Spanish pharmacists, worried about recent developments by the health ministry to contain spending on drugs, are trying to prevent the authorisation of sales of over the counter medicines in shops and supermarkets.

In a meeting held last week in Granada, Andalucia, the Forum for the Defence of the Mediterranean Model of Pharmacy announced that it had already gathered 160 000 signatures since early January in support of a call on the government not to liberalise the sale of drugs. The forum brings together the official colleges of pharmacists of Valencia, Almeria, and Cordoba, along with 3000 health and pharmacy professionals.

The Spanish parliament told the forum that it has to gather at least 500 000 signatures in six months for discussion of the "Basic Principles of Drugs" bill, drawn up by the Official College of Pharmacists of Valencia and submitted to the parliament last November. This bill intends that medicines should be maintained as an "essential good of universal interest and not as merchandise" and that drugs should be sold only by pharmacies.

Mr Javier Climent, member of the board of directors of the college, said that the objective was to consolidate the current model of pharmacy in Spain and to face the "head-on attack against our pharmaceutical model—that is, the liberalisation of our model." He believes there are currently powerful distribution companies and lobbies in Spain that are pressurising the government to get control of over the counter drugs so that these can be sold in supermarkets ithout the supervision of the pharmacist.

In his opinion, and in the opinion of the forum, the Spanish model of pharmacy is an example of the "Mediterranean model of pharmacy," which considers that medicines are basic essentials. The model is based on a higher number of pharmacies per inhabitant, homogeneous and low prices nationwide, a direct and personalised sale, and the possibility of acquiring drugs all night and on public holidays without charging extra.

By contrast, other liberalised models, such as the US model, would give priority to commercial aspects over the consideration of the public service, argued Mr Climent. He said that Spain has one pharmacy per 2065 inhabitants, France has one per 2500 inhabitants whereas, Chile—an example of a liberalised model—has one per 35 000 inhabitants.

The move by the forum follows a royal decree approved last June calling for urgent measures to contain pharmaceutical expenditure. These measures included several liberalising steps, such as a reduction of benefit margins and the possibility of applying up to 10% discounts in over the counter agents. In addition, last year a Spanish organisation of food distribution companies announced plans to sell non-prescription drugs in supermarkets on grounds that these have a similar status as breast milk substitutes, whose sale had been liberalised in 1994.

The forum argues that the sale of non-prescription drugs in supermarkets may have "hugely negative health consequences" as it would probably lead to an increase in the number of hospital admissions related to self medication.

The General Council of Pharmaceutical Colleges estimates that up to 25% of emergency visits to hospitals are due to adverse events, interactions, and overdoses (mainly as consequence of suicide attempts). Experts argue that the sale of over the counter drugs in shops and supermarkets would initially lower prices and would lead to the closing of many small pharmacies.


has been used as the probe to recognize B and Z-form DNA. The photophysical studies indicated that the complexes containing 1, 10-phenanthroline or larger planar aromatic ligands can be intercalated into DNA stereoselectively and the complexes containing smaller ligands such as 2, 2'-


Showrooming, the phenomenon of consumers visiting a brick-and-mortar (B&M) store to learn about products but then buying online to obtain lower prices, is attracting increased attention both in business practice and in academic literature. It is considered a major threat to the B&M retailers, and determining "how to fight it" seems to be the only consideration. However, the manufacturer's need for retail informational services has always been one of the essential reasons for retailers to exist and is a means for retailers to achieve profitability. The popular arguments about the threat of showrooming ignore the strategic role of the manufacturer in the distribution channel. This article analytically shows that when the manufacturer's decisions are considered (i.e., when the manufacturer–retailer contract is endogenous), consumers' ability to engage in showrooming may lead to increased, rather than decreased, profitability for B&M retailer(s). Thus, retail efforts to restrict showrooming behavior may be misguided. This result holds even if the manufacturer is restricted to wholesale-only contracts and is not allowed to price discriminate between channels.


The report summarises the long-term changes in the stable isotope composition of Blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) from Kvadofjarden (1981-2017) and the spatial variation in the isotope composition in ...


A selenium-containing small molecule is exploited to controllably tune the polymer amphiphilicity, leading to fabrication of appropriate polymer surfactants through which one-step double emulsions can be obtained in a facile, scalable, surfactant-free approach. After solvent evaporation, these resulting porous microparticles are shown to be the exceptional artificial GPx enzyme mimics.


The "dark" adsorption equilibrium constants of different series of benzylic derivatives on TiO2 suspended in CH3CN were determined through a Langmuir-type adsorption isotherm. In particular, the similarity of the K values of differently ring substituted α-OH derivatives within the same series confirms the previously suggested preferential adsorption of the hydroxyl group (at the oxygen atom) with respect to the aromatic moiety.


Volcanological study of the western sector of the Decepción Island (Antartica): Geochemical characterization and evolutionary analysis. This work discusses the different aspects of the volcanic-magmatic evolution of the Deception Island in Antarctic, based on the stratigraphic reorganization and the geochemical analysis performed in several events. This island constitutes the rift axis that separates the South Shetland from the Antarctic Peninsula along the Bransfield Strait. Several investigators perfomed geological research on Deception Island. Some controversy exists regarding the litoand chronostratigraphy of the rocks. Here, we analyze in detail, the westernl sector of the island, where the entire stratigraphic column is represented. From this detailed geological study of the area and the stratigraphic profiles collected, the different units were correlated. According to this stratigraphic reorganization based on the geochemical characteristics of the sequence, the magmatic evolution is analyzed.


The present invention discloses a full-automatic three-dimensional garbage which includes a full-automatic three-dimensional garbage body, a vehicle conveying-in platform is arranged at the entrance, a vehicle conveying device is arranged in the liftable rotating platform at the center part of the garbage, vehicle parking platforms which are counted with hundreds are arranged circularly in the garbage, in vehicle parking the driver needs only parking the vehicle on the locating lane, the warehouse in-and-out program can be completed by the liftable rotating platform with the vehicle conveying device according to the instruction, the exit is arranged with a warehouse-out rotating platform which can automatically rotate the vehicle head to the exit, in the outing of the vehicle the driver needs not turn around for changing the direction, the garbage is cylindrical, three-dimensional and stacking type, and has the characters of effectively utilizing the space, high volume fraction, without manually driving and in-and-out contacting the garbage, without oil smoke pollution, convenient packing, being automatized, energy-saving, environment protecting and being safe.


In order to analyze the process capability of telecommunication services,to improve quality of telecommunication service and to enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty,the concept of telecommunication service process capability index(TSCP) is defined.First,the service blueprint technology is used to describe the existing telecommunications services process and to locate and identify the contact points of services process.Second,the capability of the service contact points is acquired by comprehensive analysis.At last the TSCP model is established to deal with the data of the contact points capability based on the grey system theory.


Different techniques and abortifacients are being used to perform abortions during the 2nd trimester of pregnancy. These include the use of hypertonic saline, prostaglandins, hypertonic urea and glucose, mannitol, and rivanol, yet none of them are ideal and safe. This study was conducted in an effort to determine a safe, effective, and easy method of abortion during the midtrimester of pregnancy. 225 cases of pregnancy between 12-20 weeks were selected randomly from those admitted to the NRS Medical College Hospital in Calcutta, India for abortion., A full history was taken, and a thorough clinical examination was performed with particular attention to cardiovascular, respiratory, and renal conditions. The patients were divided into 2 groups. The 125 women in Group 1 were administered 150-200 ml of 20% urea in 2% saline and half million units of crystalline penicillin were introduced by a Foley's catheter extraamniotically. In the 200 patients in Group 2, 150-200 ml of 30% urea in 2% saline was introduced in the same manner extraamniotically. Penicillin was not given in these cases. Instead, when there was a need of reinstillation after 48 hours, oxytetracyclin 250 mg was given every 6 hours orally for 3-4 days. Antiseptic dressings were applied and light diet was given in the morning. An intramuscular injection of Triflupromazine (Siquil) 20 mg was given half an hour before instillation. Syntocinon 5 units was injected subcutaneously in Group 1 cases and intramuscularly in Group 2 cases every 4 hours starting soon after instillation until abortion. If the placenta failed to abort within half an hour or there was delay in the process of abortion by more than 4 hours, Syntocinon drip was started intravenously with 40 drops/minute. After complete expulsion of conceptus, ergometrine 0.5 mg was given intramuscularly. The follow-up was performed after 6 weeks and 3 months or earlier if there was any complication. Of 225 cases, 102 (45%) were below age 20 and 14.6% were below 16 years. 104 of the cases were nulliparous. Of the 121 multigravida, only 4 had 1 previous induced abortion and 1 had 2 induced abortions previously. 41% were married, 31% were unmarried, and the remainders were widowed or separated from their husbands. 70% of the cases were above 14 weeks, and 20% were between 12-14 weeks. Mean induction/abortion time was less (28 hours) in pregnancies above 14 weeks than in those below 14 weeks. The success rate was about 98% and no difference was found between the 2 groups. The success rate within 48 hours was more (88%) in Group 2 cases than in Group 1 cases (80.8%). Only 2 cases in each group went beyond 72 hours. The cumulative success rate within 72 hours was 96% in each group. The most common complication was incomplete abortion which happened in 23% cases in Group 1 and in 25% cases in Group 2.


Al-doped ZnO (AZO) thin films were deposited on glass substrates by RF-magnetron sputtering and effects of RF-power and O2/Ar gas flow ratio on the electrical and optical properties were investigated. According to XRD analysis results, the FWHM of the ZnO (002) peak tends to increase substantially with increasing the ratio of the RF power for the AZO target to that for the ZnO target for R>1. On the other hand, FWHM is found to be minimal for r = 0.5. AFM analysis results show that the surface roughness increases with R. The lowest roughness is obtained for r = 0.5. According to the Hall measurement results both the carrier concentration and mobility are highest for R = 1.5 and the resistivity is lowest for R = 2.0. In the case of r both the carrier concentration and mobility tends to decrease and the resistivity tends to increase as r increases, which maybe caused by the recombination of electrons due to Al doping and holes due to oxygen atoms. Also, the transmittance of the ZnO film tends to decrease for R 1.5. Judging from the above analysis results on the crystallinity, surface roughness resistivity and transmittance of AZO thin films, optimum R and r values are 1.0 and 0.5, respectively.


Economic instability forces governments to urgently support businesses and the public at the expense of budgetary imbalances. Such circumstances test flexibility of fiscal rules - restrictions on the main budget parameters. They are often suspended, the limit values of their indicators are adjusted, temporary concessions for their use are introduced. Both the introduction of such instrument and its sustainability over time depend primarily on thegovernment and policymakers. At the same time world experience proves that budget restrictions supported by the authorities need a complementing system of adaptation and controlling conditions allowing for a better adaptation to economic challenges and following their original task - to ensure medium-term budget balance while maintaining a conditionally constant level of budget expenditures. The subject in the paper is the institutional conditions for fiscal rules' functioning. The purpose of the study is to identify the institutional framework used to ensure proper performance of fiscal rules and assess its practical applicability in Russia. Using the methods of descriptive statistical and comparative analysis of international and Russian practice in applying fiscal rules, the authors identify and analyze the list of such institutional conditions as medium-term expenditure frameworks, fiscal councils, correction mechanisms, escape clauses. The results of the study consist in formulated required and sufficient institutional framework for effective fiscal rules. Due to the use of only medium-term budget planning in Russia the remaining three may serve as a guideline for implementing budget restrictions during the current reform .


In the title compound, [Cu(NCS)(C20H14N4)]SCN, the Cu atom is four-coordinated by a tridentate chelating 4′-(2-pyridyl)-2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine ligand and one isothiocyanate group in a square-planar coordination geometry. The sum of angles around the CuII center is 359.1°.


Abstract : This report presents the case of a young man, T1, who experienced episodes of dizziness and demonstrated the rare combination of bilateral loss of nonacoustic function with retention of normal hearing. Persistent dizzy spells first appeared in childhood and were usually mild, but, on rare occasions, he was handicapped by brief severe attacks of vertigo. T1 was nearly 26 years of age before these episodes were shown to be of vestibular origin; yet, during the preceding years he never complained of symptoms attributable to loss of function, as distinct from perturbed vestibular function. At that time residual function was substantial in the otolith organs but minimal and nil in the vertical and horizontal canals, respectively. When last seen at age 29, even otolith function was lost; this was associated with the gradual disappearance of dizzy spells. The diagnosis, idiopathic progressive vestibular degeneration, was made by exclusion. The notable conclusion to be drawn from this patient was not the fact that he had dizzy spells of vestibular origin, but the fact that loss of vestibular function per se was not incompatible with leading a life regarded by himself, his family, and friends as normal. (Author)


We have characterized molecular filtering behavior of two lipid molecules labeled with BODIPY derivatives. The difference of the structure is the functional group at the end of alkyl chain; methyl and thienyl. First, the filtering behavior for these two molecules was examined independently using the system of spreading bilayer through the metal nano-gate. By the fluorescence microscope observation, it was found that the molecule with thienyl was filtered more effectively. The filtering efficiency per nano-gate was about 9 % and 2 % for the molecule with thienyl and methyl, respectively. When these two molecules were incorporated in the self-spreading lipid bilayer, they were found to act as energy donor (methyl) and acceptor (thienyl), which resulted in the appearance of fluorescence resonant energy transfer (FRET). The FRET spectrum showed that the fluorescence intensity ratio of acceptor to donor continuously decreased during spreading through nano-gates. Judging from the result that the FRET efficiency is highly sensitive to not only dye concentration but also the molecular orientation or viscosity of the spreading bilayer, we conclude that the origin of the filtering efficiency can be discussed by monitoring the acceptor/donor intensity ratio in the bi-analyte incorporated system.


AODs have been implemented as the third level of compound beam positioning after previously combining galvanometer based scanner mirrors and translation stages in ESI's laser micromachining systems. The successful integration allows arbitrary local positioning within the AOD scan field with update rates of up to 1 MHz. Elliptical beam handling enables a cost effective trade-off between update rate and AOD scan field to maximize the AOD's impact on a given laser processing task.


To design antennas for mid-infrared (MIR) hot electron bolometers (HEBs), the surface impedance of Au thin films at cryogenic temperatures was evaluated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) with a sample cooling system. For the evaluation, resonator arrays that were constructed by gold (Au) thin film strips were fabricated and the corrected surface reactance was estimated. MIR HEBs with a twin-slot antenna for operation at 61 THz were designed and fabricated using the corrected surface impedance. For evaluating the mixer properties of the MIR HEBs, measurement setup without beam splitter was constructed. In this setup, IF output power characteristics of the MIR HEB mixer was observed. But the obvious difference of the IF output power between 1000 K and 30 K thermal loads have not been confirmed.


In December 2001, the result of the general election in Trinidad and Tobago was an 18–18 tie for the 36 seats in the House of Representatives. The party led by the then incumbent prime minister, Basdeo Panday (the United National Congress – UNC) and the party led by the then leader of the opposition, Patrick Manning (the People's National Movement – PNM) found themselves in a situation in which the President of the Republic, Arthur N.R. Robinson, had to decide on which one of them to appoint as prime minister. The incumbency theory has been an established principle in most parliamentary democracies in the Commonwealth in situations where there is a 'hung' parliament insofar as offering the incumbent prime minister the opportunity to form a government is concerned. The decision of President Robinson to revoke the appointment of Prime Minister Panday and to appoint the leader of the opposition, Patrick Manning, as prime minister opened a new debate about the powers of the Head of State to terminate the appointment of an incumbent prime minister in spite of the fact that both aspirants for the office commanded the support of an equal number of elected MPs.


This study was conducted to investigate the phenomena of child labor in Indonesia using data from National Socio-Economic Survey (SUSENAS) 2014. First, investigate the impact of household economic condition and supervision of mothers on probability of child's work or not. Furthermore, this study looked at the effects of parents occupation on the probability of child working receive a wage or not. Finally, this study estimates of child labor wage function. The method used is sequential Probit models, where each decision made in sequence according to a binary Probit model, and also used is Ordinary Least Square model. On the first Probit model, a significant association between household economy conditions on the probability of child labor participation is found. Second Probit model, the results shows that parent occupation of agriculture sector will encourage children to work did not receive a wages. The estimated OLS models shows that, the level of education is an investment that is most important for children to increase their income, especially in the future.


This study was aimed at examining the effective utilization of ICT facilities for quality teaching and learning outcome in the 21st century. A case study of some public secondary schools in Rivers State, Nigeria. The descriptive survey design method of investigation was used to collect the necessary data for the study while analysis of data was done using mean and standard deviation. Consequent upon this problem, the following key recommendations were made, governments the owner of public secondary schools should fund education adequately thereby making ICT facilities available and their utilization effective. Public secondary schools should see the need to integrate ICT facilities into classroom activities and also improved the capacity and level of adoption of ICT facilities in teaching and learning processes. For effective utilization of ICT facilities, all members of staff should be trained and retrained continuously on the ICT skills acquisition and specialization.


THE surface enamel is more resistant to acid than is subsurface enamel, the rate of dissolution of phosphate from the surface being less than that from the subsurface enamel.1-3 With ordinary and polarized light microscopy, as well as with soft x-rays, it has also been shown that it is possible for demineralization of the subsurface enamel to occur without any apparent change in the enamel surface,4 5and when ground sections of teeth were exposed to EDTA the outer portion of enamel was the last to be demineralized.6 The reason for this difference between surface and subsurface enamel has not been established. That fluoride may play a role, at least at the level of 2 ppm in the water supply, is suggested by the work of Jenkins, Armstrong, and Speirs,2 who found that the solubility rate of surface enamel of teeth from areas with 2 ppm fluoride in the water supply was less than that from areas with 0.25 ppm, although there was no difference in the solubility rate of the bulk of the enamel. Since fluoride accumulates in the surface enamel, even in teeth from areas low in fluoride,7 it was considered that fluoride acquisition might generally be responsible for the decreased solubility rate of surface compared to subsurface enamel. Therefore, in the present study an attempt was made to correlate the solubility rate and fluoride concentration of successive layers of enamel from areas with different levels of fluoride in the drinking water.


Phase formation in the system Bi–Sr–Cu–O has been examined as a function of composition, temperature, ambient atmosphere, cooling history, and annealing time. Ceramic processing and melt crystallization techniques were used. For the ceramic materials (using Bi_2O_3, SrCO_3, and CuO) processed at 700 °C in air the Bi_2Sr_2CuO_6 composition (221) crystallizes to a mixture of CuO, SrCO_3, and the rhombohedral Bi_2O_3 · _ x SrO solid solution. At 800–830 °C in air for short durations (5 min to 2 h) the reacted products consist principally of the ideal 221 phase with minor amounts of CuO. For longer reaction times (2–400 h) the reacted products consist of the ideal 221-type structure with c = 24.64 Å and a = 3.804 Å, a "collapsed" 221 structure with c = 23.6 Å, and CuO. With increasing reaction time the "collapsed" 221 phase grows gradually at the expense of the ideal 221 phase. The "collapsed" 221 phase is not an oxycarbonate and appears to be a distinct ternary compound near the 221 composition, with a layered structure having a 1 Å smaller stacking repeat. The ideal 221 phase is a solid solution with variable Sr content. With decreasing Sr in the starting mixture [2 to 1.25 atoms per formula unit (afu)] we observe the following: (1) the formation of the "collapsed" 221 structure is inhibited; (2) for the ideal 221 phase the c -cell dimension decreases significantly (0.2 Å) and the a -cell dimension increases slightly (0.02 Å); (3) the low temperature resistivity behavior changes from superconducting with T _c onset of 6 K for Sr>1.5 afu to semiconducting for Sr > 1.5 afu; (4) the positions of the superlattice peaks around the (001) reflections become more incommensurate with respect to the parent structure. Rapid quenching (<5 s) from temperatures near the melting point (900 °C) can raise the superconducting T _c onset to 9 K. Independent of the cell variation with Sr content, quenching causes the c -cell dimension to expand by 0.03 Å on average while the a -cell dimension remains invariant. A small number of oxygen vacancies are quenched in from high temperature, and presumably originate in the Bi_2O_2 layer. As grown from the melt, crystals of the ideal 221 phase exhibit semiconducting behavior at low temperature; but with an additional high-temperature anneal in oxygen, metallic resistivity is restored with a superconducting onset near 5 K. Ca doping does not increase T _c in the ideal 221 phase. La and Y substitution occurs for Sr in the ideal 221 phase and ruins superconductivity.


The LASCA method can be applied to the study of microcirculation of superficial microvessels. A chicken embryo of the 5th - 7th day of incubation was used as a model of the vascular system. The effect of laser occlusion of a vessel on blood microcirculation in the vascular system was studied. Using the LASCA method, we can conclude about the presence or absence of the blood flow in the vascular system. The contrast value C, calculated by the method, shows the blood redistribution in the vascular system before and after occlusion.


A new idea to calculate ultracold neutron (UCN) production by using Monte Carlo simulation method to calculate the cold neutron (CN) flux and an analytical approach to calculate the UCN production from the simulated CN flux was given. A super-thermal source (UCN source) was modeled based on an arrangement of D2O and solid D2 (sD2). The D2O was investigated as the neutron moderator, and sD2 as the converter. In order to determine the required parameters, a two-dimensional (2D) neutron balance equation written in Matlab was combined with the MCNPX simulation code. The 2D neutron-transport equation in cylindrical (ρ − z) geometry was considered for 330 neutron energy groups in the sD2. The 2D balance equation for UCN and CN was solved using simulated CN flux as boundary value. The UCN source dimensions were calculated for the development of the next UCN source. In the optimal condition, the UCN flux and the UCN production rate (averaged over the sD2 volume) equal to 6.79 × 106 cm−2s−1 and 2.20 ×105 cm−3s−1, ...


The Internal Inquiry into the Actions of Canadian officials in relation to Abdullah Almalki, Ahmad Abou-Elmatti and Muayyed Nureddin is a particularly pronounced example of the use of secrecy that has defined Canada in the wake of 9/11. Despite having the authority to hold some portions of the Inquiry in public, the Iacobucci Inquiry was conducted almost exclusively in camera and ex parte. The result was an inquiry that was unlike previous commissions called under the federal Inquiries Act. Taking the perspective of those "outside" the process, the author explores the question of what makes a commission of inquiry successful by revisiting the functions and objectives of public inquiries in Canada, in an analysis that invokes the exclusion and marginalization experienced by the three men. Relying on both case law and scholarship, the author proposes an analytic framework by which to assess commissions of inquiry and the textent to which they achieve their traditional objectives: information and education; restorative justice; and socio-democratic functions. Applying criteria derived from the literature on new governance to the internal inquiry model, the author concludes that inquiries conducted in secret fall significantly short of attaining their objectives.


The purpose of this study is to suggest how the social studies lesson should be improved. In this paper, there are two suggestions as follows.  The first one is to make a clear distinction between each stage of the lesson structure of whole lessons, the organization of the lesson, and the teaching skill to lessons, expected learning outcome and fact of the lesson, as well as knowledge, skill, and attitude of learners, and then combine each stage of the lesson structure with Plan-Do-Check-Action in order to integrate them as PDCA cycle. The second is to propose a new methodology for improvement of the lesson, namely, spiral PDCA cycle. This spiral PDCA cycle consists of decision of lesson type by learning outcome at the first stage, PDCA cycle for the lesson according to each quality formation at the second stage, and PDCA cycle with which the lesson is improved by examining and then looking down upon the difference between the relativized view on the lesson, upon which the practitioner depends, and other views on the lesson at the third stage.


Social media are integral to young people's everyday lives, and sexual health promotion strategies seek to capitalise on this. Drawing from recent health promotion research and digital media ethnographies, this article considers research discourses of social media use by young people and health professionals. While health promotion commonly engages with social media as a 'setting' for the dissemination of static information, this neglects the participatory aspects of social media and overlooks young people's digital media competencies. Focus groups with young people further highlight these competencies, the centrality of friendship in social media, and the stigma of sharing formal sexual health information. Considering these literature and data, this article draws from post-structural theories of knowledge to consider how formal 'expertise' is leveraged through the subjugation of young people's knowledge, and how this is problematic for sexual health promotion seeking to engage with young people through social media.


K inship among animals has important implications for their behaviour, as it determines their opportunities for nepotism and their risk of inbreeding (e.g. Ham-ilton 1963; Wade 1979; Trontti et al. 2005). The most accurate way to assess kinship is through complete knowledge of pedigrees (we use the term kinship to refer to categorical levels of coancestry, as would be derived from pedigree construction). However, precisely identifying kinship among all individuals in a population is rarely, if ever, possible from observations alone, and researchers often either use genetic data alone (see reviews in Blouin 2003; Garant & Kruuk 2005) or use genetic data to complement their behavioural data (e.g. Several methods are available by which genetic data can be used to estimate relatedness, as a continuous estimate of allele sharing due to coancestry. However, each of these methods (e. In particular, the accuracy and precision of these genetic estimators of relatedness are known to be influenced by characteristics of the markers and the sample of individuals under investigation: the number of loci, the number of alleles per locus, the distribution of alleles within loci, and the distribution of coancestry within the sample and the population (see reviews in Lynch & Ritland 1999; van de Casteele et al. 2001; Toro et al. 2002; Blouin 2003). These limitations may lead to erroneous conclusions about kinship if researchers rely too heavily on genetic similarity (see discussion in Blouin et al. 1996; Toro et al. 2002; Russello & Amato 2004), rather than focusing on pedigree construction (Thomas et al. 2002; Toro et al. 2002). As most recently shown by Csilléry et al. (2006), dyads of known pedigree kinship are often misclassified solely on the basis of genetic estimates of relatedness, even when using the estimator that should have performed best, based on simulated analyses. Csilléry et al. (2006) illustrated that five natural populations with various mating systems consistently included far fewer closely related dyads than assumed in prior simulations of estima-tor performance, so those assessments of estimator performance were overly optimistic. The consistently high misclassification rates observed by Csilléry et al. (2006), and the overall tendency for dyads to be classified as closer kin than they really were, may leave the reader feeling somewhat less than optimistic about the use of genetic markers to infer kinship between pairs of individuals. However, genetic markers are often used to infer kinship because there do not seem to …


With the aid of computer algebra system Mathematica 8.0 and by the integral factor method, for a family of generalized nilpotent systems, we first compute the first several quasi-Lyapunov constants, by vanishing them and rigorous proof, and then we get sufficient and necessary conditions under which the systems admit analytic centers at the origin. In addition, we present that seven amplitude limit cycles can be created from the origin. As an example, we give a concrete system with seven limit cycles via parameter perturbations to illustrate our conclusion. An interesting phenomenon is that the exponent parameter controls the singular point type of the studied system. The main results generalize and improve the previously known results in Pan.


The logistic network design is a way to manage the supply chain management, in the way to integrate of all activities to search an improvement of relationship in the chain, in order to achieve sustainable competitive advantages. It is the reason this paper has the goal to design an efficient distibution system in terms of total cost logistics for a hardware store marketer in Valle del cauca center. For that, a linear programming model proposed in the theory is used to minimize the total logistics cost. Additionally, this paper studies the cycle time problem and makes special emphasis in routing that involves two distibution centers and various centers of demand. In the model, two scenarios are evaluated, the first keep the actual behavior of the company and the second is a new logistic proposal. The total cost for scenario 1 were $1.739.792.680 and for scenario 2 were $1.682.708.680. On the other hand, routing results present a report that show the best feasible solution, minimizing the total distance traveled and setting stops, schedules and routes sequence. As a conclution, it`s so important to design logistics network considering the costs of logistics that minimize the operation through operational strategies in production, storage and distribution of organizations.


A novel computational technique is applied to investigate particle trapping in straight and bent channel flow paths with various groove configurations in high-speed compressible, particle laden flow. The technique is valid for particle sizes of the same order of magnitude as the groove dimensions and where the particle–flow path, particle–particle, and particle–flow interactions play significant roles in determining the particle motion. The sacrificial grooves within the flow path can remove particles from the flow to reduce particle impact-induced wear. The feasibility of the trapping grooves and the conditions for which they are most beneficial can be gleaned from analysis of the model results. Three groove configurations are studied: a straight groove, a flared groove, and a 45 degree angle groove, for the same groove entrance size, groove depth, and spacing in a straight channel and a channel with a 90 degree bend. A transient maximum of 22% of the particles were trapped for the flared groove for the bent channel and a transient maximum of 15% of the particles for the straight channel configuration. The second groove of the bent channel produces the greatest single groove particle holding of 8.25% of all of the particles for the flared grove configuration. The contributions of the groove positioning, groove shape, gas flow, and particle interaction conditions to the trapping characteristics can be readily obtained from examination of the model results since the modeling technique includes detailed treatment of particle–flow path and flow interactions, allowing for the study of the mechanisms acting to trap the particles within the grooves.


The flotation separation behaviour of copper with NH_4SO_4-NH_4SCN-E_V( ethyl violet) system and the conditions for separation of copper from other metal ions were studied. In the aqueous solution, Cu(Ⅱ) was precipitated by the reaction and the precipitate could be separated from aqueous solution by filtering. Under the optimized conditions,the completely separation of Cu(Ⅱ) from Fe(Ⅱ),Al(Ⅲ),Ni(Ⅱ),Cd(Ⅱ),Mn(Ⅱ),Co(Ⅱ) was realized by flotation at pH1.0~4.0.


Multi-source data fusion can help to weaken the original data's shortcomings while improving data accuracy. The experimental area in this research is Taiyuan City in Shanxi Province, China. Using SRTM1 DEM, ASTER GDEM V3, and AW3D30 DEM, the optimal resolution of the Fused DEM in the research area is determined by analyzing the topographic factor information entropy. Then the optimally weighted fusion coefficient of the DEM with root mean square error (RMSE) as the criterion under different slope classes is determined by traversal exploration and quantitatively evaluates the fusion effect. The results show that the optimal resolution of the Fused DEM is 40 m under the terrain feature constraint of Taiyuan city. The fused DEM decreases by 33.8%, 57.9%, and 11.5% for mean absolute error (MAE), 36.3%, 54.6%, and 1.4% for standard deviation (STD), and 32.8%, 54.2%, and 9.7% for root mean square error (RMSE) compared with SRTM1, ASTER GDEM V3, and AW3D30. The weighted average fusion of multiple intensities increased the accuracy of the original data. The reduced topographic factor errors, such as slope, profile curvature, and TPI, improved the Fused DEM's topographic representation capacity. Furthermore, the results confirm the high accuracy of Fused DEM in complex mountainous regions.


Abstract : A method is developed for sizing the structural truss members of a dish antenna to assure retention of paraboloidal form and constant focal length during external loading. This method can be modified to suit other structural forms and deformation requirements. Since this method is most easily applied to statically determinate structures, a short discussion on the synthesis of rigid, firmly anchored, statically determinate trusses is given.


This work is the subject of study and understanding of industrial networks namely DCS systems as they tend increasingly applied in modern times, namely in industrial processes unstable complexes in hazardous environments. Besides the system where it is the most reliable choice in complex procedures, also mentioned earlier technologies such as SCADA systems which are widely used but mainly in industrial plants, which do not require testing but stretched recording of events and situations. PLCs are the simplest solution to small industries as provide immediate satisfaction of the company as both economic and technical levels. Finally referring to sensors and actuators which are applied in the industry and a simulation which is an understanding of the operation in a distributed operating environment with the help of MATLAB.


The success of industry-based projects (capstone projects) used in computing course depends on a number of factors. These are: i) characteristics of the information system and the client perception, ii) individual student and group characteristics, iii) development methodology used, and iv) the support and supervision provided. Generally academics use a dasiatrial-by-errorpsila approach in striking the right balance between these factors for the success of capstone projects. As oppose to this approach, here we lay the foundation for a criteria-based allocation of projects, with the objective of enhancing student leaning experience. As the first step, this paper analyzes the correlation of two dimensions: a) the complexity level of the IS (one dimension of characteristics of the IS) and b) group mean Grade Point Average-GPA (one dimension of characteristics of the student group); and the success of a project. Data collected from 32 projects is presented and analyzed here in exploring the above-mentioned correlation.


In this paper, we show the Wilks type of results for the Bradley-Terry model. Specifically, for some simple and composite null hypotheses of interest, we show that the likelihood ratio test statistic $\Lambda$ enjoys a chi-square approximation in the sense that $(2p)^{-1/2}(-2\log \Lambda -p)\stackrel{L}{\rightarrow}N(0,1)$ as $p$ goes to infinity, where $p$ is the corresponding degrees of freedom. Simulation studies and an application to NBA data illustrate the theoretical results.


ABSTRACT This research is meant to find out the influence of ability, training, and motivation to the employee performance of office department of PT. SMART Tbk Surabaya. The population is 150 employees of office department of PT. SMART Tbk Surabaya. The sample collection technique has been carried out by using simple random sampling is a sample collection technique which gives equal opportunity to every element of the population to be selected as the members of samples and the samples have been selected randomly without regarding the level in the population. Therefore, the samples are all employees of office department of PT. SMART Tbk Surabaya who have been selected randomly and 100 respondents have been selected as samples.The result of the examination shows that the work ability give positive influence to the employee performance, job training give positive influence to the employee performance, work motivation give positive influence to the employee performance, ability, training, and motivation give positive influence to the employee performance of office department of PT. SMART Tbk Keywords: Ability, training, motivation, performance


The focus of this paper is on the role of enterprise training among disabled people. The authors first review the literature, in particular comparing work on the theoretical benefits of enterprise training provision for disabled people with empirical studies of enterprise training initiatives for disabled people in various countries. In the analysis, low social capital is implicated as a cause of much disadvantage in economic and social life among disabled people, and this is particularly pertinent in modern knowledge-based economies where responsibility for development in the lifelong learning agenda is devolved from governments to individuals, including disabled individuals. Following this, an investigation of one publicly funded initiative in Fife, Scotland, is conducted and this is used to inform a wider debate about the potential uses and value of enterprise training for disabled people in the current stratified socioeconomic milieu. The paper argues that there is potential for enterprise training to contribute on a wider basis than simply independent entrepreneurship promotion and that the research community therefore has an opportunity to engage with this broader agenda.


Mao Ze-dong's unique spiritual style was mainly prescribed in his "four spirits": noble integrity, high ideal; great courage and unselfish generosity.


There is a general argument saying that adding derivative securities (options) to a financial market makes the market more efficient, and has therefore a stabilising effect. We investigate this claim by adding Arrow securities on future states of the world in the asset pricing model with heterogeneous beliefs of Brock and Hommes (1998). We also extend the model to an overlapping generations general equilibrium setting with consumption. The fitness measure underlying the evolutionary switching of investment strategies is realized utility averaged over the different states of the economy. Agents differ in their beliefs about the future market price of the risky asset. If they do not pay much attention to how well other strategies perform, the fundamental equilibrium price is stable; if however agents are sensitive to differences in fitness stability is lost. We investigate whether the introduction of Arrow securities stabilises or destabilises the market, that is, whether the fundamental steady state loses stability sooner or later.


Dimensionality reduction is an important scheme for dealing with data of high dimensionality. Subspace learning is extensively studied in pattern recognition due to the fact that it is simple and computational efficient. In this paper, a new dimensionality reduction method is proposed based on sparse representation. First, the representation coefficients are obtained through competitive sparse representation with L2-Norm regularization. To make the coefficients more discriminant, the locality structure is also utilized. Then, the inter-class graph (or the penalty graph) and intra-class graph (or the intrinsic graph) are constructed according to the coefficients. Finally, the optimal projective matrix is calculated by minimizing the intar-class scatter while maximizing the inter-class scatter. The experimental results show that the proposed method exhibits good performances.


A gaseous absorption cell variable attenuator for 10.6-μ-wavelength radiation, which uses forced convection to eliminate thermal defocusing effects, is described. The device is capable of attenuating high-intensity CO 2 laser radiation with negligible distortion, and results are shown for an experimental model used at an intensity level of 100 W/cm2.


At present,the cooperative finance meets many kinds of difficulties in China.This is not the fault of cooperative finance itself.On the one hand,we have never established real cooperative finance.On the other hand,cooperative finance is not fit for Chinese current economic environment.It's no need and no possibility for hat kind of dissimilated cooperative finance to exist.Shareholding system will surely replace cooperative system.This is the inevitable course of history.


The paper attempts to examine the impact of globalization to the development process Nigeria. It analysis the political economy context of the process as well as some economic and development policies of the concept. The paper examines various scholars of thoughts which necessitated the consideration of structural functionalism and new Marxism theories as they apply to the study. If was discovered that there are several problems inherent in globalization as well as the economic policies of the concept in Nigeria which has impacted negatively to the development of the country, it is recommended that the country must re-define her development strategy from the current extensive to an intensive and more diversified growth pattern.


Reclamation of printed circuit boards (PCBs) to recover metals is gaining growing attention due to minerals being non-renewable resources. Currently, metals extraction from PCBs through an efficient and green method is still under investigation. The present investigation concerns the recycling of printed circuit boards using hydrometallurgical processes. First, the basic metals (Cu, Ni, Zn and Fe) were separated using a sulfuric acid solution at moderate temperatures. The remaining solids were characterized by SEM-EDS, whereby a high content of precious metals (Au, Ag and Pt) was observed. In the second stage, solids were leached with a solution of HCl and NaClO in a 1-L titanium reactor with varied oxygen pressure (0.2, 0.34 and 0.55 MPa), temperature (40, 50 and 80 °C) and concentration of HCl (2 and 4 M), obtaining extractions above 95% at [HCl] = 4 M, P = 0.34 MPa and T = 40 °C. The extraction increased depending on the concentration of HCl. Eh–pH diagrams for Ag–Cl–H2O, Au–Cl–H2O and Pt–Cl–H2O were constructed to know the possible species in the solution.


In the context of UMTS mobile applications require the consistency of information, and the configuration of interfaces and applications. These requirements can be depicted by subtle problem fields as they are described in this paper. In the mid 90 multi-agent systems (MAS) have been invented into the field of mobile applications. The desired alleviation of the problem fields can be achieved by the expansion of MAS by planning. Preliminary first ideas of these methods are discussed for mobile applications. A simple prototypical scenario for the configuration of mobile interfaces demonstrates the promising combination of MAS and planning.


Adhesion, as one of the most common failure modes compromising reliability of optical MEMS devices, attracted great research interests for enhancing the production yields and device reliability. Experiments show that wet-adhesion with respect to capillary force between interfaces of movable structures is generally the dominant figure among all adhesion natures. Great efforts had been made on examine adhered length of micro-cantilevers to modeling adhesion energy, which are reasonable to predict adhesion in quasi static process such as sacrificial layer release processes. However, the microcosmic mechanism of adhesion has not been well revealed, thereby these models are not sufficiently precise for in-situ adhesion, such as adhesion due to mechanical shock. In this work, a novel model of adhesion energy is derived by review the physical mechanisms carefully and shock caused adhesion is studied applying this model.


On the Anatomy of the Eyelids. By Dr. Zeis, of Dresden. [It is not so much from the complexity or from the beautiful construction of the eyelids, that their anatomy is regarded with interest, as from their liability to many diseases, some of which are attended with great pain, and are even apt to prove fatal to vision. Our ophthalmological readers are well aware of the numerous and various structures of which the eyelids are composed. In the present article, Dr. Zeis has with great care reexamined several of these structures, and has communicated some new views concerning them, which we regard as important. We shall abridge Dr. Z.'s paper, and add a few comments of our own.] 1. Skin. The skin of the eyelids is very thin, destitute of hairs, and, according to Dr. Zeis, presents no trace of sebaceous follicles. Certainly it differs widely in this last respect from the skin of the nose, where the follicles are very evident; but we cannot suppose the skin of the eyelids to be destitute of sebaceous follicles, and we presume that the albuminous tumours, which are not unfrequently met with in this situation, are enlargements of these organs. 2. Cilia. We have already (vol. II. p. 454, and Plate II. fig. 2,) given an account of the structure of the hair-follicles and hair-glands, according to Gurlt.


Those amphibians that depend on non-pulmonic respiration have a modified interatrial septum. Lungless salamanders have a septal modification, but the nature of this modification is not clear from the literature. One study indicates that lungless salamanders have a reduced interatrial septum. Another report indicates that this septum is a sinoatrial valve. Our study suggests that the structure in question is a composite of 1) the sinoatrial valve and 2) a component of the interatrial septum.


We propose a new construction of Banach-Lie groups and algebras relying on nonstandard analysis. A major standard application is the Local Theorem which to certain extent reduces the problem of associating a Lie group to a given banach-Lie algebra to a similar problem for finitely generated Lie subalgebras. We discuss possible applications, e.g., to gauge theories.


In order to find out the present Chinese curriculums of the school for the deaf, we conducted a research on some teachers in schools for the deaf. After the study and analysis, the result showed that in the teachers' view present Chinese curriculum was not associated closely enough with students experience and life. Students cannot obtain overall development. Therefore, present Chinese curriculums must be reformed.


Objective: To determine the association between HLA class II genes and methimazole-induced agranulocytosis in patients with Graves disease. Design: Case-control study. Setting: Kuma Hospital, which specializes in thyroid diseases, in Kobe, Japan. Subjects: 24 patients with Graves disease who had methimazole-induced agranulocytosis diagnosed by peripheral granulocyte counts of less than 0.5 109/L, and 68 patients with Graves disease treated with methimazole, who were free from agranulocytosis. Controls were 525 healthy, unrelated Japanese student volunteers at Kyushu University in Japan. Measurements: All HLA class II genes were analyzed for polymorphisms at the DNA level by using the polymerase chain reaction sequence-specific oligonucleotide probes method. The allele frequencies in the agranulocytotic Graves disease group were compared with those in the nonagranulocytotic Graves disease and control groups. Results: A strong positive association was seen in DRB1*08032 between the agranulocytotic group and both the control and nonagranulocytotic Graves disease groups. Conclusion: The HLA DRB1*08032 allele was strongly associated with susceptibility to methimazole-induced agranulocytosis, suggesting that cellular autoimmunity may be involved in its development. The thioureylene antithyroid drugs methimazole and propylthiouracil have been widely used to treat Graves disease [1], but side effects are found in 1% to 5% of treated patients [2-4]. One important and serious side effect of this treatment is agranulocytosis, which occurs in 0.1% to 0.3% of treated patients [5-10]. Although the mechanisms responsible for the agranulocytosis are unclear, an immune phenomenon may be involved, because antigranulocyte antibodies [11-20] or lymphocyte sensitization to antithyroid drugs [17] are found in agranulocytotic patients. These autoantibodies may induce agranulocytosis by direct cytotoxicity or through blocking of membrane proteins that are important for the maturation of progenitor cells [19]. Antibodies are generally produced by plasma cells, which are maturated from B lymphocytes in the presence of various cytokines produced by activated CD4+ T lymphocytes and by direct T lymphocyte-B lymphocyte interactions [21]. CD4+ T lymphocytes are activated when they encounter antigenic peptide with major histocompatibility complex class II on antigen-presenting cells, such as B lymphocytes and macrophages. The recognition of major histocompatibility complex class II peptide complexes by T lymphocytes is therefore central to the development of immune responses and antibody production. The major histocompatibility complex class II molecules are highly polymorphic heterodimeric membrane glycoproteins composed of and chains. In humans, at least three major histocompatibility complex class II moleculesHLA-DR, HLA-DQ, and HLA-DP antigensare expressed on the surface of antigen-presenting cells. In addition, these molecules are encoded by the genes in the HLA region: DRA, DQA, and DPA for chains and DRB, DQB, and DPB for chains of each HLA molecule. The function of major histocompatibility complex class II molecules is to bind short peptides derived mainly from extracellular proteins, in turn forming major histocompatibility complex class II peptide complexes that interact with appropriate T-cell receptors of CD4+ T lymphocytes [22]. Each major histocompatibility complex class II molecule binds different sets of proteolytic fragments of peptides, thus contributing to the diversity of immune responsiveness among individual persons [23-26]. Identification of susceptible HLA class II antigens to antithyroid drug-induced agranulocytosis is essential to understanding the development of the disorder [27, 28]. Methods Participants We studied 24 patients with Graves disease and methimazole-induced agranulocytosis, 68 patients with Graves disease and no agranulocytosis who were treated with methimazole, and 525 healthy unrelated student volunteers from Kyushu University. The agranulocytotic group consisted of 5 males and 19 females ranging in age from 16 to 68 years (mean, 38.4 years). Agranulocytosis was defined as peripheral granulocyte counts less than 0.5 109/L. The nonagranulocytotic Graves disease group consisted of 10 males and 58 females with ages ranging from 11 to 58 years (mean, 32.4 years). Graves disease was diagnosed on the basis of clinical symptoms, thyroid function test results, positivity for thyroid-stimulating hormone-binding inhibitory immunoglobulin, and 123I uptake. Blood samples were taken after informed consent was obtained. DNA Typing of HLA Class II Genes We extracted DNA from peripheral granulocytes using a previously described method [28]. Genomic DNA was subjected to 30 cycles of polymerase chain reaction in a thermal cycler (Perkin Elmer Cetus, Norwalk, Connecticut) to amplify the second exons of the DRB1, DQA1, DQB1, DPA1, and DPB1 genes using thermostable DNA polymerase (Ampli Taq, Perkin Elmer Cetus) [29]. The primers and sequence-specific oligonucleotide probes for the HLA-DNA typing were previously reported [29]. We used the nomenclature of HLA alleles recommended by the official nomenclature committee [30, 31]. Statistical Analysis We compared frequencies of HLA-DRB1, DQA1, DQB1, DPA1, and DPB1 alleles in the agranulocytotic group with those in the control and nonagranulocytotic Graves disease groups. Strength of the statistical association between the disease and HLA allele was expressed by the odds ratio, and the statistical significance was examined by using the chi-square test with Yates correction. We calculated the corrected P value by multiplying the P value by the number of alleles tested for each class II gene (58 DRB1 alleles, 13 DQA1 alleles, 14 DQB1 alleles, 6 DPA1 alleles, and 46 DPB1 alleles). Results HLA Class II Alleles Associated with the Agranulocytotic Group We observed positive associations between HLA class II alleles and agranulocytosis in DRB1*1501 (37.5% phenotype frequencies in the patients with agranulocytosis compared with 12.3% in controls; odds ratio, 4.25; P = 0.001), DRB1*08032 (54.2% compared with 17.9%; odds ratio, 5.42; P < 0.001), DQA1*0103 (66.7% compared with 40.4%; odds ratio, 2.95; P = 0.02), DQB1*0602 (33.3% compared with 11.8%; odds ratio, 3.73; P = 0.006), and DPB1*0501 (95.8% compared with 60.6%; odds ratio, 15.0; P = 0.001) (Table 1). The positive associations between HLA class II alleles and agranulocytosis in both DRB1*08032 and DPB1*0501 remained statistically significant, even when the P value was corrected by multiplying the number of tested alleles in each locus. We believe that the relatively increased frequencies of DQB1*0602 and DQA1*0103 were caused by linkage disequilibria between DRB1 and DQ alleles, because DRB1*1501-DRB5*0101-DQA1*0102-DQB1*0602 and DRB1*0803-DQA1*0103-DQB1*0601 haplotypes are frequently found in Japanese persons (11.6% and 17.9%, respectively) [32]. Table 1. Frequencies of HLA Class II Alleles in Patients with Agranulocytosis and in Controls Identification of HLA Alleles Specific for Susceptibility to Agranulocytosis Underlying Graves disease is a typical organ-specific autoimmune disease, and the association between the disease and HLAs has been reported in various ethnic groups [33-34]. We have reported that the susceptibility to Graves disease in Japanese persons is strongly associated with DPB1*0501 [35] and that resistance to the disease is associated with DQB1*0501 [36]. To distinguish genes associated with susceptibility to agranulocytosis from those associated with Graves disease, we compared frequencies of the HLA alleles associated with agranulocytosis in patients with Graves disease with those in nonagranulocytotic patients with Graves disease. Table 2 lists allele frequencies in the agranulocytotic and nonagranulocytotic Graves disease groups. The frequency of the DRB1*08032 allele was significantly increased in the agranulocytotic group (frequency of 54.2% in the agranulocytotic group compared with 22.1% in the nonagranulocytotic group; odds ratio, 4.18; P = 0.007). We found no significant difference in the frequencies of DRB1*1501 and DPB1*0501 between the two groups, although both alleles were more frequent in the agranulocytotic group than in the nonagranulocytotic group. Table 2. Allele Frequencies in Agranulocytotic and Nonagranulocytotic Patients with Graves Disease Discussion The HLA class II oligotyping data that we report suggest that the susceptibility to methimazole-induced agranulocytosis in patients with Graves disease has a genetic factor. In Japanese persons, methimazole-induced agranulocytosis shows strong associations with the presence of DRB1*08032 and DPB1*0501. Among these alleles, the frequency of DRB1*08032 was increased significantly in agranulocytotic patients compared with patients without agranulocytosis, suggesting that DRB1*08032 specifically is associated with susceptibility to agranulocytosis. The DR8 (DR -DRB1*08032) antigen is probably directly involved in the development of methimazole-induced agranulocytosis in Japanese persons, although other genes in close linkage disequilibrium with HLA-DRB1*08032 may also be involved [37]. We previously reported an association between the susceptibility to Graves disease and DPB1*0501 in Japanese persons [35], and the strong association with agranulocytosis (in comparison with controls) observed in this study may reflect the association between the allele and susceptibility to Graves disease. However, we could not exclude the possibility that DPB1*0501 was also involved in susceptibility to agranulocytosis, because the odds ratio for this allele was 3.51 compared with nonagranulocytotic patients (Table 2). The misconception that the increased frequency of DPB1*0501 was not significant may have originated because this allele is common in patients with Graves disease (the frequency of DPB1*0501 in nonagranulocytotic patients with Graves disease was


In this article, a neurocomputational account of knowing and learning is provided. This framework grounds situated cognition theory in a neurocomputational model of neuronal activity. The advantages of this theoretical approach are that it provides (a) a link between physical activity during 'hands‐on' experiences and conceptual understanding and (b) a plausible and fruitful account for empirical data on the changes in students' ontologies and the uncertainty from which these arise. Case material from a study of learning in the domain of simple machines is provided to illustrate these issues.


Objective To explore the influence of occupational hazards on the nervous behavioral function of traffic policemen.Methods There were 240 traffic policemen and 131 persons working in a chemical plant were sampled as research group and control group,respectively.Their occupational experience,life experience and some general symptoms were asked.A test on their nervous behavioral function was conducted.Results Comparing the research group with the control group with different ages and educational levels,higher scores in the research group were got in some items in the test than that in the control group.The difference was statistically significant(P0.005).Comparing the research group with the control group of with same age and educational levels,the former got lower scores in many items in the test than the latter and the difference was statistically significant(P0.005).Conclusion In comparison with the control group,the research group is likely to have lower scores in this test.Age and educational levels are the major influencing factors determining the scores.


The difference on performance between hydrotreated base oil and solvent refined base oil is presented.The evaluation on performance and cost economy of formulated oils are discussed.Finally,suggestion on selecting reasonably formula in lube oil production with hydrotreated oil is given.


This paper presents a new guidance system for process control that can improve the control performance of model-based advanced controllers or optimised adaptive controllers, when their control periods have to be selected within a lower range of time values that may increase the sensitivity of the predictive model parameters to identification errors. The guidance system generates at each control instant a future desired trajectory for the process output variable under control, from which it computes a set point for the derivative variable of the process output variable. A predictive or adaptive predictive controller drives the derivative variable to its set point and, as a consequence, the process output converges towards said desired trajectory. The new guidance system is illustrated by its application to the level control of a MIMO nonlinear process, in the presence of noises and disturbances. The results show how the control performance of the guidance system is not affected by 'small' control periods that would deteriorate the performance of an adaptive predictive controller for the same application.


A Research Project Submitted as a Partial Fulfillment for a Masters of Science Degree in Medical Statistics at the University of Nairobi


This series provides contemporary criticism on the most widely read poets, novelists, and playwrights - from the ancients to contemporary writers.


On the basis of feminine individual life, Ru Zhijuan's Lily spares no efforts in fading out the background of war while focusing on the instantaneous collision and communication of emotions between man and woman. It demonstrates the author's (a female) yearning for virtue in human nature and aspiration for gentle feelings, demonstrating the holy feminine sensibility,and thus filling the story with intense emotions and faint sentiment.


For the comprehensive flood control measures for alluvial fans, it is required to understand the effects of natural levees and micro-topography on reducing flood damages. We investigate the role of natural levees in the flood control measures for the alluvial fan of the Ara River by mapping historical community development and using the hazard maps.As a result, it is clarified that many communities have been developed on natural levees, and that natural levees are resistant to spreading of flood waters. The above indicates the significance of researches on natural levees and micro-topography as control measures on alluvial fans.


Task assignment and subsequent schedule synthesis in distributed real time systems is a problem that arises in many fields of industry, such as factory automation or the automotive or avionic sector. Monolithic and bus-based approaches, while easy to schedule in the aforementioned context, are giving way to more flexible hardware environments, either because of increased pressure for flexibility (factory automation) or hardware consolidation (automotive and avionics). This paper presents an approach for synthesizing schedules of a distributed hard real time workflow based on existing heuristics. This approach can find a solution for over 85% of all feasible tested system configurations while being orders of magnitude faster than an approach based on a satisfiability solver. We obtained these results by simulating over 1 million different workflows and system configurations.


Articulating semantic interoperability in e-Government remains in question as long as the international standardization efforts do not reach a consensus on how to semantically annotate and exchange data, but merely focus on the syntactic aspects by publishing sets of XML Schemas. As one-stop governmental services at national and cross-county level become an imperative, the need for standardized data definitions, codification of existing unstructured information and a framework for managing governmental data in a unified way emerges. Effectively applied to the Greek e-Government National Interoperability Framework, this paper proposes a methodology for designing semantically enriched XML Schemas with which homogenized governmental information complies, based on the UN/CEFACT Core Components Technical Specification (CCTS). A discussion around a prospective architecture for managing large sets of XML Schemas is also motivated in order to recognize the necessary components and the key issues that need to be tackled when designing a Governmental Schema Registry.


The invention discloses a system and method for vehicle-used battery thermal management. The system adopts the structure that the output end of a water tank is connected in series with a liquid circulating pump through a pipeline; a refrigerator is fixedly arranged at the upper part inside the water tank; a flat aluminum tube is wound among single batteries; one end of the flat aluminum tube is connected with the liquid circulating pump, and the other end of the flat aluminum tube is connected with the input end of the water tank; a silica gel heating sheet is embedded between the flat aluminum tube and the biggest surface of each single battery; a temperature sensor is arranged on a vehicle-used battery; a fan is arranged outside a battery box and faces an air inlet; a battery control unit is connected with the temperature sensor through a control wire, connected with the fan through a control switch S1, connected with the liquid circulating pump through a control switch S2, connected with the refrigerator through a control switch S3, and connected with the silica gel heating sheet through a control switch S4. The system for vehicle-used battery thermal management has the advantages that two cooling systems are adopted; when the two cooling systems work simultaneously under a high-temperature condition, the effect of heat dissipation can be improved, and the period of heat dissipation can be shortened; if one cooling system breaks down, the other cooling system can still work.


Microstructural studies on (1 −x)Ba(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3–xCa(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3 (BCMN) complex perovskite compounds, which are mixtures of Ba(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3 (BMN) and Ca(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3 (CMN), were conducted using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray diffractometry. Pure BMN and CMN both have a 1:2 ordered structure, via the chemical ordering of B-site cations; however, the tilting of oxygen octahedra is involved in pure CMN, whose structure has a 1:2 ordered monoclinic unit cell that is characterized by (±1/6,±1/6,±1/6)-type superlattice reflections in electron diffraction patterns along the [110] zone axis that is based on a simple cubic perovskite. Studies of the morphologic differences have indicated two types of inhomogeneities in a mixture of the BCMN system: (i) a rather large-scale segregation (i.e., grain sizes of several micrometers), where the grains are separated compositionally as being barium-rich or calcium-rich, and (ii) fine-scale lamellar-type segregations 20 nm wide and 200 nm long. The segregation that is caused by Ba and Ca ions can be identified by the difference of superlattice modulations from high-resolution transmission electron microscopy lattice images.


The present invention relates to a multi-channel digital offset loading error of the load cell and weighing smart correction method, the sensor belonging to the technical field structure. Includes elastomers, elastomer, and a left fixing portions at both ends of the middle cross member, fixed to a right portion, a mounting hole is formed on the left fixing portion, the lower surface of the right fixing portion is provided with mounting holes on the surface of the right fixing portion is provided with placing the circuit board in the grooves, a plurality of internal transverse through holes are provided through the beam, the beam, the lower surface of the corresponding through-hole is the position of the strain region, upper and lower surfaces of the beams are provided with two resistance strain apparatus, each apparatus by resistance strain gauge consisting of four resistors, four strain resistance welding apparatus with the circuit board by wires, circuit boards with an external display unit connected to the communication, the upper beam and lower surfaces of the groove and the outer surface of the layer are coated with anticorrosion treatment. The present invention does not require repair fell adjustment, convenient operation, saving time and labor and high precision.


In this paper, we present a framework to use an arbitrary number of mouse and keyboard input devices controlling Swing based Java applications. These devices can be distributed amongst any number of host computers on a network. We use this framework to provide independent input devices to a number of users on different host computers. These users can then work collaboratively on applications.A major limitation for current real-time groupware is that contemporary graphic environments do not support more than one system cursor and keyboard. The Transparent Input Device Layer (TIDL) is a framework we have developed that provides an easy-to-use API for Java applications to gain support for multiple independent input devices. We have also created a wrapper application to retrofit legacy applications with support for multiple distributed input devices at runtime. This support can be injected without altering or recompiling the application's source code. TIDL allows multiple devices to work across window and application boundaries. Applications supporting multiple input devices can employ features such as simultaneous drag-and-drop and the entry of text in multiple textboxes. In addition, different applications running simultaneously can use multi-device support independently and at the same time. We present four applications that use TIDL to enable distributed groups to work collaboratively. One of these applications has been developed to make active use of TIDL, the other three applications are applications we have found on the web and gain support for multiple independent devices through the wrapper application.


A new nonlinearfiltering algorithm for effectively removing mix impulse noise in digital images, called twin sliding statistics switching median (TSSSM) filter is presented in this paper. The proposed TSSSM filter is made up of two subunits; i.e.impulse noise detection and noise filtering.At first,the impulse noise detection stage ofTSSSMalgorithm begins by processing the statistics of a localized detection window in sorted order and non-sorted order,concurrently. Next, the median of absolute difference (MAD) obtained from both statistics(i.e. sorted and non-sorted) will be further processed in order to classify any possible noise pixels.In addition, histogram based noise detector also used at this stage in order to increase the filter's robustness. Subsequently, the filtering stage will replace the detected noise pixels with the estimatedmedian value of the surrounding pixels. Extensive simulations results conducted on grayscale images indicate that the TSSSM filter performs significantly better than a number of well-known impulse noise filters existing in literature in terms of noise suppression and detail preservation.


Highly active nonpromoted W-based hydrotreating catalysts are prepared through a molecular approach with a control of each step. This approach yields WS2 crystallites exhibiting hexagonal 2D morphology, which have been characterized by combining XPS and HR HAADF-STEM techniques and ab initio molecular modeling. The first step is the impregnation of a well-defined precursor, [W(OEt)5]2, grafted onto partially dehydroxylated amorphous silica–alumina (ASA) and characterized at the molecular level by spectroscopic techniques (NMR and IR). The use of increasing amounts of W precursor reveals the formation of (i) a layer of tungsten surface species grafted on the surface and (ii) layers of more mobile adsorbed species loosely bonded to the surface. Sulfidation of these materials provides WS2 supported on ASA, which shows unprecedented lower sulfidation temperatures down to ambient temperature and improved activity by comparison with conventional references (polyoxometalate route). In addition, these improved ac...


In this paper, the epoxy composite insulating material is selected as the experimental sample. After the samples being charged under different voltages with different duration in SF6 of atmospheric pressure, the surface potential distribution is measured with a Kelvin electrostatic probe. The 2dimensional Fourier transform with Wiener filter technique is applied to calculate the surface charges density distribution. The results reveal that the surface charges density shows a good correspondence with the surface potential, and the whole measuring system presents a definitely high spatial resolution.


Revealing the basic matching principle of the donor and acceptor for optimizing the active layer morphology and improving the device performance.


In this paper, we propose an approach to modify the input signal such that it can be coded more effectively within the generalized analysis-by-synthesis framework. Since most of the low-bit-rate speech coders are designed based on the human speech production mechanism, the perceived quality of the speech reconstructed in the decoder degrades seriously if the original input signal deviates from the pure speech. In order to alleviate this problem, we introduce a criterion which compromises the quantization error with the distortion incurred due to the modification. The coder-decoder (CODEC) characteristic is described in terms of a transfer matrix, and it is estimated according to the least squares criterion. In contrast to the conventional modification techniques, our approach can be implemented as a simple front-end for any analysis-by-synthesis type coders. The proposed approach is found effective in reducing audible distortions through a number of listening tests.


Print-media needs of Hispanics in non-metropolitan areas of America are often overlooked. One newspaper editor in Idaho found Hispanics to be invisible in her small community and its newspaper, except in crime reports. So she began publishing the bilingual Idaho Unido. This study addresses the publisher's business model and motivation for publication. It is based on two research streams: theories of the press from Siebert, Peterson, and Schramm in 1956 through McQuail in 2005 and cultural maintenance perspectives. The Idaho Unido story represents a revelatory case, demonstrating the power of a motivated individual to essentially subvert the dominant media paradigm by creating a successful, independent publication specifically intended to serve the information, entertainment and cultural-identity needs of a small, marginalized population living in widely distributed rural areas.


Pain is an important problem in oncology patients. Depending on its intensity, for pain treatment, analgesics of different pharmacological classes are used. According to WHO recommendations, for nociceptive pain treatment in oncology patients, non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), mild and potent opioids are the essential medications. If in pain formation along with the nociceptive pain component, a neuropathic one is present, antiepilepsy drugs, tricyclic antidepressants, local anesthetics are added. Apart from these medicines, adjuvants are used. These agents potentiate the analgesic endpoint of NSAIDs and opioids, correct their adverse effects. Often, intensive pain development is driven by bone metastases, which form in oncologic processes of different primary localization. Herewith, patients could suffer from constant as well as from paroxysmal, "breakthrough" pain. The efficacy of NSAIDs in oncology patients is due not only to analgesic effect but also to their action on inflammatory processes in areas of tumor formation and growth as well as in metastatic foci. Dexketoprofen trometamol is an effective and safe NSAID, a water-soluble salt of a dexketoprofen dextrorotatory stereoisomer. The preparation has a good lipid and water solubility. Thus, dexketoprofen trometamol can rapidly absorb, create therapeutic concentrations in blood serum, and penetrate through brain-blood barrier. It produces a significant and fast analgesic action in different diseases, which is related both to central analgesic mechanisms and to anti-inflammatory effect in peripheral tissues. Dexketoprofen trometamol efficacy is proven in bone pain related to oncological disease. The availability of intravenous solution and the prompt action at oral administration allow using the medicine for "breakthrough" pain. The medication significantly potentiates the action of mild and potent opioids at combined therapy, which allows to use opioid analgesics in lower doses.


High-data-rate ground-to-space optical links are envisioned to be an alternative and more probably a next step to radio-frequency links, after the Q/V band still under development [1] for the feeder links of next generation high throughput satellites. Indeed, optical links allow a significant increase of the available spectral resources per link. This enables a drastic reduction of the number of gateway stations required on the feeder link, making this approach highly attractive when it comes to serve a large number of small user beams (i.e. Terabit/s scenario). In this paper, a two co-located high throughput satellites solution covering EU27 is presented, implementing an innovative free-space optical feeder link to handle the large number of user beams. An affordable site diversity system based on several optical ground stations and an optical fiber network is considered to overcome cloud blockage of the feeder link. These OGS networks are optimized for reaching at least 99.9% feeder link availability while minimizing the overall cost of the system. To achieve required high throughput on the feeder link, a trade-off has been carried out between two potential transmission scheme candidates, i.e. analog and digital optical modulations. The study has shown that both options could be feasible in the 2025-2030 time frame (assuming significant technical /technological developments), and that link budget could be closed by using the relevant atmospheric perturbation mitigation methods implemented in the optical ground station or in the on-board terminal. An end-to-end performance analysis has been carried out considering 150 user beams per satellite operating in Ka band and assuming a DVB-S2 improved air interface performances, proving that both satellite jointly obtain a total aggregated throughput beyond 1Tbps. This work has been carried out in the frame of EU FP7 BATS project, aimed at integrate broadband access across the EU for 2020 and beyond.


Film Feng Shui is adapted from the novel of the same name by Fang Fang with strong tragedy consciousness and realism style of the original novel. This film focuses on tragic fate and personality of heroine Li Baoli, and leads the audience to think about living dilemma of lower-class female citizens in social transition period. Female writer Fang Fang, from Wuhan, is one of representative writers of Chinese "New Realism" School, and her novels focus particularly on fate of females from all classes and especially intellectuals and lower-class citizens. In a series of novels with females as the heroines such as Where Is Home, Running Flames, and Feng Shui etc, Fang Fang builds a world of females, reveals fate of females and implies profound critical discourse of females with words full of enthusiasm and painstaking efforts. In December 2012, her novel Feng Shui was adapted into a film of the same name and released to the public. This film is directed by Wang Jing with strong tragedy consciousness of the original novel, focuses on tragic fate and personality of the heroine, and leads the audience to think about living dilemma of lower-class female citizens in social transition period.


The hillfort of San Chuis has a long sequence of occupation extending from the late Bronze Age to Roman times. Its walls met during those centuries changes in its structure and trace from a linear model would be renewed with modular morphology in the early second Iron Age. This article shows the stratigraphic and radiometric dating series that establish the sequence and dates for its construction, thus confirming the period of implementation of "modular" walls in the context of regional hillfort's fortifications.


With the deepening of the study in the tumor cell signal transduction pathway,we have increasingly understood complicated mechanism of the signal transduction in and out tumor cells and its impact on the occurrence,development,recurrence and metastasis of breast cancer.Internal gene of cells directly control the occurrence and development of apoptosis,while external factors affect gene mutations and activate the intracellular expression products abnormally through cell signal transduction,which indicate that cell signal transduction pathway may inhibite apoptosis and promote proliferation by multi-effect factors,resulting in the occurrence and development of tumors.In this paper,we make a brief summary on relevant signal transduction pathway in the occurrence and development of breast cancer,such as receptor tyrosine kinase signal transduction pathway,ER signal transduction pathway,Notch signaling pathway and Wnt signal transduction pathway.


The rising penetration of intermittent energy resources is increasing the need for more diverse electrical energy resources that are able to support ancillary services. Demand side management (DSM) has a significant potential to fulfil this role but several challenges are still impeding the wide-scale integration of DSM. One of the major challenges is ensuring the performance of the networks that enable communications between control centres and the end DSM resources. This paper presents an analysis of all communications networks that typically participate in the activation of DSM, and provides an estimate for the overall latency that these networks incur. The most significant sources of delay from each of the components of the communications network are identified which allows the most critical aspects to be determined. This analysis therefore offers a detailed evaluation of the performance of DSM resources in the scope of providing real-time ancillary services. It is shown that, using available communications technologies, DSM can be used to provide primary frequency support services. In some cases, Neighbourhood Area Networks (NANs) may add significant delay, requiring careful choice of the technologies deployed.


Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to delineate lessons for business schools seeking re-accreditation and that face previous peer-review improvement expectations, strategic and operational imperatives similar to those faced at College of Business Administration (CBA) in University of the State Capital, all pseudonyms to mask their true identity.

Design/methodology/approach
Based on qualitative case study method, CBA's Assessment Director, Gabriel Mouton, again a pseudonym, serves as the central protagonist whose interactive dialogical and technology-enabled change processes provide instructive practical lessons around the management of assurance of learning (AoL) for re-accreditation.

Findings
This paper offers a tripartite change focus in AoL for re-accreditation: balancing program goal integration with discipline differentiation, adopting an interactive dialogical shared governance process over a top-down or bottom-up process and technology-enabled straddling program depth and breadth.

Research limitations/implications
This paper is unique to CBA's path-historical institutional change experiences in the USA with rich-shared faculty governance that may need to be first developed before emulation in institutions where such a tradition is absent.

Practical implications
The experiences narrated in this paper offer universal lessons for business schools aspiring to continuously improve their AoL and, in the process, uphold program meaning and quality standards for stakeholder relevance and re-accreditation.

Social implications
The experiences narrated in this paper offers lessons for tying program quality to external stakeholders' expectations in the community, including for international business schools.

Originality/value
This paper advances an original tripartite change focus specifically relevant for business schools seeking re-accreditation and that are concurrently grappling with multiple strategic and operational imperatives.


Objective To investigate the relationship between matrix metalloproteinase2 in gingival crevicular fluid with orthodontic root resorption,so as to find a new simple and specific method to detect the development of root resorption.Methods 30 male adult SD rats were selected to establish animal root resorption and non-root resorption models by applying an excess force to the maxillary first molar.The gingival crevicular fluids were collected every week after the start of force application.Root adsorption were evaluated by histomorphologic staining,the level of MMP-2 in gingival crevicular was assayed by biochemistry techniques of SDS-PAGE,Western Blot and JD-801 gelatum analysis system.Results 1 week after the force were applied,the level of MMP 2 in gingival crevicular fluid increased significantly in root resorption group,no significant change of level of MMP-2 in gingival crevicular fluid was discovered in non-root resorption group.The level of MMP-2 in gingival crevicular fluid was significantly different between the root resorption group and non-root resorption group(P0.05).Conclusion The level of MMP-2 in gingival crevicular fluid may have intimate relationship with root resorption under orthodontic force.


The invention concerns a switching device (1) for a conveyor system installation transporting objects (2), such as, in particular, bottles, flasks or the like, comprising, at least partly, several chains (3, 4) conveying said objects (2), said switching device (1), designed to be placed on the path of said objects (2) for transferring them between said device (1) intake and outlet, from at least one conveyor chain to another and/or for enabling their passage without changing conveyor chain. The invention is characterised in that it consists of a cylinder (8) with polygonal cross section, pivoting about its longitudinal axis (9) for the alternative positioning of each of its side surfaces (10, 11, 12) in said conveyor chains (3, 4) extension, each of said side surfaces (10, 11, 12) being provided with at least one transfer path (3; 14, 15; 16) adjusted according to one of the possible alternatives for switching said objects (2).
Kind regards,


Vocabulary is one of the language components that holds an important part in learning English. By learning vocabulary the students will be easier to use the language in four language skills such as reading, writing, listening and speaking. However, learners faced difficulties in learning vocabulary and it affected to the student's success in foreign language learning. Thus, strategy in learning vocabulary is needed to assist learners to acquire large vocabulary.
This research was conducted to find out the strategy that the students used in learning vocabulary at MA Al-Ma'arif Tulungagung, the problem that the students faced in using the strategy in learning vocabulary at MA Al-Ma'arif Tulungagung.and the solution of the problem that the students faced in using the strategy in learning vocabulary at MA Al-Ma'arif Tulungagung.
 In accordance with the research method, descriptive qualitative design was employed. Seven respondents were included since the data was already sufficient. Then, the researcher used observation checklist and interview guide to collect the data.
 The result of the research showed that the students used guessing from context, coping strategies for production, using dictionary, spelling rules and keeping records as their strategy in learning vocabulary. Afterwards, the problems that faced the students in using the learning strategies were they not feel confident in their own understanding of the meaning of a word, they feel confused when founding a words that were homonyms and homograph, missed spelling words, and mispronounced. Thus, the students solved their problem in using the strategy by rereading, cross-checking, and watching movies.


A Quantitative Structure Activity Relationship (QSAR) was developed by the Heuristic Method (HM) to study a series of phthalimide analogue compounds. Five classe's descriptors were calculated by the software CODESSA in this study. HM was used both for pre-selecting molecular descriptors and for developing the linear model. The inhibition activity of phthalimide analogues toward pIC50, inhibition of HIV-1 integrase enzyme, was correlated with six descriptors, with a Squared Correlation Coefficient (R2) of 0.8828 and Squared Cross-validated Correlation Coefficient (R2cv) of 0.8564, respectively. The stability and validity of the model were evaluated by validation of RMSE = 0.1857. This paper provided a way to predict the inhibition activity of phthalimide analogue toward pIC50 from their structures alone and gave some insight into structural features related to phthalimide analogue.


ability, the aporetics of evaluation and judgement, and radical imponderability allows Hill to proceed to offer sustained analyses of the protracted engagement of his three writers with 'some of the most difficult and unreadable of so-called literary texts' (p. 70). In Barthes's case, Hill gives a brilliant synthesis of his protean intellectual interests and personality, from the problematics of his early work through to his 'incisive contribution to literary criticism' (p. 107) with S/Z, his procrastination around the project of the Vita Nova, and his later 'slippages' (p. 146) into (the work of) Proust. Barthes's Neuter as a radical alternative to thought, together with the infinity of the event(s) of writing and reading, provide Hill with a smooth transition to interrogate Blanchot's use of Sade as a 'test case' (p. 162) for the (im)possibility of critical discourse, whereby Sadian irony as a mode of radical undecidability comes to mirror Blanchot's own concerted efforts in the 1960s to undermine the authority and selfassurance of critical writing as such. Blanchot's political engagement with the events of May 1968 is then offset with his textual engagement with Celan's poetry and Duras's La Maladie de la mort. In the final chapter Hill privileges Derrida's early and later readings of Artaud, the 'detour' via Mallarmé in 1969, and the 'singularly irreducible event of writing' (p. 300) that is Derrida's work on Hegel and Genet in Glas. Hill engages too with Genet's later, more explicitly political writings, and in particular his involvement with the Palestinian Revolution, his alleged anti-Semitism, and his posthumous text Le Captif amoureux, demonstrating that 'passing judgement' and doing 'justice' to a text can lead to reading encounters (with the other reader) that are outright hostile. Nevertheless, Hill delivers overall a highly persuasive account of the way the literary work, escaping all definition (except of what it is not), invokes the laws by which it demands to be read and simultaneously suspends those laws in a perpetually unactualizable future. Hence, while the brief conclusion deliberately avoids any sense of closure, it is in the more than one hundred pages of compact endnotes that Hill remains faithful to the task of criticism he advocates, for far from confining themselves to bibliographical notation, many notes are expository and exploratory, indicating that, for Hill at least, the future of criticism as 'the provocative intractability of reading as an experience of radical indecision' (p. 336) is always already in the work still to come.


The relation between alcohol intake and gout has been recognized since ancient time, but there is no prospective study looking at intensity of consumption and effect of different alcoholic beverages. This was a prospective 12 years study investigating above relationship amongst 47 150 male participants that included male dentists, optometrists, osteopaths, pharmacists, podiatrists and veterinarians, who were predominantly white (91%) between the age of 40–75 years, with no history of gout at baseline. There were 730 documented cases of gout that met the criteria of the American College of Rheumatology. The study showed that not only a relationship existed to the amount of alcohol intake but also to different alcoholic beverages being drunk. The alcohol intake was determined by multiplying the consumption of each beverage by its ethanol content and summing the values. In a biennial questionnaire participants were asked whether they had received a physician diagnosis of gout. Self-reported incidence of gout was confirmed with a questionnaire that included the American College of Rheumatology criteria. Increasing alcohol consumption was also associated with slightly increased meat intake. The risk varied substantially according to the type of alcoholic drink. Beer conferred a higher risk than spirits, whereas moderate drinking of wine did not increase the risk. The authors suggested that certain non-alcoholic components that vary across these alcoholic beverages probably play an important role in the incidence of gout. They thought that the level of purine contents might also be playing a part.


The role of the cholinergic system in modulating the motor symptomatology of PD and the usefulness of anticholinergics in the therapy of PD is well known.1 Transderm (scopolamine; Alza Corp., Palo Alto, CA), a scopolamine patch that is usually prescribed to prevent motion sickness, occasionally results in drug-induced psychosis. We report a patient with PD in whom transient psychosis developed after the use of a Transderm patch.

The patient was a 64-year-old woman with an 11-year history of PD. Her medications included pramipexole 2.5 mg/day, carbidopa/levodopa 25/100 three times a day, selegiline 5 mg twice daily, midodrine 2.5 mg three times a day, Oscal, and vitamin E. On these medications, she was independent in the activities …