They spent there also two subsequent summers, having almost no contact with other children. The boy sat on a sofa or bench for a long time, which did not contribute to his physical development and communicative skills. Sergei (S.) recollects an episode that his father later confirmed. The father came unexpectedly; little Sergei (S.) is running toward him: "Daddy, daddy comes!" stumbles and falls down. Then the father is shaking him and asking: "What did you drink?" and then argues with the nanny. Back in Moscow, the boy asks for cough syrup. The mother gives him some mixture from the pharmacy but the boy is wining and asking for the "true" syrup. The nanny gave him sweat fortified wine as cough syrup, probably to calm him down and not to be disturbed at night. There was also some kind of sexual engagement under the guise of hygienic smearing of genital area with vegetable oil etc., which later resulted in "exhibitionist" behavior by the little child, leading to punishments and bullying.


The article analyses two concepts: democracy and economic order. Since 1989 the world was a witness of rapid changes as never before. In the world economy we can see a globalization, nations and regions are determine by global policy, world economy and global capital market. Democracy needs a substantial economics base. This base is main factor of its stability.


In this work we study the low-lying excited states of12C, especially above the Hoyle state (0+, 7,654 MeV) through the use of the14N(d,α)12C reaction. The EN-Tandem at ININ delivered deuteron beams between 2.5 and 7.5 MeV. Typical beam intensities were 20-50 nA. Two different compounds were used to produce thin films: Si3N4 (150 nm) and of C5H5N5 (10 μm). Angular distributions of emitted α-particles were measured at each energy. The first results of the analysis are presented including quantum number assignments (energy, spin and parity) of the excited states populated.


There is controversy regarding the impact of delayed good news and information asymmetry in financial reporting on firm-level crash risk. In the current exposure draft on the conceptual framework of financial reporting, information asymmetry is not considered a desired characteristic. We presented a framework for the demand for conservatism to mitigate information asymmetry and thus, decreasing the potential exposure to firm-level crash risk. Kim and Zhang (2010) claimed and provided evidence that conservatism is incrementally significant as a proxy of information asymmetry for predicting firm-level crash risk. If that claim is true, however, it will be sensible to argue that information asymmetry is non-trivial for firm-level crash risk assessment. Toward that end, this study directly tests if the timeliness of good news is trivial for firm-level crash risk assessment by specifying the firm-level crash risk in terms of a conservatism model. The study employed sample data from Egypt's capital market, which defines a setting dominated lately by firm-level crashes. We found evidence that timeliness of good news versus bad news explained by information asymmetry is significantly increasing the probabilities of experiencing firm-level crash risk; however, we found that conservatism reduces information asymmetry which eventually reduces the potential exposure to firm-level crash risk.


With the increasing number and aging of railway tunnels, regular inspection will be an important means to ensure the safety for operation railways. A train-mounted ground penetrating radar system with cores of air-coupled antennas and shared time-window model has been developed to allow for long-distance and fast inspection of tunnels. The system consists of 6 groups of air-coupled antennas with center frequency of 300 MHz. The distance between antenna and lining is 0.5–4.0 m, the scanning rate of the system is 976 scans/Sec and the detection depth of the GPR can reach to 2.5 m. Under the theoretical design, the maximum speed of train can reach 70.27 km/h with a scan interval of 0.02 m. The test results on Shenyang-Dandong railway passenger dedicated line show that the system can identify the thickness of lining, the void and the backfill state behind lining.


Realizing that productivity programs, total quality control systems, and other operational measures are no longer sufficient for improving bottom-line performance, many Japanese top executives are focusing on the innovation of management as the next stage in increasing sales, market share, and profits. Total integrated management (TIM) is the method used to make this innovation take place. TIM examines the quality of the multiple management factors affecting the company, focusing on management cycle (vision, strategy, planning, control, and implementation). The innovation of management cycle is performed first, based on its quality evaluation. The quality of each of the other factors evaluated, and the level of interaction between these factors, dictate where and how the rest of the management quality reforms must be performed. In this way, each facet of the company is integrated into a concerted, comprehensive corporate management policy of innovation, which maximizes the potential for growth in sales, market share, and profit.


The Fast Messages (FM) project is a highly optimized, low latency messaging layer providing a virtual interface to the communication hardware. The purpose of the paper is to present a detailed characterization of the FM communication messaging layer using the LogP model. We have used a series of communication microbenchmarks to measure the parameters of the LogP model. These specialized benchmarks are similar to those employed by D.E. Culler et al. (1996) to characterize the network interfaces of different parallel machines. The main focus of our analysis is the interaction between the messaging layer and the underlying communication system. We show that LogP can be a useful architectural analysis tool, providing the designer with some additional insight into the way different parts of the communication subsystem interact and contribute to the total communication overhead.


The ethylene cation C2H4+ is, with the isoelectronic neutral vinyl C2H3, the simplest organic π radical system: one electron populates a unique unique π orbital in the ground state electronic configuration.This system thus offers an opportunity to study in detail the complex electronic and vibronic dynamics in a prototype π radical. We present a combined electronic structure/photochemical dynamics study that investigates the non-adiabatic effects in ethylene cation C2H4+ after photoexcitation to its three first excited states. Emphasis is given on the role of the torsional coordinate which is associated to strong vibronic couplings.This study raises questions concerning the dynamics of highly electronically frustrated radicals and the influence of low-lying conical intersections on vibrational energy redistribution.


When nitric oxide (NO), an endogenous regulator of smooth muscle tone, is administered by inhalation, it acts as a selective pulmonary vasodilator. This report details the treatment with inhaled NO of the first 11 patients in Hawaii.


A low power dissipation PFM Boost DC-DC switching regulator design is implemented with 1.5mm 25V Bipolar technology of EPISIL. The design is verified with Hspice circuit simulation software. Expected performance has been achieved.


Removal of mechanical loading during spaceflight, bedrest, or immobilization causes rapid and profound atrophy of skeletal muscle. Emerging data suggest that oxidative stress from mitochondrial sources may contribute to unloading‐induced skeletal muscle atrophy. We recently found that the Nox2 isoform of NADPH oxidase is also upregulated in the unloaded soleus muscle, associated with FoxO3a activation and fiber atrophy. We used a mitochondrial specific antioxidant peptide (SS‐31) to test the hypothesis that mitochondrial ROS are involved in feed‐forward or amplification signaling with Nox2 in response to mechanical unloading of the rat soleus muscle. F344 rats were divided (n=7/grp) into the following groups: ambulatory control (CON), ambulatory + SS‐31 (1.5 mg/kg/d) (AS), hindlimb unloaded for 7 days (HU), and HU + SS‐31 (HUS). SS‐31 significantly attenuated the reduction in soleus mass and soleus mass/body mass ratio elicited by HU. SS‐31 also abrogated an increase in Type II fibers during unloading. In addition, SS‐31 significantly blunted upregulation of Nox2 subunit p67phox in the unloaded soleus, using fluorescent signal intensity and p67phox membrane localization as markers. Our results are consistent with the postulate that mechanical unloading of skeletal muscle causes mitochondrial ROS to upregulate Nox2 and thus drive atrophy and fiber‐type shift from slow to fast. Supported by NASA (NNX13AE45G), NIH (AR054084), and the Huffines Institute.


Left ventricle diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) is common cardiac changes in diabetic patients without renal insufficiency. LVDD is also frequently occurs in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Diabetic patients with CKD are at increased risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, early detection and prevention of risk factors are critical. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of type 2 diabetes on left ventricular (LV) diastolic function among CKD stage 3 and 5 patients, and whether markers of fluid balance can predict LVDD.

 A total of 409 patients (age and sex matched non-diabetic CKD stage 3 [nDMCKD3], n = 106; diabetic CKD stage 3 [DMCKD3], n = 106; non-diabetic CKD stage 5 [nDMCKD5], n = 73; diabetic CKD stage 5 [DMCKD5], n = 124) were analyzed. The stage 3 CKD patients were retrospectively reviewed, and stage 5 CKD patients were prospectively analyzed. All cohort patients with stage 5 CKD were hospitalized to plan their first dialysis treatment. The following exclusion criteria were applied: ejection fraction less than 45%, history of coronary artery disease and/or intervention treatment, history of angina or myocardial infarction, abnormalities of cardiac rhythm, moderate or severe valvular heart diseases, systemic immunologic diseases, liver cirrhosis, malignancy, infection, and previous renal transplantation. Coronary artery disease having regional wall motion abnormalities on echocardiographic examination was also ruled out. Clinical and echocardiographic parameters were compared among groups. Echocardiography, bioimpedance spectroscopy, and serum NT-proBNP were analyzed in patients with stage 5 CKD. The LVDD was defined as E/é ratio greater than 15. Extracellular water/total body water (ECW/TBW) and NT-proBNP were used as markers of fluid balance.

 Patients with E/é ratio > 15 presented with more advanced stages of CKD. Prevalence of LVDD in patients with diabetes was higher compared to those without diabetes. Patients in DMCKD5 group demonstrated higher E/é ratios compared to those with nDMCKD5, DMCKD3, and nDMCKD3 (16.63±5.04 vs. 14.12±4.60 vs. 14.69±4.65 vs. 13.07±3.76, p < 0.001). The E/é ratio in patients with DMCKD5 were significantly higher than those with DMCKD3 (16.63±5.04 vs. 14.69±4.65, p = 0.003). In contrast, the E/é ratio was not significantly different between nDMCKD3 and nDMCKD5 patients (13.07±3.76 vs. 14.12±4.60, p = 0.099). The ECW/TBW in patients with DMCKD5 were significantly higher than nDMCKD5 patients (0.51±0.04 vs. 0.48±0.05, p <0.001). In a multiple regression analysis, the presence of diabetes, serum albumin level, NT-proBNP, and ECW/TBW were significantly associated with LVDD in CKD5 patients.

 Our results suggest that an echocardiographic examination and assessment of volume status should routinely be performed in patients with type 2 DMCKD. Early detection of LVDD before clinical symptoms are apparent is important, regardless of the stage of DMCKD. Fluid overload could be one of the aggravating factors of LVDD in DMCKD patients. Early evaluation of volume status and control of fluid overload should be considered important therapeutic approaches for LVDD in DMCKD patients, especially for those in advanced stages.


In the roll position adjustment of current steel tube production line, roller parameters decision for new tube is only based on the artificial experience and field measurement. Lack of effective prediction method leads to the low yield of production line and the waste of labor cost. This paper takes the F400 steel tube production line as the research object. Firstly, the stream of variation model for roll forming process is established and used to predicting the roller parameter. Then, according to historical roller parameters, the machine learning prediction model is built with principal component analysis and BP neural network. Finally, the predictive simulation and production test based on the PCA - BP model is performed. The simulation and experiment results show that PCA-BP intelligent prediction outperforms the stream of variation model and artificial roller adjustment, and the production error can be controlled within 2mm. PCA-BP prediction method shorten the changing time, improve the adjustment accuracy of new steel tube, solve the problems of production yield and labor cost, and is advantageous to the actual production application.


Bagi, Zoltán Péter: Wage and Subsistence: German Infantry during the Fifteen Years' War A signifi cant number of German soldiers served in the Kingdom of Hungary in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Some of them served in strongholds of strategic importance comprising the Hungarian border defence system, which had been developing from the end of the 1520s. Despite their signifi cance, the co-habitation of these soldiers with the urban bourgoisie and the Second Estate began to attract interest in Hungarian historical scholarship only recently. About the others, who arrived with the yeomanry, there is even less information. Who were these German foot soldiers, Landsknechts, serving in Hungary? Which layer of German society did they come from? Why did they choose military service, or more exactly, what did they turn their backs on to take up service instead? Unfortunately, the muster rolls, which are the primary archival sources containing answers to these questions, are scarce: from the period of the Fifteen Years' War only three such documents survive. In this present essay, I have endeavoured to reconstruct from sources and German-language scholarship the profi le of people who undertook service in German infantry regiments for wages agreed on by the parties at musters (military and arms inspection). The examination of a soldier's expected (but not always received) monthly wages and expenditure reveals that this income of mercenaries, often arriving with their families, was not suffi cient to cover their living costs. In spite of the frequent default of payment, the musters show an oversupply of mercenaries during the period of the Fifteen Years' War. Th is can be explained by other opportunities of income to complement unpaid military wages. Th e soldiers may have been involved in fraud or the systematic pillage of nearby population. Furthermore, their spouse and children could also contibute to the family income. Csikány, Tamás: "Was not dragged in threatened by kill, I've signed up by my own free will': Voluntarism and Conscription in the First Half of the Nineteenth Century and the Hungarian National Defence Force of the 1848–49 War of Independence Th e soldiers of the National Defence Force in the Hungarian War of Independence in 1848–49 are remembered both in literature and historical scholarship


Objective To investigate the immunomodulation of lower polypeptide from sea cucumber in mice.Methods Effects of polypeptide from sea cucumber on the immunity were studied by the observation of the serum hemolysins level(HC_(50)),the plaque-forming cell (PFC),the phagocytosis of the phagocytes and the activities of NK cells.Results To compare experiment groups with control group,the enhancement facilitation of HC_(50),PFC,phagocytosis ability of macrophage and activity of NK cell was observed.Conclusion The results indicated that polypeptide from sea cucumber has the function of immunomodulation in mice.


Loh and Stulz (2011) found which characteristics drive influential analyst revisions in the period between 1993 and 2007. With a model that real predicts influential revisions out-of-sample, we find that the market was slow in incorporating this information. We fine-tune their model and we form long-short portfolios that earn an alpha of 2% per month between 1999 and 2013 based on the predicted influential revisions. Contrary to previous evidence, this strategy survives to substantial transaction costs. Hence, recommendations are an important means by which analysts assimilate information into stock prices.


The calf undergoes major transformations in early life that make it more susceptible to gastrointestinal tract (GIT) disease and disorders compared to all herd-mates. One of the most critical management factors in calf survival and health is feeding a sufficient amount of high-quality colostrum in order to improve passive transfer. However, further benefits to GIT function and health are now also being recognized. It has recently been shown that a delay in colostrum feeding of only six or twelve hours after birth can impact not only passive transfer but also the colonization of healthy bacteria (Bifidobacterium) in the small intestine of newborn calves. In addition, the heat treatment of colostrum has been shown to increase the colonization of Bifidobacterium and decrease the colonization of Escherichia coli in the small intestine of calves during the first 12 hours of life. New research is showcasing how the transition from colostrum to milk in the first days of life is critical to GIT development. For example, calves that transition directly to milk after the first meal of colostrum have less overall GIT mass and small intestinal villi development compared to calves fed transition milk or colostrum at three days of life. Based on these preliminary findings, there is a need to consider other bioactive components in colostrum and transition milk that impact GIT development in order to provide the calf with the best chance to combat GIT ailments later in life. With respect to the pre-weaning period of calf production, the amount of milk to be fed to calves has been a hot topic in the past decade, as it directly impacts pre-weaning average daily gain, which may be associated with lifetime production. Most dairy calves are only fed two meals per day and it is thought that increasing meal sizes may cause milk overflow into the rumen, resulting in digestive upsets and hyperglycemia. What recent research has shown however is that the GIT of the calf has a certain degree of plasticity and can adapt to large meal sizes (10% of birth bodyweight) in the first weeks of life by altering abomasal emptying as a means of controlling nutrient delivery to the intestine, thereby stabilizing blood metabolites such as glucose. In addition, new research investigating milk replacer composition, which is higher in lactose and lower in fat compared to whole milk, shows differences in abomasal function that may lead to a negative impact on insulin sensitivity. This research suggests that we have been underestimating how much milk calves can consume and how new milk replacer formulations may be impacting GIT health. An improved understanding of how diet, microbiota, and biomolecules interact to impact growth and barrier function of the calf's GIT would greatly benefit the industry. A mechanistic understanding of such adaptations would also aid in the formulation of specific management regimens and the provision of diets that support or enhance gut function in young calves.


The paper presents an efficient approach to design a Cassegrain optical system for spaceborne remote sensing. The optical system has a focal length of 1000mm, F number of 5.6, the range of spectral band 0.4~0.9μm, and field of view 3°, distortion smaller than 1%. The effect of central obscuration on the image quality in the optical reflective system design is analyzed. It provides proof for reasonable choose of obscuration ratio in optical system design. With the help of CODE V software, the final two designs are obtained by a simple and quick optimization step, the image quality of which reaches the diffraction limit. It is shown the second structure style is designed by making the surface of primary mirror in the Cassegrain system hyperbolic, adding two high order aspheric surfaces and removing two lenses from lens compensator, and therefore the second with the simpler structure, smaller size and lighter weight, comparing with the first structure style, can be used in spaceborne remote sensing.


Hirschman (1970) uses an analytical discussion to c onsider how a customer may use 'voice' or display 'loyalty' within an exchange sit uation rather than discontinue the exchange by 'exiting'. While his analysis provides valuable insights into customers' behaviour towards their suppliers, the need for fur ther development of his analysis when applied to business to business exchanges is c onsidered and the potential of using 'event analysis' to provide insights into the dynamics of practical situations is discussed.


The growth status and water holding capacity of branches,stem,leaf and canopy of B.papyrifera with three different stem diameters(A1∶0.5cm≤d1.0cm,A2∶1.0cm≤d1.5cm and A3∶d≥1.5cm)under topping and branch-cutting cultivation patterns were determined by the simple water absorption method to provide the theoretical basis for conservation of water and soil by B.papyriferaafforestation in Karst area.The survival and preserving rate of B.papyrifera both over85%.The height,ground diameter,average canopy and average root width,and water holding capacity of branch,stem and leaf of the treatment with≥1.5cm stem diameter under the topping cultivation pattern after one year were 197.37cm,24.70mm,106.45cm and 101.61cm,and 11.94g/tree,14.9g/tree and227.92g/tree respectively and the maximum backwater capacity was up to 27.93kg/667m2.The height,ground diameter,root length and average root width of the treatments with three different stem diameters under the topping cultivation pattern after two years all were higher than the treatments under the branchcutting cultivation pattern.Of which,the height,ground diameter,root length and average root width,and water holding capacity of branch,stem and leaf of the treatment with≥1.5cm stem diameter under the topping cultivation pattern were 243.44cm,40.73cm,134.89cm and 104.22cm,49.09g/tree,31.1g/tree and 514.3g/tree and the maximum backwater capacity reached 61.10kg/667m2.The topping cultivation pattern of B.papyrifera with ≥1.5cm stem diameter was beneficial to growth and water holding of B.papyrifera.


PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a silence period in hand-over with respect to the method improving hand-over at reception and transmission in a digital cellular mobile communication system including a base station and a mobile station. SOLUTION: A voice signal is sampled in this method, that is, the voice signal at transmission during hand-over is A/D-converted (23), and the voice signal is D/A-converted at reception, stored in a memory such as a buffer and D/A-converted for a speaker at reception during the hand-over and the converted signal is sent (34) just after the hand-over at transmission to use the voice signal.


Two temperature-sensitive strains of ovine Chlamydia psittaci, 1B and 1H, obtained by mutagenesis were used as live-organism vaccines; 31 goats were given 4 X 10(6) plaque-forming units (PFU) of strain 1B, and 31 were given 5 X 10(6) PFU of strain 1H 2 months before they were bred. The consequences of the vaccination of the goats were studied during pregnancy by recording complement-fixation antibody titer, chlamydial excretion, and kidding performances and were compared with those of goats inoculated under the same conditions with 100 X smaller dose of virulent caprine abortive strain AC1. The vaccination did not disturb pregnancy, and none of the vaccinated goats excreted chlamydiae. In contrast, 2 of 28 goats inoculated with AC1 aborted and shed chlamydiae. One year after the goats were vaccinated, they were challenge exposed by intradermal inoculation of 10(6) PFU of the caprine strain AC1 at 79 to 98 days of pregnancy. Although 13 of the 14 control nonvaccinated goats aborted and excreted chlamydiae, none of the pregnant goats vaccinated with 1H and only 1 of the pregnant goats vaccinated with 1B aborted and excreted chlamydiae.


Background  Total skin electron beam therapy (TSEBT) is a powerful treatment for cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma (CTCL). Based on the occurrence of relapses with low radiation doses, doses of 30–36 Gy are commonly used but most patients still eventually relapse and repeat treatment courses are limited due to the cumulative toxicity. Complete response (CR) rates are about 60–90% for T2–4 stages with a 5‐year relapse‐free survival of 10–25% for stages IB–III.


Performance of three generation (G 0 ,G 1 and G 2 )of indigenous chicken was evaluated to assess the effect of breeding strategies on the productivity. Data on age at sexual maturity (ASM), body weight at sexual maturity (BWM), body weight at one year of age (BWY), eggs per clutch (EGC), clutches per year (CLY), hatchability on set eggs basis (HAT) and survivability of baby chicks up to sexual maturity (SUR) were collected from a total of 1392 birds reared in four rural villages under traditional scavenging system during December 2010 to June 2013. The birds belong to three generations (G 0 , G 1 and G 2 ) and are from three breeding strategies (BS 1 use of only pure and superior indigenous mature cocks, BS 2 use of pure and superior indigenous mature cocks and mature hens and BS3 use of existing or random indigenous cocks and hens). In G 2 , the lowest ASM of male birds (156.56±3.39 days) was observed and the highest in BS 2 , whereas in BS 3 high BWM and BWY of male (1200.00±19.99; 1779.63±27.20 gm) and female (994.48±10.86; 1350.38±14.46 gm) birds were observed in BS 2 . However, in G 2 the highest EGC (14.97±0.20), CLY (4.53±0.05) and HAT (89.79±0.96%) were observed in BS 1 but the highest SUR (51.15±2.36%) was documented in BS3. Present study revealed that use of superior Indigenous mature cocks alone and exercising cock rotation program can help to increase egg production, hatchability and decrease ASM of female birds of progressive generations in rural low input system. On the other hand, use of both superior Indigenous mature cocks and hens at a time at farmers end and exercising cock rotation program can help to improve body weight in rural low input system. Tropical Agricultural Research Vol. 26 (3): 517 – 527 (2015)


Variation in morphology of beaver cheek teeth has been examined in respect of ontogeny, geographical variation and geological time. When the effects of ontogeny are taken into account, certain patterns of dental variation are found to be restricted in space and time. An isolated loop of enamel ubiquitously present in the lower third molars of European beavers from the present interglacial seems to be a "new" acquisition which is lacking in Recent Siberian and North American beavers, as well as in Western European specimens from earlier interglacials.

Whilst the genetic basis of such morphological details is presumed rather than established, they may be helpful in tracing past population movements and are also of potential stratigraphic importance. Changes in range associated with Pleistocene climatic oscillations have led to the "sudden" appearance of this and other castorid dental characters in the Western European fossil record. The morphological discontinuity in the fossil record should be taken as evidence of climatic change rather than evidence for the operation of a certain pattern of evolution.


To investigate the optimal longitudinal seismic energy dissipation system of straddle-type monorail-cum-road long-span cable-stayed bridges, the Niutianyang Bridge was selected as the engineering background, and the explicit time-domain dimension-reduced iteration method was adopted to carry out nonlinear time-history analysis. To consider the dynamic characteristics of longitudinal movable supports, the static and dynamic responses of four kinds of energy dissipation systems were studied, including longitudinal unconstrained, elastic cable, viscous damper, and speed lock-up devices. The damping effect of four types of schemes in which viscous dampers were installed at piers or towers was analysed, and the parameters of the viscous dampers were optimised. The influences of the straddle-type monorail train braking force and the running vibration of the straddle-type monorail traffic on the parameters of the viscous dampers were analysed. This study shows that the viscous damper system had the lowest bending moment at the bottom of the tower and a smaller displacement response, and the energy dissipation was the best. Each viscous damper had the highest energy dissipation efficiency when they are installed only at the main tower. The damping effect was better when the damping coefficient ranged from 3500 to and the velocity exponent ranged from 0.35 to 0.5. The static friction of the straddle-type monorail-cum-road long-span cable-stayed bridge support can resist the trains' braking force, and the parameters of the viscous damper can be selected regardless of train braking. A suitably large value of velocity exponent may be required to increase the working velocity of the viscous damper to reduce the damper's participation in the process of the train crossing the bridge.


Brunn in 1887 formulated a theorem on three parallel sections of a convex body with extreme sections of the same area, but not obtained from each other by a parallel shift, asserting that the area of the middle section is strictly larger, and correctly proved, as Minkowski noted, that only not less. The elimination of equality, which was still considered the most difficult in the theorem, has been proved up to the present time by many authors, using serious mathematics. The article proposes a fundamentally different geometric approach to the proof of the theorem, due to which, for the correct completion of Brunn's original proof, one can restrict oneself to the elementary means available to schoolchildren, bypassing the difficulties with equality. The proposed reasoning extends to all dimensions, like the theorem itself, as pointed out by Brunn. Let, in the general case, 𝑉𝑛(𝑄) be the 𝑛-dimensional volume of the body 𝑄 ⊂ R𝑛, 𝐿0, 𝐿1 be parallel hyperplanes in R𝑛+1, containing respectively convex bodies 𝑃0, 𝑃1, and 𝐿 is a parallel hyperplane, located strictly between them, and 𝑃 is the intersection of 𝐿 with the convex hull 𝑃0 ∪ 𝑃1. Brunn's theorem states that if 𝑃1 is not obtained from 𝑃0 by parallel translation and 𝑉𝑛(𝑃1) = 𝑉𝑛(𝑃0) = 𝑣 > 0, then 𝑉𝑛(𝑃) > 𝑣. In 1887, Brunn rigorously proved that 𝑉𝑛(𝑃) > 𝑣 using the effective trick of the division of the volumes 𝑃0, 𝑃1 by a hyperplane in R𝑛+1. In this article, this is called Brunn cuts. For the strictly inequality 𝑉𝑛(𝑃) > 𝑣, it remained a small "perturbation" go from the body 𝑃1 to another convex body 𝑃1, 𝑉𝑛( 𝑃1) = 𝑣 , so that 𝑉𝑛(𝑃) > 𝑉𝑛( 𝑃), where 𝑃 is a new section in the hyperplane 𝐿 arising after replacing 𝑃1 with 𝑃1. Since 𝑉𝑛( 𝑃) > 𝑣, then 𝑉𝑛(𝑃) > 𝑣. The easiest way is to replace 𝑃1 with 𝑃1 in the case of convex polytopes 𝑃0, which can approximate convex bodies arbitrarily close. The required replacement of 𝑃1 by 𝑃1 is quite simple, when 𝑛-dimensional simplices act as 𝑃0, into which the convex polytope can be split by Brunn cuts. Until now, the sufficiently naive natural geometric method outlined above has not been proposed for proving the strict inequality 𝑉𝑛(𝑃) > 𝑣, as it were head-on, due to the fact that initially the theorem was formulated not for convex polytopes 𝑃0, 𝑃1, but for arbitrary convex bodies. The main reason, according to the author, lies in the algebraic representation 𝑃 = (1 − 𝑡)𝑃0 + 𝑡𝑃1, where 𝑡 is the ratio of the distance from 𝐿0 to 𝐿 to the distance from 𝐿0 to 𝐿1, 0 𝑣 are significantly reduced. This article shows that in the proof of the theorem in an equivalent formulation, on the contrary, the space R𝑛 should be included in R𝑛+1 and use the original formulation of the theorem, when the main tool of the proof the elementary means are Brunn cuts. For the sake of fairness, it should be noted that numerous applications of this theorem, obtained by Minkowski and other authors, are connected precisely with its equivalent formulation, with mixed volumes, with algebraic representations 𝑃 = (1 − 𝑡)𝑃0 + 𝑡𝑃1, called Minkowski sums.


This paper focuses on the buckling capacity of a hybrid grid shell. The eigenvalue buckling, geometrical non-linear elastic buckling and elasto-plastic buckling analyses of the hybrid structure were carried out. Then the influences of the shape and scale of imperfections on the elasto-plastic buckling loads were discussed. Also, the effects of different structural parameters, such as the rise-to-span ratio, beam section, area and pre-stress of cables and boundary conditions, on the failure load were investigated. Based on the comparison between elastic and elasto-plastic buckling loads, the effect of material non-linearity on the stability of the hybrid barrel vault is found significant. Furthermore, the stability of a hybrid barrel vault is sensitive to the anti-symmetrical distribution of loads. It is also shown that the structures are highly imperfection sensitive which can greatly reduce their failure loads. The results also show that the support conditions pose significant effect on the elasto-plastic buckling load of a perfect hybrid structure.


The research on the grain size characteristics of DG03 core from Gahai Lake,which located in the east of Qaidam Basin,has got the following indications: during 12 800—11 800 cal a BP,the sediment of DG03 Core is mainly composed of grit,containing a little fine sand and clay and this proved that the condition of water power were strong and water level was comparatively low.Perhaps Gahai Lake area experienced a short drought event,which was maybe the response of the global YD event;in the period of 11 800—5 600 cal a BP,the sediment is mainly composed of fine sand and clay,and this proved that the water power condition of this sediment environment was weak and the water level was comparatively high.Relatively speaking,the climate of this period was wet.Since 5 600 cal a BP,the component has had more and more grit with bigger and bigger diameter while less and less fine sand and clay.This proved that the water power at this site was stronger and stronger and experienced a process of drought.


The need for policy and practice to be informed by a high quality evidence-base has been widely recognised. However, there are many barriers to overcome in order to realise this goal. This paper describes a conceptual framework for understanding the drivers of policy and practice in the child and family welfare sectors and profiles strategies being employed across Australia to facilitate evidence-informed practice.


Abstract What moral reasons, if any, do we have to ensure the long-term survival of humanity? This article contrastively explores two answers to this question: according to the first, we should ensure the survival of humanity because we have reason to maximize the number of happy lives that are ever lived, all else equal. According to the second, seeking to sustain humanity into the future is the appropriate response to the final value of humanity itself. Along the way, the article discusses various issues in population axiology, particularly the so-called Intuition of Neutrality and John Broome's 'greediness objection' to this intuition.


Malaysia, an upper-middle class country, populated with approximately 31 million people generated nearly 13.9 million tonnes of municipal solid waste (MSW) at per capita of 1.23 kilogram per day in 2016. Landfills and open dumps, being the absolute opposite of sustainable waste management, received about 80% of this generated MSW. Waste collection is on a par with developed nations, and almost all urban MSW is being collected for disposal. However, illegal dumping still occurs sporadically, and it can account for 10% of the total MSW generated. Hence, Malaysia is facing a stiff challenge in reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills and adopting sustainable waste management. National Solid Waste Management Department of Malaysia targets to divert 40% of MSW from landfills by 2020. There are total 296 landfills in Malaysia, and only 165 landfills are currently functional whereas the number of sanitary landfills is 8 out of 165 operating landfills. The national recycling rate of MSW was 17% in 2016 and the national recycling target in 11th Malaysian Plan is 22% by 2020.


The second in a series of articles by selected authors, presenting up to date information on topics of interest to the veterinary profession. This series is sponsored by the CVMA Veterinary Research Trust Fund.


Innovations in technology and thought help to visualize the embryo as it really is The year 2018 was a watershed moment for the science of embryos. Building on the recent development of single-cell transcriptomic approaches, time-resolved, single-cell atlases of gene expression in an array of developing embryos were reported (1). Unleashing the full power of these datasets will require precise and dynamic registration of gene expression changes with the constant changes in each cell's position in the embryo. It is therefore important that emerging methods are also allowing the visualization of embryonic morphogenesis with unprecedented accuracy. 2018 saw the report of continuous imaging of the entire mouse embryo at single-cell resolution over multiple days of early development (2). Given these advances, it is compelling to consider the more abstract question of what it means to really "see" the developing embryo.


Except for usability testing of the end-product systems, user interface style guides are rarely evaluated against their stated goals, or, if they are, the evaluation is largely anecdotal and occurs well after deployment. This paper describes acceptance testing of a style guide and related materials developed by an external consultancy. Due to the need to validate the work of the consultants, the test was carried out immediately after delivery, before the style guide had been put to use. Four developers independently designed a user interface for the same application using the new style guide. The interfaces were reviewed and compared and the experiences of the developers observed and recorded. The technique is compared with other alternatives for style guide evaluation.


Fast-growing hybrid poplar (Populus spp.) have potential as a short-rotation coppice crop grown for biomass energy. This work identifies traits for fast growth studied in an American interspecific pedigree derived from Populus trichocarpa Torr. & A. Gray × Populus deltoides Marsh. grown in the United Kingdom for the first time. The biomass yield after the first coppice rotation was estimated to range from 0.04 to 23.68 oven-dried t·ha–1·year–1. This great range suggests that genotypes from this pedigree may be used to understand the genetic basis of high yield in short-rotation coppice, which would be advantageous for informing breeding programs for biomass crops. Relationships between stem, leaf, cell traits, and biomass yield were investigated. Partial least-squares analysis was used to order the traits by importance. The traits most influential on biomass were maximum stem height throughout the growing season, basal diameter, number of stems, and number of sylleptic branches, which showed high heritabi...


Objective To discuss the effect of removing scleral stitches by self-made needle after traheeulectomy surgery. Methods There were 6 cases (6 eyes) of postoperative high intraocular pressure (IOP) in 79 cases (98 eyes) of trabeculectomy. One stitch of scleral valve was removed by self-made needle in the high postoperative IOP patients. The IOP was observed. Results The stitch of scleral valve was removed successfully in each of the 6 cases. The IOP was controlled well. Conclusion It was simple and safe for removing scleral valve stitches by self-made needle after trabeculectomy.

Key words:
self-made instrument;  needle for scleral valve stitch removing ;  glaucoma surgery ;  postoperative


Serum albumin is an obligatory component of the incubation medium for the fertilization of mouse ova. Normal, untreated bovine serum albumin supports high rates of fertilization of cumulus-free ova both with and without their zonae pellucidae. Heat-treated or trichloroacetic acid-extracted bovine serum albumin is unable to support the fertilization of a majority of zona-intact ova but fertilization of zona-free ova is unimpaired. Spermatozoa incubated in medium containing heated bovine serum albumin fertilize zona-intact ova when 2 mM caffeine is present but the progress of sperm head decondensation is delayed when compared to normal controls. Trichloroacetic acid extracted BSA preferentially and irreversibly inhibits zona penetration by spermatozoa, but this effect is not mediated by an inhibition of spermatozoal motility or zona-binding ability. This effect occurs after only a 10-min preincubation of the spermatozoa in the extracted BSA or when the medium contains only a 10% (v/v) proportion of this albumin. It is estimated that mouse spermatozoa under the conditions used take 2 hr to penetrate the zonae pellucidae of 50% of ova and effect fertilization.


The movement ranges and diurnal behavior of the rockfish (Sebastes schlegeli) sonic tagged externally were measured by the acoustic telemetry in the marine ranching area of Tongyoung on 20 to 26 March and 4 October to 3 November, 2003. The results of study are as follows: 1. Two cage cultured fishes (body length: ) were released the point where located approximately from the caught point on 30 March, 2003. They moved to the south away Sojangdudo and stayed within a radius of the position during the study. 2. Three wild fishes (body length: ) were released around the caught point on 4 and 8 October, 2003. It was often measured that tagged fishes moved out the radius of released point for a week after release. After several days, the movement range tended to be reduced. Finally, they stayed within the radius of released point. 3. There was no significant difference of diurnal behavior of the rockfish between the cage cultured and the wild fishes. The movement range, however, for the night-time was a little wider than for the day-time.


Since Covid-19 entered Indonesia, this has had a major impact in various sectors including the education sector. The government has responded responsively since March 2020 to begin distance learning (PJJ). This is done with the aim of inhibiting the spread of the covid-19 virus. The purpose of this research itself is to determine the effectiveness of using online media in distance learning (PJJ) in the non-formal education sector at PKBM Nurul Islam. This study uses the Pieces Framework method which has 6 related indicators, namely performance, information, control / security, efficiency, and service. This study uses a questionnaire via google form which is given online to students. Based on the data obtained through several respondents as a random sample, most of the data obtained by most of the respondents on average support and assess that distance learning is effective for students in PKBM Nurul Islam.


The coarse-grained molecular dynamics (CG MD) simulation has become an important tool for studying water/oil/solid systems which are closely related to a broad range of scientific issues, such as nanotechnology, industrial applications, and environmental sciences. However, the coarse-grained force field (CG FF) for these systems, which plays a crucial role in molecular dynamic simulation, has not been accurately established. In this work, a novel method is provided to build a coarse-grained model for molecular simulation of water/oil/solid systems. The water/oil CG FF of a pre-selected analytical form was parameterized to match thermo-dynamic quantities in combination with all-atom (AA) simulation results. Upon tuning the CG FF parameters between water and solid, solid surfaces of different wettability were obtained. Then CG FF between oil and solid of different wettability was obtained based on the correlation between water/air and water/oil contact angles. We used our CG model to simulate the water/oil spontaneous capillary displacement, which demonstrates the consistency between theory and CG MD simulation. The novel method provided here is expected to promote the development of CG FF, and the study of multiphase systems.


In the Cyclopaedia of Malaysian Collectors and Collections, Mrs. M. J. van Steenis-Kruseman (Flora Malesiana I, I, 1950, 248a, 527b) stated that plants of Herb. Houttuyn, which Houttuyn had acquired from various collectors, were subsequently incorporated in other herbaria, that of Burman in particular.
Merrill had questioned this in his work on Houttuyn (J. Arn. Arb. 19, 1938, 291—375, reviewed in Fl. Mal. Bull. no. 17, 1962, 906), as he could not locate a single sheet of Houttuyn's collection. He only mentioned (l.c.p. 310) that in the Copenhagen Herbarium, in Herb. Vahl, there would be a fragmentary specimen of Myristica fragrans on the back of which was noted 'ded. Houttuyn'. We could not find this photographed in the IDC microcards of Herb. Vahl.


Effect of image charges on reconstruction of focusing elements calibration with differential trajectory method is estimated and found negligible for measurements at the PIP2IT MEBT.


Mombasa is well known for problems with gangs. Some of them are composed of a high proportion of youths under 18 years, with some as young as 7 years old. Many use drugs, some carry out thefts, and some are known for large-scale violent robberies with the use of knives, severely injuring members of the public. In an attempt to manage the problem, the killing of perpetrators through mob justice or in police operations is commonplace. This paper contributes to our understanding of youths in gangs and interventions to tackle gang violence. We argue that not all "gangs" are involved in criminal activity. However, some gang members may be viewed as perpetrators of violent crime but also as victims of marginalisation and unfavourable environments, which constrain life choices, making violent crime a frequent path. Moreover, criminal justice approaches have failed these youths. The current inconsistent, corrupt and brutal approach by police serves to compound the problem, while external actors benefiting from youth gangs' operations are tolerated by the state. Increased resistance is evident as youth gangs tend to increase their violence against the public in order to take "revenge" against the police. Structural violence is an important cause of the problem and is also replicated in current mitigation approaches.


As Shenzhen City is operating the new health service price system,with the problems involved with pricing health service,governments funding and so on,non-profit health facilities are confronted with operational difficulties.Targeting on pricing system in non-profit health facilities,accounting operation cost,increasing government investment and establishing the social donation mechanism,a series of issues are discussed for orderly development of non-profit health facilities.


The analysis of single particle trajectories plays an important role in elucidating dynamics within complex environments such as those found in living cells. However, the characterization of intracellular particle motion is often confounded by confinement of the particles within non-trivial subcellular geometries. Here, we focus specifically on the case of particles undergoing Brownian motion within a tubular network, as found in some cellular organelles. An unraveling algorithm is developed to uncouple particle motion from the confining network structure, allowing for an accurate extraction of the diffusion coefficient, as well as differentiating between Brownian and fractional Brownian dynamics. We validate the algorithm with simulated trajectories and then highlight its application to an example system: analyzing the motion of membrane proteins confined in the tubules of the peripheral endoplasmic reticulum in mammalian cells. We show that these proteins undergo diffusive motion with a well-characterized diffusivity. Our algorithm provides a generally applicable approach for disentangling geometric morphology and particle dynamics in networked architectures.


Commelina scandens C.B. Clarke and Commelinapurpurea C.B. Clarke were typified by syntypes that belong to different species. Accordingly, each species is lectotypified, and the taxonomic consequences of the lectotypifications are discussed. Commelina scandens is lectotypified by a specimen from Angola, with the result that the species is confined to continental Africa. A new subspecies, Commelina diffusa Burm.f. subsp. violacea Faden, is described for the Madagascan element in Clarke's C. scandens. Commelina purpurea is lectotypified by the syntype from Kenya, resulting in C. lugardii Bullock and C. kabarensis De Wild. being placed in synonymy under C. purpurea. The other element in Clarke's C. purpurea is described as a new species C. pseudopurpurea Faden.


Following exercise, a decrease in central blood volume can compromise cerebral perfusion and result in syncope. Breathing through an impedance threshold device (ITD) has been shown to restore central blood volume under several hypovolemic conditions. Therefore, we hypothesized that ITD breathing would prevent post‐exercise syncope following a 1‐min Wingate test. We studied 19 recreationally active men and women, subjecting them to a 60° head‐up tilt during recovery from the Wingate test. Measurements included arterial pressure, heart rate, end‐tidal PCO2, and cerebral tissue oxygenation index on a control and breathing intervention (ITD) day. Mean arterial pressure was greater during the last 30 sec of head‐up tilt on the ITD day compared to the control day (97.1 ± 2.1 vs 91.9 ± 1.8 mm Hg; P < 0.05). Cerebral tissue oxygenation tended to be greater during the last 30 sec of head‐up tilt on the ITD day compared to the control day (71.8 ± 0.6 vs 70.7 ± 0.8 mm Hg; P = 0.07). The length of head‐up tilt was compared between study days for each subject. When contrasting this difference, the ITD lengthened the median tilt time by 7 min 20 sec (P = 0.20). These data suggest that the ITD may be beneficial in preventing post‐exercise syncope induced by a Wingate exercise model.


Abstract.
 The Eleonora's Falcon is a cliff-nesting raptor that breeds on isolated small islands adjusting its breeding season to coincide with the post-breeding autumn migration of its small passerine prey migrating over the sea, between late August and early October. Two adult female Eleonora's Falcons were equipped with Argos satellite transmitters during the chick-rearing period in Morocco giving the opportunity to study the ranging behaviour of the species during at least a part of the breeding season. Results showed that the falcons spent most of the time at sea during mornings, stayed mainly inland during afternoons, and rested in the colony during nights. Interestingly, although most distances were recorded shorter than 50 km away from the colony, movements took also place to areas located more than 100 km away. Locating and protecting these inland areas used for resting and foraging may be of interest for the conservation of the species in order to avoid perturbations such as poisoning and habitat destruction.


After the announcement in June 2016 that the UK would leave the EU, studies analysing the consequences of this reversal in economic integration have proliferated, mostly presenting prospective consequences for the UK economy. But Brexit will necessarily also have consequences for non-UK European countries and their regions. Given the different character and intensity of regions' interconnections with the British economy, we assess Polish and Spanish regions' vulnerability to Brexit in the sphere of foreign trade. We rely on the conceptual framework originally presented by Turner et al. (2003) comprising: exposure, sensitivity and resilience, which together describe the overall vulnerability to a specific phenomenon. We fill the gap in the Brexit-related literature by applying the perspective of the regions of other EU countries, engaged in trade relations with the UK. We show that geography "still matters" and due to gravity, path dependency and FDI, some regions have developed relatively stronger commercial links with the British economy. We expected to obtain the taxonomy or Polish and Spanish regions 'mixed' within the identified clusters of vulnerability. However, it is not the case, because clusters are mainly composed by Spanish or Polish regions, with a few exceptions, in which several Polish regions are accompanied by one or two Spanish regions. The results show greater vulnerability of Spanish (more exposed but better prepared) than Polish regions (more sensitive). While Brexit is rather perceived as a national problem, its asymmetrical impact on regions' economy through the trade channel is a serious challenge for regional policy. It is therefore the role for regional institutions to monitor the vulnerability to the Brexit consequences and to facilitate adjustments to the exporting (and importing) companies that will be severely affected. They can be assisted in searching for the alternative export (import) markets.


The oxidation of pyrrole to conducting polypyrrole by iron(III) salts represents a valid and more versatile alternative to the usual anodic oxidation.


The morbid anatomical and radiological features of the Dandy-Walker syndrome are now well known mainly through the work of Dandy and Blackfan (1914) Taggert and Walker (1942), Benda (1954), Gibson (1955) and Matson (1956). Benda (1954) suggested the eponym Dandy-Walker syndrome, which usually implies agenesis of the cerebellar hemispheres, gross dilatation of the 4th ventricle, occlusion or absence of the foramen of Magendie, high position of the torcula herophili and lateral sinuses, and bulging of posterior fossa. The combination of these signs usually makes diagnosis easy. In nearly all cases it is confirmed by ventriculography and there have been only rare reports of a complete diagnosis being made by encephalography (Schreibner and Reye, 1954). In the case reported here, the diagnosis was revealed by lumbar encephalography in which air entered the characteristically enlarged 4th ventricle. Female, born 4.12.68. Birth weight 3·5 kg. Head circumference 36·8 cm. Pregnancy was complicated by intermittent...


Results of numerous studies have demonstrated a positive relation between religiosity and marital well-being. In this study, the authors examined direct effects on marital satisfaction of religious homogamy, prayer for spousal well-being, and forgiveness. They also examined the degree to which religiosity buffered against risks to marital well-being. The results indicated significant positive linear relations between each indicator of religiosity and marital satisfaction. Furthermore, religiosity moderated, or buffered against, the negative effects of risk factors; specifically, religious homogamy buffered against previous divorce; prayer buffered against having a high-stress marriage; and spousal forgiveness buffered against cohabitation before marriage, previous divorce, and stressful marriage.


Corrective feedback plays a vital role in contributing to the success of English language teaching and learning at all levels owing to its essential functions in developing learners' English capacity. However, the ongoing debate on how effective corrective feedback is still remains controversial among educational scholars. This empirical study examined the effects of teachers' corrective feedback on learners' English oral accuracy at a higher education institution. The study used a before-and-after approach with the involvement of 47 law major sophomores at lower intermediate level who were divided into control and experimental groups. Specifically, the experimental group included two batches, including 16 participants companions receiving the explicit correction and metalinguistic feedback, and 15 learners provided with recast and clarification requests. In addition, there were 16 participants in the control group who were given no form of corrective feedback during English speaking lessons. The results indicate that the efficacy of corrective feedback is clearly acknowledged thanks to the contrastive analysis of the outcome in the learners' performance on the post-tests. In particular, the results of the explicit corrective feedback slightly outweighed the results of the control group receiving implicit feedback in terms of improving learners' accurate usage of grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. The findings emphasise the importance of teachers' corrective feedback in helping students improve their English competency.


Abstract : The creation of USNORTHCOM in 2002 was a clear indication that the security environment in North America had undergone a radical transformation. Canada and the United States have a history of bi-national mutual defense arrangements spanning more than sixty years. This monograph examines the Canadian Forces operational ability to meet the challenges of this new security environment. The specific vehicle that we used to assess the Canadian Forces operational capability was the Canadian Forces response to the 1997 Red River Flood. The 1997 Red River Flood proves to be an interesting case study because it allows us to compare the respective military responses of both Canada and the U.S. to a disaster. Although we chose a disaster relief and humanitarian assistance operation as our vehicle for comparison, we contend that the operational level response of the Canadian Forces, and particularly the Army, is indicative of the military response we could expect for other disasters. Our case study reveals that by comparison the Canadian Forces had serious operational shortcomings in 1997 We conclude that the operational level shortcomings experienced by the Canadian Forces in 1997 are primarily the result of the force reductions and budget cuts laid out in Canada's 1994 Defense White Paper. Our examination reveals that the same shortcomings identified in Canada's defense policy are incorporated in the Canadian Forces operational level joint and army doctrines. We conclude that the Canadian Forces operational level shortcomings demonstrated in 1997 are extant. We recommend that the Canadian Forces use the creation of USNORTHCOM, and the radical change to the North American Security environment that it signifies, as the rationale for justifying the requisite resources to rectify its operational level shortcomings. We recommend that Canadian doctrine be amended to provide quantifiable measures of effectiveness for


The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is widely touted as China's answer to development through international connectivity. The scheme has often been linked to China's objectives of crafting a new world order centred on itself and/or stabilizing its economy through externalizing surplus capacity. While important in broadly framing China's relationship with the world, this article posits that such a fixation on state‐centric visions of development leaves the door open for misinterpretation, mistaking the BRI for a coherent set of projects imposed 'from above'. Delving into the execution of infrastructure planning on the ground, this article argues that taking a practice‐oriented approach to large‐scale developmental schemes can more accurately shed light on their internally fractured processes. Two airport projects in central China branded as part of the country's 'aerial Silk Roads' are examined to illustrate these dynamics, with particular attention paid to the airports' shifting conceptualizations, the competitive motivations behind their (re)construction, and the social relations sustaining them. The authors argue that closely tracking the unfolding of a range of infrastructure planning practices within specific projects can demystify modern‐day developmental programmes like the BRI, by revealing how their 'grand' visions are often reinterpreted, altered and frustrated at local levels, even before they have a chance to influence the world.


Engineering production functions (Chenery, I949; Chenery, 1950) enjoyed some vogue after their first formulation, for they gave physical explanations of two phenomena which theoretical economists had long before postulatedfactor substitution and economies of scale. The interest was rather short-lived, though, for all but the simplest processes defied such exhaustive descriptions: the only ones that have been amenable to analysis are the transport of fluids by pipeline (Chenery, I949; Cookenboo, I955), the electrolysis of chlorine and caustic soda (Campbell, 1958), and, in part, the catalytic cracking of gas oil (Eng, I960) and the operation of machine tools (Boot, I964). Only two of the analyses-those of Chenery and Cookenboo-were ceremoniously carried through to the stage where they yielded the microeconomic regalia of isoquants, expansion paths and cost curves. There the development might have rested had it not appeared that the analysis of engineering production functions also revealed something about another phenomenon whose nature puzzles economists-technological progress. To discover the improvements in the state of the art and to measure, quantitatively, their significance, have been our purposes: here we report our results. The method is simplicity itself. Taking a process that has already been studied-the transport of crude petroleum by pipeline (Cookenboo, 1954)we carried out a similar analysis for a date seventeen years later, keeping inputs and outputs constant and varying only the technology. We then compared the two sets of results and tried to isolate the sources of difference. The organization of this paper is identical: in the next section we describe the technique of engineering production functions; in the following one we summarize Cookenboo's results and present our own, appropriate for the improved technology; in the penultimate section we try to attribute historical changes to specific innovations; and in the final one we draw some inferences about the nature of technological progress.


We sugg=t a practical and economical way to generate random bits using a computer disk drive * a source of randomn-. It requirw no additiond hardware (given a system with a disk), and no user involvement. As a concrete example of performance, on a Sun Wtra-1 with a Seagate Cheetah disk, it generatw bits at a rate of either 5 bits per minute or 577 bits per minute depending on the physical phenomena that we use = a source of randomness. The generated bits are random by a theoretical argument, and *O pass a severe battery of statiaticrd twts.


Objective To evaluate the relationship between adjacent vessel sign( AVS) of malignant breast lesions,which was displayed by the maximum intensity projection( MIP) of dynamic enhancement MRI,and the Nottingham prognostic index( NPI). Methods 51 malignant breast lesions which confirmed by surgical pathology were analyzed retrospectively. The correlation between tumors' AVS on the 3D-MIP picture and NPI score were analyzed by Spearman χ2test. Results The number of cases with NPI 3. 4,3. 4 ~ 5. 4, 5. 4 were 20,14 and 17,respectively. With the increase of NPI,the number of AVS increased( γ =0. 601,P 0. 001). AVS was closely correlated with tumor size and lymph node status but not related to pathological grading( γ =0. 139,P 0. 05),and AVS and the positive expression of HER-2 had correlation. Conclusion AVS in the breast cancer plays a significant role in assessing the score of NPI,evaluating prognosis of breast cancer and understanding biological behavior of the tumor.


Pyrophanite, previously reported from only three localities, is widely distributed in Japanese manganese ores. The mineral is present in six of eleven scattered mines that were sampled. Paragenetic associations are summarized and physical, optical, spectrographic and *-ray data are given. Some of the pyrophanite described has an abnormal greenish-yellow color which it is suggested might possibly be due to the presence of minor amounts of cerium.


High performance dense matrix multiply implementations have largely reached their limit in terms of performance as efficiencies are very near 100%. In order to further increase performance, matrix multiply algorithms that are asymptotically faster than O(n3) must be used to reduce the overall amount of computation required. Asymptotically fast matrix multiply algorithms however have adverse affects on accuracy, and until recently, this accuracy problem was believed to be uncorrectable. Because of this, the adoption of hybrid dense matrix multiply algorithms (algorithms that combine asymptotically fast matrix multiply algorithms with high performance matrix multiply implementations), particularly by linear algebra library authors, has been non-existent. In this dissertation we present several solutions that in addition to mitigating or eliminating the error added by the asymptotically fast matrix multiply algorithm, (demonstrating that it is possible to use hybrid matrix multiply algorithms without adversely affecting accuracy), can also be used by themselves to improve the accuracy of standard matrix multiply implementations, when additional accuracy is required.


Stochastic economic dispatch models address uncertainties in forecasts of renewable generation output by considering a finite number of realizations drawn from a stochastic process model, typically via Monte Carlo sampling. Accurate evaluations of expectations or higher-order moments for quantities of interest, e.g., generating cost, can require a prohibitively large number of samples. We propose an alternative to Monte Carlo sampling based on Polynomial Chaos expansions. These representations are based on sparse quadrature methods, and enable accurate propagation of uncertainties in model parameters. We also investigate a method based on Karhunen-Loeve expansions that enables us to efficiently represent uncertainties in renewable energy generation. Considering expected production cost, we demonstrate that the proposed approach can yield several orders of magnitude reduction in computational cost for solving stochastic economic dispatch relative to Monte Carlo sampling, for a given target error threshold.


Objective. To evaluate the effect of early maternal feeding on maternal satisfaction and gastrointestinal complications on patients following simple and complicated caesarean delivery (CD). Methods. A prospective, randomised study was designed including 179 women undergoing first or repeated CD. Women who were assigned to the early feeding group received clear fluids and solid food within 8 h of surgery, in accordance with their request. The traditionally fed women received clear fluids 8–12 h after the surgery subsequent to physician examination confirming bowel sounds. Results. Some 82 women were assigned to the traditionally fed group and 97 women were assigned to the early fed group. Maternal satisfaction was significantly higher among the early fed women. No significant differences were noted between the groups regarding post‐operative complications. Conclusions. Early maternal feeding following CD is associated with higher maternal satisfaction. However, it is not associated with higher rates of post‐operative complications.


As commonly-used structures to support exploration and production of hydrocarbons in Arctic shallow water areas, artificial islands are often subject to combined wave and ice actions. Rock berms have a proven record of effective shore protection against wave action but their use in ice-infested waters is limited. In order to investigate shore protection abilities of rock berms against ice actions, two sets of ice model testing of the Northstar Island protected by berms were performed at two different testing facilities. Two models were constructed at geometric scale factors of 42 and 50. Each model consisted of lumber, plywood, fabrics, and rocks. Although testing of offshore structures has been routinely performed in ice model basins, constructing and testing artificial islands with rock berms present some unique challenges compared to monolithic structures. One key difference is the local failure mode of rock berms. Accurate modeling of rock sliding and turning behaviors necessitates scaling the rock size accurately. As a result, the total weight of the constructed model is unusually large and difficult to handle. In addition, movement of rocks within the model and potentially into the basin creates difficulties. In this paper, the recommended practices of testing artificial islands protected by rock berms in ice model basins are presented.


the extant literature on EU lobbying in her research. The study elucidates the EU decision-making process, as well as the factors that increase the likelihood of interest groups having an impact on EU policy. Klü ver shows that interest groups' participation in policy-making can be an effective way of dealing with the EU's democratic deficit. The study also succeeds in offering insight into the informal political games taking place in Brussels by revealing, for instance, the dependency relationship established between the Members of the European Parliament and interest groups. This understudied policy area would benefit from further research that follows up on the findings presented in this book.


The agricultural weather index insurance is an alternative to traditional crop insurance, which allows farmers to recover from economic losses by the negative effects of weather. The objective of the study is to estimate the premium of the agricultural weather index insurance for drought risk in corn and compare this premium to the premium of traditional agricultural insurance. The historical burn analysis was used to calculate the insurance premium. The method consisted of analyzing historical records of 39 years of daily rainfall of San Lucas. Indemnity payments depend on the index of accumulated rainfall on different crops stages set by the insurance contract implemented in Honduras in 2008. The average commercial premium was 22.61% of the insured sum, while the traditional insurance premium is 10.50% of insured sum. The higher premium of the weather index insurance is due to a higher technical premium which surpasses the savings on administrative expenses. Although both types of insurance cover the same peril, drought, the risk covered by each is different and unknown. To reduce the insurance premium producers and the insurance company employees together could adjust triggers and exits.


Abstract : The concept of reduction in logistical footprint can be applied not only to fighting forces but also to mobile surgical facilities that are co-deployed. At the beginning of this contract, we had completed preliminary work in constructing a prototype robotic surgical device that can perform, on a very limited basis, the essential job functions of the surgical scrub technician in the operating room. This machine could potentially reduce the personnel needed in the surgical facility. The work done under this contract was to improve the capabilities of the machine so that it comes closer to being able to replace a human scrub technician. The two specific goals in the statement of work were 1) to improve the robot's vision capabilities so that it can correctly recognize twelve instruments with 98% accuracy and 2) to make the robot 98% reliable in retrieving the instruments that it has recognized. We were entirely successful in meeting the first goal, and came close to meeting the second goal. Combined with additional work that was done concurrently, the contract work has the result that the robot's development has progressed such that we are on track for clinical deployment in the year of 2005.


The effect of temperature on dynamic rheological properties of poly (vinyl butyric) (PVB)/ Pluronic F127/polyethylene glycol (PEG) 200 system was investigated by dynamic rheometer. The results show that the viscosity of PVB/F127/PEG200 system decreases with the increase of shearing frequency,indicating a pseudo-plastic flow characteristic. The complex viscosity,dynamic storage modulus and dynamic loss modulus decrease with the increase of temperature; the non-Newtonian and loss factor increase with the increase of temperature. The system behaves as a homogeneous polymer solution when the temperature is greater than 140 ℃,the dynamic storage modulus of the system significantly deviates from classical terminal behavior below 140 ℃.


This document provides the details and guidelines to run the federated learning experiments used in the study "A Federated Learning Aggregation Algorithm for Pervasive Computing: Evaluation and Comparison" [1]. The artifact is available in a public GitHub repository11PerCom2021-FL - https://github.com/getalp/PerCom2021-FL. Note that The centralized/local training approaches are not included in the repository.


A methodology for the dynamic synthesis of an electro-hydraulic servo drive is described to ensure a given performance, a given transient shape and accuracy of the positioning of the working body. The structural scheme of the electro-hydraulic tracking drive was constructed, on the basis of which its mathematical model was compiled based on the equations of the dynamic balance of the system. Based on the obtained transfer functions of individual elements, a structural diagram of the system was constructed. During dynamic analysis and synthesis by the method of logarithmic amplitude-phase-frequency characteristics, the transfer function of an open drive is considered, given in the form of the product of transfer functions of three typical links - integrating, aperiodic and oscillatory. The primary and secondary errors are determined and expressions for the system Q factor are obtained. Based on the given requirements for positioning accuracy, the forbidden region in the low-frequency part of the logarithmic amplitude-frequency characteristics is determined. The forbidden region in the mid-frequency part of the logarithmic amplitude-frequency characteristics is also determined based on the given dynamic characteristics of the drive. Real and desired logarithmic amplitude-frequency and phase-frequency characteristics are constructed. Since the existing drive structure could not fully satisfy the requirements, it was decided to introduce a corrective link into the structural diagram, formulated the requirements for the structure of the corrective link and its transfer function. The parameter that is to be adjusted in the system is determined - the gain of the electronic amplifier. This made it possible to obtain a drive that fully meets the set requirements.
Keywords: electrohydraulic servo drive, logarithmic characteristics, quality factor, corrective link


Furylpyridines, thienylpyridines, and imidazolylpyridines were obtained regioselectively in 40-67% yields from the reaction of heteroaryllithiums with N-ethoxycarbonylpyridinium chloride or N-ethoxycarbonyl-3-methylpyridinium chloride in the presence of Cul in a catalytic amount at −78 °C or −50°C, then followed by oxidation. The regioselectivity of this reaction depended upon temperature of the reaction and the nature of heteroaryllithiurn.


The purpose of this note is to outline a generalization of the Jacobson density theorem and to introduce the associated class of rings. Throughout R will be an associative ring, not necessarily possessing an identity element. MR will always denote a right R-module, and homomorphisms will be written on the side opposite to the scalars. For an element m G M, set (0:m) = {rGR\mr = 0}. A nontrivial module MR is called compressible if it can be embedded in any of its nonzero submodules. A compressible module MR is critically compressible if it cannot be embedded in any proper factor module. For a compressible module MR, each of the following conditions is equivalent to MR being critically compressible: (1) MR is monoform (i.e. nonzero partial endomorphisms of M are monomorphisms); (2) MR is uniform and nonzero endomorphisms of M are monomorphisms. The proof of these characterizations is elementary. In the absence of more suitable terminology let us define a ring to be weakly primitive if it possesses a faithful critically compressible module. A weakly primitive ring is prime; for it is easy to see that the annihilator of a compressible module is a prime ideal. In order to simplify this presentation let us call (A, ± VR, MR) an Rlattice if F is a A-R bimodule where A is a division ring, AM = V, and R acts faithfully on M (so that R can be regarded as a subring of End A V). We are now prepared to state the main result.


A monolithic temperature-compensated clock oscillator circuit may be implemented in a conventional CMOS IC fabrication process by use of a combination of positive and negative temperature coefficient resistors 101 to set the current driving a relaxation oscillator 100. The temperature coefficients of the oscillator 100 and the driving current substantially cancel to provide a very low temperature coefficient. The positive tempco resistors may be poly resistors, silicon resistors or nwell resistors. The negative tempco resistors may be of high-poly type. No external resistors are required. The oscillator frequency may be programmable. The negative and positive temperature coefficient arrays may be placed in parallel or in series (figure 6).


Exoskeletal devices can provide assistance and supplement to the biological musculoskeletal members. We present a wearable robotic exoskeleton conceived as an improved lower leg orthosis for compensation of human knee and ankle joints disorders provoked by muscle weaknesses during walking, introducing novel biomechanical and user acceptance aspects and daily performance monitoring functionalities.


At present, the measurement of the vertical structure of the distribution of particulate matter is performed using labor-intensive methods using sampling with plankton nets or bathometers, followed by visual microscopic examination of samples in a laboratory. For real-time monitoring of water areas (ecological and fishery tasks), video recording of plankton and other particulate matter with real-time image transmission to the operator is relevant. Colored in situ images obtained from a ship using a probe on a carrying cable make it possible to quickly estimate the concentration of particles at the horizons, and visually select zoo and phytoplankton. An analysis of the currently existing equipment for recording plankton images is given, its shortcomings are indicated, and our own experience in the development and test results of the original video recording equipment created in this case is described. The design of a high-resolution submersible camera (2048x1436 pixels) with an original lighting system with rod lamps based on powerful white LEDs, an instantly recorded volume of 150 cubic centimeters, is described. Examples of registration of images of cultured freshwater daphnia in laboratory conditions are shown. The results of work with the camera in October 2019 at the Hydrobiological Station of A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution (Lake Glubokoe, Ruzsky District of the Moscow Region) with obtaining color images of suspended matter to a depth of 30 m with simultaneous measurement of the temperature and concentration of oxygen dissolved in water are presented. By subsequent visual processing of the images obtained at different depths, an estimated profile of the distribution of zooplankton in depth was obtained. The result of research, laboratory and field tests was the creation of an operational monitoring video recording system that allows visual studies of plankton in situ; ways to improve the characteristics of the system are shown.


Adsorption of Cr(VI) and desorption of the Cr that was adsorbed using persimmon gel was examined. Most of the Cr(VI) was adsorbed at a pH value of 2, and a part of that was reduced to Cr(III) in the solution using persimmon gel, which has many polyhydroxyphenyl groups. A small amount of Cr was desorbed using some acidic or alkaline reagents at 30 °C. However, all of the Cr adsorbed using persimmon gel was desorbed at reflux temperature as Cr(III) using 1M HCl. Cycles of Cr(VI) adsorption and desorption as Cr(III) cycles were repeated 9 times. The adsorption of Cr was quantitatively repeated until 8 times and desorption of Cr was almost quantitatively repeated until 9 times.


Four group of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus×O.aureus) (average body weight forⅠ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ and Ⅳ was 55 14,122 82,225 68 and 111 81 g)were employed to study distribution and properties of protease in alimentary tract.The results showed that the relative ratio of protease activity in fore,middle and hind intestine for groupⅠ,Ⅱand Ⅲ were 1∶0 66∶0 34, 1∶0 85∶0 54, 1∶0 88∶0 74 respectively,the relative ratio of protease activity in stomach,hepatopancreas and total intestine were 1∶1 86∶2 19,1∶11 18∶23 84 and 1∶3 15∶3 58 for the 3 groups respectively.In group Ⅳ,optimum pH for protease were 2 0,10 0 and 9 510 5 for stomach,hepatopancreas and intestine respectively,the optimum temperature were 55,60 and 55 ℃,and the optimum substrate concentration were 1,0 8 and 4 g· L -1 .Protease in stomach can be activated by Cu 2+ ,Fe 2+ ,Zn 2+ and Ca 2+ ,Cu 2+ and Zn 2+ can activate protease in hepatopancreas,but inhibit its activity of protease in intestine.Ca 2+ can inhibit activity of protease in hepatopancreas and intestine.


The rhodium(I)-catalyzed conjugate addition of aryl- or 1-alkenylboronic acids to enones was carried out in high yields at 50 °C in an aqueous solvent. A combination of (acac)Rh(CO)2 and dppb was recognized to be highly effective for the addition to acyclic and cyclic enones.


In the current study, vibration characteristics of a three-layered rectangular microplate with Graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs)-reinforced Epoxy core which is fully bonded to piezoelectric-reinforced single-walled Carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) patches are provided. The face sheets are subjected to the electric field and the microplate is assumed to be in a thermal environment and also, is located on the visco-Pasternak model of the elastic substrate. The GNPs and SWCNTs are dispersed through the core's and face's thickness according to the given functions. To account the shear deformation effect, tangential shear deformation theory (TGSDT) as a higher-order theory is employed and the modified strain gradient theory (MSGT) with tree independent length-scale parameters is selected to capture the size effect. Using the extended form of Hamilton's principle and variational formulation, the governing motion equations are derived and solved mathematically via Navier's scheme for simply supported edges microplate. By ensuring the validity of the results after comparing them in a simpler state with previously published ones, the effects of the most prominent parameters on the results are investigated. It is seen GNPs and CNTs dispersion patterns play an important role in the microplate vibrational behavior, as well as temperature variations. Since the under consideration microstructure can be accounted as smart structures, therefore, the outcomes of this study may help to design and create more efficient engineering structures, such as sensors and actuators and also micro/nano electromechanical systems.


Musical schemata constitute important structural building blocks used across historical styles and periods. They consist of two or more melodic lines that are combined to form specific successions of intervals. This paper tackles the problem of recognizing voice-leading schemata in polyphonic music. Since schema types and subtypes can be realized in a wide variety of ways on the musical surface, finding schemata in an automated fashion is a challenging task. To perform schema inference we employ a skipgram model that computes schema candidates, which are then classified using a binary classifier on musical features related to pitch and rhythm. This model is evaluated on a novel dataset of schema annotations in Mozart's pi-ano sonatas produced by expert annotators, which is published alongside this paper. The features are chosen to encode music-theoretically predicted properties of schema instances. We assess the relevance of each feature for the classification task, thus contributing to the theoretical understanding of complex musical objects.


The introduction of the use of molecular data has caused debates on the taxonomy of Corsican and Sardinian trouts, also referred to as Tyrrhenian trouts (i.e. Salmo trutta, Salmo macrostigma, Salmo cettii). A recent study by Delling et al. (2020) (Morphologic and genetic characterization of Corsican and Sardinian trout with comments on Salmo taxonomy. Knowl Manage Aquat Ecosyst 421: 21) introduces important evidence regarding the taxonomy of these populations. However, their subsequent denomination as Salmo sp., that is, an undefined taxon, could have serious consequences on their future conservation management plans. Considering their threatened status, the Tyrrhenian trouts should be referred to as Salmo trutta until the ongoing taxonomic uncertainty can be unambiguously resolved. These populations must then be treated as an Evolutionary Significant Unit (ESU) or as an Operational Conservation Unit (OCU) for further conservation managements plans, as already done for other Mediterranean trout lineages.


The use of high temperature polymer matrix composites in aerospace applications has expanded steadily over the past 30 years, due to the increasing demand of replacing metal parts with light weight composite materials for fuel efficiency and bigger payloads in the aircraft and the space transportation vehicles. Polyimide/carbon fiber composites, especially, have been regarded as major high temperature matrix materials, based on their outstanding performance in terms of heat resistance, high strength-to-weight ratio and property retention compared with epoxies (177 C/350 F) and bismaleimides (232 C/450 F). Traditional, then-neoplastic polyimides were prepared from dianhydrides and diamines in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP) at room temperature to form the polyamic acids, which were then imidized at 150 C to yield polyimides. However, the high-boiling solvent (NMP, BP= 202 C) is very difficult to remove, leading to the formation of voids during composite fabrication. In the early 1970's, PMR addition curing polyimides with reactive endcaps were developed at the Lewis Research Center (renamed NASA Glenn) to ensure the easy processing of imide oligomers in methanol during composite fabrication.


In this paper observations of 3-D images of small objects through a fiberscope, which utilizes a single multimode fiber and a phase conjugator, are demonstrated. In addition, estimates of the resolution of the reconstructed image, methods for improving image quality using image magnification and multiexposure processing, as well as experimental effects of fiber bending are discussed.


Thin-film transistors(TFTs) with silicon-zinc-tin-oxide(SiZnSnO, SZTO) channel layer are fabricated by rf sputtering method. Electrical properties were changed by different annealing treatment of dry annealing and wet annealing. This procedure improves electrical property especially, stability of oxide TFT. Improved electrical properties are ascribed to desorption of the negatively charged oxygen species from the surfaces by annealing treatment. The threshold voltage (Vth) shifted toward positive as increasing Si contents in SZTO system. Because the Si has a lower standard electrode potential (SEP) than that that of Sn, Zn, resulting in the degeneration of the oxygen vacancy (VO). As a result, the Si acts as carrier suppressor and oxygen binder in the SZTO as well as a Vth controller, resulting in the enhancement of stability of TFTs.


The second Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP 2) is releasing products and procedures for drastically reducing the numbers of injuries and fatalities on highways, expediting the delivery of highway projects, and minimizing the negative impacts of congestion. This article serves as an introduction to this issue of TR News, which features articles and sidebars that describe some of the results from each focus area of SHRP 2.


The aim of the paper is to raise questions about loyalty, whistleblowing and transparency in public organisations. In the first part we present the picture of a new form of loyalty in working life. ...


The effects of Fe III -carboxylate complexes on the photodegradation of three benzotriazoles (BTs), i.e. benzotriazole (BT), 5-methylbenzotriazole (5-TTri) and 5-chlorobenzotriazole (CBT) in aqueous solutions were investigated under exposure to UV irradiation at 254nm in the presence of Fe III and four carboxylate ions (oxalate, tartrate,succinateandcitrate).TheresultsshowedthatthepresenceofFe III -carboxylatecomplexessignificantlyenhanced the photodegradation rates of all three selected BTs. The photodegradation of BT, 5-TTri and CBT followed first-order reaction kinetics with half-lives ranging from 0.57 to 3.98h for BT, 6.08 to 8.25h for 5-TTri and 2.63 to 5.50h for CBT in the four systems of the Fe III -carboxylatecomplexes. In comparison, the half-lives ranged between 3.40 and4.81hfor BT, 6.42 and 11.55h for 5-TTri and 4.13 and 6.79h for CBT in pure aqueous solution and in the presence of Fe III or carboxylate. The degradation rates of these BTs were dependent on the pH values, type of carboxylate and Fe III / carboxylate ratios. Both BT and CBT showed the highest photodegradation rates with the shortest respective half-lives of 0.57 and 2.63h at the initial Fe III /oxalate ratio of 10/200mmolL � 1 in aqueous solutions at pH 3, whereas 5-TTri had the highest photodegradation rate with the shortest half life of 6.08h at the initial Fe III /succinate ratio of 10/10mmolL � 1 .


Costa Ricas fertility rate is projected to reach 2.86 by the year 2000. The Government has adopted a nonaggressive family planning policy seeking to serve those who request contraception but not actively recruiting new acceptors. The private sector supplies about 1/3 of all contraception generally at high cost. It is assumed that contraceptive prevalence will rise to 72% in 2000 with the number of users totalling 4187000. This increase is largely due to the anticipated 43% increase between 1985 and the year 2000 in the number of women 15-49 years of age in a conjugal union. The contraceptive mix in 2000 is expected to be as follows: oral contraceptives 25%; IUD 15%; injectables 5%; female sterilization 35%; male sterilization 2%; and condom 15%. This implies a very sizable increase in the demand for each method from both public and private sources. Without subsidy the cost of contraception will be about US$17.6 million in the year 2000 (average cost/user of $41.96) representing a 50% increase since 1985. However future costs could be greatly reduced if female sterilization is made more accessible and cost-effective. Indicated seems to be a policy whereby clients pay for as much of the cost of their family planning services as possible with self-sufficiency as the ultimate goal. This would require increased emphasis on activity in the private sector including commercial and community-based distribution systems and private medical and pharmaceutical units.


Since its initial discovery as a natural isotopologue of dihydrogen oxide (1H2O), extensive research has focused on the biophysical, biochemical, and pharmacological effects of deuterated water (2H2O [D2O, also referred to as "heavy water"]). Using a panel of cultured human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells we have profiled (i) D2O‐induced phenotypic antiproliferative and apoptogenic effects, (ii) redox‐ and proteotoxicity‐directed stress response gene expression, and (iii) phosphoprotein‐signaling related to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and MAP‐kinase stress response pathways. Differential array analysis revealed early modulation of stress response gene expression in both BxPC‐3 and PANC‐1 PDAC cells elicited by D2O (90%; ≤6 h; upregulated: HMOX1, NOS2, CYP2E1, CRYAB, DDIT3, NFKBIA, PTGS1, SOD2, PTGS2; downregulated: RUNX1, MYC, HSPA8, HSPA1A) confirmed by independent RT‐qPCR analysis. Immunoblot‐analysis revealed rapid (≤6 h) onset of D2O‐induced MAP‐kinase signaling (p‐JNK, p‐p38) together with ER stress response upregulation (p‐eIF2α, ATF4, XBP1s, DDIT3/CHOP). Next, we tested the chemotherapeutic efficacy of D2O‐based drinking water supplementation in an orthotopic PDAC model employing firefly luciferase‐expressing BxPC‐3‐FLuc cells in SCID mice. First, feasibility and time course of systemic deuteration (30% D2O in drinking water; 21 days) were established using time‐resolved whole‐body proton magnetic resonance imaging and isotope‐ratio mass spectrometry‐based plasma (D/H)‐analysis. D2O‐supplementation suppressed tumor growth by almost 80% with downregulated expression of PCNA, MYC, RUNX1, and HSP70 while increasing tumor levels of DDIT3/CHOP, HO‐1, and p‐eIF2α. Taken together, these data demonstrate for the first time that pharmacological induction of systemic deuteration significantly reduces orthotopic tumor burden in a murine PDAC xenograft model.


The spread of English as a global language has resulted in several changes, which challenge the foundations of how language should be taught and learned. To match today's sociolinguistic realities, researchers have called for a paradigm shift from the traditional pedagogy to a new pedagogy that can prepare students to use English in international communication involving different varieties of English and its cultures. The purposes of this study are (1) to investigate the aspects of target interlocutors, and (2) to investigate cultural depictions as reflected in three selected English textbooks, which are currently used in lower secondary level (Grade 7) in Thailand. Three English textbooks are purposively selected as the samples of this study. Data is collected from the communication practice tasks (e.g., conversation dialogues, emails, and letters) and the contents of the reading passages, and articles in the textbooks. The Galloway's and Rose's (2018) GELT framework and Kachru's (1992) Three Circles Model are used to analyse data. The findings reveal that the textbooks mostly represent the target interlocutors from Native English users. With regards to the aspect of cultural depiction, the findings reveal that various cultures from all three circles are represented in these textbooks. The findings suggest that the English textbooks that which are currently used in Thai EFL context are likely to rely on the traditional ELT in the aspect of the target interlocutors. However, the depiction of cultural aspects in the textbooks corresponds more to the GELT concept with regards to the promotion of learners from different cultures across circles.


ONE way in which governments may exercise political control over their subjects is by removing their status as citizens. Doing so – denying the individual the political and social rights that are constitutive of full membership of their community – involves making a radical choice, and accordingly such a decision must be properly regulated. One of the ways in which UK law does so is by preventing the exercise of the broad statutory power to rescind the citizenship of a UK national because it is "conducive to the public good", where doing so would render that person stateless (British Nationality Act 1981, s. 40(2), (4)). Individuals may only be stripped of their citizenship under this provision on the condition that they remain full members of another political community.


On the basis of analysis of the working principle and characteristics of RS232 and RS485, serial communication method was confirmed that the long distance data communication of mine-used feeder switch can be realized by adopting RS485 serial communication standard interface. The switch can communicate with upper PC. The experiments showed that the method is long distance in communication and reliable in data transmission and has practical value.


this paper represents mobile cloud computing (MCC) which extends cloud computing with the advantages of mobility and wireless networks to create a new infrastructure where cloud takes over mobile devices' responsibilities of executing tasks and storing enormous amounts of data. The overall it shows the broad survey of mobile cloud computing and also specify concerns in mobile cloud computing which are highlighted . A taxonomy is also presented based on the key issues in this area, and discuss the different approaches taken to tackle these issues. The comparison of various techniques based on various parameters has been discussed which shows that it minimizes the response latency, cost of application migration. Keywords— Cloud computing, Mobile cloud computing, Cloudlet, Load balancing, E-MACS, Energy conservation, response latency, application migration.