Conatus ("striving") is a specific concept within Descartes's physics. In particular, it assumes a crucial importance in the purely mechanistic description of the nature of light – an issue that Descartes considered one of the most crucial challenges, and major achievements, of his natural philosophy. According to Descartes's cosmology, the universe – understood as a material continuum in which there is no vacuum – is composed of a number of separate yet interconnected vortices. Each of these vortices consists in a set of bands rotating around their centres. The bands are composed of corpuscles of the three elements, each distinguished on the basis of their different shapes and sizes. The small globules of the second element (of which the heavens are mainly composed), although impeded by the other parts of heaven, strive to move away from the centre of the vortex around which they revolve, thus exerting a certain force against the surrounding bodies. This striving or conatus, though a mere force rather than a genuine motion, is transmitted instantaneously and along straight lines from body to body. According to Descartes, then, the nature of light consists in this striving alone. This account must be understood as strictly connected to the fundamental laws that regulate the Cartesian world. It is particularly important to recall that for Descartes the centrifugal force exerted by a rotating body is understood to be a consequence of the intrinsic rectilinearity of every motion. As the second of the three Laws of Nature set forth in Book II of the Principles of Philosophy establishes, "all motion is in itself rectilinear; and hence any body moving in a circle tends to move away from the centre of the circle which it describes ("tendere semper ut recedat a centro circuli quem describunt") as proved by the fact that a stone rotating in a sling tends to move centrifugally along the tangent of each point described by a circle. Similarly, each of the globules of the second element "strives to recede with a great force from the centre of the vortex in which it rotates; it is in fact prevented by the other globules placed all around, not differently than a stone in a sling". Within this framework, as I show later, conatus occurs when a body's intrinsic tendency to rectilinear motion is impeded by an external constraint. As Stephen Gaukroger notes, the use of the term conatus in the Principles – like "vis" and "action" – shows that Descartes "cannot avoid dynamic terminology", despite his declared intent "to construe motion in a purely kinematic way". Indeed, Gaukroger observes that the notions of force (vis) action (actio) and striving (conatus) are systematically employed in the Principles – appearing 290, 59 and 8 times, respectively. Also noteworthy, conatus was – together with the more familiar concepts of actio and vis – a significant element of the conceptual apparatus of Scholastic natural philosophy. As will be seen later – and this is the first goal of this


The effects of doping Co2+ on cathode material lithium vanadium phosphate[Li3V2(PO4)3] were studied by XRD,transmission electron microscopy(TEM) and electrochemical performance test.The monoclinic structure of Li3V2(PO4)3 would not change,the structure was more stable,the high rate charge-discharge performance was improved.While charged-discharged in 3.0~4.3 V under room temperature,the initial specific capacity of Li3(Co0.03V0.97)2(PO4)3 was 116.8 mAh/g at 0.1 C discharge,the capacity fading rate was 16.5% after 80 cycles with the current increased from 0.1 C to 1.0 C.The initial specific discharge capacity of Li3V2(PO4)3 was 128.8mAh/g and the capacity fading rate was 34.8% after 80 cycles.The test of cyclic voltammogram and AC impedance showed that the reversibility of Li3(Co0.03V0.97)2(PO4)3 was better than that of Li3V2(PO4)3.


[Objective] The research aimed to clarify the relation between fertilizer amount and flue-cured tobacco quality.[Method] Using randomized block,the influence of different amount of phosphorus on the smoking quality and economic characters of flue-cured tobacco leaves was studied.[Result] The economic traits of the low amount of phosphate treatment were higher than that of high amount of fertilizer treatment.The content of reducing sugar and total sugar of tobacco upper leaves of lower X2F and B2F were significantly higher than that of CK,and total nitrogen and nicotine content were significantly lower than that of CK.The nicotine content in tobacco leaf C2F was significantly higher than that of CK,and the potassium content was significantly lower than that of CK.Fertilizer had a great influence on the leaf C2F.Compared with CK,P treatments could increase the aftertaste,weaken miscellaneous gas,provocative,and improve the smoking total scores by 0.14%-2.26%.Phosphate fertilizer consumption and smoking quality indicators of quality and quantity of flavor,mixed gas,stimulation,smoking total scores showed a weak correlation,and the correlation wasn't significant.[Conclusion] The study provided a scientific basis for the application and popularization of flue-cured tobacco.


Chronic Kidney Patients (CKP) present a negative clinical status, with structural and functional changes in the musculoskeletal system and mental health partly due to a sedentary lifestyle. An effective physical stimulus for CKP is as important as to be able to follow it in the long-term. This study aimed to analyzethe association between some of the most influencing exercise adherence factors in CKP performing an exercise prescription programme. 67 subjects (23.9% women) participated in 14-week exercise programme in 3 dialysis centersin Madrid (Spain). Social-economic, educational, demographics, physical fitness, psychological and quality of life-related factors, were analyzedby a binary logistic regression model. Exercise adherence was established according to the number of training sessions attended per total sessions scheduled (cut-off point >75%). According to our binary logistic regression model performed with CKP, actual side effects symptoms/problems (OR:0.925: 95% CI [0.871, 0.983]) and depressionstatus (OR:0.882: 95% CI [0.788, 0.987]),showed significant negative associations(B= -0.078; B= -0.126, respectively)andState-Trait Anxiety level (OR: 1.122: 95% CI [1.007, 1.250]) and emotional well-being dimension (OR:1.046: 95% CI [1.001, 1.094]),showed significant positive associations (B=0.115; B=0.045, respectively). Thesewerethe most influencing factors related tothefulfilling >75% sessions of the exercise training program scheduled, explaining33.20% in our model.From the total of variables analyzedin our model, psychological issues such asanxiety and depression, besides thehealth-related quality of life factors such as actual side effects (symptoms/problems) and emotional well-beingwere the most influencing factors related to the exercise prescription adherence in CKP.


When information available in unstructured or semi-structured formats, e . g ., tables or texts, comes in, finding links between strings appearing in these sources and the entities they refer to in some background Knowledge Graphs (KGs) is a key step to integrate, enrich and extend the data and/or KGs. This Entity Linking task is usually decomposed into Entity Retrieval and Entity Disambiguation because of the large entity search space. This paper presents an Entity Retrieval service (LamAPI) and discusses the impact of different retrieval configurations, i . e ., query and filtering strategies, on the retrieval of entities. The approach is to augment the search activity with extra information, like types, associated with the strings in the original datasets. The results have been empirically validated against public datasets.


Plant height is an important trait determining the yield potential of rice.Variations on plant height among semi-dwarf rice cultivars are generally continuous distributed and controlled by polygenes.Recent studies have indicated that quantitative trait loci(QTLs) for plant height have been detected in all the 12 chromosomes of rice,and four of them have been cloned.It has been shown in QTL cloning and primary QTL mapping that many QTLs for plant height could exert pleiotropism on yield traits and/or heading date,which might be utilized to enhance the yield potential of rice.


Here, we have shown the reaction of [Cr(ArN(CH2)3NAr)2Cl2] (1) where (Ar = 2,6-Pr i 2C6H3) and in presence of NaCp (2) (Cp= C5H5 = cyclopentadien), with a center coordination η interaction between Cp as co-ligand and chromium metal center, for optimization we used density functional theory (DFT), under methods, explicitly including electrons correlations, for the final calculations as MB3LYP (Becke) (Lee–Yang–Parr) level of theory we used to obtain more exact results. This complex was calculated as electronic energy for molecular system, because the calculation accounting all electrons correlations interactions. The optimised of [Cr(ArN(CH2)3NAr)2(η -Cp)] (Ar = 2,6-Pr2C6H3 and Cp = C5H5) was found to be thermally stable. By using Dewar-ChattDuncanson model, as a basis of the molecular orbital (MO) analysis and showed the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest occupied molecular orbital LUMO. Keywords—Chromium (III) cyclopentadienyl complexes, DFT, MO, HOMO, LUMO.


This paper investigates a listen before talk (LBT) algorithm to realize both collision avoidance with nodes of other wireless systems/operators and one-cell reuse operation among nodes of the same operator for long term evolution (LTE) based licensed-assisted access (LAA) in unlicensed spectrum. When LTE system is operated in unlicensed spectrum, implementation of a LBT algorithm is required to not only follow the regulation but also realize fair coexistence with other operators' nodes or other systems' nodes, e.g. wireless local area network (WLAN), which can be operated in the same channel. However, since physical layer functionalities of LTE is designed to work in one-cell reuse operation, from the efficiency of unlicensed channels, it is preferable that LAA nodes of the same operator simultaneously transmits signals. Therefore, we study a LBT with frequency reuse which can flexibly perform collision avoidance and one-cell reuse operation according to whether the channel is idle or busy. In the proposed LBT, while applying a LBT with random backoff algorithm as the basis, each LAA node aligns the transmission timing with other LAA nodes of the same operator. Computer simulation confirms that LBT with frequency reuse can improve the throughput performances of both LAA users and WLAN users under the environment where LAA and WLAN nodes coexist.


This study was commissioned by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as an independent analysis of the empirical effects of college athletics. The views and opinions expressed in this study are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the NCAA or the institutions with which the authors are associated. The authors thank three independent economists who reviewed the preliminary analysis and conclusions in November 2002. and the NCAA staff for helpful conversations and suggestions; and Daniel Fulks for his assistance with the survey and with the NCAA/EADA data. 2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Observers of college athletics hold dramatically different views regarding the empirical effects of athletics on institutions of higher education. One view, reflected in the so-called Flutie effect, suggests that athletic programs generate a variety of direct and indirect benefits for the school sponsoring them. Another view, reflected in two reports from the Knight Commission, suggests that college athletics is suffering from " a financial arms race " and college athletics " threaten to overwhelm the universities in whose name they were established. " Unfortunately, the debate between these two schools of thought is often based more on assertions and anecdotes than on empirical evidence. The purpose of this paper is to examine empirically the effects of college athletics, with a particular focus on the financial effects. In particular, the paper draws on evidence contained in previous academic studies; statistical analysis of a new, comprehensive database compiled from school-specific information collected as part of the Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act (EADA) merged with data from other sources (such as the Integrated Post-Secondary Education Data System managed by the Department of Education); and a detailed survey of chief financial officers from 17 Division I schools. These various sources of data have important limitations, especially in areas such as the treatment of capital expenditures, but they nonetheless represent a comprehensive empirical effort to shed light on key issues related to college athletics. The paper specifically examines ten hypotheses about college athletics, focusing primarily on Division I-A schools. Using our data and the existing academic literature, we examine each of the hypotheses. Our analysis confirms five of the hypotheses; the other five are not proven and require further empirical analysis: Hypothesis #1: Operating athletic expenditures are a relatively small share of overall academic spending. • The share of operating athletic spending in a university's total …


The Daly River is an important perennial river of the tropical Top End, Northern Territory. Rainfall in the Top End appears to have been greater during the last 40 years than the 100 year long term mean and the resultant increase in overbank flows may be the cause of observed erosion of river banks and deep pool infilling, which threatens fish habitat. A finite element hydrodynamic and sediment transport model of a 10km long reach of river channel and floodplain has been created to investigate the likely cause of channel instability. Morphological changes within the channel during overbank flows are extremely varied but do indicate distinct infilling of pool sections and erosion of river banks. Calibration and verification of the model requires data collection specific to this modelling application. These data are outlined and their relative importance discussed. Applying these outputs to whole of catchment scale sediment interactions will provide a model of fluvial responses to land use and potential climate change.


Retention rates of undergraduates at large urban universities serving minority populations have been problematic, especially among students in science and technology fields. John Jay College of Criminal Justice has designed a cohesive collegiate retention program according to the Tinto model of retention. This article details the strategies utilized as they relate to known factors affecting college persistence. Preliminary outcomes of this work are also explored in terms of student involvement and institutional support.


OBJECTIVE
Although it is acknowledged that pain may be modulated by cognitive factors, little is known about the effect of aging on these control processes. The present study investigated electroencephalographical correlates of pain processing and its cognitive modulation in healthy older individuals.

METHODS
For this purpose, the impact of distraction on pain was evaluated in 21 young (9 men; 20.71±2.30) and 20 older adults (10 men; 66,80±4,14). Participants received individually adjusted electrical pain stimuli in a high distraction condition (1-back task) and in a low distraction condition (simple letter response task). Pain-related evoked potentials and pain ratings were analysed.

RESULTS
Both groups rated pain as less intense (F(1,39)=13.954, p<.001) and less unpleasant (F(1,39)=10.111, p=.003) when it was experienced during the high rather than the low distraction condition. However, in comparison to younger participants, older adults gave higher unpleasantness ratings to painful stimulation (F(1,39)=4.233, p=.046), accompanied by attenuated neural responses (N1-P1 and P3 amplitudes), regardless of the distraction condition (respectively, F(1,38)=6.028, p=.019 and F(1,38)=6,669, p=.014).

CONCLUSIONS
Older participants felt pain relief through distraction, like younger participants. However, we also found that aging may enhance affective aspects of pain perception. Finally, our results show that aging is characterized by reduced neural processing of painful stimuli. This phenomenon could be related to the increased vulnerability of older participants to develop chronic pain.


Let K be a finite extension of the p-adic numbers with p 6= 2, 5 and L/K a ramified extension. We count the number of nonisomorphic extensions where the Galois group of the splitting field of L is equal to one of the ten transitive subgroups of S4 and S5.


Part 1 Foundation: overview of currency in ADA hot-line communication system. Part 2 Task intercommunication: rendezvouz calling and called tasks producer-consumer model of task interaction the bounded buffer buffer-transporter model of task interaction air-track display system. Part 3 Task manipulation: task types and objects activation termination pointers to task objects message transmission system. Part 4 Tasks as device drivers: machine-level issues tasks as interrupt handlers multiple keyboard handler. Part 5 Large real-time systems: some ADA design issues remote temperature sensor.


To provide better guidance for patients or the elderly during the self-rehabilitation, a haptic system based on the asymmetric vibration was proposed. Due to the Non-linearity of Perception asymmetric vibration periodic movement can provide a sense of pushing and pulling. In order to better support human motion, we evaluated the sensitivity of different parts of the human body to this haptic assist. And by combining with the gyro-sensor through the contrast experiment, we compared the accuracy of motion learning with or without the haptic assist. The results of three subjects showed that the accuracy of motion learning was improved compared to without haptic assist. Therefore, the system has great potential in the guidance of patients' self-rehabilitation.


Objective:This dissertation aims to study the effect of schisandra wine on the sleep of mice.Methods:Three groups of 120 mice,the distill water group (0.2mL/20g),alcohol group (0.2mL/20g) and the schisandra wine experiment group(0.2mL/20g) were involved in the study.After the test substances were orally given to mice for 10d,study effects of schisandra wine on induced-sleep directly of mice,and effects on duration of sleep induced by pentobarbital sodium,effects on the number of sleep induced by pentobarbital sodium under the threshold sleep dosage,and effects on the sleep latency induced by barbital sodium.Results:The result showed that the sleep time of mice was prolonged obviously,the sleeping rate of mice was increased obviously,the sleep latency was shorten obviously and there was no indirect sleep-inducing effect,and no significant effect on body weight of mice.Conclusion:Schisandra wine could improve the sleep of mice as the health food.


This paper builds a wireless control platform based on browser/server mode. The platform uses the ARM9-series S3C2440A to build embedded Web server, sets up a wireless local area network with ZigBee technology and designs responsive web as user interface which allow users to remote control devices in ZigBee network


Along with the trade liberalization and the economical globalization,China's foreign trade enterprises are meeting the international competitors'stern challenge;therefore,the foreign trade enterprises must adjust their strategies to international environment variations. This article first discusses the relations between the global supply chain management and the foreign trade enterprises'core competence;then it touches upon the dynamic evolutionary way of the foreign trade enterprises'service pattern;finally it elaborates two key factors of China's foreign trade enterprises'core competence:the promotion of service chain and the establishment of virtual supply chain.


he introduction of drug-eluting stent (DES) technology revolutionized the field of interventional cardiology. The main components of the DES are the stent platform, the drug, and the carrier. First-generation DES used durable polymers as the carrier to control the drug elution from the stent into the vessel wall. These polymers, however, were found to be problematic and were associated with adverse findings, which may have contributed to late stent thrombosis and the dependency on prolonged dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT). These deficiencies motivated scientists to develop biodegradable polymers with the premise that they will completely disappear once the drug has been delivered to the tissue. Despite the availability of a wide variety of biodegradable polymers with degradation kinetics ranging from 3 months to 3 years, only a few have thus far been utilized for DES technology. Among them is polylactide-co-glycolide (PLGA). PLGA is used in the Stellium stent (DISA Vascular, Cape Town, South Africa) DES system. In this issue of the Journal, Kozuki et al report their first-in-man study results.1 The Stellium stent demonstrated competitive low event rates and angiographic in-stent late loss when compared historically with first-generation DES, which used durable polymers.


The concept of immunotherapy using antibody to target at cancer cells is based on the hypothesis that human cancers express specific tumour-associated antigens (TAA) that can be specifically targeted by either antibody or cell mediated immunity. Hindrance in the past was partly due to the poor expression of TAA on the cellular surface or failure to identify unique TAA in many cancer cells. In addition, the production of specific antibodies for clinical use is a tedious and expansive process. Breakthrough in recent years was attributed by gaining more abundant information in identifying more TAA on different cancer cells and also the advance in the high through-put technology in generating massive amount of antibodies for clinical use. By attaching either radioactive substance such as Iode131, Ytrium 90 or cytotoxic conjugates to the antibody further enhance the anti-cancer potential in some of these antibodies.


INTRODUCTION: Disorders of sodium and water metabolism are frequently encountered in patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and may even be acquired there. A systematic approach is needed to evaluate the causes of hyponatremia for better patient care. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 100 adult patients with admission serum sodium levels <135 mEq/L in the ICU were recruited for this study over 18 months. Through history taking and appropriate laboratory investigations, the prevalence, causes, morbidity and mortality of hyponatremia were assessed. Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone Secretion (SIADH) was diagnosed using Schwartz and Bartter clinical criterion. RESULTS: 23 cases were deemed to have pseudohyponatremia likely caused by dyslipidemia or hyperproteinemia, whereas remaining 77 cases had true hyponatremia. Values of arterial and venous sodium have a positive correlation indicating agreement between the parameters. Majority of subjects were males (61%). Causes of hyponatremia include: neurological causes in 34 cases (44.2%), followed by gastrointestinal cause 18 cases (23.4%), respiratory cause 15 cases (19.5%), cardiac cause 5 cases (6.5%), and other causes 5 cases (6.5%). Most frequently encountered diagnosis included cerebrovascular accident (16 cases), pneumonia (10 cases), metabolic encephalopathy (10 cases), acute gastroenteritis (8 cases) and tubercular meningitis (6 cases). Of 77 cases studied, 18 cases (23.4%) had hypovolemic hyponatremia (due to acute gastroenteritis), 51 cases (66.2%) had euvolemic hyponatremia (due to SIADH, likely caused by cerebrovascular accident, pneumonia or metabolic encephalopathy) and 8 cases (10.4%) had hypervolemic hyponatremia (due to chronic renal failure or congestive cardiac failure). Mortality in this population was 11.7%, and was seen mainly in patients of severe hyponatremia. CONCLUSIONS: Severity of hyponatremia, male gender and neurological symptoms correlated significantly with morbidity and mortality in this cohort and the information from this study can be used to better identify patients at risk of adverse outcomes due to hyponatremia in critical care setting.


The goal of reaching near-human quality translation probably depends on some degree of pre- and post-editing for years to come. But, the growing number of global corporations (such as Philips, Samsung, and HP) and international agencies and institutions (such as the UN and the European Commission) using the technology illustrates that machine translation - the first nonnumerical application of AI - is finally delivering practical solutions. Popular perception of MT has suffered from low-quality "gisting" translation that Web-based translation engines, such as Babelfish and other online services, generate. But MT engines designed for limited domains, and tailor-made systems that use controlled language, are already delivering services.


The current work deals with numerical simulation of optical trap systems at time scales varying from very small to very large. This analysis is important to understand the effects of different forces acting on the optically trapped particle. The significance of inertia forces are also evaluated at these time scales. A novel method of computing diffusion coefficient from the simulated values is proposed. It has been shown that the computed values of the diffusion coefficient are an exact match to the theoretical results.Copyright © 2007 by ASME


Urbanisation profoundly changes both the abiotic and biotic properties of ecosystems. It does so not just within urban areas, but also in surrounding landscapes and often much further afield. Traditionally, the foremost focus for research has been on the negative impacts of these changes, particularly for human health and wellbeing, and how these can most effectively be mitigated. This is readily understandable given that, for much of their history, urban environments have often been associated with high rates of infant mortality, disease outbreaks and a generally poor quality of life, and that this still remains true for many of those living in cities today (Woods 2003; UN-HABITAT 2006; Birchenall 2007). From a broader ecological perspective, urban areas have also long been considered depauperate in comparison to their rural counterparts in terms of flora and fauna, with the exception of a few notable species that were widely categorised as pests. More recently, research into urban environments has increasingly shifted towards examining the positive contributions that such areas can make both to the human population and to other species. Of course, viewing urban environments in terms of the benefits they can provide or the costs they can exact are essentially two sides of the same coin. However, closer consideration of the potential advantages has served to broaden the range of environmental issues that have received emphasis; rather than focusing almost exclusively on the undoubtedly vital human health concerns resulting from poor air quality, unclean water and inadequate sanitation, there is now a growing appreciation of the benefits that greener and more ecologically diverse urban areas have on the mental and physical status of residents, on economic markets and for biological conservation (Chapters 7–11; Fuller et al . 2010; Gaston & Evans 2010; Irvine et al . 2010).


textabstractThe research reported on these pages analyzes the influence of personality traits and interpersonal skills in adult economic attainment, with particular focus on earnings.
The purpose is to bring together ideas from economics, social-psychology, and related disciplines in order to contribute new empirical evidence to the growing literature on non-cognitive skills as they relate to adult educational and labor market outcomes. The
work at hand offers a peek into the "black box" that economists have come to call "non-cognitive skills", and examines the relevance of such skills for success in the labor market through a collection of self-contained essays.


Prolonged endotracheal intubation is a common iatrogenic cause of swallowing disorders. Clinicians frequently seek a decision-making algorithm to determine appropriate timing of assessment, predict...


Abstract The habituation of sleep to road traffic noise was investigated. Habituation of sleep is improvement of sleep quality. Nine male students aged 19–21 were exposed to tape-recorded road traffic noise of L eq 49·6 dB(A) in an experimental bedroom. Among 17 nights, the first four and the last three nights were non-exposure nights and the other consecutive 10 were exposure nights. The polygraphic sleep parameters were: sleep stages S1, S2, S(3+4), rapid eye movements (REM), and so on. Subjective sleep quality was assessed by five scales of a self-rating sleep questionnaire named the OSA, sleepiness (F1), sleep maintenance (F2), worry (F3), integrated sleep feeling (F4), and sleep initiation (F5). In this experiment, the habituation of sleep to road traffic noise was observed clearly in all of the subjective sleep parameters of the OSA, though all of the polygraphic sleep parameters showed little or no evidence of habituation. This suggests that habituation to noise has two aspects, sensation and perception mechanisms, corresponding to sleep polygraphy and to questionnaire respectively.


Endurance exercise training promotes mitochondrial biogenesis and fiber type transformation in skeletal muscle. Accumulating evidence suggests that peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ coactivator‐1α (PGC‐1α) play a pivotal role since endurance exercise induces PGC‐1α expression, overexpression of PGC‐1α in skeletal muscle results in enhanced mitochondrial biogenesis and increased oxidative myofibers, whereas genetic disruption of the Pgc‐1α gene results in opposite changes. However, it has not been shown that PGC‐1α is required for exercise‐induced skeletal muscle adaptation, and its precise functional role is not clear. Here, mice with skeletal muscle‐specific knockout of the Pgc‐1α gene showed attenuated cytochrome oxidase IV (COX IV) and cytochrome c (Cyt c) expression, but normal induction of myoglobin expression and type IIb‐to‐IIa fiber type transformation, in response to voluntary running exercise. These findings genetically separated the functional role of PGC‐1α in exercise‐induced mitochondrial biogenesis from that in fiber type transformation.


We consider a common problem occurring after using a statistical process control (SPC) method based on three-dimensional measurements: locate where on the surface of the part that triggered an out-of-control alarm there is a significant shape difference with respect to either an in-control part or its nominal (computer-aided design (CAD)) design. In the past, only registration-based solutions existed for this problem, which first orient and locate the part and its nominal design under the same frame of reference. Recently, spectral Laplacian methods have been proposed for the SPC of discrete parts and their measured surface meshes. These techniques provide an intrinsic solution to the SPC problem: that is, a solution exclusively based on data whose coordinates lie on the surfaces without making reference to their ambient space, thus avoiding registration. Registration-free methods avoid the computationally expensive, nonconvex registration step needed to align the parts as required by previous methods, eliminating registration errors, and they are important in industry because of the increasing use of portable noncontact scanners. In this paper, we first present a new registration-free solution to the post-SPC part defect localization problem. The approach uses a spectral decomposition of the Laplace–Beltrami operator in order to construct a functional map between the CAD and measured manifolds to locate defects on the suspected part. A computational complexity analysis demonstrates the approach scales better with the mesh size and is more stable than a registration-based approach. To reduce computational expense, a new mesh partitioning algorithm is presented to find a region of interest on the surface of the part where defects are more likely to exist. The functional map method involves a large number of point-to-point comparisons based on noisy measurements, and a new statistical thresholding method used to filter the false positives in the underlying massive multiple comparisons problem is also provided. Funding: This research was partially funded by the National Science Foundation [Grant CMMI 2121625]. Data Ethics & Reproducibility Note: There are no data ethics considerations. The code capsule is available on Code Ocean at https://codeocean.com/capsule/4615101/tree/v1 and in the e-Companion to this article (available https://doi.org/10.1287/ijds.2023.0030 ).


AbstractBlizzards are extreme winter storms that are defined by strong winds and falling or blowing snow that significantly reduces visibility for an extended period of time. For the conterminous United States, blizzard occurrence by county was compiled from Storm Data for 55 winter seasons from 1959/60 to 2013/14. Spatiotemporal patterns were examined for blizzard seasons (September–August) at annual, decadal, and monthly frequencies. Linear regression and spectral analysis were used to detect any blizzard cycles or trends. Societal impacts such as fatalities, injuries, property damage, and federal disaster declarations were also tallied. Data revealed 713 blizzards over the 55 years, with a mean of 13 events per season. Seasonal blizzard frequency ranged from one blizzard in 1980/81 to 32 blizzards in 2007/08. The average area per blizzard was 83 474 km2, or approximately the size of South Carolina. Blizzard probabilities ranged from 1.8% to 76.4%, with a distinct blizzard zone in North Dakota, western ...


In this paper, through research and analysis of mooring system composition, advantages and disadvantages and single point mooring compared to the limitations of multi-point mooring system, etc. Mainly used the finite element model and combining with the method of integral control of the cable equation analysis to solve the system under the action of static and dynamic movement and stress distribution of the system. We carefully analyzed the influence of different conditions on the system, the impact of some of the smaller factors such as wave forces applied Morison formula are analyzed. For some in the actual operation of the larger impact on the system factors such as the weight of the chain, the material, the wear and tear, we design a new index system to analyze it, optimization of the whole system. Introduction According to the relative nearly shallow sea observation of some relevant data, to establish the mathematical model for the following research problem. Due to the influence of various factors such as tidal environment, considering the force of wind, current and depth of the mooring system design case, the study when the cloth off the measured depth between 16 m to 20 m. And water velocity of the cloth point maximum of 1.5 m/s, up to a maximum of 36 m/s wind speed. Analysis different Shi Gang barrel, steel Angle work best at what Angle, at this time the shape of the chain, buoys draft depth and the range of the swimming area. Table 1 Chain type and parameter list Model Length(mm) The quality of the unit length(kg/m) I 78 3.2 II 105 7 III 120 12.5 IV 150 19.5 V 180 28.12 Problem analysis In considering, water power, wind power and the depth of the water circumstances, establish relevant mathematical model, design a new mooring system, under different conditions is analyzed on the steel drum, steel Angle; Chain shape, water depth of the buoy and swimming area. At the same time, analysis the influence of different conditions on the system and optimize the system. (cloth off the measured depth between 16 and 20 m. Model assumes 2nd International Conference on Materials Science, Machinery and Energy Engineering (MSMEE 2017) Copyright © 2017, the Authors. Published by Atlantis Press. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/). Advances in Engineering Research, volume 123


Abstract During the COVID-19 pandemic, several instances of innovation were reported in construction and other sectors, consistent with previously noted spikes in innovation activities during crises and environmental perturbations. Yet the behavioural mechanisms and factors leading to changes in the innovation behaviour of actors under environmental perturbation are not adequately understood. This paper studies such behavioural mechanisms and factors, building on the Excitable Innovation Behaviour Model (EIBM), which explains the voluntary or coercive change in the innovation behaviour of actors in terms of their stable state needs and excited stated needs. The findings build on data collected through an online survey (N = 266) and interviews (N = 14) during the COVID situation. The results show that environmental perturbations can trigger both an increase and decrease in innovation activities. Actors' network dependencies, motivation, and years of experience influence their innovation behaviour. Environmental perturbation triggers accelerated alignment and shared prioritization of the needs of the different stakeholders, resulting in commitment and timely actions towards innovation from each stakeholder. Actors' ability and financial stability at the time of the excitation trigger mediate their innovation behaviour, revealing similarities and differences between EIBM and Fogg's Behavioural Model of persuasion. The grounding of EIBM in behavioural theories makes it potentially generalizable and compatible with other behavioural models and theories on innovation. The underlying state-change mechanisms in EIBM also make it amenable to developing a parametric and computational model of innovation adoption and diffusion. The research insights will inform innovation management strategies, including technology adoption roadmaps in the construction sector.


ABSTRACT This study examined the 4th-grade National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) assessments (history, geography, and civics) and 3rd- and 4th-grade social studies standards from nine randomly selected states and organized the content around three global concepts (conflict, movement, discovery) and six specific concepts (war, rebellion, immigration, migration, exploration, invention). The extent to which additional related concepts appeared in both documents was recorded, and alignment between the NAEP and standards was determined. Findings revealed that 3rd- and 4th-graders are learning social studies content that represent these global and specific concepts. However, there is variability among states' standard documents and inconsistencies between what is assessed on the NAEP and what is presented in the standards. In addition, much instruction for these concepts takes place during 4th grade, the same year the NAEP is administered. Implications of these findings, including the urgent need for conceptually based social studies instruction to meet students' knowledge and achievement gaps, are discussed.


To reduce the abusive apply of artificial organic pesticides with discernment, biodegradable bio-pesticides origin from plants were used as an alternative phytosanitary method against crop pests. This experimentation allowed testing in vitro the bio-insecticidal activity of Anvillea radiata Coss and Dur (Asteraceae), endemic plant from the southeastern Algeria, against the cereal aphid Rhopalosiphum padi (Linnaeus, 1758). Three concentrations were tested (D1= 5mg/ml, D2= 2.5mg/ml and D3= 1.25mg/ml) with the butanolic and chloroformic extracts. The results showed a mortality rate of R. padi varying significantly by treatment and concentration according to the tested substances. The quantitative analysis of the two extracts shows that the crude butanolic extract is rich in polyphenols (348.935±7.456 µg EAG/mg MS) compared to the crude chloroformic extract (56.754±0.982 µg EAG/mg MS). Samely to the insecticidal effect tested, the concentration of 5 mg/ml presented an important insecticidal activity with the butanolic extract (62%) higher than the chloroformic extract (26%). Also, the lethal doses (LC50) of the crude butanolic extract were estimated by 23.07 mg/ml, 6.71 mg/ml and 5.70 mg/ml respectively after 24, 48 and 72hours of the treatment.


A metallic phial with screw cap and an Inro containing 6 glass phials were used as medicine containers for carrying medicines in the Edo period. These samples are exhibited at "Mizutani Inro Collection", which is famous for having a lot of Inro in Hyogo, Japan. On packaging art for medicines, there were two streams in the Edo period. The one is to use tight containers for carrying medicines which were brought from Western Europe and the other is to use well closed containers for crude drugs which were traditionally used in our country and China. These containers are chosen reasonably in accordance with a kind of medicine.


Violence—the very term meets our consciousness with its various archetypal agents like bloodshed, abuse and attack. The terms has gained importance in the eyes of feminists who define it somewhat as any physical, sexual, verbal and psychological violation of the rights and persona of women. The very brutality, bloodshed and sexual tortures that women in the world face in their daily life provide it maleness. In the current scenario and especially the last few months we have come across the examples of the traditional form of violence against women. Such a huge protest in the Delhi gang rape case, the amendments in the law and the increased awareness of the media, all have put 'Males' in the category of the single, omnipotent and the most inhuman form of existence on the earth. But apart from these much talked of traitors and violators of the rights of women who are their universal opposites and perennial enemies there are others who use the 'Male' as scapegoats while practicing this maleness wherever necessary. My paper would concentrate on the psychological violence that women practice on their own sexual-counterparts. But these forms of violence are categorically and strategically kept out of the talks of media, politics, theory and society, while actually demanding a lot of attention and serious remedies because women are ready to fight against this 'Maleness' that is tearing their identity apart while actually getting a blow from inside. Beyond the one universal binary of Male/Female there are binaries of multiple levels in the right side of this slash. If women want to do away with the violence of man they will first have to develop what Judith Butler calls a Sisterhood.


Greene combines the traditional moral judgment and the social intuitionist model,and puts forward dual processing model of moral judgment. The model considers that,moral judgment is a fast and intuitive emotional process on the one hand,on the other hand is a slow and thoughtful cognitive reasoning process. Greene et determine the activation region of emotion and cognition in moral judgement by fMRI,through the use of sound and pictures change the presentation of dilemma material,obtain increase of the moral judgment after induced mood. The dual processing model is a breakthrough in the field of morality,which attention must be paid to in future research and development.


This research entitles " The Effect of the Implement of Communicative
Approach toward Students Ability in Understanding Reading Passage at The
Second Year Senior High School I Tempuling, Indragiri Hilir." The objective of
the research is to know whether there is any significant Effect of the
Implementation of Communicative approach toward Students Ability in
Understanding Reading Passage at the Second Year Senior High School I
Tempuling, Indragiri Hilir.
In this research, the type of research used was pre experimental research.
The writer took one group pretest-posttest designas sample that consists of 34
students. Before the giving the treatment, the technique of collecting data was the
test. The test was used in order to find out the Students Ability in
Understanding Reading Passage at the Second Year Senior High School I
Tempuling, Indragiri Hilir.. In analyzed the data, the researcher used graduated
standard of English lesson in SMAN 1Tempuling, Indragiri Hilir that is 60 for
students' ability in understanding reading passage.It means for those who get
score 60,
they are not pass graduated standard.In order toknow the significant effect of
implementation of communicative approach toward students' ability in
understanding reading passage,These scores were analyzed statistically. The data
were analyzed by using T-test through using SPSS 16.0.
Based on the researcher finding shows that there is a significant different
effect in ability reading by using communicative approach. It is proved by finding
the t observation (13,583) is higher than t table either at the level significance 5%
or level of significance 1% (2,04 >13, 583>2, 75). It meant that" there is
significance different effect in ability reading by using communicative approach".


The initial reaction of an O2 molecule with Si(111)-(7×7) was studied using a scanning tunneling microscope at 10 K. The reacted site shows a characteristic dark feature which is ascribed to a metastable product with one oxygen atom bonded on top of a Si adatom and another inserted into a back bond. The dark site appears asymmetric with respect to the surface mirror plane, possibly reflecting the location of the inserted oxygen atom. No evidence for molecular chemisorption was obtained even at 10 K. The atomic-scale manipulation of the initial oxidation product was demonstrated.


The abolition of dual administration of NGOs in China has brought it with many challenges for development and governance of NGOs. In the context of China, the decisive role the government plays in NGOs development, which is criticized by many scholars, is the result of the Chinese history, political culture and also the need of NGOs. Suggestions for new approaches to NGO development with the abolition of dual administration are thus discussed from the perspective of value-based partnership between NGOs and the government, and securing public trust.


The responses of lymphoid and non-lymphoid tissues of Rana pipiens to a reportedly virulent strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC#27853) were assessed by intraperitoneal injections of graded doses of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (10 7 -10 8 /ml). Frogs kept for 10-14 days at 22 and 29 C were examined with respect to spleen weight, spleen cell density, and presence of viable P. aeruginosa within the spleen. Inoculation of very high doses of P. aeruginosa had no significant effect on mortality at the lower treatment temperatures, but was a significant cause of mortality at higher temperatures under high stress conditions


CLOUDS have special importance to all who are interested in weather, now that forecasts are no longer based almost entirely on the movements of cyclones and anticyclones; we realise that the conditions are dominated by warm and cold parts—the boundary surfaces between air masses at different temperatures; and so ability to recognise the clouds which mark these surfaces may give invaluable information. The different types of clouds are here systematically arranged, with a promising suggestion for an abbreviated nomenclature, and there are useful discussions of the physical processes involved, such as that of the mode by which 'the moon eats the clouds.' The author has also included a number of less familiar types, such as 'helm barsy crest clouds,' 'cumulus boas,' and 'scarf clouds.'Fogs and Clouds.By W. J. Humphreys. Pp. xvii + 104 + 96 plates. (London: Bailliëre, Tindall and Cox; Baltimore, Md.: Williams and Wilkins Co., 1926.) 18s. net.


The proportion curves have an important role in petroleum geology. With this tool it is possible to define specific intervals for the dominant facies and, as result we can use the proportion curve as a trend in lithological modeling. However, when the proportion curves are generated they don't consider the well influence and the location of the wells. When we consider those information is possible to generate a more effective proportions curves. So, the main aim of this paper is to present a new technique to generate the proportion curves based in the mean kriging. The main advantage of this methodology is that the well location and his influence zone are considered in the process. This methodology indicated a efficient way to generate the proportion curves that can be used to support in a decisive way the reservoir characterization process linking to the lithological modeling.


Purpose Asthma is the most prevalent disease in India according to the national survey conducted by NFHS 2 in 1998-1999. Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), a collagenase encoded by the MMP-2 gene, degrades the type IV collagen and is responsible for inflammatory responses. This is a pilot study evaluating the role of MMP-2 -1306C/T promoter single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in asthma pathogenesis. Methods A case-control study was performed with a total of 824 adult subjects, including 410 adult asthmatics and 414 healthy controls from regions of North India. The MMP-2 -1306C/T polymorphism was genotyped by the Tetra-Primer Amplification Refractory Mutation System Polymerase Chain Reaction (Tetra-Primer ARMS PCR). Results Statistical analysis of the results for the MMP-2 -1306C/T polymorphism revealed an extremely protective role of the mutant T allele in asthma pathogenesis with OR=0.45, 95% CI (0.35-0.58) and P=0.000. The heterozygous CT genotype also conferred protection from asthma with OR=0.37, 95% CI (0.27-0.51) and P=0.000. The homozygous TT genotype was also significantly associated with asthma with OR=0.35, 95% CI (0.16-0.72) and P=0.002. Moreover, the polymorphism was significantly associated with all the phenotypic traits of the disease. Conclusion The MMP-2 -1306C/T promoter polymorphism confers significant protection from asthma in the studied North Indian population


applications where device scaling and noise reduction are a major concern. The noise metrics taken into consideration are: minimum noise figure, optimum source impedance and noise conductance. The statistical tools auto correlation and cross correlation are also analysed owing to the random nature of noise.


Disaster response operations during recent terrorist attacks and natural disasters have been a cause for concern. Lack of planning is one source of difficulties with these operations, but even if a perfect plan is agreed upon before a disaster occurs, it is unlikely that disaster response operations will be successful without better technological support. For this thesis, three prominent and recent disaster cases are analyzed in order to better understand current disaster response problems that result from insufficient Information Technology (IT) and Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) support. After presenting this analysis, we provide results of a technology review, whose goal was to search for emerging technologies that could perform better during a disaster response than the standard, currently available systems. Using these emerging technologies, a Disaster Response Support System (DRSS) is proposed that would provide improved capability, interoperability, and robustness compared to the currently available support systems. Finally, potential barriers to deployment of a system such as the DRSS are discussed and ways in which these barriers can be overcome are suggested. Thesis Supervisor: Joseph M. Sussman Title: JR East Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering and Engineering Systems


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this work was to study the effect of pre-treatment with parachlorophenylalanine (PCPA) and posttreatment with naloxone on the modulating action on neurogenic inflammation of manual acupuncture and low intensity (5 mAmp), low frequency (5 Hz) electroacupuncture (EA).

METHODS
Edema was induced by the subcutaneous administration of 50 micrograms capsaicin in rat paws. Pre-treatment with intraperitoneal PCPA was given for 3 days: 200 mg/Kg on the first day and 100 mg/Kg on the second and third days. Naloxone (1 mg/Kg) was administered at the end of the stimulation.

RESULTS
The results show that naloxone and PCPA reduce the anti-edema effect of both manual acupuncture and EA. Combined administration of the two drugs completely eliminated the effect of manual acupuncture, and decreased but did not abolish the effect of electroacupuncture.

CONCLUSION
These results indicate that both the opioid and the serotonergic inhibitory control systems are involved in the modulating action of acupunctural stimulation on neurogenic inflammation.


Information technology (IT) development often suffers from requirements uncertainty as in many cases only preliminary information is available. Wrong decisions may lead to rework that wastes resources and delays the project. Coping with preliminary information is thus an important aspect of project management. The authors apply a case study approach to analyze how IT professionals react to preliminary information and why they do so. The authors base their study on a concurrent engineering research study that provides guidelines how the downstream process (implementation) should react if the upstream process (analysis) is not able to provide all information. According to the authors' results, IT professionals predominantly apply these proposed reactions. Nevertheless, it is often unclear why they react the chosen way. They recommend IT professionals to invest effort to more systematically consider multiple reactions. Future research should focus on how the upstream process should react when the downstream process needs to make a decision.


Number of revolutions of the load drop amount is determined by measuring the torque of the motor to provide a loaded article. Using an evaluation circuit with respect to the rated revolution number determined amount of decrease in the number of revolutions of load time, according to a reference table or an algorithm rules in the memory, for determining a load torque related to determining the type of motor. Different types of load torque of the motor can be corrected by using a correction factor. A temperature sensor may also be employed, with the temperature correction for the change in the torque of the motor.


The growing importance of Quality of Experience over Quality of Service demands precise results in the monitoring of experienced quality; empirical assessment of subjective QoE measurement on perceived quality is expected to deliver accurate reflection of reality. The goal of this paper is to highlight potential errors in existing subjective QoE measurement methodologies. Our approach focuses on a special topic of distortions caused by preconceptions based on prior technical knowledge of evaluation measurement test subjects. The paper presents two series of measurements where the test subjects were aware of the service parameters during the evaluation of the given services. The paper specifies the identified distortion phenomenon and shows how cognitive dissonance played a role in the formation of evaluation patterns and the distortion of the Mean Opinion Score.


Aiming at the steel-making difficult problem to clear slag on converter mouth, the research actuality of technology at home and abroad to clear slag on converter mouth is discussed from four aspects about expert equipment to clear slag, preventing slag adhibiting technology, removing slag coating and clear method.


Some of the most common multi-electron transition processes are described and the effects of a double K-photoionization are analysed. Some previous experimental results are summarized, and the fact that fundamental parameters (such as absorption edge jump ratios) are changed through double ionization is shown. Finally, a correction to the equations for X-ray fluorescence intensity due to the effects of the double K-ionization is proposed by the inclusion of a step-function in the emission factor used in fundamental parameters calculation.


Objective To study the meaning and importance of the implementation of diagnosis related groups ( DRGS) based costs control and clinical path management in breast cancer patients undertaking modified radical mastectomy. Methods 62 patients undertook modified radical mastectomy from February to August in 2009 were in control group; 62 patients undertook modified radical mastectomy with the implementation of diagnosis related groups based costs control and clinical path management were in experimental group; To compare the differences of the average hospitaiization days、average hospitalization fees and patients satisfaction between the two groups. Results There were statistical significances in the average hospitalization days、average hospitalization fees and patients satisfaction between the two groups ( P < 0. 05 ). Conclusions The implementation of diagnosis related groups based costs control and clinical path management in breast cancer patients undertook modified radical mastectomy can make a obvious promotion in continuous quality improvement, shorten the average hospitalization days, reduce the medical costs, increase patients satisfaction,and it is worth popularizing.

Key words:
Breast cancer;  Perioperative period;  Clinical paths;  Cost control


-1 ) which was significantly higher than the other two cultivars. Wheat crop supplied with five irrigations at crown root + tillering + booting + earing + milking recorded the highest grain yield (5696.8 kg ha -1 ) which was significantly higher than all the other irrigation levels. At highest irrigation level I5, cultivars AS-2002 and SH-2002 produced grain yield at par but significantly higher than Aqab-2000. At all the other irrigation levels, cultivar AS2002 recorded significantly higher grain yield than the other two cultivars.


Control of the magnetic easy axis in SrRuO3 thin films is important for tunnel junction studies incorporating this layer and for wider device applications. Previously, we demonstrated control of the magnetic easy axis in SrRuO3 thin films on SrTiO3 (110) substrates by introducing tunable anisotropic strain through a CaHfO3 buffer layer. However, our method was not directly applicable due to the existence of twins in the CaHfO3 layer that grew on the SrTiO3 (001) substrate. Twins appeared partly because of the crystal structure of CaHfO3, which has large orthorhombic distortion (a−b)/a=2.5%. Here, we used a miscut SrTiO3 (001) substrate to create a twin-free CaHfO3 layer on the substrate, even though the large mismatch between the CaHfO3 and SrTiO3 (001) substrates led to relaxed growth behavior. The crystal quality of the CaHfO3 layer, as determined by the shape of the rocking curve and existence of twins, was markedly improved by use of the miscut substrate. In addition, the SrRuO3 film grown on top of t...


Neodymium doped sodium bismuth silicate glasses were prepared by the melt quench technique. Optical absorption spectra of the Nd 3+ ion in the present glassy systems were recorded in the UV-Vis-NIR region. Taylor series expansion method was adopted for theoretical evaluation of various crystal field parameters such as the Slater-Condon (F 2 ,F 4 ,F 6 ), spin orbit and Racah parameters (E 1 ,E 2 ,E 3 ). Oscillator strength and electric dipole line strength of the observed transitions were evaluated with the help of Judd-Ofelt (JO) theory. Radiative transition probability (A), total radiative transition probability (A t ), radiative life time (t rad ), branching ratios (b) and integrated absorption (s a ) cross section for stimulated emission between the meta stable state 4 F 3/2 and 4 I J ( J= 15/2,13/2,11/2 and 9/2) levels were calculated using JO parameters. Optical basicity of the glass was found to increase with the addition of  bismuth.


Nuclear oversight is a subject that is increasing in importance and has today reached a point where it is perhaps the most affecting factor for the nuclear power industry. The main purpose of this project was to investigate and compare the different types of factors that affect the oversight and safety priorities of nuclear regulators. Further, the idea was to get an understanding of in which direction the regulatory work has changed, how it will change and what the complications of that might be. The report is based on literature studies together with 18 qualitative interviews with experienced utility- and regulatory personnel in Sweden, Finland, USA and Canada. The obtained result indicates that there is currently an ongoing harmonization of the reactor safety requirements taking place, especially in Europe. This harmonization is driven by a number of large international organizations with IAEA, WANO and WENRA being the most significant. The countries that will be most affected by the harmonization are the ones that deviate most from the rest. All of the respondents in this study confirmed that the work associated with regulatory compliance will increase. Many also predicted that the increase in compliance would reach a level where the financial incentives associated with nuclear power generation are gone. Since many countries today have reactors that are getting close to their operational lifetime, their power industries and governments will soon stand before a crossroad whether to invest in new nuclear or not.


Root rot disease is one of the most serious diseases that significantly reduces the plant's productivity, commonly known as collar rot, foot rot, or damping off. The main symptom of this condition is damping off. The newly emerging seedlings collapse and die in areas with severe infection, and the majority of seedlings may die before or after emergence. Due to Root rot disease in C. Deodara which is our state tree, the damage caused by it to the seedlings there was urgent need to identify and study the disease so as to develop proper management strategies. In Himachal Pradesh, a field survey was carried out to know the disease incidence of root rot pathogen  in the Cedrus growing regions in district Solan. The survey included the Kanaghat, Solan, and Chail mountains. The Kandaghat range covered Kiari, Karol, and Bisha nurseries, the Solan range Shilli, Nauni nurseries, and the Chail range Chiunth, Chail, and Gaura nurseries were all covered. During the survey of root rot pathogen of Cedrus deodara, 10.90 to 62.15%incidence was recorded in district Solan nurseries. Maximum incidence of the root rot was recorded in Kandaghat range (37.35%) followed by Solan range (33.85%) and Chail range (30.93%), respectively. Amongst nurseries found that,Bisha nursery had maximum incidence (62.15%) followed by Nauni (48.46%) and Chiunth nurseries (44.65), respectively. Cultural and morphological characteristics of root rot pathogen were studied and identified as Rhizoctonia solani. ITS1/ITS4 markers were employed for the molecular identification of the pathogen that caused the root rot in Cedrus deodara, which was confirmed to be binucleate Rhizoctonia AG-E. For the root rot pathogen, isolation frequency was also observed in three solan ranges. Isolation frequency of Chail range comprising of two ranges showed the maximum of 37.71%followed by Kandaghat (34.42%) and Solan (19.37%), respectively. Numerous pathogens were isolated, however, three pathogen,  binucleate Rhizoctonia AG-E, Fusarium oxysporum, and Phoma exigua were found to occur most frequently. Binucleate Rhizoctonia AG-E was the most often isolated of the three primary pathogens, occurring at a maximum frequency of 50.23%, followed by P. exigua (18.98%) and F. oxysporum (7.49%). Three different methods were used to test the pathogenicity of binucleate Rhizoctonia AG -E for their ability to produce root rot symptoms. The soil infestation inoculation method recorded the highest disease incidence (83.48%) followed by the root dip (34.53%) and stem application (23.76%), respectively.


Karan island is a coral reef island composed mainly of calcite and aragonite. The island is covered with medium to coarse-grained skeletal and non-skeletal carbonate sands of marine origin and very rare wind blown clay particles. These sediments are characterized by unimodal distribution and well sorted to poorly sorted. Mineralogical and chemical composition of the Karan island sediments proved that their origin is from the underlying coral reefs. Introduction The Karan island is an offshore coral reef island in the Arabian Gulf about 60 km northeast of the city of Jubail (Fig. 1). The island is about 2100 meters long and a maximum width of 640 meters. It is surrounded by an extensive coral reef (Figs. 2&3), and is built on top of the coral reef, where it has a perimeter of about 5.3 km measured at mean high tide, and extended to the northern side of the island (Fig. 2). The island is covered by medium to very coarse grained sand and consists of reef debris, gastropods, bivalves, and foraminiferal shell fragments. They generally form the major components in the bioclastic sediments, with the association of red and green algae and peloids. The purpose of this study is to investigate the sedimentological characteristics, mineralogical and geochemical composition of the island sediments. In addition, the relationship between the grain size distribution and the shore transport processes of the island sediments has been emphasized. Previous Investigations In recent years, various studies have been carried out on both coastal and island areas of the Arabian Gulf. The Iranian basin is subdivided into two secondary depression – western basin and the central basin. The other side of the Arabian Gulf is called the AraJ. KAU: Mar. Sci., vol. 10, pp. 89-106 (1419 A.H. / 1999 A.D.) Mohammed H. Basyoni 90 FIG. 1. The location map of the Karan island in the Arabian Gulf (After Al-Mansi et al., 1996). Sedimentology and Geochemistry of the... 91 FIG. 2. North east view of the Karan island showing an extensive coral reef surrounding the island. FIG. 3. South eastern view for the Karan island showing the vegetation of low shrubs of Suaed sp., and Salsola sp., in the middle of the island. Also of phylum Chrosophyta, along the northern and eastern parts of the island. Mohammed H. Basyoni 92 bian shallow shelf (or the Arabian Homocline) according to the stress of inclined characters of the Arabian sea floor. This gentle slope allows a high degree of wave agitation along the Arabian coastlines. Though, contrast with the more classical carbonate shelves sedimentologically and morphologically. Evamy (1973) investigated the precipitation of aragonite and its alteration to calcite on the Trucial Coast of the Arabian Gulf. Purser and Seibold (1973) concluded that the tidal currents are oriented approximately parallel to the axis of the Gulf. Corals are widely spread in the Arabian Gulf as stated by Hughes and Keij (1973). Mc Cave (1978) pointed out that the coarsing trend from the source due to transport along the beach with winnowing out of finer fraction by tidal currents to be progressive. Fryberger et al. (1983) drew a map for the types of sediments in the Arabian Gulf. Sirag (1984) outlined the climatological features of Saudi Arabia. Khalaf et al. (1984) studied the sedimentological characteristics of the surficial sediments of the Kuwaiti marine environments northern the Arabian Gulf. The calcium carbonate (aragonite and calcite) is largely algal and/or bacterial, and even the strontianite is largely organic in origin (Javor, 1985). Hunter (1986) concluded the physical oceanography of the Arabian Gulf. Milliman (1989) discussed the sea level changes at the past, present, and future depending on fluctuations in the sea, and on the geological stability of the land. Sheppard and Sheppard (1991) studied the coral and coral communities of the Karan island. Basyoni and Al-Mansi (1993) emphasized the grain size significances of the recent reef Eqah island, Red Sea, Saudi Arabia. Al-Mansi et al. (1996) studied the seasonal profile changes in exposed beaches in western Arabian Gulf. Basaham and El-Sayed (1998) concluded that the bottom sediments of the Arabian Gulf are composed by biogenic carbonate accumulation and terrigenous material influx. Geomorphology Karan island is the largest offshore island near the eastern coast of Al-Jubail. It appeared to the surface during the uplifting of the western side of the Arabian Gulf and sea level changes. The wave erosion on the reef has produced a distinct type of carbonate sand sediments, and resulted from a reworking of the loose sediments by the western north waves similar to the situation in the Eqah island in the Red Sea (Basyoni and Al-Mansi, 1993). The tidal flat ridges has been raised 0.5 to 1.5 meters above the high sea level (the tidal range is generally less than two meters). The Karan island is protected from the strong waves by reef. The Karan island is mainly flat and covered by phylum Chrosophyta along the northern and eastern parts of the island. Plants such as Suaeda sp. and Salsola sp. also grow in the middle of the island in the form of low shrubs (Fig. 3). Result and Discussion Grain Size Distribution Forty six samples were collected mainly from the unconsolidated sediments overlying the consolidated reef limestone in the main island and the adjacent areas (Fig. 4). Sedimentology and Geochemistry of the... 93 The sediments are mostly composed of calcium carbonate; comprising skeletal and nonskeletal grains. The samples were air dried in the laboratory and the grain size of the sediments was determined by sieving for about 15 minutes. Several sieve sizes were used in serial numbers from 2 phi to + 4.5 phi and a pan. All grains smaller than 4.5 phi are referred to as fines. FIG. 4. The wind direction and location of collected samples for Karan island and the surrounding area. The grain size parameters after Folk and Ward (1957) and Moshrif (1987) and the grain size frequency data of the sediments were represented graphically as histograms and cumulative curves given in Figs. 5A, 5B and 5C. The distribution and significances of grain size parameters of the sediments studied here are shown in Figs. 6A, 6B, 6C and 6D. The histograms constructed for the Karan island sediments (Fig. 5) generally shows unimodal distribution with a dominant modal class falling in the medium sand fraction and in the coarse-grained fraction for the sand bar area. While the sediments in the surrounding shallow area display asymmetric bimodal distribution generally due to the increasing erosion power of waves. The constructed cumulative curves show two distinctive subpopulation; traction and saltation. The saltation load constitutes the major part of the sediments and mostly poorly sorted for the surrounding shallow area, while the suspension population is very limited and generally of low frequency. According to the values of grain size parameters obtained and the verbal scale reported by Folk (1968) and summarized graphically in Figs. 6A, 6B, 6C and 6D, the following observations are recorded. Mohammed H. Basyoni 94 FIG. 5. Average sediments texture parameters for the Karan island (A), the surrounding shallow area, (B) and the sand bar area (C). Sedimentology and Geochemistry of the... 95 F G . 6. T he d is tr ib ut io n of t he s ta nd ar d de vi at io n (A ), t he m ea n gr ai n si ze , ( B ) th e sk ew ne ss , ( C ) an d th e ku rt os is , ( D ) of t he c ar bo na te s an d of K ar an i sl an d an d th e su rr ou nd in g ar ea s. Mohammed H. Basyoni 96 Mean size Mean size data indicates that the sediments of the Karan island, are generally oscillate between medium grained and coarse grained, while those of the adjacent shallow areas are mainly coarse grained. A conspicuous very course grained sand is reflected by the sediments in the sand bar area. The finer grain size materials are generally winnowed by the action of the waves and currents. Standard deviation The values of standard deviation exhibit pattern fit into the category of poorly sorted for the adjacent shallow area and the central part of the main Karan island. A general moderately sorting is exhibited by the sediments in the beach zone of the island and in the sand bar area. The improvement in sorting is generally related to the energy fluctuations. The content of dust particles (finer than 0.39 phi) in the sediments is found to be high along the shoreline of the island and being low in the surrounded areas. About 4% to 6.3% dust was found in the main body of the island. Skewness and kurtosis distribution Values of graphic skewness show that the Karan island sediments are near symmetrical and fine skewed. In contrast, the surrounding shallow areas have coarse skewed and platy kurtic sediments, whereas the sand bar area exhibits a wide range of skewness and kurtosis values varies from fine skewed to coarse skewed and from leptokurtic to platykurtic. It is evident that the variability in kurtosis is related to the energy change regimes from the shoreline towards the open sea. Sediment Transportation The Karan island beach with its gentle slope has an important influence on the shore transport, with an exposed, windward side, and more sheltered leeward margin. Carbonate sand sediments are formed on the reef flat surface covered with mobile coarse particles near the windward margin (including the sand bar areas) and decrease to the direction of south east, however, these are stabilized by vegetation. The tidal currents of the island tend to follow the axis of the gulf, with slight variable direction tidal currents. The mobile sand blanket is dumped at the confluence of the opposing sets of waves refracted around the reef front to form sand clays. As a result of these physical processes the reef becomes aligned with its long axis parallel to the prevailing wind. Minerology and Geochemistry The mineralogical composition of the studied carbonate


Recently Kerka, and earlier Beranek, Reynolds, and Wilson, discussed the measurement of sound power radiated by a fan in a straight duct, by measurements of the sound pressure inside the duct. One of the difficulties associated with this technique is that above the first cutoff frequency the sound pressure varies markedly across a transverse section of the duct and the relation between mean square pressure and power is not simple. The transverse variation can be understood by application of mode theory to propagation of noise in the duct; this theory is in good agreement with measurements reported by others. Furthermore, in given frequency ranges, it is possible to select a measurement position inside the duct such that the mean square pressure is related to the power flow by the usual free‐field equation.


Background: The triage of unintentional tricyclic and cyclic antidepressant ingestions involving children <6 years seems based on single cases or small studies. Walsh, in describing 2 cases involving 15–20 mg/kg ingestions, recommended hospitalizing all children ingesting tricyclic and cyclic antidepressants. Objective: To evaluate the patterns of triage for pediatric tricyclic and cyclic antidepressants practiced by regional poison control centers nationwide, and to determine the amount ingested (mg/kg) that resulted in referral to the emergency department, including the recommended duration of observation time for asymptomatic children. Second, to analyze the cost implications, as well as the need for a practice guideline based on severity stratification. Methods: We sent a survey to 44 major regional poison control centers. We reviewed Health Care Financing Administration's tricyclic and cyclic antidepressants management related costs. Results: Thirty centers responded (68%). Eighty-seven percent of all centers send children, regardless of dose ingested, to the emergency department. Four out of the 30 recommended observation based on dose in mg/kg ingested (range >1.5–5). Recommended observation times in the emergency department varied between 6–24 hours. Twenty-seven (90%) Poison Control Centers recommended 6 hours (although one recommended doing so only after administering activated charcoal). One recommended 6–12 hours of observation and 2 Poison Control Centers recommended 24-hour observation. Only 1 center recommended obtaining tricyclic and cyclic antidepressant plasma levels. Discussion: In our review of the literature, the lowest toxic dose reported was 6.7 mg/kg. This is consistent with our Poison Control Center data over the past 5 years where no child was toxic at doses <5 mg/kg. While only 13% of the centers surveyed utilize a stratification strategy to triage pediatric tricyclic and cyclic antidepressant ingestions, the current referral patterns support evaluation based on pharmacokinetics, not worst case incidents. Conclusion: This survey demonstrates that most children with tricyclic and cyclic antidepressant ingestions will be sent to the emergency department, regardless of the amount ingested. A prospective study is needed to determine the probable dose of tricyclic and cyclic antidepressant ingestions that requires observation at a health care facility.


Our study aimed to evaluate the impact of the pipeline installation on the bacterial composition in cultivated soil by metagenomic analyses performed before the excavation and in the following three years. Differential abundance analysis was obtained using DESeq2 from the GAIA pipeline to verify the bacteriological diversity in soils collected after the reference year (2013). Soil samples presented a different distribution of taxa, especially in 2014, in which a further allocation at the phylum and family levels was observed compared to the previous year (2013). The phyla Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes increased significantly, while the phylum Actinobacteria, most abundant in 2013, showed reduced abundance; moreover, Chloroflexi and Planctomycetes decreased considerably, and Verrucomicrobia was absent. The significant differences in the taxonomic composition and structure of the soil microbial community were due to critical stress conditions following the soil excavations. The bacterial communities were capable of profound physiological and genetic changes, implementing different mechanisms for survival and adaptation to an environment with changed conditions. The implication of changes in microbial diversity before and after the mechanical insult of soil has been determined.


The algorithms developed can be used for any application, which requires tridimensional visualization and additional processing of experimentally acquired images. This paper especially refers to image processing and visualization in laser beam analysis. The information, acquired by a CCD camera and stored as a matrix of gray levels, is processed and the result is a 3-D representation of the beam intensity profile. An interpolation-and-averaging method (independent of the matrix dimensions) was developed, aiming at reducing the time required for data representation in on-line applications and also to diminish the camera noise and sampling errors. The experimental works were performed using a COHU 4913 camera, connected to an LBA-100 laser beam analyzer, which were coupled to a PC compatible computer. Several lasers, such as He-Nw, He-Se, pulsed and cw Nd:YAG lasers, laser diodes, and laser diode arrays, operating at different wavelengths, were studied. The developed algorithm was implanted on the computer, so that the overall system performances were improved, obtaining a user-friendly interface for data visualization and further processing.


This article tries to disentangle different perspectives on nature in Aristotle's biological work. In one sense Aristotle speaks of nature as a craft-like factor in the generation of living beings. In another sense 'nature' refers to Aristotle's conception of an unchanging universe,
 in which the individual living beings are perishable, but reproduce themselves and thus guarantee that the essential blueprints of the different species (eidê) remain the same. In addition, however, Aristotle's zoology acknowledges natural processes that involve greater dynamics and
 more exceptions, most notably when it comes to the allocation of available matter within the animals of a certain species or to the adaptation to a species' proper environment. In conclusion, it seems fair to say that in Aristotle's zoology different autonomous perspectives overlap, so that
 it would be inappropriate to reduce all of them to a common denominator.


We have made thin films of V-Ga superconductors by electron beam codeposition with approximately one percent additions of Nb, Ta, Sn, Pt or Pb. We have measured the high-magnetic field properties of these films to observe the effect of these impurities on spin-orbit scattering. Although the residual resistivity of the films was affected by the additional elements, the rate of spin-orbit scattering did not appear to increase.


This study analyzed the gender role in agricultural activities with respect to the change of technologies and determine their implications for improvement of household status in Netrokona district. The study followed the simple random sampling technique to select 300 sample respondents for household survey through the semi-structured questionnaire. Descriptive analysis such as, number and percentages, was used. Multiple regressions used in order to explore the relationship between the income and other factors. Both qualitative and quantitative data analysis techniques were utilized. Women perception index (WPI) was measured using rank ordered approach. The findings showed that there has been significant change occurred with the livestock rearing activities which are 116.79% after adoption in new technology. According to this study, male are involved in decision making in the following activities as reported by the respondents: sale of produce (84%),  purchase and repair (78%), weed control (70%), land preparation (76%), spraying (65%) and planting (51%), where women respondents reported that they are mostly involves in harvesting 89%, processing 81%, manuring 48% and weed control 59%. Our research also shows that 78% and 73% of men have owned small equipment and thresher, Ox-plough, and power tiller where women own only 21 percent, 2 percent, and 5 percent respectively. It is evident that the perception regarding farming with adoption of new technology attain highest score and  2nd highest ranked perception is technical training on  technology, similarly the 3rd ranked occupied is adoption in HYV where last rank score on use of indigenous technology. It means that most of them prefer modern technology in terms of productivity. The experience on modern technology of respondents has a positive coefficient and it was 0.492. Given these facts, our research has explained what keeps women's rates of modern agricultural technology adoption low.


Cyromazine was fed to Luhmann hens at 0.15 ppm level supplemented the basal diet for 3 weeks. The build up of cyromazine residues in liver and muscles of hens up to 7th day, the balance between cyromazine intake and elimination had taken place between 7 and 10 days. After cyromazine was withdrawn from the diet its residues was depleted within 7 days. During the 3 weeks of feeding on the treated diet, the accumulated residues reduced the blood glucose and hepatic protein significantly up to 2 weeks, while the hepatic lipids was slightly increased on the 7th day. Also such residues had adverse effects on the activities of alkaline phosphatase (AP) and transaminases (GOT, GPT) and extend on red blood cells, white blood cells, hemoglobin content (Hb) and packed cell volume (PCV) compared with the untreated hens.


Based on our experience of the vapour phase acetylation of cellulose, the vapour phase grafting of methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate and acrylonitrile onto viscose rayon pretreated by cerium ammonium nitrate solution were studied and the influence of the initiator and nitric acid concentration in the pretreating solution, atmospheric pressure in the reaction vessel, and reaction temperature upon the grafting were investigated. Some mechanical properties of the grafted rayon were measured. The results obtained are as follows:(1) For e. g. AN grafting, about 150% retention of the pretreating solution by the rayon is most favourable.(2) MA or EA grafting is the first order reaction, MMA the sigmoid, and AN the fibrous reaction controlled by diffusion.(3) Ultimate graft amount of each monomer shows the maximum in relation to the initiator and nitric acid concentration in the pretreating solution.(4) Ultimate graft efficiency of AN or MMA is about 90%, but that of MA or EA decreases linearly with the initiator concentration.(5) Ultimate graft amount of each monomer decreases with the increase of carbonyl content of the rayon when the initiator concentration is increased.(6) DP of MMA graft polymer increases nearly parallel to the increase in the amount of graft with reaction time. The minimum of DP curve of ultimate graft polymer with respect to the initiator or nitric acid concentration, corresponds nearly to the maximum of the related graft amount curve.(7) The apparent activation energies obtained are MA6.7, EA8.5, MMA8.2, and AN 10.1 kcal/mol.(8) Atmosphere in the reaction vessel controlls the monomer vapour diffusion by the pressure variation and retards the grafting by oxygen in air. If air is replaced by nitrogen, graft amount of MA or EA increases several folds, but that of MMA or AN does not.(9) The breaking load of the grafted rayon is almost constant, the extension increases slightly, the initial modulus of MA or EA grafted decreases slightly, that of MMA or AN grafted increases slightly with graft amount.


Structural genomics project now producing a large number of protein 3D structures, and the structural information will give us a lot of information on the protein molecular functions. On the other hand, it is not an easy task to solve the structure of protein complexes especially when the complexes are transient, even though the formation of such transient complexes has critical roles to express the biological function of proteins. Thus, some techniques to know or predict the structure of transient complexes of proteins is now required.


Chlaenius is a large and diverse genus of ground beetle. This colorful beetle recognized from its pubescent elytra and pungent defensive secretions. Subgenus Pachydinodes belonging to the genus Chlaenius were reported eight species from Palaearctic, among them four species, Chlaenius (Pachydinodes) abstersus Bates, C. (P.) pictus Chaudoir, C. (P.) tetragonoderus Chaudoir, C. (P.) virgulifer Chaudoir were reported in Korea up to now. In here, Chlaenius hamifer Chaudoir are report firstly in Korea. Description and photo of adult and aedeagus are provided.


Introduction: Resting state fMRI (RS-fMRI) and perfusion imaging are potentially important tools for central nervous system (CNS) drug development research. Emerging studies show that RS-fMRI can reveal drug effects on functional brain connectivity. Technological improvements to arterial spin labeling (ASL) methodologies offer an important alternative to costly and restrictive PET perfusion measurement methods that were primarily used by CNS-drug researchers. However, the link between effects detected with RS-fMRI and ASL is not well established. The objective of this study is to quantify and compare the regional effects of different drugs on the brain, which are detected using RS-fMRI and pseudocontinuous ASL (PCASL) [1], in the same subjects, in the same scanning sessions. Materials and Methods: Subjects: Twelve healthy young men (18-40 yrs) with no history of drug abuse, chronic illness or mental health problems were recruited from the community. Experimental Design: This was a cross-over, randomized, double blind placebo-controlled pharmacological study involving controlled doses of morphine and alcohol. Subjects were scanned using a 3T scanner in three sessions with identical experimental procedures. Drug Infusion: Alcohol and morphine were administered intravenously. Previously validated pharmacokinetic models [2] were used to ensure minimal interand intra-subject variation in plasma drug concentration over a period of two hours after the infusion began. Image Acquisition: PCASL and RS-fMRI were performed before drug or placebo infusion, and after morphine and alcohol had reached pseudo-steady levels after two hours. Connectography: We used the dual-regression method [3] to first extract a representative resting-state signal within each of the eight common resting state networks [4]. The connectivity maps were obtained by voxel-wise regression of RS-fMRI data against signals obtained from these template networks of interest (NOI) as shown in Figure 1. This produced eight z-score maps per data set, where z=0 suggested no connectivity to the given network. Cerebral Blood Flow: PCASL subtraction maps were computed (using Matlab, Mathworks, Inc.) as described by [1] and spatially normalized to MNI152. Each perfusion map represented the absolute value of CBF (ml/100 ml tissue/min). Statistical Analysis: A mixed-effect statistical model tested drug by time interactions on the connectivity and the CBF maps. A non-parametric permutation-based (5000 randomizations) was used, and the statistical threshold was set to p < 0.05 (cluster-corrected with t=3.2). All image processing and analyses were done using FSL4 (FMRIB, Oxford, UK). Results and Discussion: Statistical maps of drug by time interaction with CBF and resting state connectivity are superimposed in Figure 1. The highest peak of morphine-induced CBF increase overlapped with its RS-fMRI effects in NOI4—including sensorimotor areas, part of the lateral-pain processing network [5]) and in NOI6—including the medial prefrontal cortex, which has high opiodergic receptors and is part of the medial pain processing network [5]. Similarly, the most significant alcohol induced CBF increases corresponded to connectivity changes of the paracingulate cortex to NOI3 (the auditory/insula network), the anterior cingulated cortex to NOI4 (the sensorimotor network), and the medial visual cortex to NOI1 (the visual network)—all regions that are linked to functional effects of alcohol [6]. Most but not all of the RS-fMRI effects were accompanied by an increase in the CBF. Quantitative ROI analysis in Figure 1 illustrates that although the CBF within all ROIs was increased compared to placebo, the connectivity changes (z-scores) were not unidirectional. This suggests that the correspondence between CBF increase and resting state brain connectivity is not ubiquitous. Thus, RS-fMRI provides additional information about the dynamics of functional connectivity that may be important for understanding the adaptive mechanisms involved in pharmacologically induced changes in brain activity.


A model based on Mie theory is described that estimates bulk participate refractive index n¯p from in situ optical measurements alone. Bulk refractive index is described in terms of the backscattering ratio and the hyperbolic slope of the particle size distribution (PSD). The PSD slope ξ is estimated from the hyperbolic slope of the particulate attenuation spectrum γ according to the relationship γ ≈ ξ − 3, verified with Mie theory. Thus the required in situ measurements are the particulate backscattering coefficient, the total particulate scattering coefficient, and the particulate attenuation coefficient. These parameters can be measured with commercially available instrumentation with rapid sampling rates and real-time data return. Application of the model to data from the Gulf of California yielded results that agreed with expectations, e.g., predicted n¯p was 1.04–1.05 in the chlorophyll maximum and 1.14–1.18 near sediments. Below the chlorophyll maximum in case I type waters, predicted n¯p values were between 1.10 and 1.12, suggesting the presence of a significant inorganic mineral component in the background or detrital organic particles with low water content.


A technique is described for the synthesis of 3H(-)-bupranolol (3H-BIJ) by tritium exchange. The binding of this new radioligand was characterized at 32.5 ~ C on ventricular membrane particles prepared from the hearts of reserpine-pretreated kittens. 1. The dissociation rate constant was determined from the rate at which a saturating concentration (100 ~tmol/1) of (-)-isoprenaline displaced bound 3H-BU. A koff of 0.3 min-1 was measured. 2. At a concentration of 0.51nmol/1, 3H-BU quickly associated with heart /%adrenoceptors, yielding a ko~ of 1.1 • 1091/mol.min. 3. Saturation binding experiments demonstrated an equilibrium dissociation constant of 0.6nmol/1 and 9 0 100fmol binding sites per mg membrane protein. Neither B .... nor the affinity were significantly modified by 10 gmol/l phentolamine; nor did 0.1 100 ~tmol/1 phentolamine compete with 3H-BU for membrane binding sites. 4. Unlabeled bupranolol competed in a stereoselective manner with 3H-BU. The best fit to the data produced equilibrium constants of 0.64nmol/1 and 30 nmol/1 for (-)bupranolol and (+)-bupranolol , respectively. 5. Several well-characterized ligands were employed to inhibit the binding of 3H-BU. The resultant affinity estimates agree quantitatively with the expected values. 6. All of the binding data are consistent with a model for a single class of non-interacting sites. 7. 3H-BU antagonized in a simple competitive manner the stimulation of the adenylyl cyclase produced by (-)isoprenaline. A blocking constant of 0.88 nmol/1 was found. 8. The estimates of the equilibrium dissociation constant fell between 0.5 and 0.9 nmol/1, in agreement with previous studies on intact tissue preparations. It is concluded that 3HBU is a useful tool for the study of myocardial /~-adrenoceptors.


The process of graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD) elicited by small bowel semi‐syngeneic gratis in Lewis rats was studied by an immunohistochemical staining technique for analysis of MHC (major histocompatibility complex) class II antigen expression and of T‐cell subpopulations in different organs. Specimens from the graft, native bowel, brain, testis, liver, kidney, and skin were taken on days 5,10, and 15. All the investigated organs displayed strong class II antigen induction during the course of GVHD. In the native bowel of semi‐syngcneically transplanted animals, only discrete morphological changes were noted, whereas the graft displayed a generalized serosal reaction with large infiltrates of rounded and polygonal cells expressing class II antigens. This was not observed in the graft of syngeneically transplanted animals. In the lamina propria of the semisyngeneic graft,'free'lymphocyte‐like cells were depleted and, at the same time, localized aggregates of these cells were observed. Crypt cell class II expression in the native bowel, and to some extent in the graft, was increased during GVHD. However, pronounced intraindividual variations in MHC class II antigen expression were noted, and class II expression was therefore not considered to be a good marker for GVHD.


Title of the article: A Study of structured rehabilitation exercise program in Parkinson's disease Context: There is a growing need to address rehabilitation issues to supplement medical therapy. Aims: To assess the impact of rehabilitation intervention in the functional status and quality of life in patients with Parkinson's disease. Settings and Design: Prospective follow-up study in a teaching hospital Materials and Methods: Twenty-eight cases with Parkinson's Disease on a stable pharmacological regimen and moderately disabled participated in this study. All patients were given the same set of exercises. During the first month, patients performed exercises under supervision at the hospital and rest of the days at home. In the second and third month, patients continued the same exercises at home. During the fourth month, patients maintained their usual level of physical activity but discontinued the exercises. All patients were evaluated at 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 months. Outcome measures used were Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) version 3.0, Webster step seconds product, and Parkinson's Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire (PDQL) Results: Significant improvements were observed in UPDRS section 1 (Mentation, behavior and mood), sections 2 and 6 (Activities of Daily Living), PDQL subscales (parkinsonian symptoms, systemic symptoms and social functioning), and Webster step-seconds product. Conclusions: Systematic program of physical therapy is beneficial in patients suffering from moderately disabled Parkinson's disease. Activities of daily living like dressing, turning in bed and walking respond favorably to exercises. Quality of life improves considerably following exercises leading to increased social participation


This paper presents a macro emission module for macroscopic traffic models to be used for assessment of ITS and traffic management. It especially focuses on emission estimates for different intersection types. It provides emission values for CO, CO2, HC, NOx, and PM10. It is applied and validated for a macroscopic traffic model developed by the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment, called the 'Regional Traffic Management Explorer' (or Regionale BenuttingsVerkenner, RBV). In this paper, the development of the module and some validation results are presented.