After discussing the features of the pulppaper industry and its requirement to CIPS and analyzing the research actuality of CIMS, Object- Oriented Architecture of CIMS and its application in pulppaper industry are proposed and its components, func- tions, features and some design ideas are introduced in details. The characters of Object- Oriented Architecture of CIMS are given in the end.


We present a user recognition method using human body impulse response signals. The body compositions vary from person to person depending on the portion of water, muscle, and fat. In the body communication study, the body has been interpreted circuit models using capacitance and resistances, and its characteristics are determined by the body compositions. Therefore, the individual body channel is unique and can be used for user recognition. In this paper, we applied pseudo impulse signals to the left hand and recorded received signals from the right hand. The empirical mode decomposition (EMD) method removed noise from the received signals and 10 peak values are extracted. We set the differences between peak amplitudes as a key feature to identify individuals. We collected data from 6 subjects and achieved accuracy of 97.71% for the user recognition application.


The methods and procedure of environment quality evaluation has gradually developing and advancing in the past half century.The methods to evaluate environmental quality is used to adopt single pollution index and ingegrative pollution indexes,those methods is simple and easy to evaluation,but those is not the best method to adapt to the trend of development.Recently,the domestic and international relevant scholars do a great deal of research for evaluation methodology,the study details fuzzy comprehensive assessment and operational research to evaluate environmental quality of production base of green food,which has becoming trend of the evaluation method of the environment quality.


The Company ASINEL needs to have an analysis, design and implementation of a
unified communication system by Voip into an Elastix server. Its objective is to
improve the internal and external communication of its workers.
This project is oriented to improve communications. First, a technical analysis has to
be done in the company. Then, a design, a topology and equipment were proposed.
Finally, the implementation of the correct configuration was done in the selected
equipment, such as the Elastix server, gateway, softphone, phones and UPS. The
configuration of the Elastix central was: voicemail, IVR, music on hold, call
recording, SIP backbone, call transfer, etc.
The sending and receiving response time among the configured and connected
equipment in the telephonic exchange did not exceed 1ms, furthermore, it was
demonstrated that the highest value used for the bandwidth with five calls and codec
ULAW was of 51.86 kB/s transmitted, and 51.70 kB/s received. These packages did
not exceed the bandwidth used in the network. Also, it was demonstrated that the
Elastix installation provided solution to the communication problems that the
Company ASINEL had. This is a telephonic exchange with several applications and
functions, which provide reliability, efficiency, control in transmission and reception
of calls.
As conclusion, this implementation showed a better improvement in comparison with
a traditional analog telephone exchange. This project guarantees an optimization of
new resources that this technology offers.


A strain effect has been found to explain the anomalous reduction in P diffusivity at surface concentrations greater than ∼4×1020 cm−3. It is shown that at diffusion temperatures, misfit‐induced strain causes a reduction in the effective Si band gap up to ∼−130 meV at the solubility limit of P. This band‐gap narrowing results in reduced P diffusivity through a relative reduction of P+V= pairs in the surface region. This complex is the dominant species for P transport at high P concentrations. The diffusion of P in the tail region is dominated by V− vacancies liberated during P+V= pair dissociation events. Thus, the tail diffusivity will likewise be reduced by band‐gap narrowing in the surface region. These reductions in diffusivity can be by as much as a factor of 6 depending upon temperature and P doping.


The study circulates around the key issues in merger valuation and financial performance of the merged company before and after union . The objective is to analyze the valuation process and  evaluate the performance of merged company before and after merger. The data used in the study was obtained from the audited financial statements of the company's and through interview with the executives. The performance 5 years before and after combined   are investigated using financial statement analysis. In order to substantiate the result t- test was used for hypothesis testing. The study finding indicates that the major merger motive is enhancing profitability. It is also found that the merger process is simply pooling the audited financial statements of companies going for merger. The study analysis made both by financial statements analysis and the hypothesis testing made shows that performance of firms after combined has declined as compared to the performance of firms before combined.


Acoustic object detection in underwater applications, such as the detection of unexploded ordnances (UXO), is challenging, especially at shallow burial depths or in the presence of other reflections. Therefore, acoustic detection is performed with very short temporal and spectrally very broadband pulses. The received signal strength is measured and displayed over time (time of flight). However, this method cannot detect closely spaced reflections because the pulses overlap in the time domain. In this work, we present spectral signal processing that allows the detection and localization of known object geometries in the presence of interfering reflections. We extend our underwater ultrasound propagation model in this work to include a sediment layer. We apply spectral fingerprinting to detect a known object geometry and localize it in a second step. We evaluate the performance with measurements in a laboratory experiment with an object with varying burial depths and on sediment.


Wermer has conjectured the following converse: If a commutative Banach algebra has no nontrivial derivations then it is semi-simple. A weaker statement is: If a commutative Banach algebra is all radical [i.e. xn -O for all x] then it has a nontrivial derivation. In this note we show that even this weaker statement is false. We choose a fixed sequence Xn, n= 1, 2, * * * , of non-0 complex numbers, and consider the following algebraic system S. The elements are those formal power series


Methods for sensorless control involving the injection of a high-frequency signal in the low-speed range of the Interior Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (IPMSM) have been proposed. However, audible noise is a concern in these methods. We propose a method to reduce the audible noise due to a high-frequency current by minimizing the injection signal amplitude suitable for IPMSM driving states.


As the most potent natural poison, botulinum toxin (BoTX) blocks the cholinergic synaptic transmission in skeletal muscles selectively by interfering in the acetylcholine release from motor nerve terminals and results in the death of the animals due to the paralysis of


Graphene membranes over Si etched cavities are fabricated to form the sensing element for micro gas sensors. The repeatability and stability of the sensor is dependent on stress and stretch of the graphene membrane which is related to the conformal to non-conformal morphology of the graphene. This in turn depends on the surface roughness of the Si surface that anchors the graphene film. In this paper we present the results of the optimization of the cavity formation process to allow for a smooth surface that allows superior adhesion of the graphene without extra stretching or tears.


SUMMARY Traphotylenchulus piperis n. sp. parasitising roots of pepper plant, Piper nigrum L., from Kerala, India is described. This species is most closely related to T floridensis Ra&i, 1957 differing by smaller size of females, males and juveniles, and by juveniles having a larger depressed area in me circumoral plate and an indented, digitate tail. Dark brown cases encircling the female, juveniles and eggs, were collected from me soi1 for the tirst time.


This paper presents a new current-mode universal filter with four inputs and one output using four current differencing transconductance amplifiers, two grounded capacitors and two grounded resistors. The proposed circuit can realize of low-pass, band-pass, high-pass, band-stop and all-pass current responses, without component-matching conditions and inverting-type input signals requirements. The natural frequency and the quality factor can be set orthogonally and electronically by adjusting the transconductance gains. The filter also offers the features of low input and high output impedances, low active and passive sensitivities and use of only grounded passive components which is ideal for integration point of view. The characteristics of the proposed circuit are simulated using PSPICE simulators to confirm the presented theory.


Background Previous studies on Barrett's esophagus (BE) risk factors have had differing case definitions and control groups. The purpose of this study was to examine differences in risk factors between newly diagnosed vs. prevalent BE, long- vs. short-segment BE, and endoscopy-only BE without specialized intestinal metaplasia (SIM). Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study among eligible patients scheduled for elective esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and patients eligible for screening colonoscopy, recruited from primary care clinics at a Veterans Affairs center. All participants completed a survey on demographics, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms and medication use prior to undergoing study EGD. We compared BE cases separately to two control groups: 503 primary care controls and 1353 endoscopy controls. Associations between risk factors and differing BE case definitions were evaluated with multivariate logistic regression models. Results For comparisons with primary care controls, early onset frequent GERD symptoms were more strongly associated with risk of long-segment BE (OR 19.9; 95% CI 7.96–49.7) than short-segment BE (OR 8.54; 95% CI 3.85–18.9). Likewise, the inverse association with H. pylori infection was stronger for long-segment BE (OR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.26–0.79) than short-segment BE (OR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.48–1.05). GERD symptoms and H. pylori infection was also more strongly associated with prevalent BE than newly diagnosed BE. Few differences were observed between BE cases and endoscopy controls. Endoscopy-only BE was associated with GERD symptoms (OR 2.25, 95% CI 1.32–3.85) and PPI/H2RA use (OR 4.44; 95% CI 2.61–7.54) but to a smaller degree than BE with SIM. Conclusion We found differences in the strength and profiles of risk factors for BE. The findings support that epidemiological studies of BE should make a distinction between long and short, new and prevalent, endoscopy-only and BE with SIM as well as type of controls.


BACKGROUND
Coenzyme Q10 (Q10) is a powerful lipophilic antioxidant with poor solubility in aqueous media. Curcumin (Cur) is a natural polyphenolic phytochemical molecule with poor aqueous solubility. Liposome is an improved administration of drugs yet with some drawbacks, such as low bioavailability, poor water solubility. It's found biocompatible and permeable for nutraceutical delivery. Chitosan, a hydrophilic polymer, is often used as a polymer coating for its good biocompatible and biodegradable properties, and its relatively low toxicity level.

METHODS
Q10 and Cur co-loaded liposomes coated with chitosan (Q10-Cur-Lip-Chi) was constructed. The co-encapsulation of Q10 and Cur in liposomes coated with chitosan was verified by TEM, DLS, DSC, FT-IR, and XRPD. The release profile and antioxidant activity of Q10-Cur-Lip-Chi were accessed.

RESULTS
The particle size of Q10-Cur-Lip-Chi was about 1440 nm with narrow particle distribution with satisfying encapsulation efficiency (EE) above 98% for Q10 and 25% for Cur. Q10-Cur-Lip-Chi showed higher solubility and better pH resistance with 98.5% of Q10 and Cur retention at pH 7.0 - 9.0. Besides, Q10-Cur-Lip showed great salt stability with vesicle size change less than 5%. And PS of Q10-Cur-Lip-Chi changed less than 10% at 4 °C of storage. Additionally, Q10-Cur-Lip-Chi exhibited a good controlled release profile with its accumulative release less than 34% for Q10 and 30% for curcumin after 24 h. And the Q10-Cur-Lip-Chi performed synergistic effect on antioxidant activity reached 41.86±1.84%, which was 5.9 times higher than that of Q10, 2.5 times higher than that of Cur, and 1.7 times higher than that of the Mixture.

CONCLUSION
Q10-Cur-Lip-Chi improves the solubility and stability of poorly water-soluble Q10 and Cur for good release performance and antioxidative activity.


This study intends to inspect medical students' attitudes regarding the learning of communication skills and to inspect the relationship of Pakistani undergraduate medical students' attitudes towards the learning of communication skills with demographic and education-related characteristics (gender, age, residence and parents' occupation). The population of the research was the 5th professional, undergraduate medical students of Pakistani medical colleges. Samples were taken from four Pakistani public medical colleges. Data for this research has been collected through the use of already designed communication skills attitude scale by Rees et al. A pilot study was conducted for checking reliability and validity of CSAS and on the basis of findings of pilot study. Some modifications have also been done in CSAS of Rees et al. Data has been analyzed through SPSS version 20. Results of this research have shown that Pakistani medical students carry both positive and negative attitudes towards learning of communication skills.


This paper introduces the connotation of the individualized service of the library,and through analyzing the advantages of university library in developing the individualized service,expounds the effective paths for developing the individualized service by university library.


Micro Wire Electro Discharge Machining (µ-WEDM) is a type of electro-discharge machining (EDM) process where wire is used instead of a rigid tool. It is a reliable and precise machining process, which is commonly used to produce various complex structural shapes for a wide range of industrial applications. However, to machine a semiconductor material of high resistivity like silicon (Si) requires more advanced processing to produce larger electrical sparks during the µ-WEDM operation. Current (µ-WEDM) technology is not enough to realize a stable machining environment for Si. In this research a new type of µ-WEDM process for Si machining was investigated. At first Si was temporarily coated with gold and then nano powder mixed dielectric medium was used for the WEDMing process. The main purpose of this work is to investigate the effects of different nano powder concentrations on two important response factors such as material removal rate (MRR) and spark gap (SG). In this regard, the µ-WEDMing of gold coated silicon was carried out in pure dielectric EDM oil and also in three different concentrations (0.1g/L,1g/L,2g/L) of nano powder mixed dielectric oil to conduct an initial study with the aim to achieve better machining accuracy and stability. Based on the experimental investigations, it was obtained that at different carbon concentrations the MRR were found to be increased on average minimum ~ 1% to maximum ~ 33% respectively, as compared to machining in pure dielectric medium. The spark gap was also observed to be increased by a significant margin on average of ~ 2% to up to ~ 159% than without using any nano powder concentration, correspondingly.


Objective To investigate the effects of matrix metalloproteinase-9 in tongue squamous cell line induced by VEGF and DEX.Methods The effects of VEGF and DEX on the production of MMP-9 in tongue squamous cell were studied by immunohistochemistry.Results VEGF had a significantly different effect on the activity of MMP-9 in tongue squamous cell line after 24h,and the activity of MMP-9 was more dependent on VEGF.The activity of MMP-9 may be decreased by the effects of VEGF and DEX.The activity of MMP-9 was also dependent on VEGF.Conclusion VEGF may promote the production of MMP-9 in tongue squamous cell;DEX may decrease the production of MMP-9 in tongue squamous cell.


Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858), a leading artist of the popular ukiyo-e school, created many of the most familiar images of pre-modern Japan. Considerably more rare are his designs for fan prints or uchiwa-e, and the remarkable group in the V&A, published here in their entirety for the first time,is the largest known holding of its kind in the world. Assembled between 1886 and 1919, the collection offers fascinating insights into a relatively uncharted but compelling dimension of Hiroshige's achievement. A native of Edo, the large and bustling urban centre that subsequently became the city of Tokyo, Hiroshige lived at a time when travel was becoming an increasingly important partof Japanese life. He was to become particularly famous for his landscape prints, where he skilfully catered for the growing demand for creative representations of places popular among the travelling public. Another of Hiroshige's strengthswas bird and flower studies, and he also created many fine designs dealing with literary and historical themes. Rich in colour and full of poetry, Hiroshige's works are ascaptivating today as when they were first created in mid-nineteenth-century Japan. This volume of astonishingly vivid and varied fan prints will be of considerable interest to collectors, students and anyone with a love of Japanese art.


In recent years there has been a rapidly growing body of experimental evidence for existence of exotic, multiquark hadrons, i.e. mesons which contain additional quarks, beyond the usual quark-antiquark pair and baryons which consist of more than three quarks. In all cases with robust evidence they contain at least one heavy quark Q = c or b, the majority including two heavy quarks. Two key theoretical questions have been triggered by these discoveries: (a) how are quarks organized inside these multiquark states – as compact objects with all quarks within one confinement volume, interacting via color forces, perhaps with an important role played by diquarks, or as deuteron-like hadronic molecules, bound by light-meson exchange? (b) what other multiquark states should we expect? The two questions are tightly intertwined. Each of the interpretations provides a natural explanation of parts of the data, but neither explains all of the data. It is quite possible that both kinds of structures appear in Nature. It may also be the case that certain states are superpositions of the compact and molecular configurations. This Whitepaper brings together contributions from many leading practitioners in the field, representing a wide spectrum of theoretical interpretations. We discuss the importance of future experimental and phenomenological work, which will lead to better understanding of multiquark phenomena in QCD.


The invention relates to the field of analysis and testing, and an in-vitro sandwich immunoassay process with magnetic separation for detecting alpha fetoprotein is built. The in-vitro sandwich immunoassay process is that a sandwich immune compound with a magnetic separation characteristic is obtained by catching an alpha fetoprotein antigen and a signal probe sandwich fixed by a quantum dot through a magnetic probe. The in-vitro sandwich immunoassay process for detecting the alpha fetoprotein builds an immunosensor to implement the detection of a target substance. The built immunosensor comprises a substrate electrode and modifies a prepared magnetic sandwich immune compound on the surface of the substrate electrode; and the relative electrogenerated chemiluminescent signals are different due to the different quantities of quantum dots relative to the alpha fetoprotein antigens with the different concentrations, so that the quantitative analysis of the alpha fetoprotein can be implemented. The in-vitro sandwich immunoassay process based on magnetism provided by the invention is good in anti-interference performance; and the detection method of the alpha fetoprotein is easy, the sample preprocessing is simple, and the detection and the analysis of content of the alpha fetoprotein in a serum sample with high flexibility can be adapted.


This paper describes the development of a piezohydraulic actuator for broadband microjet flow control applications. The actuator utilizes a lead zirconate titanate (PZT) stack actuator and a hydraulic amplification design to achieve relatively large displacements in a compact actuator to control flow through a microjet orifice. Displacement amplification of 81 times the stack actuator displacement was achieved using a new dual-diaphragm design. The nonlinear and hysteretic field-coupled material behavior, structural dynamics, and fluid dynamics of the actuator are modeled using a system dynamic model and compared with experimental results. The nonlinear and hysteretic piezohydraulic actuator characteristics are shown to be strongly dependent on the nonlinear deformation of the rubber diaphragm and minor loop hysteresis of the PZT stack actuator. The modeling technique provides a design tool for broadband performance predictions and system optimization to facilitate implementation of the actuator in a flow environment.


David Hume exerted a profound influence on the later European Enlightenment. He did so primarily through the inherent appeal to a postRationalist, post-Baroque intellectual climate of his application of the 'experimental method' in the sciences to 'moral philosophy'. The experimental method, primarily adapted from Isaac Newton's successful studies in the natural sciences, in Hume's hands, serves in effect as a purge against any concepts in philosophy whose origin cannot be plausibly traced to immediate sense impressions resulting through a variety of cognitive manipulations in ideas. From this empirical standpoint, Hume challenges the legitimacy of classical mathematical concepts of infinite divisibility and extension, and, surprisingly, though in much the same vein and on precisely the same methodological grounds, advances a more humanized finitist account of the aesthetics of the sublime. The present essay examines the general principles of Hume's philosophy in both early and later periods as concerned throughout with the proper ideational credentials of all concepts belonging to science, mathematics, and the philosophy of art. Hume is portrayed as single-mindedly applying an empiricist criterion for the qualifications of philosophical concepts entering into both the formal and natural sciences and cultural studies of every kind. Among other thinkers, the intersection of Hume's interests in the conceptual foundations of mathematics and art are considered in relation to his enormous impact on the aesthetic philosophy of his contemporary Edmund Burke.


In order tO study the nucleotide sequence of L segment of Hantaan virus strain 84FI i,the cDNA of L segment was amplified fragment by fragment by RT—PCR .The purified PCR products were sequenced directly or cloned into pM D18一T vector and then sequenced.The I genom e segm ent is 6533 nucleotides in length with a predicated region(from 38 to 6493)encoding 2151 amino acids.The entire sequence com position was A 33.39% ,C16.43% ,G20.74% ,T29.44% ,and the GC and AT contents were 37.17 and 62.83% .Homology analysis showed that the homologies of 84FLi L segment nu— cleotide sequence with HTN isolates especially Chinese isolates were higher than those of other Han— tavirus.It showed 83.7% homology with HTN foreign standard strain 76—118。while the amino acid homology between the two strains was 97.5% .The result suggested that 84FLi strain was one of the Hantann virus,and highly related tO other Chinese Hantaan Virus iso lates.


Stony Brook University Libraries.
SBU Graduate School in Biomedical Engineering.
Lawrence Martin (Dean of Graduate School), Dr. Yi-Xian Qin – Dissertation Advisor
Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Dr. Stefan Judex – Chairperson of Defense
Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Dr. Peter Brink
Professor and Chairman, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Dr. Susannah Fritton
Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering
The City College of New York.


An approach for estimating urban imperviousness surface percent(ISP) through the synergistic use of Landsat ETM+ and high-resolution imagery is presented.In the proposed approach,the ensemble leaning of CART analysis based on Boosting is utilized to construct the ISP predict model,furthermore,to obtain the subpixel ISP results at 30 m resolution.The experiment shows this approach yields ISP estimation performance compared to that of the traditional estimation method based on single CART,and its correlation coefficient of predicted versus actual ISP reaches 0.91 with an average error 11.16%.


iii Acknowledgements iv Dedication v Declaration vi Approval vii Table of contents viii List of Tables xii List of Figures xiii Chapter 1: Introduction 1.


Accurate spatial-temporal information on evaporation is needed for use in many sectors including hydrology, agriculture and climate studies. This would require a dense observation network, which is practically impossible. Over the past decades, remotely sensed evaporation models to estimate spatially continuous evaporation have been developed. However, deciding which model to use is a challenge as these models vary in complexity and accuracy across the different global ecosystems. It is even more challenging for complex African ecosystems that have very 20 few, or none at all, flux tower observations. In this study, we used the general water balance evaporation ( 𝐸 𝑤𝑏 ) as reference to which we compared six models that determine evaporation, i.e., 𝐹𝐿𝐸𝑋 − 𝑇𝑜𝑝𝑜 𝑊𝐵 , TerraClimate ( 𝑇𝑀𝐶 𝑊𝐵 ), GLEAM, MOD16, SSEBop and WaPOR, in the Luangwa Basin, a semi-arid catchment in the Miombo ecosystem in southern Africa. 𝐹𝐿𝐸𝑋 − 𝑇𝑜𝑝𝑜 𝑊𝐵 and 𝑇𝑀𝐶 𝑊𝐵 models are calibrated on discharge, while GLEAM, MOD16, SSEBop and WaPOR have been validated on evaporation data from flux tower observations. Key focus 25 is on inter-model performance comparison in the Miombo ecosystem across phenophases and land cover types. Results show that major spatial-temporal discrepancies in model performance occur in the forest and open water body land surfaces during the dormant and green-up phenophases in the dry season. Compared to 𝐸 𝑤𝑏 , annually WaPOR consistently overestimated evaporation while GLEAM consistently underestimated evaporation. The rest of the models showed biases within the GLEAM and WaPOR boundaries. With reference to annual mean bias 30 SSEBop and WaPOR showed lowest aggregated 2009 -2020 bias in terms of estimating long-term average annual evaporation. It appears that correct understanding of the Miombo vegetation phenology associated moisture feedbacks and incorporating these in model structure is likely to improve evaporation estimates in the Luangwa Basin and Miombo Woodland ecosystem as a whole. be conducted taking into account the characteristics of the specific basin. There is a need to evaluate performance of evaporation models specifically for the Miombo dense forest, mixed open forest and grassland, shrub-land, cropland, open water body and build up area. We used monthly evaporation averages for the period 2009 – 2020. The six land cover classes were purposively selected based on verified field observations of the land cover done between 2018 190 and 2021 in the Luangwa Basin. We selected areas with minimal potential for land cover class transitioning into other classes overtime. For instance, the dense forest land cover was based on a protected natural forest in a conservancy region, irrigated crop land cover was based on known established active commercial farmlands that have been in existent for over ten years. Rain-fed cropland was selected from areas with established rural


In dimethyl sulfoxide, the reaction of hydroxide ion with several electron acceptors—iodine, tetracyanoquinodimethan, Nitro Blue Tetrazolium chloride, 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride, anthraquinone, and benzophenone—gave reaction products identical to those obtained by the reaction of these electron acceptors with electron donors. The reaction pathways of these electron acceptors were found to be composed of successive one-electron reactions similar to the electrochemical reduction of these electron acceptors. These results indicate that hydroxide ion acts as a reductant in dimethyl sulfoxide.


The ESA GOCE mission aims to map Earth gravity field in unprecedented detail. The Gradiometer is the instrument which makes possible the high resolution restitution of the gravity field to the science communities. The tri-axes Gradiometer of the GOCE Mission is conceived around six electrostatic accelerometers developed by ONERA. The satellite was launched on March 17th, 2009 and the gradiometer was switched on in Science mode on April 7th. Since, the accelerometers are continuously feeding the science channel with data, first during the commissioning and calibration phases, then during the first measurement phase started in September 2009. The paper will illustrate the in-flight behaviour of the six accelerometers as deduced from the analysis of their output signals.


The high yielding spring wheats grown in Arizona usually require applications of fertilizer nitrogen (N) to achieve optimum grain yields and acceptable quality. The University of Arizona's currently recommended procedure (preplant soil plus periodic stem tissue analysis for NO3 -N to predict the N needs of wheat) is not widely used by Graham County growers for various reasons. A nitrogen fertility trial was conducted at the Safford Agricultural Center during the 1986 -87 crop year to: 1) examine the relationships between basal stem nitrate -N levels, grain yields of durum wheat, and N fertilizer rates; and 2) to test the accuracy of the recommended procedure for predicting the N needs ofdurum wheat. Five rates of N from O to 419 lbs N /acre were applied in three split applications. One additional N treatment was made as indicated by the current University ofArizona procedure. Maximum grain yields of 5500 to 6200 lbs /a and protein levels in excess of14.5% were attained with the application of at least 186 lbs NIA. An untimely early season irrigation induced a temporary N deficiency condition for all plots, which may have kept grain yields below the maximum yield possibility for this site. In spite of this, the amount of N predicted by the University ofArizona procedure (197 lbsN/acre) did attain an adjusted economic return which was not significantly different from the maximum numerical yield that was achieved for any of the other N treatments. INTRODUCTION Nitrogen (N) is the nutrient most often limiting small grain production in Graham County, as well as the remainder of Arizona. Deficiencies of N early in the season result in reduced plant biomass accumulation and consequently, reductions in final grain yield. Nitrogen deficiencies occurring during the reproductive period, i.e. after heading, tend to result in lower grain protein levels and higher incidence ofnon -vitreous starch inclusions in the wheat kernels, known as yellow berry. The use of soil and plant tissue analysis for nitrate content have proven useful in estimating the N status of a particular wheat crop and can be effectively used to help predict the quantity of N fertilizer required to attain maximum yield and quality, but still avoid excessive N applications (Doerge and Ottman, 1986; Gardner and Jackson, 1976; Pennington et al., 1983). However, soil and plant analysis are not widely used in Graham County due to the remoteness of commerical labs and grower uncertainty as to the accuracy and reliability of these tests. A nitrogen fertility field trial was conducted at the Safford Agricultural Center during the 1986 -87 crop year to achieve the following objectives: 1) to determine the response of stem nitrate -N levels and grain yields of durum wheat to a wide range of N fertilizer


![Figure][1]

Dr. Buttross

A visit to the pediatrician's office can be anxiety provoking for both parent and child. The previous visit may have left memories of a painful throat culture or a smarting thigh or arm from that necessary immunization.

These memories make it necessary for the


Test case generation constitutes a critical activity in software
testing that is cost-intensive, time-consuming and error-prone when done
manually. Hence, an automation of this process is required. One automation
approach is search-based testing for which the task of generating test
data is transformed into an optimization problem which is solved using
metaheuristic search techniques. However, only little work has so far been
done to apply search-based testing techniques to systems that depend on
continuous input signals rather than single discrete input values.
This paper proposes three novel approaches to generating input signals
from within search-based testing techniques for continuous systems.


The influence of a foreground QSO on the Lyman α forest of another QSO with higher redshift has been investigated by analyzing the spectra of three such objects at redshifts z = 2 − 2 . 7. This influence is not contaminated by any projection effects, as opposed to the inverse effect along the line of sight, where incomplete coverage of the QSO continuum emitting region by the Lyman α clouds could contribute to the relative lack of lines. Our results are consistent with the existence of a proximity effect due to the foreground QSO, but due to its weakness we can only reject the absence of such effect at ∼ 1 σ level. By modelling this proximity effect assuming that Lyman α clouds are low-density highly ionized objects we find that the best value for the UV photoinizing intensity at those redshifts is ∼ 10 − 20 . 5 erg cm − 2 s − 1 Hz − 1 srad − 1 at the Lyman limit which is consistent with previous estimates of the background based on the inverse effect. We also find an absolute lower limit (at 95 per cent confidence) to the UV intensity at the level of 10 − 21 . 8 erg cm − 2 s − 1 Hz − 1 srad − 1 which means the rejection of a number of models for the UV background where it is mostly contributed by QSOs, and absorption by Lyman limit systems is taken into account.


Abstract : The objective of this research was to determine the relative advantages and disadvantages of various types of fabrics and materials for providing protection for employees against flash fires. After determining the best materials for thermal protection, design requirements for a flashsuit, gloves, and visor assembly were to be established.


In this paper, a polymer/silica hybrid three-dimension integrated multiplexer based on mode division multiplexing (MDM) and wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) is proposed. WDM is implemented on different layers by two multimode interference (MMI) couplers, and MDM is achieved by a three-dimension integrated asymmetric directional coupler (ADC). The directional coupling between the fundamental mode in the silica waveguide and the first-order mode in the polymer waveguide is realized by three-dimension integration of the upper polymer waveguide and the lower silica waveguide, and the WDM of 1310nm and 1550nm wavelength channels is realized by using structurally compact MMI coupler. The integration density of the chip is improved by multi-material hybrid integration and three-dimension integration, and the transmission capacity of the chip is increased by the multifunction integration of MDM and WDM.


This topical book examines the social and political construction of anti-poverty programmes in Central and Eastern Europe, and their transition from communist rule to the current economic crisis. It illustrates how the distinction between different categories of 'deserving' and 'undeserving' poor has evolved as the result of changing paradigms.


The applicative part of the analysis assumes to elaborate, respectively test from the econometric viewpoint, a functional model that can be applied to Romanian macro-economical reality, to issue conclusions, thouroughly justified from both theoretical and functional points of view related to the manner in which the dynamics, structure and level of foreign direct investments realized in Romania during 2003-2010 induced significant influences on the fiscal prelevations collected in the national budget.


We propose a hierarchical Bayesian spatial model to obtain predictive densities of wind power at a set of un-monitored locations. The model consists of a mixture of Gamma density for the non-zero values and degenerated distributions at zero. The spatial dependence is described through a common Gaussian random field with a Matérn covariance. For inference and prediction, we use the GMRF-SPDE approximation implemented in the R-INLA package. We showcase the method outlined here on data for 336 wind farms located in Denmark. We test the predictions derived from our method with model-diagnostic tools and show that it is calibrated.


The process,main parameters,key points of production operation and operation effect of full dry bag gas dedusting are introduced at 2500m3 BF of Xingang company.There are reliable operation system and significantly enviromnental protection benefit.Meanwhile,TRT generation efficiency is raised by 30%.


Aims: In animal models, both an acute elevation in plasma free fatty acid (FFA) via intravenous infusion of a lipid emulsion and a chronic elevation in plasma FFA via high-fat feeding have been shown to induce skeletal muscle and liver insulin resistance. However, there have been very few studies comparing the effects of high-fat- and lipid-induced insulin resistance on glucose metabolism and adipocytokines. Methods: In the current study, we used lipid infusion and a high-fat feed in combination with the hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp technique to assess the impact of acute and chronically elevated FFA levels on overall glucose metabolism and insulin action; two adipocytokines, resistin and adiponectin, were used. Results: At baseline, plasma FFA levels were significantly increased in the high-fat diet (HF) group compared to the control group (p < 0.05). During clamp steady-state, the FFA levels were reduced by ∼25% in the control and ∼48% in the HF groups. In contrast, there was a significant increase in the plasma FFA level in the lipid-infused group (from 0.82 ± 0.03 to 2.87 ± 0.18 mmol/l). The glucose infusion rates (GIRs) in the HF and lipid groups were obviously lower than in the control group (p < 0.01). Moreover, GIR was lower in the lipid group compared with the HF group (p < 0.05). The rate of glucose disappearance (GRd) was significantly lower in the lipid group compared with the control group. Hepatic glucose production in the control group was suppressed by ∼15% compared with the HF and lipid groups where it was suppressed by only ∼72 and ∼91%, respectively. The resistin level of muscle tissues in the lipid group was significantly higher compared with the control and HF groups (both p < 0.05). After the insulin clamp, the circulating adiponectin level was significantly decreased in the lipid group compared with the control and HF groups (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Lipid infusion, which was more effective than a high-fat diet, can induce peripheral and hepatic insulin resistance in rats. Insulin-induced resistance might be associated with elevated resistin and decreased adiponectin.


Coker gas oil (CGO) is difficult to be cracked in the conventional FCC process, due to their high nitrogen content, especially the basic nitrogen compounds. To enhance the conversion of CGO, the high reaction temperature and catalyst to oil ratio processing scheme was performed in a pilot-scale riser FCC apparatus. To study the impact of (basic) nitrogen content, two kinds of CGO were tested. The results show that increasing the reaction temperature and CTO is an effective method for enhancing the conversion of CGO. The (basic) nitrogen content significantly influences the cracking behavior of CGO and the choose of optimal reaction conditions.


We consider a discrete risk process modelled by a Markov Decision Process. The surplus could be invested in stock market assets. We adopt a realistic point of view and we let the investment return process to be statistically dependent over time. We assume that follows a Markov Chain model. To minimize the risk there is a possibility to reinsure a part or the whole reserve. We consider proportional reinsurance. Recursive and integral equations for the ruin probability are given. Generalized Lundberg inequalities for the ruin probabilities are derived. Stochastic optimal control theory is used to determine the optimal stationary policy which minimizes the ruin probability. To illustrate these results numerical examples are included.


In earlier works on transmitter power control in cellular radio systems, the problem of whether a signal‐to‐interference ratio (SIR) threshold is achievable is determined by apparently different rules for homogeneous and heterogeneous SIR systems. In this paper, we present a unified and more universal framework for both cases. We also highlight the conditions under which a given SIR threshold vector for the heterogeneous SIR system is achievable, although so far there is no general solution to this problem.


The VEGF gene was amplified from the skin of Tibetan sheep by PCR,573 bp in length and coded 190 amino acids.Our results indicated that the homology of VEGF gene between Tibetan sheep and some other species was from 100% to 74.5%,in which the similarity of the gene sequence of Tibetan sheep and ordinary sheep was 100%,99.1% and 96.2% similar to cattle and pigs,but compared with chicken,the homology was 74.5%.The expression level of VEGF gene from Tibet sheep skin cells were analyzed by using fluorescence quantitative PCR SYBR Green I Fluorescent dyes technology.The results indicated that the expression level of VEGF gene on lamb was 11.5 and 0.85 times,respectively in the Tibetan pregnancy female sheep groups fed with Nutrition Brick and Granule Feed compared with that of control group.To improve the expression level of VEGF gene in the lamb,it is better to feed Nutrition Brick to Tibetan pregnancy female sheep than Granule Feed.


This paper presents a method for fuzzy logic-based 'perception-action' behavior control of a mobile robot in uncertain environments. A key problem in 'perception-action' behavior control is to coordinate and integrate more reactive behaviors when the mobile robot executes tasks in complex environments. The main idea of the paper is to formulate 'perception-action' behaviors and to coordinate their conflicts and competitions by fuzzy sets and fuzzy rules. An advantage of this method is that the coordination of more reactive behaviors is very robust (nearly independent of dynamic environments). The simulation results show that the proposed method, only using dynamic information acquired by ultrasonic sensors, can perform robot navigation in complex and uncertain environments by efficiently weighting reactive behaviors, such as obstacle avoidance, edge following, and moving to the target.<<ETX>>


Tight junctions are one of the physical barriers protecting the body from invasion of intestinal lumen pathogens. Disruption of tight junctions has been reported in a variety of intestinal disorders, such as intestinal bowel disease, necrotizing enterocolitis, and colon rectal cancer. Claudin‐7 is one of the tight junction membrane proteins and is essential in maintaining intestinal epithelial integrity. However, the function of claudin‐7 in colonic epithelial homeostasis remains to be determined. Here we report that claudin‐7 is required for maintaining the balance of intestinal epithelial cell proliferation and differentiation. To dissect the role of claudin‐7 in colonic epithelium, we used our global (gCldn7−/−) and intestinal‐specific (cCldn7−/−) claudin‐7 knockout (KO) mice that are generated recently as our model systems. Using the histological analysis, we found that enterocytes and enteroendocrine cells are significantly reduced in postnatal day 4 gCldn7−/− and 2–4 months old cCldn7−/− mouse colons. Although the absolute number of Goblet cells and tuft cells are reduced in claudin‐7 KO colon, the ratio of Goblet cells or tuft cells versus the total number of epithelial cells remains unchanged. These results are confirmed by qRT‐PCR and Western blotting, suggesting that epithelial cell differentiation was significantly altered after claudin‐7 deletion. In addition, the ki67 and PCNA positive proliferative cells are significantly increased in claudin‐7 KO colons and no longer limited to the basal‐lateral crypt region, where epithelial stem cells and fate‐committed progenitor cells are located. Genome‐wide gene‐expression microarray analysis of Cldn7+/+ and gCldn7−/− colons identified a list of gene expression changes related to cell proliferation and differentiation. Notch and Hippo signaling pathway are suppressed after claudin‐7 deletion. These findings suggest that claudin‐7 may have a novel, unidentified function regulating epithelial cell differentiation and self‐renewal in mouse colon.


We report the first observation of x-ray/optical sum frequency generation. An ultrafast optical pulse drives charge oscillations to the chemical bonds in diamond. A co-propagating x-ray pulse micro-probes the accompanying chemical bond distortion.


The BOROZAR-P boronizing paste is used for thermo chemical treatment of steel machine tools and parts for enhancing their wear-resistance, i.e. extending their useful life-time. Boronizing in this case leads to hardening of the thermally treated surfaces. This new method comprises the formation of wearand corrosionresistant surface layer with minimum loss of time and expenses. The thus obtained diffusion layer leads to 1.5to 10-fold extension of the useful life-time of machine tools and parts. Boronizing by BOROZAR-P leads to the formation of a wear-resistant boride layer. The technology is very simple a coat of the paste is applied over the working surfaces of machine tools and parts. Additional procedures, staff and equipment are not required.


Environmental composition is a major, though poorly understood determinant of microbiome dynamics. Here we ask whether general principles govern how key microbial community properties, i.e. yield and diversity, scale with the number of environmental molecules. By assembling hundreds of synthetic consortia, we found that community yield remains constant as a function of environmental complexity, in agreement with additive expectations of an idealized model. However, taxonomic diversity is much lower than expected. By quantifying this deviation with a metric for epistatic interactions between environments, we uncovered simple ecological rules that govern how communities respond nonlinearly to the coupling of different nutrient sets. Our results demonstrate that environmental complexity alone is not sufficient for maintaining microbiome diversity, and provide practical guidance for designing and controlling microbial communities.


BACKGROUND Factors influencing community pharmacists' interventions have been identified, but little information is available regarding these factors in asthma care. OBJECTIVE To describe the type and frequency of pharmacists' asthma care interventions and to identify factors influencing those interventions. METHODS A pretested, self-administered questionnaire was mailed to all community pharmacists registered with the Ordre des pharmaciens du Québec in 2006. The form included questions about the pharmacists' interventions in asthma care in the community setting (21 questions), factors influencing the provision of those interventions (13 questions), and the responders' characteristics (17 questions). RESULTS A total of 4587 questionnaires were sent; 917 pharmacists returned the questionnaires (response rate 20%), and 877 were eligible for analysis. Overall, community pharmacists who completed the questionnaire appeared to intervene frequently when the initial prescription for asthma medication was filled. About 98% of responders reported providing verbal information always or often on new asthma medication prescriptions. Furthermore, checking for overuse of rescue medication and underuse of maintenance therapy always or often was reported by 91% and 85.8% of responders, respectively. Other interventions at follow-up were not as frequently reported. For example, only 8.4% of pharmacists reported reassessing inhalation technique always or often. Lack of time was reported to be an important barrier to the type and frequency of intervention, while interest on the part of the patient appeared to be a significant facilitator. About 99% of pharmacists agreed with the statement that they have an important role in asthma care. CONCLUSIONS Community pharmacists appear to intervene with patients with asthma mostly at the initiation of treatment, but some interventions at follow-up are not frequently done, which could be attributed to organizational factors.


Abstract: The article presents two methodologies for testing the effectiveness of camouflaging military equipment. The tested objects were camouflaged with deforming camouflage dedicated to the environment and season. The tests covered the visible spectrum and were carried out both in real conditions - training ground, and in a virtual environment – on a specially prepared calibrated stand, characterized by compliance with real conditions and human perception of vision – presented colors, as well as in terms of the amount of information and detail rendering. These two test methods were compared, attention was drawn to the high correlation of results and to some characteristic properties of both separately. The work confirms the legitimacy of developing and improving virtual research methods as supporting in the design and testing of modern camouflage patterns, especially at the initial stage of pattern design. It can also be useful when assessing masking systems in other ranges of electromagnetic radiation: UV, near infrared, or thermal range.


One of the challenges a scientific computing center has to face is to keep delivering well consolidated computational frameworks (i.e. the batch computing farm), while conforming to modern computing paradigms. The aim is to ease system administration at all levels (from hardware to applications) and to provide a smooth end-user experience. Within the INDIGO- DataCloud project, we adopt two different approaches to implement a PaaS-level, on-demand Batch Farm Service based on HTCondor and Mesos. In the first approach, described in this paper, the various HTCondor daemons are packaged inside pre-configured Docker images and deployed as Long Running Services through Marathon, profiting from its health checks and failover capabilities. In the second approach, we are going to implement an ad-hoc HTCondor framework for Mesos. Container-to-container communication and isolation have been addressed exploring a solution based on overlay networks (based on the Calico Project). Finally, we have studied the possibility to deploy an HTCondor cluster that spans over different sites, exploiting the Condor Connection Broker component, that allows communication across a private network boundary or firewall as in case of multi-site deployments. In this paper, we are going to describe and motivate our implementation choices and to show the results of the first tests performed.


This paper explores income and consumption smoothing patterns among the member countries of each of the CFA zonesthe CEMAC and the WAEMUduring the period 1980-2000.I find that for the CEMAC only about 15 percent of shocks to GDP are smoothed through the standard channels (that is capital market credit market and remittances). On the other hand. I find that 44 percent of shocks are smoothed via foreign aid from France and 5 percent via central bank contributions while reserves pooling provides no shock smoothing. For the WAEMU I find that only 13 percent of shocks are smoothed through the standard channels while 63 percent are smoothed via foreign aid from France 7 percent via central bank contributions and no smoothing via reserves pooling. I compare these results with the risk-sharing pattern in the Unites States. I argue that creating public venture capital at a regional level might help promote free capital flows within each zone and alleviate the apparently insufficient degree of risk-sharing observed through the standard channels.


A rotor retaining sleeve is usually essential in high-speed permanent magnet (PM) motors to firmly retain the magnets and ensure the rotor integrity. The structure and material of retaining sleeve have a significant effect on rotor losses, especially on the rotor eddy current loss. On the other hand, heat dissipation from the rotor is difficult, therefore, any excessive rotor loss may lead to over temperature and cause irreversible demagnetization of the magnets. In this article, the influence of retaining sleeve with different structures and materials on the rotor eddy current loss in high-speed PM motors will be comprehensively investigated, with both 3-D finite element method simulations and experiments. Particularly, the proposed experiments are carried out with a stationary rotor. The study reveals that the equivalent conductivity of the retaining sleeve has a significant influence on the rotor eddy current loss, and countermeasures can be made accordingly so as to reduce the rotor eddy current loss.


Submersible pump and motor assembly (M1), comprising a motor and an engine housing, said motor having an output shaft (1), a pump and a pump housing, said pump housing being connected to said housing of the motor, said pump being driven by said output shaft, an internal shaft seal (MS1) on said output shaft (1) close to said motor, an external shaft seal (MS2) on said proximal output shaft (1) to said pump, a sealing chamber interposed between said motor and said pump, said sealing chamber comprising, in part, side faces of the chamber of said inner shaft seal (MS1) and said outer shaft seal (MS2), being said sealing chamber loaded with a buffer fluid under a pressure at least equal to the external pressure of said motor and pump assembly, said buffer fluid having dielectric properties, characterized in that: the assembly of motor and pump also includes a pressurization system of the sealing chamber and at least one pressure tank (PA) that can be pressurized independently alone with said motor and pump assembly (M1), in which said system of Pressurization of the sealing chamber maintains a continuous positive pressure gradient inside said sealing chamber through the inner and outer shaft seals.


The national park is a kind of reservation,whose goal is to refrain from the harm of the human and the pollution.At present,the connotation and the judicial standard of national parks are different all over the world,but their value and function are consistent,all of them take the ecology protection,the scientific research and the recreation as the main management goal.Generally speaking,only the connotation of National Key Tourist Attractions is consistent with other countries'for China.But this article believes that,national parks system in China expands to seven different types.That is National Nature Reserve,National Forest Park,National Geo-park,National Wetland Park,National Mine Park,National Key Tourist Attractions and National Water Recreation Area.Looking back on the history and present condition of them,the article analyses their value of tourism from popularity,discusses their space layout,and puts forward some proposals to further development at last.That is to say,the category of tourism in the national parks must be eco-tourism or sustainable tourism.


Abstract The research deals with the using of gerund and present participle. The problems of the research are What is the extent of students' ability in using the difference gerund and present participle and What are the second students' difficulties of using gerund and present participle. The objective of the study are to know the extent of students' ability in using the difference gerund and present participle and the difficulties of students in using the difference gerund and present participle. The research did in Politeknik Tri Jaya Krama Medan. In this section, the r esearcher took sample from the amount of the fourth semester students in Politeknik Tri Jaya Krama Medan, which only 94 ( ninety four ) students. The purpose of this research is to find out whether the students are able or unable in using the difference between Gerund and Present Participle. Keywords : Grammar, Gerund, Present Participle


Renton T, Janjua H, Gallagher JE et al (2013) UK dentists' experience of iatrogenic trigeminal nerve injuries in relation to routine dental procedures: why, when and how often? Br Dent J 12: 633-42


This report documents patterns of differentiation within the informal sector amidst the decline in working and living conditions associated with the structural adjustment programme, and shows that ...


Context: Scientific computing in the 21st century has evolved from fixed to distributed work environment. The current trend of Cloud Computing (CC) allows accessing business applications from anywh ...


Objective:To explore the effects of Leptin and Fibronectin on the secretion of Matrix metalloproteinase in trophoblsts in human first trimester gestation.Methods:Isolated and sublimated Cytotrophoblasts(CTB) from chorionic villi at 6-8 weeks by abortion were cultured in vitro. The CTB cultured in the upper chambers of transwell were added different concentration of leptin,and 50μg/ml FN were added in the lower chamber. MMP-2 and MMP-9 secreted by CTB was detected by Gelatinase spectrum analysis. Results:The purity quotient ANOVA showed significant difference of MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels in groups,P0.05.Conclusions:Leptin and FN synergisticly action on CTB could influence the secretion of Matrix metalloproteinases,and so to regulate the invasive ability of CTB.


There are various kinds of fan props in "Mai Wang Guan Transcribing and Collating Ancient and Modern Poetic Drama",including skirt-like fans,palm fans,feather fans,corset-like fans,Donkey fans.There are certain corresponding relationships between the types of fans and the types of characters.Those fan props are mainly for ornament rather than performance,and for identifying characters,which take the significance as a link between past and future in the development of fan props.


In this paper I propose that spatially-informed and agency-centred treatments of prostitution as a practice can fruitfully highlight the moral and symbolic economies operating in the lives of women as they engage and disengage with prostitution in the tourist sex trade zones of Bangkok. By reexamining and re-contextualising the practices of prostitution in terms of interacting spatial/socio-cultural fields, we can gain more useful insights than heretofore obtained through a mono-dimensional political economy or gender-culture framework. We must accept that women sex workers are part of the geography of socio-economic transformation, responding to the centralisation and expansion of key sectors of the Thai economy. I conceptualise this broader geography as involving "oscillation" between urban and rural "places" (which represent key "fields" of value), and at the level of the city (and the tourist leisure infrastructure) as "movement" between different work sites and "arenas" of identity formation. Within this complex of circulation and engagement, women strategise to maximise what may be described as survival and status resources (conversion of income into cultural capital) aiming towards recovery of meaningful self-identity.


Fiber grating strain sensors offer a means to monitor the health of highways and bridges as well as a means to monitor vehicular traffic patterns and critical data such as speed, weight, and classification of vehicle types. This paper overviews recent results associated with employing very high speed demodulation systems with capabilities in excess of 10 kHz and strain sensitivities on the order of one microstrain. It is clearly shown that this type of system can be used as an effective traffic monitoring tool as well as for health monitoring purposes.


Pop-folk songs are both traditional and innovative. They are part of mass culture, since they are meant to entertain the widest audience. Folk-pop is consumers' music which panders to its listeners ; the media have an important role in its popularization. The lyrics of these songs are what is considered to be trivial in music : they are written stereotypically, following a constant model both in form and contents, their message is simple and clear and expressed in everyday rhymed words ; they try to appeal to the emotions of the listeners and are intellectually quite unchallenging. They lean to things solid and homespun (home as opposed to the alien word), there is a pronounced blend of the old and traditional with the new - to the benefit of the first, of course - which often leads to anachronisms and even distortions. They are therefore markedly conservative, though still accepted as part of our cultural image


In the asphalt pavement application,titanium dioxide nanoparticles as a catalyst be used to degrade automobile exhaust,and improve the mechanical properties and durability of asphalt pavement in a certain extent.This paper summarizes the application of nanometer titanium dioxide in asphalt and asphalt mixture in the above two aspects,and prospect the development of nano titanium dioxide in the direction of the two study.


Background: Microfracture is an established technique for cartilage regeneration but is limited by many factors such as small defect size, intralesional osteophytes, and lower quality of cartilage regeneration. Therefore, methods to improve results after microfracture like additional matrix augmentation or autologous cell addition are promising techniques. An all-arthroscopic surgical technique for matrix-augmented bone marrow stimulation will be presented here. Indications: Cartilage lesions of moderate size (>1 cm2) that appear too large or unsuitable for pure microfracture but do not yet meet the criteria for autologous cartilage transplantation (>2.5 cm2). The exact size of suitable lesions is currently evolving with only few evidence-based data available. Technique Description: The arthroscopic procedure largely follows the standard microfracture technique. First, the cartilage defect is extensively debrided with removal of calcific cartilage layer. Stable cartilage margins have to be created with removal of all unstable fragments. The resulting well-defined defect is then measured with the use of a marking probe. The subchondral bone is then penetrated and opened using a microfracture awl. Next, the matrix based on hyaluronic acid (Hyalofast) is cut to the appropriate size. All joint fluid is removed, and the matrix is inserted through a previously placed canula and modeled into the defect with the probe. When the defect is well contained, no other fixation material is necessary. Otherwise, the matrix can be additionally fixed using fibrin clue. Cell application (dependent on regulatory issues) can be performed. Before closure, the joint should be moved to ensure safe fixation of the matrix. Results: Currently, there are only insufficient data to exactly define the defect size for microfracture or matrix-assisted bone marrow stimulation. Some studies show an advantage of using biomaterials compared with microfracture alone, but further studies are necessary. Discussion/Conclusion: The presented arthroscopic matrix-assisted bone marrow stimulation is a technically simple, inexpensive way of treating cartilage defects and should therefore be considered when treating affected patients. It can be used in a variety of joints. An additional combination with bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stem cells might be promising but is subject to country-specific regulatory issues. Graphical Abstract This is a visual representation of the abstract.


A frequency reconfigurable compact band stop filter derived from an elliptical patch resonator with orthogonal feed is presented in this paper. The proposed filter can be switched from a wide stop band to a dual stop band. The switching action is implemented using two PIN diodes connected in the ground plane. When the diodes are in the ON state, the filter acts as a dual band, band stop filter with centre frequencies at 1.85 GHz and 4.2 GHz and fractional bandwidth 70.6% and 24.6% respectively. When the diodes are in the OFF state, the filter acts as a wide band, band stop filter with a centre frequency at 2.77 GHz and fractional band width 95.45%. The prototype of the filter having dimension $0.74\lambda \mathrm{g}\times 0.84 \lambda\mathrm{g} (\lambda \mathrm{g}$ is the guided wavelength calculated for $50\ \Omega$ transmission line at 2.77 GHz) is fabricated on a substrate C-MET LK4.3 of dielectric constant 4.3 and loss tangent 0.0018. Measured results on realized prototype are provided to ensure the reliability of the proposed design.


The formulation of the problem in this study is whether there is an influence of motion and song on the kinesthetic intelligence of children aged 5-6 years in Chairul Athfal Belawan Kindergarten?. The research design used in this study is a one-group pretest-posttest. The population in this study were all children of group B in TK Chairul Athfal Belawan. The sampling technique used is saturated sampling where all members of the population are used as samples. The sample of this study were all children in group B in TK Chairul Athfal Belawan, totaling 15 children consisting of 8 boys and 7 girls. Data collection techniques obtained by observation and documentation. The data analysis technique used in analyzing the research data is normality test and hypothesis testing. Based on the results of the pre-test study, the average pre-test value was 9.8 and the post-test results obtained an average value of 11.9. Based on the results of the t-test calculation, it is obtained that tcount > ttable (6.49 > 2.144) with a significance value of 0.000 less than 0.05, it can be stated that Ha is rejected and Ho is accepted, which means that there is an influence of motion and song on the kinesthetic intelligence of children aged 5-6 years in TK Chairul Athfal Belawan Academic Year 2020/2021.


There has been much debate in the literature over the past 60 years regarding an appropriate oven-drying temperature for water content determinations in peat and other organic soils. For inorganic soils, the water content is usually based on the equilibrium dry mass corresponding to drying temperatures in the range 100–110°C. However, for peat and other organic soils, several researchers have recommended lower drying temperatures in the range 60–90°C in an attempt to prevent possible charring, oxidation, and/or vaporization of substances other than pore water. However, all of the relevant water is not fully evaporated at too low a temperature, and because specimen dry mass is a function of drying temperature, the resulting water content values are lower than those determined for the temperature range 100–110°C. Experimental data reported in this article show that oven drying of peat and other organic soils at 100–110°C using either gravity–convection or forced-draft ovens is acceptable for routine water content determinations. Because a standardized oven temperature is desirable when correlating water content with other material properties, it is recommended that oven drying of peat and other organic soils be performed over temperature ranges of either 105–110°C or 105 ± 5°C, in line with standardized ranges for inorganic soils.


This paper aims to present an approach based on genetic algorithm to obtain the most accurate location of the disconnected location of a down conductor along a wind turbine blade. The disconnected location is estimated from the simulation results carried out using finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) model. The computed results of dipole antenna models are calculated by a numerical technique based on trapezoidal rule integration. To evaluate the performances of the proposed techniques, the calculated dipole antenna model is verified by comparing the FDTD simulation results. The comparison of the simulation results and estimated results showed that the proposed techniques exhibit good performance in the detection of disconnected locations.


The article summarized the advantages of multimedia technology and expounded the application of multimedia technology in the lesson about examination of bone and joint. According to the authors' experience, the students could comprehend and memory the teaching content easily with the help of multimedia technology, so that it improved teaching effect obviously. The article also analyzed some disadvantages in the teaching with multimedia technology.


In recent papers we have described apparatus capable of simultaneously generating both intense subpicosecond UV (308-248.5-nm) excitation pulses and subpicosecond continua for probing photoexcited molecules via broadband absorption spectroscopy. Both UV (450-230-nm) and IR (2.2-2.7-μm) continua have thus far been produced through the focusing of 160-fs, 308-nm pulses into various gaseous media. A method of upconverting the IR continuum to the visible for ease of detection has also been demonstrated. We first describe these developments and then discuss the results of a time-resolved experiment using some of this new apparatus. This particular experiment combines subpicosecond 248.5-nm excitation with subpjcosecond IR continuum probing to measure the

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 internal conversion rate in 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) vapor.


ale też licznych wyzwań powodowanych nadmierną degradacją środowiska naturalnego i nierównościami w dystrybucji dochodów. Zastosowane w artykule metody badawcze to analiza piśmiennictwa oraz obserwacja uczestnicząca. Słowa kluczowe: zrównoważona konsumpcja, konsumpcjonizm, zrównoważony rozwój. Summary: The main goal of the article the exposition of the essence of sustainable consumption, its meaning for sustainable development and moreover, project's presentation of the Students' Academic Circle Enactus UE "Needle you Need", which might be seen as the sustainable consumption manifestation. In this article the essence of sustainable consumption is presented. Moreover the context of the interest escalation in mentioned concept is being exposed and what problems must be overtaken to disseminate sustainable patterns of consumption. It has been observed that these problems are derivative not only factors' complexity which might condition a consumers choices but also deeply rooted consumerism and moreover numerous challenges caused by excessive degradation of natural environment and inequality of income distribution. The research methods used in this article are literature analysis and participant observation.


One of the most subjective decisions made during chip seal construction concerns when to allow brooms and traffic on the newly placed surface. If traffic is allowed too early, damage to the surface and to vehicles may occur. If the chip seal is opened too late, traffic is disrupted and motorists are inconvenienced. The curing of asphalt emulsions in the field is related to many factors, all affecting how fast the asphalt emulsion cures. Three laboratory test methods that measure adhesive strength gain as a function of moisture loss are presented. Two of the methods were sweep tests, one performed according to ASTM D7000 and the other according to a modified method. The third test used frosted marbles to measure adhesive strength gain. Results of all tests were similar and indicated that strength in emulsion residues increased as the total moisture in the system was reduced. This finding is important because the moisture content is independent of the mechanism reducing it. Therefore, prediction of strength gain should be possible by measurement of the moisture loss of a given chip seal system. The time required to obtain that strength gain varies in seals because of differences in emulsion, aggregate, interaction factors, weather, ambient temperature, and other environmental factors. Test results indicated that as moisture loss approached 75% to 90%, strength gain was significantly enhanced.


Case: An 82-year-old man sustained a periprosthetic fracture after IlluminOss photodynamic bone stabilization system (PBSS) stabilization for an impending pathologic fracture. Nonoperative management was unsuccessful, and he subsequently underwent operative fixation, which featured lag screw fixation of the spiral distal humeral shaft fracture and osteotomy followed by plate fixation of the pathologic humeral shaft fracture. Conclusion: This is the first article to report this complication with IlluminOss PBSS stabilization and details regarding revision surgery.


The Indochinese spitting cobra, Naja siamensis Laurenti, 1768, is redescribed. In order to avoid future confusion with other Asiatic Naja species, and to fix this scientific name irrefutably, we designate a neotype for this species, and designate the same specimen as neotype for the junior synonym Naja naja isanensis Nutaphand, 1982. The pattern of geographic variation in this species is investigated by means of multivariate analysis of morphological characters. We summarize the literature concerning this species, with particular emphasis on separating information concerning N. siamensis from that relating to other Asiatic cobra species. This species is of considerable medical importance, and we present case histories of local envenoming and snake venom ophthalmia.


S-nitrosylation,the covalent attachment of an Nitric oxide(NO) moiety to Cys residues of proteins,resulting in the formation of S-nitrosothiols(SNO),is a prevalent posttranslational protein modification involved in redox-based cellular signaling.S-nitrosylation has been shown to regulate the function of many proteins which are involved in a wide array of cellular activities.The growing body of evidence now suggested that S-nitrosylation may also have a centrol function in plant disease resistance.The basic concepts of S-nitrosylation,the detection methods,functional studies and the recent progress of S-nitrosylation in plant disease resistance were summarized.


.............................................................................................................................. ii DEDICATION ......................................................................................................................... iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ........................................................................................................ iv LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................................. vii LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................................. viii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ................................................................................................... ix CHAPTER ONE ........................................................................................................................ 1 1.0 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background ...................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Problem Statement ........................................................................................................... 2 1.3 Justification ...................................................................................................................... 3 1.4 Aim ................................................................................................................................... 4 1.5 Specific Objectives ........................................................................................................... 4 CHAPTER TWO ....................................................................................................................... 5 2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW ................................................................................................. 5 2.1 Buruli Ulcer Disease ........................................................................................................ 5 2.2 Clinical manifestations of the disease .............................................................................. 7 2.3 Features of Mycobacterium ulcerans ............................................................................... 7 2.4 Pathogenesis of Buruli ulcer ............................................................................................ 9 2.5 Diagnosis and Treatment ................................................................................................ 10 2.6 Epidemiology of Buruli ulcer ......................................................................................... 13 2.6.1 Geographical distribution of M. ulcerans ................................................................... 15 2.6.2 Geographical distribution in Ghana ......................................................................... 16 2.7 Transmission of M. ulcerans .......................................................................................... 17 2.7.1 Review of Insects Hypothesis.................................................................................. 18 2.7.2 Insect study in Ghana .............................................................................................. 19 University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh


Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) with t(15;17) appears in two phenotypes: AML M3, with abnormal promyelocytes showing heavy granulation and bundles of Auer rods, and AML M3 variant (M3v), with non‐ or hypogranular cytoplasm and a bilobed nucleus. We investigated the global gene expression profiles of 35 APL patients (19 AML M3, 16 AML M3v) by using high‐density DNA‐oligonucleotide microarrays. First, an unsupervised approach clearly separated APL samples from other AMLs characterized genetically as t(8;21) (n = 35), inv(16) (n = 35), or t(11q23)/MLL (n = 35) or as having a normal karyotype (n = 50). Second, we found genes with functional relevance for blood coagulation that were differentially expressed between APL and other AMLs. Furthermore, a supervised pairwise comparison between M3 and M3v revealed differential expression of genes that encode for biological functions and pathways such as granulation and maturation of hematologic cells, explaining morphologic and clinical differences. Discrimination between M3 and M3v based on gene signatures showed a median classification accuracy of 90% by use of 10‐fold CV and support vector machines. Additional molecular mutations such as FLT3‐LM, which were significantly more frequent in M3v than in M3 (P < 0.0001), may partly contribute to the different phenotypes. However, linear regression analysis demonstrated that genes differentially expressed between M3 and M3v did not correlate with FLT3‐LM. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.


Abstract : This study examines 48 M1 tank components for possible application of an optimum age replacement policy. The purpose is to support a broader study associated with the Reliability Centered - Inspect and Repair Only as Necessary (RC-IRON) program. The program provides depot level maintenance to tanks transferred or retrograded from Germany to the United States. An optimal age replacement policy reduces the number of failures while minimizing the cost associated with failure by replacing some older components before they fail. The component data for this analysis was drawn from the Field Exercise Data Collection (FEDC) at the National Training Center (NTC), Fort Irwin, California. This thesis begins with a discussion of a methodology for determining an optimal replacement time. Distribution analysis is performed on component lifetimes as well as delay and repair times due to failure. The various costs associated with failure are estimated. The application of an age replacement policy was found to be beneficial for a few components and only when they had a high down-time cost. A graphical procedure is used to show sensitivity of the optimum policy to changes in cost. Component simulations are performed to pretest the results of a proposed maintenance policy. A six component system is simulated to demonstrate how the components could be tied together for later system level analysis. Although this study deals with the M1 Abrams tank, the methodology and procedures detailed may be applied to other systems with components that wear out.


Background/aims A number of new immunohistochemical stains has recently become available for use in urogenital pathology. By way of illustration, we present a case of multifocal nephrogenic metaplasia of the bladder mimicking invasive urothelial carcinoma, and discuss the use of immunohistochemistry in distinguishing this entity from its malignant mimics. Case report A 76-year-old lady underwent a radical cystectomy for BCG-resistant invasive urothelial carcinoma. Although invasive high-grade urothelial carcinoma was confirmed histologically, additionally present were apparent nests of glandular cells arising subjacent to urothelial carcinoma in situ. The cells were positive for PAX8 and negative for GAT A3 and p63 immunohistochemistry, while the inverse pattern was present in the overlying urothelial carcinoma in situ. Coexistent nephrogenic metaplasia was diagnosed. Discussion As nephrogenic metaplasia can demonstrate a haphazard growth pattern, presence in the deep lamina propria or muscularis propria and occasional degenerative atypia, it can be difficult to distinguish from malignant tumours such as urothelial and prostatic carcinomas. Immunohistochemistry, including the use of recently characterised markers such as PAX8 and GAT A3, can assist in the diagnosis. Discussion is made of the utility and pitfalls of these stains in this and other situations.


Klebsiella pneumoniae strain NJ7 was isolated and screened for the production of bioflocculant and used for the flocculation of starch processing industrial wastewater (SPIW). The bioflocculant had the ability to reduce 41% chemical oxygen demand and 90% turbidity, from the SPIW. The strain is capable of utilizing the bioflocculated nutrient rich SPIW as a sole source for the bioflocculant production with doubled yield as compared to its conventional production medium. The parameters influencing bioflocculant production were optimized using Taguchi's orthogonal array (OA) experiments which suggested that 85.79% flocculation and 111.67 (mg/100 mL) bioflocculant yield could be achieved when 80% of SPIW inoculated with K. pneumoniae strain NJ7 at 30°C for 24 h at 120 rpm. This is the first report on bioflocculant production by K. pneumoniae using wastewater, without any additives and its statistical optimization (Taguchi's OA). The concept of statistical optimization and the use of wastewater lead to bioflocculant production cost effective. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 36: 1458–1465, 2017


A simple choice: Ligands termed SimplePhos (L*), based on a chiral amino and flexible aryl groups on the phosphorus atom, induce high enantioselectivity in the copper-catalyzed conjugate addition and allylic substitution of dialkyl zinc and trialkyl aluminum reagents (see scheme; CuTC=copper thiophene carboxylate).


Sodium batteries have emerged as a promising alternative for large-scale energy storage applications due to the low cost and high abundance of sodium. Sodium batteries require safe, high voltage and cost effective electrolytes and cathode materials for their practical applications to be realised. In the present study, Na metal cells with a mixed phase electrolyte comprising a high concentration of Na salt (NaFSI) in an organic ionic plastic crystal (OIPC) - namely triisobutylmethylphosphonium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide are investigated - coupled with either a sodium vanadium phosphate-carbon composite (NVP/C) or a sodium iron pyrophosphate (NFpP) cathode. The performance of the Na/NVP/C and Na/NFpP cells are evaluated using cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and galvanostatic cycling at 60 °C and room temperature. The results reported herein indicate the performance improvement in terms of cycling stability, with high coulombic efficiency at 60 °C granted by the OIPC and ionic liquid mixtures, compared to a conventional organic solvent electrolyte.


The performance of a 16-stage axial-flow compressor, in which two modifications of unloaded inlet stages were combined with loaded exit stages, has been determined. In the first modification the exit stages were loaded by decreasing the twelfth through fifteenth stage stator angles 3 deg. as compared with the blade angles in the original compressor, and the inlet stages were unloaded by increasing the blade angles the following amounts: guide vanes and first-stage stator, 6 deg; second- and third-stage stators, 4 deg.; and fourth-stage stators, 3 deg. The over-all performance of this configuration was compared with that of the compressor with the original blade angles. The peak efficiency was increased at all speeds below design and the weight flow was higher at speeds below 80 percent of design, the same at 80 percent of design, and lower at speeds abovce 80 percent of design. The maximum reduction in weight flow occurred at design speed. The surge limit line was higher at speeds between 75 and 90 percent of design when presented on a pressure ratio against weight flow basis. The second configuration was the same as the first with the exception that the second-, third-, and fourth-stage stator blade angles were the same as in the compressor with the original blade angles. A comparison of the performance of this configuration with that of the compressor with the original blade angles showed the same general trends of changes in performance as the first configuration. Comparisons were made of compressor configurations to show the effects upon the performance of decreased loading in the inlet stages. Below 75 percent of design speed, decreased loading results in increased weight flow and peak efficiency; above 80 percent of design speed, decreased loading in the inlet stages results in decreased weight flow and small changes in peak efficiencies. Between 75 and 90 percent of design the changes in surge weight flow and pressure ratio were such that the surge limit line was raised with decreased loading in the inlet stages when presented as pressure ratio against weight flow.


In the USA, economic inequality, while arguably one of the most material sites of `difference', is often one of the least visible. The presence and meaning of class in daily life may be more vague than at any other time in US history. This article examines how commonsense knowledge about class leads people to engage in practices that systematically disorganize the presence of social and economic capital. The over-arching analytical framework builds a performative analysis of class by situating the personal agency of talk within broader cultural discourses that shape and constrain possibilities for talk. I draw from ethnomethodology and post-structural discourse analysis to analyze talk about class in 1600 pages of transcript from interviews with 23 people. By linking the interpretive practices of talk in interviews to the circulation and repetition of cultural knowledge in discourses, I demonstrate how class identities are constituted through conditions not generally associated with economic processes.


A main goal of evolutionary ecology is to understand how the biotic and abiotic variables with which a species interacts influence its life history and population dynamics. Herbivores can dramatically affect both the demography and life history evolution of their prey. However, herbivory may also indirectly affect the biotic and abiotic interactions of neighboring unpalatable plant species. While theory predicts co-occurring unpalatable plant species should benefit from the reduction of neighbors, how the indirect effects of herbivores influence both their population dynamics and life history remain largely unexplored. Using white-tailed deer as a model herbivore and Arisaema triphyllum as a model unpalatable plant species, I examined the indirect effects of herbivores on the population dynamics and life history traits of unpalatable plant populations. I used a combination of field surveys, experiments, and modeling techniques to determine how indirect effects could influence Arisaema population fitness and life history. I found that Arisaema exhibited significantly smaller mean size at flowering, lower mean seed number, and expressed increasing male-biased sex ratios as deer browse on a palatable species increased across seven sites in Pennsylvania. Concordant results were found for Arisaema and four additional unpalatable species growing in long-term, paired, fenced deer exclusion vs. deer access plots in Virginia. Using a common garden study I found that Arisaema from the same Pennsylvania sites had diverged in their relative growth rates and female flowering size threshold, suggesting populations could become locally adapted in response to the indirect effects of deer. I used integral projection models (IPMs) to show that mean Arisaema population growth rates () declined with increasing indirect effects of deer largely due to decreased rates of plants transitioning into and out of larger flowering plant stages. Two populations experiencing the highest deer-mediated indirect effects exhibited λs less than unity, indicating potential population decline. The overabundance of ungulate herbivores is an issue of global concern. My results show that the negative effects of herbivore overabundance can extend to plant species with which herbivores do not directly interact and provides novel insights for both ecologists and conservationists.


Background: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is the most common among community acquired infections worldwide affecting men as well as women, many reports suggested that uropathogens are becoming more resistant towards antibiotics, which can cause various problems during treatment. Methods: In this study, 48 samples were collected from the suspected patients and these samples were subjected to various clinical evaluations. Results: Among them 29 were females and 19 were males, in the studied cases E. coli (48.3%) was most frequently observed pathogens, S. aureus (29.03%).Among antibiotics, Tigecyclin (TGC) was the most effective antibiotic against all the three isolated bacteria, about 100% of bacteria Original Research Article Singh et al.; AJMAH, 18(12): 26-31, 2020; Article no.AJMAH.64558 27 showed the sensitivity towards it. E. coli was found to be the most resistant bacteria against Tetracycline (TET) (66.6%) followed by Amoxiclav (AMC) (60%), Fosfomycin (Fo) (53.3%), Piperacilllin (PIP) (53.3%), Cefepime (CPM) (53.3%). Among K. pneumonia isolates had shown resistance against Tetracycline (TET) (57.1%), Fosfomycin (FO) (57.1%), Piperacillin (PI) (57.1%), Cephalexin (CZ) (57.1%) and Amikacin (AK) (57.1%). Staphylococcus aureus had shown maximum resistance against Tetracycline (TET) (66.5%), Co-amoxiclav (AMC) (66.5%) followed by Chloramphenicol (55.4%) and Cefepime (CPM) (55.4%). Conclusion: In conclusion UTI infection rates are higher among females, E. coli was the most causative agents of UTI and the emergence of resistance in bacteria is probably due to the overuse of antibiotics. Antibiotic Tigecyclin could be the drug of choice for the treatment of UTI.


The review by Anderson and colleagues in this issue of Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica on the pathophysiological foundations of psychosomatic symptoms, as well as the implications that these symptoms might have for a conceptualization of so-called physiosomatic symptoms, is of great clinical and scientific interest (1). The underlying concept of a biological foundation for the psychosomatic (or, even better, the physiosomatic) symptoms observed in disorders such as depressive disorders and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome that are modulated by oxidative and nitrosative stress in terms of inflammatory and cell-mediated immunological processes that in turn promote the tryptophan catabolite (TRYCAT) pathway has significant clinical implications. As stated by the authors, reduced concentrations of plasma tryptophan (TRP) in patients with depression and somatization problems likely explain the considerable variance observed in these disorders. TRP is an essential amino acid (AA), meaning that individuals need to consume it through their diets. Fortunately, TRP is found in many foods, and it is easy to maintain a sufficient supply. TRP is also thought to serve as a bona fide and evolutionarily conserved signaling agent of the central nervous system (2), and because it is the physiological precursor of the neurotransmitter serotonin (5-HT), dietary manipulations of TRP are known to significantly affect brain 5-HT synthesis. For example, an acute tryptophan depletion (ATD) technique can be induced by administering an AA load that lacks TRP, leading to a subsequent decrease in 5-HT synthesis in the central nervous system. TRP loading, however, has a somewhat reversed approach in terms of increasing the substrate availability for brain 5-HT synthesis. The arguments made by Anderson and colleagues linking the TRYCAT pathway to the symptoms of depression and somatization deserve careful consideration with respect to two particular points. First, in their paper, Anderson et al. (1) correctly state that ATD is a 5-HTand TRP-related challenge procedure that was associated with depressive symptoms in remitted patients with depression (3), and ATD was also associated with physiosomatic complaints in healthy volunteers and in patients with various medical symptoms. In the literature, ATD is known as a valid neurodietary challenge test that induces a short-term reduction in brain 5-HT synthesis in both people (4) and rodents (5). Recently, a body weight-adapted ATD protocol was developed with significantly fewer side effects (including fewer physiosomatic complaints) (6), allowing its safe use in children, as well as in adolescents (7) and adults (8–11), with few complications. This newly developed ATD protocol, termed Moja-De, was also validated in an animal model (5) and significantly decreases the influx of TRP across the blood–brain barrier (4). Because there is evidence of a positive correlation between the baseline TRP and body weight (12), it appears that taking body weight into consideration when using ATD to achieve a short-term reduction in brain 5-HT synthesis is a feasible approach to sufficiently deplete TRP with fewer side effects, especially with respect to somatization complaints/physiosomatic symptoms after administering the challenge. In particular, when body weight (and therefore plasma TRP, to a certain extent) is low, the ATD-related administration of a rather small TRP-free AA mixture (together with other AAs that have a high affinity for the L-1 transporter that is responsible for the uptake of TRP and other AAs over the blood brain barrier into the central nervous system) might explain the improved tolerability in terms of the ATD Moja-De protocol. Following this modification, improved tolerability of body weight-adapted TRPrelated challenge procedures might also be partly due to a decrease in the somatization complaints, as indexed by a reduction in the physiosomatic symptoms following the challenge administration. Second, the findings presented by Andersen et al. should also be discussed in light of the new DSM-5 criteria (13). The revised manual contains significant changes to the criteria of somatization disorders, subsuming disorders associated with excessive 'thoughts, feelings and behaviors' regarding somatic symptoms into a new diagnostic category, 'Somatic symptom disorder' (SSD). The modifications made to the DSM-5 result in a considerable shift in the way this disorder is diagnosed. Most prominently, SSD can be diagnosed in both the absence and presence of a medical disorder. Therefore, the DSM-5 highlights the particular way individuals deal with somatic complaints, regardless of whether a medical condition has been diagnosed. This change has important implications for interpreting the results presented by Andersen and colleagues; if, for example, an individual suffers from a somatic condition and also fulfills the criteria of SSD, the measurable biological underpinnings and correlates of SSD might be related to the primary medical condition. Therefore, to date, generalizations of the present findings should be limited to patients who present with SSD but not a clearly diagnosed medical condition.


Assistant Professor Jack Tsen-Ta Lee, who teaches and researches constitutional and administrative law at the School of Law of the Singapore Management University, introduces the Internal Security Act (ISA) and assesses its continued relevance today.