Objective To study the diagnosis and treatment of occult thyroid cancer with metastasis. Methods The clinical data of 18 cases of occult thyroid cancer with metastasis were analyzed retrospectively . Results All cases underwent operations. No death occurred during the operation and hospitalization .Postoperative metastasis occurred in 5 cases(27.8%). There was significant difference between the patients with metastasis and the other 100 patients without metastasis(P 0.001) . Pathological study showed that all the tumors penetrated through the capsule and invaded to the extra capsular blood vessels .Seven cases died of wide metastasis five years after the operation . Conclusions A greater attention should be paid to this disease . Needle biopsy under the guide of ultrasonography on thyroid and metastasis focus is the key point of diagnosis . Operation is still the chief treatment. Thyroxine and radio isotope 131 I should be given after the operation .


The NaCl-induced atmospheric corrosion behavior of the Mg-Al alloy AM50 produced by rheo-casting (RC) and high pressure die casting (HPDC) techniques was studied in the laboratory. The exposures were performed at 95% RH in the absence and presence of 400 ppm CO2 at 22, 4 and -4oC. In parallel, 99.97%Mg was investigated as reference. The synergistic effects of microstructure, exposure temperature, CO2, amount of added NaCl and exposure time on the corrosion rate and corrosion products were systematically investigated gravimetrically and by means of OM, SEM/EDX, FIB/SEM, BIB, Tof-SIMS, XRD and FTIR. It is shown that the NaCl-induced atmospheric corrosion resistance of the RC material is consistently better than that of the HPDC material. The better corrosion resistance is attributed to differences in the as-cast microstructures. The RC material contains a higher fraction of intermetallic β phase with more continuous and network-like morphology than the HPDC AM50. The results provide new insights into the effect of microstructure on the atmospheric corrosion behavior of Mg-Al alloys. There is a strong positive correlation between exposure temperature and the rate of atmospheric corrosion. Thus, a decrease in temperature from 22 to -4oC resulted in considerably slower corrosion both for the RC and the HPDC materials. The influence of temperature is suggested to be mainly related to the Al content. A corrosion product with an unknown phase (by XRD) and a non-crystalline corrosion product (by FTIR) were detected at sub-zero temperature.


It will be admitted that a cure of retrodeviations of the uterus is seldom, if ever, accomplished by the ordinary methods of treatment and that they demand more careful consideration than is usually accorded them. The routine plan of inserting a pessary and dismissing the case from further attention is an error, unfortunately, too often committed. The pessary can only be regarded as a splint which is serviceable as an aid to other measures in bringing about the desired result, but nothing more and will accomplish very little unaided. It may be true that all such displacements of the uterus do not require surgical intervention for their cure, but when structural changes have taken place in the walls of the organ nothing else will yield a prompt and satisfactory result. A pessary might be worn throughout the lifetime of these patients and even if it maintained the uterus in a


A method for real-time six-port automatic network analyzer (ANA) measurements based on the use of a pre-calculated six-port chart is developed. It is shown that a swept frequency generator can be used to read the module and/or phase of the reflection coefficient (Gamma) an a computer screen at sweep rates of up to 75 Hz. The test band is determined by the six-port design, typically 9:1, the accuracy of measurement is dependent on the swept frequency interval and on the six-port circuit design.


An analytical expression of the emission and absorption spectra, for a Λ-type three-level cavity-bound atom interacting with a two-mode cavity field, is given using the dressed states of the system. We take explicitly into account the existence of forms of nonlinearities of both the field and the intensity-dependent atom–field coupling. The characteristics of the emission and absorption spectra for binomial and squeezed coherent states of the modes are exhibited. The effects of the mean number of photons, detuning and the nonlinearity forms on the spectra are analysed.


The newest Alliance for Clinical Education edited volume, Mind the Gap: Generational Differences in Medical Education, comprises 10 chapters discussing intergenerational differences and their impli...


Identifying specific CT-image regions is an im- portant process in medical diagnosis. Clustering is a simple and useful means for automatic image segmentation. However, clustering results vary with the features of image pixels and the settings of parameters of the clustering methods. This study compares the results of CT image segmentation using FCM- based clustering algorithms running with intensity- and texture- based image features. Three types of image features, grayscale, LBP, and grayscale+LBP, are investigated. KM, FCM, and their medoid-variations are tested with various parameter settings. The results show that FCM and the grayscale+LBP feature can produce reasonable and satisfactory clustering results for CT-image segmentation. Index Terms—image feature, image segmentation, local bi- nary pattern (LBP), FCM-based clustering.


The contact resistance of 14 different electrode metals with the work function between 3.9 and 5.7 eV has been investigated for carbon nanotube (CNT) interconnects. We observed that the contact resistance was mainly influenced by the two following parameters: the wettability and the work function difference of electrode metal to CNT. Ti, Cr, and Fe with good wettability showed lower resistance than other metals. Furthermore, no dependence of the contact resistance on the work function difference has been observed. However, the contact resistance of Au, Pd, and Pt with poor wettability increased as the work function difference became larger.


DDoS attacks are one of the top security problems affecting networks and disrupting services to legitimate users. The first vital step in dealing with this problem is the network's ability to detect such attacks. To that end, it is important that an intrusion detection mechanism be able to differentiate between real DDoS traffic and Flash Crowds traffic, the latter of which constitutes sudden bursts of legitimate network activity. To train and analyze detection mechanisms, researchers typically simulate the DDoS traffic in the testbed; while for Flash Crowds, most researchers replay the web server captures obtained from third parties. This paper proposes the design of a special testbed-based simulation method with Spirent Test Center hardware platform, to simulate both DDoS traffic and Flash Crowds traffic. We give empirical results, including the simulation of four kinds of DDoS traffic including UDP Flooding attack, ICMP Flooding attack, TCP SYN Flooding attack and App-DDoS attack.


A lot of lessons can be learned by studying the evolution of surgical techniques and concepts used to treat a certain surgical entity over time. The eighteenth-century landmark anatomic descriptions of Baron Albrecht von Haller and John Hunter marked the start of the study of cryptorchidism. Hunter described the abdominal origin of fetal testicular development, he coined the term; musculus testis (the cremaster) and in 1762 he first used the term ''gubernaculum'' for the structure he believed was responsible for guiding testicular descent. Hunter studies were influenced by Baron von Haller's observations [1].


This study investigates the effects of client's
financial risk, time to bankruptcy, and auditor's cognitive style on issuing a
Going Concern Opinion (GCO) for failing companies. Empirical tests are based on
financial data from 328 bankrupt firms and peer review data from 172 auditors.
Cognitive style on an intuitive-analytic
dimension is approximated by the degree of auditor's compliance with the ISA
standards for analytic procedures in peer review. Empirical findings support
research hypotheses and show that seriousness of the financial risk and time
distance to bankruptcy are important determinants of GC judgment accuracy. They
also show that the performance of the cognitive style of the auditor is related
to the fit between the cognitive style and the characteristics of the GC
situation. The results indicate that an auditor's individual characteristics, i.e. cognitive style, affect his/her
decision making when issuing GCO. This study is the first approach that
systematically investigates the relationship between financial risk, distance
to bankruptcy, and cognitive style on GC judgment in an archival research.


Prior to the Victorian State election in November 2014, and following lobbying by the NTEU, the Victorian ALP committed to restore elected staff and student representatives to university councils and TAFE boards. These representative positions had been abolished by the Baillieu Coalition Government in 2012, despite protests from the NTEU and its members.


addition, I needed more help in understanding how this process leads to the development of new knowledge. The methods that were described seemed, in fact, quite familiar to any qualitative researcher. The efforts to consistently examine underlying assumptions through critical reflection seem to add a dimension sometimes missing in traditional research. The distinctions the authors drew between their approach and the analytic methods used in other forms of qualitative analysis did not seem clear to me except that their approach was based on shared experiences. This book can be helpful to those looking to a new research paradigm that no longer identifies 'subjects' of research endeavors but rather involves those about whom knowledge is sought in a collaborative process of co-inquiry. The potential for enriching our understanding of any issue or population is clearly enhanced through such a process, and these authors are to be congratulated for stimulating readers to examine long-standing assumptions about the way we engage in research.


Material of Sorbus aria-like plants from the Wye Valley with acutely-lobed leaves has been investigated using comparative morphology and reproductive fertility, which show that at least some such plants are S. aria introgressed with S. torminalis. The introgression was found to occur only from S. aria into S. torminalis. The primary and introgressed hybrids have lower pollen and fruit fertility than the parents. The parents show widespread overlap in distribution in southern Britain but introgression has been confirmed only for the Wye Valley. Sorbus × vagensis should be treated as a hybrid, not as a species.


Internet banking is regarded as a delivery channel, which over a period of time has gained recognition. It in fact has experienced growth in many countries and has changed the traditional way of banking. This channel has provided competitive advantage to the banks. With the help of internet banking the consumer has an access to number of services just at the click of a mouse. The present study is based on the responses of 450 consumers surveyed in Delhi and National Capital Region to understand the consumer awareness towards internet banking and the respondents were selected from public, private and foreign sector banks. To achieve the objectives of the study a questionnaire with five-point Likert scale consisting of various aspects related to internet banking was designed and random sampling method was adopted to collect the responses. The results of the study indicate that the level of consumer awareness is higher in case of private and foreign sector banks in comparison to public sector banks. Public sector banks need to focus on their working in order to battle with the private and foreign sector banks.


The treatment efficiency of Intermittent Cycle Extended Aeration System (ICEAS) was studied in this paper. The results showed that the organics as well as nitrogen and phosphorus could be removed at the same time by ICEAS, the effluent constants of COD, BOD5 and NH3-N were 15.2~42.2 mg·L~(-1), 5.12~16.90 mg·L~(-1) and 4.5~7.5 mg·L~(-1), respectively, the removal rate of COD, BOD5 and NH3-N were 80%~88%, 85%~93% and 60%~70% respectively, and the removal rate of phosphorus was 60%~75%.


Most of the detectives' and magistrates' task can be regarded as "knowledge processing." They have, typically, to acquire knowledge chunks (the clues), make hypotheses, find the contradictions inside and across the various depositions, link the consistent hypotheses in a causally connected lattice (the proof), judge the credibility of the testimonies and the reliability of the various witnesses. Sometimes the complexity of the case could justify the assistance of an intelligent decision support software. We present the general structure of an Inquiry Support System whose aim is to help a detective or a judge in: (1) generating hypotheses (automatically in some stereotypical cases), (2) eliciting a maximally consistent set of beliefs as the most believable piece of knowledge to reason with. This is done by: (1) finding the incoherences inside and across the various depositions, (2) generating the alternate maximally consistent sets of beliefs, (3) estimating the credibilities of the various evidences, and (4) estimating the reliabilities of the various informants. the solution of the case is intended to be searched among the various possible plots compatible with the maximally consistent set of beliefs retained by the system as the most believable one. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.


The paper addresses the problem of simulating atmospheric greenhouse gases concentrations at measurement sites located over continental areas, where fluxes and their spatiotemporal variability are strong. The COMET model described in the paper is a trajectory model, in which air masses are represented as columns with a time dependent circular horizontal extension, and a simple budget is done for trace gases in the mixed layer and a residual layer (the reservoir layer above the mixed layer). The model is compared to two methane datasets (Cabauw, Netherlands, and Mace Head,


lic health efforts at reducing the smoking rate have been modestly successful in reducing lung cancer deaths in the United States, and the majority of cases now occur in previous or never-smokers. The IASLC [International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer] Textbook of Prevention and Detection of Early Lung Cancer addresses important and timely subjects concerning how soon, and by which methods, early interventions can be made in persons with or at risk for lung cancer, to catch the disease in an earlier, more curable stage. The book's editors are thought leaders in the lung cancer field and they selected contributors who are experts in their sub-fields. The book lives up to its designation as a "textbook" in that it is very thorough in its discussion and is well-referenced, with an average of a hundred references in each of its 20 chapters. As such, it makes a very useful reference, but most readers are unlikely to read it in its entirety. The book is intended for physicians and researchers interested in lung cancer, and it is written in a detailed and technical fashion. It may appeal to respiratory therapists with special interest in lung cancer, but the comprehensiveness that is its strength may deter the casual reader. The book starts with an epidemiologic overview of lung cancer, discussing temporal and geographic trends and environmental risk factors. Subsequent chapters review lung cancer biology, genetic risk factors, and the strong epidemiologic and basic science evidence that links tobacco smoke to lung cancer. Tobacco control measures and clinical approaches to smoking cessation are reviewed. Some chapters discuss the pathology of lung neoplasia and pre-neoplasia. Early detection is a major focus of this text. A chapter on proteomic approaches to early detection reviews the methods of proteomic analyses in general and discusses the literature on detection of lung cancer in lung tissue, serum, plasma, pleural fluid, sputum, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and exhaled breath condensate, using proteomic profiling. Sputum cytology has for decades been proposed as a means of early detection. Also discussed are the data regarding conventional cytology and newer techniques, such as automated cytometry and specific molecular markers such as rat sarcoma (RAS) oncogene activation or abnormal methylation. Novel bronchoscopic techniques, including autofluorescence bronchoscopy and endobronchial ultrasound, are explained in detail, and data on their use in early cancer detection are presented. Techniques for dealing with the early lung cancer lesions (eg, photodynamic therapy, brachytherapy, and electrocautery) detected via the latter sensitive techniques are discussed, and the limited data on their effectiveness are presented. Previous efforts at early detection of lung cancer with chest radiographs failed to demonstrate a survival benefit between screened and control groups in randomized clinical trials. Current efforts at early detection utilize spiral CT scanning to detect early lung cancer lesions. The text provides a useful summary of the expanding literature in CTbased lung cancer screening; the rationale for this method and data from prospective cohort series are reviewed, and the ability of the technique to identify early lesions is demonstrated. The ongoing randomized clinical trials that might establish CT-based screening for lung cancer are described, though results are not expected for many years. Because CT can identify very small lesions, the high frequency of indeterminate pulmonary findings is the clear challenge in CT-based screening. One chapter covers how image processing and computer-aided diagnosis can enhance detection while minimizing false-positive results. Several chapters are devoted to how to work up these lesions, and how radiographic appearances correlate with pathologic findings. Many of the lesions detected are too small for needle biopsy, so many patients with screeningdetected lesions will require surgery. Evidence from studies of non-screeningdetected lung cancer established lobectomy as the operation of choice for patients with adequate pulmonary reserve. Screening-detected lung cancers are typically much smaller than incident lung cancers and may have a less aggressive biology, allowing for alternative, less-aggressive treatment approaches.Surgical techniquesand issuessurrounding sub-lobar resections are reviewed. Numerous nonsurgical treatments have emerged, including conventional and sterotactic radiation therapy, brachytherapy, and other local modalities. Explanations of these techniques and the limited data supporting their effectiveness are reviewed. The technologies used for lung cancer screening and workup are expensive, and it is clear that at some point this will have to be addressed from a societal standpoint. A chapter is devoted to the economic evaluation of lung cancer screening that, like many of the chapters in this text, builds basic concepts in the discipline, such as cost/benefit evaluation and criteria for evaluating the quality of economic evaluations, and then reviews the relevant data for lung cancer screening. A subsequent chapter discusses how to select the population to be screened to enrich for persons at high risk and thus improve the cost/benefit ratio. This same high-risk population can also be targeted for pharmacologic chemoprevention to reduce lung cancer risk. The rationale for this approach, including the concepts of multistep carcinogenesis and field cancerization, is discussed. A historical overview of the field includes several large randomized clinical trials of promising agents such as betacarotene, which proved to promote rather than prevent lung cancer. Overall the coverage of topics is complete, and I did not identify any important topic that was omitted. The chapters are well written, and there are few typographical errors. The book has many useful illustrations and tables that enhance the text. The references are extensive, and the book has a reasonable index. One problem with having multiple contributing editors is that there is a certain degree of overlap between sections, especially in the chapters' introductory parts. The benefit of this approach is that the chapters can be read individually. Given the slow progress in the treatment of advanced lung cancer, early detection and prevention appears to be the most important front in reducing mortality. This book synthesizes material from many different disciplines and provides a comprehensive overview of the emerging data in this field, which are poised to make an important impact on lung cancer deaths.


Background: As many patients who receive antimalarial drugs for treatment of noninfectious, inflammatory diseases are also immunosuppressed and might have a concomitant bacterial infection, we studied the effectiveness of these drugs against bacterial infections, to find out whether they could protect against (and even treat) such conditions and obviate the need for an additional antibiotic drug. Methods: Effect of QS on bacterial growth: Escherichia coli (E. coli) HB101 pRI203 were cultured overnight at 37C in TSB and inoculated (approx 1 107 cells /ml) in MEM in the presence of QS


Introduction and Chronology - Background - Warring sides - Outbreak - The fighting - Portrait of a soldier - World around war - Portrait of a civillan - How the war ended - Conclusion and consequences


The main task of the development of accounting in Russia is its convergence with the practice in the countries with market economy. Of all the foreign models accounting in the domestic economy were selected by the international financial reporting standards. The article discusses the features of the application of IFRS when reflected in the consolidated financial statements acquisitions of private companies.


Purpose: Various depth-of-anaesthesia monitors are available, but their trustworthiness is questioned. The aim of this study was to investigate brainstem auditory-evoked potentials during general anaesthesia using a specific audiometry method named SensoDetect Brainstem Evoked Response Audiometry (SD-BERA). Methods: Seven patients with American Society of Anaesthesiologists physical status I and II scheduled for elective orthopaedic surgery were assigned. Brainstem auditory evoked responses were recorded at different stages of anaesthesia. Bispectral index and end-tidal tension of Sevoflurane were measured at the same time. Results: The index (%) from pre-anaesthesia to anaesthesia were significantly reduced 100 [0–0] vs. 53 [49–72], respectively (p=0.0156). At extubation the index were set back to normal level with a significant increase from anaesthetized state, 102 [78–135] (p=0.0156). No significant difference could be observed between pre-anaesthesia and at extubation (p=0.6875). Conclusion: The findings imply that SD-BERA has a potential to measure depth of anaesthesia.


and does not deeply engage the critical literature. To say that Barth underplays the positive concrete shape of communion is to say something significant, highly theologically problematizing, and resistant to simple and timid evasion. At the risk of making the study longer, more could also have been said on, among other things, the shape and significance of church– state relations, and the rather strained use of the concept of 'correspondence'. Moreover, missing are the concrete political significance of life together (after all, the form of II.2's elect community implicitly critiques National Socialism); the place of prayer in the community's life; the role of sin in ecclesiological discourse, especially in the suggestive material on 'the Lordless Powers'; III.3's 'Near and Distant Neighbours'; and ecumenism. Finally, the critical question of ecclesial mediation merits a more substantive discussion than is provided. Bender begins by dismissing the possibility of ecclesial mediation through equating 'cooperation' and 'synergism', as Barth himself often did, but without meditating on the rich suggestions in the concursus dei (III.3) and the prophetic work of Christ.


Abstract Introduction. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is the root cause of diabetic nephropathy, a condition affecting the kidneys (T2DM). The number of people who have type 2 diabetes is growing. Aim. To evaluate the differences in Apelin 13 levels between patients with T2DM who had normal or microalbuminuria and those who had microalbuminuria, as well as between these patients and healthy controls. The intent is to better understand its link to microalbumin, haemoglobin A1c, insulin resistance (IR), and other standard measures. Materials and methods. Sixty individuals with type 2 diabetes, aged 35 to 45, were selected, and their microalbuminuria and normoalbuminuria were compared. Thirty age-matched healthy volunteers were selected to serve as controls. The concentrations of Apelin 13 and insulin in the plasma were measured with ELISA kits. The Turbilatex assay was used to calculate microalbumin concentrations. Measurements of glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1C) were made via high-performance liquid chromatography. Results. Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus had higher levels of the protein Apelin 13 in their plasma than did healthy controls. T2DM patients with microalbuminuria were different from normoalbuminuric patients in another important way. Correlations between plasma Apelin 13 and albuminuria, HbA1c, and HOMA-IR were all positive. Conclusion. Considering that plasma Apelin 13 is a critical risk factor in Type 2 diabetes mellitus and frequently arises in the early stages of nephropathy, it may be useful for the assessment of vascular issues in type 2 diabetic patients.


The interaction of 2,3,4,6-tetraacetyl-α-D-glucopyranosyl bromide with potassium salt of 4-hydroxybenzylideneanilines under anhydrous conditions and freezing temperature gives benzylideneaniline tetraacetyl-4-O-D-glucopyranosides and corresponding 4-O-benzylideneaniline-D-glucopyranosides are obtained by careful deacetylation with sodium methoxide in methanol. Products have been characterised by IR, 1 HNMR, 1 3 CNMR, FAB-MS, Optical rotation and chemical methods.


Traditional quantum-inspired genetic algorithm (QGA) has drawbacks such as premature convergence, heavy computational cost, complicated coding and decoding process etc. In this paper, a novel real-coded quantuminspired genetic algorithm is proposed based on interval division thinking. Detailed comparisons with some similar approaches for some standard benchmark functions test validity of the proposed algorithm. Besides, the proposed algorithm is used in two typical nonlinear data reconciliation problems (distilling process and extraction process) and simulation results show its efficiency in nonlinear data reconciliation problems.


Since March 1990, when the CEGB was split into four successor companies, NDT sub-contract companies have had to respond to many and various changes with regard to end-user requirements in a relatively short period of time. The first part of this paper considers some of these changes and how NDT sub-contract companies and their employees have had to reorganise and adjust to face the challenges set in the provision of general NDT inspection services in a changing scene. The second section considers replication technique, which was evolved as one of the new market opportunities. The final section covers tube testing, which is one of the traditional special application services provided, but which is also experiencing technological change.


Focusing on the cleaning of tire molds and rusting steel plates,a prototype of hand-holding laser-cleaning machine is presented in this paper.The average power exceeds 160 W.The cleaning effects of rubber-tire molds and serious-rusting steel plates are evident.The rate can reach 1.08,1.44 m2/h respectively.This machine can be used in other kinds of cleaning applications after its parameters are modified.


Leadership is the ability to build up confidence, enthusiasm and zeal among people and to create an urge in them to be led. Leadership is an important element of the direct function of management. Wherever there is an organized group of people working towards a common goal, some type of leadership becomes essential. According to Marry Parker Follet, "The power of leadership is the power of integrating. The leader stimulates what is best in us; he unites and concentrates what we feel only gropingly. He is a person who gives form to the unutilized energy in every man. The person who influences me most is not he who does great deeds, but he who makes me feel that I can do great deeds." This research paper presents an analytical study as regards leadership in management.


Objective.— To test the hypothesis that the Trendelenburg position is an accurate screening investigation for the presence of a low cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure syndrome in patients with daily headache.


The Goldie carbonatite of Fremont County, Colorado, and its associated rocks contain a fetid gas shown to consist of a mixture of Cs and C6 hydrocarbons, F2, HF and FzO. The fluorine has been derived from fluorite. Similar gases are characteristic of thorium veins in the same alkalic igneous district to the east and of various alkalic rocks around the Iron Hill alkalic-carbonatitic complex in Gunnison County, Colorado These Colorado occurrences are similar to those previously reported from aikalic rocks of the Kola Peninsula, U.S.S.R. The gases are believed to be of magmatic origin. h.rrnooucrroN The general geological features of the alkalic igneous province west and southwest of Canon City, Colorado, have been described by Heinrich and Dahlem (1965). The Goldie carbonatite (Heinrich and Quon, 1963) lies in the dike halo of the McClure Mountain-Iron Mountain complex, the largest of the three alkalic intrusive masses in the province. Most of the thorite veins occur east and southeast of the McClure complex, and are genetically associated with the Democrat Creek body (Heinrich, 1958; Christman et, al., 1959). Mineralogically, the Goldie carbonatite is one of the most unusual in the world. Most of it consists of limonite-stained calcite, with local masses of barite. In one of the prospect pits there are exposed replacement nodules of aluminofluoride minerals which consist of various of the assemblage: cryolite, gearksutite(?), pachnolite, weberite, prosopite and ralstonite, together with abundant purple, radioactive fluorite (Heinrich and Quon, 1963). The sequence of rocks across the carbonatite is: Hanging rvall 1. Biotite gneiss


Objective To investigate the haemodynamics effect of acute plateletpheresis in patients undergoing open heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB).Methods Thirty patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery under CPB were randomly divided into 2 groups(n=15 each),control group(group C)and APP group.In the APP group,platelet-rich plasma was harvested immediately after general anesthesia induction and completed before pre-CPB heparinization and transfused to the patient after the completion of CPB and protamine neutralization of heparin.The group C was managed in the normal fashion without acute intraoperative pre-CPB plateletpheresis.HR,MAP,CVP,CI,SVI,SVRI and SVV were recorded after central venous catheter insertion(T1),5 min(T2),10 min(T3),15 min(T4),20 min(T5) after APP and the end of APP((T6).Results As compared with those at T1,CVP at T3-T6 were lower(P0.05 or 0.01)and SVV at T2-T6 were higher(P0.01)in the APP group.As compared with group C,CVP at T4-T6 were lower(P0.01)and SVV at T2-T6 were higher(P0.01),and more dose and ratio of phenylephrine used in the APP group(P0.01).Conclusions Acute plateletpheresis induces the insufficient of blood volume in patients undergoing open heart surgery,but does not lower the cardiac output.The haemodynamics of patients can be stabilized by using some vasoactive drug.


Porcine noroviruses have been previously reported by some Japanese research groups. However, there is limited information regarding their epidemiology and pathogenicity in pigs. Here, we attempted to determine the frequency of norovirus infection in pigs in Japan. Fecal samples were collected from 190 healthy pigs in the Tokai region of Japan and checked for noroviruses by reverse transcriptionPCR. Noroviruses were present in 11 of the 190 fecal samples (5.8%) and were genetically related to the porcine noroviruses previously detected in other regions of Japan. Our data suggest that porcine noroviruses are circulating among populations of healthy pigs without clinical signs in Japan. Discipline: Animal Science Additional key words: nested PCR, phylogenetic tree, swine


A theoretical study of the restricted primitive model of the electrical double layer using a free-energy density-functional theory is presented. The ion-ion hard-core repulsive contribution to the free energy is incorporated through a non-local excess hard-sphere free-energy density functional. The electrostatic part of the ion-ion direct correlation function of the inhomogeneous electrolyte in the interfacial region is approximated by that of the homogeneous bulk electrolyte. The generalized van der Waals model and the Tarazona model are used to construct the respective excess hard-sphere free-energy density functionals and compared with each other. Each model requires as input a hard-sphere equation of state. The Carnahan-Starling equation of state is chosen. The theory correctly predicts the layering effect of the counterions and the charge-inversion phenomenon. The results for 1:1 and 2:2 electrolytes agree well with Monte Carlo simulations. The Tarazona model gives results in closer agreement with Mo...


In designing the various automatic pipeline welding machines presently available, much has been borrowed from traditional practices. It is still the same well-tried vertical-down welding method with concurrent arcs on each side of the pipe. The same familiar multi-run process is used to build up the weld with a succession of thin layers of metal. This gives rise to much the same problems of Hi-Lo, underbead cracking, and the occasional lack of sidewall fusion, which in the short arc welding process replaces the slag inclusions often encountered when using sticks. There are two major advantages in automatic short arc welding--intrinsic high welding speed and continuity. The latter is perhaps even more important than the specific rate of deposition.


Background:The Incidence of preterm pre maturerupture of membranes ranges from 3.0-10.0% of alldeliveries and leads to one third of preterm births.There are several risk factors for PPROM, such asintrauterine infection at early gestational age, sexually transmitted infections, vaginal bleeding, andsmoking during pregnancy.Methods: An observational prospective studyincluded 100 pregnant females with PPROM between the 24th and 28th week's gestation that wereadmitted to Mansoura University Hospital (MUH)between April 2018 and December 2019. Pregnancies with known fetal malformations, multiplefetuses, stillbirths, placenta previa, pre-eclampsia& Eclampsia and diabetes mellitus were excludedfrom this study group. Women who deliver within24 hours of PPROM were also excluded.Results: Out of 100 pregnant females were eligible for the study only 88 patients continued thestudy. Data from our study showed that the mediangestational age at delivery after conservative management of patient diagnosed to have PPROM was33 weeks. 85.2% of patients delivered by cesareansection. Recurrent urinary tract infection and Vulvo-vaginitis are the most common associated riskfactors (28 %, 24 %) respectively.The percentageof live born neonates was (65.9%) while still birthoccurred in (15.9%) and miscarriage occurred in(18.2%) of the females who completed the study.The main neonatal complications reported in thestudy was 55 out of 58 live birth cases were admitted to NICU (62.5%). Twenty-nine cases developedrespiratory distress syndrome (32.9 %), 17 casesdeveloped bronchopulmonary dysplasia (19.3%), 6cases developed pulmonary hypoplasia (6.8%),47casesdeveloped neonatal sepsis (53.4%) and 34cases developed perinatal death after admission toNICU (38.6%). Fourteen neonates were dischargedwith different degrees of disability (15.9%). Theoverall survived neonates were 24 cases (27.3%).For maternal complications we noticed that 43 cases developed signs of chorioamnionitis (48.9%).Also cord prolapse was reported in 3 cases (3.4%).After delivery postpartum hemorrhage occurredin 14 cases (15.9%) and 10 cases (11.4%) were inneed of blood transfusion. Signs of maternal sepsisdeveloped only in 3 cases (3.4%).Conclusion: Data from our study showed thatafter conservative management of patients withPPROM the overall neonatal survival rate was27.3 %. 3.4% of neonates were discharged withoutneed of NICU, 7.95% of neonates were healthyafter being discharged form NICU and 15.9 % ofneonates were discharged with different degreesof disability. Most of material complication werenot fatal and showed improvement after giving theappropriate care.


Optimization of geographic spatial structure is an important aspect and main content of studying urban sustainable development.Mastering the rules of the form and changes in the city clusters will have significant meaning in promoting the urban agglomerations development.Through analyzing the geographic spatial structure including the hierarchical structure,the structure urban functional changes and the spatial-temporal feature of size,which is based on using the fractal theory and combining the cluster analysis,this paper discusses the development route of oasis urban agglomerations from 1990 to 2005 and the method of optimization of geographic spatial structure at the northern slope of the Tianshan Mountains in arid area.The research suggested that the rank-scale distribution and spatial interaction has fractal character.The hierarchical structure in urban agglomerations at the northern slope of the Tianshan Mountains has the characteristic such as loosing,primate city distribution,and the uneven population distribution and polarization trend.But from 1990 to 2005,the urban primacy index decreased and the structure of size-scale optimized.The trend of the agglomerations population is that the centre changed from single to multi-center.The functional division in urban agglomerations is not very distinct.The urban economic structure is similar: the leading sector is industry and sectors with superiority are transportation and business industry.In 1990,there was only single isolated relatively centre,so the impact of centralization was remarkable.In 2005,with the function of central cities developing,its centralization and pervasion was enhanced.The urban functional structure is developing and perfecting.Impacted on natural environment influence and restriction,the spatial distribution is linear,and the most cities lie on a geographic element as rivers,railway and national artery.The connectivity degree is relatively strong.The display of spatial organizational structure of cities is belt,integration of partial and whole,concentration of megalopolis and economic zone.


Experiments were conducted in vacuum, argon and hydrogen environments to find out the effect of "chemical" heating on substrate temperature. Then, three-dimensional finite element model and two-dimensional coupling finite element model were built up. The effect of the hot filament temperature, the substrate-filament distance, the number of filaments, the inlet gas velocity and inlet-substrate distance is discussed. The results indicate that the reactions of atomic hydrogen have evident effect on the substrate temperature. Simulation results show that the filament temperature and the inlet gas velocity have remarkable influence on the substrate temperature filed and the gas spacial filed. Suitable inlet-substrate distance can improve the uniformity of gas velocity filed near substrate. Increase the inlet gas velocity can obtain higher gas velocity near substrate, but at the same time aggravate the inhomogeneity of velocity field. All the results provide the basis for high quality preparation of diamond film.


Procoagulant platelets are known by several synonyms, including collagen and thrombin–activated platelets,1 coated platelets,2 sustained calcium–induced platelet morphology,3 superactivated platelets,4 and superplatelets.5 This assortment of names is confusing to those outside the field and has remained a stubborn problem within the field. However, it is key to recognize that all of these variously named activated platelets share a common pentad of characteristics, mitochondrial depolarization,6,7 sustained cytoplasmic calcium elevation,8 surface expression of phosphatidylserine (PS),1 inactivation of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptors,9 and enhanced retention of several procoagulant proteins, including fibrinogen, factor V, and von Willebrand factor,2 within a surface cap.10 This commentary is too brief to detail all the intracellular events associated with the production of procoagulant platelets but suffice it to say that simultaneous engagement of thrombin and collagen receptors is the most common mechanism for their production. Surprisingly, dual agonist activation results in only a fraction of platelets being converted into procoagulant platelets, on average 30% in humans.11 The remaining 70% of platelets demonstrate …


The prodrug-activating enzyme/prodrug system is the most important component of suicide gene therapy,in which further investigations have been carried out.The varieties,mechanism and in vitro/ in vivo effect of popular enzyme/prodrug systems have been reviewed herein.


Rice production in Andhra Pradesh has risen remarkably in the last three decades. The farm harvest prices started falling below the minimum support prices in the state in the recent years. This is viewed by some as an indication of surplus production over its domestic requirements in the state, which has several policy implications. This paper makes an estimation of demand for rice in the last twenty years to assess the claim and makes projections for rice demand the next five years. Further, it explores into the structure of rice markets and nature of surplus of rice production, and contingent conditions necessary required for any policy of decontrol to avoid inflationary consequences.


There are relatively few studies on functional and appealing armhole lines of a blouse761, due to the complex shape of the shoulder and armpit. In this study, we investigated the functionality of eight different armhole lines, using human subjects as well as virtual fitting. The primary goal of this study was to determine which armhole line is suitable to the movement of a shoulder joint with an acceptable appearance. Next, we studied whether subtle differences in armhole lines affect the shape of the blouse in 3D virtual space. Finally, we analyzed if the wear test evaluations for mobility matched the corresponding shape deformation observed by the displacement of reference points of the 3D virtual blouse. We observed that the amount of displacement of the reference points as shown by 3D virtual fitting, matched the wearer's evaluation of the functional aspects of the blouse during shoulder joint movement.


Sympathetic nerve activity is increased in DOCA‐salt hypertension. Furthermore, local mechanisms regulating neurotransmitter release from sympathetic nerves supplying mesenteric arteries (MA) are impaired in DOCA‐salt hypertension. DOCA‐salt hypertension is associated with oxidative stress and elevated vascular levels of superoxide (O2−). In mice deficient in Mφ colony‐stimulating factor, exhibit reduced inflammation and has vascular protection against damage caused by DOCA‐salt hypertension. We tested the hypothesis that there is an increase in Mφ infiltration into the adventitia of the MA of DOCA‐salt rats and this contributes to the increased O2− that might disrupt sympathetic nerve function. We found an increased number of Mφ in the peritoneal cavity and in the adventitia of MA in DOCA‐salt rats compared to sham rats (p<0.05). Many Mφ were localized close to sympathetic nerve fibers. In addition, the perivascular Mφ of DOCA‐salt rats had a higher mean fluorescence intensity of p22Phox, a subunit of the O2− generating enzyme NADPH oxidase, and TNF‐α compared to sham rats (p<0.05). Therefore, suggesting an increase in activated Mφ in the adventitia of MA from DOCA‐salt rats. The close proximity of Mφ to sympathetic nerve fibers suggests that the inflammatory cytokine TNF‐α and O2− released by Mφ could disrupt sympathetic neurotransmission in MA in DOCA‐salt rats. (Supported by HL70687)


Amongst methods for asexual propagation of sour cherry, budding is the most common procedure. Budding is performed onto compatible rootstocks. In order to determine the most appropriate time and method of budding to achieve the maximum bud take (compatibility) success, this study was conducted in a private nursery located in Marbin, close to the Isfahan city. The two Guissi and Hungry cultivars were employed as scion and the Mahaleb seeding was used as rootstock. Treatments included two different scions (Guissi and Hungry sour cherries), two different times (August and early march) and three budding methods (T- budding, chip budding and T- without budding). This research was conducted in August 2013 as an experimental project of split- split plot in the framework of complete random blocks with three replications. Results of the study revealed that in both Guissi and Hungry scions, the chip budding in August had the maximum effect on such characteristics as growth bud length, number of leaves, number of lateral shoots and percentage of bud take. In the chip budding, since compared with other types of budding callus tissue was formed sooner and a strong connection was established between the scion and the rootstock, the buds developed sooner. As a result, compared with other budding types water and nutrients were absorbed more rapidly. Results of this research revealed that in both Guissi and Hungry sour cherry scions, the most appropriate time for budding is in August and the best method is chip budding on Mahaleb rootstocks.


Compositional heterogeneity in the form of continuous or discontinuous chemical and thermal gradients in lava and/or pyroclastic flows is very common. An understanding of the dynamics of magma withdrawal is essential to palinspastic reconstruction of intensive variable gradients in magma reservoirs. Important parameters governing the extent of subterranean magma mixing triggered by an eruption include the vertical structure of density and viscosity within the chamber, the discharge, the size and shape of the chamber, and whether eruption takes place along a sublinear fissure, a ring fracture, or a central vent. A numerical model has been set up to study isoviscous magma withdrawal from a central vent conduit as a function of the Reynolds number, the reservoir to conduit width ratio, reservoir aspect ratio (width/depth), and differing kinematic boundary conditions. Both open (magma recharge) and closed (caldera collapse) system behavior are considered. Finite difference solutions to the vorticity transport and Poisson equations enable determination of vorticity, stream function, and velocity fields as a function of time. The most petrologically significant output is the stream function (particle trajectories) and evacuation isochron diagrams. An evacuation isochron represents the locus of points within the chamber such that magma parcels along a given isochron arrive at the bottom of the volcanic conduit concurrently. Open systems evolve toward a time invariant state (fully developed flow). Spin-up times depend on chamber aspect ratio (Br/Dr), reservoir/conduit width ratio (Br/Bc), and Reynolds number (Re). Br, Dr, and Bc represent chamber half-width, depth, and conduit half-width, respectively. Spin-up times are relatively small (1/10 to 1/5) fractions of typical eruption durations. The shape and orientation of evacuation isochrons (EI) depend on Re (increasing Re decreases withdrawal depth) and geometric factors (increasing Br/Bc at constant Re and Br/Dr or decreasing Br/Br at constant Br/Bc and Re increases withdrawal depth). A significant amount of roofward magma can remain untapped in a chamber even for long duration eruptions. Systems driven by caldera collapse also involve juxtaposition of roofward and deep-seated magma during the course of an eruption. Relative to the magma recharge (open system) situation, EI's are laterally elongated. The extent of vertical mixing is thus smaller although still significant in this case. Maximum withdrawal depths vary monotonically in both cases. There is excellent qualitative agreement between predictions based on the numerical experiments and Fe-Ti oxide temperatures for a thermally zoned ash flow deposit south of Mono Lake in eastern California (Bishop Tuff).


Chloroplast structure in mesophyll cells from more xeromorphic drought-resistant (Polj 17) and less xeromorphic drought-sensitive (F-2) lines of Zea mays L. was studied in response to water stress and a combination of water and high-temperature stress. In the drought-resistant line water stress partly affected chloroplast structure; membranes of the chloroplast envelope were disrupted only in some chloroplasts, but grana were well preserved. Water stress and high-temperature stress affected chloroplasts to a greater extent but did not severely alter their structure. Grana were still visible, and only in some chloroplasts were they less distinguishable. Water shortage in the drought-sensitive line caused swelling of thylakoids and disappearance of outer membranes of the chloroplast envelope in many chloroplasts. Addition of temperature stress increased chloroplast disruption. The most striking difference was in the structural characteristics of chloroplasts after rehydration. Chloroplasts from the drought-resistant line appeared close to normal. In contrast, chloroplasts from the drought-sensitive line showed signs of additional deterioration in their structure. Differences in chloroplast structure under stress conditions between lines were likely the result of intraspecific differences in leaf dehydration, and possibly the result of intraspecific differences in the sensitivity of chloroplast membranes to high temperature.


A large number of tasks in distributed systems can be traced down to the fundamental problem of attaining a consistent global view on a distributed computation. This problem has been addressed by a number of studies which focus on systems with message passing as their only means of interprocess communication. In the paper at hand we extend this restricted system model by additionally accounting for an abstract memory to be shared by the processes. We specify necessary and sufficient conditions for constructing a consistent global view on such systems and present helpful definitions, which are meant to be a solid formal base for further studies.


Through analysing the characters of one-volume system,two-volume system,three-volume system,characters of the multi-volume which are chained together,and setting up mathematical models and measurement to discuss effect of this character to control system.As results,some experimental formula to adjust controller which control multi-volume object are proposed,and it can be applied in industrial product.


In order to solve the complex spinneret and unstable structure of multifludic electrospinning and side-by-side electrospinning, TiO2 nanofibers with hierarchical porosity were fabricated via microemulsion electrospinning, which can be realized just by single-spinneret electrospinning. The morphology, crystal, and specific surface area of the TiO2 nanofibers were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and physisorption analyzer. The photocatalytic activities of TiO2 nanofibers calcined at 500, 700, and 900 °C were examined. The experimental results indicated that TiO2 nanofibers were hollow, and the wall of nanofibers possessed abundant mesopores. The specific surface area of TiO2 nanofibers calcined at 500 °C was approximately 41.4 m2/g, which was favorable for increasing the photocatalytic reaction sites and the separation efficiency of electron–holes. The photocatalytic results demonstrated that compared with solid TiO2 nanofibers, the photocatalytic activities of t...


An improved method of motion detection based on temporal difference is proposed in this paper.First,the difference image is got by two successive gray images.Then,the difference image is filtered and translated into binary image.Third,a number of binary images are calculated by some gray images in the image sequences.Finally,motion object regions are extracted by arithmetic operations of pixels from these binary images.Experimental results show that this improved method is suitable and effective.


Objective Mastering the status of medical disputes and patients' and medical staff's cognition of medical disputes situation in part of the representative hospitals in Urumqi in the last three years,this paper gave an analysis on the causes of medical disputes and described the process of medical disputes and their occurrence,development.Methods(1) literature method.the questionnaire survey method.Results The investigation found that the majority of the populations of medical disputes are liberal professions and workers,21~30-year-old and over 60-year-old patients are high risk of medical disputes;the occurrence of medical disputes in surgical departments was significantly higher than other clinical departments,the reasons such as "complications","poorly explained" are prominent.Strengthening the control of the induced causes is the key to deal with the disputes.Source of economy,education level,age distribution are mutually related with the factores of medical dispute occurrence.Conclusion 21~30-year-old and over 60-year-old patients are high risk of medical disputes;the technician staff are the focus of the legal education and training.There is correlation between section office and the leading reasons of medical disputes,it is the same with the age and with the patients in town and countryside maitenning rights.The reasons that bring out medical disputes in surgical system are most leading ones;while in internal medical system are most induced reasons.


1s-2p excitation in hydrogen has been studied by observing the angular correlation of Lyman ..cap alpha.. photons detected in coincidence with inelastically scattered electrons at 54.4 eV incident energy. The electron scattering angles ranged from 10/sup 0/ to 133/sup 0/; the results at scattering angles larger than 20/sup 0/ cannot be explained by currently available theories.


Introduction: Imatinib mesylate (IM) is the first tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) licensed for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Severe bone marrow fibrosis (BMF) has been reported in excess of 40% of the patients with CML at diagnosis. Before TKIs became available, BMF which emerged at diagnosis and/or in the late periods of the disease was defined to be a poor prognostic factor, and it contributed significantly to morbidity and mortality from 10% to 30% in patients with CML. The relationship between BMF and both disease progression and prognosis has been the subject of re-evaluation after the introduction of IM therapy. In patients with CML, it has not been clearly demonstrated yet, whether IM improves the poor prognostic effect of fibrosis, and prevents the new BMF development or not. Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of IM therapy on BMF formation, and the prognostic significance of BMF in patients with CML. Material and Methods: One hundred and thirty-five CML patients were enrolled in the study. Patients9 demographics, Sokal risk scores, molecular and cytogenetic responses and follow-up periods were noted from the patients9 files retrospectively. All pre- and post-IM bone marrow biopsy samples, which were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, were re-evaluated for the current analysis. Grading of BMF was according to the European consensus decisions, graded as 0-III. The term "last bone marrow biopsy" (LBMB) is referred to a biopsy, which was performed at 18th months or later on during IM treatment. Results: The median age was 44 years (range, 18-92 years), and 78 patients (58%) were male. One hundred and twenty-eight patients (95%) were in chronic phase [CP], 4 patients (3%) were in accelerated phase [AP], and 3 patients (2%) were in blast crisis [BC] at the time of IM initiation. Out of 128 CML-CP patients, one hundred and twenty patients (93%) were in early CP, whereas 8 (7%) were in late CP. The percentage of low, intermediate, and high Sokal risk scores were 35%, 43%, and 22%, respectively. Before IM was initiated, thirty-one patients had received previous treatment modalities (hydroxyurea (HU) in twenty-one, and 10 patients had received interferon plus HU. he median duration of IM treatment was 45 months (range, 2-106 months). The rates of complete hematological response (CHR) at 3rd month, complete cytogenetic response (CCyR) at 12th month, and major molecular response (MMR) at 18th month were 92.4%, 71.6%, and 67.6%, respectively. BMF before the initiation of IM therapy was grade 0 in 52 patients (39%), grade I in 39 patients (29%), grade II in 28 patients (21%), and grade III in 16 patients (12%). There was a positive correlation between the Sokal risk scores and the grades of BMF at diagnosis (r:0.313, p The CCyR rates at 12th month did not differ according to the pre-imatinib BMF grades (p =0.127). There was no significant difference between patients with or without CCyR at 12 months of IM regarding grades of BMF (p =0.785). The MMR rates at 18 months did not differ according to pre-treatment grades of BMF (p =0.112). There was no significantly difference in overall survival rates between initial BMF mild (grade 0-I) and severe (grade II-III) groups (p =0.278). Conclusion: IM can reduce BMF after a long period of follow-up, independently from the molecular and cytogenetic responses. The BMF grades at diagnosis does not have a negative impact on the response to IM treatment. Therefore, the adverse prognostic impact of the marrow fibrosis among CML patients seems to disappear in the era of the TKIs. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


The basic mathematical method for power system reliability evaluation was indicated, the simple and complex system was respectively introduced, several methods of reliability analysis of simple was given in this paper, and the reliability evaluation indexes system and methods of composite generation and transmission system was analyzed, then focused on state enumeration method applied in the reliability assessment of system, the detailed example analysis was given and the adequacy reliability indexes were computed in detail. Finally, the current reliability evaluation and status of composite generation and transmission system was summarized simply and its reliability evaluation algorithm steps applied in current actual engineering projects was given.


Objective: To investigate the clinical significance of the level of serum β-human chorionic gonadotropin(β-HCG) as an indicator for outcome of early pregnancy after assisted reproductive technique(ART).Methods: The clinical date of infertile women in ART pregnancies was analyzed. The serum β-HCG was regularly monitored ,and the pregnancy outcome was recorded. Results: The levels of β-HCG showed significant correlation with consequence of ART pregnancy. The low levels of β-HCG(100 IU/L) were associated with a probability of the poor pregnancy outcome(87.5%), whereas levels 400IU/L predicted a 97.3% chance of gestational age12 weeks. There was no significant difference in the rising range of 48 hours after the first serum β-HCG tested between the two groups. Conclusions: A single serum β-HCG level at 16 days after ovulation is a useful predictor for pregnancy outcome.


This paper demonstrates the positive impact of learning through ecological fieldwork upon children's ability to write, and to write about science. Specifically we have carried out a relatively large-scale study (involving 379 children aged 9–11 years from 8 primary schools in North East England) comparing intervention classes (involved in fieldwork) and comparison classes (no fieldwork). Pre-intervention assessments revealed no differences between classes in mean literacy scores; post-intervention assessments revealed that significantly higher literacy scores were achieved by children who had carried out fieldwork (girls consistently outperformed boys in all classes). Intervention class children achieved higher scores in science (ecology) assessments than their comparison class peers before and after the intervention. We suggest that this may be an effect of these children thinking as scientists throughout the project. Our work confirms that a child-centred outdoor learning experience focused upon science can result in learning benefits across the wider curriculum.


Lead is a heavy metal that is used in a variety of products, from paint to imported cosmetics and food. High levels of lead exposure can damage organs and body systems and cause psychological and neurobehavioural function impairment. Despite government restrictions on the use of lead in most products in the United States, the persistence of lead in paint and soils makes it a continuing threat to human health. This is particularly true in Vermont, where the old housing stock presents a high risk of exposure to lead paint. Consequently, the Vermont Department of Health, in conjunction with other programs, has implemented measures to raise awareness about the dangers of lead exposure and remove exposure sources. Due to language and cultural barriers, however, these programs are not always effectively communicated to the entire Vermont population, especially New Americans. 1 New Americans, specifically refugees, may be at a higher-than-average risk for lead exposure as a result of both pre-and post-arrival exposure pathways. In order to better communicate the dangers of lead poisoning and encourage refugees to take part in the available lead testing and mitigation programs, we developed educational materials and hosted a networking event to raise awareness within the refugee communities of Burlington, VT. Through this event, we also hoped to strengthen communication between organizations involved in mitigating the dangers of lead exposure and key organizations serving the refugee communities in Vermont. 1 " New American " is a term that refers to those who have recently immigrated to the United States. It encompasses a larger group of people than the term " refugee, " which refers to those who have been officially resettled through the government. For this project, we focused our research on refugees and refugee-associated groups, but the identified themes and concerns may extend to all New Americans. Abstract Guide to Acronyms


The SNS has become one of the most popular application on Internet, and has been extended to the field of knowledge sharing, gradually penetrated into marketing, interpersonal communication, medical, library management, the field of education. This research starting from the research status quo of network learning community, the network learning community, and generalizes the relevant theories of SNS, with six degrees of segmentation theory, social constructivism learning theory, and the theory of distributed cognition theory, group dynamics theory as the foundation, using a variety of methods, build the English online learning community theory model based on SNS, combined with the corresponding technical, preliminary build English online learning community based on SNS. Introduction With the rapid development of the world, the progress of science and technology, interpersonal, communication between countries more frequently, using language to communicate with people to become one of the necessary skills, English is the main language of the world today, has a very important role in communication with others, learning English well is very important in today's society [1]. But the impact of examination-oriented education, nowadays our country's English level is not high. The traditional English teaching cannot well meet the demand of students' learning, and the use of online learning communities to promote English learning has many advantages, students can choose according to interest in online learning community learning content, search information and communicate with other learners, etc. But the authenticity of existing network learning community in the learners' interaction and collaboration between learners, the formation of community culture and learner's identity belonging to community problems. SNS (Social Network Service) by a very short time, popular in the world, the current SNS site incorporates Blog, Podcast, Wiki, and a series of characteristics and advantages, become a collection of text, audio and video for an integrated media, Social networks at the same time reducing the interpersonal communication of the characteristics of the multidirectional interaction and feedback [2]. SNS potential application in the education is mainly manifested in to construct the network learning community provides a good technical and environmental support, SNS provides application platform, can be very good to show themselves, can also build personal private network, with friends, classmates, or interested in strangers into personal network social circle, as communication and interaction, and establish good social relationships. SNS have the function of knowledge sharing, provides the knowledge sharing technology environment. The basic model of network learning community based on SNS The definition of SNS has a lot of, often people will be understood as a social network service, is a designed to help people build social network of Internet application services. This service is based on the Internet, through a specific website, software to people [3-4]. So, in the field of Internet, SNS has three layers of meaning, Social Network Service), Social Network Sites and Social Network Software). As shown in figure 1, based on the Social Network basic structure unit of learning community, members from self-demand, follow the norms and constraints in the community, with any other member can through establishing interactive information flow problems, resources and 2nd International Conference on Electrical, Computer Engineering and Electronics (ICECEE 2015) © 2015. The authors Published by Atlantis Press 1681 activities, and these problems, resources and activities can attract more members to join, to form to continuously expand and extend the Network learning community [5].


Abstract : The report gives an analysis capable of predicting the deflections and stresses for composite beams with finite fastener rigidity. Experimental research involving evaluation of several composites indicates applicability and limitations of the analysis. (Author)


This paper presents a method of dealing with the problem of assigning a due date which can either be known or unknown to a set of simultaneously available jobs and sequencing them on a single machine. The objective is to determine the optimal job sequence when the due date is common and known or to determine an optimal combination of the common due date and job sequence when the due date is unknown that minimizes a cost function. A dynamic programming algorithm of finding the optimal solution to the problem is presented. It is shown that the due date can simply be chosen from the set of marginal points of an interval which is divide within [0,∞] by the sum of every possible combination the job sequences. Finally, an illustrative example is provided.


Automatic sign language recognition (ASLR) is a special case of automatic speech recognition (ASR) and computer vision (CV) and is currently evolving from using artificial labgenerated data to using 'real-life' data. Although ASLR still struggles with feature extraction, it can benefit from techniques developed for ASR. We present a large-vocabulary ASLR system that is able to recognize sentences in continuous sign language and uses features extracted from standard single-view video cameras without using additional equipment. ASR techniques such as the multi-layer-perceptron (MLP) tandem approach, speaker adaptation, pronunciation modelling, and parallel hidden Markov models are investigated. We evaluate the influence of each system component on the recognition performance. On two publicly available large vocabulary databases representing lab-data (25 signer, 455 sign vocabulary, 19k sentence) and unconstrained 'real-life' sign language (1 signer, 266 sign vocabulary, 351 sentences) we can achieve 22.1% respectively 38.6% WER.


This article investigates and compiles some of the techniques mostly used in the smoothing or suppression of speckle noise in ultrasound images. With this information, a comparison of all the methods studied is done based on an experiment, using quality metrics to test their performance and show the benefits each one can contribute. To test the methods, a synthetic, noise-free image is created and later applied well-known noise models to corrupt it. This way, the smoothing techniques can be compared using numeric metrics, taking the noise-free image as a reference. Since real ultrasound images are already noise corrupted images and real noise-free images do not exist, conventional metrics cannot be used to indicate the quality obtained with filtering. Nevertheless, we propose the use of the tendencies observed in our study in real images.


Thermal relaxation phenomena in mixed-type hysteretic systems are investigated by using recently developed mixed Preisach model and Monte Carlo technique. The anomalous hysteretic behavior observed in several heterogeneous materials, especially in nanoscale embedding, is also generating unconventional relaxation processes which may involve several steps before relaxing to the anhysteretic state. The medium-term relaxation behavior is studied under various noisy environments and applied magnetic fields, analyzing the influence of noise strength, noise bandwidth, and field values on the relaxation characteristics.


The antigenic determinant of Rotavirus VP7 genes was amplified from cell infected by rotavirus by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT PCR). The lenth of target gene was 916 bp.The products of RT PCR were ligated with plasmid pGEM T and transformated to E.coli DH5α.By the analysis of restriction endonuclease and PCR ,the fragment of VP7 was cloned and the recombinant plasmid PT V7 was constructed.The result of nucleotid sequencing showed that the inserted gene had positive reading frame.


The Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities market (RMBS) has played a large role in enhancing the liquidity of mortgages, and in relieving the pressure of capital constraints on commercial banks. There are three main risks associated with residential mortgage-backed securitization: prepayment risk, interest rate risk, and default risk. This paper analyzes the prepayment risk in the "JIAMEI 2018-1"RMBS, the largest single RMBS product of the Postal Saving Bank of China (About 14 billion RMB). We introduce the JIAMEI 2 018-1 and study the factors that affect its prepayment risk. Using data, we conclude that the products involved in this case have comparatively low prepayment risk, even under the double influence of the housing finance policy tightening and the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic.


The purpose of this thesis is to design and verify the server shell using finite element analysis software and actual measurement. And configure the server for the hard disk, the deformation will produce more than 0.4mm, and interference test. And discusses the relationship between the internal structure of the server and the structural strength, and establishes a set of procedures for the design of the server shell parameters. In this paper, Taguchi parameter design method was used to analyze the server shell orthogonal table with the finite element analysis software ABAQUS instead of experiment, taking the thickness of the shell of the server, the type of Punch, the height of the fan wall, the thickness of the supporting tray steel and the weight of the HDD as the control factors. The optimal parameters were screened and analyzed by orthogonal table. The Taguchi experimental method was used to predict the S / N ratio of the parameters. And the combination of parameters again finite element analysis. Through the post-processing to see the amount of deformation the amount of deformation converted S / N ratio. Finally, the parameter combination Taguchi experimental method to predict the formula S / N ratio error comparison. Combine the parameters into the actual server shell and measure the amount of deformation with a 3-D measurement machine. The S / N ratio was calculated by measuring the resulting deformation, and the S / N ratio obtained from the Taguchi experimental method of parameter combination was compared. Measurement deformation is 0.143mm, the average percentage of error was 8.01%. According to the ISTA specification, the server shell fall-off analysis and test were performed. The maximum stress was 165MPa and the yield strength of the steel plate was 320MPa. The conversion safety factor was 1.93, It is predicted that the server chassis can pass the drop test. After falling drop test to detect the appearance of physical damage and functional tests, no physical damage after testing and function are all normal, the server chassis by ISTA drop test.


GOALS The accuracy of satellite-derived estimates of top-of-atmosphere (TOA) aerosol radiative forcing (natural + anthropogenic) depends critically on the accuracy of shortwave (SW) and longwave (LW) TOA radiative fluxes. Since satellites cannot directly measure flux instantaneously, assumptions are needed to account for the angular and spectral dependence of the radiation field to convert a radiance measurement to a flux estimate. If these assumptions are incorrect, they will lead to errors in TOA radiative flux, and hence, aerosol radiative forcing. In this investigation, aerosol radiative forcing over ocean from the Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) instrument and from theoretical broadband radiative transfer model calculations are compared. The first part of this investigation involves the development of new angular distribution models (ADMs) for converting observed broadband radiances to fluxes over cloud-free oceans. Fluxes obtained using the new ADMs are then compared with fluxes from broadband radiative transfer model calculations initialized using coincident aerosol and sea-state parameters based on imager and microwave retrievals over each CERES footprint. To determine aerosol radiative forcing from CERES, an approach similar to that outlined in Haywood et al. (1999) is used. The aerosol radiative forcing (or aerosol direct radiative effect) is obtained from the difference between a no-aerosol flux deduced from a radiative transfer model and the diurnally averaged regional flux determined by CERES.


Commercial urban maglev track was built in Incheon Yeongjongdo and vehicles are being tested. The vehicle is designed to be floating system because Maglev train is levitated without contact with track. Power supply system feeds the DC 1500V power through the 3th power rail . Vehicle is powered by the 3th rail with the positive line and the negative line. But Maglev vehicle has a different ground potential compared with general wheel systems. In this paper describes impact and avoiding of major electrical equipment of vehicle by common mode noise and presents future countermeasures.


Despite widespread incorporation of risk measures in strategy research, there is little consensus regarding the meaning and measurement of risk. In contrast to the variability measures widely used in strategy studies, this paper draws from behavioral decision theory, finance, and management theory to present an alternative perspective on organizational risk-downside risk. The paper explains three categories of organizational downside risk measures based on the concept of lower partial moments. The latter sections of the paper present considerations involved in specifying operational measures of downside risk and an empirical comparison of alternative downside risk measures.


Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) inhibit estrogen activation of the estrogen receptor (ER) in some tissues but activate ER in other tissues. These tissue-selective actions suggest that SERMs may be identified with tissue specificities that would improve the safety of breast cancer and hormone replacement therapies. The identification of an improved SERM would be aided by understanding the effects of each SERM on the structure and interactions of ER. To date, the inability to obtain structures of the full-length ER has limited our structural characterization of SERM action to their antiestrogenic effects on the isolated ER ligand binding domain. We studied the effects of estradiol and the clinically useful SERMs 4-hydroxytamoxifen and fulvestrant on the conformation of the full-length ERα dimer complex by comparing, in living human breast cancer cells, the amounts of energy transfer between fluorophores attached to different domains of ERα. Estradiol, 4-hydroxytamoxifen, and fulvestrant all p...


placed intramuscular injections injuring one or other of these nerves. There are probably very many cases that are not reported in the literature, since this is now a recognized hazard of injection at these sites. The lateral aspect of the thighs has many advantages for intramuscular injections. Six areas may be used before an injection has to be repeated in the same site. A large volume of injectate can be accommodated. There are no important nerves in the neighbourhood. The skin should be cleaner than the buttock. The patient does not have to sit on the injection site. There is usually less discomfort in the thigh than in the buttock or shoulder. The only disadvantage common to all sites is the presence of blood vessels. I would therefore advocate that all intramuscular injections should be given in the lateral aspect of the thighs, and that the deltoid and buttock be abandoned on account of the dangers that may accompany the notso-rarely misplaced injection.-I am, etc.,


The discussion classes of the research examples bridge the learning of students and the research of the faculties.Integration of optics research examples into optics teaching is helpful for students to understand the basic principles of optics,arouse their interest in learning and research,and cultivate their creativities.In this paper,one example is given to illustrate the usability of research examples in optics teaching.In addition,the prerequisites of applying the research examples in optics teaching are discussed.


ABSTRACT This paper reports on an auto ethnographic examination of my identity, my positionality, and my role in reconciliation with Indigenous peoples in Canada and to decolonising and indigenising the academy through my research and teaching practices. It is an individual response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) calls to Action. I weave in personal narratives, theory, and poetry to engage with deep reflection on my lived experiences and the historical and social contexts that have influenced the construction of my identity and educational praxis. I examine these experiences within the context of colonisation, moving from historical to current perspectives and its specific implications within the Canadian context. Intersectionality and Indigenous theories and perspectives guide this examination. The aim is to further my understanding of Indigenous issues and to prepare myself to be an active and effective agent in the process of reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. The insights I have gained and share in this paper may inspire other educators to initiate their own journeys.


This study compares lifetime employment and labour income outcomes for Indigenous Australians against all people in Australia. The method involves life-table analysis in which employment rates are combined with life-table indicators. This allows factoring mortality differentials between Indigenous and other populations. Age-specific employment rates and average annual income were derived from the 2006 Census separately for those with certificate or higher education, Year 12 and less than Year 12 education. Life tables for Indigenous and total Australians were taken from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Males with certificate or higher education are likely to spend the longest years in work and earn the highest amount over a lifetime. They are likely to earn almost 10 times the Indigenous females with below 12 years of education who fall at the bottom in terms of work and earning, if the current pattern of employment and earning prevails.


The portfolio selection is one of the most important and vital decisions that a real or legal person, who invests in stock market, should make. The main purpose of this article is the determination of the optimal portfolio with regard to relations among stock returns of companies which are active in Tehran's stock market. For achieving this goal, weekly statistics of company's stocks since Farvardin 1389 until Esfand 1390, has been used. For analyzing statistics and information and examination of stocks of companies which has change in returns, factors analysis approach and clustering analysis has been used (FC approach). With using multivariate analysis and with the aim of reducing the unsystematic risk, a financial portfoliois formed. At last but not least, results of choosing the optimal portfolio rather than randomly choosing a portfolio are given.


The Editor-in-Chief has been informed that in the article Engineering Students' Perceptions of Pre-Employment Tests: An Awareness Raising Exercise, Journal of Teaching English for Specific and Academic Purposes, Vol. 5, No. 1, 2017, pp. 87-96, DOI: 10.22190/JTESAP1701087E, co-author's name - David Prescott - has been omitted. After further discussion with the corresponding author, the Editor-in-Chief has decided to publish a corrigendum for this article.


Citation Liu Z, Wang Y, Walsh TR, Liu D, Shen Z, Zhang R, Yin W, Yao H, Li J, Shen J. 2018. Erratum for Liu et al., "Plasmid-mediated novel blaNDM-17 gene encoding a carbapenemase with enhanced activity in a sequence type 48 Escherichia coli strain." Antimicrob Agents Chemother 62:e02467-17. https://doi.org/10 .1128/AAC.02467-17. Copyright © 2018 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved. ERRATUM


A high-performance and scalable lipase immobilization method using a dipping and jet break-up technique was reported for the production of microcapsule biocatalysts with an entrapped cascade of lipase enzyme. The lipase from Candida antarctica (CALb) recombinant Aspergillus oryzae and from the vegetal of Jatropha curcas L. (var. Sevangel) in Morelos State of Mexico were entrapped by mixing with a sodium alginate biopolymer at different concentrations. The obtained microcapsules were hardened in a CaCl2 solution, aiming at developing Ca2+ alginate microbeads with sizes mostly from 220 to 300 μm. The relationship between the process variables with the shape and size of the alginate drops before and after the gelation was established with aid of optical image analysis. The results showed that a critical Ohnesorge number (Oh) > 0.24 was required to form spherical microencapsulated beads. The biodiesel production via esterification/transesterification reaction was performed using the crude Jatropha curcas L. oil as feedstock in a batch reactor using lipase microcapsules as biocatalysts. Under the optimal reaction condition (ethanol-to-oil mass ratio: 10; water content 9.1 wt%, microencapsulated biocatalyst mass: 5.25 g, reaction temperature: 35 °C, pH of reaction mixture 7.5, stirring force 6 g), an approximately 95% fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE) yield could be obtained. The biodiesel obtained from this work completely satisfied with the related ASTM D6751 and EN14214 standards. The microencapsulation technique reported herein allows the production of lipase microcapsules on a continuous large scale with the characteristics required for sustainable biofuel production and it can be also applied in other fields such as food processing and the pharmaceutical industry.


Based on computational fluid dynamics method, using standard turbulence model of fluid software and couple algorithm to solve. Using this modeling and solving algorithm, the number and position arrangement changes of baffles are studied under the same speed and temperature conditions, and combined with the analysis of the pressure cloud diagram, velocity distribution diagram, noise power cloud diagram and turbulence kinetic energy diagram inside the muffler, discuss vehicle muffler air Dynamic and acoustic performance impact. Through the research in this article, the CFD method has a good performance in dealing with the pressure loss of the muffler, which provides a theoretical basis for reducing fuel consumption and improving power performance.


The ice conditions in a regulated river will depend on the climatic changes as well as the changes to the hydropower operation strategies in the future. The existing literature shows that very few studies have been carried out to investigate the impact of climate change on the river ice regime, which is important for operation of hydropower in cold climates. In this study, a series of modelling tools have been used to transform the climate change signal in terms of precipitation and air temperature into cross-section based river ice assessment in a basin with a complicated hydropower system. The study is based on the EURO-CORDEX climate change data extracted from a regional climate model driven by a suite of five general circulation models with three representative concentration pathways. Hydrological model simulation results show that the winter and spring flow will be increased, which will have an impact on the river ice conditions towards the middle and end of this century. Reservoir-hydropower model s...


The market requirement defines the specialty of product design,Meeting the regulation requirement,we should pay more attentions to the economic rules of products design and fitting individual specialty to create the product in a high completion degree and present the value of products in the fine design age.


The mechanism of the stereospecific hydride conjugate addition of 7 concerned in the total synthesis of vernolepin (1) was confirmed from the fact that intramolecular hydride attack was only possible by coordinating with the two axial hydroxyl groups present. This confirmation led us to develop a new general method for stereospecific preparation of cis-fused α-methylene-γ-butyrolactones.


Background and Aim: Trachyspermum copticum (L.) Link (called Zenian in Persian) is a native plant to Iran, Egypt, Afghanestan and India and it's aqueous and alcoholic extracts exert cytotoxic effects on human ovarian cancer cell cultures. Our aim was to study the Transforming Growth Factor-beta2 (TGF-beta2) levels in supernatant of human ovarian cell [A2780, sensitive and resistant to Cisplatin] cultures treated with aqueous and alcoholic, and essential oil of dried seeds of Trachyspermum copticum (L.) Link. Materials and Methods: Human ovarian cancer cells (S and CP) treated with different concentrations (from 50 to 7000 µg/mL) of aqueous and alcoholic extracts. Using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide test (MTT) and calculating cytotoxic percentage of each extracts after overnight incubation, non cytotoxic concentrations of extracts were selected. Non cytotoxic concentrations of aqueous extract for treatment of sensitive cells were 50, 100, 200, and 1000 µg/mL; and for resistant cells were 50, 100, 200, and 2000 µg/mL. Non cytotoxic concentrations of alcoholic extract for treatment of sensitive and resistant cells were 50, 100, and 200 µg/mL. Essential oil excluded from the study because of its extremely cytotoxic effects on cells even with very low concentrations. TGF-beta2 concentrations in supernatants were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results were analyzed with comparing mean test. P value less than 0.05 was considered statistically meaningful. Results: Treatment of sensitive cells with 200 µg/mL, and resistant cells with 50 and 2000 µg/mL of aqueous extract associated with very less concentrations of TGF-beta in supernatants comparing with other extract concentrations ( p <0.001). But there was no meaningful association between the treatment of cells with alcoholic extract and TGF-beta2 concentrations in supernatants. Conclusion: Treatment of human ovarian cancer cells (A2780, sensitive and resistant to Cisplatin) with some concentrations of aqueous extract associated with diminished levels of TGF-beta2 in supernatants comparing other concentrations. Considering critical role of TGF-beta2 in growth and metastasis of tumor cells, further studies for determining the chemical components of aqueous extract and mechanism(s) of its effects on TGF-beta2 levels should be done.


Radiative wind theory applied to hot stars and central stars of planetary nebulae (CSPN) predicts a dependence of observed wind properties, such as the modified wind momentum, and basic stellar parameters, such as the stellar luminosity. Also, some dependence of this quantity is expected on the stellar metallicity, in view of the fact that the driving mechanism of the wind involves absorption lines of heavy elements. On the other hand, the massluminosity relation as applied to these stars shows some discrepancies when derived from either recent improved model atmospheres or evolutionary tracks for post-AGB stars. In this work, we analyze the metallicity effects on the modified wind momentum for CSPN by considering the expected dispersion in this quantity caused by the metallicity range of the CSPN. Also, the mass-luminosity relation of these stars is investigated on the basis of a recently proposed relation between the core mass of planetary nebulae and the observed nebular abundances. The IAG/USP database on chemical abundances is used as well as observed wind characteristics of the central stars.


Yam stakes, which are mostly collected most forests, are becoming very scarce because forested areas are being cleared for the construction of roads, houses, factories, religious centres, in addition to education and research institutions. Bush clearing for farming is the most devastating of forested areas. Yam species (Dioscorea spp.) need stakes in order to give good yield. This paper justifies yarn's need for stakes, and shows how people from different parts of the world have been managing in the practice of yam staking. A synthesis of the current practices in yam staking, and possible modifications, are put forward. Advantages of on-farm yam stakes procurement and an outlook into the future trend of yam stakes procurement are also examined.


Failures of structural and mechanical components have long been attributed to environmentally assisted cracking (EAC). The umbrella of EAC encompasses several phenomena, including stress corrosion cracking (SCC), corrosion fatigue (CF), hydrogen embrittlement (HE) and liquid metal embrittlement (LME). The latter, LME, has resulted in the failure of components in petrochemical and aeronautical industries, among others. The effects are detrimental, with crack tip velocities on the order of centimeters per second and failures occurring rapidly. Previous research has provided numerous underlying microstructural failure mechanisms aimed at identifying the true failure mode. Conflicting experimental data has extended the debate over the true mechanism promoting renewed interest in novel experimental regimes. Utilizing fracture mechanics specimens, the solid-liquid Al-Hg couple was analyzed to extend or reject current theories. Through the implementation of an original environmental chamber capable of testing notched and pre-cracked components in corrosive environments, C(T) specimens were subjected to experiments submersed in liquid mercury. Upon the application of an initially applied stress intensity factor (under load-control), incubation periods preceding failure were observed. Crack initiation and propagation were observed to occur along the starter notch, as well as other regions on the specimen. Results provided evidence that additional factors, such as a critical load or critical microstructural orientation, were factors in crack initiation and propagation. In the quest to observe the influence of these additional factors, a variation of the experimental setup was implemented and initial tests have begun.Copyright © 2010 by ASME


Field assessments and genetic analyses on tansy aphid, Metopeurum fuscoviride Stroyan were made aiming to investigate whether a specialist aphid species and its associated predator density differ between chemotypes of the plant host, tansy, and whether the essential oil composition of the plant host determines the genetic differences observed between colonies of M. fuscoviride inhabiting these different chemotypes. Tansy plants were defined after volatile extractions as Camphor Pure and Borneol Pure, respectively, with hybrid chemotypes defined as Camphor Hybrid, Borneol Hybrid, and Thujone Hybrid, respectively. Ladybird beetles, Coccinella septempunctata (L.), clearly dominated Pure Camphor plants, whereas significantly higher numbers of the nursery web spider, Pisaura mirabilis (Clerck), were detected on Borneol Pure and Borneol Hybrid plants. Genetic analyses using five polymorphic microsatellite markers revealed that higher genetic similarity existed between M. fuscoviride aphids from Borneol Pure and Borneol Hybrid plants and between Camphor Pure and Camphor Hybrid plants, respectively, whereas a lower level of genetic similarity was seen between these aphids from Thujone Hybrid plants. Accordingly, it is possible that host plant-adapted species can create much context-dependency in the nature and strength of predation effects, which may in turn alter costs and benefits of host plant chemical differentiations, or even the prey genotype variations. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2014, 114, 709–719.


We conducted a basic study of Millimeter-wave Intra-Connect Systems from the aspects of module implementation and transmission characteristics. We made small transmitter (TX) and receiver (RX) modules with on-board Yagi antennas using a resin material, and investigated the characteristics of the antennas. We also studied the relation of the transmission characteristics to module arrangement and the use of parallel metal plates as a simple case model. We confirmed extension of transmission distance by using the Yagi antenna with gain and sandwiching the modules between parallel plates.


BACKGROUND
This study aimed to evaluate the impact of Insulin Degludec Aspart on daily insulin dose in comparison with premixed insulin aspart.

METHODS
It was a Quasi-Experimental study conducted in the Department of Pharmacology, Army Medical College, National University of Medical Sciences, Rawalpindi and the Department of Medicine, Pak Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi. One hundred and twenty participants with documented type 2 diabetes, taking premixed insulin aspart therapy were enrolled in the study. Sixty participants were substituted with insulin degludec aspart from premixed insulin aspart. Daily units of insulin were recorded for 12 weeks and compared for both groups. SPSS version 26 was used for analysing the study results.

RESULTS
Participants of the insulin degludec aspart group showed a significant reduction in the daily insulin dose compared to the premixed insulin aspart group. Fifty-two units per day were administered in the participants of the premixed insulin aspart patients while insulin degludec aspart participants received 40 units of median daily insulin dose (p-value<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS
Insulin degludec aspart proved superior to premixed insulin aspart in a reduction in the daily dose of insulin with insulin degludec aspart.


McLuhan, Marshall has elaborated the perception of "extension" of the media: medium message that is shaped and extended by men. When the theatre becomes the media of the performance art, to the audiences, the message is not only the illusion, but also the extension of the performances of the actors. This paper attempts to use the theory of medium and theatre space, trying to analyze the changes and relations between theatre and audiences. Nowadays, the medium continuously updates and changes the ways of communications, so the unlimited extension of the theatre space is inevitable. However, theatre space always needs to concern the communication of the audiences, it also needs to return to its external essence.


We investigate the idea of a "general boundary" formulation of quantum field theory in the context of the Euclidean free scalar field. We propose a precise definition for an evolution kernel that propagates the field through arbitrary space–time regions. We show that this kernel satisfies an evolution equation which governs its dependence on deformations of the boundary surface and generalizes the ordinary (Euclidean) Schrodinger equation. We also derive the classical counterpart of this equation, which is a Hamilton–Jacobi equation for general boundary surfaces.