School geography is a subject which has more possibilities to modernize the teaching than other subjects. It is thanks to the interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary character of the geography science in general. Modern geography could benefit mainly from the cross-curricular links. At the same time it applies modern, but concurrently established and verified concepts as for example inquiry-based education, philosophy for children, global development education or the use of mobile applications et al. The inquiry-based education (IBE) methods deepen pupils' interest with exploration, they develop their critical thinking and teach them to orientate within the information smog, and they make school and teaching closer to real life. Presented case study is an example of use of the IBE teaching activity at the border geography and biology. The direct and real contact of pupils with the observed animals indicates that this kind of education awakes pupils' interest in living nature. The teaching activity motivated the pupils to develop affection for animals and to get to know their zoogeographic area of habitat. At the same time, the activity is a perfect example of the so-called "inadvertent learning" (Petty, 2013).


With the economic globalization's steps quickened,every country and the individual can not avoids the objective facts that Chinese socialist economy begins the joint with world economy.However,confronted the powerful capitalist camp,socialist economy advances simultaneously with capitalist economy,maintains socialist system as well,for this purpose we must take advanced culture as its guide of action.In view of this,the trend of socialist economy is consistent with the development of advcmced culture.


The term "therapeutic angiogenesis" was coined to describe intervention used to treat or prevent pathological clinical situations characterized by local hypovascularity by stimulating or inducing neovascularization.1 Angiogenesis is defined as the formation of new blood vessels from preexisting vessels by the process of cellular outgrowth. Angiogenesis differs from vasculogenesis, which is an embryonic phenomenon in which new blood vessels are formed de novo from blood islands composed of committed stem cells. Therefore, angiogenesis accounts for all new vessel growth after embryonic life and is a normal function of such processes as injury repair and the female reproductive cycle. The angiogenic process requires a concerted series of events. These include the migration and proliferation of endothelial cells in and away from the original microvasculature, the breakdown of basement membranes and the controlled expression of proteolytic enzymes that can degrade extracellular matrices, the reassembly of new extracellular matrix, and endothelial tube formation. Under certain circumstances, insufficient angiogenesis can lead to such problems as ulcers that do not heal and myocardial infarction. Conversely, many pathologies are complicated by unregulated angiogenesis and are typified by cancer, diabetic retinopathy, and atherosclerosis itself (see below).

The normal process of angiogenesis is controlled by the balance of proangiogenic and antiangiogenic molecules that are spatially and temporally regulated in vivo (reviewed in Reference 2 and references cited there). In addition to VEGF, proangiogenic molecules include members of the FGF family, transforming growth factor-β, tumor necrosis factor-α, platelet-derived growth factor-BB, and others. These soluble molecules exert their angiogenic stimuli by coupling to cell surface receptor molecules that span the plasma membrane and trigger the requisite functions within endothelial cells through signaling cascades. Recently, much interest has been placed on the role of VEGF (also known as vascular permeability factor) in angiogenesis because the receptors that control the intracellular …


Poster presentado en: 7th International Conference of the UISPP Commission on Flint Mining in Pre- and Protohistoric Times. Mining and Quarrying: Geological Characterization, Knapping, Processes and Distribution Networks during Pre- and Protohistoric Times: Mons and Spiennes, Belgium, 28 september - 1 october, 2016


Broccoli (Brassica olerica L. var. italica) and corn (Zea mays L.) N-treated adjacent plots had essentially the same initial Ν content. Extractable inorganic Ν to a depth of 60 cm (N at 28 to 48 kg·ha-1) was considerably less than the Ν taken up into the total above-ground parts of the crop (N at 118 to 157 kg·ha-1); thus, both crops depended on mineralization of soil Ν for their growth. Although broccoli and corn had the same total demand for Ν as shown by total uptake, only broccoli responded to Ν application. Since corn required Ν over a longer period of time (116 days) than broccoli (90 days), the net mineralization rate of soil Ν [0.8 to 1.0 kg·ha-1 (per day)] matched approximately the average Ν uptake rate over the whole season [1.1 to 1.2 kg·ha-1 (per day)] in the corn trial. Net Ν mineralization rate [-0.1 to 1.4 kg·ha-1 (per day)] tended to be less than the average Ν uptake rate by broccoli (1.3 to 3.1 kg·ha-1 (per day)], resulting in the response to Ν applied. Slightly more downward movement of inorganic Ν occurred in the 1982 than in the 1979 broccoli trial. This coincided with slightly higher precipitation in 1982 particularly late in the growing season. By using path coefficient analyses, it was found that several plant variables were consistently correlated with horticultural yield, but the nature of the relationship was not consistent from year to year, suggesting that slightly different mechanisms contributed to the yield effect each year but that the net result was similar.


We applied model-based design method to hybrid magnetic suspension system combing with Matlab/Simulink simulation of floating-point PID control and fixed-point controller DSP2812.Based on the method and architecture,we established the control system quickly,the system model/design/simulation,as well as hardware implementation can be seamlessly integrated.Firstly,we built system model and control design for hybrid magnetic suspension system in matlab/simulink environment,and processed it by using its own fixed-point processing on the digital controller.Simulink code model was transforred with a digital averaging filter.Secondly,we done On-circuit debugging and verification of the algorithm via RTDX functions,and then obtained the optimization code model.Finally,downloaded the automatically generated C code into the DSP platform for controlling the hybrid magnetic suspension system.The real experiment system was developed and the control result showed that the model-based method can integrate and unify from model design and simulation to system implementation.


John Bowlby linked the pre-existing psychoanalytic theory with ethology theories, placing greater emphasis on the mother-baby interaction than on individual psychosexual development. According to Bowlby, the attachment that develops from a child's interaction with his/her caregiver can be categorized into two types: secure and insecure. The insecure type of attachment can continue throughout adulthood and can influence a person's interpersonal relationships and social life. Most commonly, people with an insecure attachment style face affect regulation problems. Mentalization is the ability to understand other people's feelings, emotions, and thoughts. Ever since Peter Fonagy developed the mentalization theory based on the attachment theory, a number of evidence-based studies have been carried out. In order to objectively assess attachment and mentalization, Fonagy and other researchers developed various assessment tools such as brief interviews on reflective functioning, mentalizing stories for adolescents, and mental state tasks. Mentalization-based treatment techniques have been applied to patients with borderline personality disorder to achieve symptomatic improvements. Psychoanalysis 2013;24:9-20


Summary Inhibitor formation is a serious complication of factor VIII (FVIII) replacement therapy for the X‐linked bleeding disorder haemophilia A and occurs in 20%–30% of patients. No prophylactic tolerance protocol currently exists. Although we reported oral tolerance induction using FVIII domains expressed in tobacco chloroplasts, significant challenges in clinical advancement include expression of the full‐length CTB‐FVIII sequence to cover the entire patient population, regardless of individual CD4+ T‐cell epitope responses. Codon optimization of FVIII heavy chain (HC) and light chain (LC) increased expression 15‐ to 42‐fold higher than the native human genes. Homoplasmic lettuce lines expressed CTB fusion proteins of FVIII‐HC (99.3 kDa), LC (91.8 kDa), C2 (31 kDa) or single chain (SC, 178.2 kDa) up to 3622, 263, 3321 and 852 μg/g in lyophilized plant cells, when grown in a cGMP hydroponic facility (Fraunhofer). CTB‐FVIII‐SC is the largest foreign protein expressed in chloroplasts; despite a large pentamer size (891 kDa), assembly, folding and disulphide bonds were maintained upon lyophilization and long‐term storage as revealed by GM1‐ganglioside receptor binding assays. Repeated oral gavages (twice/week for 2 months) of CTB‐FVIII‐HC/CTB‐FVIII‐LC reduced inhibitor titres ~10‐fold (average 44 BU/mL to 4.7 BU/mL) in haemophilia A mice. Most importantly, increase in the frequency of circulating LAP‐expressing CD4+ CD25+FoxP3+ Treg in tolerized mice could be used as an important cellular biomarker in human clinical trials for plant‐based oral tolerance induction. In conclusion, this study reports the first clinical candidate for oral tolerance induction that is urgently needed to protect haemophilia A patients receiving FVIII injections.


A tunable grating apparatus includes a plurality of grating structures contained within an optical transmission path. A microelectromechanical (MEMS) actuator is operatively connected to each grating structure for changing the separation between the grating structures and tuning the grating to a desired wavelength selectivity. The grating structures preferably form a Bragg grating.


Regulatory arrangements adopted in most Western countries involve the participation of both private-sector (professional) bodies and public-sector agencies in the formulation and administration of accounting rules. The political processes associated with the efforts of interest groups to secure favoured outcomes may involve disputes over regulatory arrangements as well as the content of specific rules.

This case study reviews inter-organizational conflict during the 1980s between government regulatory bodies and the accounting profession as they handled proposals for the introduction of disclosure rules concerning related party transactions (RPTs).

The case study illustrates how debates about the content and drafting of rules on RPTs took place in a complex organizational setting; how the activities of the profession's standard-setting bodies were hardly consistent with the pluralist ideal; but that when considered in the context of complex interactions between different agencies, the notion of 'pluralism' is of limited value when describing the underlying political processes involved in the development of accounting rules; and how simple models of'corporatism' failed to describe the dynamics of political processes surrounding particular issues. It is suggested that identifying the 'domains' of major participants in the standard-setting process, and analysing threats to these domains, may provide richer descriptions of regulatory processes than have been presented previously.


Rainfall- and earthquake-induced failures of slopes formed by volcanic soils occur frequently in Hokkaido, Japan. This study aims at clarifying failure mechanisms of volcanic slopes caused by both rainfall and freeze-thaw action in cold regions such as Hokkaido. Additionally, the mechanical behavior of volcanic slopes pre-deformed due to cyclic loadings such as seismic loadings were examined to elucidate the effect of initial water content on rainfall-induced failure of volcanic slopes. Using model slopes of different shapes constructed with volcanic soils, a series of model tests was conducted under several conditions in which spray nozzles and a shaking table were used to simulate rainfall intensity and cyclic loadings. Test results showed that surface failure of volcanic slopes differed depending strongly on their initial moisture content. Based on the results of model testing, the effects of freezing and thawing and cyclic loadings on mechanisms of rainfall-induced failure were drawn upon to propose an evaluation method for slope stability. The model test results indicated that rainfall-induced failure can be uniquely assessed by changes in water content in zones subjected to freezing and thawing or to shearing deformation due to cyclic loadings.


This article aims to center Indigenous onto-epistemologies and Black feminist geographies in considerations of place, environment, and "nature" in early childhood studies. We consider how these perspectives might enact knowledge-making that politicizes, unsettles, and (re)stories place-based studies of childhood. In particular, we are interested in possibilities for unsettling the dominance of EuroWestern knowledges in both normative and critical encounters with nature/culture and human/non-human dualisms in environmental and place-based childhood studies, particularly in working from the premise that anthropogenic vulnerabilities, anti-Blackness, and settler colonialism are intimately entangled within North American contexts. While noting the tensions between posthuman geographies, Indigenous onto-epistemologies, and Black feminist geographies, we consider how together they might enrich critical place-attuned early childhood studies. Our intent is to contribute to ongoing dialogues on the urgency of anti-racist, decolonial, and non-anthropocentric approaches within current times of environmental precarity.


Ischemic and reperfusion injury of the extremities may result in a systemic, severe and complex metabolic syndrome, manifested by acute renal failure, myoglobinuria, metabolic acidosis, hipercalemia and free radicals releasing. We investigated the functional and histologic renal changes after ischemia and reperfusion of the hind limb skeletal muscles. Rats were submitted to the ligature of the infrarenal aorta for 6 and 12 h. The animals were then randomized into four groups of 10 rats: Group I, 6 h of ischemia and 24 h of reperfusion; Group II, 12 h of ischemia and 24 h of reperfusion; Group III, 6 h of ischemia and 10 days of reperfusion; and Group IV, Group sham with no ischemia or reperfusion. Blood samples at the end of the experiment and urine volume in the first 24 h of reperfusion in group I and II and in the last day in group III for functional analysis were collected. The folowing renal functional parameters were studied: . creatinine plasmatic level, creatinine depuration and sodium urinary/creatinine urinary ratio. The kidneys were removed and a histological tubulo-interstitial lesional index was evaluated for each animal. We found higher plasma creatinine levels and morphologic changes in groups submitted to ischemia and reperfusion. Ten days after reperfusion, the histologic changes persisted despite the recovery of renal function.


FIELD: aeronautical engineering. SUBSTANCE: set of proposed invention relates to aircraft safety procedures and prevention of act of terrorism aboard aircraft. The proposed method exploits sophisticated signals with a combined amplitude modulation and phase manipulation along with duplex radio communication between the aircraft crew and control tower personnel. The proposed system comprises transceivers mounted aboard the aircraft and on the ground interconnected via appropriate radio channel. There can be explosive devices arranged in the engine nacelles, while the control board is mounted on the ground. EFFECT: higher reliability of hostage extraction from aircraft hijacked by terrorists. 2 cl, 5 dwg


The article is intended to describe the four stages of turning sacred sites into pilgrimage clusters in detail: 1) making sacred sites a place of pilgrimage; 2) promoting sacred places as attractive pilgrimage tourist destinations; 3) forming pilgrimage clusters with high competitiveness on the basis of attractive pilgrimage destinations. In order to form regional pilgrimage tourism clusters it requires to assess the quality and level of accessibility in destinations.  For this purpose, the author has established "Criteria for Assessment of Sacred Sites and Procedure for their Qualitative Classification".  It is recommended that the shrines be evaluated on a 100-point scale using the following 10 criteria:

a comprehensive range of pilgrimage information;
advanced infrastructure of pilgrimages;
prestige of pilgrimages;
worship of pilgrimages;
the rank of sanctity in the shrines;
scientific potential of pilgrimages;
the type of monuments in the shrine;
the historicity of pilgrimages;
the prodigy of the pilgrimages;

10) usefulness of the pilgrimages and opportunities to manage them.
Based on the results of the multivariate evaluation, it is recommended to distinguish between the three categories of pilgrims: "Sacred Sights", "Pilgrimage Place" and "Attractive Sanctuary". Estimating the quality of pilgrimages in Bukhara region with the mentioned established method. This article demonstrates comparative analysis and recommendations for the selection of facilities for the "Seven Saints" pilgrimage cluster.


Background: Ridges are delicately sculpted skin surface and their configural arrangements present on human fingers, toes, and soles. Aim: This study was aimed at determining the palmar ridge counts and palmar angles in acquired idiopathic blindness. Materials and Methods: The study had 72 subjects comprising 36 blind (14 females and 22 males) and 36 nonblind (18 females and 18 males). Palmar prints were obtained using print scanner (HP G3110 Photo Scanner). Results: The mean and standard deviation of the ridge counts for the total blind subjects: on the right hand, A–B was 26.02 ± 2.96, B–C was 27.04 ± 2.81, C–D was 33.16 ± 3.55; and on the left hand, A–B was 26.51 ± 2.38, B–C was 26.99 ± 2.89, and C–D was 33.20 ± 3.44. Considering the total ridge counts for the nonblind subjects on the right hand: A-B was 35.53 ± 1.99, B-C was 22.83 ± 1.87, and C-D was 41.20 ± 2.75; and on the left hand: A-B was 32.72 ± 2.54, B-C was 22.89 ± 2.24, and C-D was 41.30 ± 2.57. The palmar angles had the following values for the blind: on the right hand, ATD angle was 38.69° ± 3.65°, DAT angle was 60.11° ± 4.45°, and TDA angle was 81.19° ± 4.06°, while on the left hand: ATD angle was 38.47° ± 4.14°, DAT angle was 60.28° ± 4.49°, and TDA angle was 81.19° ± 4.50°. Conclusion: This study provides baseline information for researchers who will find it relevant in the course of their research with respect to palmar ridge counts and angles.


The Reverse K Nearest Neighbor(RKNN) problem is a generalization of the reverse nearest neighbor problem which receives increasing attention recently,but high-dimensional RKNN problem is little explored.This paper studies on the high-dimensional main-memory RKNN queries,proposes an indexing structure called Δ-RdKNN-tree,precomputes KNN distances of points in the dataset by main-memory KNN self-join based on this index and propagates these distances to higher level index nodes.Main-memory RKNN query algorithm based on this index is proposed and main-memory RKNN join algorithm is given for set-oriented RKNN queries.Analysis shows that the two algorithms are effective in high dimension space.


Traditionally, Arab women wear head scarves held in place by needles. In order to free both hands while wearing or adjusting a scarf, it is common for the lady to hold the needles temporarily between her teeth. The posture adopted during this manoeuvre, with the head tilted backwards, makes in highly likely for the person to ingest or inhale the needle accidentally. We present five patients


where E is succinic dehydrogenase, ES the-enzymesuccinate complex, and El the enzyme-malonate complex. 'Relative affinity' means the ratio Km/Ki, which is approximately equal to the ratio [S]/[I] at 50% inhibition of the catalysed reaction, provided that [S] is much greater thain Km. Conflicting values have been obtained for the relative affinity of succinic dehydrogenase for succinate and malonate. Krebs & Johnson (1948) obtained a figure of 10 with minced pigeon-breast muscle. Potter & DuBois (1943), using rat-liver homogenate, report a valfe of 50. Thorn (1951), using heart-muscle preparation with methylene blue and cyanide, obtained figures from 4-7 to 7-5 with methylene blue from 4 x 10-4 to 10-3M. Krebs, Gurin & Eggleston (1952) found a value of 60 with yeast preparations. The work to be reported was carried out using heart-muscle preparations (Keilin & Hartree, 1947). Succinic dehydrogenase activity was measured in two ways. The first method was by reduction of K8Fe(CN), in the presence of cyanide, using the Spekker absorptiometer (Ilford 601 filter) to measure the rate of decrease of optical density in the region of 400 m, (essentially the method of Slater & Bonner, 1952). The second method was manometric, using methylene blue in the presence of cyanide. Succinic oxidase activity was measured mano-metrically. Km and Ki were determined (Lineweaver & Burk, 1934) using K.Fe(CN),. Kw of succinic dehydrogenase in six preparations was between 2-5 x 10-4 and 5.3 x 10-4. Ki for -malonate was between 5*4 x 10-6 and 9*8 x 10-6. Corresponding values gave calculated Km/Ki ratios of about 50. In one preparation Km/Ki, determined directly, was 58 for succinic oxidase, and 60 for succinic dehydrogenase by the K3Fe(CN)6, method. This agreed with a value of 57 calculated from separate determinations of Km and Ki. When the ratio was determined for succinic dehydrogenase by the methylene-blue method, it varied from 6'5 to 24 with a 20-fold increase in methylene-blue concentration. These results can be explained according to the theory worked out by Slater & Bonner (1952) for fluoride and phosphate. Values of the constants kL, k2 and k3 were determined, and agreed substantially with those of Slater & Bonner. The results will be discussed.


We developed a platform supporting the evaluation of teamwork. The platform logs oral communications, collaborative tool usage and simulated physical action in the work environment. The paper brings forward observations derived from a comprehensive study of maintenance teams operating simulated network infrastructures. As positive results, we highlight that the platform supports a comprehensive analysis of teamwork at macro and micro levels, including individual and team activities, conducted in quasi naturalistic settings.


This article mainly discuses the manner of information system used in reservoir regulation connecting the Internet to realizing information share among reservoirs.


ALTHOUGH during the past twenty years much has been written concerning intervertebral disks, reports dealing with protrusions of these structures affecting the spinal cord have been relatively infrequent. Attention has naturally been focused upon the extremely common protrusions placed laterally in the lumbar or cervical canal where they usually affect but one spinal nerve and produce spinal and root pain. Protrusions situated so as to involve the spinal cord are by comparison very uncommon (Table Z). However, since their effects are so much more serious than those of the lateral protrusions, and since they occur in significant percentage in any series of cases of spinal cord compression, the importance of these medially situated protrusions is clear. This paper is based upon a personal experience of them during the last fifteen years in the Department of Neurological Surgery of St. Bartholomew's Hospital. It must be emphasized that the term intraspinal protrusion of an intervertebral disk implies that a mass of disk tissue, small or large, has escaped into the spinal canal; it is composed of the two parts of the disk-nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus; while secondary pathological change may occur in both the protrusion itself and in the joint from which it has escaped, the essential lesion is a circumscribed space occupying one composed of intervertebral disk tissue. These cases must therefore be clearly distinguished from those of spondylosis in which the essential changes in the intervertebral joints are degenerative and in which multiple joints are usually involved. Though it is now well recognized that spinal cord involvement may occur in cases of spondylosis in the cervical region such cases must not be confused with those of intervertebral disk protrusion and the present paper is not concerned with cases of spondylosis. Intervertebral disk protrusions occurring in relationship with the spinal cord produce neurological disturbance in two distinct ways. In the first place the cord may be concussed, contused, or lacerated by an acutely developing protrusion and the clinical picture is the result of this trauma. Secondly, a more gradually developing protrusion may give rise to the picture of increasing cord compression. While it seems likely that traumatic and compressive factors combine to produce the clinical picture in certain cases it is believed that the subject is clarified by the separate consideration of the two groups. In the pages which follow examples of syndromes of spinal cord injury due to intervertebral disk protrusions will first receive consideration. Then cord compression by intervertebral disk


We report that the clinically used antitumor drug mitomycin C reacts with excess dithiols to give dithiol cross-links as major products. Mechanistic studies reveal that three dithiol molecules participate at different stages of the reaction: in the reductive activation of mitomyicin C, in an alkylation at C1, and in an additional reduction that activates C10 for the second-arm alkylation by the dithiol. We hypothesize that the reactions reported here indicate that mitomycin C could act as a mechanism-based inhibitor of enzymes containing a dithiol active site. Introduction Mitomycin C (MC, 1) is an antitumor antibiotic used clinically in cancer chemotherapyand in ophthalmologic procedures. MC is a "smart" prodrug, inert towards nucleophiles in its original structure, but transformed into a highly reactive bis-electrophile after reduction. The mechanism of activation of MC is initiated by the reduction of the quinone ring of MC to form hydroquinone 2, that spontaneously eliminates methanol to form leucoaziridinomitosene 3 (Scheme 1), a bis-electrophile that alkylates cellular nucleophiles such as phosphate, bicarbonate, glutathione and DNA. 7 Sequential alkylation of DNA at the 1 and 10 positions of 3 generates a cytotoxic interstrand crosslink that specifically links N2 of opposite deoxyguanosine residues at CpG sites of double stranded DNA. Recent reports indicate that glucose regulatory protein (GRP58) plays a significant role in the cellular activation of MC, and that the activity of this protein resides in its two thioredoxin-like domains. The involvement of proteins containing a dithiol active site in the biological activity of MC is not restricted to the above mentioned activation by GRP58. We recently reported a successful activation of MC using simple dithiols as chemical models for the dithiol functional group present in the active site of proteins of the thioredoxin family. 10 Continuing with our investigation of simple thiols as a chemical model for dithiol-containing proteins in their reactions with MC we report here that dithiols, in addition to perform the reductive activation of MC, are alkylated by activated MC to form S,S'-crosslinks as the almost exclusive end products. Results and discussion The initial reactions were performed using DTT, and the product profile observed in the HPLC trace (Figure 1) consisted of four mitosenes with identical UV and MS, that we identified as the four possible diastereomeric mitosenes resulting from alkylation of DTT by a single MC molecule at its 1and 10positions. The HPLC analysis of reactions between the oxidoreductase cofactor DHLA and MC (Figure 1) revealed the formation of at least seven of the eight expected isomers, resulting from bis-alkylation of MC with one molecule of racemic DHLA. Figure 1. HPLC traces for the reaction of MC with dithiols: (a) 1,3-propanedithiol; (b) DTT; (c) DHLA. Reactions contained a molar ratio dithiol/MC = 5, and were performed at 20 oC for 8 hours, quenched by acidification and analyzed by LC/MS (λ = 310 nm). LC-HRMS gave exact masses that confirmed the molecular formula of the proposed DTT crosslinks 7 and DHLA crosslinks 8 (Chart 1). For a full characterization of the crosslinks of MC with dithiols, we used 1,3-propanedithiol as a means to simplify the composition of the reaction mixture. As expected, the reaction of MC with 1,3-propanedithiol (Figure 1) gave two isomers with UV and MS supporting structure 6. We should note here that the simple chromatograms obtained after the reaction of MC with dithiols (Figure 1) do not imply that all MC is converted to MC-dithiol crosslinks. Side reactions do occur but, as we will discuss later, they result in the formation of unidentified insoluble mitosenes that do not appear on the HPLC trace. The two isomers of 6 could be separated and fully characterized using NMR spectroscopy. The main evidence for the stereochemistry was obtained using circular dichroism, a well established technique to assign the stereochemical configuration at C-1 of 2-aminomitosenes. In our case, the isomers from the reaction of MC and 1,3-propanedithiol gave CD spectra that were almost symmetrical (Figure 3), and confirmed the expected stereochemistry at C-1, with the major isomer bearing a cis-configuration.


The surface species formed from the adsorption of 1,3-butadiene and 1-butene on Mo2N/γ-Al2O3 catalyst have been characterized by in situ FT-IR spectroscopy with an attempt to get insight into the selective hydrogenation of 1,3-butadiene on transition metal nitride catalysts. 1,3-Butadiene adsorption on the Mo2N/γ-Al2O3 catalyst forms several kinds of chemisorbed surface species:  π-adsorbed butadiene (πs and πd); σ-bonded species; dehydrogenated species. πs- and σ-bonded butene species are present on the surface for 1-butene adsorption and reaction on the nitride catalyst. The presence of the πd-adsorbed butadiene significantly prevents 1-butene from its adsorption, further hydrogenation, and isomerization on the nitrided catalyst, accordingly resulting in high selectivity in the hydrogenation of 1,3-butadiene to 1-butene. The surface nitrogen atoms weaken the interaction between 1,3-butadiene and the catalyst surface, and result in the high selectivity in the hydrogenation of 1,3-butadiene to 1-butene.


Leu341 has been predicted from crystal structure as an important residue for thyroid hormone 25 receptor (TR) β function, but this has never been confirmed in functional studies. Here, we 26 describe a novel p.L341V mutation as a cause of resistance to thyroid hormone β, suggesting an 27 important role for Leu341 in TRβ function. In silico and in vitro studies confirmed that 28 substituting Leu341 with Val and other non-polar amino acids impairs sensitivity of TRβ for T3 29 with various degrees, depending on their side-chain size and orientation. 30 31 The ratio and GFP to adjust for transfection efficiency. Data were expressed as percentage maximal response of WT and half maximal effective T3 concentration (EC 50 ) and maximal response calculated using GraphPad Prism program 5.0 (GraphPad, The results are shown as mean ± SEM of at least three independent experiments performed in triplicate.


Phonocardiography can be defined as the method for obtaining recording of cardiovascular sound. Laennec (1781-1826) was the first to listen to the sounds of the heart. He invented the stethoscope and provided the basis of contemporary ascultation. As physiological knowledge increased through the following decades, faulty interpretations of heart sounds were progressively eliminated. The first transduction of heart sounds was made by Hurthle (1895), who used a microphone. Eindhoven, in 1907, was the first to record phonocardiograms with the aid of a carbon microphone and a string galvanometer. The evolution of phonocardiography is strongly coupled with ascultatory findings and thus the development was predominantly driven by clinicians, and not by physiologists, physists or engineers. The result of this situation is that a variety of apparatus have been designed, mostly according to the needs of a clinic or the scientific interests of a medical researcher.


Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) has for long been a neglected topic within development research, policy and practice, despite findings recognising how insufficient MHM poses obstacles to women a ...


1.Introduction Reductions in energy intensity (energy/ GDP) appear as a prerequisite for reaching environmentally sustainable economic development and ensuring energy security. Analyses in the literature have identified two main factors at the core of this challenge: technological change and policy in a broad sense. Creation, diffusion and adoption of clean technologies is crucial for energy saving. In developed countries, promoting green growth through a less intensive use of energy is about the creation of new technologies, while it is more often about the diffusion and adoption of technology in developing countries. Given the important role that energy plays in growth and emissions, most innovation, diffusion and adoption is linked to the reduction in energy intensity (Dutz and Sharma, 2012; Popp 2012). As emphasized by Copeland and Taylor (2004) and Dutz and Sharma (2012), the speed in the diffusion of green technologies depends on technology literacy and skills of the workforce (human capital), the degree of openness to international trade, foreign direct investment, technology licensing and other forms of global connectedness. In addition, the presence of numerous market failures leads to inefficiencies that result in high energy intensity, what is the case for government intervention (Guillingham, Newell and Palmer, 2009). Noticeably, reaching policy objectives requires well-functioning institutions (Popp, 2012). According to the International Energy Agency (IEA, 2010), "Governance" in the energy sector can be understood as a combination of legislation, institutional arrangements and funding and coordination mechanisms that work together to support energy efficiency policies. Bad governance —regulation failures, lack of coordination, rent-seeking, corruption, etc.— seriously comprises policy success. Despite its importance, empirical research on this topic is rather scarce, which may be due to the difficulty of constructing suitable measures of institutions and governance for the energy sector. For instance, Fredriksson, Vollebergh and Dijkgraaf (2004) found that corruption and lobbying reduce energy policy stringency. The report by the IEA (2010) surveyed energy efficiency-related institutions in a significant country group, and offer recommendations for good governance. The results of Gennaioli and Tavoni (2011) suggest that rent-seeking and corruption may hinder the creation of markets for clean technologies. In this paper, we use a non-balanced panel of data involving 123 countries for the period 19602010 —taking observation every 5 years— to characterize the determinants of energy intensity based on factors related with innovation and technology adoption and, more importantly, the role of general institutions and, particularly, energy institutions.


This paper describes a new adaptive algorithm and assesses its effectiveness within speech enhancement applications. The proposed variable step size block exact APA (VSS-BEAPA) filtering is based on the affine projection algorithm (APA) and introduces a block processing with a variable step size that allows to consider under-modeling scenarios. The algorithm shows improved convergence performance and computational efficiency and its robustness is proved in a typical context of a hands-free teleconferencing application in a noisy environment. The experiments show that a microphone array system joined with VSS-BEAPA filtering is capable of both decreasing the noise level and enhancing the speech signal quality.


INTRODUCTION The majority of mutations demonstrate variable expressivity and incomplete penetrance and exact causes of these phenomena are usually unknown. The Axin mutation in mice shortens tail length (Ruvinsky et al., 1991). It results from insertion of an intracisternal-A particle (IAP) into intron 6 of the Axin gene (Vasicek et al., 1997). Produced mRNA is not only spliced alternatively, but can also undergo correct splicing. It was suggested that Axin causes fused phenotype by encoding a competing form of Axin protein (Hsu et al., 1999). The expressivity and penetrance of this mutant trait varies depending on genetic background and direction of the crosses. Using RNase protection assay (RPA) we measured the relative quantities of wild and alternatively spliced Axin mRNAs produced by different genotypes. This allows to study whether the mRNA profiles correlate with expressivity of the mutant trait.


Using methods of the literature material law and expert interviews,this paper analyzes the value of the directional movement in middle school,and puts forward some rational proposals for the popularity in middle schools,to promote the development of directional movement in middle schools.


Postoperative breathing exercises are widely important for patient to prevent postoperative respiratory complications. Breathing exercises had a highly positive effect on improving quality of recovery among post-operative patients. This study aimed to assess the effect of breathing exercises on quality of recovery among post-operative patients. Setting at Zagazig University Hospitals. Material and Method: a quasi-experimental (pre and posttest design). A purposive sample of total 258 study participants, 129 in experimental and 129 in control group based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data collection questionnaire were prepared with extensive review of previous literatures. Data collection through three tools includes, interviewing questionnaire sheet, postoperative quality scale and visual analogue scale of patient postoperative quality assessment scale. Breathing exercise (BE) was taught and practiced by the patients in experimental group and in control group routine postoperative care was followed. Result: postoperative quality rate was significantly different in experimental group were higher than in control group. Conclusion: post-operative breathing exercises improve postoperative quality.


In a systematic review and meta-analysis, Clare Strode and colleagues assess whether insecticide resistance in African Anopheline mosquitoes affects the efficacy of insecticide-treated bed nets. Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summary


Abstract Monomers with reactive double bonds were mixed with liquid crystals and polymerized under UV irradiation. The polymer networks formed are anisotropic and consist of fibrils. The orientation of the polymer networks depend on the orientation of the liquid crystals during polymerization. Optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to study the polymer networks.


In this paper, we introduce an analysis of the requirements and design choices for hands-free documentation. Hands-busy tasks such as cooking or car repair may require substantial interruption of the task: moving the pan off the burner and wiping hands, or crawling out from underneath the car. We review the need for hands-free documentation and explore the role of task in the use of documentation. Our central analysis examines the roles and characteristics of input and output modalities of hands-free documentation. In particular, we review the use of speech as an input modality, and then visual means and speech as possible output modalities. Finally, we discuss the implications of our analysis for the design of hands-free documentation and suggest future work. The design implications include issues of navigating through the documentation, determining the user's task and task-step, establishing mutual understanding of the state of the task, and determining when to start conveying information to the user.


A review of the application of PIN diodes as radiation detectors in particle counting, X‐ and γ‐ray spectroscopy, medical applications and charged particle spectroscopy is presented. As a practical example of its usefulness, a PIN diode and a low noise preamplifier are included in a nuclear spectroscopy chain for X‐ray measurements. This is a laboratory session designed to review the main concepts needed to set up the detector‐preamplifier array and to make measurements of X‐ray energy spectra with a room temperature PIN diode. The results obtained are compared with those obtained with a high resolution cooled Si‐Li detector.


I wrote some time ago that "Harry Magdoff is a great teacher and an indomitable combatant. His contributions to socialist theory—on imperialism and monopolistic developments, as well as on the vital role of planning for any viable society of the future—are of a truly lasting importance." Sadly, he is no longer with us. But he left to the present and the future a great legacy. In his last conversation with Che Guevara, Harry Magdoff asked the question: "You know how I feel about Cuba. What should I do?" Che answered him with these words: "Keep educating me." In his writings and in his conversations Harry was a truly great teacher who could offer valuable and generously acknowledged strategic insights even to a giant of the socialist movement like Che Guevara. It will be now up to the younger generation to make good use of Harry Magdoff's rich legacy, appropriating and expanding its great theoretical insights under the changing circumstances and fighting, in his spirit, as uncompromising combatants, for their realization in the critical decades ahead of us. I know that the question of planning was always very close to Harry's heart. The article that follows was not written for the sad occasion which we are now marking. It is part of a longer study. However, every line of it is written in his spirit, as an enduring concern of our time. This is why I offer it as my tribute on the occasion of his death. We shall always remember Harry Magdoff with admiration and affection.


Cavitation is a potentially effective and less damaging method of removing biofilm from biomaterial sur- faces. The aim of this study is to characterise individual microbubbles around ultrasonic scaler tips using high speed imaging and image processing. This information will provide improved understanding on the disruption of dental biofilm and give insights into how the instruments can be optimised for ultrasonic cleaning. Individual cavitation microbubbles around ultrasonic scalers were analysed using high speed recordings up to a million frames per second with image processing of the bubble movement. The radius and rate of bubble growth together with the collapse was calculated by tracking multiple points on bub- bles over time. The tracking method to determine bubble speed demonstrated good inter-rater reliability (intra class correlation coefficient: 0.993) and can therefore be a useful method to apply in future studies. The bubble speed increased over its oscillation cycle and a maximum of 27 ms (cid:1) 1 was recorded during the collapse phase. The maximum bubble radii ranged from 40 to 80 m m. Bubble growth was observed when the ultrasonic scaler tip receded from an area and similarly bubble collapse was observed when the tip moved towards an area, corresponding to locations of low pressure around the scaler tip. Previous work shows that this cavitation is involved in biofilm removal. Future experimental work can be based on these findings by using the protocols developed to experimentally analyse cavitation around various clinical instruments and comparing with theoretical calculations. This will help to determine the main cleaning mechanisms of cavitation and how clinical instruments such as ultrasonic scalers can be optimised.


CABE recently initiated a process of dialogue and debate between experts in street design, inclusive design, risk and disability. The main aim of this process is to identify the common ground around what we all want from streets and civic spaces and to establish clear thinking on the strategies available for achieving these common goals. It will also inform CABEs evolving programmes of work on inclusive design and streets and civic spaces. This paper contrasts the European and the English context. It outlines the need for this work, explains the structure of the study, describes the process and reports the findings to date. (a) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E215407.


Introduction : The ageing population together with an increasing prevalence of chronic conditions require a systems wide integrated approach to health care. This includes overcoming barriers between primary and secondary care, physical and mental health, and health and social care in order to provide patient centred care. In Australia, the New South Wales Ministry of Health (NSW MoH) is piloting an innovative Integrated Care Program in Western Sydney (WSICP) focussed on care of those with diabetes, COPD and congestive cardiac failure. Commencing in 2015, WSICP has established multidisciplinary rapid access clinics in two hospitals; initiatives to support General Practices in moving towards a Patient Centred Medical Home model of care as well as establishment of care facilitator roles to coordinate patient care between General Practices and hospitals. Theory/Methods : The NSW MoH is collecting quantitative data on the WSICP that includes hospital admissions and patient and provider engagement. We are undertaking a qualitative evaluation that complements the NSW MoH evaluation to develop an understanding of how the various WSICP strategies are working for all stakeholders. We have conducted the first of two rounds of in-depth semi-structured interviews with 70 participants including patients and carers (20), health care providers from hospitals and the community (40), and management (10). We have analysed the transcribed audio-recorded interviews thematically according to established protocols and will report on themes identified at this early stage of WSICP. Results : We are still analysing the data but expect to be able to report improvements in collaboration and shared care described by health care providers. Patients and their carers have described improved health and health care as well as increased efficacy in self-managing illness and navigating the health system. Rapid clinic access is reported to be preventing hospital admission and reducing waiting times. However, barriers still exist in terms of IT systems and communication, promotion and awareness, and low levels of General Practitioner engagement. Discussions : As WSICP progresses, early successes will enhance engagement with the program. Challenges identified by our evaluation will be addressed. This comprehensive qualitative review in the early phase of the program will not only refine its roll out, but will inform other similar initiatives. Conclusions : The WSICP is facilitating improved patient outcomes and greater health care provider collaboration. Barriers to care integration identified by our evaluation are being addressed. Lessons learned : Our early qualitative evaluation provides opportunities to refine the WSICP and gain understandings of how each element of this comprehensive health services integration pilot is contributing to the intended outcomes. Limitations : Due to the early stage of WSICP implementation, the experiences of stakeholders have varied relative to their length of engagement with the program. Individual program initiatives were also at various stages of operation. Suggestions for future research : The second round of data collection, scheduled for December 2016-February 2017, will provide a comparison against this baseline data. Most interviewees consented to a subsequent interview.


Space-division optical switches are essential for the protection, optical cross-connects (OXCs), and optical add/drop multiplexers (OADMs) needed in future fiber-optic communication networks. For applications in these areas, we proposed a thermocapillarity switch called oil-latching interfacial-tension variation effect (OLIVE) switch. An OLIVE switch is a micro-mechanical optical switch fabricated on planar lightwave circuits (PLC) using micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) technology. It consists of a crossing waveguide that has a groove at each crossing point and a pair of microheaters. The groove is partially filled with the refractive-index-matching liquid, and optical signals are switched according to the liquid's position in the groove, i.e., whether it is passing straight through the groove or reflecting at the sidewall of the groove. The liquid is driven by thermocapillarity and latched by capillarity. Using the total internal reflection to switch the optical path, the OLIVE switch exhibits excellent optical characteristics, such as high transparency (insertion loss: < 2 dB), high extinction ratio (> 50 dB), and low crosstalk (< -50 dB). Moreover, since this switch has a simple structure and bi-stability, it has wide variety of applications in wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) networks.


Real-world contains an overwhelmingly large number of object classes, learning all of which at once is infeasible. Few shot learning is a promising learning paradigm due to its ability to learn out of order distributions quickly with only a few samples. Recent works [7, 41] show that simply learning a good feature embedding can outperform more sophisticated meta-learning and metric learning algorithms for few-shot learning. In this paper, we propose a simple approach to improve the representation capacity of deep neural networks for few-shot learning tasks. We follow a two-stage learning process: First, we train a neural network to maximize the entropy of the feature embedding, thus creating an optimal output manifold using a self-supervised auxiliary loss. In the second stage, we minimize the entropy on feature embedding by bringing self-supervised twins together, while constraining the manifold with student-teacher distillation. Our experiments show that, even in the first stage, self-supervision can outperform current state-of-the-art methods, with further gains achieved by our second stage distillation process. Our codes are available at: this https URL.


This paper presents the findings of a quasilongitudinal investigation of the lived experiences of Children's Service professionals (in England) between 2004 and 2012. The research aimed to gain an understanding of the factors which shape and transform collective professional behaviour during periods of national policy reform. Cultural historical activity theory formed the analytical framework which helped identify features of professional practice which changed or remained the same; thereby giving insight into 'the change process' within large organisations. The findings identified a movement from universal provision of services to one that adopted an increasingly business orientated approach. Multi-agency partnership working remained evident throughout; from policy ambition in 2004 to one embedded in practice through necessity within an environment of decreasing financial and human resources.


Despite many advances in the area of Underwater Wireless Sensor Networks (UWSN) during the last years, still many challenges need to be successfully tackled before large-scale deployment of underwater sensor networks becomes a reality. UWSNs usually employ acoustic channels for communications, which compared with radio-frequency channels, allow much lower bandwidths and have longer propagation delays. In the past, different methods have been proposed to define how a node must acquire the channel in order to start a transmission. Given the large propagation delays of underwater communication channels, a TDMA-based approach may need big time-guards. On the other hand, the very same large propagation delay increases the occurrence of the hidden terminal problem in a CSMA-based approach. In this paper, impacts of utilization of different scheduling and retransmission techniques on an underwater routing protocol will be analyzed. This analysis, in which energy consumption, packet delay, number of duplicate packets, and packet loss are considered, will be carried out by means of simulation using the Network Simulator 3 and a subset of EDETA (Energy-efficient aDaptive hiErarchical and robusT Architecture) routing protocol recently adapted to UWSN.


An approach for kernel design is presented. The technique is called "optimal subspace metric design" (OSMD). One of the main drawbacks of many distance based parametric and nonparametric approaches is that they do not use a metric which has a certain kind of orientation, which suits best for the given application. In the approach presented a kernel based technique with a full covariance metric is used. The need for an optimal, task dependent covariance structure is important for the mapping performance. A technique based on Householder reflections is derived, which allows us to model the covariance structure in an optimization procedure. The number of parameters used is only linearly dependent on the input dimension. It is possible to model a singular metric, to obtain a subspace approach. Both the orientation and the kernel width's of the metric are adapted. To optimize the metric an error function based on the leave one out cross-validation technique is derived. The model is trained in a supervised manner, via the extended Kalman filter technique, and is able to handle both classification and regression tasks.


Text-testimony of the formation as a citizen and writer, in Cape Verde, in an environment of anti-fascist, anti-colonial and anti-imperialist struggle. Struggles, actions and poetics committed to their time and demands from independent Cape Verde.


Nitrogen isotope ratios (δ15N) of surface sediment in the equatorial ocean reflect the mode of upper water circulation pattern. We applied this knowledge to reconstruct glacial-interglacial variations of an upwelling field in western equatorial Pacific using δ15N from sediment cores. Distinct minima in δ15N values were found corresponding to glacial periods on the northern and eastern edges of the upwelling field (Mindanao Dome), indicating glacial enlargement of upwelling due to enhanced winter monsoon activity. However, at a site on southern side of the upwelling region, minima in δ15N values were obtained during interglacial periods. These opposing variations in δ15N values could be interpreted as a northward shift of the upwelling zone, during glacial periods. The glacial-interglacial migration of the circulation pattern in this region may reflect a modal change in the global thermohaline circulation (conveyor belt) during glaciation.


DOCUMENT RESUME HE 015 949 Gomberg, Irene L.; Atelsek, Frank J. Financial Support for the Humanitiet: A Special Methodological Report. A Aierican Council on Education, Washington, D.C. Higher,Education Panel. Departnient 6f Education, Washington, DC.; National Endowment for the Humanities 1NFAHi, Washington, D.C.; National Science Foundattion, Washington, D.C. ACE-HEP-56 Jan 83 SRS-8117037 OP-20027-81-2233 43p. Higher Education Panel, American Council On Education, One Dupont Circle, Washington, DC 20036. ' Reports Research/Technical (143) -Tests/Evaluation Instruments (160)/ ci MF01/PCO2 Plus Postage. *Expenditures; *Federal Aid; *Financial Support; Higher Education; *Humanities; National Surveys; *Private Financial Support; *Research Methodology; Research Problems; Sample Size; State Aidi Statistical Analysis findings and methodological problems of a survey on \ financial support for humanities 'in higher education are discussed. \Usable data were gathered from 353:of 671 Higher Education Panel )member institutions. Two weighting methodologies were employed. The conventional method assumed that nonrespondents were similar p) respondents, whereas a minimum-value method assumed that nonrespondents had no financiak activity in the humanities to report. The conventional approach generated dollar estimates about 85 percent higher tIOn those produced by the alternative approach. Respondents reportecrby4source the total amount ol gifts, grants, and contracts from,government and private sources that were restricted-to the humanities, ong with the the total amount of funds expended for the humanities f .all sources. During fiscal year 1980, restricted, income for the humanities ranged between $130 and $246 million; Two-fifths of this support came for the federal government, and more than one-fifth came from individuals% Humanities expenditures from all sources ranged between $1.6 and $2.9 billion, with instruction accounting for 8 of every 10 dollars spent. Ten percent of humanities, expenditures were financed by government or private sources. (SW)


The deaths of civilians at the hands of police have, in recent decades, led to popular uprisings in countries around the world. In France 2005, Greece 2008 and England 2011 such deaths triggered the largest riots those countries had witnessed in living memory. In each of these cases commentators, whether they sympathised with rioters or condemned them, generally understood that incidents of police violence were only symptoms of a broader social crisis. Yet when police killings triggered riots in the United States – first in Ferguson, Missouri, in the summer and fall of 2014, then in Baltimore, Maryland, in the spring of 2015 – the reaction was remarkably different, in two respects. First, political elites and dominant voices in the media were quick to embrace these riots as legitimate forms of protest. Within days of the outbreak of rioting in Baltimore, both the acting president and the presumptive Democratic presidential candidate had issued statements in which they strongly sympathised with the perceived grievances of the rioters, while being careful not to endorse violence. America's major newspapers all expressed similar editorial sentiments, even as the flames of Ferguson and Baltimore were still burning. Compare this response with President Sarkozy's promise to hose the rioting "scum" from the streets of Paris, with the ramblings of Greek officials about anarchist "provocateurs" and with the media-driven manhunt for rioters in England (Endnote, 2013; Gilroy, 2013). Second, the riots in the US tended to be understood much more narrowly as matters of "police– community relations". In Europe it was clear to most commentators that neo-liberal roll-back and weak labour markets had combined to create powder kegs in poor and immigrant neighbourhoods, with police violence acting as the ignitor. Yet in the US an arguably more severe crisis in the riot zones tended to fade into the background, and the riots came to be seen as demanding only one thing: criminal justice reform. In this article I want to argue that the difference between US and European representations of riot is largely due to the tendency in the US to summarise a whole host of grievances under one rubric: racism. Racism was of course a major factor in the European riots, which saw a heavy participation of ethnic minorities all too familiar with racist police. Nonetheless, only in America did racism come to eclipse all the other grievances of the rioters. Since racism is a powerful taboo in elite circles, I would argue that this accounts for the surprising degree of elite acceptance in the US case. And since racism


A potentially protective role of the A-allele in female fertility associated with pronounced ovarian stimulation has been reported but meanwhile discussed controversially, while the classic definition of the ABO phenotype is currently questioned and the human blood group O in view of unusual Oand hybrid alleles no longer considered a genetic entity. However, the in this special context largely ignored, molecular biological phenomenon of the extremely rare, native Bombay type, which is most likely resulting from intense inbreeding and is characterized by the total absence of any measurable ABO(H) epitope but is producing high isoagglutinin levels involving a strong anti-H, clearly demonstrates again that any blood group Aand B-allelic expressions are associated with the functions of the fucosyltransferase genes FUT 1 and FUT 2 that operate independently of each other from different loci. Moreover, the in growth and tissue maturation developmentally changing positions of fucosyl residues, apparently dominate the enzymatic glycotransfer between cell surfaces and the heavy chains of immunoglobulins. And when the embryonic stem cell (ESC) germ cell (CG) transformation is initiated by non-somatic O-GalNAc glycosylation occurring before sperm-eggrecognition or cell renewal processes, any somatic ABO phenotype protected reproduction, which is accomplished after formation of the zygote by varying expressions of the A(and B-) allelic encoded tissue-intrinsic transferases, is functioning always with somatic fucosylations providing fertility by more or less expressed phenotype formations.


The purpose of this review paper is to study of effect of the different tire operating parameters on tire performance and review of testing setup to test these tire performance parameters. The testing of tire performance parameters by experimentally is help to designer to correlate the relationships of parameters and to design the tire, hence it is need to testing of tire. Knowledge about dynamic properties of tires is an essential for any kind of research and development activities on vehicle dynamics. The main purpose of laboratory testing is to separate the properties of the tire from the vehicle, achieve high rate of reproducibility and to optimize the cost. This review paper gives the information regarding of different researcher's works on inter laboratory tire testing setup for measuring tire performance parameters and also this review paper helps to understand the factors on which tire performance parameters is depends.


How to create a peacemaking change in the Israeli–Palestinian struggle? The consensus solution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict is a 'two-state solution', which means separation between two major identity groups. This paper points to the necessity to shift the emphasis in the peacemaking discussion. Instead of manufacturing solutions in a peacemaking laboratory, it would be better to focus on finding the social conditions that have the potential to create an effective peacemaking process. This paper suggests establishing a major Israeli–Palestinian public negotiating congress that has the potential to create a peacemaking revolution. The vision is based on the multi-party talks that had been conducted in Apartheid South Africa and Northern Ireland during the 'troubles' and the Minds of Peace Experiment – a small-scale Israeli–Palestinian public negotiating congress – that has been conducted in various locations around the world.


This study was conducted to evaluate the hepato-protective effects of Lutein and Clavazin in different dose pattern to reduce the oxidative stress against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)induced toxicity in rats.Thirty albinosWister rats were included, divided into five groups and every group had six rats. Group A was control while group B, C, D and E were treated with 4ml/kg CCl4 for 10 days with body weight of 160g to 200g. Further group C and D were administered with Lutein 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg respectively for 1 month. Infected CCl4 group E was treated with a synthetic drug (Clavazin 1Tab/kg). The elevation of ALT, AST, ALP and MDA level in group B while reduced the levels of TP, SOD, CAT and GSH were recorded due to CCl4 administration. Therapy with Lutein and synthetic drug (Clavazin) in different dose pattern for 1 month significantly decreases the levels of ALT, AST, ALP and MDA. On the other hand, increased levels of TP and anti-oxidants such as GSH, CAT and SOD were observed.The present study demonstrated that Lutein and Clavazinhave potent defensive ability against CCl4 induced liver toxicity in rats by their anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activity and may have protective effect on human liver.


This paper presents the results of a qualitative research, oriented towards the recognition of technologically mediated strategies aimed for study practices, from the testing of conceptions and college students practices. The quest used surveys, interviews and focus groups, which allowed us not only to recognize concepts such as ease, interference, distraction and underutilization, but also, practices in terms of habits, techniques and processes. There was no clear evidence for planned, conscious and systematic strategies; whereas isolated, scattered and changing actions were identified. They seem to be new ways of managing information for knowledge and learning from interactive, hypertextual and collaborative proposals at ICT.


A method has been developed whereby labelled cobalt and zinc were applied to the surface of columns of soil in order to study the movement of these cations under the influence of rainfall and various fertilizer treatments. The results of the investigation demonstrate that in soils of moderate exchange capacity, whether this is provided by clay or by organic matter, the cobalt and zinc remain close to the surface of the soil even after the application of water equivalent to several years' rainfall and dressings of copper sulphate, superphosphate, aqueous extract of lucerne, and water saturated with carbon dioxide. With very light soils of low exchange capacity a year's rainfall alone did not leach the cobalt or zinc downwards, but rainfall which followed treatments with the same dressings induced a considerable downward movement of both cobalt and zinc.


Abstract : Organic compounds in hydrocarbon fuels can, when released into the atmosphere in the presence of NOx and sunlight, affect air quality both in the vicinity of their release and in downwind regions. Potentially adverse air quality impacts include the formation of ozone and a spectrum of other photochemical oxidants, the formation of secondary aerosols, and in certain cases the formation of toxic organic products. This program was designed to experimentally investigate the potential of selected Air Force and commercial fuels for producing some or all of these impacts. A total 132 single- and multi- day outdoor environmental chamber experiments were carried out involving nine fuels. These included the petroleum-derived JP-4 and JP-8 military aviation fuels, their shale-oil-derived analogues, unleaded gasoline, diesel No. 2 fuel, and the experimental high-energy cruise-missile fuels JP-10, RJ-4, and RJ-5. The results of this study show that the Air Force fuels JP-4 and JP-8 (both petroleum- and shale-derived) are significantly less reactive with respect to rates of oxidant formation and NO to NO2 conversion than unleaded gasoline. The cruise-missile fuels JP-10, RJ-4, and RJ-5 exhibit still lower reactivities. Under the meteorological conditions encountered during this study, the same general reactivity ranking was observed for Multi-day irradiation conditions. However, under multi-day static irradiations with no further introduction of reactants, all of the military fuels studies (i.e., both kerosene-derived and high-energy) had similar maximum ozone-forming potentials.


Purpose – During the past decade new types of broader networks that aim to achieve widespread effects in the working life have emerged. These are typically based on an interactive innovation approach, where knowledge is created jointly together with diverse players. At the moment, the challenge is how to evaluate these complex networks and learning processes. This paper seeks to present a developmental evaluation framework for innovation and learning networks.Design/methodology/approach – The evaluation framework is based on a systemic and complementarity view on knowledge sources and innovation activities. The framework integrates three different elements of network: structure, learning processes, and the outcomes for different actors. The basic assumption is that networks with several actors based on an expanded triple helix model (workplaces, R&D infrastructure, and policy makers) and several learning processes enable better innovation potential and broader outcomes. Here criteria for an evaluation fra...


The epithelial cell adhesion molecule, Ep‐CAM, has been historically considered a target of passive immunotherapy using monoclonal antibodies, and more recently, of a first Pox‐vector‐based cancer vaccine Phase I trial in colorectal cancer patients. To shed further light on the use of this antigen, we isolated the mouse and rhesus homologues of human Ep‐CAM and explored different genetic vaccination modalities based on the use of adenoviral vectors as well as DNA electroporation (DNA‐EP). Immune responses to Ep‐CAM were measured by IFN‐γ ELISPOT and intracellular staining assays using overlapping sets of peptides covering the entire coding regions. We found the most powerful vaccination regimen to be constituted by DNA‐EP‐prime/Adeno‐boost mixed‐modality protocols. Vaccination in rhesus macaques resulted in breakage of immunological tolerance in a minority of cases. Similarly, a low frequency of responders was observed with the mouse Ep‐CAM vaccine in outbred CD1 mice. When immunized CD1 mice were analyzed for MHC haplotype and TCR expression levels, we observed that immune responders all had the same q/q MHC class I haplotype and showed higher expression levels of the TCRVβ4 and TCRVβ8 T cell receptors. Our results underscore the current limitations in our capacity to induce efficient cancer vaccines against self antigens like Ep‐CAM, but also represent a first effort to identify predictive biomarkers of response.


There is a need to define the role of the library in the development and implementation of open science, based not only on the widespread concept of open access to scientific publications, but also on other principles. UNESCO's concept of open science is presented in relationship with the concept of open knowledge analyzed in the context of three approaches: 1) "openness" from the point of view of copyright (unrestricted reading, distribution, processing of the original work and publication of derivative works); 2) scientific communication (interpretation of knowledge and its transfer between different scientific disciplines, governmental structures, social actors, non-scientists and non-scientific institutions, as well as publicly accessible communication); 3) open, comprehensible, verifiable knowledge, accessible to all members of society by means of well-known criteria. The directions of libraries' activities within the framework of open science are proposed. Some of the competences necessary for such activities are fixed in the professional standard "Specialist in Library and Information Activities": the ability to organise a multifunctional library space, analytical and synthetic processing of documents, etc. The competences of the library specialist are also required. In addition, the library specialist needs additional knowledge about the essence of open knowledge (open scientific knowledge) and its key components, the basics of intellectual property legislation, the basics of research ethics, the organisation of open reviewing, the use of altmetrics, the organisation of open learning platforms. Taking into account the amount of knowledge and skills required, as well as the specificity of their application areas, it seems reasonable to train first of all employees of scientific, scientific-technical, and university libraries.With the new competences, library professionals will be able to contribute to the effective integration of their institutions into the research process. The library can become a real driving force for open science.


The large quantity of material of Hieracium sectt. Hieracium, Vulgata, Bifida and Oreadea collected during the recently completed floristic inventory of the northeastern most Swedish province of Norrbotten has been revised. The number of species known from this previously badly under-collected province hereby increased from 27 to 64, and seven species new to science were revealed. A diagnostic key to all 64 species is provided and H. alces T. Tyler, H. hystrix T. Tyler, H. larsii-levii T. Tyler, H. pseudopsepharum T. Tyler, H. stenbergii T. Tyler, H. taedum T. Tyler and H. vexillatum T. Tyler are described anew.


This paper proposes a new communication protocol based on signaling mechanisms on mesh architecture for a network on chip in order to improve mapping between QoS requirements for a communication processes and available hardware resources in NoC routers. This approach consists on broadcasting the instantaneous informations between routers related to same metrics to abstract physical system capacities. Theses informations will be useful at the routing action to avoid a static routing and congestion during the establishment of a virtual communication path. To validate this new approach and to integrate protocolar architecture, we have choosed a high level description language allowing the synthesis of a typical architecture for a NOC router with quality of service management.


The explosive growth of China's export has drawn the attention of the entire world economy.Such an exposion in export growth is the result of continuously deepened participation of Chinese enterprises in international trade.Firm export dynamics include three aspects: the entry into and retreat from international markets,the consideration on products,and the choice for destination countries to export to.Firm export dynamics determine the scale of dual margins and their contribution to the total export growth.Using Customs' trade data from 2000-2005,this paper analyzes the firm export dynamics of China and studies dual margins in terms of three dimensions including firms themselves,products and destination markets.The results show that there are a flurry of fim entries into and retreats from the export markets,repetive changes in the choice of destination markets and proliferation of products.Our findings also suggest that though the variance of the extensive margin is large,the net effect of the extensive margin on export growth is negligible,and intensive margins still principally contribute to export growth.These findings not only provide a micro basis for analyzing China's export growth,but also put forward policy implications for China to refer to when striving for sustainable and stable development in export trade.


The order-disorder transition observed in periodically driven Rayleigh-Benard convection is studied by extending the generalized Lorenz model introduced by Ahlers, Hohenberg, and Lucke @Phys. Rev. A 32, 3493 ~1985!# to include the effects of thermal noise. It is shown that this stochastic Lorenz model predicts, for thermal noise intensities, an order-disorder transition line much closer to the experimental values than the prediction of previous models. This result makes clear that a dynamical description allowing for inertial effects is needed to account for the behavior of systems dynamically forced to cross an instability threshold. @S1063-651X~97!50304-7#


What is art? formalism and style iconography contextual approaches I - Marxism contextual approaches II - feminism biography and autobiography semiotics I - structuralism and post-structuralism semiotics II - deconstruction psychoanalysis I - Freud psychoanalysis II - Winnicott and Lacan epilogue.


AIMS: The study aims to compare the health status of the elderly population residing in slum and non-slum areas in Kadapa region and to find out the association between sociodemographic profile and health status of the elderly population. The community based cross sectional study was conducted on 200 elderly subjects selected from slums (n=100) and non-slums (n=100) using multistage simple random technique. Structural questionnaire was used to collect data. The study showed that the proportion of females 112 (56%) among the elderly population were seen more than males 88 (44%) in both clusters. 52% in slum were illiterate, with per capita income of ≤675INR (44%) with class V (33%) in slum areas compared to the non-slum areas (58%) on Class II and III. Among 200 elderly persons studied, the average illness per person was 4.56. Visual problem due to cataract and refractive errors 144 (72%) and pain in joints 114 (59.5%) was most common morbidity in both slum and non-slums areas followed by gastrointestinal (46%) and dental problems (44%). Other morbidities were hypertension in 84 (42%), genitourinary 50 (25%), dermatological 47 (23.5%) and psychological problems 32 (16%). 49% of the subjects had a normal BMI (18.524.99Kg/m2) in slums as compared to 40% of the non-slums having BMI ≥25Kg/m2. Conclusions: There were no geriatric clinics found in both the areas. Providing social assistance by social organizations and Mobile geriatric clinic services should be provided in both slum and non-slum areas in Kadapa region, south India.


Objective To quantify atopy of thenar eminence print and to discuss its correlation with asthma. Methods We quantified and classified atopy of thenar eminence prints by computer recognitions system. Four hundred cases in athma group and 200 cases in control group,and the correlation of quantitative classification of atopy of thenar eminence prints between the two groups were compared. Results The negative rate of thenar eminence print was 90. 0% in control group and 34. 8% in asthma group,with a difference between the two groups( P 0. 01); the positive rate of thenar eminence print was 10. 0% in control group and 65. 2% in asthma group,with a difference between the two groups( P 0. 01). Conclusion There is the association between the atopy of thenar eminence print and asthma. The positive print of thenar eminence is obvious in patients with asthma.


much ink has been spilt, both in france and in the english speaking philosophical world, over Alain Badiou's controversial reading of gilles deleuze and his accusation that deleuze's "univocal ontology" does not so much think the being of the multiple as it does that of the "one-All."2 my intention here is not, however, to leap once more to deleuze's defense. rather, i would like to examine Badiou's ontology on its own terms and bring to light a little perceived aspect of it, namely, that it presupposes what can be called a "philosophical problematics."3 readers of deleuze will of course realize that deleuze's ontology is often couched in terms of a general theory of problems, particularly in difference and Repetition, but there will not be space here to draw out all of the implications of this fact. i shall rather concentrate on clarifying what is meant when i say that Badiou's philosophical enterprise in Being and event refers to a prior problematics and examine some of the consequences of that presupposition.


Many hydrocarbon fields in the Limau Graben trend were produced in the 1950s. That fields are mostly produced in the Talangakar Formation and Baturaja Formation. To maintain the continuity of production, the discovery of new reservoirs is a target that must be carried out in the subsurface analysis. Air Benakat Formation becomes a discovery that shows good results. Air Benakat Sand is characterized by thin sand 2 – 5 meters funnel log pattern, silt to very fine sand grain deposited in the shallow marine based on core analysis. The resistivity is 1.5 – 4 ohms, showing a low resistivity reservoir caused by high laminated clay content and conductive minerals. In order to understand the distribution of Air Benakat Sand, RMS amplitude was extracted from seismic data, and combined with the fault interpretation. Fault bounded area with high RMS amplitude (up to 6), and resistivity of 1 – 4 ohms were selected for the candidates of new well perforation and step out. The result of the well testing in the selected well reveals a gas flow rate of 1.2 – 2.4 MMSCFD and an oil flow rate of 64 – 160 BOPD.


This article describes virtual reality research at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands applied to advanced driving simulators. IN DUTCH


The EPICEA project is a joint collaboration between the City of Paris, the French Meteorological Office and the National Research Centre in Building to quantify the impact of climate change on Paris and the influence of building on urban climate and on adaptation strategy. First goal is to evaluate the evolution of the urban climate of Paris and its area with regard to climate change. Second goal is to realise a sharp analysis of the 2003 heatwave over Paris with simulations using a database of the Parisian urban cover. The ultimate goal is to assess the climatic impacts during heatwave periods that could result of actions on urban parameters. This information will allow the mapping of heatwave vulnerability.


The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by the new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). It is an acute respiratory disease that causes life-threatening symptoms. This virus directly or indirectly affects the various systems of the body. In the respiratory system, it causes pulmonary edema, impaired oxygen diffusing capacity, difficulty in breathing, etc. In the nervous system, it causes encephalitis, thrombo-embolitic stroke, Guillan-Barre syndrome (GBS), etc. In the cardiovascular system, it causes ischemic heart diseases, myocardial injury, arrhythmias, etc. In the renal system, it causes tubular necrosis, vacuole degeneration, and consequently a renal failure. In the neuromuscular system, it causes areflexia, ataxia, paresthesia, and body weaknesses. In hematological indices and immune system, it causes lymphopenia, increased monocyte and macrophages, increased neutrophils, decreased eosinophils and basophils, decreased platelet count, and exaggerated immune response. In the gastrointestinal system, it causes diarrhea, liver damage, anorexia, abdominal pain, etc. In the endocrine system, it causes acute diabetes, decreased cortisol stress response, hypothalamic-pituitary axis disorders, etc. In the reproductive system, it causes germ cell destruction, low sperm count, and erectile dysfunctions in males. In females, it causes decreased menstrual volume, cycle prolongation, preterm birth, and abnormal fetal development during pregnancy. The SARS-CoV-2 has effects on various systems of the body although the majority of the clinical manifestations of the disease are related to the respiratory system because it is the route of entry and the major target of the disease. Meanwhile, many of its clinical symptoms are also manifested in the other systems of the body such as the nervous system, cardiovascular system, etc. Numerous researches have been done and are still ongoing on therapeutic approaches to tackle COVID-19. Here, we review the effect of COVID-19 on various physiological systems of the body and the mechanisms by which they occur. Also, we briefly highlight the potential therapeutic approaches to tackle COVID-19.


Video content can be a combination of information and assistance to increase the chances of retrieving information in a video broadcast system provided. Auxiliary information including enhanced data associated with advertising content included in the. Software to provide viewers with the (34) allows users to choose ads and caches in the preparation of advertising cache (20). Recalling the user can select the advertisement (24) is included in the advertisement cache (24) or which additional information.


English Listening Course is a basic course in English teaching, but many problems are often neglected in English listening teaching, one is lack of two-way communication between teacher and student. This article analyzes the reason about the lack of two-way communication and studies how to improve two-way communication in English listening teaching.


We present a list of amphibian species from the protected area Barra de la Laguna de Rocha (BLR), Uruguay. Fifteen monthly three-day field trips were performed between September 2011 and March 2013. During each field trip, active searches of individuals and auditive samplings were performed at seven selected sites. We recorded 19 species of amphibians belonging to five families: Bufonidae (4 especies), Hylidae (5), Leptodactylidae (7), Microhylidae (1) y Odontophrynidae (2). Comparing these data with historical records (obtained from cientific collections and literature), eight species represented new records for the study site. The species richness in the area represents 39.6% of the total richness recorded for Uruguay. We highlight the presence of Melanophryniscus montevidensis (Philippi 1902), a locally and globally threatened species. Information on BLR's amphibian species composition could help in the implementation of the management plan for this conservation unit, as well as to stimulate future studies in the area.


of Zeus with mortal women.2 Uncommon (and Hesiodic) verb, identical context, and perfect agreement with the remains of the letters on the papyrus: all this is beyond coincidence. Obviously POxy. 2354. 16, when intact, was none other than the very verse which Maximus has preserved. Mention of the race of kings, 7FVoq KU6pCOV pak(ov, many of whom are recorded in the Catalogue, is of course hardly surprising in a Hesiodic context. It was Ascraean Hesiod himself who asserted ?K At06 1a3cytki? (Theog. 96). Nor is there the slightest reason to doubt Maximus' familiarity with the Catalogue of Women. That this work was still in circulation in his time we learn from the actual papyri, such are the dates of some of them. There exists even more telling, since more specific, evidence. For Maximus himself at 26. 4 (p. 312. 13-15 H.) explicitly reveals that he was familiar with this very poem: KacOca7Ep ' HcTio8oq, X(Opiq PFV Tl 7tVTf T(OV ip6)OV '6 7VfKOV ap%pcvo KaTaLX(V Ta y7vTl, ocYT1tq ? 5 ?pu KTl., clearly a reference to the Catalogue of Women. In yet another passage, 18. 9 (p. 230. 8-10 H.), he mentions, in a comparable context, kings: H(Yt68p 6R &ii6ovUv ai Mo0kwC Ti akko " 7VfUKOV Ip(La KfI


Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method and a device for releasing a PDN connection, and user equipment. The method for releasing a PDN connection comprises: user equipment can determine a service transmission status of a target packet data network (PDN) connection, location area information corresponding to the target PDN connection, and a current location of the user equipment; and if the user equipment determines that a first condition is satisfied, the user equipment can release the target PDN connection, wherein the target PDN connection is any one or more of a plurality of PDN connections maintained by the user equipment, and the first condition may comprise: the service transmission status of the target PDN connection is that service transmission stops, and a location area indicated by the location area information corresponding to the target PDN connection does not include the current location of the user equipment. In this way, the present invention prevents the problem in which an arbitrary release of a PDN connection causes reestablishment of a PDN connection and accordingly a waste of network resources.


The Spiral Flow peripheral vascular (PV) graft is used for peripheral arterial disease to bypass or reconstruct damaged blood vessels. Of 5 studies (2 published and 3 abstracts), 1 of the published studies compared the Spiral Flow graft to other artificial grafts and reported similar or worse primary patency. The second comparative study, available as an abstract only, reported better patency rates for the Spiral Flow graft than for PTFE grafts. The other studies investigated primary and secondary patency rates for the Spiral Flow graft. The cost of a Spiral Flow PV graft is £952 to £1520, excluding VAT, depending on size.


A trial was conducted to observe the effect of various combinations of NPK on the performance of rose, during the year 1996-97. The data was recorded and analyzed for plant growth yield and quality attributes. The data recorded in this trail indicates that days to sprouting, number of branches per bush and days to flowering were non-significant. Whereas, all other parameters remained significant with different doses of NPK fertilizers. Maximum flowers per plant (20 Flowers), longest pedicle length (5.85 cm), largest flower size (8.08 cm) and maximum petals per flower (50.38) were recorded in T6 treatment viz. (20-00-12) gm of NPK per plant. Maximum flower duration (4.45 days) and flower vase life (3.08 days) were also recorded in the same treatment.


We study the existence and instability properties of saddle-shaped solutions of the semilinear
elliptic equation ���1u D f .u/ in the whole R2m, where f is of bistable type. It is known
that in dimension 2m D 2 there exists a saddle-shaped solution. This is a solution which changes
sign in R2 and vanishes only on fjx1j D jx2jg. It is also known that this solution is unstable.
In this article we prove the existence of saddle-shaped solutions in every even dimension, as
well as their instability in the case of dimension 2m D 4. More precisely, our main result establishes
that if 2m D 4, every solution vanishing on the Simons cone f.x1; x2/ 2 Rm Rm : jx1j D jx2jg
is unstable outside every compact set and, as a consequence, has infinite Morse index. These results
are relevant in connection with a conjecture of De Giorgi extensively studied in recent years and for
which the existence of a counter-example in high dimensions is still an open problem.


Describes a touch-sensitive input means (2). The apparatus comprises: an opaque substrate (11) having a first surface and an opposite second face (12, 13); a first set of electrodes (14) arranged on a first surface of the substrate, these electrodes at the substantially spaced along and extending in a direction transverse to a second direction; and a second set of electrodes (17), is disposed on the first surface or the second surface of the substrate, these electrodes generally extend in the second direction and along a spaced apart from the first direction, wherein the first set of electrodes and the second set of electrodes overlap.


1. Drilling geonavigation complex comprising sensors monitoring of process parameters, including both terrestrial driller's console and the processing unit and the visualization of information, characterized in that it further comprises a downhole telemetry system and a receiving device, and the imaging processing unit is in the form of interconnected a conversion plant and a computer with a monitor, wherein the sensor part control of process parameters set in the casing downhole telemetry sistemy.2. Drilling geonavigation complex according to claim 1, characterized in that the output of the computer is connected via the pump drive control unit and / or the drive winch and / or the rotor drive and / or driven preventora.3. Drilling geonavigation complex according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the receiving container is mounted drilling rastvora.4 level sensor. Drilling geonavigation complex according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that it further comprises a mud discharge line davleniya.5 sensor. Drilling geonavigation complex according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that the discharge line of mud mounted raskhoda.6 sensor. Drilling geonavigation complex according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the discharge line of mud mounted plotnosti.7 sensor. Drilling geonavigation complex according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that the discharge line of mud mounted fazy.8 gas sensor. Drilling geonavigation complex according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that the wellhead is installed gazoanalizator.9. Drilling geonavigation complex of any one of


The invention provides a multifunctional mesoporous glass bracket with biological activity, and the glass bracket with biological activity has a amorphous form glass structure, and 90%-99.999% of macropores are communicated; the glass bracket with biological activity also contains 1-15 mol% of copper, which is based on calculation of total substance amount of the glass bracket with biological activity CuO-CaO-P2O5-SiO2. The invention also provides a preparation method of multifunctional mesoporous glass bracket with biological activity, which employs a sol-gel method to prepare mesoporous glass bracket with biological activity containing different copper contents; the copper-containing mesoporous glass bracket with biological activity has the advantages of blood vessel forming potential, ossification property, medicament deliver and antibacterial property.


─This research work provides a detailed working principle and analysis technique of multioffspring crossover operator. The proposed approach is an extension of the basic partiallymapped crossover (PMX) based upon survival of the fittest theory. It improves the performance of the genetic algorithm (GA) for solving the well-known combinatorial optimization problem, the traveling salesman problem (TSP). This study is based on numerical experiments of the proposed with other traditional crossover operators for eighteen benchmarks TSPLIB instances. The simulation results show a considerable improvement because the proposed operator enhances the opportunity of having better offspring. Moreover, the t-test also establishes the improved significance of the proposed operator. Its preferable results not only confirm the advantages over others, but also show the long run survival of a generation having a number of offspring more than the number of parents with the help of mathematical ecology theory. Index Terms─NP-hard, Traveling salesman problems, Genetic algorithms, Multi-offspring, Crossover operators.


As I enter my last year of my editorship of the Quarterly, a sense of sadness is setting in, both about my declining energies and about the ending of my love affair with the Quarterly. But all good things just cannot go on forever. It is a little late now to be expressing some of the following sentiments, but still they might prove useful to some readers. As a statement of farewell my sentiments hopefully may place in perspective what the Quarterly has been all about. These rather unscholarly sentiments have guided my nickle and dime makeshift efforts to put together the Quarterly year after year. It is probably best that I have kept some of these sentiments to myself up until now, much like Harry Truman's final negative sentiments about the Missouri Waltz. But, let me out with them, for they say much about the form and shape the Quarterly has taken over the years. As comments they will be valedictory rather than advice for rhetoricians to come. I do not want to impose upon my successors the burden of my errors. I don't think that I need tell many members of the Rhetoric Society that around some academic colleagues to fly the flag of rhetoric is to invite not only scorn but contempt. With some it is to put professional careers at hostage and to place the direction of our research and scholarship in the hands of people who are making judgments where of they know not what they judge. If we wish to develop and expand programs under the label of rhetoric, it has, at least been my experience, to have to engage in endless explanations to colleagues about what it is we are doing in the name of rhetoric, why it is important, and above all that it is academically respectable. Certainly our claims need defending, but to have to continuously defend rhetoric tries patience. By now we should, one would think, as skilled rhetoricians have convinced our opposition in academia of our eminent respectability. But we have not. I recall how on one occasion, when I was asked to justify the inclusion of philosophy, not rhetoric, in the general education program in my school, that I impatiently challenged that the burden of proof was on any one who wanted to eliminate it. Similarly, if the burden of proof were to be shifted to our opposition, I suggest, maybe they would have to take the time to know a little more about what they discount. But alas, to try to advance professionally under the flag of rhetoric, despite our convictions of its importance, is to go against the reversals of history, the Ramus decay, and the eventual complete collapse of rhetoric as an academic discipline in the 19th century. It is most of all to have to struggle against the present day pejorative use of the term rhetoric. The common usage of the term "rhetoric" defines us. Rhetoric is merely mere. It is the common expletive for saying that what you say says nothing. Still, despite these simplistic dismissals of rhetoric, I fly my flag of rhetoric knowing that my judgment about its overwhelming value to human history is correct. But the image of flags waving does, I admit, give me pause, for I have in my associative memory another image of a flag, a flag that cautions me about loyalty to any dead cause. It is the image of the Confederate flag. Has my loyalty to rhetoric been very much different in kind from that of the South's nostalgic loyalty to that lost cause of all lost causes the Southern Confederacy?


In this paper,we selected all complete genome unicellular microorganisms from NCBI COG database,and collected all proteins whose three-dimensional structure had been measured to study the influence of secondary structure property (compositon and length) on ar- chaeal and bacterial protein thermostability.The results show:there are plenty d short 310 helixes in thermophilic archaeal proteins,while there are some short loops in thermophilc bacterial proeins.From the result,we can conclude that secondary struture property have important influence on protein thermostability,but the influence on archael protein is different from bacteroal protein.


A 10-year-old Maltese dog was presented with a firm mass on the left side of his neck. Physical examination confirmed a firm mass in the left and a submandibular swelling in the right cervical region. Sialolithiasis and associated sialocele in both mandibular salivary glands were suspected and bilateral sialoadenectomy was performed. The stones were identified as non-mineral sialoliths.