BACKGROUND: Fludarabine-based chemotherapy combinations are highly effective in patients (pts) with low-grade follicular lymphoma (FL), but cause severe and long-lasting immunosuppression due to depletion of normal CD4+ T-cells. Aside from increasing the risk of serious infections, this toxicity may limit the ability of the immune system to eliminate minimal residual disease. Adoptive immunotherapy using autologous CD25-depleted, CD3/CD28-costimulated T-cells (ACTC) expanded ex vivo may enhance immune reconstitution and improve disease control.

METHODS: We initiated a phase I study in pts with purine analog-naive relapsed/refractory FL (grades 1 and 2). After leukapheresis, pts receive 4 cycles of fludarabine (25 mg/m2) days 1–3 and cyclophosphamide (250 mg/m2) days 1–3. Four weeks after the last cycle, responding patients (CR/CRu, PR) receive escalating doses of ACTC prepared ex vivo from autologous T-cellss collected prior to chemotherapy and depleted of regulatory CD4+/CD25+ cells, then expanded and activated using anti-CD3 and anti-CD28.

RESULTS: Eleven pts have been enrolled to date. Median age is 49 y (range: 33–64y). Median number of prior therapies is 2 (range: 1 – 3). Two pts were withdrawn from the study due to hematologic toxicity related to chemotherapy, one patient was withdrawn for progressive disease during chemotherapy, and one patient has not yet completed chemotherapy. Of the 7 pts completing chemotherapy and proceeding to T-cell infusion, 5 pts achieved a CR/CRu and 2 pts achieved a PR; 5 pts received 1 – 5 x 109 CD3+ cells and 2 patients received 5 – 10 x 109 CD3+ cells. There have been no adverse events related to T-cell infusions. Median follow-up after ACTC infusion is 19 mos (range: 3 – 26 mos). CD4+ counts increased in all patients by 1 month after T-cell infusion, with a median increase of 3.2 fold (range: 1.5 – 70, p= .028)(see figure). For patients at dose level 1, the median increase was 2.2 fold (n=4; range: 1.5 – 3.3); at dose level 2 it was 37 fold (n=2; range: 3.8 – 70). CD8+ counts also increased, with a median increase of 8.1 (range: 1.0 – 30, p= .046)(see figure). All 7 pts receiving ACTC were anergic to candida antigen by delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) skin testing before chemotherapy. Four pts developed a positive DTH response to candida antigen 60 days after ACTC infusion. For patients receiving ACTC, median follow-up is 24 mos (range: 7 – 31 mos) with a median progression-free survival of 18 months which is significantly longer than the time to progression from last therapy (p= .024).

CONCLUSIONS: ACTC infusion results in significant CD4+ and CD8+ numerical and functional lymphocyte recovery after cyclophosphamide-fludarabine chemotherapy in pts with low-grade FL. This compares very favorably to historical controls treated with fludarabine-based regimens. T-cell dose escalation is ongoing.

![Figure][1]

Figure

 [1]: pending:yes


Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is crucial in higher education, providing students with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary for a sustainable future. ESD seeks a holistic understanding of sustainability and promotes critical thinking and innovative approaches. Specifically, ESD is very important to address in engineering careers, as engineers will need to establish sustainable solutions in the future. For this reason, the integration of sustainability into university curricula has been studied for some time. In this way, this research analyses the perceptions (attitudes towards teachers; knowledge about sustainable development; environmental, economic, and social attitudes; sustainable behaviours) that engineering students in the Dominican Republic have towards sustainable development. A number of 626 questionnaires completed by engineering students were obtained. Subsequently, the data were analysed in SPSS and PLS-SEM. The results showed that attitudes towards teachers have an impact on engineering students' knowledge of sustainable development. In turn, the results also showed that knowledge about sustainable development influences both attitudes (economic, social, and environmental) and sustainable behaviours of engineering students. Contrary to other research, this study suggested that economic attitudes are not identified as an antecedent of sustainable behaviours among engineering students. From these results, implications and future lines of research are generated.


There are still some problems in the study of hydraulic fracture (HF) network evolution in cemented naturally fractured reservoirs, such as microseismic mapping showing exaggerated stimulated reservoir volume in some cases. In addition, the dominant role of natural fracture (NF) cementation strength, injection rate, in situ stress difference, NF distribution, and fracture initiation sequence of perforations in synthetically influencing fracture network formation needs to be further studied. For this purpose, a three‐dimensional matrix hexahedral element global coupled 0‐thickness cohesive element hydraulic fracturing model was developed. Results show that each interaction between HF and NF causes HF diameter shrinkage, which increases the propagation pressure of HF. When the cementation strength of the NF is low, the HF tends to deviate toward the tip of the NF to form a complex fracture network. Increasing the injection rate and the number of NFs can significantly enhance the complexity of the HF network, but does not change the HF and NF interaction pattern. The in situ stress differences dominate the morphology of the HF network when the cementation strength of NFs is constant. The stress interference of multiple fractures under segmented fracturing may form "S"‐shaped HFs, and the HFs are difficult to maintain a symmetrical morphology in the direction of the well axis. In addition, some NFs in inactivated damaged zones have developed a certain width geometrically due to the induced effect of HF, but they are still isolated by the low permeability matrix and might only generate some microseismic events.


Missile early warning satellite is an important part of missile defense system,it's an effective tactic early warning measure,and it plays an indispensable role in wars.The characteristics of highly eccentric orbit(HEO) and the course of development of early warning satellites on highly eccentric orbit of America are analyzed,and the orbit characteristics and coverage performance of two satellites on highly eccentric orbit in space-based infrared system(SBIRS) are modeled and analyzed by satellite tool kit(STK).On the basis of analyzing above,measures and advices on developing early warning satellites on highly eccentric orbit are brought forward.


Aiming at the recovery requirements of Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV), a scheme for recycling AUVs through dynamic docking between mother-vehicle and AUV was proposed. Considering the difficulty of communication, a detailed non-cooperative dynamic docking scheme was designed, including three stages: searching segment, approaching segment, and docking segment. In order to avoid the risk of collision due to excessive speed when the AUV docks with the mother-vehicle, different reference quantities are selected according to the features of the various docking stages to design a safe longitudinal desired speed so that the AUV can approach the mother-vehicle as quickly as possible and with safety speed enters docking station. In the end, the simulation of the AUV approaching the mother-vehicle and the completion of the docking process is simulated. The simulation results show that the designed docking scheme and tracking control system are reasonable and effective. As the position deviation decreases, the longitudinal speed of the AUV gradually transitions to the speed of the mother-vehicle.


Nitrogen is an important fertilizer in tea production, but it is also an important factor in tea garden soil acidification. The relationship between absorption and transport of different forms of nitrogen in the tea plant and soil acidification is still unknown. In order to explore the different characteristics of absorption, utilization and distribution of nitrogen, stable isotope 15N tracer technique was used to measure the absorption, utilization and allocation of nitrate nitrogen (NO3-15N) and ammonium nitrogen (NH4-15N) under the same nitrogen application amount of tea tree seedlings as experimental materials. The results showed that the tea seedlings had the same pattern of nitrogen application: tissue nitrogen content increased after fertilization, remarkable rising at 7 d and the absorption speed increased quickly after 28 d, finally reached its maximum at 56 d. The nitrogen use efficiency of two nitrogen sources in two kinds of soil varied not significantly. The maximum NUE of NO3-15N reached 12.66%, and at the same time NH4-15N utilization rose up to 11.54%. According to the absorption of soil nitrogen and nitrogen fertilizer in the two kinds of soil, it is concluded that the soil nitrogen cannot meet the growth needs of tea tree and extra nitrogen supply was required. The declined soil pH indicated that fertilizer should be used in moderation, which can not only satisfy the growth of tea tree but also to restrict soil acidification.
Keywords: tea tree, 15N, nitrate nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, soil acidification
DOI: 10.25165/j.ijabe.20181104.2078

Citation: Wang H, Zhang H, Zhao Y, Xu R K. Soil acidification of alfisols influenced by nitrate and ammonium nitrogen level in tea plantation. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2018; 11(4): 168-172.


The name flat optics (FO) has been introduced in a recent paper by Capasso's group for denoting light-wave manipulations through a general type of penetrable or impenetrable metasurfaces (MTSs). There, the attention was focused on plane waves, whereas here we treat surface waves (SWs) excited on impenetrable impedance surfaces. Space variability of the boundary conditions imposes a deformation of the SW wavefront, which addresses the local wavector along not-rectilinear paths. The ray paths are subjected to an eikonal equation analogous to the one for geometrical optics (GO) rays in graded index materials. The basic relations among ray paths, ray velocity, and transport of energy for both isotropic and anisotropic boundary conditions are presented for the first time. This leads to an elegant formulation which allows for closed form analysis of flat operational devices (lenses or beam formers), giving a new guise to old concepts. It is shown that when an appropriate transformation is found, the ray paths can be conveniently controlled without the use of ray tracing, thus simplifying the problem and leading to a flat version of transformation optics, which is framed here in the general FO theory.


In order to investigate the convenience synthetic route to synthesize N-dichloroacetyl oxazolidine compounds,a novel N-dichloroacetyl oxazolidine herbicide safener (3-dichloroacetyl-2,5-dimethyl-2-n-propyl-1,3-oxazolidine) was synthesized. The title compound was synthesized from 1-amino-2-propanol,2-pentanone and dichloroacetyl chloride,and NaOH aqueous solution of 33% was used as an acid attaching agent. The effects of solvent polarity,reaction temperature,stirring time and molar ratio of reactants on the yield of title compound were investigated. The optimum experimental conditions are as following: chloroform acts as solvent,reaction temperature is at 3~8℃,stirring time is 2 h and the molar ratio of 1-amino-2-propanol to 2-pentanone is 1:1.3. Using above reaction conditions,the yield is 50.0%. The structure of the title compound was characterized by IR spectrum,1H-NMR,13C-NMR and elemental analysis. The proposed synthetic route is simple,the reaction conditions are mild and the raw materials are cheap and easy to obtain.


SUMMARY
A case is described of a female who, after her only pregnancy at the age of 23 years, developed some of the typical symptoms and signs of an ectopic ureter which persisted until surgical treatment for that condition was carried out fourteen years later. Reference is made to other somewhat similar cases recorded. The investigations and possible causative factors are briefly discussed.


Laser oscillation of a continuous-wave diode-pumped Nd:YVO4 phase conjugate resonator has been demonstrated. A 7.5 W output with high beam quality was obtained. Slope efficiency of 46 % and optical extraction efficiency of 33 % were achieved.


Human beings are not only intelligent they comprise a social species capable of extensive cooperation. Moreover, they collaborate. Individual human efforts segregate into incongruous silos of multimodal distributions of expression and low performance. A social psychological, economic and mathematical review indicates that collaboration can integrate mental facilities into a congruent unimodal normal distribution of expression and high performance not otherwise possible. The ontology of symmetry is remarkable and compelling. The learning outcomes are natural for economic growth and human development.


carcinoma of the Skin originating in the Coil Glands," Dr J. A. Fordyce observes: " There are two ways in which superficial epithelioma of the skin seems to originate. One is a pearly tumour, which may remain in a quiescent state for many years without undergoing ulceration; the other is a soft brownish tubercle. Pearly tumours seem to originate in the epidermis, the others probably start in some of the glands of the skin." Dr H. W. Stelwagon analyses, in an elaborate communication, the question of the contagiousness of "Molluscum Contagiosum," a subject which we had thought had now been conclusively settled in the affirmative. It is valuable as presenting a full statement of the evidence which has accumulated. Besides other interesting cases, Dr J. C. White records an instance of what he terms Angioma Serpiginosum, but which differs in some particulars from the previously published ones. As the result of two independent investigations it was held


High spin levels in 1 1 9 Te have been populated following the ^ Z r ( ^Si , α 3n) 1 1 9 Te reaction at a beam energy of 135 MeV. The subsequent deexcitation was studied using 7-ray spectroscopic methods. New levels and several spin and parity assignments up to ,F = 55/2~ were established. The decay scheme is characterized by single particle excitations. For the 39/2" level the fully aligned u ( h n / 2 ) 3 π (g7/2) configuration is proposed, while the 55/2~ level could be associated with the π ( d 5 / 2 ) 2 ν (h^ 1 / 2 g^ 2 2) configuration. 1 I n t r o d u c t i o n The investigation of collective rotational structures in nuclei in the region of the spherical Z=50 closed shell, have attracted much attention recently [1-3]. These unexpected collective excitation modes in nuclei which aie essentially spherical in their ground states have been related to a broken magic core which drives the nucleus towards prolate shape. Presented by C.T. Papadopoulos In the doubly closed ^,4Sn64 isotope highly excited deformed rotational cas cades have been observed [l] and interpreted as intruder K = 5 ~ bands domi nated by the π ( g ^ h n / 2 ) configuration. In the neighbouring Sb isotopes similar observations have been reported. A rotational band based on the π h n / 2 intruder orbital has been observed up to high spin in 5J 3 Sb 6 2 , consistent with the experimentally deduced axial prolate deformation β2 ~ 0.32 [2]. In the 5} 7Sb66, three decoupled Δ Ι = 2 rotational bands have been observed resulting from the g7/2, d5/2 and hn/2 valence pro ton orbitale coupled to the 2p-2h π (g , 2 ggA) deformed core, as well as two strongly coupled Δ Ι = 1 bands, involving π (g2/2 g^/2) configurations [3]. In the heavier iodine and xenon isotopes, for example 1 2 1 I [4,5] and 1 2 2 Xe [6], the low lying yrast structures exhibit rotational behaviour, while the high spin structure is dominated by non-collective oblate states. In addition, for 1 1 3 I [7] and 1 1 7 I [8], well developped rotational cascades have been observed recently at high spin and high energy, in analogy to the Sb "intruder bands". In the intermediate 52 Te isotopes, however, no clear evidence for collective ro tational structures has been reported, except for the even-even 1 1 2 T e [9] which represents the only example in the tellurium isotopes with a well developped rotational " intruder" band extending to high spin. All the other Te isotopes published recently in this region ( 1 1 5 Te [10], 1 1 6 Te [11] and 1 1 7 Te [12,13]) exhibit vibrational-like characteristics at low spin coupled to one and two-quasiparticle shell-model structures [14], while at high spin and high excitation show noncollective behaviour. On the other hand the TRS calculations of ref. [13] for 1 1 7 Te show persistent prolate collective minima being candidates for rotation al bands above spin ~30/i. In addition the strongly downsloping [550]l/2~ intruder orbital from the π hn/2 shell coupled to the 2particle-2hole τ (g7/2 g^/ ) state is proposed in ref. [9] to induce deformed shape and hence rotational behaviour in the Te isotopes. It would be thus interesting to extend the investigation in other Te isotopes. In the present work the 1 1 9 Te isotope has been studied up to high spin 55/2~ and excitation energy 9.7 MeV. 2 E x p e r i m e n t a l P r o c e d u r e High spin levels in 1 1 9 Te were populated using the ^ Z r ( ^Si , a 3n) 1 1 9 T e fusion-evaporation reaction at a bombarding energy of 135 MeV. The beam was provided by the 20 MV tandem Van de GraafF accelerator at the NSF, Daresbury. The enriched ^ Z r target, 500^g/cm 2 thick, was deposited on


To reduce the interferences between the radio equipments which are operated in frequency hopping mode, the frequency resource should be assigned to each equipment without overlapping when several groups of radio equipments operate in the same area. If the radio equipments are in a different area, the partial frequency overlaying can be permitted. From the isotropic multi-dimensional array, several frequency assignment tables can be extracted for a same area. Also several tables can be extracted for different areas. Since there can be no overlapped frequencies between the tables for the same area, no interference between the radio equipments in an area is guaranteed. The frequencies overlapped between 2 tables for 2 different areas are pre-planed as required. The interference performance in frequency hopping radio can be controlled as desired using the proposed Frequency Resource Assignment Algorithm using Isotropic multi-dimensional Array.


The objective was to study patient determinants that may affect completion of the diagnostic process in tuberculosis control highlighting the role of counselling. Cross-sectional study was the design used. All of the subjects used in the study were TB patients. The setting for the study was the Rhodes Chest Clinic Nairobi City Council. Ninety five percent of the suspects delivered three sputum samples but only 27% consented to a HIV test; several determinants for none consenting were mentioned. On average US$2.27 was spent for one clinic visit and US$8.62 for following the entire diagnostic process. Cost factors included transport loss of income and food. Individual pre-test counselling seems important for obtaining three sputum specimens. It takes time and for settings with a large number of suspects alternative methods may be required. To obtain consensus for a HIV test in a TB clinic is complicated. Costs spent on transport and loss in income are important determinants and may contribute to poor patient adherence to the diagnostic process. (authors)


Micrococcus sp. INIA 528, a micro-organism isolated from raw ewe's milk Manchego cheese, produced an extracellular proteinase. This enzyme was purified to homogeneity from culture supernatant fluid in two chromatographic steps, with a 29-fold increase of specific activity and a 28% recovery of proteinase activity. The homogeneous protein was characterized biochemically. The molecular weight of the enzyme was determined to be 19.4 kDa by mass spectrometry. The purified enzyme was inhibited by E-64, PMSF and iodoacetamide and activated by cysteine, glutathione, dithiothreitol and β-mercaptoethanol. These results suggest that the enzyme is a cysteine proteinase. Optimal conditions for activity on azocasein were 34°C and a pH of 7.0. The proteinase preferentially degraded β-casein, while after a longer incubation period α s1 -casein was also extensively hydrolysed. The proteinase had a K m value of 6.12 g l -1 for casein and 2.20 g l -1 for azocasein.


In July 1995 the Southern African Trade Union Coordinating Council in cooperation with the OATUU Health Safety and Environment Programme developed a draft regional code on AIDS and Employment. Comprising 13 sections the code is based on the following facts: 1) HIV infection is an infection with a virus that by itself does not affect an employees ability to perform his/her functions; 2) testing for HIV antibodies for purposes of employment is in general discriminatory costly and wasteful and of limited effectiveness; and 3) in dealing with information on HIV status the code recognized the fundamental nature of personal rights to privacy as well as the need for adequate information on HIV to guide social employment and economic policy and to reduce stigma. This paper also outlined the codes 13 sections.


An increasing number of young adults, labeled retarded in their childhood, are entering employment and assuming new identities as workers. Verification of employment success comes from public schools, sheltered workshops, institutions, and community based vocational rehabilitation programs which have vocational training for disabled persons. One would assume that the efforts of special educators, rehabilitation counselors, and other personnel who believe in the potential of children and adults with handicaps is being reinforced by the accumulating followup employment data, collected as evidence ofthe effectiveness of the training programs. Accountability should not be the final objective of training programs however reassuring these accumulating numbers of job placements may be. An equally important objective in collecting followup data from training programs would seem to be how best to classify and use an abundance of employment information. Within these job lists, which emerge in the followup studies of training programs, is substantial information about characteristics of jobs and the workers who perform them. This valuable information will remain hidden if the data is not organized in a manageable form and used for evaluation, placement, and curriculum enrichment.


Introduction: This paper presents a methodology to measure the degree of similarity between two images quantitatively. The research was motivated by a medical application to search a database of MRI/CT images for comparative medical diagnosis. The proposed algorithm converts the image into a point cloud, fits a NURBS (planar) surface to the points, and uses symbolic algebra on these surfaces to determine which image is most similar to a given query image.


The types and genetic mechanism of the Cretaceous dolomite in the Cuoqin Basin are investigated by means of petrological analysis,cathodoluminescence microscopic observation,X-rays identification,carbon and oxygen isotope geochemistry and trace element analysis.Dolostones in study areas mainly consist of fine or medium dolomites and calcite dolomites with euhedral or subhedral crystals.Dolostones mainly show red-brown and dark brown,the degree of order is high and the molar volume of CaCO_3 is low.The content of U (1.5~45.2×10~(-6)) and U/Th (0.89~68) are much higher than normal carbonates,moreover the high ~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr (0.710092~0.711719) indicates the input of Sr during the formation of dolostones.The δ~(13) C is-0.56‰~2.53‰ (PDB) and averages 1.7‰;δ~(18) O is-15.13~-6.94‰ (PDB) and averages-8.7‰.The higher salinity index (118.0~128.0) and diagenetie temperature (50.77~95.95℃)illuminate dolostones were formed under the concentrated salinity and high temperature condition.Various data show that these dolostones were formed under deep burial conditions,and dedolomitization occurred in late stage for the input of freshwater.


Here, a new approach is proposed for solving the optimal power flow (OPF) problem in transmission networks using a Gradient Bald Eagle Search Algorithm (GBES) with a Local Escaping Operator (LEO). The method takes into account uncertainty of the renewable energy sources (wind energy and photovoltaic systems) and Vehicle‐to‐Grid (V2G) in the stochastic OPF problem. To improve the efficiency of the proposed technique and enhance its local exploitation capability, the LEO method's selection features are utilized. Monte Carlo methods are employed to estimate the generation costs of the renewable sources and PEVs and study their feasibility. The uncertainty of the renewable sources and PEVs is represented by Weibull, lognormal, and normal probability distribution functions (PDFs). The GBES approach is experimentally compared with well‐known meta‐heuristics using twenty‐three different test functions, and the results indicate its superiority over BES and other recently developed algorithms. Furthermore, the proposed method's effectiveness is evaluated using IEEE 30‐bus test system under various scenarios, and the simulation results demonstrate that it can effectively address OPF issues considering renewable energy sources and V2G, providing superior optimal solutions compared to other algorithms.


THE greatest handicap of deafness is the difficulty experienced by the deaf and nard of hearing in understanding the spoken word. The time honoured way of measuring deafness was to find out the distances at which the examiner's spoken and whispered voice could be heard, and it was cus-tomary to refer this to a conventional standard of 20 feet. That the test and the standard were but rough measures was appreciated by many. Nevertheless, this method of testing had the great advantage that it was a simple way of estimating the ability to understand speech in ordinary conditions of hearing. the need for standard. The pure tone audiogram offers accurate graphic picture hearing for tones it frequencies and the loss measured along the 50 per cent, level for word percentage score.


Through three hierarchical levels a predictive planning model is designed. The short-term scheduler performs task assignment in long term. The medium-term scheduler, acts as doser and selects which task should be executed immediately. The short-term scheduler is based on a hybrid swarm algorithm which allocates tasks to the workstation. Thus, the assignment Is intelligently performed through data provided by an adaptive component. The result improves on average 30% compared to a ramdomized assignment.


Treatment of Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) remains challenging and some clinical studies reported the efficacy of Rituximab (RTX) in skin disease and in stabilizing lung involvement. Recently 2 randomized clinical trial demonstrated the efficacy of RTX in SSc and in lung involvement in connective tissue diseases (1,2), however current data are limited by the small number of samples examined and the short duration of follow-up.We aimed at retrospectively evaluate the efficacy, safety, and long-term persistence of RTX therapy in a monocentric SSc cohort.All clinical records of SSc patients (pts) treated with RTX in our center were retrospectively analyzed. Demographic, clinical and disease characteristics, treatment approach, combination therapies, and adverse events during RTX were considered. Every 6 months, skin score, pulmonary function test and swollen joint count (SJC) modifications as well as digital ulcer occurrence were recorded.Fifty-two SSc pts (pts) have been treated with RTX in our center since 2005. The mean age of the pts was 55.3±24.3 years and 21.5% were male. The disease duration at the time of the first treatment with RTX was 4.4±2.8 years and the mean reached follow-up was 6.6±2.2 years (range 2-17 years). Forty pts (77.0%) had a diffuse cutaneous involvement, 33 pts (63.6%) had anti-topoisomerase positivity, 45 (88.2%) an interstitial lung disease on high resolution chest CT, 30 pts (59.2%) arthritis or tenosynovitis, and finally 38 pts (73.1%) presented any history of digital ulcers. Twenty-three (44.2%) pts had been previously treated with cyclophosphamide.During RTX treatment, 39 pts (75.0%) received an immunosuppressive combination therapy, most with mycophenolate mofetil (53.8%). Concomitant glucocorticoids treatment was assumed by the 53.8% of pts. Twenty-five pts (48.1%) were treated with Rituximab for only one clinical involvement, 27 pts (51.9%) received treatment for more than one organ involvement including skin, lung or joint. Overall, 82.7% were treated for progression of skin disease, 50.0% for lung involvement deterioration and 23.1% for active arthritis.Treatment showed improvement in the skin score, arthritis, and/or stabilization of the pulmonary functional status in 44 pts (84.6%), while in the remaining 8 pts, therapy was stopped because of worsening of the disease over the 6 months of follow-up.Among responders, skin score improved from 17.3±8.9 to 10.3±8.6 (p=0.04), while FVC and DLco remained stable (87.4±3.5% to 86.2±20.5% and 66.3±23.9% to 64.3±22.1%, respectively). As expected, there was an improvement in DAS28 (4.9±0.8 to 1.9±0.5, p<0.01). Finally, there was a reduction in the rate of ulcer occurrence (46.15% to 21.70%, p=0.04). Twenty-two pts (42.3%) were treated with one single cycle of therapy (1 gr two weeks apart), while the remaining 30 pts were treated with repeated cycles of RTX, with a mean number of cycles of 4.3±2.0. Among the re-treated pts, 50% were treated every year and 50.0% at the time of new clinical worsening, and retreatment was done every 60.5±31.4 months. All pts re-treated with RTX on demand responded to the therapy.Nineteen percent of pts developed adverse events (5.7% leukopenia, 7.7% infusion reactions, 1.9% sepsis, 3.8% pneumonia). Ten pts (19.2%) died during follow-up: 8 deaths were related to organ complication of SSc and 2 to cancer.Our data suggest long-term efficacy and safety of RTX in pts SSc. Further real world studies will be necessary to evaluate the best therapeutic approach with RTX (regular cycles or retreatment when clinical worsening occurs) and/or the combination with other immunosuppressant drugs.[1]Ebata S, Lancet Rheumatol 2021;3:e489–97.[2]Maher TM, Lancet Respir Med. 2023 Jan;11(1):45-54.NIL.None Declared.


Current industrial communication systems (ICS) are undergoing a transformation, leveraging a multitude of technologies to meet the specific needs of the manufacturing and automation industries. The convergence of these networks into edge, fog, and cloud architectures has enhanced their scalability and facilitated the deployment of advanced data-driven approaches, such as machine learning for optimizing production processes. However, ensuring proper provisioning of network and computation resources, along with delivering quality of service, is increasingly challenging in these complex communication systems. Zero-Touch Management (ZTM) frameworks promise to reduce complexity and minimize dependence on manual configuration by human experts. Successful deployment of such frameworks requires an accurate Network Digital Twin (NDT) of relevant network elements, as autonomous decision-making heavily relies on the quantity and quality of historical and real-time node and link state information provided by the NDT. However, the use of NDTs for ICS and ZTM in particular is still an emerging research topic. This paper therefore proposes a theoretical use-case for an NDT-based ZTM framework to improve resource utilization in cloud-centered networks. It presents a state-of-the-art analysis of recent NDT advances enabling the deployment of related ZTM approaches and discusses associated challenges and future research directions.


Countries from CEE countries (Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia) experienced systemic banking crisis during the recent turbulence on financial markets. Financial crisis can be very costly due to output losses during and after the crash. This article reviews the methodology for estimating the output losses for this particular group of countries recently affected by adverse economic and financial conditions. This study extend the analyses in two directions: first applying a Hodrick-Prescott filter for various lengths e.g. 10 years, 15 years and 20 years and then using the method proposed by Abiad et al (2009) and establishing the counterfactual trend, ignoring the past 3 years before the beginning of the crisis.


V·Astafjevs,a writer of Soviet who wrote a novel of Fish King that is a lyricism and the philosophy.The author set the character in front of the nature bachground.By approaching relation and nature,it has discussed nature good and evil question of the human.The works,by using of the first person narration,model modernist school creation method,the plot trend attenuates,and using the symbol,the implication and so on the many kinds of hypotheses art method,though the comparison of "the natural person"and "the counternatural person",has expressed the philosophy primary intention speak well of your friends of your enemy say nothing.


This study was to identify the effect of the satisfaction of certification, the educational use of the company offering certificate, the system of confirmation of the same model and the demographic aspect on the companies to see if compulsory certification(KC certificate) has negative effects on company management. First, the satisfaction of certification could reflect positive influences on company management. Second, there is no statistical significance in the education from the company offering certificate as a result of analyzing relationships but education is required and has an effect on improving quality according to the result of frequency analysis. Last, the system to declare by identifying the same model has a difference in significance in sales account, the development of products and warranty service for products.


The objective was to examine daily health-related habits and physical activity during free time in a group of young people, with the aim of analysing what types of habits are developed and the associations existing between these habits. A cross-sectional and observational study was carried out. The sample was composed of 1132 young people from Castilla-La Mancha (Spain), 53.4% women and 46.6% men, between 17 and 25 years old (M = 20.63; DT = 2.01). The instrument used in this study was the questionnaire of assessment of health-related habits (QAHH). Different ranges of age and gender were taken into account in the analyses. The results showed low rates of physical activity, with only 25% of the participants practicing physical activity in their free time. Regarding gender, no differences were observed between boys and girls in terms of the level of physical activity practice. The inferential analyses revealed several significant relationships between the habits of leisure time and the practice of physical activity. The analyses also revealed that alcohol consumption, tobacco consumption and Internet were used as means to escape from everyday life. The most frequent free-time activities of the participants during the week were the use of new technologies and the consumption of harmful substances. During the weekends the most frequent ones were physical activity and consumption of harmful substances. While the relationship between physical activity, health-related habits and leisure time in young people is complex, these results indicate that physical activity should be promoted in young people, especially during the week and as a healthy alternative to the consumption of harmful substances. To do this, professionals of different fields (education, psychology, sports sciences, nutrition and medicine, among others) should work together.


The positive significances and negative effects of the boom in taking postgraduate entrance exams on the construction of the study style in colleges and universities were analyzed. And proposals of how to exert the positive influences into full pay and to reduce the negative effects of the boom to a bare minimum were make so as to guide and develop the boom.


The third Shuttle Imaging Radar (SIR-C) was the first multifrequency and multipolarization SAR system monitoring the Earth from space. The availability of several frequencies and polarizations offers the opportunity of low level radiometric enhancement of SAR data via principal component or ratio analysis to correct the relief induced distortions of SAR images in mountainous areas. The potential of this method is presented based on the example of the Timna Valley in the south of Israel. Especially in areas where no DEM for the correction is available the method to be presented has a high application potential. For comparison the SIR-C/X-SAR data were also corrected conventionally on the basis of the local incidence angle derived via a DEM. This correction technique has the great advantage of getting real backscatter values for each frequency and polarization.


A Monte Carlo train over-speed derailment model for risk assessment is developed based on the derailment coefficient (wheel lateral and vertical force ratio). The model considers a one lump train negotiating on curved tracks or tangent tracks. The derailment coefficients for these two situations are calculated and the probabilities of train derailment are obtained to enhance a large scale Monte Carlo railroad risk assessment simulator called the axiomatic safety critical assessment process (ASCAP). A genetic algorithm based approach is taken to performing the validation of this Monte Carlo train derailment model. From the perspective of railroad risk assessment, the model is analysed and compared with an empirical formula, which is currently used in ASCAP. The Monte Carlo train over-speed derailment model will replace the current empirical formula in ASCAP simulator and will be able to provide a more realistic determination of the probability of train derailment.


Keratinocytes are the predominant cell type of skin epidermis. Through the programmed process of differentiation, they form a cornified envelope that provides a physical protective barrier against harmful external environment. Keratins are major structural proteins of keratinocytes that together with actin filaments and microtubules form the cytoskeleton of these cells. In this study, we examined the expression pattern and distribution of cytokeratin 6a (CK6a) in healthy human skin samples of different body locations, in fetal and scar skin samples, as well as in dermo-epidermal skin substitutes. We observed that CK6a expression is significantly upregulated in fetal skin and scar tissue as well as in skin grafts after short-term transplantation. Importantly, the abundance of CK6a corresponds directly to the expression pattern of wound healing marker CK16. We postulate that CK6a is a useful marker to accurately evaluate the homeostatic state of dermo-epidermal skin substitutes. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.


Optical atomic clocks based on the spectroscopy of strontium (Sr) atoms currently provide the most accurate time and frequency measurements. They reach fractional frequency uncertainties in the range of 10−18 [1], which makes them promising candidates for the redefinition of the second and for improving, for example, the accuracy of satellite navigation.


The intelligent development of education has become an essential direction of education and teaching reform, and the popularization and application of 5G technology provides strong support for the technical development of education. The integration of 5G and education will trigger the revolution of scene elements such as teachers, students, learning environment and learning resources.This essay puts forward some constructive suggestions and thoughts by analyzing the elements of educational scenes under the 5G vision. Taking the digital media art major as an example, this essay illustrates the revolution and challenges of the elements of educational scenes under the 5G vision, with the aim of promoting the process of educational reform and educational informationization, thus smoothly promoting the realization of educational informationization 2.0.


The Carcinogenic hazards of tobacco smoking are well established and are mainly ascribed to the presence of Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) and other Poly-Aromatic Hydrocarbons(PAH) responsible for bronchogenic carcinoma, leukaemia and lung cancer. A novel Nano-sized Non-Toxic Nascent Oxygen Yielding (NSNTOY) Agent impregnated Tobacco cigarettes (Nano-Green Cigarettes) have been prepared by sol-gel method using precursors of Potassium permanganate and Potassium oxalate. The tobacco leaves of an Indian commercial filter-tipped cigarette were taken out, leaving the outer paper intact. The tobacco leaves were sprayed with a fixed quantity of solutions of NSNTOY Agents in increasing concentrations and the leaves were air dried and reconstituted as Nano-Green Cigarettes. The effect of NSNTOY Agents in reducing the BaP content of the cigarette smoke have been studied by HPLC method. The decrease in tumorigenesis has been evaluated by the Ames assay. During cigarette smoking, these agents provide nascent oxygen intrinsically by thermal autolysis which is necessary for the effective combustion of the PAH's present in Cigarette smoke into much simpler non-aromatic and non-tumorigenic compounds. The BaP content and the tumorigenic potential of the Nano-Green Cigarettes Smoke have been found to be reduced upto 80% of the control group of Cigarettes. The NSNTOY Agent incorporated Nano-Green cigarettes prove to be a feasible option as it hits the weakest point in the chain of carcinogenesis. It decreases the very production of one of the biggest group of carcinogens, namely the Poly-Aromatic Hydrocarbons. Keywords: Carcinogenic; leukaemia; NSNTOY; tumorigenesis


Vacant lots are a common feature throughout many cities and may provide necessary habitat resources for urban bird populations. We evaluated the quality of vacant lots throughout Baltimore, Maryland, by determining how differences in vacant lot properties related to songbirds' nesting success and body condition. We observed 130 nests from American robins (Turdus migratorius), gray catbirds (Dumetella carolinensis), and northern cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis) across the city and assessed body condition of 19 adult robins. Nesting success for all three species was greatest within areas of vacant lots with high shrub densities. The robins' body condition index did not vary extensively and was not related to any vacant lot site- or landscape-level variables. Even so, we found vacant lots to be actively used by 60 bird species for a variety of resources, with those containing more shrubs to be the most beneficial for bird species' nesting attempts. Vacant lots should no longer be discarded and underestimated; instead, they should be valued for the opportunities they provide for generalist bird species through small-effort habitat management practices.


This paper discusses briefly the need for Digital Library and the Librarian and Libstaff role in the digital setup. Digital library is a global virtual library. They are the systems providing users with systematic coherent access to a very large organized repository of information and knowledge. The main aim of digital library is to provide ready access to acquire the required information at a faster rate. Digital libraries are electronic libraries in which large number of geographically distributed users can access the contents of large and diverse repositories of electronic objects in the form of text, images, maps, sounds, videos, catalogues, government, scientific and other data stores in either text or hypertext, hypermedia and multimedia compositions like CDROMs, online databases etc. It also allows for remote access by breaking the physical barriers through the national and international networks. Thus digital library is one of the hot topics in 21 st century which changes the librarians and library professionals to update themselves in terms of guide the readers to the right destination without delay. The book will be converted into CDROM. Even small handy CDROM can contain material of thousands of printed pages. Not only the text materials have printed pages but also pictures, images, movie clips and even voice. The space and accommodation problem is totally solved by the digital library. The internet is playing a vital role in information source and service. This reduced the concept of distance between the reader and the document source. Nowadays a vast amount of information is created and stored in the form of paper document. It is more difficult to search for any specific information in future even best methods of document arrangement is followed. Due to this increased searching time only, enormous number of rare information are un-used by the readers and researchers. But in digital libraries, seeking and searching is very easy. Therefore, information professionals not only need to keep themselves abreast of the changing times, but also need to keep themselves ahead of the changing scenario.


The high level of mortgage arrears in the Irish financial system and the associated overhang on economic growth underlines the importance of prudent lending standards throughout the property cycle. Macro-prudential tools such as loan-to-value (LTV) ratio caps and loan-to-income (LTI) ratio caps improve the resilience of the banking system by reducing the credit risk on new lending. Loan-level data are used to analyse the relationship between originating levels of these ratios and mortgage defaults. We find that there is a positive relationship between originating LTV and LTI ratios and subsequent defaults, with the strength of the relationship dependent on the point of the property cycle at which a loan is originated. Default rates on loans issued near the peak of the cycle to first-time buyers are particularly sensitive to LTV at origination while those issued to non first-time buyers are sensitive to both LTV and LTI at origination. In addition, there is a sharp increase in the losses on defaulted loans for loans issued above 85 per cent LTV. Although lending at higher LTI ratios has decreased significantly, 50 per cent of new lending to owner occupiers was at LTV levels above 80 per cent in 2013.


Here, we have investigated the spin pumping effect of Y3Fe5O12 (YIG)/Cu (tCu nm)/Cr heterostructures at room temperature with the thickness of the Cu interlayer varying from 0.4 nm to 5.0 nm. A huge charge signal Ic = 0.239 μA is observed in a YIG/Cr bilayer with direct contact, whereas Ic drops dramatically by two orders of magnitude when thin Cu interlayers down to 0.4 nm are inserted between YIG and Cr. Meanwhile, the injected spin current Js stays almost invariant for all the heterostructures. The effective spin Hall angle "θSH" of the YIG/Cr interface is found to be three orders of magnitude larger than the spin Hall angle θSH of the bulk Cr layer in YIG/Cu/Cr. The huge spin-charge conversion efficiency at the YIG/Cr interface is attributed to the inverse Rashba–Edelstein effect. Our experimental results demonstrate the dominant role of the interfacial effect in the spin-charge conversion process of the YIG/Cr heterostructures.


An increased demand of the fossil fuel would lead to scarcity of the fossil fuel in the future. An alternative of environmentally friendly energy sources is biodiesel. It is accounted that the resources for producing biodiesel should not compete with food raw materials, such as mahogany grain, (swietenia macrophylla king). The necessary steps in the experiment of producing biodiesel are process of taking the mahogany seed-oil by using roasting method, degumming, and transesterifi cation process. The required equipments for producing biodiesel were round-bottom fl ask equipped with condenser, measuring cylinder, magnetic stirrer, other labglassware, etc. Firstly, the process of taking the oil from mahogany seed was carried by using roasting method; then the result was degummed by using 5wt% of Phosphate acid at 80 oC for 15 minutes. The degumming process was aimed to remove sap, mucus, proteins, resin and gum. The second step was transesterifi cation process using methanol 1:6 (oil and methanol) and 0.1N KOH solutions, which was carried out at 60 oC for 1 hour. Once the methyl ester was produced, the next steps were washing and neutralization of methyl ester at heating temperature of 104 oC to remove the water content in the methyl ester. The obtained yield from the


: Histologic research is one of the most reliable methods of diagnosis of pathologies of organs and tissues. This method allows estimating both macroscopic and microscopic structural changes in organs and tissues of animals. Data obtained in the course of the pathomorphological research have fundamental value for studying toxic influence of preparations at the stage of preclinical research. Results of histologic structure of internals and tissues of laboratory Sprague Dawley rats are presented in this article. As a result of experiments it has been established that no side effects have been revealed at preparation administration to animals. "Microfit" biological preparation exerted no negative impact on functional activity of internals of an organism of rats, caused no allergic reactions. The macroscopic research of internals of all experimental animals revealed no pathology after autopsy. Pathomorphological research of the main organs and tissues confirms safety of the structure of tissues. Following the research results, within one month (30 days) of administration of the biological preparation, it has been established that in case of course intragastric administration of "Microfit" preparation to white Sprague Dawley rats in a conditional-therapeutic dose (30 mg/kg) and a dose exceeding the conditional-therapeutic dose by 10 times (300 mg/kg), the preparation has no toxic effect on condition of internals and tissues.


This paper presents non-contact ultrasonic imaging techniques with air coupling. The work is conducted as a part of the German research project MaTech. Project partners are Airbus, Bremen, IntelligeNDT, Erlangen, Ingenieurburo Dr. Hillger, Braunschweig, the Technical University of Hamburg-Harburg and DLR, Braunschweig, as a subcontractor. A modular and open ultrasonic imaging system (demonstrator III) which provides the capability for basic research of air coupled ultrasonic techniques for composites has been developed. Highlights are: a freely programmable transmitter, fast full-wave data recordings (12 bit) and software Cand D-scans. Especially promising testing results can be achieved by the application of suitable transmitter signals and processing of the received signal. In this paper, both frequency-modulated and coded signals are considered for transducer excitation. This works particularly well for broadband air coupled transducers, for which the signal is chosen adaptively. For the received signal, a matched filter processing is applied depending on the transmitter signal. Measurement results show a significant improvement of the signal-to-noise ratio especially for thicker components. Introduction: The increase of composite materials for aircraft applications requires a growing need for NDT. The aircraft industry is using more and more thick CFRPand CFRP-sandwich components with honeycomb and foam core. Those materials are highly attenuative. Sandwich materials can only be penetrated with frequencies in a range of about 50 to 500 kHz. The airborne ultrasonic technique avoids the disadvantages of the common ultrasonic technique with coupling liquid or coupling paste like time-consuming cleaning, incoming water, air bubbles in immersion technique, etc. [14]. On the other hand, the acoustic impedance mismatch between solids and gas (air) produces an amplitude loss of more than 150 dB using a standard ultrasonic equipment. Therefore special transducers with an impedance matching to air, a powerful excitation of the sender and a matched ultra-low preamplifier are required. Results: Ultrasonic system. The developed air coupled ultrasonic imaging system USPC 4000 AirTech (Fig. 1) is a further development of the "demonstrator 3" [5] of the MaTech project. This system provides high pulse repetition frequencies in order to get high scanning speeds. The hardware built in an industrial PC with Windows operating system consists of programmable high power pulser with a digital arbitrary generator, an ultra low noise preamplifier, a main amplifier and a ADC-board with a resolution of 12 bits. All measuring functions such as amplitude (gated peakdetector) and time-of-flight measurements are carried out by software. The system does not only provide C-scanning but also full-wave scans with software A-, B-, C-, Dscans. Additional functions are echotechnique (in order to measure the distances between the transducers and the specimen) and the application of chirp and coded signals. The software also enables digital filters for the enhancement oft results. The system is working with transducers from different manufactures. Fig.1: Block diagram of USPC 4000 AirTech Transducers Several transducers from different manufactures have been evaluated for ultrasonic imaging. The most interesting parameters are sensitivity, centre frequency, bandwidth, focus point and beam diameter. Most of them are resonant transducers with a small bandwidth in order to get a high efficiency. A few of them showed side lobes in their sound fields. For optimising the distances between transducers and specimen, it is useful to record the sound field with a ball reflector. In order to get a high power broadband pulse, a stack transducer [6] (Fig. 2) has been investigated. This kind of transducer consists of eight elements, which are acoustically coupled and electrically insulated. At the back wall of the piezo-element 1, an acoustic damping is situated, at the front (sound output, element 8), an impedance matching to air is situated. All elements are excited with delayed pulses S1 to S8. The delay times t2 to t8 are adjusted in the way that the passing pulse from element 1 through element 2 to 8 is amplified by the pulses S2 to S8. In the ideal case, the output of the element 8 provides an 8-fold higher pulse compared with a standard transducer. This technique can also be applied on the receiver side. The receiver stack transducer built in the same way, delivers 8 delayed pulses which have to be added with the right phases. Theoretically, a gain of 18 dB can be reached in comparison with a single element transducer on the receiver and on the transmitter side. For this kind of stack transducer, an ultrasonic system with eight channels has been developed. But the results show some disadvantages: The acoustic coupling between eight elements cause a "ringing" so that no single highly damped pulse has been generated. Therefore, the echo-technique could not be used. Also the impedance matching to air was not very successful, so that the sensitivity s, defined by:


The aim of the present study was to investigate whether long non-coding RNA metastasis associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) could modulate activation and inflammation of hepatic stellate cell (HSCs) via regulation of a microRNA (miR)-181a-toll like receptor (TLR)4/nuclear factor (NF)-κB axis, thereby contributing to the development of liver fibrosis. A total of 151 patients with liver fibrosis were recruited, and the serum levels of alanine transaminase, aspartate aminotransferase and albumin were determined. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 and LPS were used to activate and induce inflammation in the human HSC cell line LX2. MALAT1 was knocked using small interfering RNA or overexpressed, and an inhibitor and mimic of miR-181a-5p were used to examine the effect of MALAT1 and miR-181a-5p on the activation and inflammation of LX2 cells. Both MALAT1 and miR-181a-5p expression performed well in their ability to differentiate patients with liver fibrosis from healthy volunteers, and MALAT1 expression was associated with the severity of liver fibrosis. The expression levels of TLR4 and NF-κB were increased after stimulation with LPS or TGF-β1, but MALAT1 knockdown or miR-181a-5p mimic transfection abrogated this increase. Moreover, the TGF-β1-induced increase in viability, proliferation, migration, adhesion and collagen production, and the LPS-induced inflammation of LX2 cells were all reversed after MALAT1 knockdown or transfection with miR-181a-5p mimic. The MALAT1/miR-181a-5p axis was involved in regulating collagen production and inflammation by activating TLR4/NF-κB signaling, which may be conducive to liver fibrosis treatment in the future.


Plants establish pollination interactions with different groups of animals, including nocturnal ones that establish interactions with economically valuable and culturally important crops, as well as wild plants of conservation concern. Despite the considerable number of studies addressing the structure and dynamic of pollination networks, nocturnal interactions have been relatively overlooked. Using a multilayer network approach and considering diurnal and nocturnal interactions, we aimed to understand how interactions at different periods of the day are integrated and contribute to the network structural pattern. We also aimed to highlight how multilayer networks may give a more nuanced assessment of species importance across layers. We assembled a pollination network of an intensively studied Neotropical area by standardizing interaction data from 16 previous studies into a presence/absence (binary) network. Then, we used a multilayer network approach to evaluate the network modularity and plant species' roles in these different temporal layers. Plants were classified as nocturnal or diurnal according to the onset of floral opening and pollinators were classified according to their foraging period. The network consisted of 178 pollinator species and 158 plant species, with 870 links. Among plant species, 135 species have diurnal floral opening while 23 species are nocturnal. The multilayer network was significantly modular, and these modules differed in the composition of pollinator groups (e.g., hawk moths, bats, bees, hummingbirds), as well as of diurnal and nocturnal plants. We show that diurnal and nocturnal interactions are organized into interconnected modules in the multilayer network. Nocturnal plants had higher values of versatility and multidegree than diurnal plants, due to their role in connecting the two temporal layers. Synthesis. Our study highlights the importance of integrating different pollination systems to understand the importance of distinct components that structure pollination networks. We also illustrate the value of tapping into existing information, particularly species interaction data, from well‐studied biodiversity hotspot areas, to gain a better understanding of how communities are structured. Finally, despite the relative scarcity of nocturnal pollination network studies, we showed nocturnal plants, which often make complementary use of diurnal pollinators, to be important in connecting the temporal layers.


Although GAP, as the overall regulatory practice of safe and high-quality medicinal plant production in China, has experienced negative results and is no longer recommended, it has been replaced by HACCP management system. HACCP system focuses on specific projects of quality and safety assurance, from agricultural production to complex plant requirements, and then to specific technical considerations. GAP plantation can never meet the huge actual demand, but HACCP system can still be carefully checked when it is applied to products collected from different regions to ensure quality and safety. At present, the discussions on establishing the information traceable system of Chinese medicine materials have started. The system relies on extensive literature retrieval, survey results and common quality problems of Chinese Medicinal materials. Collecting the latest information will provide a solid reference framework for the development of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) industry and the supervision of the central government.


Three major events marked medieval Norwegian literary production, style, and language: the introduction of Christianity, the Black Death, and the Reformation. Foreign material in translation was pivotal to the transition between the pagan Viking Era and the Christian Middle Ages and to the passage from Catholicism to Lutheranism in the 16th century. Lack of translation and literary production following the Black Death also had an impact. Translation in a medieval and Renaissance context must be understood as transfer of knowledge, the crossing of linguistic and cultural borders. The translated texts helped introduce and consolidate the social conventions promoted by the new religion. The distinction between story and history faded. Religious and devotional material preceded the secular court literature from the French-speaking territories. Hagiographic material ran parallel to heroic tales: all genres helped illustrate the virtues of Christian life and social organization and needed only minor adaptation for a Norse audience. The pagan literary conventions blended with those of the imported material and resulted in a distinct Norse literary style. The systematic encounter with other gave rise to a new perception of self. The largely anonymous translators contributed to the inclusion of other in self, to the assimilation of foreign cultural values and concepts.


Kandovan region in the north west of Iran is used by bee keepers as an apiary to collect nectar and produce high quality honey. This study was carried out to survey plants foraged by honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) and to identify them in Kandovan (East- Azarbaijan, Iran). Identification of these plants can help us to know their flowering time and location, which could be recommended to the bee keepers for the emplacement of honeybee colonies for producing high quality and quantity honey in the bee hives. During 2007-2008 honeybee activities (nectar and pollen collecting) were surveyed two times weekly, within the radius of three km from the apiary. The results indicated that there were 22 families and 98 species of honey plants in this region. Among them, 16 species (16.32%) belonged to Fabaceae, 14 species (14.28%) to Asteraceae, eight species (8.16%) to Lamiaceae, seven species (7.14%) to Rosaceae, seven species (7.14%) to Apiaceae, six species (6.12%) to Brassicaceae, six species (6.12%) to Papaveraceae, six species (6.12%) to Scrophulariaceae and 28 to others. The life form of plant species was determined by using of Raunkier's life forms. They included 63.26% Hemicryptophytes, 17.34% Therophtytes, 6.12% Phanerophytes, 10.20% Chamaephytes, 3.06% Geophytes. Three species (3.09%) have high attractiveness, 60 species (61.85%) good attractiveness, three species (3.09%) middle attractiveness and 31 species (31.95%) weak attractiveness. Twenty one species (21.42%) were as nectar source, 33 species (33.67%) as pollen source and 44 species (44.89 %) as nectar and pollen source for honeybees.


Media connection (2, 3) for the passage of media through the end plate of a low-temperature fuel cell to and from individual membrane-electrode assemblies, characterized in that - that the media connection is configured in two parts, - that the media connection has a shaft as a first corrosion-stable means (3) which is provided for the passage of the medium, and wherein the shaft has a pressing surface (3b, 3c), which is provided for gas-tight connection with the membrane electrode assembly of the fuel cell . - that the media terminal has a metallic screw as the second, mechanically stable means (2), and which is provided for gas-tight connection of the shaft with the fuel cell.


Background and objective : Intrathecal administration of midazolam has been reported to have antinociceptive action, and to be an effective analgesic agent. In this study, we investigated the duration of sensory blockade and sedation effect of 2 doses of intrathecal midazolam as an adjunct to bupivacaine for spinal anesthesia. Methods : After getting the approval from the ethic committee, fifty patients, ASA physical state 12, aged 18 – 60 years old, undergoing elective surgery with spinal anesthesia in OR of Adam Malik General Hospital and Dr Pirngadi General Hospital Medan. The sample then divided randomly to two groups with 25 samples each group. Group I by adding 1 mg of midazolam into 15 mg 0,5 % hyperbaric bupivacaine + 0,2 ml saline whereas group II 2 mg midazolam into 15 mg 0,5 % hyperbaric bupivacaine. All patients received equal preloading with 15 ml/kg BW Lactate Ringer infusion a half an hour before spinal anesthesia. No premedication given. The duration of sensory block and sedation level were recorded. The results were analized statistically by using t-test, Mann-Whitney and chi square test. Result : The statistically calculation showed that the duration of sensory block was not different among the groups. The 2 segment regression in 15 mg 0,5 % hyperbaric Bupivacain + Midazolam 1 mg group and 15 mg 0,5 % hyperbaric Bupivacaine + Midazolam 2 mg group were equal, (160 ± 31,4 min) versus (198,1 ± 22,5min) (p>0,05) . Patients began complaining of mild pain or VAS 3 pain was equal in Midazolam 1 mg group (240±69,6 min) compared to Midazolam 2 mg group (256±48,7 min)(p>0,05). There were no differences in sedation scale in both groups, p> 0,05. Conclusion : The duration of sensory block and sedation scale were not different among the groups.


Determination of oil content in petroleum wax (butanone-toluene method) was studied. The effects of mass of samples, air current velocity on test results were researched in the experiment. Repetitiveness of the method was validated, and the oil content of some domestic products of petroleum wax was measured with the butanone-toluene method. The results show that this method has good repetitiveness and practicability. The mass fraction of oil in petroleum wax from 15% to 55% can be determined. This method dramatically decreases the cost of determination by using the domestic apparatuses and reagents instead of imported ones.


We have achieved a 1.05 Tera bit/s WDM transmission over 8186 km using distributed Raman amplifier repeaters. Signal bandwidth was 31.2 nm and the optical SNR improvement was about 1.5 dB in contrast to using an EDFA repeater.


Author Note Portions of this paper were presented at the 2014 meeting of the Southwestern Psychological Association. Previous research has found that between 57% and 62% of adult samples report having engaged in some observation of the night sky at least once weekly (Kelly, Kelly, & Batey, 2006; Mace & McDaniel, 2013). Further, in one sample night sky watching was ranked third as an evening activity following reading and watching TV (Holbrook, 2008). Despite apparent interest in the night sky by some individuals, little psychological research has investigated characteristics of those who engage in night sky watching or their motivations for doing so. Kelly (2003, 2004) identified a single factor that accounted for a majority of the variance in night sky watching attitudes and behaviors. Kelly (2003) termed this construct noctcaelador, defined as a psychological attachment to the night sky. To date, noctcaelador has been related to variables that reflect a flexible, yet rational, cognitive style such as openness to experience (Kelly & Kelly, 2010), creativity (Kelly & Kelly, 2014), unusual mental processing and perceptual experiences (Kelly, 2006; Kelly & Daughtry, 2005), and rational problem solving (Kelly, 2005). Though some correlates been identified, little is known about the motivations underlying night-sky watching and no theoretical model for noctcaelador has been proposed. To develop a model, more research examining variables that might partly explain the development and maintenance of noctcaelador is needed. The purpose of the current study was to examine the relationship between noctcaelador and one possible correlate, curiosity. As an individual differences variable, curiosity has been conceptualized as a desire for new knowledge or experience often aroused by complex or ambiguous stimuli (Litman & Silva, 2006). Researchers conceptualize curiosity as an intrinsic motivation to explore and seek-out personally meaningful experiences and information (Kashdan, Rose & Fincham, 2004). Silva (2008) found that curiosity was more likely to occur when focused on a novel stimulus and the individual's perceived ability to understand that stimulus. Previous research has found that curiosity often predicts positively valenced outcome variables. For instance, curiosity has been found to predict more meaning in life and life satisfaction as well as more engagement in personal growth-oriented experiences (Kashdan & Roberts, 2004; Kashdan & Steger, 2007). It should also be noted that curiosity has been related to less healthy outcomes as well. For instance, Jovanovic and Gavrilov-Jovanovic (2014) found that curiosity was related to potentially destructive and dangerous risk-taking behaviors among adolescents. Previous research has identified three forms of curiosity: 1) perceptual curiosity, evoked by complex or ambiguous sensory stimuli (Collins, Litman, & Spielberger, 2004), 2) epistemic curiosity, aroused by complex ideas or ambiguous concepts (Litman & Spielberger, 2003), and 3) curiosity as a feeling of deprivation, aroused by a need to know when information is lacking or unclear or problems have yet to be solved (Litman & Jimerson, 2004). The possibility of a relationship between noctcaelador and curiosity is supported by their shared relationships with two other variables. Previous research has found that both noctcaelador and curiosity have been related to the broad band personality variable known as openness to experience (Kashdan et al., 2009; Kelly & Kelly, 2010). Further, noctcaelador and curiosity have been related to need for cognition (Kelly, 2005; Olson, Camp, and Fuller, 1984). Taking a nomological network approach (Cronbach & Meehl, 1955), these shared relationships suggest that noctcaelador and curiosity might share common, meaningful variance in that both involve an open cognitive style that requires mental focus. …


ABSTRACT In sandy soils with frequent drought events, the choice of cultivar and plant density is crucial to improve water use efficiency and avoid losses in cotton yield and fiber quality. This study aimed to evaluate cotton cultivars' yield and fiber quality at different plant densities. The study was carried out during two growing seasons (2017/2018 and 2018/2019) on sandy soil in southeastern Brazil. The cultivar TMG 47B2RF showed 27 and 29% higher yields under low and medium plant density, respectively, when compared with the highest plant density. The higher yield was due to the higher number of bolls in relation to the cultivar DBB 509B2RF. The boll weight of cultivar DBB 509B2RF was 23 and 22% higher under low and medium plant density, respectively. Fiber length and strength were higher in TMG 47B2RF compared to DBB 509B2RF. The leaf nutrient content was higher in DBB 509B2RF, except for Ca and Mg. When there is a regular rainfall, the low plant density results in higher yields, but intermediate plant density is the best option in cropping seasons with severe drought. The high density of plants in sandy soil environments was never a better option for none of the cultivars.


The formulae of invention: a method for registration of a mechanical activity of an isolated frog heart with a record of a curve from a heart placed into Ringer solution for coldblooded animals. The process is monitored with a the reographic computer «Reospectr», with a bipolar technique during the study the first electrode is applied to the investigated area, but the second is puts just into Ringer solution surrounding the heart


The Hegemony with in the Schoolof Sporthas recently beena central themewith in the Physical Education, an issue thattendsto intensifywiththe approach ofmajorworld sporting eventsto beheld in Brazilin the comingyears.It isintended towork, to establish a historical relationship between sportsandschooland their relationshipon thelabor market of thephysical education professional.Understand thissocial phenomenonand interfere withthe way it operateswithin the Schoolisvery important forthe teacher of physical education, regardless of their educational visionorphilosophical alignment.This studyis descriptive in nature.We usedasemi-structured questionnaireappliedrandomly andfor convenience,where theintervieweespresentedtheir viewson thesubject of proposed study.The final sample included43teachers andsportscoordinators,who workedinphysical education,during the period1990to the present day.Importantis still clearly seethe direct relationshipbetween sports,and more specifically,between the implementation of majorschool eventsandwork of this professionalmarket,thismarketin constantchange and transformation, a source ofanguish and anxietyof modern man,who hastheworkyourown corporate identity.


Harmful use of alcohol affects millions of people worldwide, with high morbidity and mortality rates (1). In Scotland, rates of alcohol use and alcohol-related harm are high, with more than 1100 deaths attributable to alcohol in 2018 (2). Alcohol use disorders (AUDs) are not equitably spread across the population, with some groups being more vulnerable than others. People who are experiencing homelessness are at a particularly high risk of alcohol use and associated harms, including experience of extreme social inequalities (3,4). Alcohol use can be the reason for people becoming homeless, a response to trauma, poverty and difficult life circumstances, or be a way of coping with their current situation (3,5,6). People experiencing AUD and homelessness are vulnerable to a range of acute harms (alcohol poisoning, seizures), chronic health conditions (liver disease, cancers), premature death, poor mental health, assault and injury, and almost inevitable social exclusion (7). For many people who experience homelessness and AUD, abstinence-based treatment programmes are hard to comply with because of often unrealistic or undesirable goals (8). Thus, alcohol harm reduction approaches are essential for this group.


Subtitle: Our annual Motor Freight Market Insight Survey provides an in-depth look at the trucking market from both sides of the road. Carriers and shippers offer their perspectives on freight transportation challenges, solutions, and future opportunities.


Summary The problems of unity in Deuteronomy 27 are usually treated diachronically resulting in an impoverished theological appreciation of the chapter. Rather than offering two equally possible options, blessing and curse, the ceremony on Mt Ebal as instructed here is biased towards curse. No blessings are recited, despite their announcement; the stones are set up on the mountain of curse and the theme of curse brackets the Pentateuch. Nonetheless there is an optimism about the chapter. However this is a result of Yahweh's grace, not Israel's obedience. The provision of an altar and sacrifices and the allusions to the Abrahamic covenant in particular show that Israel stands under Yahweh's grace.


Many distributed applications require a means of managing the dynamic changes of its software interconnection structure in a distributed way. In this paper, we present a model of hierarchical and decentralized change management that supports a parallel execution of independent dynamic changes and provides a deadlock-free cooperation between the managing processes. This model is based on the Connguration Programming Approach, which views a distributed program as having a hierarchic conngu-ration consisting of interconnected and nested components interacting via message passing. The hierarchy of the program connguration induces a decomposition into several change domains, each of which is managed by a separate change manager. Although this allows for a parallel execution of independent changes, other changes require a cooperation among the managers. This cooperation and the algorithm used in change managers are explained and discussed in this paper.


Aims: Clinical feature and microbiological investigation help in reaching the diagnosis in cases of microbial keratitis. But in cases where a patient is already on polytopical therapy, clinical features are altered so dependency on microbiological investigation is more by the time cases reached to the referred hospital. The present study aimed to overview the profile of microbial investigation in microbial corneal ulcer cases that were already on polytherapy referred to the ophthalmic department of tertiary care center. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective hospital record-based study where microbiological reports of 58 infective keratitis cases of moderate-to-severe nature were analyzed. Statistical analysis was calculated with confidence intervals (CIs) using "Medcalc" statistical software online. Results: Following are the results of the study: 52% patients were males; 18.97% cases were positive for Gram stain. Aerobic culture was positive in 10.34%; potassium hydroxide (KOH) mount was positive in 9.62% cases; sabouraud dextrose agar culture was positive in 7.69% cases. Sensitivity of Gram stain was 33.3% (95% CI: 4.33%–77.72%), whereas specificity was 82.7% (95% CI: 69.67%–91.77%); positive predictive value (PPV) was 18.18% (95% CI: 2.28%–51.78%) and negative predictive value (NPV) was 91.49% (95% CI: 79.62%–97.63%). Sensitivity of KOH mount was 25% (95% CI: 0.63%–80.59%), whereas specificity was 91.67% (95% CI: 80.02%–97.68%); PPV was 20.20% (95% CI: 0.51%–71.64%) and NPV was 93.62% (95% CI: 82.46%–98.66%). Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus were the most common bacterial isolates. Conclusions: Basic microbiological investigations have a low yield in chronic infectious keratitis cases that are on prior cocktail long-term therapy. Therefore, advanced tests such as polymerase chain reaction, confocal microscopy, and corneal biopsy may be helpful in managing such challenging cases.


Abstract The adsorption behavior of tert-pentanol (TPT) on Ag(100) and Ag(110) single-crystal faces from aqueous 0.05 M KClO4 was investigated on the basis of chronocoulometric and differential capacity measurements. The adsorption data on Ag(100) were analyzed thermodynamically and the standard Gibbs energy of adsorption, ΔG0ads, was determined as a function of the electrode potential and of the charge density, σM, on the metal. The adsorption parameters for TPT adsorption on Ag(100) were compared with those on Ag(111), Hg, liquid Ga and Bi(001), available in the literature. The surface dipole potential of the TPT film at maximum coverage on the above metal surfaces was estimated by a novel approach that requires no a priori assumptions as to the predominance of either water desorption or TPT adsorption on the value of the shift, EN, of the potential of zero charge from zero to maximum coverage. Instead, the EN values for the different metals were estimated a posteriori, under the assumption that the water molecules that are still present at maximum TPT coverage maintain the same orientation as on the bare metal surface at the same charge density σM. The lack of a correlation between the ΔG0ads values on the different metal surfaces and their hydrophilicity indicates that TBT adsorption depends primarily on its particular conformation and on the metal surface structure.


Digital image photometry (DIP) was used to determine xylose concentration in liquid medium. Xylose was quantified by its color reaction with phloroglucinol in a 96-well microplate sample holder using a commercial flat-bed scanner followed by image analysis with free-access software (ImageJ). The Red (R) values showed linear correlation versus xylose concentration in the range of 1.0–10.0 mg/mL with correlation coefficient of 0.987. The DIP method was found to be accurate based on experimental pentose (versus theoretical) concentration values. The observed limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) for xylose were 0.65 mg/mL and 2.17 mg/mL, respectively. The DIP method gave results that are reliable and comparable to other technical protocols requiring expensive equipment such as high performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC) or UV-visible spectrophotometer. The DIP method was used to evaluate the extent of xylose assimilation in liquid fermentation medium by four yeast strains. Philippine Journal of Science 148 (2): 217-224, June 2019 ISSN 0031 7683 Date Received: 01 Oct 2018


Abstract:This essay argues that the form Geoffrey Chaucer devises for the Canterbury Tales rests on a recursive and iterative corrective process based on grammatical emendation that was tied, by a long-standing analogy, to moral reform. The Tale of Melibee makes this process most explicit and suggests both the ambitions and the dangers of this artistic and moral project. On the one hand, it is in the Melibee that the logic of the corrective process can be seen most clearly, as Prudence makes correction a principle of her prose; the tale portrays a slow, incremental repetition that only gradually brings about change. In that way, the tale displays the ambitions of the project. On the other hand, its dangers are clear enough, because the tale is notoriously unsatisfactory. Chaucer, however, deliberately stages those dangers in the Melibee and contrasts the dangers with a solution. While in the Melibee that incremental repetition illustrates literary pitfalls, in the Tales it becomes a means for literary innovation: the certainty of error and the corruption of discourse provide Chaucer an artistic method, one that evades moral clarity but provides the occasion for ongoing intellectual, artistic, and moral exercise. This account of Chaucer's moral poetics suggests that debates over the moral bearing of his poetry are unavoidable by design, but also irresolvable by design.


A Marxian-Polanyian Synthesis? Karl Polanyi: The Limits of the Market Gareth Dale Cambridge: Polity Press, 2010, 320 pp, hardback $110, paperback $34.95 During his address for the third annual Ted Wheelwright Memorial Lecture at the University of Sydney last October, Professor Fred Block drew a sharp distinction between Polanyi's and Marx's approaches to radical social change. In making the case for a renewed Social Democracy, he argued that the Marxist emphasis on the 'primacy of property relations' was inferior to the Polanyian 'primacy of politics', in which democratic states and societies subordinated markets to achieve socially progressive goals (Block, 2010). A quite different argument can be found in a recent book on Polanyi. Gareth Dale's Karl Polanyi offers a sophisticated Marxist critique of Polanyi's vast body of work. In considering the breadth of Polanyi's ideas, Dale suggests that a synthesis of Marxist and Polanyian approaches is possible. Dale makes an interesting and compelling case. He argues that most followers of Marxist and Polanyian thought share similar concerns that movements for radical social change need to be revived. As Dale notes, other scholars have attempted to bring Marx and Polanyi together. For example, Arrighi's analysis of long waves of accumulation is compared to Polanyi's economic history (Arrighi, 1994). In Arrighi's hands, Dale argues, the 'great transformation' becomes a 'great oscillation' between the forces of marketisation and social protection. From this vantage point, the Great Recession may be interpreted as the pendular movement of marketisation reaching its 'point of return' as free market economics begins to crack under the weight of its own contradictions (p. 230). Dale argues that a more explicit attempt to synthesise Polanyi's approach with Marxism can be found in Burawoy's treatment of 'sociological Marxism'. According to Burawoy, Polanyi (along with Gramsci) helped to transcend the problems of historical materialism by treating an 'active/civil society' as the contested outcome of capitalism, not socialist revolution or, indeed, class struggle (Burawoy, 2003). Dale is critical of this interpretation, suggesting that Burawoy is guilty of a sleight of hand in which Marxism is reconstructed as 'as an essentially Polanyian research program' (p. 243). Dale's alternative is to take a 'scorecard' approach, in which he identifies 'the areas of convergence between Polanyi and Marxism while recognizing the considerable differences' (p. 243). In doing so, Dale is often very critical of Polanyi's approach. Despite the criticisms, Dale's book is not an anti-Polanyian polemic. On the contrary, Dale appears to be locating a route for critical scholars, particularly Marxists, who want to engage with Polanyian perspectives. Much of his writing comes across as a spirited defense of Polanyi from his detractors from across the political spectrum. The book is organised into six chapters, as well as an introduction and a concluding section. The introduction surveys the contemporary appeal of Polanyi to scholars and activists alike. Part of this appeal, Dale suggests, is Polanyi's ability to turn the tables on the neo-liberal right: 'In his schema economic liberals are the utopian extremists while their opponents express a "spontaneous reaction of social protection"' (p. 4). Chapter 1 deals with the early development of Polanyi's socialist ideas, including his religious beliefs. Dale emphasizes his engagement with Marxism, particularly his association with the intellectuals of Austrian Social Democracy following his move to Vienna in 1919. Chapter 2 deals with Polanyi's most famous work, The Great Transformation (TGT). Dale's treatment of TGT is discussed in more detail below. Chapter 3 explores Polanyi's postwar foray into 'primitive economics' or, later, economic anthropology. Although Dale here expresses frustration with Polanyi's lack of engagement with post-war interpretations of TGT, he acknowledges that the transition of Polanyi's work into economic anthropology after the publication of TGT was based upon a continued desire to counter liberal economic myths about the role of markets in society. …


The antimicrobial activity of 25 essential oils and plant extracts against Salmonella Typhimurium and Penicillium roqueforti was tested by disc diffusion and quantified by agar dilution. Afterwards, the effect of the most promising essential oils was studied in an extruded pet food product over 21 days, with the oil mixed either into the product or as part of its coating. In vitro, the best inhibitors for Salmonella were cinnamon essential oil (EO) at 0.05% and thyme EO at 0.1%, while P. roqueforti was best inhibited by cinnamon EO at 0.01% and spearmint EO at 0.5%. When tested in the extruded product, cinnamon EO (0.05% and 0.1%) and spearmint EO (0.5%) proved ineffective against P. roqueforti, either mixed into the product or as part of its coating. Only cinnamon EO (0.1%) as part of the coating was able to reduce Salmonella significantly faster than the control (p-value=0.0408) during storage for 21 days. Based on the results, spice essential oils can act as inhibitors of Salmonella in a pet food product, when present at a sufficient concentration.


Abstract Pacific salmon Oncorhynchus spp. from the Snake River basin experience a wide range of environmental conditions during their freshwater, estuarine, and marine residence, which in turn influence their survival rates at each life stage. In addition, researchers have found that juvenile out-migration conditions can influence subsequent survival during estuarine and marine residence, a concept known as the hydrosystem-related, delayed-mortality hypothesis. In this analysis, we calculated seasonal, life-stage-specific survival rate estimates for Snake River spring–summer Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha and steelhead O. mykiss and conducted multiple-regression analyses to identify the freshwater and marine environmental factors associated with survival at each life stage. We also conducted correlation analyses to test the hydrosystem-related, delayed-mortality hypothesis. We found that the freshwater variables we examined (the percentage of river flow spilled over out-migration dams and water t...


The past few years have brought significant challenges to the civil engineering industry. This article comprises interviews with executives at seven civil engineering firms regarding their perspective on how recent economic and political events have affected their industry. The firms range in size from small firms with under 25 employees to multi-office companies with over 2,600 employees. Each executive was asked about their firm's greatest current challenges, the value of their contracted work in 2011 compared with the value in 2010, markets with the greatest growth potential, staffing needs, and impact of the federal political environment on civil engineering over the next two years. Most executives were cautiously optimistic about their business situation and staffing, but concerned about the potential for federal funding of infrastructure improvements.


Insulin receptors in human colon tumours, normal colon tissue and mesenteric fat removed at surgery have been identified by measuring the binding of labelled insulin to cell membrane preparations. Insulin binding sites were readily detected in all tissues, with mean ± SD binding site concentrations of 43 ± 41, 44 ± 39, and 44 ± 35fmol/mg membrane protein, and dissociation constants of 0.73 ± 0.61, 0.66 ± 0.41, and 0.78 ± 0.58nM for microsomal plasma membrane preparations of tumour (n = 25), normal colon (n = 25) and fat (n = 23) respectively. The specificity of binding of labelled insulin was similar in tumour and normal colon samples. Binding in normal colon preparations was highest in the epithelium (84fmol/mg membrane protein) and lower in lamina propria (19fmol/mg), submucosa (26fmol/mg) and muscle wall (13fmol/mg). Degradation of labelled insulin was similar in tumour and normal colon preparations. Mean receptor levels were not significantly different between microsomal membrane preparations and plasma membranes partially purified on discontinuous sucrose gradients, quantitated against either unit membrane protein or unit 5′‐nucleotidase specific activity. There was a significant negative correlation between insulin binding to fat membranes and fasting serum insulin levels, but no significant relationship was seen between serum insulin and receptor levels in either colon tumour or tissue preparations from full‐thickness normal colon wall. An inverse correlation between serum insulin and receptor levels was, however, apparent in preparations of colonic musosa. These data indicate that although insulin receptors in colon tumours share the same biochemical characteristics as those present in the normal colon, receptors in tumour tissue are less sensitive to down‐regulation by ambient insulin than receptors in mesenteric fat cells and normal colonic mucosa.


Cationic dendrimers possess attractive nano‐sized architectures that make them suitable as targeted drug/gene delivery systems. However, very little is known about their mechanisms of cell death in cellular systems. In the current study, the apoptotic and necrotic effects of starburst polyamidoamine (PAMAM) and polypropylenimine (DAB) dendrimers in cultured RAW 264.7 murine macrophage‐like cells were investigated. Cationic dendrimer treatment produced a typically dose‐dependent cytotoxic effect on macrophage cells. RAW 264.7 cells exposed to cationic dendrimers exhibited morphological features of apoptosis. Apoptotic ladders were observed in DNA extracted from RAW 264.7 cells treated with cationic dendrimers. Analysis from flow cytometry demonstrated an increase in hypodiploid DNA population (sub‐G1) and a simultaneous decrease in diploid DNA content, indicating that DNA cleavage occurred after exposure of the cells to cationic dendrimers. Also, cells treated with DAB dendrimer induced a higher percentage of sub‐G1 population than those treated with PAMAM dendrimer at the same dose. In addition, it was shown that pre‐treatment of RAW 264.7 cells with the general caspase inhibitor zVAD‐fmk prevented some degree of apoptosis induced by cationic dendrimers, suggesting that apoptosis in macrophage cells involves a caspasedependent pathway. Macrophage cells were also found to be sensitive to induction of apoptosis by dendrimers, whereas NIH/3T3 cells (mouse fibroblast) and BNL CL.2 (mouse liver) cells did not undergo apoptosis. These results could be helpful for optimizing the biocompatibility of dendrimers used for targeted drug/gene delivery.


We present theoretical X-ray line profiles from a range of model colliding wind systems. In particular, we investigate the effects of varying the stellar mass-loss rates, the wind speeds and the viewing orientation. We find that a wide range of theoretical line profile shapes is possible, varying with orbital inclination and phase. At or near conjunction, the lines have approximately Gaussian profiles, with small widths (HWHM ∼ 0.1v∞) and definite blueshifts or redshifts (depending on whether the star with the weaker wind is in front or behind). When the system is viewed at quadrature, the lines are generally much broader (HWHM ∼v∞), flat-topped and unshifted. Local absorption can have a major effect on the observed profiles – in systems with mass-loss rates of a few times 10−6 M⊙ yr−1 the lower energy lines (E ≲ 1 keV) are particularly affected. This generally results in blueward-skewed profiles, especially when the system is viewed through the dense wind of the primary. The orbital variation of the linewidths and shifts is reduced in a low-inclination binary. The extreme case is a binary with i= 0°, for which we would expect no line profile variation.


The mitigation of epidemic spreading through complex networks has been attracting more and more interest recently. The fundamental issue is how to effectively allocate immunization resources due to their high cost. Previous works have considered a lot of immunization strategies such as immunizing nodes in order of degree or betweenness centrality. In this paper, we propose a new immunization strategy based on the combination of closeness and betweenness centralities to find a subset of nodes whose immunization efficiently reduces the network vulnerability. Experiments show that for networks with geometric and scale-free properties, our strategy can get higher efficiency compared with the targeted immunization strategies based on single node centrality.


We use a procedure to extract valuable information regarding the p-wave halos in ^8B and ^11Be from the measured nuclear asymptotic normalization coefficients. With this procedure, we evaluate the probabilities of valence particle being outside the binding potential, which are 0.31± 0.03 for the ^8B ground state and 0.59 ± 0.06 for the ^11Be first excited state. More than 50% probability outside the binding potential means that the ^11Be first excited state has a typical p-wave neutron halo. The rms radii are obtained to be 3.9 ± 0.2 fm for the valence proton in the ^8B ground state and to be 6.5 ± 0.3 fm for the valence neutron in the ^11Be first excited state.The probabilities of the valence particle being in the non-classical region are extracted to be 0.41 ± 0.04 and 0.46 ± 0.05 for the ^8B ground state and the ^11Be first excited state, respectively. The results demonstrate that although hindered by the effects of Coulomb and/or centrifugal barriers, their valence particle wave function still penetrates substantially into the classically forbidden region.


Using three kinds of chemical conditions(300 mg/kg life element,68.752% silver fvarley bactericides 800 times liquid,the mixture)to treat processed tomatoes,the net photosynthetic rate of leaf,stomatal conductance,intercellular CO2 concentration,transpiration rate and water use efficiency were analysed.The results showed that net photosynthetic rate,transpiration rate and water use efficiency of different varieties of processed tomatoes were significantly different,the sanme as stomatal conductance,intercellular CO2 concentration.The net photosynthetic rate of processed tomato in different conditions reached significant difference or extremely significant level.The stomatal conductance difference was not significant.Three chemical conditions improved net photosynthetic rate and water use efficiency.Stomatal conductance and transpiration rate,intercellular CO2 concentration was lower in part of the treatment.


Lectins are carbohydrate recognizing proteins that bind mono- and oligosaccharide specifically and reversibly but are devoid of catalytic activity. In contrast to antibodies, they are not products of immune response. This study explores the isolation and partial characterization of lectin from leaves of Vernonia amygdalina, Talinum triangulare, Telfairia occidentalis and the kernels of Irvingia gabonensis focusing on their degree of antibacterial activities against some selected gastrointestinal pathogenic bacteria. Out of the different leaf materials, only lectin isolated from Vernonia amygdalina leaves exhibited the highest antibacterial activity against all tested bacteria. Agglutination of red blood cells by lectin from Talinum triangulare were significantly enhanced by D-lactose, D-maltose and D-glucose compared to lectin from other plant materials. Stability study showed that all the lectins were stable at temperature ranging from 20℃ to 30℃ and their activities were reduced with a corresponding increase in temperature. With the exception of lectin from Vernonia amygdalina, there were two different pH ranges for optimum activity of the respective isolated lectin. The study showed that the lectins from the different plant materials were capable of inhibiting the growth of the bacterial isolates. Thus, they may be suitable candidates for the prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal infections.