object size. The results of this study can be used to environments where objects can be sized for economical web service control.


Essential oils from plants are volatile aromatic compounds, mainly terpenoids, phenylpropanoids; monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and alcohols, these present a wide range of antimicrobial and antioxidant activity, so the addition of essential oils of clove, eucalyptus, mint, rosemary, oregano, and cinnamon can modify ruminal fermentation by reducing the population of bacteria producing methane and thus have a reduction in the production of this gas. The objective of this work was to evaluate different essential oils and terpenoid compounds to improve ruminal fermentation and the production of volatile fatty acids, attenuating the generation of methane. The chemical composition (terpenoids) of the oils, as well as volatile fatty acids (VFAs), were determined by gas chromatography. For in vitro digestibility, the in vitro gas production technique was used, and the ruminal liquid was used. Methane was inferred from the concentration of VFAs. It was found that all the essential oils presented each one of the terpenoids in different concentrations, reporting the highest concentration of carvacrol in the essential oil of clove (303 mg mL-1) and oregano (1.20 mg mL-1); terpinene was presented in greater quantity in the essential oil of peppermint (4.83 mg mL-1); for peppermint and rosemary oil, linalool was higher and for limonene, the highest concentration was in eucalyptus oil (449 mg mL-1) and rosemary (12.42 mg mL-1). For gas production in digestibility, eucalyptus essential oil at a dose of 0.3 presented 176 mL g-1 DM. For in vitro digestibility, rosemary oil in high dose (0.6 mL) presented the best ruminal fermentation since it had better methane mitigation (716.83 mM/L) without negatively affecting the concentration of VFAs (acetate, 1892.2; propionic, 526.14; butyric, 24.99 mM/L), as well as terpenoids like thymol, linalool, and limonene in high doses. It is concluded that the best in vitro ruminal fermentation with methane mitigation was observed with rosemary oil and the terpenoid compounds were thymol, linalool, and limonene in the high dose.


Studies were undertaken of the microcirculation and histology of the gill of Protopterus aethiopicus as a prerequisite for elucidating the function of the gills in a bimodal respiratory system. The lamellae of the gill‐bearing arches (I, IV, V, VI) resembles the arborescent external gill of the larval amphibian rather than the gill of the teleost or selachian.


The convergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and networking has emerged as a transformative force that holds the potential to reshape the landscape of modern information systems. This paper presents an in-depth exploration of the integration of AI into networking, encompassing diverse facets ranging from network management to security, routing, protocol design, resource allocation, and Quality of Service (QoS) enhancement. The discussion delves into the role of AI in optimizing network management through real-time analytics, anomaly detection, and predictive insights. Furthermore, the paper elucidates how AI-driven security measures offer proactive threat detection, adaptive responses, and enhanced resilience against sophisticated cyber threats. Routing and protocol design benefit significantly from AI, enabling dynamic decision-making based on real-time network conditions. The seamless amalgamation of AI with edge computing empowers decentralized devices to process data locally, thereby reducing latency and enabling real-time responses. Despite the promising prospects, the integration of AI and networking is accompanied by ethical considerations, algorithmic biases, and the need for transparency and fairness. The paper highlights these challenges and emphasizes the importance of addressing them responsibly to ensure the ethical deployment of AI-enabled networks. Looking ahead, the paper outlines future directions and emerging trends, such as autonomous networking, federated learning, quantum AI, and network slicing for the forthcoming 6G era. These trends illuminate the path toward innovative, resilient, and intelligent networking systems. In summation, the symbiotic relationship between AI and networking offers unprecedented opportunities for enhancing network performance, security, and intelligence. By acknowledging challenges, fostering responsible practices, and embracing emerging trends, stakeholders can harness the full potential of AI to shape a digital landscape characterized by efficiency


Based on analysis of coal near the floor in the face end area(CFFEA) retaining method at large mining height fully-mechanized face(LMHFMF),put forward the CFFEA recovery technology with slope-changing and bottom-mining methods.That is,by mining from the bottom in the decompression zone of gateway,increasing the roadway height and reducing the height difference of mining roadway,the end "gradient"caused by the height difference of mining roadway will be transferred to the gateway,which will make CFFEA be recycled and increase the recovery ratio of mining face.It also studies the determination method on mining height from the floor,advanced mining length and other key parameters.And the influence law of different bottom-mining parameters on the stability of gateway surrounding rocks was also researched.The research results are successfully carried out at 15104 mining face in Sijiazhuang Coal Mine of Yangquan Coal Industry(Groups) Co.,Ltd.,and recovery ratio is increased by 3.6%.


The quality of manufactured products made in China has improved tremendously in the past several decades. In this paper, we argue that crises beget opportunities for quality upgrade. We first develop a theoretical framework to show that a crisis, if used wisely, could present good opportunities for entrepreneurs and local governments to form collective action to improve product quality. Next, we empirically test the hypothesis using a panel data set from 1990 to 2008 at the count level in Zhejiang


The analysis of the change of transfer functions of the resonator transducer designed for the use in the microwave scanning microscope, depending on the structural elements of elements due to a transmission line and a probe structure, is carried out.


A re-entry CubeSat RSAT mission is being investigated to provide data for a better understanding of the lower thermosphere. This mission aims to develop a 3U CubeSat to carry a floating Langmuir probe (fLP) to measure the electron density and temperature in-situ. Data will be collected during orbit and the re-entry phase, respectively, to ensure the understanding of electron density and temperature at different altitudes. A critical design issue of the RSAT is to ensure the survivability and functionality of the payload unit during the harsh temperatures of re-entry, which are estimated to range between 6300C - 7500C for about 10 minutes. The variation of temperature and obvious limitations of space impose constraints on the placement and harness of the fLP, as it is connected both electrically and thermally to the OBC inside a highly insulated survival unit. Thus, the design of the probe and suitable harness became crucial to the success of the experiment. In the paper, thermal simulations are made in order to test the different models, some of which are built and tested for functionality in a plasma torch. As a result, although having a higher mechanical complexity, the needle shaped triple probe is selected for the RSAT. Key Words: Langmuir Probe, Design, Re-entry, Nanosatellite, Thermal Simulation


Apples (Malus domestica Borkh.) are highly susceptible to fungi causing rots, especially in organic orchards where these rots cause major economic losses. Since the use of conventional fungicides is prohibited or restricted in many countries and in organic production, altogether, one alternative is to make use of bioactive compounds that can inhibit fungal growth on apples. Antifungal effects of alkylresorcinols (ARs), isolated from rye bran, were used in two different bioactive emulsions and tested in vitro as well as in vivo against two fungi, Penicillium expansum and Neofabraea perennans, which cause important storage diseases in apple. For both fungi, application of AR emulsions produced a 50 % reduction in mycelial growth and spore germination. The in vivo tests were carried out on wound-inoculated fruit of four apple cultivars, 'Aroma', 'Ingrid Marie', Frida' and 'Gloster'. Spraying the inoculated fruit with ARs decreased lesion area diameter caused by P. expansum with 17-52 % and lesion area diameter caused by N. perennans with 31-77 %, depending on the apple cultivar. For each fungus, the inhibitory effect of ARs was stronger in those apple cultivars that appear to have the highest level of disease tolerance, i.e. the smallest lesions on the control fruit. The level of sun exposure of the fruit had neither significant influence on the decay nor in the inhibitory effect obtained with the postharvest application of ARs. (Less)


tween male and female is liquefied" (301). (We can look forward to Smith's projected book on the same subject.) Pamela Brown's concluding chapter reveals an astonishing array of bawdy humor spoken, apparently without concern, by gentrified females and recorded in Sir Nicholas Le Strange's jestbook. Brown's point is that this jestbook provides an insight into the manners, behaviors, and preferences of the women who would have constituted much of the audience for public dramatic performance. Phyllis Rackin's afterword sums up the valuable contribution of this book by asserting that the range of accounts "encourage us to rethink all the assumptions that have previously obscured women's roles in the rich and varied culture of performance that constituted the milieu in which the first English professional theaters were established" (317). By reminding us that women "acted on" (318) English theater performance of the early modern period, this book effectively invites us to reconsider the gender-specific influences that hitherto have been neglected. SHARON BEEHLER Montana State University


The Netherlands belongs, with its three pension pillars and its substantial funding, to the leading group of countries in Europe with a solid pension system. But tax facilities for pension savings have become an expensive business for the Dutch government. It is now one of the largest 'tax expenditures'. Through the deduction of pension and annuity contributions the Treasury will lose an estimated 9.6 billion euro in 2003 (2.1 percent of GDP). This is three times as much as in 1990. Balancing the pension contribution deductions, the pension benefits that will be paid out in the future will be subject to taxation. Pension incomes will however be taxed at a relatively low rate and, in addition, the delay in tax payment (investment returns of pension funds are exempt from taxation) provides an interest advantage. Our calculations for the year 2000 show that current taxation on a cash-flow basis means on balance a major loss to the Treasury (compared to the benchmark). At a relatively low real return on the pension capital, the fiscal subsidy in terms of net present value comes to 7.7 billion euro (1.9 percent of the GDP). For the year 2003 we estimate an even higher amount.


When the policy rate is constrained by the zero lower bound (ZLB), a new set of tools is needed to answer crucial questions about monetary policy, regarding the impact of the ZLB, expected lift-off, and the appropriateness of the policy stance. We document the shortcomings of affine dynamic term structure models (DTSMs) at the ZLB, and the benefits of shadow rate DTSMs. Using these we are able to appropriately answer the questions of interest: First, over recent years U.S. monetary policy has become increasingly constrained by the zero bound. Second, we estimate that in December 2012 the expected duration of the period of near-zero policy rates was 33 months, in line with survey-based and private-sector forecasts. Third, incorporating macroeconomic information in ZLB models is beneficial, improving inference about future policy, and allowing us to derive model-based Taylor rules and the resulting policy prescriptions. We find that in December 2012 the stance of monetary policy was in line with the desired stance based on simple policy rules.


More translators and interpreters are needed for the development of economic,technological and cultural exchanges with the outside world,while the professional translators and interpreters could not meet the need of the society.So,the translation teaching could be brought in college English teaching to solve the predicament.However,the translation teaching and translation practice of college students in China s have not as highly valued as they used to be.In this paper,the author will discourse upon the translation teaching in college English teaching.


The aim of this study was to determine if tetrahydrobiopterin (BH 4 ), a cofactor that is essential for several critical neurometabolic pathways, is transported across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) using the same transport mechanism as folate. In this study we examined 30 children with ASD (mean age 7.5 years, standard deviation 3.2 years; 23% female). We studied autoantibodies that interfere with the binding of folate to the folate receptor α (FRα) – a receptor that is critically involved in the transport of folate across the BBB. The relationships between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) BH 4 concentrations with FRα autoantibody titers as well as with the interaction between CSF 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5MTHF) concentration and FRα autoantibody titers were studied. CSF BH 4 concentration was found to be lower in individuals with higher FRα blocking, but not binding, autoantibody serum titers, suggesting that interference with FRα dependent BBB transport interferes with BH 4 transport across the BBB. This effect was not explained by lower CSF 5MTHF concentrations, thereby reducing the possibility that low CSF BH 4 concentrations were secondary to low central folate. In addition, CSF BH 4 concentration was inversely correlated with the interaction between CSF 5MTHF and FRα blocking autoantibody titers suggesting that BH 4 competes with folate for FRα dependent transport across the BBB. These data suggest that FRα dependent transport mechanisms may be involved in the transportation of BH 4 across the BBB. [N A J Med Sci. 2013;6(3):117-120.   DOI: 10.7156/najms.2013.0603117]


Micro-grid is a new concept gained significant attentions due to the increasing distributed energy sources. Several micro-grid test beds in the forms of either hardware or software simulation have been developed around the world. In Taiwan, one 20KVA 3W3Ø micro-grid test bed has been conducted in National Tsing Hua University (NTHU). This micro-grid consists of various fundamental power system components, including two synchronous generators (SG), one fixed speed induction generator (FSIG), and one doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG). In this paper, simulation results on two different scenarios: (a) transition from the grid-connected mode to the islanding mode, and (b) load variation in the islanding mode of the NTHU micro-grid system in distributed real-time simulation platform OPAL-RT are reported. Also, on-site development of the micro-grid system is illustrated.


The apparatus including an optical device that has a display area such as a liquid crystal screen and forming a decorative pattern in the form of a shape image will be described. A shape of said optical apparatus for forming an image comprises an optical guide (1) is part of a having at least one display area (4) overlap at least in part, and the display region 4, and the optical guides are two large face (10, 11) and has at least one side face (12). Said optical extractor 20 is disposed within the first group having at least one surface (20, 21), said at least one major face 11 for each of the reflecting light. A light source ((8, 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d) is the optically guide the side face (arranged to emit light in the direction of the reflecting surface 21 through 12). Accordingly, the reflective surface, each of the defined direction with, and so as to form, between the beams of all the sets, forming a shaped image in the same direction as in the above, which is the optical guide a central plane at right angles are selected to fulfill the the optical guide according to the present invention is the display area (4 ) the optical extractors of the second group having a fixed position is further provided for, and in relation to the light source as in the optical extractors of the first group in order to illuminate the display area.


ABSTRACT This paper presents four new topologies for emulating floating immittance functions. Each circuit uses two or three current-feedback operational-amplifiers (CFOAs) and three passive elements. The proposed topologies can emulate positive/negative lossless and lossy floating inductances, and positive/negative capacitance, resistance and inductance multipliers in addition to floating frequency-dependent positive and negative resistances. The functionality of the proposed circuits is verified using the Advanced Design System software and the AD844 CFOA. The simulation results are in excellent agreement with the theoretical calculations.


The aim of this research was to examine the composition and functional characteristics of three samples of commercial filling fat intended for the making of nougat fillings for confectionary products. The crystallization rate of the fats was measured under static conditions using the NMR technique and under dynamic conditions as well as using a rotational rheometer. The functional characteristics of the fats were estimated by means of sensory values of the prepared praline product. Under the static conditions, all investigated filling fats showed a fast crystallization rate (˜2–4%/min). The sample with the highest lauric acid contents started to crystallize immediately (no induction period). The longest induction period was found for the sample with the lowest saturated fatty acid and trans fatty acid contents. During the crystallization under dynamic conditions, all investigated samples started to crystallize more rapidly (rapid viscosity increase) at practically the same temperature (˜17 °C). Measuring solid fat content and viscosity are two approaches of determining the suitability of a filling fat to be used in pralines. Both measurements provide valuable information, and particularly viscosity build-up is very important from the view of production on factory scale.


Purpose: The purpose of this research is to describe how Austin's Capital Metro uses social media to engage the public. Public engagement take the forms of inform, consult, collaborate, and empower. The integration and proper management of social media platforms is important for effective community engagement because it offers new ways for government to interact and receive feedback from citizens in hopes of making positive change within an agency. Methodology: The methodology used for this research is a case study. The methodology presents a framework that social media posts can be classified into one of four community engagement categories. After classification, the agency will be able to see and understand how the information they post is engaging the public. Findings: The results of the social media community engagement framework model showed there is limited use of social media to consult or collaborate with the public. There was no evidence that Capital Metro used social media to empower the public.


Although a high initial investment is necessary, laser welding is being more widely employed by companies requiring large quantities of multi-point welds. This method employs robots, welding at speeds of up to 150 inches (3.8 m) per minute. Other processes--plasma arc, ultrasonic, and electron beam welding--are also available, but these methods are usually restricted to welding of particular materials with special design requirements, such as microelectronic and aerospace components. Suitability for general sheet metal applications is limited, and processing may be cost-prohibitive.


ABSTRACT The constant infusion technique was used to determine the metabolic clearance rate (MCR) and the blood production (PB) of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in patients with testicular feminization as compared to those of normal adult men and women. The transfer constants ([ρ]BB) of testosterone (T) and adrostenedione (Δ) to that of DHT were also determined. Our data confirmed that the patients had plasma concentrations of T and DHT which were within or slightly above the normal range for adult men. The mean (±sd) MCRDHT of patients with testicular feminization was similar to that of normal women and significantly lower than that of normal men (patients: 163 ± 22 L/M2/24 hr; women: 157 ± 27 L/M2/24 hr; men: 343 ± 93 L/M2/24 hr). The same relationship was observed for the mean (±sd) MCRT (patients: 403 ± 33L/M2/24 hr; women: 383 ± 42 L/M2/24 hr; men: 581 ± 64 L/M2/24 hr) whereas no significant difference was found in MCRΔ of the three groups. The mean, (±sd) PBDHT of the patients was within the range of th...


The expanding field of psychedelic-assisted therapy presents innovative treatment avenues for various mental health disorders. This review explores the potential role of psychedelics in enhancing neuroplasticity, a key mechanism underlying recovery from mental health conditions.


Comminution or size reduction is a commonly used unit operation in a variety of industries including pharmaceuticals. In quantitative analysis of comminution at the process length scale, population balance modeling has been used with an assumption that the breakage rate of particles is first‐order and that the population balance model is linear. For certain forms of the specific breakage rate and breakage distribution functions, a similarity solution to the linear population balance exists, and self‐similarity plots have been used to show its validity in batch comminution processes. On the other hand, ample experimental batch milling data in the literature indicate the inadequacy of the linear theory. In this study, a theoretical investigation has been conducted within the framework of a recently proposed non‐linear theory. The non‐linear theory takes into account phenomenologically the non‐first‐order effects resulting from mechanical multi‐particle interactions. Specifically, the cushioning action of small particles on the coarser ones is considered. It is found that self‐similarity does not exist in the presence of the non‐first‐order breakage kinetics. The present study suggests the use of self‐similarity plots for an approximate assessment of the impact of non‐first‐order kinetics on the shape of the cumulative particle size distribution.


Objective To study the computed tomography and CT manifestations of the traumatic lacrimal duct obstruction. Methods Computed tomography of axial, coronal and three-dimensional reconstruction were adopt, and the results of 12 patients with traumatic lacrimal duct obstruction were analysed. Results Axi al CT can well showed the injuries of lacrimal sacs and nasolacrimal ducts, coronal CT can confirm the injuries of the tissues around lacrimal ducts, and three-dimensional reconstruction can directly express the fractures of lacrimal fossa and nasolacrimal ducts. CT manifestations of the traumatic lacrimal duct obstruction include: the thicking and higher density of soft tissue and fractures pieces of lacrimal sac area, the expansion of lacrimal sac; sunken and comminution of the lacrimal fossa or canal, and linear fractures of the canal; the high soft tissue density within the nasolacrimal canal. Conclusion Computed tomography of axial, coronal and three-dimensional reconstruction can well show the injury conditions of the lacrimal sac, nasolacrimal canal and tissues around them, CT results can be used to diagnose the lacrimal duct trauma and improve operation design.


in are of and about are an important aspect of their are to evaluate the and readability of online information related to contraception


A new concept of double-decker electron beam accelerator based on a photocathode radio-frequency (rf) gun was proposed for studying chemical kinetics and primary processes or reactions of radiation chemistry. The synchronized double-decker electron beams with time interval of 1.4ns were generated in the rf gun by injecting two laser beams on the photocathode. The double-decker electron beams were accelerated by a booster linear accelerator (linac) up to 31.8MeV with energy-phase correlation and compressed into femtosecond by rotating the bunch in the energy-phase distribution in magnetic fields. The normalized transverse emittance of both beams downstream of the linac was obtained to be 2.5±0.6mmmrad for the up beam with bunch charge of 0.47nC and 3.6±0.7mmmrad for the down beam with bunch charge of 0.65nC. The minimum relative energy spread was (0.14±0.03)% for the two beams. The compressed bunch length was obtained to be 430±25fs for the up bunch and 510±20fs for the down bunch.


This conceptual article argues that the focus of research on argument-scaffolds should shift from first-order towards second-order scaffolding. If learners acquire argumentation skills and learn to self-direct argumentation activities, they also engage in epistemic discussions with partners that help them acquire knowledge, correct false viewpoints and refine misunderstanding. This article presents a 3-step guideline for secondorder argument-scaffolding, namely (1) diagnosis of internal argumentative script, (2) adaptive external support, and (3) adaptive fading of external support.


A method for processing signal grey scale of dynamic picture on liquid crystal display includes providing a grey scale image table, finding out image grey scale in corresponding to the signal, activating over voltage compensation at time when current picturce image grey scale is different to image gray scale of the last picture or otherwise closing over voltage compensation.


Duplicate detection is the process of identifying multiple representations of same real world entities. Today, duplicate detection methods need to process ever larger datasets in ever shorter time: maintaining the quality of a dataset becomes increasingly difficult. We present two novel, progressive duplicate detection algorithms that significantly increase the efficiency of finding duplicates if the execution time is limited, They maximize the gain of the overall process within the time available by reporting most results much earlier than traditional approaches. Comprehensive experiments show that our progressive algorithms can double the efficiency over time of traditional duplicate detection and significantly improve upon related work.


[Objective]To explore the occupational hazard situation in the process of methanol production by water gas and prevent and control the occurrence of acute poisoning accidents.[Methods] Field investigation and detection were carried out.[Results] The major occupational hazards in the process of methanol production by water gas were toxic substances(carbon monoxide,methanol,coal tar pitch volatiles,benzo(a) pyrene,phenol,benzene,sodium hydroxide and chlorine) and physical factors(noise and coal dust);the short duration contact concentration and the weighted average concentration of carbon monoxide,methanol,coal tar pitch volatiles,benzene and coal dust didn't conform to the national occupational health standards.[Conclusion] Occupational hazards should be monitored and health surveillance should be improved for the laborers;the production equipments should be kept in good operation,emphasis should be put on the problems like obturated valves,pipes and storage tanks;the phenomena of running,emitting,dripping and leaking should be prevented;to ensure the proper operation of the occupational protection facilities is the key to the prevention of occupational diseases.


The author, an architect and urban designer, has played a leading role on a broad range of assignments in highly diverse urban settings in North America and Europe. Much of his work focuses on the rejuvenation of downtowns, waterfronts, neighborhoods, and campus master planning. His projects include the award-winning Saint Paul on the Mississippi Development Framework, the Brooklyn Bridge Park on the East River in New York, the East River waterfront in Lower Manhattan, the Fan Pier in Boston, the Southwest and Southeast Waterfronts in Washington, DC, the Vision Plan for Washington DC, Kendall Square and North Point/Lechmere Square in Cambridge, the Downtown Hartford Economic and Urban Design Action Strategy and the Downtown Master Plan for Fort Lauderdale. Current efforts include the " Big Picture for the Big Dig": the Rose Kennedy Greenway in Boston, the renewal of Regent Park, a major public housing project in Toronto; the implementation of the Convention District Master Plan in San Juan, P.R., and Urban Design advice for the Cincinnati Center City Development Corp (3CDC). In each city, with each project, his strategic, consensus-building approach has led to coordinated planning and a renewed focus on urban design. The text that follows is an edited and revised version of a paper presented at the international symposion on"The Natural City, " Toronto, 23-25 June, 2004, sponsored by the University of Toronto's Division of the Environment, Institute for Environmental Studies, and the World Society for Ekistics.


A plan is outlined for calculating the industry's cost of finding oil in an area. This is possible by an exhaustive examination of published data from which finding expenditures are calculated. Total dollar expenditures are related to barrels found. Barrels found are current reserve estimates of reservoirs discovered, corrected for future revisions and secondary recovery changes. Comparisons of finding costs are made for three areas covering most of the interior United States. The areas are Kansas and Oklahoma, the Illinois-Michigan basin area, and the Rocky Mountains. In the period 1942 through 1957, the cost of the average barrel found in the Rocky Mountains was $0.41. This is comparable with $0.57 and $0.70 per net barrel for Kansas-Oklahoma and the Illinois-Michigan basin areas. Costs of finding oil are increasing in most areas of the United States at a faster rate than development and producing costs; they are expected to increase in the future. To find more oil at less cost is the challenge to the petroleum geologist. End_of_Article - Last_Page 1767------------


Changes in the market Price to Earnings (P/E) ratio have been shown to have a significant effect on the US equity returns. The prevailing model of the behavior of the market P/E ratio was put forth by Campbell and Shiller (1998, 2001), which states that the market P/E is a ratio of cointegrated variables, and therefore the ratio itself is stationary and mean-reverting. The authors show that the time series behavior of the market P/E ratio has changed and is no longer mean-reverting, indicating a fundamental change in the economic relationship between prices and earnings. This change suggests that the market P/E ratio (and its inverse, the market earnings yield) may no longer be useful in forecasting market returns.


We study the horizontal velocity and vorticity field of Saturn's polar regions (from 60 ◦ to 90 ◦ North and South) by analyzing data retrieved by Cassini's Imaging Science System instrument. We determine the zonal mean profiles for the North and South up to 89.5 ◦S and 89.9 ◦N and we also build two dimensional zonal and meridional velocity maps that allow to compute vorticity maps. The hexagonal feature encloses an eastward jet at 75.8 ◦N that becomes non-zonal. The peak of this eastward jet lies closer to the pole than the eastward jet in the south, which is zonal. A similar anticyclone to the North Polar Spot (NPS) that was observed by the Voyagers in 1981 is observed in the South on 2008–2009 images impinging on the eastward jet. However, it seems that this vortex does not excite a wave on its closest jet stream. Finally, we study the stability of the zonal jets North and South, where we find potential instabilities at the flank of these jets.


in order to study the mechanism of venomous effects of Inimicus japonicus, in this paper, we used Histologic, Histochemical techniques and Immunoradioassay (RIA) to study the venomous effects on the structure and the metabolisms of Acetylcholinesterase (AchE) and Succinate Dehydrogenase (SDH), and on the contents of Substance P (SP) and Somatostatin (SS) in the wound tissues. The results show that the injection of the crude venom from Inimicus japonicus could cause the wound tissues severe swelling, damage and hemorrhage, decreased the SDH activities, specially in the red and intermediate muscle cells, but markedly increased the AchE activities and the contents of SP. This indicats that the cause of severe pain and swelling stung by Inimicus japonicus may be related to SP and the cause of paresthesia may be mediated by accelerating the degradation of Ach,muscular and nervous fiber damage induced by crude venom.


on Starling's influence on contemporary cardio-vascular physiology. The authors, Dr. Carleton B. Chapman and Dr. Jere H. Mitchell of the University of Texas, have rendered a fine service in presenting us with such a carefully prepared resume of Starling's work and their devoted work will receive wide acclamation. The reviewer's only criticism is the lack of more biographical information on the main characters in this drama of experimental investigation. Sidney Patterson for example was working as a general practitioner in a small wheat town in Australia when his former Professor of Physiology at Melbourne, Sir Charles Martin, persuaded him to take a Beit Fellowship and work at University College with Starling. He became a most important member of the team and after the war, having married Starling's eldest daughter, returned to Australia as Director of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute. It is nice to be able to record that Starling's work has recently been confirmed in the intact human subject by Dr. Eugene Braunwald of Bethesda. ('The Control of Ventricular Function in Man', Brit. Heart J., 1965, 27, 1). ARTHUR HOLLMAN


PURPOSE: This Fact Sheet highlights the job density patterns in large metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) in the Mountain West states (Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado) using the findings of Where Jobs are Concentrating and Why it Matters to Cities and Regions, a report by Chad Shearer, Jennifer S. Vey, and Joanne Kim of the Brookings Institution. 1


A database of wind speed and wave height spanning more than 20 years is compiled from all altimeter missions which have been in operation. The data for this full period is calibrated against oceanographic buoys and compared for consistency. The resulting database provides global coverage and is a very valuable engineering design tool. Applications such as estimating extreme wave conditions and the monitoring of long term climate changes can be investigated with the database.


The results of a Russian study of the psychological aspects of criminal homicidal aggression are presented. The authors propose a typology of homicidal aggressors based on an analysis of their criminal behavior, their psychological structure, the dysfunction of the self-control mechanism, and their differing personality characteristics. They identify the following types of aggression: functional-utilitarian; habitual noncontrolled; situational- defensive, motivated by an affective goal; and catastrophic aggression. They present the differential criteria as useful to criminal experts in their analysis of offenders, particularly in cases involving the determination of criminal responsibility.


This study aims to analyze the quality of Himbara services and the influence of HR factors and infrastructure facilities for the Harapan Family Program beneficiaries in Ambon City. This research is a descriptive study conducted for independent variables without making comparisons or connecting with other variables. The population in this study were all beneficiary communities of the Family Hope Program in Ambon City in 2019 phases I through phase III of 7,184 KPM. Determination of the sample is purposive sampling with the consideration that the PKH beneficiary community that can be used as respondents are adults, especially pregnant women, as many as 144 pregnant women as one part of the beneficiary community of the Harapan Family Program in Ambon City. The results showed that (1) the quality of Himbara services in terms of tangible dimensions, empathy, responsibility, responsiveness and assurance, (2) HR factors and infrastructure facilities influence the quality of Himbara services for beneficiaries of the Harapan Family Program in Ambon City.


The Golden age of printing for Islamicists surely was the 19th century, when skilled European and occasionally Middle Eastern and Indian typesetters, could compose in as many fonts as an author could write. One reads Goldziher's Die Zāhiriten with envy, not only for the meticulous transliterated Arabic and generous footnotes at the bottom of the page, but for the extensive Arabic quotations inserted into the text and notes. Since few of the Arabic texts he cited had been published, Goldziher provided his readers with his evidence in the original. Those were the days; and a new golden age for Islamicists may be upon us. With computers, not only footnotes on the page but transliteration and multiscript publishing are suddenly feasible and even simple. The items discussed below take advantage of the flexibility of the Macintosh system to let even casual computer users produce Arabic. These programs make it possible for anyone easily to produce text in Islamic script (Arabic, Persian, Ottoman, Urdu, etc.) in camera-ready form.


Increasing in networked multimedia systems has an immediate need for copyright protection and security of multimedia data thatis transferred through the network. Digital watermarking technology provides solutions for protecting multimedia data from illegalmanipulations. In the proposed method, embedding of watermark is done by using Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) - Singular ValueDecomposition (SVD), and then a private key is used for the encryption of watermarked image. At the other end the watermarked image isdecrypted first using the private key then the watermark is extracted by applying the reverse process of embedding. Using DWT-SVD,modification in all frequencies allows the development of a watermarking scheme that is robust to a wide range of attacks, and withouthaving the private key any one cannot delete or modify the watermark.


In the structure of gynecologic diseases chronic salpingo-oophoritis forms from 38% up to 70% [6,8], causing in 35-68% events tubalperitoneal sterility, in 28-43% breach of the processes to ovulations. Permebility of the uterine tubes after operative laparoscopy forms 78-86%, frequency of the approach to pregnancy 21-38% that shows necessity to develop further rehabilitation reproductive systems in patients with HS. The row of the researchers recommend to conduct physical methods of rehabilitations of the reproductive functions at early postoperative period for the reason of prophylaxis of secondary occlusion of uterine pipes and regulation of the adiposogenital suprarenal ovarial system. Repeated use of the formed physical factors duringa day allows to intensify the physiotherapeutic influence for the reason of reductions of the periods of the treatment without reduction of clinical efficiency.


Abstract This essay places Mughal–Sufi relationship within a larger sixteenth century context, focusing on the strategies the early Mughals adopted to build their power in India. It reviews the positions of the two important sufi groups, the Indian Chishtis and the Central Asian Naqshbandis, juxtaposing the political benefits or the loss that the Mughals saw in their associations with them. While the Naqshbandi worldview and the legacy of the legendary Ubaid Allah Ahrar clashed with their vision of power, in the Chishti ideology, on the other hand, they found a strong support for themselves. The Chishtis then had an edge at the time of Akbar. But the Naqshbandis under Khwaja Baqi Billah (d. 1603) continued in their endeavour to reinstate their place in Mughal India. The paper thus provides a backdrop and makes a plea for re-evaluating the debate on the ideology and politics of Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi (d. 1624).


Classic seasonal order cycles in the apparel industry have been supplemented by Efficient Consumer Response (ECR) driven order policies. Manufacturing often takes place in low-wage countries, whereas demand is located in the industrialized world. The resulting supply chains have to bridge large geographic distances, which reinforce long lead times. In contrast, retailers request short lead times, as forecasting their demand is generally difficult. Based on a case study of a German supplier of jeans and denim trousers, current information related problems of logistic processes in garment supply chains are analyzed. Solutions are presented to address these problems by use of smart label technologies. In particular, the paper discusses use of smart labels as an enabling technology to implement autonomous control of logistics processes. The concept of autonomous control describes decentralized decision-making in heterarchical structures. The applications of autonomous control, specified in the paper, focus on allocation of garment articles to customer orders and accompanying transport route and transport means selection problems. Although the applications of autonomous control are discussed for a branch specific case study scenario, they can easily be adapted to other enterprises following a similar business model.


Objective :To investigate the effects of aerobic cycloergometer training on the walking performances in stroke survivors. Design : Uncontrolled prospective trial. Setting : Medicine and Rehabilitation unit in an academic hospital. Participants : 14 patients whose stroke had occurred more than three months and less than two years prior to enrollment. Intervention : Aerobic training with a cycloergometer for 8 weeks. Main Outcome Measures : Workload, VO2peak (mean 14. 84%, p=0. 04), and in the knee extension and flexion muscle strength on the non-paretic side at 60°/sec and 120°/sec in isokinetic mode (mean from 13. 2% to 25. 15%, p= from 0. 019 to p=0. 0007) and in the walking performances on the 6-min walk test (mean 15. 87%, p=0. 0002). Conclusion : patients with stroke improved both aerobic and walking performances after aerobic cycloergometer training. These results must be interpreted with caution considering the small size of our sample, but they do suggest that cycloergometer training is a safe and potentially effective training after stroke and an alternative to walking treadmill training.


Review Questions/Objectives
The objective of this systematic review is to synthesise the best available evidence on the effectiveness of physical leisure time activities on older adult's physical functioning including gait speed, grip strength, six-minute walk, balance, activity of daily living(ADL).

Types of participants
This review will consider the older adults over 60 years old living in the community, and long-term care facility participating in physical leisure time activities. The exclusion criteria include the following: intellectual or psychiatric disability such as dementia; history of any illness contraindicating physical activity or limiting participation in the physical activity program; communication problems, and taking medication such as psychotherapeutic agents and skeletal muscle relaxants known to affect activities such as gait speed, grip strength, six-minute walk, balance , or activity of daily living (ADL).

Types of Interventions
Regular leisure time activities on older adults are defined as as at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity throughout the week or do at least 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity throughout the week or an equivalent combination of moderate and vigorous-intensity activity. The review will consider studies on the effectiveness of regular time activities to improve the elderly's physical functioning, including the following forms of exercise:
The leisure time activities will include but are not limited to:
1.jogging
2.tai chi exercise
3.walking
4.cycling
5.swimming
6.gardening
7.gigong(an ancient Chinese breathing exercise that combines aerobics, isometric, and isotonic movements and meditation)

Types of outcomes
The outcome measures will include, but are not limited to:
(1) gait speed
(2) grip strength
(3) six-minute walk
(4) balance
(5) activity of daily living(ADL)


Zona pellucida binding protein 1 (ZPBP1), a spermatid and spermatozoon protein that localizes to the acrosome, was originally identified in pigs and named for its binding to the oocyte zona pellucida. In an in silico search for germ cell-specific genes, Zpbp1 and its novel paralog, Zpbp2 , were discovered and confirmed to be expressed only in the testes in both mice and humans. To study the in vivo functions of both ZPBP proteins, we disrupted Zpbp1 and Zpbp2 in mice. Males lacking ZPBP1 were sterile, with abnormal round-headed sperm morphology and no forward sperm motility. Ultrastructural studies demonstrated that absence of ZPBP1 prevents proper acrosome compac- tion, resulting in acrosome fragmentation and disruption of the Sertoli-spermatid junctions. Males null for ZPBP2 were subfertile, demonstrated aberrant acrosomal membrane invaginations, and produced dysmorphic sperm with reduced ability to penetrate zona pellucida. Molecular phylogenetic analysis of ZPBPs from amphibians, birds, and mammals suggests that these paralogous genes coevolved to play cooperative


For the circular disk type of transistor geometry, as commonly used in alloy junction transistors, base spreading resistance is determined by treating it as a boundary value problem. This treatment results from consideration of the over-all behavior of both minority and majority charge carriers in the base region and leads to an expression for base spreading resistance in terms of alpha, frequency, resistivity, and transistor dimensions. Further consideration of this over-all charge carrier behavior leads to a determination of the entire common emitter short circuit input impedance, which is in general complex. Comparison with measurement shows that this impedance, which includes the base spreading resistance, can be accurately calculated over a wide frequency range in terms of dimensions, physical constants, frequency, dc emitter bias, and effective minority carrier lifetime in the base region for small signal operation of low-power alloy junction transistors. Limitations and extensions of the analysis in its present form are discussed.


Objective:Study on formation of causes of death and influencing factors thereof of senile dementia inpatients.Methods: Trying to find out influencing factor with statistical meaning to the causes of death of senile dementia inpatients by means of analysis on clinical data including age,gender,course of disease,co-morbidity,cause of death and etc of 60 senile dementia inpatients died during hospitalization.Results: The top 5 causes of death of senile dementia inpatients are lung infection,failure of viscera's functions,tumor,sudden death and cerebrovascular accident,while taking psychotropic drugs,associated tumor and coronary heart disease may influence the death causes by statistics.Conclusion: Enhancing nursing,preventing lung infection,actively curing of associated diseases such as coronary heart disease,and prudently taking of psychotropic drugs may prolong the life expectancy of senile dementia inpatients.


Abstract Background. A previous study (Cummings, 2002), hypothesized that human birth seasonality was primarily related to environmental light intensity/photoperiod. Purpose. There are two primary goals: to explain seasonality differences between U.S., Canada, and Europe and to test the influence of environmental light intensity/photoperiod at divergent latitudes. Methodology. Existing seasonality data were extracted from previous studies at various locations throughout the world. Daily cloud cover amounts (clearness) were utilized as indices for environmental light intensity. Discussion. Results were evaluated and discussed for each sub‐study. Conclusion. Sub‐study results support the hypothesis that human birth seasonality may be influenced by environmental light intensity and photoperiod. This conclusion is supported by logical links between increased light intensity/photoperiod and conceptions at different latitudes. Irrefutable proof may involve correlating long term changes in cloud cover with long term changes in human birth seasonality.


-This paper examines potential motivations for incorporatingvirtualization support in the system software stacks of high-end capability supercomputers. We investigate virtualizing transactional memory in the contextof LogTM-SE. First, we describe an implementation of a kernelmodule in OpenSolaris that implement transactional virtualization and requires only 1120 lines of code. Second, we find that LogTMSE interacts poorly with virtual machine monitors due to a reliance on physical addresses. Third, through application tracing on real hardware and full system simulation, we show virtualizing transactions can be necessary for system stability and to support code that voluntarily context switches.We discuss our experiences in implementing functions across two major version of linux in a kernel module without the use of any kernel modification.


Maria Rodziewiczówna (1864–1944), a landowner-writer with strong ties to Polesie and Warsaw, managed the Hruszowa estate on her own for many years, was a social activist and prolific writer. She quickly gained recognition and popularity among readers, although literary critics have differed in their opinions about her work, and she is rather overlooked in academic research today. Yet, her novels and novellas, among others, are an interesting testimony to the period of her lifetime. Using the selected example of the novella Rupiecie from the collection under the same title (1908), the article shows how Rodziewiczówna depicts Polesie, its landscapes, people: peasants, workers, landowners, representatives of various religions and faiths and nations. The contrast between the world of Warsaw and the world of the small town of Kodymno is clearly shown in the novella.


The number of fully sequenced genomes available is rapidly increasing, and experiments are underway to get quantitative information of the transcription and expression of the different gene products. As this is progressing and projects on structural genomics are starting, the lack of readily accessible functional information about proteins is becoming more obvious. Here, we describe the comprehensive enzymatic and metabolic information system BRENDA (BRaunschweig ENzyme DAta base) which has been created - and is continuously updated - by manual extraction and evaluation of functional and molecular parameters on enzymes from the primary literature, presently containing parameters from approx. 35 000 literature references, holding data of at least 20 000 different enzymes from more than 4330 different organisms classified in the approx. 3 700 EC-numbers. More than 260 000 different enzyme/ligand relationships are given in the data repository. BRENDA is available via the world wide web (www.brenda.uni-koeln.de).


The development of Swedish mobile libraries is the history of how bookmobiles grew from being just means of transportation to highly advanced tools for book circulation. This paper shows examples of how the Swedish mobile libraries have changed during the past years. Nowadays there is more to bookmobile activities than the circulation of books; different activities, different media and different technical solutions now will put the Swedish mobile libraries in an international network of information


The main spectral property of a Sonic Crystal structure is a notable sound attenuation related to the Bragg band gaps. This effect is observed in air and makes Sonic Crystals effective noise barriers in a particular frequency range. This performance can be extended to a wider range of frequencies by introducing scatterers supporting multiple resonances of various types. In this paper the sonic crystals composed of infinitely long multi-resonant composite scatterers are stu died. First the concentric elastic shell and outer 4-slit rigid cy linder composite is considered. Theoretical and experimental results show the existence of the axisymmetric resonance of the elastic shell followed by the annular cavity resonance. The second type of scatterers considered is a U-shaped resonator composed of thin elastic plates. The plates form an open cavity so that resonances are defined by their bending motion as well as by the geometry of the scatterer. Theoretical analysis of the elastic-acoustic coupling in a single scatterer is based on the Kirchhoff-Love asymptotic theory. Numerical results on the overall performance of the proposed structures are obtained with the multiple scatter ing technique and finite element method. The predictions are com pared with the experimental results.


ABSTRACT Four grain drills, a hoe drill with split vee press wheels, a double disc drill with split vee press wheels, and a double disc drill with narrow semi-pneumatic press wheels equipped with and without knife coverers were evaluated to determine if they could provide placement selectivity for wheat in soils where trifluralin or triallate has been incorporated. Placement selectivity is the placement of the crop seed relative to the herbicide in such a manner as to reduce injury to the seedling. Placement selectivity provided by the hoe drill was adequate to permit use of these herbicides for cheat {Bromus secalinus L.) control. The hoe drill with split vee press wheels generally provided the highest wheat stands, yields, and lowest dockage. Stands, yields, and dockage of wheat seeded by the double disc drill with narrow press wheels and no coverers and double disc drill with vee press wheels equaled the hoe drill at some locations. At one location, covering knives reduced wheat stands and grain yield..


Presented is a mapping of a CORDIC algorithm to a recently proposed reconfigurable array geared towards the calculation of transcedental functions. This work demonstrates that the previously introduced shift-enabled embedded reconfigurable array (ShEERA) yields speed performance very close (and better in certain cases) to that of an ASIC generated with standard cells, but with a high degree of flexibility to eliminate recurring engineering costs. The ShEERA array outperformed a commercial FPGA by 3times to 20times with the same CORDIC algorithm mapped to the device. Delay and area performance are presented, and coupled with energy analysis which has been presented in prior art, the device shows excellent promise for use in embedded applications where cost, performance, and energy consumption are paramount.


Objective To evaluate the anti-tuberculosis drug-induced drug-induced hepatitis clinical characteristics, anti-tuberculosis drug-induced liver injury and its prevention and reasonable diag-nosis and treatment.Methods According to clinical drug history, clinical symptoms, liver function tests, imaging examinations and drug-induced liver disease diagnosis and drug-induced liver disease diagnostic criteria of the site from 2004 to 2006 the governance of anti-TB treatment of TB patients after liver injury 61 patients were retrospectively analyzed. Results 348 cases of TB patients receiving anti-TB drugs after treatment, 61 patients the emergence of drug-induced liver disease, drug-induced liver disease incidence of 17.53%, 348 patients in the HBSAG positive for 32 cases, of which 13 cases of the emergence of drug- induced liver injury , accounting for 40.63%. Conclusions The anti-tuberculosis drug-induced liver injury more common in patients with risk factors, and multi-drug use occurred in the first 1 week to the first 8 weeks. Anti-TB treatment during routine examination before liver function, HBSAG, treatment should be regularly checked liver function. Anti-tuberculosis drug-induced liver damage on the early diagnosis and timely and reasonable treatment, can return to normal liver function in patients and help patients with the successful completion of anti-TB treatment regimens.


The confirming the identity of a user working distance educational technologies problem is considered in the article. Now distance educational technologies don't give confidence that the student works in the educational environment independently, without involving third parties in the process. In the learning process, there is a substitution of one user for another when learning or performing certification work. To eliminate the unauthorized replacement of the student, it is proposed to use his keyboard handwriting not only when authorizing the user in the system, but also in the process of his work. When working in an educational environment, a user can employ various keyboard characters when typing, so storing data based only on a passphrase is not enough. So, to ensure the correct operation of the handwriting, its characteristics are determined for the entire set of characters used, which will be involved in the certification process then. Depending on the characteristics found, based on the keystroke duration, the characters are combined into clusters according to the obtained mean and standard deviations. Combining occurs according to the principle of minimum distances between each pair of characters. Since the scales of these characteristics have a different numerical range, they are first converted to the range [0; 1]. This allows us to make their contribution to the formation of clusters equivalent. The obtained data can be employed during the entire time the user is in the educational environment to verify his identity. The experimental data used to form keyboard handwriting are presented in the paper. The process of cluster formation for a set of 8 characters is described in detail. For a complete set of letters, the initial data and the final result are given. Studies have shown the efficiency of the proposed method.


Semantically annotating content from relational tables on the Web is a crucial task towards realizing the vision of the Semantic Web. However, there is a lack of open source, user-friendly tools to facilitate this. This paper describes an extension of the TableMiner+ system,
an open source Semantic Table Interpretation system that automatically annotates Web tables using Linked Data in an effective and effi�cient approach. It adds a graphical user interface to TableMiner+, to facilitate
the visualization and correction of automatically generated annotations.
This makes TableMiner+ an ideal tool for the semi-automatic creation of
high-quality semantic annotations on relational tables, which facilitates
the publication of Linked Data on the Web.


This paper discusses findings from an exploratory study concerning the type, frequency of use and the impact of social networking sites on unemployed. The objectives were to assess unemployed participants' under training on the usage of social networking sites, and the degree to which these helped them increase their opportunities for employability and educational enhancement. Qualitative and quantitative research methodologies were used. The results affirmed that the 12-week course, has helped them improve their interpersonal communication skills and contributed to their psychological uplift and social support. Furthermore, over 80% of them use social networking sites from one to four hours per day for both job hunting and networking, and they stated that they were leaving the program more hopeful and optimistic for successful employment opportunities. The paper contributes to the research on social networking and the education of the unemployed in a country where similar research is sporadic.


The physical-mathematical model which adequately describes the work of tree planter main units has been developed. This model will allow to present all the technological process of the mechanized planting by means of the software and to carry out the analysis researches


In this paper,we discuss the technologies of data transformation between XML and SQL Server 2000,based on ASP and ADO.Also we introduce the technology that support XML in SQL Server 2000.


Abstract This study investigates children's identification of prosodic focus in Hungarian, a language in which syntactic focus-marking is mandatory. Assuming that regular syntactic focus-marking diminishes the disambiguating role of prosodic marking in acquisition, we expected that in sentences in which focus is only disambiguated by prosody, adult-like comprehension of prosodic focus-marking should be delayed in comparison to the Germanic and Romance languages investigated previously using the same experimental method that we adopted. Our results, confirming this prediction, suggest that the developmental trajectory of the comprehension of prosodic focus-marking may be substantially affected by cross-linguistic grammatical variation in the marking of focus.


The greater sensitivity of lichens to sulphur dioxide pollution compared to that of higher plants is now well authenticated from both field and laboratory observations (see, for example, Ferry et ah, 1973; Ziegler, 1975; Karenlampi, 1976). Ozone and oxides of nitrogen are among the toxic gases formed photochemically in nature (Pitts and Finlayson, 1975). The only data on the effect of such gases on lichens are those of Nash (1976) who reported some chlorophyll breakdown in a range of lichens exposed to nitrogen dioxide at higher levels than those experienced in the field. As ozone can occur in relatively high concentrations in Europe (Guicherit and Van Dop, 1977) as well as in North America, it was considered of interest to investigate the effect of ozone on lichens. Because cell membranes are a major site of cellular damage by ozone (Mudd, 1973; Dugger, 1974; Ting and Heath, 1975; Mudd and Kozlowski, 1976) and because the survival of lichens depends on the controlled transfer across membranes of metabolites moving between the symbionts (Smith, 1975; Hill, 1976), lichens may be potentially highly sensitive to ozone damage. As there are no published field observations of lichen damage attributable to ozone, the choice of lichen species to be investigated was based only on experimental convenience.


The discrete wavelet transform (DWT) has several advantages in multi-resolution analysis and subband decomposition, which has been successfully used in image compression. In this paper, we will extend the usage of DWT to video compression and focus on motion estimation (ME) and motion compensation (MC) in wavelet domain. The ME used in this paper is Low-Band-Shift Motion Estimation (LBSME) [1] and a novel MC in wavelet domain is proposed. With this novel method, ME/MC in wavelet domain now is comparable with ME/MC in spatial domain and the performance is superior to other ME/MC methods in wavelet domain.


(57) Abstract: The present invention for measuring a physical quantity in the eye, to a device particularly for measuring intraocular pressure. The device of the present invention, on a collapsible support member, consisting of foldable telemetry system including a coil (1) which is flat deployed. The coil is completely embedded in the biocompatible implant in the material together with the electronic module (4) comprising an electronic device telemetry system.


To confirm the hypothesis that I modifies G pharmacokinetic with high risk of toxicity, we studied 48 neonates (mean gestational age (GA) 28.3 w., birth-weight 1125 g, postnatal age 4.5 d.) affected by respiratory problems and treated with following schedule ol G administration: 2.5 mg(Kg/dose every 24 h for GA <32 w. and every 18 h for GA 32-34 w. Twenty-eight neonates were treated only with G (group 1) and twenty were also treated with I (group 2). The serum G concentrations (immunofluorescence assay) were (mcg/ml):No differences were found in G half-life <7.35±3.54 vs 8.10+.2.88 h), G volume of distribution (0.525±0.127 vs 0.445±0.263 L/Kg), serum creatinine levels (1.13±0.37 vs 1.31±0.42 mg/dl) between the two groups. Thirteen neonates (6 in group 1, 7 in group 2) had through levels >2 mcg/ml; five had peak levels >10 mcg/ml (2 in group 1, 3 in group 2). Our results confirm that I doesn't increase the risk of G toxicity in very low birth-weight infants, at least with the schedule of G administration used in this study.


The Worker Protection Standard (WPS) is a Federal regulation designed to protect agricultural workers (people involved in the production of agricultural plants) and pesticide handlers (people mixing, loading, or applying pesticides or doing other tasks involving direct contact with pesticides). It has been in full implementation since 1995. This document provides general guidance to help you comply with the WPS requirements for agricultural pesticides, 40 CFR part 170, as amended in 2015. This document addresses allowable WPS exemptions pertaining to Certified Crop Adviors.


Metabolic Engineering, also named pathway Engineering or metabolic design, is the science that combines systematic analysis of metabolic pathways with molecular biological techniques and uses recombinant techniques to improve cellular properties by designing and implementing rational genetic modification. And the article describes the theory of MFA and MCA and the examples in metabolic pathways analysis and metabolic engineering.


It should be expected that African writers who have inherited the English language as a colonial legacy, and who are therefore using this language as their creative medium, will manifest in their work some evidence of their contact not only with the language but also with some English writers. For example, the work of some African novelists reflects the influence of some English and European novels; the drama of some African playwrights points to some links with English and even Greek dramatic tradition; and similarly some African poets have reflected in their work the influence of certain English and European poets, as well as such literary movements as romanticism, symbolism, and surrealism. And all this is without prejudice to the natural and essential influence which African traditional oral literature has on these same African writers.


This paper examines the life-cycle dynamics of real wages and labor supply in Sweden. The descriptive results lend support to the inter-temporal substitution hypothesis (ISH), as the age patterns of real wages and the labor supply are both hump-shaped. However, the age-wage profiles increasingly shift toward older ages over time, whereas the age-employment profiles do not. This leads to an accentuated difference-in-differences of the two variables from prime working age through retirement, which casts doubt on the explanatory power of the ISH for the lifecycle labor supply. Econometric analysis shows that the intra-temporal elasticity outweighs the inter-temporal elasticity of substitution, and thus provides little support for the ISH. The estimated labor supply elasticity also varies considerably across age groups. This suggests that an array of age-specific parameters are needed in calibrating the overlapping generation model (OLG).


Foz do Iguacu, a large municipality located in western Parana State, has one of the seven wonders of nature and is among the most visited tourist Brazilian cities. The objective of this work was to study the socio-environmental image of the city through environmental awareness of inhabitants of the municipality. Data collection occurred in 2012 through a questionnaire and interview 162 questionnaires being applied to residents of many neighborhoods located in the urban area of the city of Foz do Iguacu. The results enabled the study of socio-environmental image, establishing the pleasant and unpleasant landscapes, objects and realize that these singularities in the city and the neighborhoods where they live. Respondents believe in the importance of preserving the environment, where the majority conceives the environment as green areas and forests and consider the preservation, landscapes, parks and environmental quality of the city as disabled.


On the basis of the long-term researches (1987-2007) it was proved on a practice that it is possible to develop new initial material for breeding and to develop soybean cultivars using tissue culture method.


Some magnetic impulse events observed in the polar region are related to vortices associated with plasma convection in the ionosphere. Recent analyses of satellite and ground data suggest that the interaction of solar wind dynamic pressure pulses and the magnetosphere may lead to the formation of velocity vortices in the magnetopause boundary layer region. This can in turn lead to the presence of vortices in the polar ionosphere. However, before reaching the Earth's magnetopause, these interplanetary pressure pulses must interact with and pass through the bow shock. A variation of the solar wind dynamic pressure (ΔρV²) may be associated with shocks, magnetic holes, or tangential discontinuities (TDs) in the interplanetary medium. We study the interaction of interplanetary TDs with the Earth's bow shock (BS) using both theoretical analysis and MHD computer simulations. It is found that as a result of the collision between a TD and the BS, the jump in the solar wind dynamic pressure associated with the TD is significantly modified, the bow shock moves, and a new fast shock or fast rarefaction wave, which propagates in the downstream direction, is excited. Our theoretical analysis shows that the change in the plasma density across the interplanetary TD plays the most important role in the collision process. In the case with an enhanced dynamic pressure behind the interplanetary TD, the bow shock is intensified in strength and moves in the earthward direction. The dynamic pressure jump associated with the transmitted TD is generally reduced from the value before the interaction. A fast compressional shock is excited ahead of the transmitted TD and propagates toward the Earth's magnetosphere. For the case in which the dynamic pressure is reduced behind the interplanetary TD, the pressure jump across the transmitted TD is substantially weakened, the bow shock moves in the sunward direction, and a rarefaction wave which propagates downstream is excited. We also simulate and discuss the interaction of a pair of tangential discontinuities, which may correspond to a magnetic hole, with the BS.


The fiber orientation distribution throughout the thickness of a sheet is shown mathematically to be related to the ratio Z MD :Z* lCD*s, the zero tensile strengths in the machine direction and the cross section direction, respectively. Zero span tensile strengths were determined experimentally for sheets split into four layers on a Beloit sheet splitter. The experimental results for four types of paper indicate that (1) the wire side is the most square portion of the sheet, (2) the top side is the most highly oriented, and (3) the greater the overall bias of the sheet, the greater the difference in orientation between the top and wire sides. It is concluded that measurement of Z MD :Z CD is a valid technique for determining fiber orientation distribution.


This article shows the opportunities for application of power electronics in the household industry. Advanced power control would bring many features to products and benefits to consumers. The financial benefits will be tremendous for those who succeed in developing and applying solutions that meet the needs of the industry.


Xylem embolism was monitored from mid-winter to mid-summer in four co-occurring species: Betula cordifolia (Reg.) Fern., Fagus grandifolia Ehrh., Abies balsamea (L.) MilL, Picea rubens Sarg. The study site was a west-facing slope in the northern Green Mountains of Vennont, U.S.A.; Betula and conifers were sampled at 914 m; Fagus was collected at 827 m near its local altitudinal limit. Embolism was quantified by the percent the hydraulic conductivity of branch segments was below the maximum obtained following removal of air embolism in xylem conduits. Between early February and early May, the deciduous species averaged 60 to 84% embolism compared to 15 to 60% for the conifers. From April 24 to May 25, embolism in Betula dropped from 81 to 8%; this recovery was associated with root pressures up to 86 kPa as measured with manometers at the lower trunk. Betula trees in which root pressure was eliminated by overlapping saw cuts still showed 75% embolism in June; only 4% was present in control trees cut in a similar fashion after leaf flush. Root pressure was weak (3 kPa) and uncommon in Fagus, and trees remained 80% embolized through June showing considerable dieback. Fagus at lower elevations (60 m) were 33% embolized in June with no dieback. Embolism in the conifer species decreased from 40% embolism in late April to 6% in late June de~pite no detected positive xylem pressures. The mechanism for conifer recovery is unknown.


Over the last ten to fifteen years, there has been increasing research, practical implementation and normative consideration of the issues related corporate social responsibility, including the social accounting practices. Social accounting and accounts represent fundamental components of 'corporate accountability systems', which connect an organization to its stakeholders and society at large. In particular, in the context of these 'accountability systems', social accounting and accounts play a pivotal role because these provide information on which stakeholders assess the extent to which an organization accomplishes its obligations and behaves in a responsible manner. The contention of this paper is that the decision of implementing social accounting and producing/ disclosing social accounts to the public is an 'ethically-grounded duty', i.e. the 'duty' of providing a honest, truthful, transparent and fair account 'for and on' the actions undertaken (or not) by an organization and the results of these actions. In addition, how, and the extent to which, social accounting (and accounts) is (are) related to financial accounting and how these 'two accountings' are part of the wider 'corporate accountability systems' is also discussed.


Abstract LH is secreted by the pituitary in a series of pulses which reflect the episodic release of LRH by the hypothalamus in response to neurally mediated processes. This study examined whether gonadal steroids might exert their negative feedback effects on LH secretion by modulating either the frequency or magnitude of LRH pulses. In the absence of sufficiently sensitive plasma LRH assays, we utilized an indirect method to assess LRH secretion by analyzing the frequency and amplitude of plasma LH pulses and simultaneously measuring the acute pituitary sensitivity to exogenous LRH. Ten normal men received clomiphene citrate to interrupt the LH-estradiol negative feedback loop and thereby stimulate LH secretion. This treatment resulted in an increase (P < 0.05) in the frequency of LH pulses observed on day 8 of the study (4.3 ± 0.26 pulses/6 h) compared to basal (3.2 ± 0.25). The amplitude of spontaneous LH pulses also rose during clomiphene from basal levels of 28 ± 3.2 to a maximum of 58 ± 5.3 ng/ml. ...


Introduction and Objective. Pets infected with zoonotic pathogens might become a source of infections for their owners, especially those who are immuno-compromised. The aim of this report is to describe a case of chronic, untreatable pneumonia in a domestic ferret. Materials and method. The subject was a 5-year-old female ferret suffering from recurrent pneumonia. Ante-mortally, swabs from the nasal cavity, alveolus and throat were collected from the animal. Post-mortally, lesioned organ fragments were collected. Standard microbiological testing was performed. Additionally, mycobacterial diagnosis including culture and molecular tests was performed. Results. The co-infection of Mycobacterium avium and Klebsiella pneumoniae was microbiologically confirmed. Conclusions . This case demonstrates the need to pay attention to the possibility of zoonotic pathogens in ferrets. Veterinarians diagnosing ferrets are potentially exposed to Mycobacteria spp. infections and other pathogens.


A method for mounting a semiconductor chip (7) on a substrate, the semiconductor chip (7) facing the substrate (6) is coated on one side with an adhesive layer, characterized in that the method comprises the following steps: (1 ) reduction of the semiconductor chip (7), until the semiconductor chip (7) in contact with the substrate (6), (2) waits for a predetermined time duration, during which is applied on the semiconductor chip (7) a force substantially or disappear in the next step ratio in (3) was added to a semiconductor chip (7) of small bonding force, and (3) the bonding force is applied to the semiconductor chip (7).


PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a hearth roll superior in Mn build-up resistance, thermal shock resistance and abrasion resistance. SOLUTION: The thermal spraying material comprises: a nitride (including double nitride) of one or more elements selected from the group consisting of the group 3a (including rare earth element) in the periodic table, the group 4a, the group 5a, B, Al, Si, Cr and Fe; an oxide (including double oxide) of one or more elements selected from the group consisting of a rare earth element (Sc, Y and lanthanide elements), Al, Si, Ti, Cr and Zr; and a matrix metal of one or more metals selected from the group consisting of refractory metals (including alloy) usable at 900°C or higher. The hearth roll has a thermal-sprayed film formed of the thermal spraying material on its peripheral surface. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT