Kiva is an online philanthropic crowdsourcing platform that connects lenders with the borrowers in the third world. It is via the stories conveyed by the loan descriptions that the lenders get to know the borrowers and make the decision to help. In this project we study how the loan descriptions affect the funding speed of the loans. We train recurrent neural networks and long short-term memory architectures to predict whether a loan with given descriptions and characteristics will be funded quickly. It turns out that incorporating the loan descriptions as features achieves a prominent improvement over the prediction task. We also find the words and phrases associated with higher funding rates. This is crucial for Kiva to provide guidance for the description writers and remain competitive in the market.


Dense linear algebra operations appear very frequently in high-performance computing (HPC) applications, rendering their performance crucial to achieve optimal scalability. As many modern HPC clusters contain multi-GPU nodes, BLAS operations are frequently offloaded on GPUs, necessitating the use of optimized libraries to ensure good performance. Unfortunately, multi-GPU systems are accompanied by two significant optimization challenges: data transfer bottlenecks as well as problem splitting and scheduling in multiple workers (GPUs) with distinct memories. We demonstrate that the current multi-GPU BLAS methods for tackling these challenges target very specific problem and data characteristics, resulting in serious performance degradation for any slightly deviating workload. Additionally, an even more critical decision is omitted because it cannot be addressed using current scheduler-based approaches: the determination of which devices should be used for a certain routine invocation. To address these issues we propose a model-based approach: using performance estimation to provide problem-specific autotuning during runtime. We integrate this autotuning into an end-to-end BLAS framework named PARALiA. This framework couples autotuning with an optimized task scheduler, leading to near-optimal data distribution and performance-aware resource utilization. We evaluate PARALiA in an HPC testbed with 8 NVIDIA-V100 GPUs, improving the average performance of GEMM by 1.7X and energy efficiency by 2.5X over the state-of-the-art in a large and diverse dataset and demonstrating the adaptability of our performance-aware approach to future heterogeneous systems.


This article focuses on the measures and organic laws that have been introduced in Thailand since 1997 to secure fair elections and effective parliamentary representation. The discussion involves a critical assessment of constitutional regulation of the electoral process and also of political parties, and in particular the role of the Election Commission of Thailand, which was set up under the provisions of the 1997 Constitution. The article also seeks to assess the effect of these measures in delivering a secure system of government and parliamentary democracy in Thailand during a turbulent and uncertain 12-year period, which as well as reform has witnessed a military coup and the drafting of a new Constitution.


This paper investigates the relationship between child labor and status in employment in adulthood. We aim to contribute to the literature that focuses on the obstacles to the formation early in life of the skills that allow people to avoid vulnerable employment and poverty. We focus on gender differences since the effects of child labor may differ greatly between boys and girls. Using the panel data survey for the Kagera region of Tanzania, we select children who were 7 to 15 years old in the 1990s and follow up with them in the first decade of the 2000s to study the consequences of child labor on their position in adult employment. We exploit the longitudinal structure of data to estimate linear probability models with fixed effects. We find that child labor is associated with vulnerable employment in adulthood and that this result is driven by the girls' sample. The analysis shows that negative adult employment effects arise when children who are younger than 11-12 work more than ten to twenty hours per week. Work on the household farm seems to have the largest negative effects for girls: the threshold lowers to 6 hours, and the probability of escaping from vulnerable employment decreases by approximately 20 to 40 percentage points for child laborers under 10.


Vaccines containing H1 subtype influenza A virus hemagglutinin is adjuvanted with an oil-in-water emulsion adjuvant. The vaccine is suitable to immunize a patient against the virus called "swine flu". The vaccine may be monovalent. Vaccine, a two different H1 subtype influenza A virus hemagglutinin, than for a greater, SEQ ID NO: 1 (i) To the first H1 subtype influenza A virus hemagglutinin SEQ ID NO: 3 closely related, and (ii) more to the second H1 subtype influenza a virus hemagglutinin is SEQ ID NO: 1, are related more closely to SEQ ID NO: 3, include a hemagglutinin good. Monovalent vaccine may be administered in combination with a trivalent A / H1N1-A / H3N2-B seasonal influenza vaccine.


We present the results of studies of acoustic-gravity waves (AGWs) in the upper atmosphere of the Earth. The work has been mainly aimed at studying the peculiarities of atmospheric AGWs in the atmosphere based on the theoretical models taking into account the properties of the real atmosphere and the model verification based on spacecraft measurement data. This overview includes the main results obtained by the authors over the last years. The details of the calculations are contained in the authors' works cited here. The possibility of the existence of new types of evanescent acoustic-gravity waves in the isothermal atmosphere is theoretically predicted. A previously unknown inelastic mode and a family of evanescent pseudo-modes are discussed. The peculiarities of the propagation of the acoustic-gravity waves at the boundary of two isothermal half-spaces with different temperatures are studied in dependence of their spectral parameters and the magnitude of the temperature jump at the boundary. The peculiarities of the interaction of acoustic-gravity waves with spatially inhomogeneous atmospheric flows are also studied. It is analyzed the observed effects that are a consequence of such interaction. The influence of vertical non-isothermality on propagation of acoustic-gravity waves including the modification of acoustic and gravitational regions depending on the temperature is studied. On the basis of modified Navier-Stokes and heat transfer equations, the influence of attenuation on the propagation of acoustic-gravity waves in the atmosphere is analyzed. It is also considered the attenuation of various types of evanescent acoustic-gravity waves in the atmosphere. It is shown that the rotation of the atmosphere leads to the modification of the continuous spectrum of evanescent acoustic-gravity waves with frequencies greater than the Coriolis parameter.


Background The body dysmorphic disorder is prevalent in general population and in psychiatric, dermatological, and plastic-surgery patients, but there lacks a structure-validated, comprehensive self-report measure of body image concerns, which is established through both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Methods We have composed a 34-item matrix targeting the body image concerns and trialed it in 328 male and 365 female Chinese university students. Answers to the matrix dealt with treatments including exploratory factor analyses, reserve of qualified items, and confirmatory factor analyses of latent structures. Results Six latent factors, namely the Social Avoidance, Appearance Dissatisfaction, Preoccupation with Reassurance, Perceived Distress/Discrimination, Defect Hiding, and Embarrassment in Public, were identified. The factors and their respective items have composed a 24-item questionnaire named as the Body Image Concern Scale. Each factor earned a satisfactory internal reliability, and the intercorrelations between these factors were in a median level. Women scored significantly higher than men did on the Appearance Dissatisfaction, Preoccupation with Reassurance, and Defect Hiding. Conclusion The Body Image Concern Scale has displayed its structure validation and gender preponderance in Chinese university students.


Abstract The results of a three-year randomized seeding experiment carried out as part of the National Hail Research Experiment are described in a nine-part series. In this first part the design of the statistical experiment is presented, including the physical hypothesis for hail suppression by seeding, the seeding procedures, the randomization scheme and the method of evaluation. The experiment was of the singlearea type and the randomization was by day. The criterion for selecting sample days involved the magnitude of radar returns from cumulonimbus clouds over and near the target area. Storms on approximately half the days were seeded according to a random selection procedure. The seeding method involved dispersing silver iodide in the storm updraft from aircraft maneuvering just below cloud base. An air-borne rocket system designed to deliver the nucleant at about the −5°C level in the storm was also employed in one season. The evaluation was based on the measurement of hailfall over a network of ins...


Streptococcus pneumoniae is one of the most common bacterial causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide causing life threatening infections such as meningitis, pneumonia and bacteremia. Antibiotic resistance in S. pneumoniae has increased worldwide but there are few data in Algeria and more information is needed about serotype distribution of invasive S.pneumoniae isolates. From 2005 to 2011, a total of 100 non-duplicate invasive S. pneumoniae isolates were identified at the University Hospital from East Algeria. Antibiotic resistance was determined by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) disk diffusion test and the minimum inhibitory concentration of beta-lactams and erythromycin were determined using the E test method (AB BIODISK). Eighty three (83) serotypes were determined by agglutination by latex particles and/or by the Neufeld test using monovalent antisera (Statens Serum Institute). Among the 100 isolates, 57% were non-susceptible to penicillin (PNSP), 46% were intermediate and 11% were resistant (MIC range 2-4 µg/ml). Resistance rates to other antibiotics were as follow: erythromycin (22%), tetracycline (20%), cotrimoxazol (51%). All the strains were susceptible to chloramphenicol, vancomycin and levofloxacin. The predominant serotypes were 14, 19F, 23F, and 6B accounting for 50.6% of tested strains. Non-penicillin susceptibility was associated with serotype 14 (88.23%), 6B (80.00%), 19F (61. 53%), and 23F (57.14%). In children ≤ 5 years of age, the rate of this serotypes were 14 (23.33%), 19F (13.33%), 23F (13.33%) and 6B (10%). Pneumococcal vaccination is not compulsory in Algeria. The theoretical coverage of PCV13 added up to 74.19%. Continual surveillance of antibiotic susceptibility and serotype distribution is recommended in order to plan future treatment and preventive strategies. chloramphenicol, cotrimoxazole, vancomycin, rifampicin, levofloxacin, ciproflo- xacin and linezolid. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) is determined using E test method ((AB BIODISK) for penicillin, amoxicillin, cefotaxime, imipenem and erythromycin. The CLSI criteria for MIC were applied to classify the isolates as susceptible (S), intermediate (I), or resistant (R) (both the CLSI 2007 and the CLSI 2011 criteria for penicillin) (CLSI, 2007; CLSI, 2011). S. pneumoniae ATCC 49619 was used as the quality control strain and was included in each set of tests to ensure the accuracy of the results. Multi-drug resistant (MDR) was defined as resistance to three or more classes of antibiotics used in this study.


A compact model for the single-poly multitime programmable (MTP) memory cells is presented in this paper for the first time. It is based on the charge balance approach, while the traditional old model is on the fixed capacitive coupling approach. The proposed cell model has been implemented by Verilog-A and integrated into commercial SPICE simulator. The model supports both dc and transient analyses, and the simulated results are consistent very well with those from device simulation and measurement, whereas the results by the traditional old model deviate substantially. Furthermore, the comprehensive optimization of the MTP cells is made feasible thanks to the new model, such as device size, high voltage ramp rate, and reliability prediction. As a result, this compact cell model will be very useful for the designers to evaluate and optimize a single-poly MTP cell.


Rogowski coils are commonly used for current measurement in pulse power experiments.In order to obtain the precise response time and sensitivity of rogowski coils,a discal TEM cell for calibrating rogowski coils is researched and manufactured.The paper gives the detailed design of the TEM cell and simulation analysis carried out by using Pspice circuit simulation software.The TEM cell uses coaxial structure including outer conductor and inner conductor.The outer conductor of the TEM cell is made up of two metal disks which are pressed together tightly,the inner conductor is a solid cylinder.At first,in order to match with the impedance of standard coaxial cable,the dimension of the TEM cell is designed to ensure its impedance of 50Ω.After experiments carried out on this device with a rectangular pulse generator with fast rise time(less than 2ns),it is found that the rise time of the rectangular pulse after passing through the TEM cell becomes slow(about 6 ns).After analysis and simulation by using Pspice circuit simulation software,it is believed that this is because of too much capacitance(about 69 pF)between the inner surface of the outer conductor and the inner conductor.In order to decrease this capacitance,the dimension of inner conductor is decreased to 1cm.Experiments on the device indicate that the device does not make any aberration for fast rise time pulses,rogowski coils with diameter of 1~50cm can be calibrated by this device.


To assess the respiratory parameters before giving postural drainage along with deep breathing in experimental group and control group and after giving postural drainage along with deep breathing in experimental group among children (age 6 to 12 years) affected with lower respiratory tract infection. To compare the respiratory parameters among the children (age 6 to 12 yrs) affected with lower respiratory tract infection in experimental group and control group before and after giving postural drainage along with deep breathing. To determine the association between effects of postural drainage along with deep breathing among children (age 6 to 12 years) affected with lower respiratory tract infection with their selected demographic variables.


Digital simulation model of power transformer is very important in the study of power system dynamic real-time digital simulation.This paper presents a real-time digital simulation model of a three-phase, double-winding, star/delta-11 power transformer. In addition, the author has also simulated the electromagnetic transient of the inrush phenomenon when the transformer is switched in the null-loaded circuits as well as the process of short-circuit fault between turns. The simulation result on the PC shows that the model and the numerical integration method are correct.


This thesis examines the emissions formed during pyrolysis and gasification of lignocellulosic biomass in pellet form, using vibrational Raman spectroscopy. Seven different samples are studied during the pyrolysis process and six of these are also studied during gasification. For pyrolysis, the sample is placed into the center of a cruciform aluminum pipe, flushed with Ar, at room temperature. The Raman signal is then recorded as the pipe is heated up to ∼770 K, at a rate of ∼38 K/min. The gasification measurements are performed in a similar manner, with the addition of O2 , to a concentration of ∼4%, into the pipe. During pyrolysis, the samples were shown to emit traces of some species containing an -NH2 group at temperatures below 450 K, various hydrocarbons at temperatures above this, and H2O was emitted during the entire process. Data for the gasification process showed strong emissions from several >C=O groups between temperatures 450 K and 550 K, CO2 and several hydrocarbons from temperatures of 450 K and above, and CO above temperatures of 500 K.


Semiotic multimodality theory speaks of new learning affordances in media ecologies, which is both theoretically and empirically echoed in UDL and in CALL literature, but owing to their neuro-didactic respectively technology-driven standpoints both approaches lack theoretical underpinnings for ecology and semiotic multimodality. Enhanced with multimodality theory and ecological perspectives UDL and CALL can crossbreed, forming a multimodally and ecologically aware inclusive design for language learning. This study from an ongoing project investigates the hypothesis from a theoretical and an empirical perspective, examining digital scaffolds. Multimodal-semiotic and ecological perspectives are used to analyse affordances and ecologies in CALL and UDL learning designs. From this analysis, a principled UDL-CALL learning design is constructed. For empirical testing, a mixed-methods research design is proposed, presenting preliminary results indicative of the design's viability.


The problem of estimating labor force participation in Indonesia is discussed using data from the national censuses of 1961, 1971, and 1981. The author assesses the reliability of census data for estimating the rate of growth of labor force participation. Commentary on the living standard of an unskilled laborer's family is also included. (SUMMARY IN ENG)


We developed a method for in-situ monitoring of silicon diaphragm thickness during wet chemical etching. The principle of the thickness measurement is multiple-beam interference spectroscopy. This interference is caused by the multiple-reflection at both surfaces of the silicon diaphragm. The interference spectrum was observed in the near infrared region of the spectrum, from 800 nm to 1000 nm, with a spectrometer and a photomultiplier. This range is determined by absorption spectra of silicon and etchant, and by the spectral sensitivity of the photomultiplier. Two monitoring systems, that is, transmission system and reflection system were developed. The reflection system proved to be better as it is not affected by bubble generation. Using this system, the diaphragm thickness from 2 /spl mu/m to 20 /spl mu/m could be monitored. The thickness nonuniformity reduces the contrast of interference spectrum. In order to solve this problem, the measurement part illuminated by the focused light has to be reduced, and the sensitivity of the photodetector also has to be high.


Microwave filters are widely used for telecommunication applications and measurement systems. Hairpin filters are very compact edge couple bandpass filters, which typically exhibit low insertion loss and a narrow bandwidth. In this work, a hairpin filter with a designed center frequency of 34.38 GHz is investigated. The scattering parameters are measured with a network analyzer and the near-field distribution is measured spatially at multiple frequencies with a THz microscope, using a superconducting Josephson cantilever. The measured results of the hairpin filter agree well with the 3D electromagnetic simulations. The THz microscopy setup is capable of measuring three-dimensionally the intensity and frequency of field distributions from 1 GHz to 5 THz. This setup is a versatile tool for characterizing and optimizing microwave circuits and can be used to validate simulation results.


Abstract: Arginine-Vasopressin (AVP) exerts a variety of effects. in addition to its antidiuretic effect via V2 receptors in the kidneys, AVP has vasoconstrictive effects via its action on V1a receptors in the peripheral vasculature. Whether patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) demonstrate increased levels of AVP, and whether this relates to left ventricular remodeling is unknown. Methods: We studied 26 subjects with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), 28 subjects with HFpEF, and 95 control subjects without heart failure. AVP was measured ELISA (Cayman Chemicals ; USA). In a subgroup of subjects (n=110) we measured LV mass with magnetic resonance imaging (SSFP cine sequences), with LV segmentation using CMR42 (Circle CV Imaging; Calgary, Canada). Results: AVP levels were significantly greater in HFpEF (1.01; 95%CI=0.84 to 1.19)Compared to either HFrEF (0.72; 95%CI=0.58 to 0.87) or controls without HF (0.69; 95%CI=0.62 to 0.75; ANOVA P<0.0001). After adjustme...


RELEVANCE. The early diagnosis and correction of enteral insufficiency syndrome influence the treatment outcomes in patients with abdominal sepsis and multiple organ failure.The OBJECTIVES was to improve the effectiveness of diagnosis and correction of enteral insufficiency syndrome in patients with generalized peritonitis using the express assessment scale of the severity of enteral insufficiency and the treatment algorithm based on this.MATERIALS AND METHODS. The express assessment scale of the severity of enteral insufficiency syndrome was developed along with the treatment algorithm depending on the detected degree for systematic approach to the management of patients with generalized peritonitis. The study included 39 patients with generalized peritonitis (GP) who had received treatment in the Surgery Department of Samara Regional Clinical Hospital named after V. D. Seredavin in the period of 2019–2020. A computational program was created for quick severity evaluation of enteral insufficiency syndrome and choosing the best treatment strategy.RESULTS. When comparing the severity of enteral insufficiency in patients immediately after the first operation and in 96 hours, a positive dynamics was registered: the number of patients with III degree of severity of enteral insufficiency syndrome decreased from 19 to 4 people, and the number of patients with I degree of severity of enteral insufficiency syndrome changed from 3 to 29 people, this indicated the stabilization of the condition of patients with GP (p<0.05). The statistically significant reduction in the number of points in the limits of each severity was evaluated as the proof of clinical efficacy of the algorithm applied for the enteral insufficiency syndrome correction (p<0.05).CONCLUSION. Due to the correct choice of the treatment algorithm according to the identified severity of enteral insufficiency syndrome, the regression of clinical signs of generalized peritonitis was registered in all patients on the 5th postoperative day (96 hours after surgery).


In 1958, C. G. Jung clarified his views on UFOs in a letter to prominent investigator Donald E. Keyhoe. The present essay analyzes the letter and the two men's main writings on UFOs in the context of Keyhoe's life, 1950s ufology, and historical revelations since his death in 1988. Like Donald H. Menzel's meteorological explanation, the conservative opinions of Edward J. Ruppelt in Project Blue Book, and the unfair distortions by Edward Condon in his report for the Air Force, Jung's psychological perspective on UFOs sits uneasily with Keyhoe's absolute insistence that they are extraterrestrial. Despite receiving criticism from his peers for championing this view, Keyhoe was arguably the greatest contemporary influence on Jung's thinking about UFOs. Charles A. Lindbergh's 1959 meeting with Jung, in which they discussed Keyhoe's work, shows that Jung's interest in the subject waned as he neared the end of his life. Nevertheless, he had unknowingly borne witness to a shadowy cover-up that violated the freedom of information, stymied even well-connected investigators like Keyhoe, and continues today despite scholars' efforts to disclose the truth.


This study is an examination if the needs of Castlerea prisoners and the adequacy of service provision in the prison. The Irish prison population presents as a severely disadvantaged and marginalised group. Castlerea prison houses a broader range of offenders than many other Irish prisons, holding political prisoners, drug offenders and sexual offenders. These prisoners are integrated with each other without undue difficulty.

A sample of 88 prisoners was used. The current study found the prisoners exhibited difficulties in relation to medical health, psychological health, education and employment history, addiction and re-offending. Respondents were vocal about areas of need and had considerable insight into the issues they needed to address in order to progress towards a crime-free lifestyle. The prison's lack of comprehensive addiction treatment facilities and psychology services hinders the rehabilitation of prisoners. Insufficient preparation and planning for release also poses a serious difficulty for the prisoners. A specific problem highlighted by the study was the issue of releasing sex offenders without having undergone any treatment or intervention.

The study found that there is little formal assessment of need in Castlerea and prisoner support services are quite limited. Assessment is generally carried out on an ad hoc basis, without the support of a structured service response. Drug abuse and assault, although present, are not as serious an issue in castle as in other prisons. Castlerea has the potential to be a very progressive prison with the ability to have a very positive impact on the lives of prisoners through reducing rates of reoffending, addressing problems such as addiction, mental and physical health problems and improving education levels and literacy rates. This potential is currently not being realised.


The literature on service learning is replete with the benefits of this pedagogical approach to students as well as the community. The literature is almost silent on the viewpoints of beneficiaries of service learning projects. The overarching aim of this study was to obtain the reaction of beneficiaries to campaign materials produced by students of an advertising and public relations campaigns course at the University of Botswana. Using in-depth interviews, officials of 13 organizations were asked to evaluate the campaign materials in the indices of how these are aligned to corporate outlook and the brief they gave the students as well as to find out their attitudes toward the concepts. Majority of respondents expressed favorable attitude toward the campaign materials and indicated a willingness to flight the campaigns to give greater mileage to their marketing efforts.


The problem of entirety of the government by law, which should have been cared for but actually been neglected, involves a significant issue relevant to the development and research of the government by law. Stressing the entirety of the government by law or stressing the viewpoint of governing by law in its entirety signifies much more in perfecting the theory of government by law and constructing the government by law in an overall scale, especially when the typical theory of government by law has been proposed. Theory of government by law entails its internal infrastructure and its external liaison as well as its entirety in its course of development. The essential purpose of stressing the entirety of the government by law is to realize its optimization and give whole impetus to the construction of entirety of the government by law.


Renewable energy sources are fluctuating depending on the availability of the energy source. For this reason, energy storage is becoming more important and bidirectional fuel cells represent an attractive technology. Fuel cells require high-current low-voltage dc-dc or dc-ac converters as power interface to the grid. In power electronics, the converter efficiency is characterized at fixed operating voltage for various output power. This type of characterization is not suitable for fuel cells, since as the power from the fuel cell increases, the cell voltage decreases. This paper analyses how the fuel cell I-V characteristics influences the power electronics converter efficiency and their consequence on the overall system. A load-dependent efficiency curve is presented based on experimental results from a 6 kW dc-dc converter prototype including the most suitable control strategy which maximizes the dc-dc conversion efficiency.


Background Recent research on the preparation of graduate students in education for research has focused on general matters of epistemology, curriculum, and teaching. What should researchers know, how should research courses be designed, and what instructional approaches are most effective? Purpose This article addresses the problem of the preparation of educational researchers via an account of the results of a 10-year foundation-funded project. It focused on the "middle years" of doctoral study and addressed the value of faculty research mentors and other means of strengthening the research capacity of graduate students. The article offers an account of the development and history of the project, and the results. Research Design The article is an analytic essay based on the literature on the subject, institutional documents, interviews, and observations. The article also has features of a qualitative case study, featuring the two primary forms of support (beyond financial) that the Michigan State project offered its Spencer Fellows, opportunities for collegial development as scholars, and insight into the professional elements of research careers. Conclusions The article proposes that the focus of the Michigan State project—on mentoring students in the middle of their graduate careers (with other things)—produced fruitful attention to the strengthening of research methods and thus more satisfying and better work.


Abstract : Sensor Hardware: Basic hardware research for concurrent dual-band dual-polarization radar was conducted, resulting in various novel architectures with unprecedented performance. The system is designed using a 0.18-microns SiGe BiCMOS process in single chips and is extremely small. The entire system is estimated to have a size of only 12mmx8mm and 5cmx5cm without and with 6-element antenna array, respectively. Various components and subsystems, e.g., the concurrent dual-band transmitter and tri-band tri-output synthesizer, have been completely developed or designed with unprecedented performance. Signal Processing and Software: The research and development of signal processing and software for the multiband sensor was completed. New hardware (HW) software (SW) codesign paradigm was developed for the purposes of adaptive processing of cross-polarization sensor data obtained from multiple sensor modalities aimed at collaborative high-resolution sensing, detection, localization and identification of point-type and distributed targets in urban environments. The unified HW/SW codesign techniques capable of operation in uncertain operational scenarios for a variety of admissible sensor array configurations outperform the existing adaptive radar imaging algorithms both in resolution and convergence rate. The elaborated Virtual Remote Sensing Laboratory SW was integrated with the prospective synthesized simulated sensor HW model for demonstration of the superior capabilities of the overall prospective multimode sensor system via extensive simulation studies.


This brief article outlines an approach to analysing the effectiveness of public health interventions in the third world, specifically in regard to HIV/AIDS. Its purpose is not to be the definitive last word but to float certain ideas consistent with the precepts of political economy, with a view to inviting criticism, commentary and contributions to future publications.


In this paper we analyzed the effect of weak and strong geomagnetic disturbances on the psychoemotional field practically healthy women at the age from 20 to 40 years Consequently received data testify to changes under influence of increased vegetative balance solar activity, the level of ability to work and reactive anxiety caused by magnetic storm influence on non-specific systems and vegetative centers, which are situated at the structures of brain limbic-textiform complex. At that weak magnetic storms make stimulation impact, at that time as strong disturbance of geomagnetic situation activate brake processes.


Static analysis of programs enables to study the possible behaviours of programs without running them. Static analysers may be used to guarantee that the execution of a program cannot result in a run-time error. Such analysis tools are themselves programs: they may have bugs. So as to increase the confidence in the results of an analysis, we study in this thesis how the implementation of static analysers can be formally proved correct. In particular, we build abstract interpreters within the Coq proof assistant and prove them correct. Namely, we formally establish that analysis results characterize all possible executions of the analysed program. Such abstract interpreters are integrated to the formally verified CompCert compiler, when relevant ; this enables to guarantee that safety properties that are proved on source code also hold for the corresponding compiled code. We focus on the analysis of programs written in low-level languages. Namely, languages which feature little or no abstractions (variables, functions, objects, types…) or abstractions that the programmer is allowed to break. This hampers the task of a static analyser which thus cannot rely on these abstractions to yield precise results. We discuss in particular how to automatically recover the control-flow graph of binary self-modifying programs, and how to automatically prove that a program written in C (in which pointer arithmetic is pervasive) cannot produce a run-time error.


First of all, this article described current problems on electric power automation system, raised the concept of intelligent power dispatching architecture (IPDA) and its corresponding intelligence meaning, it is an extension to the research field for the "intelligence" among artificial intelligence. The problems mentioned on this article can be solved through systematic research of IPDA. The real time dispatching intelligent power automation system architecture has been designed, and the meaning of intelligence corresponding to the different level of the architecture has been analyzed based on IEC61xxx series industry standard and the MAS theories on artificial intelligence. Part of concepts has been utilized in reality.


Seeks to understand the mechanism of a household's decision on child labor and educational investment by proposing a theoretical framework, examining the empirical evidence, and providing policy evaluation and recommendations.


The design of transformable products is difficult in comparison to the development of static products. This is due to the interdependency of various elements involved, developing working principle and proper mechanism and multi-functional requirements, before, during and after transformation. For example, the fundamental problems in the design of transformable products is that designers often have little experience and skills in transformable design process. As a consequence, the design concept for transformable products often being developed without much thought given to design concepts and engineering detail. This study aims to explore difficulties encountered by future designers in designing transformable products and present the causes of such difficulties to infer an effective transformable design process. Five students who major in industrial design have participated in this research. Participants were assigned a task to design a transformable flower lamp. The purpose of the task was to show blossom of the flower while it turns on the power. Moreover, participants were asked to design the structure of transformable flower in order to explain how the phenomenon of transformation works. During the design task, participants were facilitated to use a wide range of tools and methods as per their desires. In the meantime, they were interviewed and their task practices were video recorded. From verbal descriptions, several statements were analyzed that indicate difficulties in a direct and indirect sense regarding the design process. Such difficulties were categorized to identify its causes. The behavioral process in the task was analyzed to understand what (activity) was occurred when (time), and why (objective of activity). In the activity analysis, difficulties were matched with activity units to improve the transformable design process. The results suggest that the main difficulties in transformable design emerge due to the complex structure of transformable design which include design elements as well as engineering design elements. Though, typical product design need to consider both fields of industrial design and engineering design, but the overlapped area between them of transformable design is larger than the ordinary designs. Due to lack of knowledge required in the design of working principle for transformable design, the difficulties of additional systems' applications and movement prediction generate the main difficulties in the design of transformable products. Besides this, the mediation between other design properties, such as appearance, movement, function, and use also generate difficulties. The reason is the usage of material space for each property, because of the interdependency among such properties. Furthermore, the interdependency causes the requirement for consideration of properties in various phases of transformation.


BFe10-1-1 alloy tube which is mainly produced by hot extrusion is the critical material for manufacturing condenser.In order to develop the hot extrusion process of BFe10-1-1 alloy tube and provide thermodynamic parameters for numerical simulation analysis of extrusion,the flow stress behaviors of BFe10-1-1 copper alloy during plastic deformation at elevated temperature were studied by performing the isothermal compression test on Gleeble-1500 simulator at 800-950 ℃ in the strain rate range of 0.1-20/s.The experimental results show that the flow stress of BFe10-1-1 alloy is decreased with the increase of deformation temperature,while it is enhanced with the increase of strain rate.The peak stress equation of BFe10-1-1 alloy during high temperature deformation is obtained by Zener hollomon parameter,and the calculated hot deforming activation energy of this alloy is 182.68 kJ/mol.


To shorten the modeling time of thermal errors in mass data, a parallel locally weighted linear regression model is proposed on the basis of locally weighted linear regression and cloud computing platform. The massive data is divided into multiple data sub-blocks and the data of each sub-block is analyzed and processed by the cloud platform simultaneously, followed by the merging of results. Experiments are carried out on a CNC gear grinding machine, the results of which show that the proposed method performs modeling on the basis of mass data in a short period of time. In addition, the model enjoys high precision and strong robustness. This method provides reference for the application of big data in thermal error prediction of CNC machine tools.


A class of entire functions is introduced satisfying a functional equa tion of the logistic type. Computer plots of the zeros reveal phenomena that can be understood by a perturbation analysis in the "chaotic" regime.


The invention relates to a device 1 15 for automatically depositing and draping a plurality of web-shaped sections 8, 25, 45, 54 of a dry sheet-like structure 55, in particular a multi-axial fiber fabric and / or a reinforcing fabric, to create a profile of the preform 53 on a core 7, 19 by repeatedly depositing and draping of the sections 8, 25, 45, 54 to produce an amplification profile with a composite material. According to the invention, at least one portion 8, 25, 45, 54 in at least one cassette 3 to 6.20 between two conveyors 9, 10, 21, 22 for deposit on the core 7, kept 19th Due to the preferably simultaneous depositing of preferably more than one pre-assembled portion 8, 25, 45, 54 of the sheet 55 on the core 7, 19 by means of at least one cassette 3-6 of the cassette assembly 2 a profile molding 53 to the production of CFRP profiles can be quickly and are stored automatically with high dimensional accuracy at the same time good reproducibility and draped. For example, in an RTM device within the device 1, 15 of the thus prepared profile preform is further processed by the infiltration with a curable synthetic material in a mold to form a composite component, in particular a curved at least in one spatial direction CFRP profile 53rd Furthermore, the invention relates to a method of at least uniaxially arcuately shaped for efficient fabrication ...


We describe a simple inexpensive laboratory for undergraduate students wherein the students construct and test Clarke slugs. Displaying the I-V relationship for the slug on an oscilloscope, the student observes the dc and ac Josephson effects, self-induced steps, measures the Bessel function dependence of the ac effect with power, determines the flux quanta by magnetically modulating a double-junction Clarke slug, and ascertains e/h to ±O.4%. The experiment requires only a helium storage dewar and a Gunn oscillator as a microwave source in addition to readily available laboratory equipment. Detailed sections on slug preparation and trouble-shooting are included.


Background and objective: With an increasing interest in health-related issues in urban environments, there has been growing attention to the relationship between green space and psychological states of residents in apartment complexes. This study investigated resident perceptions of green space and their stress responses in an apartment complex.Methods: The psychological stress responses that arose during residents' observation of two types of environments―an indoor living room and an outdoor green space―were investigated through a field experiment. Sixteen healthy adult females in child care participated in the within-group comparison study. The semantic differential (SD) method was used to examine environmental perception, and three psychological tests were administered to quantify stress responses to the two environments: the Profile of Mood States (POMS), the Revised Perceived Restorativeness Scale (RPRS), and the Zuckerman Inventory of Personal Reactions Scale (ZIPERS).Results: Feeling of pleasure, familiarity, and beauty showed significantly higher scores in outdoor green space than indoor space. In the POMS analysis, significantly more positive mood states were found in outdoor green space than indoor space. The ZIPERS and RPRS data showed that outdoor green space was more suitable for fatigue recovery because it relieved negative emotions and psychological stress to a greater degree than indoor space.Conclusion: This field study suggested that green spaces have the potential to reduce psychological stress and restore psychological well-being in female residents. Despite limited exposure to the green space in the apartment complex, improved mood states and positive health-related effects were observed among the participants.


Research on people's accuracy in perceiving other people's states, traits, and social attributes has existed for over 100 years. In the past few decades, however, it has exploded into a vibrant, interdisciplinary, and international pursuit with relevance to all areas of social, interpersonal, and intrapersonal life. However, researchers typically work within narrowly defined traditions within the field. The present volume brings these areas together to describe method, theory, and findings for seven content domains (judging emotions, thoughts and feelings, truth versus lie, personality, social attributes, others' views of self, and group attitudes). Correlates at the group, individual, and situational levels are discussed, as well as the basic question: how accurate are people in judging other people? The strengths, weaknesses, and gaps in this field are discussed, and directions for future research are offered.


Abstract Chicks fed rations containing high levels of uncooked egg white develop a dermatitis of a pellagrous character after three or four weeks (Ringrose, Norris and Heuser, 1931). A similar condition is observed if the rations are deficient in biotin (Hegsted et al. 1940; Ansbacher and Landy, 1941). Egg white contains avidin which fixes the biotin of the ration into a complex which cannot be absorbed from the intestine. This explains the similarity of results produced by the two types of rations. As the deficiency disease progresses, the skin on the feet becomes rough and calloused and exhibits numerous hemorrhagic cracks and a dry scaliness. The corners of the mouth develop crusty scabs which spread to the area around the beak. The eyelids may become red, swollen and stuck together. In addition to these symptoms which have been previously reported, we have observed that chicks develop abnormal beaks. At first, upper . . .


Background. Diabetic patients with resistant hypertension (RHT) are characterized by a high rate of annual decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (up to 14 mL/min/1.73 m2). The distal approach to sympathetic renal denervation (RD) reduces blood pressure (BP) to a greater extent compared with standard RD. However, the long-term effect of distal RD on the renal function remains unknown. Aim. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term safety and nephroprotective efficacy profile of distal RD compared to conventional intervention in RHT patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) during a three-year follow-up. Material and Methods. Twenty seven patients (eight men) with true RHT and T2DM were included in a single-arm prospective interventional study (number NCT01499810 at ClinicalTrials.gov) (mean age of 61.6 ± 7.3 years; mean office (systolic/ diastolic) BP of 171.8 ± 21.9/87.7 ± 17.7 mmHg; mean eGFR of 72.1 ± 19.9 mL/min/1.73 m2; and glycosylated hemoglobin level (HbA1c) of 6.3 ± 1.1%). Patients were randomized into two comparable groups of distant (n = 13) and standard RD (n = 14). Office BP, ABPM, renal Doppler ultrasound, renal function (eGFR (CKD-EPI) and 24-hour urinary albumin excretion (UAE)), and kidney MRI were assessed at baseline and annually during a three-year follow-up. Nineteen patients completed a 36-month follow-up (8 patients were treated by distal RD and 11 patients received the conventional procedure). Results. The change in eGFR during three-year follow-up was insignificant in group of distal RD (−5.3 ± 0.4 mL/min/1.73 m2, p = 0.63) and was comparable with the corresponding value in conventional RD group (–6.7 ± 4.2 mL/min/1.73 m2, p = 0.3), (p = 0.7 for intergroup comparison) despite a more powerful decrease in 24-h systolic BP in the distal RD group relative to that in conventional RD group (–25.3 ± 15.3 vs. 4.4 ± 22 mmHg, p = 0.04). The degrees of annual decline in GFR did not differ between the distal RD group and conventional RD group (p = 0.9) and were –2.7 ± 2.4 mL/min/1.73 m2/year and –2.7 ± 4.0 mL/min/1.73 m2/year, respectively. No significant changes in renal blood flow, albuminuria, MRI-based kidney size, and the number of patients with albuminuria and renal dysfunction were found during the study. Conclusions. Distal RDN in diabetic patients with RHT had a three-year safety profile and nephroprotective efficacy similar to those when the standard method was used despite a more significant reduction of blood pressure. Both modes of RD are likely to slow the progression of renal dysfunction in these patients.


In his latest book, Post-Capitalist Society1 Peter Drucker presents his vision of a society of organizations dominated by the knowledge of specialists. I shall argue that a basic fault in his vision is the neglect of Socratic s?phrosyne. Socrates' conception of s?phrosyne is grounded in his belief that he was called wise by the oracle at Delphi because he recognizes his own ignorance. Self-knowledge or knowledge of the human soul is also essential to Socratic practical wisdom or s?phrosyne. But Socratic s?phrosyne is impossible without Socratic or dialectical inquiry, and this inquiry aims at gaining knowledge of the human good and the dialectical skills which are necessary for such a search. I shall argue that this quest, which defines the goal of Socratic s?phrosyne, should provide the guiding light?to use a famous Platonic image-for Drucker's vision. In the first section of this paper, I consider Drucker's version of a post-capitalist society?in which management applies knowledge to knowledge itself so that, as he says, "existing knowledge can best be applied to produce results" (42). Post-capitalist society is described as a society of organizations consisting of two tiers of specialized functions?those of organizations and of workers within these organiza tions. He believes that the specialized functions of organizations determine the limits of their social responsibility. I argue that Drucker's position on the social responsibility of organizations is in adequate. He does suggest that someone like the traditional educated person is still needed to provide guidance in this post-capitalist society, but he provides no clear picture of who he or she is; nor does he show clearly what sort of knowledge is required of this person.


This research discusses the politeness strategies and cooperative principle used by the characters in the movie entitled 'Wonder'. The data of analysis come from the utterances of the characters which are described in descriptive method. The writer used politeness theory proposed by Brown and Levinson (1987) and cooperation principle advised by Grice (1975) to analyze the data. The results show that the characters in the movie used four kinds of strategies from Brown and Levinson (1987), those are bald on record, positive politeness, negative politeness and off record. The utterances in the movie proves the violation of four maxims namely maxim of quality, maxim of quantity, maxim of relevance and maxim of manner. As the conclusion, positive politeness is used the most among the characters because it shows their closeness in social distance.


Now the types of F(z), f(z) are attained only along the directions of strongest growth. Consequently, at the points at which F(z) and Fv{z) satisfy an inequality of the form (9), the functions Fll(z)(fx ^ v) do not attain the type h of F(z). A similar property holds for/(l/z) and the/,,(l/z). It therefore follows that \F(z)\ and |/(l/z) | attain large values at corresponding points along each identical direction of strongest growth, given by a formula similar to (11), although the densities of such sets of points will, in general, be different along different directions of strongest growth. As already noted |̂ (e~)—f(z)\ is bounded in the neighbourhood of the point 2 = 0 and this remark completes the proof of the theorem.


A mixture of 2,4-D with either thiameturon, DPX-L5300, or DPX-R9674 controlled common chickweed in winter wheat better than 2,4-D alone. None of these herbicides affected wheat height, lodging, or yield. Similarly, no significant differences in wheat height or lodging occurred among seeding rates. Wheat sown near South Charleston, OH, at a seeding rate of 67 kg/ha yielded significantly less than that sown at 100 or 134 kg/ha; however, there was no difference in wheat yield among seedling rates at a second location near Columbus, OH.


The article covers a study of dynamic behavior of a vibration protection system with a controlled stiffener represented by a linear DC motor (LDCM). It also considers a dual-mass oscillation system with parallel layout of stiffeners and viscous friction elements (Kelvin circuit diagram). With due regard to the assumptions made, the authors have obtained mathematical models represented by transfer functions. In the disturbances channel, the models obtained for the input and output variables were represented by the mount acceleration, and the protected object acceleration, respectively; in the control channel, the models obtained for the input and output variables were represented by the extended force impact coming from the LDCM, and the protected object acceleration, respectively. A design of a closed-loop vibration protection system aimed at vibrational acceleration of the protected object was developed. Based on a simulation model complying with the obtained mathematical models, the authors have analyzed the efficiency of the developed system with integral and proportional plus integral control law controllers. Using the obtained data on system efficiency, the authors have defined recommendations for use of the said controllers in a vibration protection system with LDCM.


A dictionary is a book that has been arranged in alphabetical order, the dictionary that we usually find is complete and good, but lately the use of book dictionaries has become a bit behind because people prefer an easy way to interpret a word, namely using an electronic dictionary. Nowadays, there are many Palembang language dictionary applications based on android, but this application has not changed too much from other similar applications. The author took the initiative to develop this electronic dictionary application so that it looks more attractive and user friendly, this application can later facilitate the communication process between tourists and the people of Palembang City, and can be a place to preserve the Palembang language. In the process of making this mobile application, the author uses an interpolation search algorithm to make it easier to search for sorted data tables or files that have a scalar key. Data collection techniques that will be used by conducting observations, interviews and using the Mobile-D development method. The result of this research is an android-based Indonesian-Palembang and Palembang-Indonesian translator dictionary application.


Adhesive bonding of carbon or graphite tubes. Blend characterized in that the end faces 2, 2 'bonded tubes are conical surfaces and in that the sleeve 4 is impregnated with a thermoplastic. the invention relates to adhesive bonds of carbon or graphite tubes.


To the Editor: Endothelial dysfunction is an early stage in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and has been shown to be present in patients with essential hypertension. In fact, arterial stiffness parameters (ASPs) represent the viscoelastic properties of the vessel wall. Increased arterial stiffness is a common finding of atherosclerotic involvement of the vascular system. Arterial stiffness has high cardiovascular predictive value, reproducibility, costeffectiveness, and availability in many healthcare facilities and is suggested within additional tests in the evaluation of hypertensive patients according to current hypertension guidelines. We read the article "Role of Aliskiren on Arterial Stiffness and Endothelial Function in Patients With Primary Hypertension" by Bonadei and coworkers with great interest. They investigated the addition of aliskiren to antihypertensive drug treatment for arterial stiffness and endothelial function. They concluded that aliskiren exerted a beneficial effect on values of ASPs and a measure of endothelial function. However, increased arterial stiffness is an indicator of coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, and peripheral arterial disease. ASPs can also change with known atherosclerotic risk factors such as smoking, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes mellitus, and aging. It can also be affected by alcohol consumption, hypercholesterolemia, hypothyroidism, and inflammatory diseases. Furthermore, some medications such as antihypertensive treatment including angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, and statins may influence ASPs. We believe that these findings will guide further studies about the role of aliskiren on ASPs in hypertensive patients. Finally, hypertension is related to increased arterial stiffness and mortality rates. The present study, which measured arterial stiffness, revealed the detection of atherosclerosis in early stages, wherein aliskiren exerted a beneficial effect on values of ASPs. These parameters will provide useful results for both research and clinical use in cases of all of the related factors evaluated in future studies.


Introduction: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is already an established method of management of renal stone in Bangladesh. Initially the procedure was restricted to adult age group only. Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy is the choice of procedure for management of renal stone in paediatric age group. Objectives: To see the out come of stone clearance by Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy(PCNL)in paediatric age group. Methods: This was a study in single centre since January' 09 to December 201 1 . Total 1 1 cases of renal stone in paediatric age group were managed by PCNL. The age ranges from 4 years to 15years, average 8.47 years. We use pneumatic lithotripters. Nephrostomy tubes and D-J stent were used in 7 cases. In 4 cases only DJ stent were used. Postoperative haematocrit and creatinine was measured routinely.
Results: Total stone clearance was achieved in all cases. The major post-operative complication was urosepsis(n-1), managed conservatively. Total hospital stay was 3 to 5 days; average 3.5 days. Stents were removed after 2 weeks. Conclusions: PCNL is a suitable procedure for the management of renal stone in pediatric age group this needs expertise, longer learning curve under supervised training.
Journal of Surgical Sciences (2012) Vol. 16 (2) : 76-79


ABSTRACT Entrepreneurship constitutes a vital link in the economic growth of a country. Small and medium-sized businesses create jobs and are a seedbed for dynamism and innovation. It is, therefore, important for the country's economy that entrepreneurial talents are not left undeveloped, and that both starting and established business managers with ample potential are given full support. The degree to which the educational system in Belgium contributes or can contribute to that constituted the subject of the survey "Education and Entrepreneurship". We examined this central issue by answering the five following questions: 1. What does entrepreneurship imply? 2. What is currently being done to encourage young students to set up their own businesses? 3. What are the training facilities for starting and established business managers? 4. What is the attitude of the educational system and of students and graduates towards entrepreneurship and business administration courses? 5. What do business managers and ot...


Endodontic therapy, also called root canal treatment, is a procedure that is performed to remove damaged tissue from the inner canal of a tooth, and then the canal is sealed to prevent this area from being a source of infection. A typical procedure includes access preparation, root canal preparation and root canal filling. The treatment process is timeconsuming and prone to human error. The outcome relies on the clinician's expertise, which can only be gained through years of training and practice. The treatment success rate is 60-65% by general dentists and 90% by specialists. In order to improve the quality and reliability of endodontic therapy, the design and building of an endodontic micro robot is proposed. This computer controlled micro machine will need to be mounted on several teeth within a patient's mouth. With on-line monitoring and positioning control, this multi-purpose micro robot will automatically perform the treatment procedures including drilling, filing, cleaning and filling the open canal. This paper will discuss the preliminary investigation of: the mechanical design and manufacture of the micro robot; the choosing and fabricating the embedded sensors and actuators using MEMS technology; and the control system design using an NC controller. The paper will also discuss the innovations involved from the traditional way endodonticsts treat root canal to science and technology based automation.


The North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition recently published a medical position statement on the indications for esophageal pH monitoring in infants and children.1 The statement includes a discussion, with 126 references, of clinical situations in which esophageal pH monitoring is generally useful, generally not useful, or conditional. The statement, which also includes summary recommendations, was prepared to promote optimal patient care, to foster learning, and to guide practitioners, as well as to facilitate peer and other review of clinical practices.


Detection of phosphotyrosine-containing proteins in the detergent-insoluble fraction of RSV-transformed fibroblasts by azobenzene phosphonate antibodies Altered globin gene transcription pattern and the presence of a 7-8 kb aA globin gene transcript in avian erythroblastosis virus-transfonned cells Reolution of cellular compartments involved in membrane pottial changes accompanying IgE-mediated legranulation of rat basophilic leukemia cells Poddve and negative control of the ginA ntrBC regulon in Kkbsiella pneumoniae Reconstitution of highly purified saxitoxin-sensitive Na + chnnels into planar lipid bilayers A V region determinant (idiotope) expressed at high fIequency in B lymphocytes is encoded by a large set of tbody structural genes IdeLnification and localization of reiterated sequences in the Choristoneura fumiferana MNPV genome 3Boynthesis of the epidermal growth factor receptor lh A431 cels -Construction of an E. coli strain overproducing the ulO-encoded TET repressor and its use for large scale uiction Ildudble repair of 0-alkylated DNA pyrimidines in &cherichia coli tion of N-linked oligosaccharide trimming does not ere with surface expression of certain integral rane proteins tion of aspartyl proteases by gene duplication: the renin gene is organized in two homologous clusters four exons ption of the Drosophila white locus and some of mtants sequences from the hairy gene of Drosophila &EcoA restriction and modification system of hia coli 1ST -: enzyme structure and DNA *lion sequence P.M.Comoglio, M.F.Di Renzo, G.Tarone, F.G.Giancotti, L.Naldini and P.C.Marchisio A.Therwath, G.Mengod and K.Scherrer


activity into daily routines. This guide, which is intended for local government managers and other local government leaders, offers strategies for designing communities that support "active aging—active living for older adults. In addition to encouraging physical activity, promoting active aging creates opportunities for older adults to remain active participants in civic life. Active aging can benefit both individuals and the entire community. For individuals, active living can improve health and overall vitality, increase independence, and foster greater social interaction. For local governments, promoting active living can make neighborhoods more livable for all ages, reduce costs associated with social services and health care, and yield a range of social and economic benefits by extending and expanding older adults' contributions to civic life. Promoting active aging depends on a community's ability to provide safe and walkable streets, a range of transportation options, and land use patterns that permit easy access to services and amenities. This guide explains the concept of active living and describes general strategies for beginning a local active aging initiative and specific strategies in key issues areas, including land use planning, streetscape design, transportation, housing, and promoting awareness. Active Living for Older Adults:


We present a system for automatically extracting pertinent medical information from dialogues between clinicians and patients. The system parses each dialogue and extracts entities such as medications and symptoms, using context to predict which entities are relevant. We also classify the primary diagnosis for each conversation. In addition, we extract topic information and identify relevant utterances. This serves as a baseline for a system that extracts information from dialogues and automatically generates a patient note, which can be reviewed and edited by the clinician.


Mcl-1 (myeloid cell leukaemia-1) is an anti-apoptotic member of the Bcl-2 family protein, originally identified through the analysis of differentiating myeloid cells. We have recently reported that disruption of murine MCL-1 in adult murine hematopoiesis resulted in a complete deficiency of hematopoietic cells in the bone marrow, and that MCL-1 expression was activated in response to activation of c-Kit tyrosine kinase receptor signaling (Science 307;1101, 2005). Here we propose that human MCL-1 also plays a critical role in maintenance of normal and malignant human hematopoiesis. The analysis of FACS-sorted human HSCs and myeloid progenitors demonstrated that, as in case of murine hematopoiesis, HSCs expressed hMCL-1 at the highest level, and that its expression gradually downregulated in committed myeloid progenitors such as CMPs and GMPs. We also found that unlike murine long-term HSCs that express c-Kit but not FLT3 receptor tyrosine kinase, human long-term HSCs express both of these receptors. Ligation of FLT3 receptor in purified human HSCs immediately induced the expression of MCL-1, suggesting that FLT3 supports human HSC survival through stimulating MCL-1 expression. We then evaluated whether hMCL-1 is expressed in leukemic stem cells. Thirty patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) were enrolled in this study. Within the immature CD34+ blast population, the CD34+CD38− fraction expressed higher levels of MCL-1 than those in more differentiated CD34+CD38+ fraction. In most cases, CD34+CD38− AML cells expressed 2 to 10-fold higher levels of MCL-1 transcripts as compared to normal HSCs. Interestingly, the group of samples expressed highest levels of MCL-1 constituted mostly of FLT3/internal tandem duplications (ITDs) positive AML, suggesting that constitutive activation of FLT3 signaling by FLT3 mutations might induce overexpression of MCL-1. A high level expression of MCL-1 was also found in MOLM-13 and MV4-11, FLT3/ITD positive AML cell lines. Treatment of MOLM-13 and MV4-11 with the small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor PKC 412, resulted in induction of apoptosis, which was associated with decreased expression of MCL-1 transcripts and proteins. Based on these data, MCL-1 might play a critical role in maintenance of normal and malignant HSCs in human at least through FLT3 signaling. Our data also suggest that constitutive activation of FLT3 signaling by FLT3 mutation might contribute to leukemic transformation through enforcing survival of AML stem cells.


Angular dependences of intensity of photoelectron or fluorescence yield 17 excited by the XSW field from the topmost layer of a sufficiently thick 18 epitaxial film are extremely sensitive to the lattice constant difference 19 between substrate and the film. This sensitivity has been used to study 20 the influence of the isotopic mass on the lattice constant of Ge and Si. 21 The samples were homoepitaxial films on a substrate with different 22 isotopic composition. For samples of moderate crystalline quality the 23 measurements were performed at the near backscattering geometry. This 24


Investigations into the possible health effects of mobile phone emissions, particularly as the phones are placed in close proximity to the human body, are increasingly relevant in light of the rapid growth in mobile phone use. The International Committee on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) has noted the need to address near field exposure beyond the plane wave or far field approach, although the latter is considered to be conservative and sufficient for many cases. These cases include the exposure of object of a relatively higher permittivity (such as human muscles), or for objects located at certain distance where the magnitude of the normal component electric field (high for small distance between the object and exposure source) starts to become insignificant. However, these cases are not always representative for an antenna in close proximity of human body, or for a human body consisting of varied dielectric properties. A need exists for appropriate analytical methods to complement the currently available techniques in Radio Frequency (RF) dosimetry, including computational methods. Furthermore, the availability of analytical methods can be extended to investigate micro-level (cellular level) aspects of RF dosimetry, which is rarely being addressed and not well related to the macrolevel aspects of RF dosimetry. This thesis aims to fill some of the knowledge gaps around comprehensive quantification of RF energy when absorbed by the human body, in particular exploring near field exposures. Under such conditions, the normal component of induced electric fields is significant in objects located at close proximity to an RF radiating source. A simple yet comprehensive analytical method to study induced electromagnetic field in the layered half-space dielectric adjacent to a dipole is presented. The analytical method, of closed-form and high degree of accuracy, is able to provide intuitive understanding of energy absorption mechanism in near field RF exposure. A quantitative description can also be achieved with less time and computing resources. These are advantages that cannot be obtained from numerical computations only. In particular, a novel reconciliation theory is introduced, to describe the relationship between the incident free space fields and the induced fields in a non-magnetic lossy dielectric. This novel method is developed through the use


SnelPs account is not beyond criticism. He draws on Young's agricultural surveys, and the Wrigley and Schofield population studies, to draw conclusions about the trends of agrarian change. Yet these sources are aggregative studies, and it is not clear that these aggregate changes are due to alterations in the conditions of the poor relief examinees featured in the first part of the book. In addition, Snell focuses on those counties that were relative 'latecomers' in English development, the southern counties of the midland plain. Although some differentiation is made between oldenclosed counties and those subject to enclosure by Act of Parliament, much of SnelFs evidence on impoverishment appears drawn from those counties where open fields were successfully defended until the late eighteenth century. Perhaps the relative poverty of these areas was in part a consequence of the successful defence of traditional agrarian organisation while the old-enclosed areas of the south-east, and the industrialising north, passed these areas by. Several decades of hardship for the poor was then the price of reacting late to advances elsewhere in the English economy. Finally, much of SnelFs argument relies on county-level comparisons, and counties are possibly too crude a measure for assessing the impact of enclosure. Counties were extremely diverse, and some almost evenly divided between older and more recent enclosure. Thus the problem of aggregating evidence, and drawing conclusions about particular segments of the population in those areas, constantly recurs. Still, such criticisms must be put in perspective. This is an enormously skilled working of a diverse body of evidence, and its conclusions are for the most part convincing.


The neural networks in the crustacean stomatogastric ganglion are modulated by neuroactive substances released locally into the neuropil of the stomatogastric ganglion and by circulating hormones released by neuroendocrine structures including the pericardial organs. Using nanoscale liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization quadrupole‐time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry, we have identified and sequenced a novel B type allatostatin (CbAST‐B1), VPNDWAHFRGSWamide, present in the pericardial organs of the crabs, Cancer borealis, and Cancer productus. We describe the physiological actions of CbAST‐B1 on the pyloric rhythm of the stomatogastric ganglion of the crab, Cancer borealis. CbAST‐B1 reduces the pyloric network frequency in a dose‐dependent manner. The effect of bath‐applied CbAST‐B1 depends on the preceding physiological state of the preparation. Surprisingly, despite marked amino‐acid sequence dissimilarity between the novel CbAST‐B1 and the A type allatostatin family of peptides (AST‐A), the physiological effects of CbAST‐B1 are similar to those of AST‐A.


The preparation of nano-sized TiO2 by titanium tetraisopropoxide (Ti(OiPr)4) via sol-gel method using acid as a catalyst is investigated and the optimized conditions concerning the proportional amount of acid, water, alcohol is established by XRD and SEM. The effect of calcination temperature on phase transformation of TiO2 (rutile, anatase and brookite) was determined by XRD. The smallest grain size of TiO2 powder we have obtained is 25 nm for anatase at 400 oC by controlling the acidity and the mole ratio of starting materials.


The assessment of caloric adequacy on the basis of caloric shortfalls from nominal needs misclassifies individuals (undernourished as well-nourished, and vice versa) unless important inter-individual variations in energy needs are controlled for. This paper explores the extent of misclassification resulting from inter-individual differences in activity choice.


Treatments were applied to single-tree plots replicated 2 times in a randomized complete block design in each of 2 orchards. All treatments were applied dilute to runoff with a high-pressure handgun sprayer at 450 psi. Trees were ca. 4-5 m high and planted 4 × 6 m apart. Treatments were tested in a program of either 1 or 2 sprays applied to control either or both the spring and summer broods of CMB larvae, which emerged, respectively, during the bloom period and in midsummer. The first spray against the spring brood was applied on 25 May, immediately following petal fall. A second application was made in designated plots on 5 Jun. The effectiveness of the single-spray treatments was compared on 5 Jun by examining in the laboratory 25 fruit and leaf clusters/tree for live mealybug larvae. On 16 Jun, the procedure was repeated to compare the effectiveness of all (single- vs. double-spray) treatments. On 10-12 Jul, a final evaluation of the spring brood treatments was done by sampling 100 fruits/tree, and dissecting the calyx under a binocular microscope to check for adult infestation. The first of the summer brood sprays was applied on 7 Aug, and a second spray followed on 14 Aug in the appropriate plots. The effectiveness of all treatments were compared 1 wk before harvest by sampling 100 fruit/tree, and dissecting the calyx of each pear in the field to check for infestation.


Chinese social security system is in its transition process from the"universal- debris type"to "universal- integration type". In the course of system establishment,the integration between groups of different identities is the key link,while that between urban and rural residents is relatively easy. The goal of a comprehensive implementation of universal integration of social security system between urban and rural residents is to set up a unified social security system for urban and rural residents. Its realization approaches include the integration of urban- rural minimum living security system,of urban and rural basic endowment insurance system and of the basic medical insurance system for urban and rural residents.


This paper reviews collaboration between a Communication lecturer and two Science lecturers to improve underprepared students' scientific writing, using a process writing approach. Findings suggest that undertaking process writing is worthwhile as part of a deep learning approach in higher education; however, such an endeavour requires careful planning and constant coordination within the constraints of highly structured, time-pressured academic programmes. The author concludes that increasing the quality and quantity of students' scientific writing requires commitment and active collaboration by those involved at all levels of study in the discipline. Only with sustained, explicit and appropriate guidance by all lecturers concerned are science students likely to develop and value the appropriate scientific discourse that will mark them as fully-fledged members of the scientific community.


Reformers have long claimed there must be a causal linkage between "bad" housing and social disorganization in view of the high incidence of both in slum areas. Since previous research had not documented such a relationship, James Ford (7) in his classic Slums and Housing in 1936 concluded both were simply parts of the "syndrome of poverty." Such an explanation, however, has not satisfied social workers (5), architects and city planners (9), health or housing officials. (12) They continue to ask the applied social scientist: Which, if any, of the several physical characteristics of housing and neighborhood may be related to social disorganization? If such a relationship is found, is its nature the sort which the skills


Design and entrepreneurship education have emerged as platforms for exposing students to 'real-world' projectexperiences, instilling skills to succeed in the professional market. Both entrepreneurship and design education sharesimilar project-based, active learning pedagogies and claim to cultivate similar 21st century professional skills; however,minimal work has been conducted examining specific student professional outcomes in both entrepreneurship and designcourses. Using pre-post survey data, our study explores the impact of two classes, entrepreneurship and biomedicalengineering (BME) design, on students' perceived learning gains in three professional skills: Risk-Taking, Creative Self-Efficacy and Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy (ESE). Results indicated that Entrepreneurship course students reportedsignificant increases in Creative Self-Efficacy and ESE. BME design course students reported minor improvement incertain aspects of ESE. Neither course significantly impacted students' perceived Risk-Taking ability. These resultsindicate that while design and entrepreneurship courses share content and pedagogy, they have a differing impact onstudents' perceived skills. We explicate key differences between the courses and their impact on perceived professionalskills, examining why design and entrepreneurship education may be unique and how students may benefit from both.


Abstract A newly designed eight-arm caliper–inclinometer probe for borehole logging is presented. The caliper sounding gives eight points of cross-sections of the borehole at 1 cm intervals along its axis. Regression circles and ellipses are calculated and used as obvious hypotheses to be tested in order to obtain information on strain rates in the horizontal planes and isotropic or anisotropic borehole closure. The scratching of identifiable marks into the wall of the borehole enables material displacement to be tracked, in particular in the vertical direction, thus providing information for determining vertical strain rates along the borehole. Measurements in two boreholes drilled on high-altitude glaciers in the Swiss Alps are used to demonstrate both the potential and the limitations of the probe and of the mathematical methods presented.


A record field of between twelve and sixteen teams will participate in the Fourth United States Computer Chess Championship. The tournament will be held as a Special Event at the ACM's Annual Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. The first two rounds of play will be held on Sunday, August 26, the third round on the evening of August 27, and the final round on the evening of August 28.


In this study, we examine the factors which influence the efficiency of firms located in different clusters, and analyze the underlying mechanisms of it. Our sample contains data on more than 10,000 firms from 2005 to 2015 in Zhongguancun Science Parks in Beijing, China. Using the DEA model, we calculate the efficiency of each firm over time. It turns out that firm size has a strong negative relationship with firm's R&D efficiency, but a strong positive association with firm's commercial efficiency. Our study supplements the current knowledge by exploring the relationship between ownership and R&D efficiency which is also contingent on firm size. Then we found that the relationship between age of geographic clusters and R&D efficiency is also contingent on firm size. Discussions and analyses are given to these findings. Both managerial and academic implications are presented for further study.


Pre-eclampsia is an abnormality that can harm both the mother and the fetus, therefore every pregnant woman must be screened to detect pre-eclampsia symptoms. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of checking Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP), Roll Over Test (ROT), Body Mass Index (BMI) as a screening for pre-eclampsia in pregnancy. This type of research is quantitative analytic using a Quasi-experimental research design in the Midwives Practice Mandiri working area of Puskesmas Pulorejo, Jombang Regency. Sample: 48 pregnant women in Trimester II who met the inclusion criteria were using purposive sampling technique. The instruments used were the KIA book, checklist. Chi-square statistical test and logistic regression test. The results of the bivariate test using Chi-Square found that pregnant women with positive MAP had a greater risk of developing pre-eclampsia, mothers who had positive ROT had 2 times the risk of developing pre-eclampsia compared to negative ROTs, mothers who were overweight or obese based on BMI had a risk more likely to have pre-eclampsia. The results of the multivariate analysis carried out with logistic regression tests together showed the effect of MAP, ROT and BMI examinations as a screening for pre-eclampsia in pregnancy. It is hoped that midwives and service providers for pregnant women to carry out MAP, ROT and control weight gain in pregnant women based on the Body Mass Index to screen for pre-eclampsia in pregnancy


Abstract This article presents a study of spatial distribution of job openings and spatial variation in job accessibility in the Boston Metropolitan Area. The most striking finding is that despite decades of employment decentralization, job openings suitable for less-educated job seekers are still relatively concentrated in the central city. This is due to the fact that the great majority of job openings are vacancies resulting from turnover, the spatial concentration of which reflects the spatial concentration of current employment. A related finding is that for a given transportation mode, less-educated job seekers who reside in the central city still have, on average, somewhat better access to job openings than those who reside at the periphery of the metropolitan area. However, accessibility differentials among locations are small as compared to accessibility differentials between transportation modes. For job seekers who can travel by car, the majority of residential locations will allow them to have an access level higher than the average. For job seekers who depend on public transit, on the other hand, very few residential locations will allow them to have an above-average access level. These findings have important policy implications.


Objective To study the changes in ERK1/2 activity and the cell types involved following spinal cord hemisection. Methods Rats 3 d after spinal cord hemisection were used to study the changes in phosphorylated ERK1/2 immunoreactivity and its cellular distribution by immunohistochemical and double staining immunofluorescence techniques. Results The phosphorylation level of ERK1/2 in the operated rats 3 d after hemisection was much higher than that in the control rats. The positive cells were located around injury area, having small cell bodies and short processes. Double fluorescent staining proved that most of positive cells were microglia or oligodendrocytes. Conclusion It is showed that ERK1/2 signaling pathway is involved in microglia and oligodendrocytes activation which may play a critical role in the secondary lesion of spinal cord injury 3 d after spinal cord hemisection.


Recently, the Cisco global mobile traffic forecast has indicated that mobile data traffic will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 53 percentages from 2015 to 2020.The video data will account for 75% of the mobile data traffic in 2020. The trend confirms that more advanced wireless communication technologies will be required to support better user experience, especially for cell-edge users.In next-generation cellular systems, operators are required to provide better video service quality for users, especially for cell-edge users. Cell-edge users may occupy a large portion of radio resource blocks (RBs),Co-Ordinated MultiPoint (Co-MP) transmission and reception are introduced as a promising technology in the Long Term Evaluation (LTE) networks.In this paper, the QoS of 5G network in terms of throughput, SNIR, spectral efficiency and data rate is improved using Co-Ordinated Multi Point Algorithm (Co-MP).


Endodontic therapy is only successful in the long run if the tooth is suitably rehabilitated. Although countless studies on various types of post and core have been conducted, there is a paucity of studies on customizing post and core with digitalization to eliminate the hassle of impression-making emphasizing the need for the development of strategic techniques. This article aims to present a novel technique that combines the advantages of pre-fabricated post, in terms of saving clinical time, yet achieving the custom fit of post and core utilizing a digital approach. Further, this study emphasizes two case reports employing the same technique of customizing post and core utilizing Cone Beam Computed Tomography. A compact run-through for the fabrication of a Digi Post prologues with the preparation of the post space, Standard Tessellation Language (STL) file is attained by converting the Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) file of a Cone Beam Computed Tomography scan, in which the post can be designed digitally. This innovative technique allows practitioners to perform post-endodontic rehabilitation with greater confidence, simplicity and precision.


This article compares the works of Zulu Sofola and Zodwa Motsa, two playwrights who have written about the tribulations of the oppressed in the African society. One of the roles played by playwrights in society is that of a documentarist. In their plays, Wedlock of the gods and Of Heroes and Men, both playwrights have presented a documentation of Southern Nigeria and Swaziland of the colonial and early postcolonial period respectively. We discuss how both plays negotiate the relationship between the state and society, scrutinizing the protean and dynamic aspects of human nature as presented by the playwrights in the lives of the governor and the governed. The article posits that Zulu Sofola and Zodwa Motsa have, through their plays, examined the structures of the society, which promote oppression. They unequivocally stated that carnivorous traditions, undemocratic dictatorships and oppressive patriarchal structures should be demolished to give a new lease of life to the oppressed and to create an egalitarian society. Lwati: A Journal of Contemporary Research Vol. 2 2005: 43-52


The invention provides a method for producing soluble egg powder, which comprises the following steps: implementing mechanical dispersion and emulsion treatment to the egg liquid material; adding at least an auxiliary agent which is selected from a complexing agent, a precipitator and an emulsifier; and implementing spray drying to the egg liquid undergoing dispersion and emulsion treatment. In the method of the invention, mechanical dispersion is used for breaking the particle structures in the egg liquid to form O/W type emulsion, and O/W type egg powder particles can be easily obtained after spray drying; the addition of the complexing agent or the precipitator can reduce the concentration of divalent metal ions in the egg liquid and improve the solubility of the egg powder; and the addition of the emulsifier is beneficial to improving the hydrophilicity of the surface of the egg powder particles. The egg powder produced by the invention can be soluble to normal temperature water and hot water to form uniform emulsion; and when the emulsion is heated, no egg-flower-shaped gel is formed.


Application research of rice husk in inorganic chemical aspects was discussed.Technology research of preparing activated carbon and silica from rice husk was introduced.Prospect of comprehensive utilization of rice husk was put forward.


Background and Purpose:
 Evidence of an association between sleep apnea (SA) and early neurological deterioration (END) in acute phase ischemic stroke is scant. We investigated the prevalence of SA and the impact of SA severity on END in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients.

 Methods:
 We prospectively enrolled consecutive AIS patients admitted to our stroke unit within 72 hours of symptom onset. SA severity was assessed with ApneaLink - a validated portable respiratory monitor. SA was defined as an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) of ≥ 5/hour. END was defined as an incremental increase in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score by ≥ 1 point in motor power, or ≥ 2 points in the total score within the first week after admission.

 Results:
 Of the 305 patients studied, 254 (83.3%) patients had SA (AHI ≥ 5/hour), and of these, 114 (37.4%) had mild SA (AHI 5-14/hour), 59 (19.3%) had moderate SA (AHI 15-29/hour), and 81 (26.6%) had severe SA (AHI ≥ 30/hour). Thirty-six (11.8%) patients experienced END: 2 of the 51 (3.9%) patients without SA and 34 of the 254 (14.4%) patients with SA. Multivariable regression analysis showed AHI independently predicted END (odds ratio 1.024; 95% confidence interval 1.006 to 1.042; p = 0.008).

 Conclusions:
 SA is common in the acute phase of ischemic stroke, and SA severity is associated with the risk of END.


Abstract: Community health centers present a challenge for evaluators because of their multiple and overlapping programs, variable client base, culturally diverse clientele, and nontraditional approach to health and wellness. This article provides an overview of the evaluation strategy adopted by a rural southwestern Ontario community health center to overcome these challenges. The purpose of the evaluation was to obtain a broad picture of the center's internal dynamics, processes, and efficacy following its first two years of operation.


After predicting in November 1995 that the 1996 hurricane season would be less active than the typical year (Eos, December 12, 1995), William Gray and his colleagues from Colorado State University have revised their forecast. Plugging updated atmospheric data into their statistical model, the researchers are now predicting seven hurricanes—two of them intense (category 3, 4, or 5)—and 11 named storms for the summer and fall of 1996. Net tropical cyclone activity for the hurricane season, which lasts from June 1 to December 1, should be 105% of the 25-year average, according to Gray.

In November, Gray and Chris Landsea of NOAA's Hurricane Research Division predicted eight tropical storms and five hurricanes (two intense), less than the historical averages of 9.3 named storms and 5.7 hurricanes per season. The change in expectations is the result of new accounting for trends in temperature and barometric pressure in Africa and around the Atlantic Basin.


Recent study development of production and process of internal and external foam aluminum material in the article.Several production processes of foam material with advanced technology are emphasized.


Human T and B lymphocytes were highly purified from tonsil and peripheral blood, and their proliferative responses to various mitogens were studied. T cells [T(III)] were purified by filtration through a nylon fiber column (NC), followed by a double cycle of E rosette formation and Ficoll-Paque sedimentation. B cells [B(VIII)] were obtained from the NC-retained fraction by twice removal of E rosette forming cells. A second T cell preparation [T(VI)] was obtained from the NC-retained fraction. Purified T(III) and B(VIII) preparations contained less than 1% of other cell types. Phytohemagglutinin, pokeweed mitogen and concanavalin A (T mitogens) stimulated T(III) and T(VI) well, but had no effect upon B(VIII). Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I (SpA) and insolubilized protein A stimulated B(VIII) in the complete absence of T cells. Under the reconstituted culture of T(III) and B(VIII), responses to T mitogens were greatly enhanced by the addition of B(VIII). This enhancing effect was mainly caused by B cells and was not diminished by mitomycin treatment, suggesting that the observed T-B cooperation was attributable to direct cell-to-cell interaction. B(VIII) were also significantly stimulated by T mitogens in the presence of smallest number of T cells. SpA stimulated B(VIII) in proportion of their cell number independent of the addition of T cells. On the other hand, T(VI), which contained 3–10% B cells, showed rather higher response to T mitogens than T(III), failed to show coorepation with B(VIII).


In this paper, a contribution to development of electromagnetic bandgap (EBG) structures which can be implemented by means of multilayer board technologies in an electronic system is presented. Introduced structures are formed as a transmission line analogue of the distributed Bragg reflector in which the unit cell comprises a stripline segment and a via structure. As the via structure, both a single signal via and a shield via consisting of signal and ground vias are considered here. In consequence, a compact construction of one-dimensional EBG structures in which unit cells are arranged one under another is realized. Simulation and measurement data verify EBG properties of presented structures. Also, as follows from obtained results, the use of the shield via in the unit cell is an important factor to improve the EBG structure electrical performance.


Preface 1.The challenge of presence in a multi-tasking world 2.What is mindfulness? 3. What do we know about mindfulness: The research record 4. How does mindfulness benefit therapists? 5. Cultivating mindfulness 6. The complexities of compassion 7. Things get in the way: Obstacles to being present 8. Practicing to be present 9. A final thought


With north latitude 40 as boundary, the Takelamgan desert can be divided into two big sedimentary areas, which are north alluvial flood plain generated by west and east Tarim river and south alluvial lacustrine fine grain plain generated by lots of river system originated from north side of KunLun mountain. To find the hydrogeological character of two sedimentary areas can help study the change of palaeogeographic environment and the evolvement of groundwater system. In order to find the hydrogeological character of Takelamgan desert, the prospecting work has been done with audiomagnetotelluric sounding method along Tazhong road. This paper presents the application effect. The feature of electric property shows perfectly the two different sedimentary area and the corresponding hydrogeological unit. At the same time, based on the distribution of resistivity, we plot the groundwater quality map, and infer the evolutive process of palaeo-river course. The information provides the scientific evidence for the reasearch of groundwater generation and evolvement.


Objective To study the effect of activated Notch signaling system on Schwann cells in vitro. Methods Schwann cells were isolated from sciatic nerves of adult SD rats. Recombinant rat jagged1/FC chimera, an activator of the Notch signaling system, and γ-secretase inhibitor (DAPT), an inhibitor of the Notch signaling system, were added into the culture medium respectively. The cells in the medium added with phosphate buffered saline were used as control group. Then the cultured cells were collected. NICD, as a mark of activated Notch system, was detected by immunofluorescence methods. MTT method was used to calculate the growth curve. The level of NGF in the cell supernatant was assayed by using ELISA. Results Schwann cells in recombinant rat jagged/FC chimera group grew better than those in the control groups. MTT method showed that activated Notch signaling significantly promote the proliferation of the cells(P < 0.05). After cultured for 48 h, the amount of NGF in cell supernatant of recombinant rat jagged1/FC chimera group was significantly increased (P < 0.05). Conclusion When the Notch signaling system is activated, Schwann cells not only proliferate but also secret more NGF.

Key words:
Schwann cells; Notch signaling system; NGF


Use ELISA to diagnose the reagent box has carried on the serum antibody tests of PRR$ and PR to a pig farm of 60 serum of Zhengzhou,it is 47 and 18 respectively to examine out the past serum,positive rate is 79.66% and 30.51%,indicate this pig farm pig group have virus of PRRS and virus of PR.


This paper introduces an iris classification system using FFNNGSA and FFNNPSO. This iris identification system consists of localization of the iris region, normalization, feature extraction and then classification as a final stage. A Canny Edge Detection scheme and a Circular Hough Transform are used to detect the iris boundaries. After that the extracted IRIS region is normalized using Daugman rubber sheet model. Next, Haar wavelet transform is used for extracting features from the normalized iris region then the feature matrix is reduced using the principle component analysis (PCA). Finally, both particle swarm optimization (PSO) and gravitational search algorithm (GSA) are used for training a forward neural network to get the optimum weights and biases. The results showed that training the feed-forward neural network by GSA is better than training it by PSO in an iris recognition system.