Whether it comes from the desire to build a solid pro-American government in South Vietnam of the United States or from the aspiration for independent development of the Republic of Vietnam government, we can see that the two governments, the United States and the Republic of Vietnam, did cooperate in developing civil affairs, such as education, rather than solely focused on military issues during wartime. This study by analyzing the involvement of U.S. institutions in the education of the Republic of Vietnam in the years 1954-1975 with three studied cases: SEADAG, The Center for Vietnamese Studies and Programs at Southern Illinois University, and the Asia Foundation, not only contributes to pointing out the characteristics of the United States - Republic of Vietnam's cooperation in education in the twentieth century but also provides an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding about South Vietnam in another face of the war. Based on research findings, this study also hopes to review trends and lessons learned in building cooperative relations between two countries.


Studies of marine sedimentary phosphate rock have lasted decades, scholars proposed some standpoints about mineralization, however, the genesis of mineral deposits remains to be a controversial question (She et al., 2013). There are many viewpoints of mineralization about the Doushantuo phosphorites, Central Guizhou, including biological mineralization (Mi et al., 2010; Shi et al., 2005), hydrothermal mineralization (Chen et al., 1988), mechanical mineralization and chemical/biochemical mineralization. The reason why there are disputes about mineralization is that previous studies mainly focused on the macroscopic features of phosphate deposit, such as the time-space distribution of phosphorites system, the rock facies and palaeogeography of sedimentary basin, but few detailed studies were conducted to dissect the microtexture of phosphorites on microscopic scale (Liu, 2008). In this work, optical microscope, electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) were used to analyze the structure and tectonics of phosphorites, measure the chemical compositions of apatites, and observe their microtexture, especially bioclastic apatites. On the basis of these investigations, the formation mechanism and process of granular (algae) apatites in Weng'an Baidou were discussed.


A novel exact expression for the impedance of a rectangular strip of arbitrary width and height, in the case of horizontally polarized waves, is derived. The impedance exactly describes the relation between the displacement and stress distributions on one side of the strip if its other sides are free from stresses. The expression found is for the main part in summed form, and it enables to calculate the impedance in a rigorous manner, including when various limiting cases of strip sizes are considered and all harmonics of the field inside the strip are taken into account. The impedance representation obtained is applied to the problem of Bleustein–Gulyaev wave scattering on a single rectangular strip of small height. The exact asymptotic expressions for the complex amplitudes of the reflection and transmission coefficients are calculated for this problem, taking into account second-order effects with respect to a small parameter such as the ratio between the strip height and the wavelength. The bulk wave ...


Lead is one of the more serious pollutants in aquatic ecosystem due to its toxicity, persistence and bioaccumulation problems. The aim of this study was assessment sources, content, and spatial distribution of Pb in sediments collected from a Rybnik reservoir in the conditions of anthropomixion. The total Pb concentration in the sediments was between 35,69 and 136,76 mg ∙ kg d.w. The highest Pb concentration in the sediments was found in inlet part of the Rybnik reservoir. The analysis showed that bottom sediments of the Rybnik reservoir are moderately contaminated with lead, which is generally an effect of intensive anthropopression of the area where reservoirs are located. Elevated concentration of lead is also associated with high organic matter content in sediments.


The church of Khirbet el-Lauz, like several thousand other historical and archaeological features throughout the Palestinian occupied Territories, has been excavated illegally during the last few decades. The plundering of the church was carried out by many looting gangs over a period of some 100 days, using traditional excavation equipment, metal detectors, and heavy machinery in order to find valuables. The looting activities resulted in the mining of intact archaeological objects, destruction of the well-stratified layers, and at several spots demolition of the ancient construction. The unearthed part of the church during this excavation campaign consists of approximately one-third of a huge building totaling about 600 square meters in area. Both the visible results of the excavation and interviews with the looters indicate that the floors of the whole building are paved with mosaic of various colors and motifs.


Proper hyperparameter optimization is computationally very costly for expensive machine learning methods, such as deep neural networks; the same holds true for neural architecture search. Recently, the bandit-based strategy Hyperband has shown superior performance to vanilla Bayesian optimization methods that are limited to the traditional problem formulation of expensive blackbox optimization. However, while Hyperband has strong anytime performance for finding configurations with acceptable results, it relies on random search and therefore does not find the best configurations quickly. We propose to combine Hyperband with Bayesian optimization by maintaining a probabilistic model that captures the density of good configurations in the input space and samples from this model instead of sampling uniformly at random. We empirically show that our new method combines Hyperband's strong anytime performance with the strong eventual performance of Bayesian optimization.


1 The regulation of drug‐induced tone in airways smooth muscle was examined in an isolated preparation of swine tracheal smooth muscle. 2 The trachea contracted (isometric) to histamine, 2‐pyridylethylamine (2‐PEA), acetylcholine and K+ but no responses to histamine H2‐receptor agonists were observed. 3 Histamine‐induced contractions (100 μm) were potentiated by 213.3% by indomethacin (1 μm) and by 126.9% by sodium salicylate (250 μm). These inhibitors had only slight or no effects on acetylcholine‐induced tone. 2‐PEA responses were also potentiated by indomethacin but there were no changes in the response to H2‐receptor agonists in the presence of indomethacin. The indomethacin‐mediated potentiation of histamine was blocked by 5, 8, 11, 14‐eicosatetraynoic acid (10 μm). FPL 55712 had no effect on these responses. 4 Mepacrine (100 μm) inhibited responses to histamine but not those to acetylcholine. No effect was observed with dexamethasone (up to 100 μm). 5 Prostaglandin E2 caused relaxation but arachidonic acid did not. 6 The possibility that histamine H1‐agonist‐induced contractions are regulated by contractile products of the arachidonic acid lipoxygenase pathway is discussed.


The success of rice farming which has high productivity and is able to meet people's food needs is largely determined by farmers as business actors. The behavior of farmers in farming is not only related to cultivation efforts, but also includes the contribution of farmers in group institutions which hopefully provide a lot of support for rice farming activities. The aims of this study are: 1) analyzing the institutional support for farmer participation. 2) analyzing the participation of healthy rice farmers. 3) analyzing the sustainability of healthy rice farming. 4) analyzing the institutional support for the level of farmer participation. 5) analyzing the effect of farmer participation level on the sustainability of healthy rice farming in Rejo Asri Village, Seputih Raman District, Central Lampung Regency. This study uses survey method with the respondents in this study amounted to 50 healthy rice farmers. The research location was chosen purposively and used quantitative descriptive analysis methods with Multiple Linear Regression Test and Simple Linear Regression Test. The results showed that the role of the extension agent affected farmer participation, while the indicators of the leadership of the farmer group leader and access to information did not affect the participation of healthy rice farmers. The second objective shows that the level of farmer participation at the planning stage is included in the moderately participating category, at the implementation, benefit-taking, and evaluation stages are included in the very participating category. The third objective of the sustainability of healthy rice farming in this study is included in the very sustainable category. The fourth objective shows that the role of the extension worker affects the level of farmer participation, while the indicators of the leadership of farmer group leaders and access to information do not affect the level of participation of healthy rice farmers. The fifth objective is the influence of the level of farmer participation on the sustainability of healthy rice farming in Rejo Asri Village, Seputih Raman District, Central Lampung Regency with an r-square value of 0.553.


The present political party system with Chinese characteristics is the integral part of socialist political civilization in our country,which conforms to the essence of socialist political civilization and also promotes the fine interactive relation in social political ecological environment in modern China.In particular,its unique political function plays a tremendous role in enhancing the construction of socialist political civilization.


Some highway agencies make heavy use of cement-stabilized materials (i.e., soil-cement) for subbase and base pavement layers. Recently, several soil-cement studies have been funded by highway agencies. Through one of these studies, the plastic mold compaction device (PM Device) was developed, which is designed to compact 2:1 height/diameter specimens inside plastic molds. The most novel aspect of the PM Device is the potential to interface mechanistic-empirical pavement design, laboratory mixture design, and construction quality control/quality assurance (QC/QA) activities. To date, the PM Device has been evaluated with respect to design activities, but little work has been performed to evaluate the PM Device's effectiveness as a tool during construction. This paper focuses on three pilot projects in which the PM Device was evaluated as a potential QC/QA tool. The PM Device demonstrated merit as a QC/QA tool for A-2-4 classified materials, but the current PM Device does have particle size limitations. The PM Device produced consistent specimen densities with a predetermined compactive effort, provided an indication of cement content of field-mixed material via unconfined compressive strength testing, and correlated favorably with field cores in a limited assessment. The investigations presented need to be supplemented by additional projects to develop a framework for the PM Device to be implemented into an agency QC/QA program.


Jiangzhai Poetry Talks thoroughly and subtly expounded the relationship between feeling and setting, endless meaning in poetry, centralizedly embodied Wang Fu-zhi′s poetry theory of "Artistic Conception". His theory was constructed in the frame of Confucianism after combining two groups of traditional poetry theory "Yanzhi" and "Yuanqing", being a comprehensive expression. So Wang Fu-zhi′s poetry theory of "Artistic Conception" marked the end of Chinese traditional poetry theory "Artistic Conception " in Chinese native land. Wang Fu-zhi carried forward the cause and Wang Guo-wei forged ahead into the future, making the classical poetry theory "Artistic Conception " still radiates vigour today.


. Publishing individual specific microdata has serious privacy implica-tions. The k -anonymity model has been proposed to prevent identity disclosure from microdata, and the work on (cid:2) -diversity and t -closeness attempt to address attribute disclosure. However, most current work only deal with publishing microdata with a single sensitive attribute (SA), whereas real life scenarios often involve microdata with multiple SAs that may be multi-valued . This paper ex-plores the issue of attribute disclosure in such scenarios. We propose a method called CODIP (Complete Disjoint Projections) that outlines a general solution to deal with the shortcomings in a na¨ıve approach. We also introduce two measures, Association Loss Ratio and Information Exposure Ratio, to quantify data quality and privacy, respectively. We further propose a heuristic CODIP* for CODIP, which obtains a good trade-off in data quality and privacy. Finally, initial experiments show that CODIP* is practically useful on varying numbers of SAs.


Concept is the abstraction of the reflected object. If the reflected objects are different, so will the concepts abstracted. Therefore, the reference scope of "right" needs to be classified to define it scientifically. In China, however, due to the dogmatic study of Marxism, the concept of "law" have long been equated with the concept of "right" and the reference scope of "right" have not been specified scientifically. In fact, whether from semantic meaning or from the relative theory of dialectical materialism, "right" should be a concept containing customary laws of the primitive society, laws of class societies and common rules of future communist society. Conversely, "law", the "right" in class society, is only one of the manifestations of "right".


Samburu District is characterized by limited availability of water resources. Competition for water between humans, livestock and wildlife is a common feature in the district. The pressure of water use in Samburu combined with a diversity of users results in contamination of water in different water sources. Past studies have revealed that water from various sources open to use by the different populations living in the area are usually contaminated with Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi and other potentially pathogenic microorganisms. This exposes the Samburu community to waterborne diseases such as dysentery, typhoid fever and cholera. Most community members rely on traditional medicine that is cheap and readily available within the community to cure various ailments. This study aimed at determining the physico-chemical and microbial quality of water from different sources and assessing the efficacy of common medicinal plants used by the Samburu people to treat waterborne diarrheal diseases. Seven medicinal plants used by Samburu herbalists for the treatment of stomach illnesses were investigated for in vitro antibacterial activity and water disinfection. Water extracts of the dried powdered plant material were directly used to treat the water samples collected while the extracts for testing effectiveness against the fecal pathogens, E. coli, S. dysenteriae and S. typhi were freeze-dried using standard methods. Susceptibility testing was carried out using disc diffusion test (Kirby-Bauer) and minimum inhibitory concentration (MTC) carried out using broth microdilution method. The finding on microbial quality of water confirms the presence of indicator bacteria in water from most sources. The water sources investigated varied widely in the physico-chemical properties (pH, electrical conductivity, orthophosphate phosphorus, total phosphorus and total alkalinity). However, there were no significant differences in the physico-chemical properties of water among the study sites. Efficacy of water treatment with medicinal plants expressed as percentage reduction in bacteria colonies revealed that A. nilotica (L.) Del. extracts with a mean percentage reduction of 99.86 % was the most effective in reducing the number of bacterial colonies. A. anthelmintica (A. Rich.) extracts with a mean of 9.47 %, had the lowest reduction of bacterial colonies. The study also revealed a possible interaction between plant extracts and water source (P < 0.05, df = 54). A. nilotica registered lower MIC value of 1.56 mg rnl" against S. typhi and S. dysenteriae while E. divinorum Hiern, A. tortilis (Forssk.) Hayne and A. etbaica Schweinf had MIC greater than 25 mg mr' against the three fecal bacteria used. Antimicrobial phytochemical compounds tannins, saponins, flavonoids, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides and alkaloids were present in all the seven plants. However, A. anthelmintica, E. divinorum, A. tortilis, A. etbaica were weakly effective in vitro, suggesting that water may not be extracting enough of such phytochemicals. This study confirms the efficacy of water extracts from A. nilotica and A. seyal Del. (Talh) against diarrheal diseases associated with drinking water. The sensitivity of the test bacteria to extracts from these plants makes them potential sources of antimicrobial drugs.


Structured Design has been described as a "traditional approach" and an "alternative technology" by the SEI's (Software Engineering Institute) software technology roadmap on their website [July 2005]. While website visitors are cautioned that structured design does not lend itself to object orientation the method has clearly influenced the evolution of object-oriented design practices. This panel brings together software design visionaries to discuss and debate "echoes" in software design "practice".


Motivated by the increasing interest in applications of graph geodesic convexity in machine learning and data mining, we present a heuristic for computing the geodesic convex hull of node sets in networks. It generates a set of almost maximal outerplanar spanning subgraphs for the input graph, computes the geodesic closure in each of these graphs, and regards a node as an element of the convex hull if it belongs to the closed sets for at least a user specified number of outerplanar graphs. Our heuristic algorithm runs in time linear in the number of edges of the input graph, i.e., it is faster with one order of magnitude than the standard algorithm computing the closure exactly. Its performance is evaluated empirically by approximating convexity based core-periphery decomposition of networks. Our experimental results with large real-world networks show that for most networks, the proposed heuristic was able to produce close approximations significantly faster than the standard algorithm computing the exact convex hulls. For example, while our algorithm calculated an approximate core-periphery decomposition in 5 hours or less for networks with more than 20 million edges, the standard algorithm did not terminate within 50 days.


HfO2 films have been deposited by dual-ion beam sputtering technology with starting material Hf.Optical,residual stress,structural properties and laser-induced damage threshold of the HfO2 films have been studied.It is found that the HfO2 shows uniform structural properties,film compact and structure and higher laser-induced damage threshold.The relation between structural and damage threshold of HfO2 films has also been studied.


Background: It is plausible that gene polymorphisms in tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-18 may affect predisposition to microvascular complications of diabetes mellitus (DM), but the results of the so far published studies remain controversial. Objectives: We conducted this meta-analysis to clarify relationships between TNF-α/IL-1/IL-4/IL-8/IL-18 polymorphisms and predisposition to microvascular complications of DM by pooling the findings of eligible studies. Methods: A comprehensive search of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and CNKI was endorsed by us to identify already published studies. Forty-nine studies were found to be eligible for the meta-analyses. Results: The pooled meta-analyses results showed that genotypic frequencies of TNF-α −238 G/A, TNF-α −308 G/A, TNF-α −1,031 T/C, IL-1A −889 C/T, IL-1B −511 C/T, IL-6 −572 G/C, and IL-18 −137 G/C polymorphisms among patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN) and controls differed significantly. Moreover, genotypic frequencies of TNF-α −238 G/A and IL-8 −251 A/T polymorphisms among patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR) and controls also differed significantly. Conclusions: This meta-analysis suggested that TNF-α −238 G/A, TNF-α −308 G/A, TNF-α −1,031 T/C, IL-1A −889 C/T, IL-1B −511 C/T, IL-6 −572 G/C, and IL-18 −137 G/C polymorphisms may affect predisposition of DN. Moreover, TNF-α −238 G/A and IL-8 −251 A/T polymorphisms may affect predisposition of DR.


In this first figure we see the distribution of multiple sclerosis in Switzerland from the survey of Georgi and Ha11.2 Cases are allotted by county of residence, and county prevalence rates determined. Those counties which have more MS per capita than expected are delineated as noted in the legend. MS would then seem to describe a focus or cluster in the northwestern part of Switzerland. There is reasonably good evidence that the geographic distribution of MS is stable over time. Different generations of patients in Denmark and Switzerland show essentially the same distribution, and data from Norway would seem confirmatory.3 If this is true, we can then compare studies done at different times and note whether the cases describe a more general pattern. It has previously been pointed out that clustering seems to be a feature of MS in Norway,4 Sweden,6 and Denmark,s as well as in Switzerland.2 More detailed assessment of small geographic units7 and of data from Finland**n provide c o n h a tory evidence to this point. When we combine these studies, we can see that there appears to be indeed one single focus of high-frequency MS throughout Fennoscandia (Fig. 2) . The cluster begins in the southern plains of Norway, extends across southern Sweden to Uppsala, and crosses to Finland via Aland in the Bay of Bothnia. I t then extends up the western mast of Finland to return to Sweden near UrneH.10 aspect


Working relations have experienced significant changes in post-industrial societies compared to traditional periods. Today, atypical employment models shape the labor market, including flexible employment formats, outsourcing, and various agency work such as staffing. The part or full-time employment model not dependent on a specific employer, described as "precarization," is becoming widespread and is the primary focus of this study. With precarization, unionized and organized labor is replaced by precarious working models, including working styles, mobile jobs, flexible working hours, and fixed-term employment contracts. These changes are reshaping labor relations in many countries globally, especially under the pressure of neoliberal theses. Precarization has caused a significant decrease in unionized employees, especially since the 1970s, which continues today. As a result of de-unionization, a new precarious class of precarious is emerging. The primary purpose of this study is to show the effects of the strategy of disorganization of labor on the "precariat" class, which has been described in recent years as the new social class. This is an empirical study based on secondary data sources. The secondary sources' findings show that a relationship between "precarization" and "disorganization of labor" can be established.


Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a major public health priority. Hippocampus is one of the most affected areas of the brain and is easily accessible as a biomarker using MRI images in machine learning for diagnosing AD. In machine learning, using entire MRI image slices showed lower accuracy for AD classification. We present the select slices method by landmarks on the hippocampus region in MRI images. This study aims to see which views of MRI images have higher accuracy for AD classification. Then, to get the value of three views and categories, we used multiclass classification with the publicly available Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) dataset using Resnet50 and LeNet. The models were used in a total dataset of 4,500 MRI slices in three views and categories. Our study demonstrated that the selecting slices performed better than using entire slices in MRI images for AD classification. Our method improves the accuracy of machine learning, and the coronal view showed higher accuracy. This method played a significant role in improving the accuracy of machine learning performance. The results for the coronal view were similar to the medical experts usually used to diagnose AD. We also found that LeNet models became the potential model for AD classification.


Block copolymer nanofibers may be viewed as the macroscopic counterparts of polymer chains or supra−polymer chains. Well-characterized nanofiber fractions with narrow length distributions are required to facilitate their study by techniques such as viscometry and dynamic light scattering. Polystyrene-block-polyisoprene (PS-b-PI) nanofibers were prepared in this study by stirring S2Cl2-treated PS-b-PI films in THF to separate and disperse the cross-linked PI cylindrical domains. Nanofiber fractions were obtained by combining centrifugation fractionation and ultrasonication. These fractions were characterized by transmission electron microscopy to obtain their length distribution functions and static light scattering to yield the weight-average molar masses and z-average radii of gyration. A quantitative analysis of the radius of gyration values revealed that the PS-b-PI nanofibers had a persistence length of ∼200 nm in THF.


Efficient learning and categorization in the face of myriad categories and in stances is an important challenge. We investigate algorithms that efficiently learn sparse but accuratecategory indices. An index is a weighted bipartite graph mapping features to categories. Give n an instance, the index retrieves, scores, and ranks a set of candidate categories. Th ranking or the scores can then be used for category assignment. We compare index learning against other classification approaches, including one-versus-rest and top-down classification us ing support vector machines. We find that the indexing approach is highly advantageous in terms of space an d time efficiency, at both training and classification times, while retaining competitive accuracy. On prob lems with hundreds of thousands of instances and thousands of categories, the index is lear ned in minutes, while other methods can take orders of magnitude longer. Part of this research was performed while the author was at Yahoo! Re search.


LAST YEAR APPEARED to be a "period of pause" for US land drilling contractors as the industry absorbed a significant number of new and refurbished rigs into its fleet, said Ron Hale, Grey Wolf Drilling senior vice president international operations. Although operators didn't slow down their drilling programs, the additional units that came into the US fleet simply lifted supply above demand. As a result, some rigs got stacked, and dayrates softened. But that period of pause is over now, and it looks like 2008 - after a steady first quarter - is ready to make some noise.


The event, fruit of the partnership between the Brazilian Pierre de Coubertin Committee and the Santa Úrsula University, had as organizers Ana Miragaya (Selection Committee of Olympic Studies Centre of the International Olympic Committee Estácio de Sá University ), Carlos Henrique Ribeiro (North American Society for the Sociology of Sport – Santa Úrsula University), Lamartine DaCosta (member of honor of the International Pierre de Coubertin Committee State University of Rio de Janeiro) and Nelson Todt (Brazilian Committee Pierre de Coubertin – Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul).


Abstract The seeming absence of negative evidence in the input that children receive during language acquisition has long been regarded as a serious problem for non-nativist linguistic theories. Among the solutions that have been suggested for this problem, preemption by competing structures is doubtless the most intensively researched and widely accepted. However, while preemption works well in the domain of morphology, it cannot apply categorically in the domain of syntax, as this would preclude the existence of semantically overlapping constructions, such as the ditransitive and the prepositional dative, which can be used alternatively with many, but not all, verbs of literal or metaphorical transfer. This paper investigates one specific version of preemption briefly entertained by Pinker (Language learnability and language development, Harvard University Pressm, 1984), which would account both for the existence of semantically overlapping constructions and for the fact that these constructions may preempt each other in the case of individual verbs. Typically, such pairs of grammatical constructions differ in their information-structural restrictions and speakers tend to choose the construction that best fits a given discourse context; when speakers use a construction even though there is an alternative that fits the discourse context better, children may take this as evidence that the alternative is not available for the specific verb in question. Two corpus studies are presented, comparing the information-structural profile of prepositional dative constructions containing verbs that may alternate between the dative and the ditransitive with the information structural profile of verbs that are restricted to the prepositional dative. For Pinker's preemptive mechanism to be feasible, there should be a clear and systematic difference in the information-structural profile of these two classes of verbs. However, no such difference can be found in actual usage.


The present research consisted in the development of a web system for cattle monitoring at Juan Montalvo parish of Latacunga city that visualizes in real time the cattle location, for this was necessary to use Open Source tools such as PHP and MySql In addition, a GPS prototype was developed that emits bovine coordinates, this prototype was designed with Arduino modules and renewable energy, which is responsible to send: longitude, latitude, time and date to a web server for subsequent data manipulation. The iterative-incremental model was applied which allowed to develop the system through iterations. Research methods and techniques were used, such as: observation, expert's criteria and the interview, which helped to know the needs, with system functionalities, resulting in a finished deliverable prototype, where cattlemen carried out the prototype tests. The purpose of this research was to provide security and protection to the livestock population through free software and hardware, in this way the proposed objectives at the beginning of the investigation were met.


In former investigations we have shown that the growth-promoting influence of acid extract of anterior pituitary gland of cattle on bone and cartilage of young guinea pigs is exerted without the intervention of the thyroid gland. 1 Correspondingly we wished to determine whether the accelerated healing tendency of fractured bones, caused by the extract, 2 is also independent of the action of the thyroid. The experiments were carried out in 26 winter and spring guinea pigs, on the average weighing from 120 to 280 gm. Under deep ether anesthesia the tibia and fibula of the right hind leg were broken about the middle of their shafts and bandaged according to the method described previously. Both lobes of the thyroid were completely removed immediately after fracturing. Injury to the parathyroids was carefully avoided. Sixteen of the animals were injected daily with 1 to 11/2 cc. of extract intraperitoneally for periods varying from 6 to 21 days, the first injection being applied immediately after thyroidectomy. Ten guinea pigs were not injected and served as controls. After 6, 10, 14, and 21 days the fractured bones were removed in toto and specimens prepared for microscopical examination as previously described. 3 As to the gross appearance of the callus in the injected and thyroidectomized animals, it was invariably firmer and harder than that of the non-injected thyroidectomized guinea pigs. This fact was noted as early as 6 days after fracturing, but even more distinctly at subsequent periods. In all cases a complete union by a dense, bony, calcified callus had taken place after 21 days, while in the non-injected animals the callus was looser and softer at that period. There was no marked difference in gross appearance between the callus in injected thyroidectomized guinea pigs and in those with intact thyroid glands, which had been injected.


On the early stage of its life cycle, a web service must first be discovered before it is accessed by its clients. A web service description is a document published by the service provider that allows potential clients to get hold of information of a web service during the discovery process. Web services built based on simple object access protocol (SOAP) use a standardized XML document known as Web Service Description Language (WSDL) to describe itself. On the other hand, most web services built based on representational state transfer (REST) has yet to be described in a structured form. REST service description is mainly written in text in HTML documents aimed to be read by human readers, thus containing little to none machine-readability properties. This work proposes a solution that accounts standardization and machine-readability property while still considers the simplicity and human readability property of REST service description written in HTML documents. The solution combines concepts that have been proposed before to construct a new service description mechanism to allow human-readability and machine-readability while still maintaining its simplicity and standardization.


Data from a five percent sample of the Soviet population, collected in 1985, are used to analyze the demographic and economic characteristics of the cohort born in 1950. Factors considered include mortality, marriage and divorce, income, consumption, and wealth. Differences in these factors by age and region are explored.


The invention relates to the technical field of biodiesel preparation and particularly relates to a preparation method of a solid base catalyst. The preparation method comprises the following steps of a, mixing Na2SiO3.9H2O, CaO and KF.2H2O to obtain a mixture, wherein the molar ratio of Na2SiO3.9H2O to CaO to KF.2H2O is 2.0:5.0:(1.5-6.0); b, grinding the mixture to be pasty; c, drying at the temperature of 70-90 DEG C for 5-7 hours; and d, baking at the temperature of 300-500 DEG C for 3.5-4.5 hours to obtain a Na2SiO3/CaO/KF solid base. The preparation method disclosed by the invention is simple and convenient to prepare; and the prepared solid base is good in catalytic effect.


In this contribution we prove that the entropy of an N-body isolated system can not decrease and the entropy production should be non-negative provided the system possesses an equilibrium state. We define the entropy as a functional of the set of n-particle reduced density operators (n=0,....,N) generalizing the von Neumann fine-grained entropy formula. Additionally, as a consequence of our analysis we find the expression of the equilibrium n-particle reduced density operators which enter the definition of the entropy as well as the dissipated energy in an irreversible process.


Objective:To establish a HPLC method for determination of ephedrine hydrochloride in herba ephedrae.Methods:A C 18 column was used.The mobile phase consisted of HCN-H 2 O(containing0.1%TEA and0.1%H 3 PO 4 )(4:100)and the detection wavelength was210nm.Results:The calibration curve was linear between0.4224~4.224μg(r=0.9999),the average recovery rate was97.1%(RSD=2.3%,n=6).Conclusion:This method was reroducible and was suitable for the quality control of herba ephedrae.


In this study, we investigated the preparation process of lithium metal using a novel carbothermic reduction process. Herein, thermodynamic calculations and experimental research methods were used to investigate the novel carbothermal reduction process of LiAlO2 for preparing lithium metal in a vacuum. The results suggest that the temperature of the chemical reaction can be significantly reduced by reducing the pressure in the system. When the system pressure was 10 Pa, the reduction temperature, reduction time, molar ratio of C/LiAlO2, and reduction rate were 1623 K, 120 min, 0.9, and 79.01%, respectively. Furthermore, the lithium content in the reduction residue was 2.1 wt%, suggesting the presence of the LiAl5O8 phase. Under these conditions, when 20% CaO was added, the reduction rate of lithium increased to 99.38%, and the lithium in the reduction residue takes the form of CaAl2O4. This shows that CaO, as an additive, can promote reduction, compromise the effect of LiAl5O8, and increase the reduction rate of lithium.


Although a single-stage off-line LED driver can achieve low cost and high efficiency, the notorious double-line-frequency flicker issue with a single-stage LED driver limits its usage in high-quality lighting applications. To solve lighting flicker, multiplexing operation is proposed in this paper. One switching cycle is further divided into two portions, namely phase one and phase two, which produces a main output voltage and an opposite ripple voltage. The main and the opposite ripple voltage are connected in series to form the LED voltage, which is a DC because of ripple cancellation. Therefore, a DC LED current can be produced and achieves flicker-free LED driving performance. A 7.5W experimental prototype had been built and tested to verify the design concept.


To respond to the question, Should we teach students to resist? two dimensions of the term "teach" are important-namely, its formal and informal aspects.1 Its formal aspect refers to what we consciously or intentionally (programatically) set out to do; that is, we teach something to someone so that our selected educational aims can be realized. The second aspect includes those practices that characterize our teaching; on the basis of these practices, students pick up certain ideas along with formal instruction. As an example, our students may pick up the idea that we like them and care that they learn what we intend to teach them. The information that we like and care for students is not part of the programme that we outline when we consciously consider teaching mathematics or English. Rather, it is what students pick up by being in our presence. It is not always easy for them to identify why they believe their teacher likes them and cares that they learn, but students seem particularly adept at garnering these messages.2 It is common to think of the expression the "hidden curriculum" when problems of this sort are described, but I am not at present interested in making relations between the practices I pick out and the notion of the hidden curriculum except to note that these practices have to do with enculturated and unreflective ways of exercising power as much as they have to do with domination and the resistance that domination inevitably calls forth. I propose that both the formal and informal aspects of teaching should inspire students to practice resistance that is directed towards the development of authenticity and agency. I will first identify and discuss reasons to support the proposal and then spell out a relationship between resistance and a concept of voice that is central to the empowerment of authentic participation in democratic cultures. Finally, I examine three types of practice that shape the exercise of power. The motivation for the proposal that effective teaching should inspire a particular kind of resistance comes from the confidence that teachers can and must learn to pay attention to the ways they open or close up the possibilities for democratic participation and practice in the classroom.


A mathematical scheme for demonstrating the authenticity of a digital message or document is known as Digital Signature (DS) [1]. DS convince a recipient that a document was created by a known sender. DSs are commonly used for software distribution, financial transactions, and in other cases to avoid forgery and tampering [2]. Digitally signed messages may be anything that can be represented as a bit or a string, examples include electronic mail, contracts, or a message sent via some other cryptographic protocol [3]. Hash function is used in creating and verifying a DS. Hash function is an algorithm which creates a digital representation of document. Few hashing algorithms have been developed such Secure Hash Algorithm – 128 (SHA-1) and Message Digest Version 5 (MD5) to be used in ecommerce [4]. SHA-1 is a secured hash algorithm – 160. Produces 160-bit hash value. It is designed by NIST & NSA in 1993 revised 1995 as SHA – 160, US standard for use with digital signature algorithm (DSA) signature scheme. SHA256, SHA-384, and SHA-512. Designed for compatibility with increased security provided by the advanced encryption standard (AES) cipher[3].


Immunoevasive proteins ("evasins") of human CMV (HCMV) modulate stability and localization of MHC class I (MHC I) molecules, and their supply of antigenic peptides. However, it is largely unknown to what extent these evasins interfere with recognition by virus-specific CD8 T cells. We analyzed the recognition of HCMV-infected cells by a panel of CD8 T cells restricted through one of nine different MHC I allotypes. We employed a set of HCMV mutants deleted for three or all four of the MHC I modulatory genes US2, US3, US6, and US11. We found that different HCMV evasins exhibited different allotype-specific patterns of interference with CD8 T cell recognition of infected cells. In contrast, recognition of different epitopes presented by the same given MHC I allotype was uniformly reduced. For some allotypes, single evasins largely abolished T cell recognition; for others, a concerted action of evasins was required to abrogate recognition. In infected cells whose Ag presentation efficiency had been enhanced by IFN- g pretreatment, HCMV evasins cooperatively impared T cell recognition for several different MHC I allotypes. T cell recognition and MHC I surface expression under influence of evasins were only partially congruent, underscoring the necessity to probe HCMV immunomodulation using specific T cells. We conclude that the CD8 T cell evasins of HCMV display MHC I allotype specificity, complementarity, and cooperativity. The Journal of Immunology , 2014, 192: 000–000. a complex modes of latency and reactivation. genomesencode


Significance In spite of TNF involvement in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS), systemic TNF neutralization in MS patients was not successful. One of the possible reasons is that TNF possesses both pathogenic and protective features that may be related to TNFR1 versus TNFR2 receptor engagement. This study uncovers one of such protective functions of TNF mediated by intrinsic TNFR2 signaling in Treg cells. In mice bearing humanized TNF and TNFR2 genetic loci, TNFR2 ablation restricted to Treg cells led to reduced capacity to control Th17 cell responses, exacerbated experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) development, and affected the maintenance of Treg cells. These findings provide support for the emerging role of TNFR2 signaling in autoimmunity, as demonstrated here in mice with conditional inactivation of TNFR2. TNF is a multifunctional cytokine involved in autoimmune disease pathogenesis that exerts its effects through two distinct TNF receptors, TNFR1 and TNFR2. While TNF- and TNFR1-deficient (but not TNFR2-deficient) mice show very similar phenotypes, the significance of TNFR2 signaling in health and disease remains incompletely understood. Recent studies implicated the importance of the TNF/TNFR2 axis in T regulatory (Treg) cell functions. To definitively ascertain the significance of TNFR2 signaling, we generated and validated doubly humanized TNF/TNFR2 mice, with the option of conditional inactivation of TNFR2. These mice carry a functional human TNF-TNFR2 (hTNF-hTNFR2) signaling module and provide a useful tool for comparative evaluation of TNF-directed biologics. Conditional inactivation of TNFR2 in FoxP3+ cells in doubly humanized TNF/TNFR2 mice down-regulated the expression of Treg signature molecules (such as FoxP3, CD25, CTLA-4, and GITR) and diminished Treg suppressive function in vitro. Consequently, Treg-restricted TNFR2 deficiency led to significant exacerbation of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), accompanied by reduced capacity to control Th17-mediated immune responses. Our findings expose the intrinsic and beneficial effects of TNFR2 signaling in Treg cells that could translate into protective functions in vivo, including treatment of autoimmunity.


The purpose of this research is to test the effectiveness innovation of the Bottle"s Bottom release numbness which is a descriptive research. The samples are people who live in Ban Lao community, Megdam Subdistrict, Phayak Phum Phisai District, Maha Sarakham Province, consisting of 10 people. We used the research instrument is satisfaction questionnaire for people with diabetes and who have symptoms of numbness. The results of the innovation of the Bottle"s Bottom release numbness are satisfied with the numbness in their foot after walking on innovation of the Bottle"s Bottom and the innovation is durable convenient to use can be reused multiple times. However, this innovation still needed to be further developed to be more effective, which is to have a handrail while stepping on to have a holder that does not fall when using and be suggested how to use correctly to prevent accidents.


Dynamically changing CPU voltage and frequency have been shown to greatly save the processor energy. These adjustments can be done at specific power management points (PMPs), which are not without overheads. In this work we study the effect of different overheads on both time and energy; these can be seen as the overhead of computing the new speed, and then the overhead of dynamically adjusting the speed. We propose a theoretical solution for choosing the granularity of inserting PMPs in a program taking into consideration such overheads. We validate our theoretical results and show that the accuracy of the theoretical model is between zero and five management points of simulation results.


Low-molecular weight gelators (supramolecular, or simply molecular gels) are highly important molecular frameworks because of their potential application in drug delivery, catalysis, pollutant removal, sensing materials, and so forth. Herein, a small dipeptide composed of N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)pentafluoro-l-phenylalanine and O-benzyl-l-tyrosine methyl ester was synthesized, and its gelation ability was investigated in different solvent systems. It was found that the dipeptide was unable to form gel with a single solvent, but a mixture of solvent systems was found to be suitable for the gelation of this dipeptide. Interestingly, water was found to be essential for gelation with the polar protic solvent, and long-chain hydrocarbon units such as, petroleum ether, kerosene, and diesel, were important for gelation with aromatic solvents. The structural insights of these gels were characterized by field-emission scanning electronic microscopy, atomic force microscopy, Fourier transform infrared analysis, and X-ray diffraction studies, and their mechanical strengths were characterized by rheological experiments. Both of the gels obtained from these two solvent systems were thermoreversible in nature, and these translucent gels had potential application for the treatment of waste water. The gel obtained from dipeptides with methanol–water was used to remove toxic dyes (crystal violet, Eriochrome Black T, and rhodamine B) from water. Furthermore, the gel obtained from dipeptide with assistance from toluene–petroleum ether was used as a phase-selective gelator for oil-spill recovery.


Platelets are known to contribute to the development of coronary artery atherosclerotic disease by several mechanisms [1]. Platelets are also primarily involved in forming the occlusive thrombus in the narrowed coronary artery that leads to fatal or non-fatal myocardial infarction (heart attack) [1]. It is known that patients with diabetes, hypertension, elevated LDL cholesterol, or patients who smoke have hyperactive platelets [2]. This is likely to exacerbate the atherothrombotic process. A number of clinical trials have shown that aspirin, a platelet inhibitor, given daily significantly reduces the incidence of symptoms of coronary artery disease and heart attacks [3]. It seems reasonable to assume that by taking "something" on a daily basis that turns down platelet activity, one could reduce the contribution of platelets to the development and sequelae of coronary artery disease.


Fuzzy Inference System for student academic performance evaluation is based on Fuzzy Logic Techniques (FLT). In this system student performance depends on exam paper results and it is evaluated only as success or failure. The study proposes a new performance evaluation method based on the Fuzzy Logic System (FLS). The study proposes a new evaluation method to find a performance of students results based an FLS and also compared with the Classical Method (CL). Students' performance based on organizing technique at Manonmaniam Sundaranar University in the Department of Statistics was carried out using FLT and it was compared with the CL. Twenty students took part for the statistical course were considered as study samples. Several approaches using FLT have been proposed a practical method for evaluating student academic performance and compared with existing statistical method. In this paper, evaluation of the results showed variations between the CL and FLMs.


In the present study, we assessed a recently-marketed molecular test, the S-DiaMGTV™ kit (Diagenode), which provides simultaneous detection of Mycoplasma genitalium and Trichomonas vaginalis in urogenital samples. Performance characteristics of the S-DiaMGTV™ kit were compared to an in-house PCR for detection of M. genitalium and, for first time, with direct observation of genital secretions in wet mounting microscopy for T. vaginalis, a routine laboratory method. For M. genitalium, out of 66 samples, two negative with the in-house PCR were found positive with the S-DiaMGTV™ kit and two positive with the in-house PCR were found negative with the kit. For T. vaginalis, four samples were found positive by the molecular test. Among them, two were previously tested by the wet mounting observation and only one was positive. The kit allows an increase of T. vaginalis detection even in a low incidence country. Performances of the kit are in favor of its use in routine laboratory practice.


Turkish security forces have seized improvised explosive devices, arms and ammunition belonging to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) terrorist organization in the country's southeastern province of Hakkari.


The banking sector plays a very important role in the economy. Electronic Banking is a new trend in the field of Banking.  Due to the internet and technological advances banking has changed from traditional branch banking to online banking. E-Banking is nothing but the use of technology to deliver banking products and services to its customers. The present paper has focused on the study of the relationship between awareness and adoption of e-banking. The awareness of different services provided under e-banking is studied. The data used for the study is collected from 350 customers within the Kolhapur city area with the help of the interview schedule. Findings reveal that Credit card and mobile banking awareness is minimum among bank customers.ATM awareness is maximum in e-banking services by customers.


Abstract
This chapter draws on data from two studies, one in Canada and another in the United States, focused on the experiences of pedagogical partnership as described by students traditionally underrepresented and underserved in higher education. These students argue that such collaborations with faculty hold promise for creating more inclusive and responsive practices. Using the concept of epistemic justice, the authors explore how partnerships can facilitate epistemological forms of equity and inclusion by (1) creating more equitable conceptions of knowing and knowledge that open possibilities for (2) fostering students' confidence in their knowledge and willingness to share it with others. The authors argue that partnerships – in their epistemic, relational, and affective impacts – are one powerful way to recognize underrepresented and underserved students as "holders and creators of knowledge" (Delgado-Bernal, 2002, p. 106) and bring about greater epistemic justice in higher education.


following her arrest. This taut historical fantasy brings into sharp relief the backand-forth fortunes of Catholics from the time of Henry VIII to Queen Elizabeth and the torture that zealots visited upon those out of favor. On the other hand, it reconciles the Catholic characters to older forces than theirs in the world, faeries that priests and hermits rechristen as angels so that they may accept their help and account for the magic around them without ascribing it to devilry. Fans of old world fantasies and historical fiction will enjoy the blend of old faiths and new as well as the fully evoked sense of time and place. KC


Cellular based vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communications have recently gained more interest from both academia and industry. However, there exist many challenges in cellular-based V2X communications in which resource allocation is one of the main challenges. In this paper, we propose a graph and deep reinforcement learning-based resource allocations in which channels for vehicular communications are assigned in a centralized manner by the base station whereas vehicular user equipment uses deep reinforcement learning for distributed power control. Graph-based channel allocation includes a weighted bipartite matching and clustering scheme and relies on strictly limited channel state information (CSI). Whereas, power selection is performed using deep reinforcement learning where each agent selects the transmission power to maximize the aggregated V2V data rate. Our proposed scheme relies on realistic channel assumption with minimum transmission overhead. In addition, we have also performed simulations and have shown that our scheme is better compared to previous schemes in terms of sum V2V and sum V2I capacity.


In the previous class, we have defined the class QMA, which can be seen as the quantum analogue of NP. We have also shown how to amplify its acceptance probabilities to be exponentially close to 0 and1 (the proof can be found in [ 3]). The basic idea was to apply the original verifier several times and then take the majority vote among the answers. Since the (quantum) witness is potentially ruined after a measurement, we had to supply the new verifier with several copies of the original witness. In this lecture we will show an alternative approach to amplifying QMA, due to Marriott and Watrous [4]. The advantage of this approach is that the witness remains the same. In other words, only one copy of the original witness is enough. In addition to being an interesting result by its own right, such 'witnesspreserving amplification' has several applications, such as the one we'll see at the end of this lecture. Moreover, a similar approach was recently used in a result of Watrous on zero knowledge against quantum attacks [8]. Let us recall the definition of the class QMA. We start with the well-known classical class NP. We say that a family indexed by{0, 1}∗ is uniformly generated , if there exists an algorithm that given a bit string x, generates the corresponding element of the family in time polynomial in the length of x. Then the class NP can be defined as follows.


Abstract : The objective of this effort is to develop a hybrid control theory for multiple UAVs. Specifically, to develop: A) A hybrid interface between discrete and continuous systems, B) A coordination algorithm for UAVs with distributed sensors. Application areas are air traffic control and satellite formation flight. 1) Real time hybrid system analysis and controller design, 2) Distributed sensing systems, and 3) Asynchronous control theory. Hybrid design (1) is based on solving a constrained optimization problem. This is solved using LMIs with ellipsoidal bounding. The discrete modes use a theorem proven to validate that the modes transition correctly. Distributed sensing (2) is based on precision control of formations of UAVs or satellites with SAR or optical interferometry. Coordinated video ad motion is used to estimate position and resolve conflicts. Asynchronous theory (3) is needed for an effective distributed control architecture. Data is time stamped and weighed with value over time.


Themeda and Heteropogon are closely related grass genera frequently dominant in tropical C4 grasslands. Relationships between them are poorly resolved, impeding ecological study, especially of T. triandra with a broad distribution from Africa to East Asia, and H. contortus with a pantropical distribution. Our analyses of plastome and nuclear genomes with comprehensive sampling of Themeda and Heteropogon demonstrate that neither genus is monophyletic as currently circumscribed. Plastome and nuclear data place H. melanocarpus and H. ritchiei in Themeda. Nested in T. triandra are T. quadrivalvis and T. unica, demonstrating that this widespread species is more morphologically diverse than previously recognized. Heteropogon fischerianus is nested in H. contortus. The picture is more complex for H. triticeus that is sister to H. contortus in the nuclear analysis and to Cymbopogon in the plastome analysis. This incongruence between nuclear and plastid phylogenetic trees suggests hybridization between Cymbopogon-related genome donors and H. contortus. Plastome dating estimates the Themeda–Heteropogon crown age at c. 7.6 Myr, consistent with the Miocene C4 grassland expansion. Themeda triandra and H. contortus diversified 1–2 Mya in the Pleistocene. These results establish a foundation for studying the history of these ecologically significant widespread grasses and the ecosystems they form.


In this study the 5-amino-levulic acid containing Pentakeep-V nano-fertilizer was examined in 0.3 ml/l, 0.5 ml/l and 0.7 ml/l concentrations with irrigating or spraying treatment on Begonia x tuberhybrida 'Nonstop' seedling production. The experiment was conducted in Zajzon, in a 300 m 2 heated plastic tunnel, from January 2012 to June 2012. Best result was obtained with 0.5 ml/l concentration in the case of all examined parameters. Pentakeep-V had positive effect in all examined concentrations with both ways of treatments on all measured parameters instead of plant height. The plant growing time was shortened thanking to the treatments. Using additional artificial light plants developed more and bigger flowers. Spraying was more effective comparing to irrigation. All the treatments had positive effect on chlorophyll content in the leaves. Summarizing Pentakeep-V nano-fertilizer can be offered in 0.5 ml/l concentration with spraying treatment in the seedling production of Begonia x tuberhybrida 'Nonstop'. Additional light enhances the effect in most examined parameters that is needed in the general practice during short day growing period.         Â


Telemedicine can do much to enhance the delivery and quality of care children receive. These technologies can provide home-based monitoring of children with complex medical needs; access to specialty care when such resources are in short supply or separated by long distances; hospital-based


This month we're featuring 3 olive oils and 3 balsamic condimentos, Most are featured in our monthly recipe section and are among our bestsellers.


Since the issuance of the Plan for Furthering the Standardization Reforms in March 2015, in the more than five years of cultivating and developing social organization standards, government departments and social organizations across the country have actively promoted social organization standardization work, and social organization standards have developed rapidly in China. In order to better study the standardization work of various local organizations, this paper selected Beijing for research based on big data analysis methods. In the process of actively implementing the standardization reform policy, cultivating and developing social organization standards, Beijing's social organization standardization work has achieved remarkable results, but there are also some problems. Based on the data disclosed by the National Social Organization Standard Information Platform, this paper sorts out and summarizes the situation of Beijing's social organizations carrying out social organization standardization work, analyzes existing problems and makes suggestions.


Here, (Σg, p1, . . . , pn) denotes an algebraic curve of genus g with at most double-point singularities as well as with the distinct marked points p1, . . . , pn, and the equivalence relation ∼ is defined by isomorphisms of Σg → P1 identical on P1 and on the markings. Denote by Li the ith tautological line bundle on Mg,n(P, β), and by ψi := c1(Li), i = 1, . . . , n the ψ-classes, and evi, i = 1, . . . , n the evaluation maps


Slope instabilities take part in weathering and transport processes at the surface. Prediction of their dynamics remains difficult in spite of a considerable amount of studies. On Mars, several types of gravitational flows are subject of debate as to the possible water content. The runout distance is extensively used in analysis of landslide dynamics and in the Calibration of the rheological parameters involved in numerical modelling. However, the unknown impact of the uncertainty in the shape of the initial released mass on the runout distance and on the overall shape of the deposit questions the relevance of these approaches. Indeed, the shape of the initial scar is generally unknown in real cases. Our study is based on numerical simulations coupled with remote sensing data analysis. The model used in this study has been intensively compared with laboratory experiments and well constrained natural cases in order to establish its range of use. We have also developed a pre-event topographic reconstruction method using remote sensing data allowing the study of the topographic and initial failure plane geometry effects. We show that the runout distance is a robust parameter that is only poorly affected by the initial scar geometry. On the contrary, the extent of the deposits perpendicular to the main mass displacement direction is shown to be controlled by the scar geometry, providing a unique tool to retrieve information of the initial failure geometry, as well as on the released volume. A feedback analysis of Martian landslides shows excellent agreement between numerical results and geomorphological evidence, providing insight into the initial landsliding conditions.


Net form of net blotch (NFNT) is the most dangerous and devastating disease of barley causing huge losses in Russia. Highly effective gene rpt 5 determining resistance to net blotch pathogen in Russia was used in the study. A set of 95 winter barley indigenous and exotic varieties were studied to identify the genotypes with the alleles of 153 and 155 bp for the locus bmag173 and the alleles of 186, 188, 192 bp for the locus hvm74 exhibiting resistance to the net blotch pathogen (Pyrenophora teres Drechs. f. teres) occurring in North Caucasus region of Russia.


This paper examines New Zealand tertiary teachers' use of metaphor and their attitudes to the consumer metaphor in relation to teaching. Based on interviews with 16 tertiary teachers, this study shows that although teachers believe the consumer metaphor is accepted by students, tertiary institutions and policy makers, and that it has affected their approaches to students and teaching, they did not embrace it in their own practice. Participants produced preferred alternative metaphors which were embedded in situated accounts of teaching practice, and showed a flexible approach to the teacher–student relationship. The situated nature of metaphors as they were shaped in participant talk also leads us to suggest that further work on the constitution and application of metaphor in varying teaching contexts is important.


Ancrod is a substance purified from the venom of the Malaysian pit viper that causes rapid defibrinogentation in humans. Because defibrinogentation


14072 Background: Advanced HCC is refractory to most standard forms of chemotherapy, however responses to DOX are seen. The bcl-2 protein confers resistance to apoptosis in cancer cells and is important in tumor progression and resistance to chemotherapy. The bcl-2 antisense oligonucleotide, G3139 (G), has been shown to enhance the activity of DOX in tumor models by blocking bcl-2 synthesis. This argues for evaluating G + DOX in combination in HCC. By decreasing tumor bcl-2 protein levels, HCC may be sensitized to the apoptotic effects of DOX.

METHODS
We completed a phase II trial evaluating treatment with G at 7 mg/ kg for 7 days cont. i.v. infusion (d1-8) plus DOX at 45 mg/m2 i.v. bolus d5, every 28 d (as determined from our phase I HCC study). Eligible patients (pts) had path-confirmed, measurable, advanced HCC. Minimal eligibility included Childs-Pugh A cirrhosis, adequate hematological (hem) parameters and ECOG PS <2. Tumor biopsies for correlative studies were obtained at baseline and cycle 1 d 4 in consenting pts.

RESULTS
19 patients were accrued, 1 was ineligible, 18 evaluable for toxicity, 17 evaluable for response; receiving a median (med) of 2 cycles (range 1,10). Risk for HCC was 39% HBV, 22% HCV, 17% alcohol, 22% other. Most common toxicities were hem and could be attributed to both G+DOX and to G alone. Overall grade 3-4 toxicities seen were: ANC- 67% (med nadir d 24-25), lymphopenia - 44%, thrombocytopenia - 6%, transaminitis - 33% and grade 1-2 G-fever - 67%. No responses were seen and the trial was stopped at stage 1. Six patients (35%) had stable disease, with one pt completing 10 cycles as per protocol (pt # 22). Med TTP is 1.8 months (1.7-NA) and 6-month PFS is 17.2% (5.3-56.4). 18 of 19 pts have died with med OS of only 5.4 months (2.7-11.6). Correlative studies on 3 available pts' paired tumor biopsies showed absent baseline bcl-2 expression but moderate expression of both bcl-xl and BAX protein and with no change after exposure to G (includes pt #22).

CONCLUSIONS
G + DOX is inactive in HCC at this dose and schedule. The overlap of hem toxicity may have resulted in suboptimal DOX dosing in HCC. Low baseline bcl-2 tumor expression relative to bcl-xl seen may suggest a relative insensitivity to the effects of bcl-2 inhibition in these HCC tumors. [Table: see text].


In the worldwide, approximately 20 to 50% of populations suffer from periodontal diseases [1]. According to NHIS (2017), 7.38 million people experienced medical treatment because of periodontitis in 2009 and 14.19 million people in 2016 in South Korea, which was increased by 92.3% in only 5 years [2]. The major oral pathogenic bacteria that occur periodontitis are Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia and Fusobacterium nucleatum by disruption of alveolar bone and inflammation disperse [3,4]. Periodontitis is well-known for a risk of many other diseases such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver, and rheumatic arthritis [1,5]. It is important that a treatment of periodontitis can protect various diseases, and thus, prevention of oral pathogens is necessary.


Colorectal cancer is the second most deadly cancer in the United States and there is an urgent need to develop effective preventive and therapeutic strategies against it. The aim of our study was to investigate the antitumor effects of a nutrient mixture containing ascorbic acid, lysine, proline and green tea extract that has been previously demonstrated a strong anticancer activity in several cancer cell types. We studied the effect of NM on human colon cancer cell line HCA-7 in vitro by measuring cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and expression of pro-inflammatory COX-2 and COX-1 proteins. Human colon cancer cell line HCA-7 was cultured in RPMI medium supplemented with fetal bovine serum and antibiotics. After 24 h, the cells were treated with NM at 0, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 μg/ml, in triplicate at each dose. Cell proliferation was evaluated by MTT assay, invasion through MatrigelTM, MMP secretion was evaluated by zymography, and COX-2 and COX-1 expression by Western blot. The results showed that NM significantly inhibited the growth of HCA-7 cells, by 61% at 500 μg/ml and 82% at 1000 μg/ml. HCA-7 cell invasion through MatrigelTM was significantly reduced by 90% at NM dose 50 μg/ml, and the invasion was virtually completely blocked at 100 μg/ml NM. NM also inhibited COX-2 expression in a dose-dependent fashion, but had no effect on COX-1 expression. Conclusions: our results suggest that NM has potent inhibitory effects on HCA-7 cell growth and expression of markers of inflammation of colon cancer, and can be used as a novel cancer treatment strategy. Nutrient Mixture Inhibits Proliferation, Invasion, Apoptosis, and Curbs Inflammatory Markers in Human Colon Cancer Cell Line HCA-7


Under the consideration of the fuzzy satisfaction degree of stand on vessel to the time adopted by given way vessel in collision avoidance, the uncertainty of given way vessel to take collision avoidance action according to distances and DCPAs, the possibility of stand on vessel to take herself action of collision avoidance and the last opportunity point to use helm, the model of optimization of time of collision avoidance is established. Based on the investigation to mariners' behavior of collision avoidance the model is used to determine the time of given way vessel to adopt action of collision avoidance.


Cornerstone design at James Madison University is a two-semester, client-based service learning project. Each year, sophomore engineering students work to design human-powered vehicles for a community member with needs very different from their own as a result of cerebral palsy. This paper provides a reflection of the fifth iteration (2013-2014) of this year-long sophomore design experience with the overarching goal to provide a transferable model such that other engineering programs may learn from our lessons and develop their own service learning experience. The reflection contained in this paper was catalyzed through participation in the National Science Foundation-funded Integrating Design and Community Engagement within the Curriculum Workshop hosted at Purdue University from June 19-20, 2014. In addition to reflection on the course, the paper provides insight into course coordination and assessment, and lessons learned over the past five years.


Trafficking of Integral Membrane Proteins of the Inner Nuclear Membrane Can Be Mediated by the "Sorting Motif" of Autographa californica Nucleopolyhedrovirus ODV-E66. (August 2005) Shawn T. Williamson, B.S., Texas A&M University Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Max D. Summers The amino-terminal 33 amino acids of the baculovirus integral membrane protein, ODV-E66, are sufficient for localization of fusion proteins to viralinduced intranuclear microvesicles (MV) and occlusion derived virus envelopes during infection, and has been termed the sorting motif (SM). When abundantly expressed, SM-fusions are also detected in the inner nuclear membrane (INM), outer nuclear membrane and endoplasmic reticulum of infected cells, suggesting proteins with the SM use the same trafficking pathway as cellular INM proteins to traffic to nuclear membranes. This study identifies the essential characteristics required for sorting of the SM to the INM of uninfected cells, and the MV and ODV envelopes of infected cells. These features are an 18 amino acid transmembrane sequence that lacks polar and charged amino acids (a.a.) with a cluster of charged a.a. spaced 5-11 residues from the end of the transmembrane sequence. A comparison of the a.a. sequence of these SM features with cellular INM proteins shows the features are conserved. The model of INM protein sorting and localization predicts the only known sorting event during INM protein trafficking is immobilization/retention in the INM.


The present paper deals with mirror symmetry aspects of compact "barely" G2 man- ifolds, that is, G2 manifolds of the form (CY×S 1 )/Z2. We propose that the mirror of any barely G2 manifold is another barely manifold constructed as a fibration of the mirror of the CY base. Also, we describe the Joyce manifolds of the first kind as "barely" with an underlying CY which is self-mirror with h 1,1 = h 2,1 = 19. We propose that the mirror of a Joyce space of the first kind is another Joyce space of the first kind. We also suggest that this self-mirror CY family is dual to K3×S 1 in the heterotic/M-theory sense. The Borcea-Voisin construction plays a signif- icant role for showing this. As a spin-off we conclude that no 5-brane instantons are present in compactifications of eleven dimensional supergravity over Joyce manifolds of the first kind.


The prion strain 301V, is a mouse passaged form of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). It has been used as a model of BSE for more than 20 years, in particular in the investigation of tissue distribution of infectivity, the molecular phenotype and transmission properties of BSE, strain typing assays and prion inactivation studies. Most 301V experiments have required murine bioassay as a method for the quantitation of infectivity. To date this model strain has not been studied with the protein misfolding cyclic amplification assay (PMCA) which detects prion-associated PrP protein. The detection of BSE PrP by PMCA can be more sensitive than mouse bioassay and is carried out in a much shorter time frame of days as opposed to months/years. Here, we describe the development of a new highly sensitive and specific PMCA assay for murine 301V and assess the sensitivity of the assay in direct comparison with murine bioassay of the same material. This assay detected, in a few in vitro days, 301V at a brain dilution of at least 1x10 , compared to bioassay of the same material in VM mice that could detect down to a 1x10 dilution and took >180 days. The 301V PMCA may therefore offer a faster and more sensitive alternative to live animal bioassay when studying the BSE agent in VM mice. Ben C. Maddison ( ) Corresponding author: firstname.lastname@example.com Gough KC, Bishop K, Somerville RA How to cite this article: et al. A sensitive 301V BSE serial PMCA assay [version 1; referees: awaiting 2016, :2529 (doi: ) peer review] F1000Research 5 10.12688/f1000research.9735.1 © 2016 Gough KC . This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the , which Copyright: et al Creative Commons Attribution Licence permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Data associated with the article are available under the terms of the (CC0 1.0 Public domain dedication). Creative Commons Zero "No rights reserved" data waiver This work was funded by DEFRA under project SE1433 (Robert Somerville) and by BBSRC Institute Strategic Grant Grant information: BB/J004332/1 (The Roslin Institute). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Competing interests: No competing interests were disclosed. 18 Oct 2016, :2529 (doi: ) First published: 5 10.12688/f1000research.9735.1 1 2 3 3


The human voice encodes a wealth of information about emotion, mood and mental states. With the advent of pervasively available speech collection methods (e.g., mobile phones) and the low-computation costs of speech analysis, it suggests that non-invasive, relatively reliable, and modestly inexpensive platforms are available for mass and long-term deployment of a mental health monitor. In the thesis, I describe my investigation pathway on speech analysis to measure a variety of mental states, including affect and those triggered by psychological stress and sleep deprivation.
This work has contributions in many folds, and it brings together techniques from several areas, including speech processing, psychology, human-computer interaction, and mobile computing systems. First, I revisited emotion recognition methods by building an affective model with a naturalistic emotional speech dataset, which is consisted of a realistic set of emotion labels for real world applications. Then, leveraging the speech production theory I verified that the glottal vibrational cycles, the source of speech production, are physically affected by psychological states, e.g., mental stress. Finally, I built the AMMON (Affective and Mental health MONitor) library, a low footprint C library designed for widely available phones as an enabler of applications for richer, more appropriate, and more satisfying human-computer interaction and healthcare technologies.


Invasive aspergillosis is an emerging problem in immunocompromised patients with a poor prognosis and is particularly serious in patients with cystic fibrosis undergoing lung transplantation (CFLTx). Today the antifungal therapeutic arsenal offers several possibilities for long term oral therapy including azole drugs: voriconazole (VRZ) and posaconazole (PSZ). VRZ is extensively metabolized by the cytochrome isoenzymes (CYP), mainly CYP2C19, and to a lesser extend, CYP3A4 and CYP2C9. VRZ and PSZ are known to be potent inhibitors of CYP3A4 resulting in drug drug interactions (DDI). Targets for such DDI are numerous, but immunosuppressive drugs (IS) are of major concern. The aim of this study is to explore the variability of VRZ and PSZ exposure in CFLTx patients. 53 patients received VRZ (n = 35) and PSZ (n = 17). Analysis of trough concentrations (C0) shows subtherapeutic levels with VRZ (30%) and PSZ (65%) justifying the use of high doses (respectively 43%, p <0. 01 and 35% p <0. 0001). Carriers of the CYP2C19*2 deficient allele require standard VRZ doses but exhibit a higher variability compared with wild type. Quantitative DDI analysis shows that tacrolimus (IS) dose should be decreased by factors of 3 and 4 respectively with PSZ and VRZ. The risk of long underdosed periods, frequently addressed in this population, could justify, on a pharmacokinetic (PK) basis, the need for combination with an exclusive parenteral antifungal while waiting for azole relevant drug level. High PK variability, the risk of low exposure, therapeutic issues and DDI management in CF disease justify close monitoring with systematic combined therapeutic drug monitoring of azole and IS


This paper puts forward an analysis of the rope as a literary motive in the different literatures in Spain during the last Middle Age. Given that this element has a remarkable role in traditional poetry, different examples have been taken from poems collected in Cancioneros. Such examples make reference to ropes, laces, belts and rings, which are regarded as clothes that receive a similar literary treatment. To do that, some tokens of poems from the different traditions that haven't been classified by language or geographycal area will be offered. The principal goal is to explore this motive in order to know to what extent it behaves uniformly or, on the contrary, differs in texts of different nature, both linguistic and textual.


A rotary MRF (magnetorheological fluids) damper is introduced in tension control systems. An experimental tension control system is designed by using the MRF damper as tension control actuator. Control strategies of the tension control system are studied. A fuzzy-PID feedback controller for the tension control system is constructed, modeled, and numerically simulated by means of MATLAB/ SIMULINK, where the variable parameters of the PID were modified by using the fuzzy inference rules. Numerical simulation results indicate that the fuzzy-PID control strategy can be used in the tension control system to get better performance than the conventional PID control strategy.


In the past few decades, nonconventional learner-centered (NLC) trends in ELT have emerged amidst the current and dominant conventional teacher-centered (CTC) approaches used by majority of private and public schools in the Philippines. The argument of which approach is more effective seems to have surfaced in the recent years. In several literatures, both approaches have been found effective in teaching in different disciplines. However, in the teaching of literature, speci$cally Afro-Asian literature, it seems that limited studies have been conducted in the Philippine private school context. This comparative study focuses on the Grade 8 ESL literature classes of Hope Christian High School, Manila, Philippines and aims to determine which approach is more effective in teaching Afro-Asian literature. The teacher preferred the CTC approach while students preferred the NLC approach based on qualitative data. The quantitative results showed that there were no signi$cant differences in the Afro-Asian literature test scores immediately after the CTC or NLC instructional sessions. I conclude that there is no particular teaching approach that is more effective and suggested that an eclectic or mixed approach would be more bene$cial in teaching Afro-Asian literature.


The American Thyroid Association (ATA) recommends fine‐needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy of nodules measuring >1.5 cm with low‐suspicion sonographic patterns or >1.0 cm with high/intermediate‐suspicion features. Routine biopsy of nodules <1 cm is not recommended. However, despite these recommendations, subcentimeter nodules are often referred for FNA biopsy.


ABSTRACT To the Editor.— In a recent joint study of Extracranial Arterial Occlusion reported by Fields et al (211:1993, 1970), the authors elaborated various extracranial vascular patterns. They indicated a controversy between those schooled in the neurologic sciences as opposed to those schooled in the performance of a purely technical procedure. One area of major conflict has been the lack of adequate opacification of the intracranial vessels and their varying anastomatic patterns in studies performed by vascular surgeons. The importance of this was reported in 1960 by Doctor Gurdjian of Wayne State University. The authors report significant postoperative complications in those patients with carotid stenosis when the stenosis is below 50%. They even comment, "The reason for this difference is not yet clear."It is more than likely that the cerebral circulation has not adjusted itself to this borderline extracranial occlusion and it is this lack of adequate collateral circulation


Background:
 Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), mainly caused by LDL receptor gene mutation is attracting a lot of attention associated with the development of novel therapies. However, rare mutations tend to be ethnicity-specific, hence, it is always difficult to determine pathogenicity of LDL receptor gene mutation in a single individual in a certain ethnicity. Currently, little data exist on the pathogenic mutations of LDL receptor in Japanese familial hypercholesterolemia (FH).

 Objective:
 We aimed to catalogue the pathogenic mutations of LDL receptor gene in the 2 major Japanese FH-care centers (Kanazawa University and National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center Research Institute), where genetic testing of FH has been performed centrally upon requests from institutes all over Japan during more than past two decades.

 Methods:
 796 FH subjects from 472 families who had nonsynonymous mutations in LDL receptor gene were included in this study. Genetic mutations were analyzed for mutations by Sanger sequencing as well as by multiplex ligation probe dependent amplification (MLPA) technique for large rearrangements. Pathogenic mutations were defined either as 1) protein truncated variants, 2) registered as pathogenic in Clinvar, or Human Gene Mutation Database (HGMD), or meet the criteria of American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) guideline, or 3) CADD-score > 10.

 Results:
 We found 138 different mutations. Among them, 132 mutations were considered as pathogenic, including 19 large rearrangement mutations. Whereas, 6 missense mutations were classified as variants of unknown significance (VUS). A single mutation accounted for as much as 41 % of the FH subjects recruited from Kanazawa University mainly due to founder gene effect, whereas, many singleton mutations were found from National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center Research Institute located in Osaka.

 Conclusions:
 We provided the largest catalogue of pathogenic mutations of LDL receptor gene in Japanese FH. This could aid to determine the pathogenicity of the LDL receptor genetic mutations not only in Japanese but also in other ethnicities.


The secretion of reactive oxygen species isolated from peripheral blood by polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PML) and PML within whole blood, after pre-incubation of blood samples or PML suspensions with coloring agent tartrazine used at different concentrations in healthy donors and patients with tartrazine intolerance was investigated with chemiluminescence method. There are significant differences in indicators of barium sulfate-stimulated luminol-dependent chemiluminescence (SLCL) of whole blood PML in donors and patients with tartrazine intolerance. The significant differences in SLCL indicators and stimulated lucigenin-dependent CL of PML isolated in donors and patients with tartarzine intolerance have not been identified that indirectly indicates the absence of any features in the oxidative metabolism enzymes under the influence of PML in patients with tartrazine intolerance compared with healthy donors.


In this paper the tabulated histories which make up its major portion are abstracted from a series of observations made in the clinic of ophthalmic surgery of the University of Michigan, and are arranged in parallel columns in juxtaposition with the medical diagnosis and an abstract of the laboratory findings in each case. While some of the cases might possibly have been somewhat differently classified, the fact that the diagnosis was made in the clinic of internal medicine in connection with the symptoms and with the many other features which could not be presented within the limits of this paper has seemed to be a sufficient reason for accepting the medical diagnosis without question. The conclusions and summaries are based exclusively on the tabulation of the features observed. While this study has been carried on with a full knowledge that the ground has already been repeatedly covered, the excuse for


The article is devoted to the problem of health promotion and physical development improvement. The author considers individual forming of physical education of humanitarian university students in a special medical group.


It is shown that, for every n (cid:62) 2, the maximum length of the shortest string accepted by an n -state direction-determinate two-way finite automaton is exactly (cid:0) n (cid:98) n 2 (cid:99) (cid:1) − 1 (direction-determinate automata are those that always remember in the current state whether the last move was to the left or to the right). For two-way finite automata of the general form, a family of n -state automata with shortest accepted strings of length 34 · 2 n − 1 is constructed.


The creation of an international network of ground validation (GV) sites that will support the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Mission's international science programme will require detailed planning of mechanisms for exchanging technical information, GV data products, and scientific results. An important component of the planning will be the philosophical guide under which the network will grow and emerge as a successful element of the GPM Mission. This philosophical guide should be able to serve the mission in developing scientific pathways for ground validation research which will ensure the highest possible quality measurement record of global precipitation products. The philosophical issues, in this regard, partly stem from the financial architecture under which the GV network will be developed, i.e., each participating country will provide its own financial support through committed institutions -- regardless of whether a national or international space agency is involved.At the 1st International GPM Ground Validation Workshop held in Abingdon, UK in November-2003, most of the basic tenants behind the development of the international GV network were identified and discussed. Therefore, with this progress in mind, this presentation is intended to put forth a strawman philosophical guide supporting the development of the international network of GPM GV sites, noting that the initial progress has been reported in the Proceedings of the 1st International GPM GV Workshop -- available online. The central philosophical issues themselves, all flow from the fact that each participating institution can only bring to the table, GV facilities and scientific personnel that are affordable to the sanctioning (funding) national agency (be that a research, research-support, or operational agency). This situation imposes on the network, heterogeneity in the measuring sensors, data collection periods, data collection procedures, data latencies, and data reporting capabilities. Therefore, in order for the network to be effective in supporting the central scientific goals of the GPM mission, there must be a basic agreed upon doctrine under which the network participants function vis-a-vis: (1) an overriding set of general scientific requirements, (2) a minimal set of policies governing the free flow of GV data between the scientific participants, (3) a few basic definitions concerning the prioritization of measurements and their respective value to the mission, (4) a few basic procedures concerning data formats, data reporting procedures, data access, and data archiving, and (5) a simple means to differentiate GV sites according to their level of effort and ability to perform near real-time data acquisition - data reporting tasks. Most important, in case they choose to operate as a near real-time data collection-data distribution site, they would be expected to operate under a fairly narrowly defined protocol needed to ensure smooth GV support operations. This presentation will suggest measures responsive to items (1) - (5) from which to proceed,. In addition, this presentation will seek to stimulate discussion and debate concerning how much heterogeneity is tolerable within the eventual GV site network, given that the any individual GV site can only be considered scientifically useful if it supports the achievement of the central GPM Mission goals. Only ground validation research that has a direct connection to the space mission should be considered justifiable given the overarching scientific goals of the mission. Therefore each site will have to seek some level of accommodation to what the GPM Mission requires in the way of retrieval error characterization, retrieval error detection and reporting, and generation of GV data products that support assessment and improvement of the mission's standard precipitation retrieval algorithms. These are all important scientific issues that will be best resolved in open scientific debate.


The reaction mechanism of raw dolomite was analysed.The test have been implemented.The effect was generalized.The result is: application of raw dolomite in converter can reduce lime 3.3 kg/t,light burning dolomite 7.2 kg/t,coolant7.4 kg/t,decrease cost 9.74¥/t.


Radiotherapy and chemo-radiotherapy increasingly often achieve cure in gynaecological and prostate cancer, but radiation enteritis/proctitis remains a problem in acute phases of treatment in more than 70% of patients. In most cases this resolves rapidly, but in at least 5% of patients it persists or re-presents as chronic radiation damage. This may be progressive and is associated with diarrhoea, rectal bleeding, incontinence, and poor quality of life. It has engaged surprisingly little attention. Standard management during radiotherapy includes a low fibre diet. Although this may reduce some acute symptoms it also deprives the bowel of fibre-derived short chain fatty acids which (particularly butyrate) are its essential nutrients. We hypothesised that possible advantages of fibre avoidance are outweighed by less restrained damage to the mucosa, and perhaps by a longer-term insult which in some patients leads to chronic radiation bowel disease. The proposed work explores the provision of short chain fatty acids to the bowel and the importance of short chain fatty acids in angiogenesis. Our meta-analysis has shown that probiotics may have a role in prevention of radiation-induced sequelae. We have been able to encapsulate short chain fatty acids in alginate beads and have successfully used these beads to deliver short chain fatty acids to the chick chorio-allantoic membrane assay model; the beads have the potential for future colon-specific delivery in man. Our results have shown that propionate may increase angiogenesis. The study on effect of Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT) on gut microbiota has shown that Androgen Deprivation Therapy before radiotherapy in patients undergoing radiotherapy for prostate cancer does not have a dramatic effect on their microbiota. Our trial with fructooligosaccharide is an ongoing trial where fructooligosaccharide is given prophylactically in a blinded, placebo-controlled fashion to patients undergoing pelvic irradiation for gynaecological and prostate malignancy. It will serve as a pilot study for the postulated influence of fructooligosaccharide on late-stage chronic radiation disease.


AIM:To evaluate root canal deviation during instrumentation of curved root canals.METHODS: 8 curved artificial root canals were prepared with stainless steel K files by routine technique. The root canals were photographed by digital camera.The images were analysed by the software Image-Pro Plus.The shapes and positions of the root canals were measured and analysed.RESULTS: The curved root canals were straightened step by step during the process of canal preparation.The angles of the root canal curvature decreased while the radius of the curvature and the areas of the canal contour increased.Apical zipping and canal elbow were created.3 over-cutting zones appeared at the wall of the root canals.CONCLUSIONS: The direction and degree of the canal deviation varied with the level of the root canals during instrumentation of curved root canals.Familiar of the morphology of curved root canal and mechanical features of canal instruments would be helpful for avoiding canal deviation.


Leadership in Higher Education is as yet an under-researched topic but one which is clearly coming to the forefront in current higher education literature. Universities are under as much pressure as other public funded entities to change and adapt to the challenges we face in the 21 st century. An important aspect of that change is to examine our conceptions of leadership and our identities as leaders and ask ourselves how we might make a stronger and more explicit contribution to developing the leaders of the future. On the one hand universities are charged with becoming more bureaucratic, more managerial with institutional leaders perhaps overly focused on performativity and revenue generation. On the other hand there are growing expectations of higher education to contribute more to society by strengthening its role in building leadership capacity and capability. This article explores different interpretations, viewpoints and epistemological approaches to leadership and leadership development and challenges readers to take more responsibility for engaging with the leadership literature and blending the scholarship of leadership and the scholarship of learning and teaching.


Women born small are at an increased risk of developing pregnancy complications. Stress may further increase a woman's likelihood for an adverse pregnancy. Adverse pregnancy adaptations can lead to long‐term diseases even after her pregnancy. The current study investigated the effects of stress during pregnancy on the long‐term adrenal, metabolic and cardio‐renal health of female rats that were born small. Stress programmed increased adrenal Mc2r gene expression, a higher insulin secretory response to glucose during intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (+36%) and elevated renal creatinine clearance after pregnancy. Females that were born small had increased homeostatic model assessment‐insulin resistance and elevated systolic blood pressure after pregnancy, regardless of stress exposure. These findings suggest that being born small or being stressed during pregnancy programs long‐term adverse health outcomes after pregnancy. However, stress in pregnancy does not exacerbate the long‐term adverse health outcomes for females that were born small.


Large quantities of fly ash (FA) are generated annually in South Africa and some of it is used in backfill operations. However, this waste can also be used to treat acid mine drainage (AMD,) another waste stream commonly found in the minerals industry. Particle size distribution (PSD) of FA plays an important role in the AMD treatment quality and viscosity of the residual solids that can be used directly for backfill purposes. In this study, we have investigated the behaviour of two types of FA in treating AMD as well as the rheology of the resulting paste. Small-scale studies were first carried out in the laboratory where the rheology was determined using a rheometer as well as larger-scale pipe tests. Chemistry studies indicated that the higher fines fraction enhances the treatment of AMD by reducing the time taken to reduce the pH to a minimum of 7. However, it was found with the two different types of FA tested, increasing the coarse fraction results in higher viscosity than when the fines fraction is increased. Similar behaviour was found in previous studies but the viscosity increase was attributed to changes in pH. However, this study shows that there may be some truth in the controversial effect of coarse particles on the rheology of suspensions.