The state-of-art of research progress of CuO nanomaterials on gas sensing are reviewed including the applications of CuO nanomaterials as bulk gas sensing materials and dopant.The preparation methods of one-dimensional CuO nanowires,nanorods and nanotubes are introduced emphatically,as well as their gas sensing properties to various kinds of flammable or poisonous gases.The future development directions and the existent problems of the CuO nanomaterials are also pointed out.


Intensity of leaf blight caused by the Alternaria alternata was assessed (42.63%) on the basis of leaf covered by the disease. Root rot caused by Fusarum solani was 24.55%. The pathogenicity was established with Fusarium solani and Alternaria alternata. Initiation of leaf blight and root rot diseases was observed during September and October coupled with rainfall and high humidity prevailed during preceding weeks. Contributory and profound effect of all weather parameters was found to correlate with diseases development. Among the botanicals maximum inhibition of Alternaria alternata and Fusarium solani was achieved in eucalyptus leaf extract (78.75%) and ProsOfts Juliflora (71.25%).


Qin and Han horse graph in the shape,form,and other methods have great differences,the fundamental reason for the QinHan period different characteristics of the times and cultural roots.QinHan horse graph design embodied in the ancient direct impact on the thinking of modern design,the modern design of the draw plays a certain role.


The invention belongs to the technical field of medicines, and specifically relates to isophthalamide compounds having anti-tumor activity and an application thereof. The isophthalamide compounds include compounds as shown in a general formula (I) as shown in specification, isomers of the compounds of the general formula (I) or the salts of the compounds of the general formula (I), wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 can be the same or different, and are selected from hydrogen, cyano group, hydroxyl, halogenated alkyl, alkoxy, alkoxyalkyl, alkylamido, alkylamidoalkyl or R5; X represents S, O, NH or N-alkyl; the R5 is substituted carbonyl. The pharmacological activity screening results of the compounds indicate that the compounds have a good inhibition effect on MCF-7 (human breast cancer cells) and HeLa (human cervical cancer cells) and also have a favorable development and application prospect in the aspect of anti-tumor.


Pursuant to experience teach for a number of years in study of PKN, teacher find student activity symptom during study process still less, what also affect to result learn student. Target of this research is to identify result and activity learn student by using method of quantum learning. this Research type is Research of Action Class with research location in SD 36 Stone of Limbak, instrument in this research is teacher observation sheet, student observation sheet and of tes result of learning. Pursuant to result of research can know that student activity at cycle of I obtained by activity mean enquire student 31,25% mounting at cycle of II 75% with improvement 43,75%, at cycle of I obtained by activity mean reply/ answer question of student 31,25% mounting at cycle of II 81,25% with improvement 50%, also at cycle of I obtained by student activity mean in concluding items 40,63% mounting at cycle of II 78,63% with improvement 37,5%. Result learn student at cycle of I mean 62.5 mounting at cycle of II 80. Pursuant to research which is writer do hence obtained by conclusion that study use method of quantum learning can improve result and activity learn student, and if method of quantum learning executed better hence will happened better communications among/between student and teacher so that study take place more interesting Keyword: Activity, Quantum Learning, PKN


The essays in this thesis span two important and related themes in development economics: understanding and relaxing constraints to small scale entrepreneurship and designing markets in environments with weak institutional enforcement. Methodologically, the essays marshal both theory and field experimentation to study these issues. In joint work with Ernest Liu, Chapter 1 offers a new explanation for why microcredit and other forms of informal finance have so far failed to catalyze business growth among small scale entrepreneurs in the developing world, despite their high return to capital. We present a theory of informal lending that highlights two features of informal credit markets that cause them to operate inefficiently. First, borrowers and lenders bargain not only over division of surplus but also over contractual flexibility (the ease with which the borrower can invest to grow her business). Second, when the borrower's business becomes sufficiently large she exits the informal lending relationship and enters the formal sector an undesirable event for her informal lender. We show that in Stationary Markov Perfect Equilibrium these two features lead to a poverty trap and study its properties. The theory facilitates reinterpretation of a number of empirical facts about microcredit: business growth resulting from microfinance is low on average but high for businesses that are already relatively large, and microlenders have experienced low demand for credit. The theory features nuanced comparative statics which provide a testable prediction and for which we establish novel empirical support. Using the Townsend Thai data and plausibly exogenous variation to the level of competition Thai money lenders face, we show that as predicted by our theory, money lenders in high competition environments impose fewer contractual restrictions on their borrowers. We discuss robustness and policy implications. In work with Reshmaan Hussam and Natalia Rigol, Chapter 2 explores a different facet of small-scale entrepreneurship. The impacts of cash grants and access to credit are known to vary widely, but progress on targeting these services to high-ability, reliable entrepreneurs is so far limited. We report on a field experiment in Maharashtra, India that assesses (1) whether community members have information about one another that can


Electrochemical discharge machining with high-speed micro-electrode is a micro-machining process based on the fundamental of electrochemical discharge principle. The process has been applied in metal for drilling micro-holes. Drilling of micro-holes in stainless steel is a challenge working. A few qualitative conclusions are obtained by drilling micro-holes in stainless steel by electrochemical discharge machining with high-speed electrode using pure water as electrolyte. An experimental setup was established. A micro-hole was drilled in stainless steel successfully.


To investigate the trend of HIV/AIDS and care of people affected by AIDS in Sub-Haran Africa. The method adopted in this paper was a descriptive analysis of the HIV epidemiology in Sub-Saharan Africa based on the valid research from different perspective about HIV and AIDS in the study region. The data used were through the report of Joint United Nations Programme on AIDS (UNAIDS), United Nations Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF), Association for Reproductive and Family Health (ARFH), Society for Family Health (SFH) and National Youth Service Corps HIV Community Service Group, Benue, Nigeria. The vast majority of people living with HIV are located in low- and middle income countries, with an estimated 68% living in sub-Saharan Africa. The success story of dropping in the prevalent is a reality of the national bodies assisting the country to see how zero prevalent HIV and AIDS is real. This target is to achieve 90-90-90 vision in which 79-78-86 had been achieved on the global trend. The effort of peer educator trainers, awareness HIV/AIDS on radio and television programme and through other stake holders who are working towards ending the AIDS epidemic has been the secret behind the compliance of Benue people towards spreading of AIDS' news and not the virus which has result into the dropping of the AIDS prevalent in Benue State from the number one to two.


lood is one of the most serious natural disasters in china.This paper, on the basis of the point of ecology,puts forward seven ways to guide people to fight a flood and to reduce its loss at a maximum level.


The Bi 2 O 3 -SiO 2 glasses were prepared by the melt cooling method. The non-isothermal crystallization kinetics and phase transformation kinetics of the BS glasses were analyzed by the Kissinger and Augis-Bennett equations by means of differential scanning calorim- etry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results show that three main crystal phases, namely Bi 12 SiO 20 , Bi 2 SiO 5 , and Bi 4 Si 3 O 12 are generated sequentially in the heat treatment process. The corresponding activation energy is 150.6, 474.9, and 340.3 kJ/mol. The average crystallization index is 2.5, 2.1, and 2.2. The crystal phases generated by volume nucleation grow in a one-dimensional pattern, and the metastable Bi 2 SiO 5 can be transformed into Bi 4 Si 3 O 12 , which is in a more stable phase. 3. The Kissinger equation was used to calculate the crystallization activation energy of the base glass and the results are E p1 = 150.6 kJ/mol, E p2 = 474.9 kJ/mol, and E p3 = 340.3 kJ/mol. The Ozawa equation was used to calculate the crystallization activation energy of the base glass and the results are E p1 = 76.0 kJ/mol, E p2 = 254.5 kJ/mol, and E p3 = 186.8 kJ/mol. The calculation results of the two methods show that the crystal phase Bi 12 SiO 20 in the low-temperature zone A has the strongest crystallization ability and the crystal phase Bi 2 SiO 5 in the medium-temperature zone B has the weakest crystallization ability. The average crystallization index of three kinds of crystals was calculated by Augis-Bennett equation and the results are n p1 = 2.5, n p2 = 2.1, and n p3 = 2.2, respectively. The crystallization process is mainly affected by diffusion.


Purpose: This study aims to describe the presentation of SOEs' financial information by presenting the Internet Financial Reporting (IFR) index. This study uses secondary data taken from the website of each SOE. This study uses a sample of all SOEs in Indonesia. The rapid development of the internet has significantly affected activities in the government, business and community, sectors. The internet has several characteristics and advantages in the overall disclosure of information, such as pervasiveness, unlimited access, timely communication, and low cost. Internet Financial Reporting (IFR) is a voluntary disclosure of financial statements through a company's official website, in which its quality is measured using the IFR index. Law No. 14 of 2008 states that one important element regarding information disclosure is the public interest that affects the lives of many people. With this law, public companies, including State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), must report all information related to their businesses through their websites
Design/methodology/approach: The research method used is purposive sampling method with 2 observations, in November and December 2018. This study is classified as a quantitative study
Findings: The results of this study indicate that there are still many SOEs that have not utilized the content, timeliness, technology used, and user support on their websites properly.
Research limitations/implications: There is one sector that does not have a website, namely the sector of accommodation and food and drink providers.
Practical implications: State your implication here.
Originality/value: originality
Paper type: Research paper


Purpose To evaluate the effect of immunotherapy on response, survival, and certain immune markers in patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) who are receiving chemotherapy. Patients and methods Patients with SCLC (n = 164) were assigned to receive either chemotherapy alone (group A) or a combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy as follows: interferon α (IFN-α; 3 million IU) 3 times per week (group B); IFN-γ (3 million IU) 3 times per week (group C); and IFN-α and IFN-γ (1.5 million IU of each) 3 times per week (group D). Chemotherapy was the same for all groups and consisted of eight cycles with carboplatin 5.5 mg/m2 intravenously on day 1, ifosfamide 3.5 mg/m2 intravenously on day 1, and etoposide 200 mg/m2 total dose taken orally on days 1 through 3, every 28 days. Patients completing chemotherapy were restaged, and those who were found to have limited disease received primary site and prophylactic cranial irradiation. Immunotherapy was continued throughout these treatments and during the follow-up period. Blood was taken before each course of chemotherapy and during follow-up to measure CD3+ lymphocytes, CD3+CD4+ lymphocytes, CD3+CD8+ lymphocytes, natural killer cells, and natural killer T cells. Results Differences in response and survival were not significantly different when all patients were considered. However, among patients with limited disease, Kaplan–Meier analysis disclosed a survival benefit for group B (P , 0.05). The analysis of immunologic measurements revealed that the improvement of immune markers was always accompanied by clinical improvement, whereas deterioration of all markers was accompanied by disease progression (result not statistically significant except for group C; P , 0.05). Conclusion Among cytokines used in the study, only IFN-α seems to confer a survival benefit to patients with SCLC with limited disease. However, immunotherapy remains a challenge in the treatment of lung neoplasms and should be further explored.


In addition to warfarin, the family of vitamin K antagonist (VKA) oral anticoagulants includes acenocoumarol, phenprocoumon, phenindione and fl uindione. 1 These drugs alter the functionality of vitamin K-dependent coagulation factors II, VII, IX and X and anticoagulant proteins C, S and Z by inhibiting the vitamin K epoxide reductase complex subunit 1 (VKORC1), while non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) directly inhibit a single coagulation factor (i.e. dabigatran inhibits factor II, and rivaroxaban, apixaban and edoxaban inhibit activated factor X). 2 All NOACs exhibit a stable, dose-related anticoagulant effect with no food – drug and less drug – drug interactions than VKAs and are used in fi xed doses without routine laboratory monitoring of anticoagulant effect or food restrictions. 1,2 In a meta-analysis of the four landmark randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of NOACs versus warfarin in patients with atrial fi brillation (AF), NOACs were associated with a signi fi cant 19% relative risk reduction (RRR) in any stroke or systemic embolism (SSE), a signi fi cant 10% RRR in all-cause mortality and a 14% RRR in major bleeding ( p ¼ 0.06). 3 Importantly, all NOACs consis-tently


Laboratory cultures were used to test predictions of the r- and K-selection hypothesis. Populations of several combined strains of Paramecium primaurelia were subjected to r-selection. Rather than decreasing saturation density as predicted, r-selection increased K in experimental populations. Growth rates and saturation densities measured for several ciliate species concur with selection experiments. Predictions assuming that saturation density (K) reflects species competitive ability are not verified by experiments here. Study results, however, support the essential prediction that greater competitive ability is compatible only with reduced rates of growth, while poor competitors should have high growth rates.


Firms spend significant resources on creating and maintaining long-term customer relationships. We explore the role of this customer capital a form of intangible capital for firm valuation and physical investment. We build a general equilibrium model of long-term customer relationships, where existing customers are partially locked-in due to frictional product markets, and firms advertise, competing for customers by offering discounts. Calibrating the model, we find that it reproduces the low correlation of investment with Tobin's Q, and the high correlation of investment with cash flows found in data. Consistent with our model, we find that in the data investment is more correlated with cash flows, and less with Q, in industries where customer capital (as proxied by advertising expenses) is more important.


Linear density response functions are calculated for symmetric nuclear matter of normal density by time-evolving two-time Green's functions in real time. The feasability and convenience of this approach to this particular problem has been shown in previous publications. Calculations are here improved by using more 'realistic' interactions derived from phase-shifts by inverse scattering. Of particular interest is the effect of the strong correlations in the nuclear medium on the response. This as well as the related energy weighted sum rule, dependence on mean field and effective mass are some of the main objects of this investigation.
Comparisons are made with the collision-less limit, the HF+RPA method. The importance of vertex corrections is demonstrated.


The rate of gas-liquid mass transfer is very important in several industrial chemical engineering applications. In many multi-phase reaction systems, however, the mechanism of mass transfer is not well understood. This is for instance the case in Gas-Liquid-Solid (G-L-S) and Gas-Liquid-Liquid (G-L-L) systems. To obtain more knowledge of the mechanism of mass transfer, the mass transfer coefficient, kL, and the interfacial area, a, should be studied separately. In this work an ultrasonic measurement technique is used to study the local interfacial area in a standard sized vessel, equipped with a Rushton type impeller. This is done in combination with experimental determination of the volumetric mass transfer coefficient, kLa, using the dynamic oxygen method, to obtain values for kL. The gas hold-up is determined additionally to obtain values for the Sauter mean bubble diameter at different positions in the vessel. In a coalescing air-water system the bubble size was non-uniform throughout the vessel and increased from small bubbles at the impeller along with the flow pattern to larger sizes in the bulk of the vessel. In a non-coalescing electrolyte system the vessel was much more uniform and the bubbles were smaller when compared to the air-water system. To obtain overall values of the mass transfer parameters the local values were integrated according to their volume fraction in the reactor. In both coalescing and non-coalescing systems the overall values for the mass transfer parameters were in good agreement with literature correlations. The addition of small volume-fractions of toluene to an air-water system caused a strong decrease in both the volumetric mass transfer coefficient and in the gas hold-up. The interfacial area increased, however, but it was shown that this was due to the presence of microbubbles in the solution, which do not take part in the mass transfer process. The enhancing effect on gas-liquid mass transfer due to the addition of larger volume-fractions of toluene could be described reasonably well by a homogeneous model of the shuttle mechanism.


We initiated and mapped a diatom bloom in the northeast subarctic Pacific by concurrently adding dissolved iron and the tracer sulfur hexafluoride to a mesoscale patch of high‐nitrate, low‐chlorophyll waters. The bloom was dominated by pennate diatoms and was monitored for 25 d, which was sufficiently long to observe the evolution and termination of the bloom and most of the decline phase. Fast repetition–rate fluorometry indicated that the diatoms were iron‐replete until day 12, followed by a 4–5‐d transition to iron limitation. This transition period was characterized by relatively high rates of algal growth and nutrient uptake, which pointed to diatoms using intracellularly stored iron. By days 16–17, the bloom was probably limited simultaneously by both iron and silicic acid supply, because low silicic acid concentrations were evident. Modeling simulations, using data from our study, provided an estimate of the critical threshold for algal aggregation. Observed diatom abundances during the bloom exceeded this threshold between days 13 and 17. Mass sedimentation of diatoms and diatom aggregates was recorded in surface‐tethered free‐drifting sediment traps at 50 m in depth on day 21. Although the termination of the bloom was probably controlled by the availability of both iron and silicic acid, we cannot rule out the role of algal aggregation. The bloom decline was likely triggered by the onset of mass sedimentation. During our study, evidence of both diatom species succession and species‐specific aggregation point to important links between algal nutrient stress and the initiation of algal aggregation.


The NHS continues to be overcharged for surgery contracted out to private health providers, according to recently published figures from the financial year 2002-3.

The NHS reference cost for a coronary bypass operation is £6320 ($11 280; €9496), but 1600 such operations were done on NHS patients by private contractors last year at an average cost of £12 060—an extra 91%. The NHS spent an average £4660 on each hipreplacement done by its own staff but paid an average of £6848 for private hip replacements.

Health minister John Hutton admitted when the NHS reference costs were published that operations done …


This paper tries to fathom the pain of being rejected and outcast by Dalits in the society whichis equally belongs to them. Interestingly Dalits are not foreigner in the Hindu society. At thesame time, they have not done any harm to any upper cast in India. Still they met with utmosthatred and disrespect by other members of the society. One cannot understand this realitywith one's rational mind. In this paper, we shall try to realise what exactly they want from us.


The maintenance and improvement of electromechanical system are key tasks,which have great effect on maneuverability of electromechanical system.Through the improvement of electromechanical equipment on Nanjing Airdrome Expressway,the operational efficiency of electromechanical equipment is enhanced,and the system function is optimized,which can lower the rate of occurrence of failures and reduce the cost and investment.


T aim of this paper is to present the latest tribological data concerning the mechanism of protective film formation by fuels containing synthetic hydrocarbons and alcohols. The fuels were tested using HFRR and BOCLE methods. The criterion for fuel lubricity in the HFRR and BOCLE tests was the ball wear. The HFRR tester was also capable of measuring the film thickness. The analyzed fuels for diesel and turbine engines consisted of mineral fuel and three series of synthetic compounds, i.e., paraffinic hydrocarbons with an even number of carbon atoms in the chain, paraffinic hydrocarbons with an odd number of carbon atoms and isomers of butanol. The synthetic compounds were added to the mineral fuel at a concentration of 0-20% (v/v). All the fuels tested contained commercially available lubricating additives (carboxylic acids). The addition of the synthetic compounds to the mineral fuel had two effects: diluting the lubricating additives and changing the intermolecular interactions of the base fuel (with no additive). Both effects were considered while analyzing the test results. The experimental data were studied taking into account the conclusions drawn from the αi model described by Kajdas, Kulczycki and Ozimina. The analysis revealed that the liquid phase i.e., the protective film should consist of agglomerates or clusters of hydrocarbon molecules, which are responsible for the transfer of energy in the form of electrons triboemitted from a metal surface to the molecules of the lubricating additives. The proposed mechanism can explain the influence of the base fuel on the effectiveness of the lubricating additives.


Let H be a finite-dimensional and semisimple Hopf algebra over an algebraically closed field of characteristic 0 such that H has exactly one isomorphism class of simple modules that have not dimension 1. These Hopf algebras were the object of study in, for instance, [1] and [9]. In this paper we study this property in the context of certain abelian extensions of group algebras and give a group theoretical criterion for such Hopf algebras to be of the above type. We also give a classification result in a special case thereof.


In mathematical analysis Deng Xiaoping's theory has unique theoretical structure-"the point-line-area" model.Unique theoretical thinking-the "" explanation and unique theoretical conclusion-the deep viewpoint of number in meaning.


Using chip design technology of surface electrode and packaging technology with thin and dense surface glass increase the dissipation constant of element and enhance the capacity of resistance to harsh environment(moisture, salt spray, and so on) of high power chip NTC thermistor. Wide strip cutting process can adjust the resistance value accurately, and enhance electrical properties of high power chip NTC thermistor.


By introducing the content of technological transformation of PbZn Imperial Smeltering Furnace(I) in ShaoGuan Smelter in 2006,this paper summarized the production situation and effect after transformation and analyzed the reason why the productivity is enhanced largely.Plus the reference significance is provided for the next transformation.


Peptide TZ1H, based on the heptad sequence of a coiled-coil trimer, undergoes fully reversible, pH-dependent self-assembly into long-aspect-ratio helical fibers. Substitution of isoleucine residues with histidine at the core d-positions of alternate heptads introduces a mechanism by which self-assembly is coupled to the protonation state of the imidazole side chain. Circular dichroism spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and microrheology techniques revealed that the self-assembly of TZ1H coincides with a distinct coil-helix conformational transition that occurs within a narrow pH range near the pKa of the imidazole side chains of the core histidine residues.


JOHNSTON, MARSHALL C. (U. Texas, Austin.) The species o Ziziphus indigenous to United States and Mexico. Amer. Jour. Bot. 50(10):1020-1027. Illus. 1963.-Taxonomic treatment is presented for the 7 species of Ziziphus P. Mill. (Rhamnaceae: Dicotyledoneae) recognized in United States and Mexico, with key, synonymies, descriptions, and distribution maps. The taxon Condaliopsis is restored to Ziziphus after having been treated as a subgenus of Condalia Cav. for more than 60 years on the basis of superficial vegetative characters. The name Z. sonorensis S. Wats. for the widespread Mexican species is replaced by the prior Z. amole (Sesse & Mogifio) comb. nov. The genus Sarcomphalus P. Br. is referred to Ziziphus, the type species becoming Z. sarcomphalus (L.) comb. nov. Some fossil remains attributed to this genus are mentioned, but phyletic speculations are advisedly postponed until the whole genus and related genera can be reviewed. ZIZIPHUS P. Mill., a cosmotropical genus of about 100 species of trees, shrubs and lianes, was last monographed by A. P. deCandolle (1825) and, needless to say, is badly in need of revision. A conspectus was published by Suessenguth (1953) but he was able to provide a key for fewer than half the species which have been proposed. On the basis of study of the inadequate material in American herbaria, I think the Old World species, including two-thirds the total number, comprise several phyletic series all of which are adequately distinct from the New World species. The latter can, therefore, be treated separately without fear that vital affinities will be missed. The Old World species are represented with us by the cultivated and/or escaped Z. jujuba P. Mill., which is the type species of the genus, and Z. mauritiana Lam., which often passes under the illegitimate homonym Z. jujuba (L.) Lam. These 2 species furnish the edible jujube fruits of local commercial importance, and they are illustrative of characters of several Mediterranean and Near Eastern species, and of some species of Paliurus P. Mill., characters which are not found in any New World species. The spines are paired, appear to be stipular in nature, and are often markedly dissimilar in size and direction of curvature at each node. The branches are like fronds in that the leaves and the branches in their axils are distichous, coming off in a single plane. In contrast, in many of the New World species, the structures which are commonly paired at the I Received for publication April 17, 1963. Some of this work has been supported by National Science Foundation grants NSF-G9234 and NSF-G14987 at the Plant Research Institute, The University of Texas. The considerable cost of shipment of borrowed specimens has been borne by the Herbarium of The University of Texas. I am indebted to those in charge of numerous herbaria for permitting me to examine the collections; the institutions of the few specimens here cited are indicated by the standard abbreviations of Lanjouw and Stafleu (1959). I follow the original spelling of the generic name by Philin Miller (AhridLed Gard. Diet. 175;4) nodes and which have, therefore, nearly always been called stipular spines (Johnston, 1962), are thorn-tipped lateral branches emerging from the lower nodes of the axillary bud (Malme, 1920). The stipules are minute and early deciduous, the thorns commonly stout and persistent. Such usually paired thorns are characteristic of the species of South America, a notable exception being Z. cinnamomeum Tr. & P1. of Venezuela, which pertains to a peculiar Antillean triumvirate including Z. chloroxylon (L.) Oliv. and Z. rhodoxylon Urb. The continental North American species include only olle in which the characteristic paired thorns are present, the one which has up to now been called Z. sonorensis S. Wats. (Z. amole of this paper). It is a widespread arid tropical species most closely related to the South American Z. mistol Griseb. and Z. oblongifolia S. Moore. The other Mexican species have thorn-tipped branchlets but these are rarely paired at the nodes. For more than 50 years these species, on the basis of the superficial characters of unpaired, thorntipped branchlets and small leaves, have been included in the remotely related genus Condalia Cav. as subgenus Condaliopsis Weberb. Reasons for excluding these species from Condalia were given in a revision of that genus (Johnston, 1962). I have been unable to find characters to exclude them from Ziziphus. One of them, the distinctive endemic Z. yucatanensis Standl., shows close relationship to the type species of the West Indian genus Sarcomphalus P. Br., which displays the thorn-tipped branchlets of Ziziphus (Urban, 1924) and has been separated by the supposed character of the extrorse placement and dehiscence of the anthers. In most Rhamnaceae the anthers are essentially latrorse or slightly introrse, and though they are more extrorse in Sarcomphalus (as in Ceanothus L. and some of the colletioid genera), the difference is one of degree. Grisebach (1864), who remarked that there was nothing peculiar about the anthers, maintained


The productivity of modern agriculture is the result of a remarkable fusion of technology and science. In the West this fusion was built on ideological foundations that, from the early Middle Ages, have valued both the improvement of material well-being and the advancement of knowledge.


A cirrus-chain type floating guide wire for the catheter used to diagnose and treat cardiovascular disease and transmitting the particular cether to target tubular cavity in cardiovascular system has a guide wire body composed of head unit and body unit. Said head unit consists of several small floating bodies and flexible jointers for connecting said small floating bodies. Said guide wire is the combination of the chained floating bodies with front cirrus and alloy steel wire.


A MAV(Micro Aerial Vehicle) is defined as under 100g, 15cm unmanned vehicle and it is operated in the range of low Reynolds number. The Low Reynolds number flow has 4 general aspects:1)laminar flow, 2)flow separation, 3)separation bubble and 4)reattachment caused by turbulent flow. The separation bubble reduces lift, increases drag, and changes the pitching moment characteristics. It is important to obtain the longitudinal stability since the separation bubble has influenced on the pitching moment characteristics. Hence, several airfoils have been developed by modifications and combinations of existing airfoil geometries. This study is focused on improvement of 2D and 3D aerodynamic characteristics for those modified airfoils.


This edition contains a useful cumulative listing of individual entries included in all four editions which is helpful in locating the entries on specific individuals. There are 40 new biographical entries. Some 36 entries survive from the 1985 first edition which contained a total of 112 entries. According to the editor, the entries selected are usually of those active in "specifically political organizations" (p.xxxi). However, this does not exclude persons in business, the bureaucracy and other fields who might have a political impact. Depending upon one's particular research interest, one should ideally have all four editions close at hand. Many entries on individuals in the earlier editions are not included in the later editions since they might have faded from political prominence or taken up diplomatic or other positions inside or outside the country. It is always a difficult problem to determine who should be included in a reference work of this nature. If for example, entries on COSATU office bearers are included, one questions whether at least some reference should not be made to some of the office bearers in smaller labor groupings like the Federation of South African Labor Unions and the National Council of Trade Unions which could also have a political impact. The volume contains an introduction by Tom Lodge, a leading scholar on South African politics, who attempts to contextualize the entries in terms of South Africa's recent political evolution. Nearly 40 of the entries are on important ANC members and about half of these entries are on members involved in the organization from the early years of the "struggle." As a pointer to the content of the next edition, Lodge believes that it is likely to cover a growing number of technocrats who find their way into a future ANC dominated government. In conclusion, the four volumes provide a most useful resource base for a wide range of researchers. The entries are all highly readable, although one wonders whether some of the personal detail is really necessary. This and previous editions fill a gap in the biographical literature available on the important political role players in the transitions period establishment and non-establishment South African political movements.


New derivatives of the pyridyloxazole-type fluorophore were synthesized in high efficiency through click chemistry. This method is potentially useful for the combinatory screening of fluorescent labels to target specific biological processes. Using this method, we successfully developed three new ratio-metric dual-fluorescent pH sensors.


Empirical and theoretical investigations of chaotic phenomena in macroeconomic systems are presented. Basic issues and techniques in t esting economic aggregate movements are discussed. Evidence of low dimensional strange attractors is found in several empirical monetary aggregates. A continuous time deterministic model with delayed feedback is proposed to describe the monetary growth. Phase transition from periodic to chaotic motion occurs in the model. The model offers an explanation of the multiperiodicity and irregularity in business cycles and of the low-dimensionality of chaotic monetary attractors. Implications in monetary control policy and a new approach to forecasting business cycles are suggested.


Objective:In order to explore the reform result of nursing vocational education.Methods:According to the new concept of vocational education,the authors redesigned pharmacology teaching in nursing.Results:After the reform,the curriculum was well combined with nursing post.The students hare a clear idea of the relationship between the basic knowledge of drugs and the concept of nursing.Conclusion:Heuristic teaching stimulates students' interest of learning.The students can apply the knowledge of pharmacology better in their nursing work after graduation.


Accompanied with the rapid development of science and technology in the age of internet and information,library faces the important transforms in the knowledge and service industries.This paper expounds the informationization construction of library from several aspects.


The earth-return impedance and capacitance formulas of a finite parallel multiconductor with arbitrary positions have been proposed. A comparison with measured results has proved that the accuracy of the impedance formula is satisfactory. By applying the formulas, the characteristics of the finite line parameters such as a propagation constant and a characteristic impedance are investigated in comparison with those given by the conventional assumption of an infinite line. The impedance of the infinite line is greater and the capacitance is smaller than those of the finite line. The difference increases as the line length and source frequency decrease, and the height, radius and separation distance increase. According to the foregoing, the attenuation constant and the characteristic impedance of the infinite line are greater and the propagation velocity is smaller than those of the finite line.


Zero-valent metal (ZVMs)-based persulfate activation systems are extensively applied for the elimination of organic pollutants in aqueous environments. In this study, for the first time, zero-valent copper (ZVC) was employed as the peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activator for the efficient degradation of Orange G (OG). The physicochemical properties of ZVC were systematically characterized by FESEM, EDX, TEM, XRD and XPS measurements. Furthermore, the effects of catalyst loading, PMS dosage, OG concentration and inorganic anions on the ZVC/PMS system were, respectively, investigated and explicated. The formation of •OH and SO4•− in the system was verified by quenching experiments and then the possible reaction mechanism was proposed. This work can provide insight into water treatment technology based on ZVMs.


Abstract : The correlation of point anomalies with the separation between them was investigated by means of the correlation coefficient. Correlation curves for free air anomalies were established in Ohio and Finland, and for Bouguer anomalies in Ohio alone. The individual curves showed a wide variation, but the curve obtained by meaning the values of a particular correlation coefficient from the individual curves gave a reasonably smooth curve that turned negative at 107 km in Ohio and 147 in Finland. Various equations were applied to these mean curves to find an analytical representation. A satisfactory representation was found from a third order polynomial representation. Tests of the prediction formulas for free air anomalies were carried out using circles of 20 and 40 km in radius. An accuracy analysis was made by comparing the predicted mean anomaly with a true mean anomaly. Based on 14 points in Ohio a mean error of one prediction was !4 mgals and on 15 points in Finland was !3 mgals (for R=40 km). In both cases this was an increase in the accuracy of mean anomaly above that if the mean anomaly was simply taken as the point anomaly at the center of the circle. (Author)


The risk of disease transmission removes a sizable portion of corneal donor tissue from the possibility of surgical use. Physicians, eye bank leaders, and health-related organizations share responsibility for monitoring and updating standards to address new threats, such as Zika virus.


IN May, 1938, a hoard of thirty gold nomismata of Manuel I (1143-1180) was uncovered in the excavations at Old Corinth (figs. 1-2). The coins were found buried in the fill of the road to the south of a building which is either a wing of the Monastery of St. John the Theologian or a row of shops adjoining its south wall. Across from the Monastery were a pottery factory and a glass factory and farther to the east was a row of shops which faced an open square to the east of the Monastery. The coins may have belonged to either of the factories or have formed part of the Monastery treasury, but since they were found in the road it is not improbable that they came from another part of the city or country. It is an interesting fact, however, that a hoard of bronze coins of Manuel I was found in the glass factory, and many bronze pieces of the same emperor were found scattered in both factories and in the


PURPOSE
The purpose of this case study is to illustrate the nursing process by incorporating the standardized nursing languages of NANDA International, the Nursing Interventions Classification, and the Nursing Outcomes Classification to assist an older adult with a history of falls.

DATA SOURCES
The data sources were the author's clinical nursing practice and research-based evidence related to falls of older adults.

DATA SYNTHESIS
The data were synthesized by using clinical reasoning to select the best possible nursing diagnoses, interventions, and patient outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS
To provide a framework for nurses to achieve positive patient outcomes, standardized nursing languages should be incorporated into patients' clinical nursing databases.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING
In determining factors that relate to falls, nurses need to obtain baseline data, set goals with patients, and identify milestones, while encouraging patients to be active participants in plans of care.


We demonstrate a 1-kHz, single-shot, dynamic, and sensitive flame temperature measurement using hybrid femtosecond/picosecond vibrational coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering. This benefits from a 7-cm−1, 240-μJ, and sideband-free picosecond pulse out of a broadband 35-fs pulse through a quasi-common-path second harmonic bandwidth compressor system. Measurements around optimal time delay exhibit superior performance with a temperature inaccuracy of less than 1% and a precision of ∼2% at 1790 K. These results demonstrate the advantages and potential for the accurate and fast temperature measurement in practical or harsh environments.


A breakthrough in polymer technology has dramatically increased the range of conditions for phosphate-based water treatment programs. Phosphate is good complexing agent whether introduced alone or in combination with other metal cations, eg Zn2+, Mg2+, or Mb2+ in neutral aqueous media. In addition, their hydrolytic stability and scale inhibiting property are reasons why it is widely used as corrosion inhibitors. Results from recent water treatment simulations and used in several chemical plants demonstrated an improved performance. A study was carried out on the corrosion of metal by analyzing the metal immersed in tab water containing zinc polyphosphate in the absence and presence of terpoly (arylamide/acrylic acid/acrylonitrile) with various formulations for a period of five days at 40°C. The effectiveness of the terpolymer in inhibiting the corrosion of metal in water is discussed based on scanning electron microscope (SEM) and weight loss results. A formulation consisting of phosphate-based which is sodium polyphosphate, metal ions (Zn2+), and poly (arylamide/acrylic acid/acrylonitrile) are observed to increase inhibition
efficiency, increased tolerance to environmental, and generally longer plant run times.


This study proposes a research model in which food healthiness is considered in addition to the five strategic experiential modules (sense, feel, think, act, and relate) to test the antecedent variables that may enhance customer value and intention to revisit grocerants. For the empirical analysis, consumers with experience of using seven Korean grocerants were surveyed. Grocerant experience and food healthiness were found to be associated with hedonic and utilitarian values and these values were shown to have a significant effect on revisit intention. This study differentiates itself from earlier studies of consumer experience in the foodservice industry that ignore the importance of food healthiness. The presented research model shows the importance of the roles played by food healthiness and the five strategic experiential modules in enhancing customers' value perception and intention to revisit grocerants. The theoretical framework proposed and tested in the research model of this study is thus expected to serve as the basis for future research on experiential marketing in the foodservice industry.


No sooner did the Environmental Protection Agency issue final rules on cutting chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) production last week than it was hit with the threat of a lawsuit by the Natural Resources Defense Council. The national environmental group asserts EPA's regulations will not protect the stratospheric ozone layer, as required by law, or even keep the current depletion problem from getting worse. The new EPA regulations echo the terms of the Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer, the international agreement to control the output of both CFCs and halons (fluorocarbons that contain bromine atoms). Production of CFCs is to be frozen at 1986 levels on July 1, 1989. CFC output is to be cut 20% by mid-1993, then an additional 30% by mid-1998. Halon output is to be frozen at 1986 levels on July 1,1989. For the Montreal Protocol to go into effect on schedule, it must be ratified by at least 11 ...


It is just over 25 years since the first cases of AIDS were reported. Over this quarter-century, AIDS has become one of most highly studied diseases in history. There have been significant medical advances in understanding the consequences of HIV infection and treating AIDS, as is well documented in many journals, including AIDS. The complex and place-specific social, economic, behavioural and psychological drivers of the spread of HIV remain less well delineated. The consequences of increased illness and death in poor countries and communities are still unfolding.


In general the Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) consists of two methods which are using thruster and buoyancy control. Since the thruster required high power demand, so this project will used ballast tank as buoyancy control based on the Archimedes principle. This project consists of three objectives which are to design a ballast tank, to design PID controller in order to improve the performance of the ballast tank, and to compare the algorithm system of the ballast tank between the system control level from surface and the system control level from bottom. Pressure sensor from model MPX4250GP is used in this project as control feedback system. Besides, pressure sensor also converts analog input to voltage (v) in order to compare with desired input set. In this project, mechanical design will focus on the construction of the ballast tank that can move the piston to pump water in and pump water out effectively. Next, PID controller will be implemented in the real hardware in order to improve the performance of the ballast tank. This PID controller will be design by using PID tuning method in the Matlab. Experiment results shown that the system with PID controller is able to perform better performance in term of rise time and settling time, and able to maintain disturbance up to 120g for 300rpm and 80g for 200rpm. At the end of this project, the algorithm system of the ballast tank have been compared between the system control level from surface and the system control level from bottom. It is found that future ballast tank can use both algorithms system (by switching) to control depth level based on suitable depth error.


Presented is the design of a cusp electron gun that is be used in a Gyrotron-Backward Wave Oscillator which is operating in the W-Band (75 - 110 GHz) frequency range. A cusp gun uses a non-adiabatic magnetic field reversal to impart azimuthal motion on an electron beam forming an axis-encircling beam. The cusp gun was designed to generate a beam of 2 A at 40 kV with a pitch factor of 1.65, in order to operate at a centre frequency of 94 GHz. The beam had an axial velocity spread of 7.4% with a beam radius spread of 12.2% and alpha spread of 10.1%.


The mechanical activity of skeletal muscles is associated with the generation of electric signals that can be recorded by electrodes inserted in the muscle or fixed over the skin. The electric signals generated by the muscles during their activity are referred to as electromyographic (EMG) signals.

Intramuscular EMG recordings were the first techniques developed to study the physiology of muscle control and force generation, and are still widely used in research, as well as in clinical practice, to reveal pathologies of neurogenic or myogenic origin. In recent years, however, a remarkable effort has been put in the development of novel surface EMG recordings system and techniques to complement and integrate the fields of application of intramuscular EMG ones. The information that can be extracted from EMG signals is now widely used for research purposes and in many different sectors including rehabilitation medicine, ergonomics, neurophysiology, and sports and space medicine.

This chapter will provide a short overview of the state of the art in the design of intramuscular and surface EMG electrodes and equipment, as well as a brief synopsis on their clinical and research applications.

Keywords:

electromyography;
intramuscular recording;
surface recording;
electrodes;
tissue-electrode interface;
acquisition systems


The author describes a mechanism of buildup of openness in alum alloys castings, measures for its exclusion and means of blockage of its negative effect on properties of castings.


OBJECTIVE:To investigate the safety and efficacy of Sinupret in the treatment of pediatric sinusitis.METHO_DS:142 cases of pediatric sinusitis were randomly divided into 3 groups.The treatment group were treated with Sinupret;control group 1 were treated with Ambroxol and control group 2 were treated with Myrtol.The Clinical therapeutic effects and ADRs of three groups were observed after treatment for 1 week.RESULTS:Outstanding clinical therapeutic effect was found in the treatment group as compared with the control groups.The former effective rate was 90.91%,while the that in latter ones were 72.50% and 72.22%,respectively(P0.05).There were no obvious ADRs in 3 groups,the rates of which were 4.5%,5.0% and 5.6%,respectively (P0.05).CONCLUSION:Clinical therapeutic effect of Sinupret on the treatment of pediatric sinusitis is better than that of ambroxol and myrtol.The safety of sinupret is equivalent to Ambroxol and Myrto.


The paper presents an approach to the development of a constitutive model including constitutive relations as well as evolution and closing equations. The approach is based on the hypothesis of the existence of the finite set of internal tensor variables, physical and mechanical parameters that characterize completely the here-and-now state of the material. This allows writing physical equations as simple relations (tensor-algebraic or differential). In this case the history of actions is not neglected and its carriers are introduced by internal variables. A possible structure type of the constitutive model is discussed. Plastic deformation of single crystals in the 2D statement is used to illustrate the derivation of constitutive relations. Algorithms for determining active slip systems under force and kinematic loading are given. Peculiarities of the crystal behavior at lattice rotation are studied for different loading conditions. The evolution of the orientation distribution function for the crystallographic system of grain coordinates under kinematic loading is determined.


Ectopic pregnancy (EP), defined as the implantation of an embryo outside the uterine cavity, is a notable complication in the first trimester (especially between the sixth and ninth weeks of gestation) and can cause severe intra-abdominal bleeding and death. In the United States, from 2013‒2017, there were 0.36 EP deaths per 100 000 live births. In addition, from 1998‒2007, excessive haemorrhage, shock or renal failure accompanied 67.4% of the EP deaths of hospitalized women (1). Clinical symptoms of EP are pain in the lower abdomen and vaginal bleeding in combination with a positive pregnancy test. In the case of rupture of a fallopian tube, patients may show signs of haemorrhagic shock, including dyspnoea, hypotonia and tachycardia (2). A prior EP may also negatively affect female fertility due to damage or loss of the fallopian tube. More than 95% of all EPs are tubal pregnancies, 1%‒2% are located in the intramural part of the uterus and a small number are ovarian, cervical or abdominal pregnancies. The very rare case of a combination intrauterine and EP, called a heterotopic pregnancy, occurs in 1 of every 3000 EPs (3). The aetiology of EP is multifactorial, including anatomic obstruction of the fallopian tube, malfunction of the tubal mobility and molecular factors (4). The main risk factors for the occurrence of EP are pelvic inflammatory diseases (chlamydia trachomatis, and gonorrhoea), previous sterilisation, application of an intrauterine device (IUD), previous tubal or intrauterine surgeries, previous EP, endometriosis, smoking and assisted reproductive techniques (ART) such as in vitro fertilisation (IVF) when performed in women with tubal pathologies (5-8). The prevalence of EP has increased worldwide due to improved diagnostic capabilities, increasing use of ART and tubal surgery and increased maternal age (2). The rate of EP following natural conception is approximately 2%, whereas the rates following ART are from 2.1%‒11% (9). In Germany, following IVF, the highest EP rate is 4.5%, which is in smokers under age 30 who have tubal pathology (8). Tubal surgeries also can cause EP, with an incidence rate of up to 40%, depending on the location, type and severity of the tubal pathology and the surgical procedure performed (10). Often, verifying an EP is difficult. The diagnosis is made using a combination of the clinical symptoms, vaginal ultrasound and serum biochemistry, although there is no existing human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) value Abstract Objectives: Ectopic pregnancy (EP), which is defined as the implantation of an embryo outside the uterine cavity, occurs with notable frequency in the first trimester (especially between the sixth and ninth weeks of gestation) and can cause severe intraabdominal bleeding and death. Treatment options include salpingotomy with tubal preservation, transampullar expression of the EP ("milking" of the tube), wedge excision with the chance for tubal reconstruction in a subsequent surgery and partial or complete salpingectomy. Drug treatment with Methotrexate (MTX) is also an option. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective study, we analysed the data of patients who had been treated for an EP in the gynaecological department of Hanover Medical School, Germany, between 2006 and 2013. Results: We observed a pregnancy rate of 73.1% in those who wanted to have children following EP treatment, and 33 women (28.2%) became pregnant a second time. The birth rate after EP increased from 67.1% in the first subsequent pregnancy to more than 80% in the second. The frequency of recurrent EP was 6.6% in the first pregnancy after surgery and 3% in the second. Conclusions: These data are encouraging for EP patients, who have a good chance to conceive, whether spontaneously, after tubal reconstructive surgery or using in vitro fertilisation (IVF).


Aim of research. The analysis of the tones processing speed of at their bi- and monaural presentation by the parameters of latent periods of auricular cognitive evoked potentials in musician and non-musicians.Methods. The method of registration of cognitive evoked potentials of auricular modality was used.Results of research. Musicians have shorter latent periods of the components N2 and Р3 of cognitive evoked potentials at bi- and monaural presentation of tones. At left-side presentation of tones there were not revealed any differences between musicians and non-musicians as to the latent periods N2, P3, N3. There were not revealed any differences between musicians and non-musicians as to the inter-peak interval N2-P3; the interval N2-N3 is longer in musicians in the right hemisphere at binaural presentation of tones. The amplitude of the component Р3 did not differ between groups.Conclusions. At binaural and right-side presentation of tones, musicians process them Faster than non-musicians, because the process of stimulus recognition starts earlier in musicians. At the left-side presentation of tones, the differences in their processing speed in musician and non-musicians are not revealed


a downward plunge and the mining economy is depressed, many operators, anticipating an upward surge of the mining economy, would prefer to close their mines temporarily to await a better minerals market. Lease terms and rigid statutory and regulatory requirements are often barriers, however, to temporary mine closure. This article considers how an operator of a hardrock or other minerals mine can maintain his


Abstract

 B. variegata is of great importance as a multipurpose tree, particularly as a source of fodder in rural economies. Its wood is used for agricultural implements and the bark for tanning. The tree is very handsome when in flower and is widely planted as an ornamental (Watt, 1972).


A one-parameter family of sequence or series transformations is presented which includes the Pade and the iterated Aitken's (Shanks) tables as special cases. The transformation table elements are rational functions with polynomial coefficients in the parameter that, when expanded for small argument, are asymptotically equivalent to the highest order partial sum from which they are formed. Numerical examples using some standard series demonstrate dramatic acceleration of convergence and the ability to move branch cuts by choosing the parameter appropriately.


Objective To study the effects of 8-Br-cAMP combined with guercetin on reverse transformation of Eca-109 cells. Methods The cultured Eca-109 cells were randomized into 4 groups: 8-Br-cAMP (Br) group, quercetin (Q) group, Br+Q group and control (C) group treated with on any drugs, each group cells were cultured for 48h. Two kinds of specimens including cell slide and NCM specimens were prepared and Caspase-3-IR and PCNA-IR were detected by immunohistochemistry and the immunodot blot technique. Besides, the gene expression of c-myc, wtp53, p16 and EGFR was detected by RNA dot blot. Results When compared with C group, Caspase-3-IR was increased and PCNA-IR was decreased; the gene expression of wtp53 and p16 was up-regulated, that of c-myc and EGFR was down-regulated in each drug-treated group. Conclusion The gene expression of oncogenes and anti-oncogenes may be involved in reverse transformation of Eca-109 cells induced by Br combined with Q or any drug alone. The effects of Br combined with Q are better than that of Br or Q alone in Eca-109 cell differentiation.


Busulfan (BU), often used in high dose for myeloablation before hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), has been implicated in certain HSCT toxicities, including the occurrence of hepatic veno‐occlusive disease (HVOD). In addition to weight and age, gene polymorphisms in specific members of the glutathione‐transferase (GST) gene family (A1, P1, M1, and T1), involved in BU metabolism, may play a role in the wide inter‐patient variability in systemic BU concentrations.


With Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) evolving to novel cooperative ITS (C-ITS), adaptive behavior cooperations of intelligent vehicles have been becoming one more and more prominent problem. Considering the cyber-physical cooperative characteristics of C-ITS, uniform cooperative mechanisms are modeled and designed for automated vehicles in this paper. After analyzing procedures of typical V2X-communication-based behaviors, such as passing through intersections, lane-changing, overtaking and so on, related traffic objects are modeled firstly, and then, all vehicular behaviors are uniformly abstracted into a "Reserve Advance, Act Later" (RAAL) procedure. Further, standard vehicular actions and states are extracted and also modeled uniformly, and any cooperative behavior can be presented as a sequence of states within an event-triggered state automata. On this basis, V2X-based centralized and decentralized cooperation mechanisms are put forward with the RAAL procedure, spatial-temporal distance transformation and cooperation policies. Finally, all these models and mechanisms are implemented within QoS-CITS simulator, with which experiments are carried out and the feasibility and validity of proposed methods are demonstrated.


bigger canvas (as the Romantic writers required tomes to say what the more precise Classic writers could say in a few pages). Mr Browne writes simply, though at times too colloquially for his subject. Doubtless he would not object to being called illogical, since he is attempting to express the unutterable, and regards logic as 'wholly quantitative'. He has so many private definitions of this kind that he is obliged to preface his book by a glossary which is more confusing than helpful. He defines fact as quantitative, and awareness as qualitative, which makes for confusion when he speaks of fear as quantitative along with the bomber and the gun and manual labour. Such an outlook easily leads to the modernist position that 'qualitatively it makes no difference . . . whether the quantitative source of Christian Tradition was the son of a Galilean carpenter or the protagonist in a Mystery-Play or the Incarnation of a demiurge'. In the general vagueness of the book it is difficult to see whether he regards God as one or many (The Knower ... is a Person; not a Person in place-time, yet a Person. Or, perhaps I should say, the Knowers are Persons'), or whether the self is abolished in the Divine union ('They are I, and I they'). Yet in spite of the criticism the book invites, we can agree with its general conclusion, and admire the author's sincerity. God is indeed our last end; but man has to live in, and make the best of, the world in which Christ lived.


When Truelove (1960) reported that oestrogens, in the form of stilboestrol, helped to heal duodenal ulcers, evidence of their value began to be sought in the Gastroenterological Department at the Central Middlesex Hospital (Connell, Fletcher, Jones, Langman, Lennard-Jones, and Pygott, 1966). The effect of oestrogens on patients with gastric ulcers was also examined, and in 1965 Doll, Hill, and Hutton reported the results of a controlled trial in which a small number of patients were given either stilboestrol or dummy tablets. Men were given 1 mg of stilboestrol a day (the same dose as had been used by Truelove) and women who had passed the menopause were given oestrol 1 mg a day. On average, the amount of healing (expressed as the percentage reduction in the initial size of the ulcer in five weeks) was greater in the oestrogen group than in the control group, but the numbers were small, the difference was not statistically significant and this result could not be regarded as conclusive. The opportunity was, therefore, taken to make further observations during a trial of new methods of treatment with carbenoxolone sodium.


Copper and its alloys have found wide application in electronic materials, wear-resistance , heat-resistance materials, torch nozzle materials, manufacture of bushes, bearings and high conductivity electrical contractors etc. Red mud emerges as the solid waste material during production of alumina from bauxite by the Bayer's process. It consists of iron oxide, titanium, aluminum and silica along with some other minor constituents. Its disposal remains a worldwide problem in terms of environmental concerns. It is generally agreed that to improve hardness and wear resistance of MMCs by using hard intermetallic compound as reinforcement into the copper matrix. The reinforcing materials are generally SiC, Al2O3 etc are costly. The red mud alone contains all these reinforcement elements. The main objective of this paper is to explore the use of red mud as a reinforcing material as a low cost. The present investigation is aimed at producing copper red mud composite using copper as matrix and red mud as reinforcement. Copper red mud mixtures with different volume percentages were prepared. Copper red mud composites improve strength, stiffness and wear resistance. The density and coefficient of thermal expansion of composite decrease, and their hardness and wear resistance increases as their red mud content increases. The major drawbacks of these copper based composites are reduced conductivity and poor machinability. These two factors are strongly influence the popularity of the developed copper based composites in several technological fields of applications. To overcome this soft phase graphite is used as a additional reinforcement to the copper red mud composite. Graphite being a solid lubricant can improve the machinability of the composite. Furthermore, graphite possess excellent thermal and electrical conductivity thereby, can improve the conducting capability of copper composites. Index Terms Copper, Red mud, MMC, reinforcement, composite ________________________________________________________________________________________________________


The nano-silica surface was modified using silane coupling agent KH-590.The effect of modifier amount,modification temperature and time on the modification effect was investigated.The optimal modification conditions obtained were as follows:KH-590 content is 5%,reaction temperature is 70℃ and reaction time is 4 h.And the results indicated that the aging and bonding properties are improved by using modified nano-silica in the polysulfide sealants.


Until recently, the principles of secularism, religious pluralism and state neutrality have been perceived in the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) as partially overlapping concepts. However, in Lautsi and others v. Italy, the Grand Chamber of the ECtHR has – in a landmark decision – qualified the interplay between these ideas. This essay will argue that Lautsi v. Italy signals a turning point in the previous ECtHR jurisprudence, which often associated secularism with the protection of pluralism and democracy.
There are two main consequences of the decision. Firstly, the ECtHR recognised that a state's neutrality cannot be deductively constructed as a logical manifestation of secularism. For instance, in Sahin v. Turkey, the Grand Chamber explicitly embraced the narrative of the Turkish Constitutional Court that allied secularism with a defence of pluralism. Secondly, in Lautsi v. Italy, the ECtHR recognised the epistemic implications of pluralism. Pluralism as a legal concept demands the recognition of diversity and the acceptance of a dialogue that transforms a multitude of legal orders (and a plurality of perceptions of the good life represented by such a multitude), in procedures aimed at accommodating concurring individual rights.
I argue that the recognition of pluralism and the democratic practices that qualify that pluralism should be a point of departure for the jurisprudence of the ECtHR in areas such as the display of religious symbols in classrooms. This approach serves as an alternative to the practice of balancing rights, which greatly restricts the breadth of religious freedom and de jure imposes a monist conception of rational thinking.
The essay will be divided into three sections, preceded by an introduction and followed by a conclusion. The first part will discuss how the antagonistic relationship between theism and secularism in Italy has shaped the issues of religious symbols in the schoolroom. I will argue that concurring views of the significance of symbols have historically been part of Italy's cultural heritage and that there are strong indications that such a democratic dialogue will continue without a definitive solution being reached.
In the second section, I will explain the benefits of accepting pluralism as a criterion for assessing the extent of religious freedom in signatory states. A short third section will suggest a procedure that democratically accommodates concurrent rights.


This paper attempts to survey representative approaches for developing and using advanced e-Learning systems within the context of supporting higher order societal goals for learning. A framework for conceptualizing paradigms for designing and using e-Learning systems is proposed and there is a consideration of the principles underlying these systems that are based on theory and research from the field of the learning sciences and technology. Implications for researchers involved with technology and language learning are also considered throughout the paper. It is hoped learning sciences ideas and perspectives might be useful to researchers and teachers who are involved with language education, particularly in Korea, and that their work, in turn, will enhance understandings in the learning sciences about language learning that involves technological environments.


Context: In order to restore ovulation, puncturing ovaries with a needle powered by electricity, under laparoscopic observation, in women with anovulatory infertility with polycystic ovarian syndrome is called laparoscopic ovarian drilling (LOD). Although peri-adnexial adhesion after the surgery is inevitable, there is lack of evidence regarding the clinical significance. The objective of the present study is to review the available literature in order to determine the rate of periadnexial adhesions following LOD, and to assess the effect of these adhesions on pregnancy rates. Evidence Acquisition: Electronic search of MEDLINE and EMBASE for English-language and non-English-language articles from 1984 to 2012 and manual search of bibliographies from identified articles were evaluated. Sixteen articles were found to be eligible to obtain main outcome measures. Post-operative adhesion rates were reported to be 0-100% (mean 35.5%, 95%CI: 30.8-40.4) while pregnancy rates after the procedure in these articles were 35-87% (mean 64.3% 95%CI: 58.2-70.7) of the cases. Results: There were no correlation between the adhesion rates and pregnancy rates (Spearman's rho=0.055, P=0.858). None of the preventive measures during or after the procedure were found to be effective in reducing the rate of post-operative adhesions, thereby increasing the pregnancy rates. The incidence of peri-adnexial adhesions after LOD might not be associated with adverse reproductive outcomes. Conclusions: Until more effective, safer and non-invasive treatments become available, LOD is a relatively safe and effective second-line procedure in anovulatory infertile women with PCOS resistant to clomiphene citrate.


Using a model followed in earlier research, corre lations were computed between undergraduate and graduate grade-point averages as well as between these and standard graduate and professional school tests. Approximately 1200 law school stu dents constituted a professional school sample and another 1200 students in mathematics, physics, and chemistry constituted a graduate school sample. Earlier findings were replicated. In addition, it is shown that both graduate and professional school grades form simplex matrices and that early grades are more highly predictable from aptitude tests than later grades. There is evidence for a single simplex matrix extending through the four under graduate and three post-graduate years only in the law school sample. There are two separate simplex matrices for the two levels in the graduate school sample. Correlations between test scores and under graduate grades are biased to very low values in the professional school sample by a compensatory selec tion system, but both aptitude and achievement tests are clearly more highly correlated with fresh- man than with senior grades in the graduate school sample. In this sample, however, the advanced test in the discipline is more highly correlated with first year graduate grades than with senior grades. These data suggest that the first year in a new aca demic learning situation represents a greater intel lectual challenge than subsequent years.


AlCl was detected and characterized with 1+2, 2+1, 2+2, 3+1, and 3+2 resonance‐enhanced multiphoton ionization spectroscopy using laser light between 332 and 570 nm. AlCl was generated in the gas phase with high temperature reaction of Al with InCl3, or by the reaction of Al with AgCl. New states residing between 52 000 and 66 000 cm−1 were identified. Vibrational intervals of the new Rydberg states are about 20% greater than those of AlCl (X 1Σ+), with most lying between 565–595 cm−1.


Adsorption and desorption of p-xylene on Silicalite-1 at 423 K,373 K,343 K and 323 K were studied using intelligent gravimetric analyzer(IGA).The results showed that the isotherms at temperatures of 323 K and 343 K had two adsorption plateaus.Adsorption heat,free enthalpy change,entropy change and entropy of adsorbed phase at different adsorbed quantity were calculated from the adsorption isotherms.With increase in adsorbed quantity,adsorption heat increased,free enthalpy change declined slightly,adsorption entropy increased,entropy of adsorbed phase decreased and interaction between the molecules increased.Kinetics for the adsorption and desorption were studied.A peak value for diffusion coefficient appeared at about 4 m·(u.c.)~(-1).


A multi-platform ultrasonic event recorder for towing and stationed monitoring of cetaceans was developed. A stereo acoustic event recorder (A-tag) was originally developed to observe biosonar behavior by tagging on dolphins and porpoises in the wild. In recent years, A-tag has been applied for the acoustic transect to count the number of dolphins and porpoises, and for the long term stationed observation.


Contemporary China's teaching philosophy refers to a mainstream educational thought since the founding of new China, which is constructed by researchers and practitioners of classroom teaching, accepted and appreciated by most teachers, and the ideology is consistent with the historical trend and has a significant impact on the whole society. According to different standards, teaching philosophy can be divided into different types and characteristics. The issues with the study on teaching concepts are as follows: lack of overall research on the object of study; lack of further research in content; ignoring the superordinate meta-study in scope; and lack of logic and speculation in research methods, pointing out the future trend of the classroom teaching philosophy on the basis of reviewing the literature of contemporary Chinese teaching philosophy.


While the coupling of traveling wave ion mobility spectrometry (TWIMS) and mass spectrometry is mainly reported for structural purposes, we studied its potential in enhancing compounds analysis such as growth promoters used in livestock animals at trace concentrations. β-Adrenergic agonists have been selected as model compounds since they exhibit a range of close physicochemical properties leading to analytical issues using classical approaches. In this paper, the potential of Synapt G2-S (Q-TWIM-TOF MS) has been investigated for sensitive and specific detection of a range of these synthetic phenethanolamines in various complex biological matrices (retina, meat, and urine) from bovine considered as relevant in the context of detecting β-adrenergic agonists use in animals. In particular, the specificity of the additional information provided by the TWIMS (i.e., collision cross section) together with the interest of the extra dimension of separation is discussed.


A randomized algorithm is an algorithm that, during its execution, is allowed to toss fair coins and make decisions based on the outcomes of the tosses. In this lecture we looked at two types of randomized algorithms: • Las Vegas: A Las Vegas algorithm is always correct, but its running time is a random variable. Often we try to bound its expected running time, or to show that its running time is is small with high probability. • Monte Carlo: Such an algorithm has a fixed running time, but its correctness is random. The goals are thus twofold: (1) obtain a small running time, but also (2) upper bound the probability that the algorithm outputs an incorrect answer. Typically we have some target failure probability P and would like the running time to be small both in terms of the problem input size as well as 1/P. Note that, just as in previous algorithms analyzed in this class, we would like randomized algorithms with worst-case guarantees (i.e. guarantees that apply to every input). Random behavior, such as outputting incorrect answers or having randomly long running times, occurs due to the internal coin tosses used in the algorithm's decision-making, and not due to randomness in the input to the algorithm. For all problems discussed in this lecture, the algorithm's input is worst-case and not random. It is assumed that you are familiar with basic probability in this course, but we include a very basic refresher here. Definition 18.1 Let S ⊂ R be a discrete set of numbers. Then a random variable X supported on S can be described by |S| numbers {P(X = s)} s∈S. These numbers satisfy 0 ≤ P(X = s) ≤ 1 for each s ∈ S, and furthermore ∑ s∈S P(X = s) = 1. We verbalize P(X = s) as " the probability X equals s " .


The present study was focused on determining and analyzing the extent of home learning environment and parentteacher ecology towards the academic performance and positive social behavior of Grade 6 pupils in the S.Y. 2022-2023. The target respondents of the study included Grade 6 students. The study utilized the descriptive quantitative research design in gathering data and information for the completion of this research endeavor. The survey questionnaire was utilized as the main tool for the data gathering process of the research. The researcher concluded that that based on the students' experience in their home learning environment, this is more related to the way that they are being influenced by the kind of environment they have at home; that the established good relations between parent and teacher can be concluded to have a significant role in terms of helping children or learners learn better and integrate or incorporate important values and attitudes into their lives as part of their daily learning experience at school; and that academic success among the learners can be concluded to be attainable with the help of parents and teachers and the willingness of the pupils themselves. On the other hand, the researcher recommended that conduct parent-teacher conferences and meetings help the parents develop better attitudes and approaches to guide their children in doing assignments or projects; that in order to enrich the parent-teacher ecology aspect, parent-teacher conferences are again recommended in order to effectively address any emergence of problems and misunderstandings between parents and teachers.


By method of the pulsed laser deposition of Ni/C bilayer precursor films and annealing in N2, ambient amorphous SiO2 nanowires were prepared on fused quartz substrates. Field emission scanning electron microscopy images reveal that after annealing at the temperature of 1200°C for 1 h, the Ni/C films turn into dense nanowires with lengths and widths of several micrometers and tens of nanometers, respectively. Results of transmission electron microscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy fitted on it show that the nanowires are amorphous SiO2 nanowires and that they are grown in the Ni-leading solid-liquid-solid mechanism. Besides, C particles can promote SiO2 nanowires to grow longer in the forms of carbon and carbon monoxide.


School active commute has decreased in the last few decades. This occurrence resulted not only in increasing congestion and pollution, but also in decreasing children's physical health. This study aims to understand students' travel behavior on school commute by finding the factors influencing travel mode choice. A multinomial logit model was used to explain the students' travel behavior in Yogyakarta, a city which is dominated by motorcyclists.  A number of 878 students were selected classifying into children (6-12 years old) and adolescents (13-18 years old). Empirical results showed that distance from home to school is the critical factor in determining active commute. However, factor of age, gender, and characteristics of students' household also plays an important role in shaping students' travel behavior. Finally, to revive active commute, several appropriate policies such as bike to school program or synchronization of work and school start/end time were proposed in this study.


Unconstitutional conditions questions are supposed to be hard and rare. This article contends that, however hard, nearly every constitutional question can be converted into an unconstitutional conditions question. One reason is that the frames of reference in constitutional disputes are often arbitrary, and expanding the frame can turn a constitutional burden into a package deal with discretionary benefits supplied by the very same government. A related reason is more fundamental and inspirational: constitutional claimants are almost always allowed to exit the relevant institution and enter another. This possibility of sorting across multiple institutions generates unconstitutional conditions questions by making nearly every government imposition at least nominally optional. Moreover, exit and sorting dynamics operate in contexts far beyond people physically migrating to new locations. The full implications of exit and sorting have been neglected by constitutional theorists, who tend to assume a static population within one political community or to focus on crude arguments about "voting with your feet." This article is an initial effort to check these tendencies, and to move exit and sorting toward the center of constitutional law and theory.


The dynamics of the ion-exchange sorption of heavy metals from multicomponent mixtures on weakly dissociating ionites is modeled. The simulation is based on the numerical solution of a system of nonlinear dynamic equations of material balance and kinetic equations of internal diffusion for the sorption of multicomponent mixtures. Multicomponent equilibria on weakly dissociating ionites are described within the framework of the theory of the formation of surface complexes (the SCT model). This model is extended to computer simulations of the dynamics of the sorption of metal ions via the coordination bonding mechanism based on the properties of amino groups as weakly dissociating Lewis bases. A model of the dynamics of sorption of the metals (Me 2 + A, Me 2 + B) from the H + /Me 2 + A/Me 2 + B/An - system (An - = Cl - and SO 2 - 4 ) on Fuji PEI-CS-07 and Purolite A-109 weakly basic anionites containing amino groups is developed with consideration given to the Lewis-base properties of these anionites. Calculated frontal displacement chromatograms for the dynamic ion-exchange separation of various multicomponent systems containing heavy metals are compared.


The anaesthetic management of a patient with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) undergoing non cardiac surgery poses a challenge to the anaesthesiologist as DCM is commonly complicated by progressive congestive heart failure and malignant arrhythmias. The anaesthesiologist must have the knowledge of its haemodynamics, diagnostic evaluations and treatment modalities, more so regarding various drugs used during anaesthesia. We report a case of DCM with severe left ventricular dysfunction posted for surgery of fracture of trochanter managed successfully during anaesthesia.


1Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 2Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 3Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Faculty of Science and Arts, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 4Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 5Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 6Department of Internal Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio, USA Introduction: Among the Jordanian population, brain tumors are the tenth most common type of


The author sets out his comments on the satisfactory results obtained in the treatment of lymphatic oedema of the lower limbs. He puts much stress on the need always to undertake these treatments, which even when instituted late, bring about a definite improvement. Long term surveillance is absolutely indispensable.


Background: Hyponatremia is the commonest electrolyte imbalance. Hyponatremia is a heterogenous disorder and classified into hypovolemic, euvolemic and hypervolemic types depending on the volume status of the patient. Approach is based on etiology and type of hyponatremia. The aim of the present study was to determine the profile of hyponatremia in adult patients including underlying etiology, type, clinical features and outcome Methods: The study was conducted at BRD medical college Gorakhpur, India between July 2014 to August 2015 after approval by the ethical committee. Consenting patients >18 years of age with hyponatremia (<130meq/l) were included and investigated as per protocol. Based on volume status and urinary sodium patients were classified as euvolemic, hypervolemic and hypovolemic. Results: N = 250, mean age 53.9 years. 56% males, 154(61.6%) patients had euvolemic, 53 (21.2%) hypervolemic and 43(17.2%) hypovolemic hyponatremia.  The most common causes for euvolemic, hypervolemic, hypovolemic hyponatremia were CNS infections, CLD and acute gastroenteritis respectively. Neurologic symptoms were more common in severe as compared to mild hyponatremia (69.7% versus 8.1%). Seizures attributable to hyponatremia were seen in 44 patients (17.6%), all with severe hyponatremia. Overall mortality was 14%. Deaths were more frequently seen in patients with severe hyponatremia as compared to patients with mild hyponatremia (25.5% vs. 4.7% P = 0.035). Conclusions: Euvolemic hyponatremia is the most common type seen in hospitalized patients and is associated mainly with intracranial pathologies. Severe hyponatremia is significantly associated with neurological manifestations and higher mortality.


The effects of inorganic anion(H_2PO~-_3、 SiO~(3-)_3、 NO~-_3、 SO~(2-)_4、HCO~-_3) competition on the removal of arsenic from drinking water by zero-valent iron(Fe~0) were studied in this paper.The results of tests showed:Presence of H_2PO~-_3 and SiO~3_3 in solution had remarkably inhibited arsenic removal while high concentration SO~(2-)_4 as well as NO~-_3 caused slight increase in arsenate removal.Presence of HCO~-_3 in aqueous solution had almost no effects on the efficiency of arsenic removal.


The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of depression on cognitive performance in children with Mesial Temporal Sclerosis (MTS). Thirty-six MTS children were included in the study, and the subjects were set up by a median split of the scores obtained on the Centre for Epidemiological Studies – Depression Scale for Children (CES-DC), high depression (N = 15) and low depression (N = 21). The National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) Neuropsychological Battery was employed. High depressive subjects displayed impairment in verbal and visual memory functions. Overall, it was revealed that there is a significant relationship between the depression score and cognitive performance. It was concluded that high depression is associated with bi-temporal involvement of the brain. paper. They underwent neuropsychological tests, clinical examination, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and electroencephalography (EEG). The children's age ranged from eight years to fifteen years. Majority of the MTS subjects (90%) were right handed. The subjects' education ranged from third grade to tenth grade.


Objective To observe the effect of dizocipine maleate(MK-801),a selective non-competitive N-methy1D-aspartate(NMDA) receptor antagonist,on behavior and cognitive function in rats.Methods The rats in experimental group were intraperitoneally injected with MK-801,and the control group rats were intraperitoneally injected with the same dose of saline for 14 days.The behavioral assessment was done after treatment at the 1st,5th,10th,14th day respectively.After drug withdrawal at the 1st,2nd,3rd,4th days and 12th,13th,14th,15th days respectively,Morris watermaze was used to compare the time of place navigation trials and spatial probe trials.Results The scores of locomotion distance,ataxia and stereotype behavior were significantly higher in experimental group than that of control group.After drug withdrawal at the 1st,2nd,3rd days,the escape latency was significantly higher in experimental group than that of control group(P0.01).There were no significant difference after drug withdrawal at the 12th,13th,14thdays(P0.05).Retention time of spatial probe trials was significantly shorter at 4 days after withdrawal of drug at in experimental rats than that of control group(P0.01).It was significantly shorter after drug withdrawal at the 4th day than that of the 15th day in experimental rats(P0.01),and there was no significant difference after drug withdrawal at the 15th day between two groups(P0.05).Conclusion MK-801 could successfully induce Schizophrenia-like behavior in SD rats and cause short-term learning and memory capability reduction,but the effect was not irreversible.


By investigating the media theories critically, the researchers have come to very clear facts that there is a vast contrast between media theories and the principles of Islamic media. These results are very useful for the process of the formation of Islamic nation identity since the Islamic communication message is based on the right, honesty, justice, fairness, objectivity and preserves religion, self, mind, offspring and money and directs the good in self before it turns into behavior, the researcher assumes that there is no Islamic communication theory. The basic goal of Islamic communication is to guide man to what qualifies him to be a slave of God, and his vision for the purpose for which he was created, namely the worship of Allah. The Islamic communication seeks to educate the Muslim to be: strong body, strong creation, intellectual thought, able to earn, sound belief, true worship, struggling for himself, keen on his time, organized in his affairs, and beneficial to others, and within the framework of that community and its cohesion. Reflecting on theories of positive communication, we do not find a single theory that is comprehensive to meet the goals of Islamic communication, which makes us assume the incompatibility of theories of communication with the objectives of Islamic communication. The Islamic implications of shaping the identity of the Islamic Nation encompass all spheres of life: the monotheism is an integrated approach to life The researchers believe that the theories of communication do not accommodate the implications of shaping the identity of the Islamic Nation. The researchers believe that theories of communication do not reflect the identity of the Islamic Nation and does not achieve its goals. The need for an Islamic theory of communication is the need for commissioning. The true identity of the Islamic Nation is to translate the teachings of the true religion into reality. Its aims are to build a future communication society that we can call the Islamic Nation with a distinct missionary identity. Finally, following the Islamic communication ١ Researcher in Communication Sciences, Education and Languages, Open University of Sudan affiliated to Taibah University, KSA. ٢ Dean, Faculty of Media, Open University of Sudan, Associate Professor in Media principles will produce and pave the proper approach of the communicative process for the formation of the identity of the Islamic nation.


A new end tab fabricated using a fiberglass knit in a silicon rubber matrix was used for off-axis tension tests on unidirectional composites. It was shown experimentally that this new tab allowed shear deformation of the specimen to occur in the hydraulic grips and, thus, produce a uniform state of strain in the specimen. Consequently, the shear modulus could be determined accurately using this new tab. Furthermore, due to the absence of stress concentrations, this procedure could also be used to determine shear strength.


Once thought to be a minor player in hemodialysis access dysfunction relative to outflow stenosis, perianastomotic (inflow) stenosis has recently come to be viewed as a major cause of arteriovenous fistula (AVF) problems (1–4). Indeed, recent literature has shown that a significant number of all accesses referred for dysfunction have an inflow lesion (1–3). Thus, imaging of the inflow segment of an AVF is critically important to a thorough evaluation of access dysfunction. Imaging of the inflow segment has been traditionally performed by interventional nephrologists via retrograde occlusive angiography (ROA). ROA is a technique by which contrast is injected into an arteriovenous access and made to flow retrograde because of the application of occlusive pressure on the outflow tract by the operator. This technique has traditionally been regarded as advantageous because it has been considered: (i) safe, (ii) effective, and (iii) easy to perform. The alternative technique of inflow imaging, whereby the operator would have to perform a second retrograde cannulation and manipulate a wire and a diagnostic catheter into the arterial system, does indeed seem most cumbersome by comparison at first glance. In this issue, Salman et al. (5) present an important contribution to our understanding of the ROA. They argue persuasively against the traditional view of the technique as a safe one. The authors present six cases of fistulae that suffered vascular rupture during ROA. In three cases, vascular damage occurred prior to the application of angioplasty. The remaining cases suffered perforation after angioplasty. Balloon tamponade was successful in salvaging two fistulae. Another AVFwith a perforation did not require any intervention to maintain flow. The complication was successfully managed in one AVF by the insertion of an endovascular stent graft. Two fistulae were lost as a result of vascular damage. This report demonstrates that ROA performed by occluding the outflow track of an AVF to assess the results of angioplasty of an inflow stenosis can result in vascular rupture, even without an antecedent angioplasty. The authors thus argue against ''advantage number 1,'' noted above—namely, that ROA is safe. Likewise, wemay ask ''Is ROA really effective in evaluating the inflow of an arteriovenous access?'' This question was recently, though indirectly, addressed by the literature. It has been pointed out that the arteriovenous access represents a continuous circuit from the aortic arch, through the fistula or graft, and back to the right side of the heart (3). As such, any lesion in the central arteries represents an inflow problem that must be addressed by an interventionalist One particular limitation of the ROA in this context is that it only functions to image the immediate perianastomotic arterial system, entirelymissing a potential central arterial lesion. Perhaps even more salient is the observation that ROA is not particularly optimal in imaging even the perianastomotic inflow region. A recent case performed at our tertiary referral access center sheds some light on this issue. A 53-year-old man was referred for decreased fistula flow on routine monthly access evaluation. On physical exam, he had a weak pulse at the perianastomotic region with minimal augmentation on compression of the outflow tract, arguing for the presence of an inflow lesion (6). ROA was performed (Fig. 1) revealing no inflow lesion. Given the high suspicion of an inflow lesion supported by the physical examination findings. Adiagnostic catheter was navigated over a wire and advanced into the arterial system to perform a direct artriogram (Fig. 2). Expecting to find amore central inflow lesion, the operators were surprised by the presence of See ''Retrograde Angiography and the Risk of Arteriovenous Fistula Perforation'' by Salman, Asif, and Beathard in this issue.


A stable high-repetition-rate, high pulse energy and single-frequency electro-optic Q-switched laser has been developed and demonstrated in this paper. The prelase technique has been used in this single-frequency laser. And a PID feedback control electronics is applied to stabilize the prelase. Meanwhile, a two-plate resonant reflector take the place of traditional dielectric output coupler mirror to enhance the single-axial-mode selection. And a Cr:YAG saturable absorber is also inserted in the cavity to improve single-axial-mode selection. Output laser power over 2 W with 10 ns pulse duration has been obtained at a repetition rate of 1 kHz. And the single-axial-mode probability was 100% in one hour without any manual adjustments. The experimental results show that the prelase technique is reliable to attain single-frequency operation.


Several algorithms have been suggested to parameterize continuous and piecewise affine Lyapunov functions for nonlinear systems in various settings. In these algorithms linear constraints are formulated for the values of a Lyapunov function at all vertices of a simplicial complex. They are then either solved using convex optimization or computed by other means and then verified. Originally these algorithms were designed for continuous-time systems and their adaptation to discrete-time systems and control systems poses some challenges in designing and implementing efficient algorithms and data structures for simplicial complexes. In this paper we discuss several of these and give efficient implementations in C++.