The review by Shander et al. in this issue of the journal highlights the progress made in transfusion medicine since the 1980s, including the tremendous decrease in the risk of transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs) and the development of remarkably similar (and uniformly restrictive) transfusion guidelines by five major professional societies and the American Association of Blood Banks1. These guidelines aim at reducing the number of a patient's allogeneic donor exposures as much as possible, by administering transfusion only when proven (rather than postulated) benefit can be expected from the transfusion. Proven benefit, exemplified by a red-blood-cell (RBC) transfusion to a stable and non-bleeding patient triggered by a haemoglobin of 7 g/dL, is based on findings from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) using clinical endpoints2. In contrast, transfusing stable and non-bleeding patients at a haemoglobin of 8 g/dL and higher is largely based on postulated benefits based on what can be theoretically deduced from pathophysiology3,4.

Adherence to these restrictive transfusion guidelines constitutes best transfusion practice, which may decrease mortality according to the findings of a recent meta-analysis of 19 RCTs enrolling over 6,000 subjects2. The optimisation of transfusion practice that these restrictive transfusion triggers allow, however, does not remove the risks of RBC transfusion5,6. The latter include the currently-leading causes of death from transfusion (transfusion-related acute lung injury, haemolytic transfusion reactions, and transfusion-associated circulatory overload), other infectious and immunologic transfusion complications, as well as the cardinal threat to transfusion safety today, namely the next "HIV-like" pathogen to emerge in the future5,6. For these reasons, best transfusion practice alone may not necessarily represent best clinical practice.

One reason why it is necessary to optimise clinical practice beyond the improvement afforded by the adoption of restrictive transfusion guidelines is that preoperative anaemia is a major risk factor for RBC transfusion7 and, in addition, even mild preoperative anaemia increases perioperative mortality and morbidity by at least 30%8. Detection and treatment of preoperative anaemia is thus a necessary component of best clinical practice. The success of this approach has been demonstrated by RCTs conducted in orthopaedic9 and cardiac surgery10. Preoperative treatment of anaemia reduced transfusion needs9,10, decreased acute renal failure10 and correlated with reduced length of hospital stay10.

Another reason why best transfusion practice alone does not represent best clinical practice is that excessive blood loss and the need for early reoperation are independently associated with increased mortality, acute kidney injury11, stroke and myocardial infarction12. Blood loss can be reduced by blood-sparing surgical and anaesthetic blood-conservation techniques which minimise perioperative bleeding, while they optimise intraoperative cardiac output, ventilation and oxygenation. In addition, perioperative blood recovery reduces the need for RBC transfusion and the length of hospital stay13, making meticulous surgical and anaesthetic technique, as well as perioperative blood recovery where indicated, necessary components of best clinical practice. Indeed, the combination of preoperative treatment of anaemia, meticulous surgical and anaesthetic technique, perioperative blood recovery, and restrictive haemoglobin transfusion triggers has been shown to reduce RBC transfusion needs and the length of hospital stay, as well as to decrease mortality and costs13–16.

It is all these strategies together that represent best clinical practice, according to the concept of Patient Blood Management (PBM)17 adopted by the World Health Organization in 201018. PBM identifies a patient at risk of transfusion and formulates a multidisciplinary and multimodal, yet individualised, plan for reducing or eliminating the need for allogeneic transfusion19. PBM encompasses the adoption of restrictive transfusion guidelines, but it includes a lot more than the mere adoption of restrictive transfusion guidelines13–21. In addition to transfusing only when proven benefit is expected, PBM encompasses treating anaemia and coagulopathy before admission to the hospital, minimising iatrogenic blood losses throughout the hospitalisation, using blood-sparing surgical and anaesthetic blood-conservation techniques, and employing perioperative blood recovery and acute normovolaemic haemodilution where indicated. In this way, PBM integrates many hospital departments and services in a common effort to reduce allogeneic-donor exposures as much as possible, and to thereby prevent the infectious and immunologic complications of transfusion.

When the standard for transfusion medicine is set as reducing the transfusion risk for each patient to the level of the "as-low-as-reasonably-achievable" (ALARA) risk20–22, clinical practice has to be further improved by meeting a patient's allogeneic-transfusion needs through fewer donor exposures than the number mandated by the number of components that the patient receives. Hitherto, PBM has been mainly used to avoid RBC transfusion in surgical patients, but multicomponent apheresis can expand the domain of PBM to platelet and plasma transfusion and to medical patients20,21,23,24. Multicomponent apheresis is now limited to collecting any combination of RBCs, platelets, and/or plasma from the same donor during the same donation (with at least 2 components collected from each donation: 2 RBC units, 2–3 plasma units, 2–3 platelet units or 1 RBC unit together with plasma and/or platelets)24. In the future, all components collected from the same multicomponent apheresis donation should be reserved for transfusion to the same recipient20,21,23. Because multitransfused patients -such as patients with acute blood loss- need multiple units of RBCs and plasma (and sometimes of platelets as well), multicomponent apheresis can reduce their number of donor exposures by at least 2-fold, thereby also reducing the risk of infectious and immunologic complications of transfusion by at least 2-fold20,21.

Together, PBM and multicomponent apheresis represent a new paradigm -the patient-centric paradigm- of transfusion medicine that will hopefully replace the current (component-centric) paradigm in the 21st century20,21,25. Whereas now each blood component is a drug to be dispensed, in the future we will hopefully be meeting each patient's transfusion needs through an individualised combination of (PBM and multicomponent-apheresis) approaches. Whereas our current focus is on the quality of the component, in the future we should concentrate on the quality of the medical service (or individualised combination of PBM and multicomponent-apheresis approaches) that we provide each patient. And whereas now our overriding concern is to avoid blood shortages, in the future should aim to reduce the transfusion risk for all patients to the level of the ALARA risk20–22.


The aim of this study was to describe experts' decision processes leading to measurements of occupational chemical exposure. Safety engineers, clinical occupational hygienists, and work environment inspectors (four from each group) were interviewed according to a semistructured scheme. We analyzed: (i) perceived triggers for measurements, (ii) the experts' decision criteria for performing measurements when there was a trigger, and (iii) sampling strategy. Regarding triggers, all safety engineers reported a "request" from, for example, an employer; all work environment inspectors reported "legal demands;" and all clinical occupational hygienists reported "symptoms among workers." As a decision criterion, all the interviewees reported that they measured only if they expected sufficiently high levels. The results of the present study highlight factors that trigger measurements and are of importance in determining whether measurements will be performed. These factors appear to be related to the expert's professional role and may bias the assessment of exposure. Thus, when using data from routine measurements done by experts, the possibility of a bias needs to be considered.


A new time-based asynchronous edge detection algorithm is here presented. The proposed technique allows to extend the dynamic range of the sensor at more than 100 dB. The algorithm, which is intended to be implemented at the pixel level of a vision sensor, has been simulated using a 0.35 mum CMOS technology by means mixed signal circuits placed behind the photosensitive area. The pixel consists of 45 transistors and will be supplied by two different voltage values: 1.2 V, for the digital circuits, and 3.3 V for the analog output, in order to optimize power consumption and maximize output range.


This work aims to study the way people in a Uruguayan sample identify with regions, nations and supranations; attitudes and stereotypes were measured with respect to national groups and supranational groups. This brings proof about people identifications, likes and stereotypes of: ingroup favoritism, contact and familiarity, similarity, prototipicity and attitude asymmetry. Both the results and instruments are discussed.


Tourism is one of the leading industry. It is a multidimensional industry generating various type of impacts. The present paper aims to highlight existing tourist destinations in and around Solapur. The secondary data has been used for this paper. The collected data has been analyzed with the help of statistical and cartographic techniques. Destinations were marked with a Buffering technique, it is useful for planning purpose. The exits survey of 150 tourists at each destination reveals that the growth trend of tourists. The study reveals that the flow of tourist to Solapur as compare to Maharashtra state was explained in ratio, which was highest in the month of September (4.05). Foreign tourists were very negligible in number. There are number of pilgrimage destinations adjoining to Osmanabad district and Karnataka State. A Tourist Travel Circuit will emerge in this region irrespective of political boundaries. The present study suggests that there will be a wide scope for creating large-scale employment from the most specialized to the unskilled (HR) if special package is given for tourism development.


PATIENTS receiving neurosurgical treatment for protrusion of lumbar intervertebral disks usually have the lumbago-sciatica syndrome. Of 580 patients in whom operation was performed, 562 had this syndrome.1J The lumbago-sciatica syndrome may be subdivided into various syndromes due to compression of third, fourth, or fifth lumbar or first sacral root caused by protrusion of the second, third, fourth, or fifth lumbar disk. Solitary protrusion of the fourth or fifth disk is the most frequent lesion-constituting 95.6% of the disk protrusions seen in this department.3 Malmros2 found pronounced monoradicular syndrome in 58 of 96 consecutive patients with the lumbago-sciatica syndrome on whom operation was performed for solitary disk protrusion. In only 48 was diagnosis in agreement with findings at operation. In 38, only a diagnosis of protrusion of the fourth or fifth disk could be made. The purpose of this investigation was to find whether diagnosis of disk protrusion level could be made by quantitatively determining vibratory perception with a biothesiometer. Zervopo~los4*~ studied the vibratory perception on the malleoli in patients with protrusion of lumbar disks. He found this method was reliable in ascertaining disk protrusion level. Vibratory sensibility was reduced on the medial malleolus in protrusion of the fourth lumbar disk and on the lateral malleolus in protrusion of the fifth lumbar disk. In lateral protrusion, diminution in sensibility was homolateral; in central protrusion, bilateral. Each of 60 patients showed agreement between alteration in vibration sense and findings at operation. Zervopoulos' examination technic is not stated.


The research on the reform of series of courses in Industrial and commerical management is to probe and improve the quality of cultivation for the talents of Industrial and commerical management in some engeering institute in the aspects of teaching content,method,model and course system by means of reform and practice to series of courses in industrial and commercial management so as to meet the need of cultivating the professional talents of industrial and commercial management in ordinary high engeering institute.


Transfer and decay dynamics of an exciton coupled to a polarization vibration in a dimer is investigated in a mixed quantum-classical picture with the exciton decay incorporated by a sink site. Using a separation of time scales, it is possible to explain analytically the most important characteristics of the model. If the vibronic subsystem is fast, these are the enhancement of nonlinear self-trapping due to the sink and the slowing down of the exciton decay for large coupling or sink strength. Numerical results obtained recently for the discrete self-trapping (DST) approximation to the model are quantitatively explained and dynamic effects beyond this approximation are found. If the vibronic subsystem is slow, the behavior of the system follows closely the predictions of the adiabatic approximation. In this regime, the exciton decay crucially depends on the initial conditions of the vibronic subsystem. In the transition regime between the adiabatic and DST approximation, complex dynamics is observed by numerical computation. We discuss the correspondence to the chaotic behavior of the excitonic-vibronic coupled dimer without trap. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}


AIM To explore the effect of tetramelthyl pyrazine and its prescription on hemodynamics of experimental pulmonary hypertension in dogs. METHODS Using the dynamic pulmonary hypertensive model, the effects of tetramelthyl pyrazine and its prescription, which were transfused by SwanGanz catheter, on hemodynamics of systemic and pulmonary circulation were observed. RESULTS Tetramelthyl pyrazine reduced PAP and AP mildly. However, its prescription had stronger actions than itself on reducing PAP and the side effect on systemic circulation were not increased. CONCLUSION Tetramelthyl pyrazine and its prescriptions had a better selectivity on pulmonary circulation.


Nowadays one of the key aspects in the study and design of industrial robots is the energy efficiency. These robots are not only expected to perform the task accurately and rapidly but also to minimize the energy consumption. One method that has shown high potential in reducing the energy consumption of pick-and-place robots is the addition of elastic elements and the use of the natural motion of the system. In this method, the system is designed such that its free-vibration response matches the task frequency and amplitude of oscillation. Consequently, after releasing the robot from the starting position, it moves towards the end position, where the end-effector stops at the given time for the task. In this paper, we propose a method for finding the appropriate springs and the resulting motion of the mechanism using multi-body simulation and a numerical optimization. This method can be applied to different robots and springs configurations, and requires no formulation of the equations of motion.


According to the deficiency of the previous study on sensitivity of point-contact tooth surface meshing characteristics to mounting errors,a new method of quantitative analysis on sensitivity of point-contact tooth surface meshing characteristics to mounting errors was presented,the procedures were as follows: Representing coordinate transformation of the contact point in the theory of meshing with the homogeneous coordinates;Deriving linear equations related to the position errors of the contact point on the tooth surface and the mounting errors from calculating total differential of equations of meshing;Evaluating sensitivity of gears mounting errors to contact point position errors;Illustrating the developed method with numerical examples.


Atoms in Electromagnetic Fields , Second Edition, by C. Cohen-Tannoudji, World Scientific Publishing Company, Singapore, 752 pages, US $128.00, ISBN: 9812389423 The publisher has the merit to convince the author first against his reluctance to prepare this compendium of reprints but it is a rare case where this was so successful that a second extended edition was necessary. It contains the most outstanding work which led to the Nobel Price for the author who started from the work of one of the pioneers on spectroscopy for the laser, Nobel Lauerate Alfred Kastler.


1. On Ignorant Schoolmasters, by Jacques Ranciere 2. A New Logic of Emancipation 3. The Figure of the Child in Ranciere and Paulo Freire 4. Inclusion in Question 5. Recognition's Pedagogy 6. Truth and Emancipation 7. Learner, Student, Speaker 8. Conclusion: The World is Not a School Bibliography Index.


Objective To detect the early symptoms and signs of neurological complications and the risk factors associated with critical illness through evaluating the clinical manifestations and laboratory data of severe hand-foot-and-mouth disease(HFMD)in children,and thus provide information for early diagnosis and treatment to reduce its mortality.Methods The clinical data of 70 cases of severe HFMD admitted to Intensive Care Unit of Shenzhen Children′s Hospital from Mar.2010 to Jul.2011 were retrospectively analyzed.According to the clinical manifestations,70 cases were divided into severe group and critical group.The variables including the clinical manifestations of ner-vous,respiratory and circulatory systems,and the laboratory data were compared between the 2 groups.The risk factors for critical illness were analyzed by logistic regression.Results Seventy cases of HFMD were analyzed including 43 male and 27 female,55 cases were younger than 3 years old(78.6%),41 cases in the severe group(58.6%)and 29 cases in the critical group(41.4%),38 cases with high fever(54.3%),50 cases with typical rash(71.4%).The main neurological features including fatigue(59 cases,84.3%),irritation(51 cases,72.9%),consciousness disorders(38 cases,54.3%),limb tremor(31 cases,44.3%),vomiting(24 cases,34.3%) and knee jerk abnomality(41 cases,58.6%).The clinical manifestations of respiratory and circulatory systems including tachypnea(11 cases,15.7%),respiratory rhythm abnormality(15 cases,21.4%),pulmonary edema(18 cases,25.7%),tachycardia(28 cases,40.0%),hypertension(14 cases,20%),sweating(8 cases,11.4%)and capillary refill time(CRT) more than 5 seconds(11 cases,15.7%).Laboratory data showed that 38 cases(54.3%)with a peripheral blood WBC count more than 12×109 L-1,and 39 cases(55.7%)with blood glucose level more than 6 mmol·L-1.Between the critical group and the severe group,there were significant differences in limb weakness,consciousness disorders,convulsion,knee jerk decrease/disappear,hypomyotonia,tachypnea,respiratory rhythm abnormality,tachycardia,hypertension,sweating,CRT more than 5 seconds,hyperglycemia and the atypical rash(Pa0.05).Consciousness disorders,respiratory rhythm abnormality,tachycardia,hyperglycemia and the atypical rash were risk factors for the critical cases of HFMD by multivariate logistic regression.Conclusions The early symptoms and signs of neurological complications caused by HFMD are fatigue,irritation,consciousness disorders,limb tremor,vomiting and knee jerk abnomality.The risk factors for critical cases of HFMD are consciousness disorders,respiratory rhythm abnormality,tachycardia,hyperglycemia and the atypical rash.


Much of this book deals with inter-war European regimes which were authoritarian, dictatorial and nationalistic, and which were, to varying degrees, inspired by or fashioned after, but never wholly...


The recurrent neural network is generally utilized in an assortment of areas, such as pattern recognition, natural language processing and computational learning. Time series prediction is one of the most challenging topics for many years due to its application in finance and decision making. This article centers chiefly on the methods and techniques of forecasting future prices of two stocks: IAM.PA and ORA.PA. An experimental investigation is grounded on two years of historical information. Furthermore, the statistics of the stocks and the predictions are made for 22 days in advance. The prediction performance compares three approaches of the recurrent neural network: Elman recurrent neural network in the first stage, Long Short-Term Memory recurrent neural network for the next phase, and Gated Recurrent Unit in the third phase. The article aims to accommodate a comparative analysis among these three models based on mean square error, time per step, memory and the number of hidden nodes required for excellent accuracy.


Starting from the present state of tl art of discrete devices up to the on going realization of monolithic semicorxtuctor integrated prototypes an overview ofoptoelectronic devices for telecom applications is given inchiding a short classification of the different kind of integrated devices. On the future perspective of IBCN distribution network some economica of hybrid and monolithic forms of integration are attempted. lnaflyashoitpresentationoftheactivitiesperformedintbefieldofmonolithic integration by EEC ESPR1T and RACE projects is reported. 1.


This paper presents an approach to rapid devel- opment of virtual planning experts that can collaborate to develop plans of action requiring expertise from multiple domains. The approach is implemented into a new type of software tool, called Disciple-VPT, which includes an exten- sible library of virtual planning experts from different do- mains. Teams of such virtual experts can be rapidly assem- bled from the library to generate complex plans of actions that require their joint expertise. The basic component of the Disciple-VPT tool is the Disciple-VE learning agent shell that can be taught directly by a subject matter expert how to plan, trough planning examples and explanations, in a way that is similar to how the expert would teach an ap- prentice. Copies of the Disciple-VE shells are used by ex- perts in different domains to rapidly populate the library of virtual experts of Disciple-VPT.


In the article the value of the Arctic as on a global scale, and for modern Russia, it is noted that the modern Arctic is the place of concentration of geopolitical and economic interests not only the Arctic states, but also the whole world reveals. In the article, experience of economic development of the North in the period of the Soviet Union is analyzed, at the same time it is emphasized that in many respects the Arctic policy of the USSR was continuation of that policy which was pursued in the north by the Russian Empire, proceeding, first of all, from the economic interests. Much attention is paid to consideration of the problems which have risen in front of the Russian Arctic during a transition period (the 90th years of the 20th century — the beginning of the 21st century), connected with cardinal political, economic and other changes in country life. The analysis of the Arctic policy of the Russian Federation at the present stage which follows from the fact that today national interests and safety of our country in many respects depend on development of northern territories, ensuring sustainable development of the North that it is recorded in "The strategy of development for the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation and ensuring national security until 2020" is carried out. Considerable part of the article is devoted to questions of improvement of a control system of development by the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation. Considering importance and complexity of this problem connected with the most complex structure of the territory, presence of various subjects of management with the specific purposes and tasks, need of ensuring real coordination of authorities of all levels at realization of the purposes and problems of Strategy.


This article introduces the concept and characteristics of open access,and how it affects the running of libraries.In addition,it also proposes a new service model in independent college libraries with the help of OA.


The aim of this study was to analyze the immunological response of the recombinant bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein(rBPI)in Argali Hybrid Sheep(AHS)infected with Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae(MO).Six Bashibai Sheep(BS)was taken as group A,while 12 AHS were randomly divided into group B and C.All the sheep were artificially infected with MO.From the 4th day after infection,group C was treated with rBPI protein,150mg·sheep-1·day-1,and group A and B with the same dose of placebo(Normal saline).The concentrations of IL-8,IL-10,TNF-αand IFN-γfrom serum at different times were detected by ELISA.At the end of the test,all the sheep was slaughtered,and the therapeutic effect was evaluated with pathological section of their lung tissue.Results were as follows:In the early phase of infection,the levels of IL-8,TNF-α,IFN-γwere elevated,while IL-10 revealed a lower trend.On the 7th day post-infection(DPI),the concentration of IL-8in group C was lower than group A(P0.05).From the 7th to 21 st DPI,IL-8in group B was significantly higher than group A(P0.01).On the 5th DPI,IL-10 in group C was higher than group A(P0.05),but lower than group B(P0.01).On the 14 th to21st DPI,IL-10 in group C was lower than group A(P0.05),but higher than group B(P0.05).On the 14 th to 21 st DPI,IFN-γin group C was higher than group A(P0.05).On the14 th to 21 st DPI,TNF-αin group C was higher than group A(P0.05,P0.01),and lower than group B(P0.05).Histopathological scores of the A,B,C group were 9.4,19.9and 12.8,respectively.The score of group B had significant difference with group A and C(P0.05,P0.05).The results showed that rBPI has some treatment effect on AHS infected with MO and a regulatory role on serum cytokines.


The Hairy Ape is one of the most important tragedy plays written by Eugene O'neill.The auther has exposed the spirit meaning of tragedy by O'neill,a man who can not find his belonging.The tragedy playing on the normal people plays as well as on Yank.Who am I? Where should I be? The tragedy is actually the tragedy of human being.The paper tries to further decipher the theme of the play as well as the protagonist's tragedy by the devices of Lacan's mirror theory and Freud's psychoanalysis technique.


Hot compression was carried out on a Gleeble—3500thermal simulation testing machine of Ti-55511 alloy with the initial microstructure characteristics of pureβ,globularα,thick lamellarαand thin lamellarα,respectively.Plastic flow behavior of the alloy was studied at 700~800 ℃ deformation temperature and 10-3~10-1 s-1 strain rate.Investigation was made of the effects of initial microstructure characteristics on alloy thermoplastic deformation behavior.The results indicate that the flow stress of all the alloys with different initial microstructure increases with strain rate increasing and formation temperature decreasing.The order of deformation difficulty is pureβalloythick lamellarαalloythin lamellarαalloyglobularαalloy.The instability zones are mainly distributed at low temperature and high strain rate zones in the processing map.With the increase of deformation strain,instability area of globularαalloy gradually decreases while the instability areas of all the other alloys increase at first and then decrease.The differences of alloy deformation behavior are related to the microstructure evolution during deformation such asβ→αphase transformation,plastic instability of lamellarαphase,fragmentation and globalization ofαphase,shearing deformation and local plastic flow.


Is YouTube Vanced Safe? This is a common question that people ask when they are surfing through various video-sharing websites such as YouTube. In the ...


Looking back at modern China's 100-year history of forensic science education, we have found a number of forensic science pioneers from the Zhejiang Province who have made historic contributions to forensic science education. This paper briefly reviews the lives and achievements of these pioneers in chronological order. They include Song-Ming Xu, Ji-Zu Wang, Lv-Gao Chen, Jin-Chang Zhu, Ying-Han Xu, Mei-Yun Wu, Jia-Zhen Zhu, Guang-Zhao Huang, Zhan-Pei Zheng, and Shi-Xian Chen. History is only worth writing about if it teaches us about the future. This historical review sets examples for both current and future forensic pathologists to learn from the contributions of these pioneers.


: Every year salmon are restocked in the 7 rivers Storå, Skjern Å, Varde Å, Sneum Å, Kongeå, Ribe Å and Gudenåen. Six-month-old and 1-year-old salmon for about 2 mio. Kr (€268000) are restocked every year. The salmon are restocked in both the main rivers as well as the larger inlets. 6-month-old salmon are restocked in smaller rivers where the spawning and growth is ideal. They are released from a boat drifting downstream between September and October. electrofishing


Lunar dust is the most important problem need to be solved in the process of returning to the moon. The extremely complex irregular form is the most prominent feature of lunar dust. From a mechanical viewpoint, the overall mechanical behavior of granular materials is strongly affected by grain properties such as size, shape and crushability. Among these properties, grain shape has a considerable influence on the bulk mechanical properties. Therefore, the research on the microstructure characteristics of lunar dust is imperative. Fractal geometry is a powerful theoretical tool for dealing with irregular shapes in nature and engineering. In fractal theory, people usually use the fractal dimension to represent self-similar geometric shapes. In terms of micro particle shape analysis, fractal geometry is proved to be a practical and feasible measure to irregular particle shape. Therefore, a research of the shape of lunar dust based on the fractal theory is presented in this paper to give a quantitative description of irregular shape. It provides an important reference for the further understanding of the mechanical properties of lunar dust.


Delorme's procedure is a well tolerated perineal operation for full‐thickness rectal prolapse. However, prolapse recurrence is common and reported recurrence rates vary widely. This study attempted to standardize outcome assessment for recurrence following primary and subsequent Delorme's operations. Patient and operative factors were analysed to identify any that might improve patient selection.


We were intrigued by Wall, James, and Tweedie's (2001) article in The American Statistician. The authors presented the counterintuitive fact (not new with them, but not well-known) that, based on a single observation, one can form a valid, Ž nite conŽ dence interval (CI) about the mean ( · ) of a normal distribution with unknown · and unknown variance ( 1⁄4 ), based on a single observation. In what follows, we refer to this as the "CI result." We believe, however, that the authors missed the more thought-provokingconsequence of this surprising fact, namely, that knowing a conŽ dence interval about · does not necessarily give us information about variability, that is, about 1⁄4 . Thus, the authors are correct that for a single observation X and for any desired coverage level 1 ¡ ¬ , there exists a positive ± such that x § ± jxj yields a 1 ¡ ¬ CI. However, we believe they are incorrect in concluding that ": : : x itself tells us something about the variability as well as the mean" (p. 105, left). Rather, what is really interesting is that the CI result forces us to uncouple the concept of "conŽ dence interval" from the concept of "variability." For a concrete illustration of why this is so, consider the 90% CI (for which ± = 4:84). According to the CI result, the CI's width depends only on the absolute value of x. Thus, if X = 1:0, the width of the 90% CI is 2 £ 4:84 = 9:68, whereas if X = 10:0, the width is 2 £ 48:4 = 96:8. However, the zero point, or origin, of a normal scale is arbitrary, so by sliding the scale to the left or right, we can arbitrarily change the width of the CI. For example, say we measure a particular child's IQ as 98. The 90% CI on that observation is 98 § 4:84(98), or o [¡376; 572]. (For the sake of the example, ignore the fact that IQ scores cannot in fact go as low or as high as that, since if IQ scores were truly normal, they would be able to reach any value, negative or positive.) Along comes another child psychologist, trained in a center where workers scale IQs from 100, instead of from 0. She measures the same child's IQ as ¡2 on her revised scale. Now the 90% CI is ¡2 § 4:84(2) = [¡11:68; 7:68] on the revised scale, or o [88:3; 107:7] when converted back to the standard IQ scale. The Ž rst 90% CI is almost 50 times wider than the second one, yet both 90% CIs are valid, in that they satisfy the fundamental deŽ nition of a 90% CI ("If we repeat the experiment many times, the probability that the resultant CI will include the true mean is 90%"). However, neither CI tells us anything about the variability of IQ scores. The fact that the new psychologist used the shifted-over scale rather than the standard onedoesnot affect the variance of IQ scores. Thus, in this example, whatever the true value of the variance of IQ may have been, it could correspond to any width of CI. (Of course, the psychologist must decide which scale she is using before taking the measurement.) Interestingly, the original article by Blachman and Machol (1987) does not make the same conceptual error. Blachman and Machol explicitly allowed for having "prior information as to the neighborhood in which it is anticipated that X will fall" (p. 374, left). In the IQ example, the child psychologist would presumably know, for example, that IQ measurements must be positive and generally fall between, say, 20 and 200. Once one has that kind of prior information, the objections we are raising no longer hold. However, Wall et al. did not mention prior information but implied they were dealing with a "pure" example of unknown · and 1⁄4 . What is so intriguing is that the CI result still holds, even in the "pure" case; it is just that in this situation the CI does not tell us anything about variability. Finally, the authors gave two intuitive justiŽ cations for the CI result (in their Conclusion). We believe both justiŽ cations are awed. For the Ž rst they stated, correctly, that for a given observation, some (· ; 1⁄4 ) pairs are much less likely than others. They then stated "Thusany conŽ dence region in (· ; 1⁄4 ) space should exclude some · ; 1⁄4 pairs, and should not be inŽ nite." (Presumably they mean "unbounded,"not "inŽ nite.") However, this is not true. Consider their example with a single observation of x = 10: As they pointed out, this observation could plausibly come from a normal distribution with · = 0 and 1⁄4 = 10 but not from one with · = 1;000 and 1⁄4 = 20. Let us agree that a "plausible" (· ; 1⁄4 ) combination is one for which X is within §21⁄4 of the true mean. Then the range of plausible (· ; 1⁄4 ) combinations is deŽ ned by 1⁄4 ¶ j10 ¡ · j=2, and this represents an unbounded region in the (· ; 1⁄4 ) plane. For their second intuitive justiŽ cation, they stated ": : : if x = 10, then no matter what the value of · there is little probability that 1⁄4 will be 100,000 or more." We disagree. What could possibly be the justiŽ cation for concluding that 1⁄4 is unlikely to exceed 100,000? If we truly are dealing with a normal distribution with unknown · and 1⁄4 , then there is absolutely no basis for ruling out 1⁄4 > 100;000 when X = 10. Of course, if the variable of interest, X, represents some measurable quantity in the real world, such as height measured in meters, or IQ, then 1⁄4 is not likely to exceed 100,000. But then that is no longer a "pure" example, because in both those examples, we do have a fair prior knowledge of reasonable ranges of values for both · and 1⁄4 . In conclusion, we agree with the authors that the "CI result" is useful as a teaching example, but not because it makes us "realize that x itself tells us something about the variability as well as the mean." As we have shown, x does not do that. Rather, the usefulness for teaching is in helping to clarify just what a conŽ dence interval does and does not do. In this extreme situation of a single observation, a 90% CI can guarantee us (at least) 90% coverage of the true mean without telling us anything about the variance of the distribution.And for students to understand that will improve their insight into what statistical inference is all about.


The invention discloses a preparation method of a pholiota adipose composite health-care beverage, and relates to the technical field of bio-processing of an edible and medicinal fungus beverage. The preparation method comprises the following steps: saccharifying starch in rice or sticky rice serving as a raw material by rhizopus oryzae; mixing the obtained mash with water; and performing deep fermentation on the mixture by pholiota adipose bacterial liquid to obtain the beverage. By the process, effective bioactive substances in the pholiota adipose fermentation liquor are fully kept, and multiple beneficial secondary metabolites are formed during fermentation. The prepared pholiota adipose composite health-care beverage is fresh and cool in mouthfeel, sweet in aftertaste, fragrant as rice, unique in flavor, rich in pholiota adipose polysaccharides, proteins, multiple amino acids, few oligosaccharides, vitamins and multiple mineral elements, clear in appearance and glutinous and fresh in mouthfeel, is endowed with the unique flavor of rice and pholiota adipose, and is suitable for various people to drink.


Existing theories predict that, the higher the mode number is of a longitudinal bunched beam instability, the higher is likely to be the frequency (or range of frequencies) of the instability excitation fields. In this paper a different result is found with all modes having a similar upper frequency limit for the fields but with the odd and even order modes having a dissimilar range for the possible frequencies. The relevance for uncoupled bunch, coupled bunch and mode coupling instabilities is discussed.


phase microscopy for quantifying hemoglobin concentrations in intact red blood cells," Opt. The MIT Faculty has made this article openly available. Please share how this access benefits you. Your story matters.


This work deals with the interest of unemployed persons in the instruments of active employment policy instruments. It focuses on the labour market, its definition, description and functions in the economy. The labour market is closely related to the notions 'employment' and 'unemployment', so they are defined in the text and there are also explained the different types of unemployment. An unemployment as undesirable phenomenon has impact on the functioning of society. For this reason, the work describes its social, economic and political aspects. Furthermore, you can read more about passive and active employment policy and the different kinds of tools used in active employment policy. Disadvantaged groups of unemployed persons, whose position on the labour market is difficult for various reasons, will be mentioned as well. Unemployment levels are regularly measured, you will also learn which ratio indicators are used. The last part describes the current situation in unemployment and the research project, which monitors the interest of unemployed persons in the tools of active policy, particularly on retraining.


Nabila hefzi md. Background:Palliative radiotherapy has proven to be successful in treating pain caused by metastatic lesions in any bone. In most prospective randomized trials on radiotherapy for bone pain, responses up to 70% were reported. However, when survival was prolonged, recurrent pain was reported in up to 50% of patients. It is to be expected for the future, since patients are living longer with disseminated disease, that symptoms may recur & therefore retreatment of bone metastases for palliative reasons will increase. The aim of the study:Is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of re-irradiation for painful bone metastasis comparing different fractionation regimens with an assessment of subjective response & toxicity. Patient and methods:-one hundred and twenty patients with bone metastasis or bone pain with previous irradiation were included in this prospective randomized study comparing 8 and 6 Gy single fraction with multiple fractions 3 Gy in 10 fractions and 4 Gy in 5 fractions. The primary end point of treatment was the relief of pain, improvement of quality of life. However, the secondary end point was comparing the short term side effects of these treatment regimens. The results:pain response: after 2 weeks, complete response was observed in 23.3% in group I, 13.3% in group II, III & 20% in group IV and partial response in 66.7% in group I, 73.3% in group II, 76.7% in group III & 70% in group IV. After 4 weeks, complete response was observed in 23.3%, in group I, III & IV while 16.7% only in group II and partial response in 70 % in group I, IV & and 73.3% in group II, III. After 8 weeks as shown in table 4, complete response was observed in 26.7% in group I, 23.3% in group II, 33.3% in group III & 30% in group IV and partial response in 70% in the group I&II, 63.3% in group III & 66.7 % in group IV. no significant difference in pain response was observed between the four groups. Analgesic requirement after 8 weeks of radiotherapy: patients that complained of pain that required strong narcotic decreased in group I: from 10 to 5, group II: from 13 to 6, group III: from 13 to 5, group IV: from 12 to 6. Patients with karnofsky p.s. 90-100 increased from 0 to 1 in all groups while patients of karnofsky p.s. 70-80 increased from 8 to 23 and from 10 to 22, from 12 to 25 and from 9 to 22 in group I, II, III and IV respectively. Evaluation of acute toxicity: treatment was tolerated in all groups, as, grade I diarrhea occur only in 1 patient in group I and II & dermatitis occur in 3 patients, 1 in each group I, II, and III . Conclusion:the results of our study seem to confirm that there no significant difference between the four regimens of dose fractionation of external beam radiotherapy (8 Gy single fraction, 6 Gy single fraction ,30 Gy in ten fractions and 20 Gy in five fractions) in palliative treatment of bone metastasis as regard pain relief so the use of 8 Gy single fraction of radiotherapy may be of benefit for the patient by reducing treatment time and cost also reducing the treatment burden for hospital, stuff and equipment.


To reach their potential as 21Century graduates, our students need feedback on their learning. However, in increasingly pressurised and resource-constrained university environments, feedback needs to be realistic for staff workloads, as well as offering students high quality support.

A survey of staff at one university in the summer of 2009 asked how they evaluate their learning and teaching, how they get evaluated, and what can be done to improve evaluation. The responses showed a clear commitment to evaluation and enhancement, but the realities of making it happen were clearly more complex. This workshop will consider the findings, interrogate how workshop participants evaluate their L&T, and encourage sharing of ideas on good (but realistic) practice.


A Meta-Analysis of Human Acellular Dermis and Submuscular Tissue Expander Breast Reconstruction Sir: W are writing in response to the article, "A MetaAnalysis of Human Acellular Dermis and Submuscular Tissue Expander Breast Reconstruction," by Kim et al. (Plast Reconstr Surg. 2012;129:28–41).1 In this study, the authors performed two separate analyses. In the first, pooled estimates of complication rates for each procedure were calculated from 48 studies, 42 of which analyzed only one of the procedures. The second was a meta-analysis of six of these studies that compared both procedures. Kim et al. concluded that acellular dermal matrix reconstruction causes more complications, but their analyses do not support this conclusion. Although the meta-analysis showed significant differences for four of the six measured outcomes, the other analysis showed no significant differences between complication rates for any of the six outcomes, indicating that the studies included in the meta-analysis are not representative of all available data. Theauthorsuseduncontrolledcohort studies in theanalysis, which has a high potential to introduce bias in the analysis, and an assessment of study quality was not conducted to address this. Likewise, sensitivity analyses were not conducted to address whether removing studies of lower quality, such as those with a lot of missing data, affected results. Although Kim et al. stated that they conducted a sensitivity analysis, they did not present the results. This is of particular concern given the significant amount of heterogeneity among the studies. Without results of sensitivity analyses to address this, it cannot be known whether pooling results was appropriate.2,3 Finally, although the authors present their search terms, they do not explicitly state the Boolean operators they used. The authors mention using the reference list of publications to manually identify 22 articles suitable for their analysis, but they do not report the details of this strategy. Moreover, MEDLINE was the only database used. These issues raise concern about the comprehensiveness of the search according to the established guidelines.4,5 Based on the foregoing limitations, results of this study and their interpretations should be viewed with caution. DOI: 10.1097/PRS.0b013e31826d9e2e


In the globalization era, people from middle low to middle high social strata become increasingly aware of the importance of interior consultants. This phenomenon is quite ubiquitous not only in nearly all-urban areas throughout Indonesia but also in rural areas: they are fully aware of having comfortable buildings. In fact, high price of the buildings still become one of big problems for middle low families. Located near Surabaya, Gresik has a favorable chance to be one of the most developing cities. Many of Gresik citizens, however, are still living below poverty level. People of Betoyo village are intended to build an At-Thoyibah orphanage for children so that they could have a better living standard. FIARCA Interior Consultant who is concerned with social issues attempts to offer solution by giving education about architecture design and building interior. Pleasant Islamic interior concept has been intentionally chosen in order to increase the children's learning interests.


To improve the monitoring efficiency of athletes' physical fitness characteristics in training state, a scientific and reasonable health assistant APP is designed based on Android and combined with JAVA development language, Litepal database, SQLite and OKHttp technology, to help individual users achieve scientific health status. In the hardware module design, the signal conditioning circuit is designed to amplify and filter the pulse test signal, and output the athlete's training pulse in real time. At the same time, it also designs the data analysis and prediction function, which can help athletes better perform health management. Each part also has more detailed sub function modules. Then the collected data are processed with the help of Andriod mobile phone terminal. The test results show that the APP has good test performance, which can realize abnormal physical fitness alarm, and better maintain the athletes' physical function and health level during the process of training.


The production of histamine is increased during Con A stimulation of normal spleen cells. This phenomenon results from the action of a factor released by stimulated lymphocytes. The factor is probably HCSF (Histamine-producing Cell Stimulating Factor) that we have previously described in supernatants of mixed lymphocyte culture.


This article demonstrates why the procedures used in previous studies do not permit inference about the relationship between interestrates and taxes. We present a model that leads to direct estimates of the degree to which interest rates respond to changes in tax rates. The empirical results imply that the adjustment of taxable interest rates has been large enough to render after-tax yields impervious to tax rate changes. Further, tax-exempt yields are unaffected by changes in taxrates. Thus, there is no evidence of fiscal illusion in interest rates.


As the first generation of commercial nuclear power comes to a close, it is timely to consider the status of occupational exposure in the power generation industry, that is, the collective occupational radiation doses received by workers in nuclear power plants. The picture is surprising. One might have thought that as newer, larger, and more modern plants came on line, there would be a significant decrease in exposure per unit of electricity generated. There is some indication that this is now happening. One might also have thought that the United States, being a leader in the development of nuclear power, and in the knowledge, experience and technology of nuclear radiation protection, would have the greatest success in controlling exposure. This expectation has not been fulfilled. 32 refs., 4 figs., 5 tabs.


To balance rations of milking cows on a protein, macro and microelements and biologically active substances is recommended to introduce in the ration of milk cows in the period of milking lactation protein-vitamin-mineral concentrates (additives), which will allow to increase milk productivity of animals and profitability of milk production.


Fast growth in the number of electric vehicles has been observed in recent years. Possibilities to purchase electric vehicles and the availability of various structural solutions increase. The exploitation of electric vehicles requires charging stations that can be very diverse in terms of structural and technological design. In Estonia and Latvia, projects to establish electric vehicle charging stations were implemented, thus popularising zero-emission vehicles and expanding zero-emissions mobility. The paper analyses the development trends for electric vehicles and charging stations in the Baltic States. It also provides a classification of charging stations needed for electric vehicles in the Baltic and an analysis of their present locations. If exploiting a small number of electric vehicles in a country, the best option for charging vehicles is garages and technically simple and cheap charging stations, thus making the construction of charging stations cheap; however, other kinds of charging vehicles can be useful for expanding mobility by electric vehicles.


This work aimed mainly to study the status of some trace elements, oxidative stress, immunoglobulin E and vitamin A in sheep with skin diseases. In this study a survey was done on 190 of sheep were taken from sheep flocks around Menoufia Governorate showing skin diseases of both sexes of 2 ± 0.5 y of age. All cases were subjected to clinical examination in which body temperature was taken also pulse rate, respiratory rate; rumen movements, mucous membrane, wool and body condition score. 58% of these animals suffering from infectious causes. The other 42% of animals was associated with nutritional deficiencies. A significant decrease (p˂0.01) was found in the level of zinc, copper and vitamin A than that taken from apparently healthy animals. Also, there was significant decrease (p˂0.05) in alkaline phosphatase activity. However, a significant increase (p˂0.05) was found in catalase activity. A significant decrease (p˂0.01) was found in superoxide dismutase activity compared to apparently healthy animals. We found significant increase (p˂0.05) in Malondialdehyde level than that taken from apparently healthy animals. A significant increase (p˂0.05) was detected in IgE level compared to apparently healthy animals. According to the results of our study we concluded that the prevalence of non-infectious skin affections was (42%) and there was significant relationship between non-infectious skin affections and oxidative stress, some trace elements, vitamins, immunoglobulin levels in sheep under field conditions.


Who is the translator of Xinxi xiantan, the first translated fiction in modern China? This has been a mystery for over one hundred years. Although some progress has been made since 1990s, there is still no compelling evidence or pronounced conclusion on this topic. Based on the research of the scholars at the time, this paper aims to make use of such initial data as newspapers, journals, collections of poems, diaries, draft reports to the throne, the unpublished manuscripts and files of the imperial examination at that time to discover the one-hundred-year mystery and provide a full certification, so that the problem can be solved in the true sense. In addition, this paper also tries to show the basic features of the translator's life with detailed information.


&NA; Our knowledge about, and the availability of, orthobiologic materials has increased exponentially in the last decade. Although previously confined to the experimental or animal‐model realm, several orthobiologics have been shown to be useful in a variety of clinical situations. As surgical techniques in vascular anastomosis, softtissue coverage, limb salvage, and fracture stabilization have improved, the size and frequency of bony defects (commensurate with the severity of the initial injury) have increased, as well. Because all methods of managing segmental bony defects have drawbacks, a need remains for a readily available, void‐filling, inexpensive bone substitute. Such a bone substitute fulfills a permissive role in allowing new bone to grow into a given defect. Such potential osteoconductive materials include ceramics, calcium sulfate or calcium phosphate compounds, hydroxyapatite, deproteinized bone, corals, and recently developed polymers. Some materials that have osteoinductive properties, such as demineralized bone matrix, also display prominent osteoconductive properties.


Two recently published books, first prepared as Ph.D. theses, examine the interaction of church and state during the separate school crises in Manitoba and the North-West Territories. Though numerous studies have been made of both these closely related issues, Paul Crunican and Manoly Lupul are the first to have exploited the archives of the Catholic Church. In doing so they add an essential dimension to our understanding of two critical developments in the defining of French Canada's status within Confederation. It is clear that the victory of the public school system in western Canada helped to ensure that the French Canadians would not feel secure as a distinct culture outside Quebec. But the question then arises, why did the French Canadians in Quebec not take a stronger stand in defence of minority rights outside their Province? In 1896 they rejected the Conservative party though it supported a remedial bill designed to ensure separate schools. In 1905 all but two Quebec Liberal M.P.'s supported Laurier when he bowed to Protestant pressure on the separate school issue in Alberta and Saskatchewan. Crunican feels that in 1896 Quebeckers had simply lost faith in the ability and willingness of the Conservative government to redress the grievances of the Manitoba minority. This cannot be denied, but he may be going too far when he claims that they felt Laurier would be more successful. The traditional theory of Laurier winning Quebec in spite of his school policy still makes more sense. Lupul confines himself more strictly to Ottawa and the Territories, but he makes it very clear that by 1905 most French Canadians realized the futility of trying to force their institutions upon a hostile majority. In fact it is quite probable that they already felt this way in 1896. The attitudes of Quebec toward the Manitoba School Question were embodied to a remarkable degree in one man, Lieutenant-Governor Adolphe Chapleau. Historians are almost unanimous in declaring that, as spokesman for Quebec's moderate Conservatives, Chapleau might well have rescued the province for the government had he consented to join the Cabinet prior to the election. The disagreement arises as to why he stayed out. Neatby and Saywell have attributed his behaviour to his hostility towards the ultramontane wing of the party, while Crunican echoes Lovell Clark in claiming that


The tempering and spheroidization of martensitic Fe-C binary alloys ranging in carbon content from 0.2% to 1.4% in 0.2% increments have been investigated. The tempering was conducted at 690 C for up to 3 weeks. Quantitative metallography techniques were used to determine average carbide diameter and ferrite grain aspect ratio. Recrystallization was not found to occur during tempering, and the ferrite grain aspect ratio was shown to be dependent on the prior austenite grain size, carbon content, and temper time. Carbides were found to reside almost exclusively in the grain boundaries and the carbide coarsening kinetics were governed by a power law relationship, d = kt{sup n}, where n is determined by the diffusion mechanism. The coarsening kinetic time constant, n, fell between 0.2 and 0.23 for the entire range of Fe-C alloys studied, indicating that the coarsening process during tempering is controlled by carbon diffusion in grain boundaries and dislocation.


A very extensive vane shear testing program of sediments from potential manganese nodule mining areas was conducted in 1975 during Leg III of NOAA's DOMES program. This effort was performed in conjunction with planned USGS studies. Replicate vane shear tests were made on 51 large box cores recovered from the three DOMES study sites A, B, and C. The statistically designed coring program (nested type), combined with efforts to sample major topographical features provided an ideal opportunity to more accurately assess the strength characteristics of nodule area sediments, including the macro- and micro- variability of this parameter. Test results demonstrated that the original vane shear strengths for the majority of cores tested from all three sites agree very closely. Average original strength profiles for each site increase from approximately 0.5 to 1.0 psi in the first 3-6 inches of sediment depth, thereafter values remain nearly constant or increase to about 1.4 psi in the rest of the depths examined. Average sensitivity values (ratios of original to remolded strength) however, were higher for Site C than Sites A and B. Analysis of the vane shear strength lateral variability showed that the largest percent of the variability is contributed by differences between cores from the same station, and the next largest percent by differences between tests conducted in the same core. At all test depths, strength differences between different stations and different sites were found to be less significant. These results clearly indicate the need for more detailed sediment sampling within relatively small seafloor areas.


A Model of sulphur evolution in the high-sulphur coal is introduced in the paper to reflect the palaeo-envi-ronment during the coal accumulation based on isotopic determinations of the organic sulphur and pyrite ( δ34S of organic sulphur from - 12. 3‰ to 5. 8‰ and δ34S of pyritic sulphur from -18. 7‰ to 1. 1‰), in combi-naion with synthetic analysis of coal petrology and findings of pyritized rod-like bacteria and blue-green algae's gelationous sheath in the column sections of the No. 9 coal seam in the Wuda coalfield, Inner Mongolia, China. The model indicates that the sulphur isotopes, whose values tend to be negative owing to extensive fractionation caused by reduction of dissimilatory bacteria of sulphates. During the formation of the high-sulphur coal, Fe2+ and organic matter show an affinity with S2~ in the initial stage of pyrite and organic sulphur formation, the isotopic composition of sulphur shows layered variations from bottom to top in the coal seam, and the generation of sulphur in the coal reflects a reversed variation with that in the geological history. These characteristics reflect the open degree of SO42- and H2S in a system and filtration of 32SO42- owing to the pyrite formation, and the contributions of Fe2+ and SO2-4 to formation of the high-sulphur coal in the initial and late stages of peat accumulation, which shows a symmetry in the column section.


This article comments on Roger McCormick's essay "Towards a More Sustainable Financial System: The Regulators, the Banks and Civil Society" ((2011) 5 Law and Financial Markets Review 129). Professor McCormick argues that the problems resulting from the 2007–09 global financial crisis cannot be resolved through legislation and regulation alone, but instead necessitate the greater engagement of civil society in internal banking affairs. This article argues that civil society can play a role in financial market regulation through the law when it includes the self-regulation of various professional market operators, putting into practice the principle of horizontal subsidiarity and thereby obtaining a higher level of regulatory compliance.


1523Background: Mutation carrier prediction models are clinically useful tools for identifying candidates for genetic counseling and testing. Consensus guidelines recommend germline genetic testing for those with a carrier probability (CP) of approximately 5% or higher. However, prediction models may perform less well among racial/ethnic minorities. Our hypothesis is that pathogenic mutations (PM) are identifiable in a clinically meaningful fraction of racially/ethnically diverse patients with a CP of < 5%. Methods: We conducted a multicenter prospective clinical trial of patients undergoing cancer-risk assessment using a 25 gene panel, which include APC, ATM, BARD1, BMPR1A, BRCA1, BRCA2, BRIP1, CDH1, CDK4, CDKN2A, CHEK2, EPCAM, MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, MUTYH, NBN, PALB2, PMS2, PTEN, RAD51C, RAD51D, SMAD4, STK11, TP53. Patients were recruited from August 2014 to November 2016 at three centers. Patients were enrolled if they met standard clinical criteria for genetic testing or were predicted to have a ≥2.5% prob...


SUBTITLE: HOW DO VARIOUS TIRE SPECIFICATIONS IMPROVE OR REDUCE FUEL ECONOMY, AND WHAT ARE THE TRADE-OFFS BETWEEN FUEL COSTS AND OTHER TIRE- RELATED COSTS?


Nowadays,"conflicts of indirect interest"between government officials and common people and among different interest groups often occur accidentally,but may spread quickly and evolve into "conflicts of direct interest".These conflicts are mainly caused by social inequality as well as certain incorrect ideology.Thus,governments must make efforts to advocate the idea of harmonious society,improve their public credit,and widen ways of finding out public opinions so as to solve such kind of social contradictions efficiently.


Everyone chooses signature as an authorization tool from the beginning till now. Each and every businessman uses bank cheques for most of his transactions. Even though banks are computerized, verification of signature in cheques is done manually which consumes time and even misleads sometimes. This is how signature verification system originated. Verification of signatures can be done on-line or off-line depending upon the application. In this study, a Neural Network model is designed for the signature verification and testing using the Offline Bank Cheque Signature Verification System. The acquired signature from the bank cheque is pre-processed and the Gray Level Co-occurrence Matrix (GLCM) features of the signature are extracted. .


We report two patients who presented with altered mental status and involuntary movement under administration of cefepime (CFPM). Both cases had impaired renal function. Electroencephalogram (EEG) revealed generalized periodic discharges (GPD) or generalized rhythmic delta activity (GRDA): 3Hz in the case 1 and 1 to 2Hz in the case 2. In spite of the severe abnormality in the EEG, both patients could respond to simple commands, which suggested possible dissociation between clinical findings and EEG. The patients recovered several days after discontinuation of CFPM, and had no clear residuals. We sometimes have difficulty in determining the cause of non-specific altered mental status; drug-induced, toxic, or metabolic encephalopathies are possible differential diagnoses. Arguably, the EEG findings shown here can be a clue to correct diagnosis of CFPM induced encephalopathy.


Stem rot of berseem (SRB) caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (SS) is the most devastating and cosmopolitan plant disease, and infecting more than 400 species of plants worldwide. The disease is reported to cause more than $200 million losses. In Pakistan, the disease is infecting all cultivars of Berseem and causing heavy losses. The Sargodha district is the main Berseem cultivation area of Punjab, Pakistan.  Agronomic practices are playing key role in its spread and dissemination to new fields. The hypothesis of current study was that this disease may be curtailed by altering agronomic practices. Hence, the following study was planned on the objective to evaluate the effect of agronomic practices of district Sargodha farmers on the disease incidence (DI) of SRB. To accomplish this objective, a detailed survey was arranged in seven tehsils of Sargodha during Berseem season in 2020-2021. The surveys were repeated every fifteen days throughout the cropping season. The villages and fields were selected randomly during the surveys. Every field was divided into five sections to note down the DI of SS. Agronomic practices surveys showed significant effect on SRB incidence in different tehsils. However, the effect of agronomic practices was different in different tehsils of Sargodha. In tehsil Kotmomin and Sargodha, canal irrigations, four number of irrigations, citrus inter-cropping, October and September-October cropping seasons, respectively, significantly (P < 0.05) decreased DI of SRB. In tehsil Sargodha, canal irrigations, four number of irrigations, citrus inter-cropping, and October cropping season significantly (P < 0.05) decreased DI of SRB. In tehsil Shahpur, canal irrigations, six number of irrigations, September cropping season and citrus intercropping significantly (P < 0.05) decreased DI of SRB. In tehsil Sahiwal and Sillanwali, tube-well+ canal irrigations, four number of irrigations, mustard and citrus inter-cropping, respectively, and October cropping season significantly (P < 0.05) decreased DI. It was concluded that change in agronomic practices could help lessen the SRB incidence in district Sargodha. The current study sets the foundation of future study to further investigate the role of different agronomic factors to eco-friendly manage SRB.


We report two cases of pediatric mammary‐analog secretory carcinoma (MASC), a male operated on at age 8 and a female operated on at 12, who are in remission 2 years after surgery. The diagnosis of MASC was challenging and established by identifying the ETV6::NTRK3 fusion transcript in both cases. Given the excellent results of TRK inhibitor treatments in adult MASC and pediatric tumors expressing an ETV6::NTRK3 fusion, they should probably be prescribed as first‐line treatment in cases requiring surgery with foreseeable serious sequelae or metastatic disease.


HWW Syndrome also known as OHVIRA (Obstructed Hemivagina and Ipsilateral Renal Agenisis) is a rare genitourinary anomaly that occurs in females. It is classified as class III Mullerian dygenisis [1]. This condition involves uterus didelphys and blind hemivagina associated with ipsilateral renal agnenisis. It represents 5% of total Mullerian dysgenisis [2]. The onset of symptoms usually begins after the menarche. Abdominal and pelvic pain are the most common symptoms. The diagnosis is difficult because of the infrequency of the syndrome and requires precise imaging to evaluate uterine cervical and vaginal morphology. Early detection and treatment of the syndrome can relieve the symptoms, improve the quality of life and prevent serious complications [3]. We present here a case of investigation and management of this condition with pelvic pain in young female.


Objective The value and security of treating the gallbladder-pancreas diseases with endoscopic sphincterotomy were investigated.Methods Applied an Olympus JF 240 video duodenumscope, an Olympus PSD 20 high-frequency electrosurgical unit, and a series of the apparatuses of endoscopic sphincterotomy and treating gallbladder-pancreas diseases, the patients who had the certificates were put up endoscopic sphincterotomy and homologous treatment.Results 25 cases of the gallbladder-pancreas disease were treated. Among them, 10 cases of ductus fellea calculus, 3 cases of ductus choledochus cancer, 1 case of pancreas cancer, 2 cases of duodenum nipple-narrow, 2 cases of sphincter of Oddi dysfunction, 6 cases of acute necrotizing pancreatitis, and 1 case of ductus pancreatic calculus, they obtained all the satisfying treatment results, Happening only 3 cases erupting acute light pancreatitis, not happening the complications of rupture, evident hemorrhage, et al.Conclusion It is safe and effectual that the patients of gallbladder-pancreas diseases who have the certificates are put up endoscopic sphincterotomy and homologous treatment.


Data retention loss in a localized trapping storage flash memory cell with a SONOS type structure is investigated. Both charge loss through the bottom oxide and lateral migration of trapped charges in the nitride layer are considered for the data retention loss. Charge pumping and charge separation methods are used in this study. Our results reveal that in normal operation condition the retention loss is mainly caused by charge leakage via P/E stress created oxide traps.


The effects of plant growth regulators on the leaf membrane permeability and protective enzyme activity in cold treated Cinnamomum camphora(L.) Presl were discussed to provide a theoretical basis for the feasibility of introduction of this plant into northern area.The results showed that the physiological indicators including SOD,POD,CAT,electrolyte leakage rate,Pro,MDA were influenced in some degree when different concentration of plant growth regulators was sprayed on the leaves.SOD,POD and CAT activity was the highest and the relative conductivity,Pro and MDA content was the lowest when the concentration of plant growth regulator was 300 mg/L.


The present invention relates to the use of hydroxycinnamic acids and / or their derivatives and plant extracts selected from meadowsweet extract, St. John's wort extract and extracts the hydroxycinnamic acids and / or derivatives thereof, for the inhibition of enzymes, in particular the cystathionine beta-lyase, and / or for the prevention or treatment of body odor, particularly in the axillary region, and cosmetic and pharmaceutical preparations, in particular deodorants and antiperspirants containing these active ingredients.


Printing via the network, enter the credit card information that is printed data and related should be printed in the host terminal, and upload the print job with the print data and associated credit card information to the print data storage server, store print data enter your credit card information from an input device in communication with the server has an associated credit card information supported credit card information input by the input device, the print data stored in the printer storage server, print data transmitted from the storage server to said input device is performed by printing the print data at the printing device. Print data transmitted to the print device, in order to ensure those marked as print ready, print jobs that have been uploaded may be marked as a print-ready. Further, before the print data is transmitted to the input device, to select a print job to be printed the user, it may provide an indication of print jobs on hold to the user.


This paper discusses the maximum likelihood and the method of moments estimation of parameters in a zero-inflated power series model. This model is shown to belong to two parameter exponential family. The maximum likelihood and the moment estimators are asymptotically compared. Further, the special cases of the zero-inflated power series model viz. zero- inflated Poisson, binomial, and negative binomial models are also discussed.


The invention discloses a multi-layer quantum well light-emitting diode structure, a carrier providing layer is arranged on one side of a light-emitting layer, thereby providing an additional carrier for the light-emitting layer to participate in recombination; and the carrier providing layer comprises a plurality of layers of well layers and barrier layers which are stacked alternately, the well layers and the barrier layers respectively have the thickness, and the total thickness of the carrier providing layer is 1nm-500nm. The well layers and the barrier layers are produced by Si or Ge-doped AlpInqGa1-p-qN (p and q are not less than 0, and p plus q is not less than 0 and not more than 1) compound semiconductors, and respectively have different components, wherein the barrier layers have band gaps which are higher than the well layers. The electron concentration of the carrier providing layer is 1 multiplied by 1017-5 multiplied by 1021/cm3. The multi-layer quantum well light-emitting diode structure can avoid/reduce the use of impurities in the light-emitting layer.


Background: This study aimed to investigate the impact of postoperative complications (PCs) in patients with pathological stage (pStage) II or III gastric cancer (GC) who received adjuvant chemotherapy with S-1 after curative surgery. Patients and Methods: Altogether, data for 226 patients were examined retrospectively. The relationship between PCs and clinicopathological features and survival were examined. Results: Recurrence-free survival was significantly worse in the group with PCs than in the PC-negative group. On multivariate analysis, having PCs of grade 2 or more was an independent risk factor for recurrence (hazard ratio=1.721; 95% confidence intervaI=1.014-2.920; p=0.044). In addition, for each pStage analysis, having PCs of grade 2 or more was a risk factor for recurrence even in patients with pStage II GC. Conclusion: PC of grade 2 or more was an independent risk factor for recurrence in patients with pStage II GC who received adjuvant chemotherapy with S-1 after curative gastrectomy. Thus, for patients with PCs, even for those with pStage II GC, more effective adjuvant chemotherapy, such as S-1 plus docetaxel, may be needed.


jumping off from Browne to wander in his own more desert places. Grey's final brief chapter, in part previously published in Milton Quarterly, deals with Melville's annotations of his copies of Milton's poetry. Melville appears to see in Samson Agonistes "a tragedy of a God so inscrutable to his followers that they cannot distinguish inspiration from delusion, paternal chastisement from abandonment and betrayal" (21 7). Melville's Milton, like that of the Romantics, is inclined, in Andrew Marvell's phrase, to "ruine the sacred truths," although he falls short of "the English Romantic poets' angered certainty of divine sadism" (221). Clearly, Melville's Milton points in the direction of Pierre, where the key question is "how can a man get a Voice out of Silence" when silence is "the only Voice of our God" (NN Pierre 208, 204). Seventeenth-century influences after Moby-Dick part company with Browne's genial Latitudinarianism to take on a wormwood taste. It is at this point that I want to revisit Melville's debt to Montaigne and to that greatest of skeptical mental travelers, Jonathan Swift. Bryan C . Short Northern Arizona University


200 A communication interface circuit transferS Signals between a TTL microcontroller and a RS232 device while avoiding level translation. The interface circuit includes two Switch elements. A first Switch element is connected between the TTL receive terminal and the ground Supply. The Second Switch element includes a first node that is an electrical communication with the TTL transmit data terminal, the RS232 transmit data terminal and the RS232 receive data terminal, a Second node in electrical communication with the first TTL power Supply and a control node in electrical communication with the TTL receive data terminal. The interface circuit is configurable to a first Switching State in which electrically connects the first TTL power supply terminal to the RS 232 receive data terminal. In a second Switching State, a -12V default Voltage Signal is conveyed from the RS232 transmit data terminal to the RS232 receive data terminal and a Voltage Signal is conveyed from the RS232 transmit data terminal to the TTL receive data terminal. An interface circuit permits communication between an RS232 port and a TTL device without requiring level translation. This is accomplished by interposing a Switching transistor between the RS232 port and the TTL device. Selective activation of the Switching transistor per mits a high Voltage Signal to be transmitted from the power supply rail of the non-RS232 device to the RXD pin of the RS232 port, where the Signal is interpreted as a logical low. This step takes advantage of the fact that the RS232 standard interprets any Voltage received at the RXD pin greater than a receiver threshold Voltage to be logical Zero. Selective deactivation of the Switching transistor isolates the RS232 port from the non-RS232 device, permitting a negative voltage signal output by the TXD pin of the idling RS232 port to be conveyed back to the RS232 port at the RXD pin. This negative voltage signal is interpreted by the RS232 port as a logical high Signal. This step takes advantage of the fact that the RS232 standard calls for the TXD pin to emit a -12V signal when the RS232 port is otherwise idle.


Bloom Filter is a data structure for membership query which is deployed in diverse research domains to boost up system's performance and to lower on-chip memory consumption. However, there are still lacking of a high accuracy Bloom Filterwithoutcompromisingtheperformanceandmemoryspace. Moreover, the scalability causes more memory consumption as well as time complexity. Therefore, in this paper, we present a novel Bloom Filter, called accurate Bloom Filter (acBF), which features: a) an impressive guaranteed accuracy of 99.98%, b) a maximum false positive probability of 0.00015, c) lower collision probability, d) free from false negative, e) optimal insertion and membershipquerycost,andg)≤ 8−bits ofmemoryconsumption per item. acBF deploys eight multidimensional Bloom Filter. ThesemultidimensionalBloomFilterseliminatethefalsepositives at eight stages without sacrificing the system performance. We have conducted rigorous experiments to validate the accuracy of acBF which is unprecedentedly high. Also, acBF is compared with Scalable Bloom Filter (SBF) and Cuckoo Filter (CF). Experiments show acBF outperforms SBF and CF in terms of accuracy, and scalability. Moreover, performance of acBF outperforms CF in lookup operation. But, CF outperforms acBF in insertion. However, accuracy of acBF is incomparable with both SBF and CF.


Background  The Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) establishes and maintains latent infection in B lymphocytes of the healthy adults. Lymphocytes remain viable during red blood cell (RBC) storage. The effect of RBC storage on the stability of EBV‐infected B lymphocytes and EBV genome is not known.


This paper presents a fine-tuned implementation of the quicksort algorithm for highly parallel multicore NVIDIA graphics processors. The described approach focuses on algorith-mic and implementation-level improvements to achieve enhanced performance. Several fine-tuning techniques are explored to identify the best combination of improvements for the quicksort algorithm on GPUs. The results show that this approach leads to a significant reduction in execution time and an improvement in algorithmic operations, such as the number of iterations of the algorithm and the number of operations performed compared to its predecessors. The experiments are conducted on an NVIDIA graphics card, taking into account several distributions of input data. The findings suggest that this fine-tuning approach can enable efficient and fast sorting on GPUs for a wide range of applications.


We present a detailed atomic-scale analysis of the postdeposition treatment of hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) thin films with H2 plasmas. The exposure of a-Si:H films to H atoms from a H2 plasma was studied through molecular-dynamics (MD) simulations of repeated impingement of H atoms with incident energies ranging from 0.04to5.0eV. Structural and chemical characterizations of the H-exposed a-Si:H films was carried out through a detailed analysis of the evolution of the films' Si–Si pair correlation function, Si–Si–Si–Si dihedral angle distribution, structural order parameter, Si–H bond length distributions, as well as film surface composition. The structural evolution of the a-Si:H films upon exposure to H atoms showed that the films crystallize to form nanocrystalline silicon at temperatures over the range of 500–773K, i.e., much lower than those required for crystallization due to thermal annealing. The MD simulations revealed that during H exposure of a-Si:H the reactions that occur include s...


"Hospital performance reporting is a new theme under discussion internationally. The OECD member countries agreed to begin activities in this field in 2015 . Italy can take the leadership of this initiative, having organized the very first meeting ever done on this topic.". With these words Niek Klazinga, Professor of Social Medicine at the University of Amsterdam and Project Coordinator OECD "Health Care Quality Indicators" (HCQI), closed the series of presentations at the workshop "Opportunities and challenges of hospital performance public reporting at the national level: international experiences and future perspective", held in Rome on the 26 th September 2014.


In the first period, the US was emerging from the uncertain postwar years to unprecedented economic prosperity, political stability, and a culture built around families and children. Federal policies enabled millions of Americans to fulfill the dream of owning a home, typically in the suburbs, and legislation facilitated large numbers of returning servicemen to obtain a college education for free, quickening their move up the socioeconomic ladder. In 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas which struck down school desegregation, offered the promise of a better society built on racial equality. In 1955, Dr. Jonas Salk invented the polio vaccine conquering a killer and crippler of children through the ages. And, by 1956, millions of teens were bopping to a new musical phenomenon called rock 'n' roll.


GRAFSTAT is a software application system containing a rich and integrated set of tools for the scientist or engineer that is used widely in IBM. It runs on an IBM System/370 processor. It allows a user to• explore data interactively• create graphics• analyze data using functions of applied statistics


Providing clean water is an essential component a huge impact on health, the lives of rural people on low incomes in the district of West Lombok, good for daily necessities, household must meet health requirements, among others, free from germs, and does not contain toxic materials, therefore the water is one of the components to be utilized and developed in a focused, planned, as well as useful and can support life human being. A research development activities aimed to find out how the effect of water supply and motivation of the community, the facility will given by the government for low- income governments in western lombok district. In this thesis use non eksprimental ie with one taking data.Data obtained through non eksprimental method is, the data obtained as follows; of 46 people / respondents there were 37 people (63%), which felt the influence of procurement provision of facilities provided by the government.


This paper aims to investigate the effects of new public management reforms on human resource practices of a public organization in Jordan, a Middle Eastern country in the developing world. The data was collected from fifteen purposeful semi-structured interviews in the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM), one of Jordan's biggest public organizations. The data was analyzed using thematic analysis (i.e., a coding technique). The findings revealed the challenges and gaps in Human Resource (HR) practices from gaps in implementing New Public Management (NPM) reforms which weakened the performance of the public organization. The discussion and conclusion are presented at the end.


Background: The aim of this study was to characterize ESBLs in outpatient clinical isolates, at the first time in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Methods: Fifteen K. pneumoniae strains and 5 E. coli strains were isolated from urine obtained from outpatients with confirmed urinary tract infections. ESBLs were detected by double-disk synergy test and by 8 fold reduction in ceftazidime MIC in the presence of clavulanate. Transferability of resistance to oxymino cephalosporins was tested by conjugation (broth mating method) employing E. coli A15R- stain resistant to rifampicin as recipient. Frequency of transconjugation was expressed relatively to the number of donor cells. Beta-lactamases were characterized by isoelectric focusing on polyacrilamide gel. BlaESBL genes were detected by PCR with primers specific for TEM, SHV and CTX-M beta-lactamases. Plasmids encoding ESBLs were extracted by alkalyne lysis procedure and analysed after electrophoresis in agarose gel. Molecular relatedness between the strains was investigated by PFGE. Results: Ten out 15 K. pneumoniae and 3 out of 5 E. coli strains transferred resistance to E. coli recipient. The frequency of transconjugation ranged from 10-2 to 10-5. All K. pneumoniae strains and their E. coli transconjugants produced a beta-lactamase with the pI of 8.2 typical for SHV-5 beta-lactamase. Donor strains had an additional band with the pI of 7.6 which is a chromosomally encoded SHV-1 in K. pneumoniae. E. coli strains and their respective transconjugants displayed a band with the pI of 5.4 to 6 typical for TEM beta-lactamases. PCR detected blaSHV genes in all K. pneumoniae strains and their transconjugant and blaTEM genes in all E. coli strains. No CTX-M beta-lactamase producers were found. ESBL genes were encoded on the large plasmids of 100 to 150 kb. Conclusions: Not only hospitals serve as ESBL producers reservoir today. SHV-ESBLs awere dominant among K. pneumoniae strains, whereas TEM-ESBL were most prevalent in E. coli isolates contrary to the results obtained by other authors who found CTX-M beta-lactamases to be the most prevalent in outpatient setting. According to isoelectric focusing, SHV-5 beta-lactamases or its derivatives found in K. pneumoniae strains, which are already widespread in middle and east Europe. Further analysis of beta-lactamases by sequencing of ESBL genes would be necessary in order to determine the exact enzyme type.


The link between foreign exchange and stock markets has numerous practical business implications. If international diversification strategies are to be successful, these markets should display low levels of correlation. In addition, understanding the determinants of asset volatilities, as well as their international correlations, are important parameters for the day to day risk management of financial institutions, the risk management of firms operating internationally, and the pricing of contingent claims. This paper examines whether there is a link between exchange rate stability and stock market volatility and correlations. I find that the connection between exchange rates and stock market correlations and volatilities extends beyond periods of extreme crisis.


ABSTRACT The photographic work of Captain Linnaeus Tripe (ca. 1851–1860) falls in a transitional decade in which the albumen print began to supplant the salted paper print process. In the 1850s, a wide variety of albumen recipes led to a broad range of print sheens from matte to semi-glossy. These low sheen prints are more difficult to distinguish from salted paper prints. The presence of an albumen binder layer in these prints may not be as obvious as in later albumen prints, even under magnification. Instrumental analysis, such as infrared spectroscopy, can identify the presence of protein but cannot reliably differentiate between a binder layer and a subsequent coating. This paper discusses the visual and scientific analysis of prints created by Tripe. In addition, a set of standardized albumen print simulacra based on a recipe used by Tripe was prepared for comparison to his prints. Both groups of prints were investigated by visual examination, gloss measurement, and non-sampling instrumental analysis by ATR-FTIR, in addition to SEM analysis of the simulacra. The results of the research help to explain the material character of these prints and similar lightly albumenized prints of this period.


Review of Families, Physicians, and Children with Special Health Needs (Rosalyn Benjamin Darling & Margo I. Peter, eds., Auburn House 1994) About the authors and contributors, foreword, index, preface, resource list. ISBN 0-86569226-2. [206 pp. Cloth $49.95. 88 Post Road West, Westport CT 06881.]


On the basis of the analysis on the various calculation methods of flue gas temperature deviation and steam temperature deviation in large capacity utility boilers, a new calculation method of flue gas temperature deviation and steam temperature deviation is proposed. The comparison between the calculating results and thermal experimental results shows that the calculation methods have enough accuracy and can be applied in the practical design and operation of superh-eater and reheater systems in large capacity utility boilers.


Ten volunteers kept written records of self-selected, daily events for a one-week period. After four months, they were given a surprise recognition test. This test consisted of original memories and several types of foils. In line with previous findings of Barclay and Wellman, it was found that acceptance of foils as one's own memories is a relatively common phenomenon. This suggests that pseudomemories may also occur in the absence of suggestions and repeated interviews and, more generally, that autobiographical memory is intrinsically unreliable.


The rapid growth of e-commerce transactions in Indonesia triggers the increase of airplane cargo service demands. From the information provided by the KPPU, several airplane cargo providers are suspected to conducting practices conflicting the UU No. 5 / 1999. The issues discussed in this paper are the analysis of unfair competitions in deciding cargo service price in Indonesia and the measurements KPPU take in performing law enforcement regarding this matter. This research is carried out by using normative juridical approach, the data are collected from secondary resources, the collected data are then processed with editing methods and are analyzed qualitatively. The forms of unfair competition conducted by airplane cargo providers in Indonesia are cartel and oligopoly. In tracing the unfair competition allegation, KPPU have performed investigations and summoned a number of parties involved in the practice. The practice of unfair competition in deciding airplane cargo service price brings disadvantages to customers and other business doers in the same field


Liquorice is one of the most widely used traditional Chinese medicines in clinic in China, which was first published in Shen Nong's Herbal Medicine Classic. There are many methods of preparation of Liquorice, which mainly use honey-roasted licorice tablets and licorice tablets in modern clinic. Honey-roasted licorice has the functions of invigorating the spleen, stomach and invigorating qi and restoring the veins. Different processing methods of honey-roasted licorice have some effects on its medicinal properties, appearance, active ingredients and pharmacological effects. By studying and comparing the effects and characteristics of traditional honey-roasted licorice processing methods and modern honey-roasted licorice processing methods on the appearance characteristics of licorice, this paper provides useful reference and reference for the development and utilization of licorice in modern Chinese medicine industry. The results showed that the seven modern honey-roasted liquorice processing methods were superior to the traditional processing methods, especially the honey-roasted liquorice produced by the wine honey-roasted liquorice mildew shelf-life was about twice as long as the traditional honey-roasted liquorice mildew shelf-life.


The present invention provides a method of inputting characters into a handheld device, a step of reading handwriting information, and recognizing the handwriting information in one active recognition mode and at least one inactive recognition mode, and at least one character candidate obtained in said active recognition mode, the steps of displaying at least one character candidate obtained in at least one inactive recognition mode, in said character candidates being displayed in the desired character candidate selected by the user, the method comprising the steps of: inputting into the handheld device. Further, the present invention is a corresponding apparatus for inputting characters into a handheld device, and the associated handheld devices is also provided. User does not need to specify the handwriting recognition mode, the recognition accuracy is greatly improved. .FIELD 1


Difflugia is a morphologically diverse genus of testate amoebae, which are common components of freshwater ecosystems. e observed a new morphotype similar to Difflugia tuberspinifera but without spine in four Xiamen reservoirs, Fujian Province, outheast China. We investigated its morphology and biometry using light and scanning electron microscopy. The linear disriminant analysis and principal component analysis of biometric characters revealed that the spiny and spineless forms of . tuberspinifera differed only in the presence or absence of spine. Shell height, shell diameter, aperture diameter and collar eight did not differ significantly between the two morphotypes. The number of conical spines varies from 0 to 8. However, the istribution of spine numbers showed two main modes at 0 (spineless form 45.1% of individuals) and 4–6 (38.9%), suggesting he possible existence of two genetically distinct lineages. Spines may have ecological and evolutionary significance. Our results uggested that the spiny and spineless morphotypes of D. tuberspinifera represent either a single variable taxon with different cotypes or sibling species. Further morphological studies on clonal variations and molecular approaches are needed to clarify f the spineless morph represents an independent species or not. 2013 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.


Do Vitamin D Receptor Gene Polymorphisms Correlate With Osteoporosis in Post- Menopausal Women?
Osteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disease that is characterized by compromising bone strength resulting to bone fractures. The major determinant of osteoporotic fractures (Bone mineral density: BMD), has a particular genetic background. However, exact association between BMD with different genes has not been evaluated.


The purpose of this study was to investigate the use in the Japanese language of honorifics (a system of politeness expressions incorporated into the grammar) on the perception of irony in assertives. In Experiment 1, the contents (positive and incongruent with facts vs. negative and congruent with facts) and the style (honorific vs. nonhonorific) were manipulated in utterances directed to addressees to whom the use of honorifics was overpolite. Honorific utterances were judged to be more ironic than nonhonorific ones only when their contents were negative. In Experiment 2, the status relationship between the communicators as well as the style was manipulated. Utterances directed to lower-status addressees were taken to be more ironic when they contained honorifics (overpolite). Those directed to high-status addressees were, however, taken to be more ironic when they did not contain any honorifics (impolite). The results of the 2 experiments suggested that the divergence of politeness levels in either direction (i.e., overpolite or impolite) heightens the perception of irony through pragmatic insincerity.


Selectivity properties were established for membrane electrodes prepared by incorporating tribenzyltin carboxylates in plasticized polymeric membranes. These electrodes display high selectivity for salicylate with respect to many common anions. An electrode prepared with tribenzyltin octoate, using o-nitrophenyl octyl ether (o-NPOE) as the plasticizer, possesses the best potentiometric response characteristics, including a fast response time. It shows a linear response towards salicylate ions over the concentration range 0.1–5 × 10–6 mol l–1 with a slope of –57.5 mV decade–1 in buffer solutions of pH 5.5. The behaviour of the electrode is considerably influenced by the plasticizer employed and the optimum response appears to result when o-NPOE is present. The electrode was applied to the determination of salicylate in pharmaceutical and urine samples.


In the present contribution, the strategy of atomic force microscope mapping of periodical rough surfaces is combined with an extension of the polyhedral model. Atomic force microscope images are numerically interpolated, applying non‐uniform rational B‐splines, which also have the advantage that simultaneously to the interpolation, they provide the normals at any point on the rough surfaces. Compared with the polyhedral model, in the present scheme, any rough surface is accurately well approximated by a finite set of almost infinitesimal planes, which are all oriented in accordance with the normals obtained, while non‐uniform rational B‐splines interpolate the surface. In this view, the Beer–Lambert law is straightforwardly applied to compute all local (almost pointwise resolved) contributions to the photoelectron intensity on the analyser site. The proposed numerical scheme is validated in case of Si samples possessing either arbitrary rough, one‐ or two‐dimensional periodic structures on the analysed surfaces. In this manner, it is shown that the computed angle‐resolved XPS well agree with the experimental ones. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.